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International C-Class Catamaran Championship #37775
09/08/04 11:31 AM
09/08/04 11:31 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline OP
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I deleted this post from the ICCT post, because this is a different event, and it would not be good to get them all twined up together in a debate. This is a separate event, even though they are both wrangling over which has the right to be referred to as "Little America's Cup."

The ICCC is the International C-Class Catamaran Championship, and it is being sailed on C-Class catamarans (25 feet long). It is taking place Sept. 16-26, on Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, out of the Bristol Yacht Club.

Entrants are:

Australia: Skippered by Gavin Colby; Crewed by Darren Smith.

Great Britain: Invictus: Skippered by Paul Larson; Crewed by Helena Darveid ( sp)

USA: Cogito: Skippered by Duncan MacLane; Crewed By Steve Clark

USA: Patient Lady 6: Skippered by Lars Guck; Crewed by Stan Schreyer

The defending champion is the U.S. boat Cogito. Cogito will compete in an elimination series against Patient Lady to determine who will defend the United States. The British and Australian challengers will compete in an elimination series to determine which of them will face the United States team in the finals of this match-racing championship.

All four will be using full wingsails (as far as I know; I don't know about Patient Lady).

The perpetual trophy for this event is named “Winners of the Little America’s Cup” and will include the names of all the past winners of the event, as done on C-Class cats, since the first race in 1961.

Steve Clark, host and organizer of the event, gave this information today:
Web site; cclasscats.com has info on all the teams and will have updates on all the races as they progress. This is somewhat a work in process, but we hope to be posting updates every 15-30 minutes during the races, with picures.
Australian Team is in Bristol
Hope to have their boat today.
Brits arrive later this week.

-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: International C-Class Catamaran Championship [Re: Mary] #37776
09/09/04 07:56 AM
09/09/04 07:56 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline OP
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According to Steve Clark:
Patient Lady 6 has a wing.
She has been significantly rebuilt.
So has the wing, but it is still probably the oldest wing in use.
SHC

Re: International C-Class Catamaran Championship [Re: Mary] #37777
09/09/04 08:27 AM
09/09/04 08:27 AM
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Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline OP
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Here is clarification from Steve Clark about the format of this event:

Mary,
A few details for your information and correction.
We have adopted a "world cup" style format in which the defender has to qualify for the finals. So Lars and Duncan will not be sailing off to see who defends the US. We start with 5 days of racing (n 3 races per day) with all 4 competitors. The 1st and 2nd boat meet in match race in match race finals. The 3rd and 4th boat meet in "pettite" finals.
This makes for more sailing, a more open competition ,more interest, and hopefullky more fun.

SHC

P.S. I took out of here his mention about the L.A.C. nickname and put it on the other thread, "Which is the REAL Little America's Cup." Please put your opinions about that on that other thread. Thanks.

Last edited by Mary; 09/09/04 08:58 AM.
Re: International C-Class Catamaran Championship [Re: Mary] #37778
09/14/04 08:51 AM
09/14/04 08:51 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline OP
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Team Invictus News

13 September 2004: Terrible blow to Australian team as wing breaks
Our hearts go out to the Australian team who suffered a terrible blow yesterday after their boat 'Ronstan' suffered damage when their wing sail broke during trials. This is every team's worst nightmare and we are hoping that the damage is not irreparable.

After preparations in the light winds of the morning the crew set about sailing 'Ronstan' and getting familiar with RI waters. At this point they suffered a minor breakage and returned to shore for a quick repair. They went out again in mid afternoon along with the US boat 'Cogito'. The stronger winds at this time meant that they lifted a hull quickly.

Some of the Team Invictus members joined owner & designer Ian Jenkins and Damien Smith on their chase boat trailing 'Ronstan'. This is very much still in a testing phase and they could see the crew discussing rig control.

They tacked in front of Bristol waterfront and the Herrescnoff Museum and headed towards the race area. However a twist mechanism failure caused significant damage to the wing and they limped ashore. The Australian team are now trying to carry out repairs and we hope that after all the hard work that has gone into these boats that all three countries get to take part in the challenge. We are keeping our fingers crossed for the Australian team.

