There is a possibility we have two resorts at each end as bookends to this race.
They are both Guy Harvey Resorts. I am just looking into # of possible entrants at this
Point. Another idea discussed is a distance race week AKA : Catacup to be run out of the Islander. I would like to hear what everyone would think about the possibility and again possible competitors.

Dennis, thanks again for all your support for the Steeplechase. This year was an epic race and your support was a big part of that.

Glad to see outside support such as Guy Harvey for our style of racing. We will definitely be involved in a race from the Islander to St Augustine, and I'll put one of his big fish on my boat if Mr Harvey helps us out!

A Catacup week style event is an awesome idea and the keys is probably the best place to do it. We are IN there also and I believe you would see good showing from the F18 Fleet. I support anything that gets boats to the beach, for example an open class, a foiling class, A cats, even trimarans that moor off the beach.

Could spin some training seminars and/or guest speakers into the week also.

See you at Tradewinds.

Dick Macdonald
Team Turtle Mojo
Southern Area Rep US F18

Would your "Catacup/Conchacup" be open class or F-18 only?

best to time the event to the earliest "off-season" lodging rates you can get. Sometime in April?

100% for and in for Islander to St. Aug. It's the natural next evolution of this race.

Also for Catacup.

Talking to a few others, seemed they would be in too.

If u build it, they will come.

Islamorada to St Augustine works for me. Can't do an I to St A and a Catacup type of event in the same season. I do F18 Nat's (must do for me) and only one other week long event per year.

A Catacup type event out of the Islander is a cool idea and I would enjoy the option but if I can get a slot at Catacup with 50+ F18 fleet I'm likely to go to Catacup.

50 F18s at a distance race in the US? That would be impressive!

Mike

I think Fl 300 can possibly be added to if enough are interested, as for the
"Conchacup" it might be a better idea to plan it for the following year and then rotate the events.
As for F-18s only, that would depend on participation. Two classes might be the way to go, 1-F18s, 2-Open. We could send them in different Directions, or pile them together. Keep adding ideas and talking it up.

"Raid St. Augustine" sounds very Pirat-y

I like the idea of alternating years also! The Catacup is all quite civilized, One race in the morning, break for lunch and one race in the afternoon. It also takes the logistics of ground crew out of the equation. You could create some really interesting 1.5 to 2 hour races in the Keys. So... 2017?

+1 for rotating years. Takes cajones to do that, let's see if it helps.

Mike

I think that we do Florida 300 or 450 this year, and start getting Ideas from all on the "Conchacup". JC was telling me about the catacup and we thought it would be a great Idea for us to see if we could emulate it:
I'm not sure how it was done and would greatly appreciate input, to help put an event together that all would enjoy. It would be great to see 50 sailors from all over the world come and enjoy some great sailing in the Florida Keys.

A FL 450 for 2016 would be outstanding and I'm pretty sure my skipper would be up for it. Is a 450 a possibility for 2016?

My mind is already made up that we're going on to at least Daytona. We'll just keep going and renaming the race at each stop. Old guys rule!

Looks like the name "ConchaCup" is going to stick. It fits. Logistics help with shipping containers from the experienced travelers would help attract foreign boats.

Dennis, count us IN for whatever help is needed.

Dick Macdonald
"The humble guy on the back of Ding's boat".

As Ding mentioned, balancing time and expense for reward of fleet size and competition is key here.
I would find it hard to expect events attracting 20-30 U.S. F18s, much of our fleet struggles just to take the time off for North Americans.
The only appeal to me would be if we got some Euros here, a full container of at least 10. It's a lot of time and expense to come down to race against 5-10 F18s even just once a year. If we could convince some Euros to come then it would be more enticing and much easier to convince other northerners to come down for more competition as well.
There are some great organizational minds here, this sounds like it could be a great event.
This has me thinking for the F18 class in general, a proper investigation at other current events that we compete with, how our sailors rank and prioritize them, what prevents them from attending, and etc.
I see most sailors as having one and the more dedicated teams two full weeks of sailing per year, how do you get them to spend one of those at your event? What is the draw over the others?
Just as a starter, a "Conchacup" and the FL 300 compete with F18 NAs, Catacup, F18 Worlds (some years more than others), GT 300, other life commitments, family vacations, etc.

I'm in Mr. Dick! We may end up going around the cape solo but I bet we can get some takers from the Daytona fleet to sail with us to St. Augustine!

I am looking in to a spot on Daytona area to put beach cats on beach, and will talk to Guy Harvey people in St. Augustine.
This will probably cause a little more expense but we can figure it out.

That's Fleet 80 turf and they always host events out of Perry's. They have everything we need.