As the Europeans are getting closer I can imagine everyone is getting their boats in top condition, finetuning the lines and settings, waxing the hulls ;-) and so on.

I have been looking on some reports on the sailing conditions on the lake itself but can't find any good information on the wind and sea state of the lake.
In general I have heard the wind is best in the afternoon and is about 20knots? (although all the videos below show very light winds...) But what about sea state, wind shifts, other things to take into account since we are sailing a lake there, with high mountains and no sea in a flat country :-)

This is what I found:
Race report: http://www.eyeforlife.com/acat/?mod...-2010---report.php&pageback=kop2.php (typical Cesenatico sea state?)
Some videos: http://www.livestream.com/congregav...source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb
some more videos: http://www.livestream.com/congregav...source=lslibrary&utm_medium=ui-thumb

There's some very basic info here;
http://www.comoguide.com/lake-como-italy-weather.html
I'll keep looking for more detailed information as it will keep me from looking at all the things I should be doing to prepare my boat and trailer.

BTW, for those interested there is one boat looking for a crew and one viper available for charter. See the F16 forums.

Lots of race reports here Gill;
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?s=16&searchtext=lake%20como

Hi Mark,

Interesting reading!
Something interesting is the compression that occurs. I'm looking for windcharts now of the lake, just to understand the theory how the wind behaves when hitting land and high mountains.

Mark - are you sorted for accommodation? I've just got back from the World Superbikes at Monza and we stayed at a great little site right on the shore 5 or 6 km's north of Leco near the Moto Guzzi factory if you want the details; you would have enjoyed the 'shorts' night......
Should be a great event, have fun!

Hi Adrian
Do you know it's really nice to have somebody who doesn't sail a F16 come here and be helpful. This F16 forum is going bonkers at the moment over what? peoples egos.
I'm looking forward to going there but hope it's not too windy, under 20knts would be good under 18 would be brilliant and for me 10 would be superb, well just enough for me to trap but not enough for the two up's :-)
Everything is pretty much sorted, OK planned, there is still quite a long to do list but the accommodation and ferry has been booked and I've completed the online entry form. Now I just have to remember where my F16 is and sail it.
Don't forget the Welsh Cat Champs are in two weeks time and the bad news is that the Mumbles Pottery shop has closed, now we have to give real prizes.

Well, I was going to keep those tips for myself, but heck, why not share... Scroll down to "Sailing at Gravedona".

My wife does pottery and she's taking commissions. Pm me for details

When is the event? Do I need to be a paying F16 member to participate?

Cheers,

Klaus

Hi Mark, I don't think I'll be able to make it, especially now you've downgraded the prizes! If we can we will. Oh, we also found the tolls in Italy really expensive - even on the bikes for some reason, was almost as much in tolls as it was in petrol and that was blooming lots too.

The event is July 18-23 with Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 used for registration, measurement and practice races.

You do need to be a F16 paying member to participate. Cost is £10/€15 for a year, you can join online. NOR is available on the Formula16.net forum.

Klaus
If you wanted to crew or helm for Geert then I don't think you'd need to be a Class member, that is along as Geert is actually on the same boat.

I am not so sure if he is happy with me as crew/helm
I got attracted by the chance to sail the Viper. However I don't want to make too much hope: I have a new born at home, want to build a house and have to check my and my crews availability. A lot of if, still lake Como, Chianti, a Viper, meet you folks in real life is tempting.
I should know more in a couple of days.

Cheers

The Baby...that's a difficult call!
But...Lake Como and it's beautiful scenery, blue sky & sunshine, perfect wind, flat water, 10+ F16's and loads of racing.
It is a difficult decision but I'm sure you'll make the right choice and I'll meet you in approx 30 days

I've done the round on the forums and e-mail accounts and I count about 17 boat owners who are seriously considering in coming to Como. The mix is actually quite good as well; 6 nationalities and 6 boat types with no type having more then 3 at the event so far. It is not like one make is dominating the registration so far. 6 crews are looking to sail solo and we have at least 2 persons looking for a crew spot.

I think we need to get more information out about this event. The lack of promo and info is hurting our effort to get people to come. Everybody is eyeballing the others, asking who else is going. We need to break this self defeating situation.

With a small effort (such as attracting the French Viper sailors who were at Carnac) we can get 20+ F16's at the Euro's !

I'm sure that such a picture will go a long way in pulling several others off the fench as well.

Basically, we are at the point were participation can easily go either way due to preventable mistakes.

If we keep doing nothing and remain silent then fear can quickly run through the fleet and maybe even result in cancellations. If we do the other thing and go on record about who is going and quickly sort out remaining questions about measurements etc then we expect to achieve a 20+ sized fleet.

I've contact Darren B. of 2B sailing for help with attracting the French. I'm working the NL scene (and other neighbouring area's) myself. So who will help us out and do the round in his or her local area ?

Lets band together and work this !

We have got a good thing here and a serious chance at making this a proper success.

Wouter

You mean you went to the formula16.net forum and looked at the thread I started there

That is a great page. Why didn't you just PM'ed me ;-)
Seems like the wind is a great mix of low and high winds which gives a great mix of conditions for a Europeans.

Who will be there prior to the races and will be able to sail on Saturday/Sunday?

Gill

If you opened your eyes wider than your mouth you might notice that the F16 Euros are being promoted
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6614&PN=2
http://www.thedailysail.com/search/node/lake+como
http://bladef16.blogspot.com/

That's helpful. For the first time in months no one from outside the class is attacking us; which leaves us free to cannibalize ourselves.