You guys are drunk or stoned. What I heard Chuck say was that the 20 had a place in the race as long as there is a fleet, which he intended to reassure 20 owners who had been hearing that the curtain was closing. When he said that maybe the F18 was inevitable, he absolutely was looking into the crystal ball - I agree with him, incidentally. The 20 is headed for the heap... there are other great boats like the Jav, 6.0 and 5.5 there to soften the landing. I'm not being mean - it just happens. Chuck wants international participation to make the event viable - that is a fantasy if you keep the F18 out.

We at TVS offerred this package. The Pirates team took us up on it, and as far as I could tell, were happy customers.

We also helped out Mischa with a bit of his logistics but not in the same capacity.



What we all heard was him saying "I can see this race being F18 only in two years."

I know I wasn't the only one that heard that. A SPECTATOR that was present at the award ceremony expressed to me how she wanted the whole 20 fleet to stand up and leave when he said that!

Whether its a perception/reality thing or not here Jdub, the 20 fleet is definitely reading the writing on the wall, and we're not feelin the bear-hug love dude

I don't think anyone is even close to suggesting we "keep the F18 out" and I too agree that it is the future of the race. However, it's far too early and I think the race should continue to support both classes until, at least, they start running out of beach and hotel resources. It's better for everyone to have more boats.

I can also live with the handicap and fleet scoring but would prefer to see the handicap part toned down a little from the headlines because it's not representative of the sailors and the racing on the water.

So what do you want that is different than the reality that the race is open to the 20 fleet as long as they show up?

[music] R.E.S.P.E.C.T. [/music] for what the 20 has done for the race so far and the fact that it is the only thing still keeping the race alive.

Jake - love ya man, but the 20 didn't do jack for the race. The teams make the race, and the teams have been on several boats over the years. In fact, I would hazard that without the Tybee, MKL and the Steeplechase, the 20 would already be gone.

This can only be settled by "on the water Jousting"... Saddle up

From my post at Velocitysailing.com

Jdub hasn't ever "jousted" in the Tybee.

Not on the water, anyway.

From Grace O'Malley at SA:

"Or since JW was hangin' off his team's boat in 2000, where was that, Kill Devil?? Trying to hold it down, that was too funny.... "

Surely there is proof! "A picture, a picture! My kingdom for a picture."- some ol' dead guy

Jake, you can always speak your mind with me - you've earned my respect. Don't delete posts - you can't hurt my feelings.

Tad - I disagree. The race is run by someone who loves the event and the sailors in it. I guaran-damn-tee you that the boat itself doesn't matter to him. Seperate the emotional attachment - there have been a lot of different boats in the coastal races of May.

Pete - I was ground crew. I have never sailed the event am I'm extremely unlikely to do so. I have enduring regard for those who push off the beach - we're incredibly fortunate they have all come back to us safely. The risk to life is staggering and I have looked too deeply into the maw of that darkness.

I suffer from an over active imagination (or too much caffeine). There was a reference to jousting, I was envisioning you as the trusty squire trying to control the charger.

Speaking of jousting, Seth almost skewered me in the ear Saturday!

from a spectators point of view:

I could care less what boat is sailed... I could care less who wins.... all i care is that there was good sailing.... exciting pictures, some good video is great! overcoming equip failures... and for goodness sake... MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH GUMBO !!!

and once again: for all involved... Hats off!

Jake
I don't think we are far apart... But to be sure... Did you have a problem with how the race was scored this year.
Handicap and in One Design?

All I'm saying is, if you don't have any skin in the game, you shouldn't be pulling any strings. Hush.

Cart before the horse? Making it only F18 will not grow the race. Mischa and crew will not come back if it is only an F18 event.

Don't bite the hand that feeds...

There have been a lot of different people in it too.

This particular one doesn't want to be shown the door on account of the fact that his boat isn't welcome anymore.

Plus, historical data on the Tybee 500 speaks for itself.

The race wouldn't have happened without the N20, and the N20 wouldn't be as alive as it is without the race.

Why are you so content with consigning the class that has served the race so well to the scrap heap in the dead boat society? I hazard to say that you're reveling in it.

Trey - go forth into the world and collect some wisdom. Save this post of yours to teach you humility and the pain of shame.

What ever happened to the follow on 500, The Atlantic 500? It was supposed to allow the competitors who so chose, to continue racing up to the original VA Beach Worell finish, for the full 1,000 miles, scored as two separate events.

I always thought that was a good way to break up the race and might even draw a few more people in for the north half. Is that second 500 pretty much toast?