Vintage Race Boat Shop

  We maintain vintage wooden boats.

 

Tavares Spring Thunder Regatta

March 16-18, 2012

Recap & Photos !!!

Regatta Photos by F. Peirce Williams

After many years of wanting to make the Mt Dora/Tavares, Florida CRA Vintage Regatta and the ACBS boat show and many years of excuses, this year we made our third annual trek south to sunny and warm Florida. We hauled our Jersey Speed Skiff My Precious to participate at both the CRA Spring Thunder Regatta and then the Sunnyland ACBS Boat Show the following weekend. The weather was sunny and hot, the vintage race boats were beautiful and fast, and we had a great time. Many thanks to Dick Whyte and the entire CRA crew for another fantastic vintage event. We had a great time and now Tavares in on our annual schedule, so look for our NH Navy again at Tavares in 2013 - a gathering of good friends and beautiful vintage race boats !!!

Regatta Photos by F. Peirce Williams

Tavares Recap & Photos - 2011

 

On March 6th, we pulled My Precious out of winter storage and hauled to the shop to prep for the two day trek to sunny & warm Tavares, Florida. Special attention was focused on the trailer wheel bearings, lights and running gear. After a cold and snowy winter, we were very excited !!!

         

This year, we left Wolfeboro on Sunday morning March 13th and arrived in sunny & warm Florida the next day. The weather was sunny & hot, with temps in the mid 80's at our condo.

         

Then on Friday morning me hauled to Wooten Park for registration with Claire Ferry, followed by setup and safety inspections. It was a great day, a reunion of good friends as we registered, staged and prepped our beloved vintage race boats. It was sunny and hot with temps in the mid 80's, and nobody complained !!!

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

     

After a full day of setup, safety inspections, renewing old friendships and fun in the warm Florida sun, we gathered at Al's Landing for a lively evening of banter, good food and grog.

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

       

We got an early start on Saturday morning, prepping for a full day of running exhibition heats on the race course. The drivers meeting started promptly at 9 AM with the mandatory roll call, a few words by the race director Marty Ferry, vintage rep Tom D'Eath and safety inspector Donnie McLean. Then Mike Yobe explained the course layout, followed by a question/answer session and finally, wrist bands were issued for all drivers and riders. No boats were allowed on the water without a safety inspection sticker and all drivers and riders were checked for the correct wrist bans. Safety is the number one concern at these vintage race boat regattas.

         

       

After the mandatory drivers meeting it was time to Rock & Roll, and we ran vintage heats

all day long. It was sunny and hot, the water was flat and we all got a chance to run twice.

         

         

         

         

         

         

        

         

         

       

After a full day of fun in the hot Florida sun, on Saturday evening we howled again at Al's Landing with lots of vintage banter, good food and grog. These vintage regattas are really social events, and every regatta is a reunion of good friends, with our beautiful vintage race boats in the background, pulling us together. All are welcomed to come join the fun !!!

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

         

       

   

On Sunday morning, after a good night's rest, it was time to Rock & Roll again and we ran vintage heats all day long. It was sunny and hot, the water was flat and we all got a chance to run twice. It is important to remember that these vintage regattas are really social events, and every regatta is a reunion and gathering of good friends, with our beautiful vintage race boats in the background, pulling us together. All are welcomed to come join the fun !!!

         

         

         

         

         

        

         

         

         

         

         

         

After the award ceremonies, we packed up and hauled our Jersey Speed Skiff My Precious back to the Tom D'Eath vintage boat & salvage yard, to be stored until the ACBS Boat Show, the following weekend. We just love this stuff ???!!!

 

And many thanks to Dick Whyte, Marty Ferry and the entire CRA crew for another fantastic vintage event. We had a great time and now Tavares in on our annual schedule, so look for our NH Navy again at the Tavares Spring Thunder Regatta 2013 !!!

Classic Race Boat Association

Regatta Photos by F. Peirce Williams

Tavares Recap & Photos - 2011

 

For locals, please stop by the shop and join our:

Saturday Morning Gatherings

Some related vintage race boat links:

Return to Photo Archives of Vintage Events

   

Return to Home Page - Vintage Race Boat Shop