Salty Sisters and FWSA

In the fall of 1973, Salty Sisters, Fran Weaver and Ardith Rutland, spearheaded the formation of the Women’s Interclub Council whose mission was “to promote women’s interclub racing in Florida.” This group would become the present Florida Women’s Sailing Association. Fran Weaver was the first President and Ardith Rutland was the second. Since then many Salty Sisters have served as President of FWSA.

FWSA member clubs sail interclub races each year from October through May. Each race is hosted by a member club, who sends out a NOR (Notice of Race) to each invited club. In addition to the interclub races sailed several times a month during the season, FWSA sponsors two major sailing events per year – the Championship Regatta and the Rainbow Regatta. The Championship Regatta (originated in 1976) is held for one-design boats sailed with crew and the Rainbow Regatta sailed with single sailors in COP and IOD Prams and Sunfish.

2018 – 2019
FWSA Schedule
Highlights

FWSA Meetings

9/18/18 General Meeting
Hosted by Luffing Lassies
Marina Jacks, Sarasota
1/16/19 General Meeting
Hosted by Mainsheet Mamas
Tampa Yacht Club
5/16/19 Annual Meeting
Hosted by Salty Sisters
St Petersburg Yacht Club

Salty Sisters hosted
Interclub Races

Fall Interclub
Tuesday, October 2
Winter Interclub
Tuesday, December 11
Spring Interclub
Tuesday, April 16

FWSA Sponsored Race Events

Championship Regatta
Location & Date TBD
Rainbow Regatta
Monday, March 18, 2019
Hosted by Bow Chasers/Windlasses
Clearwater Community Sailing Center

FWSA Awards

FWSA also presents three awards each year at their annual May General Meeting: the Spirit Award, the Lily Kaighin Award, and the Young Sailor of the Year Award. The award for for Young Sailor of the Year Award for 2017 went to JJ Smith, daughter of Salty Sister, Sue Davidson.

Hosting Interclub Races

The Salty Sisters host three FWSA interclub races each year for Prams and Sunfish, two in the fall and one in the spring. All FWSA Clubs are invited to send two Pram sailors plus Sunfish sailors. These photos are from our November interclub 2017 event.

SS Non-Spinnaker Team

FWSA Championship Regatta
2017-2018

The 2017-2018 FWSA Championship Regatta held in October 2017 was hosted by the Salty Sisters. The race NOR specified Ideal 18s in the spinnaker class with a skipper and two crew and 420s in the non-spinnaker class with a skipper and one crew. The Salty Sisters placed 1st in the Non-spinnaker Class and 2nd in the Spinnaker Class that day.

SS Spinnaker Team

2017-2018 Rainbow Regatta

The Rainbow Regatta was held at the Boca Ciega Yacht Club. The event was jointly hosted by the TI Tackers (Treasure Island Club), the Broad Reachers (SPYC at Pass-a-Grille), and the Rhumb Runners (Boca Ciega Yacht Club). Boat types specified in the NOR included COP and IOD Prams and Sunfish.

In both the COP and IOD Pram Classes, Salty Sisters Teams placed 1st. Tove Kullman placed 1st in the Masters Class for Prams. Salty Sister, Sue Davidson, placed 6th out of 37 Sunfish competitors in the Sunfish Class.