Just an interim update here. The 18HTs and 16HPs are all out there racing in beautiful conditions right now. Blowing in the 18-knot range, but flat water. Skies are overcast. Already have four more races in today and into the fifth one. There are tornado watches and waterspout watches over the entire area until 4:00 p.m., and marine advisories for Key West to the Dry Tortugas, because the heavy weather will be hitting there first. Wind has already switched to the southwest here in advance of the big cold front that is coming through here very soon. But Key Largo will be the last to get it. Possible bad thunderstorms and the tornado things in advance of it, later this afternoon.
In the 8th race (4th race today) two of the 16HP's capsized and got DNF's, so the wind is picking up out there on the race course.
The cold front is supposed to come through late tonight or early Sunday morning. Sunday could be a blowout -- 20-25 knot winds out of the northwest, coming straight in on our beach. Monday should be good for the last day of racing, with the wind clocking around to the north-northeast at 20 knots or less. But COLD.
Brief report and a couple pictures and results from the first day are on our welcome page. I'll try to keep you posted about what is going on.
Mary and Rick,
Thank you very much for all your efforts in relation to the combined F18HT and F16HP Nationals and ofcourse congratulations to the win of your son Dave White and his crew Benn Gunn.
11 Races in only 2 days of racing, because the 3rd day was cancelled, is absolutely a terrific series to let the winner proves his skills beyond a doubt.
Thank you very much for the reports and swift display of the results.
Once again, and in name of the Formula 16 class, thank you very much.
Wouter Hijink
Chairman Formula 16 class