17TH ANNUAL KEY LARGO STEEPLECHASE RACE
DEC 8-9, 2001 -- KEY LARGO, FL
Notice of Race

Rules and Information

GENERAL

This is a 110-mile distance race around Key Largo, Starting in Barnes Sound and Finishing off the Dock at Rick's Place Motel and Sailing Resort in Blackwater Sound.
This race is put on by all of us -- the competitors, their crew and ground crew:
*There is no Race Committee.
*Your ground crew is required to help in any way possible (i.e., scoring, timing, starting, etc.)
*There is no Race Management, which is why this race is so inexpensive - $40 entry fee.
*There is no Protest Committee, so please obey the racing rules and rules of the road.
*There are no chase boats, so please be prepared to fend for yourself. (See near-disastrous Stories from the 13th year)
*You will be rewarded for assisting a boat in trouble (keep track of your time in doing so).
*You may paddle at anytime.
*There will be FREE BEER at registration starting at 6PM on Friday, and at the finish of each leg, and a dinner at the finish line. There is a skippers meeting at 8PM Friday night at Rick's Place Motel and Sailing Resort. Feel free to ask questions of veteran sailors about the course and about safety.

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

ABILITY AND SAFETY
To attempt this race, you must be competent, able sailors, knowing how to do such things as:
*right your own boat
*read navigational charts
*read the water color for shoals
*anchor your boat in case of heading for a peril
*ride out squalls and storms
*You must wear an approved PFD, have all USCG safety equipment aboard, a waterproof chart, waterproof flashlight, and adequate anchor and line.
*Both skipper and crews must write the emergency telephone number on their arm (waterproof pens will be available) -- 305-451-3287 -- this is a telephone that will be manned all the time. If you are retiring from the race or broken down, you must call this number right away. Otherwise, we might be sending the USCG after you. That is the number at Rick's Place and is 451-3287, where you can leave a message on the answering machine if no one is there. Rick's Cell # is 305-619-1922
*don't forget to take essentials like water, sunblock, and food.

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

Getting to the Race On Time
Plan on leaving the beach on Saturday around 0730. We will try to make the Jewfish Creek Bascule Bridge by 0800 and all go through at once. If you don't make that bridge opening, you probably won't make the start of the race. We will start the race at 0900, with the White Flag at 0850 (we will be using the old signal system). Ground crews should help not only your own boat into the water, but others as well. If we all pitch in and help get the boats to the water, it will take only minutes to get all the boats on their merry way.
When all of the boats have gotten within a short distance of the bridge, the start boat will sound a horn to open the bridge. (Be wary of current in the vicinity of the bridge while you are waiting to go through -- there is usually a strong current going one direction or the other through the bridge.)
If you do not make it to the bridge in time to go through with the group, you are on your own to notify the bridge tender.

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

The Course
On the first day, the course starts between two small orange marks located near ICW Flashing Green mark #29 in Barnes Sound. The course goes northerly to Card Sound and then easterly through Angelfish Creek, and then southerly and southwesterly down Hawk Channel to finish close to the beach just between Caloosa Cove Marina (a candy-striped warehouse-type bulding) and Channel Two Bridge. Two small orange marks will be placed in the shallow water near the beach, so that the finish line is perpendicular to the shore line. You may finish in either direction between the two orange marks. If you are finishing at night, we will attempt to get ground crew vehicles to turn on their flashing emergency lights. This makes for an easy target to spot from the water. Warn ground crew vehicles, however, to NOT turn on their headlights, as this blinds the sailors as they are coming in.
On the second day, there is a LeMans beach start at 0900. Boats will be staged in the order of their finishes on the first day, with the first place boat closest toward the Channel Five Bridge, and the last the farthest from the bridge. Sailors and ground crews will be responsible for getting in the proper positions. All boats must remain behind two orange marks that will make up the starting line. From there the course goes southwesterly to Channel Five Bridge, then through the bridge and then northeasterly up the IntraCoastal Waterway. There is a mark on the course in front of the Key Largo Westin, home of Caribbean Watersports (Hobie Dealer and sponsor of this race) that is located around ICW Mile Marker 1145, between Pigeon Key and Baker Cut. That mark, which is a small, white "Swim Mark" (denoting swim area only), is located about 50 yards offshore of the Key Largo Westin (the home of Caribbean Watersports, a major sponsor of this event) on the Bay Side of the islands. From there, go on to finish between an orange mark and the flag pole on the dock at the at Rick's Place. The mark will be approximately 100 yards offshore, and you may cross in either direction. (A flag will be hoisted on the flagpole to help you spot it.)

