Catamaran Sailor Magazine

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Bob Curry wins the Hobie Wave Perpetual and the first place keeper trophy, which is an ironic weather station. Perfect, as Bob is a weatherman for the Air Force.

It is all over but the rejoicing and shouting. Bob Curry really got the hang of the boat and won the last six races in a row (8 bullets out of 12 races overall -- not bad, eh?!?!?!?) to easily walk away from the competition. He once again proved to be the Master of the Uni-Rig. Curry finished with only 15 points overall, 28 points ahead of second place finisher, Dan Kulkoski.

In the previous two years, the Champs could only muster up 2 bullets each but did sail very consistently. This year sets a record for first-place finishes in a series.

The last day of racing again had winds over 10 mph with small chop. And nearly every race it was Bob Curry working his way to the weather mark in first place and then walking away from everyone from that point on.

Going into the last day, however, Scott Hubel (defending Wave Champ) was four points ahead of Kulkoski. But Kulkoski sailed extremely well with steady finishes in the top 5. That sealed his 2nd place position. Meanwhile, Brian Lambert also had some late and great finishes to move into 3rd place overall, pushing Hubel back into 4th.

Curry has lead at the leeeward mark in the last race. Here, Dave White (white sail), Brian Lambert (pink) and Kirk Newkirk (clear) were close behind

Paul Garlick had a couple of bad races and slipped into 5th, followed by Kathy Kulkoski and Kirk Newkirk (1st year Champ)

Women's Nationals
Kathy Kulkoski successfully defended her National Title from last year finishing nearly 50 points ahead of Kathryn Garlick, and taking a 6th place overall in the Open Class. Newcomer to the class and many times Hobie 18 Women's National Champ, Kitsy Amrhein took the 3rd spot trophy home.

Laura Young, defending Youth Champ reaches past a competitor

Junior Nationals
Laura Young also defended her National Title in a come-from-behind fashion. Half way through the regatta she had slipped to a distant 2nd spot, with Tommy Fruitticher well ahead in the standings. Harry Newkirk was nipping close at her heels.

The last day things swung around. Newkirk had some great finishes, but so did Young. Meanwhile Fruitticher had three finishes back in the pack.

It all melted down to Young again taking the Youth Nationals by nearly 30 points, with Newkirk taking the second spot. Fruitticher slipped into 3rd spot

There were not many holes in the crowded starting lines. 64 aggressive sailors crowded each line, yet there were only two General Recalls.

Masters Nationals
You have to be 55 years old to get into this class. And you should know that being a little older also makes you a little smarter. The smartest of them all was class newcomer George Boone who finished far ahead of any of the other Masters, and just one point out of the Open Championship Trophies in 8th place.

Defending Champ, Stan Woodruff, settled for 2nd spot, with Nelson Wright taking 3rd

Good Sportsmanship
There unfortunately was no award for this particular heroism, but just before the start of the first race on Sunday, Stan Woodruff's rig fell down. A ring pin on his sidestay was the culprit and he had no replacement. Several boats came circling around to help, but it was NAHCA (North American Hobie Cat Assn.) President, Nigel Pitt that pulled out a clevis pin and circlip and leaped from his Wave to Woodruffs. The two of them were still putting up the rig on the water while the sequence was already into the Blue Prep Flag (less than 5 minutes to the start). Meanwhile, Rick White on a crash boat was tending to Pitt's Wave.

Finally with only two minutes remaining, Pitt got back on his boat and off they went. By the way both Woodruff and Pitt nailed the pin-end and had great starts. All to no avail, however, as that particular start was a General Recall.

Kudos to all that helped out, especially Nigel Pitt.

Dave White forgot his PFD, so borrowed one of those funky Mae West jackets from the RC boat. Very stylish!

Ohio Wave-lover, Kathy Clark checks the wind between races.

Final Results:

