Everglades Challenge 2023

[Fat Point Jack]

There was red tide in the Gulf last week in Englewood. I'll have a new report on Thursday.

 

[MisterMoon]

Looks like a good guess though.



Looking beyond Saturday, this could be a year when human propulsion becomes important. That and shade. Those who come down either side of Pine Island should prepare for hot and glassy. Oh, and stinky due to red tide.

I don't recall red tide ever being a factor in the EC before. If it's bad it will force some out of the race.

Lack of wind sucks, but I’m glad we’re on a pedal-powered Hobie Tandem Island.

In 2019, we were in among a bunch of monohulls off Sarasota when the wind shut off. We pedaled on and pretty quickly put all of them below the horizon, arriving at the first checkpoint 10-12 hours ahead of them. Hobie Islands aren’t great sailboats, but the ability to pedal for hours at 3 knot makes up for whatever other limitations they have.

the red tide is a concern. I’ve been advised to wear an N95 mask in areas so affected. Hopefully it doesn’t turn into a big issue.

 

[Pertinacious Tom]

the red tide is a concern. I’ve been advised to wear an N95 mask in areas so affected. Hopefully it doesn’t turn into a big issue.

It's stinky to me but would dramatically affect my brother's breathing at levels I could not even smell, so a lot will depend on whether your body reacts to it like mine or like his.

I always thought Adventure Islands are kind of cheater boats for this race. I know I could finish in my AI, it just doesn't sound like much fun. Doesn't sound all that hard though. That makes the challenge a whole lot less interesting. Adding a low and narrow bridge back in wouldn't change that.

SW wanted to try it in the Picnic Cat before he thought better and sold the boat to me. I'm not at all sure we could manage to finish in the Picnic Cat, especially if winds didn't cooperate. That's more interesting and I once told him I'd give it a shot mostly because the suggestion made me laugh.

 

[veni vidi vici]

Red Tide is gonna be a bitch!
If you didn’t think it bothered you before you will change your tune after being immersed in it for 72 hours.

https://myfwc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=87162eec3eb846218cec711d16462a72

 

[MisterMoon]

It's stinky to me but would dramatically affect my brother's breathing at levels I could not even smell, so a lot will depend on whether your body reacts to it like mine or like his.

I always thought Adventure Islands are kind of cheater boats for this race. I know I could finish in my AI, it just doesn't sound like much fun. Doesn't sound all that hard though. That makes the challenge a whole lot less interesting. Adding a low and narrow bridge back in wouldn't change that.

SW wanted to try it in the Picnic Cat before he thought better and sold the boat to me. I'm not at all sure we could manage to finish in the Picnic Cat, especially if winds didn't cooperate. That's more interesting and I once told him I'd give it a shot mostly because the suggestion made me laugh.

I've never experienced red tide before, so I have no idea what to expect.

It's always fun, just sometimes it's type 2 fun instead of type 1 fun.

I would not choose a picnic cat either, but SW (aka Plumbcrazy) seems to like odd boats for this event. He dropped by yesterday to show me his new truck and will be at CP1 with my wife.

 

[veni vidi vici]

I've never experienced red tide before, so I have no idea what to expect.

It's always fun, just sometimes it's type 2 fun instead of type 1 fun.

I would not choose a picnic cat either, but SW (aka Plumbcrazy) seems to like odd boats for this event. He dropped by yesterday to show me his new truck and will be at CP1 with my wife.

Red tide irritates the mucous membranes of the eye, nose and lungs and will continue to irritate as long as one is exposed to the irritant.

 

[veni vidi vici]

Dead fish washing up on Collier County beaches due to high levels of red tide

Dead fish appear on beaches in Naples. City crews spent Friday morning picking up the dead animals as red tide worsened in the Gulf of Mexico.

winknews.com

 

[Fat Point Jack]

The Gulf at Englewood Beach STINKS.

I was sanding and painting the porch rail about 1000 feet away from the Gulf. I was OK with a mask on but lasted about 5 minutes before sneezing without it. Wind was out of the S/SW at 12 with 1-2 ft chop. Would have been a great Hobie Day. That kicks up the little bugs into the air.

There was a color change about 1/2 mile out. I don't know if that is cleaner water.

 

[veni vidi vici]

The Gulf at Englewood Beach STINKS.

I was sanding and painting the porch rail about 1000 feet away from the Gulf. I was OK with a mask on but lasted about 5 minutes before sneezing without it. Wind was out of the S/SW at 12 with 1-2 ft chop. Would have been a great Hobie Day. That kicks up the little bugs into the air.

There was a color change about 1/2 mile out. I don't know if that is cleaner water.

Gonna be windy out of the SW , kicking up spray filled red tide water. For some it will be miserable. The RT is all the way to Naples

 

[Wess]

Was Ryan F (of proa around the horn fame) building a boat for this (or the R2AK)?

 

[CrazyR]

Was Ryan F (of proa around the horn fame) building a boat for this (or the R2AK)?

He was modifying / rebuilding small trimaran for this year EC with plans to build small proa for next year. I don’t see him in the roster although.

 

[Pertinacious Tom]

Looking at forecasts and it's supposed to be blowing 20 from the S here next Friday, so we can be pretty sure that won't happen but something like it will.

That was from last Friday and they're still saying it's going to blow 20 from the S here tomorrow. It's a lot more believable now.

 

[Pertinacious Tom]

Sailflow monitor in Charlotte Harbor says there have been three gusts to 20 knots so far today, almost got a fourth one around 9am. They're forecasting gusts to 30. I'll boldly predict that there won't be gusts to 30.

 

[veni vidi vici]

Sailflow monitor in Charlotte Harbor says there have been three gusts to 20 knots so far today, almost got a fourth one around 9am. They're forecasting gusts to 30. I'll boldly predict that there won't be gusts to 30.

At least the wind and tide will be going in the same direction at the start

 

[r.finn]

He was modifying / rebuilding small trimaran for this year EC with plans to build small proa for next year. I don’t see him in the roster although.

Yeah, there was no way I'd be ready. Boat still isn't launched. Gives me a year to train though.

 

[veni vidi vici]

I was on the beach around 1 today, only 8-10 boats set up on the beach. The bay was RAGING blowing directly into the shore. The Chief has announced boats can launch anywhere above CP1 if they choose.
The wind is supposed to be much less tomorrow at start time.
Most of the fleet was still in the parking lot.
No pictures this year of colorful boats lined up at the high water mark

 

[Fat Point Jack]

Gulf at Englewood is gnarly. 3-5 chop, 15-20out of the S/SW and Red Tide.

 

[Pertinacious Tom]

I'll boldly predict that there won't be gusts to 30.

Or maybe it will gust above 30 a bunch of times and fling some of the limbs that have been hanging high in the trees since hurricane Ian.

I'm retiring.

 

[Kenny Dumas]

I’d never second guess the Chief, but a wise racer only needs to hold off from an on time start. Mid afternoon looks fine.

 

[veni vidi vici]

I’d never second guess the Chief, but a wise racer only needs to hold off from an on time start. Mid afternoon looks fine.

Yes!
Even in my prime I would not have started the race in the conditions yesterday afternoon ( Friday) . I doubt that you could even get a boat off the beach without it getting rolled over in the surf and busted to pieces.
I took a video from the pavilion but should have taken a few closer to the beach.
Start today will be interesting, I don’t know if the USCG is still involved with allowing a start. It will be more like 15 +- at 10 this morning with a incoming tide that will be better than the wind against the tide in the mouth of Tampa Bay, short , steep, frequent chop