I think we have enough basic parameters to run the inaugural F14 regatta here in Australia. The questions are of course are; where and when? Because there are some pretty decent 14ft fleets here in NSW and including several manufacturers (or 'possible' manufacturers) maybe the first one should be here, maybe Koonawarra Bay, Tookley, Tuggerah, Mannering Pk, Wangie, Yarra Bay or Kurnell, what's the feeling?
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Re: Oz F14 Regatta
[Re: Berny]
#31942 04/01/0402:07 PM04/01/0402:07 PM
My feeling is that places in Australia have much cuter names than places in the United States. But, seriously, I think it is great that Australia is excited about an F-14 class, and I hope it happens here, as well.
But I also have to ask a really dumb question: What does "OZ" refer to?
Re: Oz F14 Regatta
[Re: Mary]
#31943 04/01/0405:24 PM04/01/0405:24 PM
Mary I'm not sure how the term Ozzy actually came about but I guess it's a shortening of Australian to Ausy or Ausie, the pronunciation of which over time here has become Ozzy and people who are Ozzies (pl.) must of course, come from Oz. Americans tend to pronounce it Ossy, which while being more reasonable under the circumstances, is nonetheless incorrect .
Yes I'm hopeful we'll all embrace F14 with enthusiasm. It makes such good sense that the 14ftr should be brought into the 21st century, though I'm personally only cautiously optimistic for reasons eluded to previously on this forum. I'm puttin' a kite on my boat however, and if any other Ozzy 14ft skippers want to be on the same lap as me they'll have to do likewise me thinks.
Bern
Re: Oz F14 Regatta
[Re: Berny]
#31945 07/06/0411:59 PM07/06/0411:59 PM
Yeah, the yanks struggle with the way to say is as it is Aussie -- pronounced Ozzy, Ozzie, whatever, but NOT and again..... NOOOOOOT Ossie.
That one way to let Australians think "dumb American", but since the Olympics being here, I think most of them get it right.
The word Aussie came from the shortening of the word Australia, similar to what most blokes over here do and shorten everyone's name and/or add a "y" ir an "ie".
Take me for example. Matthew, shortened to Matt but then made into Matty.
Bernard, Berny, Bern.
Michael, Mike, Mick, Mickie.
Warren becomes Wazza and on and on and on.
Then the nicknames come in but that is another thread.
Re: Oz F14 Regatta
[Re: Emmessee]
#31946 07/07/0404:56 AM07/07/0404:56 AM
Hey guys, I'm a new user. I just thought I'd mention that I'm a boat builder in melbourne. I build 37ft bluewater cruising cats and I also sail a Paper Tiger of a weekend. I sit nationally in the top 15 at the moment. I'm looking at building a semi production f14. Something a bit quicker. There isn't much of a fleet of them in melbourne but it will catch on. Often with things like the first regatta of a new class it is best for the club with the highest number of registered boats in the class concerned to put in a bid to hold a title of some sort. This way you know that there will be no less that the locals showing up. Hopefully there is one club in NSW that has enough f14 of it's own to get a race result, and therefore a state or national champion. Once you have established someone to beat next year more people will show up. Often with regattas of this kind there needs to be some other attraction to it, like a great holiday destination. Remember you need people to leave with a smile on the dial so they come back next year and the class doesn't die in the butt. Your first year is your marketing year. you want everybody to hear about how good it was.