Wouter,

there is a picture of you over an article about our building project and the F16 class here: http://seilmagasinet.no/id/28690

Article is in norwegian, but it is about our current building project and the F16 class. We also deliver some kicks to ISAF and marine equipment manufacturers/distributors.


You and the rest of the package are looking good!

Hey, it is you that did (are doing) the hard work in this aspect, so it is us that need to thank you !

So that makes you and Frode look good !

Thanks.

Wouter

Wouter, what ever happened to that girl who used to crew for you (in the picture)? Can she make it over here for the March 15-16 F16 Gulfport regatta? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If that is who I think it is she will be helming an Nacra Infusion this year and probably collect some silverware along the way.

She has a really nice last name....

Rolf, Paul,

Would it be possible to link that to the formula16 site? (F16 in the press section on the site?)

Gill

We have a press section? That must be a chore to maintain to remove/update changing links as new solutions are implemented at newspapers and magazines?

Probably no problem to link but it is in norwegian, which is pure gibberish for those not speaking a scandinavian language? I bit like listening to the swedish chef in the Muppet show <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well, she went on to sail for Nacra Europe and is now part of a rather succesful crew in the F18 class. I think she has won several prices together with Sacha Larsen already. Sacha is the brother of Gunnar who is a little more famous outside of NL.

She told me at the time the picture was taken that she had only been sailing catamarans for something like 2.5 months. Doing the Westland Cup on the F16 with me was her first race on a spinnaker cat. I think she said that she had sailed one time with a spi before in 8 knots of wind the week before. Looking at where she is now I think we can qualify her learning curve as simply stellar. Anybody could recognize her talent just after a first glance. I would have loved to have formed a team with her, but it took only moments before I also recognized that her best interests laid elsewhere (second glance).

So yes Tony_F18 is right, she is exactly who he think she it and she has raced the Infusion during 2007 as well. And Nacra would be a fool to let her go. The second they let her go I'm going to offer her a F16 (or a Blade F18, if Marcus is interested ?).

She is talented, nice, bubbly and totally stress resistant. She would make a great show case c.q. promo crew for the F16 boats. I tried to "contract" her earlier but the F16 class was not ready yet and at the second time Nacra had help her so much that her loyalties laid there.

She also raced with John Casey during 2007 Round Texel and he was all praised about her as well.

Anyway, I think waiting our time is a good policy here. She will finish her studies at some time and then she'll have to make a choice. Become more professional in sailing or go work in the field of her studies. In the latter case, she'll be hard pressed to put in the practice time to stay ahead in the F18 game. With her light body mass the F16 would suit her well, especially when she'll sail with another women or light male.

There will be more opportunities in the future I'm sure.

I'm not sure whether she can be there in Gulfport in march. I'm sure that if somebody made her an attractive offer that she will consider it. From her perspective it can never harm to widen her network of relations (VWM) and who does not want to sail in the sun when it is winter over here.

However, I'm also trying to get her to come along and do some landyachting with us/me; so if 15-16 march is excellent for landyachting them I'm ahead of you in the line !

Actually, she was the first person I called when Matt McDonald arrived at the 2007 GC event without Gina. She wanted to come but could only manage thursday and friday, so we hooked Matt up with Bart who could race with him all week. Mind you Bart did an excellent job as well.

P.S. it must be wonderful for a woman to be so in demand !





Aahhhh, they don't make enough of these women !

Wouter

I love the life jacket...and the booties, too.

I think I'm in love in what's inside the life jacket and booties!!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Get in line... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Mary, I'm surprised you noticed her booty!

Hey guys,

Keep it a little bit respectful or I may never speak to her again !

Wouter

He guys,

Although Wouter already told a lot about me I thought it would be easier if I answered myself.

I'm now sailing races for 2 years. Last year I sailed with Sascha Larsen and because we both really enjoyed sailing together we decided to sail together for another year. That doesn't mean I don't sail with other people but the chance is really small that I have a free weekend and that I'm not on the water with Sascha. But if you are in need of a crew or a helm you can always email me and who knows...

At the Hiswa (Dutch boat show) our new sponsor will be showed and we will get our own website where you can see what Sascha and me are doing.

Christa,
It is great to hear for the person behind the photo.
Downstream if you have the time it would be good to hear about any of your sailing events.
Also if, in early August you just happen to be in Wales....

Christa,

Indeed, post the link to your website on this forum after it is officially announced at the boatshow. Considering your stardom status in the F16 class, you'll get a massive number of webpage hits from day one ! Something that the sponsors will surely appreciate !


Phill and all others,



Wishing for things "happening" is all good and well (tell me about that!) ; but probability is typically more impressed by concrete offers. And we probably got to be quick about it as well ; before agenda's are booked full.


With Christa writting :




So I say, if Matt or anybody else is going to our Global Challenge 2008 in Wales without their regular crews or has a demo boat available, then now is the time to be laying contacts with Christa.

Have her hitch a ride to Wales with Gill and Kathleen and ... ... get a female singhehanded F16 world Champion ?

Strike the iron when it is hot, guys and gals !


Wouter

P.s. wouldn't it be fun to have a 50%-50% male-female mix at Global Challenge 2008; I mean with Joanna, Kathleen, Anne, Karin and others also going.

Well done, Rolf!
Fantastisk!

Stein

Stein,

we have lots of other plans to market the class in Norway as well. Everything from local press to national sailing media like what you read on Seilmagasinet up to nationwide TV broadcasting <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> The latter plan is to get some coverage in connection to the top league soccer matches here in Molde. Media is always hungry for materials, you just have to feed them something they can use.

To Christa: You Go Girl ... KICK BUTT !!! My 13 yr old niece who is racing with me currently will be thrilled to hear of your successes. Her and I won our first race together this year, but you will inspire her in ways her dear uncle can not, Thank You

To Rolf: the languages of the Balkens have no vowels, Norwegian has too many ... and what are those funny hats/symbols over "a" for?

Sail Flat, Sail Fast
HarryMurphey
H18mag/#9458, Fleet54/Div11
P19mx/#86, CRAC{Catamaran Racing Assoc(of the)Chesapeake}

Harry, those are special norwegian/scandinavian letters. We have not come so far as to standarize our alphabet with the rest of the world. Lots of cultural reasons for that which was a mess until UTF-8. You can read all you want to know about the letters and the norwegian language here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_language#Alphabet

To Rolf Nilsen,

That's great to hear!! And congrats on your victory, well done. Say to your niece that way more is possible then you could ever think, and that see should grab every oppertunity that comes around (and that see you created them herself ofcourse to)