Jayson,

It looks like the forecast might be shaping up a bit. It's strange that it will go NE earlier in Miami than in Tampa. Out of curiosity, from your experience is it possible to launch at the Gandy and ride to the south side of the skyway in a NW wind? It looks like you would be able to launch and then head a bit east with the wind to get clear and then take a nice starboard reach to the skyway.

At any rate, Saturday looks killer up there. I might take a cruise over and take a hitch from Ft. Desoto and ride it down to my dad's house on Siesta Key. It looks like a quick 30 miles with the largest open water stretch being 3 miles from Desoto to Egmont Key. Have many ridden acoss this stretch of the bay? Thanks Jayson.

Kent

You mean the North side skyway , right? if so then no. you need at least a N, or NNE like last time we ran the race on that side of the bay

If you do men the south side skyway, then welcome to my side of the bay homie, and yes you can go there from the gandy on a NW.

Hey a long downwinder on saturday's NW wind sounds cool. gimme a shout if you come over.
813 786 2041 Raul

I was looking at the south side. I remember that the first tampa bay crossing was going to finish there. I'll give you a buzz if the sarasota thing works out. I could probably drive to meet you at your place, we could catch a ride to desoto and then take a blast off the wind. I'm sure my dad could drop us off at your place afterward. I bet the DW would awesome. It might even be safer to take off from Anna Maria? We could avoid the bull / tiger shark crossing / swim of the mouth of tampa bay!!! I'll buzz later.

Kent

Right on!

Saturday
Northwest winds 20 to 25 knots with gusts to around 35 knots. Seas 5 to 7 feet.

Kent, PM or call me.
Jay

will it work....
 

will it work on a straight east....?

monday(far away but looks ok :confused: )

accuweather says
day east 19-33mph
night east 22-36mph

Jay,

In looking at google earth, east seems very good. in truth even ESE looks doable with any type of board. it's a little tight at the start, but not upwind. Once you round the corner it's a little broad of a reach and would be quite fast.

Man, talk about no wind on the weekends for this thing. I hope it comes off soon. Good luck.

Kent

East definitely works, that would give you both a tight reach and also a broad reach. It might even bring a little higher water level on that side of the bay so our fins don't hit bottom, But its up to Jay, hopefully wind soon

We are watching the forecasts and will be updating soon. There is a possibility of runnning the race normal or in reverse on Monday.
Stay tuned....

race
 

Just my thoughts I think you should still wait for a weekend there got to be a front soon the jupiter to ft lauderdale race was held on a monday which was also a holiday we had 70 riders but should have had well over a 100 if it was held on a weekend. just think about it not everyone can catch a cold and call in sick in 48 hours and as the eclipse rep I dont want every kid to skip school just to win a eclipse kite.