India is out-side (Atlantic Ocean)which means the waves our bigger. The water is not deep maybe 10'. This is not a good place to be if the winds pick-up with no chase boats. And it is about a 10-12 mile sail also.

Matt J

Attached please find chart 11465 with the viewer's Tot. 8 nm distance.
Last year, as crew I rather enjoyed the sail back, and got some helm time.
I mountain bike 10 miles, 3-4 times a week and was not tired at all at 2006 OCR, but that was last year.
Now at 55 about 2 hours of MTB with an average heart rate of 150 will tire me out,
Yeah, when I was out of shape in my 20 & 30's sailing the Tornado would wear me out, too.

Hmmm...that makes 13 miles sound a bit like an exaggeration...

13 miles is an exaggeration.

John, the chart was from the SI's for the OCR - available on-line.

It's more like 13 miles round trip.

As PU explained it, the course location was partially due to the accomodation for the disabled sailor classes being included (and them being located as close to their launch as possible). That pushed the T's even further down the bay.

BTW, Rick - we were on station an hour and a half before scheduled start today - at 9:30 AM.

Tomorrow we start at 10:00 AM. We leave the dock at 7:30.

The master had a really bad cold today and went below at the last gate rounding on the second race. Left me in charge for the finish of that race and the whole third race. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hit it within 90 seconds of my target time. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Matt

The voice of experience here is Bundy... when he comments that the sail to and from the race course was long and exhausting, I take him at his word. I doubt he is being a pussy here and he knows what the world standard is for a properly managed event.

The distances involved are just the tip of the ice berg... Do you think the STAR Class is short a few mark boats?

Which of the two regattas OCR or the North Americans works well for the sailors?

Which is a fair test of sailing skill ... which is an endurance slog plus a regatta?

What reason (other then marketing) requires the Tornados to race that particular week when its clear that they don't have enough resources in Miami to host it properly.

About the only thing the Tornados get from participating in the OCR is an international jury for protests...

So compare the resources to some recent events.
Did St Francis YC have more or less marks boats with personel on them to support the race for your Hobie 17 NA's? How about the 16 NA's? I doubt they were hunting around for someone who could set the pin for them. If the Hobie Class can organize a competent event, why can't the paid Olympic staff get you the minimal resources to do your job and allow you to to run a competently managed regatta.
Do you think you could charter 3 or 4 boats for a week, rent a parking lot and put up a judge and PRO in a hotel room for 12,0000 dollars (40 boats x 300 each).

If playing nice with US Sailing and the Olympic committe worked... solutions would have been found... The US competitors are not exactly able to raise a public stink...

It is getting a little confusing about whether you guys are talking about the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta last week or the Tornado North Americans this week.

It is my understanding that for the OCR, the Tornado course was the southernmost course, way down by Matheson Hammock. Whereas for the Tornado North Americans, they are up by Dinner Key Marina, which is a LOT closer to Crandon Park.

Is 204 going to have to run the Olympics now?
I hope the Tornado guys like Rum.

Mark:
The Madcatter costs close to $12,ooo to run last year.
The 2004 Nationals was almost $50,000.
It ain't easy to do it right.

I agree it aint' easy ... BUT YOU MANAGE TO DO IT RIGHT!

I almost lost my life in that exact spot...
Founders park, where tradewinds was would be perfect...

Indeed !

If memory serves.. you were run over on your Hobie 20 in the waters at the top of the bay. Fortunately nobody was injured.

You were not the only sailor run over. One of the Tornado Europeans lost rudders in a hit and run in that spot as well. (and yes... I did politely write the powers that be)

So... take your chances with your life with the yahoos at the top of the bay, no water and a persistent wind shift... or sail back and forth to the bottom of the bay ...

Or... Move the event, move the launch... Solve the problem!

Move it to Naples.

Ok - here's the status;

NAs are over and I was able to talk with some sailors and people close to the event. Moving the launch area to Matheson Hammock Park, while attractive, presents other logistcal hurdles that will have to be considered. Nothing I have heard yet is insurmountable, and the primary issues are these:

1) More-experienced and additional staff/boats are needed to support the fleet. One inexperienced boat in addition to the primary boat is below standard.
2) It is essential to get the fleet easy access an official notice board. The on-line option this year failed server-side, and internet access from the launch area is problematic.
3) It is essential to get the SIs to adopt by reference the Tornado Championship Conditions. As a Grade 1 event, all Class rules should have been observed in order to be consistent with other international-level events.
4) It is essential to establish a better logistical relationship between the race area and the launch site. Matheson is an option with some planning and if the City will allow the boats to use grassy areas, but the narrow channel still is a major choke point. Other options need to be explored and planning now, less than a year from the next event, is required.

NONE of these things are impossible - IMO, they aren't even all that difficult to achieve. Let's move forward with reasoned and deliberative resolve. Any participants are welcome to send more feedback - this issue is officially on the agenda for March. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I nominate JWill for President.

Please don't stop taking issue with Mark though, its keeping him from focusing on me. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Thank you John for putting it on the agenda.

Hopefully someone will take action.

(Perhaps my delibertly loud and obnoxious rant will get some action at US Sailing Olynpic.this year ... certainly my previous three years of quiet correspondance have resulted in LESS service and competence.)

And now on to CHRIS..... How about pushing through an icebreaker replacment at the WRCRA Spring Regatta for all of the boats left behind at WRCRA! Haven't I dropped enough hints that this is a win win for all parties.
WRSA gets the cash. all of the fleets get to race. Nobody is left sitting home with out a race to play at.

Ball is in your court.

Can't one of you distract him! Please!

"Oh look, theres an Eagle."

See you tonight dude! Its a good thing that I'm almost of the generation that likes any kind of attention. Good, bad doesn't matter.

To address your ideas directly Mark, join and help make the difference that I agree with you is needed. And buy a Nacra 20 while your at it.

What a classic!

Oh look! An EAGLE!

I raced both the OCR & NA's...just got back home (Los Angeles) last night. First internet access in two weeks.

Yes, Crandon park is a long way from course Echo where the OCR races were held. The NA racing was much closer to Crandon Park...about 2-4 miles out, just off of another marina/club along key biscayne (and about two blocks from my rental house for the two weeks!).

I'm surprised to hear a guy like Bundy gets tuckered out from the daily OCR "commute"...I'm in less than top shape, but somehow managed it 5 days in a row (we were the only boat in the fleet to go out to the course (90 min.) on the Tuesday to wait for wind...never came and we just enjoyed the nice 1.5 hour sail home).

Yes, it is a long ride and something better should be provided. With the 44 boats entered this year (result of the Worlds being in Argentina last December), it was a little ridiculous not having decent facilities at Crandon Park (some teams were thinking of protesting the event, as the class rules for grade1 events require showers/changing rooms/food services nearby, boat washdown for more than just two at a time like we had at Crandon.

Not having the official notice board on site was a problem,...a few days we didn't even see the previous day's results until after returning from the race course. This could be a significant issue for teams in close battles to make sure they know who they must cover that day...And when we wanted to get the official results corrected for some scoring errors, we were told to fax or phone the PRO across the bay at the US sailing center.

Sailing to/from Echo each day was made tougher by having to avoid sailing through other courses as outlined in the SI's from the OCR...sometimes the detour would cost you a lot more time/work. On the very wild Day4, we (and many other teams) were so cold and nearing hypothermia, during the return trip we just needed to get back ASAP...and had to cut through a couple of the courses (Star & Windsurfers).

Mike.

"I'm in less than top shape, but somehow managed it 5 days in a row"

"were so cold and nearing hypothermia"

Make your mind up! If you were near hypothermia without any support boat you very nearly didn't manage did you!

Talking about two different things here...one being tired from the work out of getting to/from the course...the other being caught out by a sudden cold front without the right clothing on.