There was better news for the US team as 'Cogito' and 'Patient Lady VI' took to the water. There was a minor problem with Patient Lady VI when she suffered a broken control arm and had to return to shore escorted by 'Cogito'. This is a minor repair and she'll soon be back out on the water. 'Cogito' proceeded back to the sound and seeing her pick up speed in such a way epitomises the grace of these boats. In the capable hands of Steve Clark and Duncan Maclane they make it look as easy as a walk down the pier. They stayed out for a couple of hours, returned, derigged, washed down and packed away, again with effortless ease. 'Cogito' is the closest thing to a practical C Class catamaran yet built.

Our entry 'Invictus' is due to arrive later today. The team are all geared up and itching to join the other boats on the water. 'Invictus' should be launched tomorrow for low test and then the wing will be readied for a full boat test. The team in the meantime are making all the preparations they can and are enjoying the calm before the storm.

Re: International C-Class Catamaran Championship [Re: Mary] #37779
09/14/04 09:31 AM
09/14/04 09:31 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
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South Carolina
Jake Offline
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I'm dying to see some pictures of these things...any links?


Jake Kohl
Re: International C-Class Catamaran Championship [Re: Jake] #37780
09/14/04 09:40 AM
09/14/04 09:40 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 612
Cape Town, South Africa
Steve_Kwiksilver Offline
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Hi Jake, have a look at www.cclasscats.com
Follow links to gallery(bluegreenpics.com), and have a look at the Auzzie challenge web-site, they have a lot of info. The main page also has pics of Cogito sailing, looks awesome.

Cheers
Steve

Re: International C-Class Catamaran Championship [Re: Mary] #37781
09/14/04 09:49 AM
09/14/04 09:49 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
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Let's hope that Team Invictus has a better look than Ronstan!
The first race is scheduled on Thursday and the English boat has still to be delivered to Bristol.
Then it has to be rigged and launched! In fact it was shipped before having sailed once.
I would be worried if I had to race a production boat in a local regatta before any testing!
Probably it would be more serious to delay the Event until the Australian and English challengers are ready!
Cogito was shipped to Australia 3 months in advance to challenge the ICCT to The Edge in 1996, after having carried out at least 6 months of intensive sailing against Patient Lady VI.
The different approach won the Trophy to Steve Clark and Duncan McLane.

Re: International C-Class Catamaran Championship [Re: Catfan] #37782
09/16/04 03:49 AM
09/16/04 03:49 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline OP
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The following is from a press release I got from Team Invictus. The boat arrived in the U.S. on the 14th and was put together on the 15th. There were photos embedded in this press release, but they are not accessible for me to put on this forum.
* * * * *

15 September 2004: The Christening of 'Invictus'
In the words of the team...

It was an early start yesterday for Team Invictus, the alarm in the crew house went off at 5.30am. The container with 'Invictus' arrived as promised at 7am in the yard. There was big excitement in the team as they couldn't wait to get their hands on it to start work.

Before the container even hit the ground we started to undo the seal to get started quicker. Eager hands with big tools started bashing away at the bolt. John took the lead armed with a hack saw and hammer.

With the container open, everyone helped to get going, 15 sets of hands becomes an army. The hulls were taken to be assembled and the wing was put in our big tent to have the flaps put on and all the strings checked, etc.

The truck and crane drivers were highly interested in what was this weird looking craft they had delivered from New York. Paul explained with great enthusiasm all they could ever want to know about a C-Class catamaran. They looked intrigued.

As the day went on there was more and more people arriving from all corners of the world. Christian Favrier from France to hopefully take some more spectacular photos of the C-Class cat's again. James Boyd, The Daily Sail Editor, we hope he will be reporting through the event. There was also a lot of local enthusiasts who have been waiting to see these cats in action for a long time. The hulls got assembled in front of the Yacht Club. When they were ready we all got the champagne out since she has never been in the water! The team girls did the honours and christened her INVICTUS.

It was a very proud moment for the team, we all had some of the champagne - cheers to all its success!

