Summerset Regatta sails to Beach
For the first time in its 44 years of history, all of the events for the annual Summerset Regatta will be taking place right here on Fort Myers Beach, due to set sail Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3 and 4, with proceeds of the event going to local youth sailing organizations, including the Edison Sailing Center, based in Fort Myers.
“We’re excited about having the kids in the race this year,” said Steve Romaine, vice-commodore of the local Caloosahatchee Marching and Chowder Society sailing organization, organizing authority of the regatta. “Over the last two years, we’ve given more than $10,000 to youth sailing centers up and down the coast, just through our regatta sponsorships.”
Ross Webb, Beach resident and co-founder of the Edison Sailing Center, started the non-profit organization 25 years ago with a sailing partner, Steve Olive, and have run it ever since.
“I learned to sail when I was 8 years old probably saved my life. When I got back to Fort Myers, no one had any sailing clubs. I met a guy named Steve Olive, and we decided at 2 in the morning on my 40th birthday that we’d start the program,” Ross explained. “The next summer, we started getting calls six months ahead of time asking when we were having the classes. Since then, we’ve expanded to have between 700 and 800 kids a year in all types of programs.”
The Edison Sailing Center’s primary location is at the main campus of Overlook Park in North Fort Myers, which is where Ross said they store and dock many of the group’s boats and equipment.
However, Ross said the club has expanded to offering courses throughout the Southwest Florida area, including year-round sailing clubs at Florida Gulf Coast University, Bishop Verot High School, North Fort Myers High School, Fort Myers High School, the Mound House on Fort Myers Beach once a year, and the newly added Edison State College.
“We also teach all summer at the Cape Coral Yacht Club,” Ross said. “We never expected our club to get so big.”
Now that the Summerset Regatta has been pushed back, the Edison Sailing School students will be able to once again compete.
“And we are so enthused to hold the regatta on Fort Myers Beach this year,” Steve said.
As the regatta is taking place at a more centrally-located location, sailors from all around Southwest Florida have been diving in to become a part of the action.
“Being at the beach, many participants are also coming to race from as far as Charlotte Harbor, which is great, because we usually sail to Naples, which is too far for them,” Steve said. “But since we’re sailing from Fort Myers Beach, we’ll have more participation.
“We are also enthused that the regatta is being held in October, instead of traditionally over Labor Day weekend, being that there should be better wind for sailors, and we’re moving away from hurricane season.”
Participants are still being sought to compete in the race and it’s not too late to join.
“The last day for entries in the regatta is Thursday, Oct. 1, prior to the Skipper’s meeting,” Steve said.
The vice-commodore is sure to add, “We have wonderful, wonderful door prizes to be given to the participating yachts. The Beach community has been so generous both in support of youth sailing and the special regatta far beyond our expectations especially in this economy.”
“Preparations have been moving along marvelously,” Steve said. “Sponsors and local businesses alike have been extremely cooperative for our regatta both with cash contributions and with door prizes and raffle items. Thank you so much.”
The races (BOX)
The schedule for the 44th annual Summerset Regatta will go a little something like this:
Sailing race: Saturday (buoy racing)
Distance race: Sunday
Friday night will be a Skipper’s meeting for those competing, at Bonita Bill’s private lounge, 7 p.m.
Saturday, buoy racing will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the poolside cocktail party with hors dourves and door prizes at Coconuts in the Pink Shell Resort at 6 p.m. (cash bar, complimentary beer).
Sunday, distance racing will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the banquet and awards ceremony will be held at the Pink Shell Resort’s Captiva Ballroom at 6:30 p.m.
To compete in the race, an entry form is available for viewing and printing on the CMCS website. Anyone interested in sailing and becoming a crew member in the regatta should look up the “notice to race,” CMCS-Sail.org.
To compete, the cost is $80 for racers, $45 for cruisers (non-competing vessels).
If interested, call Vice Commodore Steve Romaine at 482-6280 or email sromaine294@yahoo.com.