Great Texas 300 Updates

A good portion of the Surf City Media Team rolled into South Padre Island today around noon, and was instantly greeted with some good 'ol Texas hospitality...Some delicious food and a rum punch! The beach here is gorgeous! White sand, warm water, and a warm 15 knot breeze, which offsets the 95 degree temperature and high humidity. It's quite pleasant actually.

Many teams spent the day rigging their boats and double checking their safety kit. Each team had a scheduled stint with Safety Officer Trey Garrison, who makes sure that each team has the proper safety gear as specified in the rules. This evening, a Coastguard Representative will be speaking to the fleet in an effort to keep everyone safe. This first leg from South Padre Island to Mustang Beach stretches across 90 miles of open water, and there isn't much civilization in between. If anyone has to pull out, it's not the easiest place to get to.



It looks like the wind will be from 12 to 18, with wind chop developing every day, and a very minimal ground swell for pretty much the entire duration of the race.

We'll be broadcasting tomorrow at 9:30 am to catch the start at 10 on The GT300 Justin.tv Channel . Hope to see you there!

Live on the beach right now!

The real question is, is Sail Revolution going to be wearing that flippin' cowboy hat?

I'm sure they are. They love that thing!

Oh, and BTW, be sure to Like this!

Wearing a 10 gallon hat and driving a Jetta on bio-fuel. Santa Cruz cowboy.

See y'all at 9:30am Central.

Safety Third

That’s the Sail Rev motto, not the GT300 motto. Here in South Padre, Texas, one day before the start of the GT300, it was all about making sure that the racers stay as safe as possible. There’s a whole litany of items that the GT requires that the sailors carry aboard in order to be able to participate in the race. The GT folks take safety seriously, and in addition to a presentation from the local Coast Guard, they have a dedicated person, Trey Garrison, who is in charge of the safety check list. Trey makes contact with each team, and meticulously catalogs each piece of safety gear. I had the opportunity to chat with Trey before the race, and find out exactly what’s involved with being the GT 300 Safety Officer.



Sail Rev:
What is some safety gear that the racers are required to carry?

TG:
The number one thing are life preservers for each crew member, because it’s a big ocean out there. They have safety lines, personal strobe lights, signal mirrors, whistles, VHF radios, GPS’s, and one of the most important thing is each sailor has personal EPIRB that they carry with them at all times.

SR:
How are teams doing so far this year with required gear?

TG:
Most teams have done very well with safety checks. So far I ‘ve only had one team that had an issue, and until they can resolve that they are not allowed to race. We’ve got one team that were still waiting on to do safety checks. As soon as they get here, my job is done.

SR:
So the first leg here, we are leaving from South Padre Island and we’re going to Mustang Island State Park. What are some of the most dangerous parts of that stretch that the sailors should pay attention to?
Read More

TG:

It's about 90 nautical miles as the crow flies. At the start we'll have ten boats, and the surf is a little on the rough side. As a matter of fact, we had one boat go out to practice to day and broke a rudder. They went over a wave and broke a rudder casting. That’s probably the hardest thing at first, when you’re out on the water it’s pretty basic sailing. You get some waves, some chop, some wind, the only bad part between here and Corpus, is once you leave here and you start north, there’s nothing in between here as far as civilization. It’s barrier island from here all the way to Mustang Island. So if you break down it can be very difficult for your crew to get to you to rescue you and it’s a technical challenge, it’s a logistics challenge, but you know that’s why the sailors here go over their equipment on their boat, traps, mast. Once you get out halfway you can’t turn around very easily. Sometimes coming in on the surf at Mustang, it can be a challenge. A couple of years ago, there was a big thunderstorm, so some of them didn’t get in until midnight. A couple of teens had to get rescued by the Coast Guard. It’s a long stretch.

SR:
In the next couple of days, what does the forecast look like?


TG:
From what I’ve seen, probably around 15 knots maybe a little higher the first couple of days. After that, it may slack off a little bit in the last couple days. I haven’t really looked that far ahead.



Trey and the CG


Skipper's Meeting

We're getting ready to go live!
http://www.justin.tv/greattexas300

Join us!

Unfortunately seems the stream failed about a minute after the start.

They are off!

Everyone locally was streaming it in their phones, made connectivity tough.

Watching the reply of the start, I get the pre-start nerve pangs like I did in person during the T500 days

At the finish now. Fairly steady wind at 16kts. Looks sporty out there. Beat I can tell with my phone compass its about 188

Blue kite on the horizon.

Not certain, but through the bino's looks like a white main. Tomko?

I was just told eight of the competitors have blue kites......

Wow... how boring. Why do people get single color kites these days?

Tomko
Casey

Those two are having their own race.

What was the delta between Tomko and JC?

~90 seconds

We are outta juice.

Team Dallas, safe and sound, all boats in and accounted for.

Thanks Karl, John and Jeremy for the great updates.

It's tough tapping out texts to all my female fans, updating this thread, and keeping the camera trained on something other than my sunburned feet.

