I'm down in Islamorada Florida with the Florida 300 race and I'll be staying with them all the way up the coast to Daytona Beach over five days of racing.

I'll be posting here but for quick updates and posts by the teams please LIKE and follow us on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/thebeachcats/

https://www.facebook.com/sailseries/

Photos will be posted here in the photo albums at
http://www.thebeachcats.c…ictures?g2_itemId=120738

I've already got some quick pics from early arrivals on Sunday. Today is the official arrival date, setup, and registration. The overall winner the last two years was Team Key Sailing with Kirk Newkirk and Tom Whitehurst on a NACRA Carbon 20, they are back to defend and have some interesting competition this year. Stay tuned.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

like

Are there any foiling boats this year or did they pull after some of last years carnage?

How modified is the Tornado? Same boat that did the EC300??

No foiling boats this year but that doesn't rule out the possibility for carnage!

The Tornado is a Tornado in hulls only. It's got the mast and rig of a Marstrom 20 and a bunch of custom stuff.

I'll get detailed pictures and info about it as we go along.

There are two Nacra Carbon 20's, some regular Nacra 20's, F18's, and a super wide SuperCat 20.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

I should mention, that really the only issue with the foiling boats for this race was the fact that they couldn't remove or completely raise their foils from on top of the boat.

That meant that they couldn't surf onto the beach and instead had to round-up into the wind while still in the surf. That's an extremely difficult maneuver in any significant surf, and requires a small army of beachside help waiting to run out into the surf and grab the boat

I think that problem is about to solve itself with the fast advances in foiling designs, brought about mostly by the A-Class learning to foil within their rules that don't allow for bottom entry foils.

Nacra has already demonstrated full-foiling for the Nacra 15 and 17 using boards that can be inserted and removed from the top. If they are successful and this new method of "four point foiling" (no need to raise the windward foil) becomes the standard there is no reason a full foiling boat can't be a true beachcat.

It also won't surprise me if the Nacra 20 FCS (flight control system) switches to the top-entry foils if successful on the 15/17.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

Thanks for posting pictures.

--
John

Nacra 5.0
CT
--

Thanks for posting the pics

Daemon,

Thanks for the pics! Talked to one of my buddies racing yesterday, sounds like there was a bit of a snafu with one of the F20 carbons. Hope they got it sorted.

I agree the four-point insert from top foil solution should work well for an off the beach race, if it can handle waves (recall, A's tend to sail in flatter water venues, as do Moths). Keep in mind only the Nacra 15 has been tested with the z-boards, details on the Nacra 17 foiling solution I don't believe were meant to be made very public at this point. Either way, the new trunks can take a variety of options, so a good solution will likely be found. Convincing the Nacra 17 crowd to go distance racing is a much harder thing, I would be hesitant to take my F18 in through the surf given the cost of bottom jobs is north of $2K (one reason among many I am not racing in Florida right now).

-Sam

Great work Damon

samc99us

Thanks for the pics! Talked to one of my buddies racing yesterday, sounds like there was a bit of a snafu with one of the F20 carbons. Hope they got it sorted.

I'd say they did since they were first to finish!

samc99us

I would be hesitant to take my F18 in through the surf given the cost of bottom jobs is north of $2K

WOW! That sounds like a lot unless there was actual damage like holes or cracks, and even then.

Raining here in Key Biscayne this morning but it looks like it might move East and clear up as they go North.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

Two favours, please...

I see you are posting at Facebook, please be advised there are plenty of people who don't subscribe to FB. Please post information and pics at the regular websites

Is there some reason that results aren't posted anywhere?

thanks for your work

Damon,
Do you have a link to the live-timing maps/graphics like they had last year? I really enjoyed being able to watch the progress in real time last year.

--
Tim
81 Hobie 16
87 Nacra 5.7
Austin, TX
--

http://florida300.com/nor/live-tracking

http://florida300.com/nor/live-tracking

some video of today's start

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlLU3jz1OBg


looks like 3 on the beach, others look like they've gone in. Squalls over the course, looking at the radar



Edited by jaybird1111 on May 18, 2016 - 06:21 PM.

Just for you Jay. Results and stories on Florida300.com
http://florida300.com/florida300

Pictures at
http://www.thebeachcats.c…38&g2_highlightId=121519

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

Ever wondered what the inside of a very expensive carbon mast for a Nacra 20 Carbon looked like?