Starting Sequences
The White (Yellow) Warning Flag will go up at 10 minutes prior to the start, the Blue Preparatory Flag will go up at 5 minutes, and the Red Start Flag will go up for the start. All flags will be lowered 1 minute prior to the raising of the next. For convenience only, the starter person will attempt to get your attention by blowing a horn or whistle several times in succession, or use a bullhorn siren, prior to starting the sequence.
Do NOT be over early at the start!!
If anyone is over early, the individual recall flag will be flown for four minutes or until the over-early boats have exonerated themselves by restarting, whichever comes first. Over-early boats will NOT be notified. If a boat is over early and does not re-start, that boat will be assessed a 10% time penalty for the day. If there is a general recall, the general recall flag will be flown, the clock will continue to run, and the fleet will restart exactly five minutes later.
However, all of the above is really moot, because the Race Starters absolutely forbid anyone to be over early.

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

Only One Mark on the Entire Course
There is only one mark on the course, and you don't have to worry about it until the second day of the race. That mark, which is a small, white "Swim Mark" (denoting swim area only), is located about 50 yards offshore of the Key Largo Westin (the home of Caribbean Watersports, a major sponsor of this event) on the Bay Side of the islands. You will have to round this mark, leaving it to port. This will be on the second day of sailing. The Westin is located at approximately 25.05 degrees north, 80.27 degrees west. After passing either Hammer Point or Pigeon Key, you should be able to spot the Westin on the shoreline to your right about 2/3 the way before Baker Cut. It is a long, tall building, with a big, concrete, L-shaped dock sticking out in the water. You will probably note some Hobie sails up on some boats either on shore or moored close to shore. That's Caribbean Watersports. The mark will require you to come VERY CLOSE in to land in order to pass it. If you do not round this mark, a 10% time penalty will be assessed for the day. (It is very tempting to cut straight across and forget that mark, but there will be a spotter at the Westin checking off every boat as it rounds.)

Portsmouth Numbers
US Sailing D-PN numbers and mandatory modifications will apply for the entire race, and all sails and modifications must be claimed by 0700 Saturday morning. The modified D-PN number will apply regardless of whether or not the additional sails and rigging are carried on the boat. The Optional Modification for heavy crew weight, and the Modification for Spinnakers in a Long Distance Race will NOT be applied.

Trophies
The dilapidated but highly coveted and esteemed Olde Lawnchair with the record of all past Steeplechases goes to the first boat overall on elapsed time.
A perpetual trophy is taken home by the overall Portsmouth winner. Keeper trophies go to both skipper and crew of first, second and third place boats on Portsmouth and to the overall winner on elapsed time.
All finishers will be awarded a bottle of champagne

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

Lodging
Motels in Key Largo: (Note: Most sailors get rooms in this area for the entire weekend, and get rides back from the first day's finish area – about a ½ hour drive)
-Rick's Place Sailing Resort Motel, 104300 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037 (305)451 3287/website http://www.floridakeysresort.com, email rick@catsailor.com
-Amoray Dive Resort, 104240 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 (305) 451 3595
-Camelot, 104220 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 (305) 451 4594
-Kelly's Motel, 90611 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037 (305)451 1622
-Gilbert's, 107900 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037 (305)451-1133 (Located right at Jewfish Bridge and has plenty of rigging and launching room)
Motels & Marinas at first stop: (Note: Most sailors get rooms in the start area for the entire weekend, and get rides back from the first day's finish area – about a ½ hour drive)
-Caloosa Cove Resort (nearest) MM 73.8 Oceanside Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL (305) 664 8811
-Malibu Lodge MM77.5 Overseas Hwy, (305) 664 2961
-Lime Tree Bay Resort MM68.5 Overseas Hwy. (305) 664 2132
-Breezy Palms Resort, MM 80 Overseas Hwy. (305) 664-2361
Parts, Equipment and Gear
West Marine is located in the Pink Plaza about 1/2 mile south of Rick's Place on the Bay Side, just past Marvin Adams Waterway Cut. They are open 0800 to 2000 every day, except Sunday, and then from 0900 to 1700.

The Neat Stuff
Friday Evening: There will be FREE beer & sodas during registration (Thanks to Calvert Sails)
Saturday at the finish line: There will be FREE beer & sodas.(Thanks to Calvert Sails)
Sunday at the finish: There will be a Free hot meal, beer (Thanks to Calvert Sails), sodas and cold Champagne for all finishers.

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

For more information contact:
Rick White/Mary Wells
PO Box 2060, Key Largo, FL 33037Tel 305-451-3287, Fax 305-453-0255, Cell 305-619-1922, rick@catsailor.com