Apparently this year Gilberts was in good behavior, so there is no reason to try another venue for 2013. So This years Key Largo Steeplechase is the same venue, with Gilberts as the start/finish. As usual it will be the 2nd weekend in December, Dec 14-15th
As a possible Plan B, should Gilberts dissolve for some reason, we have discussed Start and Finish being at the Islander Resort, which we ALL agree is very User Friendly. We will have a start off the beach (similar to Anne's Beach and finish at the Upper Keys Sailing Club in Key Largo, about 15 minutes up the road from the Islander. Then a deep water start off the UKSC Pier to finish off the end of the pier at the Islander.
And just to see if it would be a good race, I would like to propose we try it the weekend after the Miami-Key Largo Race, when we would already have a lot of boats in the Keys. We once did this years ago, and had the Keys 100 from Key Largo to Key West, with a stop at Marathon. That race has since gone by the wayside.
However, it would be interesting to do it again, perhaps with a different name.
Anyone interested in giving it a try?
Rick
Interested, yes. But not possible for me.
As a possible Plan B, should Gilberts dissolve for some reason, we have discussed Start and Finish being at the Islander Resort, which we ALL agree is very User Friendly. We will have a start off the beach (similar to Anne's Beach and finish at the Upper Keys Sailing Club in Key Largo, about 15 minutes up the road from the Islander. Then a deep water start off the UKSC Pier to finish off the end of the pier at the Islander.
And just to see if it would be a good race, I would like to propose we try it the weekend after the Miami-Key Largo Race, when we would already have a lot of boats in the Keys. We once did this years ago, and had the Keys 100 from Key Largo to Key West, with a stop at Marathon. That race has since gone by the wayside.
However, it would be interesting to do it again, perhaps with a different name.
Anyone interested in giving it a try?
Rick
Go around the same way as we do now or reverse? I had heard something about going the other way.
Anyone mind drawing a picture of the course? My plan is to have the boat in Florida October->Janurary of 2013/2014. Not sure if it'll be free or I'll be free to do Steeplechase but its on the schedule.
There is really no way to do it clockwise from the Islander. Basically, here is the criteria to make it work:
1. First day has to be the longest, or you have long second day, afffecting the awards, packing up boats and getting on the road.
2. No start can head straight for a mangrove creek.., that would really be havoc with the entire fleet tacking through a creek right after the start.
That is why counter-clockwise from the Islander gets a long first day leg, with great report areas (Card Sound Bridge and Gilberts) so everyone knows where the fleet is, and would offer better photo ops in more places.
Starting from the UKSC would allow a first run across Buttonwood Sound, with a small closing and then open sound again. and a shorter leg to the finish off the pier at the Islander
If you never did the Keys 100 from the UKSC to Key West, you would not know what an awesome downhill run the backside it. You would not even think of using a creek on the Intracoastal, as you can really blow across the sand bars with spin flying. Been there, done that.
Additional tactics on the reverse course as well -- Hawk Channel sailing will either be a close reach or possibly a beat. You can now opt to go out past the reef and use the Gulf Stream.
And of course you would have fine lodging and little ground crew traveling and logistics problems.
In general it appears this would be a pretty neat race, and we could do it the week after the Miami-Key Largo Race in April
Keep the feedback coming.., like to hear your thoughts
Rick
I'm really not a fan of the counter-clockwise race. I like the downwind run on the ocean side. I think if you look at making the fleet enter the creek on the west side of Blackwater (instead of the creeks going through Tarpon Basin), it would give the fleet more time to spread out before entering the shorter creek. I would probably still give it one try in the counter-clockwise direction before I decided that it became worth sitting out though...(but I'm not available for the Miami weekend).
Rick, one other thing to consider is that Anne's Beach is getting smaller and smaller - we can't get our boats far enough up into the trees to stay out of the water anymore (getting into and tying up to the trees probably breaks some sort of ecological law anyway). I've always been a little concerned about boat security there anyway. It would be nice to have secure locations for the stops - having them only 15 miles apart is an added bonus.
Rick, one other thing to consider is that Anne's Beach is getting smaller and smaller - we can't get our boats far enough up into the trees to stay out of the water anymore (getting into and tying up to the trees probably breaks some sort of ecological law anyway). I've always been a little concerned about boat security there anyway. It would be nice to have secure locations for the stops - having them only 15 miles apart is an added bonus.
Jake this year was a lunar tide which was why it was so high. Not to say it wouldn't be next year but that's why. Seen it that way in the past and seen it dry since then.
Rick, one other thing to consider is that Anne's Beach is getting smaller and smaller - we can't get our boats far enough up into the trees to stay out of the water anymore (getting into and tying up to the trees probably breaks some sort of ecological law anyway). I've always been a little concerned about boat security there anyway. It would be nice to have secure locations for the stops - having them only 15 miles apart is an added bonus.
Jake this year was a lunar tide which was why it was so high. Not to say it wouldn't be next year but that's why. Seen it that way in the past and seen it dry since then.
I remember it was the same last year - perhaps just in sequence.
If you never did the Keys 100 from the UKSC to Key West, you would not know what an awesome downhill run the backside it is
HA! I remember what a thrill that was... All 12 minutes until that whopper of a storm smashed our spreader. And the hailstorm at the finish. But still a fun race for the
adventure
types.
I do like your idea, Rick. The logistics and boat security sound a lot easier. It also breaks up the
steeplechase
side (the bay side) which may give it some more tactical aspect on both days rather than one day drag-race.
And the UKSC could use our support and bar revenues. We need to drive monies to those entities that share our love of sailing.
Not having done the counter-clockwise route, I'd be willing to give it a try. Of the few Steeples I have completed, I don't recall very many being spin reaches all of day 1. Maybe about 1/2 of the way from Hens & Chickens to Anne's Beach? For some reason, I remember using the spin more on the backside?
Regardless of the format/course, it's a beautiful venue. If we can work a deal on the lodging, I'd think there's no better reason to get out of the cold and annoy your co-workers with a tan in December.