No apology needed. It is a huge commitment to make even one race down here each year. If you look at my earlier thread, Hiram's Haul was cancelled. I will pass your interest in the Tybee to Chuck and look forward to seeing you at the Steeplechase.
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Craig, posted before I saw the other thread. Hopefully you can make it over to Sarasota next week and we can discuss 2015 Tybee with the F18 sailors who are present. I will help however I can to make this a reality, but I see the following as major hiccups:
1) Lot of guys want to do a 1,000 mile race, they've done the Tybee and want something bigger
2) F18's have A LOT on the Calendar-Nationals, World's, Catacup. Financially we need to plan well in advance for these events. I.e, for a 2015 Tybee we need to know this February the dates and plan for the event, as I likely won't sign up for 2014 Catacup, whose registration is April 1st...I can't afford to do both events within a 6 month time frame, unless I win the lottery or someone steps up as a major sponsor. This is the reality; I have no problem putting down a 2015 Tybee entry fee in 2014 IF I know that money will be refunded 3+ months out from the event if it fails to materialize. Past experience has left a bitter taste in the mouths of the N20 sailors, and some F18 guys remember those days...
The main stumbling block is: Talk is cheap, and even more so when it comes to a 1000 mile race. Everyone says they want to do it but when it comes down to signing your name on the check....crickets. Many of the F-18 guys ( lot's that used to distance race) have stated there isn't enough time to do distance events in addition to there class events( time off, travel expenses, etc.) Until that priority changes nothing else will, and I would say the class is extremely successful as it is ,so I don't anticipate a change coming anytime soon.
Todd I hear ya, at the same time we did our fair share of distance races this year:
1) 50 mile Chesapeake Lighthouse Race (only F18, but all are welcome, it's the beginning of May out of West River)
2) Statue of Liberty Race (6 F18's), buoy race on day #2
3) New England 100 (17 or 18 F18's)
4) Annapolis to Galesville Race (well, I did it on a N20)
5) Annapolis to Oxford Race (again, only F18 but ALL are welcome for the premier bay race!)
Yes less than half those events had F18 fleets but the others were 250+ miles from the next closest F18. Talk is cheap, but I seriously suspect 90% of the "ya I'll do that" guys will do it
given plenty of advance notice. Year 2? that will be a hard sell. Again, I will help get these events resurrected, just give me a shout samc99us AT gmail DOT com.
