Tybee 500 Coverage from Gale's Shore Crew

Latest Tybee 500 News - Saturday morning, May 17, 2003
Day 7 - Fernandina Beach Addendum

And Now... A Word About Our Sponsors...

Team Antieau Art's original jib and mainsail were fully swathed with pretty logos the first day of our journey in Islamorada. Unfortunately, though, hundreds of miles later at Fernandina where two of our sponsors are located, the once-torn-and-now-mended logo-laden mainsail is rolled up and unseen inside Bill's race vehicle. This is not what the team had intended or anticipated.

Instead, sadly, the borrowed mainsail that's currently attached to the mast carries the names of products and services totally unfamiliar to us—and mostly from Texas! But through the kindness of Tom Dinen and Jim Stone of Team Soul Surfer, our Team Antieau Art was able to finish the race. Their logos have no emotional meaning to us except that they symbolize generosity, goodwill, and of course, good luck. After all, the team came in seventh yesterday on this fifth leg with it. And without it, well, who knows…

But the original mainsail with all the sponsor names will be proudly hoisted again after this last leg, at the spectacular finish on the beach at Tybee Island, so everyone can see.

Yesterday, it was strange to be looking with my binoculars for something other than that dark horizontal graphic of the strange marine animal that symbolizes Antieau Art. And when the hulls are sitting on the sand at rest awaiting the next leg, the unique design soaring above the boat like a giant magical flying fish had been a source of pride. But at least the logo-bedecked original jib was still on the boat when they launched from the beach at Ormond, and again at Fernandina.

And just what is "Antieau Art" one might ask? Carl's older sister, Chris Roberts-Antieau, is a successful multi-media artist and owner of Antieau Art. While not a sailor, she's an ardent fan and has followed the 1000-mile Worrell event in past years whenever Carl had entered. Unfortunately, this year's event conflicted with one of her shows around the country. To find out more about Antieau Art and Chris' uniquely whimsical and "strangely curious" work, check out www.chrisroberts-antieau.com.

St. Simons Surfsailors of St. Simons Island, Georgia, is a club of avid sailors and supporters. The team is grateful for their generosity, and want to extend special thanks to manager Katherine Leslie and Commodore Robert Ussery. Bill has been a member for about 20 years, serving in various ways, and David, following his dad in becoming a member, is currently events coordinator. The organization's website is www.darientel.net/~surfsail.

Here in Fernandina Beach we had the pleasure of meeting Richard Germano, proprietor of The Crab Trap Restaurant. It's a few miles from the beach, nestled near the ICW in the historic part of town along Second Street. Our tired and hungry crew were guests of The Crab Trap, where we hovered over plates heaped with fresh seafood specialties of several varieties. Each of us got something different and everyone was fully satisfied—even Carl, who requested a pitcher of iced tea—well, no, make that two. "And would you like a straw with that?" asked our exceptional server, Amy. Bill had to snap a picture of Carl with his pitcher and straw.

The ambience is relaxed and rustic with walls of exposed original old bricks, and an enormous mural of a shrimp boat plying local waters for diners to contemplate. Carl walked over to get a closer admiring look and we all agreed that the lines of these eye-catching shrimp-catchers are beautiful. Just a short walk from where we sit, they can be seen lined along the wharf between working forays into the deep Atlantic by way of nearby St. Mary's inlet.

No one's crabby at The Crab Trap. Everyone went out of their way to be sure things were just right, and Amy kept us smiling, even laughing out loud with her quick wit. There's something for every taste on the menu, too. And a delightful homemade Key Lime Pie—if you really think you can squeeze it in after that Seafood Casserole and cheese grits... or Fried shrimp with battered fries... or Shrimp Creole and rice... or Blackened Tuna done exactly the way you like it... or…. Yummmm. Thanks, Richard. Thanks Amy. Get all the particulars at www.ameliaisland.com/crabtrap.htm.

Another of our sponsors here in Fernandina is the spanking new Amelia Hotel and Suites, just west of the narrow shore-hugging A1A, within sight of the Atlantic. Here in our suite (it's most definitely not just a room) I'm sitting in office-luxury at a desk with data ports, even a place to plug in the laptop. Just over my right shoulder, the view includes the masts and sails of those in the Tybee 500 fleet, lined up and waiting for the starting horn in about an hour. Sitting sixth boat down from the north, among all the top guns, is last night's sixth place finisher: none other than our very own Team Antieau Art. Yea.

The suite is so spacious that the king-sized bed is nearly dwarfed by its dimensions. There's also a kitchenette with a dorm-sized fridge, and a countertop with microwave and mini-coffeemaker. The bathroom is luxurious with complimentary Yardley Lavender toiletries for guests.

But one of the most special aspects of this family-run place is that it's entirely smoke-free. In addition, The Amelia Hotel and Suites unabashedly espouses Project Planet's urgings for water and energy conservation, recycling, and use of environmentally friendly cleansers and detergents. In our weeklong travels up the coast, sampling a wide variety of hotel arrangements, this was the only one that encouraged guests to participate in conservation.

Many thanks to The Amelia Hotel and Suites for all their help and hospitality as well as their environmental consciousness. Check them out: www.ameliahotelandsuites.com.

