The 24th Running of the Key Largo Steeplechase Coming up Soon
This is probably the most popular weekend distance race in the country because of the easiness of the logistics. You get a room in Key Largo on Friday evening and leave it on Sunday. You see, the race begins in Key Largo and ends in Key Largo -- a 110-mile trek around the huge Key. And the first nights beach stop is only about a 1/2 hour drive back to your hotel. Can't get any easier than that. And the course is really fun -- a drag race on the first and a finesse day on the second. For more info, The 24th Running of the Key Largo Steeplechase Coming up Soon
This is probably the most popular weekend distance race in the country because of the easiness of the logistics. You get a room in Key Largo on Friday evening and leave it on Sunday. You see, the race begins in Key Largo and ends in Key Largo -- a 110-mile trek around the huge Key. And the first nights beach stop is only about a 1/2 hour drive back to your hotel. Can't get any easier than that. And the course is really fun -- a drag race on the first and a finesse day on the second. For more info, http://www.catsailor.com/Steeplechase.html

Hey Rick,

Do you have a special rate at Gilberts for the regatta? I need to make reservations before it get too late.

email mary@catsailor.com and she knows more about that stuff. I will have her call and be sure they know we are coming.
Rick

Looks like Gilberts is hosting a wedding that weekend, no rooms available and they mentioned no use of beach for launching... Mary, can you keep us posted on what you find out?
Thanks,
Chris

guess that's another reason to start/finish at Key Largo Watersports, or whatever that hotel is that we round the bouy on day 2...

Rick and I just checked out the situation at Gilbert's today, and they are booked up apparently both Friday and Saturday, between a birthday party and a wedding.

So we are going to check out the Caribbean Club for launching. We will keep you posted on what we find out.

Too bad about Gilberts but I know Rick and Mary will figure it out!
We'll be down there early Friday morning...
Anyone going to be around with a tow vehicle that would be able to trailer a 6,000 LB 24' enclosed trailer from Tiki Watersports to wherever we launch on Friday morning? We are flying down and renting a car. We might have someone but we are just weighing our options.
Also... if anyone needs crew I know two people from FL that really want to sail.

My son, Dave, is a friend of the folks at Caribbean Club, and he checked last year about launching there, and they had not problem with it. We did not use the area because Gilberts was available.
He checked again to be sure last night. Haven't heard from him today yet, but feel certain that the Crib will be fine. There will of course be a launching fee you must pay the bartender.
We will also finish there instead of Gilberts, needless to say.

Also, I went down to Anne's Beach today and we will set the finish line between Green 17 approach marks for Caloosa Cove Marina and a red flag on the beach.
You guys are actually going to MISS the MUD.

The good part is that you might find better lodging now. Mary knows all the good places and feel certain she will post them here.

Rick

Carib Club sounds good...
They did give us a lot of hassle about raising masts to close to the power lines a few years about before Tradewinds when Olli, Robbie, Mike Easton, and I set up there but I think they realized we knew what we were doing and eventually left us alone.

Any chance we could discuss with them a group rate for launching? Rather than $10 per day and $10 per launch, maybe for every $100 for every 10 boats to cover the Fri-Sun span of boat and trailer storage?

It's not $10 per day - it's $10 total, because you are launching one day and delaunching on another day. However, they may also want something for overnight trailer storage. We will be finding that out. No matter what, it will be better than what the owner of Gilbert's told me a couple of years ago -- that it would be $30 a day. That was ridiculous!

