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Marty Loken's avatar

We enjoyed organizing the first Salish 100 in 2019 and pulled it off without charging registration fees. Total out-of-pocket cost was about $350, which was covered 100% when some appreciative sailor passed the hat. I would encourage any readers who want new events in their local area to do something similar: If you build it, they will come. This year, three of us are organizing the Pacific Northwest Small Boat Festival, July 26-27 at Port Ludlow Marina, near Port Townsend. Still room for a few small boats, so check out details and an application form at www.pocketyachters.com - Marty

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RonB.'s avatar

Interesting. I’ve been thinking about a Sechelt to Sechelt event. It would start at the porpoise bay provincial park and finish in Davis bay. Or, the other way around. So, up sechelt inlet, down Agamemnon channel and down the Sunshine Coast to Davis bay in sechelt. It’s about 50 miles. You’ll have to get out a chart if not familiar with the area. Skookumchuck rapids are part of the fun. Possibly an overnight stop around egmont or at the back eddy…. Build it and they will come! ?

RonB.

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Bob Shipman's avatar

TX200 is brutal, maybe like R2AK only in 100 degrees, 99% humidity and UV 12 sun… forgot to mention mosquitoes and rattlesnakes ! Just ask Josh!!

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Joshua Colvin's avatar

I heard the bull sharks keep the gators away....

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Tommy T's avatar

Nah, my brother had to argue possession of a redfish with an alligator in Espritu Santo Bay last year.

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Joshua Colvin's avatar

Well that's disappointing to hear...

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Tom's avatar

I'm looking forward to the new NW Small Boat Festival in Port Ludlow!

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Shawn Payment's avatar

The Everglades Challenge is just that—a “challenge”. It’s never the same twice and it always asks for more than you can expect. But it is a race, so the social opportunities are limited.

For “right-coasters”, the OBX 130 is definitely the more “fun” event. Great environs sailing about the Outer Banks in company with others and gathering at a different anchorage each night to share stories and lies.

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Dan Pratt's avatar

I know about the top three, so I selected the first one that I didn't recognize. What I'd like to see more on is TOFF - The Old Farts Fifty - four(?) days of small craft cruising using vessels adapted for aging bodies. It might cover 50 miles in four freaking days. I'd like to see an event that is non-competitive, essentially cooperative and has lots of support craft on the water and lots of support on land at the designated stops. Am I dreaming??

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Steve Isaac's avatar

The Everglades Challenge is the best small boat adventure race in the world! Of course, I am a bit prejudiced in my opinion. Everyone can paddle or sail from Tampa Bay to Key Largo going thru the Everglades given enough time and good weather. But the time limit and the weather make this a real Challenge.

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Steve H's avatar

Salish 100 seems to be a pretty approachable event. I'm not sure I'm up for any events where either an implicit or explicit requirement is to "embrace the suck." Also any non-West Coast events are a pretty long road trip.

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Eric Tirion's avatar

The Barefoot Raid! barefootraid.net although the website needs a little updating, it's on for this August!

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Richard Sims's avatar

I love the R2AK for the sheer lunacy of the idea!

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Charles Brennan's avatar

Also interested in the FL 120 and the BEER Cruise

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John Malnor's avatar

I won’t make it to any of them as I’m currently a man without a boat, but that Sailish 100 captures my imagination.

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Ida Little's avatar

My favorite events revolve around non competitive sailing, as most recently with the Cedar Key small boat event. A bunch of us gather the first weekend in May to sail about the islands, transit mangrove channels and generally mess about . A joy.

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Rob Kunzig 57's avatar

I'd like to attempt an Outter Banks event - I sought out my Ilur so as to be able to drop the mast and get under the bridges on Harlow Creek... But if I can do that and the Everglades Challenge before my time is up - I'll be happy!

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Mike Barnett's avatar

I've entered 3 EC's, and finished 1, solo, in my 18' Sailbird trimaran, but as the years have progressed, it seems to have become far more of just a race than an race and/or adventure event. My only interest was completing the EC, and now that I have, it doesn't have a whole lot of appeal to me (I'm not dissing the event, but the increased emphasis on competition, along with the new complications brought in by the Coast Guard after the 2015 FUBAR start fiasco, have left me personally uninterested). The Salish 100 sounds like a lot of fun, but it's just too far for me to travel to. The Texas 200, however, isn't too far away, and seems to be a more raid-type event than race, which interests me a lot more. If I do another adventure sailing event, I'm about positive the T200 will be the one.

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Charles Powell's avatar

Mike do you know of an available Sailbird 18?. I'd love to find one.

Charlie

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Mike Barnett's avatar

I maintain a Sailbird group on Facebook - you might want to check there... they come up from time to time. https://www.facebook.com/groups/514070966048021

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Roy A Schreyer's avatar

I have three that I watch intently, so hard to choose between them! I think the Texas 200 is more my style as it is more of a neet up than a race! AllthebestRoy

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Bill Rutherford's avatar

Ummmm...I have to say my event preferences are much more tame, my favorite being rememberances of Small Reach Regattas in Brooklin, Maine. Group camping nearby with daily sails to and from neighboring islands. All kinds of boats and great people. Well controlled for safety. Lots of fun, regardless of the weather. And the food was outstanding...Perhaps we should concentrate on replicating that experience, customized to the specific location. Lake Champlain, anyone?

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