Joanna - Sure, I will forward it to you.

Tom - Jax is 12 hrs from Naptown, GYC is 16 hrs. So Fl trips aren't easy for us but definately inviting.

Duck,

Turn it around on them there FL F16. Invite them to A to O in September. Imagine, all of us spotting D'broke 10 minutes and beating him to the line.

Maybe Spring Fever 2008 is the most central location to all of the F16's in the south-east USA ?

Certainly looks like about equidistant from alabama, florida and MD.

Wouter

Rick came from Toronto with his new Blade to Spring Fever this year. It is a great location, regatta with three days of racing and lots of boats. It would be wonderful to get at bunch of F16's there.

I'm hoping to make Spring Fever '08, but that's a long way off. The panhandle thing would be nice as well.

Wouter, make some room in your pm inbox. You'll get mail.

Trey,

I've made some room now, so fire away.

Wouter

CrewDog (Lucky Duck???),

How far is Duck, NC from you guys? I'll be vacationing in Nags Head, NC in the middle of June. Duck YC/OBXCC host a regatta on one of those weekends (June 9/10). It might be enough incentive to haul the boat up there this year....

http://www.norbanks.com/Duck_Yacht_Club_OBXCC.htm click on events on the left side for more info.

Yep, aka Lucky Duck. I can't make the June 9/10 weekend. The Outer Banks are about 6 hrs south of us and I've done the event on the A Cat. Very good people there and one of the best sailing grounds around. The bay side (sound) is shallow in some areas but nice sand bottoim, great breeze (thats why the Wright Bro's were there) and flat water. This is one of the best places around to learn kiteboarding, windsurfing and hang gliding to name a few. If you take the Blade make contact with Jon beforehand to see whats what. Ed

You can also contact dbncsu. He's a native of the OBX.

Arent you doing Cinco De Nacra today?

Ed,

I would love to hear a personal comparison from you between the A and the Blade F16. After a couple of times sailing that is and then again after 1 or 2 seasons getting to know the Blade well.

I ask this of other A-cat to F16 sailors as well. I find this very interesting. One guy could only produce "They are totally uncomparable, in every aspect", but couldn't elaborate.

I find it increasingly interesting to find out why two boat that are still quite close in specs can still be so far apart in one on one comparison. Not to say one is better then another but apparently the two are jsut so different in feel.

So when you have the time ...

Wouter

OK Wouter, I will take a stab at it. Upwind the boat sailed more like an A than any other boat I have sailed. Not quite as responsive, but we were able to get the same feeling of the boat squirting forward in the gusts and not just healing more. The balance was not as good and we were back at the rear beam, which produced rear beam slapping on occasion (upwind). That really stopped the boat, but we wanted to keep the bows up in those conditions. One race sailed in light conditions, which meant we were either on the boat, single, trapped, or double trapped. The boat came to life just when I would expect it too, as opposed to a Hobie Tiger that feels very underpowered in single trap and below conditions.
Downwind we were pushing the boat more than we should have and went over twice. Most teams were sailing low and safe. After we went to this mode we did better. On the A I would have felt more like I was racing/ pushing the boat to get an advantage. This was fast, but not quite the same gut feeling as when you are in the groove downwind on an A. I think there would be a wind range where F16 is more fun, possibly between 5 and 10. After that and the A is challenge (read fun for me) to go as fast as the boat is capable, and before that and there is not enough power in the spinnaker to make it worth the extra hassle of rigging and crew work.
Summery: For a two up boat there in no question this would be my first choice, if there were a fleet of good racers in my area. For single. I think I would stick with the A. For versatility, again no question..the F16 wins.

Ken Marshack
A Cat USA 192

Thank you Ken.

Wouter