By Ed Killer
After a 16-year absence, boat racing returned to Treasure Coast waters on April 14-15th. Although stiff southeasterly winds, with gusts as high as 30 knots, delayed on-the-water racing and made access to the water difficult for many of the boats on the first day of the event, organizers successfully developed alternative methods to launch the race boats, since the wind direction made it impossible at Stuart Causeway’s south-facing ramps.
Opening festivities included the American flag being carried aboard the American Power Boat Association rescue boat while the Star Spangled Banner was sung.
Running behind the flag-bearing vessel, three vintage Jersey Speed Skiffs ran in missing man formation in memory of Chuck Woodruff, one of the regatta organizers who was killed in a vintage boat accident March 18th in Tavares. Tristin Woodruff, 17, of Jensen Beach, son of Chuck Woodruff, rode in one of the skiffs.
Port St. Lucie’s Matt O’Connor, 33, owner and driver of the E34 Gator 5-liter hydroplane racing team was thrilled following the regatta’s first day. During the regatta’s first race heat, O’Connor was feeling a variety of emotions, including pride, sadness for the loss of Woodruff, a close family friend, and remembering the 25th anniversary of a neardeadly crash for his father, Brian O’Connor, on the same course at Stuart Causeway.
“I think it was the last time we raced at this spot, in 1987, when my dad nearly died in a wreck,” O’Connor said. “But it felt great to drive 10 miles here from my home to race, when for years our closest races were in Lakeland and Louisiana.”
O’Connor said Saturday’s winds definitely made it rough on the course, and he and other racers could only run about 75 percent throttle. But he believes the Stuart Causeway venue would be a great place to host future regattas and hopes it grows into an annual event.
Sunday saw a full slate of races, including half of Saturday’s schedule, which was held over due to the windy conditions, with the only delays caused by a family of porpoises, a couple of manatees and turtles that happened to be passing through the course.
In the last race of the event, two Grand Prix boats, including the Miss Stuart, took the course to exhibit the event’s highest horsepower boats. On the third lap, the Miss Stuart, driven by new owner Mike Grendell, 46, of Lebanon, Conn., was speeding down the front straightaway at 145 mph when a gust of wind lifted the right sponson off the surface of the water and tossed the big vessel up into the air. The boat landed hard on its roof, then bounced into upright position. Grendell was shaken up, but unhurt in the incident. He estimated there is $25,000 damage to his $150,000 boat, but expects to have it ready by the next race in six weeks in Canada.
A portion of regatta proceeds benefitted the USS Sailing Center, the Children’s Museum and the Maritime Museum.
As of press time, next year’s dates had not been set, but organizers promise boat racing on the Treasure Coast is here to stay.
STUART SAILFISH REGATTA RESULTS
Held at Stuart Causeway
SATURDAY
INBOARD
- 2.5- Litre Stock: 1. Bad Influence, Robert Kennedy, Bear, DE; 2. Fast Company, William Tetro, Melbourne, Fl; 3. On the Edge, Howie Schnabolk, Johns Island, SC
- 5 Litre Hydroplane: 1. Crazy Cajun, Joseph Less, Grand Island, NY; 2. The Gator, Matt O’Connor, Port St. Lucie, FL; 3. Adrenaline Rush, Derec Smith, Ogdensburg, NY
- Jersey Speed Skiff: 1. Making Memories, Leonard Outlaw III, Elizabeth City, SC; 2. Just Flyin, Mike Buturla, Pompano, FL; 3. Darby’s Rapture, Kyle Darby, Port St. Lucie, FL
- Grand Prix: 1. Miss Stuart, George Kennedy Jr., Bear, DE
OUTBOARD
- SST60: 1. #10, Rob Rinker, Tampa, FL; 2. #16, Carole Reno, Okeechobee, FL; 3. #89, Bill Mastro, Punta Gorda, FL; 4. #73, Steve Dinicolantonio, Long Bottom Key, FL
- Super Sport: #180, Gary Harris, Orlando, FL; 2. #47, Ron Titus, Jacksonville, FL; 3. #8, Danny McManus, Eustis, FL; 4. #11, Bill Hardaway, Leesburg, FL; 5. #1, Chip Wavro, Sparta, GA
- SST120: 1. #10, Terry Rinker, Tampa, FL; 2. #34, Jeff Reno, Okeechobee, FL; 3. #28, Brian Burkhardt, Mims, FL; 4. #3, Donnie McDowell, Orlando, FL; 5. #80 Brent Dillard, Dalzell, GA
- SST150: 1. #33, Rob Dinicolantonio, Lakeland, FL; 2. #34, Jeff Reno, Okeechobee, FL, 3. #28, Brian Burkhardt, Mims, FL
SUNDAY
INBOARD
- 2.5-Litre Stock: 1. On the Edge, Howie Schnabolk, Johns Island, SC; 2. Bad Influence, Robert Kennedy, Bear, DE; 3. Desperate Housewife, James Wilson, White Lake, MI
- 5-Litre Hydroplane: 1. The Gator, Matt O’Connor, Port St. Lucie, FL; 2. Adrenaline Rush, Derec Smith, Ogdensburg, NY
- Jersey Speed Skiff: 1. Veri Cheri, David Greenlaw Jr., Turnersville, NJ; 2. Beerrun, James Wardell, Palm City, FL; 3. Darby’s Rapture, Kyle Darby, Port St. Lucie, FL
OUTBOARD
- SST60: 1. #10, Rob Rinker, Tampa, FL; 2. #16, Carole Reno, Okeechobee, FL; 3. #73, Steve Dinicolantonio, Long Boat Key, FL; 4. #89, Bill Mastro, Punta Gorda, FL
- SUPER SPORT: 1. #8, Danny McManus, Eustis, FL; 2. #47, Ron Titus, Jacksonville, FL; 3. #180, Gary Harris, Orlando, FL; 4. #1, Chip Wavro, Sparta, GA; 5. #11, Bill Hardaway, Leesburg, FL
- SST120: 1. #10, Terry Rinker, Tampa, FL; 2. #3, Donnie McDowell, Orlando, FL; 3. #34, Jeff Reno, Okeechobee, FL; 4. #28, Brian Burkhardt, Mims, FL
- SST150: 1. #33, Rob Dinicolantonio, Lakeland, FL; 2. #34, Jeff Reno, Okeechobee, FL; 3. #28, Brian Burkhardt, Mims, FL
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