Seasoned sailors take advantage of smooth seas at Sarasota Bay Cup Regatta

By Dana Kampa
| 7:49 a.m. April 13, 2026

The team aboard the "Triple Threat," captained by John Novak, rounds the first marker of the Bird Key Yacht Club's annual Sarasota Bay Cup regatta on April 11.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Being the first to cross the finish line in a sailing regatta one year is one thing. But pulling it off two years in a row is one for the books.

Alan Staniforth of the "Kraken" multihull became the back-to-back winner of the Price Cup after sailing in the Bird Key Yacht Club's annual regatta April 11.

The titular Sarasota Bay Cup went to lifelong Sarasota resident Jon Dowd, captain of the "Whole Lotta Rosie." The vessel took first place in the PHRF Multihull category, completing the 9-mile course in just over an hour.

"It was just nice, breezy and fast," Dowd said of the conditions that day.

This is Staniforth's fourth time racing in the Sarasota Bay Cup, and he brings his extensive experience sailing in South Africa to the competition.

Staniforth, in fact, bought his boat from Dowd, and there may have been some luck left in it from the multi-award-winning captain.

BKYC Commodore Tony Britt said about 50 teams competed in this year's cup. Under sunny skies and with light winds at their backs, the vessels partook in an easy-going afternoon out on the water.

The race was the cherry on top of an adventure-filled few weeks for the team of Anderson Brunsvold, Audrey Gaskill, and Nick and Jane Lovisa.

Earlier this month, the couple got married at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron headquarters, where the temporarily clubhouse-less yacht club held its post-race reception and awards ceremony.

The Lovisas said the headquarters are where they fell in love, so it only made sense to hold their ceremony on the shores of Sarasota Bay.

Not long after celebrating their nuptials, they were already back out on the water, competing in the regatta with two of their friends.

The team had more to celebrate that evening at the reception as they took second place in the PHRF Multihull category, right behind the Sarasota Bay Cup winners.

Revelers concluded the awards by naming Sandy Gerber the winner of the Sportsmanship Award.

Gerber said she's only been sailing for two years, and she deemed that afternoon the best day of sailing yet.

"I've had some great teachers with a lot of patience for me," she said. "Today, I got out on the water and could hear all the voices of the people who have taken the time to instruct me. They sailed with me."

2026 Sarasota Bay Cup winners

Sarasota Bay Cup Overall Winner: Jon Dowd, "Whole Lotta Rosie"
Price Cup Winner: Alan Staniforth, "Kraken"
American 18: Jaki Becker, "7," first place
American 18: Penny Durham, "Liberty," second place
American 18: William Carnes, "America 18," third place
Melges 15: Jordan Wiggins, "Running with Scissors," first place
Melges 15: Mike Funsch, "Dorian Gray," second place
Melges 15: Rob Hudson de Tarnowsky, "Max Q," third place
PHRF Cruiser: William Gately, "Fruition," first place
PHRF Cruiser: Ed Throckmorton, "Joy II," second place
PHRF Cruiser: Mauro Harto, "Mojo," third place
PHRF Multihull: Jon Dowd, "Whole Lotta Rosie," first place
PHRF Multihull: Anderson Brunsvold, "American Spirit," second place
PHRF Multihull: Alan Staniforth, "Kraken," third place
PHRF Non-Spin: Chad Weiss, "Zephyr," first place
PHRF Pocket Cruiser: John Huber, "Green Flash," first place
PHRF Spinnaker: Dave Hillmyer, "Slot Machine," first place
PHRF Spinnaker: Augie Mimica, "SKRPUN," second place
PHRF Spinnaker: William Crosskey, "Zoryana," third place
Sunfish: Andy Hodgson, first place
Sunfish: Emily Wagner, second place
Sunfish: Sandra Gerber, "Charis," third place

Alan Staniforth's team with the "Kraken" became the back-to-back winner of the Price Cup at this year's Bird Key Yacht Club regatta, and the team captained by Jon Dowd of the "Whole Lotta Rosie" was the winner of the titular Sarasota Bay Cup. The April 11 sailing competition brought light winds and smooth sailing.

One of the first vessels out the gate rounds the first checkpoint at the April 11 Sarasota Bay Cup regatta.

The "Tigerlily," captained by Cathy Tabb with the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, rounds the checkpoint.

The "Tigerlily" crew captained by Cathy Tabb gives the thumbs up at the outset of the race.

The "Green Flash," captained by John Huber, took first in the PHRF Pocket Cruiser category.

Even with relatively mild winds, sailors had to be prepared to offset the pitching of Sarasota Bay's waters.

Michael Landis captained the "Eventide" at the 2026 Sarasota Bay Cup regatta.

Winds picked up periodically throughout the afternoon regatta on Sarasota Bay, bringing with them fresh batches of vessels reaching the first marker.

"Green with Envy," captained by Christopher Palmer, cuts through the waves.

The "Green with Envy" crew sets its sights on checkpoint two.

The sail of the "Mojo," captained by Mauro Harto, snaps taut with the change in direction around the first checkpoint. The crew took third place in the PHRF Cruiser category.

The "Serendipity" crew makes quick work of the turn at the first checkpoint.

Contestants in the Sarasota Bay Cup said they appreciated the calm yet quick breeze that pushed them along on April 11.

It was all smiles aboard the "Quinessential," captained by Marvin Quin.

The "Kraken" sails out across Sarasota Bay. Captained by Alan Staniforth, the team won the Price Cup for the second year in a row.

Under George Entrikin's guidance, the "Pathfinder" flys a hull.

Anderson Brunsvold, Nick and Jane Lovisa, and Audrey Gaskill celebrate winning second place in the PHRF Multihull category of the Sarasota Bay Cup regatta.

Sarasotan Jon Dowd celebrates winning the 2026 Sarasota Bay Cup.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.