West Palm Beach To Key West

We can also test a partial alternate route for the Steeplechase on the Sunday after the Miami Key Largo race.

Sounds like alot of upwind work.

The prevailing winds are Easterly. April winds for WPB prevail from NE and Miami winds ESE. When I did the run in 2009, it was downwind the entire trip and the Keys 100 was dead down wind blowing 25-35.

What will the first leg be?

First leg will be Singer Island (WPB) to the Miami Yacht Club on Thursday April 18th.

4/18: MKL Skippers Meeting (West Palm Beach-Miami Yacht Club)
4/20: Miami-Key Largo Race
4/21: Key Largo-Islander Resort
? Islander Reef Run (Isamorada-Key West)

Approx 85 miles

WPB to MYC: 85 miles
MKL Race: 50 miles
Key Largo to Islander: 50 miles
Islander to Key West 80 miles
Total: 265 miles as a crow flies

What are your plans for ground crew?

I have a buddy that wants to do do it and my wife and kids will be doing the Islamorada-Key West leg. My wife loves the Islander and Key West but not Gilberts. I am not sure if Dick will have ground crew too but we will be pooling resources. Thinking of doing it or wanting to ground crew.

Craig, is that the same weekend we are going to do the reverse of the Steeplechase based from the Islander?
Rick

I'd like to do it but I am sure the Doc will not allow it to happen this year.

Doesn't look like it - it appears that Craig is talking about something in April.

Rick, I was thinking there would already be a lot of boats there after the Miami-Key Largo and we could test the idea you had and run from Gilberts (or there abouts) to the Islander via channel 5 bridge.

Not sure the reef run is going to happen though. Warren is having trouble drumming up interest for the Reef Run and his insurance for that one day race would be a ton.

I was thinking of getting insurance via sail series to help and could possibly use it for other races but I am really tight on funds.

Jake, so am I.., the weekend after Miami Key Largo. Sort of a try it and see thing in case we lose Gilberts in December.

Rick,

I had just hopped on a cruise ship when your other thread started and I just skimmed it when I got back. Like Jake, I did not realize you actually put a date down and thought you were just feeling out interest.

The only way I found out you had a date was Dick Macdonald asked if I was going to incorporate it into my WPB-KW run. Should have put the date in the first sentence instead of buried in the third paragraph. An actual month and day might have also caught attention too.

Getting excited and have been preparing for the first leg of the trip. Next Wednesday on the 17th, sailing from West Palm Beach to the Miami Yacht Club. It is 80 miles as the crow flies.