Tybee updates...

Still healthy wind at 16-18 from 100, expected to build today to 18-20 with some meaty gusts. Surf's chopped up pretty well, but with the breeze out of 100 a starboard start shouldn't be too much for this fleet to manage. Watch that sandbar on the way out, though - it's a board-eater.

Headings of almost due north (8-358) for first 50 miles to West Palm, then bearing off to around 340 by the finish. Wind expected to be 112-115 by that point, so we'll see some spinnakers pictures later today.

Jensen, where many teams left parts a couple of years ago, has had fresh onshore breeze for a week now, and the tide's going out for the finish today between 3 and 4 PM or so. Hope everyone gets in through the surf OK - tomorrow will take care of itself until they get there!

20 minutes to the start!

Smile, Jake! It's still better than being at work!

Report that Howard's Pub crew dislocated a shoulder during the start - paramedics are on the scene. They're on the beach - no word yet if they'll continue.

Rest of the fleet got out OK - those that bore off jst outside the break appear to have moved up better.

More info coming.

To add to that about a mile into the race team Castrol passed Tybee. They have a long way to go of course

Are they pushing on?
Did they replace the crew?

Has Tybee been passed by anyone else?

What about Seacats? Did they get their rudder repaired in time for today or are they out? It's already noon and there's nothing from Mary and Rick.

All the other teams started, including Jake and Dave. Last I heard (about 45 minutes after the start), there was an ambulance with lights on leaving the beach and the Howard's Pub boat was still in the sand. I think it was Andy that got hurt. I don't think they have a back-up crew. As soon as I hear anything definative, I'll post it.

I'm sure Rick, like the rest of the land-based folks, is hurriedly trying to get to Jensen for the finish. I estimate that the fleet is somewhere near the Lake Worth Pier right about now (12:12 Eastern). I'm sure we'll be getting news soon.

Sorry, Rick has been missing in action, brought down by technology. Less than a year ago he had a satellite dish installed on his motorhome so he could upload stories and pictures to our website from wherever he is. When he tried to use it yesterday, it didn't work. Turns out that upgraded software is required, so he had to drive home and wait until 10:00 a.m. this morning to get tech support to get the new software installed and the satellite dish working again. SOOO, he missed the start this morning, of course. But he is on his way to Jensen Beach. I hope everything works okay from now on.

To make matters worse, he has been really sick for the past week. I tried to talk him out of going at all. No luck.

Thank goodness for John Williams, who has been doing a great job of covering the race even though he is not there. And also thanks to everybody else who is contributing notes to this thread.

We'll try to get back on track after the finish today -- if Rick gets there in time.

More bad. I just discovered that Rick didn't do a link to the archived pictures and story from Leg 1. And they are really good pictures! He will fix the link later today...I hope....if the dish works......I HATE technology (except when it works).

These are the positions from my condo on Singer Island which is at the most easterly point of florida. I got home just as they were approaching but I don't think I missed any. All boats were just past shore break. If there were some in the gulfstream I might not be able to see them. Check Back and I will update this post as I can figure them out...

13 boats at 7:50. None on the horizon.

Team Castrol first 12:48
Team Tybee second 12:49
OZ 12:51
Semp Toshiba 12:52
Morada 12:52
Jayco/Sail 343 12:54
Key Sailing/Sail #824 12:55
Team SpacecoastYellow /white/green Jib graphics 12:56
OBXCC sail #146 1:01
Windy Hill Sail #271 1:05
Team Seacats 1:09
Mezo Speed/Sail #387 1:29
Howards pub/sail #838 1:30

No more boats to report. Any corrections or team names please e-mail me and I will post them here. craig@teamcyberspeed.com

Where is that - I don't see a Singer Island on this map... what town are you near?

Thanks for the news!

West Palm Beach at the very tip east

John,

If you go to Mapquest.com and put in Singer Island it will give a visual reference.

Dave

They're about a half hour behind where I thought they would be...

See attached.

They are making excellent time.

Dave

One boat in sight, 'chute up. 14:28 Eastern. First boat before 15:00??

14:52 First boat

Castrol first, then Tybee - more coming!

I only saw 13 boats pass. I thought I might have missed the first two. Either they were out in the gulfstream and I could not see them or something happened to them. Heading back to the office and will see then.

Castrol finished first at Jensen Beach, five minutes ahead of the second place boat and they now have the lead overall.

Tybee finished second

3rd was Oz

4th was Semp Toshiba

5th was Morada

6th was Key Sailing

7th was Space Coast

Notes:
Howard's Pub is back in the race. Andy Herbick dislocated his shoulder or something and was replaced by Jim Barrett.

Brevard Challenge has dropped out of the race. Something about being seasick.

More soon, I hope.

P.S.
I think I am going to stay here for my posts instead of doing the Hotline thing. It's a lot easier.

Space Coast totaled their windward rudder a la SeaCats. Brian from Brevard Challenge has been dry heaving for two days... too much for one guy to take!

Kirk was swept off the boat today - they lost five to seven minutes getting him back on board. Yikes!!!

Mary, you may want to change the link on the frontpage to point here instead.

Dave

Sorry, Dave, I can't do that. Don't know how. Rick will have to do it later by remote.

He has been really sick. I give him points for at least being there instead of in bed.

The rest of the finishers to this point:

8th -- OBXCC
9th -- Seacats
10th -- Jaypro
11th -- Windy Hill
12th -- Mezzo Speed

13 and 14 are still out -- that would be Team Loewen and Howard's Pub

Loewen has retired - came ashore at West Palm. Last boat (Howard's Pub) is in around 17:20 Eastern. Lots of bumps and bruises in the fleet. Reports that both Tybee and Castrol flipped simultaneously while fighting for the lead. Newkirk sustained a cut on his leg from the rudder tip after being swept off the boat - it bled for 25 miles or so, but he's glued it shut...

Tough day - two teams out, and one sailor injured and out.

Tomorrow - the Jensen Beach start. Hang in there, Tybee sailors!

If you want story and pictures for today, you have to go back to our welcome page and click the link from the story teaser. Once you get to the story page, if you also want to see story and pictures from the previous day, click on Leg 1 in the archives box.

Here's a photo of Team Castrol coming in today and a good shot of the start as well.

Mary, when I go to www.catsailor.com all I get is the image gallery.

Yikes, the Catsailor site has capsized in the surf. Rick must still be feeling sick. At least the pictures look good. Thanks for all your hard work, Rick.

It's a quirk in the album program. Rick put in the pictures and went to bed without noticing that the thing had quirked. Sorry. All fixed now.

It's my fault because I keep insisting that you guys want to see ALL the pictures and not just the ones he puts in the stories. So now he has a link in the Day 1 story to take you to the gallery with all the pictures he took for that day. He'll be doing the same thing for all the days.