Hi all,

looks like a few F16's will be attending the Sauna Sail Queens Birthday Weekend June 7,8,9th. The 2 newest F16's will be their FCA Blade, AHPC Viper, along with the usual gang of Taipans and Mossies. Should be the usual fun and bedlam that only the hot water of the Hazelwood pondage can provide in winter, hope to see all the spinnaker cats racing together. So mark it on your calendar, to enjoy action like the attached photo. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

What do you think the insurance companies would say about pics like that. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

That is an awesome shot.

Hi Marcus,

what do you think the insurance companies would say?

If you are referring to some sort of safety issue, I was not aware of any. The club had waited for the fog to clear so that visibility was at a safe distance. I believe the photo was taken from shore with a tele photo lens, the F18's are about 1/2 a mile away and you can see smaller difficult to see boats with white sails which are about 3/4 a mile away and the boat with spinnaker which is at right angles has rounded a mark which is nearly 1&1/2 miles away. Excuse my use of old land measurements, but having grown up at Hazelwood Pondage I have allways known it as being aproximately a triangle of 1&1/2 miles by 3 miles.

In the old days they use to race in low visibility conditions, but I have heard the officials in recent years talk about waiting for safe visibility.

I know I was very much enjoying the racing in those conditions. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> As was Neil on the Mossie just ahead of the 2 F18's with blue kites. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[quote]what do you think the insurance companies would say? [quote]

Let me re-phrase then.......given the level of visibility, how many near misses are reported.? Having never been there & heard all about the close calls that occur, the picture certainly would worry some.

Looks like interesting sailing. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Hey I must be getting old. I forgot that Neil lent me his Mossie as I was in between F16's. So that is me enjoying myself on the Mossie with the Green and Black kite ahead of the F18's. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The visibility isn't a problem as Gary said. What makes it intense is the number of boats in a small space. You have to watch where you are going, and keep an eye out under the spinnaker.

But realistically it's no worse than sailing at the Wildcat Regatta or on Sydney Harbour on a weekend. The fleet at the Sauna Sail is much smaller than it used to be (I've heard they had 600 boats once) so we are spoilt for space on the lake these days anyway.

I can remember trying to crew a 49er down Sydney Harbour on a Saturday afternoon. The only tactic was to keep gybing to avoid all the other boats - it wasn't much fun. The Sauna Sail is not that bad.

I think there were a few collisions on the Monday? Check the action on youtube by searching sauna sail 2007.

Hi all,

enter before 1st June and save $10.00. Also early entry will make sure you get in before entries are cut off. This year entries are limited to 170 boats <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />. Last year 165 where entered.

Enter Here. www.lvyc.org.au

Hi all,

5 Days to go. I will be racing Formula Catamarans Blade F16 two up for the first time. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

Hi all,

weather looks good. No sign of snow or hail <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. Winds in the 10-20knot range Sat Sun, on the coast. So should be some wind at Hazelwood <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />. Max temp around 14 Saturday possible showers, warmer Sun Mon. About as good as it gets for winter in the Valley. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />