All,

Due to events this year - Everglades Challenge in Tampa Bay and Dauphin Island Regatta in Mobile Bay - Fort Walton Yacht Club is postponing the Round the Island Race to 2016. We need the time to review and improve our safety protocols.

V/R

John D. Farris
2015 Fleet Captain
Fort Walton Yacht Club
Family, Sailing, Friends!
~~/)~~~/)~~/)~~~~/)~~~~~~~/)

Take a look at our Sailing Instructions:
http://florida300.com/downloads/15_Florida300_SI.pdf

8. Required Safety Equipment
8.1 For Each crew member, attached to person
a. US Coast Guard (USCG) approved PFD personal PFD, worn at all times while racing. All life preservers will be in reasonably new & undamaged condition.
Note: The RC will recognize the country certification of a pfd used by a sailor in a boat of his own competing country. Foreign sailors using US registered vessels must wear USCG approved pfd’s. This is IAW USCG Regulations. Modification of a pfd voids the certification either country.
b. One small enclosed or folded knife
c. Whistle
d. Waterproof flashlight
e. Personal Safety strobe light
f. A personal locator is required for each crewmember in the Florida 300. One 406 MHz EPIRB is required by at least one sailor aboard each boat racing. One SPOT Satellite Messenger or a second personal EPIRB may be used by the other crew member. The chosen equipment must be carried attached to each person aboard. If a SPOT is used it must be in tracking mode and attached in a manner which can be seen by the satellite, and capable of notifying rescue services, your team leader and the RC at 561.371.2663. SPOTs must be demonstrated at inspections and show a positive test. (Optional per individual in Dogfight). See paragraph 8.3 for details.
Note: 121 & 243MHz EPIRBS are no longer acceptable. Proof of NOAA Registration of 406 MHz EPIRBs must be provided to the race equipment inspector. Each Sailor shall have available to him liquids to sustain himself for the duration of the days sail.

8.2 For Each Boat, secured to boat:
a. Waterproof VHF Radio, (Strongly Recommended but optional for Dogfight)
b. One water protected secured cell phone
c. Marine Grade Compass, attached to boat or a secured handheld for Dogfight.
d. Three Current day/night flares (At least one should be night rated.)
e. Safety line, at least 30’ in length, to be used for towing
f. One throw-able PFD
g. Tracking is mandatory on all boats including “Dogfight” boats. Either a SPOT Satellite Tracker or a smartphone with Kattack Mobile app (free) are acceptable transmitters. See paragraph 8.3 for details.

When I did the race and capsized/turtled/broke mast in Destin Pass, there was some sort of committee boat that was there taking pictures and did not offer assistance. They left us with a civilian boat that was helping but was not happy about it.

My brother was racing with me and is a member of Cypremort Point Yacht Club in Louisiana. He will never do that race again and was appalled.