2012 Race Coverage:

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Photo courtesy of johnpaynephoto.com

January 15, 2012
The Results are Official
The 37th Annual Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race official results are in! The last boat crossed the finish line at 10:49 am Friday– 46 hours after the start. The race started in 20-25 kt south wind and 4-6 ft seas. Soon after, the wind died and the weather was changing the rest of the race. The wind angles were such that sail changes, tacks and gybes were numerous for all boats. Thirty nine boats started the race, while only 20 sailed to the finish. Rambler (RP 90) was the First to Finish, but on corrected time, Sarah (X41) won the IRC Class. Denali was 2nd across the line and won their class and the PHRF Division, also netting them the award for “Best Overall Performance”.

The award for “Best on the Water Reporting”’ on the official SORC Face book page was won by Stephanie Sweeney and the crew of Nanuq, who posted numerous photos and notes from their sail to Key West.

SPOT tracking is officially part of all SORC events. It allows the friends and family to keep track of the race with real time position updates. Click here to watch the tracking for this race.

The next SORC event is the 2012 Fort Lauderdale Nassau Race November 8-12, followed by the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race starting on January 16, 2013 and the Montego Bay Race starting February 8, 2013.

Want to be a sponsor? Levels of sponsorship are available. Contact sponsorship@sorcsailing.org for more info.

The SORC is a Florida non-profit organization driven by a select group of volunteers that bring professional event management, sailing , racing and other skills to the organization. The SORC mission is to lead the expansion of offshore competitive sailing in South Florida by providing the highest level of race organization, management and promotions for those that enjoy the sport of ocean sailing. Learn more at www.sorcsailing.org.

January 13, 2012
The Fleet Comes Sailing In
The 37th Annual Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race is complete . Of 47 registered boats, twenty sailed to the finish. All boats are accounted for and some crews are present in Key West even if their boats are docked elsewhere. Progress was slow, but made throughout the evening and night. Some turned the key and motored to the dock. Several of the PHRF boats rounded the Key West Sea Buoy in the wee hours and spent up to 4 hours tacking to the finish line near daybreak. Sunquest was last to finish and made the 48 hour time limit by around 2 hours. The Unofficial Results are available at the Live Race Results Page. Official results will be announced at the Awards Party at 5pm at Kelly’s Caribbean Bar and Grill. Cheers! And great job everyone!

January 12, 2012
To Finish or Not to Finish?
It’s been a test of endurance some would say. Thirty three hours after the start of the 37th Annual Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race the trophies are still very much “up in the air”. Of 47 registered boats, 20 have officially retired or did not start and 5 have finished. There are still 22 out there. Some, sure they can make the 48 hr time limit and want that trophy! They may be the ones who know how to enjoy those precious moments of quiet given to us every so often. The sailors have been great with their competition for “Best on the Water Reporting”, several are contenders. Stay tuned to the tracking and Live Race Results for up to the minute information.

First to Finish
Since the last report, Mystiko, Silhouette, and Anhinga have retired with no wind or mechanical issues. And with a short last tack to lay the finish, Rambler has become the first boat to finish the 37th Annual Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race. Denali and Privateer are still neck and neck around 8 miles out. Following the tracking to check the rest of the fleet.

Morning Notes
Official word from the Race Committee: Osita, MJ IV, Mirage, Tristan B and Elvis have retired. Osita and Mirage were back at LYC last night. Tristan B is motoring south for the party after a broken halyard. Elvis is motoring south in Hawk’s Channel with a broken headboard on the main. All are safe. Rambler is off of Big Pine Key making 8-10 kts. We should be seeing them soon here in Key West.

January 11, 2012
No Record Breaking This Year
Through the evening and into the night, the wind conditions were changing. The waters off of Miami had so little wind the boats were barely making way. While further south the multi hulls were looking at double digit boat speeds. There are still too many miles to go to predict class winners, but Rambler is out in front. Denali and Privateer are near each other and next in line.

And They're Off!
Beating into a 20-25kt wind, the fleet is southbound! The signal boat was the favored end, seen here from the flybridge. Even the 62' Gunboat Elvis is playing it safe with a reefed main and a storm jib. Wizard, Antilope, Reef Points, Loki, Bandana, Osita and Warlock have retired or did not start.

