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In 2001, there were 20 sailboats representing 17 yacht clubs. In addition to Florida, skippers came from Maine, Illinois, Louisiana and Mississippi.
A
new record in elapsed time (the first to finish) was by DECISION, skippered
by Stephen Murray from Southern Y.C., who finished in 45 hrs., 15 min., 38 sec.
APPARITION, with John Harkins, Jr. from South Shore Y.C., won first
in fleet and first in spinnaker class. SARA E, skipper John Maxon, St.
Petersburg Sailing Assoc., won the nonspinnaker class. MACIEJKA, skipper
Maciej Rosochowicz, St. Petersburg Sailing Center, won the true cruising class.
XXXII Regata Amigos, the "Around the Island Race," where the boats take as many
Mexican children as possible short of sinking, was won by SINISTERRE with
skipper Bill Tait from Davis Island Y.C. They also won 2nd in fleet. MIDNIGHT
RIDER, Forrest Banks from the Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society
was 2nd and HIGH LIFE, Dr. Paschal Strong from Davis Island YC., was
3rd.
This regatta was special in many ways and one to be remembered. Pinellas County, under the guidance of the Florida Department of State, developed "Regata and Fiesta del Sol al Sol," a program of cultural and business relationships with Mexico using this regatta as a focal point. Secretary of State Katherine Harris came to The Pier to watch the start of Regata del Sol al Sol. Pinellas County donated shirts and tshirts for all the sailors. \
The Commodore,
Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore and seven Past Commodores of St. Petersburg Yacht
Club participated in the festivities on Isla Mujeres. And for the second time
in 33 years, in the basketball game held in the City Square in front of City
Hall between our sailors and the Mexicans our side - WON! 53 to 49!!! It will
be our pleasure to give skipper Forrest Banks, who coached the winning team,
a 50 year contract.
As every year, there was a dinner party with a "River of Corona" on Wednesday, a reception at City Hall with the Mayor and city council on Thursday evening, with a dinner and trophy presentation hosted by the Governor of the State of Quintana Roo. On Friday, a reception at Las Casa de las Rocas was hosted by the Comodoro of Club de Yates de Isla Mujeres, Lic. Jose de Jesus Lima with another party later. On Saturday, there was a dinner party and trophy presentation to the winners of Regata Amigos ....and each time ....that "River of Corona." And, as always, all the credit for that special good feeling everyone had in Isla goes to the hard work, unlimited energy and hospitality of Enrique Lima Zuno and his family.
Many thanks also to the Mayor Ing. Jorge Martinez Pena and to Vice Almirante, Raul Arevalo Gallegos of the Mexican Navy for providing a gun boat to be the finish boat.