Olli says that the winds start are starting around 10 knots in the AM, and build to a solid 20 in the afternoon - along with some confused seas... possible remnants of the storm that passed to the north a few days ago?

It's good that several F18 events had bigger air this year - Carlyle, Area D South, and Tradewinds all saw breeze in the 20's. Awfully good practice for North American teams that don't always get the chance to race in more than 10-15 knots. I hope that the tougher season here has better prepared them to contend with Euro and Aussie teams that frequently deal with those conditions. I remember at Tiger Worlds in California that many of the teams from overseas were baffled by the RC decision to not race when the solid 25-knots was howling through the course.

Yeah, yeah, yeah - I know Dan. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> In Long Beach, you get 18-20, every day at the same time from the same direction... except when I'm there. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> The rest of NA gets an annual average of 8 knots, I think - doesn't really prepare you to thrive in big wind and waves. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Olli sent pics of the new Capricorn rudders:
Old -

New -


ps - you'll note that Olli's finally wised up and gotten himself onto a blue boat. Red is slow. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />