Snuck Around Saint Petersburg , When I Felt it was Time for a Change (of Venue)

[Bobcat]

Heading out at 3 AMish in a Rented Toyota to St. Pete for the Boat Races.

[fund razor]

Pleased to meet you.

[Bobcat]

Heading out in a bit...Just waiting to ****.

[Bobcat]

Bit of a Secretive Pit Area...No access...For Anyone (This means You) We had to go to Registration and be silent !!!!!!! About Who Bobcat was...We got in.







Fixed it for you.......

[Bobcat]

[Bobcat]

[Bobcat]

[fund razor]

Stories like this always remind me of talking like 8 people in through the back gate at Miami.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Stories...There are many I've told of this races. In '98 it was called HURRICANE OFFSHORE CLASSIC. '99 It was the WORLDS. Mostly Heartache and Pain me.

Only one win in '04.

I loved the venue; the venue wasn't very good to me.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

The venue almost got me in '04 too. After the race and putting boat away, clean and flush and stuff, I had to be helped off the boat; The heat overwhelmed me to the point I had to sit and hydrate for over an hour to recover.

[Bobcat]

It's definitely hotter than KW....I Camped out under a Tree by the Crane Yesterday, I was soaked. Today was a itty bitty Boat...Fine on the Water..But brutal at the Ramp.

[Bobcat]

[Bobcat]

[Bobcat]

[Bobcat]

[rschap1]

Watched livestream of final race
Looked good and good coverage
Kept mentioning Jackhammer nearly sinking
Will have to revisit and watch the earlier action
NICE pics ! ! !

[Ratickle]

One thing you cannot have, a story about sneaking around to St Pete to get away from it all without the main highlights of the adventure! So, to assist Bobcat, a couple highlights.

I mean first off, you have to drive to St Pete and cross over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This bridge is 21,654 feet long and 430 feet high.



A 2014 study noted that the Skyway's low bridge clearance prevented larger vessels from using the Port Tampa Bay terminals, but made no recommendation about options as the air draft of most new cruise ships exceeds the bridge's height limit at 180 feet (55 m). Luckily, even though we were in a big vessel, we were able to fit under without ducking!

[Ratickle]

Shortly before leaving the docks for the trip under the bridge, and the long journey to St. Petersburg, Captain Bobcat checked the huge vessel out for complete safety and seaworthiness.

It met his stringent inspection approval: 13 beers, 5 WaWa wraps, Ranch Dressing and Mayo, a flimsy Bimini, just over a half tank of fuel, two anchors but no docklines, one pair of sunglasses and no cigarettes, only 20 miles each way, and we weren't going to Chicago, (plus it wasn't dark out)



So, after the traditional pose of hardcore seafarers about to head out into the deep blue, not knowing if they may return safely from the treacherous waters, it was time to cast off for a three hour, (or more?), tour.



HIT IT!

[Ratickle]

As we approached the channel to cross under with Captain Bobcat on the helm. The sun highlighted our approach with obvious raybeams of approval,

[Ratickle]

The biggest problem of the day, every time this floating tiki, that looked like a bar who might be serving drinks, went by; keeping Bobcat from jumping over to go order drinks. Next year we may have to just rent it instead of the Mighty Mariah!



Now, back to the Bobcat rendition of the day. (Fake News?)