Before anyone jumps on me....NO...I didn't actually compete....BUT I did leave the beach with the intent to compete. And in hind sight I very much regret pulling out when I did. However since folks are asking for personal accounts, I'll be happy to share mine (and Robi's...my crew)

We pushed off the beach with the other 11 boats and made it to Jewfish Creek Bridge in nothing flat where we commenced with playing in the current for the first time in my short (4 yr) sailing career. Very interesting to be sailing upwind while actually moving backwards!! Once the bridge opened it was pure mayhem trying to get through. Hat's off to Team Tybee as they were positioned properly and shot through first attempt. Everyone else had to try multiple times and a couple had to be towed through after we REALLY pissed off all the drivers waiting for the bridge to be lowered! After we played bumper boats a couple of times we figured it out and Robi rowed his tail off as we were the 3rd boat to actually make it through. (feeling good about now!!) We then proceeded to tack over 30 times to get up Jewfish Creek to Barnes Sound and again...made it out 3rd...however seeing Team Tybee flip in the creek and the sight of the conditions in Barnes sound tempered our "feel good" substantially. We went out into the sound and tried to park, found ourselves slowly pushing upwind as we waited for the rest of the boats and the starting comittee to arrive. For the first time in my sailing career, I had serious concerns about falling off to sail back downwind to get back below the starting area. About this time a small microburst was coming through with a bit of rain, merely intensifying the situation and as we pulled off to go back down we stuffed the hulls pretty good several times even though we were quickly very deep and all the way back on the beam. (of course I am screaming to Robi...WEIGHT BACK, WEIGHT BACK!!!) At this point I am thinking "and this is on the INSIDE!!....wait 'till we get out of Angelfish Creek!!" This is the point where I decided it would be wise to pull the plug and quickly did so. After talking to others I think EVERYONE was thinking the same thing at that point in time...at least everyone who had made it out of Jewfish Creek by then. I know Ollie specifically was deciding to ditch, but shortly after (as Robi and I were already headed back down Jewfish Creek), the microburst cleared, the sun started to peek out, and he decided maybe it wouldn't be so bad and reversed his decision to ditch. Frankly, had I been positioned where Ollie was (at the mouth of the creek...calmer) and seen the clearing, I probably would have reversed as well and gone ahead with the race....

We got back after pitchpoling just off the beach in Blackwater sound, and scrambled to drive up to Card Sound Bridge to catch the other boats going through. We got up there a little late as all boats were already through and most were into Angelfish Creek. That was when the SERIOUS REGRET set in for me for having bailed....

In retrospect, after hearing all the other accounts that evening, I think we could have handled it just fine barring any catastrophic failures. (one of my other decision points was hearing all the horrendous noises coming from Lucille (my boat)!!!) Yes we probably would have gone swimming a time or two...but MAN...THE STORIES We'd have to tell!!! Now I'll have nothing but regret until the next time fate and planning line up again for similar conditions!!

Congrats and Hat's Off to all who started the race, and apoligies to Robi (my crew) for a DNC! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

JL