How about a show of hands?? Would the M 4.3s and the lone Hobie 14T want to start all together? The 4.3s could score themselves for their own trophy. Thanks to John Williams and Mike Fahle for suggesting this. John, could you do the leg work with Nigel?

Bob

Nigel's not a detail man - he's got people for that! I'll drop a note to Mr. Ernie tonight - he's the one with all the power. C'mon F-14!

Thanks John! I just sent in my preregistration!

Bob

Hey Guys,
Not sure how but count on a Cheshire. This event is just too important to miss. I am more worried about my big 225lb butt than the boat being competative. Let's see Cheshire stock has 135sqft. Mystere 4.3 at 250sqft. Sounds like an even match.

A couple of years ago I showed up with an Isotope to enter it in the F-16 class. I could beat them upwind but couldn't make up the gap of not having a spinaker. I wasn't about to change my boat from the current class regulations to sail in the f-16 class, but since there isn't a current Cheshire fleet larger sails, longer masts, and other stuff is do able. Will race at Spring Fever before screwing up an already awsome boat.

J.P.

I preregistered with my A-cat, but I would be willing to bring a 14. I have the sister ship to Bob's Maxi 14 with a Hooter.

I have another 14 that I could convert to use a hooter if anyone is interested in using it!!

Hey Dan!

Change your prereg to F14!!

Bob

Hmmm... it is 9 hours 50 minutes, 551.49 miles from Bradenton, FL to Hartwell, GA.... I'd have to leave town Thursday night after work just to make the skippers meeting

Very tempting (especially the offer to use a "Hooterized" H14), but I don't think I could get off both jobs that Friday.

It is 9 hours for me to drive from Va Beach, VA. I've been the past 3 years and I won't miss it!!

I usually leave early Thursday morning so I can get everything set up by Thursday night. Then, I don't have to worry about anything on Friday.

You're not required to sail on Friday - they have some funky averaging system that will give you a score for Friday if you can only make Saturday and Sunday. Never asked how it works, but I don't recall anyone ever saying they felt like they got shafted. That gets you one more day to get there, PLUS you're in at half price for coming so far. All the food and beer is free for the whole weekend - the only food I've ever bought was my breakfast at the little diner near the campground... it's was like two bucks for a full plate, and the company is always good, 'cause there's nothing but sailors in town!

It's nine hours for me, but it really is a good time... that's where I get to race the northern 4.3s... plus there was this girl that ripped off my shirt on the dance floor once...

What's this "Personal boat and liability insurance required"?
I don't have insurance, registration, or anything on my boat. Plus, I'd really like to take Dan up on the offer to use that H14...

I have the other 14 insured already. I have 6 14s that I plan on using for a weekly series here in Va Beach, so I'll be adding the rest. I went to Allstate for the insurance, which is pretty much just like car insurance. I have my A-cat ($10000), Prindle 18-2($4500) my 14 with Hooter ($2500) and 2 more 14s ($1000) each fully covered for $385 a year!

and not the Trojan kind. Just about every regatta I've been to requires you to have liability insurance in case someone gets hurt. Boat policies for cats are cheap - my liability, boat, trailer, and everything in my sail box is only like $150 for the year through State Farm. Covers me on and off the water, replacement value, and $100,000 in liability coverage. Also covers me if I hit somebody and cause damage to their boat, which makes this rookie a little less scary on the start line.

I've heard other people use their homeowner's or renter's policy, or even an auto policy, to cover them for straight liability. By requiring participants to carry insurance, host clubs protect themselves from suits... in theory.

Dennis and I were just talking about that incident last night. As I recall it was more like you were surrounded by three girls who tore your shirt off.

Tracie

Must have been a really cool shirt. What regatta was it from? We need more shirts like that.

Oh, you can't mean.... no, it didn't occur to me. Do you mean they were after John's body and not the shirt?

I think the grouping and rubbing of his bare chest pretty much confirms that.

Tracie

This is also for women and children.

You thought it was a girl??? Didn't you learn from that Crocodile Dundee movie to always do a "parts check" when receiving unexpected attention in unfamiliar bars? And you're looking forward to a repeat? Hmmmmm....

I'm trying hard to be ashamed of myself, Rick. I'll keep further ruminations to myself... like the Hobie 16 Nationals in Wildwood when I met this cheerleader from the U of Michigan - she had this delicate dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks under stormcloud-grey eyes...

ahem...

Uh, you sure that was a cheerleader and not the mascot?? Sounds like Wolverine to me!?

Might want to keep that one on the "down low"...

Dan - saw that you'd changed to the 14 for SF - cool! Here's a shot of Bob's rig from last summer - first time I saw it on the water.