By Kate E. Salute
³We came here to play volleyball, but we were listening to the music and when we caught the regatta while were driving up National,² said Bert Barry of Roslyn. ³I could see the mast of the sailboats, it was very interesting.²
A buddy of Barry¹s, on the other hand said, ³There were boats? I didn¹t even see them. I got a ticket last night so I was really keeping my eyes on the road.²
The second annual Spirit Rider Regatta started and ended at National Blvd. along the boardwalk on Sept. 10. A total of 18 boats of various classes, came to race from a number of towns.
The first place winner was the Picante, skippered by John Baroni of East Rockaway. In second place, Absolut Kaos was skippered by Tom Doheny of Point Lookout and in third place was 40 Something, skippered by Fred Shenker from Woodmere.
The regatta¹s organizer, Noreen Costello, puts the event together each year to honor her brother Patrick O¹Keefe, a firefighter from Rescue One who died after entering the North Tower of the World Trade Center on 9-11.
The event raises money for Spirit Rider Regatta Scholarships, tens of thousands of dollars given out each year to regional high school seniors who have lost a parent to violence or are recent arrivals to our shores.
The idea for a regatta was inspired by O¹Keefe, who was a big sailor.
³This is something that makes us feel closer to him,² said Costello. ³We¹re trying to turn a negative into a positive.²
The proceeds have been well spent, Costello said.
³There are so many kids that are so lost or starting over, we give them that hand up by taking education off the table as something to not think and worry about.²
The day was about more than sailing, as coffee, chowder and good food was made available to the spectators. The music, provided by a band from Glen Cove called Hyjinx, had people on the beach and on the boardwalk dancing and singing and moving to the music as they played popular covers mixed in with some originals.
The band¹s lead singer, Bryce Larsen, happens to be the son of the regatta¹s race officer in charge, Carl Larsen and his wife Tulinda.
³[Carl] sets the race rules and courses and the handicaps for each boat.² Meanwhile, her son set the beat on land.
The Larsens came to be a part of the Spirit Rider Regatta last year after Carl Larsen was race officer in charge for the Around Long Island Regatta and was approached about doing the same for Spirit Rider.
³Since then, we¹ve gotten to know this wonderful family² Tulinda said. ³It¹s great to see how they give kids a chance who wouldn¹t necessarily be the top scholarship winners in their schools.²
A group of volleyball players from East Rockaway High School made their way over to listen to the music. ³We saw the boats. It was a pretty sight,² said Monica Mielinis. ³We¹d definitely come again,² agreed Erin Hutton and Alyssa Southard.
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