Dear BYC Maritime Sciences and Seamanship Foundation,
Thank you so much for your financial support, helping me to attend 2018 Club 420 Midwinter Championship hosted by U.S. Sailing Center Martin County in Jensen Beach, Florida. I attend along with Jean Marie Wanlass as my skipper. We had a blast!
On our first day in Florida, We spent the day rigging up our charter boat. In the afternoon we got out on the water along with the other BYC team, Sophia Deviling and Jeffrey Petersen. We ran drills and had a super fun practice day with plenty of wire time, a huge change from Newport! The next morning was the first day of racing which started strong with an almost two hour long postponement. But once we finally got on the water it was great. 
On the first day had a total of three races. The next day, we again had a postment on land before we left to start racing but just like the day before the breeze picked up making it another great day of sailing. On the last day, a front that we had been waiting for the whole event moved in. There was no postponement and great breeze to finish of the regatta. We were having a great start to our last day of racing but on the last downwind of the first race, during a gybe Jean was hit in the head by the boom so we were not able to finish the last three races.
Even with with the unfortunate events of the last day, I still learned so much and was also able to learn even more by staying out on the course during those last few races to watch the top boats. Overall it was a great experience. It was great to experience the very different conditions from Newport.
Thank you again for all of your support and helping to make this trip possible!
Alex Stauffer