Name	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Total	T/O	Net	Pos
Curry, Bob	1	2	14	3	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	29	-14	15	1
Kulkoski, Dan	2	4	4	4	1	10	3	15	3	5	4	3	58	-15	43	2
Lambert, Brian	7	7	1	6	7	13	2	11	2	2	6	2	66	-13	53	3
Hubel, Scott	5	3	2	2	18	3	5	2	5	8	23	22	98	-23	75	4
Garlick, Paul	12	1	3	9	6	17	7	4	8	33	7	14	121	-33	88	5
Kulkoski, Kathy	6	14	6	1	42	19	12	12	10	15	2	6	145	-42	103	6
Newkirk, Kirk	8	5	17	8	23	7	9	7	6	12	29	7	138	-29	109	7
Boone, George	3	32	11	28	4	16	8	8	4	13	5	65	197	-65	132	8
Pitt, Nigel	30	6	5	15	14	4	11	6	9	28	22	65	215	-65	150	9
Garlick, Kathryn	4	17	9	11	38	9	21	19	12	19	11	23	193	-38	155	10
Trinque, Charlie	9	22	10	18	13	47	24	16	33	9	13	5	219	-47	172	11
Carr, Brian	10	21	7	12	35	14	6	17	11	39	9	37	218	-39	179	12
Wirth, Matt	45	10	20	16	5	18	29	5	17	11	32	17	225	-45	180	13
White, Dave	29	12	22	5	10	2	4	18	23	65	65	4	259	-65	194	14
Williams, John	16	19	39	65	21	22	23	9	24	14	8	14	274	-65	209	15
Fahle, Mike	11	11	15	34	36	25	16	33	22	18	18	8	247	-36	211	16
Stater, Chris	25	46	26	7	22	29	10	37	7	20	16	12	257	-46	211	17
Hildreth, Jack	31	16	38	39	3	8	18	34	30	4	17	16	254	-39	215	18
Woodruff, Stan	14	65	19	27	24	24	31	28	26	6	10	18	292	-65	227	19
Young, Laura	43	18	21	10	19	49	28	36	14	7	21	20	286	-49	237	20
Shafer, Alex	22	20	40	30	25	11	22	3	18	65	24	29	309	-65	244	21
Newsome, Jeff	26	39	49	44	26	12	15	13	31	10	34	11	310	-49	261	22
Amrhein, Kitsy	17	15	23	14	33	26	56	22	27	35	19	34	321	-56	265	23
Newkirk, Harry	48	31	41	20	17	20	35	53	35	3	3	13	319	-53	266	24
Wright, Nelson	18	23	13	31	12	31	37	21	32	22	27	44	311	-44	267	25
Fruitticher, Tommy	35	28	8	42	31	5	13	27	15	44	31	38	317	-44	273	26
Leonard, Craig	15	33	16	45	16	65	14	29	19	21	65	9	347	-65	282	27
Sawyer, Chris	33	65	29	19	27	30	17	24	13	17	12	65	351	-65	286	28
Short, Chip	32	8	35	33	32	21	33	30	39	30	25	28	346	-39	307	30
Short, Barb	41	26	30	13	29	6	44	54	44	27	28	19	361	-54	307	29
Williams, Dan	20	45	12	38	15	42	26	43	20	34	33	30	358	-45	313	31
Richardson, Terry	24	34	27	29	30	54	19	40	25	31	14	65	392	-65	327	32
Glanden, Jim	19	36	34	22	34	40	39	50	37	25	26	27	389	-50	339	33
Voehl, Courtney	23	53	24	40	11	43	38	26	21	47	42	25	393	-53	340	34
Caffee, Hollis	60	42	36	17	43	33	32	39	28	36	15	31	412	-60	352	35
Woodruff, Sharon	38	24	42	21	52	37	27	46	29	37	30	33	416	-52	364	36
Anderson, Dick	28	13	45	37	41	28	25	44	43	41	43	36	424	-45	379	37
Lima, Joao	21	43	52	41	20	55	20	48	50	23	40	26	439	-55	384	38
Hubel, Dior	49	29	32	47	57	51	36	32	16	49	41	10	449	-57	392	39
Rejda, Kevin	27	38	51	55	45	34	47	14	41	29	38	35	454	-55	399	40
Meroni, Jimmy	54	50	59	56	9	32	46	20	48	16	36	39	465	-59	406	41
Brown, Chuck	13	65	28	35	8	38	65	10	65	26	65	65	483	-65	418	42
Russell, Jack	47	25	46	65	39	36	41	41	49	46	35	21	491	-65	426	43
Villa, Pegi	56	47	37	24	47	46	57	51	34	43	20	24	486	-57	429	44
Brook, Bill	44	30	43	26	48	65	51	45	40	24	48	32	496	-65	431	45
Leo, Steve	34	9	33	25	40	27	49	42	45	65	65	65	499	-65	434	46
Williams, Glen	42	37	54	49	46	59	34	38	38	42	39	40	518	-59	459	47
Almeroth, Tim	39	49	44	51	50	44	40	31	36	51	37	43	515	-51	464	48
Freeman, Norm	40	27	18	23	65	15	65	23	65	65	65	65	536	-65	471	49
Szabo, Judi	36	41	47	36	54	35	45	57	52	32	65	45	545	-65	480	50
Sullivan, Dave	37	40	25	43	60	39	30	47	65	65	65	65	581	-65	516	51
Isco, Gordon	46	35	31	65	28	23	50	56	65	65	65	65	594	-65	529	52
Keysor, Clark	58	58	57	50	52	53	65	35	46	38	45	41	598	-65	533	53
Clark, Kathy	51	51	61	58	63	56	48	49	47	45	46	42	617	-63	554	54
Johnston, Fred	57	52	55	52	56	41	53	25	51	52	65	65	624	-65	559	55
Osborn, Jeff	53	55	56	53	58	48	52	58	53	50	50	46	632	-58	574	56
Caffee, Janet	61	44	48	32	44	45	65	65	65	40	65	65	639	-65	574	57
Chambers, Mary Lou	55	59	62	46	49	62	59	62	56	48	44	65	667	-65	602	58
Lindley, Ted	52	57	58	57	59	58	42	52	42	65	65	65	672	-65	607	59
White, Rick	50	48	53	48	37	52	65	65	65	65	65	65	678	-65	613	60
Cottingham, Tom	62	60	63	60	55	61	55	61	58	53	47	47	682	-63	619	61
Sawyer, Keith	63	54	50	54	61	57	43	55	54	65	65	65	686	-65	621	62
Stull, Bill	64	61	64	61	62	60	54	60	57	54	49	48	694	-64	630	63
Jolley, Bill	59	56	60	59	51	50	58	59	55	65	65	65	702	-65	637	64

Scott Hubel, defending National Champ, hung tight to take a 4 point lead over H17 National Champ Dan Kulkoski by the end of the day.

