That's what I am trying to do :-)
"Normally" or generally expected the last years is that the crew does the main sheeting also. Since I am not used to that and since Gill, being male, has more power, we decided to try to switch roles. So Gill would be crew and I'd skipper.
Well, I think I would like it, but I stil have a lot to learn to be as good a skipper as Gill is right now. This weekend I had my first "full" try out. I beach started as a skipper and I came back to shore after 2 hours, still being the skipper. I practiced upwind, tacks, downwind with kite and gybes.
It all went well and I was thrilled to skipper with the kite up, it is one hell of a kick when you feel the hull going up and trying to stay there!!! Mind you, there was very little wind (2 or sometimes 3 bft, max. 10 knots) and we enjoyed a flat sea (for once) so I'll still have to see how it goes with rough seas and alot of wind...
Club championship 2007
As tradition wants, we had our annual club championship on the 29th of September.
Conditions were rough (lots of wind and waves, we had spring tide just the day before) and we started off really bad. A bit our own fault because we decided to test a longer spinnaker sheet (so I could have enough sheet when on the wire) but after we snuffed the kite in the first lap, the spinnaker sheet got caught behind the hull and Gill had to go out in front on the hull to get the sheet and shorten it. The 2nd lap we did not sail, so a first DNF. Luckilly we managed to do 4 rounds so we had this first desastrous lap as a trow out.
Scores are not online yet. We finished 5th. Bart & Luc were 1st, Astrid en Thierry 2nd, Gert 3rd and someone else (sorry forgot) finished 4th. As soon as I have the scores I'll post them.
The evening ended well with some nice pizza and lots of beer (on the house, because of Wim&Astrid's and our good results the past season).
Conditions were rough (lots of wind and waves, we had spring tide just the day before) and we started off really bad. A bit our own fault because we decided to test a longer spinnaker sheet (so I could have enough sheet when on the wire) but after we snuffed the kite in the first lap, the spinnaker sheet got caught behind the hull and Gill had to go out in front on the hull to get the sheet and shorten it. The 2nd lap we did not sail, so a first DNF. Luckilly we managed to do 4 rounds so we had this first desastrous lap as a trow out.
Scores are not online yet. We finished 5th. Bart & Luc were 1st, Astrid en Thierry 2nd, Gert 3rd and someone else (sorry forgot) finished 4th. As soon as I have the scores I'll post them.
The evening ended well with some nice pizza and lots of beer (on the house, because of Wim&Astrid's and our good results the past season).
Global Challenge / NAM-REM race - All pictures
Hereby a link to all the pictures from these events. Click on the link or on the picture to see the albums. Pictures Global Challenge 2007
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| GC General images |
Capsize Paul and Ann
Paul and Ann have a camera taped on top of their mast and they shot (among others) this video of them capsizing. Very cool to see what happens when a catamaran capsizes isn't it...
EuroCatsCup 2007
Past Saturday we participated in the EuroCatsCup, held at our club, VVW Heist.
This race is a famous race, held every year on the last weekend of August, with around 60 participating boats, from Belgium and Holland. A mix of Nacra Infusion, Hoby Tiger, I20's and some smaller boats (C3 class) like the Hobie 16. We were the only F16 boat and we ended 19th.
EuroCatsCup is a long distance race from the Belgian to the Dutch coast, with start and finish in front of the club VVW Heist. The race starts with a triangle, followed by 2 loops with turning point between Cadzand and Groede.
We were happy with the boat speed but did make some bad tactic decisions. We rounded the A-mark 13th but lost ground on the way back from Groede to Cadzand. There was more wind closer to shore and we stayed in too deep. Lesson learned!
Hereby the link to the final results. Results EuroCats Cup 2007
I hope to be able to post some pictures of this race soon. The photographer was put on a stake in the water between the buoy and the beach and he was on a perfect angle to shoot nice downwind pictures. Since we were so fast with the kite up on Saturday I would love to see some action pics. To be continued...
This was the flyer made for this race.
This race is a famous race, held every year on the last weekend of August, with around 60 participating boats, from Belgium and Holland. A mix of Nacra Infusion, Hoby Tiger, I20's and some smaller boats (C3 class) like the Hobie 16. We were the only F16 boat and we ended 19th.
EuroCatsCup is a long distance race from the Belgian to the Dutch coast, with start and finish in front of the club VVW Heist. The race starts with a triangle, followed by 2 loops with turning point between Cadzand and Groede.
We were happy with the boat speed but did make some bad tactic decisions. We rounded the A-mark 13th but lost ground on the way back from Groede to Cadzand. There was more wind closer to shore and we stayed in too deep. Lesson learned!
Hereby the link to the final results. Results EuroCats Cup 2007
I hope to be able to post some pictures of this race soon. The photographer was put on a stake in the water between the buoy and the beach and he was on a perfect angle to shoot nice downwind pictures. Since we were so fast with the kite up on Saturday I would love to see some action pics. To be continued...
This was the flyer made for this race.
Formula 16 catamaran sailing - what's it all about?
Formula 16 is a multi-manufacturer class for beach catamarans, designed for the 21st century.
The F16 design is modern. Gone are the days when a seaworthy 16 foot catamaran had to weigh 150kg and when the use of carbon meant spiralling costs. F16 minimum weight is just 107kg (104kg 1-up) with few restrictions on materials and yet costs are no more than for other race catamarans. The inclusion of an asymmetric spinnaker adds to the excitement.
The F16 design is practical. Do you enjoy sailing as a team but hate getting stranded on the shore when the crew doesn't show? Do you sail on your own but want the option to take friends and family out? The F16 is designed to sail equally well 1-up and 2-up, and what's more both configurations race each other on elapsed time. And at 104kg, the F16 can not only be sailed singlehanded - you can launch and right it on your own too!
The F16 design is fast. A light-weight platform, generous sail areas and an asymmetric spinnaker can mean only one thing: speed. In 2-up mode the F16 races the F18 class on elapsed time - first in wins. In 1-up mode, with asymmetric spinnaker, it races the A-cats on elapsed time.
The F16 class was founded in 2001 and there are now a number of fully optimised designs in production. Learn more about the F16 boats on www.formula16.org. Find out what's happening in your region on the calendar or through your local class association. Being a modern and truly international class, much of the planning and discussion happens on-line. Come and meet us at the F16 forum
The F16 design is modern. Gone are the days when a seaworthy 16 foot catamaran had to weigh 150kg and when the use of carbon meant spiralling costs. F16 minimum weight is just 107kg (104kg 1-up) with few restrictions on materials and yet costs are no more than for other race catamarans. The inclusion of an asymmetric spinnaker adds to the excitement.
The F16 design is practical. Do you enjoy sailing as a team but hate getting stranded on the shore when the crew doesn't show? Do you sail on your own but want the option to take friends and family out? The F16 is designed to sail equally well 1-up and 2-up, and what's more both configurations race each other on elapsed time. And at 104kg, the F16 can not only be sailed singlehanded - you can launch and right it on your own too!
The F16 design is fast. A light-weight platform, generous sail areas and an asymmetric spinnaker can mean only one thing: speed. In 2-up mode the F16 races the F18 class on elapsed time - first in wins. In 1-up mode, with asymmetric spinnaker, it races the A-cats on elapsed time.
The F16 class was founded in 2001 and there are now a number of fully optimised designs in production. Learn more about the F16 boats on www.formula16.org. Find out what's happening in your region on the calendar or through your local class association. Being a modern and truly international class, much of the planning and discussion happens on-line. Come and meet us at the F16 forum
Pictures Global Challenge F16 catamaran 2007
All the boats lined up on the beach. Beautiful!
Group photo of all the teams in front of the boats. Nice!!
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Racing. You see Kathleen on the wire.
Approaching the first mark.
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Preparing to start!
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Launching in the surf. You see us (right) and Matt and Bart (left).
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Launching in the surf.
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Launching.
All the boats on the beach, ready for the first race.
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Ready to go.
Global Challenge F16 Zandvoort 2007 - results
We are very proud with our results on this first Global Challenge.
After a hectic start (2 capsises, one on sunday and one on monday) we were able to show what we are capable of. We ended third, after Matt and Bart (2nd) and after Hans (1st) who is the first winner of the first Global Challenge F16!
Congratulations to all participants!!!
You can find a link to all the results of the races and the end results here: Results
After a hectic start (2 capsises, one on sunday and one on monday) we were able to show what we are capable of. We ended third, after Matt and Bart (2nd) and after Hans (1st) who is the first winner of the first Global Challenge F16!
Congratulations to all participants!!!
You can find a link to all the results of the races and the end results here: Results
Zandvoort Global Challenge 2007
And so the event we all looked forward to is over. It was a great event, with great people, great fun, great sailing and a great organisation. Unfortunately the weather gods were not that great. We only did 5 races out of the 11 scheduled because of bad weather (to much wind on wednesday, thursday and friday). We learned alot, we talked alot and we drank "some" beer... :-)
I'll post some pictures.
Links not to be missed:
The F16 formula website, check this out and learn all about this great new catamaran class! Formula F16
The Zandvoort sailing club website. They were our hosts for this weeks event. Thank you! WVZ Zandvoort
The Catsailor F16 forum. For all your questions regarding trimming an F16 boat, the F16 class, or other questions just go have a look. Catsailor Forum F16 page
I'll post some pictures.
Links not to be missed:
The F16 formula website, check this out and learn all about this great new catamaran class! Formula F16
The Zandvoort sailing club website. They were our hosts for this weeks event. Thank you! WVZ Zandvoort
The Catsailor F16 forum. For all your questions regarding trimming an F16 boat, the F16 class, or other questions just go have a look. Catsailor Forum F16 page
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