All,

I have just got back from darwin, again and been thinking.

I am just putting the idea out there at the moment but Darwin Sailing Club is looking at again holding a major Cat regatta our mid winter next year (2008)

Wondering how many would be interested in heading that way, thinking of a 40ft container and packing boats in, probably get 10ish boats in easily, more if some thought was given to packing arrangements, just thoughts at the moment but I am certainly interested in going...that means 2 boats out of this house.

Lets have a think about it, take the mossie in it's present form, kites and all, back to it's bithplace and show them how fast they are.

David
"Banh Sidhe"

If we get the numbers up from the different states, why not run our nationals during this regatta, as a one off seeing that this is the birth place of the mossie.

So long as Ive got some dates in a reasonable amount of time you will deffinately see me there.
Always wanted to go to the NT.

William
nswmossie.com 1635

Hi all,

it would be a wonderful idea to hold Mossie Nats back at Darwin. But <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I don't know what it would achieve for the class. I was in Darwin just before the Tornado Nats and regatta 06'. I couldn't find anyone interested in the Mossie, despite me telling them how succesful they are with spinnaker in Vic.

The sailing scene in Darwin seems to be very small now and since a top expat Vic sailor bought a Taipan and put spinnaker on it and started beating Tornies and A's. I have seen adds for sailors after Taipans not Mossies. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Great place to sail and all that, I would love to show them what they can do now, but so much money and time,just don't know what it would achieve for the class <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />.

Hi ALL,

A bit off topic, but carrying on from Gary's post..



I'm only new to the class, and indeed Cats, but thought I'd pop in my two bobs worth anyway!



What other people said when I told them I was contemplating buying a Mozzie.


"the class is dying"

"By a taipan, you'll have more people to sail against."

"used to be good, but they're too old a design"

"timber boats are cr*p"

blah blah....


Why I bought a Mozzie:

Versatility: 1 up or 2 up, same yardstick.

Numbers: Where I live there are Mozzies at most clubs close, including the big nest at Somers.

Active and Helpful Association.

Go vs. $$ Show me a boat that gives more thrills, spills and speed Vs. your hard earned dollar, than a Mozzie!

How many classes had 30 plus boats turn up for their Vic Titles....... not very many me thinks!


Promoting the class:

I agree with Gary, why spend lots of $ going somewhere there aren't any. (even if it's the birth place!)

Focus on the strengths. Vic, SA and the small beach head in NSW.

What about some targeting of clubs that have one or two mozzies amongst big OTB fleets.

The first day I turned up at my club with my boat, a couple of things happened. Disapproving looks from the mono boys. (I jumped ship!)
and a few sideways looks from other cat sailors, mainly PT's and Taipans. However, there was quite a bit of interest from some young dudes
who sail older PT's 'cos thats "all they could afford". I've already had offers of a crew from these guys and I can't even sail
the thing properly yet!

People were genuinely surprised at my reports of how many were at the States at somers and also that I could get a boat with this
performance at such a reasonable price!

I think it would create quite a bit of interest if a dozen Mozzies turned up to race just one day!

We could do this at different clubs, 2 or 3 times a season.

I for one would be happy to go anywhere that's a reasonable day/o/night trip, a few times a year, to help promote the class.

I'll even stick my hand up for a NSW trip.

In my view State and National titles don't really promote a class, as everyone there already loves their chosen boat.

(Now, if I could just learn to sail the damn thing).

Cheers

Hi Simon,
Funny thing that. When I bought my mossie I had the same reaction from people at the club both mono and multi's and had the same response.
I guess that's what pushed me hard to bring back the mossie assoc.in NSW.
When I told people that mossies where still being made and now in glass and kevlar I had a few people look at me in surprise.
Also as you said what other boat produces as much go for your money. I was looking for a taipan a couple of months ago and all that I could find was 4.9s for $10,000 that was about 10 years old.
If you want to be competative all you need to do is get out there and practice your butt of because with the mossie's yardstick you can be competative if your good enough (just look at the sauna sail results).

