Everglades What? 2017

That didn't go as planned...

Instead of pulling into the cool campground at Chockoloskee and checking the interwebs for the GPS location of Team Spawn, here I am lounging on the couch, surrounded by piles of gear, food, and clean clothes watching stinky movies (seriously, Jonah Hex –– pee-euw!) with Captain TwoBeers.

On Friday, the boys launched Spawn in what they call "sporty" conditions. They used the boat-ramp at Fort DeSoto park, and then sailed it around Bunces Pass to the beach where all the other WaterTribe competitors were preparing for a Saturday start.

A beautiful day, but breezy.  

A "small craft advisory" is how the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA of the fantastic artificial voice) tells the public that the wind is expected to be between 20-33 knots for more than two hours.

Spawn at the boat-ramp, fully reefed main. Sporty.

The organizers of the event announced early on Friday that should a small craft advisory be in effect at the start, the fleet would be delayed on shore.  The WaterTribe is made up of small -- nay, tiny -- craft, and there is a well-travelled shipping channel between the start and the first couple of miles.

It takes very little imagination to see where that might go badly.  

Spawn on the beach.

DeSea working on MokoJumbie. Check out the adorable Ellie Mae in the background.

I was awake most of Friday night, listening to the gentle snoring of Ninjee and Moresailesed and the freight-train roar of wind through the trees outside the camper.

On Saturday morning, the news came at the six-thirty competitor's meeting: small craft advisory still in effect. Consequently, a 24-hour delay on shore, and disqualification for anyone who ventured out before then. 

Sunrise at Fort DeSoto Beach.

As the morning wore on, the prospects changed shape. In the likely event of continued small craft advisoriess, further delays might be possible, unless the boats were starting south of Tampa Bay.

Many of the competitors popped their vessels onto trailers and skipped ahead to Check Point #1 for the restart. Team Spawn considered it briefly, then weighed their original goals –– to top last year's time and to finally (finally!) stick around for the awards ceremony and receive one of those dang (alleged) shark's teeth.

Over a hearty breakfast and by the glow of multiple internet devices, the team gauged weather against time.  And headed for the barn.

​Until the next adventure...