After the Fun Race, Meridian started a raft-up in Pelican Bay with JourneyOn, Patience, Satisfaction, Jammin and Corona joining the raft. We all had a wonderful time visiting with friends and sampling happy hour food. The awards for the Fun race were presented, Meridian took First place. Blown Away took Second, while, Lovers Launch took Third  & Satisfaction took Fourth.

Early on Sunday, we started for Mantanzas Pass. Meridian went out Boca Grande Pass. JourneyOn, Satisfaction and Lovers Launch took the ICW and the rest of us went out Redfish pass. The winds were 8-10 kts and the seas were flat. We arrived at Mantanzas Pass at 1600. Most people ate dinner at the Parrot Key Caribbean Grill at Salty Sam’s Marina.

On Monday morning a few of us enjoyed breakfast at Bonita Bills and set off for Naples and the Naples City dock. Once more, we enjoyed a nice sail. We had a pot luck dinner at the Naples City dock pavilion. Everyone brought their own meat and a dish to share. We had a lot of delicious dishes and a great time visiting and telling stories about the trip.

On Tuesday, we explored Naples, walked on the beach and met at Old Naples Pub for dinner. We had a delicious dinner and a lot of comradely; Sue Alaimo bought birthday cards for Jan Lorton, Jerry Haller and Matt Alaimo. It was a challenge to have everyone sign the cards and not get the birthday people suspicious.

On Wednesday, Lovers Launch and Euphoria left to head home. The forecast was for 10 kts from the North. Others opted to wait until Thursday. Those staying for the race moved to Naples Yacht Club. The club gave the racers and crew slips to promote the race.

On Thursday, Quo Vadis, Desert Fox and Corona left to head home. The forecast was for 15 kts from the NE. Satisfaction had water pump problems and delayed departure until Friday.

Thursday evening Jerry and Bob had a skippers meeting for the race. After the skipper’s meeting we had a pot luck dinner, then the Anderson and Alaimo’s watched Survivor. 

  Friday was race day and at 1400 we left for the starting line at the Naples City Pier. The winds were 8-10 knots NW and later built to12 to18 kts with seas of 1-3 feet. The start took place at 1600. We were in the second start. The first leg was from the starting line at the Naples City Pier to the San Carlos Bay mark and then to Boca Grande marker 2. 

West of Sanibel, at around midnight, we tore the Genoa on Jammin. We dropped the torn sail and hoisted our 105 jib and it took about 15 minutes to do this. Although no one passed us, we knew that we lost too much time. 

At Boca Grande Pass, we were looking for flashing marker #2, but if it hadn't been for the GPS, we would have never found it because when we found marker 2, the light was burned out. 

The return leg was straight back to Naples City Pier. We enjoyed a beautiful sunrise on this leg and finished the race at 1010. We were the first across the line, but didn't place.

 JourneyOn sailed the course very well and took a 2nd place in the race. The awards banquet was at the Naples Yacht Club. They had a delicious buffet and desert bar. After a well deserved night of rest we set sail back to Punta Gorda.