Tradewinds venue change question

I would still be 'in' for racing on Monday Rick. Would we be doing any practice on Friday too, or just go out and watch the A cats?

I'll have to talk to Andi Lutz to see if he would have to get back to work on Tuesday, like he usualy does, or if he could get Tuesday off. This far out I wouldn't think it would be a problem, thanks for the early warning!

Too bad the A-Cats won't bend any. THey do a Monday-Tues, Wed lay day, and have another event Thurs and Fri.
We asked if they could omit the layday, but they have been doing it this way for quite a while and did not want to change.

Well...on the bright side, maybe some of the A cats will hang around for the weekend and sail in the Tradewinds regatta.

I'm beginning to appreciate having Monday's off from work...it probably wouldn't affect me unless I intended to also do the A-cat week. Getting more than one consecutive week of vacation is a little tricky.

The guy that started our company once informed one of my employees (in a jesting manner that still left a little room for caution), that

if you can afford to take two weeks of vacation, that pretty much tells me that we can do without you

.

I am planning on doing both the a cat events and trade winds and I have school off on monday so it shouldn't be a problem

You might want to make sure that there is enough room for all the T.winds boats to set-up while the A's are there.Islander is going to want plenty of heads-up on what's going to need to go where.
Rick don't you think it's pretty presumptuous to expect the A's to change their schedule because your venue didn't work out?
I hope to do both this year as well.

Or maybe we can

Politic

the Founders Park admin guys into letting us stay there?

When money talks, People listen.

I know a couple guys who could go and 'talk' to them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO8zb5DG_gM

Jesus, I might have to drive farther?!

Yeah, that last 100 yards is going to kill you!

It's a long butt drive, especially by myself.

No doubt, but the Islander is right across the street from Founder's Park. I know you were joking, I mean, after you've driven 2000 miles, what's another 100 yards? Or...you could stop in Sebring and take a nap, then follow me down!

Maybe if you weren't such an a$$hole, you'd have more friends! <img src="<>/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin" height="15" width="15" /> (kidding, I'd let you ride in the back of my truck anytime).

So, no negative feedback yet?
Will plan on Tradewinds at The Islander MLK Weekend Sat-Mon
Thanks,
Rick

We really don't have any other choice do we? Would switching the regatta to New Years weekend be doable? I imagine that's a popular weekend for the Islander but it doesn't hurt to ask, right?

Ideally I'd like to see the A cat guys have their regatta in peace, it's not their fault we got booted from Founders Park.

New Years weekend is high prime time in the Keys with premium rates on everything. Then there is a window of off-season right after NY until late January. That is why we originally chose MLK weekend.

Agree on the A Cats, but it didn't hurt to ask. As for Founders dealing with beauracrats cannot be fun.., feel sorry for Chip and Barb.

My preference is to shift the regatta one week to the right. The regatta used to be a two day event (Sat and Sun only) and was still very successful. I'll still take the time off and go sailing on Friday anyway. You could even keep Friday optional and see how it works out. I think the A cat guys would appreciate it and it will be nice to have the extra space to work with. Don't most people bug out on Sunday anyway?

The worlds in October are very likely to knock down A cat attendance for the winter regatta.... It had this effect the last time. Room might not be a problem.

Or it may have the opposite effect since the class is growing. Worlds will likely get people fired up.

I'd still like to see Tradewinds moved away from the A cat regatta assuming it doesn't overly impact attendance for Tradewinds. I'd be willing to accept a small drop in attendance to accommodate the A cat sailors, but that's just me.

Everyone seemed to like the optional 3-day event and would like to stick with it.

And possible maybe some As will even sail with us, like they used to do.

Here is the edited NOR Link: http://www.catsailor.com/Tradewinds.html

It takes about as much time to derig and rig an A cat as it does a Hobie 16, plus it on only weighs 3 pounds. They aren't coming to Tradewinds because they have to break their boat down drive it a half a mile and rerig. If you're thinking the fleet will stay and sail Tradewinds, you'd be wrong.

Besides asking them to change their schedule for us, did ask them about us being there and what their opinions are on the matter? I could be wrong but I have a feeling they aren't happy about us squatting on the tail end of their party.

You're not going to come out clean on this one Rick.

I'd have to do some thinking if its only a two day event. It costs me $1400 just in fuel to get to the Keys. It's a major expense for two days. Granted, I'm usually down there early anyway.

Moving it to the following weekend does not keep it from being a 3 day event. It's moot anyway, Rick pulled the trigger.

**** in the making.God help us all if there is a wedding or two also. I plan on doing both so it actually makes it easier for me, not sure many others will see it that way.

I know Mike takes both boats A cat and F18 and he does the A event then we go to Tradewinds I don't think he will drive down twice and will just have to do one event. I would definitely check with the Islander about boats and the launching is limited unless it has changed since I was there last.
Too bad US Sailing can't get parks to be beach cat friendly in the USA.

Dave that is a terrific idea!! I am sure the US Sailing Multihull Council would support any effort you make in working on this issue! We would even form an official committee or working group with you in the lead should you wish!

If you guys don't want to hear valid suggestions please stop asking.

Valid??? To the best of my knowledge, US Sailing is not a huge lobby group in Washington to have the influence you're looking for.

The key to local access is... wait for it... LOCAL involvement. Boots on the ground, attending local town meetings, etc. Find a good spot, treat it well (leave it cleaner than you found it, don't require police action for the parties, etc.), and you'll go very far.

I would definitely support a subcommittee of the MHC to be formed as a think-tank to help promote best practices.

But, this is not a problem that

someone

at US Sailing can

fix,

at the end of the day it requires local effort.

It's more than a little frustrating to hear people say that they want someone to fix all of their local problems in return for just writing a check for $50.

Mike

And that pretty much sums up the impotence of US Sailing. Mike everyone knows that EVERYTHING worth doing happens at the ground level by a group of dedicated and passionate individuals without a lick of help from US Sailing. In my opinion and experience US Sailing would just get in the way anyway.

So when you ask what can US Sailing do to inspire you to join US Sailing what you're really asking is what can US Sailing do without doing anything at all that will inspire you to join US Sailing, right?