2003 F18HT Class Events

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This forum is for sharing information on the 2003 F18HT class schedule.

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The 2003 World Championships are proposed to be in Ft. Walton Beach in early October, 2003.  Randy Smyth is the contact point for this race.

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After speaking with W.F. and Randy Smyth, it is proposed that a F18HT class event be held off Deerfield Beach, FL on September 13, 14, & 15, 2003.  This event will be the tune up race for the Worlds to be held in October about 4 hours drive north and would feature two days of bouy races organized by the Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Club (HISC) and a coastal pursuit race organized by the Delray Beach Cat Sailors.

Before we go too much further in making arrangements, allow me to describe our vision of the event so that the class has the opportunity to comment.

Dates:  The race is scheduled for the second weekend in September, 2003.  The Juana Good Time Race is held on the 1st weekend in September and the Round the Island Race is scheduled for the 3rd weekend in September.  To the best of our knowledge, there will be no conflict for the 2nd weekend in September.

Location:  The races would be held off the Florida Gold Coast, specifically the coasts of Hillsboro, Pompano, Deerfield, Boca Raton, and Delray beaches.  The Embassy Suites would be the host hotel (resort) and is located in Deerfield Beach just south of Boca Raton.  This area is north of Ft. Lauderdale and south of Palm Beach.  For those not familiar with the area, this is prime Florida real estate and the Embassy Suites is one of the nicer hotels on the coast.  It is about 10 to 15 miles north of the Worrell 1000 Ft Lauderdale launch point.

Schedule:  There will be a skippers meeting at the Embassy Suites Friday night followed by an open bar.  On Saturday there is a full breakfast at the hotel followed by an AM bouy race, a lunch break, and a PM bouy race.  There will be an open bar after the races.  We will organize a class dinner and the officers and volunteers of HISC and Delray Beach Cats would join us.  On Sunday, again breakfast, an AM bouy race, lunch break, and a PM bouy race.   Open bar after the races.  Monday, breakfast and the coastal pursuit race.

Facilities:  We will arrange for a launching point as well as near beach parking for the support vehicles.  Security will be provided for the boats and support vehicles.

Class Races:  HISC is fully capable of running the bouy races.  They will provide a committee boat, press boat, marks, USA Sailing judges, get coast guard approval, etc.  HISC is my sailing club and I believe it is one of the best because the members are both talented racers and fun loving.

Coastal Race:  Delray Beach Cat Sailors is a group of young beach cat sailers.  They have Nacras, Inters, Hobies, etc.   Pure beach cat fun.

Running a world-class type of event -- even for 20 or so boats -- in the middle of this densly populated area is a significant undertaking.   To start, we need permits from at least two towns and the Coast Guard.  We need to close two beaches and the street between the Embassy Suites hotel and the beach to make room for the support vehicles.  We will need support from the  Broward and Palm Beach County police.   Then HISC will need to make a significant committment.  Ditto the Delray Beach Cat Sailors.  

We would be using the same hotels and facilities as the big powerboat championships held off the Deerfield Coast.   The area is more populated than the beaches used to launch the Worrell 1000.

However, all of this can be done and done economically.  I expect the fees and expenses would be no higher than those in a less developed setting and according to WF would be consistent with what the class would expect to spend.

I would like to get an understanding of whether the class members are interested in this type of event.  If there is enough enthusiasm, I would be pleased to work with WF and Randy to make it happen.

Comments and suggestions please.

-- Jim Novakoff

[Fred_Glaubke]

Any interest in an event in Annapolis?

[davidhertz]

Jim-

Deerfield Beach Del Ray Beach sounds like a great idea, however I am not sure about the timing.  How is the wind/heat in September.  There is alway the hurricane risk that time of year.  What about February/March 2003?   Is your boat comming in the next container?

Fred-

Annapolis is a wonderful sailing venue.  Racing is often help off Sandy Point State Park, which has proven to be a successful venue in the past.  Would you plan on coordinating this event with CRAC?  It would be nice to have the event run by a Yacht Club from Annapolis, IMHO.  <br>
Everyone-

It is understood that our initial inclination has been to race as a class within the open class of established catamaran events.  This is a good way to build interest from within the other class for our class, however I have another idea.

