Sorry for the delay. The start was sort of disorganized, because, although there was not much surf, the wind died to almost nothing right before the start, and the boats were having a very hard time getting out through the surf, even with spinnakers up. Five minutes after the start there were still six boats that had not broken through.

Carrie and JC were halfway to Cape Canaveral (exaggeration) before they got through the surf.

Rick says he didn't see anybody using paddles. Why wouldn't people have paddles on their boats? From past years' experiences, I would think all the boats would have at least one paddle.

Wind is about 3-4 mph or knots, take your pick -- still amounts to almost nothing.