8th is Outer Banks
9th is Windy Hill
Seacats is approaching the beach and will probably be 10th.
Projected for 11th is Space Coast
Projected for 12th is Jaypro
Projected for 13th is Mezzo

JC and Jay say there's no way they're going another 500 miles. Steve Lohmayer is off the boat with an injured hand and Brian Lambert is taking the helm of Team Tybee for the OBX half. Everyone's headed to the bar.

For the record, I'd like to say thanks to everyone who called me and who took my calls this week. The whole "up-the-East-Coast" thing has been a real family affair and I've gotten some great friends out of the deal. I wish I could have been there to buy the fleet a round at the end of the day! The network of knowledge is more extensive than some people realize, I think. Four calls to and from four people who know one little thing each begins to paint a pretty complete picture of what's going on, and it's that spirit of "let's all get to the finish" that makes this thing so special.

Great coverage and pictures from Catsailor, SeaCats and the Tybee web sites. As one of the major sponsors of the events and of several of the teams, Harken has added some coverage of the event on their web page, and there's a surprise planned for Monday, so check with them after the start of the OBX.

Whew... I'm not even there and I'm whuped. Everyone's in, safe and sound and the boats are put to bed for the evening - some will be pulled out tomorrow, and others are being rolled down to the beach. The baton is passed, and the second half of the Atlantic 1000 is on the launch pad!



ps - got a note from Mike Krantz today. His knee surgery went well. They removed some torn meniscus and some damaged cartilage. The injury was more extensive than expected, but Mike hopes to be back on the water after 4 weeks of rehab. Send him your well-wishes - he coulda been a contenda!

Rick now has his spectacular photos of today's finishes posted on our Tybee 500 Race Page as part of the story. The total batch of ALL of today's pictures will be put into the photo gallery tomorrow. (Although, looking at the following schedule of events, I don't know how he is going to find time. )

Tonight at Tybee Island there is a rock concert on the beach. Tomorrow morning Jim and Roxanne Stone are hosting breakfast for the sailors at their home. Trophies for the Tybee 500 are at 10:00 a.m. And a shrimp boil is scheduled for about noon somewhere at the hotel.

Stay tuned as we switch gears tomorrow evening and start coverage of the Outer Banks 500, the second half of the Atlantic 1000. The race starts Monday.

THANK YOU RICK, MARY, JOHN, and whoever else was involved with the reporting!!! I've just had one of the more challenging weeks of my life, trying to balance caring for someone in a health crisis, and being slammed at work. Each night I've been able to touch base here, and at Seacats. It has really helped keep my spirits up, and not lose sight of the world around me while I struggled to get through the week! Each day I would spend some time thinking about Oz, and about Seacats, and then to be able to read the accounts of the day when I got home was great! Today I was home caring for my friend, but my mind was out there in the race all day! I have to confess I found myself rooting for Tybee! Something about that spinnaker! Congrats to all the competitors for a great race! Thanks to you all for helping me get through such a tough week! Brian

WHAT A FINISH!!! HOLY SH*T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man, If there is a video available I WANT IT!!!!This was amazing. Was that Rick taking the pictures? Those are great. WOW!!! !
GREAT JOB EVERYBODY. Now THAT'S entertainment!!!!

(more exclamation points)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, I'm done

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Robert Feldman, of Worrell 1000 video fame, videotaped the whole Tybee 500, and I'm not certain whether he is doing the whole Atlantic 1000, but I am assuming so.

And, yes, Rick has been the one taking all the pictures on our race coverage page. The complete collection of all the pictures he has taken are in separate, daily albums that are linked to from each of the archived days of the race. (Saturday's album won't be up until probably late Sunday.)

Thanks Mary, I guess there will be a way of getting it through this site. Right? Let us know.

Feldman advertises his videos in our classifieds, both on this site and in my magazine. I don't think he has yet completed the video for last year's Tybee 500 -- at least he has not added it to his advertisement. It takes a long time to edit all the raw tape and actually make the video, so don't hold your breath.

