Sorry, my bad as well.

I haven't been chasing down the Dutch sailors on this topic. I have been very occupied with something else.

Will put some haste into this.

Wouter

Well I have spoken to quite a few of the sailors and it seems that this schedule will probably suit most people.

Nations cup at Mumbles in June, date tbf, but 3 days racing
ECPR July 1st/2nd
Eastbourne 29th 30th July
Datchet hopefully September Dave?
Grafham October 21st 22nd October

So we have 5 events, 1 discard with the nations cup a do not discard.

So how does this look.

I would also like to propose a training weekend at Datchet in April, How many would be interested?

Just thought I'd better bump this back to the top

I'll certainly try to travel to all of the events - we need to promote these boats as much as poss this year. How about everyone else?

As for the 'training' weekend at Datchet - I'm up for that as well. Any idea when? John? Dave?

Just so you guys know.

I've send your schedule to the guy who is volunteering to set up some Dutch F16 events. He will plan around yours.

Wouter

I refer to my post above

The programme for f16 racing in the UK has now been finalised, it is

April 1/2 & April 8/9 race training at Datchet
June 3rd - 5th Nations Cup Mumbles Yacht Club, South Wales
ECPR July 1/2
Eastbourne July 29/30
Datchet September tbd
Grafham October 21/22

The ranking for the series will be decided as follows

3 events count with the Nations Cup generating double points

points will be allocated as follows based on each event result

1st place 25 points
2nd place 22 points
3rd place 20 points
4th place 18 points
5th place 17points and so on down to 1 point for 21st (if we get that many!!)

The coaching is open to all F16's there is no charge except for a day sailing fee at Datchet, and I believe that boats can be stored at the club for the week in between.

The F16 5 Nations Cup/Nationals now on the MYC event programme.

www.mumblesyachtclub.co.uk

Directions etc on the "Visitor information" page.

When looking at the page it reads: " Stealth 5 Nations Cup and Nationals", but I guess it is an F16 event, so we can attend with a Blade.

Are there any special rates available for the ferry? Lots of British sailors go down to lake Garda every year, so maybe you guys know better how to get the best rate for the ferry.

Maybe it makes sense to split the price by loading two boats on one trailer. Anyone interested?

Cheers, Björn

Bjorn,

I have some issue to sort out first but I'm trying to go to this nations cup event.

However I'm pretty sure that we can't handle the costs alone. So we (crew and I) are definately looking to stack boats on a single trailer and share a car with 4 persons. That will make it affordable to us I think.

So yes, I'm definately interested.

Wouter

I've not done it yet, but I have to collect my Blade from Zandvoort and as far as I can see, the cheapest option is the tunnel. Rather more driving, but they don't charge much excess for the trailer.

Paul

The cost of crossing the channel is significantly less for you europeans than us Brits, the channel tunnel is probably your best option, and of course the event is open to all f16s.

I've been spending quite some time finding out about the pricing of crossing and it is no fun I can tell you.

Anyway. Seems the Chunnel is the easiest to get a quick price fix.

Chunnel (Calais- Folkestone)

plain car 4 persons = about 270 Euro's
Car with boat trailer at midnight (4 persons) = 477 Euro's
Car with boat trailer at midday (4 persons) = 550 Euro's

By the way there is no difference in price if you go with 1,2, 3 or 4 persons.



Ferry Calais-Dover (P&0)

Car with boat trailer at midnight (4 persons) = 210 Euro's
Car with boat trailer at midday (4 persons) = 196 Euro's


Ferry Calais-Dover (Seafrance)

Car with boat trailer at midnight (4 persons) = 180 Euro's
Car with boat trailer at midday (4 persons) = 232 Euro's


These are the best rates that I could find.

Mind you the Chunnel is fastest by far. 35 minutes compared to nearly 2 hours of the ferries.

*ouch*

Those prices are nothing like those for a journey in March/April from the UK (just over £100), and a fair bit more from what I'm seeing for June (around £300, taking advantage of the short stay saver)

Just sail across - it's not that far

Paul

Looks like the only trip I can affort will go something like this :

Drive to Calais
Take the P&O ferry to Dover
Drive to South Wales
Set up tent and cook on my camping stove with food that I've brung over

Do the event (get my behind handed to me !)

Break down tent
Drive to Dover
Take the P&O ferry to Calais
Drive home

Ferry costs about 200 Euro's
km costs 1000 To and back from Calais + about 1500 to and from South Wales = 2500 * 0.2 = 500 Euro's
Some additional camping costs and the "last one in buys a round" stuff = 150 Euro's

Total 850 Euro's minimum

WAAAAY out of my budget if I need to sail solo.

Dear when sailing doublehanded 425 Euro/person

Doable (for me) when stacking boats and sharing the drive with another crew : 200/person + some personal costs.


Say guys, how many sailors are REALLY expected to turn up at the Nations cup ? How many 2-ups and 1-ups.

Wouter

I have spoken to some of the sailors and so far the we have the following boats commited to the nations cup

Firm Commitment

Toby Hoyle single handed
Alan and Jan Thomas double
Dave Tugwell double /single
John Alani
Neil Rushton
Mark Presdee single
John Pierce
Wayne Richards single

Probable
Mike Young
Mark Pattinson
Paul Warren

Possible

Aaron Young
Clive Wright

I still have quite a few people to contactr so the numbers should go up.

John, since you are with Stealth Marine I will ask you; do you ever supply new boats as charters for out of country sailors, for the event, then sell them at a discount after the event?

Over here in the USA Nacra, Hobie, Bimare (and next year Vectorworks Blade) do this for our National Multihull Championship, called the Alter Cup, which is going on this weekend in Pensacola, Florida on Inter 20's. Next year it wil be sailed on F16 Blades.

Seems you could get more sailors and sell more boats if you offered to charter out new ones then sell them afterwards and it would save some the cost of trailering in.

If we could find some (free) local accommodation (and breakfast) in club members houses, would it make a difference to non-UK entries; i.e. would it make the difference between doing the event and not doing it...?

www.mumblesyachtclub.co.uk

You'd have to comfortable with sheep of course...

Tim

We are just not big enough to make that kind of gesture, although I could posiibly find an older customer boat if someone was intrerested.

Ed Maxwell confirmed for the naions cup, 9 definate entries

I'm now definite, so that's 10.

If I haven't sold my current boat by then, then I have a friend who would be keen to sail it so there's a chance of another entry there.

Do the F16 rules or the organisers of the event have any objection to changing from 2up to 1up during the event? I'm not talking about leaving the crew on the shore for a particular race if the wind looks a bit light, but I may have a crew for Saturday and Sunday, but not Monday.

Paul