Article by: John Hahn Ledger correspondent

www.theledger.com

 

LAKELAND — "There was some on the water high-flying action early on Lake Hollingsworth as the 80th Orange Cup Regatta began under blue skies, on a slightly chilly and breezy Saturday.

Racing for the spiffy new Regatta Trophy, continues today starting at noon.

As the first competition of the day started with two heats each for three of the 14 classes, as sanctioned by the American Power Boating Association, the organization’s newly elected president looked on.

Howie Nichols, a long –time competitor himself, was nominated last October by the board of directors, then competed against 14 others (and some write-ins), and was elected by the APBA members in November.

Nichols, who will be 49 next month, is from a four-generation boat-racing family that dates to his great-grandfather.

“My daughter (Becca) will be the fifth,” Nichols said. “She’s 22 and could not make the competition today.”

Like so many in the APBA, it is a family affair and it has provided hours of fun and tough competition throughout the racing season.

“The big change for me is the understanding the entire realm of the APBA,” said Nichols, a lieutenant and paramedic in the Brevard County Fire & Rescue, who lives in Cocoa.

“There are many challenges to the new position including safety, public awareness and membership,” Nichols said.

Nichols will be racing in the CSR class, which is a smaller outboard category after racing for years at the Tunnel Boat level. Tunnels are just that, two smaller hulls on each side that actually lift the boat out of the air.

The largest boats, the 5-litre variety led off the days’ action with a pair of heats. The 5-litre is just under the unlimited or premier level, and Hearn Racing team’s Donny Allen from Neehah, Wisc.,had the best time of 3:35.52.

Allen, 32, has been racing for the Hearn team since its inception three years ago. The company is made up of members from Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin.

“In the off season, we made a lot of changes to the boat,” Allen said of the inboard variety. “After new sponsors, we changed the bottom configuration a bit and tweaked the propeller.”

Allen has been racing since 1996 and added, “With those changes we are running about 10 miles-per-hour faster.”

In other heats, Scott Liddycoat of Suffolk, Va., drove a Budget Buster Racing national modified class to the best time of 3:18.24.

Jimmie Stewart drove the Jersey Shore Skiff boat to a best time of 4:56.15 with ride-mechanic Peg Ewancio on board."