Tybee 500 Coverage from Gale's Shore Crew

Latest Tybee 500 News - Monday, May 12, 2003 - Day 3
Islamorada in the Keys, north to Hollywood, Florida

Initiation

Dave again was at the boat before anyone else, smoothing down some areas on the hull where he'd done some fiberglass work, and was busy putting together the cooler with the fruit and fluids that Gale and Carl would need, then he put Carl's PB&J sandwich into a baggie and strapped it onto the boom with duct tape. Looked like it would be a long hot day out there.

Gale said she'd slept well…until about 5 a.m. And Carl asked me how I was doing. Shouldn't it be the other way around? But he's just polite like that. Bill got fresh batteries for the GPSs and an extra rudder casting to have on hand just in case. Gale collected data from Commander's weather report this morning and tactics were being discussed with light air expected until sea breezes filled in later. Carl's inclination was to stay inside and not try to push into the Gulf Stream to catch the northward current. They decided they might get better air by the shoreline.

Suddenly it was 9:20 and Gale and Carl were suited and ready. Bill did a final safety check of boat and skippers. By 9:30 David had the boat jockeyed in position by the only area where boats could be launched. Soon they were on the Inter 20 and moving into the smooth water to maneuver around to the start.

There's not much of a beach at this location—in front of the Islander at Islamorada—to launch beach cats into the surf. It's shallow, too, with coral heads close to shore. This is why a deepwater start was necessary for this one. Conveniently, a fishing pier juts out exactly on the same line that was defined by the buoy and race committee boat, signifying the start line, perpendicular to the beach. Even that far off shore beyond the pier, the water's only about 4-5' deep. The pier was of course crowded with race officials, videographers, photographers, and a few spectators peering into the gin clear waters at schools of small fish.

The 27 boats—15 Inter 20s, 8 F-18HTs, and four Nacra 6.0s—glided back and forth waiting for the different horns signaling the countdown. Team Antieau Art was the first to hoist their spinnaker, and then everyone was off on a beam reach. Soon spinnakers of every color were abloom. It was all pretty slow-mo in the light winds of 7-8 knots.

Then we were off, as well, checking out of La Siesta and heading in the same direction: they to struggle with coral heads and Miami's shipping lanes, and we to struggle the two-lane off the Keys and then Miami's tollways and traffic.

It wasn't as much fun to find Hollywood's beach as it was Islamorada. Actually, you can hardly find it for the high rises and traffic. But once we did, we figured out the logistics and prepared to greet Carl and Gale. By 5:30 all eyes were on the sails and spinnakers on the horizon and what a wonderful sight. Four Inter 20s arrived within about 20 minutes or so in the south winds of about 10-12 knots. And when I focused the binoculars on who was coming in next I was thrilled. There was the delightfully funny horizontal fish logo of Antieau Art's main sail. Yea.

Turned out that Gale's Commander weather report was right on the money. "They said the sea breeze would fill in so we stayed close to shore," she said. "But it was a tough call, tactically and navigationally. It was essential to keep alert for shallows in shore and watching for coral. But we did it right." Boats that went farther east and into the Gulf Stream spent too much effort without much gain.

Both looked a bit beat but not the worse for wear, except that among all the things that Gale learned today was that she should have worn long pants. She lobster-looking legs and red pressure areas on her knees from a day's work that she's not used to. "I'll wear the dry suit tomorrow," she said. "It's breathable, so it should be OK."

Before I could lead the wet warriors off to their rooms to get into something dry, then relax and fill themselves on something other than just more fruit and water, Gale and Carl were stopped by the hotel's social director who wanted to have them pose flanking none other than Miss Florida. It was quite a contrast of style! But everyone was all smiles.

Gale and Carl agreed that tomorrow will be easier for navigation. Later, while Gale and Bill again synchronized the GPS waypoints, Carl decided to get something more substantial than the pizza our hosts graciously gave us and everyone associated with the Tybee 500 on the stunning tropical patio at the Holiday Inn.

Hollywood's beach is certainly not used to seeing anything like this. They're used to happy hour on "The Broadwalk" and a few ultralights buzzing like giant insects off the beach now and then. But among the pastels of the neatly dressed tourists were a lot of t-shirted sailors balancing two-way radios and water bottles, speaking a language that was not understood in these parts. Ah but the place was pretty, everyone was friendly, and the one-man steel drum music was perfect.

--Diana Prentice

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