Okay here is a follow up on the tradewinds participation.

last time , dec 8 2005 we had pre-registered :

Interesting enough there are currently listed :

8 F18's
3 I-20's
2 F16's

1 NA 6.0
1 NA 5.8
1 ARC 21
1 Hobie 16
1 18 sq.


This time, jan 1st 2006, the following numbers are listed :

15 F18's
7 I-20's
3 F16's

1 NA 6.0
1 NA 5.8
1 ARC 21
1 Hobie 16
1 18 sq.
1 dart 18 uni
1 H14


F18 made a growth of 7 boats and will most definately demand their own start or even their own course. I-20's went from 3 to 7 and will make class as well.

That leaves us F16's with exactly the same situation as last year. (for now that is). We got 3 F16's which is short of making class and we have 7 boats from the "dead class society". = 10 boats in the open class

Typically Rick just halves the open class into two class; One big course and one kiddies course. And because of our 16 foot length he is likely to use the F16's to make the Hobie 14, Hobie 16 and Dart 18 sailors not feel so alone on their miniture course. The others 18sq, nacra 5.8 and nacra 60 and arc 21 will have the luck of being regarded as long-hulled and fast and therefor by allowed to race the big course.

As I recall, this was just want we DIDN'T want to happen again after last years tradewinds fall-out !

Personally I believe each attending crew/boat type is a valuable addition but even I don't see much point in racing a H14, a H16 and a singlehanded Dart 18 on handicaps when on a F16. That is when no other (faster) designs are also on the start line with which the F16's can truly race.

So pretty the only solution to prevent facing another group of disgruntled sailors is to have the F16 group make class, is having at least 5 boats participating. This probably also means have these pre-registered as Rick will probably make the start layout on the day before.

In the listing we currently see the following F16 sailors :

-1- Chuck Harnden Blade F16
-2- Seth Stern Taipan F16
-3- Wilder Robles Blade F16

Everybody, take a look at Seth, he has show to be willing to give tradewinds another try, he is putting his name down to have the F16's make class this year. And he was one of the crews who got stung last year !

So what has happened to the other crews in Florida ? We have about 15 F16 boats overthere.

A while ago we heard that Matt/Gina were planning to come to this event as well as a new crew on the prototype G-cat F16. Why have these crews not pre-regisered yet ? We have the ability to make class within our reach, lets do it and give Rick ample time to assign us our own start (=not really important) and a go at the big course (= very important)

Again, Jeffrey how about coming down to Florida and do an F16 event ? Jennifer, there are no A-cats registered at Tradewinds, wanna give F16 another try at Tradewinds ? Doug ? Hollis ? John ? Do we need to call everybody by name or e-mail personally to have them come out ? If so is there anybody who is volunteering to do just that.

Listen up guys, this thing is not going to fly on its own accord. Somebody has to take the lead and form a committed group out of you all. Last year we had lots of talk about the Florida branch of the F16's forming their own local class association. Of course the first thing that was being done was not building up any local organisation but making alot of fuss about this F16 rule or that F16 rule was hampering things. Well, we have accomodated you guys and provided you with a clear path. The result; zilch ! Place take this tough love to heard and start showing some local class progress;

Make class at tradewinds 2006 !

You guys do not only owe it to the international volunteers who spend a good amount of time accomodating your fussing but also to reward Seth for sticking his neck out once again and not bitching about it. To make the "putting your name, where your mouth is" of the currently registered crews worth while.

To reward, Chuck and Matts effort to build the class by participating in many distance race events and other events.

There have been a numbers of crews complaining about mediocre participation in the F16 class only to have NEVER shown up for an event themselfs ! I'm not naming any names, but this is the time to disproof our own "hot-air-ness".

If the bulk of F16 sailors are not interested in making this happen then at least have the courtecy to make that known to the rest of us well before the event, so that sailors like Seth can de-register before being put on the kiddies course again. For a heafty investment in time and money.

Your silence is dishonourable. And is actually hurting your own class alot more then saying that you can't make it.

So lets have a sound-off everybody !

Who is NOT coming !

Wouter

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Wouter Hijink
Taipan F16 (one-off; homebuild)
The Netherlands