Hey F-16 Forum, Just wanted to say that we now have 2 F-16s in New Mexico. Andrew and Elizabeth are life time sailors and don't mind white caps at all. Their 2004 Tipan is a beautiful boat and we had a lot of fun chasing around Heron Lake for four days. The water was cold, in the forties, and the wind was strong in the afternoons. I liked the clips their Tipan had for holding the rudders on the pintles (I'll attach picture). I think there are now 39 dots on the US / Canada Frappr, if you minus San Jose Paul who sold USA 300 to New Mexico Andrew and Elizabeth. That seems like a lot more dots than a year ago. Will
I've been sailing four times since the eighteenth of March; Sunday, Sunday, Wednesday through Saturday, Saturday and Sunday, At three different lakes. The boat and me have come to some understandings which make sailing a lot more fun. The breathable dry suit makes so much difference to me, I don't get cold either in the water or out of the water. Having been hypothermic last June and receiving some education from the EMT that coddled me back to life I'm especially careful about my exposure to water. Andrew showed me how to make apparent wind with the spin and last week end I was able to realize some pretty good speed in light air flying hull, that was so goood.
Isn't that brilliant ? I'm so proud that this little project that started as a simple "what if ..." back in spring 2001 has come so far as to have no less then 3 F16's sailing in New Mexico and Arizona. With one F16 being driven by a 73 year old woman.
Boy, when I have the time and money I really should get a plane ride to you guys and see how you guys enjoy the wind, water and sun in a place like that.
4 times out already this year, right ? And it looks like some good stretches of sailing time as well.
Brilliant, simply brilliant !
Wouter
Wouter Hijink Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild) The Netherlands
Re: Spring Sailing
[Re: Wouter]
#104392 04/21/0702:21 PM04/21/0702:21 PM
well maybe you should take a trip to the Rocky Mountain West. Lake Heron (that USA 300 and Blade 706 were sailing in) is a short distance from the contental divide, simi arid, pine trees. Probably be different senery than you are use to seeing.
I think there are now 39 dots on the US / Canada Frappr, if you minus San Jose Paul who sold USA 300 to New Mexico Andrew and Elizabeth. That seems like a lot more dots than a year ago.
I've personally lost track of the F16 in the USA but there is definately a growth spurt going on. Everytime I see a new regatta results listing I come across a F16 crew I don't know,
Out of the 12 boats entered there were no less then 5 F16's :
The new crews were :
Taipan 4.9 : Paul and Eric Blade F16 : Ed and Stef
The "usual suspects" present were :
The Mac's, THE Chuck and Terry Back.
Paul and Eric won on the short course and the Mac's on the long course (AGAIN !)
The two new crews aren't on the frapper map yet. I think we'll find that over 50 F16's are now in the USA with the slight majority being the Blade F16's, and that portion will only grow.
Good times are ahead !
Wouter
Last edited by Wouter; 04/21/0702:33 PM.
Wouter Hijink Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild) The Netherlands
Re: Spring Sailing
[Re: Wouter]
#104394 04/21/0703:20 PM04/21/0703:20 PM
in that long race Matt and Gina shure stood up to some big boats, ie ARC 21 and two Inter 20s. I'm thinking that our F16s are so light that there is vertually no inertia (very little) and that makes for different trim. always looking for speed, not pointing.
The comment was made at GYC, that Matt and Gina sail fast AND point higher than most of the other competitors. This was said by someone who would well be able to judge. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get close enough to confirm! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />