NIMBY XII
June 20 – 22, 2008

NIMBY XII, the 12th Annual "Not In My Back Yard" Road Trip Regatta, is scheduled for June 20 - 22, 2008.

It has now been twelve years since we conceived the concept of taking our show on the road to different venues. This year, we are again returning to the scene of some of our best regatta memories, Panama City, FL.

As usual, NIMBY XII will be an event not to be missed. This regatta has always been designed to be enjoyable for racers and non-racers alike, with a "No Class" offered along with the traditional racing classes. The registration fee will remain at $20, and will include happy hour, trophies, the pre-supper party, and a wearable item of some sort with the now famous NIMBY logo. Please print and fill it out the event registration form and bring it to the event.

The host motel is the Days Inn Bayside at 711 West Beach Drive near downtown Panama City. Note that this year's event is at a different venue from the previous NIMBYs held in Panama City. The motel is in a great location, right on St. Andrews Bay, with a good beach launch and pool. You can pull your car or trailer up to the edge of the parking area adjacent to the beach, and leave your rigged equipment there for the whole event. Call now and mention the "NIMBY Windsurfing Regatta" to get the group rate. I have reserved 12 rooms at the event room rate of $95, king or double (space available basis). These rooms are efficiencies and are large enough to accommodate 3-4 people or a family. Note that we get these (relatively) cheap rates by promising that a certain number of rooms will be rented, so please register only at the Days Inn Bayside to help keep prices down for everyone. I strongly suggest that you call immediately to be sure that you have a room reserved for the event, since these rates will only be in effect until Friday, June 6.

Go to the web site for full details on reserving a room at the motel.


The schedule and format will be similar to past NIMBYs. A yachting trip to fabulous Shell Island led by SPSC Fleet Commander Franklin will kick off the weekend on Friday at noon (meet on the dock behind the motel). Registration and a welcome happy hour will be held at the motel early Friday evening, followed by Friday evening supper and entertainment on your own. Racing will commence on Saturday, followed by the traditional party around the pool including complimentary snacks and refreshments on Saturday evening, then dutch-treat supper in a good, moderately priced restaurant Saturday night. Sunday will see more racing, followed by the trophy presentation.

As far as the racing is concerned, we'll be racing off the beach right next to the motel property. We plan to run races for longboards and hybrids if there is at least 5 knots of wind, and Formula boards if we reach 8 knots. The courses will be designed to suit the racers participating, but will probably include some non-standard configurations which will be challenging but fun. Above 15 knots, we may try some figure eight or downwind slalom courses.

In the tradition of the NIMBY, we will be continuing a long-standing Panama City tradition -- the infamous "Shell Island Shot", on Saturday. We'll start at the motel beach and sail a long distance course to a point on Shell Island. Non-sailors will be ferried over to Shell Island in boats, where we will provide refreshments before the race back. So, you might want to bring a variety of equipment to be able to adapt to the conditions. Classes will be determined based upon registrants at the event, but we usually have Formula, Longboard, Hybrid and/or Prodigy, and Sport fleets.

For those bringing boats, there is no overnight dockage right at the motel. Five blocks away, however, is the Panama City Marina, a city-owned facility that is well kept and reasonable in cost. Adjacent to the marina is a large launch facility. Contact the marina about overnight boat slip rental at http://www.panamacity-fl.gov/marina.htm.

Go to the a map of the area.

For more details or questions, see the web site or contact me at finney@eng.fsu.edu. Don't delay -- reserve your room at the Days Inn Bayside now, and thanks for supporting our annual out-of-town road trip-race/party weekend, NIMBY XII.