F-16 NA

ok so from what i hear next year the GC will possible be here in the US. Now i think i remember it has to be 12 months notice for it so that the GC can not be till at earliest around this time next year. So what about a possible North Americas in the spring? Could maybe look at doing it in conjunction with one of the other regattas (the invatational in Gulfport, or maybe Spring Fever since it is a little closer for our northern sailors), or a whole separate event. Anyone intrested?

Hey Jody. Thanks for getting this started. The only drawback to SF is the breeze, everything else there is top notch. The GYC invitational is attractive because its a warm place to go during the late winter. Attractive to people coming from europe. Ed

Now hold on... Spring Fever has had some windless wonders but for the past serveral years overall the wind as been pretty darn decent. IMO you couldn't go wrong with either location GYC or SF.

Yes Tim, I'm leaving now.

The nice thing about SF is it is a 3 day event and on a holiday weekend. As for Gulfport, that is great sailing and a cool location, and I guess a majority of the blades in the country are in the florida area so would be more convient for them. But do think a regular 2 day event for something we are calling a NA might be a little short. but not sure at this point if more then 3 days would be well enough atteneded? Just some ideas I am throwing around. We will be at both events so matters little really, but to me the idea of saying something is a NA makes the class sound that much better to someone who is looking in and considering.

Man, SF is C-O-L-D!!

Okay, it got chilly one time and if hadn't been so cold we would not have bought those kick a$$ posom hats Krantz was selling. We still had great sailing and better stories.

I'm not trying to sell SF over GYC both are great venues but geeze don't dog an event you don't attend.

Since SF is midway between the Ohio/Michigan F17's and the Florida F16's... It's a perfect spot to compete against each other!

Many clubs will add an extra day of racing for a championship event... Perhaps GP could do that and give the cold weather sailors a really good reason to go south... a three day championship in florida in the winter! If the third day is a full on day of sailing.. you could get a 10 race NA's in the books.

I vote (not that this is a vote) for GYC.
Or, how about Lake St Clair? Anyone ever thought of that? No, of course not. Why leave it out? ya'll can crash at my place <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

ok how about GYC 3 day NA event (you florida guys think we can do that?) and SF as a combo F16/F17 straight up event?
Then Patrick would love to look at St. Claire for maybe mid summer when it is so damn hot here, not much sailing? would be another good f16/17 competition. Could be fun.

I was being a little sarcastic about Lake St clair. Since my blade lived in Fl, it is actually easier for me to get to SF or GYC with it anyway. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Would be interesting to have a F16/N17 SmackDown up here. Could even label it as such!

Either way ready your scedules for next year!


GYC has offered to host the 2009 Global Challenge. They are confirming dates with the city and a formal proposal will be sent to the F16 Council shortly for their approval.
This will most likely be in the Fall next year (Early Nov. likely)

The next most attended event is likely SF. It is a 3 day event and somewhat closer to many than Florida. I am sure it would be possible to generate a large enough attendance to designate the event as a regional, mid-winters, or even as a Nationals. Many fleets around the globe have 3 or even 2 day National level events, and many also combine these within other larger attended races. If we choose to run an event within an event, it would need to be worked out with the SF organizers (not a big problem) and anounced soon to give those a distance away a chance of arranging their schedule so that they may be able to attend. The only issue with that tact is that a titled event would need a start for the F16s. This would preclude being able to fun together with 17s, 18s or even the 20s. I like the big starts personally. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I won't be investing in a dry suit. But if it seems like wet suit weather, I'd like to give SF a try.

Did they get any water in the Lake? What are conditions typically like?

Just a note from last years schedule snafu.

The Gulfport regatta (2 days) and spring fever (3 days) were back to back last year. This forced sailors to choose between them.

Spring Fever is always easter weekend... (which moves around) so the need to plan. Pre planning could get max attendance at both events.

while 2 years ago SF was freezing most of the time a wetsuit is ok. Since the F18s have their regional championship or such then, i do not think we would get to play with them anyway. So lets do it and get the SF titled as either midwinters or nationals and start getting people there.
And as for water we sailed there 2 weeks ago and it was ok, there is just a lot more beach.

