2002 F-18HT North Americans

[davidhertz]

I was reading the F-16HP classes' forum and see that they have almost all voted against accepting our invitation of combining their NAs with the F-18HTs. While I think that it was a gratious offer on the part of our class, I beleive that a pure F-18HT event would be better for OUR class.

We are growing much faster than other catamaran racing classes and should have sufficient numbers (around 30 USA F-18HTS by November) and class excitement to make a 15-20 boat North Americans probable.

I have never raced in Key Largo, so can anyone recommend where to stay? Should I fly into Miami and rent a car or is there a closer airport?

I am excited!

Dave Hertz

[F16 HP class wouter]

Don't write us of just yet David. Were almost split through the middle and were still discussing pro's and cons; we are a member run class, like you, and need to have this discussion.

And I don't think that we are actually voting against your, indeed gracious, invitation to combine Nationals, but rather wether to already combine them this year and in 4 months time.

We do have some practical considerations that are different from yours; and we do heavily depend on the willingness of the individuals to drive down to the keys with their boats as we don't have a class trailer or charter boats.

Please do understand that we don't want to be "the joke" of combined nationals when only a limited number of boats show up. Also the high concentration of boats near one of the alternative sites is a headstart that we shouldn't disguard lightly.

Good luck with your class and I'm looking forward to your class overtaking us in boat numbers. (I just had to play this card, no offense intended just some friendly poke)

Regards,

Wouter

[Tim Bohan]

Dave, I went to Tradewinds last year in Key Largo and stayed at a place called Gilberts. The drawback for most motels in Key Largo is no good beach to launch from. Most have rocks, not sand. Gilberts has a very small ramp you can launch from and some boat storage too. There were about 20 of us there. It is about 3 miles north of Rick's Place though. Call Mary at Rick's place and see if she is sold out yet, that would be my first choice, since they have a good launching place (but very small as are all the launch sites at all motels), if she is sold out, she may be able to tell you of another spot. I would also like to hear from WF because he has stayed down there a bunch. We should all try to get into the same motel, or very near motels, so we can socialize at the bar, after the racing, and not have to drive too far after that! Take care. Tim

[W.F. Oliver III]

Hi all,

I spoke to USA F-16HP class leader Kirt Simmons last night. He indicated that the F-16HP class could not commit to a shared North Americans with the F-18HT Class. It seems that a slight majority of the F-16HP class prefer to have there "Nationals" in Tampa during October.

I told him that there were not hard feelings from me personally, however I did express my disappointment. A joint North Americans, combined with the International A-Class Classic (following by one day) would offer a great showcase of lightweight racing cats.

We will have Rick White push forward with plans for our North Americans, without the inclusion of the F-16HPs.

Sail Fast and Light,

W.F.

[Tim Bohan]

;D W. F., what is the name of that motel just south (walking distance) of Rick's Place? Tim

[Jim Novakoff]

Wouter,

Do you thing your group is interested in _any_ combined events? We are in the early discussions of the 2003 schedule and we were going to find out if it is logistically possible to have your group join us in a September circuit race series.

Best Regards,

-- Jim Novakoff

[Wouter Hijink]

Jim I think the F16 USA group is interested in combining events. That is when I go by the preliminairy results that the poll on the Ricks place topic is showing. 4 in favour for the Combined nationals this year and 1 in favour of Tampa. The poll is still open for voting. We'll have to wait what the others members vote but the lead in favour for the combined event is indicative of that fact that the class is interested.

Difficult part will however be, like Kirt indicated, to commit. Personally I would love to do so, but this decision is not mine to make. Again, our class does consist of mostly reasonably competitive but still very much recreational sailors who do attend a few races each year for fun. But we don't harbour as much hard-core racers as your class does.

The result of differences in approach.

Having said this, I think that a few combined events will be in our reach. I would say something in the order of 3 races or so. Races that are nicely distributed over the USA (but relatively central) and in time. The number could then grow steadily in the future and especially when the teams attending have enjoyed themselfs in one of the first combined events.

I think that that would be a viable approach for us.

With respect to a september race series. We have something comparable here in the Netherlands and such a cup is alot of fun. I would like to invite you to propose something like this on our F16 forum and to discuss this directly with the possible participants. Currently I'm just acting as a go-between. When it is dealing with 2003 then there should enough time for a discussion.

Regards,

Wouter