'Round Florida Race

Well, it would be tough getting around that northern part of the state.

I was thinking Jacksonville-Pensacola or vice versa.

Chatted with a guy recently about sailing down to my area from Tampa Bay. The thought was some longer legs for boats like the I-20 and short legs for the "B" fleeters. A quick look at my charts show some nice possiblities.

But what about the reality? What does it take to coordinate something like this?

Okay, the reality is that it was done once or twice as the Hog's Breath 1000. Apparently, it proved to be too dangerous, especially on the Gulf Coast side of Florida.

I'm surprised to hear it was considered dangerous, and I'd completely forgotten about the "1000"!

Any specifics on the danger? I don't doubt you, just curious.

Well, I'm sure people who actually participated in the Hog's Breath 1000 would know more about it. I think maybe they were doing it more like the original Worrell 1000 and sailing around the clock with checkpoints. I remember for sure one incident on the Gulf Coast side where a squall struck at night and boats were capsized and people were almost lost. Carlton Tucker was involved in that incident somehow. (In fact, I think Carlton was the one who got Hog's Breath to sponsor the race.)

Anyway, the problem on the Gulf Coast is long stretches where you can't come ashore. Like between Key West and Cape Sable, and like between Cedar Key and somewhere on the Panhandle.

Don't know about the Cedar Key and Panhandle portion, but Venice to Ft. Myers, to Marco Island, to Cape Sable or Flamingo, and then to Key Largo isn't too bad.

Now that you mention it, I think I do remember something about a squall; up near Venice maybe. At any rate, sounds like a good reason not to race at night.

Anybody out there that participated?

Pete, I think you misspoke. It's Cape Sable to Key West, not Key Largo.

Actually I was thinking of my recent trip around Cape Sable to Flamingo and then to Tavernier. But, Key West is just as doable.

The point I'm really trying to make is that you can sail down the Gulf coast from the Tampa/Bradenton area to the Keys without risking life and limb.

Adventerous folk can sail open water from Cape Sable to Marathon or Key West, the more cautious or more laid back can go the Flamingo route and stay in an air conditioned motel room every night and never see their car or trailer.

Pete, what do you mean about going the "Flamingo route"?

I sailed an easterly course around Cape Sable, to Flamingo and checked into the motel. I then sailed down to Taverneir, a very easy trip of 5-6 hours.

Yeah, but how would you then be able to sail around Florida? Tavernier is a dead end. You would have to sail to Lower Matecumbe or Marathon or around Key West to get through to the ocean side.

Well, worst case, Lower Matecumbe isn't that far out of the way. Particularly if that was the plan in the first place!

But for me personaly, if there is no back way to Gilbert's and the bridge at Jewfish Creek, I'd drop my mast and motor through Tavernier Creek. I didn't check it out by boat but it sure looked passable by car. 'Course I've been wrong before, then I would have to go to Lower Matecumbe!

It's been a long, long time but, I sorta remember motoring from Gilbert's to Tavernier, I think through Blackwater sound. But, maybe not! Anyway there is a way! You can get there from here!

What about the bridge at Annes Beach...Not quite all the way around Florida but still further than Jewfish...

The bridge just west of Anne's Beach is the one I was talking about at Lower Matecumbe -- the Channel 5 Bridge.

Any place with the name beach in it can't be too bad!

So what would we call this leg? Ft. Myers to Anne's Beach? Without looking at a chart it's in the 130 to 140 mi. range. At 40 miles per day for "B" fleet, that's 3.5 days. Probably no way to do it without one night in the open, say around Cape Sable.