33rd Fort Lauderdale-Keywest race set for record

by Barby MacGowan, Media Pro Int'l on 12 Dec 2007 The 2008 Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race is on track for a record turnout when it starts for its 33rd time on January 16. Over 30 boats are already entered and 50 boats are expected to have signed up by the entry deadline.

Organized by SORC Management, which includes members of the Storm Trysail Club and Lauderdale Yacht Club, the 160-mile race starts just south of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and finishes inside Key West Harbor. Along the way, navigators 'connect-the-dots' to keep the fleet between all major Florida Keys markers and the Gulf Stream.

'The race has always had a good mix of amateurs and professionals,' said Race Chairman Joel Bowie. 'PHRF is traditionally the largest fleet split into three or four classes. For IRC Class boats, this race is the 2008 kick-off for the annual US-IRC Gulf Stream Series, and the multihull fleet continues to grow with over a dozen competitors expected this year.'

Bowie added that the current monohull race record is 10 hours 24 minutes and two seconds posted by Joe Dockery's R/P 81 Carrera in 2005; in 2007, Steve and Scott Liebel's Custom 60 Stars and Stripes turned in the multihull record of eight hours 31 minutes and four seconds.

'There is still time for competitors to enter early (prior to December 14th) and save $100 on the entry fee, 'said Bowie. 'There are plenty of accommodations for family, crew and boat dockage available in Key West, but 'earlier is better' for planning purposes.'

SORC Management, which also orchestrates the Pineapple Cup Montego Bay Race and the Fort Lauderdale to Charleston Race, will hold a skippers meeting for the Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race at Lauderdale Yacht Club on January 15th. The awards party will be held in Key West on January 18th. Race entry is now a simple on-line process found on the official race website – www.keywestrace.org -- where the Notice of Race, dockage information and past race results also can be found. Race Chairman Joel Bowie can be reached at Chair@keywestrace.org, 954-525-6022.