Does anyone know a source for trophies appropriate for catamaran regattas? Specifically A-class club events? ... the beer and champaign awards never seem to last until morning-- at least not in a positive way....

Matt

I know that Jake made some really really nice cat trophies once, but I don't know how willing he is to share his secrets <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I don't want to MAKE trophies-- I can barely keep up with making the things I need to keep the boat sailing. Now that I think about it, given the choice, I would rather make the beer and buy the trophy rather than the reverse. Come on guys, I am looking for cheap, metal dust collector things with a twin hull boat instead of a blowing pin on the top-- or something in that spirit. It is just plain embarrassing to give away trophies with tops that look like keel boats.... (but no one complains too much as long as there is enough beer)

I'll share my secrets - I just don't have time to do them and our three lasers here at work don't have much free time anymore.

I took a photo of an F18 and created a vector outline of the profile. I then designed that on top of a plate and converted it to DXF for our laser programmers. These were laser cut in .065 brushed stainless steel and I bent the bottom under to make it self standing. I don't have an actual picture but I have some of the early design file (attached). They worked great and we made printed clear decals with the regatta name, class, and position on the front panel.

We've used Sculptures by Claire a few times and they have done good work and been very responsive.

For the F18 North Americans we used Fantastic Sailing Trophies in Australia. Again, very responsive - a pleasure to deal with and did not take too long to ship.

Chris.

Jake, I take it back. That is toooo cool! I am motivated to do some making now. What kind of company would have a laser cutter suitable?

Matt

They do nice stuff. Of couse, I might be a little biased...

Scroll down to the bottom...

You can probably find a number of companies around you that can do this kind of cutting in any kind of metal but it may take some digging - they aren't necessarily in the yellow pages. Start by looking for machine shops and ask for references to shops with steel cutting lasers or water jet cutters - we have two or three other companies in town with this capability. I'll be glad to send you my DXF file to give them. .06 aluminum would probably be the best and most economical choice for making these.

This was an extra that didn't yet have the class and finish decal on it.

mayhem@ hello i am from slovenia,where in when will the event be?
i would like to see it verry much

thank you

Along with the Venice, Italy; Duino, Italy, and Piran, Slovenia clubs we are creating a NorthEast A-class cup. First Race is 12&13 April in Pirat Yacht Club Piran Slovenia. See attached.

thank you. i will see you there (Piran).
btw nice club Pirat,last year i made 1st sail there with my fx-1
and sorry for my english

www.barmondestudios.com

i make stuff and love cat sailing

That's awesome!

I made these last year for our regatta out of a comptip cutoff.

very cool - that was a bit of polishing!

Alot more than I thought it was going to be. It is alot of work to get the anodizing off. That was the bulk of the work.

So what did you use to remove the anodizing?

Angle grinder with a wire wheel head. Followed with 120g, 180g, 220g sandpaper with an air DA. Then a air powered die grinder with a buffing head. And lots of chrome polish. It took me and the kid who works for me about 12 hours all said and done. Way more work then I would've thought.

The crappy thing is I made trophies for skippers only. MASSIVE brain fart. A week or so before the regatta I figured this out. As a save I had some extra T-shirts made that said "I dragged my skipper into [1st, 2nd, 3rd]place and all I got was this lousy T-shirt". I thought it was a good save. Something different in any case.

This year I'm stealing an idea and making little cutting boards for cheese as trophies.

simple and very nice