Mike Phillips Does a Repeat
Phillips Wins the 24th Annual Key Largo Steeplechase Two Years in a Row
Mike Phillips teamed up with Kenny Pierce and sailed their Marstrom 20 almost flawlessly to again capture the 110-mile trek around the Upper Keys.
This was the 24th Annual Key Largo Steeplechase Race that runs from the mouth of Jewfish Creek in Barnes Sound northerly to Angelfish Creek, where the fleet sails out to the ocean side of the islands. The first day is more or less a drag race to Anne’s Beach, 60 miles after the start.
The race got its name from the second day of the race. The sailors continue down the ocean side, then sail beneath the Channel Five Bridge where they team up with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and head northerly to the finish just south of Jewfish Creek. However, if you follow the Waterway, you will be way behind the fleet. Most just bash across the shallow sand/mud banks, saving tons of time.
From the
days in Merry Olde England, the horses would race from one spot to a
distant church steeple, with no course. The best and quickest way might
be a direct course, no matter what stood in the way – creeks,
fences, or whatever.
So too is the second day of the Key Largo Steeplechase – blast
over flats and small mangrove shoots, paddle through mangrove creeks,
or whatever it takes.
The Tornado with Spina and Livingston had an awesome start and were way
ahead of the fleet going through the Channel Five Bridge before heading
up the bay side of the islands.
Leandro Spina and Jamie Livingston paired up on a Tornado and took second spot, with Eric and Bill Roberts on an ARC22 landing in 3rd place, just ahead of Steve Lohmayer and Jay Sonnenklar on a Nacra 20.
Chris Titcomb and Trevor Burd on Accelerated Chaos finished in 5th place
overall and were the second Nacra 20
Steve Lohmayer and Jay Sonnenklar nearly got into the trophies, but had
to settle for 4th overall, yet first of the Nacra 20 Class.
Eric and Bill Roberts reefed their huge mainsail on both days with winds
of 15-20 mph most of both days. They ended up in 3rd place overall.
From the Outer Banks, Todd Hart and Jerry Wolfe ended up the 4th place
Nacra 20 and 9th overall
Jack Woehrle and Bailey White sailing their Hobie 20 Miracle ended up
17th overall
The next series of pictures is of a save by Leonardo Valdiria and Saramy
Fuentes.., although it looks a bit more like Saramy is just holding on
for dear life.
Sponsors of the race are Catamaran Sailor Magazine www.catsailor.com, www.OnLineMarineStore.com,
Caribbean Watersports and Calvert Sails