Scores after Nine Races:

Name	#	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Ttl	T/O	Score	Pos
Curry, Bob	57	1	2	14	3	2	1	1	1	1	26	-14	12	1
Hubel, Scott	62	5	3	2	2	18	3	5	2	5	45	-18	27	2
Kulkoski, Dan	40	2	4	4	4	1	10	3	15	3	46	-15	31	3
Lambert, Brian	58	7	7	1	6	7	13	2	11	2	56	-13	43	4
Garlick, Paul	2	12	1	3	9	6	17	7	4	8	67	-17	50	5
Newkirk, Kirk	34	8	5	17	8	23	7	9	7	6	90	-23	67	6
Pitt, Nigel	26	30	6	5	15	14	4	11	6	9	100	-30	70	7
Kulkoski, Kathy	41	6	14	6	1	42	19	12	12	10	122	-42	80	8
Boone, George	54	3	32	11	28	4	16	8	8	4	114	-32	82	9
White, Dave	22	29	12	22	5	10	2	4	18	23	125	-29	96	10
Carr, Brian	60	10	21	7	12	35	14	6	17	11	133	-35	98	11
Garlick, Kathryn	30	4	17	9	11	38	9	21	19	12	140	-38	102	12
Wirth, Matt	64	45	10	20	16	5	18	29	5	17	165	-45	120	13
Trinque, Charlie	32	9	22	10	18	13	47	24	16	33	192	-47	145	14
Shafer, Alex	15	22	20	40	30	25	11	22	3	18	191	-40	151	15
Fruitticher, Tommy	36	35	28	8	42	31	5	13	27	15	204	-42	162	16
Stater, Chris	21	25	46	26	7	22	29	10	37	7	209	-46	163	17
Fahle, Mike	9	11	11	15	34	36	25	16	33	22	203	-36	167	18
Williams, John	31	16	19	39	65	21	22	23	9	24	238	-65	173	19
Amrhein, Kitsy	13	17	15	23	14	33	26	56	22	27	233	-56	177	20
Hildreth, Jack	5	31	16	38	39	3	8	18	34	30	217	-39	178	21
Wright, Nelson	14	18	23	13	31	12	31	37	21	32	218	-37	181	22
Leonard, Craig	29	15	33	16	45	16	65	14	29	19	252	-65	187	23
Young, Laura	8	43	18	21	10	19	49	28	36	14	238	-49	189	24
Sawyer, Chris	50	33	65	29	19	27	30	17	24	13	257	-65	192	25
Woodruff, Stan	55	14	65	19	27	24	24	31	28	26	258	-65	193	26
Newsome, Jeff	46	26	39	49	44	26	12	15	13	31	255	-49	206	27
Williams, Dan	18	20	45	12	38	15	42	26	43	20	261	-45	216	28
Short, Chip	7	32	8	35	33	32	21	33	30	39	263	-39	224	29
Voehl, Courtney	53	23	53	24	40	11	43	38	26	21	279	-53	226	30
Richardson, Terry	11	24	34	27	29	30	54	19	40	25	282	-54	228	31
Short, Barb	12	41	26	30	13	29	6	44	54	44	287	-54	233	32
Newkirk, Harry	35	48	31	41	20	17	20	35	53	35	300	-53	247	33
Leo, Steve	44	34	9	33	25	40	27	49	42	45	304	-49	255	34
Anderson, Dick	49	28	13	45	37	41	28	25	44	43	304	-45	259	35
Glanden, Jim	23	19	36	34	22	34	40	39	50	37	311	-50	261	36
Brown, Chuck	24	13	65	28	35	8	38	65	10	65	327	-65	262	37
Woodruff, Sharon	51	38	24	42	21	52	37	27	46	29	316	-52	264	38
Caffee, Hollis	19	60	42	36	17	43	33	32	39	28	330	-60	270	39
Freeman, Norm	6	40	27	18	23	65	15	65	23	65	341	-65	276	40
Hubel, Dior	61	49	29	32	47	57	51	36	32	16	349	-57	292	41
Lima, Joao	59	21	43	52	41	20	55	20	48	50	350	-55	295	42
Rejda, Kevin	37	27	38	51	55	45	34	47	14	41	352	-55	297	43
Meroni, Jimmy	63	54	50	59	56	9	32	46	20	48	374	-59	315	44
Sullivan, Dave	17	37	40	25	43	60	39	30	47	65	386	-65	321	45
Russell, Jack	52	47	25	46	65	39	36	41	41	49	389	-65	324	46
Brook, Bill	4	44	30	43	26	48	65	51	45	40	392	-65	327	47
Almeroth, Tim	16	39	49	44	51	50	44	40	31	36	384	-51	333	48
Isco, Gordon	42	46	35	31	65	28	23	50	56	65	399	-65	334	49
Williams, Glen	20	42	37	54	49	46	59	34	38	38	397	-59	338	50
Villa, Pegi	1	56	47	37	24	47	46	57	51	34	399	-57	342	51
Szabo, Judi	27	36	41	47	36	54	35	45	57	52	403	-57	346	52
Johnston, Fred	3	57	52	55	52	56	41	53	25	51	442	-57	385	53
Caffee, Janet	48	61	44	48	32	44	45	65	62	65	466	-65	401	54
Keysor, Clark	56	58	58	57	50	52	53	65	35	46	474	-65	409	55
White, Rick	33	50	48	53	48	37	52	65	62	65	480	-65	415	56
Lindley, Ted	45	52	57	58	57	59	58	42	52	42	477	-59	418	57
Clark, Kathy	10	51	51	61	58	63	56	48	49	47	484	-63	421	58
Sawyer, Keith	39	63	54	50	54	61	57	43	55	54	491	-63	428	59
Osborn, Jeff	47	53	55	56	53	58	48	52	58	53	486	-58	428	59
Chambers, Mary Lou	25	55	59	62	46	49	62	59	61	56	509	-62	447	61
Jolley, Bill	43	59	56	60	59	51	50	58	59	55	507	-60	447	61
Cottingham, Tom	38	62	60	63	60	55	61	55	60	58	534	-63	471	63
Stull, Bill	28	64	61	64	61	62	60	54	62	57	545	-64	481	64

