{"id":21160,"date":"2026-04-15T22:37:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T02:37:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wfsu.org\/local-routes\/?post_type=wfsu-news&#038;p=21160"},"modified":"2026-04-15T22:45:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T02:45:36","slug":"the-stephen-c-smith-regatta-this-weekend-will-also-be-a-memorial-to-a-long-time-supporter-of-the-local-sailing-community","status":"publish","type":"wfsu-news","link":"https:\/\/wfsu.org\/local-routes\/wfsu-news\/the-stephen-c-smith-regatta-this-weekend-will-also-be-a-memorial-to-a-long-time-supporter-of-the-local-sailing-community\/","title":{"rendered":"The Stephen C. Smith Regatta this weekend will also be a memorial to a long-time supporter of the local sailing community"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-21160-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/cpa.ds.npr.org\/s390\/audio\/2026\/04\/smithregatta0413full.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/cpa.ds.npr.org\/s390\/audio\/2026\/04\/smithregatta0413full.mp3\">https:\/\/cpa.ds.npr.org\/s390\/audio\/2026\/04\/smithregatta0413full.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>The 53rd Annual Stephen C. Smith Memorial Regatta happens this weekend just off Wakulla County&#8217;s Shell Point. This year&#8217;s event, benefitting the families of cancer patients, will also honor the memory of a longtime supporter who also lost his fight with the disease.<\/p>\n<p>The regatta is named for Stephen Smith, a devoted local sailor who died at age 29 of a rare form of leukemia. And event chair John McBride says all the proceeds from the event are kept close to home.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;These funds are used locally in a 5-county area to provide for gap services. Such as somebody may need a ride to the doctor. Things like providing lodging and even nights at some extended stays to help these families.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>And this year, McBride says the regatta&#8217;s theme is &#8220;The Race for Wright.&#8221; That refers to Wright Finney, a guiding light at the FAMU\/FSU College of Engineering and longtime friend of the Big Bend sailing community. He died &#8211; of cancer &#8211; a few months ago.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/smithregatta.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/smithregatta.com\/<\/a> <\/p>\n<div class=\"fullattribution\">Copyright 2026 WFSU<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","wds_primary_category":0},"categories":[],"tags":[1136,1135],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Stephen C. 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