Well, it is that time of year where I plan how much traveling I can do for the sailing circuit. What regattas will be the best attended, by F16s, in the Southeast United States?

I am in for Tradewinds and have penciled in Gulfport for the F16/A Class Regatta. What else is worth my long trek? Spring Fever, Mug race, JPOR, Hiram's....looking to get any insight on F16 attendance. I am not sure what I can commit to at this point, but if we can determine one or two (after Tradewinds and Gulfport) regattas that will be well attended – it will make me work harder to get there.

Of course, I will try to spread the F16 gospel as much as possible on the northern Gulf Coast and inland lakes of the Southeast (Sea Buoy in Pcola, Slip to Ship, Juana's, maybe RTI, etc.).

Additionally, trying to revive the multihull fleet at our local club and will try for two open classes at regattas in Bham and a long distance lake series (as much as we can call it long distance).

Happy New Year!

Can only speak for myself, Gulfport and JPOR for sure, probably Daytona. Will do as many of the Harken Bouy Series as possible. Tradewinds of course.

My 2007 project. Obviously I will keep it as updated as possible and eventually I will spice it up with some graphics blah blah blah blah

www.wildergfx.com/f16racing.html

Have you guys considered coordinating with the Nacra F17's and running a single handed spinaker nationals?

You would need to enroll the Michigan N17 Fleet, Bob Curry in the Panhandle area and Steve Belevia (FX1) in Long Island along with your selves. I bet that Kirk Newkirk could help you pull it off at an existing regatta or a seperate championship that worked for all of your fleets.

Another option might be the Spring Fever Regatta in Georgia as a central location between your respective fleets.

This is a niche that is just crying for organization and energy and the time to get it organized is now!

Mark


Good luck with your 07 schedule!

I'm open to anything in concept, but Florida is a L-O-N-G State. It's an all day drive from one end to the other. Cumulatively, JPOR and Daytona are 1,000 miles+.

TOTALLY! And that sir is what affects my racing schedule. If spring fever werent such a long haul I would be there. Even for the Mugs race, I have not done one yet, and I sincerely doubt I will do one. It is just too far of a drive. Leave friday to setup race saturday and sunday and back to work monday just doesnt fit.

Organization would be great, numbers on the line would be better. But honestly all this cost lots of $$$$ (yes in the four digit range) this is the main reason I will plan locally. If the F17 want to join me, by all means, they are welcomed. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

This is my opinion and my opinion ONLY.

It may be hard to get the Great Lakes F17 fleet to travel because they have great racing venues, great class racing, great comraderie, etc. in their own neck of the woods. An example would be the Performance Midwinters last year in Pcola where 3 F17s showed up (2 from the Panhandle and 1 from AL), one of those did not race the second day.

This is not a knock on the Great Lake F17 sailors, but why travel when you have an active local fleet? Seems like wasted money.

Okay - now change all the regional verbiage from Great Lakes to Southeast and F17 to F16 and any regatta outside the Southeast, then repeat the above. Same problem.

Our DPNs are very close, but we would exclude some of the most active F16 teams by limiting it to 1-up, as well.

Don't take my opinion as any answer, maybe some F17/F16 sailors will speak up and initiate it. I will pretty much consume my budget by going to South Florida and Huntington Lake, CA in 2007 - so it'll have to be pretty much confined to the Southeast for me.

Sounds like a deadlock - Southeast sailors won't travel to it if outisde their region and Great Lakes sailors won't travel to it outside their region (maybe).

I personally like the idea of LARGE starts and fleet scoring within that start. It lets everyone mix it up, but there are fleet bragging rights, as well as handicap bragging rights on the line.

I am not talking about a weekend regatta...

Nationals... are usually 5 days with the weekends slotted for travel.

Events like these are how you bootstrap the class. Take a look at the regatta turnout data. You need a decent turnout or a partner class to make it fly though.

You're right Mark, but it gets complicated very quickly.

Gordon Isco, at GYC (St. Pete, FL), has put together a great regatta with F16s and A cats. Tshan drives all the way down from B'ham for it. He is also doing Tradewinds, and I think, he's trying to get in JPOR and Daytona!

In Florida we have the Harken Bouy Series and Distance series, a total of 13 races. If Robi, who lives in South Florida did all the Bouy series, it would involve round trips from each regatta. Miami-Titusville(Cape Kennedy), Miami-Daytona, Miami-Jacksonville, Miami-Clearwater, Miami-Eustis (Orlando) and Miami-Pensacola which is scheduled the same week-end as GYC!

I didn't mention Tradewinds, a short haul for Robi, but 5-7 hours for me, depending on traffic. My own logistics are just as bad (I mention Robi 'cause noone knows where Cape Coral is).

The F16s are catching a little flak because most of us are opting for GYC instead of Pensacola.

I would like to go to ALL the regattas! I especially would like to do Statue of Liberty, that would be the cats meow! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I suggested to my wife that we rent the house, buy a tent, and go camping and sailing for a year. . . I still have my testicles, but only barely! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I will say this: if you want me to travel out of State, it has to be a GREAT venue, and I don't mean camping! Statue of Liberty might work, but can't see myself doing it in '07.

All you F16 guys need to move to Sebring! It's in the middle of Fl. so no one place is too far a drive and with Lake Jackson, no need to drive anywhere else!

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Happy New Year Tim.

I was not my intention to poo-poo the idea. I like the sound of it, but it would have to be a special place/time to meet everyone's needs/desires. Centrally located as to include our Western States F16 brethren.

Another thought I had was along the lines of a Formula North Americans (F14, F16, F18 and F20). No single headliner manufacturer, but we'd certainly take equal advertising from as many manufacturer's that would pony up <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />. It'd be like a Formula boat show. How cool would that be? One start with fleet trophies and overall Portsmouth winners, too.

Not sure F18 would participate, since they don't really have much to gain - but they would have to be a vital participant just b/c of their fleet size. I think we need to capitalize on the formula concept.

I agree.

Happy New Year to you too Pete! And too all the rest of you as well. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

"If the F17 want to join me, by all means, they are welcomed."

Robi:

I may take you up on that next year...

This year was impossible to get out with relocating my family, a new house, and a new job.

Ken

Ken,

What part of GA are you from? There is one F17 on Logan Martin Lake in AL (between Bham and Atlanta). Not more than an hour and fifteen minutes from west ATL. Maybe a chance to get the hulls wet? We also have a mixed fleet of F16, P19, N6.0, N5.2, 18 square.........

Tom - I sent you a PM.

Two Cents from a Newbie??
Spring Fever is a must if at all possible! Three days of racing and GREAT food and friends. There were 70+ boats (cats only) last year and they are hoping for 100 this year. It is always Easter weekend and there is lots to do for the non-sailers and kids. Check out twinhulls.com and check out the photos and past race results. The NOR should be posted soon.
Can any one give me feed back on the Slip to Ship race in MS? We are thinking of heading down for that one.
We also are planning on Spring Fever, Tommy Whiteside, Outback, Sink-o-de-Mayo, Reggae, Cat Fest, and CatCappers. Always looking for others w/in 7 hour drive.
Tom- you may also what to check out the Sink-O-deMayo (cats only) and Reggae Reggata (both mono and cat) both on Lake Lanier. emsa-sailing.org and llsc.com are good spots to look for reggatas in the east.
One last thing does anyone know how many F16's are in the area (AL,TN,GA)?
Happy Sailing

Tim, if I move to Sebring FL and have access to Lake Jackson, I will pretty much retire from racing. LOL, Lake Jackson is a perfect sailing location.

Robi, there are some whitecaps out there today, as soon as I get the house work finished I'm going sailing!