In winds ranging from 12-15 and with sunny skies, Bob Curry has a mere one point lead over last years winner of this great event, Scott Hubel. But this is no runaway for either sailor, as Dan Kulkoski, Paul Garlick, Kathy Kulkoski and Brian Lambert are all close at their heels and nipping.

Stay tuned for more:

Results after Day 1:

Name	#	Class	1	2	3	4	Total	T/O	Net	Pos
Curry, Bob	57	HOBW	1	2	14	3	20	-14	6	1
Hubel, Scott	62	HOBW	5	3	2	2	12	-5	7	2
Kulkoski, Dan	40	HOBW	2	4	4	4	14	-4	10	3
Garlick, Paul	2	HOBW	12	1	3	9	25	-12	13	4
Kulkoski, Kathy	41	HOBW	6	14	6	1	27	-14	13	4
Lambert, Brian	58	HOBW	7	7	1	6	21	-7	14	6
Newkirk, Kirk	34	HOBW	8	5	17	8	38	-17	21	7
Garlick, Kathryn	30	HOBW	4	17	9	11	41	-17	24	8
Pitt, Nigel	26	HOBW	30	6	5	15	56	-30	26	9
Carr, Brian	60	HOBW	10	21	7	12	50	-21	29	10
Fahle, Mike	9	HOBW	11	11	15	34	71	-34	37	11
Trinque, Charlie	32	HOBW	9	22	10	18	59	-22	37	11
White, Dave	22	HOBW	29	12	22	5	68	-29	39	13
Boone, George	54	HOBW	3	32	11	28	74	-32	42	14
Amrhein, Kitsy	13	HOBW	17	15	23	14	69	-23	46	15
Wirth, Matt	64	HOBW	45	10	20	16	91	-45	46	15
Young, Laura	8	HOBW	43	18	21	10	92	-43	49	17
Wright, Nelson	14	HOBW	18	23	13	31	85	-31	54	18
Stater, Chris	21	HOBW	25	46	26	7	104	-46	58	19
Woodruff, Stan	55	HOBW	14	62	19	27	122	-62	60	20
Leonard, Craig	29	HOBW	15	33	16	45	109	-45	64	21
Leo, Steve	44	HOBW	34	9	33	25	101	-34	67	22
Freeman, Norm	6	HOBW	40	27	18	23	108	-40	68	23
Short, Barb	12	HOBW	41	26	30	13	110	-41	69	24
Williams, Dan	18	HOBW	20	45	12	38	115	-45	70	25
Fruitticher, Tommy	36	HOBW	35	28	8	42	113	-42	71	26
Shafer, Alex	15	HOBW	22	20	40	30	112	-40	72	27
Short, Chip	7	HOBW	32	8	35	33	108	-35	73	28
Williams, John	31	HOBW	16	19	39	62	136	-62	74	29
Glanden, Jim	23	HOBW	19	36	34	22	111	-36	75	30
Brown, Chuck	24	HOBW	13	62	28	35	138	-62	76	31
Anderson, Dick	49	HOBW	28	13	45	37	123	-45	78	32
Richardson, Terry	11	HOBW	24	34	27	29	114	-34	80	33
Sawyer, Chris	50	HOBW	33	62	29	19	143	-62	81	34
Woodruff, Sharon	51	HOBW	38	24	42	21	125	-42	83	35
Hildreth, Jack	5	HOBW	31	16	38	39	124	-39	85	36
Voehl, Courtney	53	HOBW	23	53	24	40	140	-53	87	37
Newkirk, Harry	35	HOBW	48	31	41	20	140	-48	92	38
Caffee, Hollis	19	HOBW	60	42	36	17	155	-60	95	39
Brook, Bill	4	HOBW	44	30	43	26	143	-44	99	40
Sullivan, Dave	17	HOBW	37	40	25	43	145	-43	102	41
Lima, Joao	59	HOBW	21	43	52	41	157	-52	105	42
Villa, Pegi	1	HOBW	56	47	37	24	164	-56	108	43
Hubel, Dior	61	HOBW	49	29	32	47	157	-49	108	43
Newsome, Jeff	46	HOBW	26	39	49	44	158	-49	109	45
Isco, Gordon	42	HOBW	46	35	31	62	174	-62	112	46
Szabo, Judi	27	HOBW	36	41	47	36	160	-47	113	47
Rejda, Kevin	37	HOBW	27	38	51	55	171	-55	116	48
Russell, Jack	52	HOBW	47	25	46	62	180	-62	118	49
Caffee, Janet	48	HOBW	61	44	48	32	185	-61	124	50
Williams, Glen	20	HOBW	42	37	54	49	182	-54	128	51
Almeroth, Tim	16	HOBW	39	49	44	51	183	-51	132	52
White, Rick	33	HOBW	50	48	53	48	199	-53	146	53
Sawyer, Keith	39	HOBW	63	54	50	54	221	-63	158	54
Johnston, Fred	3	HOBW	57	52	55	52	216	-57	159	55
Clark, Kathy	10	HOBW	51	51	61	58	221	-61	160	56
Chambers, Mary Lou	25	HOBW	55	59	62	46	222	-62	160	56
Meroni, Jimmy	63	HOBW	54	50	59	56	219	-59	160	56
Osborn, Jeff	47	HOBW	53	55	56	53	217	-56	161	59
Keysor, Clark	56	HOBW	58	58	57	50	223	-58	165	60
Lindley, Ted	45	HOBW	52	57	58	57	224	-58	166	61
Jolley, Bill	43	HOBW	59	56	60	59	234	-60	174	62
Cottingham, Tom	38	HOBW	62	60	63	60	245	-63	182	63
Stull, Bill	28	HOBW	64	61	64	61	250	-64	186	64

INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2000
HOBIE WAVE NATIONALS AND RACE WEEK

For an Entry Form, click here!

Building on the tremendous success story of last two year's FIRST and SECOND Hobie Wave Nationals, we are making this year's even bigger and better. We have planned a full week of instruction, fun and racing. Come to any or all of the parts of this week as your schedule allows.

Here is a flyer and NOR:

Overview of Race Week
Sunday evening, Nov. 26th through Wednesday 29th --
A Rick White's Sailing Seminar on the Waves. This will be great opportunity to get the benefits of one of his famous race-training programs on boats that are all the same — a rare occurrence. You will be thoroughly drilled in boat-handling, starts, mark roundings, and tactics — and also learn a lot about how to make the Waves go faster. All for only $295 per person. If you are using a charter boat, there will be a charter fee of $100 for the seminar (this is separate from the $200 charter fee for the regatta).
You don't have to be sailing in the regatta to do the seminar.

Thursday, Nov 30 --
Modified Team Racing (forget first-to-finish, the winning team is the one that does NOT have one of its members finishing last). It's fun with a capital "F." Open to everyone who is at the regatta site early and makes it to the skippers meeting right after lunch on Thursday at Rick's Place. You can't just jump in without being assigned to a team and knowing the rules.

Or, if there is no interest in the Team Racing, we will simply have some Tune-Up Races.

Thursday night, Nov 30 --
Sail Measuring, Registration and Welcome beer party in the tent at Rick's Place and check-in for the regatta.

Friday, Dec. 1 through Sunday, Dec. 3 --
The 3rd Annual Hobie Wave Nationals. Three days of racing.

Information about the '00 Wave Nationals
I have tried to answer most potential questions in the following information, so please read everything, and then if you still have questions, please call Rick White or Mary Wells, phone 305-451-3287, or e-mail rick@catsailor.com.

THE REGATTA HEADQUARTERS:
Rick's Place Motel and Sailing Resort is the regatta headquarters. Since most of you will NOT be staying at Rick's Place but will be spending a lot of time here, I just want you to know that we do have two bathrooms available for you to use at the headquarters.We will have a big tent here. We also have a jacuzzi and pool table and a dart board and a basketball hoop and a horseshoe pit area in case you have idle time.

HOW TO FIND US:
Rick's Place is located right on U.S. 1 (which is called Overseas Highway down here). We are at mile marker 104.3, which is also 104300 Overseas Highway. Mile marker 104.3 means we are 104.3 miles north of Key West, which is where U.S. 1 starts. So as you are coming south from Miami, the mile marker numbers on U.S. 1 keep getting lower. We are an hour south of the Miami airport. We are on the Florida Bay side, which is the right-hand side as you come south from Miami.
Take the Florida Turnpike south to where it terminates and merges into U.S. 1 at Florida City. Just stay on U.S. 1 and watch the descending mile markers as you head south. After crossing about 18 miles of Everglades, you will come to the Jewfish Creek Bridge (a lift bridge with a motel on the near side and a condo on the other side). When you cross that bridge, you will be on the island of Key Largo and about 3 1/2 miles from Rick's Place. You will pass a Winn-Dixie supermarket on your right and then go through a school zone. When you pass the "End School Zone" sign, you will be at Rowell's Marina. Just up ahead is a four-story condo complex. We are the very first driveway past that condominium. The other three motels are just past us, and Island Style Watersports, which will be a primary launching area, is just beyond the motels.
(I'm very serious about taking the Florida Turnpike. If you are driving down I-95, you want to get over to the turnpike preferably before oir when you get to Fort Lauderdale. We always switch over to the turnpike at Fort Pierce or Jupiter, where they are only a half mile apart. This will keep you out of most of the traffic in Dade and Broward Counties. And I-95 is bad news -- not only is the traffic really awful, it ends in Miami and dumps you onto U.S. 1 in downtown, meaning you have to drive for many miles in city traffic with endless traffic lights.)

