I've finally got a moment to sit down and type up some thoughts regarding this great race.

When Trey and I originally decided to do this race, we knew that we would consider it a success if we finished. Personally, I wanted to finish, and make it respectable. I'm fairly confident that we accomplished both of those goals. The week started out pretty rough. We had a bad time trying to jib reach around Fowley Rocks, so we decided to head up a bit and pop the chute into the beach, running a bit deeper. Unfortunately the tack line on the spin broke free and pulled out, leaving us to do the last 6 or so miles on main and jib alone on a point of sail that would have favored our chute. Space coast blew by us on the way into the beach. The next day wasn't much better. We were sailing the hot angles instead of sticking the the beach on the way to Jupiter. We found out the hard way that it wasn't the way to do things on this race.

But from that point on, it seemed that we picked up bits and pieces of the copious amounts of advice that was oh-so-generously given by so many people.

I knew that if we were going to finish the race, we would need some guidance and assistance from our competitors. Not only was that help given, it was given with smiles and in excess. I am litterally in awe of the comraderie of the competitors of this race. You guys made the new guys on the block feel like we'd been old friends for years. Particularly Kirk and Key Sailing, Team Tybee and SailMax (I and II) who all lended us great amounts of rigging and tuning help... It was a fantastic feeling for me to be mingling amongst people that I had looked up to for years.

First and foremost on our "to-be-thanked publicly" list is Frank and Mike of Team Windy Hill. They litterally took us under their wings and made sure that once we hit the beach, we were well taken care of. I cannot think of better people to be "looking out for us" than Frank, Mike, Darryl and Matt. Those guys are simply awesome, and in my opinion, epitomize the spirit of this race. Second on the list, is the Team Velocity Ground crew who spent many an evening worried sick about their friends on the boat. Thanks to Derek for pushing us out through that water every morning, and thanks to James "That 70's Guy" for fixing whatever we had broken during the day, and providing much needed comic relief.

Finally, I'd like to thank Chuck and the Race Officials who waited for us on that beach with anxious eyes for our sail on the horizon. You guys did a great job, and just know that we'll be back next year to improve on our finish this year.

-Tad