Taipan Nationals 2006/2007 ; first results

Right at this time the Taipans in Australia will have completed their first race day.

The races can be followed at the following website :

http://www.mccraeyc.com.au/default.asp?Page=27367&MenuID=Regattas/11927/0





It is not really clear yet how many boats and crews have entered as their is no online registered listing but the training race of yesterday showed the following fleet sizes.

Taipan 4.9 solo (cat rigged ) : 25 boats
Taipan 4.9 double (sloop rigged) : 16 boats

Taipan 5.7 : 3 boats
Capricorn F18 ; 4 boats

It is very much possible that we'll see more teams have entered as yesterday was the last day of arrival and measurements. So not all may have participated in the training.





For the results go to :

http://sailmelbourne.com.au/race-results/2007/taipan/invite/series.htm


Lets see who gets out on top, over the next couple of days !

Wouter

Hi All

The top six cat rigs within 30 seconds of each other on the finish line, should be a close battle.

I hope to go down there Monday for a look.

Regards

Matt,

Make sure you make lots of pictures and have time left to write up a race report on this Forum afterwards !

Many will be very appreciative, including myself.

Thanks,

Wouter

Hi all,

interesting results from heat 1. Cat rigs didn't see the usual suspects, Dennis and Noel at the front. Sloop rigs the first 2 where from Frankston and normaly sail with spin.

Mind you McRae is a very flukey place to sail, will see who rises to the top after a few races. Every time I sail at McRae I swear I will never go back.<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I guess it is not blowing on the bay like it is on the lakes, has been 30kts. plus for 2 days here. Mind you it's brilliant sunshine and about 24 degrees c. So I had to go sailing anyway, no yachts could stand up Hobie Getaway snapped the top of its mast, so I pulled out the old sailboard and had a blast <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />, until the water police turned up and told me off for exceeding the 5 knot zone which is in font of the yacht club beach I launched off <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. Will have to watch out on "Altered" next time I am out.

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

New link to the race results.

The link provided in my first posting does not display the actual championship results but only the result of the training.

The real race results can be found at :

http://sailmelbourne.com.au/race-results/2007/taipan/open/series.htm

Already 5 races have been completed !

And the fleets are :

27 x Taipan 4.9 cat (singlehanded)
17 x Taipan 4.9 sloop (double handed)

4 x Capricorn F18
4 x Taipan 5.7

Hi All

The way I see it is, in the cat rigs, after race 5, George Hooper 1st, Noel Grellet 2nd and Liam Goodall 3rd. This is without factoring in a worst result drop, which would put Noel at the top (go the timber 003 <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)

The Sloops would be C.Hooper 1st, Luke Donovan (go the seedy pirate racing team <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />) and Steve Kiely 3rd, again that would change with a drop.

I can't find results for Race 2 and Luke Donovans phone keeps ringing out, but I'll go out on a limb and say lack of wind. I don't know what happened in Race 5 either, with 5 of higher ranked Sloops recording a DNF.

Bye

Do they take the time to weigh all the boats prior to the regatta? I am interested to know if the timber 4.9's weigh the same as the glass boats. I also think it's great that there are so many 4.9's racing solo, do they cary the spinnaker when racing solo?

Tim,
The spinnaker is not class legal in the Taipans.
So neither do the cat or sloop rig boats use the spinnaker in national or state competition.
As far as weighing the boats this should be done when you get a measurement certificate for your boat. The ply and glass boats are pretty much the same weight.

Regards,
Phill

No spin's on the 4.9's. What about the 5.7's? Looks like they have them in the pics when mixed in with F18s (unless that photo is from another regatta).

Spinnakers are included for the 5.7s.

Hi All

Measurement and Registration was held on the 27th (day before the start of the championship) for those who don't have a certificate.

Noel Grellet told me ages ago, that what the boats weighed was sometimes different, due to them using different scales, he said that according to one set of scales he had put some weight in the main beam to bring his up to minimum and next time, he got to take the weight out.

Regards

Hi all,

interesting mix of results, great to see variety of winners cat and sloop, in the Sloops there are a couple of interesting names, I think C Hooper would be Cameron, who I ran in to in Darwin he had not long bought the Taipan and has been racing with spin. in Darwin against the local Tornado fleet and getting some good results, he was very keen to go to Global Challenge when it was going to be in Singapore. He is a ex Melb. boy and has sailed Hobies with Tim Shuwallow to win at Port Melb. a couple of years ago, can't remember the Title it was Worlds or Asia Pacifics, something like that. They beat Bundy amongst others so standard is high. Macatack the current F16 state champ is hanging in without spin, so good luck James, if he wins I won't feel so bad about him beating me <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

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

In the picture of the 4.9 Uni start I notice the square tops are quite narrow at the top, is that also a class rule about how fat the sail head can be?

Tim,

From memory I think the limit is 440mm for the top of the sail.
A bit of a claytons square top by todays standards.

Regards,
Phill

Ahhh...that explains it. Do you know about what percentage of the fleet is wood vs. glass? Looks like a good turnout of both types.