CHARTER BOATS:
Thanks to the success of last two year's events, Hobie Cat Company will provide brand new Waves for charter for this event (last year they provided 24 boats). We are in the process of arranging for folks to charter and then buy their boats to take home. The price should be pretty well discounted.

WHERE THE BOATS WILL BE LAUNCHED AND KEPT DURING THE REGATTA:
(See attached sheet with area layout.) We can only "comfortably" accommodate the 24 charter boats here at Rick's Place. We already have three boats on the premises, which brings the number in the yard up to 27. Last year we had 29 in the yard, and it was completely maxed out. We really have to keep the charter boats at our premises for insurance reasons. So all the non-charter boats coming will be launching down the street a few hundred yards at Island Style Water Sports, next to the Caribbean Club, and will be kept there during the regatta. They have a lot more room, and it is actually easier to launch out of there even if the wind is from the wrong direction (west). We will have beach wheels down there and I know others will be bringing wheels, as well.
For people who are bringing boats, I am recommending you might want to stay at Neptune's Hideaway, which has a small beach area, but it looks like it can accommodate 10 or 11 boats, first come first get, when they are pulled up to fill the entire sandy area. But even if you stay at Neptune's and keep your boat there, you will still have to launch originally over at Island Style Watersports, and put your trailer there, because there is no way to get it from land to beach at Neptune's and no place to store trailers there. After launching at Island Style, you can just paddle it or walk it the few hundred feet over to Neptune's beach. (You can't use the vacant lot in between because it is too overgrown and also is private property, of course.)
The enclosed layout of the motels shows you where everything is.

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR TRAILERS IF YOU ARE BRINGING BOATS:
If you don't want to leave your trailers down at Island Style Watersports or if they say we are taking up too much space, you can bring your trailers back to Rick's Place. We have plenty of room in the front yard if everyone puts them in there neatly.

ACCOMMODATIONS:
We only have five rooms available at Rick's Place, which is the regatta headquarters, so the majority of the sailors will be staying at one of the neighboring motels. Amoray is immediately next door, right on the other side of our fence, only 30 feet away.
Kelly's is right next to them, and they sort of adjoin with Amoray, so you can walk through Amoray's property from Kelly's to here. Those two motels share a swimming pool, too.
Just to the south side of Kelly's Motel is Hobo's Restaurant, and just past Hobo's is Neptune's Hideaway Motel, so it is still a very very short walk from Rick's Place. (It took us three minutes to make the walk at a slowish pace. Island Style Watersports is only a minute or two farther.)
NEW: Gilbert's Family Paradise Island (305-451-1133, or 800-457-1233) has room for a lot of boats to launch off their beach and parking lot. They have newly remodeled rooms and feature a swimming pool, Tiki Bar, and a restaurant. They are under new, sailboat-welcoming management. They are located at MM 107.9 on US Rt. 1 about 3 miles drive from Rick's Place. They are located on the right side of the road before you get into Key Largo and just before the Jewfish Creek Bridge.

How to decide where you want to stay? Well, if you are chartering a boat, you will definitely want to be staying either at Rick's Place or Amoray or, last choice, Kelly's. A plus for Kelly's is that they include a full breakfast. But if you are bringing a boat and sailing out of Island Style Watersports, the closest motel to that beach is Neptune's Hideaway. So it would depend on whether you want to stay closer to your boat or closer to the regatta headquarters. Also, as I mentioned above, Neptune's has a small beach of its own that can probably accommodate 10-11 boats.
Remember, the regatta starts Friday morning. I have told the motels that most of you will probably be arriving Thursday night (unless you are coming earlier to do the seminar/race week).
Amoray, 305-451-3595
Kelly's, 305-451-1622
Neptune's, 305-451-0357

ACCOMMODATION PRICES:
I have arrangements with Amoray and Kelly's on pricing for the regatta participants. They will be charging $60 a room for 1-2 people. If you have more people in a room, it could be as little as $10 additional or as much as twice that price, depending on the type of room you need. Neptune's has not yet given me a commitment because the manager has been sick, but their rates are already pretty low.
These are small motels and they have a variety of room types, so do not assume it is just a normal motel-type room with two double beds. If you need two beds because you are two singles, make sure you let them know that. They have fancier, more expensive rooms, but if you want the regatta price, you are going to have to take what they give you. Otherwise, you will pay extra, for instance, for an apartment on the water. The front-desk people do not always seem to know about the special price for the regatta, so make sure you tell them you are coming for the Hobie Wave Nationals that is being held at Rick's Place. If you still have a problem, call me and I will talk to them again.

ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO GET HERE IF YOU ARE FLYING AND DON'T WANT TO RENT A CAR:
If you are flying into Miami International Airport (which is about an hour from us) and are not renting a car, there are three possible transports:
Airporter: They pick up three times a day at the airport. Phone number is 305-852-3413 for reservations and pick-up information.
Upper Keys Transportation: They pick up any time, by reservation, and will also pick up at Fort Lauderdale Airport. Phone is 305-453-0100.
Greyhound --n they leave the Miami Airport to the Keys four times a day. For schedule and reservations, call 1-800-231-2222.

