2015 WaterTribe Everglades Challenge, Mar 7-14, 2015

Chief wrote:

As all true WaterTribers know, our focus has always been on safety. I am happy to report that nobody was seriously hurt. And why was that? First, the Coast Guard and all the other First Responders did an incredible job in dealing with an escalating situation. Second, our WaterTribers had every piece of safety gear that every recreational boater should have but most don't.

This event was a very localized and unfortunate confluence of wind, tide, and currents that produced difficult and unpredictable conditions. There were no Small Craft Warnings or Advisories at the time of the launch. We knew there was a good wind roughly out of the north. Many WaterTribers took advantage of that wind and made record time to CP1. I warned people at roll call that conditions would get a lot rougher as they got further from shore.

Since we had no ships visible in the channel and no weather alerts and a favorable wind, the launch went off on time.

For the first half-hour or so, things were looking good. But then I noticed that the wind was picking up rather than falling off as forecasted. Then a small sailboat capsized not far from the launch site. As you know it went rapidly downhill from there.

PaddleDancer and her team along with myself spent the entire day doing what we could to assist the Coast Guard in accounting for all WaterTribers and contacting each and every shore contact. I am always amazed at PaddleDancer's organizational ability and the dedication of our volunteers.

I did everything I could to allow the event to proceed, but I do understand the Coast Guards perspective on this. When I sit back and put myself in their shoes, I probably would have done what they did and force us to shut it down.

I have continued to work with the Coast Guard. Last night I sent them an email in which I apologized and took full responsibility for not getting a permit. I also thanked them for their assistance and promised I would not do one of these events again without a proper permit. I received a very nice reply and we are in the process of setting up a meeting as soon as my voice and throat recover.

WaterTribe will survive this and we will emerge stronger and better.

Though I put one on mine, I came to the conclusion that the AI really doesn't need or want a jib. I don't use it any more. The boat has enough power upwind and reaching. It needs more power for running and broad reaching. My jib is pretty useless for those points of sail.

I like the look of the new reacher mod, but that contraption atop the mast seems like it could be a bit smaller.

Now, if we could only have a Hobie haka

Just caught up with this. Lots of great info in this thread.
The cancellation of the EC would have been devastating for those entered, but as a keen onlooker it never disappoints, even when it is cancelled. I'm very excited about the new products up for release.