How much does it cost to be a bum in the Keys? Care to split it with me and go in halfsies? I know I can draw up a business plan for that.

whatever it is - it needs to have health benefits :P

Hmmm...I'm not sure I can slide that into the plan. I'll try and let you know what I come up with.

FL Keys health-care plan.....add rum 'til it stops hurting.

I am seriously considering buying an F18, but I'd love to see what the racing is like first. Is there anyone looking for crew for the Steeplechase?

I work with someone who sails an Infusion who told me about this race. As it turns out, I am traveling in Southern FL next week for work and have Friday-Sunday available, just need to change my flight home. I will have a rental car as well.

Experience: 1 month sailing the Keys on my SlO'Day 240 with my girlfriend. No depth sounder, I can read shoals/reefs. I Co-own a Hobie 16, extensive experience sailing this for fun. I can right an H16 without difficulty. Racing - Inter-collegiate experience on big boats and a few years in dinghys. Let me know if anyone is interested. I can split race fees/hotel rooms/beer etc.

I'm sure they'd need your height/weight stats.

How are you at sitting in a trapeze harness on the same tack for 4 hours while sawing a mainsheet or spin sheet?

Stankypoo don't forget to ask if they need the traveler to be 4:1. For someone that forgets almost everything, that one sticks in my head for some reason.

4:1!? Are you kidding me?

How big 'a pansy are you?

omg.

No wonder Ding compare me to you when I was complaining about my back hurting :P

Sorry about that! I'm 6'4" ~170lbs. I can sit in a trapeze and trim for 4 hours... In fact I welcome the proposition.

He's Tad version 2005

aka beanpole.

Tradewinds is right around the corner. You don't wanna miss that.

The chase is 3 days away and...

Hourly Weather Graph

you're kidding... solid 10-15 both days? Talk about a dream race....

I remember one Steeplechase like that waaaaay back (probably the second one I did - maybe 2001?)... Talk about "Chamber of Commerce" conditions. It's conditions like those that keep people coming back year after year. Sunny skies, moderate breeze and warm water for X-mas...

Those other Steeplechases? Well, one day was usually a blowout and the other day was more merciful.

Just for the record... it's snowing for the 2nd time this week and it's MISERABLE out!
Can't wait for this weekend!
The boats head south tonight!

Has arrangements been made with the Caribbean Club or are we just going to storm the castle? Anybody know?

From a post on page 1, it sounds like Rick is taking care of it.

I don't know. Dave is supposed to be talking to them about it. Nobody is renting the beach right now, so I hope they won't mind us using it. Don't know what the Carib will charge. I would say just show up and be sure to pay and be nice.

I'm in Miami right now... with lifejacket and sailing gear. No one has a teamate that bailed or is on the fence? The skiing back home just started to look nice, but I'd rather stay in the keys for the weekend. There must be someone with a boat, the time and no crew...

~Nate

Not to be rude... but we're driving 1500 miles for this race... I hope someone who lives in the area will drive over the the Caribbean Club or call them to sort out the details before we get there.
Sounded like Rick was handling this per his post on page 1.
Last year we were pretty frustrated when the bartender had to make phonecalls and was uneasy about us showing up with our box trailer. It's certainly not something we want to deal with after a long drive.