Key Largo, Florida
December 14-15, 2013
The Key Largo Steeplechase is truly one of the iconic races on the US catamaran sailing calendar. Hosted every December by Rick White in the beautiful Florida Keys, the race offers two days of challenging racing in some of the best sailing waters in the country. This year marked the 29th annual running of the race, and the second time a perpetual trophy has been presented to the top finishing F18.
Friday afternoon saw a fleet of eight boats gather at Gilbert’s resort in Key Largo, including five F18s, a Nacra 20, a Supercat 22, and a Tornado. With great breeze and temperatures in the 80s, boats were quick to rig and head out for a sail on Blackwater Sound to double check all gear was ready for the strong winds forecast for Saturday. On 99 Problems, Karl Langefeld and I took the opportunity to shake off the rust of having not sailed since the F18 Americas Championship, and never having sailed together. Coming from the frigid temperatures of Boston, I was probably the happiest person on the water, enjoying every minute of our short but fantastic sail.
Day one greeted the fleet with a 15-20 knot east-southeast breeze and temperatures again in the 80s. The course for the first day took racers from the mouth of Jewfish Creek in Barnes Sound, north under the Card Sound bridge, out Angelfish Creek to the ocean, and then down Hawk Channel to the finish at Anne’s Beach on Lower Matecumbe Key.
The first leg from the start to the Card Sound bridge was a blasting two-sail reach in flat water, allowing for some very high speeds, especially from the Supercat 22. First F18 to the bridge were Karl and Jeff, followed closely by Dick McDonald and Mark Herendeen on Dick’s Cirrus R. After the bridge, most of the fleet went into upwind mode to pass inside of Pumpkin Key, while Dick and Mark split, taking the outside route. The fleet converged at the entrance of Angelfish Creek, with Karl and Jeff leading the way to the ocean, and choosing to skim over the sandbar at the mouth of the creek in order to stay in touch with the Supercat.
Once in the ocean, things got a bit more gnarly for the fleet. Passing through the Melges 20 fleet sailing their inaugural world championship, the fleet started a 50 mile reach south to Anne’s Beach. With 15-20 knots of wind, big gusts, and a building sea state, it was a demanding day for skippers and crews alike. Todd Riccardi and Brendon Scanlon showed they have wheels in the breeze, passing Karl and Jeff halfway down Hawk Channel and putting distance on the F18 fleet. Unfortunately, a capsize mere miles from the finish cost them the leg victory, as Dick and Mark sailed an outstanding day to lead the F18s into Anne’s, and take the overall corrected time lead after day one. On 99 Problems we had a tough time getting the boat to go fast on the long reach down Hawk’s. As a smaller team we were constantly overpowered and had trouble sailing low, making it one of the most exhausting days I have had on the water. At Steve Lohmayer’s excellent party on Saturday, teams discussed the day’s racing, and how everyone handled the day’s conditions.
Lessons Learned:
- More board up. We had our boards halfway, but the windward board kept sliding down in the trunk. Todd and Brendon actually removed their windward board and said it made a big difference.
- More jib ease. At times I think I had the jib over trimmed, likely leading to some of our nose dives.
- More mast rake.
- Suck it up and push harder. Always. Every time.
Day two dawned with extremely sore bodies, but the promise of forty plus miles of downwind sailing in 12-15 knots of southerly breeze in Florida Bay. The course for day two was simple enough: a LeMans start off of Anne’s Beach, south under the Channel 5 bridge, then north to the finish off of Gilbert’s. What makes day two so much fun, and the namesake for the Steeplechase, is that Florida Bay is full of sand bars, mangrove passes, and small islands, leading to a huge array of navigational options. Karl kept telling me all weekend that you sail day one to get to the reward of day two, so I was ready for a great day of sailing- and I wasn’t disappointed!
Todd and Brendon had a great start to day two, leading the F18 fleet under the Channel 5 bridge and into Florida Bay. Unfortunately, they got stuck in some light breeze near shore soon after the bridge, allowing Karl and Jeff to take over the lead- a lead they wouldn’t give up the rest of the day. Following Steve Lohmayer’s local knowledge, the fleet headed for the flats inside Lignumvitae Key, skimming across the inches deep water with boards on the tramp, rudders kicked up, and kites drawing. The notable exception to this route was the Supercat 22, which split from the fleet, heading outside the key into deeper water. This proved to be an excellent choice, as they were not seen again until the finish at Gilbert’s.
The remainder of Sunday could only be described as downwind bliss, alternating between skimming over flats, VMG running through deeper water, and double trapping through narrow channels. Karl and Jeff lead the F18s into the Mangrove passes between Buttonwood and Barnes Sounds, closely followed by Laura Muma and Dave Ingram. With the southerly wind direction, passing through the mangroves required frequent gybes, but paddling was kept to a minimum- a treat for the crews after Saturday’s beating.
At Gilbert’s it was Karl and Jeff first, followed by Dave and Laura, Dick and Mark, Todd and Brendon, and Scott Rathburn and William Dolan. With their victory on day two, Karl and Jeff made up enough time to take home the F18 perpetual trophy, with Laura and Dave second, and Dick and Mark third. In the overall corrected time standings, it was the Supercat 22 of Eric Roberts and Dave Weir first, followed by Karl and Jeff in second, and Steve Lohmayer and Terry Greene on the Nacra 20 third.
Overall, the 2013 Steeplechase was an incredible race. I want to give the biggest possible thanks to Karl Langefeld for inviting me to sail with him, and Beth Langefeld for being the best possible shore crew. I would also like to thank Rick White for putting on such a great race year after year.
With next year being the 30th anniversary of the Steeplechase, and Karl still waiting for someone to take away the F18 perpetual, I encourage all F18 sailors to put the race on their must-do list!
-Jeff Dusek: Guest crew, 99 Problems
Rick White’s recap and full results