2014 everglades challenge

I was looking at warren light craft offerings as potential boats for the everglades challenge. Would the ultralight 20 or the little wing 15.5 sail be a better choice?

I would think the ultralight 20 would be the way to go.

 

Assuming you intend to win your class (these are fast high end boats) I would say the ultimate 20 is the serious racer but it needs some modifications for the course.
-serious human power propulsion plan
-quick rigging mast up and down for bridges
-a shallow water plan -low aspect board and rudder for the mud flats/tide
-maybe more convenient storage, human factors

With these mods I would say the U20 would be the best production boat there is for the EC in any likely conditions. The U20 would be in two crew unlimited sail class. Let me be the first to apply for the position of first mate!

Little wing 15.5 would be a fine contestant in the single unlimited sail class, but I don't think it is likely to win. If I was campaigning a LW I would develop a sea sock for the cockpit and some way to shift the crew weight, and possibly a bigger sail plan. It just doesn't have the power with the crew in the cockpit. If you are not 'in it to win it' -just finish, the LW would be a nice way to go.

Ted Warren comments on these boards occasionally -very helpful. If he doesn't chime in send him a PM. I am not sure how interested he is in the EC but he has expressed a desire to put the U20 against the 18ft race cats.

 

Mosquito Trimaran 2014 entrant

Looks like a nice boat out for a shakedown sail.

Came across this video:
http://youtu.be/BgtCbR0uL3I



and the associated blog:

http://www.sailnaway.blogspot.com/

 

Ec

I followed Mosquito in 2012 as they did the UFC and came up the intercoastal near my home. Hope they do well in the EC this year!

Pictures: L to R- 1) website picture-painted,2) my picture during the UFC near Port St. John, 3) before painting (and sponsor)-where?

 

Do you remember if they had any strong winds during that UFC, Doug? That's a pretty bendy-looking mast? Rod-rigging?

 

Conditions were very windy, coming out of the south on March 3, 2012. Mosquito sat on the beach for a whole day after all the others had left. When finally launched the boat ate up the course.

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/al...-county-park-mullet-key-3-3-2012-a-42106.html

 

http://logofspartina.blogspot.com/s...-04:00&max-results=10&start=593&by-date=false

http://sailnaway.blogspot.com/

 

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No, I'm not sure. When they passed me the wind was ENE about 10 kts.

 

2014 Ec/ 2013 Ec

I don't remember seeing this-it's the story of the 2013 EC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6tLgJX9niM#t=5722

 

How can you head out on an event like this and not have tube sleeves, carbon/Kevlar matte and 5min epoxy not with you? Hell we carried that on the 49er just during a regatta day (and had a spare vang and sprit in the coach boat) - heck, he could have found a stick on shore and stuck it inside the broken tube and continued. No carrying a piece of wood (frankly one for each possible load failure point) dowel to serve as a reinforcement is just dumb

 

Everglades Challenge 2014

Heres a link to follow the EC starting March 1st: http://www.watertribe.com/Events/EvergladesChallenge/Default.aspx

 

Here is the tracking map: http://www.watertribe.com/Events/ChallengeGMapper.aspx

 

...

On the Watertribe discussion page there's a thread about "Best places to Grab a Burger" during the race.

Hey, it's a subject where I have some level of proficiency!



Someone there already mentioned Cabbage Key (next to Useppa, south of Boca Grande), and aside from burgers everyone passing by there should remember that in addition to lunch and dinner they've got nice breakfasts as well! Cabbage Key is certainly in the running for 'Best Place' along their route which doesn't call for much of a detour.

If you don't want to go more than 100-200 yards out of your way, then there aren't actually that many suitable places even along the intercoastal waterway.

Going down past Sarasota, I think the bar at the Sailing Squadron would be an OK place, and after that there's nothing convenient until the Stickney Point bridge; there's a restaurant on the left there, but the service can be terribly slow and tying up is a little awkward, unless you're really desperate.

But at this stage in the race, anyone who already stops for beers and burgers is really undermining their own progress, so they should go a ~little~ further before stopping?




If they can make it before closing (9 pm), then the Fish House on the north end of Casey Key, immediately to the right after the swing bridge, is the #1 most convenient fine-dining along the entire Everglades Challenge route. There's a nice ramp right next to the restaurant where EC sailors can pull boats up. The burgers are very good, but the Almond Snapper and the Swordfish are better; ask for extra lemon butter sauce. Service is usually fast.

Maybe racers think this is a little decadent? But if you've got adverse current and no wind, it's a no-brainer.

After that, just past the Nokomis Bridge, there's Pelican Alley and Doc's next to each other. Both have plenty of dock space right next to the channel. Pelican Alley is a more elaborate sit-down affair, while Doc's is quicker in all respects, it's most economical, plastic basket stuff.

But if you really want to go to McDonalds? The closest one is immediately on the left after you've passed under the bridge across Lemon Bay just before Stump Pass.

 

2014 Ec

Thats great Blackburn-I'll sure remember this info is here if I ever pull it together to do the EC or follow it closely. I know many areas of Florida real well but not the area of the EC course. And a good hamburger(thick,juicy cooked over a charcoal fire!) is my Soul food-I don't mean McDonalds.

 

Ec

Wishing good luck to all the competitors starting Saturday! I sure hope I can swing it some year or at least get my Crossbow fl in the sailing adventure of a lifetime.(for some)
Or maybe my version of Gary's skimmer which pretty much seems like the ideal monohull for the challenge.....