Atlantic 1000, Outer Banks 500 Half Information

They NOW have control of the Surf Cam and are actually panning between boats and zooming in and out from each boat. Never seen the guys move that cam before and I live a few hundred yards to the south of it.

The crazy thing is I am typing on this dump when I should be down there! What a great day for a sail. The wind is offshore and the water FLAAAAAT with nice air building, especially for so early.

Kelly

I think we may have overloaded the BR's Web Cam server...

That start was pretty jumpy!

What a fantastic day for a sail...

Keep 'em coming boys - the Cookout at Quagmires awaits - just around the corner of two more Capes!

That was great, watching a morning start live in the afternoon in deepest darkest Wales.

It's even more impressive IMAGINING YOU watching the start from Wales in your afternoon! One of the great things about the Net. It's publishing for the everyman...

This day is just a perfect one to gather your bearings and wits, licking some wounds, all in preparation for the beginning of the hardest part of the entire OBX 500/Atlantic 1000.

The sailing appears to be everything they could ask for from such a leg. From WB, it's clear skies and the sea breeze has kicked in for an excellent WB to Atlantic Beach run. Wish I was out there.

kh

Here they come.
Rick

Excitement!

Predictions:

Tybee
A/C
Semp
Chesie
Cat Fever

1) Tybee
2) Toshiba
3) Chesapeake
4) Chaos
5) Cat Fever

Story and pix within a 1/2 hour or so
Rick

Well...

I got Frist and Fifth correct!

Way to go - again - Johnny McLaughlin!!!

Apparently there is no cell phone service here at the ferry. I can't call my voice mail and could not call home. Sorry, out of connection except for this.
Rick

Cape Lookout isn't THAT difficult to get around. Just don't get so close that you're in the breakers.

EDIT: I say this as someone who has sailed around beaufort inlet a lot, not as someone who has done this race before.

EDIT: Please be careful guys, there was a great white spotted off the outer banks this past weekend. Pretty Unusual.

So no one has called in the start details? Where's ole Walter Cooper when you need him? Actually, why isnt Walter covering the races anymore? Rick/Mary are doing a great job but Walter's perspective was an additional photographic plus (and he had some GREAT gear).

Here's to hoping the Outer Banks 500, the second leg of the Atlantic 1000, picks up in interest and esteem. Sad there has been a dropoff in the forum activity. Actually, here's hoping the Atlantic 1000 does as well.

Here's a somewhat mediocre shot from a digital I grabbed during conclusion of the Wrightsville leg from right in front of my place. It's an interesting perspective of how these cats look to beach goers down the way. Notice those in the surf, totally oblivious (one pale standby might be gazing in the area). I have seen this throughout the years. A whole FLOCK of 20ft cats would be streaming by outside and the average beachgoer is looking at a freckle on his or her arm.

kh

The boats are in sight, and the leaders should be arriving at the finish line on Ocracoke Island within 15-20 minutes.

Waiting to Exhale!

Interesting. Toshiba was first to Cape Lookout, ahead of Team Tybee. But Toshiba headed out to sea and Tybee jibed in and stayed along the shoreline -- this gave Tybee the lead to the finish line.

Cat Fever would have finished 3rd but they got lost and sailed well past the finish line before realizing their mistake. They had to sail back upwind to the finish, which let Accelerated Chaos in to take 3rd.
Chesapeake is still not in sight.

So the finish positions are:
1 -- Tybee
2 -- Toshiba
3 -- Chaos
4 -- Cat Fever

Oh No...

John Mclaughlin has a thing for Portsmouth Island

Here's what happened to John McLaughlin.

One of the Titcombs fell off Accelerated Chaos and got separated from the boat. McLaughlin was ahead of them but came back and retrieved the wayward crew and returned him to Accelerated Chaos.

But John has a broken spinnaker pole, so he is limping in sans spinnaker.

That's why he is STILL my hero!!

WOW! Talk about keeping your eyes open! Way to go John!

What a display of sportsmanship and being the man.

If any of you have seen Rick Parsley's post on the open forum relative the OBX Great White Shark - here is a link to the video of the beast taken from a local Charter Fishing Boat - "The Poacher"...

Shark Footage

There is link to the video near the top of the page!

They are estimating that it's 12-15 feet long (The boat they are on is a 40 footer) and that it may weigh as much as 1500 pounds!

I have seen many a shark over the years from Pawley's Island, SC to the Outer Banks, NC. I've seen a 14ft Hammerheard off the coast of Wrightsville Beach and many a sand shark in the area. We have had some mean Bull sharks, credited with several attacks.

Several surfers and bathers have been attacked over the past four years at Wrightsville as well. We had a resident Sand Shark that lived around Mercers Pier before it was rebuilt. A 8ft TIGER Shark was caught in Banks Channel across from the Carolina Yacht Club years back (now that's a bit disconcerting). Yet, you take it for granted that sharks are around but rarely if ever even feign interest in humans.

But that footage of the Great White is truly chilling, mainly since you just dont see those beasts around. If watching that video, be sure to watch the WHOLE run, as there are several amazing shots illustrating the size of this White.

Amazing. Sharks are always about, however. Just not Great Whites!!

kh

Considering how much I go sailing in Wrightsville, its disturbing to find out just how much sea life is in that little inlet.

