everglades challenge sailboat

That is an amazing video. But one major problem for the folks in this year's EC is that there was a VERY strong headwind, so even if you got up some speed and could dump your rig in a hurry (and pull in your amas), you still might not be able to coast or even paddle under certain bridges. I can't paddle my small tri upwind in anything over 10 mph if the sail is up, even if it's just flopping about. MaybeI could do it in my boat with the E-Z-Up mast rig...maybe not. But I, too, would like to know how the Tornado guys did it. Anybody find out yet?
- Frank

 

White Boats are specialty boats for the Broads. So it makes sense that experts could shoot the bridge like that. Expert boats and expert sailors.
I like the Everglades Challenge and think it is about as good a competition to develop good small boats as we are likely to find. The current filters do not reward rowing and paddling enough to make up for the performance of a really good sailboat. This year the sheep were separated from the goats very quickly. I'm surprised so many of the kayaks tried to sail upwind instead of paddle. It wouldn't take a physical giant to make better VMG paddling straight upwind instead of tacking through 150 going 2 knots. But you have to do the work.
I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out how much to spend optimizing for sailing upwind when the boat I had could be rowed straight upwind at 3 knots in 15-20, faster in light air.
SHC

 

I used to routinely pull my flipped over Hobie 16 under the Bear Cut Bridge in Miami as a shortcut out of Biscayne Bay. Most of the time we could sail it back the same way (it was downwind in the prevailing easterlies) using the tramp as the sail and the rig to windward. It didn't steer too well in this mode (LOL) but it was a short trip and getting wet to swim her where she needed to be was no problem in Miami waters.

Steve

 

Cutonce,

I see no reason why both groups of people in the EC can't coexist. It also seems a little excessive to divide all the people into only two groups. It would be a real pity if you let comments/ preferences of armchair sailors like me take this out of your bucket list.
I also don't see why personal experiments and development of a concept does not naturally result in faster more seaworthy boats. It was shocking to see the number of DNF's this year. Perhaps a little bit of development might of increased the numbers completing the course. Next year the same boats might complete in similar conditions.

This should not be an black or white decision.

What would you take next year?

 

Steve,

Why does a sailing kayak have to tack thru 150 degrees or be limited to 2 knots? Development should fix this as you discussed.

 

Not sure why so many DNF's this year.. but Tampa Bay/ Approaches probably took a few out right off the bat. I live in Sarasota neat the airport and they were recording 20-30 steady out of the NW with northerly 41 mph gusts here...(and btw...I was checking on my sailboat anchored nearby about every 4 hours...)

Headwinds were likely not a problem early except around midnite when a land breeze kicks in some often...sometimes quite gustily...Saturday/Sunday when they came through here...was the NWester's...then the wind goes around the dial clockwise and down by Naples and southward the last couple days they'd be getting it from East then SE at steady 15-20 knots and that's what slowed a few more down I would wager...

I love this race and hope to do it someday...kudos to all to participated...!

 

I would like to try the challenge, but I haven't set a date yet. I'm probably going to do the mac in Janet C first.
The everglades challenge is on my bucket list of races after talking to Meade Gougeon about his experiences in the race. In many respects, the G32 would be ok for the event, I can drop the rig in less than 5 minutes, I can get it off the beach, but I think I would have a hard time paddling the boat if I had to.
Maybe put the G32 rig on a smaller cat I can paddle would be the answer.

 

Used escows can be had for cheap (beachcat prices

 

The reason fthere were so many DNFs at the EC this year was because there were so many DNSs. The wind was directly out of the south (not the northwest) for the entire first day. I stood on the beach from 6:30 to 10 am on Saturday and it increased steadily, from 10-15 to 15-20. There were, I think, a lot of folks who just don't sail that often and really weren't experienced in beach launching into a stiff headwind. Why did so many kayaks try to sail into it when paddling was clearly a better and faster option? I guess, when you went to all the trouble to rig your kayak for sail, you wanna use it! But there's no question that paddling would have been a quicker -- and drier -- way to get upwind.
- Frank

 

I'm not saying that kayaks have to be limited, I'm just saying that most of them seem to be. So I was surprised by the strategy.

I was thinking generally about racing when human propulsion is permitted. On almost any straight up wind leg, a good rowing or paddling boat is very hard to beat. It is a rare small sailboat that sails upwind at 6 knots and tacks through 90 degrees. It is pretty common for gigs and kayaks to go upwind at 4 knots.

In light to moderate air it's a no brainer, grab the stupid sticks and do the work. However as it blows harder and the head seas start slowing you down, you can't maintain the pace, sailing starts to make sense. The problem is that a compromise sailing rig that blows you down wind OK isn't refined enough to actually deliver the goods. As you develop that sailing capacity, you inevitably lose some of the paddling/ rowing efficiency, and the cross over point moves again.

Years ago the American Canoe Association had a series of races called the Admiralty Cup. One race was a paddling straight away. One race was a sailing race around a triangle. One race was a triangle twice around where you had to alternate paddling and sailing such that you sailed and paddled on all points. Over the years it became clear that the "best sailing boat" almost always won.

So while my thinking about an ideal boat for the Everglades Challenge has always discounted upwind performance, I believe I may have to adjust my beliefs.
SHC

 

from the watertribe tracking maps it appears that ArdieO has taken the lead in the UFC and is the only one to have left the end of stage 1 which is the finish of the EC.

He is in Class 2, a pure paddle craft, NO SAILS!
I believe he's in a Ruahine Ocean X

 

The Challenge is half the world away from here, but from the stuff around it seems as if a good windsurfer (longboard, not shortboard) could be an excellent machine. Something like an Exocet D2 has all-round sailing performance in the 29er/Flying Dutchman/Hobie 14 bracket, plus it has the advantage of being easily carried and paddled - and bridges are no problem!

Fatigue is of course an issue, but it depends on the way you sail, and I'm not at all sure that it's harder physically than a Tornado, albiet in quite a different way. Of course a Challenge board would be carrying more weight than a normal board, but since it would be outside of other class rules there are other compensations.

 

A windsurfer has been tried. There's a certain amount of gear that has to be carried and that makes it tough. If you lose your gear you can lose your life, not to mention DNF. I guess you could call it Did Not Live, DNL?

 

A windsurfer sounds like a great new concept. Custom made (bigger) board with supplies capacity (minimal size) for the guy who does marathons or triathlons. There should be some kind of a stabilized harness to take most of the weight off the legs. This would really be tough, almost as tough as a PD Racer with a better chance of finishing well.

Calling all tough guys with something to prove!!!!

Spidennis - don't get so negative, you could portage much more easily.

 

Does anyone know if an E scow has been sailed in the Challenge?