Maybe this is the time to level on the website issue.

Recently there has been some discussion on which software platform to use for our new F16 website.

This, however, is not much of an issue, there are far more pressing issues.

One of these is that we are in desperate need of a webmaster/webpage design who can take the lead in developping and implementing our new Formula 16 website. We have several volunteers who want to do help in such a project but none yet who is willing to take the lead and guide such volunteers in a webpage framework of his own design.

I've spend so many hours and money into the F16 class as a whole and even a good chunk of time and money into the Formula 16 website that I'm unwilling to take this task on my shoulders. I feel that it is time for some other people to take their turn in carrying the load for a while.

With respect to volunteers, any person willing to take the lead in such a webpage project can count on Robi (USA) to help out in the way of graphics design, Mark Thompson (USA) in the way of grammar checking and webpage design testing, Paul Warren (UK) to arrange of some dedicated hosting, Björn Munko (GER) to translate all into a German language sub-webpage so we can go after German and Swiss sailors better. Hell, such a person can also count on myself to create, update and maintain large chuncks of the content, both articles and galleries. I can fill plenty of pages with F16 pictures and F16 related race reports and design articles. We expecting several new developments like an official measuring system and I will probably make such things ready for publication.

So the work itself can be spread over a good group of volunteers avoiding the need to do everything alone. But one person needs to design the main framework and coordinate the different volunteers so they all work together.

We have tried 2 times with different persons already in 2005 but without a spark lighting the fire so to say. Who can help us out this time and make it work. We need you !

A few examples (try-outs) can be seen here (previous tries) :


http://www.qcm.co.il/f16/

http://markmthomson.net/F16/


Wouter

I like the 2nd one as my photo is at the top of the page

Taken just before I left on my travels and sailing with Andy Collins on Andrew Williams' boat at Port Kembla. It actually was shown in the F16 article in Australian Sailing magazine, but Andy Collins and I were misnamed

Can anyone beat me for how many countries you have sailed a Taipan in? So far I count 4, China, Thailand, Singapore and Australia. Have been in Malaysian waters sailing but not landed.

Back on topic, can't help with the website. Need a job and to be settled somewhere before volunteering for something like this.

JC

I like the 2nd one as my photo is at the top of the page

Taken just before I left on my travels and sailing with Andy Collins on Andrew Williams' boat at Port Kembla. It actually was shown in the F16 article in Australian Sailing magazine, but Andy Collins and I were misnamed

Can anyone beat me for how many countries you have sailed a Taipan in? So far I count 4, China, Thailand, Singapore and Australia. Have been in Malaysian waters sailing but not landed.

Back on topic, can't help with the website. Need a job and to be settled somewhere before volunteering for something like this.

JC

I like the first one. I am sure there are more templates offered by each host, but I like the template shown in the first one. The job of web master is tough because it is 20% creation/80% maintenance and maintenance isn't always fun. The other thing is content. The web master should not be expected to provide all the content for the site. A successful site has multiple (tens of people) that offer articles, insight, photos, results, etc. while the webmaster is only repsonsible for timely posting of the content (and the occasional clean up).

If my description of web master matches what the rest of you think, then I will assume the role of web master. This means I will expect content from each division, regatta, etc. My election platform would consist of migrating the existing content from the original F16 site, laying out templates for regatta results/articles, photo gallery, tips/tricks, etc.

Sound ok?

Tom ,

Thank you !! I pledge to feed you a stream of content from the West Coast of the USA (assuming our region President - Doc P. approves...).

I see this as vital to continued class growth ; are start up $'s in order ??


Paul Kilkenny
Nor. Cal.
USA

As mentioned above, I can provide free hosting for the site. I would also be happy to take responsibility for setting up, creating and maintaining the site. The one thing I cannot provide is web design - although I can write HTML, I have absolutely no artistic skill in this respect.

Tom - drop me a PM if you want to discuss working together on this.

Paul

PM in your mailbox. Let's talk. I like the idea of free

It sure does match what I think should be the setup.

With Paul posting I see a following framework developing :

- Tom = webpage designer and project leader
- Paul = Technicien and provider of hosting
- Wouter = content (and I got loads believe me)

I also see alot of content coming from people like Mary Wells (Catsailor magazine articles on the Blade F16; 2 of them up till now). Race reports should be easy to get from Gary Maskiel, Tim Sheppard, John Alani and several others. They have done so several times in the past on this forum.

Now we need some artist to make us some fancy artwork/photoshopped pics. And some proof reader/tester. Any takers for those roles ?

Guys can you please copy me into your PMa and e-mailing so I'm up to speed when you require content ?

Wouter

Proof reading I can do, what does the tester function consist of?

I'll get with Paul and we'll start on the infrastructure of the site. I'll keep you in the loop.

29 days.

Count me in for artwork, graphics design.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but both templates are from MAMBO CMS?

One good thing about mambo is you can add admin/super users so contect can be added easily without having to count on one sole person.

Great, thanks

One design criterium that I is all important. Make the design such that it is simple enough to hand the whole project over to a newby in say 1 or 2 years time. Don't use high end scripting etc.

Wouter

Tom and others,

Please all check whether you receive replies from Hans. It may be the case that a firewall or something is blocking e-mails. Check back with me as I seem to be the logic vocal point on this. My communication with Hans is uninterrupted.

I will also forward some mails of Hans to you, he has asked me to do so because of this issue.

Wouter

Tom,

My mails are also bouncing on your mail-account :

----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----

(reason: 550 Invalid recipient: )


Wouter

I got it straightened out this AM. Paul and I have switched the conversation to email. We will CC you.

i sent an email in, but still havent heard anything from anyone.

See here a prototype of the image gallery.

Comments please !

And anybody still holding any fine pictures please send them to me (unless you already did, no use in receiving everything twice)

http://f16.beasts.org/gallery2/main...&g2_itemId=19&g2_navId=x1f0586b8

Wouter

I had planned on building a US website for f16 - even reserved f16usa.com

I don't want to fractionalize f16 sailors etc, but to me it would be nice to have a site that had US f16 regatta information, used boats, sailors with contact info etc on it. I have a server and calendar and blog software. I thought many people could have permissions to add info in the form of a blog.

Do you like that idea - or would it take away from the international site?

I think a international website divided into sections would be perfect.
USA
UK
The Netherlands
Asia
Africa
ect ect

I assume Australia would be included in the "ect ect"?

But Robie's idea is good. At this stage in the class development, it would not be helpful to have a bunch of different websites. Everything should be in one web site, with pages for each different country or continent that is establishing fleets. Makes it easy to find everything to do with F16's, no matter where you live in the world.

(Of course, then you probably need to have some sort of language translation program, too.)