Flying Scots prepare for Midwinter Championship

More than 50 teams are expected on the starting line for the 2015 Flying Scot Midwinters on Sarasota Bay, hosted by Sarasota Sailing Squadron March 15-19 in Sarasota, FL.

The Midwinters is one of the largest races of the year and one of two national regattas for Flying Scots. Boats will start arriving Saturday, March 14, and then sail a warm-up race on Sunday. Serious sailing starts Monday and runs through Thursday.

Sailors from as far as Maine, Wisconsin, Kansas and New Orleans will compete with a large local contingent led by defending Midwinters champion Zeke Horowitz of Sarasota and Jeff Linton of Tampa, four-time North American champion and former Rolex US Sailing Yachtsman of the Year.

Top competitors also include past champions Paul Abdullah of Jacksonville, Greg Kampf of Whitinsville MA, Ben Williams of Urbana IL, Richard Banning of Salem OH, John Domagala of Spring TX, and boat builder Harry Carpenter of Deep Creek MD; as well as sailmaker Ryan Malmgren of Madison WI.

Rigged with main, jib and spinnaker, the 19-foot Flying Scot carries a crew of two or three. Fast and easy to sail, it has been one of the most popular small boats in the country for decades. Today there are more than 6,000 Flying Scots in 100 fleets nationwide.

The Midwinters began almost 50 years ago at the Pensacola Yacht Club and now alternates each year between the Sarasota Sailing Squadron and the Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans.

Details: http://www.fssa.com/National%20Event/15399