I would not be interested unless we got to race one day on the ocean side so we can surf. My question is...would some of the Wave sailors want to do some distance racing?
Let me repeat myself. Singlehanding is not allowed for the Steeplechase. I don't know what you mean by "surf." In the Keys the water on the ocean side is not any more amenable to "surfing" than the water on the bay side. The Atlantic side just gives you more likelihood of ending up in England...probably dead (if you tether yourself to your boat so people have proof).
Mary you missed my point.
I know the rules of the "real" steeplechase.
I simply wondered if anyone else with a Wave would want to do some distance races.
A good one would be from Jewfish, through Anglefish and down the outside to perhaps Snake Creek.
The second leg would be through the back country creeks, etc. and back to The Islander or Gilberts.
It could be part of Wave week.
The waves in Hawks Channel would be no problem for a good sailor on a Wave.
Remember, I sold Hobies and other boats in Key West for 15 years. No one I know ever ended up in England or dead. We RENTED 14's to tourists and they sailed in Hawks Channel. Yes we had to rescue a few but that was mainly to get our boats back.
I would even sponsor such a race.
Another epic voyage would be the Watertribe Everglades Challenge. If folks do it on sailing kayaks and clunky monohulls, a Wave might be just the ticket.
A third possibility might be around Put-In-Bay sailed on Sunday before Bay Week. You could go either way, just like the Around The Island Sunfish Race that I started many years ago in Key West. It was always fun to see which sailers made the right choice on which way to go.
Just food for thought.
