2007 ‘Round the Island Multihull Sailboat Race
Fort Walton Yacht Club
June 15- 17 2007

The ‘Round the Island Race is a 100 mile circumnavigation of Santa Rosa
Island located in Northwest Florida.  Headquartered at the Fort Walton Yacht
Club, the race begins off the point, through the East Pass and continues
west to the Pensacola Pass where the northern turn is made for the return
trip through the inter-coastal waterway. 

A light but steady breeze and an early morning start made for a fantastic
day to be on the water along the Emerald Coast.  Not half and hour into the
race, the fleet, heading east through Choctawhatchee Bay, was clipping along
at 15 knots as they approached the East Pass and hit puffy wind and a 5 knot
incoming tide.  With more than half of the fleet flying spinnakers, the wind
shifted and the made the approach to the Destin Bridge exciting as they
maneuvered through the pass and into the Gulf of Mexico.

The wind, steady during the daylight hours, had moved the entire fleet
through the Pensacola Pass by early afternoon.  First to finish the one
hundred mile adventure was Brian Lambert and Jamie Livingston on Brian’s CFR
20.  Mike Kelley in his ARC 22 quickly followed them, both boats finishing
just minutes before 1400. 

Although the wind was fairly consistent during the daylight hours, as the
sun set the breeze began to lie down.  The last boats to cross the line were
smaller Hobie’s just before 2 o’clock on Sunday morning.

Historically sailed in September, this year’s race was moved to mid June to
take advantage of better wind conditions.  The racers felt moving to late
spring was ‘the best change ever’.  Ninety percent of the fleet had returned
to the finish line before dark allowing most everyone the opportunity to
enjoy the cookout on the point Saturday evening.

The race concluded with the Sunday morning breakfast and trophy
presentation.  Within the four fleets represented, the winners are:

So here are the stats:

Overall Winner:

Bill Whitehurst, Hobie 17
(Portsmouth rated boats only)

Trimaran Fleet:

1. Randy Smyth, Yo
2. Cliff Farrah, Strategery
   
   Crew: Scott Mitchell,
   David Magee, Craig Wilusz
3. Tammy Shelton,
   Boudicca
   Crew: Jay Klassen & Danny Robertson

Non Spinnaker Fleet

1. Greg Allen, Prindle 19 MX
   Crew: Randy Johnson
2. Michael Clark, Nacra 6.0
   Crew: Dean

Non Spinnaker Fleet 2

1. Phillip Mumm, Nacra 5.8
   Crew: Brian Haun
2. Bill Anderson, Hobie 21
3. Pat Martin, Hobie 16
   Crew: Jeff Oser, Saylor Martin

Spinnaker Fleet 1

1. Brian Lambert, CFR
   20
   Crew: Jamie Livingston
2. Mike Kelley, ARC 22
3. John MacDonald, Nacra 20
   Crew: Andy Humphries

Spinnaker Fleet 2

1. Bill Whitehurst,
   Hobie 17
2. Rick Adams, Hobie 17