Only 11 boats showed up for what we think is the 9th annual running of this two-day, 100-mile race from Key Largo to Key West. But all 11 are highly experienced teams.

The race started at 10:00 a.m. today, Saturday, April 29, with 25 mph winds (over 20 knots)out of the Northeast. About half of the fleet started with spinnakers flying, and the other half were trying to get them up.

Rick got pictures at the start and is driving down to the Channel 5 Bridge to get more pictures as they pass under from the bay side of the Keys to the Ocean side. Maybe he will be able to post some of them later today when he gets home.

In my next post I will list the competitors and boats. It will take me a little while, so bear with me.

Dave Calvert of Calvert Sails hosts this race, and he will be taking the finishes at Marathon today and Key West tomorrow and calling them in to us to do the scoring.

We will try to post the first day results on this thread later today.

Stay tuned.