Florida 300 Wrap Up

Florida 300+ Wrap up from Turtle Mojo

4 F18s will do battle against 2 carbon 20 Nacras, 5 I20s, a Tornado with an M20 rig and a Supercat 20.  The F18 teams are a father and son sailing a pre-Infusion Nacra, a Tiger, a Dutch team on an Infusion and 2 old guys on a Cirrus.  This year the SCHRS scoring system is being used which makes it even harder to beat the 20s.  It will all come down to breeze for the F18s.  Dave and I on the Cirrus always hope for good breeze in the mid to high teens.  The Cirrus especially likes to go fast and handles being overpowered quite well.  But this is Florida and thunderstorms are in the forecast.

Day 1

Forecast breeze is ESE at 8-10 for the start with right shift throughout the day.  Sailflow had a big hole of light air in the middle of the course the night before but it disappeared on race morning.  The right shift also faded along with our hopes of setting the kite early.  The forecast also has thunderstorms likely in the afternoon.

The start is a close reach with good solid pressure at 10-12.  We had a great start and held onto the carbon 20s and Tornado better then expected.  Everyone was powered up in the reachy conditions, the water was flat and really clear.  The chase boat was getting some great drone video of this drag race to Key Biscayne.

The fleet stretched out with the carbon 20s and tornado leading, the I20s trying to run down our Cirrus and the rest of the fleet fading fast.  Things stayed reachy with good pressure until a change up around Caesar Bank with a pressure drop and right shift.  The 20s started to roll us but a thunderstorm looked to be forming over key Biscayne which could change the breeze yet again.  The approach to key Biscayne can present a very confused sea state with outgoing tide and opposing breeze from the E or SE wind.  We all stayed high working offshore looking for speed and smoother water.  Looking at the tracking, all except the lead boats jibed into the beach from about a mile and half offshore.  The leaders must have had a more easterly breeze, perhaps the building storm had that much effect.

The offshore fleet had to contend with steep rollers after the jibe that really limited speed.  Closer to shore the water was flat and the last ¾ mile was a pleasure cruise.  The only excitement was Irrational Again hitting the beach with steam and folding their pole on the Dutch Rockerz Infusion.

Day 2

The start was peacefully enough and sailed into some good pressure through Ft Lauderdale, but soon thereafter the fleet was slammed with some major thunderstorm action.  The fleet was stretched out by this time and everyone had stories of different conditions.  Tavernier Creek got hit with a severe gust that slammed the boat over and snapped their carbon mast.  Steve and Jay righted the boat from turtle with no mast and rigged a sail using the spin pole.  It was slow but they found the beach.  Actually the breeze was dying and the poor buggers were drifting by until Craig went out and towed them in with his Supercat.  The damage to the rig took them out of the race but they stayed with the fleet and helped everyone on the beach.  The Dutch team had really close lightning strikes and hit the beach.  Unfortunately, a strong gust took the boat off the beach and into the surf where the mast was folded.  Volunteers launched a rescue mission to retrieve boat and crew.  Dalton Tebow drove all night to bring a loaner mast and the Rockerz were rockin’ again but did miss the Day 3 leg.  3 other teams hit the beach to wait out the storms and were then plagued with the post storm doldrums which had them on the water until almost midnight.

We followed the I20s into the storms and only hit heavy rains and very shifty but light winds.  The breeze got sporty only briefly but then quickly died again.  10 miles from the finish we sailed out of the storms and into increasing pressure.  Our last 8 miles was a beautiful spin run with speeds at 15 to 18 knots.  Looking at the radar from that afternoon, we all sailed through some serious weather.  Florida sailing will put you in and around thunderstorms, some hit the beach and some drive through.

Since Singer Island is home for us we treated everyone to Linda’s homemade lasagna and a keg of beer.  Cindy, who has connections with Palm Beach Shores, is a friend to all catsailors and helped out big time by arranging for us to use the lighted pavilion in the park.  The RC and most of the teams were on the beach or nearby until everyone landed.  They were sent to their rooms with big trays of lasagna.

Day 3

By day 3 the breeze was starting to back off and the young bucks from the MYC were starting to show their talent.  If the wind stays light these guys would be hard to beat.  The forecast had the breeze off the beach and light with the inevitable early afternoon sea breeze shift.  The chance of thunderstorms remained high for the day and everyone had hopes of getting off the water before things got ugly.

We had a good start and held on to the leaders until the breeze started to fade.  The heat of the day was starting to take effect.  As the air rises, our useable breeze goes with it and the clouds start to form.  At the Ft Peirce inlet we found a hole under a cloud and the 20s gain ground on us.  We got through but I felt bad for the boats behind us, the day was starting to change.  2 miles from the finish we watched the leaders finish in light and the I20 slide in behind them.  Soon after the breeze shifted and filled in to the mid-teens.  With dark clouds forming everywhere it was time to get off the water.  Finally having pressure and reaching up the beach my inner child gained control and I crossed the finish a bit too hot and almost took out our ground crew.  Watching the video, I almost mounted the beach wheels.

The weather again turned ugly and several boats were deep in thunderstorms for the second day.  They all made it in soon thereafter but had some wide eyed stories of big wind and crazy shifts.  Most of the fleet got pinned under a pavilion with a cooler of beer as the heavy rain and lightning blazed away.  The Dutch Rockerz are now looking at us like we’re crazy, but they’re still having fun.

Day 4

After living in Florida for 30 years and sitting through my share of hurricanes I can say I’ve seen some big dark nasty clouds.  The thunderstorm that formed over the finish was one of the most dramatic storm clouds I have seen.  The wind was light and not forecast to improve so we decided to stay offshore on the rumb line.  We matched speed with the other F18s on the beach so it was a wash.  As we all merged again about 5 miles from the finish we also met this ominous and growing monster.  Knowing we were close and knowing the wind may die after this beast blows out, we pressed on.

The other 2 F18s also pressed on and we all sailed under the anvil within ¼ mile of each other.  The image from our double trapped spin reaching perspective of the other boats double trapped spin reaching into this storm that could only be certain death is what the 2016 Florida 300 will be for me.  At the first sign of burp from the breeze we dropped the kite and got blasted with 25 knots and 180 degree shift.  It rained and the waves got bigger and we all went into survival mode.  After 15 minutes the breeze backed off and the race was on again.  The breeze continued to drop as we hit the beach and the boats that sheltered on shore will suffer their final miles.  Damon of thebeachcats.com captured an awesome photo of Keysailing’s finish with the monster cloud almost overhead.  But the cloud grew even darker and leading edge curl grew more defined.  It was scary and beautiful all in the same moment and I’m glad I was there.  Awesome rib dinner was arranged by Warren for $10 a head.  It was a feast for a tired fleet.

DAY 4 VERO BEACH TO COCOA BEACH

Day 5

This will be the first time the Florida 300 sails around the cape and on to Daytona and a first for many of the sailors.  As we look forward to this leg as a new adventure, the forecast is nothing to get excited about.  The breeze will be light with no signs of the sea breeze filling in until late afternoon.  But, the chance of thunderstorms is very low.  In spite of the light breeze we kill the start and hit the point of the cape in the lead.  At that point the breeze and angle change and we begin to lose ground to the 20s.  The young bucks on the I20 Royal boats are stretched between us and leaders with the Royal Orange trying desperately to get away from us.  The breeze gets real shifty and the fight goes from the beach to heading offshore and back.  After a huge shift that gives hope to sea breeze things settle out to just light but at least we can get the kites up.  The I20s pull away and the 2 I20s from way behind slide up and over as we approach the finish.  I notice the Dutch Rockerz coming in from offshore with speed and figure they must be on the leading edge of freshening breeze.

Everyone makes their final approach and landing to the amusement of the beach party at the Ocean Deck.  There was plenty of cold beer and champagne for all.  Since the breeze was light and the day was long, some of the ground crews were several beers in and quite happy.  The Dutch Rockerz hit the beach with big smiles, probably from finally having a day with no storms.  The Supercat 20 grounded in the shallow surf and had to be dragged across the line.  Elaina, the Mom and wife ground crew of Irrational Again seemed really relieved that her boys survived the race.

DAY 5 COCOA BEACH TO DAYTONA BEACH

The SCHRS system has been implemented and used for the Florida 300 successfully.  The I20 is now more competitive against the F18s.  Perhaps this will bring these boats out of the shadows and back in the race.  The light breezes in the second half of the race gave the 20 foot boats the edge.  The results from the first half of the race clearly show the F18 can compete with the 20s be there good wind.  As for next year, the Dutch Rockerz have promised to come back and bring friends.  As an international fleet the F18s will no doubt do their best to give a proper beat down on those 20s.  But aside from the 20s this is no doubt a standing challenge to the US F18 fleet and we must protect our homeland.  Don’t leave the fate of your global reputation in the hands of 2 old guys.

2016 FLORIDA 3000 OVERALL

A very skilled drone operator took some very high quality video footage throughout the race.  Much of this has not been released from editing.  As soon as we can get our hands on some we’ll post links here for your viewing pleasure.

Many thanks to our ground crew Cathy and Linda and of course Jake Domingo for turning loose the fury of those guns for 300+ miles.

Dick Macdonald

Turtle Mojo

Cirrus F18