Wildtsail,
One of their employees got lit up on those powerlines with a mast,awhile back. That's what killed our access to it for awhile. That's prolly why they were "hassling" you.
Todd

Todd...
Maybe "hassling" wasn't the word to use.
We were bothered by several of their employees constantly reminding us to be careful... if anything it was nice to see they were concerned.
They told us the whole story and we made sure we rigged as far away from the lines as possible.
-The other Todd

Whatever we do, we need to be reallllyyyyy nice to them.., we are running out of launching areas. They and Gilberts are the only two left on Blackwater Sound. And I cannot afford to buy back our hotel (by the way, we had one of three beaches on the entire bay, and they new owners turned it into a cliff -- go figure )
If we run out launch site on Blackwater, the next option is the Upper Keys Sailing Club. However, that makes it a pretty long sail to the starting line. Although we could start the race later, if need be.
Some have asked why not start at the club and make a longer first day, but that would put the entire fleet at the creeks at one time. That would be a nightmare. It would resemble a tangle of wire coathangers.
The other option is reversing the course from there. Problem is after Lower Matecumbe (Annes Beach) there are no more landing spots. So, it would a short first day and very long second day. Boats might be getting in after dark while the rest of the finished fleet would be biting nails to get back on the road.
Any thoughts are always welcome, however.
Rick

>...southwesterly to Channel Five Bridge, then through the bridge and then northeasterly up the IntraCoastal Waterway.<
Where is the finish? Is the starting line also the finish line?

The starting line is not the finish line. The start will be as always, at the north end of Jewfish Creek in Barnes Sound. The first day finish will be at Anne's Beach, as always.

We don't know yet where the finish line will be on the second day, but we are hoping it will be at the Caribbean Club.

That would be the direction, if we attempted to reverse the course, but as I pointed out there is no place to land the first day, going in that direction.
So, we WILL NOT run the course in reverse. It would be horrible.
Rick

Why don't you have the start and finish line the same like in front of the Caribbean club. If the draw bridge is gone why not just race through Jewfish creek. When we had the draw bridge we all ended up there at the same time and raced through.

I guess that would make getting to the starting line a bit easier...

What I would wonder about is trying to get the fleet up the creek (no pun intended) if it was like that run 2 years ago with light wind on the nose and a nasty south current. Took most boats 4-5 attempts with paddling to get through, didn't it?

Dave, that would be a nightmare. Bad enough when folks are just trying to get to the starting line, but racing? EEK!

And, from the Carib it will be the same as always, except we don't all have to wait until 8:30 and go through the bridge with one raising.
Now, folks can start early or start late, but just allow themselves time to get to the start line before it starts.
Rick

Hey Rick I was just trying to make it easy for you. I think the fleet would be spread out enough with about 2 miles to sail before the bridge. In the past we all went through at the same time. After all it is the Steeplechase and you can paddle.

And it's not the size of your paddle it's how you use it... ah what a load of poop... size does matter.

If it still necks down and accelerates the current right at the mouth - I would never want to have to race through that. Two years ago, we couldn't get out of each other's way long enough to let anyone get a run ... and we were only trying to get up the creek to the start line (we weren't racing at this point). I can't imagine 30 boats all cramming in there to try and get through.


Here's the video...I can't seem to embed a Daily Motion video.

Through the Bridge

The Steeplechase Race is the reason the State of Florida built that new highrise bridge.

Anyone know what the tide will be at that time? If it's not barreling southward down Jewfish creek, I don't see there being too much of an issue...

Same way everyone's crammed in Angelfish creek and some of those cuts on day 2.... It gets messy, but it's accepted as "part of the race"...

Tide is not an issue at Jewfish Creek. Current is wind-driven in that area of the Upper Keys. The current can run one direction for days at a time and then go the opposite way for days at a time. No good way to predict which way it will be flowing at any given time.

If the wind is out of the east/south for days, the current through the bridge may continue to flow from east to west for a while, even if the wind switches to the west/north. And vice versa.

Had no idea. But have fought current under that bridge a few times...

Actually, my last jaunt had us waiting on the bridge opening with a northbound current and no wind. Had to flip the boat on purpose after drifting into the span. Definitely a crowd pleaser, that was!

I remember that, and yes it was.

I will have my truck that I will pull a similar trailer to Pennekamp on Thursday.

I not sure where Tiki is but you are welcome to use my truck.

Are we sure of the launch site yet?

When are you getting to MIA? I have to pick up my crew at Delta at 1255 on Friday.

