Depends on the "mama" you choose. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Are you saying there are some "Mamma's" who, even though they are -not happy- do not make their spouse equally unhappy? Where do they breed such women?

If you want to race sailboats, even after marriage, I suggest you mary a woman who already owns her own racing sailboat! If you are nice, she might even let you drive. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

It's like any guy or girl who is into a certain sport. You don't marry someone who is not going to be supportive. Like if you race motocross, your spouse should be out there supporting you and wiping the mud off your helmet facemask when you come into the pits. If you are a sailor, your spouse should be either crewing for you or helping you to rig your boat and launch it and/or maybe serving on race committee.

If your spouse is into golf, or tennis, or skiing or horseback riding or whatever, I think you should be into it, too (or at least very supportive if you don't want to do it yourself). Just my opinion.

It has been my observation that many young, single girls love the thought of going sailing, while dating. But shortly after the wedding, their focus turns to having children (peer pressure, Mom want's grandchildren, etc.), and as soon as the baby(s) shows up, Dad has lost his crew. Soon, Mamma is looking for a break from the kid, so Dad stays home with the little dickens instead of going out sailing, while Mom goes out for a much deserved break.

I think this is why we lose so many sailors in their mid 20's-40's. Until the little one is old enough to go sailing too, Dad is on diaper duty every weekend, if he wants to stay married that is. And I stand by my original statement, that when Mamma isn't happy, nobody's happy. You, Mary, being a Momma, just don't see it, because you are on the other side of that fence. Let's hear what Rick has to say. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> (Don't do it Rick, I was just making a point, I don't want to get you in deep do-do!)

But any input from you other -married with children- types would be most appreciated. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Karl you spend more time here than on any other forum.

You really, really need to get crackin' on that F16 home build.

Accept it, you're one of us! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

And he's got all the skills, tools, even the access to the wood to do it! Get on it, before the snow melts! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I'm not on the other side of the fence. I'm on the SAME side of the fence. One of the reasons I left my first husband was because he was not into sailing and was not supportive of my love for it, even though I was supportive of his interests in golf, baseball, basketball.... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

In Rick's case, we have a mutual love of sailing, and so I put up with his watching football, baseball, basketball and tennis, and motocross.

All of our kids, his and mine, have become good sailors and they all went to (and sailed in) many regattas when they were young.

You got a sister? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Of course, I have a sister. And her husband is a wrestling coach and didn't know anything about sailing when he married my sister. But he was VERY supportive of her and they got a catamaran and she taught him how to sail, and they have been sailing together ever since, with her on the helm and him crewing.

Now, of course, she and her husband and Rick and I all have Waves, and we race against each other, which is even MORE fun. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think it is far more common for spouses (I mean wives) to lose their interest in sports some time between marriage and child birth. Husbands most certainly find budgets and time is diverted towards the interest of the family (otherwise, what was the point?).

As it happens, my wife never regained her interest in windsurfing, even though we learnt together early in our marriage. She never got interested in mountain biking or anything else wobbly, and as for sailing, well she did have a ride on my very stable Nacra 6.0, briefly, while in sunny Aruba (note, not the UK), and called time when the windward hull almost parted contact with the water along 20% of its length.

However, due to a few life changing experiences we have had (involving many months of her time in hospital), she is very supportive of my current interest, and now the children are almost totally independent, she is planning to come to the odd weekend regatta this year - by which I mean she'll be in the same hotel, and we'll have dinner together! If she turns up at the water's edge, I will be very pleasantly surprised.

So my point is that it is pretty much a given that wives will lose interest, but they don't have to take part to be supportive. I'd like my wife to take part, but the next best thing is for her to be happy at home, doing what she wants, while I do my thing, and I can live with that.

When I look around at other sailors, I realise I am very lucky to have a wife who is so supportive without sharing the same interest. That's due to the 'life changing' business we've been through - which is a function of age and experience.

The one up F16 is the closest comparison to my boat. That's why I read this forum. OK, and I'm a little interested. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> It's good and bad, most of the catamaran racing around here is Hobie. It's where I have my friends and due to my "prickly" demeanor I don't make friends all that quickly. I am starting to seriously consider building one though. Although I want to build an iceboat, a trimaran, and a catamamaran. You have to remeber, I'm also lazy, and do woodworking day in and day out, so doing more of it doesn't really excite me that much. If I were genuinely intersted in aquiring an F16, I'd more than likely buy one. That is if you raise the minimum boat weight! Just kidding. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I really like the FXone, and if I can't get my class to grow in the next few years I may be looking at different avenues.

As I said at the beginning, the important thing is to choose your spouse well. And you obviously did. If I had a husband who plays golf, I certainly wouldn't be going to the golf course with him, but I would support him and encourage him.

Karl, be sure to get yourself up to Shell Lake July 26,27 for the annual Broken Rudder MN-WI challenge regatta. There will likely be several single-handed spin boats racing from WI - me on the Blade, maybe Dan Feldman and 1-3 F17s. Watch crawsailing.org for details as they come to hand.

I'm semi-planning on going to the broken rudder regatta. There is a Div 7 regatta that weekend as well, but who am I going to race? Might as well get my butt handed to me on a portsmouth platter.

[/quote]

As the F16 class proves, a Min weight is just a number, or something to aim for... I'm pretty sure that my 25 year old maricat is well over the 95kg min weight and its more like the 110kg.

Imagine what it would weigh today if it started its life at 10kg over min weight? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> [/quote]


It must be delaminating and sucking up water like a sponge or its 15 kg. of extra resin in armature repair work. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Maybe it’s about time for a trade in? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Nah, its fine. The old boats were heavier than the clas min weight anyway. So it was never 95kg.

You can buy a new one though, it's on min weight. Oh... and they are faster than the heavy boats.... now who would have thought that hey!

I remember when Reg White took over building the Condor - They were lighter, stiffer, had new sails - Oh, and the top guys in the fleet bought them - and imagine <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> They were FASTER than the old boats - now who would have thought that hey! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well the proof will be when I go racing my 24 year old maricat against the new boats then wont it..?

Well you will have to let one of the top sailors race it to be sure.

I am tying to find one.. Really hard to find good cat sailors in Australia..