There are not too many people here in the US who have the time/skill/knowledge to build a good wooden boat any more. There are a few companies that sell wooden kits for kayaks, stitch and glue, that have become popular but they don't offer any catamaran type kits. I emailed one of them to ask why not and he said it would be too hard to convert the tortured ply method plans to stitch and glue plans and that to build a tortured ply boat would be much harder than what they do.

Tim,
I don't know how any ply boats are in that fleet.
I would guess that around 10% would be timber.
This is just a guess from what I've seen over the years.
As far as kayaks go-
I thought I'd build some kayaks during the winter and got some plans from one of the US companies that also sells kits.

Pretty easy to build from the plans. It is easier than tortured ply but uses/develops many of the same skills.
I'll attach a pic. Anyone thinking of building a cat and does not have the confidence to jump straight in could try a kayak first.

Regards,
Phill

Phill, those are beautiful, I love the Super Man S! Do you think those hulls would be strong enough to handle the loads of cross beams, center boards and the stays for a mast? They make a sail kit but it's a very small sail. I was thiking of putting two of these togeher with cross beams, adding a mast, off you go! Not nearly enough freeboard up front though.

So I thought, if you just changed the shape of the hulls, to a Blade type, could it be done using sticht and glue and be strong enough? My guess is no, or it would already be done that way.

Tim,
They are too long to make an F16.
I built them to paddle so putting sails on them would just make me lazy.

Regards,
Phill

Yes, I they are great for paddling but if there is any wind, you can't tell me you wouldn't be out there wishing you had a mast or a kite!

Speaking of kites, you have no doubt seen the kite boards. What if you were to use a smaller version kite with your kayak? Take it with you all packed up early in the -no wind- morning and then use it to pull you home later when the wind comes up! Anyone try that yet? I thought I saw a photo of a couple guys on a real catamaran, no mast, using a kite for power.

I'm pretty sure there are tiny little "fishing rod" masts and square sails for kayaks.

Lots of stuff:

http://www.easyriderkayaks.com/down_wind_kayaks.htm

http://www.vision.net.au/~jennings/sail/sail.html

Yes, that and there is even a Trimaran kit offered by Chesapeake Light Craft http://www.clcboats.com but I think the ama's are much too small. I would use a 20 foot 3 holer for the middle, then use two 16 footers for the amas, tie the whole mess together with 20 foot carbon fiber beams, put up an A cat carbon mast with a spinnaker of course! That would be one haul-butt kayak! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Tim, paddling that beast would be a handful, especially solo <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
If you want a craft like that, I think it would be better to build a proper trimaran and install oars or a pedal driven propeller (or the Hobie Mirage system [look, positive writing about an U.S invention <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ]). Kayaks are not designed for sailing, so both shape and structure of the hulls need redesigning. A 20 foot wide trimaran have a lot of righting moment, I doubt an A-cat mast would be up to the loads. Neither would the hulls be once you install centerboards etc.

I read an article about a guy in the US designing and building 20 foot performance tris. X-5 was the name of the boat in the article, looked very sporty and fast, a pure sailing machine, but very possible to adapt a set of pedals for conversion to a human powered vessel. If you really are interested, I can leaf trough my collection of magazines and see if I can find it.




To try and get back on topic for the thread. It would be interesting to know wether the ply 4.9s have gained weight over time. A russian Tornado sailor told me they were replacing their wood tornados becouse they gained weight even if they were stored indoors during winter (this was in Siberia).

Thanks Rolf. I will google the X-5 and see what I can find. I'm not going to build one though! Too much time and money required. Maybe when I retire...

Hi All

Went down for a look today, unfortunately the series is not being held in the best conditions. Theres been hardly a breath of wind until 4pm, and then a scramble to get a race or two in. Apart from only one race where the breeze held on, all the days have been very similiar, with light and very shifty breeze.

I wasn't able to get out for some action shots unfortunately, but took a few photos of the boats on the beach and few general tech photos for myself.

Oh. And Gary your right, I wouldn't go back either, that beach is too much hard work!

Regards

Another beach shot

Noel Grellets Timber Taipan, Sail No 003, VENOM

Unusual colour, and Timber.

Finally ready to head for the start line.

Theres a few more I can post, but I'm going to bed now, its been a long day, original plan was to stay the night, but wife couldn't get the time off.

I will shrink them down a bit and post tomorrow.

The purple boat was one of 4 timber boats built around the same time from the same jig in about 1998. She has won at least 2 national titles (one with Ashby on board) from memory. One of its sisters also picked a nationals in a windy series in 2000.

Heres another of Noels VENOM

One of the Capricorns (Sorry about having to turn your head, I did rotate them through the camera software, but still on the side when resized on another program)

Hi All

I just wrote a pretty long post with lots of different information and lost my server at the wrong moment, I'm typing it all again, but I'll break it down. Some won't be interested in some of this but it general observation and conversation on the beach.

Dennis and Noel are both using StaMaster adjusters on their forestays as well as the shrouds, not that it probably matters just an observation.

There was a fair split of Goodall and Ashby Sails as well as others, Goodall seem to have the majority of the cat rigs and Ashby the sloops.

There were only 3 or 4 timber boats, but I'm told theres another 4 being put together now and should be ready for the Victorian State Titles.

Speaking of which, The Vic Titles were to be held at the Port Melbourne Yacht Club, however this has changed, the likely location to be Yarrawonga on the Anzac weekend.

All boats, except two, carried Proctor spreaders.

Most had the first series of rod push down rudders and about half a dozen had the latest push downs.

Noels boat was the only one there with the original centreboards (13 inch wide).

Dennis Bakers boat has the deck sweeper mast rotation arm, which I'm also going to incorporate, others had similiar setups but with IMO big ugly looking carbon wings instead of the single stainless arm.

Theres was talk of some people wanting to phase out the lightweight cat masts, because it seems to be what the winners carry, but you can't but them anymore, so surely they are already being phased out. I believe I bought the last one from a fella, that bought a spare section before the discontinued them.

I noticed quite a few A Class in the Yacht Club yard, were using a Ronstan shroud adjuster that has fine adjustment, retailing for around $28 here, a cheaper alternative to the StaMasters.

Recieved my Carbon Fibre spreaders from CST composites the other day, am now custom making a collar for the mast, the adjusters included with the spreaders are not long enough for the wing masts, so I've ordered proctor adjusters for a bit more length.

The breeze here at home seems a little stronger than yesterday, so they might not have to spend the day waiting on the beach.

Regards

Hi Matt,

it's not just the sand on the beach that is hard work, it's hard work on the water as well <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />, particularly when winds are light. Arthurs seat (hill close by) sucks <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />.

Mind you the 125 dinghies holding Nats at Paynesville are also having trouble <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />, winds up to 30kts every day bar one so far. They have been starting at 8.30 am to get races in before the wind. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Regards Gary.

Hi all,

final result are up, in the sloop rigs first 3 are glass boats not sure about others. Both 1st. and 3rd. normaly sail with kite so going without hasn't slowed them down much <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. Would be great to see them sailing in Zandoort, but I don't like the chances <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />.

Pardon my ignorance, but I don't know the cat rig winner, second place is Dennis(multiple Nats winner)which is one of the newer boats carbon rudders etc. same as second in sloops.

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

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

Hi All

Gary, First in the cat rig is George Hooper, he sails out of Port Melbourne, told me earlier last year (2006) that he was going to give it one last, all mighty effort to knock Dennis and Noel off the top. Job Done.

The only timber sloop was Paul Campbells boat called, wait for it, 'Twice Bitten' <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />, But he didn't do to well, coming in last, but in all fairness its his first year as a sloop.

The other timber boats were Noel, The light purple coloured boat and I think there was another, but I didn't look at every boat.

Dennis boat was new for the Nationals last year, out of the newer mould (seam up the middle) Sail No 326.

Poor old Luke Donovan from Portland was running well early on, but even he will admit, light winds muck him up. So has to settle for 5th Again!.

Regards

I note W Lyon on AUS93 won the cats. I have not heard of this guy. Is he relatively new to the class? A Victorian?

Young Goodall sailed a very consistent series given the conditions. Worst place was a dropped 5th. Yet, on aggregate he still finished 5th.

Once again an obviously high class, competitive series in both the cats and sloops. The sort of competition that Wouter and co. can only dream of.

P>

Thanks for posting again Phile, I wouldn't have looked again, I thought it was all over at the nine race mark.

Warwick Lyon has been floating around near the top for a couple of years, so good on him. George will be upset, pippd by Dennis again. Noel back in 4th.

I'll have to ring Luke Donovan again now and congratulate him on 6th, instead of my last message that said 5th. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Regards

Thanks for a excellent report. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Any larger pics available on the following?

Hi All

These are the Ronstan sidestay adjusters as seen on several A Classes, Ronstan No RF2331, 17 adjustments in 4mm increments.

Dennis Bakers deck sweeper rotation.

Dennis Bakers AUS 326, out the latest mould and the Carbon Stocks.

StaMaster adjusters on the forestay.

Just a shot of the proctor spreaders, most will know what they're looking at.

Great photo's thanks! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

BTW - Do the Ronstan sidestay adjusters have any advantage over the StaMasters?

Nice.. also check out the wind reading instrument in place of the jib. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Interesting, but how are adjustments made and where does the line run? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

The line runs through a eyelet in the tramp, which you can probably see, then out to the sides, up through another eyelet (one each side), to cleats just forward of the centrecases.

Fairly popular on A Classes and the Blade I believe.

Taipans have slowly been changing over, but only really when they refit a new mast or replace something else, tend to swap over while their at it.

Regards

The Ronstan stay adjusters only advantage I suppose is that there cheaper, about $28 each over here, I recently got given a price for StaMasters $115 each, (but I haven't shopped around either and I can't see how they could be that much). They weigh 65 grams, that would be a around half of the StaMasters (I'm only guessing).

Regards