Moss and JC do a RePeat of the 27th Annual Key Largo Steeplechase
Brett Moss and John Casey once again teamed up on a Marstrom 20 to win
all the honors, both line honors and handicap, of the 2011 and 27th Annual
Key Largo Steeplechase Race for the second year in a row. They won the
Olde Lawn Chair for first to finish, and the Rick White Perpetual Trophy
for first on corrected time.
The team was first to finish on both days, but were closely shadowed
by Mike Krantz and Dave Lennard on a Nacra Carbon 20, as well as Mike
Phillips and Kenny Pierce on another Marstrom 20.
John Case and Brett Moss pushing toward the Card Sound Bridge on Barnes
Sound, the first leg of the venture.
At the awards there was a major foul up. In scoring the event, one step
in using the Sailwave Software was forgotten. Consequently the results
and awards were mostly handed out to the wrong sailors.
All finishers did get the complementary bottle of champagne, so Rick
and Mary got that part straight. Duh! How could you go wrong? 
Mike Phillips and Steve Lohmayer on the Marstrom20. Kenny Pierce suffered
from a neck injury and Steve Lohmayer was the ringer that replaced him
for the second day.
The overall winners were Moss and Casey, with Phillip and Pierce taking
second place on handicap, and Krantz/Lennard finishing in third.
Just out of the podium was Dave and Bob Ingram, brothers who got back
together after years of not sailing with each other. They took the fourth
place spot, finishing just two minutes ahead of Jake Kohl and Frank Moore.
On Friday evening registration was held at the home of Rick White and
Mary Wells, founders and organizers of this great event, with Frank Moore
and his attorney firm throwing a Rum Party for the competitors. During
the party White warned everyone the race would start right on time. 
Mike Krantz and Dave Lennard on the Nacra20Carbon on the first leg to
Card Sound Bridge
In the last 24 years there had never been a postponement. And that was
when the boats had to wait for a bascule bridge to open at 8:30 AM, to
get to the starting line a mile away through Jewfish Creek and into Barnes
Sound. Two years ago a 65-foot span was built and the bascule was removed.
For the last two years, only half the fleet showed up on time.
White threatened everyone that if they were late, that was too bad – no
pity on procrastinators. And they were all there on time.
The First Day of the Race
The start became a real thriller. Todd Riccardi and Brendon Scanlon had
a problem. The container with their boat did not arrive on time, nor
did any of their gear. So, the borrowed a N20 from Jay Sonnenklar,
and borrowed the gear to race.
In winds of 12-15 mph and flat seas on the Bay Side of the Islands, Riccardi/Scanlon
were right on the starboard mark, when Skip Kaub and Ian Lindahl tried
to squeeze in. Riccardi assured them they should not quite loudly. Kaub
then attempted to duck the stern of Riccardi, but the ARC22 has a lot
of mainsheet purchase and the line doesn’t run out that freely.
Consequently, the main was still trying to weathervane the big cat, while
the rudders were trying to turn it down. What happened was the bows of
the ARC22 dove deep, rudders coming up and out of the water and the bow
sprit of the big boat lowered to about a foot off the water and then
speared Riccardi’s starboard hull just behind the rear beam.
This is the damage on Riccardi's borrowed boat.
It appeared to penetrate about four feet. After the collision, it spun Riccardi’s boat around so both boats were heading right at the starting boat at a pretty good clip, since they were now reaching. White managed to back down the Hobie Skiff to narrowly miss being run over.
After spearing the Nacra 20, Skip Kaub and Ian Lindahl were able
to continue
Interestingly, Craig Van Eaton was video taping the entire event. Hopefully,
he will have this on our site soon.
As if that was not enough excitement for the day, Eric Roberts and Dave
Weir on the other ARC22 decided to go through Card Sound Bridge a few
rungs close to shore than the 65-foot part of it, with their new carbon
mast. Bang! They hit! And the mast came tumbling down. Eric is the son
of the famous Bill Roberts who was shockingly watching from the bridge.
The Roberts have been sailing this race and the Miami-Key Largo Race
for well over 20 years – both events require going under this bridge.
However, in this case, experience did not pay off.
