Hobie Forums
http://www.hobie.com/au/en/forums/

7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
http://www.hobie.com/au/en/forums/viewtopic.php?f=71&t=22280		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Chekika [ Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:25 am ]
Post subject:  7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
7 Participants are still in the UFC. This is the 1200 mile circumnavigation of Florida and includes a 40 mile portage--it must be completed in 30 days (ca. 40 miles/day to simply finish.) The portage is required to bridge the water-gap between the St. Mary's River and the Suwannee River near the Florida-Georgia border. Participants can switch from their original craft to a kayak/canoe for this portage. This is a matter of safety since the portage is along a 2-lane highway.

Quote:
According to the race organizer, Chief,

"Each racer carries a cart suitable for their boat. They are also allowed to carry a bike if they have room. Then they walk or ride their bike while towing their own boat. The portage between St. George, FL, and Fargo, GA, is 40 miles. It is a very big deal. Any equipment used for the portage has to be carried in or on the boat for 1200 miles.

I don't think any of the racers plans to switch boats [i.e., switch from original boat to kayak/canoe.] The rules allow a switch at Traders Hill. For example someone doing this race in a Sea Pearl would need to switch boats. This year none of them plan to switch."



4 Remaining boats are Kruger Canoes. This is a picture of RunningMouth and SnoreBringGator with their Krugers.
Image

This is an inflatable catamaran piloted by Crazy Russian (NYC truck driver)
Image

A Hobie AI Tandem piloted by Pelican (university prof, motivational speaker). Pelican rescued 2 other sailors the first day of the race.
Image

Experimental minimal cruiser built and piloted by Wizard (small sail boat designer, outdoorsman)
Image

Keith
Author:  Chekika [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 7:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
There is a report that Pelican and his AI Tandem capsized around 11 pm last night near Ft Clinch (FL) at the entrance to St Mary's River. A wave caught him sideways and flipped his boat. This is an area that can have serious breaking waves. The episode underscores how difficult and really challenging these WaterTribe Challenge races are--sailing and paddling after dark is standard. He was helped ashore by some local people and is camped in a parking lot off the beach. His wife says he will be assessing/repairing the damage this morning--Saturday, Mar 21. This guy has grit!

Keith
Author:  Chekika [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 4:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
After working most of the day on his boat, an AI Tandem, Pelican is on the move again. A person on the Watertribe forum wondered if Pelican had named his boat yet. If not, he suggested it be named "9 Lives." Great name.

The report of Pelican's boat capsizing may be open to interpretation. Apparently, at 11 pm last night, Pelican went aground on a sand bar, and then a wave knocked his boat over. If I were kayaking and that happened to me, I would not call it a "capsize"--a "trashing" maybe, but not a "capsize." If it were a "capsize," it would have to go on record as "an AI Tandem capsize before one was delivered to a customer." Hummm, not an enviable record.

The good news: Pelican is on the move. He has put in about 650 nm (748 miles; 1204 km). It is 15 days 13 hrs into the race. 2+ of Pelican's days were devoted to boat repair and people rescues.

Keith
Author:  augaug [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 6:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
Wow. This guy, and that boat, are very impressive!!!
Author:  mickeymouse [ Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
Chekika wrote:
After working most of the day on his boat, an AI Tandem, Pelican is on the move again. A person on the Watertribe forum wondered if Pelican had named his boat yet. If not, he suggested it be named "9 Lives." Great name.

The report of Pelican's boat capsizing may be open to interpretation. Apparently, at 11 pm last night, Pelican went aground on a sand bar, and then a wave knocked his boat over. If I were kayaking and that happened to me, I would not call it a "capsize"--a "trashing" maybe, but not a "capsize." If it were a "capsize," it would have to go on record as "an AI Tandem capsize before one was delivered to a customer." Hummm, not an enviable record.

