Thanks John

I remember Hatteras' washing machines, and the year I was there wasn't particularly bad...

I also remember a certain fellow hanging from the daggerboard of a boat at I believe it was Kill Devil...?

per tybee500.com

first boat spotted on the horizon.

That was a FAST 112 miles.

This was the leg that Cat in the Hat was determined to finish after what happened last year. I spoke with Larry shortly after orienting their capsized boat in the sand / surf while they swam back in - he said they were going to try one more time.

Frank and I had decided that after two attempts and the breeze getting a little more unpredictable that we would pack up the boat and motor north so we could have time to make the repairs. Considering the wave that took us out, we don't have much to do. Three broken battens and one punched through the sail. The jib travler pulled a screw out of the self tacker traveler track bending the track and losing the bearings in the car. That's pretty much it.

We were SO CLOSE to getting through through on the second attempt. We were reaching down trying to get speed to punch through the big ones and eating up beach quickly. We made it through several monsters and got out to a second break. Frank was on the hull forward of then main beam hanging on like you wouldn't believe. I was wrestling to keep the main sheet tension appropriate to the heading and helm and having to drop rudders after the big waves would lift the rudder arm and pop them up (that was really starting to drain my energy). I felt like the one wave we had coming was going to be the last one and powered up turning hard to charge at it. The weight placement with Frank so far forward was working very very well (I don't know HOW he was hanging on up there). We started up that wave when I caught motion out the corner of my eye and saw an equally sized wave traveling at 45 degrees to the beach colliding with the one just getting to our bow. The boat just exploded into the air and we went over. Frank was thrown into the main above the spreaders and I went clear off the back. I held onto the mainsheet until I thought my drag was making the boat turn with the mast down in the break - so I let go. I did the back stroke back into the beach (where a life guard was thankfully watching me closely) and our shore team (Tim and Daryl) had already reached the boat and with Frank were getting things sorted out.

I don't regret the attempts we made.

Bonnie should have a teamseacats update uploaded soon with some great photos. I think i might have some video too but haven't been able to check until Bonnie gets through.

question jake, did you put the video on for the launch? I bet thats going to be intense if so.

I'm proud of the guys that made the effort to get out there.

Oolaalaa's on the beach. Wow.

Holy crap.


I'm simply, and utterly impressed.

Holy cow. What's that average?

I think the leg is 112 naut miles as the crow flies. Ooohlala left about 10:15 according to Jen/Trey.

Thats ~6 hours. Average 18-19 knots VMG.

I did have the camera but I think the batteries were about dead. I tried to get some video of Tybee launching and then to turn it on for our start - but I'm not sure what it actually captured...I can't seem to read the card on my SD reader so will try later tonight with a USB cable to the camera.

Geeez

the battery companies make a killing off this race <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

tiki orange in 30 minutes after

Maugan: I guess you cant blame the boat if you dont win next year <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM

Tony:
Oh pish posh <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Maugnan20 AKA Tad already knows he has one of the best and coolest boats out there.........old undecided. And a good driver sailing it. If you have a good horse you ride it!! And abit of clarification, it was never damaged at Jensen beach in 2001 not because it was on the trailer-- 3 good efforts went into getting out and if we can find the chopper that tacked us on the outside surf line for that close up...anyway it did end up on the trailer for the ride to Cocoa after Mike Worrell and his beach Captain said no more boats can leave the beach. Wish I was there!!
Captain Kirk

Take all the advice/info from Kirk you can get, just don't take long distance dry suit fitting advice from either Kirk or Homes... (inside joke sorta)

What.

The depends?

I'm gonna wear diapers next year.

Ha ha ha, funny as that is, he's not the only one... (it's more common than you think!!)

He and glen accidentally switched dry suits one day and didn't realize it till hitting the beach like 12+ hours later. Turns out Kirk was damn near choking all day b/c Glen's neck is smaller than his. Easy mistake when you're both wearing the same suite and have been on the trail and tired for 10 days already.

So on the picture above is that at the finish or at the start and who is it??
I remember the leg where the Canadian boat got thru the surf and then tried to short cut the finish and got rolled a few hundred yards from the finish and had to drag the pieces thru the line. (2001)

That's Chris and Jesse on the Tiger at the start this morning...

Thanks John.......after looking at it closer I can make The Hobie flying H out. In that position they all look the same.........