Everglades Challenge 2024 thread

[Andy B]

The 2024 Everglades Challenge starts this Saturday.  I doubt I'll ever participate in the Everglades Challenge, but it is sure fun to "spectate" from afar.

 

Looks like, as usual, there are several B&B boats in this year's race:

CS 17 MK1:  Matt Pinkley, Chris Elwell

CS 17:  Brooks Hall, Stuart Miller

CS 17 mk2:  Alan Stewart, Dawn Stewart

EC 22:  Mark Ellison, Jeff Williams

CS 20 MK3:  Scott Henderson, Kilby Smith

CS 20 MK3:  Erik Dykema, George Blaha, Mitchell Blaha

 

I think, but I'm not sure, that the trimaran used by "Spongebob is designed by B&B.

 

Roster link: https://watertribe.com/Events/ShowRosters.aspx

 

Here is the link for the race tracker:  https://www.raceowl.com/EC2024

 

Another good place to follow is the watertribe group on facebook.

Edited February 28, 2024 by Andy B
grammar

[Andy B]

In recent past years high winds have altered the start.  Saturday morning's forecast looks like winds of 9 knots, gusts of 13, from the SE, so I assume they will have the normal beach launch.

[AmosSwogger]

Looking forward to following the race; thanks for the reminder.  My favorite B&B design is the EC-22; so I'm rooting for that boat.  Is this their first time in the EC?

[Andy B]

"Triman" has done the EC before, in a Hobie  and last year a monohull.  But that's only according to my internet sleuthing (stalking?!) on the watertribe website.

[Andy B]

The B&B crew has left the shop for the challenge.  Here is a google drive where Alan will post photos:

 

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOPaH6lL8rMQ_VxZsP7GTWX7QnGI5JhN4Bb7XHgSSujnj_hoh0BWggtsrGs2JqsnQ?key=TkZJVE9qWDRoTk5nODhvT3pCRVhGYWZBRTJtSzV3

[Jonathan M. Cohn]

Good luck to all but especially Class 4 and the Core Sounders!

[Alan Stewart]

We have arrived at the start beach. Today we stage the boat on the beach and have the captains meeting this afternoon. Tomorrow we shove off at 7am.

[Andy B]

Alan, if you have time:  the forecast looks like light winds on the nose for the entire trip.  Is that what you are hearing down there?  And it seems like that would mean a lot of rowing or some interesting sailing strategy.

[AmosSwogger]

Do you plan on rigging up the bowsprit and associated sail?

[Alan Stewart]

Yeah, forecast could be better but we will keep fingers crossed. Hopefully not much rowing. Yep got the bowstring and headsail ready. One pic of each B&B boat below. Lots more in my album. 

[Andy B]

Here is the map of the Core Sound boats at 2:40 pm on Saturday.  It looks like it has been close-hauled sailing in light winds so far. 

 

Triman is leading the pack (not overall though) with the EC-22.

[Paul356]

And Alan and Mom right behind, in SOS.

 

[AmosSwogger]

CrazyRussian is doing well in his proa (I think B&B helped him a bit with the design of his homemade proa).

[paul_stewart]

WaterTribe names for those with B&B boats in this year's race :

 

CS 17 MK1:  PinkDog, ChangBiZi

                      Matt Pinkley, Chris Elwell

 

CS 17:           TheMapster, Coastal

                      Brooks Hall, Stuart Miller

 

CS 17 mk2:  SOS, SandyBottom   

                     Alan Stewart, Dawn Stewart 

("Carlita" boat on loan from Graham Byrnes) 

(https://share.garmin.com/PHT96)

 

EC 22:          Triman, Cat5                 

                     Mark Ellison, Jeff Williams

(boat built by Graham Byrnes)

 

CS 20 MK3:  WildBlue, SkinnyGenes

                      Scott Henderson, Kilby Smith

 

CS 20 MK3:  NowWeTryItMyWay, 

                                          CountryRoads,  WhiteRabbit

                      Erik Dykema, George Blaha, Mitchell Blaha

 

Trimaran:     SpongeBob         

                       Bob George

(boat design by Alan Stewart)

 

 

https://www.watertribe.com/Events/ShowRosters.aspx

https://www.raceowl.com/EC2024/RaceMap4

https://www.facebook.com/    (WaterTribe group)

 

 

 

[Paul356]

Things are pretty quiet out there.  Alan made Mom take to the oars.  Some wind possible tonight, it appears.

[Don Silsbe]

Looks like SOS has moved up in the pack.  Am I right?

[Paul356]

They have moved up.  My buddy on-scene (shore support) said there was a little breeze overnight, so the sailors have finally passed the kayakers.  But aside from a few mega-athletes, no one has made it to CP2 yet, and a bunch have just cleared CP1 or are resting there.  A long, long race, but the Core Sounds are out with the front of the pack.

[Andy B]

Here's a good synopsis from this morning (Watertribe Facebook page)

 

As of 7:30am this morning -

Monohull leaders Spawn has checked in at CP2, Choco. They are on their way

back out down Choco Pass.

There is a gaggle of monohulls off of North Naples/Naples that are within 2

miles of each other -

WaterStrider on the Interlake 18 is in the lead for 2nd place They are

making about 5.6kts

Southern Skimmer is the closest inshore and is in 3rd by 1/3 of a mile of

WS. They are steaming at 5kts

Southern Cross is further offshore and 2 miles in back of WS and SS. She

is motoring along at 5.2kts.

SOS and Sandy Bottom in the B & B 17 mk3 is the furthest out and are about 4

miles behind Andyman, travelling at 4.5kts.

Zerothehero is just South of the Sanibel Pass and is moving at 4.7kts after

overnighting at Picnic Island. They had been pacing the leading pack on

the Pine Island route before they pulled over for a rest.

Madmothest had been also in the gaggle until he pulled over to anchor/beach

for the night on Sanibel. He is now back moving south at 3.9kts

Windy - 5-10 out of the East, going Westerly around 1300 similarly strong, then becoming ‘variable’ the further South they go past Marco - For what the info is worth…

 

[Andy B]

The light winds make for phot ops, I guess.  Here is Southern Skimmer, the EC-22:

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a photo from Alan on Carlita, Graham's CS 17mk3:

 

 

Finally, here is a snip of Graham himself who was greeting and assisting at checkpoint 1 over the weekend:

 

 

[Don Silsbe]

Yeah.  Thanks for the confirmation photo.  I had thought Roo had gone down with Dawn and Allan, to socialize and work as support crew.  Good to get the confirmation.