Catamarans in the Current

The small fleet (due to the heavy wind forecast) tries to get through the Jewfish Creek Drawbridge in order to get to the starting area in Barnes Sound. The first leg of this race takes the competitors about 10 miles through a couple of sounds and out into the ocean through Angelfish Creek. Then a 50 mile drag race ensues south in the Atlantic to Anne's Beach. The second day the teams dash over shallows, sandbars, flats, and creeks to sail back to Blackwater Sound for the finish. <br /><br />The current on the backside of the keys is mostly wind driven and the wind was in excess of 20knots at the exit of this creek. The boats are sheltered from the wind by the bridge, the elevated road, and the mangrove forest lining the creek ahead and left with very little power to try and overcome the 8knot current. Some teams were lucky to time their crossing with a puff of breeze while paddling hard. Others had to try and try again.