Hi We all no the global challenge has just finished but where will the next one be? I was unable to attend the last one but are keen to go to the next one. So i have to plan way ahead as we all have work and family issues to attend to. can the proposed venues be posted so we all can have a say or has this already been decided? if already decided can you please let me no where and approximately when. thanks danny

I'm sure the F16 Governing Council will be making an announcement in this respect very soon.

Any chance of it being in the US?

USA would be great or Cancun Mexico. Was thinking more like Fiji, new Caledonia,Harvey bay Qld,or somewhere else it warm 25 plus all year round.

Lake Cootharaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.

I would expect the next GC to be held somewhere close to a brewery and the larger fleets of F-16s.
We are still building a class, so to get as many boats as possible to a GC we need to think about strategy. Where are the boats and how do we make them attend is probably what the head of the class is discussing. This is my guess at least..

Just adding another option for the Global Challenge in any of the coming years.

Lake Como.

Greg Goodall had just been there for the F18 Europeans and he was very much impressed by the location and the predictability of the weather/winds. He thought it was better then lake Garda, a lake he knows from previous F18 and A-cat events. This too should be a place with 25 degrees temperatures or more during the summer time and that may well be why the wind is so predictable, it is thermal.

Also, as it is a lake there will not be much surf to worry about. Apparently the local lodging was inexpensive as well. This location may well be a good choice for the Global Challenge for any of the coming years. I'm sure alot of European crews (mostly UK, Netherlands and the area's adjacent) are willing to drive the extra miles to such a location.

For 2008 I think another "location" has been assigned already. I wonder why the GC hasn't publized the results of the AGM yet. Alot of questions floating around now will be answered by the info enclosed in this document.

Wouter

Not to start a big discussion, but I think we need to look at ways to maximize the number of boats competing. While Lake Como is a fantastic place, as the other suggestions probably also are, the question we need to consider is "how many will attend". An exotic place can attract some people, but in the end, the wallet, family and vacation plans are what decides for most of us. I dont think we should think people will drive a long way here in Europe to participate. Just look back at the discussion we had about how the brits could get over the channel as cheaply as possible for the 2007 GC.

When the class have large fleets all over the world, we can have the worlds in all kind of exotic places, but until then we should aim for 40-50 boats on the starting line. We will not get that many boats on the line unless we put the event in the middle of the larger fleets.

Personally while I like the beaches alot I also think we must really consider favouring lakes and well sheltered bays for future Global Challenges. Most often the winds can be handled but the seastate and surf can really ruin an event.

We had another taste of this last sunday. I raced on a Nacra F18 then and we had to sail the boat over from Zandvoort to a neighbouring club some 6 km to the north, near the long piers (jetties) of a major industrial harbour exit.

When leaving the beach at Zandvoort we hit a large breaking wave full on and I lost my sailing glasses and my life vest exploded to bits. The hit was sufficiently large to rip open my vest and take out large chunks of the lining (floatation). It also ripped open its zipper. When we got to the piece of water at the other club the surf was like that at a holliday camp. Rather low and mild considering the conditions. All because I was so well sheltered by the long piers to the north and west of the small man made bay.

With respect to lake Como. I also think it to be important not to have the GC at Zandvoort and say Mumbles all the time. That will not be fair to the other F16 sailors. Maybe we should go to Kiel, Carnac or other places like that once in a while. These are well sheltered waters. And Kiel is alot closer to the Norwegians, Swedes and Fins without being to far from us Dutchies and Brits.

Wouter

Agree, lets not go to Zandvoort every year. We have not had a GC at Mumbles yet, but alternating between two places is no good. But taking out some dividers and the Frapper F-16 map quickly determines the actual clubs in my opinion. Keeping travel time and cost down will probably maximise participation?

Kiel? If we are going to travel, there are lots of other places in Germany which I think are better but that discussion is premature. So far there are two Stealth F-16s in Sweden and two (or three) Ply Blades under construction in Finland. Norway will have their first F-16s the coming spring. Catering to these areas should not be a priority just now, in my opinion.

About surf and shallow sailing areas.. Me dont like! Knowing when to put on the brakes is a race winning skill, but I enjoy far more to launch in relatively safety and being able to go full out. We have been fast in large waves on the Tornado, so we have the skills for it, but I find it far more enjoyable to race on relatively flat water. To have flat water, you need deep water and relatively closed areas. Closed areas give the locals an advantage as they will know the geographical shifts, but still.. The venues selected must have enough wind, and not too much wind, and be sailable in most conditions. I felt really sorry for guys like Marcus who went to great expense to sail at Zandvoort and had too much surf and waves for sailing. I suppose all this are under discussion (but it would be good to know a bit more)

Tom and I discusses hosting the GC in the US in 2009 (thinking next years would be held at Mumbles??).

Our thinking was:

1. Where can we find a PRO to run a top-quality event
2. Where can we find a Club to sponsor the event for a week.
3. What location can we gain the most North America F16's
4. What location would be good for non-NA F16's.
5. What location has enough beer for the European's!

Some choices that we came up with are:

* Pensacola Yacht Club (pan-handle of FL)
* Lake Norman (Charlotte, NC)
* Chesapeke Bay (Maryland)
* Key Largo (FL Keys)

Tom is checking on PYC and a local PRO to see if they would be interested in hosting such an event.

I just finished racing (Juana's) which is 25 miles east of Pensacola and can say this venue is awesome! Protected inland sound AND Gulf of Mexico just 200 m across a road and sand dune to the south.

Any other ideas or suggestions from NA F16's for a location.

BTW, we didn't think anything west of FL would draw a good crowd as most of the F16's seem to be east of the Mississippi. Eric ... need to start building that fleet!

As always, the F16s get a lot of attention out here just not a lot of buyers/sailors...

In the open forum Wouter asked me:
"Hey Holger, next year a short holliday on the Dutch coast for you ? With boat of course!"
And with the discussion here about next GC I would suggest the Ijsselmeer in Netherlands with the marina Muiderzand.
I've been there this year for some holiday and there we have all: Best launching area I have ever seen, large catamaran club, flat open water at the Ijsselmeer, inexpensive and large camping area nearby. Unfortunately we had bad sailing weather at our holiday there, and I haven't sailed as much as planned but it is another trip worth! see picture...
Kiel in Germany has more facilities for yachtsailors than cat sailors and no other race for cat's than the Kiel Week, and there only for Tornado and F18.
Holger

Totally agree with comments above that we need to go somewhere where people can get to and to aim to maximise boats.

We also need to try and find places we can launch in most winds / tides.

If it is Holland again, the best choice would be Hellevoetsluis and combine with the Dutch A-cat nationals which are held there for some years with great success.

Why combine with other classes?

I don't want to share a F16 worlds with a big event like the F18 or A-cat nationals. Basically the RC will tread them as 1st class citizens and us as 2nd class citizens. We'll be getting the most run down bouys, the most crooked starts/courses and the least safety coverage of the whole event. We'll only be a sideshow. Why go through this trouble ?

Wouter

I agree, no partnering up.
How about at Pensacola Yacht club as Tback said? Protected waters, good, fairly consistent wind, great area.
What other area has had 5 blades at a race? (given 4 weren't "local" per se though)

Patrick
GYC has a nice growing fleet of F16s. The bay is very protected as well. As far as shipping, well you have the Tampa Port? (forgot the name).

How about Florida? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />