Morgan Invasion-Rendezvous celebrates a sailing legend
Article published on Thursday, April 19, 2007 |
DAVIS ISLAND - The 22nd Annual Morgan Invasion celebrates the rich sailing traditions of the Tampa Bay area and recognizes the contributions of a local legend, Charles E. (Charley) Morgan. This year’s festivities will be held at the Davis Island Yacht Club, April 20th 2007 through April 22nd 2007 in conjunction with the Davis Islands “Islands Fest”.
Charley Morgan will kick-off the Invasion with a “Fireside Chat” near the DIYC Tiki Bar, recounting stories about his early days sailing on Hillsborough Bay with schoolmates Bruce Bidwell, Paul Game and other sailing chums. The exchange of sailing lore will continue through the weekend with events for avid sailors, enthusiasts, and children.
Charley Morgan is a pioneer in the fiberglass yacht building industry, whose colorful, controversial and innovative style has an enduring cult-like loyalty within the sailing community. At an age of 77, Morgan has for more than 60 years sailed, crewed, designed and built sailing boats.
In 1960, John L. (Jack) Powell commissioned Morgan to design a 40-foot fiberglass ocean-racing yawl to be built by the famous builder Clarky Mills from Dunedin. The vessel known as PAPER TIGER was to make Morgan and Powell famous as the audacious yawl astounded the ocean racing world by winning the Southern Ocean Racing Conference in 1961, and again in 1962. These achievements paved the way for Morgan together with his school days chum Bruce Bidwell, to later launch The Morgan Yacht Corporation; and the fleet of Morgan yachts loved, sailed and lived aboard around the world, by so many in succeeding years.
Morgan Yacht Corporation was merged into the Chicago based conglomerate in 1968, and years later, the Morgan Line was acquired by Catalina Yacht Corp. who continued producing classic Morgan designs well into the 1990s at its Largo, Florida factory.
Sailboats built or designed by Charley Morgan will be showcased on Saturday, April 21st during a regatta on Tampa Bay off of Davis Islands. The Davis Island Youth Sailing Foundation sailors will also be on hand Saturday to demonstrate their talents in a race at the Davis Islands Seaplane Basin. Traditionally, the Morgan Invasion and Rendezvous is held at the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club but moved to Davis Island for the 21st and 22nd Invasions due to construction of a new clubhouse at Treasure Island.
Last year’s Invasion drew 47 yachts and close to 200 sailors for three fun-filled days. TITYC’s own dockmaster will be on hand to greet arriving skippers and organize the raft-up for what is expected to be more than 60 yachts. Anyone interested in joining the fun is encouraged to check out the 2007 Morgan Invasion at www.morganinvasion.net. More information on the Davis Islands “Islands Fest” can be found in the events calendar at www.davisislands.net.
The 22nd Annual Morgan Invasion is dedicated to Sully Lowe for her untiring efforts for the past 21 years promoting a sailing tradition. A special thanks goes out to this year’s sponsors: Miller Brewing, Tampa Bay Yacht Sales, Quantum Sail Design Group, Tamerlane Commercial Flooring, Bluewater Sailing Supply, Bozeman Insurance, Helinger Advertising, West Marine, The Palm Bank, and the Crewe of Bobbie C. Davis.
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Article published on Thursday, April 19, 2007
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