Hey Mary,

I really enjoying your coverage of the Tybee 500. I especially like your beach hotline for updates. I think you owe me a new keyboard though. I spit coke through my nose when I read your comment about Rick.

"Meanwhile, his cell phone had stopped working (a manufacturer defect of some sort), and he had no way to contact me to even let me know, so I figured he must be dead – what other excuse could there be for not being at the finish in time?"

I'd like to see more on equipment and up and coming teams like Accelerated Chaos. And while first to finish seems to grab the headlines the top F18HT and 6.0 sailor is just as successful by winning his class.

Thanks again for the great coverage.

Mike Hill
H20 #791

Well, if I ever get to talk to him again, I will suggest he talk to Accelerated Chaos. We could have talked to them at length back here in Key Largo, because after the start of the race they were parked on our front yard for about an hour and a half while they were apparently getting lunch at Hobo's. They have a whole new Nacra 6.0 with them for backup parts.

Communication is restored. Rick has a new cell phone. My Hotline is back in action -- although I don't know if "action" is the right word. Am I imagining things, or is this race very slow?

I think it's because there hasn't been any adverse conditions with either the surf or the wind. Feels slow to me too!

Jake

P.S. GO ACCELARATED CHAOS!!!!

Mary,
Here's an idea to gather some interest in the race. (at least for the men reading this) Have Rick take some more photos of the Totally Involved team, preferrably without life jackets and spray suits on. And please have him post LARGE photos!

Jack

You're right -- Les has a great body, doesn't he?

Mary,

While I certainly disagree with sending you a venemous letter, I think it would be good to hear an occasional blurb about the lesser known teams that are competing in this race. I don't know a whole lot about many other teams but Accelerated Chaos is a good story. The whole family is pitching in to make this race a possibility for the two brothers (and they're doing great!). Did you know they are carrying an mp3 player in a modified drybox complete with waterproofed speakers? And that they've got more than enough tunes and batteries to last every leg? Yes, that's right, not only are they leading the N6.0NAs but they're listening to music the WHOLE way! I wonder what music they're listening to?

Rick just got a bunch of information from Accelerated Chaos this morning before the start, and it will be on his Tybee coverage page probably this afternoon.
* * * * *
And, by the way, the purpose of my post about that letter was to get response on his allegation that only people with a lot of money finish in first place. I wholeheartedly DISagree with that, and I was hoping somebody would comment about it.

Speaking of Accelerated Chaos, check out this photo of them landing yesterday (or was it the day before?). Flying a hull, with spinnaker, right onto the beach. Photo was taken by Connie Brown and is on the teamsandiego.com website.
Photo of accelerated chaos
Jack

and not to far from another beached boat either!

sweet! I agree with you Mary. Money helps you get there and arrive in style but success in our sport has not gotten out of financial reach of the everyday person. If the guys with more money are in the front it's more likely because they can afford to spend more time on the water from day to day.

Your coverage of the race has been awesome - even without considering all the trouble Rick has had and the fact he has no help!

At the risk of ratcheting this discussion up a notch, I'll throw in my two cents worth. I've read the comments about the lack of attention on the also-rans. For me, however, there's another issue. I can't help but wonder why so many who post to this forum can't seem to see beyond the boat. A look at all the number crunchers' analyses on the old forum would suggest that there are no people in the race, only I20 vs N60 vs F18HT. The sailors have simply been removed from the equation.

When I look at the list of participants, I see some familiar "rock star" names onboard the I20's and F18's. A hefty percentage of them have previous Worrell experience under their belt and have spent a good deal of time on the eastern Florida shoreline. That's gotta count for something. (It's not just that they have higher aspect ration sail plans and boards, or better planing hulls, blah, blah, blah.) Factor in their time on the water and well honed skills.

Just out of curiousity, what do you think the results would be if sailors brought their mix of craft to an event like the Tybee or the Worrell and then everyone switched boats?

Jake,

I, too, have become fans of Chris and Nate, along with the family members and friends who've helped make it possible for them to participate in the Tybee 500. Now, watching them make their way up the coast, jammin' to the MP3 tunes as they go, ya gotta love the spirit. Rock on guys!

Kevin
You could come over to New England's east coast and meet everyone in that picture and more. Would love to have you over and see what it's all about. You coluld even get us to come to VT. for a sail.
Barry

Barry,

I'm truly hoping to get down there and sail with you guys. I was planning on coming to the NE 100 last year until my crew had to back out last minute and I fell victim to all the other stuff we typically try to cram into a brief northern Vermont summer.

I am fortunate, however, to have a place to store my boat, mast up, on a Lake Champlain beach (the International Sailing School on Malletts Bay) during the summer. When I do get a few hours free, it's 15 minutes to the boat, raise the sails, and go. If ever you're in the area, give a shout.

Stopped by the TommyB site a few minutes ago to see the following posted on the Live Tracking page:

[color:"green"]"They've sailed 5.997 n. miles at [color:"red"]25.700[/color] knots since 5/16/2003 12:21:30 PM"[/color]

Figured I'd to the St Augustine CMAN station to see what was up. E winds at 9 knots. Hmmmm.

Meanwhile, an update on the TommyB site.

[color:"green"]"They've sailed 4.314 n. miles at [color:"red"]7.844[/color] knots since 5/16/2003 12:35:30 PM EDT"[/color]

That's more like it.

So, Mary, you can rest assured that it's not just Rick who's faced with the technological glitches

Didn't you see the boo-boo on the Tommy Bahama tracking site Wednesday when, over a seven-minute period, they went 120.012 nautical miles at 1,028.672 knots?

Kind of ties nicely into the discussion we had a while back about GPS

now THAT's smokin!

Kevin,
Except in this case I don't think it was the GPS at fault - probably it was human error. They are calling GPS coordinates in to someone who is feeding them into a mapping software. From what Wick Smith told me, it sounds like they developed the software specifically for the race.