I've hesitated to make this post but here goes...



You all will have to wait 'til next year for me to run over you. For the Rave, there is a limit to the wind you can handle simply because after about 15mph worth of wind the boat is ungodly fast and difficult for me to control. The experience differs from a beach cat in that respect. A beach cat can be held in control in 20-25mph wind. The Rave with the one and only reef is still too much to control at 20-25mph wind. Singlehanding in the Rave with a 145 lb pilot can slingshot the whole mess down the sound at twice the windspeed. In the Rave, 35mph is an exhilirating ride. 40 is a little scary and 5mph past the recommended redline. The rig comes down after three or four miles at 45mph. (The mast bends but the rest of the boat is OK.)



Not wanting to wuss-out but not wanting to lose myself or my boat or harm any competitors I called my good bud Eric Arens this morning and ask him what he thought about a Rave in this race on Saturday. His thoughts were the same as mine. With 20mph wind and gusts to ?, it is doubtful there will be any control over the boat. Even with wind at 15mph I will be all over too many people in a narrow sound and worse, when I'm off the foils, I will be the slowest boat out there in everybody's way. In short, I'm the one yahoo you don't want out there in a breeze with a lot of zippy boats around.



I am disappointed having waited for this race since this past May. I was looking forward to sailing with some of the country's best in the best water ANYWHERE. Then, there's Randy's clinic on Friday. (Hand me another Kleenex, please) ...and the BEER! (Honk, honk, sniffle).



I wish you all the best flying ever. I'll wait for the pix.



Love,



Your Crawfish (Dean Hubbard)

Orlando

Rave #143 (All dressed up in the garage)