While we're discussing Catfest, does anybody have a preference on how fleets/starts are broken down? That is, would you like to race one-design with a separate start for your class, one-design with combined starts, or handicap with mixed fleet(s)?
I ask, because my personal preference is combined starts or handicap. I suspect that's unusual. Isotopes typically put around 12 boats on the line at club racing, so traveling to race in a fleet of 5 doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I view away regattas as a chance to mix it up with other designs, and that's what I'm hoping for at Catfest. For example, a Hobie 16 and a 2-up Isotope have close portsmouth numbers. Likewise, Hobie 17s, 18s, and 1-up Isotopes have close ratings. I'd be more than happy to start with, or even race handicap with those boats (and the Wave too) - even if enough Isotopes were present to make a one-design fleet.
Is that heresy, or does anybody else feel the same way?
Regards,
Eric
Depends on the fleet breakdown. I expect we'll have 3 F18s and 3 (or 4) I20s...I'm on a 20 and I'm fine handicap racing the F18s and 20s as a group - or spin boats entirely as a group if there are only 1 or 2 F16s in the mix. If it's 5 or more of the same boat, I would rather race one design but I think a mixed start would be fine for this event.
