Hey All , (And Happy Holidays),

I'll have the F16 upside down in the yard next week with sandpaper and a long board in hand. After the hulls are silky smooth, i'm thinking of using Spartite to seal the gaps between the centerboards and hull as was recommended to me by two independant sources ( good A-cat sailor , good 49er sailor...). The idea is that these roughly circular gaps create all sorts of vortices and turbulence that add up to drag and foil vibration. I'm told the Spartite seal amounts to more than just a nuance of difference.
Sounds good ; i've learned to ask here before acting on all , "sounds good" advice however....

Thoughts ?

By the by - did a winter series race in S.F. Bay last weekend. How's this for an eclectic start : Two Aussie 18 skiffs
Two Olympic Tornado's
Three hobie 16's
F16 and no PN's considered .......!!!!!

Warm Regards ,

Paul Kilkenny
USA #300

Sooo...who won?

Hey Paul, When is the next one of those?

Where is SF Bay did you launch?

Hey Timbo, Dave , Doc ,

The San Francisco Bay Winter Series(dinghy's only) is run by the Richmond Yacht Club out of Pt. Richmond.I launch from the ramp at the yacht club because my F16 is light enough to pull back up the ramp if the tides gone out while racing. The Tornado's are owned by a well known cat sail manufacturer and a local PHRF hero both T's are really well maintained (new sails etc.) ; they're launched by hoist at the club.The Hobie contingent launch from the 23rd street public launch in Richmond (a stones throw from the RYC but the place where that Peterson murderer nut took his family fishing so I stick to the RYC and the positive zeitgist...).

The dates for ther next races (which will be scored unlike this first race) are 1/8 , 2/5 , 3/5. Expect anything re: wind and throw in an ebb/flood that can match the wind velocity.A really great way to keep the skills sharp until spring...

As for the T vs. 18 foot skiff outcome - 3-5kts. of shifty wind and a 3kt. ebb made for skiff favoring conditions (these things have an insane amount of sail), but I think the T and first skiff split the first two races. The last race was windier but i missed the outcome.

All agreed afterward that the F16 would have been fastest if i'd have Spartited my boards.

Doc, the I-14 guy's were asking for a rematch from your Huntington spanking...

Pk