Epic day of racing here in Texas! Tomko and Billings claim the first spot...but not without a fight from Casey and Tebow, who finished just 1:30 behind! An incredible finish after almost 100 miles open ocean racing!

John Tomko and Ian Billings


Tomko and Billings didn't finish without damage, they broke a rudder on the way in to Mustang Island.



Casey and Tebow smolder onto the beach!

There was some drama on the beach!
Team Chums came in hot, spun up and almost lost it. If it weren't for the quick thinking of their beach crew, they might have gone over.

...that's not all.

Steve Piche fell off of his boat just inside of the surf line, and his crew had to manage a powered-up spin on his own with marginal success!






Join us tomorrow at 9:30am Central for another action packed live stream at Justin.tv/greattexas300

First day rusty racer ruckus!

There must me something about that mainsail that likes to flip on the beach :P

Oh! is that wolf-toes' old main?

PS...how did that ground crew dude NOT break that spinnaker pole? Never grab the pole and defend it from anyone else who might think of grabbing the pole! Our ground crew got that speech before each of our early Tybee runs.

Spin was still up keeping held from top.

yeah, but even then, the 20 spin pole is so pre-bent it's close to breaking anyway. I've broken one by stuffing into a wave before.

We are live!

Justin.tv/greattexas300.com

what is your username or eventname on Justin.TV? I can't find the broadcast on the iPhone app (it's search feature sucks).

Great stuff guys, keep it coming!




Obviously, this is code for something else. What does anyone think he's actually doing?

Mike

greattexas300

I figured that but couldn't find them. Perhaps the broadcast had already ended (I don't think they show up in the search unless they are broadcasting...maybe?).

Spot Trackers:

Monkey Business

Looks like they might be getting that left shift today.

We're on our way to Maragorda overland, and will hopefully be broadcasting in about an hour. The sailors are making good time, and it's a challenge getting to the finish line before them. We'll let you know when we go live.

Thank you so much for the feedback! Since we're using a ton of bandwidth for broadcast, we'll keep the online chatting to a minimum. If you want to text us questions, send 'em! 831-475-7245

First finishers will be in within the next hour.

First boat on the horizon. Its! a blue kite.....

Second boat, wait for it......... Blue kite again.

Blue is fast.

Finish broadcast has just started

Tomko
Casey

Tomko
JC

6 minutes 29 seconds

monkey business

» quicksilver

sailboat shop

I got the feed! but no sound (on my phone). Nice shirt JW.


AHA! I have to click that little switch thingy on the side of my phone and it makes noise now.

Yo Baby! Called in.....15 miles out broke rudder and dagger board. All okay making slow progress

Karl
what's the status of Salva Vida?

Team Chums

yost auto

Our power inverters are not charging the notebook batteries. Seriously sucks.

No new news. There isn't anyone on the horizon right now.

They just pulled up. When we drove past them on the way out mast was two parts, main was shredded. They just pulled up a little bit ago with the boat on the trailer. Spin pole is in Kersey's Yukon XL, looks to be serviceable from what I can see. I think the rudders and daggerboard survived

Anyone know if Apple sells a 12v adapter for their notebooks?

Thanks Karl

Yo Baby about 2 miles out
Leg 2 - Yo Baby! 16.59.05

Last boat in. All safe and accounted for.

I never pictured you as an "apple guy". Jeremy, perhaps.

I'm not really, but the extreme levels of porn I like to watch was raising hell with my Dell. It's more like picking the right tool for the job.

I just thought I'd try something different. Wasn't a huge fan of Windows 7, and my notebook is just for play, I still use a PC at work. I'm waiting for Google to spit out an Android based system.

So here's a question geared mostly towards F-18 sailors and race organizers. Since it's painfully obvious(and has been for some years) that the current crop of F-18s is faster boat for boat than the Nacra/Inter 20s (not the F-20c) , how would you feel if a race organizer rated the N-20 the same as the F-18 boat for boat, disregarding portsmouth, to increase participation in a distance race? You would still hold an advantage as the F-18s have current hull and sail designs and are blatantly faster. The PN does not go but one direction in the lifetime of a boat, and that is down, another flaw in the system.

What if we have the old school F-18?

According to the old Tybee records you'd be dead even or faster. Chris Green on his Tiger was extremely fast, but it may have been his painted sail. Unless you're doing a distance race it would be immaterial anyway. Do you plan on doing any big distance races?

I say run what ya brung.

+1

On an even playing field?

Yeah, no handicap. Straight up who crosses the line first.

Incredible footage. Newbies should study it hard if they are going to sail through the surf.

I agree, seeing how Portsmouth is not the way to score a distance race effectively on handicap.

+1

Great job, J and J on the broadcasts. Really are. Sure the technical stuff is a trial too.

You really think it's the boats and does not have anything to do with who is driving? Right now all the best sailors are on the F18. A true test is to have them rotate boats in a trial setup and see if they still should rate the same.

Sailing thru the surf you have to put some board down as soon as possible. Even if it is only 10-12 inches. Windward board works as well as the leeward. That way the crew can raise and lower from the high side.