--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

looks expensive, and painful and slow
any details ?

DamonLinkous

Ever wondered what the inside of a very expensive carbon mast for a Nacra 20 Carbon looked like?

MN3

looks expensive, and painful and slow
any details ?

Team Tavernier Creek Marina capsized and broke their mast in a very strong local thunderstorm that came up right in the middle of leg two. It wasn't a general front just a bunch of thunderstorms that popped up all over South Florida and moved out East just enough to bomb the fleet.

Another team, Youth Team Royal Yellow (Nacra 20) gave assistance and got the boat righted. Then Tavernier did some seamanship and organized the debris, got the mast onboard, and rigged up a temporary sail with the boom and sailed six miles to the finish. Then the Gulf Stream caught them and swept them past the finish before they could beach. Team Cyberspeed on a huge Supercat 20 had just finished and launched back out to tow them to land. All pretty dramatic.

Pictures in the Florida 300 album

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

Thanks for the update

Is Team Tavernier Creek Marina the blue line on the tacking Map that looks like it went Way North of all the other boats?

http://kws.kattack.com/GEPlayer/GMPlayer.aspx?FeedID=1546

That Craig VE. sure is a nice guy :)

DamonLinkous

MN3

looks expensive, and painful and slow
any details ?

Team Tavernier Creek Marina capsized and broke their mast in a very strong local thunderstorm that came up right in the middle of leg two. It wasn't a general front just a bunch of thunderstorms that popped up all over South Florida and moved out East just enough to bomb the fleet.

Another team, Youth Team Royal Yellow (Nacra 20) gave assistance and got the boat righted. Then Tavernier did some seamanship and organized the debris, got the mast onboard, and rigged up a temporary sail with the boom and sailed six miles to the finish. Then the Gulf Stream caught them and swept them past the finish before they could beach. Team Cyberspeed on a huge Supercat 20 had just finished and launched back out to tow them to land. All pretty dramatic.

Pictures in the Florida 300 album

Thanks, Damon

the weather...

COASTAL WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH FL OUT
20 NM-
WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH FL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-
350 AM EDT THU MAY 19 2016


TODAY
SOUTH WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS AROUND 2 FEET. DOMINANT PERIOD
3 SECONDS. INTRACOASTAL WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS.

Thanks Daemon for the photos and results!!

I know the Gulfstream comes close at times to the race course, but is still usually 3+ miles offshore. Team Tavernier marina likely got caught in tidal current (rip tides or rip currents), NOT the Gulfstream. Feel free to post a satellite image debunking this.

Curious how Tavernier marina received a score if they didn't cross the line after breaking their rig? Also curious how they broke their mast and if they had a spare for today?

Glad the boats are back on the beach safe.



Edited by samc99us on May 19, 2016 - 07:17 PM.

As far as the Gulfstream, I was going by what the locals were saying, but you are probably right technically it would be a rip current influenced by the Gulf Stream. I was told this particular area was where the stream is the closest to the East Coast of Florida, but I didn't look at any Satellite imagery to verify.

Tavernier didn't sail today and as far as I know they are out and don't have a backup mast.

They were finished by the race officer when they reached the beach.

The assistance they received was covered by rule 21.8 in the Sailing Instructions.
https://docs.google.com/d…KjJCu2xCFYNTYZqrQw/edit#

Basically team to team assistance is expected if needed. There are time allowances for the assister and time penalties for the team receiving assistance.

Also, the Dutch team "Dutch Rockerz" on a bowered Nacra F18 also broke there mast and didn't sail today, but they did acquire a replacement mast and spent today re-rigging the boat and they will start the Fourth leg. The skipper of the Dutch Rockerz is Bob Henson, the head of Nacra Europe (which is all of Nacra now), so has a few contacts.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

Another day another beach! It's a tough job but somebody has to do it!

The last two days have included severe thunderstorms popping up midway through each leg. Yesterday we got pounded on the beach while the boats were dealing with west winds and sailing on the "wrong" tack most of the way. So much rain, lets just say everything got a fresh water rinse.

Can you all do me a favor? Please subscribe to the race YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCB8kiOrwmOnzMNUKQfVDAw
We need 100 subscribers to get a custom shorter URL and unlock some other features. All the videos so far I've shot and uploaded myself but there is a LOT of footage that will be edited and turned into some really nice videos.

