20TH ANNUAL
KEY LARGO STEEPLECHASE RACE
DEC 10-11, 2005
KEY LARGO, FL

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Rules and Information

Registration, skipper's Meeting and Beer Party

While the venue for the event is Gilberts, the registration check-in (even if you are pre-registered) will be at Rick White's and Mary Wells' house from 6PM to 8PM, Skippers Meeting at 8PM.

The address is 6 Coral Way (near MM 105). Directions: From Gillberts head south to second street past Winn-Dixie.., Paradise. Turn right and it is the seond house located on the corner of Paradise and Coral Way (big fenced in yard) For parking,pull around the corner on Coral Way.

GENERAL

This race is put on by all of us -- the competitors, their crew and ground crew:

• There is no Race Committee.
• Your ground crew is required to help in any way possible (i.e., scoring, timing, starting, etc.)
• There is no Race Management, which is why this race is so inexpensive - $40 entry fee.
• There is no Protest Committee, so please obey the racing rules and rules of the road.
• There are no chase boats, so please be prepared to fend for yourself. (See Stories from 13th year)
• You will be rewarded for assisting a boat in trouble (keep track of your time in doing so).
• You may paddle at anytime.¨
• There will be FREE BEER at registration starting at 6PM on Friday, and a skippers meeting at 8PM Friday night at Rick White's and Mary Wells' house (directions below). Feel free to ask questions of veteran sailors about the course and about safety.

The address to Registration Party is 6 Coral Way (near MM 105). Directions: From Gillberts head south to second street past Winn-Dixie.., Paradise. Turn right and it is the seond house located on the corner of Paradise and Coral Way (big fenced in yard). For parking,pull around the corner on Coral Way.

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NEW VENUE

The new venue will be Gilberts Motel just before the Jewfish Creek Bridge just as you come into Key Largo.. If you stay at Gilberts there is no launching fee. And the rates are very good.

If you are stay elsewhere, you can arange to pay for launching there.

ABILITY AND SAFETY
To attempt this race, you must be competent, able sailors, knowing how to do such things as:

• right your own boat
• read navigational charts
• read the water color for shoals
• anchor your boat in case of heading for a peril
• ride out squalls and storms
• You must wear an approved PFD, have all USCG safety equipment aboard, a waterproof chart, waterproof flashlight, and adequate anchor and line.
• Both skipper and crews must write the emergency telephone number on their arm (waterproof pens will be available) -- 305-451-3287. The number is Rick's Place, where you can leave a message on the answering machine, if no one is there. 305-619-1922 -- this is a cellular telephone that will be manned all the time but can be unreliable at some sites in the Keys. If you are retiring from the race or broken down, you must call these numbers right away. Otherwise, we might be sending the USCG after you. Also, we will be monitoring Channel 72 on VHF.
• don't forget to take essentials like water, sunblock, and food.

Getting to the Race On Time

• Plan on leaving the beach on Saturday no later than 0800 sharp. We will try to make the Jewfish Creek Bascule Bridge between 0815 & 0830 and all go through at once. New this year is the ability to stay and launch at Gilbert's Family Paradise Island which is located right at the bridge. Those staying there can leave later. If you don't make that bridge opening, you probably won't make the start of the race. We will start the race at 0900. Ground crews should help not only your own boat into the water, but others as well. If we all pitch in and help get the boats to the water, it will take only minutes to get all the boats on their merry way.When all of the boats have gotten within a short distance of the bridge, the start boat will sound a horn to open the bridge. (Be wary of current in the vicinity of the bridge while you are waiting to go through -- there is usually a strong current going one direction or the other through the bridge.) If you do not make it to the bridge in time to go through with the group, you are on your own to notify the bridgetender.

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The Course

• On the first day, the course starts between two small orange marks located near ICW Flashing Green mark #29 in Barnes Sound. The course goes northerly to Card Sound and then easterly through Angelfish Creek, and then southerly and southwesterly down Hawk Channel to finish close to the beach just between Caloosa Cove Marina (a candy-striped warehouse-type bulding) and Channel Two Bridge. Two small orange marks will be placed in the shallow water near the beach, so that the finish line is perpendicular to the shore line. You may finish in either direction between the two orange marks. If you are finishing at night, we will attempt to get ground crew vehicles to turn on their flashing emergency lights. This makes for an easy target to spot from the water. Warn ground crew vehicles, however, to NOT turn on their headlights, as this blinds the sailors as they are coming in.
• On the second day, there is a LeMans beach start at 0900. Boats will be staged in the order of their finishes on the first day, with the first place boat closest toward the Channel Five Bridge, and the last the farthest from the bridge. All boats must remain behind two orange marks that will make up the starting line. From there the course goes southwesterly to Channel Five Bridge, then through the bridge and then northeasterly up the IntraCoastal Waterway. There is a mark on the course in front of the Key Largo Sheraton, home of Caribbean Watersports (Hobie Dealer and sponsor of this race) that is located around ICW Mile Marker 1145, between Pigeon Key and Baker Cut. From there, go on to finish between an orange mark and an orange flag on the dock at the Gilberts. The mark will be approximately 100 yards offshore, and you may cross in either direction.

