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Recent Race News:

Photo courtesy of johnpaynephoto.com

View more race photos by these photographers:
johnpaynephoto.com
imagesbymarco.com
boatpics.com

January 18, 2013
It’s Official
The 38th Annual Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race official results are in!  A determined Osita crossed the finish line at 7:15 am. The race started in 10+ knots of SE breeze, then lightened up and got shifty.  Finally, for the second half of the fleet, a cold front rolled through with 30+ knot out of the N seen by several of the competitors.  Thirty two boats started the race, while twenty six sailed to the finish. Bella Mente, Hap Fauth’s Mini Maxi was first across the line for an IRC class win and sailed only 160.9nm on a 160nm course, which earned them the “Best Overall Performance” Award as well. See all the final race results here.

Awards photos by imagesbymarco.com. More can be found here.

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 replay from the start of this race.

There is one more SORC event this season: the 2013 Pineapple Cup 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.

All Finished
The 38th Annual Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race is complete. Of 36 registered boats, twenty six sailed to the finish.  Last across the line, Osita hung in there til the finish.  It was a great morning for them, crossing the finish with the rising sun.   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! Great job everyone and welcome to Key West!

Good Morning
The sun is coming up on day two and the Lauderdale to Key West Race is not yet over.  Osita, in spite of the 30+ knot winds is still sailing toward the finish. All others have finished or retired.

January 17, 2013
The Weather is Here
The front has hit the lower keys.  The breeze clocked around to the north at 20+ knots.  Where spinnakers were flown to earlier finishes, storm jibs are the sails of choice now.  Since Thin Ice crossed the line at the 2 pm tide change,  several more boats have finished or retired.  The retirees are: Double Trouble, Break Aweigh and Ace.  Finishers include Loki, Main Squeeze, Bandana, Constellation, Mirage, Batacuda and Rim Shot.  Commotion is at the sea buoy. We spoke with Adrienne deLisser from Main Squeeze. She said, “The race went well.  It lightened up after the start and we had some crazy shifts.  We caught Loki in a shift and stayed with them until the end.”  It looks like the rest of the fleet should finish tonight.

As the Tide Turns
The next group of boats are in.  All were flying spinnakers with about 8 knots of breeze.  Different Drummer, Tri Vector, Rebecca, Teamwork and Thin Ice.  The tide goes slack around 2pm.  The next group of finishers might have a harder time getting across the line.

Morning in Review
It was a busy morning in Key West.  We caught up with Paul Parks from Sundog with his boat already on the hard, “We had a fun ride, a beat that turned into a reach with top speeds 17 -18 knots.” Not too much later, Dragon finished with real tight jibe angles, competing with the tide, and pulled it off perfectly.  At that same time, Brake Aweigh retired from the race. And then Flight Simulator crossed the line, but may be subject to a protest.

Early Morning Finish for 2 IRC Boats
It was a great ride for Decision and Spookie.  They were a couple of boat lengths apart most of the way from the start to the Key West buoy.  From Tom Lihan on Spookie, “It was a speed test most of the way to Miami.  Decision passed us in Miami.  We stayed with them and caught a couple of shifts near the Key West buoy that put us out in front.  It went hard right and then hard left. There were a lot of sail changes.”  Spookie is owned by Steve and Heidi Benjamin from Lauderdale Yacht Club and Steve drove the race. Spookie crossed the finish line on a reach with decent speed while, Decision was close on the wind barely making way, taking an hour to go 200 yards.  The tide turns at 9 am and should give the next group of boats a push to the finish.

Rise and Shine
The fleet is making progress.  There seems to be an area near Sugarloaf Key that has very little wind as the boats are making only 1 or 2 knots.  Both farther north and nearer to Key West the breeze is steady. Unofficially, Sundog was the first multihull across the line at 4:47am and Elvis followed at 5:59am. Spookie and Decision V are on the final stretch to the finish. Official results will be posted Friday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of johnpaynephoto.com

Line Honors
There’s some very close racing going on tonight.  Many boats are within sight of one another and several are making more than 10 knots.  Bella Mente sailed a fast race and was first to finish this morning at 2:04 am.  With the boat safely tied to the dock, the crew of Bella Mente was heading into town. “It was a really good ride. We were taking advantage of a coastal race leading up to a season of offshore racing. The conditions were nicer than expected.  It was lovely sailing.”  Not far behind are Sundog and Elvis in direct competition, while Spookie and Decision V are battling it out in close proximity. Keep up with the action here.

