Vlad, nice pictures, thanks for sharing. A question about the mast dropping, is there a beach to pull up on, to do that, then push off and start paddling, or does it have to be done out on the water? That could get exciting with a big mast!
Timbo, everyone is worried about mast dropping prior to Checkpoint 1. However, low clearance bridge is last straw in long line of obstacles, leading to checkpoint 1. I provide chartlet to illustrate my point
One year we had Windrider 17 signed for the race. It was prior to Tornado dominance era. Guys on Windrider were so sure about themselves so they bragged on windrider forum about course record and two days transit time. Well, they managed to get to Little Gasparila pass first, barely. By the time they reached checkpoint, which is 3 miles away, half of the fleet was well ahead of them
They droped out there.
Jamie Livingston and Steve Lohmayer, aka Lumpy and Bumpy made it looks easy, setting one course record after another on Tornado. However, prior to their first Challenge they spent fair amount of time scouting, test running, timing the course.I spent hours on a phone with them giving all info I knew...
To answer your question, - there is a shoal on right just before left turn into a creek with the bridge.
However, unless conditions are favorable, I drop a mast just inside of inlet and row from there.
