Here is a pretty picture of our track, downloaded from our SPOT messenger. There are a few gaps courtesy of operator error.

I have also included the .KML file which will open in GOOGLE EARTH if you have it. That will allow you to zoom in and see all the exciting places we visited on our trip..

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/67827067/EC%202013%20Track%20for%20excitableboy%20and%20runswithbeer.kml

(Someday I will figure out how to add this file directly to our blog. For now you need to download it and open in GOOGLE EARTH)

Here is a recap of our video’s to date…

We will get you a better play by play once Luke and I get caught up with life …

Here, in video format, are some snippets from the boys’ adventure:

 
Day 2 update

 
Headed to Cape Sable

 
Leaving Flamingo

 
We Hate Rowing!

Bill Wright reports,

“ExcitableBoy and RunswithBeer have finished 4rd in their class, and 8th overall!

But we thought we were gonna die! I’m much closer to God now, but may have made some promises I can’t keep.

A Sea Pearl just SHOULD NOT go 10 knots, and when it does, you don’t wanna be aboard.

When I looked back to see the waves breaking OVER Luke’s head, I knew we were in trouble.”

At that point, the report was interrupted by a need to “drink a beer, and order a pizza.”

But I have a promise of more adventure stories, and frightening details later.

Please stand by …

This morning, around 9 am, we got this message from Bill:

“Sat for 3 hours off Cape Sable. No wind.

Now headed east at 3 kts.

Had a nice sleep while waiting for tide to change and wind to fill in.

We’re getting there. But it’s a slog”

I just checked the tracking map, and they have cleared Check-Point 3#, and were the 4th boat in their class to do so. They are now sailing the last leg of the race in light air, and are southeast of Snake Bight (I’m not kidding) and northwest of the Whipray Basin. (Still not kidding)

They have traveled over 250 miles, and are looking like a good bet for a 4th place finish!

Somebody whistle up some wind!

OK, not really.

I was just trying to add some excitement. The truth is that I’ve lost communication, (no updates from Bill’s phone) but I suspect that is simply that the battery has run down, or that there is no signal there off the Everglades.

But here’s what we know! They were the 4th boat in their class (of 17 boats) to check in at Check-Point #2, and they are well on their way to Check-Point #3.

Currently, they are just west of Ponce de Leon Bay, at the mouth of the Shark River. The next Check-Point is at Flamingo, on the southern tip of mainland Florida. From there, it is just a little south of east for the final leg to Key Largo.

Two boats in their class have already finished the race, and a third is a bit ahead of them, but they are still well ahead of the 5th place boat, and all the others in their class. A 4th place finish would be a very good result for a first time entry!

It looks like the wind is very light, which explains their slow progress. Let’s hope it fills for them soon, and carries them safely away from the Shark(s).

No news from Bill Wright yet today, but it appears they have cleared Checkpoint #2, and are threading their way through the islands of Chokoloskee, in search of the Gulf of Mexico. I’ll let you know when I hear more.

At 3:17 pm on Sunday,

Bill reports:

“Had a hell of a day yesterday. Got our Asses handed to us by a 72 year old guy single handing a Sea Pearl. (Same boat we are sailing) We figured it, out but too late.

Got to CKP 1, changed clothes and went back out. Sailed to a nice sandy beach on Cayo Costa and crashed. Coastie and Clamcounter came by with a wild turkey night-cap. We owe them.

Rained hard all night (11 pm bed time). Got up 4 am, and went over to the Ranger station dock. Used their facilities and had coffee and oatmeal.

Sail down Pine Island Sound in 20 kts, then beat out Sanibel in 8.

Now running down the beach towards Caxambas Pass.

Off Naples now.

Plan is to enter Caxambas, and thread our way through it, and exit it to the south to continue on to CKP 2

End”