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IRL Honda Midwinters International
Disabled/ Open Midwinters
St. Petersburg, Florida is on the east coast of a peninsula located on the west coast. It is a venue where the current is very strong and must be accounted for in one’s race strategy. This year’s regatta was lost in the shuffle of a IRL Honda Grand Prix Race and an air show full of vintage airplanes. Sailors who had on site accommodations, at the Sailing Center, where awakened by the sound of Indy Cars conducting time trials early Friday and Saturday morning. Since the Grand Prix course was less than 50 yards away (46 meters), most sailors wore ear plugs on shore which we affectionately called carrots since they were orange in color.
Friday’s racing started with light and variable winds out of the southeast at 5 knots (2.5 m/s) and adverse current to the northwest. Those that went right gained big as a huge righted came in from the south. Colin Park a local sailor won this race hands down. Minutes before the start of the second race, a thermal from the land built kicking the winds up to about 15 knots (7.7 m/s) which remained steady for the third and final race of the day. At the end of day one, Roger Cleworth of Lithin, Florida, led the event. Day two, of the series, saw a cold front move through the area during the early morning hours. With winds sustained at nearly 25 knots (13 m/s) and gusts to 40 knots (21 m/s), the Race Committee wisely cancelled racing for the day. Many sailors took advantage of the lay day to take part in the local festivities.
The IRL Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg took place on a picturesque fourteen-turn 1.8 mile (2.9 km) temporary course framed by the city's waterways and incorporating the runways of Albert Whitted Municipal Airport. Drivers were enthusiastic about the passing opportunities and the potential for quality racing on the St. Petersburg track: "I think the combination of street and airport is going to make for a fabulous course. There are a number of places for passing, which all the drivers will like. I think it's a terrific setting, it's exciting and I'm looking forward to it." - Dario Franchitti The race, was the third of 17 events on the 2005 IndyCar® Series schedule, will mark the first-ever IndyCar Series race run on a non-oval track.
Now, back to the regatta…. The third and final day of the series brought winds initially out of the northeast at 15-20 knots (7.7-10 m/s) and strong current flowing towards the northwest. The first race of the day started with a general recall. The restart brought the Z Flag up at the prep signal. With this in mind, the fleet started more conservatively. The race conditions changed dramatically just after the start where the winds dropped to 10-15 knots (5-7.7 m/s) with 30 degree shifts. For the second race of the day, the breeze continued to fluctuate dropping to as much as 4 knots (2 m/s) with puffs to well over 13 knots (6+ m/s). The final race of the day was started under the Black Flag because more than half the fleet was initially OCS on the previous start. The current was stronger then most anticipated. The final day was won by Marko Dahlberg of Finland. This regatta also included the two-person Martin 16 and the Sonar. For complete regatta results click here. This was an important event for US Disabled Sailors as it was the final in a series of qualifiers to name the 2005 US Disabled Sailing Team. The 2005 2.4mR US Team Members are Nick Scandone, Roger Cleworth, and Thomas Franklin. International Disabled/ Open Midwinters’ Results
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