There were other problems as the fleet headed down Hawk Channel on the
ocean side toward the first day’s stop at Anne’s Beach on
Lower Matecumbe Key, a total distance of 70 miles for the day.
Several of the boats broke spinnaker poles and others managed to do a
couple of pitchpoles. One of the worst situations was when Peter Cullum
and Daryl Moss pitchpole their Narca20 and Cullum got separated from
the boat. Moss could not get back to pick the skipper up. The Coast Guard
had to come to the rescue in this case. They managed to get together
and get to the finish line.
One of the funniest of the goofs, was Mauricio Mendez and Keith Gebler
on a Nacra 5.8 missed Angelfish Creek (the way you cross over the ocean
side to head south) and kept going north. They knew they must be doing
something wrong when the saw Miami (45 miles north of Key Largo). They
returned to Gilberts for the weekend.
At the finish line at Anne’s Beach Moss and Casey crossed the line
a mere One minute and thirteen seconds ahead of Krantz/Lennard, who in
turn were only two seconds ahead of Phillips/Pierce. All three boats
had held the lead at one time on the first day.
The Second Day of the Race
It was clean start off Anne’s Beach.., no collisions, capsizes,
or anything. All the boats got through the Channel Five Bridge and were
heading up the backside of the Keys with no mishaps and all pretty close
together.
Winds were around 15 + mph out of the NE. Forecasts were for the wind
to be easterly, which would have made a very quick second day. But, they
stayed NNE and it was 35 mile upwind beat.
Again, the first across the line was Moss/Casey in just under four hours.
Krantz/Lennard were second across the line, followed by Phillip/Lohmayer,
Riccardi/Scanlon. Kohl/Moore, Ingrams and Karl Langefeld/Tripp Burd.
Brett Moss and John Casey (Blue Spin) just ahead of Mike Phillips and Steve
Lohmayer (Red Spin) after the start off Anne's Beach.
Peter Cullum and Daryl Moss right after the start on the second day
Shots from Channel Five Bridge (65-footer)
See Results Far Below
2011 Steeplechase “Incidents”
(And it wasn’t Friday the 13th)
This year’s Key Largo Steeplechase may go down in the annals of Steeplechase history for the most number of “interesting” incidents. Fortunately, nobody was hurt in any of them; but there are lessons to be learned from most of them.
And when you read these, keep in mind that these were very pleasant sailing conditions, warm wind out of the northeast at about 12 knots.
INCIDENT #1: CRASH AT START
Right at the start on Saturday, there was a collision between two boats.
An ARC 22, skippered by Skip Kaub, was coming in from the right and
didn’t have room, so he tried to bear off but didn’t quite
make it. His bows dove, and his spinnaker pole (like a jousting lance)
put a substantial hole in the outside starboard hull of a Nacra 20
(skippered by Todd Riccardi). They were kind of hooked together for
several seconds, spinning the Nacra around toward the start boat (Rick
and Coby (our dog) on the Hobie Skiff). Fortunately, Rick wasn’t
anchored, and he backed off quickly, avoiding a secondary collision.
The Nacra 20 retired and sailed back to Gilbert’s. Riccardi was sailing a borrowed boat, and he ended up driving to Fort Lauderdale to borrow another boat, so he could race the Sunday leg. True dedication. And the ARC 22 continued on. No word yet on whether their spinnaker pole was damaged in the incident.
INCIDENT #2: BOAT ATTACKS BRIDGE
Eric Roberts on another ARC 22 has been sailing this race for many years
with his father Bill Roberts, who designed the boat. Eric used to crew
for his dad, but then Bill started crewing for Eric. And the last couple
of years Bill has been ground crew for Eric. This year Bill was up
on the top of the Card Sound Bridge watching the boats approach and
go under the bridge on their way north to Angelfish Creek.
For some reason Eric decided to pass through the bridge under a lower part instead of at the center. His mast hit the bridge, and his boat was dismasted. Another bridge bystander said Bill’s chin just dropped to his chest. The boat was towed back to Gilbert’s (I don’t know by whom, but this was a busy day for the Sea Tow type people).
INCIDENT #3: GUARANTEE ON SPINNAKER?