Thanks, On to Cocoa Beach today. Results through three days are posted on the http://www.Florida300.com website.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

DamonLinkous

Can you all do me a favor? Please subscribe to the race YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCB8kiOrwmOnzMNUKQfVDAw

Subscribed 2x (I have a few google accounts)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnWXg8VeRFs
Holly Cruddd!
I can't believe the way they are sailing their 30,000 n20 up the beach

subscribed.

Here's the weather for today (Damon, note the location of the western wall of the Stream :):

SYNOPSIS...THE ATLANTIC RIDGE WILL PRODUCE A LIGHT SOUTHERLY
WIND FLOW AND BENIGN SEAS TODAY. WINDS WILL INCREASE OUT OF THE
SOUTHWEST ON SATURDAY AHEAD OF A FRONTAL TROUGH WHICH WILL PASS
THROUGH THE REGION ON SUNDAY NIGHT. THE MAIN MARINE CONCERN WILL
CONTINUE TO BE SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND STORMS MOVING
OFFSHORE THROUGH THIS WEEKEND. DRIER CONDITIONS WILL SPREAD SOUTH
LATE SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

.GULF STREAM HAZARDS...NONE.

THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE WEST WALL OF THE GULF STREAM BASED
ON THE REAL TIME OCEAN FORECAST SYSTEM FROM WEDNESDAY MAY 18TH.

43 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF PONCE INLET.
32 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF PORT CANAVERAL.
26 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF SEBASTIAN INLET.
17 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF FORT PIERCE INLET.
10 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF SAINT LUCIE INLET.

AMZ552-201430-
VOLUSIA-BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 0-20 NM-
407 AM EDT FRI MAY 20 2016

TODAY
WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS BECOMING EAST 10 KNOTS IN THE
AFTERNOON. SEAS 1 TO 2 FEET WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD 8 SECONDS. A
LIGHT CHOP ON THE INTRACOASTAL WATERS. CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS.


They'd have to go out at least 10nm to get into the Stream, which sounds a good idea until one remembers that the weather is all thermal, so to quote Mr Smyth: "Never Leave The Beach."



Edited by jaybird1111 on May 20, 2016 - 10:52 AM.

jaybird1111

(Damon, note the location of the western wall of the Stream :):

On reflection, the guy giving me the Gulf Stream information was drunk. In fact he was later loudly run off the beach by one of the teams for annoying the sh_t out of them.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

jaybird1111

(Damon, note the location of the western wall of the Stream :):

On reflection, the guy giving me the Gulf Stream information was drunk. In fact he was later loudly run off the beach by one of the teams for annoying the sh_t out of them.

MN3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnWXg8VeRFs
Holly Cruddd!
I can't believe the way they are sailing their 30,000 n20 up the beach

Ha! It's funny you picked that video, that boat is the oldest most patched together in the fleet. It's skipper Mark Ferber could buy anything he wants but he keeps patching that one for another Worrell/Tybee/Florida300 right before this race he sailed/carried it 1200 miles from St. Pete to Jacksonville on some kind of endurance run.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

DamonLinkous

On reflection, the guy giving me the Gulf Stream information was drunk. In fact he was later loudly run off the beach by one of the teams for annoying the sh_t out of them.

oh, that musta been Coach! lulz

DamonLinkous

Ha! It's funny you picked that video, that boat is the oldest most patched together in the fleet. It's skipper Mark Ferber could buy anything he wants but he keeps patching that one for another Worrell/Tybee/Florida300 right before this race he sailed/carried it 1200 miles from St. Pete to Jacksonville on some kind of endurance run.

No I meant the Carbon N20



This Vid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sc8mM8YpSk

[quote=MN3]

DamonLinkous

No I meant the Carbon N20

As someone on the beach said... Gelcoat is cheap.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

Come on over to Cocoa Beach and say hi today or Saturday morning for the last start to Daytona Beach.

Big party planned for after the finish at Daytona at the Ocean Deck right on the beach.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

Didn't Sam just say it was upwards of 2k? (I can only imagine for that cost he was talking about a factory finish on a new race cat)

I don't care if it was free - I'm not driving my cat up a beach like that



[quote=DamonLinkous]

MN3

DamonLinkous

No I meant the Carbon N20

As someone on the beach said... Gelcoat is cheap.