Hi Jack,
We would greatly appreciate that!
Private message sent.
-Todd

Hi Mary,

Do ya'll have a rate worked out with any hotel?

Where is everyone staying? I usually stay at Gilberts but sounds like they are booked up.

Hey Craig,

I have a space at Pennekamp. You can bring a sleeping bag and stay in our trailer or pitch a tent next to it.

We have checked with the Caribbean Club, and they are fine with the boats launching there. It will be nice to get back to our original launching area again for the Steeplechase, so I hope this works out well.

The Caribbean Club is charging $10 for launch fee, and $10 for each day trailer storage. Pay the bartender inside the "Club." I am assuming the trailer storage fee is based on overnights, so if you have the trailer there Friday night and Saturday night, $20 for the trailer, plus $10 launch fee (covers in and out, launch Saturday morning and delaunch Sunday afternoon). PLEASE make sure you pay them. Launching areas are getting hard to come by down here, so don't give anybody a hard time.

We will be finishing the race at the Caribbean Club and have some food there at the finish and award trophies there, so it would be nice if everybody launches there and has their trailer there.

Don't forget that you have to come to Rick and Mary's house for skippers meeting and to register on Friday evening. No register, no score.

Mary,

Before I comment, I should point out that I'm not attending this year's Steeplechase....

The launch site there at the Caribbean club is a good one! Glad you guys got it. The last time I launched from there for an event (Steeplechase), the bartender complained that he didn't think he was getting enough money for the number of boats and trailers there and I don't think everyone completely understood the deal. He scowled at me when I told him we had two boats and one trailer (he wasn't real familiar with double stacking). Additionally, I think it was easy for people to forget to pay.

It would probably be easier, less confusing, and make the Caribbean Club feel like they were getting a fair shake if the regatta were to charge the sailors for launching and trailers at the time they pay for the entry fee and then pass on those funds to the Club. I know it's more trouble on part of organizing the event but it would possibly help to ensure that the launch location remains available.

The last time you were there, somebody probably had the beach concession, and you were supposed to pay that person, not the bartender.

Anyway, I have not wanted to get involved in the whole thing. Seems like the sailors should take the responsibility for deciding to where to launch and for paying their way. It is not like this is an organized event. All we can do is suggest possible launch locations.

Like Gilbert's says they also have a way to launch there, other than the beach.

And the Jewfish Creek Marina, which is also owned by Gilbert's, is another possibility.

People might be launching from a variety of places, all of which charge different amounts of money. You guys are adults and should be able to handle this yourselves. Right?

Is Jewfish Creek Marina across from Gilberts? Or is that the Former Rowles marina?

Mary,
We certainly appreciate you doing the legwork for us! It's not easy to deal with it from 1,500 miles away!

Several of us from New England rented a house at the Bay Cove Motel. It is $230 a night..for 7 people. Not sure what the rest of the rooms are. It'd be cool to have other catsailors near us. It seemed like a good central location to the Carribean Club and Anne's Beach as well as some local attractions.
-Todd

UPDATE: Gilbert's had a group cancel, so they now have five rooms available for Friday and Saturday nights. Apparently, launching and trailer storage is free if you are staying there. Can't launch off the beach, but you CAN launch out of that area to the right of the beach where there are mangroves. It is now cleared out pretty good, so should be a good place to launch. Also you can launch on their ramp. You will have to ask when you get there where they want you to put your trailers.

If you are NOT staying there, you can still launch there, same places as described above, but they will charge $20 a day for launch and trailer storage.

The rooms are $79 a night, and they all have two double beds.
Call Gilbert's at 305-451-1133. Talk to Liz, if she is on duty.

Actually $88 with tax...still a bargain. We got a room so space #39 at Pennecamp is available again.

Thanks Mary. See you next week.

For those of you who have not been here since the high-level bridge was finished, note that there is a business access ramp off to the right, before you go over the bridge, to get to Gilbert's. And if you are going to the Anchorage or Jewfish Creek Marina or Marley's on the south side of the creek, there is another business access ramp to get off the bridge after you cross over the creek. (Great view from the top of the bridge, by the way.)

