Made it to Sebastian

By Matt Layden
Posted at 12:34 AM on March 11, 2006

Are you kidding me? I just got a call from the Chief tonight saying that the Wizard - Matt Layden of Rio - was expected in Sebastian Inlet at the checkpoint at 11 p.m. Friday night. He has traveled some 520 miles since last Saturday at 7 a.m.

That means he is averaging about 3.2 mph and that includes when he is not moving!

Since leaving Key Largo at about noon Wednesday, he has been averaging about 4.2 mph with the wind at his back. He is probably going to stay in ICW for at least another day, but will look for opportunities - maybe Sunday and Monday - to sail at sea where he has a more direct route.

He may make the Florida-Georgia state line by Monday or Tuesday! Then the going gets rough.

Still no exact confirmation of where his nearest chasers are - Shark Chow, better known as Warren Richey, a reporter with the Christian Science Monitor whose mother lives in Jensen Beach, and manitou cruiser. They may be anywhere from two hours to a day behind Matt who is leading the way.

Stay up on all the chatter from family members checking on Challengers at www.watertribe.com.

The Ultimate Everglades Challenge is coming to a close Saturday. Several boaters were hampered by the southeast winds and elected to cross from Flamingo to Key Largo across Florida Bay Friday night in darkness.

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