My feedback from Tradewinds.

As the name implies, TRADEWINDS, were just that. Weather forecast was for 20+ knots on Thursday and Friday with "slightly" subsiding winds for Saturday and Sunday.

As you probably read on the OPEN Forum, one of the F18 guys bent a mast on the sail to Founder's Park on Thursday (they ended up sailing Wave's)

Winds were up on Saturday and Rick ran 3 races SABCACACF.

I sailed uni, the only uni sailor flying a chute (until Robi gave his crew all she could handle <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />).

I had good starts on each race, my goal going in was to be more aggressive at the line (mission accomplished); although Robi had one killer start ... can't remember which race, but he hit the line with SPEED and was off to the races!

I simply couldn't point Easily 5-10 degrees lower than every other F16. Certainly makes for a L O O O N G race course.

Race 1: Given that I was sailing the "long course", I didn't mix it up much with anyone .... so my goal was to stay upright in the puffy gusts. I sailed really low going down wind .... not bad, given that I rounded the A mark with the F18 (or they rounded me) on one leg and was about 200 m from C mark when they rounded it.

One thing that was very noticable was significant weather helm, especially on port tack. Going to weather I would stall the rudders frequently, having to sheet out and jostle the tiller extension to remove cavitation loading from the rudder. It really felt like I had the brakes on those tacks. Note: mast rake was at the center of the aft inspection portal.

Race 2: I capsized in a puff under spi', righted quckly and continued sailing finishing just as the start sequence was beginning for the F18. Not much time to rest. Basically grabbed a swallow of GatorAide and back into the start sequence for the next race.

Race 3: Last rounding A mark and did something stupid. I noticed all the F16's ahead were sailing high of B. If I went right for the mark I was almost sailing far enough off the wind to fly the chute. Okay, what have I got to lose, out goes the chute ... head up towards B mark and over I went! Okay, won't do that again!! Righted the boat and retired.

Anyway, nice to be first to the beach and watch everyone else come in. This is a good way to get prime parking <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Day 1 notes:

Matt and Gina probably did best of all boats to weather. And of course around the rest of the course too!

Seth and Stephan can really make that Taipan accelerate! Wow, they were just fast!

THE Chuck and Mavis ... well he's THE Chuck and she's a great crew.

It would have been nice to see Tom mix it up because he looked fast too. He had rudder problems, and although, he retrieved a spare rudder the housing where the pintel goes was sufficiently expanded that prevented him from racing on Sunday.


Sunday the winds were supposed to be 10-12. NOT! The moring started off with rain with the first race run mostly in the rain with 15-20 knot winds and more gusty than Saturday. Three more SABCACACF.

Robi started uni and raced the first race ...we had some dueling but he was pointing better and much faster than me ....

The line was considerably smaller as Tom had left, Robi and Pete had failures and retired, THE Chuck was 3 minutes late to start after hitting the beach for repairs (he won that race!!).

All and all, it was a great venue, good weather and an all around fun time!

Thanks Rick, Mary, Barbara and all the race volunteers.