Recent Tybee 500 News

The day began with a 15 knot Westerly breeze which quickly built to 25 knots gusting to 30. Shortly after the start, two teams attempted to raise spinnakers, but quickly doused them after losing control and realizing they couldn't carry them at their current angle.

Shortly after the start, Brian Karr of Adventure Online TV reported from a helicopter that Team Full Wave Audio had shattered a spinnaker pole, Team Velocity was in the water with a broken tiller crossbar, and Team Cat Fever had a rudder casting explode. During their struggle with the rudder casting, the main sail was torn. Team Cat Fever headed to the beach to make repairs. The other teams battled all day against capsizing in 30 knot gusts with mixed results.

Team Tybee and Marleys Yellow battled right up to the finish, with Tybee taking first by only 90 seconds. Marleys Orange finished third just five minutes later, with six more of the fleet all coming in within twenty minutes of each other. Team Cat Fever finished an hour and a half later, after making a costly repair on the beach.

Full Wave Audio set the kite at the start, but doused shortly after this

Marleys White finishing at Jupiter Beach

Team Velocity got creative with some screwdrivers, tape and zip ties to make it to the finish after breaking their tiller crossbar

A front is expected to blow through overnight, with the wind shifting to the north at approximately 10 - 15 knots. If the forecast holds, it will mean an uphill climb to Cocoa Beach, but that's likely more acceptable to the racers than the conditions faced during last year's Jupiter - Cocoa leg.

See comments for times

The first leg started on the water with a 12 knot Southwesterly breeze and spinnakers flying. Most teams remained on the inside until they were well up the bay with various exit strategies used to reach the Atlantic. Once there, the ocean proved to be problematic for several teams with some boats flipping several times. Some small thunderstorms were also waiting to greet the fleet between Miami and Hollywood, and they sucked all the breeze out of the air. The fleet got bunched up as a result, and all boats wound up finishing within 20 minutes of each other. Overall, it was a great start to the race.

Team Tybee took line honors on day 1

14:29

Boats are close - watch the comments for times

The 2008 Tybee 500 is officially underway. Racers were greeted by a nice SSW breeze around 12kts for the start this morning. We did an on the water start today in Barnes Sound, and the wind conditions meant boats were flying to the line with spinnakers up! The first boat to pass the bridge to Little Card Sound took only 20 minutes.

The course will take the boats up through the Biscayne Bay before they can pop out into the Atlantic. They will pass Key Biscayne, South Beach Miami, and finish up in Hollywood Beach.

The finish line in Hollywood is set, and the R/C is waiting. The breeze is a bit lighter up in Hollywood, so it will be interesting to see how long it takes for us to spot a boat.

We'll have some pictures up soon, and live results as the boats come in, so stay tuned!