Same thing if you are going north -- business access ramp to the right to get off on the Anchorage side and another one on the other side of the bridge to get off for Gilbert's.

The lift bridge has been completely removed, so no way to get across between Gilbert's and the Anchorage except by going over the big bridge.

Nice thing will be that when you are staying at Gilbert's, you won't have to hear that awful noise every time a truck would go over the lift bridge.

It was part of the "awwwwwbiawwwwwwnce"

Thanks for the invite. I will be staying at Gilberts as well. Glad the group reservations fell through.

Turns out ,I'm not gonna be able to make it afterall. My teammate had some business stuff come up that couldn't wait.
Hope y'all have a great time. I'll be thinking about it rather I want to or not. It's cold (for me) but it got colder when I found out I wasn't going to the Keys.
Todd

Todd... that's a weak excuse! I've got a great crew for you if your interested. His name is Jeff, he's 165 lbs and lives in Fort Lauderdale where he's a senior at FAU.
He is the top sailor for his school, has lots of dinghy experience, 49er, Melges 32, etc...
He's also a really nice kid and he is really eager to get on cats.
Also... he doesn't drink... so we'll have a DD!
Let me know if your interested.

Yeah I know, number 42 with some 6. Right Tad?

We keep missing each other. I am teeing off at 11:20 so I will be incommunicato until 5:00. Are you heading south Friday or Saturday?

Hey Arbo,

Headin South Friday and coming home Sunday after the race. Have a great golf game.

Where to folks plan to be setting up for the race. Will everyone be setting up at Gilberts or heading down to the Caribean Club?

Carribean Club, Gilberts closed the beach 'cording to Mary, you'd have to launch across the parking lot from where we did.

That's right. Carribean Club it is.

Now get outta my spot!!!!

To bad you can't make it Todd.

When I reserved our room at Gilberts the other day, the lady said that we would have free launching if we had a room with them. Is that just ramp privileges I wonder?

We probably will go to Caribbean since that seems like a better place.

1. Is the finish line on the second day at Gilbert"s?
2. Has the location of the start been changed?

The starting line on the first day remains the same.
I believe the finish on day two will be at the Caribean Club, but I am sure that will be addressed at the skippers meeting.

Thank's I forgot about that event. I've been distracted by my stupid GPS antenna and looking around for all of the misc.bits and pieces. Beam bolts for example would be nice to have. Which neighbor borrowed the right wheel from my trailer?

If you are staying at Gilberts and get free launching, I would do that. There is a ramp and another place on the South side of the back lot where you can launch. The Crib might get a bit crowded.
Finish is planned for the Crib.

Registration and beer party at 6PM, Skippers Meeting at 8PM at Rick and Mary's tiny house.
Directions:
Go south on Rt 1 and when nearing Mile Marker 105, there is a Winn-Dixie. Turn right on the second street past W/D (Paradise) We are on the corner of Paradise and Coral Way (address is 6 Coral Way)
You will see the big green RV (now referred to as the White Elephant) and a bunch of boats in the yard
Rick

It's looking like Saturday will be quick

Saturday

North to northeast winds 15 to 20 knots and gusty. Seas beyond the reef 4 to 7 feet...except higher in the Gulf Stream. Seas inside the reef 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters choppy.

Sunday And Monday

Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots and gusty. Seas beyond the reef 4 to 7 feet...except higher in the Gulf Stream. Seas inside the reef 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. Isolated showers.

Wow, a double-trap spin run down the coast. That sounds pretty neat.

Tasty!

It wouldn't be a steeplechase without some nuclear gusts.

To everybody who is racing in the Steeplechase:

One minor detail You can NOT set up on the beach or launch off the beach. The owners (Caribbean Club) are working on it, fixing it up or something, and all the boats will have to set up in the parking lot and launch on the launching ramp. Please make sure your boat is ready to launch before you take it to the ramp, so you don't hold up powerboaters who also need to use the ramp.

