David and I are planning on doing the T500 once again. However, we're trying to scare up an F18 fleet this time. We're bored with the I20 cadillac ride, it's time to man-up and go F18.

Anyone else up for the challenge? I'll be glad to help out with the planning, details, logistics, etc for any rookie teams.

Mike
mike at layline dot com

Make sure you bring the puke bucket with you!

For you crew out there, your frequent flier miles are gonna add up around the cape <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, it's time for you F18 boys (and girls) to saddle up for the ride and see what you're made of.
I can assure you that it'll be one of the best experiences of your life, as there is nothing like being able to look at a map and say, "I've sailed from here (~miami) to here (tybee)." It is quite a feat just to finish, and the hardest part sometimes isn't even the sailing. If you do it once, you'll want to do again and again.

I second that.

Mike, count me in. Let's show the I20s what these new F18s can do. Both the Cap and the Infusion are great reachers.

I could use some help on logistics and equipment planning for sure. Is there any literature I could show potential sponsors?

Will the overall Trophy be decided on corrected time, F18s and I20s be scored separately or First to finish?

No handicaps involved. I don't think any of the handicap systems adequately address long distance / coastal racing. F18 and I20 will be scored as separate fleets, and the T500 trophy awarded to the team with the lowest elapsed time. I know the I20 has a signifigant advantage in most conditions, however the F18 can hold it's own in a 20+ spin reach...

-Mike

But rest assured... results will be computed for recreational purposes only!...

See the 18HT, Nacra 6.0 and Nacra 20 Tybee race that first year.

I would love to do it, either skipper or crew. If there is room count me in.

Anyone need a crew? or a skipper?

Here's a link to a good promo video - http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid6149278/bclid14270515/bctid156450389

Team Velocity has a pretty good sponsor proposal that you can get some ideas from - http://www.velocitysailing.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/velocitysailingpromorevision.pdf

Nothing has been updated on the Tybee500.com site yet, but it's forthcoming...

-Mike

Feel free to steal anything from my site. www.stlouiscats.com . I have a pretty good presentation up there. Any questions about the race feel free to ask. It's enjoyable but it's long.

Mike Hill
www.stlouiscats.com

I have mixed feelings about presenting myself to my sailing peers as a "sponsor spammer", but if you want to download our packet, please do it through this link:

http://www.velocitysailing.com/?page_id=33

Theres a link to the file Mike posted above, but this way our sponsors get some exposure at the same time. (Including Mike himself!)

Thanks!

What is a realistic budget for a Tybee 500 campaign, considering you have a boat? (hotel, food, gas, graphics on boat) Include total expenses for skipper, crew, and ground crew. And don't assume that we would already own the gear required for distance racing. (GPS, EPERB, drysuits, etc)

I was going to ask the same question, but figured some rough estimates:

For seven day race (5 race days, pre-race setup, breakdown)

Hotel - $150 per night per room (three people max per room, probably need two rooms for sailors and ground crew)
Gas - passenger car $25 per day, Truck/trailer $50 per day, RV ?? (NOT INCLUDING ROUNDTRIP FROM YOUR HOME)
Food - $40 per day per person. $75 if you go fancy
Drinks - unknown
Laundry - $10

Equipment
Drysuit $1000
GPS $200
EPRIB (personal) $250
Strobes/Flares $50
Camelback $30
Life Vest (Type I) $100
Spare set of control Lines $200
Spare parts $500
Backup sails $1300
Repair equipment $150


Does that sound about right?

If you don't count GPS, Epirb, boat, sails, drysuits, extra distance equipment) it's 5K. That 5K includes gas, 2 hotel rooms per stop, food for ground crew and sailors, entry fee. That's what it cost my team anyway.

We did it on $3k this year.

Even less the year before.

Here's what we spent last year on actually doing the race. We spent a considerable amount on the boat prep because the boat was pretty tired but I'm not going to get into that!

Fuel: $365 (it was $3.00/gal high and I'm not sure we captured it all)
Hotels: $1,850 (two rooms at each stop)
Food: $286 (didn't capture it all...probably more like $600-800 for full support of ground crew)
Entry: $500

Total for running the race on a mild budget = $3000 before the extras....

Throw in team t-shirts for about $400 - $500 but you'll probably sell a few. Gear - I think you guys already have dry suits, you need radio($250), strobes ($40), xtra gloves, ($35), lanyard (to leash to boat ($40), grit and determination (free).

The epirb requirement is changing this year. The CG will no longer support the $149 version. You'll have to pony up for a couple of $400 units (I think ... haven't checked pricing on the new ones lately).

It really is an incredible experience. Approaching the beach in Tybee, you'll think to yourself "thank God, this is almost over". After a beer on the beach and maybe even a shower in the hotel room, you'll be pondering how you are going to piece together next year's run. It's a life altering accomplishment...I can only imagine what completing 1000 miles is like.

It differs for each sailor, but eventually, shortly after the race, you'll get antzy and want to do it again.

Kate calls it the "Post Tybee Bitchy Period" where all I think about is sailing in the race again.

now if someone just gives me a $10,000-15,000 boat then I would be set.

I get that way after any week-long event. By the last day I'm exhaused, but after a cup of barley juice and a nap, I'm already thinking of the next trip.