New England Ropes supplied every inch of new line needed for the Inter 20 that was sailed by Team Antieau Art in the Tybee 500. New England Ropes was also the Offical Rope Supplier for Gale's Mini-Transat campaign in 2001, providing superior quality rope and customer service, and has also pledged continued support in Gale's quest to race in the 2006 Around Alone. New England Ropes, Inc., has been the leading manufacturer of premium quality rope for over 30 years and the company is totally dedicated to providing the most technically advanced products designed to meet the needs of the discriminating customer. For more info, go to www.neropes.com.

Gill and Harken, well-known and respected names in the marine industry, have also been highly supportive of the team's efforts, as they are for all teams participating in the Tybee 500, by contributing gear and discounts to Team Antieau Art.

Another race fan (of both NASCAR and catamarans) is C.J. Jeffries, who with his wife Megan, is owner of SeaJay's Waterfront Café and Pub on Jekyll Island and the Key West Pizza Pie Company on St. Simons Island. SeaJay's is one of those special family-run places with great food and service, as well as live acoustical music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It serves lunch and dinner (including the famous Low Country Shrimp Boil) and the sunset view from the veranda is one of the most romantic along the entire east coast. Visit Jekyll Island and linger here along the ICW with friends you just haven't met yet. See www.seajays.com.

SeaJay's overlooks, Jekyll Harbor Marina. This friendly place to stay—for the night or for a year or more—is a team sponsor, too, whose manager, Capt. Sean McClellan, is owner of Weadore Sailing Yacht Service, another team sponsor. Shawn takes island guests on his 30' sloop, Weadore, docked at the marina, for daylight, sunset, and moonlight sails. He enjoys showing off the dolphin, turtles, and sea birds that live in the waters around Jekyll Island, of which he knows all about. Here's how to reach Shawn: www.weadoresailing.com.

Jekyll Harbor Marina has not only SeaJay's Waterfront Café and Pub on the premises, but also a pool, hot tub, and everything else you'd expect at a relaxing getaway spot or an enjoyable home base. While it's a "resort," it's small and friendly—not a "complex." If you're traveling by boat, there's no better stop, and Jekyll's crowdless beaches and unique historic district are best explored by courtesy bike from Jekyll Harbor Marina. See photos of the sunset and azaleas: www.jekyllharbor.com. You'll definitely want to stop here, whether arriving by boat or by car. Islands without traffic signals are the best kind.

Zachry's Seafood Restaurant and The Surf Steakhouse are two popular restaurants on Jekyll Island owned by David and Barbara Zachry. Both eateries are popular with the locals, have excellent food, and are casual. While Zachry's Seafood Restaurant in Jekyll Plaza serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and boasts home-cooked meals and seafood, The Surf Steakhouse, at the northern tip of the island, has a more elegant atmosphere and a more upscale menu. The Surf Steakhouse lives up to its name in a delicious way, and has a cozy and friendly cocktail lounge where you can have dinner and/or enjoy live entertainment and karaoke. The "Portabella Pizza" is something you'll come back for.

Read all about The Surf Steakhouse at www.surfsteakhouse.com and look for Zachry's Seafood Restaurant at www.jekyllexperience.com/restaurants.shtml.

Tokyo Joe's Japanese Steakhouse Brunswick, Georgia, is owned and operated by Joe Weilbacher, and the team is grateful for Joe's support. It's a great place for a family get-together and for a meal that will take you away from the ordinary. Sit down and have a good time watching the cooks prepare a fillet (or chicken or shrimp or other entrée of your liking) before your very eyes on hibachi grills. They don't just cook but entertain you as well, tossing and juggling wooden batons as they grill the tasty morsels. Sip on some saki and enjoy the atmosphere. Get more information about Tokyo Joe's Japanese Steakhouse at www.officialguide.com/gidining.html. Their website www.tokyojoes.com should be coming up soon.

Ben Nelson, also of Brunswick, who owns and operates Atlantic Marine, has also been a generous sponsor. One of the original members of the local Nacra fleet, Ben's a catamaran sailor and racer with St. Simon's Surfsailors. At Atlantic Marine in Brunswick, Georgia, he takes pride in offering services to help you on the water in any way he can. This includes boat storage, marine supplies and accessories, new and used powerboat sales and exceptional service. Contact information can be found here: boat.recycle.net/trade/bt000079.html.

Miklos Kovach, owner of Mac-Design.com, is thanked for supplying some of the specialized parts required for the sailors, i.e., trapeze handles used during the race while "hiking out." If you have no idea what a trapeze handle is, contact him at info@mak-design.com and he'll be happy to help you understand everything you need to know about his products and this specialized gear.

Roberto Cosmo Votolato, owner of RobertoDesign.com who lives in Waverly, Georgia, generously contributed some of his fine art work for the team to raffle. The proceeds helped defray some of the lodging and traveling expenses. Thank you, Roberto! Learn more about his creativity and what he does at www.robertodesign.com.

Last and certainly not least is Paramount Press of Brunswick, Georgia, whose owners, Bob and Barbara Ingram, are sailors and avid supporters of Team Antieau Art. Bob and Barbara were extremely generous in discounting an enormous expense: that of having all the various sponsors names made into vinyl lettering which were then plastered all over the two sails and the two support vehicles.

Sponsors are a big part of the team and the team couldn't have placed in the top ten without them during this highly competitive event. Thanks, guys. Your help is truly appreciated. Looking forward to seeing you next May for the Tybee 500!

-- Diana Prentice

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