Mary & Rick; Superb job once again on the race post coordination - we followed it the entire trip !!

Even traveled over to Cocoa to watch the nearby arrivals there !

Ok, old, and getting senile (probably)

What's with the Castrol Team "assist" in the surf - upon arrival at the finish line ? Pic's clearly show bystanders helping pull the boat aross the line ...... after a "9" pitch pole....... "10" would have demasted the boat !!

Glad everyone survived - and envious of these fast Cat's !!

I thought - however - from my "slow-boat" H16 racing rules, assistance was not allowed in a race ? What's the deal ?

Fantastic pictures and comments from all - really enjoyed all the input - and Congrats. to ALL racers !!

Castrol was only assisted by one of their ground crew.., and this is allowed in the rules. More than one is not allowed until after they cross the line.
These are special rules for the event (and the same for the Worrell 1000, I might add)

So, it was completely legit.

And I do have the Photo Album up and running for the last leg. Enjoy!

But, I have to say that was probably the most exciting finish I have ever witnessed. I was just breathing a sigh and beginning to relax as I looked at my watch while Castrol was approaching and thought to myself, "OK, Castrols will win it."
Then I started shooting and couldn't believe they punched it in just before the finish. Incredible.

That was quite a show, ya'll

Rick

Congrats Rick, amazing coverage, astonishing photos!
We all look forward to the next leg!!!

Hi Rick,

Love the event, respect the sailors to no end - wish I could be there ...... but......

Take a look at your last shot in the sequence. There is not "one" (1), but "two" (2) folks giving assistance. First assist is the guy who grabbed the forestay assemby out in the surf. All ligit as you say. Then, a second guy appears to grab the hull in the picture showing the actual finish line......

Did Tybee actually win this ?

I know - picky - picky - picky.......

I'll go back to cleaning the barn...... No intent to stir up trouble here....... Great race - Great posts - Great sport !!

I just got back from Tybee.

Wow too much to say in one post. The finish was incredible. I could tell castrol was in trouble when they didn't see that huge roller behind them, then the bow dug into the sand and crew took a header. Man hardcore.

There are tons of people I wanna say thanks to for putting up with me all day saturday. Todd and Bart (and Ryan) of Cat Fever for letting me help them out and ask a bunch of questions. Oh and Jim Stone Rox!

when the bow breaks the finish line anyone and everyone can help get the boat on the beach and out of the way of the next finisher.

David Strickland
Ground Crew
Team Weathermark

Tad,

Great to have met you on the beach - I'm sorry it took us so long to get things in order after the finish. We'll hook up again sometime.

Jake

Thanks for the explanation David....... Figured there must be different rules for a "beach landing" race .... Spectacular finish - amazing how close (total time) this race was at the end.......

There was some change sometime regarding how many team members can assist a boat through the surf to the finish. At one point, it was only one team member allowed to assist at the start but two could assist at the finish but I do remember a time when only one was allowed to assist in the surf at the finish. Richard (team manager) said something changed - but I don't recall what or when. We were pretty focused on the racing and since Richard and Cary were doing such a great job, David and I were only concerned with the boat. The rules on the Tybee500 website do cover this. The change may have had something to do with the altercation between the race official and somebody's boat

It is interesting that the rules establish that the time is taken when the first part of the boat/crew in its normal sailing position crosses the line, but the boat has not finished the race until the entire boat crosses the line.

Once, when approaching the finish line on the port tack (heading to the buoy) in a windsurfer, it was impossible to cross the line and clear about 15 competitors approaching on the other tack. But it was possible to let the bow cross and reverse fast without touching anyone. After they all passed, I crossed the line slowly, safely and with a big smile. This meant 9th instead of 24th, for timing was taken when the bow crossed. They CRIED!

After a review of the pictures, the ruling on the field stands.
There were only three people pulling the boat across -- the pusher, and the two sailors. Then, after the horn sounded to signify the bow has crossed the line, more members of the team jumped in to help.

Hope this explains it.
Rick