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AMY SMITH LINTON

From the Middle of the Challenge

3/3/2019

20 Comments

 
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The middle of the state. The middle of the night. The middle of a large pile of gear.  

From the middle, ground-control for my Everglades Challenge team seems like a way of life.

It's probably sleep deprivation (I write this at midnight, over a bowl of dairy-free frozen dessert, in between reloading various tracking pages and checking the social media), but here I go again, blearily worrying, along with a clan of like-minded folks as we follow the progress of the 100 or so boats as they paddle, sail, and row down the left side of the Florida peninsula.

For those who haven't been following, here's the overview: The Everglades Challenge is a 300-mile unsupported expedition race put on by a gang called the WaterTribe. Competitors get a WaterTribe name. My favorite skipper –– AKA TwoBeers –– is racing with his childhood pal, the offshore sailing coach for the Naval Academy, Jahn Tihansky (tribe name Moresailesed). They set sail on the first Saturday in March at dawn from Fort Desoto in St. Pete, aboard a boat called Spawn designed by OH Rodgers (Ninjee).

​As expected, the WaterTribe tracking site is experiencing some kind of technological version of the vapors.

Raceowl.com is doing better, but it means translating four-digit numbers back into familiar names. Spawn of Frankenscot is 3092, Safety Dance is 2969, Spongebob is 3072, the German guy, Schappi, is 3068, Jarhead is 3154, Puma is 3134, SeadogRocket and BermudaBoy are 3104, Ccock 3043. Et cetera.
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Yesterday started for the Spawn team at o'dark thirty, when Jeff and Jahn and I piled into Charlie Clifton's van with yet more piles of gear, and made our way to the beach at Fort Desoto.  Where we were met with a whole tribe of people wearing head-lamps and lycra-enhanced fitness clothing toting bales of stuff out to their various watercraft.
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The Challenge begins, fiendishly enough, with the competitors needing to push their boats from the high-tide line into the water at the signal at 7 am. Some folks have wallowed in the sand for seemingly hours.  Not my fellas!
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The launching of the fleet was relatively slow this year –– not much breeze. Still, the moment  passes in a twinkling of the eye.

At seven, the beach is packed, by a quarter after, only a lonesome boat or two and spectators are left on the beach.
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I don't know what other ground-control people do, but given that Moresailesed was shedding virus and coughing like a consumptive,  I cleaned up with a vengeance. Seven loads of laundry, autoclaving the dishes, a possibly unhealthy number of Clorox wipes, followed by a quick nip around to the non-dairy frozen dessert section of my local grocery and a nice cat-nap.

My phone is buzzing more than usual: Spawn has a following, and even with the light wind there's an element of nail-biting suspense. Moresailesed send along a photo from onboard –– roughly, I am thinking, from the spot where they spent some time last year recovering from a bit of excitement.
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Evidently the mosquitoes are making an appearance on board Spawn –– last year, the poor devils couldn't make headway agains the wind. Each Challenge is different, I suppose, and a new test of the competitors' varying skills.

​
20 Comments
Stumblingthunder
3/3/2019 01:11:18 am

As of 1am EST, Spawn is due west of Bowman's Beach on Sanibel Island, 34mi south of CP1. They have really stepped out from the rest of Class 4 at that time, putting 30mi on the next class 4 boat, the Highlander.

Go the Spawn!

Reply
Amy
3/3/2019 08:45:41 pm

Speed was their friend -- the wind seems to be very localized!

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Todd Johnson
3/3/2019 06:16:42 am

I now need an autoclave for my dishes! Original.

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Amy
3/3/2019 08:47:02 pm

One of my favorite words. Well, that and "smock."

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Frieda Wildey
3/3/2019 09:05:48 am

Thanks for the update! Wishing the guys big breeze today to make up for Saturday's doldrums. Go Spawn!

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Amy
3/3/2019 08:47:43 pm

Thanks, Freida --
Perhaps Monday will bring some more air...

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greg duncan
3/3/2019 10:12:02 am

At these speeds they should have gotten some rest last night. I would think this is a real test of patience. They are going to have Popeye arms.

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Amy
3/3/2019 08:49:25 pm

They had big plans for regular 2-hour naps -- this would be an excellent year to try to get some rest. I'm hopeful that they might actually eat some of their provisions this year too!

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Ann Tihansky
3/3/2019 10:14:05 am

Thanks Amy!

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Amy
3/3/2019 08:49:55 pm

You're welcome!
Thanks back atcha, girl!

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Stumblingthunder
3/3/2019 01:31:41 pm

1pm - Spawn shot through Blind Pass, no stopping to regroup this time. They are working their way South through the Cape Romano Shoals. They will be in CP2 in a couple of hours at this rate. Will have high water to reduce the mud, and favorable current to leave the CP2 out Choco Pass.

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Stumblingthunder
3/3/2019 03:55:32 pm

3pm EST update - Class 4 Leaders - Spawn is heading to in the mouth of Chokoloskee Pass, about a mile away at the last update. They are moving at around 8.5kts and are between 5 and 6mi from CP3. Second Place is now SOS&DancesWithSandyBottom, is just off of Captiva Blind Pass, about a mile offshore due West of Castaways Beach Bay Cottages, 67miles behind Spawn, moving at 4.7kts. AndyMan is finally moving at 5kts, about 1/2 way down Captiva Island, still way off shore. The Skinnys are due West of the Plantation Resort at the North End of Captiva Island, even further offshore and slowly moving at 1.7kts.

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Stumblingthunder
3/3/2019 04:05:57 pm

Immediate update! Spawn just arrived at CP2.

Go the Spawn and get a Cuban Coffee before Havana's closes!

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Amy
3/3/2019 08:51:05 pm

Even at 1.7 knots, the suspense is nerve-wracking!
Thanks for the updates!

Reply
Stumblingthunder
3/4/2019 03:30:03 am

Your welcome! I am sailing along with them in my thoughts, without the mosquitos, heat, chill and muscle aches!

They should be in CP3 any instant right now. Bumpy and Machoman, the only team ahead of them finished at 1 day 19hrs and 15min.

Stumblingthunder
3/4/2019 06:42:54 am

Spawn is taking a Northerly path through the reefs, last one passed is Crocodile Dragover, passing to the South of Madeira Bay, to the next reef pass at Black Betsy Keys. Spawn is 14-15mi, direct line, from the finish. How far they will travel depends on the passes they chose to go through.

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Stumblingthunder
3/4/2019 08:04:51 am

Spawn has jogged down to the rhum line and aiming for Baker Cut. They are making 6.4kt average and I estimate 6.75mi from the finish.

Get the Busch Beer ready for the celebration!

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Stumblingthunder
3/4/2019 09:27:25 am

Spawn is now, in the house! Congrats on 2 days 1hr 54min passage from Ft. Desoto to Key Largo. First Monohull to finish.

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Frieda Wildey
3/4/2019 10:53:14 am

Awesome! Thank you for the update! Glad they are finished and can't wait to hear the tall tales about this one

Amy
3/5/2019 07:11:14 pm

Well done, Stumbling!
The boys reported that their route was good -- more daring even than last time, and while the mosquitoes were buzzing, the team came away with nearly all their blood undrunk. I'll write something about it after we've all had a bit more sleep...

Reply



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