My first-timer report.

This was my first i-to-i, my first time in south Florida, and my first time on the open Atlantic.  You could tell.

In Seattle, when we see a forecast of 15-20, my 11.0 is usually the call.  Not so in SoFl, it seems.  So, my 11.0 ended up being too big.  And, of couse, I couldn't even get launched off the beach in the shore break.  In the retreating water between breakers, things get shallow, so my fin was an anchor.  Actually it was kind of funny.  But, no, I did not get launched or race.  I would practice that, but we never that type of waves on Puget Sound.

When somebody like Peter says, half jokingly (but only half), that he will never do that race again, I don't feel so bad.

However, it was a nice event, a nice venue, nice people, and (probably most of the time) nice sailing.

I'll be back next year, I hope.

Purgi and I stopped at Tinho's on our way back to JAX yesterday and sailed pretty hard in the 12-15 mph winds there.  11.0/FW/70.

--Rick Martin
USA-19
Enumclaw, WA