Real mud:

The mud or silt is so fine, it is still embedded in the outer layer of my dry suit even after machine washing with soap.

It seems to me that if my sharp paddle blade will only go down a couple of inches, then my foot certainly wouldn't sink... I didn't try to get out of my boat, but are some areas of the bay more or less soft?

Just curious...

If you mean putting the haka actually in the mud and standing on it sort of like a huge snowshoe, there would be no gain that I can see and lots of hassle. Also the haka would have sank into the mud and I'd never be able to get it back.

The best thing to do in that kind of mud is just work slowly and never let go of the boat. I always wear tie on shoes like my Merrill Waterpro Manistees that stay on my feet - unlike Crocs that I see many people wear.

I didn't stop that night. I sailed all night and when I "hit the wall" at Little Shark River, I turned left and followed it to Joe River. I kept going all the way until I arrived at Flamingo. After portaging the Hobie AI and my gear to the saltwater side I got a couple of hours of sleep while being serenaded by RidgeRunner and a fiddle player. I took off that evening into a howling north wind that was very cold. It got dark quickly and I navigated Florida Bay in the dark.

While trying to stay in the narrow channels I noticed my tiller was loose. I had seen the underside of the tiller briefly but I had a misunderstanding of how it was all connected. At some point near the end of Twisty Mile the tiller "broke" off in my hand. With no way to steer I quickly got blown into the mud. I sunk waist deep when trying to get the boat back to the channel. It was close to midnight. I tried to figure out what broke on the tiller, but the light just glared and I really couldn't see how to fix it. I decided to just get some sleep and wait for daylight.

At dawn I was able to see the tiller but I still had a misunderstanding about how it all connected. I thought the bolt had sheared off but I found out later (well after the race) that it had just come unscrewed. I did see that if I kept downward pressure on the tiller with the palm of my hand I could keep it in place and steer. I also saw that I was only about 50 yards or so from deep water at the end of Twisty Mile. I got back in the waist deep mud and made it to deep water and then sailed into Key Largo.

The tiller would have been an easy fix if I had understood how it worked. I just didn't have the boat long enough prior to the race to learn all the ins and outs. Of course the screw holding the tiller should have been loctited. I used waterproof loctite when I fixed it with recommendations from the folks at Tackle Shack.  

Do you remember seeing us (1 Tandem & 1 AI) just west of Pavilion?  You had come out Chokoloskee Pass, and we had come through Rabbit Key Pass.  You were headed to the outside of Pavilion, or we would have tried to catch up and chat with you.  I took this picture at 3:20 pm, Mar 5.  You are on the right, Pavilion is on the horizon.  According to your track, you then did about 25 mi to Ponce de Leon Bay.  Did you spend the night in the Shark River area or did you make it all the way to Joe River Chickee?  A very impressive day.

KB

I finished in 5 Days, 4 Hours, 49 Minutes. Not 6 days. I would have finished in 4 days and something if I hadn't broke my tiller in Florida Bay. That is what forced me to stop on the last night I was out.

I was never cold in my boat while underway. The only time I had to put on another layer was when I stopped to get a few hours sleep. The coldest night was spent out in Florida Bay on a mud bank when I slept in my AI. But I wasn't cold. I added my poncho liner over the top of my regular paddling clothes. Then rigged my poncho as a wind break. I also slipped into a SOL Bivvy Bag.  That was probably the coldest night I have ever experienced in Florida, but I was actually very comfortable and got some good sleep. My only complaint was that the SOL Bivvy needs to be just a bit bigger.

I used a drysuit bib, anorak, and a polypro full body base layer - all from Kokatat along with wool socks and a hat. I lived in this outfit for the entire event. I slept in it too. It worked great. A few times in full sun it got a little warm. I splashed water on my legs so that evaporation would cool me a bit. This seemed to work. Note that I was sitting high enough that mostly I was dry except for my legs below the knee. It did rain a few times but no problem.

Next time the only change I might make is to have a lower body base layer and an upper body base layer instead of a full body suit. This would allow more options on hot days.

I did have a full middle layer but never needed it.

I only had my Hobie AI for a couple of weeks before the event. Thankfully CaptnChaos tipped me off to a great thread in the Hobie Forum started by Nohuhu with great contributions by other Hobie AI sailors about hakas. I quickly made a prototype for my AI and I am very happy I did. The hakas really worked out well and I am now working on my "keeper" design - the prototype having served its purpose.

I also changed the seat to sit higher out of the spray most of the time. This worked well, but I am now working on some improvements. I noticed just about every other AI on the starting beach had some sort of custom seating.

I also notched my paddle based on the Hobie Forum and that worked very well.

I think I could have been a bit faster if I had the Hobie AI longer before the EC. I was very conservative for the first couple of days. In fact, one WaterTriber sailed by me and asked, "Why do you have such a deep reef in?" I answered, "Because I'm a chicken." But his question (and my answer) bugged me and I had a bit more experience by then so I took out the reef and started to be a bit more aggressive. The Hobie AI is a very capable sailor. You still have to be reasonable and I still have the motto - reef early and reef often, but that is so easy to do in a Hobie!

Happy Hobie AI sailing!

YukonJohn

 Scroll up to the beginning.  http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=7276&p=204983#p204983

Keith

I live in Richmond, VA and would very much like to participate in an Eastern Shore camping trip.  I've been meaning to contact you since I figured you also lived in Virginia.  I actually learned about the watertribe from stumbling opon your videos on youtube.  I'll contact you via email on member services.

Jeff

I noticed that some of your videos are all on the York River. I assume that you live on the lower Chesapeake. There are several Watertribers in the area. We might do a camping trip to the Eastern shore before it gets too hot. Let me know if you are interested. My e-mail is in the Watertribe - Member Services. I also sail my Hobie AI with the Sunfish fleet in Hampton, Grand View Island. They have some upcomig longer races that are good training for the NCC.

Paul...

http://youtu.be/ypnjWNw22f8

This image is from my GPS with instantaneous tracking. 

My SPOT tracking can be deceiving since it only gives updates every 10 minutes and the spot plot then just connects the dots.

On average, how many degrees to windward can your Triak point?

There is nothing to focus.  Its is real simple to use.  Just be sure to play around with it for a while before you want to get some good footage.  Make your mistakes back at your house.

I just used Windows Live Movie Maker (which came with my computer) to edit and make the video.  I also used a website to grab the audio from another YouTube video for the soundtrack. 

KB

http://youtu.be/6IN3sZh1vr0

Your trips are always inspirational whether you finish or not. Your ability to fix what goes wrong and always find the workable option is unmatched. Not to mention your continuing good cheer and willingness to share the lessons leared. And you show us there are more ways to win that merely finishing.

Well done.

Lugnut

Bill

Keith

Good show Pelican! Can't wait for the tales!

Randy

Louis and I made the difficult decision to withdraw after making it to the Placida checkpoint.  The damage to the sail rig that occurred Saturday was repaired, but further damage occurred Sunday, so we stowed the sail rig in Sarasota and paddled to Placida.  I'll share the rest of the story for a time when I can buy you a meal.  But I will say that we had a great time and both of us got a great lesson in what it sometimes takes to overcome obstacles.  We are forever grateful to you for loaning us the Tofino and sail rig (which I will return in good order), plus for your wisdom and encouragement.  Making it to Key Largo was our goal, and on that we fell short.  But the more important goal for me personally was to experience the adventure with Louis... and on that goal I succeeded -- thanks to you!

You have my utmost respect!!!

All my best,

Joe