Wave Nationals shaping up great!!

So far we have 27 boats coming to the 10th Annual Wave Nationals, and those are just the people we KNOW about. There are probably others who haven't let us know or are still on the fence. (Don't pay attention to the pre-registration list on the web site, because hardly anybody has signed up there.)

The regatta gets under way at the Upper Keys Sailing Club in Key Largo on Thursday with warm-up racing in the afternoon and a welcome party with great hors doovers on Thursday evening.

The weather forecast looks great -- 10-15 knots out of the east-northeast, which will be kind of offshore on Buttonwood Sound, bay side of the Keys. Great wind and flat water!

Weather is supposed to be sunny all weekend with high temperature of 81 degrees. A Chamber of Commerce weekend!

The Sailing Club just completely resurfaced and renovated their beach with lots of nice, soft sand.

Lots of food at this regatta -- hot lunches Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All three days there will be a minimal breakfast available of fruit, juice and coffee for light eaters and late risers. And of course, the pig and turkey roast Saturday night.

Trophies are beautiful -- and very USEFUL -- 12 of them in all, with different types of trophies in all categories: Open, Masters (55 and over), Women, and Youth.

For all the information, go to http://www.catsailor.com/waves/wave_nationals.html

The 10th Annual Wave Nationals may be the best ever, especially with the great infrastructure at the Upper Keys Sailing Club.

Hope some of you decide to come at the last minute. There are still a few boats available to charter. Call Barb Short at her cell phone, 305-240-0937.

(Registration will be Thursday evening and Friday morning, with skippers meeting at 11 a.m. Friday, so you still have time to get here.)

If you decide to come, call me at 305-451-3287 or 305-393-7241 (cell), or, preferably, e-mail me at [email]mary@catsailor.com.[/email]

P.S. If anybody needs to camp, we have lots of room at our place, which is only five minutes from the venue, and there are showers at the club.

Sorry, I had a typo in Barb's cell number. I have corrected it in the original post, but just to make sure you have it right, it is 305-240-0937.

Any news? Stories?

I wish I could be there! I'll definitely make it to Put-in-Bay next summer. I hope it's the same itinerary, with a Wave seminar before-hand.

Bill

Results? Photos?

Patience! It will be on the catsailor.com home page very soon.

Paul Garlick won Wave Nationals for the third time -- and he is not even a Wave sailor! He's just a really great racer on anything with a sail. Last year's champ, Patrick Green, came in second.

Wind and weather conditions were wonderful. Well, wait until Rick posts his story and pictures.

Story and pix up on Welcome, News Headline Page at www.catsailor.com, or click the Catsailor logo on the upper left corner.
Rick

Thanks Rick and Mary! It looks like a great time was had by all. I can't wait to join in on the fun at Put-in-Bay next summer.

Unfortunately, my boat is all Put-a-Way for the winter (snow forecast tonight), so I think I'm suffering from withdrawl symptoms; but I'll be in Florida for two weeks in February at a resort that has Waves, so I'll get a little dose of sailing then.

I was interested in the photos of different people's sailing techniques and positions. My 2006 model has the short EZ Lock tiller arms, with the crossbar behind the sheet. Does that become a factor when sailing against older boats which allow you to move farther forward? (I suppose you cover that sort of thing in your seminar, which I should have attended!)

Bill

Results?

Personally, I prefer the older system. The rudder heads are more firm and don't bend as much in heavy air.
Steve Abbey bought a new boat with the new system and converted to the old rudder system and it works.
It is true you cannot get as far forward with the new system, but on the other hand you can get much farther aft and out on a screaming reach.
Each has its pros and cons.

We will be working at getting a bunch of regatta put together this year, i.e.,
North Americans TBA
East Coast Championships TBA
North Coast Championships TBA
South Coast Championships TBA
Midwest Championships TBA
Atlantic Coast Championships TBA

These events all have probable venues and now we need to settle on dates. So, stay tuned,
Rick

Thanks Rick!

I'm looking forward to joining in on the events this year.

We have had tremendous winds here in Indiana for the last several weeks. Too bad the lake is mostly frozen over! (Why can't we get winds like that in the warmer months?)

Bill

Do you know Paul (Skip) Kaub? He is from Indy and sails on Eagle Res. (I remember Mary and I used to race there on Hobie 18s in the early 80s).
Skip came to my seminar and sailed the Nationals this year. He is thinking of getting several Waves to sail in the area for his family and friends.
And, we would like to sanction a Wave Midwestern Championship (or something of that nature) there this year or next.
If you don't know him, you ought to contact him.
Rick

I don't know Skip, but I looked him up on the Eagle Creek Sailing Club website, and saw that he has a Getaway there. I'll give him a call about his interest in Waves.

I sail out of the Indianapolis Sailing Club on Geist Reservoir, on the other side of town. ISC used to have an active Hobie fleet, but no more. I know I have the only Wave. Eagle Creek is probably a better Hobie lake, as Geist is narrow and S-shaped, but ISC has better facilities for hosting a big event. We have hosted several Regionals and Nationals for our fleets in recent years, and even some Nationals for fleets we don't have: Buccaneers, Int'l Canoes, and DN Iceboats. I was involved with the Interlake fleet when we hosted their Nationals in 2005; it was a big success. If you want to give ISC and Geist a try, I can be your contact man. The club's website is www.indianapolissailing.org

Whichever is the best location is up to you. But, between the two of you guys you should be able to get some good Wave sailing going. That is how we got the thing going at PIB and Key Largo, now both have over 10 boat racing twice a week, and getting in 60-70 races per season -- got to make you better.
Rick