3:08 a.m. March 4: We are hunkered down in a hidey-hole until front passes over. So LATE for CP1.
3:29 a.m. March 4: We are hunkered down in Longboat Key mangroves, outside Million Dollar Anchorage. We are well, ate MREs by glowsticklight. Sleeping in bivy sacks. Gale force winds in the am forecasts so we are saying put.
0414: Wake up, put on wicking clothes, windbreakers. Have to fill water jugs, load fresh batteries (lithium) into GPS and SPOT. Fill some ditty bags with snacks, then head off to the start. Boil eggs for later, chow down on some English muffins.
0600: Arrive Ft Desoto, put on drysuits, pose for group Watertribe photo moment, then a few moments with other skippers before setting up boat for the start.
0655: Assemble at your boat, final plans for the start, including who holds the boat and who will pack the rollers into the bowels of the boat for reserve floatation.
0700: Start… put rollers under the bow, shove off, and hopefully, we slide into the water, Hoa holds the bow while I sort out the rollers, inflate them slightly, lock in the oars, and away we go. 15-20 predicted, so will start with two reefs, the storm jib.
Expect SPOT OK transmissions every 4-6 hrs. OK signals with major course changes and a “custom” transmission when we break for naps and downtime.
HERE WE GO!
So, a foggy start to an important day. First, I am off to the canvas shop to pick up Sea Dart’s new cover. Then, to West Marine for some bits of line to serve as reefing lines. Then, to Mullet Key, to register for a spot on the starting line!
View out the back of Hoang's house Friday morning
At 1500, there is a Captain’s meeting, to go over the rules of the race, the procedure at the start, at the lockboxes, etc.
After the captain’s meeting, I will do whatever else needs to be done, and then pick up Hoa at the airport!