Scott Rathburn’s F-18. Soon after Scott had gone through Angelfish
Creek to the ocean side to head south in Hawk Channel, his spinnaker
split in half. Since it was a spinnaker run from there to Anne’s
Beach, he ended up getting in almost at dark.
INCIDENT #4: SEPARATION ANXIETY
Peter Cullum and Daryl Moss were on a Nacra 20, going down the ocean
side of Key Largo with spinnaker up, when they capsized. They righted
the boat and Daryl got back on, but the boat started sailing pretty
fast again when it righted, and Peter couldn’t get on, so he
let himself go to the back of the boat so he could grab the rudder
and turn the boat into the wind and stop it. But the rudder slipped
out of his hands, so he grabbed the tiller extension that was dragging
in the water behind the boat. Well, the extension broke off from the
tiller cross bar. He was now separated from the boat, about 2 miles
offshore.
So then the boat capsized again with Daryl on it, and it was drifting away from Peter. According to Daryl’s GPS, the boat was drifting at 1.8 knots and Peter was swimming at 1 knot. So Daryl called the Coast Guard, and meanwhile Peter was swimming to shore. He swam for an hour and a half and says he was within maybe 15 minutes of shore when a Sea Tow boat plucked him from the water and put him back on his boat. He and Daryl righted the boat and continued on to Anne’s Beach. No problem!
Interesting detail is that Peter was swimming to shore all that time still holding his tiller extension.
INCIDENT #5: HOPELESSLY LOST
Mauricio Mendez on a Nacra 5.8 did not have a GPS, and apparently their
charts got lost overboard. Their plan was to follow the boats ahead
of them. Well, after they went under Card Sound Bridge, they didn’t
see any boats ahead of them – only behind them. So they kept
sailing north, looking for Angelfish Creek. They didn’t see it.
And when they looked back, they didn’t see any boats behind them.
So they kept sailing north.
Finally they got to Elliott Key, and they crossed over to the ocean side
on the north side of the key and headed south. They hit their daggerboard
on a reef or something and were taking on water. They ended up being
towed back to the inside and back to Gilbert’s by a Sea Tow.
Interestingly, the crew said later that he thought they were sailing south all that time and then he checked with the sun and realized they were sailing north.
| Catamaran Sailor Magazine | ||
| 2011 27th Annual Key Largo Steeplechase |
Preliminary Results
Sailed: 3 Discards: 2 Ratings: USPN
| Rank | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | USPN | Leg one | Leg Two | Overall | Nett |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marstrom 20 | USA 1 | Bret Moss | John Casey | 58 | 1.0 | 1.0 | ||
| 2 | Marstrom 20 | USA 2 | Michael Phillips | Kenny Pierce | 58 | 2.0 | 2.0 | ||
| 3 | Nacra F20C | USA 11 | Mike Krantz | David Lennard | 57 | 3.0 | 3.0 | ||
