Whitehead captures Midwinter sailing title

ISLAMORADA — Bay County native Matthew Whitehead teamed with helm Sarah Newberry to place first in the F16 class at the Tradewinds Midwinter Open Cat Nationals last weekend.

Newberry and Whitehead finished the nine-race regatta with 15 points, eight ahead of runner-up Pease Glaser and John Williams. Newberry and Whitehead won five races and never placed lower than fifth. Glaser is a former Olympic silver medalist, and Williams is one of the most decorated sailors in the country.

Taylor Reiss, like Whitehead a Bay County native and his former sailing mate, placed fourth with 26 points. Reiss was teamed with Brianna Chu.