New thread... and a note from the Cap'n.

Anyway the short story............Won the start hit it double trapped and for the next 5 plus hours never got off. Held the lead for about 1 hr or less. Dropped as far back as 7th after about 3 hours climbed back to 3rd within 3 and 4 hrs. wind went to a 18 to 20 knot beam reach and we didn't have enough weight to hold it down. Had a great battle with the South African Team to the finish. We lost our 76 (GPS Unit) in a bad wave so I was staying offshore convinced that we had 20 miles to go - looked behind and saw them diving to the beach.........Ah Ha, the capt. said, this is better then I thought. We Don't have 20 miles to go!!! But they gained about 2 min. on us. However its better than 20 more miles.........we hit the beach respectably in 5th. 2 places better then last year and several minutes closer to the leader See ya Capt. Kirk

Thanks, Kirk!

Kirk and Glenn are in 5th, 20 minutes out of first and 10 minutes out of 4th.

Still healthy wind at 16-18 from 100, expected to build today to 18-20 with some meaty gusts. Surf's chopped up pretty well, but with the breeze out of 100 a starboard start shouldn't be too much for this fleet to manage. Watch that sandbar on the way out, though - it's a board-eater.

Headings of almost due north (8-358) for first 50 miles to West Palm, then bearing off to around 340 by the finish. Wind expected to be 112-115 by that point, so we'll see some spinnakers pictures later today.

Jensen, where many teams left parts a couple of years ago, has had fresh onshore breeze for a week now, and the tide's going out for the finish today between 3 and 4 PM or so. Hope everyone gets in through the surf OK - tomorrow will take care of itself until they get there!

20 minutes to the start!



Smile, Jake! It's still better than being at work!

Report that Howard's Pub crew dislocated a shoulder during the start - paramedics are on the scene. They're on the beach - no word yet if they'll continue.

Rest of the fleet got out OK - those that bore off jst outside the break appear to have moved up better.

More info coming.

To add to that about a mile into the race team Castrol passed Tybee. They have a long way to go of course

Are they pushing on?
Did they replace the crew?

Has Tybee been passed by anyone else?

What about Seacats? Did they get their rudder repaired in time for today or are they out? It's already noon and there's nothing from Mary and Rick.

All the other teams started, including Jake and Dave. Last I heard (about 45 minutes after the start), there was an ambulance with lights on leaving the beach and the Howard's Pub boat was still in the sand. I think it was Andy that got hurt. I don't think they have a back-up crew. As soon as I hear anything definative, I'll post it.

I'm sure Rick, like the rest of the land-based folks, is hurriedly trying to get to Jensen for the finish. I estimate that the fleet is somewhere near the Lake Worth Pier right about now (12:12 Eastern). I'm sure we'll be getting news soon.

Sorry, Rick has been missing in action, brought down by technology. Less than a year ago he had a satellite dish installed on his motorhome so he could upload stories and pictures to our website from wherever he is. When he tried to use it yesterday, it didn't work. Turns out that upgraded software is required, so he had to drive home and wait until 10:00 a.m. this morning to get tech support to get the new software installed and the satellite dish working again. SOOO, he missed the start this morning, of course. But he is on his way to Jensen Beach. I hope everything works okay from now on.

To make matters worse, he has been really sick for the past week. I tried to talk him out of going at all. No luck.

Thank goodness for John Williams, who has been doing a great job of covering the race even though he is not there. And also thanks to everybody else who is contributing notes to this thread.

We'll try to get back on track after the finish today -- if Rick gets there in time.

More bad. I just discovered that Rick didn't do a link to the archived pictures and story from Leg 1. And they are really good pictures! He will fix the link later today...I hope....if the dish works......I HATE technology (except when it works).

These are the positions from my condo on Singer Island which is at the most easterly point of florida. I got home just as they were approaching but I don't think I missed any. All boats were just past shore break. If there were some in the gulfstream I might not be able to see them. Check Back and I will update this post as I can figure them out...

13 boats at 7:50. None on the horizon.

Team Castrol first 12:48
Team Tybee second 12:49
OZ 12:51
Semp Toshiba 12:52
Morada 12:52
Jayco/Sail 343 12:54
Key Sailing/Sail #824 12:55
Team SpacecoastYellow /white/green Jib graphics 12:56
OBXCC sail #146 1:01
Windy Hill Sail #271 1:05
Team Seacats 1:09
Mezo Speed/Sail #387 1:29
Howards pub/sail #838 1:30

No more boats to report. Any corrections or team names please e-mail me and I will post them here. craig@teamcyberspeed.com

Where is that - I don't see a Singer Island on this map... what town are you near?

Thanks for the news!

West Palm Beach at the very tip east

John,

If you go to Mapquest.com and put in Singer Island it will give a visual reference.

Dave

They're about a half hour behind where I thought they would be...

See attached.

They are making excellent time.

Dave

One boat in sight, 'chute up. 14:28 Eastern. First boat before 15:00??

14:52 First boat

Castrol first, then Tybee - more coming!

I only saw 13 boats pass. I thought I might have missed the first two. Either they were out in the gulfstream and I could not see them or something happened to them. Heading back to the office and will see then.

Castrol finished first at Jensen Beach, five minutes ahead of the second place boat and they now have the lead overall.

Tybee finished second

3rd was Oz

4th was Semp Toshiba

5th was Morada

6th was Key Sailing

7th was Space Coast

Notes:
Howard's Pub is back in the race. Andy Herbick dislocated his shoulder or something and was replaced by Jim Barrett.

Brevard Challenge has dropped out of the race. Something about being seasick.

More soon, I hope.

P.S.
I think I am going to stay here for my posts instead of doing the Hotline thing. It's a lot easier.