7 Boats Still in the Ultimate Florida Challenge, 2010

i will happily keep you company on your WA leg.

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ChaosDave--

The 40 or 60 mile portage is a section connecting the St Mary's River, which flows east to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Suwannee River, which flows west to the Gulf of Mexico. The smaller boats (Krugers) can continue further on the St Mary's and it is a 40 mi portage. Larger boats are allowed to take out earlier and do a 60 mile portage. Participants have a couple options--if their boat is so large it would be hard or dangerous to portage it along the 2-lane highway, they can switch to a kayak/canoe, and have their boat hauled across the portage. They still have to take the kayak/canoe on the portage.

Pelican and Crazy Russian have opted to do the longer portage, but haul their own boats.

There is one report that Pelican, with all his problems, was going to quit the Challenge, but continue on "unofficially." Apparently, after he got some rest and a warm meal and some new bike tires, he is still in the race.

After the portage he will be going with the current down the Suwannee--but, anyone who has traveled down rivers to the coast knows there are often strong winds coming off the ocean up these river basins. It takes a lot of fortitude by the sailors in the UFC to cross the north section of Florida from the Atlantic coast to the Gulf coast. Once on the Suwannee there is still a half mile portage around some Class 3 rapids.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Thanks for the updates Keith...

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CaptRon
"Anything's gonna happen,
it's gonna happen out there"

Pelican has dropped out of the UFC this morning. He did a tremendous job persevering as far as he did. I think the portage and its attendant problems finally did him in. He is reported to have said he "could write a book of his experiences." Hopefully, he will.

There is still a very interesting race between Wizard and his little experimental cruiser and the 2 Krugers. ManitouCruiser is now in open water on the Gulf of Mexico about 125 miles from the finish. Winds are light favoring the paddlers. It is fair to say that Manitou is crushing his competitors and will probably set a new course record.

ManitouCruiser putting his boat together on Friday, Mar 5, at Ft Desota Park (Mark Przedwojewski is from Michigan. He builds and sells these Kruger Canoes. His web site is worth a visit. http://www.krugercanoes.com/)



Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Keith - thanks for keeping us up to date

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Mickey
2016 AI Hibiscus
purchased NEW Nov 2021 - My 5th
Adventure Island Sailing since 2008

I guess it's not surprising the portage did him in. Imagine trying to haul the weight of a Tandem Island over 60 miles, especially if there were any hills along the way.

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Sorry to hear that the Hobie is out but at least it was during the portage and not on the water. Design is validated.
No advertising slogan or color pamphlet can take the place of an experiment with a pre-production/limited run prototype kayak in extreme adventure race.

Job well done.

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Damn that sucks but he did pretty bloody well and should be proud. Keith when i said WA i meant Western Australia, sorry for any confusion.

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Yesterday, all three leaders in the UFC were working their way along the Gulf coast of Florida south of the Suwannee River. ManitouCruiser has a 40-50 mi lead on Whitecaps--both using Krugers. These Krugers can handle a sizable sail w/ their inflatable outriggers deployed, but yesterday the wind was in their face all day with lightling, rain, and storms all around. Same for Wizard and his minimal cruiser. Very tough day.

A front will pass over them today, which here in the northern hemisphere means the wind will crank around from the SW (in their face) to west (nice reach) to northwest and north (following winds.) So, it will become more of a sailing race by the end of the day, and in these conditions, Wizard may make up some time. Judging from his SPOT location, it looks like he will be doing some open water cruising (winds 15 knots or higher) while Whitecaps and Manitou will hang closer shore. This is some of the most inhospitable shoreline in all of Florida--certainly comparable to coastal Everglades. It is all marsh grass, oyster bars, mud, shallow water, and tidal currents. Wizard will have a good day if he can stay offshore. ManitouCruiser will likely finish the race today--1200 miles in 20 days or so, come wind, rain, storms, portages...

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

ManitouCruiser wins! 20 Days, 20 hrs & change. 1200 miles (1931 km) through wind, rain, lightning, open ocean, mud, oyster bars, & portages. Well done!

Whitecaps is 25 mi from the finish, and Wizard is 8 mi behind him.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

Gold to ManitouCruiser (20 days, 20 hrs, 8 min)
Silver to Whitecaps (21 days, 5 hrs, 13 min)
Bronze to Wizard (21 days, 12 hrs, 0 min)

The 3 of them made it a great race to the finish. For awhile on Friday, Wizard closed the gap on Whitecaps to within a couple miles, but Whitecaps showed his determination by motor sailing (i.e., paddle sailing) his Kruger the last 24 hrs--non stop.

Great race. Fun to watch (on our computers.) Congratulations to all.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon