Could a Goat Island Skiff complete the Everglades Challenge

Chuck from Duckworks sent me a short message after he and Gary Blankenship finished the Everglades Challenge this year. It is a 300 mile event in Florida. It works through a series of checkpoints that close at specific times and you can pace or race.

Quote:

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Mike, when is a Goat going to go in the Everglades Challenge

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I know a couple of the East Coast Goat Owners have talked about doing the Challenge.

It is much more an endurance event than a competition.

This video by Gary of their experience this year might help give an idea of the feeling of keeping a boat going for four days plus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...;v=4m3sJ5aVE8U

Probably the best way is to do it in a relaxed time the first time (or maybe every time) :)

MIK

Yes it can!!!

I would participate if it were just a bit closer to the Netherlands. Same for the Texas 200 (I believe I made the same statement after having participated in Raid Caledonia).

I also believe you need to take it as an endurance event making sure you are making decent pace throughout the event (too many give it all the first two days and are then completely spent). Most of it is in the mind as it is anyway. Of course you need to have the boat sorted out properly with other preparations (course, supplies, repair materials, etc.), but it is more often than not the mind that decides whether the boat will finish or not (unless of course you are extremely unlucky, like Mike Monies and company with their Welsford designed Scamp). Smaller and/or less suitable boats have finished and sometimes a lot faster than one might expect.

You have done the Texas 200 (the boat has done it twice I believe), so if a Goat is able to finish that one okay, why would the Everglades Challenge not be possible? I think it would perform quite nicely also when sailed conservatively (as it needs to in such event). It beats okay against the wind and waves and on a reach or run it will outperform most mono hulls participating in the event also when (partially) reefed and with 2 adults on board. It will row nicely under bridges, sufficient space to take gear along, etc.

Just my 2c.

I think SimonLew will have a very good opinion.