Update on Velocity site. Trey/Alan down with broken rudder, battens, etc.

Carnage.

Good thing no one hurt.
Reading about it is intense, can't imagine what it must be like... no control and if you want it then you snap your boards and rudders.

the horror, the horror....

This should be the next discovery channel "deadliest catch" type show. With the proper production it would be awesome. Besides, the discovery channel and history channel can make watching paint dry interesting (as evidenced by Modern Marvel "Paint")

Seatcats apparently almost made it out, but flipped. Claude says he's not sure if the sailors are with the boat.

Post deleted by PTP

Legitimate question - we had a GP on Tommy Bahama. He was kept quite busy among the fleet. Hopefully not needed today!

Maybe I will do that... but liability questions raise all sorts of issues (ask Jake's crew:) . Would love to help out and be there for the teams though.

The picutres on Velocity's website definitely convey the pucker factor of the teams as they push off.

Good to hear that no one is hurt, or any boat truely disabled. Jensen must be the jinx, but I guess having it any other way would lessen the "macho" of this race?

Just spoke with Chuck - unbelievably, Cat in the Hat is still trying to get out.

Most everyone is on the road north, where there will be serious discussion of penalties for teams that attempted to sail the leg. Teams that did not attempt launching are DSQ'd.

John,

This is the leg that beat Cat in the Hat last year. I'm betting that this is a monkey they are trying to get off their back.

From the front page:

"...One of the problems with the Inter 20 going through surf is their rudder blades are so slim -- very efficient when down and moving, but not very effective when partway up."

I'm not sure I agree with this statement. Yes, the blades are thin and it does slightly hinder maneuverability at low speed or when partway up, but I think the biggest problem is the whitewater they're sailing through.

Because of the turbulence (and amount of air bubbles in the water), there is not really anything for the foils (fat or skinny) to "grab on to" and establish flow. No flow=no lift

I experimented with windsurf skegs years ago, and even the very fat ones had no "grip" in that kind of shore break. Once you got into solid water, however, the fat skeg did establish maneuverability slightly faster.

Maybe you nautical engineer types have suggestions on how to maintain steerage in this 'washing machine' condition?

Just got off the phone with Derek/Trey

Cat in the Hat is pulled out. They are in the parking lot.

Amazing story about Accelerated Chaos. Tripp apparently fell off the boat, and Chris just kept sailing out past the breakers. Tripp swam about 50 yards out past the breakers, caught up with the boat and they kept going.

Incredible. I wish I was there, I wish my wallet wasn't though.

Funny but my pulse ran up to about 120 just looking at those pictures.

I would consider those conditions to be "slightly" beyond my comfort level, even if it were on someone else's boat!

Oh, and Maughan, once your wife sees these pictures, you'll never be allowed to sail this race again... Trust me on this one! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

My pulse is up, my hair is falling out... Glad to hear Chris and Tripp are on their way, but I'll be anxious until everyone's in. How are Frank and Jake?

waterbug:

Its ok, she's a doctor. Not only can she repair any damage to my body, but she'll be able to repair the boat too <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This day reminds me of the first year I did the Tybee, and I met Kirk Newkirk for the very first time in my life. It was like meeting your childhood hero (he wasn't the only one I met that race that made me feel like a groupie in a rock concert backstage). He patted the hulls of Undecided and told me,

"You guys will be fine, this was the only boat that left Jensen Beach undamaged."

It made me feel so much better about making it.

Thank you Kirk.

Frank and Jake are ok, boat needs a little work, but not much. Both are very bummed out about so nearly making it out only to get nailed by a freak pair of waves running oblique to the beach on the outside break.

We left after they were in between the start and the pier might have been there 2nd try did they try again? You would not want to get hooked into the pier today!

Mr Williams said:
"there will be serious discussion of penalties for teams that attempted to sail the leg. Teams that did not attempt launching are DSQ'd."
______

Please elaborate?? Am I to understand that if a team attempted the leg they are penalized and if they didn't they will be DSQ? Are you saying that it was 'damned if you do, damned if you don't?'

I think there was something that indicated the teams had to try to start, and if they broke something they could trailer up to the next leg.

Now, just what is the cheapest breakable part? A rudder gudgeon? Or that universal joint on the rudder crossbar?

Maybe a batten?

Hi Hon -

Time penalties are assessed to those teams that attempted to sail the leg, then put the boat on the trailer to make the next checkpoint. Teams that did not make the attempt are DSQ for the event. The amount of the time penalty is under discussion, just as it was after Jensen in the Worrell some years ago. Tough to balance the recognition for teams that made it out (AND back IN!) against the desire/need for sponsored teams to continue. They set a precedent this week by penalizing Tiki White 8 hours (after the last finisher's time) - I expect something along the same lines, but you never know. The intensity of the managers' meeting later today cannot be underestimated. I was there after Jensen - that meeting was not fun.

From talking to Trey and Derek. Almost everyone that tried and failed broke either rudder parts or battens. Seacats had more damage but still nothing extreme that can't be fixed.

I think what they are discussing is for the teams that made an attempt, they will take a penalty, while the teams that sat there and didn't, will be DSQ'd.

Theres nothing in the SI's that stipulate this rule, however it does say:



I imagine the race committee has already convened to come up with a solution to this.