At least I think it has begun. This first-time, 300-mile, 4-day distance race up the east coast of Texas was scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. Nine boats are racing -- four Inter 20's, two Nacra 6.0's, one Hobie Tiger, one Hobie 20, and one Nacra 5.8.
Following are two reports from yesterday and today that are on the pisailing website (that is Steve Piche's website, and he is the organizer of the race). Regular updates will be posted at www.pisailing.com, and they may be calling in some updates to me, as well to post here at catsailor.com. If I hear from them, I will post those updates on this thread here on the Open Forum.
Mustang Island Leg
5/23/2003 7:25:20 AM, Steve Piche
We are sailing a 95 NM leg from South Padre Island to Mustang Island. We expect the wind to be light this morning with a building sea breeze from the east. My best guess is that we will finish between 6-8 PM. I will try to update from the boat however cell coverage is not very good over on this run.
Weather
5/23/2003 1:03:40 AM, Andrew Tatton
Tonight's weather forecasts for tomorrow show east winds at 5-10 for most of the day, till near Corpus, where it should shift to southeast in the afternoon. Look for the spinnakers to set sometime after noon, and for a fairly late arrival in Corpus. Sure, it's a long leg, at 91 nm, but still... I'll bet that there will be more than one boat in after dark. I'll have to go to bed!
Whoops! I just remembered -- Texas is an hour later than us, so the start is still a half hour away, 11:00 a.m. EDT.
Andrew Tatton,who is doing most of the updating for the pisailing site about the Great Texas Race, just called to tell me that the race started on time, 10 a.m. Central Time, and that the wind is still pretty light an hour later, and too much on the nose to use spinnakers. They are hoping it will switch more to the right as the sea breeze kicks in this afternoon. Stay tuned to www.pisailing.com for all the latest reports.
Don't forget, this race is history in the making. When the race is marking its 20th anniversary, you will want to be able to say you were "there" for the first one, even if only via internet.
hI Mary
Looks like a great race event ,generally in higher winds and seas with some lighter in the mornings ,-typical coastal seabreeze conditions .
Looks like David and Mike -{team Lamorak } have won each leg on the I-20 as far as line honors ,but John and Tiffany sailing well on a Tiger can stay close to them ,particularly in higher winds that the F-18S are designed and optimized for per sail areas .
It is impossible for any type of handicap rating system to reflect this accurately for distance racing .
A Tiger was also sailed in the 98 Worrell very well and this is also what was found in comparison ,-they could stay very close to 20s in higher winds particularly .
Current rating which average times of U S cat skippers sailing that season in particular classes provide just that ,---an average of skippers abilities in that particular class by comparison . This in buoys racing --more often in generally protected flat waters and average lighter windstrengths .Most all realize that top sailors are drawn towards the latest current racing class and that their skill levels directly affect any class signifigantly.
Its difficult for racers and spectators alike to understand average time handicap ratings averaged in buoys racing applied to distance racing, the concept is simple but results very confusing .
Average results of light buoys racing does not corespond to realities of distance racing for many reasons.
Spin non spin difference ,-boat design optimums , vastly different skippers abilities., buoys racing of theoretically equal upwind -downwind where distances are often one type in 90 mile legs that day .There are numerous other reasons why any major race and distance race should be run per class .
The ideal race structure and format for these types of distance races is seperate Formula Classes ,-first boat across the line wins .
Realalize the numbers entered in the first year of the Texas Race are not yet enough for seperate Formula Classes ,but in events like the Tybee and several others there are more than enough and will be more next.
A completely seperate F-18 start with numerous Tigers --N-F-18s Mysteres etc -set 30 minutes earlier seems ideal for distance races like the Tybee ,
We currently have 2 rows of starting boats ,-seems by class would make a more ideal race structure.
20s can do the same for distance race events per current F-20 rules outline with a limit to current existing production boats by designating all ISAF recognized class 8.5 beam 20s such as the H-Fox -H-20 -Nacra 6/0 -Inter 20 P-19 -Mystere 20 ,-Supercat 20 -8.5 beam -and allowing all production cat designs or any combination of hull mast sail componants as F-20 .
This would limit costs and development to known types and readily available parts ,but still allow mainsail reef systems ,-changes to a lighter same mast or standard sail ,-stronger rudders or boards ,-and snuffer spin and better hardware and safety systems .All these are very much needed and required beyond most current "class rules "
for the safety aspects as well as better faster types of distance racing cats .
Hope all enjoyed the Great Texas Race --wish I was there ,
The Tybee race was great .!
We also have the MI 200 IN AUGUST --a 4 day event with legs of approximately 50 miles each ,-
It begins 10 right after the C F 4 regatta --which currently has more that 100 preregistered ,--and is followed by another short distance race with 15 seperate starts of all types of sailing craft and classes inc 2 cat classes that start last but pass most all . This at the final leg destination 200 miles up the Lk MI coastline between the two locations.
Its open to all cats from 16 to 22 ft -racing per leg by class ,!! hope to see F-16 --18 AND 20 classes , as well as open classes .
Info and NOR is on the CRAM website .
should be back up ,--Rog has been on vacation ,
Stan and Eric K are race officials.
See you in Aug ,-should be a great 10 days of racing with a layday Fri over some of the most beautiful fresh water beaches found anywhere in the world.
