you will say anything to get me to reply. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Ha….. What took you so long, the cold slowing you down, down there. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
You do remember how many F18's where at the only regatta we have both sailed at don't you. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Forster last year and don't start making excuses. Don't forget also we would have more results to compare if you guy's didn't sail in your own division even when you don't have enough boats <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />.
Yep that Forster Regatta was my first with the new boat and had a very poor turnout of F18s compared to previous years. Only 4 boats with 3 top International Teams. Last year it was in the double figures and 2004 34 boats (2nd AUS Champs), 2003 28 boats (1st AUS Champs) Other regattas I attended this year saw 7 and 20 respectively with most of the fleet competing in the Gold Fleet at last years worlds and attended this years worlds. This is not Europe and it is as good as it gets on the AUS cat scene.
The F18s are only starting to grow in OZ but will continue to go from strenght to strenght. NSW is one of the least plentiful States with QLD and Vic being most plentful. However like QLD……. We travel a lot. I have not been in the class for too long but I here the F18s down your way are not know to travel.
But now for the important stuff. Looks like I might be able to make the Squaddie Brass Monkey along with Tim and hopefully that newly launched Blade, that you have probably seen. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Excellent, it looks like we could have about 9 F18s so far as well as 2 Tornadoes, Macca’s Super Taipan and about 5 A’s. The Skiffs are not going to know what hit them. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
A season ago I knocked off Greg a few times. No doubt the front of the F18 fleet has got faster, but the F16 is still competitive with the average F18 and once we build numbers, the front of our fleet will get faster also. Then World Domination will follow. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Sorry got a bit carried away there. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
On a final note, I wish you guys the best of luck and hope we can all race boat for boat on a first across the line basis one day. I personaly would love to see the F16s up there. At the moment the F16 rates slower than the F18 under every rating system for a reason…… Because it is. Head to head you may beat F18s over the line on a regular occasion as the F18s may beat the Tornadoes. But to advertise that they are as quick is blatently wrong.
Just wish some people would stop trying to put down the F18 in an atempt to gain respectability for their own class. In the past some people big noted a certain 16 foot class in our national sailing publication going as far as comparing them with the likes of the A Class, F18 and Tornadoes which was flat out missleading advertising. If you have confidence in your product, then don’t try big note and knock other classes to benefit your own, but market the positive aspects in your boat and there are many.
Don’t take offence guys, I believe you have a very good product and hope you find both local and International success with your class.
