How do you prepare to race a sea kayak, day and night, twelve hundred miles around Florida? That's what I wanted to know.

Pushups. A lot of pushups. I was pretty sure it had something to do with arm strength. I tried to get into the best physical shape of my middle-aged life. I assembled my gear and planned my meals. I tried to anticipate each little problem, every potential setback. 

What would it be like out there? Gentle rolling seas. Waves lapping at my bow. Vacation with a waterfront view. Bliss.

This is going to be a piece of cake. I mean, really, what could possibly go wrong?











Oh yeah. That.











RESEARCH



Okay, so I was a little worried. Maybe even frightened. Those are big, sharp teeth.

What I needed was reliable information about the risks. Facts. Knowledge. Something to put it all into proper perspective. The sea isn't any more dangerous than driving to the beach, and probably a lot less dangerous.

Right?

To prove my point, I consulted the source of all truth. I turned to the internet.

Here's what I found:


1)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4YjmwCs6H0&feature=related



2)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nzd0R_OeOc&NR=1



3)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=92anYJeftXA 

   

THE ROUTE

The race begins and ends on Mullet Key in Fort DeSoto Park near the entrance to Tampa Bay. The course runs counter-clockwise around Florida.







From Mullet Key, the challengers head south past Sarasota, Venice, Sanibel Island, Naples, and across Florida Bay to a checkpoint at Key Largo.

Next, the race turns north, up the east coast past Miami, Palm Beach, the Kennedy Space Center, Daytona, and Jacksonville to a checkpoint on Amelia Island. That's where the Florida Challenge turns west, up the St. Marys River, across a 40-mile portage on a highway through the Okefenokee Swamp to the Suwannee River.

The race continues down the Suwannee to a checkpoint at Cedar Key in the Gulf of Mexico. The last leg of the challenge is a 120-mile "sprint" south to Tampa Bay and the start/finish beach on Mullet Key.

To circumnavigate Florida in thirty days means paddling at least forty miles a day, everyday. No time to wait-out bad weather. No time for eight hours of sleep. No time to take even a single day off. You just have to keep on truckin.









RACE NAMES

MY BOAT










My kayak is 17 feet, 7 inches long, made of fiberglass, and weighs 56 pounds empty. It was manufactured by the Canadian company Current Designs. This photo was taken during a brief stop on the Suwannee River.







WHAT I CARRIED











PADDLING GEAR:

Current Designs Solstice GT sea kayak, 56 pounds empty
Two Werner paddles, one primary, one spare
Spray skirt
Inflatable life vest
Hand pump
Sponge
Inflatable paddle float
Inflatable seat cushion
Downwind sail rig
Hand-held GPS navigation unit
Hand-held VHF marine radio
EPIRB (emergency beacon transmitter)
Three emergency flares
Compass, watch, and whistle
Duct tape
Cell phone and re-charger
Hypothermia survival kit – including space blanket and fast fire starters
First aid kit
Safety knife
One headlamp, two flashlights, and a rear deck running light
Reflective jogging vest
Small, light-weight wheels to pull kayak over rocks or tidal flats
Nautical charts
Extra batteries
FM Radio with earphones
3 bandanas
3 disposable cameras
Notebook and two pens
Reading glasses

PADDLING CLOTHES:

Straw hat and baseball hat
Sun glasses
Sun screen
Two O’Neil rash guard long sleeve surfing shirts
Nylon front-button short sleeve shirt (for night paddling)
Fast-drying shorts
Diving booties
Paddle gloves, two pair
Waterproof paddle jacket

CAMPING GEAR:

Jungle hammock
Inflatable air mattress
Sleeping bag
Four tent stakes
Assorted lengths of parachute cord
Eight by ten foot tarp
Bug repellent
Biodegradable soap
Toilet paper

CAMP CLOTHES:

Fleece sweatshirt
Tee shirt
Long sleeve front-button shirt
Nylon running shorts
Nylon wind pants
Smart Wool socks
Mosquito head net
Fleece hat

COOKING GEAR:

Food for 5-7 days (Resupply at checkpoints)
Backpacker’s propane stove
Titanium pot
Three cigarette lighters
Matches
Plastic containers to carry up to four gallons of water
Plastic knife and spoon
Pocketknife with can opener

FOR THE 40-MILE PORTAGE:

Portage cart
Running shoes
Silk sock liners (for use with the Smart Wool socks)
Small backpack with rope to tow the kayak