505 Race report and links to video from 505 Florida midwinters
Ethan Bixby
2025 505 Florida Midwinters
55th running of the event
Once again the 505 fleet converged on the Clearwater Community Sailing Center for the Florida Midwinters, Jan 24-26.
Teams from the Baltimore-Washington-Annapolis area, Toronto, and Kingston fled a wintry blast to escape to the Florida sun and hopefully some warmth, joining several local teams.
Thanks again to Ethan and Trudy, Nathaniel and Shelia for hosting many competitors, and to the CCSC, Justin and staff, for another terrific Midwinters. PRO Donna Sue ran a great series with a small RC in trying conditions. And it’s probably her 10th year helping out as the PRO!
The wintry blast came south with competitors. The scheduled Tuesday to Thursday practice days turned into short sorties by a few teams, brief line ups, and then heading in before losing feeling in hands and fingers. It was 22+ knots, and in the mid 40’s, so only the dedicated or desperate went out!
But the trend was warming, so the fleet sailed out Friday hoping for slightly warmer conditions. One breezy race was held before the fleet was sent in. There were several spectacular capsizes and a bent mast in the 22+ knots of cold breeze. The waves were from New Orleans!
Saturday was incrementally warmer, and four races were held in less intense conditions. Solid wire running all the time, so probably 12-18.
After five races Ted and Ethan had a near lock on the series, with all bullets including their throw out. Bobby and Augie were the most consistent of the rest, holding down second overall.
The first challenge Sunday morning was getting to CCSC, as a marathon and half marathon were being run out of the park across the street, and traffic was backed up on Gulf Blvd.
There was an onshore postponement waiting for wind. It was warmer than before and more comfortable sailing in lighter air. The breeze has gone right, so off the shore, puffy and shifty. One race was completed before conditions deteriorated. Ted and Ethan won again with Bobby and Augie second.
The RC then ran another gate start so the fleet could race back to shore.
After some busy 505 packing, prizes were awarded by guest celebrity Peter Hale, former 505 sailor.
Some Thoughts:
It was great to see Augie back in a 505!
There were several new teams, with a talented Marblehead team sailing Andrew Jones’ boat from St. Petersburg. Also notable were Macy’s WRSC training program teams, and new to 505 sailors on Toronto and Northern VA teams.
There were some interesting sails in use. Nathaniel and Eric were using the North RM-1 mainsail. This main is a development of Ethan’s M10 design, a bit flatter up high, with a different panel layout. They used Ethan’s J-14 jib. This sail combination won the Adelaide 505 Worlds a few weeks ago. Ethan was using the M-10 main with an N-9 jib.
Two teams had great looking new Doyle laminate jibs. Ali lent Ted and Ethan his prototype KSL spinnaker for the last race.
There were two forward tack 505s in the fleet, and they finished 1st and 2nd.
Ty Baird did some amazing drone footage and edited to share. This is a class funded promotional work, so enjoy it and share it.
For 2026 we will try to push back to February or early March if possible.
Also, we are running a clinic in Clearwater on March 13-16. Contact Ethan if you are interested.
Report by Ali Meller and Ethan Bixby
(m) 727-385-7775