ISAF Worlds - Greg and Jacques WIN Qualifying!!

Our F18 US Team, Greg Thomas and Jacques Bernier, win the qualifying round at the ISAF Worlds!

http://www.worldsailinggames2006.at/index_en.php

From posts at the Hobie Cat Forums...

http://www.hobiecat.com/community/viewtopic.php?t=3553


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Today the final qualifying races were run. We were able to get a good result of second in the windy conditions...normally not our strong point.... and the others in front in the overall had troubles.

This gives us the overall victory in the opening round.

Tuesday starts the Gold fleet series - where the invited top sailors will joint the top 14 from this series just completed.

This was a long comeback for victory for us...starting the first day in 10th.... moving up all the time daily until the last heat placing first (tied the PUR crew and won on the tie breaker)
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Hooray! Finally some good news for the U.S. from that event. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I sure hope they win it, since our other entry was kicked out. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Not that there is any pressure on you, Greg and Jacques. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hi Mary,

Actually double good news for the USA!

Puerto Rico, still flies the ol' Stars and Stripes [ yep, I just came through San Juan airport last Friday and saw it myself] and is 100% a part of the United States of America.

As a political sideline, Puerto Rico[ approx 7 million folks] is classified as a Commonwealth of the USA. 6 years ago, the Congress of the US told Puerto Rico it had 10 years to become a state, so, that work is in progess.

Whereas, the US Virgin Islands [ St. Thomas, St. John, Water Island and St. Croix] are classified as Territories[ approx 130,000 folks].

Ok, end of class :-)

Time to go sailing.

There will be a quiz later.

regards,

Bruce
St. Croix
USVI

However, in the case of competitive events, I'll bet the sailors from Puerto Rico consider themselves to be representing the country of Puerto Rico, not the United States.

That is one of the advantages of being a common wealth of the US. Puerto Rico has its own olympic team. If they win, they win for Puerto Rico not for the US.

Mary,

I do not know, you will have to ask them.

All I know is when Teddie Roosevelt won the Spanish American war in 1897, Puerto Rico became apart of the United States and Cuba was allowed to be a soverign country.

..talk about hindsight judgement..
When the 2 or 3 atheletes from the Virgin Islands march in the Olympic Parade, we are all screaming like crazy down here.[ ..because one usualy knows them]

Yes, we yell for the 200-300 USA atheletes too <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

It is still USA all the way.

regards,

Bruce
St. Croix
USVI


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

Well...in the fact that they are a commonwelth...

USA takes top TWO spots!

No wind today. Today was to be the first day of the actual event. Greg wrote to say it was 4PM and still no wind over there.

Check out Annie Nelson's report at SailingWorld.com

Not so good...

They ran a race tonight (5:30 PM start) in minimum wind. Greg and Jacques placed 13th of 20.

Good news is that several of the top guys also placed poorly. Enrique was 12th, Mitch Booth 16th. This Light and shifty race was apparently won by the local boys.

Hi Matt or Tom,

Any comments from Sue or Ann about racing the Hobie 16 with spinaker?

(I know that this is a heresy in the US but I am curious)

Thanks
Mark

Don't even start

Please do start! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bad idea for the Hobie Class. I can pretty much guarantee that we will not have class racing with Spinnakers on Hobie 16s here in the US. This one has been reviewed over and over again. This has been allowed by the Hobie Class only for the ISAF events as requested / required by ISAF.

Our boys are doing...not so well today.

They are shown in 16th today after several low to mid teen finishes.

What is worse is that they suffered a knockdown that injured Jacques. He has a hairline crack over his right eye socket. He hit the mast in a violent pitchpole that caused the bow to hit the bottom (only about 3-4 feet deep in the lake). He was taken to a hospital for x-rays and evaluation, but is back at their place this evening.

The results show that only 7 boats finished the 4th race. Big squall.

Actually the class did NOT approve of the spinnaker for ISAF events (just youth events). The IHCA made a formal request to remove the spinnaker from this event and ISAF told us to take a hike. That's the kind of respect ISAF has for international classes.

Sorry to hear about Jacques! So when do you slow down, go into survival mode, and finish?

Greg just called (Skype) and says Jacques is doing OK.

He says a squall hit as 18 of the 20 boats were going to the gate. The two that had rounded did not capsize. the rest did (18 out of 20 went over!). He says they saw the line coming and doused the chute. Just a wall of wind. It had been blowing about 25 already.

There were people through mains, broken booms, poles and masts. He says they chipped the bows on rocks on the bottom of the lake when they stuffed.