January 10, 2012
Skipper's Meeting
The Pre-Race Skippers meeting was well attended this evening at the Lauderdale Yacht Club. As always the rum and other beverages flowed freely and the conversation was mostly about the weather. The first starting gun will be at 1pm tomorrow just south of Port Everglades Inlet with a predicted 12-17 knot south wind. Depending on the speed of the front, it looks to be an upwind race for the leaders of the fleet. The slower boats should have a leg of downwind as they near the lower Keys. It’s not looking like record breaking conditions this year, but good sailing for all.

The entrants are from all across the USA: from Florida up to New England and west to Nevada. And also from lands afar: Antilope (Grand Soleil 46) from the Netherlands, and Tristan B (Southerly 57RS) from Canada.

Spot Tracking with Kattack is the best way to follow the actual vessel progression without being there. There will be a trophy for the boat with the “Best on the Water Reporting” on the official SORC Facebook page. So the competitors can also share the race with their family and friends in real time and could come home from the Awards Party with an additional prize.

January 9, 2012
All Entries Are In
Registration for the 37th Annual Fort Lauderdale – Key West Race ended January 6th with a total of 47 entries, up from 45 last year. With at least 7 boats in most fleets, there will be some very exciting & close competition as the boats sail to the Key West channel . It looks to be an upwind race as the wind is predicted to start off from the south and clock around to the southwest and west as both the front and the race progress . “This race is always a Navigator's race and changing weather patterns make it an even greater challenge.“ says Race Committee Chairman Joel Bowie. Several competitors are already in town and were out practicing this weekend: Jasmine (Little Harbor 53), Nanuq (Sabre 426) and Osita (Tartan 40) were just a few spotted near Port Everglades today.

January 6, 2012
Official Weather Routing
The Ft Lauderdale – Key West Race Committee is pleased to welcome Weather Routing Inc. as a partner for this year’s race. Joel Bowie, Race Chairman is delighted, reporting that Weather Routing, Inc. provides “the best quality weather forecasting service available for our competitors with its state of the art equipment and resources”. In addition to making their forecasts available to the competitors and providing the race committee with the most accurate and current weather information, they will provide coupons for flight winners good for 6 months of free service. Welcome aboard Weather Routing Inc. Click HERE for their forecast.

January 5, 2012
Only One Day Left to Enter
The deadline to enter one of the world’s best point to point races – the Ft Lauderdale – Key West Race– is this Friday, 6 January. Sign up now for what will be a great 160 mile race along Florida’s majestic blue water east coast, with a near full moon helping you navigate, in very comfortable temperatures. Forty five of your fellow yachts have signed up– come challenge them!

December 12, 2011
South Bound
The early entry deadline for the 37th annual Ft Lauderdale - Key West Race ended Saturday with 40 competitors taking advantage of the discounted entry fee. Each of the three fleets (IRC, PHRF & Multihull) has an exciting group of yachts ready to face the challenges of the 160 mile race along the east coast of Florida down to Key West. Competitors like Rambler (R/P 90), Privateer (Cookson 50) and Wizard (R/P 74) head up the list that will start on 11 January just south of the Ft Lauderdale inlet. To make the sail even more enjoyable, the SORC Race Committee has arranged a waning gibbous moon (full on the 9th).

The Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race is unique among Ocean Races as it is sailed within cell phone range. Race competitors communicating during the race through Face book also compete for a prize for Best On-Water Reporting. With technology, the folks living vicariously through these sailors can be along for the ride!

On line registration remains open until January 6.

Contacts:
Joel Bowie, Race Chairman: chair@keywestrace.org
Christine Stewart, Publicity: pr@keywestrace.org

November 23, 2011
Order Your Official Race Apparel
Visit our Race Apparel page to order your official race gear. There are many styles and options available and custom monograming is available too!

September 2, 2011
The Notice of Race is Now Posted
Mark your calendars. The 2012 Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race will start on Wednesday, January 11th. The Notice of Race is posted. Enter now with our Online Entry Registration.

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