Looking forward to the event. I've printed out the entry form and I'll be tuning the rig on my Leisure Class equipment this weekend.
But, since I'm a "racerhead" by nature I was wondering about the rules and limits for the other classes. Can somebody give a newcomer the brief version of each class or point me to a reference? (Sport, Open 7.5 Limited, Open Unlimited, Formula, Prodigy) I didn't see anything in the RRS, but could have missed it.
Sport - shorter course than open, usually the less serious
Open Ltd. Longer course, more serious. Sail limit due to a) desire to keep cost down and b) because the IMCO (former Olympic board) had a 7.4 and a lot of folks used to race it in Open, too.
Open Unltd. - race what ever you have. Traditionally, longboards with upwards to and above 9.5s
Formula - one board (no daggerboard) and at most 3 sails, usually 12.5 as the largest
Prodigy - Mistral neo-longboard, a hybrid long/formula. Desire to have one design racing in era of wide boards.
I have long thought that 'one-design' was the only fair way to race sailing things. A bunch of rating systems evolved to allow boats of totally different designs to race head-to-head, but it always seems so lame... you sail all day, maybe multiple races, and you don't know how you've done until much later when all the ratings and time-on-distance formlae, etc have been applied. Sailboards have a Portsmouth rating for racing against dinghies, but it is kinda screwy and doesn't really figure wind speed - sail size in the mix well at all.
I loved the heyday of IMCO racing because of the fairness and the big regattas that the series & sponsorships created-- as much parties as races. And the IMCO wasn't a bad board. It's still not... As William said, the Open 7.5 Limited really evolved from that and I think it's a pretty good approximation of one-design racing for around here still. None of the regulars who do it really blame their gear (TOO much) for a bad race.
There is usually a Prodigy class at the FL regattas and it reminds me some of the IMCO days: lots of nuance to the tuning & tactics, but the thing is just SO heavy. Plus, head to head, an Equipe or similar board will hammer the Prodigies in most conditions. Still I hope we can get them and Formula guys too, to show up at the Fall Classic.
If you want to try a long board at the regatta, I'm sure we can round up a few. We could also have a 'novice' fleet for people that are competent (or better) sailors who just want to get a taste of racing. We used to do that a lot, with a short primer on the beach about the start sequence, the course, etc. It's all pretty simple and really friendly.
I remember my first race in the Novice "C" fleet. Several of us , including Jack Madden and Jeff Asselin, who had been sailing at Alatoona tried it, after the short class we were all pumped, we had our own course, we were sailing back in forth on reaches just below the starting line, the horn sounded, we turned toward the line and all STOPPED. None of us had ever considered sailing upwind. After a few (quite a few) minutes, we did cross the start line and went on to finish the race and several others. We all got trophies, had our pictures taken and had a great time. What FUN!!!
..... the horn sounded, we turned toward the line and all STOPPED.
A Novice Fleet might be fun even if it's not an official class in the regatta. Maybe there will be enough of us from the LTW Class of 2005 to have an ad-hoc race out to an upwind buoy and back. It should at least be entertaining for the rest of you.
I have a big fat marker for use on mylar (comes off easily with MEK or acetone). If you want to get fancy, Signs Today kind of stores can usually make numbers while you wait. Or get some big letters from an office supply store... or when you cross the finish line, say "Hey, I'm Windlord".
I told a few people I would I will take their registration by phone, since today is the pre-registration deadline. Call me as late as tonight to avoid the $15 late fee. 404-386-8505. (You have to swear you'll pay)
At this moment, only 10 people have pre-registered. I expect some more by mail today, but what great odds on the Club Med door prize!
It looks like we could easily have a Novice/Workshop Fleet. A couple of the Tech guys who are members at LLSC registered and are first-timers. They know how to WS but have never raced.
Also, the weekend forecast is starting to look pretty interesting.
If anyone can fine the Winning Streak video, it really covered long board racing, the start, tatics, etc. It's a Peter Hart video so you know it was good. I'm sure the club had a copy and I think I may have one around here somewhere.
Hey out there, do yourself a favor and come out and race in the Fall Regatta. It doesn't take all that much thought. There's great food,camping,beer, comraderyand fabulous doorprizes-like a free trip!
