I mentioned I would start a thread on this event when the time came.
For those not familiar, the Everglades Challenge is a small boat race, 300 miles or so down the Florida Coast from Tampa Bay to Key Largo, non stop, unassisted.
Boats must be beach launchable with no engines on board. Generally, roughly, 500 pounds or less. Mostly dinghies, beach cats, canoes and kayaks.
There are 3 checkpoints each with its own challenges, and each pretty much requiring human powered propulsion (oars, paddles, pedal power etc). First check point Cape Haze Marina,second Everglades City and 3rd is Flamingo in Everglades National park. Aside from the check points, participants chose their own routes.
Time limit is 8 days. Fast boats can be done in 2-3.
There are no handicapps. Each boat must be self supporting and carry an expedition load (food, water, camping gear, safety gear, navigation)
There are 5 main boat classes (each class has further subdivisions);
1 Expedition Canoes and Kayaks
2 Racing canoes, kayaks and surf skis
3 sailing canoes and kayaks
4 monohull sailboats
5 multihull sailboats
And there is a class 6 for electric boats. As well as a class for Stand Up Paddle Boards.
Event starts this Saturday March 7 about sunrise in Tampa Bay. Boat inspection is Friday March 6.
I thought I would share now, because it can be entertaining to watch teams traveling to Tampa from all over North America (beleive this year there are teams from Europe and Australia as well).
I am not there yet, I am currently being a tourist in Savannah Georgia, but I am heading that way.
Here is the race tracker.
WaterTribe :: Challenge Mapper Using Google Maps
For those not familiar, the Everglades Challenge is a small boat race, 300 miles or so down the Florida Coast from Tampa Bay to Key Largo, non stop, unassisted.
Boats must be beach launchable with no engines on board. Generally, roughly, 500 pounds or less. Mostly dinghies, beach cats, canoes and kayaks.
There are 3 checkpoints each with its own challenges, and each pretty much requiring human powered propulsion (oars, paddles, pedal power etc). First check point Cape Haze Marina,second Everglades City and 3rd is Flamingo in Everglades National park. Aside from the check points, participants chose their own routes.
Time limit is 8 days. Fast boats can be done in 2-3.
There are no handicapps. Each boat must be self supporting and carry an expedition load (food, water, camping gear, safety gear, navigation)
There are 5 main boat classes (each class has further subdivisions);
1 Expedition Canoes and Kayaks
2 Racing canoes, kayaks and surf skis
3 sailing canoes and kayaks
4 monohull sailboats
5 multihull sailboats
And there is a class 6 for electric boats. As well as a class for Stand Up Paddle Boards.
Event starts this Saturday March 7 about sunrise in Tampa Bay. Boat inspection is Friday March 6.
I thought I would share now, because it can be entertaining to watch teams traveling to Tampa from all over North America (beleive this year there are teams from Europe and Australia as well).
I am not there yet, I am currently being a tourist in Savannah Georgia, but I am heading that way.
Here is the race tracker.
WaterTribe :: Challenge Mapper Using Google Maps