I was within 20 miles of Juana's after our 50 mile bike ride this am and couldn't resist trying to get over there for the start. I got there probably 10-15 minutes after. I'm guessing it was a one start fits all like they usually do.

Anyway, what I saw was I'm guessing 35-50 boats on a downwind leg with the wind between 10-14 out of the east. Temp 89 degrees. Not a cloud in the sky! In other words, a perfect day to sail. It was really a beautiful site!

All I would like to know at this point is who the guy was sailing on spinnaker alone?? I couldn't see any other sail, and I was using binoculars. The thing is, he was doing pretty good! I don't have a clue what he will do when he rounds the mark. (which is usually 14 miles near Bob Sykes Bridge, Pensacola Beach)

Tom

sounds awesome. spin alone... really? interesting.

I doubt that it was Spin alone, is that possible?

Of course it's possible, it was the downwind leg. The guy was like 10th or so..............

okay, maybe 15th..............

Well, thinking about it some, that would put quite a load on the mast without the main up...........



I was thinking " this has gotta be Tikipete!!", but he was too near the front (-: .... Unless Bobster gave him some hints. The wind may have been up at the start and maybe it was a new singlehander kinda guy. It appeared to be a singlehander boat F17/F16 maybe. Yellow and Blue spin if I remember correctly and a black mast.

Talked with a friend and turns out it was him. He sailed down to Juanas and tore the grommet out of the top of his sail and didn't have time to run back and get his second main. So he sailed back to his place under spin alone. The mast on an HT can take that kind of strain and it isn't like he was pushing it or anything.
Blades doing well. Prelim reports show there are as many F16s there as the next most prevalent boat- the N20. 2 blades rounded the mark ahead of the F17 but Bob got them upwind.

Some photos from Sat are already up. Imagine results and Sun photos in the next couple days.

A tip of the hat to Key Sailing II, winners of the Spin fleet! Andy and I lost a 2nd place tie breaker with Hey Baby (Mike Kelley - SC 22). The kinks on the new N20 will be worked out by the next regatta!

JMac

Up where?

not many...
http://juanaspagodas.com/2007EventPhotos.htm

The HT went out early to check conditions and within minutes his sail was down the track about 3 ft. He sailed back to Juana's but couldn't make a repair there. I think he lived nearby and sailed (downwind) under spin before the race started to retrieve another main. Probably why you saw him soooo far in front of the other boats.

So guys,

How about a race report from Juana's ?

Results, Hero's, Zero's, the works !

Wouter

Agreed. Excellent location and a fun time!

Saturday was the distance race (about 30+ miles). At the skipper's meeting the PRO said for all spin boats to go to channel marker 131...however, on the board posting boats into fleets the F16's and F17 got lumped into the "Y" fleet which meant a shorter course .... channel marker 129) Either he didn't realize we were spin boats or (more likely) seperated boats by PN. Anyway Tiki, Chris and DoubleT didn't get the word and they sailed to the far marker.

One start for all boats ... downwind. Bob and I started at the leeward pin with spi's flying at the horn. Tom a bit back and towards the middle of the line. Bob and I dueled all the way to the turning mark (generally less than 10 boat lengths separated us all the way) with 3-4 lead changes between us on the run down. The BIG news was tshan...he ROLLED us under spin!! He sailed so deep (and fast)...as Bob and I were gybing back and forth ... Tom almost was able to sail straight down the Santa Rosa Sound.

At the turn it was tshan, then me about 10 seconds back then Bob about 2 boat lengths behind me.

Then it was over.

Bob was just faster up wind...and could point noticably higher than both me and Tom.

I bore off for speed going across the sound and tacked back. Bob and I crossed within 2 boat lengths and Bob tacked to starboard to cover me. When we got to the southern shore to tack again, I tried to point up with Bob and lost boat speed and he just kept walking away from me.

At the finish it was Bob, me back a couple of minutes and Tom back from me a couple of minutes.

Remember Tiki, DoubleT and Chris? Well Chris and Nicole capsized under spin and the main came off the hook, so they limped to shore for repairs and scored a DNF. Tiki and DoubleT sailed to the far mark and back and have claims of sailing with the N20's!!

Sunday was triangle races (2). Bob easily beat us with finishes of Bob, Terry, Tom and I think the others finished Tiki, Chris and DoubleT.

Agreed, great weekend. They announced 40 boats at the skipper's meeting, but everything is "ish" at Juana's.

Bob was very impressive on the water and had some good comments off the water about single handed sailing and having the proper rig for it. During the triangle races on Sunday, he was usually right behind the yellow ARC22 "Hey Baby" (and a I20 or 2) at the first mark (and kept it pretty close the rest of the way around). He can sail that boat higher and faster upwind than I could. No doubt he is the current North American champ....

Are we talking Bob Curry? He was sailing an I-17 right and not a Blade?

Doug

Yes. Bob Curry was on the F17 known as "Outlaw".

Tom:

Curry could make a bed sheet go fast. So don't feel bad. I met at Great Bay Race. He had a Corsair 750 flying.

Doug

Bob is just a fad.

Video from the regatta
Some nice video of Bob Curry's F17

It really was fun watching that start at Juana's. I was out by the bay in Pensacola again today. Another beautiful day to sail. Same as Juana's on Saturday.

I can't wait to see RTI in Ft. Walton in a week or two!! RTI always follows Juana's. The Juana's race is like the tune up for RTI!! September is really the best time of year to have large regattas here in this area. There are fewer tourists, motel/hotels rates are cheaper, plus the local expert sailors are usually there and not busy which means you can always learn a thing or two!!.

The first time I saw RTI in Ft. Walton was in 1995. I saw a Hobie 20 finish that year before 6pm, and he did not have a spinnaker. When I had the chance to do it in 1996, my 15 year old son and I had a great time on my new NACRA 6.0 and finished at 7:30 pm. We didn't know squat about coastal sailing having learned to sail near Memphis TN (actually Arkabutla Lake in MS). I will alway remember sailing close to shore and seeing all those empty beach chairs with umbrellas and hitting all the large jelly fish. Plus, seeing the high rise condos and cranes that would indicate how close you were to each town along the way.


Oops, now I'm being told that RTI is in June these days. Thats' a joke right? JUNE? ...........

Tom

Future F17 Sailor............?!

yep, already done in june.
I was wondering if the great bay race would be rescheduled to Sept (rti was june- the month I guess the GB race is done)

I want to PLAY! but I will resist.