While including some established catamaran regattas in our 2003 schedule, why don't we "branch out"?  Our class is growing more rapidly than any other cat class, while the A-Class is also enjoying growth.   In areas where the A-Class membership is strong and the venues appealing, why don't we have joint A-Class/F-18HT regattas?

The A-Class crowd seems to dislike the idea of racing with the Portsmouth Open or "Hobie" crowd.  I am begining to understand why!  We could approach them and set up joint regattas.  Any comment?

W.F.-

As far as racing in Va Beach, your Summer Sizzler is the obvious choice for June/July.  The other Va Beach ocean regattas have been unsuccessful recently.   Several of our class members are going to be attending your event regardless, so why not make it a circuit event.

Another question-How is our class circuit series going to mesh with the proposed "Gold fleet" series?  Could we count finishes in one or two of these events towards our circuit championship?  I am all for such a semi-pro circuit and feel that it will breath some life into catamaran racing, if administered properly.  

[Jim Novakoff]

There is a hurricane risk in FL that time of year. I would be open to changing the date and inviting other classes.

-- Jim

[Fred_Glaubke]

Jim seems to have the ability to offer a great regatta package in the Delray Beach area. The idea of having the event in late February or early March appeals to me. With class members like Jim and Hunt, we should be able to put together a great circuit.

As far as othe classes, I recommend that we work with the other Formula Classes and make the circuit events "Formula Events". The F16HP, F-18, and F-18HT classes could all be invited. What do you all think of this idea?

[Tim Bohan]

Just remember...March and Feb. are the Spring Break months and the motels are at maximum price/occupancy then. Sept. is a slow month and the motels are half price. The threat of a hurricane during Sept. is very remote but it could happen...also, Feb and March are more likely to have light wind, no seabreaze, due to cooler air mass over the interior of Florida. The summer/fall seabreeze is much more reliable. If a Hurricane does come, we could always move the regatta inland two hours to my house, on Lake Jackson, Sebring. Tim

[Wouter Hijink]

I would like to react to Freds statements about inviting the other formula classes.

I welcome the idea of "formula classes hanging together" and I hope that this leads to the situation where the formula's start together and race both in their own class and in the combined class. This as for the regatta's ofcourse, nationals and such are ofcourse single class start events.

I trully believe that that will be the way to growing the sport as it would be an inclusive approach. Just as I hope to see NAMSA grow.

So if it were totally up to me (But it isn't as Kirt is the USA top dog for the class) than I would be thrilled to be participate in such a cirquit.

Wouter

Wouter

[Peter Cogan]

I emailed Kirt a week or so ago to suggest that we team up the F18 and 16's at the proposed NA's in Key West but have not received a reply. Maybe you can contact him as I am not sure if I have the correct email address.

I feel that combining the to classes is the way to success but even more importantly to growth is to run ALL events out of recognized sailing clubs. In the last number of years about 90% of the growth in the A Class has come from converting monohull sailors. In the US the number of active cat sailors is very small compared to the dinghy world and we need to focus our efforts on getting the boats into high profile events with other classes like skiff's, 505's, Lasers, etc. Not only is there a large numbers of potential sailors but better facilities both on and off the water.

[Hunt]

We agree with Peter's point about racing HTs as a class in estalished dinghy events.

Converting cat sailors from the boats they already own is a zero sum game - it can be a tough way to grow a class and does not grow cat sailing at all. On the other hand, the F18HT could draw lots of high performance one design monohull sailors like us. We have lots of friends who have gone A-boat and won't come back (we want to sail together so the A was not an option). Racing at established dinghy events is the way to showcase the HT.

Also, it is logistically easier to piggy back on an existing events rather than starting our own.

Obviously we can have a mix, but it should include a fair number of established events.

[Jim Novakoff]

* Tim Bohan's comments about weather and logistics are right on. His suggestion that he provide a Central Florida back up in the case of harsh weather at the coast is very clever. I suggest we take him up on this to solve the hurricane problem.
* I will ask WF and Randy to provide comments about inviting the other F boats.

[Wouter Hijink]

Peter,

>>I emailed Kirt a week or so ago to suggest that we team up the F18 and 16's at the proposed NA's in Key West but have not received a reply. Maybe you can contact him as I am not sure if I have the correct email address.


I've send an e-mail to kirt when W.F. asked me the same just before I went on holliday some 3 weeks ago. So I'm sure that Kirt knows about. However I haven't received a reply myself yet too, probably because Kirt knew that I would be out of town for a while.

