We recently completed the watertribe's lake michigan challenge. 285nm with an 8 day time limit. took us 5 1/2 with 4 1/2 days of headwinds, 5-25+ knots. route started on lake huron (oscoda), finished on lake michigan (manistee)
It is a challenge event for beachable boats done in a cruising format. In addition to safety equipment, you need to carry camping gear. There are classes for various types of human and wind powered craft but their class 4 is an open design class where beach cats qualify.
The sailing was spectacular. Hope to see some more cats in the event next year. There is a Florida event, the Everglades Cruising Challenge from St petersburg to Key largo, scheduled for March.
There are checkpoints, but it is not a staged event, so you are free to sail as conditions and endurance allow. Paddling/rowing are permitted, just as if you were cruising. It's a little different than a pure catamaran distance race, but I have done several of them now and they really are a great challenge and it is a good group of people. Any of you out their with a hankering to do a distance race ought to try do one of these.
www.watertribe.comGeorge
