I would think you would keep it a pure distance race. Run like the Tybee 500 but just 3-4 days instead. We have plenty of buoy races to chose from. I'm not sure I could get it together by May but I'm interested. I'm sure there is plenty of interest out there that are missing the longer runs.
Mike, I suspect your opinion is probably a popular one about having a straight shot up the coast and not some other diversions in between. I'm a little undecided on it now but used to feel that way about that kind of race too. The couple of years where the first leg was a trip south around Fowey Rock and back to Hollywood bothered me on some level....but I'm not sure exactly why.
I believe the Cata Cup (in St. Barth) is the only significant event I recall that features both types of racing. It's popular but the location probably has more to do with the popularity of that event.
Why do you guys think that is? Is it a fundamental thing with a distance race? Is it that you don't like to mix buoys and distance because of some mental difference between the two? Most of us enjoy both types of racing but we don't like mixing the two...why is that?
My dad refers to the Tybee 500 like it was climbing a mountain where you hit a new camp at a new altitude every night...and maybe that sensation has something to do with it.
Dave answered about the Catacup. One detail is the island is 15 miles long, you can easily sail around it in under 4 hours. The races are raid style and I believe setup how raids are in France and other parts of Europe.
As to mixing buoys and distance racing, they don't really do it in other fleets (VOR, Class 40 etc.) either. Why? Pretty obvious IMO that the tactics are pretty much completely different between W/L buoys racing and distance racing. Yes, those other classes also have crew and sail issues to contend with, but I know personally when I'm in distance racing mode, the start isn't an issue, and i'm thinking about persistent shifts and net breeze and current. While in buoys racing mode, current is pretty far back in my head, #1 priority is pressure and clear air off the start, #2 priority is what is the 3-5 minute shift and where do we want to be on the course to get that first shift and end up on the favored tack?
Todd, we'd love to be there, and might chance our mind come April but I don't want to disappoint anyone. At this point we're out
