Three Weeks to go until the largest Formula 16 event in history!

For those not following the events happening in our class, NOVEMBER 9-14, 2009, Gulfport Yacht Club in Gulfport, Florida, USA will be hosting the Formula 16 Global Challenge.

Racing will be held in the protected waters of Boca Ciega bay directly off of Gulfport City Beach with its warm waters and a great venue for sailing and viewing of the races.

Gulfport Yacht Club is famous for having well run, top notch, yet low key events. In addition to the racing there will be several scheduled social events through the week as well as the daily gatherings to discuss the day’s events. Several world caliber sailors are signed up to attend this event so it is a great opportunity to not only meet and compete, but to learn and socialize with sailors from all over the world. Come to test you skills on the water, or come to relax and socialize this event will cover it all. Come and see the latest in boat technology, and share ideas on sailing, tuning and rigging. Getting together with others is always the best and fastest way to accelerate the learning curve on these performance boats, and get ideas to make them easier to sail, set-up and more fun in general.

Fall is a great time to visit Florida, USA as winter has begun in all other parts of the US and other regions of the world. Water and air temps should still be in the mid to upper 70’s and the wind that time of year is usually more consistent and reliable.

For those looking at staying longer or bringing non-sailing family members or friends; Saint Pete beach on the Gulf is just minutes away. The Tampa area has lots to offer as well from theme parks to theater and sporting events.

Plan on coming down for a great event. If you know of any other F16’s in your area, please pass this information along.

Information for this race and the NOR can be found at www.gulfportyachtclub.com
Links to lodging, the city of Gulfport and sign up can also be found at this site.

If you are considering attending this event at all, please take the time to fill out the pre-registration sheet on the web page. This is not binding, but will help the organizers properly plan for the event.


Hope to see you all there,

Matt

Surely someone has something to say. Who thinks a uni sailor will win?

The first 2 GC have both been won by a Uni.

The driver with the skills to win the event will come out on top no matter if they are 1 or 2 up. The configuration will have squat all to do with results over a week long event.

My opinion of course

I know. Also wondering why the Alter Cup doesn't permit Uni rig. I'd really like to see, with my own eyes, a top sailor working the boat.

[2 up all the way!!!! 1 up is great fun but I think around the cans against two people doing the same job it's a real disadvantage. I'd love to see 2 champions... of the numbers where there.

Don't I know it! Still, SCHRS rates the uni slightly faster than the sloop. I suspect that is because of the acceleration under spin.

I'd also like to see separate and combined trophys, Uni and Sloop and of course, overall.

Not two fleets racing separately, just two trophys, one for 1st place of each configuration.

Also some kind of award for longest distance traveled, top all female crew, youngest crew, oldest crew, etc. The more the merrier.

REally depends on the winds. I know that the last two GCs were in high winds and the uni won but I think the two ups have gotten better in the high winds so the somewhat conservative sailing by a uni is not as effective as it use to be. Talking with some other uni guys is seems that the uni has the advantage in winds of around 6-10knots. Over this the 2 ups have enough power to really drive with their weight and the one up has to start thinking of depowering. Even with all the depowering options you still loose ground to the boat that can use the full power. Also in higher winds the mark roundings are more difficult one up then 2. Oley has started to stay out on the trap when rounding the windward mark, driving down while the spin is hoisted. I know some of you solo guys fly the spin from the trap but try hoisting it from there. This has got to pick up a boat length or more.
I am not saying a uni guy can not win this, but it definetly becomes more difficult now that people are really starting to figure out the boats.
And lets not forget the big name guys, Robbie, Greg Goodall, Junior Goodall, Matt, and Oley are going double up, and us mere mortals are all that is in the uni fleet.


Tim, I think what mike did of having a separtate outside the offical ranks prize for top uni was great, and it was good rum, but I would like to keep this as one prize to the best overall, and anything else unoffical.

"Your either first or your last. " The Great Ricky Bobby

I'd say a uni rig is faster. What isn't faster about it is all the screw ups to contend with when you're by yourself.

I'm not sure I'd want to do a really big event singlehanded with a spinnaker either. 20 boats can be alot to deal with, I can't imagine doing it with 50 more. That extra set of eyes goes a long ways into seeing traffic and potential issues, and the extra set of hands help in the "oh crap" moments.

There is no substitute for having 4 hands on the boat. keeping proper trim all the time is much faster and allows you to be able to drive the boat where you need to, not just where you can. I feel it more than makes up for any added weight. Plus I get lonely out there with no one to talk to.

The first GC was more about attrition. A lot of legs the winner did not use his spin at all. We managed to win every race I did no flip over, but swimming 5-6 times in 2 days has proven to be slow yet again.

Matt while the hands are nice, i never have a problem talking when sailing alone. The meds they give me make it a little more lonely on the boat, but if I forget them we have great debates around the course.

+1 Better living through chemistry.

Where's Rick White in all this?

Rick, you have your championship winning Taipan still for sale, clean it up and bring it North. I would bet they have room for a few more at the GC.

And Robi was looking for an F16 to charter, so there you go Rick, call Robi!

I am trying to work out a way to get my boat to robi but I am not optimistic at this point.

Lets keep our fingers crossed.

I was wondering...

Per class rules, all the boats must be measured for the certificate of compliance with the rules. What day will this happen? I didn't see it on the NOR. I'd like to be there.

BC

It's none of your business. P*ss off! Tell Brett to speak for himself.

But it'll probably be right after the N17 gets a legitimate handicap number.

I've already asked the Officers at GYC to black ball your buddy, hopefully they'll add you to the list as well.

Every boat should have a measurement certificate to show upon request. The regatta organizer do not have to ask for them or verifying them by measuring the boats. They could, but they don't have to.

Of course if a competitor suspects any boat to be outside the rules he could protest, in which case the measurement certificate must be produced and re-measurement could occurs (The cost of this measurement, if any, is usually paid by the protestor if the boat is compliant and by the protestee if the boat is not).

So unless there is a measurement protest, there is usually no reason to show certificates.

Talking about measurement certificate, it is interesting to notice that there is no SCHRS handicap for N17 as the SCHRS is calculated based on a measurement certificate and none have been communicated to the SCHRS group for this particular boat. I'm just saying...

Just saying what? That the master uni rig sailor is two faced? Let me say it for you. Just so there isn't any doubt.