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Windlasses sailors compete against a group of prams during race day on Thursday in Dunedin. ©Douglas R. Clifford
Just after sunrise on Thursday, Margo Currey, captain of the Windlasses sailing group, moves along the shoreline at the Dunedin Community Sailing Center, checking spars and rudders for a row of prams on the shore.
Around her, members move through a practiced rhythm: stepping masts, threading sheets and tightening lines. Life jackets are clipped and whistles readied, while daggerboards are slid into place. Soon, the safety boat will idle off the ramp and, one by one, the boats will ease into the water.
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It’s race day for the group, delayed by a windless morning and a low blanket of fog that holds the fleet at the dock. But as the haze begins to lift, a light breeze ripples the water and the boats ease off the beach.
Soon the fleet — prams and Sunfish — is tacking out of the harbor into the Intracoastal Waterway, the protected channel between downtown Dunedin and Caladesi Island.
Founded 58 years ago, the group welcomes women of all ages with prior sailing experience. Two dozen sailors, aged 45-83, participated in Thursday’s meet.
New members complete a seasonal orientation that combines classroom instruction in tactics and safety with on-the-water training, underscoring the club’s focus on developing racing skills and confidence, as well as camaraderie.
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The Windlasses meet each Thursday, where beginners, intermediates and advanced sailors test wind shifts and right-of-way, hiking to windward as a test of their skills.
Their sailing season runs parallel to Pinellas County’s school year, with training and competition, seasonal series races, occasional one-day special races and cruises to nearby islands.
The Dunedin chapter is part of a statewide network of women’s sailing clubs along Florida’s coast. The rhythm is steady — rig, launch, race, reset — stretching into early afternoon before boats return to shore to de-rig and trade stories in the shade.
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Prospective members can contact Capt. Currey at [email protected].
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