And be nice to the owners, because supposedly they will be working on the beach when you arrive and will tell you that you cannot use it. Please don't argue with them.

Thanks for your cooperation.

P.S. And remember to rig your boat a healthy distance away from power lines!

If you are launching at Gilbert's, you also cannot use the beach (at least on Saturday because of the planned wedding). You can use their launching ramp OR launch through the opening in the mangroves at the back end of the property, that faces directly onto Blackwater Sound.

Maybe we can talk the guy out of getting married.

ramp launching with 20 knots + gusts... should be fun!

With this crowd - that might just be possible.

Back it out and unfurl jib/ hoist main once you've shoved off out of the way...

For some reason I think the front's moving faster than the forecast (it's over my house right now, and I'm only a 2 hour drive away from KL), so I'll let you know what the wind is tomorrow. I suspect less than 20 knots.

It is a piece of cake launching there. The ramp is almost all sandy anyway.., shouldn't make any difference.

The wind forecasted is not the front. When it is from the eastern quadrant it is pretty much our normal Tradewinds somewhat fortified by the High following the front.
Rick
Rick

I think the front that they are talking about pushed through ATL last night. Had a couple of gusts that shook the house. Thats my indicator of a "gonzo blast".

Its also 20 degrees colder here today that it was yesterday. Brrrr!!!

giddy up!

Saturday
North to northeast winds near 20 knots. Seas beyond the reef 5 to 8 feet...except higher in the Gulf Stream. Seas inside the reef 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters rough.

Saturday Night
Northeast winds near 20 knots. Seas beyond the reef 5 to 8 feet...except higher in the Gulf Stream. Seas inside the reef 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters rough.

Sunday
Northeast to east winds 15 to 20 knots and gusty. Seas beyond the reef 4 to 7 feet...except higher in the Gulf Stream. Seas inside the reef 2 to 3 feet. Nearshore waters choppy. Isolated showers.

Eat yer wheaties boys! You're gonna have a fresh one.

BTW, the breeze is still relatively strong around here after it pushed through. Doing a nice job drying out my soaked and soggy lawn.

Crossing the flats on Sunday is going to be a bitch!

Main Key, Barnes Sound

Sat
Low 8:13 AM -.1
High 1:55 PM +.6

Sun
Low 9:06 AM -.1
High 2:46 PM +.6

Well, I guess it was predictable. Beachcat sailors are notorious procrastinators about leaving the beach. When the sailors no longer had a deadline to meet of getting to the lift bridge by 8:30 for the opening, very few got to the starting line by the scheduled 9:00 a.m. start. They straggled under the new high bridge and up Jewfish Creek to Barnes Sound, and finally all 21 boats were assembled, and the start was at 9:30.

The wind was out of the northeast at about 20 knots at the start but now has died to about 16 knots. No boats in sight yet at Anne's Beach.

Air temp. was chilly at the start but is now quite pleasant. They should be having a fun spinnaker run to the first-day finish.

Here is the list of competitors, experienced sailors all:

SAIL# BOAT TYPE TEAM
2230 ARC 22 Eric Roberts/Bill Roberts
USA 151 Tornado Leandro Spina/Jamie Livingston
USA 643 Tornado 2 Bob Walke/Robert D’Angelo
USA 2 Marstrom 20 Michael Phillips/Kenny Pierce
USA 1 Marstrom 20 Bret Moss/Mark Jones
69 Nacra 6.0 Tony Priu/Mark Lipkus
Marleys Yellow Nacra 20 Steve Lohmayer/Jay Sonnenklar
Marleys Orange Nacra 20 Chris Runge/Terry Greene
864 Nacra 20 Larry Ferber/Robbie Behrens
642 Nacra 20 Todd Riccardi/Brendon Scanlon
1005 Nacra 20 Mike Hill/Holly Conklin
1018 Nacra 20 Karl Langefeld/Bryan Paine
622 Nacra 20 Todd Hart/Jerry Wolfe
Marleys White Nacra 20 Rick bliss/Evan Greene
867 Nacra 20 Chris Titcomb/Trevor Burd
844 Hobie 20 Leonardo Valdiria/Saramy Fuentes
287 Hobie 20 Jack Woehrle/Bailey White
647 F-18 (Nacra) John Casey/Lluka Muco
856 F-18 (Infusion) Jim Zellmer/Nora Zellmer
230 Nacra 5.8NA Steve Karr/Josh Samples
709 F-16 (Blade) Chris Stater/Hans Evers

As of the 1 p.m. report from Molasses Reef, the wind was up to 18 knots gusting to 20, out of the north-northeast.

