Three? Is that all the boats there are going to be at Rick's Place for the National's? Geert is willing to fly in from HOLLAND and I'm willing to drive both ways from Arkansas AND fly back and forth in between the Taipan and F 16HP Nats but I'm going to be pretty embarrassed if it's only the three of us! Both Geert and myself need to make flight arrangements QUICK or save our money and vacation time and cancel this thing for this year.

Perhaps there are some of you not willing to publicly let it be known you are planning to come-- If so, but you ARE coming- then please send me a private mail-



Getting frustrated-

Kirt

If we can't get at least 5 boats to race, we should cancel for this year and try again next year. I have never liked match racing and racing with only 3 boats is not much better than match racing. Hopefully the class will have grown some by next year so we can make a better showing.



JenniferL

Taipan 4.9 #262

I now two more boats that indicated that they were planning to go. This would make a fleet of 5 boats with the current boats listed.



The third boat that I know of was confident but I don't think that that one will go going by the private communication we exchanged.



I would like to strongly underline for any crews that go or want to go but have minor problems (These can be solved when we act together, shacking up and trailoring together) to contact either Kirt Simmons or Michael Coffman. Please also contact them again when you've have decided you won't go. Because there are still a few boat with crews outthere that have been unaccounted for.



Despite the discussions of rule changes this issue will receive more attention in the near future.



Wouter

Hi Kirt



I am surprised that more F-16HP sailors (with boats) are not entering the “Nationals”. Has anyone stopped to consider what an honor this would be the Very First F-16HP National Champion?…Did anyone stop to consider that the odds of winning the National Title will never again be so favorable? Talk about bragging rites…



Bob

Bob,

I like the way your mind works ....

Made me laugh.



I feel this is just the beginning of something that will soon be huge.



We must chat some time.

Regards,

Phill

Bob-

Well, if the significance of the Title is what's important to you then you are right. But beating one or two other boats to me is not as rewarding as beating 30 or 40. Hopefully we will get more there than that-- Hope you have your boat finished by next year! You could still come down and sail on Rick's boat and there may be another "open" boat available??



Kirt

While a local pond event is fun to win, place or show, there is nothing like a National Event as it becomes part of history. As the class grows and grows it is always great to look back at the winner on a perpetual trophy and see who were the pioneers of the class.

The Class needs a perpetual for the event, even if there are only 5 boats in attendance (although I certainly hope there will be more than that for such a significant event -- the very first national event for a hopefully great class).

Ya'll ought to be beating the bushes and beating down doors to be sure you don't miss this Nationals. Not only will it be historical, you will find this is a great sailing venue with flat seas and 15 mph Tradewinds.



Rick

Hi Kirt



My point wasn’t to “Win the title” with a few boats, on the contrary it was made with the hope that it might inspire other sailors to participate…Yes there will be less total boats at the first “Nationals” but it sure doesn’t have to be 2 or 3…How many F-16 HP boats do we have here in the state of Florida alone?



It just seemed to me if you are a hard core sailor, and would take vacation time to go to a race, wouldn’t you want to spend it going to a race that is a mile stone in history of the class? To be a part of that history? That was my point…



Bob

Well, from what I know now and can't make public yet, I'm very confident that this class will take off.



One thing that made me realize this was the post made by Andrew Williams made a few days ago. In his post were no less than 30 boats/crews listed. When these crews choose the set spinnakers while sailing than we are very close in achieving the minimum requirements set by ISAF to become a recognized class.



And indeed being the first cup winner of the class will trully be a honour.



Wouter

Yeh, A pertpetual trophy is a great idea for a National Championship.



About Andrews list of "nearly 30" boats, please note that these are Taipan 4.9s and not F-16HPs. Wouter, should be careful about his claims. Even in the USA, most of the 4.9s are sailing as 4.9s and not claiming to be F-16HPs. It is important to keep things on the up and up. I would expect a better turn out for the first USA Taipan Nationals, than the HP Nationals. Time will tell, care for a bet?



It is good to see the class growing, regardless of weather it is Taipan 4.9 OD or F-16HP, and hope for a great turn out at the Nationals in Key Largo and Gulf.

