The High Cost of Performance

As racing at Quantum Key West Race Week is set to get underway for its 30th anniversary event on January 16 to 20, Steve Hunt reports for Sailing World on the new challenge the fleet will be seeking to solve…

We all know it’s fast to have a clean bottom during major regattas, but is it worth losing a leg or your life? The big story here in Key West is the bull sharks coming into the harbors to feed on fisherman’s chum as they clean their fish. Bull sharks are extremely aggressive and considered to be more dangerous to humans than any other shark.

Its attack style is to head butt its pray first to stun and disorient before following with a bite. Divers here in Key West have gone on strike until the harbors are cleared. Fisherman have been hooking up the bull sharks and towing them out of the harbors.

So the question for the 99 racing teams in town remains, “Who’s cleaning the bottom?”

I’m glad I’m not the youngest person on the boat. Not it!

To read all the Sailing World reports from Key West…click here.