| 4 | F-18 | USA 242 | David Ingram | Bob Ingram | 62.4 | 4.0 | 4.0 | ||
| 5 | F-18 | 880 | Jake Kohl | Frank Moore | 62.4 | 5.0 | 5.0 | ||
| 6 | F-18 | USA 676 | Karl Langefeld | Tripp Burd | 62.4 | 6.0 | 6.0 | ||
| 7 | F-18 | 1571 | James Zellmer | Jeff Miller | 62.4 | 7.0 | 7.0 | ||
| 8 | ARC 22 | 2224 | Skip Kaub | Ian Lindahl | 57 | 8.0 | 8.0 | ||
| 9 | H-16 w. spin | 105333 | Steve Craemer | Jim O'Leary | 73.9 | 9.0 | 9.0 | ||
| 10 | Nacra 5.8 | 910 | Dick Macdonald | Llinda Macdonald | 66.6 | 10.0 | 10.0 | ||
| 11 | Nacra 20 | Pink boat | Peter Cullum | Daryl Moss | 59.3 | 11.0 | 11.0 | ||
| 12 | F-18 | 2572 | Scott Rathburn | Will Dolan | 62.4 | 12.0 | 12.0 | ||
| 13 | Nacra 20 | Royal ? | Todd Riccardi | Brendon Scanlon | 59.3 | DNF | 16.0 | ||
| 14 | ARC 22 | 2230 | Eric Roberts | David Weir | 57 | DNF | 16.0 | ||
| 14 | Nacra 5.8 | ? | Mauricio Mendez | Keith Gebler/Brian Glassman | 66.6 | DNF | 16.0 |
Leg one
| Rank | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | USPN | Start | Finish | Elapsed | Corrected | Nett |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marstrom 20 | USA 1 | Bret Moss | John Casey | 58 | 9:00 | 12:56:47 | 3:56:47 | 6:48:15 | 1.0 |
| 2 | Marstrom 20 | USA 2 | Michael Phillips | Kenny Pierce | 58 | 9:00 | 12:58:02 | 3:58:02 | 6:50:24 | 2.0 |
| 3 | Nacra F20C | USA 11 | Mike Krantz | David Lennard | 57 | 9:00 | 12:58:00 | 3:58:00 | 6:57:33 | 3.0 |
| 4 | F-18 | USA 242 | David Ingram | Bob Ingram | 62.4 | 9:00 | 13:49:21 | 4:49:21 | 7:43:42 | 4.0 |
| 5 | F-18 | 880 | Jake Kohl | Frank Moore | 62.4 | 9:00 | 13:54:22 | 4:54:22 | 7:51:44 | 5.0 |
| 6 | F-18 | 1571 | James Zellmer | Jeff Miller | 62.4 | 9:00 | 14:06:05 | 5:06:05 | 8:10:31 | 6.0 |
| 7 | F-18 | USA 676 | Karl Langefeld | Tripp Burd | 62.4 | 9:00 | 14:19:03 | 5:19:03 | 8:31:18 | 7.0 |
| 8 | ARC 22 | 2224 | Skip Kaub | Ian Lindahl | 57 | 9:00 | 13:52:21 | 4:52:21 | 8:32:54 | 8.0 |
| 9 | H-16 w. spin | 105333 | Steve Craemer | Jim O'Leary | 73.9 | 9:00 | 15:38:11 | 6:38:11 | 8:58:49 | 9.0 |
| 10 | Nacra 5.8 | 910 | Dick Macdonald | Llinda Macdonald | 66.6 | 9:00 | 15:45:41 | 6:45:41 | 10:09:08 | 10.0 |
| 11 | Nacra 20 | Pink boat | Peter Cullum | Daryl Moss | 59.3 | 9:00 | 16:45:00 | 7:45:00 | 13:04:09 | 11.0 |
| 12 | F-18 | 2572 | Scott Rathburn | Will Dolan | 62.4 | 9:00 | 18:00:00 | 9:00:00 | 14:25:23 | 12.0 |
| 13 | Nacra 20 | Royal ? | Todd Riccardi | Brendon Scanlon | 59.3 | DNF | 16.0 | |||
| 13 | ARC 22 | 2230 | Eric Roberts | David Weir | 57 | DNF | 16.0 | |||
| 13 | Nacra 5.8 | ? | Mauricio Mendez | Keith Gebler/Brian Glassman | 66.6 | DNF | 16.0 |
Leg Two
| Rank | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | USPN | Start | Finish | Elapsed | Corrected | Nett |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marstrom 20 | USA 1 | Bret Moss | John Casey | 58 | 9:00:00 | 12:50:19 | 3:50:19 | 6:37:06 | 1.0 |
| 2 | F-18 | 880 | Jake Kohl | Frank Moore | 62.4 | 9:00:00 | 13:14:33 | 4:14:33 | 6:47:56 | 2.0 |