THE SAILING AREA:
We will be sailing on Blackwater Sound, which is a subsection of Florida Bay, which is a subsection of the Gulf of Mexico. Blackwater Sound is a beautiful body of sailing water. It is in the shape of a square, 3 miles each way, giving nine square miles of unobstructed water about 6-8 feet in depth throughout and with no reefs, sandbars or rocks to worry about. The chart section I have provided you has U.S. 1 (Overseas Highway) in dark black and a dark black circle in the area of the motels and launching areas. On Blackwater Sound there is a dotted line showing the course of the Intracoastal Waterway. We will usually be racing over to the northwest of the Intracoastal.

WEATHER CONDITIONS:
Air temperature usually is in the 80's in the daytime and around 70 at night. Water temperature shouldn't be below the mid 70's. Wind is normally 10-15 out of the eastern quadrant. If we get a cold front, the air temperature could be as much as 10-15 degrees colder, and the wind would blow out of the west as much as 10 mph stronger than the norm.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING (AND DO) FOR YOUR BODY:
(What you can and can't bring for your boat is covered in the boat rules section.)

• You don’t need to bring a trapeze harness, because there are no trapezes allowed for the Nationals, even though there is an optional trapeze kit for the boat..
• However, Fred Johnston, who was in last year’s event, made a great suggestion. You sail these boats more like a dinghy (Laser, Sunfish, etc.) than a catamaran, because you have to hike out and use the hiking straps. So he suggested that it would be a good idea for people to have hiking shorts to give them some extra padding for their butts and the backs of their thighs. If you don’t want to go to the expense of padded hiking shorts, your wetsuit is probably the next best thing to give you a little bit of a cushion.
• If you don’t normally use high-top booties, you might want to think about it to protect your ankles from chafing from the hiking straps.
• Sailing gloves and life jacket.
• Wetsuit and/or drysuit and/or spray suit. We don’t really expect any serious cold fronts that early in the season, but you never know. The weather has been weird lately. And even in warm weather you are going to get cold when you are wet -- and this boat can be very wet if it is windy and choppy.
• Bring a water bottle and a piece of shock cord or something to attach it to the tramp. You are going to be out there for a lot of races, so personally I would take a gallon jug of water like I get at the local supermarket.
• A little toolkit is always nice to have on the boat -- small vice grip (or pliers), a Swiss Army knife that has both types of screwdrivers on it, extra ring pins and shackles, small pieces of line for jury-rigging.
• And you also might want to start doing some stomach exercises, because hiking out can take its toll.

WHAT YOU WILL GET FOR YOUR ENTRY FEE:
* T-shirts for all competitors, sponsored by the Hog's Breath Saloon
* Welcoming party Thursday night in the tent
* Sharing session Thursday night about what people have learned about sailing the Wave.
* Continental Breakfast in the tent Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Assorted cereals and milk, yogurt, fruit, bagels and cream cheese, danish pastry, coffee, tea, and whatever else I think of that I don't have to cook.)
* Lunches in the tent Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Sandwiches, salad, fruit and whatever else I come up with that doesn't need cooking)
* Dinner in the tent Saturday night (I don't know yet, but it will definitely need cooking)
* Beer Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, provided by Hog's Breath Saloon (Hog's Breath Beer)
* Soft drinks, juices, water, iced tea, and fruit available all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
* Door prizes.
* LOTS of racing. The first year we had 18 race, and last year we had 14 races in the three days of the Nationals. That will be tough to beat, especially since we expect a lot more boats this year, but you will definitely get a lot more races than you do at a normal regatta.

Trophies:
7 places overall, 5 places for the women, 3 places for the masters (55 and over), 2 place for youth (18 and under). If more masters and youths sign up, trophies may go deeper.

Complete schedule of events
for Hobie Wave Race Week

SUNDAY, NOV.26
6 p.m. Welcome party for Rick White's Special Sailing Seminar for Waves ONLY
7 p.m. Seminar Orientation and Chalk Talk for Monday's drills.

MONDAY AND TUESDAY, NOV 27-28
9 a.m. Briefing followed by on-the-water drills
Noon Debriefing and lunch
1:45 p.m. Briefing followed by on-the-water drills
5-7 p.m. Debriefing and chalk talk about following day's drills

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 29
9 a.m. Briefing followed by on-the-water drills
1 p.m. Lunch and debriefing
2 p.m. Graduation certificates awarded for the seminar

THURSDAY, NOV. 30
1-4 p.m. National Wave Team Racing
3-? p.m. Sail measuring
6-10 p.m. Wave Nationals Registration and Welcoming Party (beer and snacks and videos of past sailing events).

FRIDAY, DEC. 3
7-9 a.m. Continental breakfast in the tent
7-9 a.m. Final registration
8-9 a.m. Sail measuring
10 a.m. Skippers meeting
11-Noon Lunch in the tent
1 p.m. White Flag and multiple back-to-back races
5 p.m. Beer at the tent after races
6 p.m. Door Prizes (might be something you can use for the rest of the regatta, plus some of them will be dinner tickets and/or free drink tickets for local restaurants, which you would be able to use that same evening.
7 p.m. Banquet Dinner at a nearby restaurant included in your registration fee.(dinner tickets available for non-racers @ $20)

SATURDAY, DEC. 2
7-9 a.m. Continental breakfast in the tent
10 a.m. White Flag and back-to-back racing
Noon-1p.m. Lunch in the tent (boats return to their beaches of origin)
2 p.m. White Flag and multiple back-to-back races
5 p.m. Beer at the tent after races
7 p.m. Dinner -- you are on your own

SUNDAY, DEC. 3
7-9 a.m. Continental breakfast in the tent
10 a.m. White flag and multiple back-to-back races
1 p.m. Lunch in the tent following the conclusion of the races
3 p.m. Trophy presentations in the tent

For an Entry Form, click here!