So how is the weather? We are having a perfect day here.

About 70 degrees, slightly overcast, breezy. Like I said: pleasant.

I'm a little surprised to see a Blade entered. How are they doing?

Thank you for the updates Mary.

Rick has not called any results in to me yet.

Yes, it will be interesting to see how the F16 does. Chris Slater is an excellent sailor, but he is pretty new to the F16. He now lives in Miami, and he and his crew have been practicing on Biscayne Bay.

Now I have most of the results. All but five boats have finished. The five that have NOT finished are the two Hobie 20's, the F16, the Nacra 5.8 and the old Tornado (without spin).

Here are the actual finish positions (not Portsmouth), and I am just giving you last names:

1. Phillips
2. Roberts
3. Spina
4. Lohmayer
5. Moss
6. Titcomb
7. Casey
8. Bliss
9. Hart
10. Langefeld
11. Hill
12. Runge
13. Riccardi
14. Priu
15. Ferber
16. Zellmer

The first boat finished in about 4 minutes under four hours. The 16th boat on the list above, the Zellmers on the F18, finished almost an hour and 20 minutes later.

More finish positions:

17. Woehrle
18. Stater
19. Valdiria

Only boats still out are the wood Tornado and the Nacra 5.8.

1. Phillips - USA 2 Marstrom 20 Michael Phillips/Kenny Pierce
2. Roberts - 2230 ARC 22 Eric Roberts/Bill Roberts
3. Spina - USA 151 Tornado Leandro Spina/Jamie Livingston
4. Lohmayer - Marleys Yellow Nacra 20 Steve Lohmayer/Jay Sonnenklar
5. Moss - USA 2 Marstrom 20 Michael Phillips/Kenny Pierce
6. Titcomb - 867 Nacra 20 Chris Titcomb/Trevor Burd
7. Casey - 647 F-18 (Nacra) John Casey/Lluka Muco
8. Bliss - Marleys White Nacra 20 Rick bliss/Evan Greene
9. Hart - 622 Nacra 20 Todd Hart/Jerry Wolfe
10. Langefeld - 1018 Nacra 20 Karl Langefeld/Bryan Paine
11. Hill - 1005 Nacra 20 Mike Hill/Holly Conklin
12. Runge - Marleys Orange Nacra 20 Chris Runge/Terry Greene
13. Riccardi - 642 Nacra 20 Todd Riccardi/Brendon Scanlon
14. Priu - 69 Nacra 6.0 Tony Priu/Mark Lipkus
15. Ferber 864 Nacra 20 Larry Ferber/Robbie Behrens
16. Zellmer - 856 F-18 (Infusion) Jim Zellmer/Nora Zellmer
17. Woehrle - 287 Hobie 20 Jack Woehrle/Bailey White
18. Stater - 709 F-16 (Blade) Chris Stater/Hans Evers
19. Valdiria - 844 Hobie 20 Leonardo Valdiria/Saramy Fuentes

How about that 'T' gettin it done!

Casey going to be tough once the numbers are crunched.

I figure Rick would be firm and still start on time. Yes, I wasn't there, I don't race often and am not any good at it (no where near the experience of the racers participating), and people can yell at me, but why put a start time in the SIs and then change it because people have procrastinated? Are other parts of the SIs up for discussion too? Were they late because of the wind or because they didn't get off the beach?

Well, a distance race like this is not like buoys racing. People are heading off into various potential perils, with no chase boats, and it is imperative that there be an accounting of all the boats that start the race, so we know who is out there.