I also assumed that Kirt was in contact with W.F. about his already but didn't tell me as we agreed that I would only handle the designs, class rules and mainland Europe affairs.

Maybe the poor guy is on holliday himself ? Anyway, I will send him a reminder.


>>I feel that combining the to classes is the way to success but even more importantly to growth is to run ALL events out of recognized sailing clubs. In the last number of years about 90% of the growth in the A Class has come from converting monohull sailors. In the US the number of active cat sailors is very small


Well, I totally agree that the zero-sum option is unwise at best; I hope that the F16HP class will establish itself as the High Performance Youth and Young Adult entry class. A class leading up to bigger boats when the boys have grown into big men OR leading to (solo) continuation when they find a non sailing or sailing but lightweight Girlfriend.

As stated in the beginning the F16HP class is intended as the entry class with a platform that is very flexible and able to sail in a variaty of different modes using the same hardware and in relation to skill and crew make-up

Personally I feel that the F16HP is a very good alternative to dinghy sailors as these sailors often start young. And they often move on to skiffs at a teenage age. The F16 would be perfectly suited to them.


>>Compared to the dinghy world and we need to focus our efforts on getting the boats into high profile events with other classes like skiff's, 505's, Lasers, etc.


Well count me in !

I have been dreaming about a battle of the 49's (49-er skiff and Taipan 4.9) since the beginning of the F16 class. I've sailed several dinghies / skiffs over the last two weeks and really ! the small 16 footer with spi is almost certain to win around the bouys and is certain to win in distance races.

(I've sailed many hours on the 49-er, RS 800, Laser 4000 and laser 1 there)

And ofcourse the skiffies can't complain that they lost out to brute force as the F16 has the same weight / length, width, sailarea and a noticable smaller spi.


>>Not only is there a large numbers of potential sailors but better facilities both on and off the water.


And we must not forget that these dinghy/skiff event often have a very good off the water program/show. It has been a frustration for me personally to see that cat sailors have not been able to equal that.

I feel that the formula mindset is the key to getting this feel to cats too. I mean, I'm a F16 zealot but I do also enjoy seeing a good F18 or F18HT race.

Wouter

[W.F. Oliver III]

This forum is a great "sounding board" for discussing and determining the 2003 class schedule/circuit schedule. So far we have the following suggestions from this forum and phone conversations with the membership:

Tradewinds Regatta in January of 2003 (my suggestion)

Rehoboth, Deleware in May 2003 (W-1000 conflict??)

Summer Sizzler (Va Beach) in June 2003 (back to June!)

Newport International Regatta in July 2003

Cat Fever IV (Michigan) in August 2003

DelRay Beach, Florida in September 2003

F-18HT World Cup at Ft Walton Beach, Fl in October '03


Other Venue Suggestions:

Sebring, Fl (Date???)

Rotan Point, Ct (Date??)
.
Annapolis, Md (Date/Venue???)

Bristol, Rhode Island (Date???)

Key West, Florida (Date??)

San Padre Island, Texas (Date??)


I am sure that there are others that I have missed, so sound off! We also need to discuss the number of class events to schedule. Should we have recommended regattas and races, outside an established circuit?

The months of February, March, and April seem to be open. I look forward to your suggestions and discussions.

Sail Fast and Light,

W.F. Oliver
USA-3

[Michael Helms]

I suggest that the class try to schedule some of their regattas with established dinghy and monohull regattas. I see the Newport International Regatta on the suggestion list and think that it would make for an excellent opportunity to "mingle" with the monohull crowd. There is substantial growth opprotunity within the dinghy groups for high performance catamarans. Catamaran sailing would do well by breaking the "have a Hobie day" mold and work more toward the mainstream.

I see Annapolis and Bristol on the venue list. An Annapolis regatta held by an established YC would be a great idea. By Bristol, I assume that you mean the Bristol YC. The Bristol YC alread races A-Cats, so maybe this would work out well.

Another avenue to explore could be to approach colleges with sailing programs and pay them to host an event. St. Marys in Maryland, Old Dominion in Virginia, and Charleston in South Carolina come to mind, when I consider this.

Now, the class must find volunteerss to approach these groups. Anyone up to it?


Just my $0.02 worth.

Michael Helms