The 06 Tybee 500 is just 6 months or so away . We are thinking of and beginning planning to race again, {my 9th } coastal race , though would like a different 20 with more modifications-main reef SYSTEM -different snuffer system etc ,etc ,to race 500 miles of offshore Atlantic ocean condition.

I've been out of the loop this season ,-Are any planning to race other 20s ?

A big Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all .

Somebody's got a N20 fitted with wings, but I'm not sure if he is racing. He indicated he wanted to do the T-500, but I haven't heard from him since he got the boat...

A mainsail reefing system.... That sounds promising

I thought the Press release limited it to class legal I20's and a second class of F18's.

So what about the M20 and SC 20 with 10' beams? Or the N6.0?

I haven't read anything lately, but I had thought it was open to any boat with a DPN less than a certain number...

Hi Mark- Hi W B --HAPPY HOLIDAYS

The race organizers indicated last year that if a group of boat types or another classification of boats wished to race the Tybee that they would accomodate them .
{like F-20 }

Mike {Sailmax} was evan thinking of attempting to organize enough entries for a Renolds 32 class
which would be a very interesting addition to the 500 mile event, though watch out for those 18 ft monster truck tire beach wheels not to mention high speed beach landings with spin and hulls flying.

I was hoping some Tornados may enter or similar B class type category cats .

It appears most are racing F-18 in general buoys racing.
Formula racing is something many thought would never occur evan just a few years ago, go back and read some old catsailor magazines. Many of us have always been advocates of more general broader yet equal classifications of boats for racing based on design specifications found in Formula classes or the original concepts of basic box rules found in the A class B class C class D class etc specs .

I'm feeling very optimistic this year and hope to get some great cat racing in the upcomming season.
Happy 06

Carl, AFAIK, the classes are limited to N20 OD and F18's.

in the words of Chuck, "We openned up the entries to open class this year but only two teams showed up" (Morada and Coconut Grove)

Official Notice of Race:
2. Classes will consist of Inter-20 and Formula18 catamarans, spinnaker rigged, except as amended by this Notice of Race.

3. Classes shall consist of 8 or more boats, with a limit of 40 entries total for the race.

Why do you think ANY F18's... much less 8 will be on the start line?

If you don't hear a buzz shortly... I think you will have a hard time getting a fleet.

Hell, the steeple chase did not draw any F18's either... Seems like the owners are not that keen on distance racing.
Besides, If you are doing 500 miles... you want the fastest ride you can get.... That HAS to be a 20 of some kind.

The newest Nacra 6.0's has to be at least 8 years old by now so that leaves the Nacra 20. What else is out there?

Hi Poo bah -hey Mark
-Happy happy joy joy {stimpy}

The organizer stated the desire for an I -20 class race at the award cerimonies etc etc. In subsequent e-mails I sent there was the indication that IF a group of other boats wished to race that they would be accomodated.
For example if a number of veteran teams and a few new ones wished to race Tornados or similar 20s they would be accomodated in a seperate start. Also if a new boat builder wished to enter new boats and make some available for charter I think they could contact the race organizers and be welcomed.
It would be unwise to negate such posibilities with imposed limitations at a time when the race and sport in general need new partisipation , --agreed?

Mark ,--look at the P rating- Texel or ISAF rating list of boats for other numerous 20s readily available

http://www.schrs.com/schrsratings.asp?id=alado

Happy 06 -lets make it a great one for cat racing .

It is pretty unlikely that there will be any F18s at the 2006 Tybee 500...but I wouldn't say that it would never happen. I would probably sail an F18 if a fleet could get started. Getting F18s to show up would likely provide some incentive for more sailors from Europe to attend.

The definitive end-all-speculation answer:

unless a boat class other than N20 or F18 can put 8 on the line, it will not be permitted.

You know, I think the F-18s are kinda scared. That's right, I'm calling you out... Don't think the little 18 will run with the big boys? Jake and Dave, you should both enter your boats and get it started.
Merry Christmas

I would like to enter my Hobie f18, probably not this year though, Have taken too much time off for sailing already(for the year) and this event is far away from the cold hard north, ie expensive, I imagine I'd get smoked by all the bigger boats but oh well, no 20 class to sail in around here to speak of so i went with the 18. if the 20 class grows in the northeast I will probably move up in the future

Cheech - get the word out and get a class started. It will take some ground work on the part of someone to get the F18 class cranking in the Tybee. The potential is there - the racers are there...they just need to get together and talk about it - some will need some pushing but it is very possible to get a healthy F18 showing at a race like the Tybee500.

Nice picture Trey!
Yellow fellow

GARY

Thanks, that was taken at Spring Fever in 2005.

Further to that, I can list three F18 teams (maybe more) here that would consider doing the Tybee if you want to start trying to corral them for 2007

Just curious - the Tybee 500 was part of the Atlantic 1000 if I understand correctly, essentially the "first leg", and took over from the W1000. Does the full Atlantic 1000 still happen ?
I`m sure if the F18 class is included it may be easier to attract more international teams, since there are a lot more folks sailing F18`s than I-20`s, so the access to the right boat is more widespread. Perhaps it would be better to have the event on F18`s only, then there is no fear of not being on the right boat to win the race ? I know such a suggestion will annoy the I-20 guys (it`s a great boat, just not as widespread as F18). If the organisers want to bring the event back to the status the W1000 had, they might want to consider it.

Hi Steve

I agree with you about the need to bite the bullet and declare the race F18's only if the goal is to develop an international race.

I also think that the only way you get any kind of turnout of F18's will be if that is the only boat you can race. Nobody wants to be DFL to the beach and bringing a knife to a gunfight won't be fun and so nobody brings the F18 for that reason (Hell it's easier to get a 20 to do the race)

When the Tybee 500 was concieved by Chuck Bargeron, the notion was that this race would be doable by a weekend distance racer who would stretch to accomplish this race. I believe that is still the philosophy behind the race. (The international push resulted in the worell fiasco.)

In the USA almost all of the distance racers are sailing a 20 footer, In fact just a handful of F18's choose to compete in the popular distance races around the country.

My take on this is that the majority of F18 sailors in North America are just not interested in competing in distance races and if they are... they go find a 20 to do the race on.

So, I don't think it would be a wise move to toss the N20 and replace it with the F18 until you know for a fact that you will at least match the number N20 racers on the beach

Mark

I'm all for leaving it the way it is, and maybe even with an open class as well. If you kick the N20 out, the class is likely to wither away here. If the F18s want in, they need to step up to the plate. Forcing all the N20 sailors over to F18 is not the way to do it. The invite is there for the 18's, they just need to step up. I seriously doubt they will anytime soon.

Didn't they have an 18 foot class two years ago? I recall the conditions were very light that year, and the 18 crews opted not to return the following year. Was there a separate award for that class?