Youth sailors get thrill ride onMelges 32s
The Swedish boat Inga had a strong final day Sunday towinthe three-day2016Melges 32 Gold Cup off Fort Lauderdale in a regatta that also was highlighted by junior sailors taking part on Saturday.
The youth sailorswere there thanks to the Lauderdale Yacht Club Sailing Foundation, which put a junior on each of the 13Melges 32s that competed so the kids could get a taste of what it’s like to race with and against world-class sailors.
DenverRozzo and MichaelMoss received trophies for best youth efforts at the regatta.
The second day of the regatta hosted by LYCresulted insomefamiliar faces at the top of the leaderboard. Dick DeVos and Volpe had a 1-point lead over reigningworld champion Alessandro Rombelli and STIG. Inga, which had led the first day, was disqualified in the third race of the day and slipped to fourth place.
But Richard Goransson’s Inga rallied on the final day with finishes of fourth, first and third to end the eight-race regatta with 19 points for its best seven races.
Benjamin Schwartz and Pisces were second overall with 34 points, which included two firsts. Rombelli and STIG were third, also with 34 points, but only one first, followed by Volpe and G-SPOT, both with 35 points.
Coral reef meetings
OurFloridaReefs has meetings fromnoon to 2 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Newman Alumni Center at theUniversity of Miami in Coral Gables and Thursday at the Kovens Conference Center at FIU in North Miami. The meetings will present recommendations for protecting local reefs, including no-fishing zones and not allowing scuba divers to spearfish. Attendees will be allowed to fill out comment cards on the recommendations, which they can also do online at ourfloridareefs.org.
Spring Fishing Classic
Celebrity anglers will conduct seminars and sign autographs Friday through Sunday as the annual Spring Fishing Classic winds up this weekend at the Bass Pro Shops store inDania Beach.
Those fishermen include nine-time BASS Angler of the Year Roland Martin, Peter Miller, host of the TV show“Bass 2 Billfish” and Rich Tudor, co-host of“Salt water Experience .” Call 954-929-7710 or visit basspro.com.
Sailfish tournament
The Sailfish Challenge is now a two-day
tournament that will be held Friday and Saturday, with fishing out of Government Cut, HillsboroInlet orLakeWorth Inlet. Entryfee is $1,495 plus tax. Final registration is 6 p.m. Wednesday at Bokampers Sports Bar & Grill in Fort Lauderdale. Visit sail fish challenge - .comor call 954-725-4010.
Safe boating
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 38 has an eight-hour “About Boating Safely” course Sunday at Bass Pro Shops in Dania Beach. Cost is $50 and includes lunch. To register, email Paul_Greenbaum@yahoo.com or call 954-610-8085.
SaltWater seminar
The Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series is 9 a.m .-3 p.m. Feb .27 at the Port St. Lucie Civic Center in Port St. Lucie.
GeorgePoveromo, host of “George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing” on the NBCSportsNetwork and a contributing editor for Salt Water Sportsman magazine, headlines the program.
Tickets are $55 and available by calling 800-448-7360 or online at national seminar series. That includes an after party from 5-8:30 p.m. at the Bass Pro Shops store in Port St. Lucie.
Youth fishing
The Broward County Parks and Recreation Division’s 18th annual Jr. Bass Trail for ages 12-17 starts Feb. 28, with the first of four tournaments atTradewinds Park in Coconut Creek. Tournaments also will be held at QuietWaters Park in Deerfield Beach. Kids fish in boats accompanied by a non-fishing adult 18 or older from safe light to 1 p.m. For information or to register, callBobNewlandat 954-214-8771.