Everyone,

Fort Walton Yacht Club wants to host the Round the Island Race the last weekend in September 2016. Our greatest worry is the safety of all racing in the event first and foremost. I am personally asking for help from the community to join me in planning this event. I can be contacted by cell phone 850-305-9653 or email Patssun@yahoo.com

Thanks in advance for your help!

V/R

John D. Farris
2015 Fleet Captain
Fort Walton Yacht Club
~~/)~~~/)~~/)~~~~/)~~/)~~/)~~~/)~~/)~~~~/)
Doing whatever it takes to get more people sailing
and more boats on starting lines in Choctawhatchee Bay!

So, here’s a suggestion from Randy Smyth: Rename the event the 50/50 ‘round the Island Race.

1. Keep it 100 miles but break it into two days of 50 miles each.
2. Start in Fort Walton with a Bermuda start: Slowest boats at 7 am and various starts during the morning based on their handicap. So, the first boat at the finish is the first boat overall etc. No handicaps are figured after the finish.
3. In good weather on Saturday we race from Fort Walton out Destin pass in the Gulf to Pensacola Pass to Chicken Bone Beach in Pensacola (after Fort Pickens but before the first condo in Gulf Breeze). In bad weather on Saturday we race from Fort Walton inside the Intercostal to Chicken Bone Beach.
4. We host a BBQ on the beach ‘tail gate style’ Saturday at sunset.
5. Sunday we normally race home in the intercostal from Chicken Bone Beach to Fort Walton. However, if we went inside Saturday we would sail back to Fort Walton Sunday via the Gulf if the weather cooperate.

What do y'all think?

There is a great conversation about the RTI on the Gulf Coast Cat Sailors Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1496578133915979/

V/R

John D. Farris
2015 Fleet Captain
Fort Walton Yacht Club
~~/)~~~/)~~/)~~~~/)~~/)~~/)~~~/)~~/)~~~~/)
Doing whatever it takes to get more people sailing
and more boats on starting lines in Choctawhatchee Bay!

i will not do the race butt i like the idea..the proposal is alot like the Steeplechase in the keys

Thanks for the feedback Mini Me!

V/R

John D. Farris
2015 Fleet Captain
Fort Walton Yacht Club
~~/)~~~/)~~/)~~~~/)~~/)~~/)~~~/)~~/)~~~~/)
Doing whatever it takes to get more people sailing
and more boats on starting lines in Choctawhatchee Bay!

The new and improved...’Round the Island Race has now been revamped and renamed:
“50/50 ‘Round the Island Race”
September 17 & 18 2016
Yes, this race was ready for a total ‘face lift’. Sailors got tired of racing 100 miles and straggling home at 2 am or later, often missing the finish party. So, to cater to popular demand we have made the following changes:
• Hobie 16’s, WETA’s and other modest speed multihulls will start at Sunrise off the Fort Walton Yacht Club’s gazebo.
• Corsairs and other larger Multihulls will start somewhat later.
• Faster Spinnaker Beach Cats will start progressively later yet.
• Saturday’s course goes from the FWYC out the Destin Pass into the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the Pensacola Pass.
• Fort Pickens, just inside the Pensacola Pass, will be the finish Saturday afternoon where all the boats should arrive somewhat together.
• Everyone will enjoy a Beach BBQ at Fort Pickens on Saturday.
• Anyone that chooses can tent camp at the Fort with showers at provided sites. Your dry clothes and other gear will be transported from the FWYC to Fort Pickens.
• For the more civilized, plenty of Motels and alternate night life is available at Pensacola Beach for Saturday night.
• Sunday morning starts the race back to Fort Walton along the scenic intercostal waterway.
• Again, progressive starting times will yield a tightly grouped fleet at the FWYC finish for awards where comradery will abound.
For your convenience the 50/50 is one week after the Juana’s Good Time Regatta. If you choose to do both events please feel free to leave your boats at the FWYC.
Check FWYC.org to enter and for further information (soon) or contact Race Organizer Randy Smyth: SmythSails@gmail.com​Cell 850 499 6490

any 2017 updated info?