Yes I am starting all ready what's the latest news. Who's doing what with what etc.

I am guessing Phill and Marcus are there by now, has anybody seen the FCA Blade what do you think.

From what I have heard here, Greg has air frieghted a Viper, with out one even hitting the water yet. Has anybody seen it or Greg.

Come on guy's what is going on <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. This is no time for you to go quite Wouter, I am relying on the locals being my eyes and ears. Of course I may annoy you so much that you will wish you had paid for me to come over <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

But there is no updates on the website, entry list or anything, I am sure you are all busy, but please feed me information <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Indeed, we are all very busy. And to top it off we got another 30 knot wind day with overcast skies. For the non-Dutch coast sailors among us, that means shoveling sand. But the final preparations are progressing.

I've only met Phill and Marcus so far. They are assembling their Aussie Blade. The first US VWM Blade F16 arrived yesterday and Hans was busy assembling that one. The second US Blade is said to come in today. I haven't seen Greg or his Vipers yet. I hope he get everything ready in time. I don't think we'll see 3 Vipers on that startline as planned. Don't count on the event website for updates soon. This forum is your best shot at pics and info. We are all very busy.

FCA Blade ? I like !

Wouter

Hi All,

An update on the GC 2007. We are working on the last details and tomorrow the event will start. Everybody is running on schedule and there will be taken pictures during measurement and the whole event. These will be put on the event website. The weather forecast is looking good for the coming week with a nice breeze from the South West and some sunshine. The first boats are arriving Friday at the beach and maybe there will be some testing on the water. The official opening will be on Sunday around 5 pm after the practice race and i am sure Phill be on the water with camera running fulllllll speed , so he will be low on battery on the end of the day. We can not wait for the beginning of the event.

We will keep everybody up to date as much as possible with ranking lists,video and photo material.

The only thing i can say that all people involved did work hard the last couple of weeks and i can not go wrong if the weather is not letting us down.

SO LET THE CHALLENGE BEGIN.

Regards,
Hans

Thanks Guy's. I would hate to miss out on anything. Feel better now. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I've been following Skandia Cowes Week on the radio this week and look forward to following the F16 GC next week (not on the radio of course) - good luck everybody... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sorry to be missing you Gary !

For the remainder, Building boats, building boats, building boats. Matt has arrived and so to Geert. We expect many more to come over the next two days.

It is midday friday the 10th, the first day of the event (measuring) although the official opening is held on Sunday afternoon.

I'm cleaning house so it is save again to walk into my kitchen of bathroom without having received a tetanus injection in the last 10 years. ! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'm expecting a few of us to hang out at my place tonight. If we are lucky we'll get some more landyachting in tonight. Yesterday evening I took Phill Brander out for a spi on a nearby parking lot. We had only 60 minutes to get to the parking lot, rig the craft sail it, unrig it and get back in time for dinner. Still, Phill got a good 30 minutes of landyachting in, despite all that. He felt that that was too short ! So second chance tonight.

Hopefully by then we can get some pictures and video clips going. That gear has to be tested as well don't you think.

The sun is able to burn through the clouds today but still we have a force 6 winds from the north.

In anybody wants to follow the weather conditions during racing then look to these two pages.


Windspeeds on the water over last 24 hours. (both base and peak speeds)

http://www.actuelewaterdata.nl/data/result/target128.html

Wave height (note how the vertical axis changes units dynamically ! a low graph doesn't mean low waves)

http://www.actuelewaterdata.nl/data/result/target41.html


...

Darn these plots are dynamically generated and switch numbers between updates. To see the correct plots got to :

http://www.actuelewaterdata.nl/

then choose :

Golfgegevens (wave data)
or
Wind, Zicht, Luchtdruk& temperatuur. (wind, visibility, airpressure (barometer) and temperatuur)

And look for the links with "IJmond" in the title. click on those to the latest updated data.



For tidal information (important for racing as we have a significant tidal current here)

http://www.getij.nl/index.cfm?page=getijtafels&location=IJMDBTHVN;


We are getting there !

Wouter

Thank you Wouter for telling me Matt got there. Would you remind him that he needs to inform his own wife of these things? I've been wondering.

Have a great time and stay safe.

Thank you, Gina M.

Gina,

Read your last post to Diane <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> She got a nice chuckle from it ... Men-are-men!

I'm just about to finish my toast and make tracks, first stop Colin's house as he makes a brilliant cup of coffee, then Martin's to pick up the spare wheel for the trailer, after that the Bank!!! Then hitch up the trailer and head off up the Motorway to Paul's house where I'm sure Anne has been slaving all day to make a lovely dinner. Early start tomorrow morning to catch the ferry to France and should arrive at Zandvoort at approx 16.30hrs local time. After that I might do a spot of sight seeing at the local drinking establishment.

Mark

Hope you actually manage to finish a race this weekend !!!! Have fun and leave some beer for the others......Adrian.

I will in an hour !

More news later in the day !

Wouter

And watch out for that pin end mark... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I hope your expectations of hospitality for this evening aren't too high. Ann's been drinking all afternoon, drifting around Oxford on a punt, and I'm sitting in the office barely conscious having got back from NY this morning.

I think we've got some random Kiwi staying in our house, so there should be at least someone available to point you to the beer fridge <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Paul

What does "on a punt" mean?

A punt is a great excuse to have a drink on the river in Oxford: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punt_(boat)

Latest update at 9.45 pm local Zandvoort time. The measuring has started and the first 2 boats where there for the check measuring . Everything is rolling now so the registration is going the way the organisation had planned it. There was a strong wind from the North (20knts)today but no sailing yet. The next two boats (Matt and Marcus) from the workshop will hit the beach tomorrow morging early and with the UK sailors arriving also tomorrow the event really starts. The weather forecast for the coming days sounds great with a SE to S 3 to 4 bft. The frist photo's will be available tomorrow because we hear the constant sounds of Phill his camera running.

See you for the next update.

Regards,
Hans

Gina,
Matt got your message!

Wind forecast for tomorrow is 6 or 7 knots. So I will be sailing to Zandvoort tomorrow (about 35 km of coastline between Katwijk and Zandvoort). If someone would like to offer a fair amount of money for my Blade after the event I will go back on foot.

Gina, it's a guy thing. I can't count the number of times I have forgotten to tell my wife where I was...or when I might come back! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

So, Matt, what's going on in Zandvoort? Don't be jealous, but I'm hangin' with the kids, cleaning the garage, a little yard work, etc... I know, you wish you were here. Try to have a great time without me.
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />