57th Annual Mug Race! May 1st.

sheclown · April 19, 2010, 07:24:37 AM

QuoteThe Mug Race is the world's longest river race and is open to sailboats of all sizes. There are two courses: the South course which starts in Palatka is for boats with masts under 44 feet, and the North course starting just South of the Buckmann bridge, is for boats with masts 44 feet and up. The race uses a Pursuit Start where each boat has a start time based on their rating, thus in essence giving slower boats an earlier start, and the faster boats chasing them, all pursuing to cross the finish line first! There are more than 100 trophies that will be awarded based on boat class and different categories including first all female crew to finish, first dingy monohull to finish, and even one for the last boat to finish. So get your boat ready, attend the pre-registration party, and then go racing

Of course, Joe and I will be there. Hundreds of sailboats traveling over 30 miles, together. It is a beautiful sight.

http://www.rudderclub.com/MugRaceBrochure.pdf

Jason · April 19, 2010, 05:41:15 PM

I love when the race is in town. The views from the Buckman are fantastic. Literally hundreds of sails in both directions.

Sheclown, are you entering the race or just watching? What kind of boat are you sailing?

sheclown · April 19, 2010, 06:08:31 PM

Jason, this will be our 5th or 6th race. We're RACING! We'll be on a friend's trimaran.

Sportmotor · April 19, 2010, 07:49:42 PM

I have always wanted to do this race.
I'm just not a salior.

sheclown · April 19, 2010, 10:03:36 PM

Just grab a ride on a sailboat -- that's all you need. If the wind is blowin' you'd have no problem finding someone to take you onboard.

billy · April 19, 2010, 10:52:36 PM

Rudder Club!

Sportmotor · April 19, 2010, 11:01:08 PM

I would be in shock and awe of that worked sheclown

Jason · April 20, 2010, 09:58:22 AM

Quote from: sheclown on April 19, 2010, 06:08:31 PM
Jason, this will be our 5th or 6th race. We're RACING! We'll be on a friend's trimaran.

Best of luck to ya!

finehoe · April 20, 2010, 02:31:37 PM

Is this like Fleet Week? Will there be cute sailors all over town?

Captain Zissou · April 20, 2010, 02:50:04 PM

I wish the race wasn't so far south. I am going to try and watch from the Clay County Port

blizz01 · April 20, 2010, 02:55:39 PM

The Spring Park pier in Green Cove Springs or the old Shands Bridge pier are nice options.

sheclown · April 20, 2010, 06:15:19 PM

There are ALWAYS cute sailors all around town in Jacksonville

Corsair F24 Mk1 "Wet Monkey" and her crew.

scottjsmith · April 21, 2010, 10:36:01 PM

This used to be a big city event. Now, you only know about it if you happen to be crossing the Buckman at the right time and think, "Oh, was that this weekend?"

I emailed the rudder club a few years ago, and they said they just lost the city sponsorship, so they could only rely on word-of-mouth and a few listings in some community papers.

Sure wish JAX would adopt this again, and put as much effort in promoting this event as they do the Jazz Festival and the airshow.

sheclown · April 22, 2010, 07:56:32 PM

QuoteThe longest river sailboat race in the world is the Annual Mug Race. The event runs 42 miles from Palatka to Jacksonville along the St. Johns River.

from: http://www.50states.com/facts/florida.htm

sheclown · April 22, 2010, 08:05:08 PM

Me too.

It brings together 150 or so sailboats (and if each boat has an average of 4 sailors on it that is at least 600 people racing). At one time, there were 400 boats participating. Can you imagine the sight?

Most sailboat racing is serious business with little room for error. The Mug Race, however, is as social as it is competitive. There are serious racers during the Mug Race, but there is also a large group of people who go for the journey of sailing with their friends, drinking some beer, and enjoying the river.

Personally, it is always one of the best days of the year for me.

Anyone else plan on racing?