First Cat race

300 cats on the start line?!?!?!

I'd start by bringing a protest flag. somebody in a 300 boat fleet is going to do something out of line.

Water to last the whole day

required and reccomended safety equipment

a rigging knife and marlin spike

legal pain killers for a long day in unusual body positions (a few of those little foil packs of aspirn, Tylenol, etc...)

high energy snacks that pack small (bars, etc...)

sun block and lip balm

race timer/watch

repair bag (see below)

compass or hand held GPS

something to note course, tack and jybe angles, distances

binuculars (a small, cheap set for half blind crew to use to find marks).

I keep a small pouch with sail tape, rigging tape, ringdings and clevis pins, bow shackles, needle nose pliers, slip joint pliers, side cutters, screw driver with interchangeable magnetic bits and 5 or 6 metres of 5mm line. Sounds like a lot but it fits in this great little clip on pouch that I have that I just fasten to the lines under the flap at the back of the tramp and probably adds half a kilogram. Its all the items I need for quick beach repairs and it is on board if I need it in a pinch while under sail.

Finally last Saturday, the day of the race.

My first cat-race, 08.00 hours and ready to race.

Briefing at 10.00 hours and ………………

Race cancelled no wind.

250 Sailors and crew very disappointed. see photo (attached)

Anyway thanks for the response on my request for info you all.

I did receive one answer through this forum and several by mail.

For us the season will end soon 1 Nov, for those who can sail for the next couple of months.

Have fun and great winds.

not to brag, but in florida we get to sail for 3 more months this year, and then we have to wait until january 1 to start the next sailing season

Only 300 boats on the start line, the last time I raced in holland (at texel) there were nearly 800 boats.

What is it with the dutch Cat races, I travelled from the UK to texel in 2000, that was cancelled too, too much wind this time.

Cost me a fortune in ferries for the trailer but still a great party and atmosphere, the dutch know how to organise a race. Hope to have another go next year.

Hi Crob Thanks for the reply, make reservations for Texel in januari at the latest I am sure they will have a stop at 850 cats max.

I was there to watch in 2000 and for the "newbies" there was to much wind.

Since there is no classification in catsailing the organisation desided all or nothing.

Very dissapointing for a lot of people who were able to handle a cat with strong wind, but is was a safe decision in the end .

not to brag...but I live in the Virgin Islands and we get to sail ALL year round......nanny nanny ...lol...unless of course we have a hurricane.......

May your sheets rot and your tramp split while I thaw my frozen toes after shoveling for the 3rd time in a day.

lol......try this one

mmm maybe this will work

now that wasn't very nice.

So where does a manufacturing/machining process engineer get a job in the VI's that pays enough to make it worth while but allows for enough free time to go sailing?

maybe a restaurant, or a bar. it is all relative.

actually the largest oil refinery in the western hemisphere is here on St Croix...thats where I work

I work rotating shifts...so I have lots of time to sail.... we keep out boats right on the beach.....as you can see

We all hate you now.

Wind and blue water.

While I'm stuck with stifling heat and 0-2mph gusts here in Raleigh.

lol......well the breeze has just now started filling in after Lili passed by here....heres a couple guys out for a sail.....

If you continue to post these pictures, I'll be forced into leaving school and enter a life of poverty and cat sailing.

Anyone know whether its possible to sail a cat from florida to St. Croix?

😛

yeah...a buddy of mine has a 55 footer.....lol

Well Maugan...

We sail it on your Hobie 17 or my Nacra 6.0. I think the 6.0 is a little bigger and faster and the 17 being lighter and smaller would probably be cheaper to ship via cargo.

But what do I do with the wife and kid? I could try selling them on Ebay, but I dont think they allow that kind of stuff.

Finally last weekend enough wind ( 6 BF. ) unfortunately my rudder broke after 5 minutes while I was sailing on one hull.

Result a major smash in the water (temp 12 deg Celsius) wearing only a shorty with a extra sailing pant.

Brrrrrrrrrr. Will I ever run out of bad luck ?

Leo:

I keep getting told (by one friend in particular) that my lil ole 17sport can't take the wind and waves. I have to cordially disagree I've been very impressed at the seaworthiness of my boat. Thats not to say that I've sailed in 12' swells, but I'm just about crazy enough to do it

Finally it sailed my first race this weekend, after the disappointment last year (no wind) and 10 months of recovery (hernia) this weekend we finally sailed our first cat-race.
With app 220 cats on the start line (no protests) we did start at 11.00 hours for a short version of the race ( only 2BFT ) we did have a terrible start and crossed the starting line almost as last, lucky for us we did catch some wind and soon we where somewhere in the middle of the field.
We where in good company when we did pass the point of return a few Inter 20’s and tornado’s where at the same place at the same time at 50% of the course.
5 minutes later the wind was totally gone. And we were waiting for any wind for more than one hour when we noticed that most of the contestants were being towed back by helpful motorboats.

Needless to say that we were disqualified (only 55 cats) made it to the finish line.

The overall winner was a M20 for a complete overview of the results look at :
http://www.hellecat.nl/rondetiengemeten/uitslagbestanden/2003/totaal_rtg03.html

For pictures http://www.fotoshot.nl/ and http://www.photoos.nl/photos/rtg2003/index.html

Afterall is was a nice experiance...