Today we will relaunch the Magnum to test the new rudders and spinnaker! The count down has begun.

Yesterday received word that a friend from Annapolis was driving down I95 at Palm Beach. Got word to him just in the nick of time to stop and pick up our spinnaker and 12′ pole… everything is arriving this afternoon! We’ll get it rigged and sailing this weekend. Wuppie!

Yes, we have made the commitment and ordered a new spinnaker. Now all the components are in place for a successful attempt to not only finish the Challenge but maybe even win it. Who knows…just a few weeks to the start.

The new rudder heads arrived and now installed, the complete rebuild of the mast and reattachment of all mast fittings with new S.S. rivets and rebuild of the traveler car. Still on the list looking for a suitable used Asy spinnaker to rig,

Today we comfortable with our sailing of the Hobie Magnum and now just concentrate on getting the boat and equipment ready for the long hard slog to the finish.

With luck  we will find a used spinnaker or someone to loan us one for the race.

A beautiful sailing day, 15kts out of the North with a fleet of 50+ boats that include several large schooners, Corsair Tri’s and one other Hobie 18 w/ spinnaker. The race was downwind w/ the other Hobie using their spinnaker was first in fleet. We still do not have a spin or schreecher… damn. Key West Magnum 2nd in class.

Now only a beauitful upwind sail home… until a side shroud stud/chainplate sheers! With a loud bang the mast gentle floaed into the sea. After stowing the sails and lashing the spar a J80 came along to tow us back to the Key West Harbor.

Repair list after one 6 mile race; replace side stay studs, one tiller, one jib haylard and oh I forgot we cracked a centerboard too.

Did I say we’re still having fun? Yep we are crazy.

Drysuit or wetsuit?

I have been having a great debate with what best serves a catamaran sailor. I just am not a fan of drysuits and like the better mobility of the wet suit. A sealed seamed cuffed full wetsuit should provide the necessary water barrier. In the daytime I can wear a simple swim suit and our just drop the upper body for temperature comfort. If the weather is cold and wet stay vipped and warm. Neoprene cap, boots and gloves completes the cold barrier and of course I can pee as I please.

It is hard to believe that this simple 6 mile race out to reef from Key West is something I am looking forward, I’m even anxious for it to begin. Getting ready for the EC so far has been personal challenges for myself and Birch. On Sunday we will line up with 100’+ schooners, large monohulls and even  several quick multihulls as well. Hopefully we’ll match up and give them all a good race.

Getting our boat, gear and ourselves ready for this challenge is getting expensive. We still need dry suits and a hooter and of course various safety gear. Time to buckle down and get it done. This weekend a simple fun race here in Key West called the Wreckers Race. Out to the reef and back to the bar. Reef and bar here we come!

With a 1986 hull and equipment, we are trying to eliminate any and all possibilities for equipment breakage. New style rudder-heads, re-rivet the mast fittings and locate any and all leaks in the hulls.

Wow!!! What can I say? Our training sail was completed today and in only 22 hours! Our best laid plans came to naught… we arrived in Flamingo at midnight 12 hours ahead of schedule, so not stop for a leasure dinner right? But at the very lowest of tide for Florida Bay, so off we go! We got a little lost right off the bat and had difficulty finding and staying in the west narrow channel. But we persevered and continued on without many and not insurmountable challenges. Arrived Key Largo at 4:30AM… so no stop for breakfast. What else is there to do but head home via inter coastal to Marathon and then into the open Gulf of Mexico. We cut a corner a little close and hit the bottom hard and broke our starboard rudderhead. Out in the Gulf we experienced the most and harrowing conditions, 25kyts 6-8 following seas. Forsafety we throttled back until reentering the back country at the Jewfish Basin. Home only 30 mintues away! We made it, very tired but we made it with an average speed of about 8 kts. We have a long list of upgrade items and repairs. We are in the countdown mofe towards the Everglades Challenge. See everyone at Fort DeSoto!

Cheers