The Tipsy Turtle Race: A Toast to Jack Holland and a Day of Light Air Fun

The Tipsy Turtle Race, held Sunday, November 9, was conceived as a replacement for the Mary Wells Race and, more importantly, as a tribute to one of our past Commodores, Jack Holland. Jack was well known for hosting the club’s annual Super Bowl parties, where the signature drink was the now-legendary Tipsy Turtle. Commodore Barry thought it only fitting that the race honoring Jack should carry that name.

Throughout the year, turtle trophies were gathered in anticipation of the event, culminating in a beautifully decorated bottle of rum as the grand prize — a fitting reward for a race inspired by good spirits in every sense of the word.

The race featured two starting locations: HI for boats docked in the north and R2 for boats docked in the south. With light winds forecast, the original course of HI to PE and back, and R2 to HI and back, was shortened. Instead, both fleets were sent toward a virtual “meet-in-the-middle” mark. We had two boats starting from R2 and eight from HI.

In keeping with the fun and experimental spirit of the event, the rule allowed boats to fly whatever legal sails their crews could manage. This opened the door for some creative competition and gave crews a chance to test their teamwork and sail-handling skills.

The weather lived up to the forecast — fluky and unpredictable. Gray, puffy overcast skies threatened rain, and the wind was anything but cooperative. A radio call was made five minutes prior to the start in hopes that boats as far as ten miles away might hear it, but each skipper was ultimately responsible for time and line management. A delay of race due to lack of wind was impossible to request due to the 10 mile location difference and not knowing if everyone could hear the radio broadcast. Once the race is started a delay cannot be requested, so we were committed to a 10 am start per the NOR.

At 10:00 a.m., the official start was announced over the radio — though “anticlimactic” might best describe it. There was no climate, no wind, and very little movement. The wind was expected from the southeast, but it seemed to have other plans. Sails were trimmed, crews shifted weight, and then, within 5-10 minutes, puffs began filling in from the SE. The southern R2 boats responded first, while the northern HI boats bobbed helplessly at the line — even drifting backward at one point. Anchors, anyone?

For the HI fleet, the wind did not arrive for more than 45 minutes. Eventually, a rainstorm to the east generated a more consistent breeze that carried the fleet toward the virtual mark.

And that virtual mark proved to be entertainment in its own right. Coordinates were initially provided in both Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds and Decimal Degrees — while some chart plotters required Degrees and Decimal Minutes. Confusion ensued, resulting in multiple “virtual” marks being used for this inaugural Tipsy Turtle Race. Did everyone have fun? That, after all, was the true point of the race.

Every boat finished, and by all accounts, everyone had a great time on the water. After all, who could complain about sailing in November in shorts and T-shirts?

Much post-race chatter followed regarding the mark location, with investigations undertaken and a mystery eventually solved (see “The Turtle Solves the Series Virtual Mark Mystery”).

The after-race party was held Tuesday at the Baja Café in Deerfield Beach, where pitchers of Tipsy Turtles flowed courtesy of the club and racing stories were generously shared. Good people, good drinks, good food, and good times defined the evening.

Thank you to all who participated, and congratulations to Frank Ennis aboard Solitude on winning his inaugural race!

See the Official Race Results page on the HISC website for full race details and calculations.Below is an abbreviated snapshot.

Tipsy Turtle 2025

GNK Class - 11/09/25 at 10:00:00S tart: JAM,

Distance: 9.2, Course: Start, VI, Finish, Wind Dir: SE/E, Ave wind: 6

1 Solitude GNK HISC Frank Ennis 168 10:00:00 12:40:02 2:40:02

2 Feelin Nauti GNK HISC Ken White 218 10:00:00 13:05:19 3:05:19

3 Eximius GNK 463 HISC Paul Alcock 186 10:00:00 13:01:00 3:01:00

4 Spruce Goose GNK 240 HISC Mike Megarity 186 10:00:00 13:06:17 3:06:17

Tipsy Turtle – JAMish Class - 11/09/25 at 10:00:00 Start: JAM, 10:00:00, Distance: 9.2, Course: Start,VI,Finish, Wind dir: SE/E, Ave wind: 6 Start:

1 Commotion JAM 42978 HISC Ross Hunton 129 10:00:00 12:07:33 2:07:33

2 Contrails JAM 776 HISC James Wallace 161 10:00:00 12:37:55 2:37:55

3 Zephyrus JAM HISC Tom Garvey 166 10:00:00 12:41:15 2:41:15

4 Sharyn-Leigh JAM 2585 HISC Terry Usher 135 10:00:00 12:39:02 2:39:02