P Mumm is calling me to relay information from one of the mark boats. He just ringed me and said that they're a go - and that they're leaving now to go setup the marks. He said that it will take "a while" for the teams to sail from the Sailing Center to the Gulf.

Good deal! Will you be on SA as well?

Sure.

Maybe you can use a twitter account for updates?
That would be great.

Can't put enough information in a twitter post.

I'm not on the course, I'm sitting here in my home office.

Taylor Palmer flipped on the way out to the course. They're collecting themselves.

I basically told Philip that - since the names and numbers of the boats are going to change with each fleet changeup - just to get me the names of the top 5 finishers of every race AT THE VERY LEAST.

More information of course, would be more than welcome.

Wish I could promise more - but again, not being there...

Put that stuff over here. Please!

http://www.catsailor.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=193289&gonew=1#UNREAD

About to start... Wind has backed down to 10.5 knots

BUT Waves 4 to 5 feet height - tight sets. Gets worse away from shore. Wind blowing 075 at A mark, 035 at committee so big shift on course.

1st start clean.

You can follow realtime weather from the station on the end of Pier 60 in Clearwater, the only local station on the Gulf side. It's less than a mile from the course (depending on where they set the marks). Some sensors may be damaged after yesterday's big blow. Look at that water temp drop!

Clearwater Pier weather station

Race 1 finish:
JC
boat 4 second
Jake Kohl

first three had a good lead
Batchelor
boat 2 "Teabagged" at the finish
boat 9 Newsome
Boat 6
Boat 1 Miami kids

One more boat Waaay out.

We'll try to clarify the competitors after the fact.

Livingston was the second place

Wind has died again to 7.5 to 8 knots and the waves are calming down too. Boats are on the beach swapping boats.

Philip has switched from the A mark boat to the safety boat so we might get some more info,

Correction, Third boat was Tripp Burd

Jake is in the next fleet... which are about to start.

2nd windward mark
Tomko
Newberry (strong second Philip noted)

Finish Order 2nd Race

Newberry (Philip is really impressed with them - "Perfect in all aspects of their game, from what I could see they were flawless")
Tortellino/HOlmes
Tomko
Pitt (malfunctioning downhaul reported)

Report saying that the wind is lightening up some more.

total finish order:
Newberry
Tartaglino
Tomko
Pitt
Kohl
Langefeld
Cope
Humphries
Carlson
Raybon

Course is .8 mile. Looks like the Silver fleet is heading out first. Wind at 040 direction.