John,

Good story...there does come a time, however, when it becomes prudent to not put anyone on the wire - chicken lines or no chicken lines. Also if someone doesn't have a sheet (or something) to hang on to, they can really become a more a liability than a speed advantage.

For me personally, it's taken a while to realize when things are getting to this point - the first year we did the Tybee and on the first leg coming in to Hollywood from the Keys when I was crewing, we were getting hit with such square waves just outside Biscayne Bay that they would sweep my feet out from under me and spin me around my trap line (I did have the chicken lines on - so I wasn't getting washed off). It wasn't until I had taken some of the graphics off the hull with my head that David suggested that me being out there was a becoming a liability...when the ringing in my ears quit - I agreed.

This past year, Frank realized we were getting to that point on the last leg coming into Tybee where we were getting really strong wind (15 - 20) for 80% of the time and then some really empty lulls. With a good deal of patience we watched as a couple of teams slowly walked us down while double trapped and then capsize shortly after passing us (except for Space Coast who had a big 'ol slab of beef on the wire!). <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yes, it's a little slower to come in off the wire but you can't place if you can't finish.