Distance Race. Why not Biloxi or Grand Isle or something in addition to Mexico?

[JayZ]

I was talking with a friend of mine in the LYC bar a couple days ago.  ...happens to be a Southern Yacht Club member that came to Houston Post Katrina. 

We were discussing deep water racing around here and the topic of Veracruz and Race to the Border came up.  With all the issues we have on the border and into Mexico as well as the difficulty in getting insurance for some to make the Veracruz race,  why not look at some other destinations?

What about looking at Biloxi again or Grand Isle or even making way to Pensacola?   I've never done the Biloxi race but I have sailed across that part of the Gulf.  Sure there are lots of Rigs and such but we've got that here to.  ...most of us are used to this. 

Biloxi or Grand Isle might be kind of fun with the Casinos and such but really if you get a good enough group of boats anywhere would be suitable.  ...could even harbor up in Venice Louisiana and have a good time.

Anyone care to weigh in?

[JA]

Have you ever been to Venice, LA?  If the offshore oilfield work boats don't get you then the locals will!

[JayZ]

yeah, I've been to Venice.  I was one of the only sailboats there.  I kind of said that part as a joke but truthfully, I didn't have any issue with Venice.  I found the locals pleasant and the marina more than acceptable with a pretty good restaurant on premises.  ...sure ended up with one nasty bow mustache after running down the river though.

Have you ever been to Venice, LA?  If the offshore oilfield work boats don't get you then the locals will!

[Chris P]

I think its a great idea! I don't want to go to Mexico.
Venice might be better for later in the fall/early winter - mosquitos can be as big as small birds there.

[Frank Tamborello]

Pensacola's a great idea. Key West might be even better!

[marc]

The biggest problem with all of these destinations is that they are upwind, and a longways upwind. It could be a 5 or 6 day beat to weather for some of the slower boats to get to Pensacola. We are cursed to be in a corner of the Gulf with very few off the wind options.

May be a better bet to team up with an organization out of Tampa/St Pete and do a race across the Gulf to Galveston. Or have a few Texas boats head that way for Clearwater to Key West in May or something like that.

[Bee]

A race to Pensacola in January should benefit from North winds.  Reduces the sea state close in and also provides at least a reach in.  Yes the Northers could make things interesting, but with the proper angle out of the NW, the run should be spectacular.  Pensacola is a ways, but the ultimate finish is Key West Race Week. 

Summer-Fall  racing has Hurricane potential, but statistically  its a reach or mild beat to PA or Padre.  Yes, I am aware of this year, and I am also glad I was in Dago. 

Let's continue to Race to the Border or Veracruz or PA in the summer/fall, but let's also consider a reverse direction in the winter.  My buds up North in Cleveland and RI always envy me when I tell them I'm doing an Icicle or the revognah in January.  Their boats are out of the frozen water on the hard for several months while we enjoy weather we can at least dress for.

[JayZ]

ultimate would be feeder to P-cola, feeder to KW and then KWRW.  ...ahh to be a man of leisure - maybe one day.

[BJSailor]

      ?Do or do not... there is no try.?

In years gone by (as recently as the 80's) there were regular races to N.O., Biloxi, Mobile, Tampa/St. Pete, etc.  Either one way or the other - frequently alternating each year or being a two-way event.

Winter (January) regatta to Florida that feeds Key West.  Spring to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.  Labor Day to wherever the Lipton Cup is held.  Get creative with the other clubs and find events that come to Galveston Bay.  Ask Kolius about sailing with his dad in these races.  Talk to Roy Sr (and Jr.) since they've been there. 

Two boats make a race, three make a regatta.  That's all it takes to get started...

[Scoundrel]

Not a fan of beating anywhere and wouldn't give up on RTTB, usually a good run and always a great party.  One we've talked about doing is the Regatta del Sol, St Petersburg to Ilsa Mujeres done in April each year.  Be fun to get a group to go over to St Pete, do the race/party and run all the way home before hurricane season starts!

[hayesrigging]

Race To The Border is going to be a good one this year.  Planning is under way and should be a lot of fun.  We need to spread the word about it and get more boats to come out and enjoy the fun!!!!  The updated web site should be up soon and the kick off party will be in March.  More details to follow soon.

[ChrisK]

Sorry to dig up this old thread but did some research you might find interesting about the Galveston to Biloxi race (held on odd years).

Records show the race was done early June 1965 and 1967, maybe 1969 1971 and 1973; it was on the schedule 1975 and 1977; and finally dropped from the schedule in 1981.  So far I have not found race results for this particular race but they're probably floating around somewhere.

Galveston to Biloxi first mentioned in the 1965 GBCA Members handbook:

?The Galveston-Gulfport Race has not been included in the TORC in order that smaller boats would not be excluded from the circuit. All of the requirements set forth for the TORC will be maintained for this race, with the exception that the CCA rating of the boat cannot greater than 50 or less than 18.8. The race is approximately 392 miles long and will provide very interesting navigation and strategy problems. At this time, the details of the finish have not been determined, but in all probability will be very near Gulfport Yacht Marina, or the Broadwater Beach Hotel Yacht Marina, which are about five miles apart in the Mississippi Sound. It is probable that several boats will join us from the Southern Yacht Club, and also from the Corpus Christi Yacht Club in this first race to the Mississippi Coast. In connection with the above mentioned race, the Southern Yacht Club has invited our membership to participate in the Gulfport to Pensacola Race tentatively scheduled for June 25. It would be well if some of our membership could participate in this race?

Fast forward to the 1978 GBCA TORC guide (although never part of the TORC scoring)

??The (Biloxi) race will start from the TORC starting line in Bolivar Roads. After clearing the end of the North Jetty proceed in a easterly direction to the Mississippi River Southwest Pass Entrance Mid-Channel Lighten Whistle Buoy (1976 Light List No. 2150) and leave it to port; thence easterly leaving the Mississippi  River South Pass Lighted Buoy ?2? (1976 Light List No. 2131) to port; thence in a northerly direction leaving Chandeleur Island to port and through Ship Island Pass to the finish line formed by a line drawn through Buoy FL, R., 4 Sec. ?2? (1976 Light List No. 1899) and FL. W., 4 Sec. ?1? (1976 Light List No. 1898). Pass FL. W., 4 Sec. ?1? close to port at not more than 100 feet distance. Each boat shall record its own time when the bow of the boat crosses the finish line. The finish line is located generally at the entrance to the Broadwater Beach Hotel Marina...the race should be abandoned if not finished within 132 hours after the start (added 1973)...Time allowance will be based on a course length of 389 miles. The perpetual trophy for this race is the Broadwater Beach Hotel Trophy?  

RC Chairman either J. Howard Williams, Curtis McKallip

The Broadwater has since fallen on harder times...
http://misspreservation.com/2010/05/19/pleasure-domes-past-biloxis-broadwater-beach/
The area where I think the hotel used to be looks pretty sad in Google Earth, post Katrina.

[JayZ]

Thanks Chris.

Quick question, isn't there some noise about a race to Gulfport or something returning to replace the Veracruz Race?

[Bee]

I need a 111.

[Charles]

I need a 111.