The 2007 Tybee 500 Race Coverage

The Fleet Hit the Beach Much Earlier Than Expected (report at 3:30 pm)

It was just shortly after 2 PM when the first boat slid onto the beach at Jupiter. It was again Oolala with the two Netherlands sailors. This time Team Tybee Island was not as close behind as yesterday -- they pulled another 7 1/2 minutes, putting them almost ten minutes ahead overall. Could this be the end of the Tybee Island reign? Or will JC and Kenny start motoring like they usually do.

Kenny Pierce said, "Boy, they are really fast. We couldn't catch them."

For all the teams it was an exerting day, albeit a short and fast ride. On reaches the skipper usually steers, while the crew sheets the main in out to control the height of flying hull. So, with the winds of today the crews really had to muscle their way up the coast line

Chris Titcomb and Trip Burd on Accelerated Chaos had their best finish today, taking third place just 40 seconds ahead of Tiki Watersports Orange sailed by Australian veteran Rod Waterhouse, with young Jared Sonnenklar pumping the sheet.

Steve Lohmayer and Jay Sonnenklar on Tiki Watersports Yellow eked out a 5th place finish just ahead of Jake Kohl and Frank Moore of Seacats.

Larry Ferber and Jackson Smith of Team Cat in a Hat had taken Rick White's Sailing Seminar this past April and really have shown improvement over their last year's performance where they were the tail ender on each leg. Yesterday, they were not the last boat. But, today they were, but not by that much.

Usually we get a lot pictures of the lead boats and when most of the fleet is in, it is back to the RV to get stories and pictures up on the internet. But this time all the boats arrived pretty close together, so we were able to show below Cat in a Hat in their final approach to landing.

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Here are the Results from Leg 2, Hollywood to Jupiter:

Team, Finish Time

1. Oolala, 14.11.32
2. Tybee, 14.19.32
3. Accelerated Chaos, 14.24.00
4. Tiki Orange, 14.24.46
5. Tiki Yellow, 14.29.21
6. Seacats, 14.30.06
7. Velocity, 14.31.16
8. Chums II, 14.35.06
9. TCDYC, 14.41.09
10. Tiki White, 14.41.44
11. Chum I, 14.57.29
12. Pirates, 14.58.31
13. Cat in a Hat, 15.11.30

Bonnie Kohl's blog has great coverage. Check it out at http://www.teamseacats.com/

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They Are Off to Jupiter Beach (reported at 10:30 am)
The winds are now out of the ENE direction at around 8-10 mph and expected to build during the day as the seabreezes add to the already eaterlies.

So, it should be really pleasant sailing today for all the teams, who suffered so much during yesterday's Leg Loop

All of the boats started on port tack to get through a very mild surf, but most quickly tacked to starboard to begin paralleling the beach line.

Sailing close to the beach should be very beneficial most of the day as there will usually be more wind closer in and also as wind crosses water/land borders it like to do so at about 90-degrees. The boats close to the beach would be on a beam reach, while the boats farther out might have to sail close-hauled.

The two lead teams (Oolala and Tybee) both had good starts and quickly tacked over to head north close to the beach. They were almost side by side as they sailed out of sight.

Cat in a Hat (left) and Pirates of the Chesapeake (right) got through the surf easily

Stay tuned for more as we hear it.

And for good gossip by Bonnie Kohl from Team Seacats, go to www.teamseacats.com

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Good Winds Forecasted for Today (report at 8:30am)
Unlike the wierd, fluky winds of yesterday's Loop Leg, winds are forecasted today at 15-25 mph out of the ENE. This ought to add some excitement for the teams. They need it after the doldrums of Sunday.

Winds at the moment are from the easter quadrant blowing onshore at speeds around 10 mph with moderate surf. Unless the winds start to pick up dramatically before the start most of the sailors should be able to manage the surf launching with little or no problems.

Right after the start today, I will be posting a story and some pictures of the start.

So, standby for more coverage.

Please Patronize our sponsors for the coverage of this event. It is costly to make this jouney and to give you the coverage we do.

For Video of the raceg and interviews at the finish, click here!

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