The HB100 is no more. Instead, Catamarans with dagger boards and spinnakers from 18 to 22 feet are invited to the inaugural, annual “Keys 100 Reef Run”, April 25 – 26, 2009, with a very flexible format taking advantage of existing winds. Basically the race will be between Islamorada and Marathon, ocean side in the Florida Keys, using Reef Marks as turning marks. The beauty of this race will be to stay in one place, the Islander Resort, and sail to take best advantage of conditions. The course will be designed to run over 100 kilometers in a two day format. One of many course lay outs will be used to accommodate wind conditions. Start and finish will always involve the Islander resort and the park at Marathon. Then boats can be stored; available for practice and tune ups; from the finish of the Miami – Key Largo race until the Tybee 500. Families will get to stay in one location while sailors compete for awards and prizes. A planned cookout at Marathon will always be included. Keep a lookout here for a NOR to be published soon. wgreen53@cfl.rr.com

Wow. I couldn't have thought up a better plan if you paid me!

Two day format, so that's 50km each day? And the party is on Sat night when I'm looking for something to do, or Sunday when I'm hustling to get out of town?

The party (Food thing) will be Saturday after arriving at Marathon. We will attempt a shorter race back up to the Islander for a early depature. wgg

I'm still not clear about this. Are you talking about racing the 30 miles from Islamorada to Marathon, having a cookout and sailing back to Islamorada the same day? That seems logical.

Or, if it is very light air, doing the sail back to Islamorada on Sunday? And, if that happens, do the sailors somehow get back to their beds in Islamorada for Saturday night and then back to Marathon in the morning for the sail back to Islamorada?

I know it is a pretty short drive from Islamorada to Marathon, but still it would make a big difference as to whether people would need ground transportation -- and they won't know that until the day of the event. Maybe have a couple of vans to ferry the sailors back and forth for Saturday evening and Sunday morning?

AND, if it turns out to be a Saturday-only race, will you be awarding trophies on Saturday after the race, or wait until Sunday?

Hi Mary,
We do plan to race to Marathon on Saturday and return on Sunday as of this writing, but as stated, we will adjust everything based upon winds. Our Islander Triangle race drew very favorable comments of the sail up the REEF, so we will attempt to have a spinnaker run down or up the Reef, dependent upon winds. Transportation will be a planning issue. If need be, I will make runs back and forth to get everyone in place for the events. Awards will be made after racing regardless of which day. In addition, we will consider a longer first day using reef marks with great winds, Flexibility is the guiding word. Either way we will have food prepared on the barby at Marathon in the park. It is possible with horrendous winds we will drop back into Hawks Channel for safety reasons. Have considered the possibility of continuing the day after M-KL, but have found no good overnight stay, bayside. Discussed this format with several at the Tradewinds and this seems to please most sailors. wgg

I've never sailed further south of Anne's Beach so this might seem a bit ignorant but...
when you say "Reef run" what exactly do you mean? Is the course going to consist of dodging reefs? I know there are a couple in the first day of the Steeplechase, but to be honest that's the most i'd ever chose to deal with. For an out of town team its brutal to have to navigate when competitors know where to go... plus I don't want to be running my boat into a reef right before Tybee.

Hi, thanks for asking. The reef marks are large towers where there may be shallow water. Boats during the last race had no problems. Between those marks there is adequate water for catamarans, very unlikely to sail around reefs in this run. In the right conditions, the water is clear, like sailing over an acquarium, quite beautiful. One sailor said it was hard to keep his mind on the sails during a spinnaker run in the Islander Triangle race, because of the colorful reefs below his hulls. Study the charts of the area, most of the time the next tower is in view. wgg

Hmmmmm....starting to sound doable for me....would have to change a few things.....

NOR?

NOR in coordination. Currently working on sponsors to reduce entry fees. Location: Islander resort,(MM82, Florida Keys) off dock in at least 4 feet of water. Starting April 25th, finishing April 26th. Class flag NET 9:55AM, maybe 10:55AM. Open to all 18 - 22 foot catamarans with dagger boards and spinnaker. Both required. Reef Run may be inside Hawk Channel or down the reef line winds cooperating. Depth not an issue. Safety the key issue. Two day event ending early afternoon on Sunday. Need to know more? Questions to wgreen53@cfl.rr.com .

Watchout for militant F16 owners.

If work doesn't pick-up soon it's a moot point.

F-16' s with two on board are welcome. In the ocean, we do not want one person crews. Will change in the NOR to state it so.

Why do they have to have daggerboards? What about centerboards? And what about skegs?