Would I ever do it again? Not this week, maybe next, my left Butt Cheek still hurts! Jake you left out the hour long discussion of what we were hungry for, Mexican Food! Power bars suck! Well not really, but they sure dont taste like a big plate of Mexican food.....
I have to say that Jake was an excellent crew, probably even saving my life when he cut me loose from the hiking strap on a capsize when it had wrapped my foot up so tight we couldnt even get my shoe off. As I dangled there with the boat on its side, and continuing to turtle, it was a pretty helpless feeling knowing in just a matter of of a minute or so the boat would be on top of me and my head would be under water. Even though I had a knife on me, Im not sure I could have contorted myself enough to cut the strap while under water, but Jake did.
The trip was tiring, but rewarding, and I too became a better sailor because of it.
Here are my observations and suggestions for any other amateur teams that are thinking about doing this race.
1 Start training now.
2 Start preparing your boat now, replace anything that may even show the least bit of wear. Im serious, this was a brutal race on equipment, have spare everything! We made the "mistake" of putting on all the go fast suff but neglected a few small, cheap worn parts, and it cost us.
Prepare your boat!!!!!!

3 Get yourself a good sponsor, or start raising money now, you'll need it.

4 Get a good ground crew, at least 3 people. One manager who can handle money, and the rest of the crew. A rigger, a mechanic(fiberglass and such), and then a couple of hot babes in bikinis a la Team Key Sailing! They dont do much for you, but they distract all the other teams!

5 Start racing in a fleet of good sailors now, and travel and race like crazy. The Florida I20 boys are the rock stars, and they showed us alot over the last 6 months. Also if you are not an ocean sailor, you better become one quick. Practice your Le Mans starts, and go out when you normally wouldnt, and stay out way too late, you know, until it hurts! Then you might have a shot of being competitive, but I doubt it. haha

dave mosley