Quick Lap Around Lake Monroe

The 29th Annual Trans-Monroe Regatta on Lake Monroe in Sanford, Florida continued the tradition which honors G.W. McVay, a local boat builder of the Victoria Sailboat which were sold in the very spot that event host the Lake Monroe Sailing Association calls home.

The random 12 mile course, using Portsmouth Yardstick handicaps to score the race, is held every first weekend in March, bringing together sailors from around the state to compete against each other in a circumnavigation of the lake. This year’s edition on March 4 enjoyed winds gusting 20mph, making for a challenging and fast Trans Monroe.

Lake Monroe has suffered this season due to lack of rain which has made the lake levels a little lower than normal for this time of year. This came into play at the second turn as boats converged, three and four wide, with some of the teams calling for room to other boats as keels began to touch bottom.

This year’s Trans Monroe was action packed with the middle of the fleet battling all the way to the finish. The breakaway boat was skippered by John Chamberlin with Alan Moore on a Nacra 5.8 as they took line honors this year. They were followed by Tom McNally on his Flying Scot “Rosie” and then Jim White on his Lightning, “Bad JuJu”.

Overall winner of the Trans Monroe was Brad Ruffe on his Catalina 22 “Mercury Rising” from Titusville Sailing Club. Brad once again gets to place his name on the Bill McVay Perpetual Trophy which is housed at the Lake Monroe Sailing Association.

In 2015, LMSA introduced the Trans Monroe Multihull trophy to help attract excitement and participation of sailors from the Multihull sailing community. This year’s winner is Yarda Solc on his Hobie Wave “Felix” from the Central Florida Yacht Club.

After the race the competitors enjoyed the now traditional Pork Butt Cook Off between the Padgett’s, the Loughlin’s and the Forrest’s. No winner chosen this year for the best pulled pork, maybe next year.

Jeff Herter, who has organized the Trans Monroe the last four years, put everything together. He made sure that everyone that sailed received a trophy from a Beer Mug to the winning teams receiving a Thermal Cup with the Trans Monroe Logo. Jeff created the course, the NOR, the Sailing Instructions and aligned with the Central Florida Sail and Power Squadron for assistance.

Source: Lake Monroe Sailing Association