How long are you going to be in LA? There are some upcoming events in the FL panhandle.

Yeah...Gulfport, FLORIDA, which is a suburb of St. Pete, just west of Tampa. Long drive from LA.

I'm heading home (to the snow) on Sunday night. Guess I will just have to wait for next years Tradewinds.

Looks like a good turnout at GYC, what a great clubs- super friendly people, big a$$ coolers of beer (most from European descent). My Blade has still not been in the water, but we've given her the dry land shake down. Looking forward to Sat Am and the first sail.

Looking foward to reading some reports.

I wish the best of weather to both of you, Datchet F16 trainings weekend in UK and Gulport A-cat/F16 regatta in Florida !

Have fun guys !

Wouter

I picked-up a membership app. I'm gonna join them, if they let me in!

I heard only compliments regarding the new Blade! Matt is really doing a great job with this boat!

Matt and Gina have sailed the Blades for a year now, they must be getting dialed in both crew wise as tuning wise.

Wouter

Pete, if you get over there, could you please give us some updates? As I look out the window at the lake right now (8:38am) it is FLAT, like glass, which is really bad, it was blowing white caps every day for the past 4 days! They are on the coast so maybe they will get a seabreeze this afternoon, I hope! Got to go pack for Atlanta now...have fun!

Timbo:

We actually drove up and back yesterday afternoon. Met some very nice people and got a good look at the boats.

I didn't think I could handle standing around on Saturday watching everybody else getting ready to sail!!

Gulfport has that funky, Key West feel to it, so my wife has committed to an overnighter for the first Saturday in May. We'll drive up Friday afternoon, sail Saturday and come home Saturday evening. It's an easy, fun trip for us.

Why don't you and your wife drive over for dinner? GYC has a couple of club boats, you could rent one for the day.

Yes, I'd like to do that. What weekend are you planing? If I have to travel 2 hours, I would like to travel to a regatta however. I can sail in my backyard anytime...there's wind that is. Today, nothing!

I think GYC has scheduled club races the 1st and 3rd Saturdays each month. And they put on a little feed after, nothing fancy. It's my best opportunity to tune and practice against other boats. No one here to play with.

Pete are you doing the sailing seminar in the Blade? The hogsbreath?

Any updates on the sailing at GYC?

No Blade! I'm teaming with PTP on his N 6.0. We will probably just do Saturday and then head home Sunday a.m.

I went up to GYC yesterday and there was already a lot of activity. People rigging boats, sharing a few brews. It promises to be an excellent time.

I'm sure we'll get some updates this evening.

Went over in the morning to check out the "happenings". Read so much about it on this thread.

I concur about the remarks about the friendly people and Key West feel of Gulfport.

I stuck around for the first race and could only watch from the pier (with no binoculars) . I'm pretty sure Matt & Gina (Blade #707) took the first race in the F16 class.

Terry

So, what will you be sailing?

I told Matt I'd be in next week to talk with him about a Blade. I've been out of sailing for some time. Previously solo'd on a H-17. Family interrupted the activity, but now my daughter is 17 and not interested in doing things with mom or dad. I've re-joined Fleet 45 and will (soon) sail with them. I'll need to learn alot, never sailed one-up with a spini' -- although it looks like a ton of fun (clearly the danger of a sudden pitch-pole).

Terry

Well, welcome to my world! Sailed a H17, solo, been away from beach cats for several years, never sailed under spinnaker.

I have to say I'm really impressed with the Blade. One thing I hadn't expected was the large, clean tramp. This will make it a very pleasant day boat for two.

I'm not sure this boat is all that pron to pitch-pole, think it has to be driven very hard to do that.

Update..

First, the folks at GYC put one one stellar regatta. On time, great facilities and a lot of knowledgable people. Good spaghetti supper tonight and plenty of cold fresh ones.

8 F16s and 9 A's on the line. I do not know/recall the exact standings for A's but Cope is on top, with JLi in second (I think), see below for F16 scores.

Ation - wind building all day. First race light and shifty, last race trapped upwind all time time (I was uni and fully trapped up wind, the 2up configs were in and out on the second person). Great sailing location.

Results, as I recall:

1. Matt/Gina (fairly commanding lead, four bullets, I think)
2. Seth Stern/Kelly Gray (sorryfor the spelling)
3. Gordon Isco/crew (?) (sailing Jennifer Lindsay's Taipan)
4. Chuck/Mavis Harnden
5. Tom Shannon
6. Hollis Caffee
7. Taipan guy I have not met, yet. It is on my "to do" list for tomorrow.
8. Hans G - withdrew.

More to follow.

t

Way to go Tom!! You gotta be feeling pretty good! Thanks for the update.