Category: Photos

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.

Zuro & Weaver Win

2015 Useppa Beach Croquet Tournament

Photos by UseppaGin

The final croquet match pitted perennial nine wicket champion Mike Zuro and his novice partner player Chris Weaver against seasoned player Tyler Sipprelle and his beginner partner Sam Pastor. Zuro and Weaver won that game, but everyone who played on the beach during the long day, both winners and losers had a great time. That’s what croquet on Useppa is all about.

Block Winners

Clare Sipprelle & Maxwell Powell

Linda O’Connell & Cole Meznieski

Jake Merrill & Emily Fermint

Betty Folkerth & Curtis Chapin

Steve Kaufman & Mark Smith

2nd Place Winners

Tyler Sipprelle and Sam Pastor

1^st Place & Undefeated Winners

Mike Zuro & Chris Weaver

Forty-eight players were in the tournament. Thanks to Mike Albert, Karen Connery, Suzy Trino and Scott Carlson for backstage the work that made the day such a success. Thanks to all the seasoned players who shared their knowledge of the game with their inexperienced partners.

Let the Play Begin!

Useppa Annual Beach Croquet Tournament Part I

Photos by Island Annah, Starfish Maisie, Ocean Anna & UseppaGin

The players gathered on the beach December 30th for a day of nine wicket croquet. Names were drawn, pairings were made between the “Best of the Best” and “Newbies. Intermediates were divided into two groups.

The first rounds of play began at 9:30 and the fun began. Laughter and moans, missed shots and perfect hoops. It took a team of young photographers and UseppaGin to catch the action.

Winners????

Tune in for Beach Croquet Part II

1^st Annual Useppa Duathlon

by Simon Bound & pictures by UseppaGin

The 1st Annual Useppa Duathlon took place on December 29th with over 20 competitors finishing. Some entrants participated as individuals, some as members of a team, and all had fun.

A 2k run was followed by 1k sea swim and another 2k run.

The winner was Alex Bound, 2nd Tyler Sipprelle and 3rd was Jack Bound.

This will be an annual event over the Christmas week going forward.

See you all in December 2016!

Pirates on Useppa

POA Party at the Tarpon Bar

Photos by UseppaGin

It was only for one night, but there were pirates on Useppa walking the plank, dancing, looking for treasure, sipping a drink or two, and more.

Normally quiet homeowners on the island with patches on their eyes, carrying swords, and wearing ruffled shirts showed up and claimed the Tarpon Bar for one night. It was the Annual Useppa Property Owners Association Party and a good time for all ages. Neighbors old and new, young and old, celebrated being part of the Useppa family.

2015 Izaak Walton Kids’ Christmas Fishing Tournament

Photos by UseppaGin

Lots of kids, lots of fish, and lots of families participated in the 2015 Kids’ Izaak Walton Christmas Fishing Tournament.

Following in a long Davis tradition, little Loraine caught the most fish with her grandfather, grandmother and aunties by her side. Anastasia caught the Biggest Fish. Maxwell caught the Weirdest Looking Fish. Twins Anna and Maisie each won a trophy. Anna caught the 2^nd Biggest Fish and Maisie caught the 2^nd Most Fish.

Old time kids, now grownups, came back to cheer on the newest island fisherpersons. With the help of Captains Ken & Jeff and Donald Beckstead, the tradition continues of kids fishing off Marina’s docks continues.