The trapezoid works for Optis, and it works for Lasers, Finns, and 470s.

The 2009 ISAF World Youth Qualifier (Laser, 420, and Hobie 16s), out of Long Beach Yacht Club, presented them.

I have to agree with Jeff and Dave here.

Mike, what ya think?

Bad idea for a fleet of mixed singlehanded and two up boats.
Stick with windward/leeward with an even number of legs.

I answered that above, Bert. I've been running various styles of trapezoids for longer than I can remember for monohull fleets. They're perfect for cats.

As for the AC courses, time will tell how much demand we see at the regatta.

Singlehanded boats can't handle a reach or trapezoid? Really, Karl?????

Mike

You ever raced a single handed, high performance, light weight spinnaker cat on a tight reach Mike?

It's a lot of work, with no extra hands to help.

I was trying to inject humor here...

I'm thinking the reaches need to be tight enough to take spinnakers out of the equation until you turn the corner to go downwind. I seem to remember that for the AC boats.

Again, I'm looking for feedback. The OA thinks this is a good idea. One of my bigger pet peeves is when NORs or SIs say they'll do something like this, people get excited about it, then they never try. Or worse, they do try, but people can't handle their cheese being moved.

Mike

Handle it okay. But the performance difference without the jib and without another body on the wire is a bit disparaging.

One of several mysteries of the class rules...

What would you guys think of speed runs like in the ACWS?

Mike

no F16 here but I did like the trapezoid at the F18 worlds and the reach finish at Sarasota.

This can happen if not careful.
3

I feel the sloop vs. uni thing works fine so long as it is windward/leeward and there's an even number of legs. Some conditions certainly favor one setup more than the other, but for the most part it works. Get a uni boat to really haul butt is tough though, that really tiny jib makes a huge difference there as does the ballast on a reach.

I speed run would be fun.

And who's fault is that?

E-ZAY BIG GUY!

Beautiful weather for Day 1. Four practice races (S-W-F), smiles all around.

Some logistical challenges, starts moving out to noon each day. No AC course, but a hook/reach finish added at the request of the International Class President.

Should be a great week.

Mike

Four races today, perfect conditions. Average breeze was 14 knots with gusts to 18-20, sea breeze dialed right in, and nice flat water. Would have run a fifth, but one third of the fleet was ashore by the fourth race...

Results will be posted shortly (Class meeting underway).

Mike

Results are up...

http://f16worlds2014.org/assets/F16%20Worlds%20Results.pdf

Mike

What happened to these guys they ok?
25
Ben Brown/Andrew Wilkenson

Broke a daggerboard which then cracked their trunk. Should be sailing today. Bummed for them.

Looks like Ravi/Sam have recovered nicely from a breakdown in Race 1 (just assuming from the scoring line).

Broke their spin halyard in race one. Started race two late, apparently too late for the RC. They were launched in races 3 and 4, impressive sailing.

Just saw an amendment that they added a course 7 and 8 for today. Would prefer longer legs instead of 4 laps!

Edit: Spin halyard block

Hey Jeff,

I believe that is Keenan Madewell (not Maxwell), from St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, in Panama City. Katie is from Miami Yacht Club or Ft Lauderdale Yacht Club, if my AARP memory serves me.

I hope all is going well, and the Red Gear tent is rockin', as usual:-) I wish you, David, and Ravi, well, but we gotta root for our home (GYA) boy, Keenan.

Give Mike my best if he is amongst y'all.

Updated scores are up:

http://f16worlds2014.org/assets/F16%20Worlds%20Results%202.pdf

Redress given to Robert Brunger due to damage sustained in a collision with another boat.

Four more races today, quite shifty and challenging for all. Somewhat lighter breeze, with enough puffs and shifts to keep everyone on their toes.

Regarding all of the alphabet soup, paraphrasing the very wise class leadership, the first rule about Fight Club is...

Suffice it to say, challenging conditions have caused a number of breakdowns, both physically and mentally.

Two days in, two rescue swimmers needed to help right boats (one was a local Hobie 16 sailor, friend of mine). Lots of cool wipeouts, and some separated crews. A great job by all of the RC boats keeping up with the mayhem. Several competitors who were done yesterday came out in wetsuits to help on RC boats today.

There are two great coaches who are also invaluable this week: Jill Nickerson and her team from Red Gear Racing, and Jim Zellmer who is currently coaching in Sarasota, but has been a longtime racer in New England.

For the past two days, a rather large (moored) tanker has taken some options away regarding course length (and affecting number of laps). Jeff thinks sailing around this thing is fun, no one followed... It's scheduled to depart in about an hour from now, shouldn't be a problem on Thursday.

Forecast is a bit dicey (rain/lightning), we'll see how it shapes up in the morning. We've had one sailor in the group actually ask/beg us to go to five races per day yesterday and today to get ahead of schedule for the pending weather. She was the only competitor who felt that way...

Eight races completed. Seven more races in the schedule. They get another discard after one more race.

Apologies for not posting live updates from the water. We've had our hands full, and are fully committed to the quality of the races.

Mike