Right after the start there was a collision between Skip Kaub's ARC 22 and Todd Riccardi's F-18. The F-18 got the worst of it with a big hole in its side, so they retired and are hoping to be able to race Sunday. The ARC continued on with what looked like a broken spinnaker pole.

Later report from someone at the Card Sound Bridge says an ARC 22 dismasted. Don't know whether it was Skip Kaub's or Eric Roberts'.

Wind is beautiful, about 12 out of the northeast.

(Note: This was corrected in a later post, but it was not an F18 that was hit, it was a Nacra 20.)

There were 15 boats at the start.

Just talked to Todd and it was Skip that hit them. They were not on an F-18 ,but a borrowed N-20. They're going to borrow another one and try again tomorrow. He also said it was Eric who hit the bridge.

Double OUCH!

And a hole in a Borrowed boat??

With only 15 boats on the line, how did that happen?

Sorry, I didn't check my list before posting.

Just heard from Steve Lohmayer that the three lead boats are just passing Tavernier Creek, moving fast with spinnakers flying. He says it's Bret Moss in first (Marstrom 20), Mike Philllips in second (Marstrom 20), and Mike Krantz in 3rd (F20 carbon).

He said they had pushed them out at the pin and apparently the sc dropped behind and tried to bearaway across their sterns but didn't make it. That's alot of effort to get knocked out at the start.

That's rolling pretty good.

First three boats are in at Anne's Beach. Bret Moss first, Mike Krantz second, and Mike Phillips third.

Wow! That didn't take long. How many miles/hrs. was that? Must be a lot nicer down there? It's overcast and raining, not much wind at all up here in Sebring, but I think the front has stalled right over us, and you are still in the clear/warm/windy air?

Yep. I think it's supposed to be 15-20 out of the east tomorrow for the race back to Gilbert's.

Here's a radar map for any out of towner's. You can click, drag it to the Keys, and zoom and scroll it around. Also if you click on the upper right corner, put it in motion. Looks like you'll be in the clear Mary.

http://www2.tbo.com/weather/local/interactive-radar/

Thanks, Timbo. That's a cool link.

That's got to be close if not a record.

Anything for you Mary!

Wish I were there to watch, but the wife's got other ideas for me today (I just finished peeling potatos!).

I have already secured my kitchen pass for Tradewinds though, and Andi Lutz just told me he's flying over from Switzerland to do it again, so we'll see you then.

Mary,
Do the 2 rc 22s carry the same rating? A little bird told me they went under the bridge in the same spot and one didn't make it. Taller mast?

Birdie was wrong about the crossing spans...they were different.


Awesome day carnage aside. Frank and I pinched out of angel fish creek lead f18 but had the spin halyard cleat block rip off the mast on the hoist. Took us a while to get a McGiver fix in place and Ding/Bing and Karl/Burd got around us. Karl busted (yet another) spin pole though and let us by. Ding was sailing fast and we finished behind him.

It started with a double trap reach to the card sound bridge. With the F20c showing its legs on the reach, we were first to the bridge. The breeze was on the nose to Angelfish Creek, and the Marstroms were able to pull ahead with the same speed, but were able to point a couple of degrees higher. Through the creek we were able to overtake them and were first out of the pass. Then it was a double trap suicide reach in big waves for about ten miles in 15+ knots and 3-6 ft waves.
All three of us swapped leads multiple times, until we were all able to bear off a couple of degrees and set the spins. At that point it became a matter of who could avoid stuffing into the backs of the waves the least for the remainder of the leg.

Final result - Bret/JC hit the beach in first, followed by Dave and I a couple minutes later, and Mike/Kenny were 2 secs behind us....

Tomorrow promises a lot of upwind work, and it;s still anybody's race to win!!

Good to know.
Damn, sh!t stirring birdie!

What is up with Karl and spin poles? Sounds like time for a re-think on his set-up.

I didn't see ding after racing but word on the street was he barely made it through the day. He had to skip the party to go home early to get on life support. He must be getting too old for this! Poor guy. He couldn't even return my phone call tonight, you'd think he would at least have called me to make sure I was okay after my traumatic day.