I do this every year and I love watching the pre-regatta internet racing. I've never seen anyone nail it yet, but you never know... maybe someone will guess right this time! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Alter Cup is on the US SAILING home page today and 17 of the 20 teams are registered. Gulfport Yacht Club is rearing to go - another work-party weekend is going on right now. Final prep by Fun in the Sun and AHPC is underway. SeaBreeze Manor, the B&B across the street from the race site is fully booked with sailors. There was considerable chest-puffing at Spring Fever last weekend between the several teams present, quickly followed by the sound of beers being passed around and back-slapping.

So, take a gander at the list of registrants at http://www.ussailing.org/championships/adult/USMHC and pick your horse. As usual, this one-of-a-kind event is sure to surprise.

There are just too many good teams ! I don't think we can cover that many teams. The teams that own or have sailed a Capricorn should have an early advantage.

Wow! Going to be a great event with those teams! John, tell me I'm not out on a limb picking #9! This is going to be a good one for us fans! Good luck!

You would think that, but it has rarely proven to be true at other events - Keith Christensen had never been on a Hobie 20 and won against a fleet of 20 sailors. John Casey'd never sailed an F16 before the practice day last year. You just never know... that's one thing I love about this event. I often say "the stars have to line up." I have confidence in the boats and I think there will be fewer than average redress hearings, so we are more likely to see some seriously contended racing on the water. It is a pressure-cooker out there and there is only slightly less pressure on the beach. A week of that will see a true test of mettle. I'm buying pallets of Rolaids. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

uhhh...did I miss something? Only thing I witnessed was jeering towards the previous Alter Cup Champs and something about a "squirrel".

I'm picking a repeat!

I guess Jake will be getting a truckload then <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

How come so many Area D sailors?

I'm going to throw down for Tomko and Billings. Those two have been sailing F18 together for a few years now and are an awesome combination.

Chris.

There's no denying Area D is tough, but I agree that it looks a little lopsided. I think it has a lot to do with the quality of the Qualifiers - when I was in Jake's job, my biggest failing was getting the Area Reps some formalized guidance on building a consistent ladder for the Championship. As an Area Rep, I was able to put together a really good team to build up the Qualifier from a last-minute three-boat race 10 years ago to a consistently well-run, very competitive 20-30 boat regatta stuffed with former champions and serious contenders as well as newer teams that turn out for the quality racing at great venues. Area D almost always gets an extra slot at the Championship now because they have the largest ladder event. Second- and even third-place finishers are almost always assured a berth at the finals. Things were going so well that we split Area D into North and South.

The down side is still there, though. Areas A and B were combined for the ladder - participation there has fallen off so much that only one boat sailed both days of the event. The idea was that combining the Areas would foster greater participation, but the opposite has happened. There are two great guys working together to turn that around - Chris Titcomb and Tom Siders. But it takes a couple of years to get the confidence of the fleet back and build the event into something that regional clubs fight over hosting. Other Areas that had been declining are seeing things turn around, too. It just takes some cooperation between sailors that have a common desire for a quality event.

Sorry for the hijack of a thread I started. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Trivia! Where was the picture of the Alter Cup at the top of this thread taken? What was the Alter Cup boat sailed at that venue? Who won?

Who wants to start guessing what the 2009 boat will be? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Extreme 40s? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
(Wouldnt that be cool!)

AHPC Viper? although that would be 2 AHPCs in a row. Have them do it anyway <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
seems like it would be Hobie's turn.

Roton Point 2004, Mike Montague & Kathy Ward
How about Weta's for next year?!?

Two things are contributing to that; this year we've changed some of the selection criteria that allows the largest qualifier to send TWO teams instead of one. This is to give more incentive for you guys to get the area qualifiers sizes up AND make it so that you don't just have to win to get into the Championship. Area D-south had the largest qualifier in the country and is sending their top 2 teams. Reason 2; two petition slots were elected by the Multihull Championship Committee from Area D. The petitions received, by a LARGE majority, were sailors from Area D. ANYONE can petition and you never know how the voting will go.

Well done, Todd! I'll personally get you a shirt from the event this year and send it up as your prize. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

SWEET! can I trade it in for a event boat though?
I'm gonna have to put my money on Nigel and Alex...
and i'm gonna bring it to the next level by guessing the top 5 with J.C., Tomko, Mike Krantz, and Olli
It's going to be close between almost all of the competition though and there's plenty of guys that could mix it up!

oOooh I think I know what it is, and I think that people are gonna like it <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Hobie Wave! It's about time the boat got the respect it deserves!

Cough it up... now I am curious.

I think they always have a 2-up boat.