Team Dawn Patrol called in it looks like just after they cleared the 10,000 Islands. They are currently making good towards CP3 and they are hoping to catch Jarhead & Waterscribe; they are sailing a Sea Pearl. Currently Dawn Patrol is in 4th place, Roo & Tinker are about a third of the way through Florida Bay, and Jarhead is somewhere between Dawn Patrol and CP3. It'll be interesting to see who takes what route in Florida Bay.
Anyway SOS said that they pulled up to Indian Key around midnight and the tides were not favorable so the anchored and caught several hours of sleep. They got under way at about 03:45 this morning and spent a while battling the tide still. Once it turned they had no problem getting in to Chokoloskee Bay. They hit CP2 at 09:36 today. On their way out they were fighting the tide that was till coming in, but now they are outside and sailing towards Cape Sable. The waters are fairly calm, but they have one reef in the main sail and are fighting the unfavorable winds.
I'm not sure at what time, but they talked to RidgeRunner & GreyBeard at Indian key and they were getting ready for more rest.
SandyBottom called in a couple hours later from a beach near Naples. She was beached with ManitouCruiser, Boo & dabiscuit so that they could take down the sail rigs. If you are paddling with a sail rig, it is much easier to make head way if everything is down; just the mast alone add a great deal of resistance and in a challenge like this you need to save every ounce of energy you can. RiverJohn wasn't too far behind either.
Her plan was to paddle in the group until sundown or there abouts and then rest up some more (they have been going since 3 this morning). And again they will make an "O" dark 30 departure. The night time seems to bring better weather for the paddlers. I think this group will stick together for the remainder of the challenge given the weather conditions, and that ain't bad at all.
I expect to hear from SB when they find a place to camp. As for Team Dawn Patrol I don't expect to hear anything for a good while, maybe CP3. Let's hope they can catch Jarhead. I'm glad Jarhead is having a good time this year, last year he had to drop out at CP1 because of a torn sail.
Here's the weather for the area between CP2 and CP3...
THIS AFTERNOONIt's going to be a rough finish for the paddlers.
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS.
BAY AND INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. CHANCE OF SHOWERS THROUGH THE
DAY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TONIGHT
SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. BAY
AND INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS.
TUESDAY
SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. BAY AND
INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS THROUGH THE
DAY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON.
TUESDAY NIGHT
SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING WEST 5 TO
10 KNOTS AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. BAY AND INLAND WATERS A
MODERATE CHOP. CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS.
WEDNESDAY
WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 FEET OR LESS. BAY AND
INLAND WATERS A LIGHT CHOP. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS.