I've spent the better part of a day on a sideways dinghy clinging to the daggerboard in that inlet.

But as you say, they aren't really interested in us unless we're wearing our seal costumes.

Actually, I have NEVER heard of an attack of a surfer/sailor in a wetsuit in this area, and since 99.9% of swimmers are in the summer, this is a rarity as well. You have to remember, there arent too many SEALS in ye olde Carolina waters besides the Asheboro Zoo, so a local shark would probably flee at the sight of a 6ft tall black fish... heh.

Seriously though, many of the bites of surfers have occured at Masonboro Island which is the 8 or so mile long undeveloped island due south. And if I remember correctly, almost every surfer was bitten on the arm and was wearing some sort of divers watch or ring. I know of two that had the Seiko Automatic, actually (as I do). The flashing jewelery caused more a mistake in identity. The seal thing is more a reality in places like the West Coast and South Africa.

Shark attacks are ultra rare but have been on the rise a bit in the late 90s. When surfing, I try to avoid the watch now. Still, you have a better chance of being struck by lightning... Also, remember that the last fatal shark attack in Wrightsville Beach was back in 1957 with Rupert Wade, an old loon that swam pier to pier over 150 yards out, not exactly the normal activity.

Alas, what are you doing turned over in the inlet all the time? heh... What were you on? I sail out that inlet up to five times a week so I might see you one of these days.

btw, if you are into surfing your CAT (or dingy), the swells off the south Masonboro jetty on the MAse side can be insane. Flying a hull down these swells which start about 50 yards outside the inlet is one of the more amusing things you can ever do.

Kelly

This is the big day -- and the last day of both the Outer Banks 500 and the Atlantic 1000. The boats will be leaving Ocracoke Island at 10:00 a.m. and rounding Cape Hatteras on their way to the final finish line at Kill Devil Hills. The leg is 83.7 miles.

For the Worrell 1000, the checkpoint on the Outer Banks was at Hatteras, but apparently most of the hotels have not yet recovered from being devastated by Hurricane Isabel last September. So this time the stopover was on Ocracoke Island.

As a result, Rick will again not be at the start this morning because he had to catch the early ferry to get over to Hatteras so he could be at Hatteras point in time to get pictures. Jon Britt, one of the Outer Banks organizers, has a four-wheel drive vehicle, and he will be taking Rick out to the point. Rick is already in the parking area at the Hatteras Lighthouse, waiting for his ride.

The Cape Hatteras rounding traditionally produces the most dramatic photographs of the race, because the boats round within yards of the beach, while running the gauntlet through the infamous "piss-ups," geysers of water that shoot up here and there, unpredictably.

It is only a short distance from Ocracoke to the Cape, which is why Rick had to catch an early ferry. After the Cape rounding, when he gets back to the motorhome, he will post a morning story on our race page and, hopefully, some pictures, before he heads to the finish at Kill Devil Hills.

Wind this morning is about 15 out of the SSW.

P.S. Last night a big storm blew through at Ocracoke, rocking the motorhome. This morning Rick went out to see if the boats were still there, but they looked fine, all still upright.

Here is a refresher of the rounding from the Worrell in 01. Here you get an idea of just HOW CLOSE the boats can come to the Cape to avoid the worst of the "piss-ups" which are amazing to see. Team Lexis Nexis is about as close as one could possibly get. This is THE BEST view for the whole race as boat pass within mere FEET at times.

No extreme piss-ups in this view but they have been severe in the past. Cant wait to see Rick's pics.

Kelly

The boats rounded Cape Hatteras about 15 minutes ago, in this order: Toshiba, Tybee, Chesapeake, Chaos, Cat Fever.

It was a mild rounding compared to most past years, and they didn't come as close to shore as usual -- maybe because it was high tide. Some of them sailed over what has always been referred to as "the island."

Rick will have stuff on our race site soon. Catsailor Race Page

It's about another 60 miles to Kill Devil Hlils, so projected arrival about 4:00 p.m.

Kelly ,
Thanks for the flash back of us at cape.That is the only way to round the cape. It sure beats last years picture of us capsized in the cape. We love this race and are making plans to be there next year. Here is a picture of the latest ride "ROCKET 88" we will be racing long distance next week in the ditch run from San Francisco to Stockton up the delta.

Jim Korkosz
TEAM LEXISNEXIS

Jim, I have to say, that ROCKET 88 is INSANE! 34ft of power making the Inter 20 look diminutive! What a ride. Good luck - Anyone interested, check out that craft here:

http://www.sfsail.com/rocket88.htm

As for Team Lexis Nexis, I'll hold you to next year, jim! And you better be in the whole 1000!

Here are some more memories while waiting for a finish to the current Atlantic 1000... At least you are looking good 3 out of 4 shots in 02! Had to remind you of that 02 Hatteras fun...

Kelly

Well, I know that a boat is in (as of about 15 minutes ago) but I don't know who. Rick hasn't called back.

Man... Ole Rick loves the drama. He didnt get enough rounding the Cape, so he is adding a bit here. The sly dog. I've waited long enough (making graphics in sheer boredom). I'll check back later this eve. Time for a Sunset sail.