Hey Todd....you driving or crewing???

Yes...

Sometimes heavy is GOOD. I can't count how many times me and Cary won on the old H-16 when the wind really blew an we could keep the boat just skeming (sp) the weather hull, without having to pump the main. Beef on the wire has its mowmnets. HEEE HAWWW

Doug

Been there done that and It's NOT ever good. When you get to where it's beneficial you start breaking stuff.These boats are a little different than a 16 in that if your light you can flatten sails and go faster when it pipes up.
Thanks for the thought though.

I've done the race all six years on a budget of about $1,500 total expenses split between two people, but includes a ground crew along. I've done the race on a H20 with stock chutes and with a tornado chute. We won the first year I moved up to the Tornado chute. The high aspect smaller footed chutes are superior for speed and ability to reach. I moved up to the F18 Tiger last year which is better designed to carry and manage the chute. The Tiger is a very nice platform for either buoy racing or long distance. It's sturdy and can handle the surf.

Mike Rohrer

For a good review of last years race read this article written by Pamela LaBlanc AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Catamaran racers battle Gulf of Mexico
Austin founder of the race finishes despite broken rudder

http://www.austin360.com/recreation/content/recreation/stories/2008/06/0623fitcity.html

thanks

Andrew

Any other Tybee teams doing this? I know Jared wants to, so if there's any entrants that need him , he wants to go and you could do a helluva lot worse.
Tawd

Topofusion will be tracking the race live, we have more than 8 boats that are going to participate so far. This is a great way to track the race, for spectators on the web.

More details soon, at www.GT300.com

thanks

Andrew

New front page ! go have a look

We launched a new front page today for the GT300 at www.GT300.com Lots of great content all in one location.

Includes News feeds, Daily recaps, Race results, Pictures, Videos and more.

I just updated the list of teams for 2009.

thanks

Andrew

This year we have an exciting line up of people who will be providing near real time coverage of the race. All have been involved in the race in some way in the past either as a sailor, race official, ground crew or a combination of the three. This will allow us to provide insight into what the sailors are experiencing. Personally I have sailed this race three times and managed a team one year and this year I will be one of the reporters.

We just received confirmation from South Padre live that they will be broadcasting the start of the Great Texas Catamaran race in South Padre. Check them out at http://www.southpadrelive.com

thanks
Andrew
www.GT300.com

Good job on the new front page Andrew. I just sent off my check today and printed out a fresh set of charts. I am really stoked to be sailing the GT again.

This race covers some really desolate coastline where you see little evidence of man for mile after mile - a little different from the Tybee 500. There are some long sections on day 2 where you really don't want to break down as you can't get a vehicle onto some of the barrier islands.

Chris has a point here that I don't hear voiced much when it comes to distance racing. That is the element of danger and adventure. For me, it's all about the adventure. The uncertainty of what's around the next corner. You don't get that much with racing around the cans. The first year I did the GT300, we had a MAJOR issue with the GPS on the first day. To make matters worse, we were running what we thought was the rumbline which, at mid point, would have you atleast 12 miles off shore. We ended up about 21.6 miles off shore but ended up finding the finishline that night. The rest of the race still had aspects of adventure that still made that first year the best one so for for me. It kind of reminds me of an episode of "Survivorman". Looking for the flashing mirror on the horizon/finishline when you're up front is a pretty awesome feeling... till you wipe out and get passed. Both the Tybee and the GT have a mistique to them that's all thier own. For me, the last leg of the Tybee was the best due to the remoteness of it and the "don't f' up on this leg or you're toast" feeling. The first two legs of the GT have that as well. Even the third leg of it can get you into trouble if you don't make it far enough.