Boat Rules for Wave Nationals:
The Wave will be sailed stock, as designed and as sold by the factory, per the following explanations and exceptions:

Sail -- (See Measurement Information) The Wave was designed as a unirig, meaning mainsail only. Although the boat has an optional jib and optional spinnaker, neither will be allowed for this event. Sails can be made by any manufacturer for the non-charter boats, but they must measure in according to the specifications at the end of this section. If you normally sail the boat with the optional jib, you do not have to remove the crossbar between the bows to which the jib attaches. If you normally sail with the optional spinnaker, you DO have to remove the spinnaker pole.

Sail Measurement Information --

Wave Sail Plan* and Measurements

1. To Measure the Sail

a. Pull Luff, Leech and Foot to get wrinkles out
b. Measure Luff, Leech and Foot

2. To Determine and Measure Girths

a. Fold Head to Tack and mark Center of Luff
b. Fold Head to Clew and mark Center of Leech
c. Fold Center of Luff to Tack to mark 3/4 of Luff
d. Fold Center of Leech to Clew to mark 3/4 of Leech
e. Fold Center of Luff to Head to mark 1/4 of Luff
f. Fold Center of Leech to Head to mark 1/4 of Leech
g. Fold Head to 1/4 Mark on Luff to mark 1/8 of Luff
h. Fold Head to 1/4 Mark on Leech to mark 1/8 of Leech

3. Measure each girth, being sure there are no wrinkle

*Sail must have 5 battens

**The Luff shall be the highest point of the sail and no material shall exceed square to the leading edge of the sail

***The foot is defined as a straight line from the bottom of the Luff to the bottom of the Leech and no material shall be allowed below that straight line except for a 3" allowance of material.

Forestay -- Stock length forestayadjusters only are to be used, measuring no more than 5.5" in length.

Outhaul -- No mechanical outhaul adjustment device will be allowed. The mainsheet system will attach to the grommet at the clew of the sail, period.

Boom -- This is a boomless rig.

Traveler -- The boat has no traveler, and although it is possible to add a traveler to the boat, they will not be allowed for this event. The mainsheet system has to be attached to the eye strap at the center of the aft beam.

Downhaul -- No mechanical downhaul adjustment device will be allowed -- no blocks or cleats (other than the non-mechanical cleats on the mast). The older Waves have an S-hook on the downhaul line, the newer ones only have a line. The downhaul line will be limited in length to 8 feet. No restrictions on the amount of purchase, as long as you only use the line. It is difficult to adjust while racing, but if you can do it without additions or modifications, fine.

Trapeze -- If you have the optional trapeze system on the boat, you must remove the trapeze wires for this event.

Tiller extension -- A tiller extension is optional for the Wave, but it will not be allowed for this event.

Mast rotation -- No preventers or positive mast rotation will be allowed. It is also not allowed to shave off the stops on the mast base that prevent the mast from rotating past a certain point.

Mainsheet system -- Purchase is 4 to 1. Low profile blocks are not allowed. The lower mainsheet block cannot measure less than 7" from the top of its becket to the point where the block attaches to the eye-strap on the aft beam. The upper block cannot measure less than 6" from the bottom of the block to where the block attaches to the bottom of the S-hook. Stock boats come with clew S-hooks that are 2 1/2" in height, and these must be used. Blocks from different manufacturers are allowed as long as they meet the minimum measurement criteria.

Halyard -- The halyard comes with an S-hook that is 2 1/2 inches top to bottom and hooks to the grommet on the head of the mainsail. This S-hook or equivalent sized shackle must be used, and the halyard must not be altered with the effect of raising the mainsail higher than is possible with the factory-provided system.

Masthead Float -- The boat is designed and sold to be used with the float at the top of the mast, and must have this float at the top of the mast for this event. It is there for a safety reason -- without it the boat is very difficult to right if it capsizes and turtles.

Sail Changes -- There shall be NO sail changes during the regatta without the expressed, written consent of the Race Committee's Principal Race Officer.

Things you can add to the charter boats:
*Stick-on telltales to put on your sail
*Telltales to put on the sidestays and bridle wires
*Bridle wind indicator
*Different sail if you want to for some reason, but it cannot be changed during the regatta.
*A different lower mainsheet block with ratchet and adjustable cam-cleat height, if it conforms to measurements. The stock block does not have a ratchet, and we highly recommend getting one with a ratchet if you are going to be racing in much wind -- it makes life a LOT easier.

Advertising (if you are bringing a boat):
You can put advertising on the boat and sails, if you wish. If you are putting advertising on the hulls, just make sure you leave room up toward the bow for the boat's racing numbers to be applied.

Racing Numbers:
Since the Hobie Waves do not have numbers on their sails, all boats participating in the regatta will be required to affix provided numbers to the outer side of each bow

Number of crew:
This is meant as a single-hander regatta, but if you want to sail with two, that's up to you.

For an Entry Form, click here!