If Rick had started the race on time, with few if any boats there, he would still have to wait at the starting line for another half hour or so to account for others and to make sure they went through the starting line, and pick up the marks he had set.

It was cold and windy and choppy on Barnes Sound, and by delaying the start, he was able to take shelter back in Jewfish Creek until all the boats assembled for the start.

Everyone wants a fair race with everybody starting properly and together. How else would the results mean anything?

Also, this year was the first without having to deal with the lift bridge on Jewfish Creek. So some sailors were not accustomed to making allowances for current and wind to get through the creek. Others were perhaps over-confident.

At any rate, it is a safety issue more than anything to make sure all the boats that are going to start are there for the start.

It's gloomy here. Overcast, no wind! Will you be able to sail?

Well, it is close to 20 knots out of the east, so, yes, they will be able to sail.

John Casey has dropped out, broken tiller. And the older wooden tornado has also dropped out. So we are now at 19 boats. Less attrition than usual, unless people have problems on the back side.

Has anyone finished yet??

BC

Its been dark now for over an hour!

Something has had to have happened if NOBODY is in yet!

All boats that started today finished.

Top three overall corrected:
1st- USA 2 Marstrom 20 Michael Phillips/Kenny Pierce
2nd- USA 151 Tornado Leandro Spina/Jamie Livingston
3rd- 2230 ARC 22 Eric Roberts/Bill Roberts

We were on the photo/crash boat and did not see whether the ARC or the Tornado finished second. They were pretty close entering the last creek. Mary should be posting the results soon.

Sorry. I was a little busy Sunday afternoon, what with getting food over to the beach and coming back and scoring and then getting the results to the beach and handing out trophies and champagne.

It's nice to know that some of you were paying attention, though.

We just have friends we care a lot about out on the water and we just wanted to make sure everyone made it back to the beach.

I did anyways.

Thanks Mary I'm sure the racers appreciated everything you did for them yesterday

The whole thing doesn't work very well when people stay, and keep their boats, at various places. Only maybe half the people were there for the food and trophies. It would be nice if we could get everybody to launch at the same place next year. I have leftover trophies on my table and leftover sloppy joe in my freezer and a cooler full of leftover champagne, all unclaimed.

It's depressing.

Don't be depressed, Mary. We had a great time and enjoyed the food and beer at the end before sailing back to Gilberts. Thank you and Rick!

I second that Mary, don't be depressed, we still had a good time without them. If I knew there was still some sloppy joe left I would have had some more, it was real good!

Well, I have been thinking that maybe we should not even have trophies. Maybe this is the kind of race where trophies are really inconsequential. Maybe people are just happy about doing it and finishing it.

I ALWAYS put a lot of thought into the trophies for this particular race, and often I make them myself, because this race is very important to me. So when people don't show up to get their trophies and don't even call afterwards and ask for their trophies to be sent to them, I feel like what's the point.

Know what I mean?

And then, on the other hand, I had a couple of people asking why there aren't T-shirts to buy, because they would like something to show that they had actually competed in this race.

Maybe should have SOMETHING to give competitors besides a bottle of champagne. A flag or a T-shirt or something.

What do you guys think?

Mary,

I know that as a competitor in other races - trophies are very much appreciated. Perhaps some others that are more accomplished than I am do not care about them, but my office wall needs more "momentos" of time past.

Mary - I think many of the competitors see this race as much of an adventure as a race. Completing it is an accomplishment. Maybe a battle flag for all places would be something to consider. I had a great time and am going to make a little note on the computer to go on the bottle of champagne and put it on the trophy shelf. That will be my "trophy" for the event. Yeah, it was 10th place, but still, a finish I am proud of.

