GBCA/TMCA Spring Fling

Galveston Bay Cruising Association and Texas Mariners Cruising Association were joint organizers for the first ever Galveston to Port Arthur (yes Janis Joplin’s hometown) Spring Fling Race. This race is one of the four-race Texas Offshore Racing Circuit (TORC). Of the six boats originally vying for the Texas Navy Trophy, only two (Bee Bednar’s J/105 Stinger, and J.D. Hill’s J/122 Second Star) signed up. Preliminary weather forecasts were for 8-10 kt winds from the SE, but what racers saw was NE winds in the 15-20 kt range with 5-8 foot seas. The resulting slug fest saw Bee Bednar’s J/105 Stinger take line honors over the J/109 Harm’s Way and Second Star. Of the 24 boats entered, only four managed to finish the race in the allotted time frame. Bee’s three bullets in the four-race TORC together with a one race drop-out assures that Stinger has won the Texan Navy Trophy for the third time.