**** and is almost evangelical about the J/24.

My two cents of anecdotal experience...

Taipan 4.9, cat rigged, solo sailed with 17 sq. meter chute vs. fully crewed, regionally competetive Melges 24.

Wind 10-12 knots, flat water.

On a half mile or so windward leg, I was pointing about 7 degrees lower than he was and had a 200 yard lead by the top mark. By the look on his face and the way he invited me to see how I did going downwind, I'd say he was trying. On the down windleg, I was running 175 degrees true and 85 degrees apparent. He gave up before we got to the bottom mark. Surprisingly, he's still my friend.

I race J/24s too and the tactics and one-design fleet size make them fun to race, but boat to boat....no chance.

Jeff.

Yeah its Bash

shhhh don't tell him though... :P

Hi,Maughn

The running lights are solved by getting one made for inflatables. Cost 18 bucks. Duct tape it to your bow and you will only need it if there is NO wind.

Anchor is available at west. 5 lbs. Rhode will double as tow line = 100 feet of anything. Stow it in the hull through the hatch cover.

Compass, Davis hand held will do 20 bucks.
Charts, Waterproof chart of the area = 19 bucks.

Cell phone or marine radio... (radio is superior)

The scuttlebutt in Annapolis is that we are on double secret probation this year. I am encouraging everyone to make sure they meet the required equipment rule, sail clean and be on time for the start. (or I will personally kill them!)

PS, the J22's asked for a start and the anchor and running light requirement was placed on both the J22's and the beachcats.

Take Care
Mark

We'll see. I'm still not super-thrilled about racing alone across the bay by my lonesome. If the wind dies out (as it's prone to do on the bay), I'd be bobbing there for hours, in the dark, alone

That's the beauty of this race... the monohulls will not miss the party... they are likely to quit long before you... stand up... put out your thumb and catch a ride to the beach with any monohull who has surrendered.

I think you almost have me convinced. I might be able to buy a used Garmin off my co-worker for cheap.

Which brings me to this question. How do you navigate while on the wire, flying a hull.... solo?

I have a dry bag (like the one's here on catsailor) that has a lanyard string on it. I attach the lanyard to the shoulder strap on my PFD and put some sticky back velcro on the back of the dry bag. I secure the GPS with the velcro to the chest/shoulder of my life vest high but within easy reach. It rarely looses contact with the sky that way. The string helps in case I have an 'oh $hit' moment with the GPS in my hand or in case it gets knocked off the velcro.