Daily Archives: May 1, 2012

Competitors Laud Championship Hosts

Posted on by

Once Gary Tisdale and Team Niagara (NY) had received the Hospice Regattas National Championship trophy April 22, St. Petersburg Yacht Club PRO Patricia Seidenspinner (above) could relax.

But it wasn’t long before Pat was getting pats on the back for chairing a Race Committee that delivered what one competitor called “an amazing weekend of sailing!”

“The competition was skilled, the Race Committee first-class, the facilities amazing, and the on- and off-the-water support of the SPYC Staff was especially dedicated,” said  Jon Ledsworth of Team Muskegon (MI) in an enthusiastic e-mail. “Thank you again, Patricia. It is a pleasure to say that I have raced in a regatta in which you were the PRO,” he added.

Ledsworth explained that participating in the Championship meant a lot to him because his mother is receiving hospice care. “What an amazing organization and people! Under the circumstances, it has been a wonderful experience to see just how incredible Hospice truly is,” he added.

Seidenspinner herself applauded SPYC committee volunteers. “Thank you, everyone on the race committee team,” she said during the final race. “On Thursday, I wouldn’t have given a plug nickel that we would have been able to pull 13 races off!”

Read more

FL-Naples Stages Fun Competition at Post-Race Party

Posted on by

There’s more than one way to build a boat – especially when the materials at hand include pipe cleaners, a deck of cards, and drinking straws, among a few other odds and ends (see photo at left).

However, participants at the Avow Hospice Regatta’s shore party were up for the challenge to create the best boat.

The shore party welcomed more than 100 people of all ages, with all 10 tables set with a bucket full of what seemed to be party favors. As the guests found their tables, Avow Hospice’s Bonnie Dinger challenged them to use the bucket’s contents to build a boat. Individuals and table teams engaged their creative brains to come up with some very smart solutions.

The newly assembled boats were displayed and voted on by the attendees and staff, and the winners were rewarded with the NHRA posters of Willard Bond’s work.

Group activities are great for team building and cutting the ice when faced with new people in new surroundings. Creating the boats as individuals, or as a team at each table, really was a great way for everyone to interact and meet new friends.

Read more