IN PICTURES: KIDS TAKE TO THEIR SAILBOATS FOR ANNUAL REGATTA IN KEY LARGO

a large group of sailboats in the water
Sailboats take to Blackwater Sound in Key Largo for the annual Buccaneer Blast Regatta.

From Key Largo’s Rowell’s Park, nearly 200 kids hopped into their sailboats for the 13th annual Buccaneer Blast Regatta, presented by Red Hospitality & Leisure, on Feb. 4-6. Young sailors from Caribbean countries and various U.S. states took to Blackwater Sound, where sun and light winds greeted them as they showcased their sailing abilities. Rosa Lamela, event organizer, said the proceeds from the regatta support new sailboats for the Mark Sorensen Youth Sailing Program, which is part of the Upper Keys Sailing Club. Roughly 200 kids participated in the summer program last year. More information is at msysp.org.

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Jim McCarthy
Jim McCarthy is one of the many Western New Yorkers who escaped the snow and frigid temperatures for warm living by the water. A former crime & court reporter and city editor for two Western New York newspapers, Jim has been honing his craft since he graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 2014. In his 4-plus years in the Keys, Jim has enjoyed connecting with the community. “One of my college professors would always preach to be curious,” he said. “Behind every person is a story that’s unique to them, and one worth telling. As writers, we are the ones who paint the pictures in the readers minds of the emotions, the struggles and the triumphs.” Jim is past president of the Key Largo Sunset Rotary Club, which is composed of energetic members who serve the community’s youth and older populations. Jim is a sports fanatic who loves to watch football, hockey, mixed martial arts and golf. He also enjoys time with family and his new baby boy, Lucas, who arrived Oct. 4, 2022.