The F25c Team Elsie Piddock has really run away with it, so far. Obviously a breakdown or something could change that, but they have a big led for now. I watched the tracker replay and they took the same route as many other boats, but they just did it better. I wonder what their secret is (they are a local boat with a crew that is extremely experienced)?
Crew list:
Former USCG Officer
2 X Annapolis Newport- Bermuda Race
3 X Singlehanded Transpac
3X Pacific Cup
5X Hawaii to Seattle delivery
6X Van Isle 360
That is quite a crew list! It doesn't take much more speed in that kind of current to make a huge difference and hit a different current window (which Alan and I can attest to in the 2014 Everglades Challenge).
We were about 1 to 1.5 hours behind randy entering the entrance to Chockoloskee - he barely made the current cuttoff and we didn't. We left Chockoloskee about 5.5 hours behind him and he caught a more favorable wind headed south and continued to stretch away. Same thing with the guys behind us...while we sat their stalled trying to get through the current, it allowed them to catch up to us.
