Hi all,
had a race at home Gippsland Lakes Y.C. today for a change. Great day 8-12kts. Tim was doing Officer of the day duty's so had no competition, but I didn't let that get in the way of having a great day. 
Tim was on start boat taking photo's, so you may all get to enjoy my day out too. 
Sorry Tim but it was a great day.
Managed to sort out a few issues that just didn't feel right at the Wildcat with the new Ashby main. I had raked rig back when I put Ashby main on, broke rule no.1, never change more than one thing at a time 
. Today with rig in previous position Altered just took off, it was great to just work on boatspeed and good tacks, without other boats around.
After watching Glenn going into tacks flying a hull and coming out flying a hull and laying flat out all the time, I realised I just wasn't really trying hard enough 
. So put some extra in, specialy out of tacks and it felt good. 
Still got a long way to go though, old mono sailors speak to me in awe of watching me sail down wind, but I just told them after watching guys like Glenn at Wildcat, I can still do it much much better.
Anyway just had to tell you how good it felt to get out and blast around the buoys at home. There's no place like home, there's no place like home, etc.
Regards Gary.
Photo 1
Photo 2 (holder)
![[Linked Image]](http://www.catsailor.com/bb_files/59992-glyc_2005_1016CO.JPG)
Photo 3 (holder)
![[Linked Image]](http://www.catsailor.com/bb_files/59993-glyc_2005_1016CM.JPG)
Last one.
![[Linked Image]](http://www.catsailor.com/bb_files/59994-glyc_2005_1016CBx.JPG)
Now that is a sweeeeeeet looking rig--I especially like the last photo! A boat like that oughta get the skiffies attention.
Jeez, that rig looks massive ! Squaretop looking bigger and meaner than ever, is that a new main already Gary ? How does it feel sailing with that rig compared to the Mozzie ?
Picture #3 is (for me) THE trickest picture of an F16 ever !!
For me this shot encompasses all the elements that make this class so awesome :
crazy amounts of canvas , hanging flat on the wire , massive flat sail on a high risk reach , a rooster tail of spray and the insane subversiveness of that powder blue hat...!
Man , igottagosailing !
PK
great photos, gary!
specially also your platform looks very nice! what is it based on? The bow section reminds me of the MK5 A-cat somehow?
Hi Steve,
Yes it's a new main, but don't tell the wife
Yes it looks awesome but it is still not that much faster than Mossie except in 8-12 kts. The square top adds a lot of hull lifting power at this stage that gets Altered moving. Still doesn't overpower upwind though, just crank on the downhaul and it depowers comfortably.
You have to watch the main sheet tension off the wind though as the head oversheets easier than old main and drives bow down. 
Getting use to it now though and am looking for more power again
Hope to give it a good run at Victorian Catamaran Championships at McCrae Y.C. next weekend, it will be interesting I hope.
Regards Gary.
Hi Dirk,
yes you are right. Altered was a A class the first prototype for the MkV, lots of info on this Forum already. Search Altered and F16 oneup, I think will find you photo's of building etc.
Regards Gary.