Mike K. kept telling me you have to go to Spring Fever! Why, What is Spring Fever, Where is Spring Fever? The answers to these questions and the real insite to this race I feel has not been reveled.

In my humble opinion, Spring Fever 2007 was more than a catamarn race of 80 some boats, it is a bunch of folks young and old, little and big, newbies and veterans gathering together for three days of family fun. Yes, Spring Fever tries to encompass all aspect of the family. Including great food, camping, many fires and stories (lies <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />), parties, special easter bunny raffles for the kids, Great sponsors, special surprizes, and yes lots of great sailing.

Having sailed all over the south east this was my first introduction to Lake Hartwell. I never new what I was missing. For the small camping fee we had full use of the campgrounds including the showers, although if you did not pick your times right you could run out of hot water. The other item that stuck out in my mind was the way everyone was willing to help each other out. I discovered it was a great place to exchange ideas about cats and rigging. There was a phrase going around WWDLD (What Would David Leonard Do) that I soon understood. As his Layline boat had a continues crowd around it to see all the new tricks in rigging he brought this time. As I stated already David and many others where very open to share there thoughts, ideas, and to help each other on and off the water. To me this is one of the best reasons to go to spring Fever.

My only disappoint (if you can call it that ) is that there was not more open class boats there to race against. My hope is that this post will put more cat sailors at ease and maybe you will come next year with your non one-design cat. I raced my Naca 5.2 (25 years old boat) and felt very comfortable out on the course. The race committiee did a great job at seperating the fast, high tech boats from us slow boats. In fact we raced seperate courses, the slower boats sailing the inner course and the faster boats on the outside course. There was also four or five seperate starts grouping the cats according to their class and or speeds.

To sum it up my thanks go out to Nigel, Alex, Mr. Ernie, and everyone who helped put this event on. I will be there next year hope you will give it a try.

Mike K. thanks for the encourgement,

Carl

Saylor Specialties
www.saylorspecialties.com

P.S. Nigel, Love my new Hat <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Carl, Great post! I've wanted to go to this event since Damon Linkous started posting his reports on www.thebeachcats.com and the old Hobie list. We used to have big regattas up here too, and I know just what the cat sailors are like. When I got my first cat, I wasn't looking for people to sail with. After meeting a bunch of folks from the local fleets, I found I couldn't get enough of that cat regatta vibe. I've never experienced that kind of cooperation, and friendliness anywhere else. I have less and less time to sail these days, and it seems to be the case for a lot of folks. But I'm hoping that some day I'll have more time, and get around the country to attend more of these great events. The cat sailing community, despite it's somewhat fractured current state, is one of the most wonderful things I've come across in my life. My thanks go out to Rick and Mary, and to Damon, for giving us our virtual meeting places. Places we can connect, and develop friendships. It has been my online community that has drawn me, as does your post, to try to get down there! For me, one of the best things I've gotten out of the sport, are the bonds with other sailors. Nigel, Alex, and Mr. Ernie, do wonders when they put on such a great event. They have clearly fostered some strong bonds! Call me crazy, but I think that it's bonds like ours that will save the world. Sorry for waxing religious again, but it is how I feel, and it is Sunday after all. That's why I call going to my beach, going to "church", or "services".

PHOTOS UP!!!
http://www.twinhulls.com/springfever2007/07photos/

Does JW remind anyone of this:

That dude is in serious need of a haircut. Unless hair bands of the 80's are back and I'm not paying attention...

Is that the lead singer from Wang Chung?

Tback: Thats "the squirrel"

You mean "hammy"?

ditto all the warm and fuzzies about SF... great event.

I noticed John was the only one out there without a hat.. I guess with that much hair you don't need one to keep your head warm.

Does anyone wonder why he's faster downwind?? Did that "Spinn-top" haircut get measured as part of the spinnaker? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

What can I say that hasn't already been said. Ouch? Other than my "do," pics look great as always, but it sure seems like there were more pics than usual taken. Thanks are due to those who made that happen!

ps - I rarely wear a hat of any kind. I seriously think my hair is a great windex and I feel alot going on up there... hey Nigel! Puff coming!

I liked this one:

Guilty! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

And you guys at the back of the boat always tell the "crew" that we are winning races because your superior "helmsmanship" Now we have proof, the boats are on auto pilot and it is indeed the crew that wins the races.

Whew...at least I had my hat on there or I would be the one getting the "troll doll" jokes here.

When rounding A mark in breeze, that I20 must have the main eased quite a bit and I have to reel in a lot of mainsheet before the kite gets sheeted in. I find it easier to drop the stick for a couple of seconds while I double arm it. The footstrap on the back makes a great rest for the tiller while I reel it in. When rounding C and I can get out on the wire right before the rounding, I do the same thing and the boat tends to round up a little as the main comes in nicely.

Yours isn't the only one.

Holy Stalled Rudders Batman!

Yeah, those tiny pinhead rudders teach you proper mainsheet trim with such a huge main. I just wish I had a picture of David Mosley's boat during that F18 start on Saturday when he tried to bear away in the crowded start. I swear he had a rooster tail about 5 feet high for a good several seconds... I was too far away to make out what was happening, but I bet there was a high degree of pucker factor in whatever was going on.

Jake,

Actually, we had some success before raking the mast a bit more forward when Trey was having a really rough time with the rudders.



His name isn't "Power Dave" for nothin!

I found it was good practice (on light wind days) to steer with the main and leave the rudder alone (centered).

Amazing how much directional control you do have with the sails alone. Haven't tried it in moderate/heavy air, except during the occasional rounding.

That rooster tail was me dragging my everything I could in the water while trying to bear away and not be too ealry for the start while trying not to hit Nigel. Whew, it worked and we were clear, but my colon suffered a big hit! Blood has now returned and I feel better...