Joe Anderson Posted March 7, 2020 Report Posted March 7, 2020 Alan and Paul have Southern Skimmer, Graham"s EC22 on the beach at Fort De Soto. The race is currently under a weather hold, hopefully they will be able to start soon. Best of luck to you. Quote
Joe Anderson Posted March 7, 2020 Author Report Posted March 7, 2020 The start has been delayed until 10am because of gusty NE winds. 15kts with gusts to 20. Wind is forecast to stay 15kts NE through tonight then veer East and slowly decrease. Sounds like fun. Quote
Designer Posted March 7, 2020 Report Posted March 7, 2020 Alan called a while ago and said that there had been a weather hold. The wind was fresh from the NE and that was a small craft advisory for 3 miles offshore. Alan and some of the boats have now started. Crews that did not feel comfortable with the conditions could trailer their boats to the other side of the bay. Check point 1 is now optional which will save the offshore boats having to mess with Stump Pass. B&B has 5 boats which includes 3 CS17 mk3's , Dawn Patrol and Southern Skimmer. There is also a trimaran that Alan designed not ling after joining B&B called Sponge Bob. The fresh NE winds are expected to turn to hard east winds just in time for the fast boats having to cross the Florida Bay. It is living up to it's challenge name. Quote
Joe Anderson Posted March 8, 2020 Author Report Posted March 8, 2020 I have been watching the http://Watertribe.com It looks like most of the fleet has make rapid progress down the coast. The big cats seem to be out in front. Ralph Coles and Randy Smyth in their Nacra C20 have left Flamingo and are heading around Florida Bay. I spotted Alan and Paul on the tracker map south of Naples. They were just behind Dawn Patrol. What is with that? Alan must have taught his CS 20 well. Quote
Paul356 Posted March 8, 2020 Report Posted March 8, 2020 Looks like they've turned in now to head for check point 2 Quote
Joe Anderson Posted March 8, 2020 Author Report Posted March 8, 2020 That is interesting. Alan is taking the inside channels, while Dawn Patrol is going around the outside of Cape Romano. A strategic move. Will it pay off? Quote
Designer Posted March 8, 2020 Report Posted March 8, 2020 Alan always ducks in at Marco. With the winds just north of east, Alan will have a close reach to Indian cay and Dawn Patrol will have to tack. I see that Alan stopped at Sanabel last night for a while. It is good to see DP doing so well for his first try. Michael (Grey beard) is doing very well in the 17 mk3 Quote
Joe Anderson Posted March 8, 2020 Author Report Posted March 8, 2020 Alan did do well cutting behind Cape Romano. It looks like he has almost made it up Indian Key Pass. Dawn Patrol is just approaching the Pass and I believe the tide has begun to Ebb. 1 Quote
Joe Anderson Posted March 8, 2020 Author Report Posted March 8, 2020 Alan reached Chokoloskee about an hour and a half in front of Dawn Patrol. He and Paul are heading out Rabbit Key Pass with the last of the tide. Dawn Patrol is still at Chokoloskee. If they miss the tide and daylight will they just stay at Choko? I could see Greybeard aka Michael Collins in his CS17mk3 back at Marco. Looks like the wind stays out of the East. Quote
Joe Anderson Posted March 9, 2020 Author Report Posted March 9, 2020 I captured this photo from the Watertribes Facebook page. That is Alan dragging Southern Skimmer out from Chokoloskee as Dawn Patrol is coming in. Must be some wind out there judging by the reefs set in the sails. 3 Quote
Designer Posted March 9, 2020 Report Posted March 9, 2020 Alan spent the night near Rabbit Key and is heading for the Cape. A lot of boats are dropping out due to the strong easterlies gusting in the low 30's. Graybeard is leading our group and id hugging the shore where the seas are a lot flatter and is off Ponce de Leon inlet heading for Cape Sable. I am a bit concerned with Sailorman in a 17mk3 solo. He appears to be hove-to and has been drifting SW. He pressed his OK button at 7:24 this morning. This is not a good place to be as he is long way offshore where it is very rough and it is hard to get back east in that seaway. On my older Spot, if you press the OK button you have to reactivate your track. He may not realize this as his last three signals have been OK. 1 Quote
Mark Baumgaertner Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 What is Alan's tribe name on tracker? Quote
Mark Baumgaertner Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 9 hours ago, Designer said: Alan spent the night near Rabbit Key and is heading for the Cape. A lot of boats are dropping out due to the strong easterlies gusting in the low 30's. Graybeard is leading our group and id hugging the shore where the seas are a lot flatter and is off Ponce de Leon inlet heading for Cape Sable. I am a bit concerned with Sailorman in a 17mk3 solo. He appears to be hove-to and has been drifting SW. He pressed his OK button at 7:24 this morning. This is not a good place to be as he is long way offshore where it is very rough and it is hard to get back east in that seaway. On my older Spot, if you press the OK button you have to reactivate your track. He may not realize this as his last three signals have been OK. Yes, hopefully Sailorman is okay! 1 Quote
AmosSwogger Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 23 minutes ago, Mark Baumgaertner said: What is Alan's tribe name on tracker? SOS 1 Quote
Hirilonde Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 36 minutes ago, Designer said: Sos Hmmm, so what does he sound like if he uses VHF to make a non-emergency call? 1 Quote
Joe Anderson Posted March 10, 2020 Author Report Posted March 10, 2020 The Watertribe tracker has been down for awhile. There is an alternative site Raceowl that shows Alan and Paul crossing Florida Bay. Greybeard in the bright yellow CS17mk3 has been at Cape Sable for awhile. I can not find a position for Dawn Patrol. What has happened to Sailorman is a bit of mystery. He seemed to be drifting for several hours and now his tracking device has not updated for 25 hours. I believe the CG was called and initiated a search but I do not know the status. I hope everyone is safe out there. 1 Quote
Designer Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 The Coast Guard has found the boat. Unfortunately the crew was missing. That is all that we know at the moment. 1 Quote
Todd Stein Posted March 10, 2020 Report Posted March 10, 2020 Praying for his safe recovery and the resolute search efforts. Quote
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