USF women aim to move up at sailing championships

ST. PETERSBURG — Abby Featherstone would love to go out a winner. The 21-year-old senior on the USF women's sailing team is competing in the finals of the College Sailing Spring National Championship this week.

"It still hasn't hit me yet," the Sarasota native said before the competition began Wednesday. "But this is it."

The USF women's sailing team, the only varsity sport on the St. Petersburg campus, heads into today's final day of competition in 11th place with 247 points after 14 races, well behind leader Dartmouth (149) and runnersup Boston College and St. Mary's (188). Today's final four races are scheduled to begin around noon in the waters near the Sunshine Skyway bridge....

USF, Eckerd host sailing championships

Hundreds of the country's top collegiate sailors will compete on the waters of Tampa Bay this week and next as USF St. Petersburg, Eckerd College and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club host the 2013 College Sailing Spring National Championship.

"This is really a tremendous honor," said Allison Jolly, a former U.S. Olympic gold medalist who now coaches the USF women's team. "This event will showcase the very best in collegiate sailing."...

Protesters target Boca Grande tarpon tournament

BOCA GRANDE — Anglers fishing the opening day of the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series on Sunday will have the usual challenge of trying to keep their catches away from hammerhead and bull sharks.

But this year, they'll have an added challenge: dodging on-the-water protesters.

Save the Tarpon, a nonprofit group founded by a Boca Grande-area fishing guide and his wife, wants to put the tour and its popular fishing show out of business....

Swim Across America hits Clearwater Beach for cancer awareness

CLEARWATER BEACH — Jim Sirignano considers himself a pretty good athlete. A former college football player, he's the strong, confident type, always ready for any kind of physical challenge.

But when it comes to mental toughness, he said he's a lightweight compared to his brother Paul, who died 2 ½ years ago after a long battle with cancer.

"He had such courage and determination," Jim, 50, said. "He never gave up."...

Game plan before boat show

ST. PETERSBURG — What makes a good fishing boat? Ask a dozen anglers and you'll get a dozen different answers.

Some go for speed. Others want a mellow ride. But nobody would argue that durability isn't important, especially if you plan to venture offshore in the fickle waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

"I think that is why this is the best-selling saltwater fishing boat in the country," Jim Naset said of Sea Hunt's BX 24. "It's got it all."...

Fort De Soto Park is anglers heaven

Fort De Soto Park at the southern tip of Pinellas County has been a playground for folks like me for 50 years now. I have been to the park probably at least 1,000 times since I moved to Florida in 1980.

When going through my checklist of great places to cast a line, Fort De Soto has it all: easy access, good facilities, clean water and most important, hungry fish.

You won't find a more family-friendly fishing destination in Florida, and with both shallow- and deep-water species to choose from, both the novice and experienced angler will find fishing challenging, yet rewarding....

Limits protect redfish, trout and snook

CLEARWATER

You know the fishing is good when you start complaining about the quality, not the quantity, of the fish you catch.

"Now that one is a little bigger," Tyson Wallerstein said as the guide unhooked a 28-inch redfish. "This is what we are looking for."

Thirty years ago, when I first started fishing bay area waters, I was happy just to catch a redfish. I didn't care how big it was. But in the early 1980s, the reds fishery was in pretty bad shape. The stocks had been overfished, and the state had to step in and close things down. But anglers rallied, and groups such as the Florida Conservation Association (now the Coastal Conservation Association) helped pass sound management measures that helped rebuild the fishery....

Ex-NFL star struggles but finishes St. Anthony's Triathlon

ST. PETERSBURG — Former NFL receiver and Dancing With the Stars winner Hines Ward was glad to see the swim leg of Sunday's St. Anthony's Triathlon shortened from 1.5 kilometers to 750 yards because of choppy waters.

"Compared to my first triathlon, this swim felt great," said Ward, who played 14 seasons with the Steelers. "I was ready. I've been training."

St. Anthony's was Ward's first Olympic-distance triathlon. He did a spring triathlon last month in San Diego but struggled in the water....

Olympic champ wins St. Anthony's Triathlon

ST. PETERSBURG — Jan Frodeno, the gold medal winner from the 2008 Olympics, came from behind on Sunday to win the 30th annual St. Anthony's Triathlon in 1 hour, 45 minutes, seven seconds.

"I think that last piece of cheesecake really helped me on the run," the 32-year-old German said. "I needed that little bit of extra energy."

Frodeno fought off the heat, humidity and a late surge by Ivan Vassiliev, a 29-year-old from Russia who beat Frodeno out of the water but lost his lead during the 40-kilometer bike ride....

Strong pro field for St. Anthony's Triathlon

ST. PETERSBURG — Triathlete Lisa Norden, the silver medalist at the 2012 Olympic Games, wants to have a little fun at Sunday's St. Anthony's Triathlon.

"Last year was very intense for me," the 28-year-old Swede said. "Everything went my way. But now I am looking to do something a little different."

Norden, who lost the gold in London to Nicola Spirig in a photo finish, won a Half Ironman two weeks ago in the Canary Islands. She's looking at the flat, Olympic-distance course along St. Petersburg's waterfront as an early season tuneup....

Pinellas-Pasco judge headed for three-decade triathlon streak

Ask any veteran triathlete and they will tell you that the hardest part of this multi-sport endurance event is not the swim, bike or run, but simply making it to the starting line.

"It can wear on you," confessed Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Jack Helinger, who on Sunday hopes to complete his 30th consecutive St. Anthony's Triathlon. "Some years have been better than others."

According to race officials, Helinger is the only person to have a perfect record when it comes to triathlon participation....