Saturday, March 01, 2008

SandyBottom on the water report #1

SandyBottom just called and sounded in good spirits. She is currently in Lemon Bay headed south for check point #1 where she hopes to get in around 11 PM EST. After a noisy night at CP1 last year she has decided to paddle off aways after checking in to get some sleep.

She said that things started to get a little iffy just north of Venice inlet so she decided to head to the ICW after being on the outside. Winds had picked up and she didn't reef in time so her inflatable amas (outriggers) started to get pushed under water. Smart move!

Still no more news from team Dawn Patrol. But after checking the WaterTribe website I saw that FrontalLobotomy ( a world class skipper) was first to CP1 at 3:30 local time...WOW!

Here is the forecast for the Charlotte Harbor area (just south of CP1)...

 TONIGHT
NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. BAY AND
INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.

SUNDAY
EAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. BAY AND
INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP.

SUNDAY NIGHT
EAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 4 FEET. BAY
AND INLAND WATERS CHOPPY.


Looks like the sailors have some great winds to play with. From my experience last
year Pine Island Sound (just south of Charlotte Harbor was one of the most pleasant
areas. Pine Island Sound is a nice wide body of water with barrier islands protecting
it from the Gulf. It is the last section of the Everglades Challenge course before
everyone
is forced to go on the outside down to CP2 in the everglades.

That's all for now, I'm anxiously awaiting word for Dawn Patrol.