The organiser is currently in San Francisco, but I'll pass this along. Many of the locals totally agree with you.

as do I

Just keep in mind it was moved to June because the seabreeze is better and more consistent and September was notorious for being very light air affairs, think Mug Race times 2.5. With that said I loved and hated RTI but seemed to keep coming back (I'm bad and must be punished). If it moved back to September I'd do it again, the June date conficts with one of our local regattas.

We have always had more boats finishing before dark in September. The "sea breeze" myth is over - rated. We typically enjoy more breeze for longer in the day with the early cold fronts playing a role.

The first boat to finish before dark was Larry Harteck on a shiny new NACRA 5.8. I believe that was RtI, edition 2. Carlton finished the first race around 1:30 AM on Sunday morning, sailing a Hobie 18. Now, ask Bill Roberts about the year he was the only boat that finished before the USCG shut it down...

BOOM! SCIENCE!!

These charts are for Fort Walton Beach and taken from http://weatherspark.com/


Daily Wind Max, Averages, and Mins throughout the year


Percentage of wind directions throughout the year:

that southerly wind is probably more favorable between March and July

I remember everybody getting all excited when they moved it to June, stating the more favorable sea breeze, and boy did the first year deliver. First boat (I think it was Brian on the CFR) came in around 1 pm. I finished around 5:40 on a non spin boat.

On the other hand, the RTI 2010 (renamed Round The Bay) was raced inside the bay due to the oil spill and absolutely sucked and was unbearable hot.

I'm guessing the perception of a bigger turnout moving it back to September is due to scheduling conflicts in June? Are there other reasons to have it in September?

The winds have been getting lighter and lighter in September for the last 8-10 years. And, you are tempting fate a lot more in Sep than in June with the tropics. Kudos to the guy who moved it to June! Oh yea, the days are longer and warmer in June than Sep too!

Don't ask how I know.

BC

Done it about a dozen times, some in September and some in June. Finished in the daylight in both, finished in the dark in both. There are pro's and con's for each, although I can say it can get chilly in September at 2am. It will always be a crapshoot in a race that long. Can't say that I have a preference.

Wasn't it about the same time as the T-500? Or was that in May

Yep, that one was a scorcher and miserable until 1 or 2 when the sea breeze filled in.

I can never remember being getting cold on an RTI, but then again I always get along with my crew and some might say too well, but I never get cold... just sayin.

Although I'm not a big fan of moving established dates around at this point is there that much to lose? Yes I have my own selfish reasons for wanting it back in September.

Dave, what you do with your crew, well that's your business. I get along well with my RTI crew too, but I aint cuddling with the guy to keep warm. I'll just sit here shivering, waiting for the breeze to come back, thank you.

Does Kathy know?

I got hypothermia sailing with Karl the 1st. If your last name isn't Shackleton or such, there's not much excuse for man hugging alone on a boat,certainly non in south Florida. Greetings and alcohol induced story telling may be exceptions.

well, at least that DOES expalin the Barry White music they were hearing down the bay...

You weather scientists are too much. Bob, this September was a bit shaky, wasn't it?

I spoke with Mike Kelly at FWYC last evening, and he corrected my memory. The change of date was tropicaly inspired, and not sponorship - driven as I thought/imagined with low batteries in my memory. Mike has also agreed to be a generous sponsor in order to stimulate spirit and turnout.

If one has never been cold in a RTI race, then one has been very fortunate. Trust me, being a titch cold is much better than having the helm knocked out of one's hand four times by lightning in Force six and very restricted visibity.

Warm and toasty is clearly faster.

Of all the races, the September RTI event out of Ft Walton really sticks out in my mind.

You start with a cool northeast breeze (as you folks all know), you are usually stuffing donuts into your mouth and trying to keep the orange juice from rolling off the tramp as you push off, and if you have a decent upwind boat like say a NACRA 6.0 in the late 90's, you could probably get out ahead of most boats on the first leg up to the sea buoy.

Not having a spinnaker on my first few races, this was the time to turn back and watch 50-60 spinnaker boats pop their chutes and start to move out. The rest was usually a sleigh ride with a lull here and there. (Yes, I'm describing the picture perfect RTI race not the ones where you finish at 3AM)

I first saw the race in 1995. Two SuperCat 22's led off at the start. Some guy on a big G'Cat finished around 4pm. Many of the other boats were in around 5-7pm. It was the first time I saw a catamaran with a spinnaker. It was a pretty awesome site........

Tom Turlington
Va Beach
Bristol 27 #335

Right on about the September dates, sometimes the wind would start northeast, fade some, the seabreeze would fill, follow the sun west, and it would end up northeast again by 9 or 10 that night. I also remember a guy finishing during the awards breakfast one time to lots of applause.

Fort Walton Yacht Club is proud to announce the dates for 2013's 'ROUND THE ISLAND are June 28 - 30, 2013.

Would ask that everyone save your questions till Bert Rice, Randy Smyth and I have time to get organized. Randy and I started last night.

John

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John D. Farris, Fleet Captain
Fort Walton Yacht Club
Certified Club Race Officer - 2012
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