Wait, was it the drunk guy who said this too?

[quote=DamonLinkous]

MN3

DamonLinkous

No I meant the Carbon N20

As someone on the beach said... Gelcoat is cheap.

[quote=MN3]Didn't Sam just say it was upwards of 2k? (I can only imagine for that cost he was talking about a factory finish on a new race cat)

I don't care if it was free - I'm not driving my cat up a beach like that

DamonLinkous

MN3

DamonLinkous

No I meant the Carbon N20

As someone on the beach said... Gelcoat is cheap.

Yes,

That was a for a factory finish on a race cat. I would be closer to $3k really, if you get a pro like Lars Guck or similar to do the work. I paid $700 to have a few spots on my existing race boat brought up to factory finish standard in my area. You can probably find someone to shoot gelcoat for less, maybe $1000, but add in the fairing work and it goes up quickly. This is why many of the F18 owners won't do this race. After seeing the beach landings (and the launches aren't much different), I see you've come to the same conclusion MN3.

The other thing that keeps some of us on the fence, well, myself especially after racing my old N20 in the Tybee 500, and ground crewing for the inaugural Florida 300, is simply the lack of organization and clear direction from the race committee and organizers. Moving the finish line so a boat gets a time after receiving substantial assistance (really more like was rescued), is pretty much B.S. This is akin to letting Mischa get away with going inside the exclusion zone around the, because he is a pro sailor and you wouldn't want to upset him, and disqualifying everyone else, when the rules specifically state that everyone must stay out of the exclusion zone or you will get DSQ'd for the whole race. Guess what, the race committee hasn't changed all that much since then.

I will say I am glad they switched to SCHRS, that was a good move and the right way to handle the handicap and differences between boats.

Look, I get everyone is doing their best, but with the supposed big money and all the hype given before the race, we get 10 youtube videos and like 2 stories on the Florida 300 page. After the race is done, the hype outside the small cat sailing community goes away. Time is of the essence if you want to promote the race! I get that editing footage is time consuming, I get that trying to run the race and manage the media is a lot to handle (thank you Daemon for doing both and giving us as much info as you have!), but if there is that much money involved on the sponsor side, their should be enough to hire a dedicated media dude (or chick). One other note, outside of a few select teams perhaps, none of the sailors are seeing those dollars. I get that running a race like this costs money, and those costs should be covered by race sponsor dollars first, but if there are leftovers (not saying there are), the sailors should see some of that. They have a lot of money invested in clothing, gear (GPS + PLB alone is a $1k investment easy), the boat, the spare parts needed to run a campaign like this, and the >$1k in hotels for the week. Sailing isn't a cheap sport, never has been, and I'm really glad there are several youth teams on the water (thank you Sonnenklar and Lohmeyer) to hopefully keep this going. I'm just saying if you want to attract international teams, lowering entry fees and improving the overall race management is needed to turn this into the East Coast equivalent of a Round Texel or any big French or Dutch Raid.



Edited by samc99us on May 20, 2016 - 02:15 PM.

On a perhaps more positive note, has anyone from the race contacted http://www.catsailingnews.com/ ? I'm sure they would love to publish some news!

My favorite part of the race was surfing down a wave and hitting the beach under spinnaker at the end of each leg. David's least favorite part of the race was re-doing the bottom when we got back home...

My favorite part of the race was surfing down a wave and hitting the beach under spinnaker at the end of each leg. David's least favorite part of the race was re-doing the bottom when we got back home...

My favorite part of the race was surfing down a wave and hitting the beach under spinnaker at the end of each leg. David's least favorite part of the race was re-doing the bottom when we got back home...

haha!

mikekrantz

My favorite part of the race was surfing down a wave and hitting the beach under spinnaker at the end of each leg. David's least favorite part of the race was re-doing the bottom when we got back home...

http://sailinganarchy.com/ might be another good place to get some coverage from.....

samc99us

On a perhaps more positive note, has anyone from the race contacted http://www.catsailingnews.com/ ? I'm sure they would love to publish some news!

--
Marek
1992 Prindle 19
1981 Prindle 16
--

mikekrantz

My favorite part of the race was surfing down a wave and hitting the beach under spinnaker at the end of each leg. David's least favorite part of the race was re-doing the bottom when we got back home...

