Brought home my new Blade yesterday, (sail #725, soon to be re-numbered to 777) washed it and set it up, put it on the beach but didn't get time for a sail as I ran out of daylight. I will be out there today though. I'll let you know how it goes. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I'd like to thank Matt and all the guys at Vectorworks who helped get my trailer and new cat tracks set up perfectly for the Blade. Cradles all around and the double rollers at the rear, complete with foam. Now if I could just get a sail box built.

SAWEEET!!! Welcome aboard!

Fantastic! Gotta have pix.

HEY ! Have I been asleep or something <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Congratulations <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> The poor horses <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
With a sail number like that she'll really fly <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

No pics, didnt happen LOL

Blades are FLYING off the shelves! Get yours in time for christmas... I got mine!
I went out solo the other day and it was AMAZING. 2-up it was sweet but I think the clear selling point is the ability to solo it in good wind and have a blast.

Did you add yourself to the Frapper map?

BTW... it is probably obvious and I am missing it but what is the sail numbering sequence of the blades? Was the first boat 701?

Tim- did you get the last alter cup boat?

Congrats Tim, kids must of graduated from college early.
Latter
Todd

Congrats! How should/does/can the hull number correspond to sail number? My hull's # is VEC60738B707.

Obviously, VEC is the manufacturer. Matt?

Kris

Congrats Timbo!! Are you guys close enough to sail together? We had a good light air race last night with what looked like about 15 boats, three of them Blades. I learned some more spin technique by watching John, who was ahead of me, the (word enhanced). Ed

We started ordering sails with sequential numbers starting with 701. This has gone somewhat by the wayside as some boats have had no sails, or special requests.

I believe the class association is setting itself up in similar fashion to the way the A class works. You register with a sail number and that becomes yours. It is kind of nice because then you can quickly ID people at events by sail number . It is a little more of a pita for us in stocking and ordering sails.

Matt USA725

That brings up a good question that I have been kicking around for some time, but haven't really made any noise about:

"Do we want to be structured so that the US F16 Class Association keeps tracks of "official" sail numbers?"

Good thing would be no duplication, giving instant recognition.

Bad thing would be the hassle involved. I guess the builders could always get blank sails and the owners would have to apply the numbers. Someone woul dhave to be the "bad guy" and tell someone they can;'t have the numb er becasue it is already taken. It limits creativity (see Timbo's wish for #777 which was ACTUALLY spoken for a few weeks a go by CrewDog/Lucky Duck). Bert Rice had a N5.2 numbered US98. It took me a few years to realize that was a tribute to the beach road on the Gulf Coast.

What are the general thoughts on this topic? What are the views of the newly (or about to be newly established) UK F16 Circus?

From an International perspective sailnumbers can be managed by a National Association in any way it wishes. All we require internationally is that each boat should carry its country designator, USA, GBR, AUS etc.

Many classes are now following the numbering principle that, I believe, started with windsurfing, where the number 'belongs' to the helmsman/owner irrespective of the boat and therefore the boat requires a separate hull identifier. With serial numbers/registration numbers required by various Authorities this should not be a problem. The important thing will be to ensure that these ID numbers appear on the F16 measurement certificate.

I don't have an issue with non-sequential numbers .... and is there really any stopping someone from duplicating numbers (ala 777); and would that prevent one (or both) from entering a race that both appeared at?

In following with the international convention can I be on record of selecting USA F16

If they both showed up at the same event, one (probably the second to register) would have to alter their sail numbers so that the RC could distinguish them. Usually a strip of duct tape (making 1777 or 7771) would suffice.

I don't really like the idea of the class association governing the sail numbers. It can all usually be sorted out at the site. In the future it could be more problematic as more boats are active.

Seems like all of my boats original sails matched part of the hull number, but once you bought replacment sails - then they didn't match unless you re-numbered them.

Since Crew Dog already took 777, I will take 787, which is the "Next Big Thing" about to come off the production line at Boeing. Delta is rumored to be buying some so I might get to fly it someday.

I had a great time out there today on Lake Jackson. Wind was good, 15-19 with peak gusts to 22 according to the local airport wind reader. I didn't rig the jib as I was solo. I did use the spinnaker, had a great ride all around, upwind and down. Nearly lost it on one gybe but managed to hold it down, with only one bow going way deep! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I was out for an hour from 11-12, came in for lunch, went back out from 1-3. Now I'm quite sunburned, my hands are sore and my long unused shoulder muscles are aching, but it was a good time.

I put my Garmin Etrex Legend in the halyard pocket, it showed a max speed of 21.8 mph (sorry, forgot to switch it to Knots) and I could have gone faster but I was trying to take it easy as I am just learning how much is too much.

I only had the boards down about 12-18 inches for two reasons.

1. The lake is very low and I didn't want to hit bottom at speed and break something expensive.

2. With that much wind I didn't want to sky the hull with every puff.

I was not racing obviously so pointing was not an issue. I had the traveler down about 6" going upwind, and out to the tramp footstraps going downwind under spin. I have not yet added the footstraps as I didn't want to waste practice time doing boat work. As soon as I can I will add them, they are sitting here in a bag!

It's a nice smooth ride in the chop though. I love the way it slices through the waves going upwind.

My neighbor had to come over and have a look, even he could tell it was a "Racing Boat". He's seen me out on the Prindle many times and never came over before. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

So, Robie, Pete, Terry, Seth, Matt, Chuck, and all you other Florida F16 guys, when are you coming to Sebring again? I am trying to work out getting to JPOR but it doesn't look very good right now, I'm working on Sunday and the wife has a list of things that somehow only I can do, on Saturday and Friday. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I plan on going to Gulfport as much as possible given the job and the family demands. Of course you are all welcome here any time. I will be back out there tomorrow afternoon, I have wife stuff to do in the morning.

Oh, and unless my kid takes pictures, you won't see any, I can't sail and take pictures at the same time, never mind the drowned camera. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Wow! Sounds like you are really taking off like . . . a fighter pilot!

I'm ready for Lake J anytime.

JPOR is looking better now, a Delta buddy just returned my call and will swap his Monday Bombay for my Sunday Bombay, so if I can sweet talk her highness into a pass, I can go! Maybe I'll buy here something she really wants, like a new trap harness... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />