Hi folks.

I would like to tell you about a 14 foot regatta I sailed in a month ago,at Mannering Park Lake Macquarie NSW.

It consisted of 27 boats made up of Hobies, Mari cats, Wind Rush's, Arrows, Paper Tigers, not to mention the Nacra 5.8 and the Nacra 14sq.

The Mari Cat I was on (LaLoca)was borrowed and I was constantly reminded of my obligations to look after it, by all the compliments this boat got.

I get to the regatta early to rig and to have a test sail. It is sailed cat rigged so I left it that way. It had trap wires though. I soon realised I wasn't going to need them and took them off before the start.

I'm feeling pretty confident,and I want to mix it at the start, but it's not my boat so I hang back a bit. With 1 min to go, and minding my own business I have to run to the bows and push a Hobie off before it crunches me.

I missed the start by more than 1 min. The breeze is 8 knts from the NE and freshning. By the top mark there were two groups. The leaders and us. But at least I was at the front of the 2nd group.

So I settle in and try to work the boat out. I figure I have aprox 2 hours to catch them. After the 1st lap I had reeled in another 4 boats. The breeze is now 10knts and I'm hiking my guts out. The big long reach was a hoot and LaLoca was handling every thing I gave her. (by this time I forgot she wasn't mine)

The 2nd lap and the breeze kicks in another 2 knts and I'm getting very wet. The leaders didn't look any closer, but I managed to pick off another 4 boats. I'm now coming 6th and and resigned to the fact. But the leaders go around the bottom mark and off they go again.

The 4th and 5th placed boats were a Paper Tiger and the Nacra 14sq, and they round the bottom mark only 20 meters in front of me. Now I'm really feeling good, another lap I wasn't counting on, and I figured I would gobble up these guys within 10 mins. But the Gods wern't on my side. They got a puff before I could round the mark and I sat and wallowed in the only hole that appeared all day.

In the end I passed the 14sq when he capsised, but I let a hobie s,sloop pass me. The only boat to pass me all day.

6th over the line. Not counting the 5.8. For the record, the Arrows 1st and 2nd. Only 1 mari 4.3 cat rigged in front of me. I was stoked.

I wanted to tell this story, because I normally sail a Taipan 4.9 and wasn't sure I would enjoy my self.
But I have come to realise that speed and racing is all relative. I had that little boat singing, and It handled every thing I threw at it.
I'm not sure i'ts the type of boat I want to sail week in and week out. But it has a hoot, and there is a large bunch of enthastic 14 sailors where ever one goes.

I can see a future for the F14 class.

Good luck to you all maybe we wil meet up one day.

Regards Tony Jenkins

Hi Tony,
Mate you are just finding out something us 14ft sailors have known for years, that 14ft is a special class. I raced a Maricat for about 10yrs in club events, at open regattas and State and National titles and enjoyed it immensely. They are a great boat and in their heyday Maricats had 150 boats on the start line. The really amazing thing is that you had those entry numbers even though the Mannering Park organisers decided to run that regatta on the same weekend as the traditional Koonawarra Bay 14ft regatta is/has been held on for the past 10years or so. I'm not sure how many boats they got but it is usually around fifty. A shame the fleets couldn't be combined in two separate regattas on different w/ends. Maybe in the future. Tuggerah Memorial SC also did a 14ft regatta a while back but I'm not sure if it's still a goer. Maybe Phil will advise us.
Another interesting stat. is that the Paper Tigers currently attract 50 odd boats to their nationals each year so 14 ft is alive and well in Oz even if somewhat fragmented.
Bern

Dont forget the Mari 4.3 State titles are held at Mannering Park over easter. I will be there with my $800 AUD beast! it is a bit of a change from the Tornado but I am really looking forward to having a bit of a blast on a little boat for a change.

Hi Bernie and Macca

Bernie, Tuggerah Lakes did hold a 14 foot regatta every Easter I believe. I have been a member for 2 years now and it hasn't been held in my time. And as the president this year, I know it hasn't even been mentioned at a meeting.
I can only speculate on the reason Bernie.

Macca. Mannering Park has a fellow that sails his Mari, cat rigged and came 2nd at the nationals held there over Christmas. As for me it looks like my Taipn has been sold, and my F16 is still months away from bening finished. I will be talking to the owner of LaLoca this weekend and will see what her plans are for that weekend. Maybe I can borrow it again.

For those that are intersted. There is a sailing segment on 92.5 Central Coast ABC every 2nd Friday at 11.45 am.(This Friday) I have the job of inviting the guest on, and introducing them, and then let the compare do his thing. Which is good since he was born and bred on Lake Mcquarie and knows his stuff. It's usually worth a giggle.
I'm not sure how far the signal travels. But I would be interested to know if any one can pick it up out side of the Central Coast.
So far we have interviewed Central Coast Sailability and the Gosford Juniors. Both groups have expressed positive feed back. This week it happens to be Mannering Park.
Regards Tony Jenkins

Tony, maybe as EL. Presidente you could bring up the 14ft regatta at the club and ask the question. As I recall the Paper Tiger mob supported it well. All good prelim. for an F14 circuit don't you think?
Bern

I think by this summer we could have about 4 or 5 regattas to attend.

I hope you're right but I'm not confident. I'm happy enough we'll have at least two 14ft only regattas.
Bern