Ohh, that is interesting.

I seem to remember Brett Moss doing well in some past races so this could well be a competitive crew. It will be fun to see how the G-cat F16 will do among the other F16's.

And this will also make the A-cat a class of one. Oh man, ain't this some bad luck for our lady sailor from gulfport. Event after event she stuck to the Taipan without many other crews coming out to race her only to decide this time to go for safe and decide on sailing her A-cat. Now she'll be witnessing the A-cats being low in turn-out and the F16 class actually making class. I feel truly sorry for her. She deserves alot better, God knows. This is just so cruel. I really do hope that a score of A-cats register in the last moment.

Wouter

What's to stop her from Switching to her Taipan?
Seems that would be the smart thing to do rather than race alone.

I would hope that if Jen wants to race her A cat, she is down there racing it right now, there are 39 A cats just down the road racing this week. Then this weekend, she could jump on her Taipan and race it F16 at Tradewinds. If it's light air (remeber, it's blowing 15 this week, which means next week it could be...) and she is the only one racing F16 Uni, she could end up kicking everyone's butt!

Jen is definately the one you're following around the course in light winds. She always does very well then.

However, I would expect that she only brung her A-cat, and her Taipan is still at home in Gulfport. Since the two events are back to back I don't expect her to show up with anything but the A.

Wouter

This is the scoop on Jennifer. She is down sailing with the A-Cats. She is sailing the tradewinds on the A-Cat as well. Her Taipan is at Gulfport yacht club and she is down in the Keys with the A's. You won't see her on the Taipan.

On new years day I spoke to Hans at the Hangover. He said he wasn't going to the tradewinds, but was hoping Matt was going to debut the G-Cat for him. I can't see Matt not sailing the Blade, but that is his own business. I will be there Friday afternoon looking to sail and party.

See ya,
Seth

Everybody,

I've e-mailed Hans himself and popped the "who is crewing on the new G-cat F16" question to him.

He e-mailed me promptly with his answer.



175 lbs = 79 kg
160 lbs = 72.5 kg

is total of 335 lbs = 153.5 kg

This means of course that Matt is sailing his own Blade F16 and that we're looking at the following 6 boat F16 fleet.

(names = skipper / crew)

-1- Brett Moss / Hans Geissler ; G-cat F16 (debut)
-2- Chuck Harnden / Mavis Harnden : Blade F16
-3- Seth Stern / Kelly Gray : Taipan F16
-4- Bruce Barrs / somebody : Taipan F16
-5- Wilder Robles / Cary Palmer ; Blade F16
-6- Matt McDonald / Gina McDonald : Blade F16

Looks like a full doublehander line-up as I seem to remember that Bruce hooked up with somebody. If not then some A-cat sailor might sail on a Taipan afterall !

Wouter

My crew is still a mystery to me too! I believe that I will be trolling Gilberts for beach rats. Actually, Cary has set me up with a friend's cousin's sister-in-law's step brother's girlfriend's lawyer. Or something like that. I was going to be the one with the white carnation.

FYI, We do expect a fleet of A Cats. Supposed to be quite a few A boats are coming here right after the event they are presently in.., just haven't pre registered.
Rick

Actually I told Bill Croughwell to look for the guy hanging out at the Tiki Bar in a Seal Suit drinking a Rum Runner, who also happens to be wearing a white Carnation.

I've not heard back from Bill for final confirmation on crew, but I also don't expect it to be any different.
But It's not me sailing with you This time.
Wish I had more. . .

I hope he's not expecting a Navy Seal.

When going by the pre-register listing the Tradewinds regatta looks like this. (including latest corrections)


In total 49 Boats (and crews) with

Making class are : (35 out of 49 boats in total)

15 Formula 18's (as Cary Palmer will be sailing F16) This will be a fun fleet !
8 Nacra I-20's US version
6 Formula 16 (3 Blades, 2 Taipans, 1 G-cat on debut)
6 Hobie 16's

A-cats are expected to make class but currently have only one listed.

Rumours talk about alot of wind so we might be seeing more scenes like this :




Blade F18 mark 1 prototype speeding under spinnaker at the Souhern Aus F18 nationals


Not making class (14 out of the 49 boats in total)

3 Nacra 6.0 NA
2 Nacra 5.8 NA
2 18SM cat. 1 (Hans Geissler is listed as 3rd but will sail an F16)
2 H14 turbo
1 Hobie 17
1 Marstrom M20
1 ARC21
1 Dart 18 cat rigged (solo)

And as of yet :

1 A-cat (As Bret Moss will sail F16 with Hans Geissler, but definately more A-cats are expected by Rick)



I expect the 3 N6.0's, 2 N5.8's, 2 18SQ, 1 M20 and 1 ARC21 (9 boats) can well race eachother and have a fun fleet like that. However, Rick will have an issue with the 2 H14S, 1 H17 and 1 Dart 18U (4 boats). That will be a little bit of an orphaned class. If he does what he did in the past add all boats together and split this fleet down the middle based on ratings and have a high PN and Low PN fleet, then the Nacra 5.8NA or 18SQ boys will be put in with the Hobie 14's to act as filler and of course be forced to race the yellow (short) course otherwise everybody will be waiting on those H14's. Aayyy ! just having some fun here, guys, not to be taken too seriously

But that still leaves about at least 35 boats on the big course with 4 individual starts.

Looks like a fun event.

Good luck everyone !

Wouter

The 14 is a sweet little boat--just added one to my armada a couple months ago...

I'll give those H14's one thing, they are bloody hard to beat on Texel handicap !

Wouter

Also very hard to beat on Portsmouth--a good "Alter Cup Qualifier" boat.