SanSouci Does Watertribe Ultimate Marathon in 8 foot CLC Pram

Article By Guy Kaminski

April 28, 2003

Hey Shorty:
How is it going. My name is Guy Kaminski. I receive my Chesapeake Light Craft Eastport Pram rowing kit Saturday, January 6, 2003. I made the mast, spars, step, dagger board and rudder from materials I bought from my local HD. The mast is a hollow birds mouth and I modified the rudder to kick up, with a line and jam cleat to hold it fast. The boat LOA is 7' 11". Final modifications were made the night before the EC Marathon started.

This was the boat's maiden voyage. I launched at 0720 March 8, 2003 next to Matt who went on to finish first overall in his micro cruiser. I made the 6 mile crossing of Tampa Bay in a little more than 2 hours with 15 knot winds out of the ENE. I arrived mid point of Sarasota Bay around 1400 when the wind had finally died and then became a light onshore breeze out of the WSW. Pretty much had to row the rest of the way to Midnight Pass, arriving about 2130 to eat and rest. Arose about 0230 on Sunday and was under way by 0330. Light winds out of the ESE allowed me to sail about a third of the distance to Venice Inlet, arriving at CP1 under oars in the still of the sunrise at 0620.

Signing in at CP1, I learned I was the 39th boat out of 42 to arrive. I chatted with a couple fellow Tribe members and the CP1 volunteer before setting out through Venice Inlet around 1030. I thought the outside may give me a chance to reach CP2 at my personal goal of 1630, at which time family would pick me up and I could return to Tampa. On the outside the wind was big and out of the WSW.

I realized I would have to head 1 to 2 miles offshore to tack once and make the point South of me, so I turn tail and got back to the inside. I told everyone that I was taking the inside and I knew that is where I should be. Three miles latter, under the span of Venice Avenue, I looked at the abutment to confirm I was making no forward progress. The wind had me standing still. I struggled on for about 1 mile before turning tail again. I took out at the ramp just north of Venice Ave at 1000.

Had the time of my life.
Best Regards
Guy

Note From Shorty:
From Fort Desoto to Venice Inlet, it is about 42 miles, so it looks like he covered those 42 miles in 20 hours of sailing / rowing time which would make about 2.1 Velocity Made Good. The Ultimate Marathon is the first leg of the 300 mile Watertribe Everglades Challenge, so if we apply his speed to the entire EC course - that would be 300 miles / 2.1 = 142 sailing hours. Now divide that by 8 days, and you have 17 hours a day on the water. It would be possible to complete the EC in an 8 foot boat.