| 3 | Nacra F20C | USA 11 | Mike Krantz | David Lennard | 57 | 9:00:00 | 12:55:32 | 3:55:32 | 6:53:13 | 3.0 |
| 4 | F-18 | USA 242 | David Ingram | Bob Ingram | 62.4 | 9:00:00 | 13:18:19 | 4:18:19 | 6:53:58 | 4.0 |
| 4 | F-18 | USA 676 | Karl Langefeld | Tripp Burd | 62.4 | 9:00:00 | 13:18:19 | 4:18:19 | 6:53:58 | 4.0 |
| 6 | Marstrom 20 | USA 2 | Michael Phillips | Kenny Pierce | 58 | 9:00:00 | 13:02:48 | 4:02:48 | 6:58:37 | 6.0 |
| 7 | Nacra 20 | Royal ? | Todd Riccardi | Brendon Scanlon | 59.3 | 9:00:00 | 13:11:40 | 4:11:40 | 7:04:24 | 7.0 |
| 8 | ARC 22 | 2224 | Skip Kaub | Ian Lindahl | 57 | 9:00:00 | 13:21:15 | 4:21:15 | 7:38:20 | 8.0 |
| 9 | H-16 w. spin | 105333 | Steve Craemer | Jim O'Leary | 73.9 | 9:00:00 | 14:41:47 | 5:41:47 | 7:42:30 | 9.0 |
| 10 | F-18 | 1571 | James Zellmer | Jeff Miller | 62.4 | 9:00:00 | 13:50:17 | 4:50:17 | 7:45:12 | 10.0 |
| 11 | Nacra 5.8 | 910 | Dick Macdonald | Llinda Macdonald | 66.6 | 9:00:00 | 14:59:59 | 5:59:59 | 9:00:31 | 11.0 |
| 12 | F-18 | 2572 | Scott Rathburn | Will Dolan | 62.4 | 9:00:00 | 14:45:45 | 5:45:45 | 9:14:05 | 12.0 |
| 13 | Nacra 20 | Pink boat | Peter Cullum | Daryl Moss | 59.3 | 9:00:00 | 14:29:33 | 5:29:33 | 9:15:44 | 13.0 |
| 14 | ARC 22 | 2230 | Eric Roberts | David Weir | 57 | DNC | 16.0 | |||
| 14 | Nacra 5.8 | ? | Mauricio Mendez | Keith Gebler/Brian Glassman | 66.6 | DNC | 16.0 |
Overall
| Rank | Class | Sail No | Helm | Crew | USPN | Start | Finish | Elapsed | Corrected | Nett |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marstrom 20 | USA 1 | Bret Moss | John Casey | 58 | 7:47:06 | 13:25:21 | 1.0 | ||
| 2 | Marstrom 20 | USA 2 | Michael Phillips | Kenny Pierce | 58 | 8:00:50 | 13:49:01 | 2.0 | ||
| 3 | Nacra F20C | USA 11 | Mike Krantz | David Lennard | 57 | 7:53:32 | 13:50:46 | 3.0 | ||
| 4 | F-18 | USA 242 | David Ingram | Bob Ingram | 62.4 | 9:07:40 | 14:37:40 | 4.0 | ||
| 5 | F-18 | 880 | Jake Kohl | Frank Moore | 62.4 | 9:08:55 | 14:39:40 | 5.0 | ||
| 6 | F-18 | USA 676 | Karl Langefeld | Tripp Burd | 62.4 | 9:37:22 | 15:25:16 | 6.0 | ||
| 7 | F-18 | 1571 | James Zellmer | Jeff Miller | 62.4 | 9:56:22 | 15:55:43 | 7.0 | ||
| 8 | ARC 22 | 2224 | Skip Kaub | Ian Lindahl | 57 | 9:13:36 | 16:11:14 | 8.0 | ||
| 9 | H-16 w. spin | 105333 | Steve Craemer | Jim O'Leary | 73.9 | 12:19:58 | 16:41:18 | 9.0 | ||
| 10 | Nacra 5.8 | 910 | Dick Macdonald | Llinda Macdonald | 66.6 | 12:45:40 | 19:09:39 | 10.0 | ||
| 11 | Nacra 20 | Pink boat | Peter Cullum | Daryl Moss | 59.3 | 13:14:33 | 22:19:53 | 11.0 | ||
| 12 | F-18 | 2572 | Scott Rathburn | Will Dolan | 62.4 | 14:45:45 | 23:39:28 | 12.0 | ||
| 13 | Nacra 20 | Royal ? | Todd Riccardi | Brendon Scanlon | 59.3 | DNF | 16.0 | |||
| 13 | ARC 22 | 2230 | Eric Roberts | David Weir | 57 | DNF | 16.0 | |||
| 13 | Nacra 5.8 | ? | Mauricio Mendez | Keith Gebler/Brian Glassman | 66.6 | DNF | 16.0 |
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