ScottWidmier Posted September 25, 2008 Posted September 25, 2008 The idea for the Florida 120 grows out of the Texas 200. Basically, it is a raid with the objective for everyone entered to finish the course. Each night is a predetermined stopping point which allows for some socializing plus a safety check on how everyone is doing. Wonderful opportunity to grow your navigation skills! The route for the Florida 120 will be from Perdido Bay to Santa Rosa sound. Tentatively, we will launch from a marina in Wolf Bay and return to that marina so no shuttle needed. This also means we will have windward work hence the 120 miles rather than 200! The itinerary is: Day 1: Wolf Bay to Sand Island in the Big Lagoon. Day 2: Big Lagoon to Navarre area on Santa-Rosa sound. Day 3: Navarre to Sailboat Cove on the Big Lagoon. Day 4: Sailboat Cove to Wolf Bay. Each day is between 30-40 miles with places where we can pitch tents on the beach each night. The big question is if we can find a beach past Navarre or camp on the beach at Gulf Shores national seashore. If the latter is the case, then we will make up the distance by plotting a circular course. One advantage/disadvantage (depending on how you look at it) of this area is there are a lot of recreational boaters around and a significant part of the trip, from Pensacola Beach to Navarre, will have road access to the beach. This means, if anyone has to abort for any reason it isn't that far back to civilization, a road, and your trailer. This is protected water sailing with a handy beach to park your boat should the weather turn nasty. There will be four classes within which you can finish the Florida 120 challenge each with its own "I done it" shirt and plaque. This is in part to keep people coming back and to encourage people to ween themselves off motors and/or to go in smaller boats. Class 1: Motorless Anyone who does the challenge without a motor in or on the boat. Class 2: Motor Contingency For people who have motors in or on their boat but do not use them for the entire course...some may ask why these two classes? However, there is a huge mental difference between having motor as backup and not having a motor at all. Class 3: Limited Motor For people who use their motor within 300 yards of the nightly stopping points. Especially needed for those with larger boats Class 4: Unlimited Motor Just like it sounds...those who want to accompany us and do the challenge but want to use their motor rather than bob n bake or want to do the challenge in a motorboat. I would prefer if people would committ to one of the four classes at the beginning and not switch during the challenge. This encourages planning and perserverance on the part of the people signed up for the challenge. As a side note: When I have done the BEER cruise in Pensacola area with my 26' boat I think I would have qualified for Class 3. I probably could have done it as a class 2 if I have had the extrinsic motivation. One nice thing about the coast is reliable winds! I have started a discussion over on the Texas200 forums (http://www.texas200.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=213) since I consider the Texas 200 the "parent" of this idea. Quote
ScottWidmier Posted September 26, 2008 Author Posted September 26, 2008 Possible dates are April 16th to 19th or May 14th to 17th. Quote
Craig Posted September 26, 2008 Posted September 26, 2008 I'm in except a) I am not home yet and I need another boat. Other than that I thibk it is a wonderful idea!!!! 8) 8) Quote
ScottWidmier Posted September 27, 2008 Author Posted September 27, 2008 Lots of replies at trailorsailor so it looks like it is a go. Now have to figure out a date. Thinking either April 16 to 19 or may 14 to 17. Quote
Steve Day Posted September 27, 2008 Posted September 27, 2008 Scott, It appears that I can get my boat under the Pensacola Beach Bridge, so I can go as far as the Navarre Bridge, but I cannot get under it. I could do this in my boat and might be available. It might be fun to participate, if you guys would have a bigger boat come along. I'll make sure I bring my Spindrift along, so I could still say "I built it" when someone asks. Steve Quote
ScottWidmier Posted September 28, 2008 Author Posted September 28, 2008 Steve, where I am hoping to stop for the night in Navarre is just on the other side of the bridge. Supposedly, there was an old park there that got destroyed by a hurricane. All I know is there is an empty beach that we might be able to camp at. Anyway, you could just as easily pull up to the dock in front of Juanas on the other side of the bridge and be a short stroll away from where we are. Of course, the other option is to stop at gulf shores national seashore if we can't find a place in Navarre. BTW, how big is your boat? I went under the Navarre bridge just fine with my 26' sailboat and can't remember it even being a tight fit. Quote
Steve Day Posted September 29, 2008 Posted September 29, 2008 We have a Beneteau 40. The "air draft", or mast height is 53'. That bridge has a span height of 50'. That just doesn't work. We can stay on the west side of the bridge and get over there with the dinghy if you guys stay on the east side. Steve Quote
ScottWidmier Posted September 29, 2008 Author Posted September 29, 2008 Yep, that is a lot taller mast than mine . Probably be quickest just to walk across the road...probably 100 feet. I will start working out the specifics for the trip now that I have enough people interested. Quote
ScottWidmier Posted October 1, 2008 Author Posted October 1, 2008 Chuck of Duckworks and Texas 200 fame started discussion topics for the Florida 120 on the Texas200 site. If you are at all interested, please check into that forum and vote, under the organization section, for the date that you would prefer. http://www.texas200.com/phpBB2/index.php Quote
wkisting Posted October 1, 2008 Posted October 1, 2008 My vote would be for the May date, if we can make it. But I don't have a login to vote on the Texas 200 site. Quote
ScottWidmier Posted October 1, 2008 Author Posted October 1, 2008 I am glad you will be joining us! The registration for login for the Texas200 forum is free and it does provide a nice forum for us to do some planning on without it getting buried in one particular forum. Quote
ScottWidmier Posted October 3, 2008 Author Posted October 3, 2008 Click on this link and it will give you an idea of what a raid is: http://www.shipyardraid.ca/ . Essentially what we are doing for the Texas 200 and Florida 120. BTW, Chucks middle name is Lee in case you need to register. Quote
Craig Posted October 5, 2008 Posted October 5, 2008 know what it is Scott. I was wondering about the acronym. Quote
paul_stewart Posted October 5, 2008 Posted October 5, 2008 Craig, I was wondering about the origins of the term "raid". Is that what you're asking? I found the following explanation at www.smallboatforum.com/PDFfiles/RaidBoats.pdf "So what is a Raid Event anyway? About a 1000 years ago a raid involved the Norse people or Northmen http___www.smallboatforum.bmp Quote
ScottWidmier Posted October 6, 2008 Author Posted October 6, 2008 Thanks for that definition! Our event will be raid liked but with no catering and not lasting a whole week it doesn't qualify as a raid under that definition. May is looking like the preferred date (despite the poll). Quote
Craig Posted October 6, 2008 Posted October 6, 2008 That definition had occured to me but did not come up an a simple search. I didn't think it was that easy. Thanks much. Quote
paul_stewart Posted October 6, 2008 Posted October 6, 2008 Scott, What!? No catering? No plundering? No burning villiages? Darn. Still, it does sound like a lot of fun. --Paul Quote
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