Dear F16 sailors,

On the event website the Global Challenge NOR are available now.
If you need more information please email me at hansklok@formula16.org
On the event webpage there will be the coming days more info available like accomodation,tourist info etc etc. keep your eyes open people.
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

**BUMP**


Website

Just out of interest, does heat have any special significance or does it just mean race? Awww... no medal race...!?

http://www.f16worlds.zandvoortonline.com/Notice%20of%20Race%202007a.doc

Could somebody from the F16GC please explain why the Global Challenge is being organised in such an authoritarian manor. I would have thought you would be trying to encourage competitors but the bureaucracy definitely seems to be putting off the majority of UK Sailors (2 entrants?) I'm still trying to work out how I can be financially registered to the F16GC when the UK hasn't got a formal Class Association and how much will this honor cost me. Whilst on the subject of costs could the F16GC confirm the amount that the Offical Measurer is likely to charge and make this public knowledge. It could be a considerable amount to pay just for the ONE Regatta. I would be astonished if we insisted that every F16 required a Measurement Certificate prior to our Nations Cup/ Open Meetings unless as in this case you want to put people off.

Mark, do you mean prior to the event, or at the event at Zandvoort ?

Mark,
I don't think there is any intention on the part of the organisers to appear authoritarian. Hans and his club committee are merely using a com bination of ISAF guidance and the existing rules for running an F16 event that can be found on the F16 website and that the F16GC inherited.

Being a first event, there will be loads of glitches to iron out as regards measurement/membership so I wouldn't get too hung up on the finer points if I were you.

As regards being a financial member of the F16GC - if you are a member of your NA then you're a member of the F16GC. Whether your NA takes a fee to make you a member or not is up to the NA. The NA has to pay a capitation fee to the F16GC each year, but for 2007 this fee was waived to encourage NAs to be formed. The US has one, the UK sort of has (if PDW can find some volunteers to get things moving under his chairmanship) and Australia is about to form.

Under F16 rules if there are insufficient numbers in a country (say, less than 3) to form a NA, the individual owner can become a financial member direct with the F16GC until such time as a NA is formed in that country or continent.

As regards measurement, boats will be inspected (NOT measured) and weighed as part of registration. Piet will be available to fully measure boats by prior arrangement - I believe he works to a scale of charges agreed by ISAF. I think it equates to about £20 per hour plus expenses and you probably need 2-3 hours to measure a boat. Zandvoort will be a great opportunity to get a boat fully measured and a certificate issued.

Thanks John for the clear explanations. I'm still a little hung up about this Measurement Issue as it could be adding £60.00 on to the event entry fee which I feel is a bit unfair. Having participated at other World Championships with Measurement Form in hand my boat was still weighed and some vital measurements checked. During the event one of the top ten boats was picked out on a daily basis for more rigorous measuring. This seemed to invalidate the Measurement Certificate which is only relevant on the day of issue. How many F16's to date have been issued with Measurement Certificates? Poor (sorry rich) Piet is going to be an extremely busy person as theoretically he can only measure two maybe three boats a day over three days. I'm hoping that will be approx half the number of entrants. Don't get me wrong I want good racing against formula Cats so weighing the masts,hulls and checking sails against a suit which has previously been measured would seem like common sense to me, but having traveled to the event on the Friday and Saturday the prospect of just sorting everything out plus getting the boat stringently measured seems like a nightmare of a start. I know I could turn up earlier but I will probably be fitting in with another persons travel arrangements. I know it's probably to late but I think this measurement issue should be more relaxed. By all means weigh and measure a few boats during the course of the event but we're such a new Class to set out that you can't even participate without a Measurement Certificate is not what I would expect or organise for that matter. I know the organisers want to get things right but they should also be thinking about the competitors interests as well and again (whilst having a good moan) I'm not that impressed with a late entry fee. If we were expecting 100+ boats then yes, but realistically I reckon 20 boats might turn up and this additional fee isn't really going to help those people if they are 50/50 about coming.
P.S Please make sure the Beer is cheap,cold and plenty of it!!

** BUMP **

I think all Dutch and Belgium boats have been officially measured already.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Aussie boats coming over will be measured prior to event as well.

Combined that would mean over halve the boats for the Global Challenge.

As we are a formula class we need a policy of measuring to make sure the class rules are observed.

This policy will have to be introduced at some point in time and the Global Challenge seems to be as good a time as any. That still doesn't mean however that the organisation is going to be anal about it. Afterall this event is also held to have some fun together.

Wouter