The five Vipers included three newcomers to the class from the South East Fleet and two "old hands" from Marblehead.

The teams from Marblehead fleet rented a house on a canal just North of the regatta site and this became "Viper Central". Tim Dunston from the Panhandle brought his mobile home/RV and this became "Viper Mobile", serving cocktails after racing in the parking lot next to the club. At least the intention was to serve cocktails but the unseasonably cold air and big breeze over the course of the three days meant that hot coffee and hot chocolate (with a shot of rum please) were in big demand.

Our objectives at this regatta were for the some of the Marblehead fleet to meet the recent newcomers to the South East Viper fleet, share some tips and techniques, have some fun and check out the St Pete NOOD for the rest of the class. Fun rather than race results was the mantra for the weekend.

 The Vipers from Marblehead had a tough ride down, driving through an ice storm from hell between Baltimore and Richmond in the middle of the night. Kay Van Valkenbugh arrived with a dent in a spreader and a crack in the head stay swage and so was at work early on Friday morning jury rigging a spectra headstay.

Day One

There was a strong breeze on Friday with several classes inspecting bulbs and washing the road grime off their spreader tips. Two of the newcomers to the class decided to sit this one out but cruised out to the race course for some spectating. Kay missed the first race, still rigging his new headstay. Tim Dunton, driving Water Mocassin, in only his second day in a Viper finished a very credible dozen boat lengths behind Tusker. Tim was crewed by the Viperettes. The Viperettes were one of the more scenic crews at the regatta and really accomplished  sailors but they don't do sub-60 degee weather and Mocassin headed in to join the other SE boats at the Tiki bar at the St Pete Yacht Club. Kay and Justin match raced up the first leg of the second race. Opinions are divided about whether Kay's headstay or the spreader failed but the result was the same......the rig came down! That was it for the racing.

The St Pete YC throws a nice buffet dinner for all the racers. We had a good time at the club and afterwards a couple of us researched some local St Pete bars on behalf of the class. 

Day 2

Three good starts and 2 great races! The second start became an abandoned race a couple of short tacks from the windward mark. Although it was a close battle for the lead at the time,it was a prescient call by the RC because 5 minutes later the breeze swung 180 degrees and died. The third start and second race was the best race of the regatta.

Tim Dunston, joined by owner David Guerra and one Viperette, squeezed across the rest of the fleet on port. They held on to their lead like bulldogs for the rest of the first and second legs. They maintained a tight cover downwind,  which allowed us (Tusker) to take them right over to the left so both boats were coming in to the leeward mark hot on starboard. It was then that the Mocassins discovered that they had not rehearsed the leeward drop. Much hilarity ensued at the leeward mark as we offered free advice (worth exactly what you pay for it) and Tim offered free gulf shrimp from his new shrimp net! We picked off Mocassin, but the joke was on us as Sally and Jay Harrell joined by Kay on "Scratch" rounded inside us exiting the mark. This led to a prolonged tacking duel up three quarters of the windward leg, until Team Scratch trapped themselves to leeward of a Tripp 26, allowing Tusker to wait for the next decent header to tack and conveniently cross both the Tripp and Scratch. See ya! 

Another dinner at SPYC. More cocktails in Viper Mobile. The precise details are imprecise.

Day 3

The forecast was fufilled. It was blowing wax out of the cats ears. The RC called it and we packed our boats up.

St Pete is a great regatta. It was unseasonably cold but still great racing. I stayed on a few days in Florida after the regatta and it was back in the 70's and 80's by Tuesday. We will be back next year with more boats and a winter circuit.