The tentative schedule for the Gulf coast for 2013 has RTI scheduled for the last weekend in June, 28th-30th. There is concern that this date conflicts with Horn Island Hop, a regatta that has long been held on the weekend of or before the July 4th holiday. Would it be possible to move RTI forward a week (the previous weekend is open), or back 2 weeks (again, an open weekend)?

Kevin,

FWYC has an opening the weekend prior June 22-23 that might work.

That weekend is the same as GYA Challenge Cup but I'm not racing so can run RTI.

What do you think?

John
FWYC Fleet Captain

Moving earlier better - "in theory" stronger sea breeze. Lock it in June 22-23.

RTI, HOH, and Meigs back-3-back = panhandle sailing satisfaction!!!

So how'd it go with the RTI this year? Any chance it could go back to the September timeframe?

I think we had 80 boats my first time...........but it was then scheduled in September.

Not so good, Bout 5 boats and i'm 90% sure they ran into rain.

Plans are already underway to host the regatta the week prior to or the week following Juanas - Back to September.

I spoke with Mike Kelly (Beach Liquors) and he will arrange for a major sponsor. The launch site will return to Leeside Park for the high performance cats and trimarans with the Ramada Inn on the Gulf as the launch site for the Hobie 16s 'off the beach' style.

Put this one on your calendar. The NoR will be out by September 2013. Ya Hoo Daddy!!!

Bert,

Those are tough weekends for me and might be for others for the same reasons. Juana's is a long weekend for several out-of-town commuters such as myself and others. Condos are rented and Juana's has become an end of summer vacation for many who bring the entire family. We usually start showing up Wednesday and Thursdays and some don't leave till Monday. Putting RTI on prior/following weekend makes it tough decision if you have to choose and Juana's will win.

Just to clarify, are you proposing an RTI for this year 2013?

I would really like to see RTI return to the event it once was but short notice, Juana's, etc. puts you behind the 8 ball.

I love this distance race.

Read the last line. We are planning for next year. I am with FWYC now, and we are working up the Trimaran Nationals and the RTI well in advance.

I did. You guys have a recent history of putting out NoR's the week before.

Glad to see you're planning ahead.

Bert,

September is probably better than June, but Philip is right about scheduling back to back, and the weekend before Juana's is Labor day weekend, probably not a good choice. RTI used to be towards the end of September, maybe that is where it should return to.

Hey Kev,

Hope you and the family are enjoying vacation life in Spain.

Mike Kelly just finished refurbishing his ARC 22 and is making the date calls as sponsor. We are returning to the original formatting plan. Most likely the RTI will be the weekend following Juanas so the racers can leave their boats in the area and return for the RTI.

It's still a long time off so we'll see what FWYC and Mike finally decide what to do. I just wanted all to know we are aiming at a September event for 2014.

We love the feedback and we are listening.

John

2013 Fleet Captain
Fort Walton Yacht Club
~~/)~~~/)~~~~~/)~~/)~~~~/)~~~~~~~/)~~/)~~~~
Doing whatever it takes to get more people sailing
and more boats on starting lines on Choctawhatchee Bay!

John Farris

you have no idea just how lucky you are to have Mr Rice on your side, as I'm sure the Pensacola folks will tell you.


Suggestions for better attendance:
--FWYC needs to promote RTI. There has been virtually no announcement in advance (month/s ahead) and no horn-tootin'. There are two other websites than this one in which it would be prudent to announce: thebeachcats dot com and Sailing Anarchy's multihull forum. Once you've made a thread, bounce it from time to time to keep it on the first pages viewed

--Most of your attendance is from out of town and you should plan accordingly. Food and drink specials don't hurt. Getting discounts at hotel rooms is helpful. Make sure that FWYC can possibly provide storage for boats ahead of time, especially if you want to piggyback off an earlier regatta, you need to have somewhere for people to leave their boats.

--Don't do this the weekend after Juana's, it will be difficult for travelers, who will be most of your attendance. Give it at least two weeks. The traditional date for RTI is indeed late September.

--There are fewer people involved in multihulls these days, and even fewer who want to spend a long day of it, so your planning should go accordingly, albeit 9 boats or whatever is indeed low even for the present state of the sport.


Logistics, logistics, logistics.


I can remember attendance in the hundreds, back when my wife crewed on a Hobie 18 for this race. But also there was a cheap hotel right at the start line, that had a funky cool bar, and the National Park beach in the same place. And there were hundreds at most regattas -our sport isn't what it used to be.

Is September "off season" for ya'll? If so, seriously consider putting an effort into securing Tourist Development Council (or whatever it's called) grants. You are providing a surge of hotel rooms, restaurant patrons and the like....

Many cities/counties set aside funds for just this type of activity (to promote local business to outside visitors). Some are funded by bed tax, some have other means of funding...

Another option would be to pitch to the local chamber of commerce and rotary organizations, who may wish to participate in some way, either through discounts to racers or directly in terms of some logistics or organizational assistance. Heck, some may even want to sponsor something... They can then show their members how the "chamber works" for those member businesses.

It's probably a little late this year, but the cycle for 2014 event should probably start around Christmas (developing the "pitch", meeting with the groups) and serious pimpin online in July at the latest...?

This may or may not have to be a "by-sailors for sailors" event. It could be a community-wide rally combined with cultural or other sporting (kayak, fun-run, etc) events for the non-sailors/shore crew. Maybe reach out to the other local groups to see if they are scheduling anything the same weekend and cross-promote...

Hell, I may even come do it again, not if only 5 boats are on the line though.

I'll trek to FWYC Thursday evening and ask for a September 20 date for the 2014 edition of the RTI. We will see what the powers have to say.

So will the Hobie 16s launch/start at the same time as the boats from Leeside? And what is that like maybe 12-15 mile headstart?

Thanks,

Tom

That would be the ideal scenario so the divisions could mix it up offshore.

If I cannot find another boat and have to do it on a Hobie 16, I'm definitely wanting the headstart and the early launch.

Several times Hobie 16s (or similar boats) have crossed the start/finish line during the trophy presentation on Sunday as I recall because we would all cheer for them...........when the presentation was in that little bar by Leeside Park.

RTI if I remember right was 3rd. Weekend in Sept. and Juanas was 1st. Weekend in Oct.

Juanas then changed to weekend after labor day.

I enjoyed RTI when it was run by the old CMA. Remember Chans, AJ's, The Brewery. Those were good times, FWYC ruined it. Moved it from off season to the middle of peak season. Raised prices, but you got less in return, very few trophys, lousey food. (Hell Shady Grady did a better job cooking than FWYC has.) Last time I did RTI (3 years ago)the way FWYC ran it left a bad taste in my mouth and havent been back since.

I can remember seeing some strange rigs back in the old days, met some really good people back then also.

Of course most of us are not spring chickens anymore. The allure of doing a 100 mile race isnt what it used to be. Thats probably another reason for the low turnouts.