SF30ULDBs...
anybody want to start a fleet?
OK
- we have race boats because we want to race 'em, right? And
racing's the most fun when you know a bit about your competitors,
have shared a beverage even, maybe, and maybe most importantly
- you can feel a real, fair sense competition.
The
SF HDA works very hard - we won't deny that. They organize
a bunch of hodge-podge, cheap-skate, pain-in-the-asses (let's
be honest -- if you're a sailor, doesn't that apply just a
little bit at least?) and give them a chance to go compete
with each other. Not an easy task.
But,
sometimes, doesn't it seem like there's something missing?
Like, maybe, when you're fighting for room at the starting
line against 35 - 40 food lead sleds?
A
couple of years ago, a few guys realized that similar boats
make good races. And they fought to get a fleet started. The
SF30s.
Let's
ride their coattails! Here's what I'm thinking: SF30s for
ultralights.
PHRF: |
96?
93? to 114? 117? |
LOA: |
29'
- 33' ? |
Displacement: |
3200
- 5000 pounds? |
"ULDB
Ratio' (disp/[2.24(lwl/10)^3]) |
<
105? < 115? < 120? |
Spinnaker: |
Symmetrical
only |
But!
As the SF30s learned, it's important NOT to set a strict formula
for the class, rather we should start looking for similar
boats, who react to conditions in similar ways, and let the
fleet grow organically.
For
example, looking through the fleets for the current HDA season,
it seems like we could get a good start with several boats
-- this list is waaayyyy tentative, and based on a high SWAG
factor as I leaf through the listings, but, how about:
- Sonoma 30s
(2)
- Capri 30
- Humboldt 30
- Soverel 33 (2?)
- Wilderness 30
- Olson 30 (6?)
- Olson 29 (any?)
- Wilderness 30
- Hobie 33
- Others? Prototypes / One-offs?
All
administration of the fleet will be done by email (sonoma30.org
will host the list, and provide email addresses to any potential
fleet member who needs one), with the occasional face-to-face
fleet meeting, for sure.
Anyone
interested? Anyone? Does it make sense to anyone but me?
I'm
thinking: Great Pumpkin debut and first meeting? I'll bring
beer!
Email
me - let's get the ball rolling!
|