Starting Sequences

• The White (Yellow) Warning Flag will go up at 10 minutes prior to the start, the Blue Preparatory Flag will go up at 5 minutes, and the Red Start Flag will go up for the start. All flags will be lowered 1 minute prior to the raising of the next. For convenience only, the starter person will attempt to get your attention by blowing a horn or whistle several times in succession, or use a bullhorn siren, prior to starting the sequence.

Do NOT be over early at the start!!

• If anyone is over early, the individual recall flag will be flown for four minutes or until the over-early boats have exonerated themselves by restarting, whichever comes first. Over-early boats will NOT be notified. If a boat is over early and does not re-start, that boat will be assessed a 10% time penalty for the day. If there is a general recall, the general recall flag will be flown, the clock will continue to run, and the fleet will restart exactly five minutes later.However, all of the above is really moot, because the Race Starters absolutely forbid anyone to be over early.

Only One Mark on the Entire Course

• There is only one mark on the course, and you don't have to worry about it until the second day of the race. That mark, which is different every year is located about 50 yards offshore of the Key Largo Sheraton (the home of Caribbean Watersports, a major sponsor of this event) on the Bay Side of the islands. You will have to round this mark, leaving it to port. This will be on the second day of sailing. The Sheraton is located at approximately 25.05 degrees north, 80.27 degrees west. After passing either Hammer Point or Pigeon Key, you should be able to spot the Sheraton on the shoreline to your right about 2/3 the way before Baker Cut. It is a long, tall building, with a big, concrete, L-shaped dock sticking out in the water. You will probably note some Hobie sails up on some boats either on shore or moored close to shore. That's Caribbean Watersports. The mark will require you to come VERY CLOSE in to land in order to pass it. If you do not round this mark, a 10% time penalty will be assessed for the day. (It is very tempting to cut straight across and forget that mark, but there will be a spotter at the Sheraton checking off every boat as it rounds.)

Portsmouth Numbers

• US Sailing D-PN numbers and mandatory modifications will apply for the entire race, and all sails and modifications must be claimed by 0700 Saturday morning.
• The modified D-PN number will apply regardless of whether or not the additional sails and rigging are carried on the boat.
• The Optional Modification for crew weight, and for spinnakers in a distance race will NOT be applied.

Trophies

• The dilapidated but highly coveted and esteemed Olde Lawnchair with the record of all past Steeplechases goes to the first boat overall on elapsed time.
• A perpetual trophy is taken home by the overall Portsmouth winner.
• Keeper trophies go to both skipper and crew of first, second and third place boats on Portsmouth and to the overall winner on elapsed time.
• All finishers will be awarded a bottle of champagne

Motels in Key Largo:
(Note: Most sailors get rooms in this area for the entire weekend, and get rides back from the first day’s finish area – only about a ½ hour drive)

• Gilbert's Family Paradise Island, (Right next to the Jewfish Bridge) 107900 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037, 305-451-1133; 800-457-1233
• Amoray Dive Resort, 104240 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 (305) 451 3595
• Neptunes Hideaway, 104180 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 (305) 451 0357
• Gilberts Resort, 107000 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo, Fl 33037 (305) 451 1133
• Kelly's Motel, 90611 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037 (305) 451 1622

Motels & Marinas at first stop:
(Note: Most sailors get rooms in the start area for the entire weekend, and get rides back from the first day’s finish area – only about a ½ hour drive)

• Caloosa Cove Resort (nearest) MM 73.8 Oceanside Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL (305) 664 8811-Malibu Lodge MM77.5 Overseas Hwy, (305) 664 2961
• Lime Tree Bay Resort MM68.5 Overseas Hwy. (305) 664 2132
• Breezy Palms Resort, MM 80 Overseas Hwy. (305) 664-2361

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Parts, Equipment and Gear

• West Marine is located in the Pink Plaza about 1/2 mile south of Rick's Place on the Bay Side, just past Marvin Adams Waterway Cut. They are open 0800 to 2000 every day, except Sunday, and then from 0900 to 1700.

For more information contact:

• Rick White/Mary WellsPO Box 2060, Key Largo, FL 33037, Tel 305-451-3287, Fax 305-453-0255, e-mail rick@catsailor.com

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