Style points count!

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

mikekrantz

My favorite part of the race was surfing down a wave and hitting the beach under spinnaker at the end of each leg. David's least favorite part of the race was re-doing the bottom when we got back home...

What's worse?.... Tornado gaskets, ack

New story, video, and pictures.
http://florida300.com/florida-300-news

Watch these two videos of the first two arrivals. Key Sailing arrived in near flat calm and then Buoy 44 (wlrottge) arrived shortly later under building storm.
Key Sailing https://youtu.be/d7fgvlHxs1Q
Buoy 44 https://youtu.be/PZ-v8SukOig

That cloud! At least it cleared the tourists out of the finish line.


--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

The Day 4 coverage is exactly what we'd been hoping to see. Thanks!

Today's weather:
SYNOPSIS FOR FLAGLER BEACH TO JUPITER INLET OUT 60 NM-
418 AM EDT SAT MAY 21 2016


.SYNOPSIS...WINDS WILL INCREASE OUT OF THE WEST THIS WEEKEND AHEAD
OF A FRONTAL TROUGH WHICH WILL PASS THROUGH THE REGION ON SUNDAY
NIGHT. THE MAIN MARINE CONCERN WILL CONTINUE TO BE SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND STORMS MOVING OFFSHORE BOTH AFTERNOONS THIS WEEKEND.
DRIER CONDITIONS WILL SPREAD SOUTH LATE SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

.GULF STREAM HAZARDS...NONE.

THE APPROXIMATE LOCATION OF THE WEST WALL OF THE GULF STREAM BASED
ON THE REAL TIME OCEAN FORECAST SYSTEM FROM THURSDAY MAY 19TH.

45 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF PONCE INLET.
33 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF PORT CANAVERAL.
28 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF SEBASTIAN INLET.
18 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF FORT PIERCE INLET.
11 NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF SAINT LUCIE INLET.


$$




AMZ552-211430-
VOLUSIA-BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 0-20 NM-
418 AM EDT SAT MAY 21 2016


TODAY
WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS BECOMING EAST 5
KNOTS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET WITH A DOMINANT
PERIOD 8 SECONDS. A LIGHT CHOP ON THE INTRACOASTAL WATERS. CHANCE
OF SHOWERS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.



Edited by jaybird1111 on May 21, 2016 - 10:14 AM.

It was quite a week! Halfway home will have more later.

--
Damon Linkous
1992 Hobie 18
Memphis, TN

How To Create Your Signature

How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar

How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
--

DamonLinkous

New story, video, and pictures.
That cloud! At least it cleared the tourists out of the finish line.

Florida in May...

MN3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnWXg8VeRFs
Holly Cruddd!
I can't believe the way they are sailing their 30,000 n20 up the beach

Wish there was video of our day 1 and day 2 finishes; day 1 was epic, mach 5 with the kite up and all boards down. Not exactly how a Tornado likes to come into the beach!

Not sure how the gaskets survived the week, but I'll be pulling the hulls out of the covers to start cleaning things back up in a day or two. My boat was completely refinished by Lars a couple of years ago and was still pristine, so running her up the beach like that kinda made me cringe.... then I remembered, "we're here to race, not play games".

I'm with you brother, the few little scratches I get are easy to fix. My foot is staying on the gas until I cross the line. My only gelcoat damage was from crashing into my own beach wheels landing in Vero when that thunderstorm took the breeze from SE at 6-8 to E at 20 1/4 mile from the finish. Chuck's eyes got real big when he saw us reaching up the beach heading for his line at a 45 degree angle. I was worried about hitting Lisa so I didn't spin out. I think we should have a "style points for cool landing" competition next year.

Turtle Mojo

I'm with you brother, the few little scratches I get are easy to fix. My foot is staying on the gas until I cross the line. My only gelcoat damage was from crashing into my own beach wheels landing in Vero when that thunderstorm took the breeze from SE at 6-8 to E at 20 1/4 mile from the finish. Chuck's eyes got real big when he saw us reaching up the beach heading for his line at a 45 degree angle. I was worried about hitting Lisa so I didn't spin out. I think we should have a "style points for cool landing" competition next year.

Turtle Mojo

well done guys!