Cheers
william
nswmossie.com 1635

Gary/All,

I spend about half the year working out of Darwin and drop in the DSC regularly, and a DSC country member.
There are changes there, Tornados are well and truly in the minority there now with A's being the boat of choice (a fleet of 14 on the water last weekend), a few Arrows, along with a few misc others of all kinds.
The idea was only to take some boats up there for their regatta, have some fun, have some excellent sailing (30'C, steady 15 knots and smooth water)...and maybe even show them how quick a Mossie is these days. I honestly had not thought of Nationals but I do know they would be interested in hosting them should we ever decide to go down that road.
There are a few mossies still up there, but few and far between.

Anyway.....was just an idea that I thro' out there.

David.

In the mid 80's from memory there was a national title in Darwin, I think Phillip Warren- Smith won. Rumor has it that they would not even consider the cat rigged mossie a a true boat. You either had a mossie with a jib or you didn't have a mossie.
Maybe they need educating up there because 30'c, steady 15 knots and smooth water sounds like great sailing.

Ross

Ross,

The details are on the National website titles

http://home.vicnet.net.au/~nmcca/titles.htm

The NT sailors may have been slow to react to changes. Maybe they still are.

As for going all the way to Darwin for the National Titles I agree with Gary. If there isn't any interest from the NT then why bother. It's such a pitty since it is the birth palce of the Mozzie. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

In my case it's hard enough justifying doing the State titles. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Regards,

Peter

Ross/Peter,

To clarify a few points...Nationals in Darwin were held in the 80's...yes Philip did win, just closely followed home by one of the Darwin Mossies (know the guy really well) and yes predominatly Mk2's then...not for any particular reason and certainly NOT because the Mk1's were considered poor cousins...after all it was designed originally as a Mk1 and the jib was added as the Fowler kids grew up

I find it interesting how rumours grow..

Anyway, as I said, just a thought and at the moment 30'C sounds like paradise...ohhh by the way they were complaining up there when I cam home the other day, it reached a minimum of 16'C.

As I said.......just throwing a thought out there and I can think of one in Vic who would love a reason to return to the Territory...from memory he had a ball there.

DD
"Banh Sidhe"

Out of interest I went searching and found a Mosquote (Victorian Mosquito Catamaran Association News Letter)that has the results for the 13thAustralian Championships August 1984 Darwin. The results are a bit hard to read but it looks like New Wave No.1423 1st with 11.7 points,Matard Two No.69 2nd with 39.1 & Super Snoopy No. 750 3rd. with 46.1 points.
A few quote's from the write up."
"Yellow Fever, nominated (and paid) as a Mark 1. The Darwin Sailing Club refused to recognize the Mark 1 as a Mosquito and he was not recorded on any results -championship or handicap- for the Titles. To his credit and support of the class he continued to sail with the mossies. Is Peter Chadwick the Mark 1 champion for 1984/85?" .... "The N.T.M.C.A. did not hide the fact that they discouraged Mark 1 sailing and only have and want Mark 11."
There are a few things that should be mentioned. The saga of the Mark 1 needs resolution. Darwin seems the ideal place for a Mark 1 but all possible skippers are being discouraged and moving into other classes. It did not help that only one Mark 1 boat made the journey and the Dawinites did not see the capabilities of the boat in that form."

I am getting an inkling where the rumor may have started:)

Anyway that was a long time ago and the sailing conditions sound great.

Ross

All,

Guess I regret ever starting this conversation as it seems that there are more than a few errors and rumours doing the rounds....so lets correct a few.

Spelling of the second placed boat.. MATARO Two ( not MATARD as recorded)

Second as far as my memory serves me the NTMCA had no involvement with the Cat Week Nominations and that was all done by the Cat Week Committee....and yes I was on the current NTMCA committee at the time.

As it remains.....both the Mk1 and Mk2 are darwin born and bred and yes it is still a special place to sail, even better now as we are all in winter they are sailing each weekend in damn near perfect conditions....so maybe we will still go and yes, take 2 mossies there, time will tell.

DD