Hi all,

To save you going to F16 Forum, I have copied it to this forum, please allow for it being written for non Mozzie people on F16 Forum.

have just returned from the Mossie Nat's. After weeks of searching to find a competitive Mossie I could borrow and coming up empty handed, I had decided to go along anyway with Altered and Sailboard to enjoy the company and have a holiday without racing for a change. After all Peter a Mossie friend, had offered for my family to stay with them at thier holiday house.

Monday the Mossies started racing with about 30 boats mixing it on the course. The breeze increased as the day went on, I enjoyed blasting around on Altered reminding the Mossies what they where missing, as they sail without spinnakers for Nat. titles at present.

Tuesday dawned very windy, Peter Nikitin with whom I was staying told me he had injured his knee and would be unable to continue racing and asked if I would like to sail his less than 2 year old cat rigged Mossie. IS THE POPE CATHOLIC!!!!!!!!!!! I jumped at the chance. Luckily racing was cancelled for the day due to high winds, so I spent the day getting my entry organised and setting up Peter's boat the way I like it. This didn't take to much as Peter and I have shared set up ideas for years and many things where already the way I like them.

Wednesday dawned with a light flukey wind, the Mossie felt quite strange to sail after Altered, so light and narrow such a long boom, it took me all day to come to grips with it. I had 2 lucky breaks, the first race in which I had done as well as second but finished 5th. went over the time limit so was abandoned. The second race, 10 time Nat's winner Bob Wilson who I had previously finished second to, while leading had a gear failure which caused his retirement from that race. This meant we both could not afford a bad race, as there was only one drop for the series of 8 races. I finished the day with a 1st. and a 2nd. Bob with 2 1st's.

Thursday the wind was stronger more to my liking,incredibly fast flat out reaches in flat water with 25kt. bullets in the 3rd. race of the day where the highlight for me, I added another 2 1st's and a 2nd. This put me one point ahead of Bob.

Friday we had two races to complete the series, Bob won the first with me second, putting us equal on points. It was down to the final race, I took the lead early enjoying the slightly fresher winds, allowing me to trapeze most of the windwards to use my 90 kg. to advantage. Finishing 1st. over the line to win the series by one point. Four 1st's, three 2nd's to Bob's Four 1st's, two 2nd's and one 3rd.

Trying to keep it brief, this report may sound like it was a two horse race, but many others mixed it with us at times particuraly Tim and Neil, but rarely got in at the finish. Full results, pictures and story will no doubt be on the Mossie site soon and a write up in Australian Sailing Mag.

The sloop rigs where won by Mick Floyd and son Tom breaking the run of 4 Nat. titles for Wawick Kemp of South Aust. Great to see family crews winning titles.

I must thank Peter Nikitin for giving me this opportunity to win my first Nat. title. Lending a almost new boat is not something that just anybody would do. He certainly deserved the spirit of the Nationals Award, as he worked to make this title happen at his home club, as well as being so generous in lending his boat to me.

Regards Gary.