Very true, people perish from exposure. When comparing the TheMightyHobie18 to a N20, the advantage of an N20 is it is much faster, making your exposure smaller. The faster you can get in and out the better it is overall.

This is why faster is better for something like this. The faster teams will be less exposed, because they will finish the crossing in a much faster time.

So there you go guys. Any more questions?

Yes, the one I have been asking since the day I found about this race. If anyone gets in trouble who will they call?
How will they make that call?

~timidly~ ghostbusters?

LOL! it took longer than what I thought for someone to come up with that reply. LMAO!!!

I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to have Robi's personal cell phone on speed dial.

sat phone?

I don't believe exposure is the issue when all is well and either boat/crew is performing optimally. An hour or few difference is all we are talking about.

However, when either boat/crew is disabled, the exposure/survival issue progressively gets more critical.

At best, rescue resources will be limited. I wouldn't count on the organization to be able to provide much. USCG will do whatever is within their capability, but keep in mind that if conditions are bad, there will be more than one of you needing assistance and there will certainly be non-racer related missions that the Guardians will be attending to as well.

An EPIRB might be more useful than a VHF, but the VHF will be handy when rescue is nearby. Only the Coast Guard will be able to receive the EPIRB signal however. Chase boats would not have locating abilities.

A tough and unsinkable boat makes more sense than a fast complex boat IMO.

Bingo...

Can you keep it dry enough to work reliably when in peril?

We lost an I-phone and GPS in the Steeple chase last week, 1/2 mile from shore. I'm sure you Tybee guys have all sorts of stories about failed/lost/water-logged comminication gear.

Then again, it probably will be a milk run and everyone will be sunburned while they are sipping Mojitos and smokin' Diplomaticos!

I prefer Montecristos, smooth and sweet.

1 gps is never enough. Always take 2. Don't ask me how I know! (btw, I had 2)

Keeping spare batteries sealed in a ziplock bag, that is sealed in another ziplock bag, that is sealed in a drybag, is not enough protection. Don't ask me how I know.

Removing batteries from the flashlight/strobe will get your GPS working again, but you'll have a damn hard time doing it in the dark (no flashlight). Don't ask me how I know.

Have you Tybee guys ever tried putting your electronics into the vacuum seal freezer type bags? I've stored rifles that way, and thought it might work for stuff on the boat. If you gotta open it you're screwed, but you really shouldn't have to anyway I'd think.

Just watched the video Mary posted. Made me think that lots of 3M reflective tape would be a good idea. Including the bottoms of the hulls/beams.

Would we have to carry rifles to Cuba? Todd?

Not a good idea.

Karl: usually a hefty dry bag; not the ones that look like heavy duty ziplock bags - I'm talking about the roll the top down and clasp bag - plus IPX7 or 8 waterproof rating is a good combination.

However, In my case - electronics die from just plain abuse while on the boat. We're not gentle on the stuff and I can't tell you how many foretrex flew off my wrist (not because of the pin - but because the damn thing slid down my wrist). This past Tybee we managed to lose a foretrex and then during the last leg (disaster) launch, I landed on top of the GPSMAP76 and cracked the screen when we launched off a wave.

wrist gps, Garmin 76 taped to the boom (in a drybag), and another 76 in another drybag in a trampoline pocket. A tactic solar digital compass on the pole.

On a long day, turn the gps units off (yes, even your primary) until you need them....no point in having them on while sailing along coastline and you know you're hours away. On open ocean, use the compass, check the gps periodically to refresh you bearing. Changing batteries is a painful exercise.

A few things. Don't discount exposure issues even when things are going "optimally". Over that distance fatigue and even a little chill, small cuts, a little sunburn, etc. grow in significance. And if you've been out there longer before things go bad, you're starting from a more weakened state. Take into account how one can handle the situation if the other is disabled. Not turn anybody into worry bags, but simply things to consider.

An EPIRB/PLB (one for each crew, on their bodies) is essential (required for this event I'm sure), and if you can't raise anyone on the VHF (one for each crew, on their bodies) you'll need to trip it. You need to register the unit providing contact info - that should be the race officials, and when they are contacted they should be able to get coordinates (which may be old, but can provide the race folk with a starting point to search for your bodies). That having been said, you must be willing, prepared, and able to do as much as possible for yourself and your crew before setting it off. Comments about you not being the only one in need of help if things are bad are spot on. Hopefully a forecast window will be analyzed to minimize that potential.

I'm guessing that over the distance, the difference in finishing time between an N-20 and H-18 may be significant, depending on the conditions. I've owned both (and others), and I have to say at this point I am pretty impressed at what the N-20 can take and do. So, if I were to do this event, I'd take tough, unsinkable, AND fast, thank you. But maybe chasing in the F-27 might make more sense...

Toasted 3 in the '02 W1k in two days...