Saturday – June 20th – Surfside to Galveston
The morning started was kicked off with an 8 AM Skippers Meeting and a 9 AM start to the second annual Surfside to Galveston Dash. This year there were 13 Dash Boats and 12 of the 13 left the beach first, most with help from a GT300 sailor. The last boat to leave the beach, Team Brian, returned briefly to the beach due to some boat issues. After readjustments were made, they quickly headed out through the surf.
The twelve GT300 boats were ready and waiting when the horn sounded at 10 AM, and all headed out through the surf with no problems.
On the ride from Surfside to Galveston, road crews were able to pull aside and see the GT300 sailors going up the coast. Initial sitings evidenced a close race between the F18s. At the finish line at East Beach in Galveston, the first team to hit the beach was Dash Team Just Add Nada, sailing a Hobie 20. They were followed by last year’s Dash winner, Team Misfits and the other Hobie 20 sailed by Team LayLynes. Additional Dash Teams Jack Flash, Dumb and Dummer, Echelon and T&T soon followed.
Two hours and 28 minutes after the start of the final leg of the GT300, it was a fight of the F18s. Team Quiksilver was the first GT300 team to hit the beach. Teams Quiksilver, Zhik, Puke Sailing and Sailboat Shop all hit the beach within a one-minute period, resulting in an exciting finish line event!
All the remaining Dash and GT300 teams made it to the beach without incident and the final horn was sounded, signaling end of the 2009 Great Texas Catamaran Race.
After packing up their gear, taking apart the boats and getting them back on the trailers, teams left the beach for some rest and refreshment prior to the dinner and awards ceremony, which was a catered event and held at the Inn at the Waterpark.
Congrats to Team TCDYC for their first place finish in the F18 class and as overall 2009 GT300 winner! Congrats also to new entry Team Royal Orange for their first place finish in the I20 class and to Team Misfits for their second win in the Surfside to Galveston Dash. All in all it was a fantastic week! The 2010 Great Texas Catamaran Race will be held June 16th – 19th. See you there!