Paul and John jumped on the platform and we towed the boat at about 18 kn to test the rudders and daggerboards. All went well, Paul and John came back smiling, the hulls seem very slippery and fast.

Whilst all of this was happening the US team had their two boats 'Patient Lady VI' and 'Cogito' out on the water testing. The Australians were still in full repair mode with their boat Ronstan, hoping to be sailing again tomorrow. We will be working towards getting the rig up tomorrow and hopefully have a sail in the afternoon.

Re: International C-Class Catamaran Championship [Re: Mary] #37783
09/16/04 07:59 AM
09/16/04 07:59 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline OP
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By the way, the Invictus website address is: http://www.team-invictus.co.uk

The Australian challenger's website address is: http://www.lacaustralia.com/

And there is also the website already mentioned:
www.cclasscats.com

Last edited by Mary; 09/16/04 08:04 AM.
Hey, they have video footage on this c-class site [Re: Mary] #37784
09/16/04 03:53 PM
09/16/04 03:53 PM
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Wouter Offline
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Of testing the Australian Ronstan boat I guess go to :

http://www.lacaustralia.com/gallery/video.htm

Wouter

Last edited by Wouter; 09/16/04 03:54 PM.

Wouter Hijink
Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild)
The Netherlands
And you can follow the race in real time as well ! [Re: Mary] #37785
09/16/04 04:00 PM
09/16/04 04:00 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 9,582
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Wouter Offline
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Go to the C-class website and click "Follow the race"

It is crude, a page with single line text updates that reloads every 2 min during the race but it works.

Just saw Cogito win the 3rd race (in text of course)

Apparently Aus has trouble finishing with the time limit. We'll know for sure in a few minutes


Wouter


Wouter Hijink
Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild)
The Netherlands
Re: Hey, they have video footage on this c-class site [Re: Wouter] #37786
09/17/04 05:29 AM
09/17/04 05:29 AM
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The International C-Class Catamaran Championship started as foreseen:
no competion among boats and no competion among sailors. All boats/crews but Cogito are simply not ready to compete.

This is the report of James Boyd (The Dailysail):

The International C-Class Catamaran Championship does not look set to be the "most" competitive of events, if today's results are any indication of the form of the four boats taking part.

Kicking off at 1100am EST on the waters to the west of Bristol and south of Providence, Rhode Island, the first three races were held in light to non-existent breeze under an overcast sky and torrential rain on the C-Class' unique course comprising windward-zigzag (broad reach, beam reach, broad reach)-windward-leeward. The course has thankfully been shortened from 18 miles to six miles for this competition.

All agreed that the spectacle of seeing four C-Class catamarans tooling around in one place, something that hasn't been seen for several decades, was the highlight of the day, despite the drenching conditions and low visibility.

The Airbus-sponsored Invictus Challenge team from the UK were unable to make the start of the first race due to more breakages of the control mechanism within their wing. This was to be expected, it only being their second ever sail.

"Overnight we dispensed with the sophistication in the control system and tried to make it as simple as possible by removing all the clever pivoty bits and pieces that duplicated settings from one tack to the other and just made it a control line that pulls the flaps on each side plus similar control lines for the camber," explained helmsman John Downey. "Unfortunately it broke and we suffered from then on. Certainly the modifications made sense - it is a case of making everything as robust as possible so that we can go sailing with this thing."

Within minutes of the start of the second race the form seemed to have been set:
1) Cogito
2) Patient Lady VI
3) Team Ronstan (Australian Catamaran Challenge)
4) Invictus Challenge

This was the order at the weather mark, at the end of the second race and the end of the third race and at all mark roundings in between. Many feel that this is how things will remain for the remainder of this 10 day long event, although we will reserve judgement until after we have seen what happens on a day when the wind strength exceeds single figures. In fact Team Ronstan and Invictus Challenge have scored DNF in all their races finishing outside of the 15 minute time limit behind the winner.

"Got any dog biscuits?" Paul Larsen shouted over from on board at the end of the second race after a colourful exchange on the topic of the day's sailing and the performance on their respective boats with fellow Australian Gavin Colby, helm on Team Ronstan.

