I believe the best turnout we had was around 45 boats.
Sorry, not trying to down key the race.., I love it as well. Great venue that we happened upon over two decades ago that is still going strong.

Will put a story and NOR on the front page of the site within a day or so -- working feverishly on the Oct/Nov Issue right now.
Rick

+1.

Adventure/distance racing and buoy racing are completely different animals and require a different skill set as well as a different mindset. There are far fewer people that find it enjoyable to grind it out for 5-8 hours straight in a race where there is still just one winner. Plus the lack of bail out points and the fact that you really are on your own can push folks to spend their limited time and money on a different type of racing/sailing.

I think the lack of promotion for this one is deliberate. Mary genuinely worries about us when the conditions go to sh!t. He!! ask her how she felt about letting Randy Smyth sail solo last year. It still makes me chuckle thinking about Mary giving Randy the stink eye.

Thanks Rick!
I was really just trying to get your attention to do something like this.
I know 60 boats is unrealistic, and 40 would be tough both to even get that many boats to come and safety wise. But it just simply stinks to make the effort for any race for 10-12 boats, 15 is even a stretch.... a solid 20 would be very cool and i'd be elated if it hovered around there or just above.
There are plenty of people that go to Tradewinds that would be totally capable and competitive in the Steeplechase, but they don't go, and I don't think it's because most of them don't like distance.
Let's look at last year's Tradewinds F18 & N20 fleet that wasn't at Steeplechase... Tomko, Nigel/Alex, Easton, Krantz, McCulley, Brown, Kohl, Newkirk, Carter, Pecorak(ha), Trinque, Robinson .. these guys are all the active distance racers that I know of, most of them haven't made the race in the last few years... you can add a bunch others that were at Tradewinds that I could see distance racing.
How can these guys be convinced to make the extra effort?
And I know there are guys that did Tradewinds but not Steeplechase, but I tried to convince Jay and Todd Hart to go, but man is it hard to convince a distance guy to do buoys!

Speaking personally here,

Steeplechase comes at a bad time of year. When I was in school it was during exams, and when I was working, it was at the end of year when I was out of vacation time. I really have always wanted to do this race but, the fact that it takes a lot of driving to get to, necessitating at least a day on either side of the weekend for transportation always presented a problem for me.

That being said, now that I'm closer, that mitigates the problem, however, I've retired from competitive sailing. (Cue up the jokes about how I was never in it, its ok, I'm a big boy)

Frank and I both like doing the steeplechase but it's a long way to go to the Keys. For me, I like to sail in the A-cat week and then do Tradewinds in the same trip. I can't swing the time to make two trips to the keys a month apart so I have to choose between a weekend race (Steeplechase) or spend 7 days sailing between A-cat and Tradewinds....chicken dinner.

You got the chicken part right!

Well, for 26 years we have kept it the same time -- the second weekend in December. I am a big believer in keeping events at the same time yearly, whenever possible.
The reasons are this is a good time of the year for wind and the water is still warm; room rates are at the lowest, just before the season starts; and the Keys are not jammed packed.
By the way, the reason for the Tradewinds on MLK weekend is that room rates are lower juste after the New Year, and for some this gives you an extra day on Monday to get back home.
Rick

Rick,

Are we all set at The Caribbean Club? They know we are coming and all that?

A chicken and an egg are lying in bed. The chicken is leaning against the headboard smoking a cigarette with a satisfied smile on its face. The egg, looking a bit ticked off, grabs the sheet, rolls over and says ... Well, I guess we finally answered "THAT question!"

I don't get it

I bet your soon to be wife sure does.

That is just cruel...

Damn, the Gumbo man slams it out of the park!

I think he just called you a chicken.

we are working on it. Mary said last year she is taking charge of the crib.
Rick

That's great Rick, thanks! The Carib is a great location.

Yes, thank you Mary! Come on now, we all know Mary is running the show

Don't have many registered. It would be nice to have some numbers to discuss with the Caribbean Club. If just a few boats it makes talking with them more difficult.

I am also trying to get a number on SPOT Rentals. The cost is $30 for the weekend and I am handling shipping. I have 10 units definitely coming but I can order more. If you have your own unit with tracking enabled, I can have it added to the tracking system at no charge. I just need a link to your tracking page.

I am pushing hard to have the units upgraded but this probably won't happen before the Tybee.

I have learned a lot about the older units and the best placement for them are on top of the rotation limiter or in a deck bag with a clear window.

I am planning to be there with my friend Jan on his F18HT. He likely has not registered, so just giving a heads up that we are coming. Definitely will rent a SPOT transceiver.

Talk about travel I am coming all the way from Anacortes! Haha not really will be in FLA already and how can I say no to the chance to sail this event!?!