Sure would like ya'll to pre-register.., it makes life much easier.
Thanks,
Rick
**cough** **cough**
http:/
Quick Update. The normally used motel in Marathon is under new ownership and it seems they are a bit hard to get along with. So, best bet is to find someplace else to stay that will be much less expensive.
We will try to get a list of places and post that soon.
Also, Please Pre-register at http:/
Thanks,
Rick
quick question from a novice. Would like to do the race but I assume you need a ground crew to meet you in Key West to get the boat, right? Do people do this without a ground crew?
I've never done a distance race at all, how about a run-down of the planning and logistics.
For instance, where does the race end? If I take a car and trailer to Key West, where would I leave it?
From what I have been able to find and read about.
THe race starts in Key Largo - where exactly I do not know yet. The midpoint is in Marathong at Sombrero Beach. We are going to spend the night at sombrero beach resort. The finish is in Key West, I forgot the name of the beach. The beach where we finish is on the ocean side.
I will have a ground crew to drive my car and trailer from Key Largo to Marathon then from Marathon to Key West.
Are you allowed on the beach to pick-up the boat? Where will you keep the trailer?
I would hope so.
The trailer will remain attached to the tow car. It will be at every stopping point.
This is my first race of this magnitude, so all this is me assuming.
I'm committed to the "Rick White Sailing Seminar" and I'm now trying to figure out how to do Hog's Breath as well. Things are getting a little complicated, but that's okay!
In retrospect, cat sailing must be in pretty good shape, if you're having trouble finding time to do all the stuff that's offered!
There is a pretty good rundown on everything in the NOR and all the links in it. Also, you can pre-Register through that. Just go to our Main Page at www.catsailor.com
and the first headline will take you to the NORs.
In General, we will have registration (even after pre-registering) to sign stuff and pay the fee. After that there will be Skippers Meeting. All of this will start at 6PM on Friday evening at my house. (directions in NOR)
You can launch at several places, Caribbean Club or Upper Keys Sailing Club.
You will need to get your trailer to Key West somehow to bring your boat back, unless you would rather sail back (bad idea!)
You really do not need your trailer in Marathon.., the boats are brought up on the beach at the east end of Sombrero Beach. You will need beach wheels to bring your boat up on shore.., or perhaps borrow someone's.
To get to your motel and to the banquet dinner and Skippers Meeting you will need a ride as most places are at least a mile or more away.
In Key West you will land at Smathers Beach on the west end. There is a small beach area where you can de-rig and load your boat.
Awards, beer party and munchies at Hogsbreath Saloon.., several miles away and in the heart of the zoo.., oops, town.
Hope this helps,
Rick
I forgot to mention that you can also launch from Gilberts.
Rick
Yet more questions-
it says in the NOR that anchors are required. Do people really take anchors on their beach cats for this race?
it says in the NOR that anchors are required. Do people really take anchors on their beach cats for this race?
I think I have a five pound anchor. It would not be much trouble to take it with me.
it says in the NOR that anchors are required. Do people really take anchors on their beach cats for this race?
I think I have a five pound anchor. It would not be much trouble to take it with me.
But where to you tie it to the boat? What good would it be in serious wind? I know Rick knows what he is doing (obviously) but think about how much wind is too much wind in which case you would need to anchor? Wind picks up to 25 knots and you can't really make much progress... do you throw out the anchor and let your sails flog to death? What if the wind gets to 30+? I understand the premise "any port in a storm" but it just doesn't seem like an achor would help much- esp when you factor in the wave height and then the depth of the water - you would need A LOT of rode. Scope of 7-1. Water 20 feet deep. You would need to carry 140 feet of line. 40 feet? 280 feet... and it isn't like the line should be cheap stuff either (and it can't be any rigging line as it needs to be elastic).
Sorry, this is all probably an inane discussion. I am tired 
I'm just guessing, having never done a distance race, that the anchor has less to do with wind than current?
How bad are the currents at Hog's Breath?
Thats a good point about current, hadn't thought of that.
West marine and REI both sell 1.5# folding anchors. Mine is going to look like a hitech vented disk of a brake system.
$12
So then, in continuing my tired quesion while I am tired- the only use of the anchor is if the wind completey dies and there is a current. I don't care what anyone says (unless it is Mary or Rick, in which case I'll listen 
) but a small anchor isnt going to help if the stuff hits the fan. It is not going to prevent you from ending up on the rocks or floating out to sea. This is, of course, assuming we are talking about the small anchors Chris mentioned. NOW, if one were to mount some bigas- windlas from the spin pole and put some 25 pound danforth on it with 10 feet of chain and 100+ feet of good stretchy line- then I suppose it might work. I spent some time trying to figure out a way to anchor my old 27ft monohull if a hurricane came through- it isn't as simple as throwing out the hook.
Could it be the anchor is to be able to anchor your boat off of the beach in case the beach is too rocky or not reachable? Even at the causeway I will usually keep an anchor out in the water to tie up to rather than pull the boat up onto the beach, until I am ready to break it down. Less wear & tear on the hulls