In a nutshell...no. The demographic is a little different from our traditional regattas but the camaraderie, the open sharing of ideas, and the general good natured fun is at least on par with all the other events I attend. Most of these guys don't participate much in online forums either. I've often heard about this event that takes place before tradewinds and I've felt kind of like they didn't want to play with us and were snubbing us for doing their own thing. I've heard it from some other people too...but when you can get nearly 30 one design boats together with one start and as much racing as you want to do with some of the greatest talent in the country for a week of sailing in the Florida Keys - wouldn't you do it? They're (we're) not snobby - we just enjoy the heck out of it. This year, several of us are moving up the road and/or switching boats to do Tradewinds but I gotta tell you - this a-cat thing is a lot of fun!

I think I missed my setup for yesterday - too much rake and too much diamond wire tension/spreader rake left me a little underpowered. I've got a 9 year old Boyer MKIV and an 8 year old Goodall sail. I think there are one or two older Marstrom A's out here but everyone else has all the new Javalin's and A2 / A3s and the EVO's are hot sexy. You can still be competitive with an old boat - I'm running about mid-pack with my kit and feeling pretty good about it! (though I do wish I had that new Ashby main!).

Thanks for the plug Jake. We had a great day of racing yesterday in 5-10 knots of wind (4 races). It was a bummer that seven of us (me included) missed the (upwind)offset at the first weather mark. Robbie Daniels and I rounded overlapped so we were in the "heat of the moment" and did not even realize we had not rounded it until we got to the beach (we just followed the boats in front of us like sheep!).

There's some new stuff at this event. Randy Smyth is back in the class sailing an A2 with his boomless mainsail, Goran Marstrom and John Schieffer are sailing with curved daggerboards, and several sailors have the new Ashby 2009 mainsail.

We like everybody. Heck next month we are going to have a joint regatta with the 505's!

Are there results from this event posted anywhere?

Wish I was there!!!!! I should never have taken this guest teaching thing. I miss you guys, plus the temp is about to drop to -20c. See y'all in May.

Fred Smith
A Cat CAN31

We will see how snobby they are when they get back to south cackalacky....maybe you can teach us greenhorns whatcha learned!

upwind...I have learned very little...downwind though, give me a breeze and you mo' fo's better look out!

Predicated by the fact that he was working out some "out of the box" sail shapes and techniques and all...I walk away from this regatta, after all that was said and done, having placed on my yet shallow wall of accomplishment, rolling Randy Smyth coming into A-mark and holding it downhill...for this year, that makes the entire week worthwhile (and I mean that in most complimentary fashion to Smyth!). I seriously doubt that this will every happen again but wow...what a rush!

yes, you are snobby when you pull up, take your boat off the trailer (single handed), set up (single handed), launch (single handed), and giggle the whole damn time like the leprachaun with a pot o' gold hidden in the keebler tree at the end of the damn rainbow!!

no jealousy here!

look forward to seeing everyone on Friday.

Jake, he's registered for Tradewinds so you may get another chance.

I know I can't teach you much but.

Step one - Put boat in water.


Sorry man it had to be said. LOL

Zander, I had it coming, but 2009 is a new year!
Any room in the RV for 2 new babies?

Hey now. That couch is mine!!!! :P

how good are you with diapers and bottles? Dont you need some practice?

Unfortunately, I don't need practice yet.

Maybe in 3 years or so I'll be needing that practice.

First one comes any time....btw get practicing!!!

You must not have gotten the memo

I've been married for a year and a half now :P

Getting practice and gettin' married are mutually exclusive, I think is the term....all I'm saying is if you want kids get practicing....sometimes it takes a lot more effort than you thought and were told in highschool and were worried about in college. plan all you want and remember it doesn't allways happen just because you planned it! Get to it!

I was talking about the "First one comes at any time" comment :P

I'm married.

A pivotal step in the child bearing process is unknown (rather, beaten out of) to married men :P

All - any results from the Intergalactics? Can't download the file.

Hey Chris,
The Tadster needs a taller glove , alot of 'em go over his head.
Tawd

You haven't left for Tradewinds yet? What the eff?