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Posted by dwhite
on 11/12/2007, 8:14 pm, in reply to " Help I need RC advise!!!!!"
207.255.107.89
Mike,
I am familiar with the type of boats you sail out of Atlanta and I'm sure the Fireball will be different from anything you are use to. They are very light for their size with a hull weight of 175 pounds minus the centerboard. Add to that a large sail area, 125 square foot minus the spinnaker, for the boats size 16 foot by 4 foot by 27 inches and you have a pretty fast boat on points of sail. Add to that the group showing up are pretty cmpetetive and willl get the most from their boats. The prefered course is the modified olympic course. a triangle with a windward leeward windward. We have done windward leewards and will do whatever the host club gives us as we are a pretty adjustable group but with the triangle you get a tight reach after the first mark and during that leg many things can happen. Keep in mind the Fireball can carry its spinnaker up to a beam reach and still be under control in fairly heavy conditions due to the trapeze and the skill of the helmsman and crew. I've seen a lot of interesting things happen on that leg and places change constantly as you can do different things to come from behind. The second mark usually results in a broad reach but again I've seen boats head high and gain spped on the pack then head to the third mark and if not take places close the distance. These are very high performance boats and the straight answer for this type of regatta would be the triangle windward leeward windward with a tight reach being the course set after the first mark, not two broad reaches. But as I said before we are a very adaptable group and will be happy with whatever the RC gives us. We understand that wind and weather conditions often play a more important role than our personel wants and we will not argue with whatever a RC from a club like the Atlanata Yacht Club deems best for the regatta. We have sailed windward leewards and I understand the lake is down as far a water goes and that may play a factor in your decision. You are the RC and we understand that, so whatever you decide to give us we will sail and be happy about it. We don't make a habbit of telling Yacht Clubs with a great reputation how to run a regatta. We just want to sail and have fun in the process. Hope this helps and see you in a few days.
Dave White
Secretary USIFA
--Previous Message--
: Atlanta Yacht Club is hosting the
: 'Fireball North Americans on Nov 17
: & 18. I have been asked to do RC
: for this event. We have no Fireballs
: in the Atlanta area and I would like
: advice on the preferred courses
: (windward-leeward or triange or both
: )and under what wind conditions
: should one course be selected over
: the other. Any advise or guidance
: would be greatly appreciated. Mike
:
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