Yes. Awesome.

anyone reconnoiter 1525 Ocean Bay Dr, Key Largo, FL?

Just south of that address looks like an empty lot with ocean access on Google Earth. Can't tell if there are rocks at the waterline or not. Probably are, but....

That would be a cool spot for the layover. Clockwise from UKSC it's 39nm day 1 and 48nm day 2. You'd split up the Bay side into both days...

And it's across the street from UKSC, so if you stayed nearby, the drive would be super-short.

Being what appears to be an empty lot, we'd probably need landowner's permission and it would be nice to have someone keep an eye on the boats at night...

you lost me, Jay

just looking at a map for a likely place to stop. Empty lot on the ocean side across the island from UKSC, but probably full of rocks as I can't imagine a beach on that side...

Looks great from the aerial maps

That's my favorite part , spin on the backside. Boards and rudders up flying the kite across the mudflats. Done it a few times.


Thanks Rick. Diligence on this will be greatly appreciated.

We used to have the Hogs Breath Keys 100 that started from the UKSC, just south of Grouper Creek, sailed south across all the mud flats with spins up and it was great. Broke out to the Ocean Side through Channel 5 with a first stop a Marathon.

That race is no longer, although Warren Green has tried to keep something similar open. Not the same though.

Anyway downwind on the backside is a thrill.
Rick

I tried that twice. Blew up (twice) the first time and finished with a concussion the second. That was a great race though.

I always really enjoy the spin run down Hawks channel on the outside. I can't imagine going the other way upwind up hawks channel. That could be painful.

Of course the first year I did it was directly upwind up Hawks channel. I think we finished at 10pm that night. The wind while light still wasn't terrible. Just fighting it directly upwind made for a long day.

Back side is usually upwind or a reach. And for some reason it usually blows stink on the second day.

I haven't done that many, but I've seen pretty much all conditions on either day...

The spin reach on the backside is a bit of a challenge getting your angles right. Not to mention those pesky lobster traps popping your rudders or snagging the boards.

And spin reaching with boards/rudders up across the flats (in traffic) does tend to increase the pucker factor. I think we flipped at the first flat with the spin up and had to slog out to the top of the mast to lift it up and right the boat. Dragged a lobster pot about 50 yards, too, trying to free the board.

I think the hardest was that nasty beat down Hawk's channel (finished about 18:30 hours) with the harsh westerly. My crew almost quit at Anne's Beach after our 1/3 mile slog pulling the boat in the thigh-deep mud to cross the finish buoy (literally) laying in the wet sand. Not just the mud, but that dang sea-lice crap that stung the snot out of us during the "Bataan Death March of shame". I think an ARC finished last and the tide had come back so they sailed right in...

The next day was upwind/reach in about 20 knots and cold cold COLD

Then there was that drifter year when Ricky quit on day 2. I think that was the same race where we finished well after dark on day 1 as well. Ricky was our "curb feeler" and hit the sandbar so we could steer around it.

But that's why we do this race... for the stories

So when can I expect my royalty check?

So I guess Steeplechase is on, and Gilberts is home base.

Hope to see you punks there.

Attendance-wise it looks to be a good year.

crap - I think I need to sign up...checking.

Anybody noticed that a Getaway is registered.

Rick, you might want to give them a call, unless you plan on bringing a sleeping bag to Anne's Beach...

they called it off

****

Oh. The Getaway called it off. Gotcha. I was thinking one of the venues.

Hi Karl, yes, the Getaway decided to call it off

bummer. put a tent on the trampoline and have them record their own time.

Attention F18 Sailors......Given the size of the F18 fleet competing in the Steeplechase this year, there will be a trophy presented to the top F18!

Better show up ready to rumble....Team Karl Squared is gonna be ready to kick some a$$ especially those tamed Todd, Tawd, Ricky, Punk, or Foggy (jebus....how many names can two guys have?)!!!!!!