OK so you say you've never raced or that you suck at going upwind-who cares. You might just learn something and have fun too. Nobody's going to laugh if you get beat , we're all in this together. OK we will laugh, but we'll be laughing with you ,not at you. I know -you don't know the rules and racing is so intense- baloney! Just get out there on time, try not to hit anybody, go around a bunch of big balloons in the water, finish and come back to shore for grub and oh yes, a beer. Or you can stay home to plant tulip bulbs and paint the den. We'll even have a TV for your football addiction, and maybe a few babes in beach attire. So there, now give me some lame reason for not coming. Did I mention free beer?
Just a reminder-- even if you're not racing or registered, you're absolutely invited. Saturday looks pretty good for wind and though there would be a wind shadow at LLSC if it goes around to NW, it's still not that far out to good wind and waves.
And even if you don't want to sail from LLSC, come on by and get in on some apres-shred brewskis & munchies. It looks like the fireplace might get some use also. I had a couple of last minute cancellations, so there might be a few dinners available.... if not, 'Dominoes delivers'.
Looks like wind this weekend, and it's the FALL REGATTA! The season's first real cold front picked a good weekend to finally get here.
I'm heading over to the Lake Lanier Sailing Club in a few minutes (Friday nite, around 7 pm) to check out those wAngs and hang out awhile. I plan to sail (not race) tomorrow and Sunday, from the Lake Lanier Sailing Club if possible, but maybe Van Pugh. I difinately plan to hang at the Regatta as much as possible.
Well, I was hoping to get up there tonight but a big thunderstorm cell has been stalled on top of my house for the last hour and a half (orange, red, & purple on the radar). This is making it difficult to get loaded.
Hopefully this means it is a fairly strong front and we'll have some good wind tomorrow.
Looking forward to the event. I've printed out the entry form and I'll be tuning the rig on my Leisure Class equipment this weekend.
But, since I'm a "racerhead" by nature I was wondering about the rules and limits for the other classes. Can somebody give a newcomer the brief version of each class or point me to a reference? (Sport, Open 7.5 Limited, Open Unlimited, Formula, Prodigy) I didn't see anything in the RRS, but could have missed it.
Thanks,
Lee
Sport - shorter course than open, usually the less serious
Open Ltd. Longer course, more serious. Sail limit due to a) desire to keep cost down and b) because the IMCO (former Olympic board) had a 7.4 and a lot of folks used to race it in Open, too.
Open Unltd. - race what ever you have. Traditionally, longboards with upwards to and above 9.5s
Formula - one board (no daggerboard) and at most 3 sails, usually 12.5 as the largest
Prodigy - Mistral neo-longboard, a hybrid long/formula. Desire to have one design racing in era of wide boards.
I have long thought that 'one-design' was the only fair way to race sailing things. A bunch of rating systems evolved to allow boats of totally different designs to race head-to-head, but it always seems so lame... you sail all day, maybe multiple races, and you don't know how you've done until much later when all the ratings and time-on-distance formlae, etc have been applied. Sailboards have a Portsmouth rating for racing against dinghies, but it is kinda screwy and doesn't really figure wind speed - sail size in the mix well at all.
I loved the heyday of IMCO racing because of the fairness and the big regattas that the series & sponsorships created-- as much parties as races. And the IMCO wasn't a bad board. It's still not... As William said, the Open 7.5 Limited really evolved from that and I think it's a pretty good approximation of one-design racing for around here still. None of the regulars who do it really blame their gear (TOO much) for a bad race.
There is usually a Prodigy class at the FL regattas and it reminds me some of the IMCO days: lots of nuance to the tuning & tactics, but the thing is just SO heavy. Plus, head to head, an Equipe or similar board will hammer the Prodigies in most conditions. Still I hope we can get them and Formula guys too, to show up at the Fall Classic.
