Todd, I likely won't "base" my boat out of GYC. Think of me more of a remote member ... after all I came over last year for 3-4 club races.

I just think that GYC does a FANTASTIC job of organizing and promoting events that I could help be a part of it and contribute some $ in the form of membership dues.

The things that your volunteers do are (generally not appreciated enough) and unbelievably generous for all GYC members and guests. Thank You.

Got back to Naptown at noon, left at 8pm last night after packing up and bumbing some hot showers from Todd at the yacht club next door. What a great event to show the interst in the F-16 class and a way to thank those that have campained these boats through the years, building interest for people like me. The versitility of the boat was shown when it blew stink on Sat and the uni skippers teamed up with other skippers to sail two up. Great way to get to know your competition. Sunday saw the uni drivers doing their thing along with the two up boats. The breeze kept improving as the day went on and of course by the time the races were done the conditions had settled into perfect. A long run to the top of the bay and the spin ride back to the club made the whole trip worthwhile. Thanks everyone for your hospitality, a great weekend. Ed

oley, joanna, and I just got back to town. Got to say thanks to all down in gulfport for a great weekend. That was the best weekend on the blades we have had so far. And all of us keep talking about how great the people in the class are.
Just my personal obeservation but there did not appear to be a speed difference in the boats (viper, blade, and 4.9) but it was more of a person pulling the strings that made the difference, which I think is great for this class. That is more based off of day 2 observations then day 1, cause that day I was not looking around much, just trying to stay upright (that failed).

We had a great time this weekend. A little sore and black and blue but that is just proof that we were one of only 2 two F16 teams that finished all 7 races. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Saturday was HANG ON FOR DEAR LIFE!! That was the most wind we had ever been in with the boat. We flipped once before racing started. First race we were doing great coming up to the line in 4th then Ed/John flipped in front of us. Avoided them and was about to finish 3rd and flipped for the second time. S&S flew past us and did a GREAT job of saving a capsize. Finished 9th in that race. Second and third races were blurs. In one of them we came through the gate rounding to port and flipped again. The other, we came across the line right behind Matt/Gina to get a third. The last race of the day we flipped twice. After the second time I told Oley that we should call it a day cause I was wore out. Once we got up he said no way there were boats behind us-so we finished 4th. I was REALLY glad to see the beach as the wind was still building.

Great time Saturday night swapping stories and eating the great food. Everyone was great company.

Sunday was definitely more of what we have been use too. The A's started first and then the wind shifted-the RC shorted course and moved marks. Everyone floated around till the next flag went up. I saw that it was our start and we realized it was port favored. Went way off down to the pin trying not to look obvious and took off with Robbi right along side. We pulled away and got a first in that race. Most of the fleet didn't realize that it was our start and were late. So we got lucky. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (The RC also shortened our course due to wind shift and light air) Second race we got a 4th behind Matt/Gina, Jody, and Chris. The last one Robbi and Matt/Gina battled it out and Ed beat us by a hair so got 5th that time.
Saturday was definitely the day for good teams with lots of high wind experience and the weight to keep the boat down.

Sunday was a great day for the single guys and the lighter teams.

It was wonderful to have that many like boats to compare too and thanks again GYC for hosting us all for a great weekend.

Alright... it is officially on my list for next year.

[/quote]Todd, I likely won't "base" my boat out of GYC. Think of me more of a remote member ... after all I came over last year for 3-4 club races.[/quote]
Hey Terry that's quite all right we will take what we can
get.
It was a great weekend to see old friends and meet new one's.
Thanks to all that came and we hope you will all pencil us
in for next year

I couldn't believe it Ed, you and John were packed and
on the road by 6:00 if I rember correctly. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hey Chris check in if you got home.

Now I feel like "chopped liver".

Post deleted by Tikipete

I got a chance to preview some of the photos. One word WOW!

Wait till you all see them. SICK SICK awesome pictures!

The gusty conditions were inspiring in challenging conditions.
Boat handling really paid off for the experienced teams in these wild conditions.
This was my first regatta in a F16 fleet (Pensacola only had 1 race).

Things I learned about the F16.

