I can only speak indirectly to the sailing conditions the day of departure. We were sailing from Panama City to Ft Walton, on the inside, they day they started from Pensacola. We were within about 70miles of their departure point. Conditions were sporty. About 20 knots from the SE, putting us on a broad ‘ish reach making 7-8 knots. Sea conditions in the Gulf must have been choppy to rough, 5-6 foot seas on a six second interval or so. Their rhumbline was about SSE, putting them close hauled and tacking. I saw a track of the different participants, but can’t find it now. But you could tell when boats started motoring because their track straightened out. I’m told Acadia did little or no motoring, so did not incur any or too much of the three to one penalty for motoring. From the pics I’ve seen Acadia is a sloop. If you go to Pensacolayachtclub.org, click on race schedule, then cursor down to Oct 31, Cuba race, then click on ‘information’, there is more info and a neat video which features Acadia quite a bit.

David Tye
#189, Blue Moon