Author: Useppa

ALL FIRED UP: Part I

Fire Department Raises Approximately $50,000

Photos by UseppaGin

 

Bidding, dancing, singing along with the band, Apple watches, paddleboards, bikes, fishing trips, paintings, and good friends…

Saturday night at the Collier Inn, was one of the best parties in recent memory.

Thank you to all who helped make it a success.

More details in Part II, but for right now, enjoy pictures of a community aglow.

A Toast to Saint Patrick and A Toast to Useppa

Pictures by UseppaGin & Paul Miller IV

Bless us and save us. The leprechauns were everywhere on the island celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. And then the little green ones lined up and paraded up and down the beach.

T’was surely a day to be Irish on Useppa.

Stephan O”Kaufmann was the Ringmaster with Jan Sweeney and Aimee O’Lockhart at his side judging decorated golf carts trailing the Fire Truck along the water’s edge.

And the winners were….

1st Place: Best in Show

     The Becksteads all in green including rescue dog Dash

2^nd Place: Most Likely to Give You Nightmares

      Laura Stokes and son Brady in the “Paddy Wagon”

3^rd Place: Most Likely to Make an Irishman Proud

      The Wallingfords

4^th Place: Most Unforgettable

      Brian and Mary McColgan

Sailing and Capsizing

Catboat Rendezvous/Sandpiper ‘Worlds’

February 24-27, 2016

Story & Pictures by UseppaGin

 

It happens to all sailors, capsizing adds to the excitement of an event. No one plans for it. No one wants it to happen, but sometimes, the wind can trick even the best.

The afternoon breezes were challenging. Not everyone decided to sail, but those who did, those who dared, had a great time… even those in the boat that went over.

Dan O’Connell was the captain. Frank Greer was his mate. Everything was going well… until it didn’t.

The Marshall Cat flipped. Greer and O’Connell clung to its sides. Charlie Chapin in his boat was first on the scene. The Committee Boat “Snooper” arrived with Race PRO Bob Stevens in charge. While John and Cherry Hodges helped, Chapin maneuvered and threw the necessary lines to tow “Flying Cloud” into shore. Greer and O’Connell climbed aboard “Snooper.”

Just before reaching the beach, Geoff Marshall whose family built the first Marshall Cats, climbed aboard the water logged boat, and righted the sails to enable a smooth landing.

All’s well that ends well. The races went on. The winners celebrated. Frank and Dan thanked their friends for their help.

A community of sailors enjoying their time on Useppa.

 

Sandpiper Regatta Day #2

Part I

Pictures by UseppaGin

 

Principal Race Officer (PRO) Bob Stevens the lead fleet out on the first day of sailing as the racing began in 10+ knots of breeze. All went well and the hearty sailors were rewarded with another delicious lunch at Bill’s Grille.

It was the afternoon when things got interesting.

Stay tuned for Day #1, Part II

Useppa’s Sandpiper Regatta

Day #1

Bocce, Gutter Boats & More

By Useppa Island Yacht Club Commodore Jim Doherty

How much FUN can you have at a Useppa Sandpiper Regatta?

As with all sailing events, wind plays a major role in how the daily schedule unfolds. The first day provided too much wind, and a “lay-day” of shore-based activities ensued. It started with a spirited and competitive Bocce ‘Tournament’ in the morning, followed by a ‘Gutter Boat’ Regatta with lots of hot air propelling hand crafted boats down water filled gutters. Between the day’s activities was a sumptuous lunch at Bill’s Grille on the sun filled beach.

The day was capped off with dinner at the Tarpon Bar where stories of the day’s conquests dominated the conversations. An extra treat was a continuous photo gallery by UseppaGin of the previous regatta two years earlier.

The FUN just keeps on coming.

Next  …. the races

“Useppa Home Companion”

Saturday, February 20^th, 2016

By UseppaGin

Live on stage in the Tarpon Bar on lovely Useppa Island Florida, an old-fashioned radio show, “Useppa Home Companion” starred neighbors and friends.

Sponsored by the Useppa Island Historical Society, characters from Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” settled in for the evening. Dan O’Connell in sports jacket, red tie and red sneakers was emcee and storyteller. Shane Swigert was his “mom” in one skit, Paul Miller’s wife in another. Allie Lindhorst sang a solo and harmonized in duets with Miller. In “Making Whoopie” they were at their best. The audience loved them.

Brady Stokes collected cast off script pages. Paul Swigert was the Sound Man working with Karen Connery. Linda Colgan and Kurt Stocker were everywhere in ads and skits.

Useppa year rounder Ginny Amsler read two of her poems, “The Coach and Miss Barbara,” about Island icons Bob and Barbara Sumwalt, and “Bearded Man and Shaggy Dog: True Story… Almost,” about old neighbor and friend Barney King and rescue dog Trouble.

The show was the brainchild and directed by Museum Director Rona Stage.

Good Times on Useppa

Photos by UseppaGin

From the beach on Cayo Costa, to lunch on the Collier Inn patio….

From taking pictures of birds and dogs to chance encounters with Island visitors….

From a visit with University of Florida and Useppa archeologist Bill Marquardt to celebrating Warren Miller’s 86^th birthday….

Life on Useppa is always fun.

Being on Useppa is a gift

Super Bowl, Super Party on Useppa

Photos by UseppaGin

Panthers vs. Broncos. Old friends and new, pizza and beer, good times and cheers, all add up to a Useppa Super Bowl Party at the Tarpon Bar. Respectful silence during the National Anthem, and then, constant noise from the kickoff to the game ending last whistle. There are few better places to watch football than on Useppa.

Incoming Current & Shifting Breeze

Useppa Yacht Club Races, February 6, 2016

By Bob Stevens, Race Committee

Nice morning.  We saw breeze at about 8 knots to start, and it quietly settled all morning, then shifted abruptly to the west.  Caught me unable to set a finish line, and to get the final race off very well.  Perfectly lousy starting line, with my boat not knowing just what to do with the incoming current and the shifting breeze.  Sorry to have such a sad looking starting line for the third race!

But, six boats were out this morning: Bill and Sherry Welch in Purrfect, Paul Beisswenger and Michael Carmichael in Spirit –changing skippers/crew along the way, Ed King and Kim Lockhart in Coot — changing skippers along the way, Ray George and Jim Doherty in Little 7 Up, Kurt Stocker and Tony Colgan showed up in Ragtime — they too, changed skippers, and John Coyle was out in Sink ‘r Swim.

We got in three races, the first two were twice around the windward/leeward course, and the final once just once around.  The big news for the day was Kim Lockhart, at the helm for the first time ever, winning the second race, with Ed King as his crew aboard Coot.  Nice work, Kim!!

Spirit managed a first, a second and a third this morning, Purrfect did the same, a first, second, and a third.  Coot had Kim’s first effort win and two third place finishes.  So, each of the three won a race this morning, and they all finished in the top three each race.  I had Ginny Amsler aboard as help this morning, and Stu and Diana were out moving marks with their usual diligence and attention.  My thanks to all three.

Thanks to Bill Newbold, of Bill’s Grille fame, who did the grilling.  Thanks to Kay Chapin, and all the rest who helped with lunch on the beach.