Just to keep you guys in Aus informed, the Triple Crown regatta held at Langebaan was held a week after the SA Nationals. The event consists of 3 long/medium distance races held on different dates in the season, 8 Mozzies attended Leg 2 of the event.
The top 3 Mozzies were 1st, 2nd and 3rd on corrected time, and after a 2 hour race the lead Mozzie was only 7 minutes behind the first Hobie Tiger on elapsed, correcting out 8 minutes ahead.
1st Hobie 16 limped in 15 minutes after the 1st Mozzie, and was still 12minutes behind after handicaps applied.

Well done guys.

Results here : http://www.vyc.co.za/Documents/lyc_longhaul01.html

Steve,

1st, 2nd and 3rd is a great effort !! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Is there a link to a race report with weather conditions etc ? Were all the Mozzies with spinnaker ? Are all the other classes a bit pissed off and when are they changing to Mozzies ? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Regards,

Peter <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hi Peter,
I wasn`t there, but I heard that the course lent itself to the spinnaker boats (long windward-leeward, no beam / close reaches), so the Mozzies and Tigers left the H16`s behind (no other classes were present).
"Were all the Mozzies with spinnaker ?" In South Africa, a decision was taken to include the spinnaker in the class rules, so we sail nationals with the spinnaker as well - you won`t find a Mozzie racing without one here.
"Are all the other classes a bit pissed off and when are they changing to Mozzies ?"
Well the Hobie class does not like us anywhere near them and have made all efforts to "ban" us from sailing at open class events, under the IHCA directive. The open-class events are/were run by yacht clubs, but the Hobie class have taken over the running of, or assist the yacht clubs in running some of these events - they have now turned against us, using the IHCA directive as a reason not to welcome us to "their" events.
There are still a few events which we have negotiated with them to be able to do, mostly those that are run by clubs and not directly by the Hobie class. We are allowed to race the long-distance races only, the course racing on Sundays is reserved for Hobies only.
I think the Hobie SAILORS don`t have an issue with us being at the events, but the Class Association must obey the IHCA directive, or risk losing their membership of the International Hobie Class Association (IHCA). In fact we are good friends with many of the Hobie sailors, and when we discussed this issue with them, they were unaware of the whole Hobie directive to isolate themselves from other classes in order to not lose members to other classes. Ironically, they have lost no members to the Mozzie class, in fact we have 3 Hobie Tigers owned by Mozzie sailors, who now sail both classes. So the cross-pollination has occurred in their favour, but they choose not to see it.
If we could remove political agendas and corporate strategies from sailing, the sport might actually grow.

Cheers,
Steve

Steve,

Thanks for the feedback. Sorry to hear of the predicament you guys have. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Corporate stategies really don't work in favour of development of sailing. It's strange that IHCA have taken to help run the events. Is it just Mozzies and the Hobie 16s at loggerheads or do they really want a monopoly over everyone ?

Regards,

Peter

p.s. Here's a thought; if the best Hobie 16s only race in 18 knots plus then they will probably win all the time and the Mozzies can get the minor placings. Wouldn't that would be fair ?