Day 5 Finish/Day 6 Start Fernandina Beach

And coming in first to the beach yesterday: The famous Jay Sonnenklar and Steve Lohmayer on Yellow! Yay! They closed the gap slightly on Velocity and are now trailing first place by only eight minutes. They're going to make it up today on the race to Tybee (cross your fingers everyone!) Orange was the fourth N20 to the beach and Blue was fifth, and White was seventh.

We all went to the Crab Trap restaurant for a team dinner which grew to almost double the size by the time we ate with Tybee friends. All the sailors got to bed pretty early, no doubt anticipating the finish and solidifying their positions in the race.

We're all so proud of them, and it's been a hellova week. The final start this morning was bitter-sweet as we watched the boats sail off for the last time. And to think I was just getting used to carrying everyones luggage up multiple flights of stairs. We had an 8:00 AM start this morning and a guest pusher today for Royal Orange. Weighing in at a whopping 45 pounds and three feet tall, age 5: Carson Page. The best pusher we've ever had (or certainly the cutest.) The start went off without any problems other than changing out a mast rotator 15 minutes before launch. We're currently waiting here at the hotel restaurant, Marlin Monroe's, in Tybee Island for any sign of the boats.

We've been lucky to have not had any major problems on the boats this year and consequently "The Boat Guy is happy" says Chris Runge. And I'm sure Stokes Seegers can agree. Anyway good luck boys, and we can't wait to see the finish.

Drive Hard.

Pictures from the start and finish by Kate Laichak.

Finish