January 16, 2013
Stars on the Water
It was a beautiful evening and sunset tonight as the winds backed off a little near Key Largo, but kept a steady 10 – 15 knots further down the chain. Most of the boats are in close proximity to each other.  Bella Mente is out front making double digit speeds followed by Sundog a few miles back.  It’s too early to predict winners as the front may change things in the wee hours.

Photo courtesy of johnpaynephoto.com

And They're Off!
The fleet is southbound! Beating into a 10 knot wind, thirty two boats started on a beautiful afternoon with clear skies and nice breeze.  The pin was the favored end with Mirage over early. The breeze is forecast to shift as the race progresses. Keep up to date by following the tracking.

January 15, 2013
Skipper's Meeting
The Pre-Race Skippers meeting was well attended this evening at the Lauderdale Yacht Club. Thanks to our sponsor, Goslings, the Dark and Stormy’s flowed freely. The conversation, as happens with sailors, was mostly about the weather. The first starting gun will be at 1pm tomorrow just south of Port Everglades Inlet with a predicted 7-12 kt southeast wind. It’s not looking like record breaking conditions this year, but a nice, comfortable ride with warm temperatures and variable breeze that will provide the crews with challenging tactical decisions.

Spot Tracking with Kattack is the best way to follow the actual vessel progression without being there. As this is one of the few long distance races within cell phone range, SORC and the competitors can also share the race with their family and friends in real time on Facebook. Log in to keep up with the action!

January 13, 2013
And They’re Ready to Race
Registration for the 38th Annual Fort Lauderdale – Key West Race ended January 11th with a total of 36 entries.  With at least 7 boats in each fleet, there will be some very exciting & close competition as the boats sail to the Key West channel. Race Committee Chair Joel Bowie is looking forward to the race, “A good fleet of 36 boats, down a little in number, but a good group.  A very competitive IRC fleet led by Bella Mente, a 72’ Mini Maxi that is capable of breaking Carrera’s 10 hour 24 minute record.  The breeze looks like it’s setting up to be a nice easterly in the 10+ knot range, which will make for a pretty quick race and a nice off the wind sail.  The forecast for Key West is sunny with temperatures 78 to 80.  Should be fun, I wish I were sailing.”

Speaking of weather, the Race Committee is pleased to have Weather Routing Inc. join us for the second year as a partner for this season’s races. 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 again provide coupons for fleet winners good for 6 months of free service. Click here for their forecast. 

November 26, 2012
Sail On...

God Bless Arthur J. "Tuna" Wullschleger A true friend of every sailor that ever raced. We will miss your humor, help and friendship.

October 12, 2012
Looking Good
Want your team to look good? Visit the official race apparel page to order some cool gear for you and your crew. There are many styles and options available and custom monograming is available too!

September 12, 2012
Skipper's Swag
Skipper's bags have been bought for all the competing boats.

July 31, 2012
Online Entry Open
As the summer sailing season begins to wind down, it is time to start organizing plans for the special winter sailing season starting in sunny south Florida.  The SORC group, along with the Lauderdale Yacht Club, is busy finalizing plans for the 2013 Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race.

Race Chairman Joel Bowie is hoping for a great turn out. ”We’re gearing up for our 38th annual Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race.  We invite sailors, whether casual cruisers or “rock star” racers, to enter and compete in this unique 160 mile ocean race.  Come try to break Carrera’s 10 hour, 24 minute monohull record, or Stars and Stripes’ 8 hour, 31 minute multihull record, or just come to party.  If history is any indication, this year will be a fast race after last year’s relatively slow event.  Gosling’s is our new rum sponsor and we expect a great party.  We’ll see you in January!”

The Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race starts Wednesday January 16th.  Online registration is open and makes getting involved only a few clicks away! Though the weather requests are not always met, the camaraderie and flow of rum are sure to be a part of this favorite long time regatta.  Make plans now to come out and participate!

July 23, 2012
Notice of Race Posted
The 2013 Notice of Race is posted and online entry is now open for registration.

Photo courtesy of johnpaynephoto.com

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Multihull Record Holder: Custom 60 - Stars and Stripes Steve and Scott Liebel 8 hours 31 min 4 sec 2007
	Monohull Record Holder R/P 81 - Carrera Joe Dockery 10 hours 24 min 2 sec 2005