The good news: Pelican is on the move. He has put in about 650 nm (748 miles; 1204 km). It is 15 days 13 hrs into the race. 2+ of Pelican's days were devoted to boat repair and people rescues.
Keith

What an incredible effort :shock:
What an amazing event :shock:
Author:  Chekika [ Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
The following is a post by Sharkchow on the WaterTribe forum regarding Pelican and his Hobie AI Tandem:

Quote:
Pelican is now officially the Odysseus of the 2010 UFC. The only threat he hasn't faced and overcome is the cyclops. I suppose there is time for that too. But talk about spirit. Talk about determination. Most remarkable and most important, I know that if I saw Nick right now out there he'd be smiling. That's one of his secrets. He has reached the Traders Hill checkpoint. The big question in my mind is whether he follows Crazy Russian on the longer 60 mile portage or whether he stays on the St. Marys and attempt to endure the worst part of that upriver battle. Maybe the answer has revealed itself in the time it has taken me to write this.


This WaterTribe Ultimate Florida Challenge is a real horserace. 2 Krugers are in the lead, although "ManitouCruiser" has opened up a 45 mile lead over Whitecaps, there is still several hundred miles to go. Wizard, in his little cruiser, has kept the pace with the 2 Krugers--he has even perhaps closed the 40 mile gap on Whitecaps. How he does depends on the winds once they reach more open waters.

Crazy Russian and Pelican are in their own little race for 4th place. The conclusion still has to be determined.

Keith
Author:  Chekika [ Tue Mar 23, 2010 12:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
Pelican is doing the longer (60 mi vs 40 mi) portage with his AI Tandem. He has experienced considerable trouble with his bicycle wheels (used to move the Tandem) breaking down. When this is done, I'm sure he will have plenty of advice for the rest of us planning a 1200 mile trip in open ocean, upstream on twisty, twisty rivers, and on open roads.

Keith
Author:  KayakingBob [ Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
I look forward to what he can pass on to us.

Now where did I put my TI...
Author:  mickeymouse [ Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
reconlon wrote:
I look forward to what he can pass on to us.

Now where did I put my TI...

Me too :roll:
Yeah - can't find mine either ............. :( :roll: :wink:
Author:  ChaosDave [ Tue Mar 23, 2010 7:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
Chekika wrote:
Pelican is doing the longer (60 mi vs 40 mi) portage with his AI Tandem. He has experienced considerable trouble with his bicycle wheels (used to move the Tandem) breaking down. When this is done, I'm sure he will have plenty of advice for the rest of us planning a 1200 mile trip in open ocean, upstream on twisty, twisty rivers, and on open roads.

Keith



are we talking about mirragedrive problems?
Author:  Yakass [ Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
I'm looking forward to hearing about his experiences. I;ve got an 1100km solo expedition planned for early next year, and one much much bigger planned for the year after. I reckon Pelican's lessons will be worth me learning the easy way.
Author:  KayakingBob [ Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
1100km! When are you stopping by Maui Josh? :)
Author:  mickeymouse [ Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
Yakass wrote:
I'm looking forward to hearing about his experiences. I;ve got an 1100km solo expedition planned for early next year, and one much much bigger planned for the year after. I reckon Pelican's lessons will be worth me learning the easy way.

What!? Have you been inspired by Jessica Watson's circumnavigation of the world :shock: :roll:
Author:  Yakass [ Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
Sydney to Hobart, Feb 2011. And if that goes well, I'm giving serious thought to attempting circumnavigating the coast of Australia, starting Feb 2012. So if anything, my inspriation has come from Freya, who did it in a plain old kayak!

Bob, as for Maui... before I die is the only (hopefully) accurate answer I can give you there. But it's on my bucket list!
Author:  mickeymouse [ Tue Mar 23, 2010 10:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010
Yakass wrote:
Sydney to Hobart, Feb 2011. And if that goes well, I'm giving serious thought to attempting circumnavigating the coast of Australia, starting Feb 2012. So if anything, my inspriation has come from Freya, who did it in a plain old kayak!

Bob, as for Maui... before I die is the only (hopefully) accurate answer I can give you there. But it's on my bucket list!

OMG :shock: :shock: :shock:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/german ... 5810656268
Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/