If you want to try a long board at the regatta, I'm sure we can round up a few. We could also have a 'novice' fleet for people that are competent (or better) sailors who just want to get a taste of racing. We used to do that a lot, with a short primer on the beach about the start sequence, the course, etc. It's all pretty simple and really friendly.
cv
I remember my first race in the Novice "C" fleet. Several of us , including Jack Madden and Jeff Asselin, who had been sailing at Alatoona tried it, after the short class we were all pumped, we had our own course, we were sailing back in forth on reaches just below the starting line, the horn sounded, we turned toward the line and all STOPPED. None of us had ever considered sailing upwind. After a few (quite a few) minutes, we did cross the start line and went on to finish the race and several others. We all got trophies, had our pictures taken and had a great time. What FUN!!!
Gene
Gene Mathis
A Novice Fleet might be fun even if it's not an official class in the regatta. Maybe there will be enough of us from the LTW Class of 2005 to have an ad-hoc race out to an upwind buoy and back. It should at least be entertaining for the rest of you.
How about it new sailors? Any interest?
What do you do if you want to try racing and don't have a sail number? I noticed the application form asks for one.
Bill H.
Bill Herderich
I have a big fat marker for use on mylar (comes off easily with MEK or acetone). If you want to get fancy, Signs Today kind of stores can usually make numbers while you wait. Or get some big letters from an office supply store... or when you cross the finish line, say "Hey, I'm Windlord".
I told a few people I would I will take their registration by phone, since today is the pre-registration deadline. Call me as late as tonight to avoid the $15 late fee. 404-386-8505. (You have to swear you'll pay)
At this moment, only 10 people have pre-registered. I expect some more by mail today, but what great odds on the Club Med door prize!
It looks like we could easily have a Novice/Workshop Fleet. A couple of the Tech guys who are members at LLSC registered and are first-timers. They know how to WS but have never raced.
Also, the weekend forecast is starting to look pretty interesting.
cv
Sounds great. I guess I'll have to reread my "Windsurfing: The Skills of the Game" book and brush up on rules and tatics.
Bill
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1852238305/002-9366060-8109662?v=glance&n=283155&s=books&v=glance
Bill Herderich
If anyone can fine the Winning Streak video, it really covered long board racing, the start, tatics, etc. It's a Peter Hart video so you know it was good. I'm sure the club had a copy and I think I may have one around here somewhere.
Gene
Gene Mathis
Hey out there, do yourself a favor and come out and race in the Fall Regatta. It doesn't take all that much thought. There's great food,camping,beer, comraderyand fabulous doorprizes-like a free trip!
OK so you say you've never raced or that you suck at going upwind-who cares. You might just learn something and have fun too. Nobody's going to laugh if you get beat , we're all in this together. OK we will laugh, but we'll be laughing with you ,not at you. I know -you don't know the rules and racing is so intense- baloney! Just get out there on time, try not to hit anybody, go around a bunch of big balloons in the water, finish and come back to shore for grub and oh yes, a beer. Or you can stay home to plant tulip bulbs and paint the den. We'll even have a TV for your football addiction, and maybe a few babes in beach attire. So there, now give me some lame reason for not coming. Did I mention free beer?
That's got to be Dan Burch.
Just a reminder-- even if you're not racing or registered, you're absolutely invited. Saturday looks pretty good for wind and though there would be a wind shadow at LLSC if it goes around to NW, it's still not that far out to good wind and waves.
And even if you don't want to sail from LLSC, come on by and get in on some apres-shred brewskis & munchies. It looks like the fireplace might get some use also. I had a couple of last minute cancellations, so there might be a few dinners available.... if not, 'Dominoes delivers'.
cv
Looks like wind this weekend, and it's the FALL REGATTA! The season's first real cold front picked a good weekend to finally get here.
I'm heading over to the Lake Lanier Sailing Club in a few minutes (Friday nite, around 7 pm) to check out those wAngs and hang out awhile. I plan to sail (not race) tomorrow and Sunday, from the Lake Lanier Sailing Club if possible, but maybe Van Pugh. I difinately plan to hang at the Regatta as much as possible.
Everybody come on out.
Gene
Gene Mathis
Well, I was hoping to get up there tonight but a big thunderstorm cell has been stalled on top of my house for the last hour and a half (orange, red, & purple on the radar). This is making it difficult to get loaded.
Hopefully this means it is a fairly strong front and we'll have some good wind tomorrow.