While February is one of the slower months for sailing activities for the Lake Monroe Sailing Association, the waters will be soon be warming up and filling up with vessels and crews as the 2026 sailing season is about to get hot and heavy.
But sailing has not been completely in moth balls as the LMSA recently contested its first Sine Metu Jameson Irish Whiskey Race for the 2026 season and it was an eventful one.
According to Jim Goempel, with Vice Commodore Andy Forrest filling in for the ever present Fleet Captain Olivier Fleury and coming up with an exciting course for an early Sunday afternoon race.
A sporty southerly breeze with gusts in the high 20’s greeted the seven boats at the starting line up for the challenge.
Team Show Me _ Andy Forrest, Monique Rogers and Jim Goempel _ took the early lead and never looked back to lead the displacement fleet for the win.
But it was John Chamberlin and James Pompi, onboard the Nacra, that was cruising on a rail and went on to win the overall race and take first place in multihull fleet.
Shifty, gusty conditions challenged the fleet around the course, including one torn mainsail and a lot of playing the traveler. All and all a beautiful day on Lake Monroe!
Here are the Results:
January Sine Metu Jameson Irish Whiskey Race
Sunday, January 25, 2026
1. (Multihull 1) NacraNA (John Chamberlin), 1:22:39.
2. (Displacement 1) Show Me (Andy Forrest), 1:32:11 (minus-0:09:09).
3. (Displacement 2) Andiamo (John North), 1:36:55 (-0:13:41).
4. (Displacement 3) Runaway (Allister James), 1:43:59 (-0:19:45).
5. (Displacement 4) Shajaira (Bob Fellingham), 1:51:14 (-0:25:54).
6. (Displacement 5) Kind of Blue (James Moran), 2:13:54 (-0:48:16).
7. (Displacement 6) Tipsy (Louis Quinones), Did Not Finish.
Unfortunately, the opening race in the 2026 Ladies On The Lake Championship Series had to be cancelled because of inclement weather and very frigid temperatures.
Still, several boats made their way to the Catalina 22’s Fun N Sun Regatta January 30-and-February 1, in Palatka, and First place went to Rich Gailey, Patrick Dorsch and Will Faber.
Saturday was a spicy day on the course with three scheduled races facing medium winds with gusts into mid teens. By the third race there was a consistent wind of 20 with gusts up to mid 20’s. No races were contested on Sunday due to very cold weather and high wind conditions for the few boats that survived Saturdays conditions. Congratulations to Rich and crew!!!
Last week, the 2026 Southern Challenge was announced for the weekend of March 7-8 on Lake Monroe. San Juan 21 and Catalina 22 sailors are invited to attend the Fleet 29 race for the San Juan's and the District 3 championship for the Catalina's. There will also be an Open Portsmouth class.
Coming up this week is the monthly Club Meeting tonight (Wednesday) from 6:30 p.m.-to-7:30 p.m. at the LMSA Clubhouse on Seminole Boulevard and the February race in the LMSA Club Championship Series for the Hayden Cup on Saturday with the Skippers Meeting set for noon.
Also on the schedule is the February Sine Metu Jameson Irish Whiskey Race on Sunday, February 22, and the rescheduled opening race for the Ladies on the Lake Club Series on Saturday, February 28, at noon.
Coming up in March, in addition to the Southern Challenge, will be the beginning of the weekly Wednesday Night Rum Racing beginning on the 11th and the Mount Dora Regatta the weekend of March 21 and 22.
For more information, visit _ www.flalmsa.org _ or call (321) 578-8364.
