It's getting close, anyone care to pick a winner?

http://www.regattanetwork.com/clubm...?regatta_id=2350&custom_report_id=37

Viper!!!

It looks set to be a great event... would love to be there but I'll have to wait for the global challenge to get my little bit of of the us action!!!

I was thinking which team. Humprhies and Amador are F16 sailors and right at optimum weight. I think they have a shot.

What is optimum weight?

I'm pretty sure that Nigel and Emilee are optimum weight (aka - single handed) Plus it would be awesome for a father/daughter team to win it all

The weight of the winning team, of course.

I'd have to give the 2007 AC Champion Casey/Williams and the current champion Mr. Pitt the nod as the obvious picks. Nigel and Emilee were quite quick at the GYA regatta.

Of course Easton/Burd get stronger every season and had a very high finish at last years AC. Mr. Tomko is in the mix but has been a bit off his game lately. Mr. Spina and Mr. Livingston are going to be crazy fast. The top 5 is going to be burtal, as it should be.

Just a guess, 320.

Casey/Williams. I called my bookie and put a bundle on em.

Williams as in Jdub? that should be cool

My money is on Mike & Tripp... I think weight will play a very small role in the results except that some of the super light teams will mix it up in super light air.

NOAA forecast for the practice race:

That is a long freaking way out. Yes we are supposed to get a cold front and hopefully it will punch through and give us our dream breeze, but...

At 15-20 the gulf get's sporty.

The spinnaker runs will be interesting.

Wheeee...us big boys (who'da thought I would ever say that at 175lbs and 175lbs?) gonna need the breeze.

You can be competitive between 120kg - 150kg, depending on conditions. Ideal is about 135 - 140. I've sailed at 155kg at beaten the F18 fleet. (I don't know what that is in lbs sorry I don't have a weight converter on hand)

Given the predicted conditions I'd say the heavier crews will do better... the VIPER volume allows them to continue pushing in heavier conditions.

Looking froward to hearing from the guys on the ground there.

Obviously you have to tune the boat accordingly

I was fishing a bit, there. I have an opinion. Tuning, BTW, is not allowed for this event. The beach crew (which includes Greg) will set up all the boats the same and cut the fleet loose. There was oodles and oodles of discussion on this topic last time an F16 was featured in the Cup. I actually enjoyed going back and reading those threads again. I expect the beach captain will set the boats up for middle-weight teams for the expected conditions. That almost always has translated to a fairly powered-up rig, no matter what the platform.

Weather predictions? I see a double-whammy front coming, but we'll see...

Going to be a fun week.

I figured there wouldn't be any boat fiddling allowed.... I guess you better hope you "middle" weight. It's the only real 'even' solution.

John... are we going to see you at the GC??

I wish. Instead I will be the friendly PRO on Charlie Course at the Havamega event. I committed to the Hobie Class before the GC was set in stone. I get the large and unruly Hobie 16 fleet... who are all currently OCS!! Arrr!