Dear 49er,



I can garantee you that the Taipan nationals will get a better turnout than the F16 nationals; but this and the fact that there is even a Taipan nationals is no achievement of the Taipan 4.9 one-design class. Nor is the difference in turn-out caused by the US sailors favouring one-design (no spi) Taipan sailing over formula sailing. Please do not forget that the first time the Taipans sailed in a US class race of their own was in the F16 class at Springfever regatta 2002.



In the USA the F16 class and the Taipan 4.9 class are one and the same and things are organised by the same people. And I do flatter myself with having had a very big contribution in setting up this organisation.



If I have made any claim with respect to the Taipan 4.9 class and the USA, which I don't think I have in my other post, than chances are that it is fully justified that I make such claims.



Ofcourse the class would not have build up the current potential without class officials like Phill, Kirt, John and Micheal



Now, I think it is a very good thing that the F16 class supports both the F16 class events as well as one-design events of the individual designs and I much like to see the F16 class organise more than just F16 events. And I think Micheal is doing a very good job with the US Taipan 4.9 nationals this November. Thank you Micheal.



But a few more points before I leave it that. 49er, all (15) but one 4.9 have F16 spis in the USA, but US sailors compete and race in both modes and that is just the way it should be done. F16 is not intended to replace Taipan class and will go to great lengths to avoid harming the Taipan class.



Does the F16 class lean on the Taipan 4.9 design to get started in the World ? Yes, indeed, it was planned that way. Does the Taipan 4.9 class get to go outside Australia as a result of the F16 class ? Hell, yes !



Seems we are in this one together and that we can't see the first without the other and visa versa.



And if you'll pardon my French, I will bow to any man who has achieved more over the last 2 years with regard to internationalizing the Taipan design.



Now, I know how difficult it was during that time and how much work went into it. Not to mention the countless e-mails to interested sailors and potential buyers and possible builders. And I think I have a pretty good grasp on who is who in the scene. So if you don't mind :"No thank you, I don't care for a bet" and I quite frankly resent the implication of your statement. And I also think it is very misguided.



With kind regards,



Wouter

Hello all



I have watched this debate for a while.

As a scorekeeper and regatta organizer, the details of exactly what you call your flavor of boat and the class that it belongs to are lost on me.



Is your taipan 4.9 with a chute going to be called that... OR will it be called an F16HP... the difference is semantic from my point of view.. Similarly... Is a Hobie Tiger called a Tiger or an F18 class boat. Same boat...same performance.



Unless you plan to exclude all other makes from your race, it would be easier to use the generic definition of F16HP. You might argue well... if all of the boats in a region are Taipans with chutes... why not call them exactly that... Are you not confusing the troops when you label yourself F16HP...



I note that the F18HT class in the US is steadfastly holding to the designation of the larger group of F18HT despite the fact that 100% of the boats in the US are Jav 2's from Bimare. I think that doing so will serve these sailors very well in the future as other builders come on line with their ideas and craftsmanship. I think the name of the game is building participation in a racing class...eg f16HP... I assume the varous builders will take care of themselves and make competitive products for that market and market their success on the racing circuit.



As a scorekeeper/regatta organizor, I would rather use the class designation F18HT and then note Jav 2 as the boat type.. Likewise, F16HP class with the boat type Taipan 4.9.



My two cents worth cause... what's in a name after all.



The purpose of a name is to communicate effeciently. Do you want to communicate that boats A and B are different... or do you want to communicate that boats A and B are essentially the same.





Take Care

Mark

The T4.9 Nat's is run without chutes. Hope that makes it clearer.

Thanks,

Michael Coffman

Allright folks-

Geert (my crew) is flying over from Holland and we are driving from Arkansas to be there, so we WILL be there-

But Mary is waiting to order "our" trophies due to the low registration numbers (REMEMBER- You pay THERE, but you MUST pre-register to compete- Rick's rules!!)-

SO- If you are coming, get out of the "closet" and register NOW!!



Thanks!



Kirt

Yes! It does make things difficult to plan without some idea of the numbers.

Thanks again,

Rick