Rick and Mary,
Thank you for you hard work for this event! It is always a great time and this year was no exception!!! I know for us, the after-race coordination is tough as travel home 1500 miles and making sure our boats are stored and secure is a priority. I typically would never miss an awards ceremony, but this year had to be an exception. did the awards happen to go 5 deep??? Always appreciate a momento for our accomplishments.
On another note... are any of the other pics from the race posted anywhere? there were a number of fancy cameras around on boats and the beach that I would love to see the shots from as we head back to much colder weather.... until Tradewinds!
Chris

Mary,
Just got home and wanted to say thanks again for all the hard work. The sloppy joes were excellent, the scoring was spot on, and the champagne and beer was cold. what more could you ask for. I wouldn't sweat a couple of folks not getting their trophys, which by the way , were very cool. Jamie and Leandro had to sail back to Miami, never even setting foot on the beach(they made it in 2 hrs. and 50 min w/ a rudder problem). So I'd say that's a pretty good excuse,and I'm sure Jamie will get his trophy. T-shirts or battle flags would be awesome to purchase, but that's just one more headache for y'all.If you had 'em I'd definitely get one. My past steeplechase shirts are prized posessions.
Thanks again to you, Rick and everyone that helped out. Enjoyed seeing everyone again and had a great time.
Todd Hart

I really like the battle flags.

Mary,
Thanks to you and Rick for making this race happen year after year. I think we all realize the effort you put forth to make it a fun time for all the participants. It is probably my favorite race of the year. As others have stated, logistics make it difficult for all the racers to gather at one spot at the end of a long sail for the trophy presentation. I am guilty of not staying for the trophy presentation. I apologize. For me, the trophies are not the important thing. It is much more about the experience and friendly competition.

Although, the Tiki Hut trophy from 2005 is pretty cool. I also think flags for all finishers is a great idea.

Respectfully,
Eric Roberts

Fantastic event! Pretty cool to watch it up close and personal from the SEARAY. We saw alot of determination and guts and hope to have documented the experiences for all of you. Next year I hope to join all of you at the start line with new sail and new paint. It was a pleasure chasing you guys and gals.

Eric Arbogast

Hey Eric A.,
NO GUMBO RECIPE!!!

Well, I was thinking of REPLACING the champagne with some keepsake of the race that is a little more durable and meaningful than a champagne bottle. I don't want to increase the entry fee, so it would have to be the same cost as the champagne. And, just as with the champagne, it would go only to people who actually COMPLETE the race.

Flags are a possibility (if I can ever get my sewing machine working). Or I can do something with wood. My preference would be to replace the champagne with paddles for the finishers, since paddling is kind of a special aspect of this race. (I would woodburn the year and name of the race on the paddles.)

Rick is totally opposed to eliminating the champagne, because that is a tradition that started with the first race in 1985, when there was no entry fee and no trophies -- just a bottle of champagne for each finisher.

Personally, I am sick of drinking all that leftover champagne that nobody claimed. So I am in favor of creating a new tradition.

As far as I am concerned, this is something that should be decided by the sailors who actually do this race.

And if somebody wants to have T-shirts made and sell them to the people who participate in the race, that's fine, too. But it should not be something that they get with their registration fee and not something that Rick and I are involved with. Jack Hildreth used to get shirts made and sell them for the Steeplechase, but he stopped doing it. So if somebody wants to do it......

Chime in on what you would like to happen.

Hi Chris,
The pix so far are just mine, and I only had a chance to take them from Channel Five Bridge.
The other pictures have not yet been sent to me, although they promise to do so. They will for sure be in the magazine in the Jan-Feb Issue.
Rick

Jake,
as you know we award flags at the Tradewinds, which I think are great. With flags, you can display your trophies on your boat on the beach before the race.
Mary and I have 8 strings of flags we have won, including some her father won, that we fly for every Bay Week.

The caveat is they are very expensive.., about $25 per flag.
Rick

Yikes...that is expensive!

Right. That's why I said I could make them myself if I can get my sewing machine working.

I think I know what Mary's getting for Christmas!

Wrong! It's a brand new sewing machine. As with sailing, the problem is the loose nut on the pedal.

Well, practice makes perfect, right?

loose nut on the pedal

Are you talking about the South Florida drivers I had to avoid on my drive down last Friday?