You can pencil me in, at least tentatively. I really, really, really don't like cold weather, so if it's much below 50. . .

The GYC "120" rule is much more to my liking. If air and water temp. don't equal 120, no racey!

Pete, can we move that rule up to 150? 75/75 works better for me... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

LOL

If the water is frozen, or the daggerboards will not fit in the cases as there is too much frost; then it's too cold to go sailing.

Who has the video of that guy wind surfing in Germany (or Switzerland maybe)?

Two feet of snow on the ground, has to wade through broken ice to get to open water! Brrrrr!!

But seriously, what's a reasonable rule for that part of the Country. Assuming just a wet suit.

Pete, you are talking about the Spring Fever regatta, right? It depends on when exactly Easter falls next year, March or April? It can be 40 one day and 70 the next, that time of year, but the water is not going to be -warm- in any case.

I can't make it because it is always on Easter weekend and I will be home with the family then.

Take a strole through the photo galleries of years past, they are all there. This will give you an idea of what people are and are not wearing, and yes people have been known to go swimming because it was getting hot! If you can handle Tradewinds you can handle SF... except for Timbo he appears to be a bit more delicate than most.

Of all the years we've attend SF my wife has worn a dry suit once (07)

http://www.twinhulls.com/

It isn't the temperature that bothers me... I don't sail enough to let cold temps keep me off the water! However, since I am too cheap to buy a drysuit (funny though, how I spend money on everythin else just fine) if it is too cold for a full wetsuit and a spray suit on top then I guess I am not sailing.

I would be more concerned about the lack of consistent wind at SF... but then again you could say that about most events.

David, can we take your interest in the F16 class as a prelude to you getting on an F16? :-)

I popped for a Drysuit and am really happy with the investment. I recommend it ... just like needing beachwheels.

I did fine last year with a 3/2 or is it 2/3mm wetsuit and a spray suit. I guess the simplicity of just a drysuit would be nice. I tried to order a drysuit a couple months ago from overstockmarine.com but it was a nightmare. They took the payment and despite multiple emails, it took them forever to tell me that it was sold but had forgotten to take the listing off... THANKS! and then I got an email saying I was a great customer and paid quickly! Just my experience - and the same exact experience of a friend who tried to get one too.

hahahahah This made me LOL. Dave just picked up a brand spanking new shiny Infusion.

Dave, you know what a Girly Man I have turned into since moving south! Now, if I can't be comfortable in shorts and a T shirt, I'm not really interested in doing it...but still the family at Easter will keep me away from SF. If I were single, I would go just for the party and just not sail if it were too cold. I did go up there once, with Tom, about 5 years ago (ask Wouter, he was there, it was the First F16 bash I think) and camped out, froze my butt off until the thunderstorms came, then I got soaked.

Good thing Nigel put on a great party, so I hardly noticed the weather! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, I got swamped in my tent in 2002 as well. Not a nice weekend and it was cold and I'm from 52 degrees latitute.

Tim you were still on the 18HT with the homemade snuffer that year !

Excellent party at Nigels though !

Wouter

Wouter, yes, that was great fun, and as soon as I can get the two youngest kids out of the house I'll be back.

Pete, if money is no object, get a good dry suit. Much easier to get into and out of than a wet suit and much warmer too. If, like me, you don't want to spend the money on a dry suit you might only wear once a year, spend half as much on a good wet suit, and you can wear it diving for Lobster in the keys too. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'm satisfied with my wet suit, which I use maybe 3-4 times a year. A drysuit? Not happening! Somethimes it's just too cold. T, you may remember last year at the GW Birthday thing in Eustis.

Yes and I had my drysuit and was comfy wearing just a light fleece underneath in those conditions. most of the time I have on baggies and a t-shirt.

That was Saturday, when I was comfortable in a wet suit. I'm refering to the following Sunday, when no one sailed.

p _ ssies!

You were one of them. . . us! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

my stroke leaves me with selective memory.

Speaking of which, how you doin'?