EC2018 - Day 2c

Just another beautiful day in paradise :)
The Kruger fleet is currently spread out around Pine Island.  Ironically, the only one without a sail, BeaV, is in the lead... go figure...

Meanwhile, the Cruisers are almost all in the Gulf.  Mark and Lauren just in front of Mark, Donna, Brian and Marissa.  From the tracker, it looks like MicroTom and Waterlily are just passing under Sanibel Bridge.

EC2018 - Day 2b

MicroTom provided a couple vidoes before and during the Charlotte Harbor crossing... sounds sporty!



Mark and Lauren are just out ahead of the Kruger Cruiser fleet, perhaps because of their secret weapon... custom foam rigid amas!  Just in from Lauren:
"Happy amas!  We just flew 21 miles!!!"

EC2018 - Day 2a

MicroTom posted a video this morning.  He and WaterLily camped with fellow Kruger paddlers Whale and Bacon on Dog Island, just south of CP1.

EC2018 - Day 1 Wrapup

After a great day of north winds, Team Kruger made great progress yesterday.

Three Cruisers (Mark R & Lauren, Mark P & Donna, Brian & Marissa) camped at Hoagen Key.
From Brian:
"all is well - camped Hogan Island; paddle somewhere around 72 mile yesterday. phone is dying..."

From Lauren:
"This other boat said he got in around 9:20 pm after a "gnarly" ride on the outside"

According to Facebook, SandyBottom camped somewhere south of CP1, not exactly sure where... but she provided a pic of her "pitiful campsite"

EC2018 - Day 1b

More start pictures from Bob B:

EC2018 - Day 1a

After the delayed start, the EC launched across Tampa Bay with moderate NE breeze.  The Kruger fleet is split, with some taking the "inside route" through Sarasota Bay and others taking the "outside route" in the open Gulf.

Text from Brian:
"all is well Mark p my self and thor / greg on the outside; pristine conditions"

Some pics from Mark and Brian:

EC2018 - The Start!

The winds have died down and the SCA was lifted, so after a 2 hour delay, EC2018 is officially under way!

EC2018 - Hurry up and wait...

Saturday morning of the EC starts early.  Loading up the last bits of gear, food and water, it's always a rush to get everything done before the 7am launch.

But this morning, high winds have resulted in a Small Craft Advisory in Tampa Bay, and the Coast Guard will not allow hundreds of small boats into the busy shipping channel.  So... we wait... and get nicely posed pictures of everyone :)

WaterTribe EC2018 - Setup Day

The 2018 Everglades Challenge is looking to be an epic year for Team Kruger.

This is the team:
BeaV (Bob Vollhaber)- SeaWind
BlueJay (Thad Rice) - SeaWind
Dorsalis (Chip Southerland) - SeaWind
GitchyGoomy (Kevin Anderson) - Sea Wind
Huron Hugh (Matt Turner) - SeaWind
Kapakahi and Boo (Brian and Marissa Weber) - Cruiser
ManitouCruiser and BuschWacker (Mark P and Donna Busch) - Cruiser
MateyTHOR (Thor Jaquish) - SeaWind
MicroTom and WaterLily (Tom and Erika Dyll) - Cruiser
MZEE (David May) - SeaWind
SandyBottom (Dawn Stewart) - Dreamcatcher
Whale (Bill Whale) - Dreamcatcher
WindwardMark and LeewardLauren (Mark Rowe and Lauren Fry) - Cruiser
Setup day looked cloudy and breezy, but at least that keeps the bugs away and the sun of the fair skin of so many northerners :)

Here are some pics sent from the field.