26th ANNUAL
KEY LARGO STEEPLECHASE RACE
DEC 11-12, 2010
KEY LARGO, FL

(Click Here to Register for the Race)

Rules and Information

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 may be an additional launching fee of $50 per boat -- there is a problem in that only two locations are remaining in that area to launch, and they are not easy to deal with.)
• 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 must be at LEAST two people on the boat
• There will be FREE BEER at registration starting at 6PM on Friday, and a skippers meeting at 8PM Friday night at RickWhite's and Mary Wells' house. (6 Coral Way, near mm 105) Feel free to ask questions of veteran sailors about the course and about safety. You will still need to attend the Skipper's Meeting/Beer Bust and do final registration Friday, pay the fees, sign the waivers, etc., at Rick White's and Mary Wells' house in Key Largo, FL. Directions: Going south on US1 (about MM105), take a right at second street past Winn-Dixie (Paradise Ln.) and we are the 2nd house on the right (corner house -- park on street) around the corner

VENUE

The venue will be up to you, either the Caribbean Club or Gilberts Motel just before the Jewfish Creek Bridge. At the Caribbean Club (There may be a launching fee of $50)

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 house, where you can leave a message on the answering machine, if no one is there.
• 305-433-0845, or 305-433-0840 -- these are cellular telephones 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.
• don't forget to take essentials like water, sunblock, and food.

Getting to the Race On Time

• The new 65' bridge is open and operating and the bascule bridge is permanently gone. So, we will start the race precisely at 9AM. 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.
• Keep in mind that there may be a current and wind against you, so leave the beach in plenty of time to make the start on time.

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. The finish line will be between a red flag on shore and channel Red Daymark #16
• Late Finishers: If you are more than two hours after the first boat finishes, and the time is after 6PM, note the time you finished and give that info the to score keeper. You may call the numbers listed above to do so.
• On the second day, there is a LeMans beach start at 0900. Boats will be self-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 are no required marks for this leg of the course.

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.

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. And the Carlton Tucker Perpetual is kept here in Key Largo.
• 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)

• Amoray, 104250 Overseas Highway - 305-451-3595 (includes dive/snorkel business)
• Marriott, 103800 Overseas Hwy - 305-453-0000
• Ed & Ellens, 103365 Overseas Hwy - 305-451-9949, 888-333-5536 (not on water at all, but may be cheaper and I think have kitchens)
• Howard Johnsons, MM102 - 305-451-1400
• Largo Lodge, 101740 Overseas Hwy -305-451-0424 (very woodsy and shaded and secluded, no kids allowed)
• Ramada Ltd, 99751 Overseas Hwy - 305-451-3939 (on canal at Port Largo, oceanside)
• Holiday Inn, 99701 Overseas Hwy - 305-451-2121 (on canal at Port Largo, oceanside)
• Bayside Resort, 99490 Overseas Hwy - 305-451-4450
• Sunset Cove, 99360 Overseas Hwy - 305-451-0705
• Hungry Pelican, 99360 Overseas Hwy - 305-451-3576
• Bay Cove Motel, 99446 Overseas Hwy - 305-451-1686
• Sea Trail Motel, 98620 Overseas Hwy - 305-852-8001 (cheaper, but middle of the highway and probably noisy. Not recommended.)
• Rock Reef Resort, 98mm Overseas Hwy - 305852-2401
• Kona Kai, 97800 Overseas Hwy - 305-852-7200 (pricey, but small pool, tennis court, art gallery)
• Bay Harbor, 97702 Overseas Hwy - 305-852-5695
• Coconut Bay Resort, 97770 Overseas Hwy - 305-852-1625 Seafarer, 97.5 Overseas Hwy - 305-852-5349
• Sheraton Beach Resort, 97000 Overseas Hwy - 305-852-5553.
• Popp's Motel, 95560 Overseas Hwy -- 305-852-5201
• Key Largo Inn Travelodge, 99202 Overseas Hwy -- 305-451-2478
• (Note: Sunset Cove and Hungry Pelican are same owners Note: Bay Harbor and Coconut Bay are same owners.)

Other Key Largo Launch Sites:

• Gilberts Family Paradise Island Resort
• Caribbean Club

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

Parts, Equipment and Gear

• If you are getting parts and equipment before you get to the event, you can order them through www.OnLineMarineStore.com and have them shipped to you % Rick White, 6 Coral Way (mm105), Key Largo, FL 33037
• 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 Wells, PO Box 2060, Key Largo, FL 33037, Tel 305-451-3287, Fax 305-453-0255, e-mail rick@catsailor.com

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