[ricki]

In the typical stronger NE winds Neil ran this in it was interesting to see how conditions changed as you moved south. From the start to South Lake Worth Inlet, there could be some large intense seas. I remember riding through flocks of feeding seagulls and bait kicking up, i.e. shark territory north of that first inlet once. The coast is curved there too effecting your point of sailing. Sometimes the wind would shift more easterly from north helping things out a bit. As you head further south with each passing inlet, the seas would drop somewhat and the ease of running would improve. I think this is related to widening shelf and reef development particularly south of Hillsboro Inlet. Sometimes the seas would really spike up though just north of inlets. Once you pass Hillsboro Inlet, it really does feel like you are running downhill. One time I recall the seas didn't ease all that much even off Broward County. It was fun to run through the swells breaking over the second reef on down to Ft. Lauderdale. It really is a great race. Worth training to ride in it. Kent has done enough of this sort of thing, directionals must be the way to go, particularly off the wind somewhat.