The race starts tomorrow morning (Sat, March 4) I wish them all luck. Going to be honking out of the NE at 16G25, temp at 8am about 52! Brrrrr!

It might be windy but at least it's wet and cold!

Good luck men.

Oh, and if anyone has any pictures or video of this year's race, please post them here. Thanks.

Well the Coast Guard wouldn't allow anyone to start from Ft. Desoto on Saturday morning due to the Small Craft Advisory winds, NE at 20G25 so most of the boats moved on south to start on Sunday from Checkpoint 1. BUT... Randy Smyth left his boat, Scizzors, with a new hard wing sail, at Ft. Desoto and left from there on Sunday morning at 7am. He made it to Chockoloskee, going non-stop for about 24 hours, by Monday morning at 5am. He's in Flamingo now, parked at the marina for the night, to continue to Key Largo tomorrow. Here's his tracker:

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0IudxbHlqhNJGNeHstDODgHAY2sWEX9BQ

My friend went down to the start of the race. He said that while the Coast Guard was telling everyone "there is no way I can permit you to sail off this beach".... people were pushing off the beach behind him.... lol

Supposedly, anyone who did leave on day 1 from Ft. Desoto is going to be scored a DSQ.

Randy waited a day and left on Sunday morning, then sailed for about 30 hours straight, to Flamingo, right now he is going up the inside of Plantation Key on his way to the finish at Key Largo.

He had to take the long way around due to the shallowness of the straight line from Flamingo to Key Largo. (see his tracking data from above link)

steeplechase (original) day 2 routing, looks to me

I saw Randy's boat a few years ago at the Buzzelli. One of the coolest little boats I have ever seen.

Do you think that there is a market for such a craft?

I have seen it every year at the pre-launch of the EC for the past few years (except this year). It has been cool to see it's progression.

probably a small market for people who want/need a trimeran that can morph into a kayak

Yes, it's definitely a purpose built craft designed especially for Checkpoint 1 at EC.

Doubt most other potential buyers would need the ability to reduce beam like scissors does.

But the wing sail, wide platform and foils might definitely interest some frankenboater types.

My opinion is that the platform provides the stability needed to effectively operate a wingsail shape, as it doesn't heel that much keeping the leading edge/chord at an ideal angle. I suspect that Randy's probably got a canting rig for that thing, too.

Not seeing the wing up close, I would wonder what way-cool control lines he's set up. Likely it's a one- or two-string deal which controls several aspects (draft profile, angle, etc) with a quick tug.

What happened to Spawn and the Tornado that were racing?

Spawn bailed as the re-start was going to be very difficult to manage as there is no ramp or wide beach at check point 1. They weighed their options carefully before bailing, given the level of effort involved in this event.

Not sure about the Tornado. I understand why the coast guard did what they did but its really not feasible to the continued operation of the event. It sounds like a race start south of the original location may be required, but that eliminates a natural filter that is key to how watertribe sets up their events.

Another note, looks like Randy was scored this year and has the fastest elapsed time: http://www.watertribe.com/Events/ChallengeResults.aspx

Photos of his wing sail would be much appreciated!

There are several photos of it on page 4 of the Everglades Challenge thread over on Sailing Anarchy. Scroll down the page quite a bit you'll see some of the other boats too.

I wondered if there was to be an official finish roster since they moved the start date/location. But good to see his efforts were rewarded.

I'm curious as to why they moved the start... Most of these individuals/teams were in it for at least 3 days anyway... I would hope that they didn't have a flight to catch or something... perhaps they could have just delayed the start by a day from the original location?

I know it was windy all weekend (as evidenced by that "little" 3,000 hectare brush fire going on here)

Jay, on SA they were saying the Coast Guard would not allow them to launch from Ft. Desoto AT ALL if there was a Small Craft Warning in effect, which pretty much wiped out Saturday and Sunday. I don't know how Randy got away with launching from Ft. Desoto Sunday morning, except maybe the CG didn't show up until after he had taken off.

SPECULATION HERE
I have not seen the CG at the even in previous years.
Last year they had to rescue several boats (was blowing about 30 out of the north if i recall) - perhaps the CG got with the Chief and required him to inform them of future race dates so they could better monitor (and not react to distress calls or whatever got them involved last year).

That being said... perhaps they just weren't around on sunday to stop anyone from launching.

We have never been stopped from sailing in crazy weather off our causeway - including hangover regatta's and other races when it's extremely questionable conditions.

I think after last year's EC, the Chief went and got a permit from the USCG for this year. I think the USCG was cool about it, but didn't know about the provision for "No-Go" on SCA postings.

I guess it makes sense since pretty much all of the craft participating are "small craft" and some have somewhat dubious coastal navigation credentials.

My speculation is that once the Chief officially called off the start and left for CP 1 to re-start the 'fleet', the USCG wandered off, leaving the remaining vessels at the beach to their own devices. I'd also suspect that Randy could have shoved off and claimed he wasn't participating in the EC, since it was officially moved to CP1.

"Yeah, officer, I'm just out for a sail in my really tricked out thingamabob with all this gear on it".

I've done the race once - I don't know the chief hardly at all...but my guess? Chief looking for a little credibility with the coasties. Randy just doesn't give a kiss.

Larry Furber, Cat In The Hat, LRock, finished this morning around 4:30 am.

Congratulations!

Nice, what was he on?