Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
The annual yacht race is being used as a conduit for improving commerce between Florida and Mexico.
By BRYAN GILMER
© St. Petersburg Times, published April 28, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- Sailboats swarmed around an imaginary line in Tampa Bay just beyond the end of The Pier on Friday morning. When they got the signal, they turned toward the Sunshine Skyway to race each other to Isla Mujeres, Mexico.
"How beautiful!" Enrique Lima exclaimed in Spanish as he watched the ships' sails, taut with air, from aboard a 47-foot motor yacht in the bay.
The Regata del Sol al Sol (regatta from sun to sun) is a 456-mile race that has been run for 32 years. But this year it has taken on greater significance as a symbol of the desire of Florida economic development officials to strengthen ties with Mexico.
On Isla Mujeres, where Lima is race coordinator for the local yacht club, townspeople have turned their yearly welcome of the fleet of yachts from Florida into an enormous celebration. They treat their guests to a dayslong party, including a veritable "river of Corona," the most famous Mexican beer, said St. Petersburg regatta chairman Nick Stan.
Pinellas County Commissioner Barbara Sheen Todd, Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris and others are trying, at least symbolically, to create the same kind of excitement on this end of the race.
"The idea was to use the regatta to build on culture, tourism and economic development efforts for the Tampa Bay area," Todd said Thursday.
But a language barrier stands between Floridians and the opportunity to trade with Mexico, so cultural events to interest Floridians in learning Spanish are a big part of Pinellas County's efforts. There is a Latin film festival May 4-6 at the Main Street Cinema in Clearwater, for example, and students learning Spanish in some schools are establishing pen pals in Isla Mujeres.
A workshop and banquet Thursday was about improving trade with Mexico.
Lima said he is glad to see his Florida counterparts finally beginning to capitalize on a sailing race he believes is a great tradition that has built lasting friendships.
"After 33 years, it's about time," he said.