"S " Jibing at the zenith of a gust is a great way to experience an exciting pitchpole.
(a prayer to the diety of your choose, blinding, screaming, planning jibe/pitchpole)
These jibes reminded me of when I was 12 crewing in a Sunfish regatta, and having to jibe.

Throttle back more when jibing or planning, or when the grin on your face gets to big
in the company of other boats, and almost everyone else will kiss the spinnaker too.

Capsize or pitchpole is no big deal (3x). Just stand on the bow to bring the mast into the
wind, and pull the righting line, it's almost as easy to right as a Hobie wave.

If you want to go to the right side of the course at the gate, drop the spinnaker
early unless you want to buy another boat, or prevent a capsize by yielding(jibing)
to starboard tackers.

Spinnaker sheets goes behind headstay AND snuffer line.
Snuffer line needs to slip more for light air to keep spin shape in light air.
Downhaul needs more purchase or remedial work.
Sister hooks need to be taped. (there is one chance in 1000 it will disengage)
Do not go on a flyer. Go to the right, the shore side does not work.

Thanks to the GYC for the wonderful hospitality, great food and beverages.

yeah, gybing these things in high winds is a harrowing experience... whether the spin is up or down makes no real difference in this situation IMO. At MW, almost went over 2 times before the start gybing.

While we're waiting on photos, could someone enlighten me? What's a good camera for use on and around the water?

You mean video camera or photocamera?
For videocamera get this: GoPro Camera 3
For photocamera get one out of the Olympus SW series.

I have got both and am very with them.

A commonly sold waterproof camera is the ATC2000 but the quality is nowhere near that of the GoPro3.
Its also very waterproof, I recorded a pretty deep nosedive with the GoPro3 (frontbeam completely submerged) which I will post someday.

Start foul-up when late for the start or, dare I say it, inexperienced. The latter refering of course to the experiences being caught out on the water in 20+ winds with an improper rigged spi sheet. Been there a few times myself when singlehanding.




Some will say this is a bad thing about the F16, others (like myself) feel that it is part of the racing. Much like the Aussie 18 foot skiffs. It certainly opens up the racing as anyone can and often will capsize making the race open to anyone till the very last moment. Keeping it up in any conditions is just as much a skill as making it go fast. Although there are tricks.

As a note on the side. Are we really submitting these boats to a heavy use endureance test or what ?

Over the last year we predominantly had big wind if not huge wind regatta's !



Common trick here is to pull on the mainsail and downhaul simultaniously. Pulling ONLY on the downhaul will get heavy when you want alot of mast downhaul tension. Pulling on the mainsheet and then pulling some more on the downhaul really works. That is unless you have a 6:1 or 8:1 rigged now. But the 12:1 should be sufficient, the difference to 16:1 or even more (if practical) is not that much after all.

I'm anxiously waiting for the pics.

Wouter

Thanks Tony.

Yeah Todd. No matter how long it was taking at was always 6pm on John's watch. Needless to say I relied on other chronometers than John's on the way home. Thanks for all your help. Ed

Joanna, do you guys actually ENJOY flipping? I have been racing on catamarans for 40 years and can count on one hand the number of times we have capsized -- and I have NEVER pitchpoled.

If capsizing were considered to be an inescapable part of sailing catamarans, I would have quit long, long ago. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I just don't understand how this is a good way to attract more people to catamarans in general or to specific catamaran types. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Mary-you are right-we DON'T enjoy flipping. BUT considering it was the first regatta of our season, we have never had that boat in high winds before, we finished all 7 races-which only one other team did, and DIDN'T break anything; I think we had a good day! It was a learning experiance and considering we are so light weight we were VERY happy that we could right the boat w/o assistance and keep going. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger".

You're not pushing it hard enough




People ask why I like sailing cats, I tell them that:

a. I'm competitive and this is a good release
b. I can (hopefully) do this as long as Gordon has (Gordon you're my idol)
c. There are tactics and strategies
d. You can sail against olympians (can't do that in many activities (sailing and distance running)
e. There is AN ELEMENT OF DANGER
f. People I meet (everywhere) are GREAT!



If it were "tame" we wouldn't be able to attract the younger crowd who are into Extreme Games and such. So, I don't see it (capsizing) as a negative thing at all. ** I just wish I'd do it less often! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> **