Once again the Brits were racing effectively without the ability to induce any camber let alone twist into their wing and as a result their progress around the course was excruciatingly slow, slower in fact than if their boat was fitted with a conventional mast and softsail combination. Despite the light conditions there have been some structural issues inside the British wing with some of the lightweight plywood frames distorting and one even breaking which the team tonight are burning midnight oil attempting to rectify. Clearly there needs to be a wholescale beefing up of the 'hinged parallelogram' centre element of the rig - from the frames, the control lines and the numerous micro-blocks - if the boat is to stand any chance of making it around the race course in a reliable let alone competitive manner.

"It was a saluatory experience I guess," commented John Downey. "We've got to get the systems working in a robust fashion. Then we can go out there and sail and learn. We knew this was going to be a learning experience. We knew we weren't going to come here and set the world on fire."

It would be an encouraging first step if the crew were able to get the rig somewhere close to being fully powered up, which to date it hasn't been. This will obviously improve if the wind picks up - the problem then will be will the wing survive? Judging from the state of the wing's frame after today's light weather sailing we think in bigger conditions the front element will survive but the plywood components aft of it will end up as matchwood on the trampoline. Thus in our opinion (and there are a lot of opinions being thrown around at present) their smartest course of action tomorrow would be to not go racing and instead strip their wing down, beef up any flimsy looking frames particularly the main structural frames, purchase a number of stronger blocks and bigger Vectran string. Being heavy and possibly slow (but at least proven to some degree) has to be a better position to be in than light and broken.

While the Aussies on Team Ronstan faired better than the Brits they too suffered major problems today, with water getting into the hulls, but more worryingly into the Nomex in their wingsail due to the pinholes that had developed during the build thanks to the tissue thin outer layer of carbon on their wing.

"The major problem is that the rig got wet and is porous and we've got kilos of water in the structure of the wing," commented team boss Ian Jenkins. "We knew it was a calculated risk before we brought it. Spray or rough water is fine - that is obviously a design flaw which we will have to fix for the next wing. It is very light glass over Nomex and it is the pinhole effect."

The wing has taken on so much water that when it was hung up this evening in its container, it broke its mounting. Currently it is locked up in the company of a number of heaters and dehumidifiers but it is unlikely it will be fully dry by tomorrow. Not that this will matter as more torrential rain is forecast again (to be followed by the tail end of Hurricane Ivan at the weekend).

While the Brit and Aussie crews had a hateful day on the water, the day could not have been the opposite for Duncan MacLane and Steve Clark on Cogito who's campaign is several rungs up the ladder in every aspect compared to the other teams. "Given the amount of practise everyone else has had, it is not an unexpected day," Clark commented. "We'd like to see how it continues to play out."

For the Tornado hot shots on Patient Lady VI the day was not without its problems too. Like the British team Lars Guck and Stan Schreyer have sailed their boat precious little - today was only their sixth time out and while the duo are expert on the Olympic catamaran, getting used to the solid wingsail takes a bit of getting used to.

"It was alright. It is a different kind of sailing, but it was cool," commented Schreyer. "It was a tricky day. It was light. We had some problems with our boat. It is heavy for one thing, but we have these winged rudders and either that wing down low, it either has to be in the water or out, so it is a really narrow groove we have to sail in. If that comes out of the water and goes back it just pulls the hull back in. And there are a few other things we have to sort out."

Patient Lady VI was the only boat briefly to challenge Cogito when up the first beat of the third race they picked up a significant shift by hitting the left hand hard, while Cogito had headed right.

"They are cool, fun, the boats are light," continued Schreyer. "In another boat we wouldn't have raced any races today probably, because there wasn't a lot of wind at all and in these boats we could race. So that is kinda cool."

While the L-foil rudders are causing problems in the light conditions it will be interesting to see if this is still the case when the wind picks up. Patient Lady VI is awaiting the arrival of some new curved liftin foils to replace her current daggerboards, before the end of the regatta.

Racing continues tomorrow with three more fleet 'races'.



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