I agree with that. It's up to the race organizers as to how they want this thing. Are they looking to attract more extreme sailors, or more general racing sailors? What do they feel is the target number of participants?

All these things come in to play long before people show up.

If they want something for the "mere mortals", they'd put in a lay day (so they could delay a leg based on conditions), or design the route so that you'd finish near an inlet (or on the intracoastal side of the inlet) to minimize surf damage.

But what fun would that be to watch? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />