Any of you east coast sailors coming to the 51st annual event of 'the longest river race in the world'?? The Rudder Club of Jacksonville, FL is again hosting the weekend long party...pre-race, post-race and awards breakfast. Quite a time watching around 200 boats--everything from flying scotts and sailing canoes to 40' Kaufman racers... make the 38 mile run from Palatka north on the St. Johns River. See 'rudderclub.com' for more info.... Last year the first boat in was from Annapolis and the same skipper also won the very first Mug Race...a long time ago. Cheers.
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LKY...
Were you here last year? I had a 'power boat crew' last year and they thought that the westerlies that allowed a beam reach almost the whole way was pretty cool...almost converted 'em to sailors. I neglected to tell them about the years of drifting aimlessly with no wind or the year of 25-30 knots on the nose that turtled many and broke others... You just never know what yer gonna get but its always a good time.
Were you here last year? I had a 'power boat crew' last year and they thought that the westerlies that allowed a beam reach almost the whole way was pretty cool...almost converted 'em to sailors. I neglected to tell them about the years of drifting aimlessly with no wind or the year of 25-30 knots on the nose that turtled many and broke others... You just never know what yer gonna get but its always a good time.
Dale, The Mug Race is one of my favorites.
I have been saling the Mug since 1990. My best finish was 3rd in 2001. Hope it blows from the south, SW or SE anything with a "S" in it. I love those sleigh rides, hiked out, chute up, throwing a rooster tail off the stern. The race is a lot more fun now since they do the staggard handicap starts. It's a blast blowing the doors off all the boats that started earlier in the morning. See ya there... Ted
I have been saling the Mug since 1990. My best finish was 3rd in 2001. Hope it blows from the south, SW or SE anything with a "S" in it. I love those sleigh rides, hiked out, chute up, throwing a rooster tail off the stern. The race is a lot more fun now since they do the staggard handicap starts. It's a blast blowing the doors off all the boats that started earlier in the morning. See ya there... Ted
North Course Blues...
Unfortunated the Shands Bridge in Green Cove prevents mast heights higher than about 46 feet from the lower St. Johns River and the max allowed in race is 44', (I think). Given that I am around 47'or better I can only do the 'tall ship' course which is from the Buckman Bridge south to the Shands Bridge and back. It is the same distance but not the same course...and a southerly wind would not help me in the least. There are a few inequities in the race and handicapping of this many boats that exist but it is bound to happen with this many varied boats coming together in a race... In a perfect world giving the slow boats a head start on the fastest boats would having them all finishing at the same time....but the reverse start seems to give an advantage to the cats and faster boats as the slower boats that start first have to contend with a low/no wind start when the sun comes up and the RC27's with a PHRF of -68 BLOW BYE everyone when it fills in later in the morning... Another thing that doesn't seem 'right' to me is that Mr. Holt having come all the way from Annapolis with his boat and taken the 'first boat finish' on the north course did not earn him the honor of receiving the MUG as it is held for the first boat completing the Palatka-to-Buckman course.... Eh, it is still the BEST race of the year for me....and wild horses couldn't keep from it. See you there.
Unfortunated the Shands Bridge in Green Cove prevents mast heights higher than about 46 feet from the lower St. Johns River and the max allowed in race is 44', (I think). Given that I am around 47'or better I can only do the 'tall ship' course which is from the Buckman Bridge south to the Shands Bridge and back. It is the same distance but not the same course...and a southerly wind would not help me in the least. There are a few inequities in the race and handicapping of this many boats that exist but it is bound to happen with this many varied boats coming together in a race... In a perfect world giving the slow boats a head start on the fastest boats would having them all finishing at the same time....but the reverse start seems to give an advantage to the cats and faster boats as the slower boats that start first have to contend with a low/no wind start when the sun comes up and the RC27's with a PHRF of -68 BLOW BYE everyone when it fills in later in the morning... Another thing that doesn't seem 'right' to me is that Mr. Holt having come all the way from Annapolis with his boat and taken the 'first boat finish' on the north course did not earn him the honor of receiving the MUG as it is held for the first boat completing the Palatka-to-Buckman course.... Eh, it is still the BEST race of the year for me....and wild horses couldn't keep from it. See you there.
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