New F16 getting wet in New England

New F16 sailor, been sailing cats for 25 plus years. Little, quick and fun. So far I like. Neat how the light quick little f16 is so responsive, really quickly lets you know when something is wrong or if you make an adjusted in a positive way. Should be fun learn more.
[img]https://picasaweb.google.com/109312332910969220765/May62012?locked=true#5739559116565710754[/img]

https://picasaweb.google.com/109312332910969220765/May62012?locked=true#5739562260629630194

Wecome to the club mr Chackett,

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Can you fix that ?

Hey Craig it looks great! Welcome to the Uni addicted F16 crowd! I told you the steering is 'quick', I've nearly thrown myself off the back, doing a fast gybe, many times!

When I'm out playing in light air I usually run the jib too, it's so easy with the self tacker and the litte extra oomph it gives me going upwind when trapping is marginal really helps. Is 'Mom' going to let your daughter crew for you?

What lake is that and how cold was the water? I know you guys had a mild winter up in NH, so maybe it wasn't too cold?

It was 93 down here today, but no wind on my lake. I hope the weather is good to you this summer, and you'd better plan on brining that down here in January for Tradewinds!

I think this is indeed what most of us like so much about these boats. Very good to hear that sailing it gives you this feeling too !

I hopes that she continues to give you lot of enjoyment over the years.

Additinally, Tim is right about the jib. I find it also helps staying in the groove better in light winds also because it is easier to sail of the jib then the tell tales.

Fair win(d)s !

Wouter

That was lake Winnipesaukee, water temp 49. Sat around all day Saturday with no wind, it filled in just before sunset for 45 min of good sailing. I got on the boat with life jacket, no harness and no wet suit.
One interesting thing, with the rocker in the hull design the bow is really up in light air sailing solo. With the Spinnaker and flying the hull, while sitting on the windward hull I was getting wet from the leeward hull bow slapping the water, as if riding up on top of it. This was in flat water, 8 or 10 knot breeze. For years sailing a Nacra 6.0 and 5.5 who's designs cut through the water rather then ride up on top this was interesting. Is this faster? not sure. I think this design will be challenging to figure out what technique is fast.
Yes Tim, the girls will be on the boat soon. I am sure before long they will be pointing out how I overstood the layline or am stalling the main.

That last sentence has me laughing pretty hard!

Kids today!

As I tell my daughter when she starts with that...

"I KNOW IT, now Shut up and get that kite up!"

On the going upwind while uni thing, I actually have two hiking sticks, a longer one for when I'm sailing Uni, as I am often trapping up near the front beam, and a shorter one for two up, when the driver is more aft. You'll see that on the shorter hulls, how far forward you go really makes much more difference than on the 18 and 20 foot hulls. And you CAN be too far foreward!

I've pitchpolled going upwind! Coming into A mark I got a good puff that was also a lift, so I bore off to the new lay line while accelerating...but forgot to move my weight back, and before I could take a step to the rear, to 'fix it' the low hull was under and I was going over! So when you are out there by yourself and it's gusty, be ready to jump towards the back when you get a good puff, BEFORE you bear off, upwind and down.

Maybe that's why they added more rocker? So when you move to the rear a foot or two, the hulls pop up more? Oh, and because the boat is so light, you can also tea-bag yourself when that puff suddenly dies!

Ahhh...lake sailing!

Craig,

Great to see you have the new boat on the water! I am the fleet captain for the Eastern Area F18 fleet and we will have a couple F16s sailing at our events this summer if you are interested in joining us. Check out http://www.naf18.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65&Itemid=98 for our summer schedule and a link to our facebook page. Would love to check out the boat in person, got to see a couple at the Thai Cat regatta, but didn't get to sail one!

Best,
Jeff Dusek

Eastern Area F18

Craig, we are going to miss you in the f18 fleet!! Hope we still get to see you at a few regattas.