Just back from HUGE long weekend at the Wildcat Regatta Forster. Aprox 70 cats attended in all, biggest fleets where Hobie 16’s, A’s and Taipans. I was the only F16 racing for the first time on the Formula Catamarans Australia Blade, in the fast mixed fleet consisting of 4 F18’s, 3 Cat Rig Taipans, Tornado, Super Taipan & Nacra5.8. All classes sailed windward and return courses around the same buoys, keeping your eyes open was important, for other boats and the shallow water and weed. Two days, 3 races where sailed in gusty winds of aprox 25 kts. coming off the hills, not the normal wind direction according to the locals. One day 3 races sailed in max of 15 kts. from the ocean side.
The high lights where in order, leading the fleet round the first mark in race 4, after holding out the Super Taipan all the way up the first beat after starting lowest on the line. Placing first over the line after battling with the Nacra Infusion F18 for 2 laps in race 5. Having my first capsizes in race 6 with gusts estimated to 30 kts.? But most of all placing Second in the mixed division on Yardstick, with the F16 of 71 and F18 of 70 it was only the Super Taipan and Tornado that gave me much time, so most races my over the line placing was much the same as my Yardstick result, with mainly Fourths and a First and Second.
The Nacra F18 Infusion won my div. with a more consistent performance than any other boat in the div. finishing every race near the front. Full results and pics to come, when they are sent through. The music till 2am and the 12 hour plus drive home has finished me off, time for bed.
Have attached a photo of the local wildlife, outside the club showers.
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Re: OZ Widcat regatta Run and Won.
[Re: ]
#119001 10/02/0707:33 AM10/02/0707:33 AM
Well done. Great result for F16 in your first regatta with the new Blade. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Did the Blade generate allot of interest ?
From your description of the 1st beat in race 4 it sounds like the Blade points like an "A" class cat. Is that true ? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />
Can't wait to see the pics.
Hope to see you at Somers with the Blade sometime soon.
Regards,
Peter
Mosquito 1814 Macka Mozzie
Re: OZ Widcat regatta Run and Won.
[Re: ]
#119002 10/02/0708:01 AM10/02/0708:01 AM
yes lots of people looked at the boat and commented on quality of build especialy for the first boat and how good the Graphics look. Spent lots of time answering questions and explaining that it is Australian designed and built, many thought it was imported.
Hope to be at Somers soon, but no promises, tell Tornado Dave that many said hello.
Re: OZ Widcat regatta Run and Won.
[Re: ]
#119007 10/02/0708:41 PM10/02/0708:41 PM
no beer bought I am to poor <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. Besides there where many other capsizes most caught on tape, the Capricorn would have been buying if anybody did. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
Re: OZ Widcat regatta Run and Won.
[Re: ]
#119008 10/03/0711:40 AM10/03/0711:40 AM
"Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda "Excuses are the tools of the weak and incompetent" - Two sista's I overheard in the hall "You don't have to be a brain surgeon to be a complete idiot, but it helps"
Re: OZ Widcat regatta Run and Won.
[Re: David Ingram]
#119009 10/03/0712:45 PM10/03/0712:45 PM
sorry to get back on thread <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />, but I have attached copy of results with elapsed times etc. Just scroll down to Misc 2 for individual heats.
Oops as usual file is the wrong format. Won't work as attachment. I will try another way.
Not intending to hijack the thread or anything, just out of quriosity, how did the super-taipan compare pure speed-wise to the other boats, especially the Tornado?
That blade sure is one sexy boat, looks very fast!
Re: OZ Widcat regatta Run and Won.
[Re: jimi]
#119013 11/03/0707:20 PM11/03/0707:20 PM
I have raced the Super Taipan and I can tell you it is very quick. In 15 knots and under, the Big T does not stand a chance. Over 15 and the T closes the gap. On my first race on it, I ran it low and fast on the first upwind and lost a lot of ground to the Tornadoes and F18s. Caught up to the back of the F18s on the downwind with the Tornado 1/3 of a leg upwind. As we rounded the bottom mark sailed straight under throgh the lee of several F18s, cranked on the main tighter and tighter whilst pointing higher and gained hight on the F18s. The boat started to point like an A Class but with more speed. We quickley caught and past The Tornado racing the same lines and sent it very deep downwind.
The Super Taipan displays excellent speed and hight upwind, whilsy sailes much deeper then the Tornado with the same speed downwind.
By the way, nice Capricorn nosedive on that DVD
Re: OZ Widcat regatta Run and Won.
[Re: Tim_Mozzie]
#119014 11/04/0706:50 AM11/04/0706:50 AM
Where? We are not watching the same vid or being opportunistic in analysis of 5 secs. The A to me is coming in on the layline, the Blade to me looks as though it has overstood and is reaching in. I wasn't at this regatta this year, but correct me if I am wrong (competitors this year at Forster please provide this info), but normally in the past there aren't any reaches at Forster, it is all w/l's the ones I have sailed at.
If you overstand, then reaching in like that you will be faster. But that does mean the Blade should have been ahead, but did they have same start, which lap etc etc. Can't draw anything from a 5 sec vid but say, "I wish I was there"...
Re: OZ Widcat regatta Run and Won.
[Re: taipanfc]
#119017 11/04/0708:34 PM11/04/0708:34 PM
I was at Forster this year and it was one of the best of the last 25 years. Taipanfc is spot on with his surmising about the clip. The complete DVD is great and well done by the Wildcat organisors. I was in the race and just behind that part of the clip. No reaches - all W/L's and Stevie Brewin on the A was coming up to the windward mark on the layline. The Blade had overlaid the mark and was footing in. Incidentally, the Blade was in a different start group from the A's and was a lap behind as they started later. It's a great looking boat and very well built. I believe it is futile to make too many comparisons with A's as it's different concept of boat with a totally different sail plan. I don't think Gary will ever suggest that he could beat Stevie on a beam reach with the main only. Anyway, the Blade is a lovely boat and certainly a step forward from the ex-Purple Helmet A he modified to be an F16. It was an ex-AHPC prototype and a bit of a dog downwind in A format. I sailed it in a Victrian State Titles and it was great upwind and off the pace downhill - bit of nostalgia there!
Sail hard and have fun. John Dowling A Class AUS 917 Stingray 589 (and love to get an F24)
Re: OZ Widcat regatta Run and Won.
[Re: ACE11]
#119018 11/04/0708:53 PM11/04/0708:53 PM
sorry I wasn't around to answer Wouters exuberance myself, yes I had overlayed mark and after a capsize and my division starting 5 minutes behind the A, I was a lap down.
But it was nice to be caught on camera at speed <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />. Probably the best part of that race for me, I estimated it gusted to 30kts. Some bits of the video show a F18 Capricorn cartwheeling then getting blown around whilst capsized. Also a A class getting nearly lifted out of the water upwind <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />.