'Round the Island Details

You can check out the link at the Fort Walton Yacht Club web site that will take you to the NOR information Fort Walton Yacht Club and registration. Several boats signed up thus far with Randy in Scizzors looking to be the boat to beat. Brian Lambert has modified his Tornado with the CFR 20 mast, new main and spin and looks to be interestingly fast and powered up. Talked to Kirk Newkirk today and he is threatening to bring his 20 over if the fleet keeps growing. The YC will be available for dinner Friday and breakfast Sunday....and the long term forecast looks good so far. Lately the wind has been following the locally consistent pattern and is blowing decently from sunrise thru sunset. Water is warm,humidity down, and lots of sun. Check it out and hope to see you there.

I'm going to miss the skippers meeting. Is there any way to get the Sailing instructions? Or, can you provide the marks that must be honored? GPS coordinates would be helpful as well.

Andy I will get your message to the Fleet Captain and she will bet the RI to you this week.

FWYC wants everyone to know your welcome to set your boat up anytime this weekend/ week . Good in ground tie downs available.

Wind today at 7 am east/northeast 8-10knts slight chop. Would be a tight reach to the Destin Bridge and spin reach to Pensacola with afternoon sea breeze filling in !late..Todays high 86. Perfect , hope it stays that way

The wind forecast looks great for RTI. We need more boats to register. Only $10 if you register by Friday, and you don't have to pay until Friday.

Looks like I have 750 miles to drive Thursday....

Update....Kirk Newkirk and Tom Whitehurst teaming up on his F20 C and Brian Lambert will be on his highly modified Tornado. Added the CFR 20 mast, new main, jib and chute and looks to be really fast. Add those entries to
Randy on Scizzors and you have an interesting challenge!

Kirk and Tom have to stay in shape so I am not surprised they are sailing. The truth is that an ARC 22 might be among the leaders, right Mike?

Let us not forget Billy Whitehurst on his Hobie 17 with running backs and assorted headsails. If he sails, he is my Portsmouth hero.

Now let's consider the weather for the race ,,, easterlies are in order for the weekend. I hope they shoot the reversed course and put you guys in the narrows to P Bay, then out to sea for the leg back to FWYC. 12 - 14 knots true might make for a tough beat up the narrows. Either way - the race this year will feature a beat and a run with minimum reaching.

Looking forward to seeing everyone that rigs tomorrow.

Worst idea ever! Swap a short section of the course for a 50 mile beat in 2-3' chop in the gulf......

I was glad to see some of the guys that were there in the CMA Days, off Leeside Park. The weather backed down and allowed for the fleet to enjoy the standard course.

For the details tack over to http://www.thebeachcats.com/news/419/2014-round-the-island-fwyc/ Thanks go to Damon Linkous and the Beach Cats. The Nacra Olympic 17 team (Sam Ingham & Casey Gilmore) were the race winners. This a great sign since they are with the USCG.

I hope the sailors enjoyed the GPS training required to target all the waypoints/mark roundings and passings (approx 13 - 15).

Steve Dowell said there used to be just one mark. Then he pointed at the island on a chart. Modernization or yacht clubbing? Go figure.

This race has been in a planning stage for too long, and it has reminded me of what Mark Twain once said about the weather; "Everybody talks about it, but nobody does anything about it."

I pray early planning and promtion prevail and there is a non - spin launch for Hobies and older designs off the Ramada Inn, at the same time as the spin start off the yacht club or Leeside Park. How about another Bill Grady or Tommy Garner style cookout, or a selected spot on the beach for Friday evening business and frolic.

Randy had ideas on including an "Everglades Challenge" style Division as well, when the planning committee last met, and I was 'relieved' for not being a yacht club member. I joined the yacht club, and the new fleet captain saw no need to finish the planning we had already accomplished. Oh well, as Kurt Vonnegut says; "So it goes."

The Race can be made real ... especially with all the new toys out there. Maybe one day ... but not by souls who are not wholly committed to the cultural quest and journey. Pride cometh easy, not!