The annual Around the Key/Lighthouse Distance race was held on Saturday, July 30, 2005 in Miami, Florida. There were 12 boats that participated in this race. The race circumnavigated Key Biscayne and Virginia Key. We had a beautiful day for the race. There was no rain all day on the race course, but there were some small storms in the area. There was good wind for the first half of the race, but it did die off a bit about half way through the race. The first boats were able to finish in less than two hours.

We had a professional photographer taking pictures on the race course. The photographer was Adam Scull. Many of you in the race probably got to see him up close and personal. He took some incredible photos of the race. They can be seen on his website at sailingart.smugmug.com. Check out images #20 & #25 of Ivan Loya and John Esquivel on their Tornado. There is an excellent image (#1) of Lindsey Young and Dali Sabbagh on their Hobie 16. There is also an image (#3) of Mike Powers flying the hull of his Stiletto 23. Very nice! Visit Adam's website to see all the images.

The winner of the race and keeper of the coveted lamp trophy for the coming year was Bret Moss sailing his modified A-Cat. Bret sailed an excellent race on his spinnaker equipped boat. He won the race on corrected time and almost took line honor, as well. He was only 5 seconds behind the line honors boat.

Second place went to Carla Schiefer, daughter Johanna Schiefer, and Steve Lohmayer sailing the fast Marstrom 20. They did take line honors in the race.

Third place went to the always fast Clive Mayo. Clive was also sailing a spinnaker equipped A-Cat in the race.

Fourth place went to Team Space Coast skippered by Mark Herendeen and crewed by Josh Rosenbaum. They sailed Mark's bright yellow Inter 20. Mark made the trip all the way down from Satellite Beach for this race. Mark was a long time CABB member before he defected to the north. It was good to catch up with Mark and Lisa. Mark is the creator of the perpetual trophy for this race. The trophy is a lamp which replicates the Cape Florida Lighthouse. The trophy has plaques with the previous year's winners dating back to 1999.

Fifth place went to newcomer, Will Walker, sailing with Wilder Robles as crew. Will sails a Nacra 6.0 NA. Will recently moved down from the Panhandle. He is a helicopter pilot for the Coast Guard. This was an excellent showing for Will in his first CABB race against some of the best catamaran sailors in the country. We hope to see more of Will and his 6.0. Will says he wants a spinnaker for his boat after seeing the spinnaker boats pull away from him on the downwind ocean run during the race. Wilder was crewing because his Blade F-16 is in the shop for some repair work after it was damaged on the trailer in a recent storm.


The participants were as follows:

Crew---------------Boat--------------------Rating

Bret Moss----------A-Cat, spin. -----------62.2

Carla Schiefer-----Marstrom 20-------------56.0
Johanna Schiefer
Steve Lohmayer

Clive Mayo---------A-Cat, spin. -----------62.2

Mark Herendeen-----Inter 20----------------59.3
Josh Rosenbaum

Will Walker--------Nacra 6.0 NA------------62.6
Wilder Robles

Kenny Pierce-------Stiletto 23, spin. -----62.4
Grain Griffin
Daniel Cook

Raul A. Lopez------Hobie 16----------------76.1
Raul S. Lopez

Ivan Loya----------Tornado-----------------59.0
John Esquivel

Lindsey Young------Hobie 16----------------76.1
Dali Sabbagh

Rafael Quesada-----Hobie 20----------------65.0
Oscar Garcia

Mike Powers--------Stiletto 23,spin.-------62.4
Wally & Marion Sullivan

Victor Poqrebnov---Orca 19-----------------60.0
Alexander Surin

A good time was had by all.