Nice clean start, right on time at 9AM in 12 mph NE Winds. Should be a fast trip and should make the finish before noon.
Brett Moss was first through the Channel Five Bridge, followed closely by Krantz. Phillip was mid pack. May not be a rePete
Rick

Results from Yesterday.

Catamaran Sailor Magazine
2011 27th Annual Key Largo Steeplechase


Preliminary Results

R1


Rank Class Sail No Helm Crew USPN Start Elapsed Corrected Nett
1 Marstrom 20 USA 1 Bret Moss John Casey 58 9:00 3:56:47 6:48:15 1.0
2 Marstrom 20 USA 2 Michael Phillips Kenny Pierce 58 9:00 3:58:02 6:50:24 2.0
3 Nacra F20C USA 11 Mike Krantz David Lennard 57 9:00 3:58:00 6:57:33 3.0
4 F-18 USA 242 David Ingram Bob Ingram 62.4 9:00 4:49:21 7:43:42 4.0
5 F-18 880 Jake Kohl Frank Moore 62.4 9:00 4:54:22 7:51:44 5.0
6 F-18 1571 James Zellmer Jeff Miller 62.4 9:00 5:06:05 8:10:31 6.0
7 F-18 USA 676 Karl Langefeld Tripp Burd 62.4 9:00 5:19:03 8:31:18 7.0
8 ARC 22 2224 Skip Kaub Ian Lindahl 57 9:00 4:52:21 8:32:54 8.0
9 H-16 w. spin 105333 Steve Craemer Jim O'Leary 73.9 9:00 6:38:11 8:58:49 9.0
10 Nacra 5.8 910 Dick Macdonald Llinda Macdonald 66.6 9:00 6:45:41 10:09:08 10.0
11 Nacra 20 Pink boat Peter Cullum Daryl Moss 59.3 9:00 7:45:00 13:04:09 11.0
12 F-18 2572 Scott Rathburn Will Dolan 62.4 9:00 9:00:00 14:25:23 12.0
13 Nacra 5.8 ? Mauricio Mendez Keith Gebler/Brian Glassman 66.6 DNF 16.0
13 ARC 22 2230 Eric Roberts David Weir 57 DNF 16.0
13 Nacra 20 Royal ? Todd Riccardi Brendon Scanlon 59.3 DNF 16.0


www.catsailor.com
www.OnLineMarineStore.com
Rick@catsailor.com

?????????

Mr. Punk (as my 9 year old nephew refers to you) I look forward to giving you a proper beat down at Tradewinds.

Seriously though it was good to see you and Brendon...well really just Brendon. Try not to get harpooned next month, no more freaking excuses!

How about a day 2 recap? It's obvious you lived through it ,but that's about it.

So...if I'm reading the Day One results right, the first boat to finish did the 70 miles in just short of 4 hours. (3:57?) so that works out to 17.5 mph. average?

That's a pretty good clip for 4 hours straight!

We were doing 15-16 on the reach to the bridge. Then back down to 12-13 on the beat to the creek. A bunch of short tacking up Angelfish Creek against the current. Then it was a close reach for the first 10 miles or so @18-19. Then the wind backed a little and the spins came out for a 20 knot run for the remainder of the leg.

Day 2… relatively boring compared to the ride we had on Saturday. As you know the breeze was on the nose with good pressure and since you’ve done this race before you know traversing the flats going upwind is a pain in the a$$! From our vantage point (behind) it looked like all the leaders made quick work of the flats including Ricky. While going through the second flat of the day (the one where almost everyone takes the channel), I got us out of the channel and found the bottom forcing us to jibe away because there was no way we were going to be able to tack without boards. Karl got the worst of it and ended up flipping when they found the bottom. Ricky, Jake, Karl, SC22 and us were all right there in the channel together and it made for some sporty close quarters sailing and those that worked the channel clean made huge those that f’d up (me and Karl) got left behind. The canals were surprisingly easy this year, as we entered the canal the wind would clock hard right which allowed us to sail the canal on a single tack, we even had the spin up for a short period. Jake/Frank and Ricky/Brendon sailed a really clean race on Sunday and it showed.

I’m happy to report that on Friday that everything went without a hitch at Gilberts, but the guys they hired as security on Sunday were a just a bit over the top (little men with a little power). It was a great weekend and an amazing sail. We could not have asked for better weather and hopefully that great weather will make an appearance next month at Tradewinds.

Moss man before you get your carbon fiber panties in a wad, I didn't mention you guys because we barely saw you guys. Once I can't see you I'm not racing you anymore. Stay were I can see you and I'll say nice things about you (Ricky that rule doesn't apply to you).

By the way Ricky, this is Steeplechase number two where I’ve made you my b!tch. You really need to step up your game you are starting to bore me.

Mike, do you have your (actual) total distance sailed on Saturday from your GPS? With the beat to the creek against the current it would be more than 70, right? And what was the highest speed you saw on the GPS, about 20knts?

I haven't downloaded the tracks yet to review the actual numbers.

I saw 20-21 several times when my eyes weren't stinging from the spray...

Wow, that's hauling butt!

And at that speed, how much lifting was taking place with the curved boards? I wish we had some video of that!

Most of the time we were just skimming the surface. But at one point we got caught with too much board down when we cracked off for one of the mangrove entrances and stood it up on it's stern. When you have just the amount of board down it's awesome.

Like Mike says, you really have to be on top of how much board is in, so we didn't have any lifting of the boat out of the water at all.

And out of curiosity, why wasn't someone DSQ'd or RAF for that?

Steeplechase doesn't work like that. No protests allowed.
I guess they could still have RAFed though.

That's not what the "NOR" (and I use that term loosely) says:

Doesn't mean there can't be protests. From the hull damage caused by the pole, and the description of the incident, seems a pretty clear Rule 11 / 12 situation. Even if the other boat had ROW, they'd get tossed on Rule 14 (collision resulting in damage).

And yeah, somebody should have RAF'd. I hope they struck around long enough to make sure the boat they speared was OK. Imagine if that pole had been about 12" higher. Somebody would have been going to the hospital - probably on a helicopter.

Yeah! Helicopter

No, they didn't stay around and from what I heard they actually didn't think it was their fault. Very poor show.

Well come do the race sometime, protest, and see how that works out for ya.

Somebody puts a big-butt hole in my (borrowed) boat and you bet I'm going to file a protest - just to cover my own butt with the insurance company. Just because Rick doesn't provide a protest committee doesn't mean it won't get heard.

Thousands of dollars in damages and the guy just sails away? That's a Rule 2 / 69 hearing - which could still take place. All that has to happen is for someone to write a letter.

This sets an extraordinarily bad example - both from an organizational and sportsmanship standpoint - just when we (multihulls) are trying to prove to outside world (US Sailing) that we have our $hit together.

Bad form indeed.