Wow - very expensive 10 seconds (1:06 to 1:16). Can't believe how quick you go from mashing through the surf to a bunch of broken parts.

I don't know if there is that much to learn from that video other than how bad it can go!

Listen up boys and girls, I'm about to give you the best surf advise I ever got. It's simple and effective. I learned it from a talented old salt on the beach while he was picking carbon out of his beard and kicking himself for not doing it himself....

Don't look at the calm spots between wave sets as runway to get further offshore (which feels like a very natural thing to do). Some waves you simply cannot beat and they must be avoided!!! Waves do not go forever along the shoreline and are usually not that wide. Use the calm spots between wave sets as lateral running room to get positioned at, or beyond, the end of the next set. It's OK to run side to side in those flat spots reaching if you have to - don't be so focused on desperately trying to get beyond the break. Be focused on avoiding the sets. Be looking ahead one to two wave sets ahead not for "how badly you're going to get hammered" but for where they start and end. You can bob and weave and MAKE your own destiny! Reach for the end of the set and you will gain your offshore distance as you easily bounce through the mild stuff. This is how some of the greats make big surf launching look easy.

OK so when you are about to go out just count the waves in each set as waves come to the beach in sets. Usually with an established pattern like say 7 waves and a break then 8 waves and a break and say 5 waves and a break once you have a count you can bet they will repeat themselves. As the waves come in the breaks are the water from all those waves washing back out that's were the under-tow uaually is and that is what an established surfer will look for to paddel out in and that is were you want to sail. As the current flows down the beach and there is always a shore curent watch for the under-tow to reach your area and make your move then and yes you mite leave the beach facing a very large wave or two but it will die off before it gets to shore and us the river or under-tow to guide you out. That is for very large surf but remember foam will not float a boat you have to try to stay away from the foamy spots and of course be ready for anything and yes it is important to get a board in the water as soon as possible to establish a grip on the water or you will slide sideways and lose speed and speed is important in going through the waves. The other factor which there are many is to keep your bows down to punch through the waves and not go over them or you will go over backwards. In light air conditions again speed is one of the most important factors so if there is not much wind take advantage of every opportunity and gain speed as offten as posible like inbetween the waves fall off and gain speed and then come up and punch through instead of trying to go over with out speed, you will be pushed backwards and break ruder castings or even ruders..... Have fun and be safe....OH and one more thing it is best when ever possible to hit the waves head on and not at an angle....

Ready to go live in just a few minutes. Looks like a *gorgeous* day on the water.

Ya think!

Where is the live feed?

http://www.justin.tv/greattexas300#/w/3254591552

The feed is very choppy today.

Don't know what they did but the video dropped completely for many minutes, including the actual start, but when it came back it was pretty smooth.

Broadcasting live from remote locations does have pitfalls. Karl and I are on course in a RIB, and will be updating the GT FB page as possible.

Can someone post the FB link for us please?

This one?
https://www.facebook.com/GreatTexas300

Going live in just a minute. Four boats in sight.

great music Country and Western.

Great video from JW this afternoon. JC over Tomko by just a few seconds. Both came through the surf together.

Blue kites?

How did you guess!?

It's a gift.

We're going to go live in 2 minutes to get Lee Wicklund's landing, and a few more interviews.

Ya know, when I still lived in TX this same question came up and was seriously considered around about 2007.

At that time, Tomko said if it were boat for boat, he'd be on an I20.
I doubt he still feels that way now however.

As in, you don't go and stay down lee when a wave is coming? Duh

They have very little speed as well.
Maybe too much jib traveler and too little mast rotation for the conditions?

The skipper was lucky to not have been hit by that board flying around though, could have been bloody.

All that is well and good but if your weight ain't toward the surf , you're not gonna make it far enough to use that technique. That's the lesson, boys and girls. The only surf start I've been beat down by was Jensen Beach. The guys who did make it out there used the method Jake talked about, as well as a healthy dose of luck.

They should have been fine if they had held on tight to the high side, but it doesn't look like there was much to hold on to.
Also cleating off the main for more than a few seconds whilst sailing through the surf is a questionable practice from my experience.

We are live again with a round table discussion. Text questions to 831-475-7245

reboot
thanks

That was the most difficult place to broadcast from yet! Did the best we could, and Dub is an excellent emcee!

In other news. Steve Piche (Pitch) going down the mine shaft! I love GoPros!

What a shot!

Going live at about 8:45 CST for the start of the Dash!

John said weather will not keep them from broadcasting the finish.

ARC 22 in site going live soon.

Going live in just a few minutes! The second place Dash boat and the lead GT300 boat are only 1.5 miles out!

So, Did John T. hold on to win it?

** Edit, just watched the finish video at East Beach. That's what we called it 25 yrs ago when there would be 20+ boats every summer weekend pleasure sailing in and out thru the surf.
Lots of memories on that there stretch of beach for me.
Anyways, I see that Tomko did not hold the lead.
Kudos to all

JC got about 30+ minutes on him today for the overall. Yep, the ARC was first to the beach, by a long time.

Nice work guys.

Mike