Blade F16 still leading the board in the florida endureance race series (Open class)
In this 35 boat listing, that includes several hotshots like John Casey, an Blade F16 boat piloted by Matt and Gina McDonald is still holding 1st place after 4 completed distance races.
This open fleet includes more than a few US I-20's in addition to several F18's, A-cats and other fast boats. There is even 1 Marstrom A-cat with a spinnaker in this series (M18 ?). And of course we musn't forget Frank Rodericks with his Frankenboat 5.2 (singlehanded sloop rigged nacra 5.2 with a spinnaker and a handicap rating to die for)
The lead that the McDonalds have has been reduced to only 5 points out of 23 in total and there are 2 more events to complete. The Hirams hull this very weekend (29 and 30 oct 2005) and the Steeplechase in December 2005.
A win in this series would be a great achievement by Matt and Gina and also be great proof that small boats can be competitive in distance events. More so because Matt and Gina are a mixed team; something you won't see that often on the bigger boats like the I-20's and such.
I wish Matt and Gina the best of luck and good winds in the next 2 events.
Wouter
Hi Wouter,
Good for the Blade!
I was catched by the story about the guy, sailing the 5.2, 1-up sloop-rigged with spi. Is it under Texel Rating also allowed to sail a double-handed boat just 1-up? If so, does it chance the handicap of the boat? How is it compensated?
On Round Tiengemeten I saw a Dart 18 with jib and spi sailed 1-up. The guy used a TR of 115, the normal rating for this boat double-handed. Did not look all that fair to me, but he was behind so it did'nt mind that much. Is that allowed?
Arend
In principle you can not sail a doublehanded boat solo under texel as long as the solo option doesn't have its own rating. And visa versa.
However, it is quite easy for the Texel guys to calculate the right rating for a doublehander when sailed solo, often you just have to ask them.
The F16 class has officially ask the Texel committee to calculate two rating numbers for the F16 class. One for doublehanded sailing and one for single handed sailing (without the jib) and the committee honoured our request.
However, it is not allowed to singlehand an F16 WITH a jib in any race.
No this is not allowed. It is unfair, he should race of a realistic rating and 115 is not it in this configuration.
Wouter
Speaking of ratings, what do you think of the F16 solo rating?
Texel rates it at 99, which is 3 points lower than both an F16 with crew and F18. Is a TR of 99 realistic? Judging from the F16/FX1 meeting in the UK I would say no, neither can I find much race results to back it up.
In a few words :
The Texel rating for the F16 1-up (solo), being 99, is not realistic in comparison to F16 2-up and F18's.
The realistic rating for the F16 1-up (solo) appears to be around 102 = equal to F16 2-up and F18's
But to burst the bubble of sailor of other boat types; neither are the texel ratings of your boats realistic in comparison. The problem is that it is very hard to compare doublehanders to singlehanders with just one rating number.
The A-cats are suffering from a similar fate. They have a hard time racing of 99 as well. That is unless the winds are truly light which means below 6 knots. But in the biggest range of windspeeds 6 knots - 20 knots the A's are better raced of a rating around 102.
I knew that this issue was present and the founders of the F16 class were aware of it from the very beginning. We endeavoured to make the 2-up and 1-up variations as comparable in performance as possible and adjusted the F16 class rules towards that goal. We accepted that rating systems could have a different opinion.
From several race results and most notiably the UK F16 nationals it appears that they two setups are indeed very close over a wide range of wind and water surface conditions. I think this to be the most important goal anyway.
In relation to other singlehanders we don't loose anything as the same offset is experienced by all modern singlehanders.
Well 5 % speed difference isn't that much when you are on the water. It looks like much on paper, but on the water it always feels like it is alot less. Relatively small differences in sailing skill or luck can correct for these inequalities. On the other hand, it is definately an edge. When assuming that all sailors are equal then you should be able to see a bias in the results.
Although the Stealths took 1st and 2nd place overall it appears that the results are pretty well balanced overall.
Well, the more fun for the guys sailing in mixed Stealth F16 / Hobie FX-one fleets; I say.
Wouter
Here a post by Brian Karr, as found on the main forum page and www.1design.net
Header : John Casey and Kenny Pierce Win Hirams Haul
In a record setting year, John Casey (Orlando, Fl) and Kenny Pierce (Miami, Fl) have won the 5th race of the Harken Endurance Racing Series, the Hirams Haul.
Casey and Pierce set records for each of the two 25 mile legs. The team finished the first leg, a double-trapped spinnaker run in 1 hour and 28 minutes, and the second leg, an upwind screamer with recorded gusts of 30 mph in 1 hour and 35 minutes. In the two day event, the average speed for the 50 miles was nearly 17 mph!
Mark Murray and Mark Harendeen finished second, and Brian Karr and John Cruden (BEFI) finished third. The top three teams were sailing Inter 20 catamarans.
[color]Two Vectorworks Marine Blade F16s finished in forth and fifth place sailed by Matt and Gina McDonald and Chuck and Mavis Harnden respectively.
In sixth place was Craig Van Eaton sailing on a Supercat.
For more info on the Harken Racing Series visit www.1design.net
The elasped time results have not been published yet nor do we know how many boats have participated, BUT we do have the updated endurance race series results at :
http:/
We see that Matt and Gina are still holding on the 1st place overall :
-1- Matt/Gina McDonald total 29 points (Blade F16)
-2- John Casey / Kenny Pierce total 26 points (Nacra I-20)
-3- Craig Van Eaton and crew 22 points (Nacra I-20)
-4- Brian Karr and crew 18 points (Nacra I-20)
...
-13- Chuck/Mavis Harnden Total 11 points (Taipan F16 and Blade F16) But they raced 1 race less than the others.
...
Out of 36 entries in the series.
There is only 1 more race to do in this series, The Steeplechase, which is held in December in the Florida keys.
John Casey and Kenny Pierce have moved up the board to 2nd place with their Hiram result, but are still 3 points below the family McDonald. It looks like it is going to be a direct fight between these two crews at the Steeplechase.
Not bad for the first season of F16 racing for Matt and Gina. Remember Gina pulled a spi for the very first time during the Tradewinds 2005 event. That must have been a steep learning curve, respect !
Exiting !
Wouter
Rumour has it that the Boys and Gals went swimming !
Matt McDonald wrote :
...
We had to head too low to keep the spin up and it was gusty, so every lull we would try and keep up high and no way could react fast enough to get down in the puffs. (I did manage to make up for it by over achieving at the bar Sat night)
Sunday was a rush though. There was more than 1 occasion we were going faster than we should have. For those who missed out on it, you guys missed another epic event.
Matt
Wouter,
Cyberspeed is Craig Van Eaton, and he sailed a Supercat, not an I20.
Brian
Technically speaking, Craig "Cyberspeed" Van Eaton sailed on an ARC 21 (my boat)
Do you have a red headsail?
Ding:
That's mighty Personal asking if Eric's HEADS'L is red after a rough ride.
Gonna Embarrass the young lad . . . . .
Which would make his thing even redder if it's all bare like that . . .