From:
The Inlet to Inlet race, otherwise known as the "i-to-i," is a long
distance race held in the Atlantic Ocean. It is run by local Formula
hotshot Ron Kern, and sailors race from the Port Everglades inlet to
the Hillsborough Inlet and back. We sailors can always expect two
things: some really challenging conditions, and a big adventure. This
year was no exception.
13
sailors showed up to race; most on Formula gear (9) but a good
longboard turnout as well. The wind was from the southwest, and Ron
put the pressure on us to get to the beach really early so we could
make the best of the day. As usual, everyone rolled in a half hour to
the start and thus we started at 9:40 instead of 9:00.
The
side-offshore wind is always really gusty in Ft. Lauderdale, with big
puffs and even bigger lulls. I was pretty sure the wind was going to
increase with an incoming rainstorm, so I rigged on the small side
(mistake), a KA 9.0 with my mid-sized 66cm Kashy fin. We started by
sailing about 2 miles on a close reach to the Port Everglades channel
mark.
I was close by the boys as we rounded
the channel mark, but took a spill when I hit a piece of chop and a big
gust came at the same time. The ocean chop was challenging as on one
tack downwind you were directly sailing up and down steep waves, and to
keep going you had to sail in a zigzag fashion to keep from going
uphill too much. On my way down, I passed Alex Morales, who was
chilling out, sailing in slow motion downwind, and watching the action.
He, along with most of the Formula fleet, had decided that the wind
was too light, and sailed a short course in to the beach immediately.
The rest of the Formula fleet, which by then consisted of Ron,
Fernando, and myself, went all the way down to the Hillsborough Inlet
channel mark. The wind was getting lighter and lighter, and on the way
back up I was unable to plane in the lulls. The two boys on their
bigger rigs started to get far ahead of me, it started to rain, and
then the wind decided to die. By this time, I had already gotten
halfway back to the launch, but still had about 4-5 miles to sail
upwind. I had also sent some fishermen into a hissy fit by sailing
into one of their lines (who knew that they were so close to the
surface 100 meters behind the boat?). Comically enough the fishhook
caught my fin and the boat actually dragged me 20 feet as it came to a
stop. When the line slacked I unhooked myself and escaped the frying
pan yet one more day.
The last gasp of wind
got me in about a half mile from shore, where it took another exciting
hour to tack in. Luckily I pulled the gear onto the beach in front of
a nice derigging area: a tall, white, classic 1970s-era condo with a
big deck and a hose to rinse all the gear. In my wetsuit, I hopped the
fence to the road, much to the annoyance of the security guard. I
asked him nicely to call a taxi for me, after which I was honored with
a lecture about the evils of hopping fences and the meaning of private
property. The taxi took me back to the launch site, and I gave the
driver an extra tip due to the big puddle of salty water in the back
seat.
At the launch, most of the Formula
sailors were chowing down on French fries in the local restaurant. Ron
and Fernando were the only two Formula sailors to finish, a great
accomplishment given the light and tricky conditions. Alex was on
scouting duty, and was finding the longboard sailors one by one. The
longboards really took the day as Beth Winkler and Daniel Borsutzky
finished the huge distance in about 5.5 hours!
I
took the van back to the condo to get my gear (and listen to another
lecture), and the racers adjourned to Ron's house for a party and
awards. It was a big day, but at least I didn't break a mast and
destroy my cell phone like last year. Check out Ron's race report and results.
Thanks to all the great race sponsors, Liquid Surf and Sail, Adventure
Sports and Sandy Point Progressive Sports, for some really great
prizes; and thanks to Ron and Sue Kern for making the i-to-i a really
nice event.