In a message dated 9/12/2006 12:41:00 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
keith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
Solo Folks,
One of the issues the CGRA Board struggled with this last year is the common
perception of the CGRA Gorge venue as a "heavy air" venue. This is wrong in
the same way that Jackson Hole is an "expert only" ski mountain. Bram is
grossly mistaken about his perception of the CL site as only a "heavy air"
venue.
Keith, Cascade Locks is not a heavy air "only" venue. I don't know of any
place that is.
As I offered in my original email, to eliminate the misconception of some of
the members of the class, if the class is considering the venue, I will
compile a wind profile to demonstrate that Bram's misconception is way off
base.
Having had this discussion with Bram on numerous occasions, when I suggested
the Gorge after Mark's comment, I knew Bram would chime in saying it was an
"inappropriate" venue.
Keith, the Gorge is an inappropriate place for a NA for the current state of
the Swift fleet. First, consider the possibility that I may have a rough
idea of the state of skill of the Swift group. This rough idea has come from
attending the two major regattas we've had to date. There is a common belief t
hat at least 2/3 of the sailors at any regatta should be capable of
finishing races in the typical venue winds. That threshold is about 11 knots
right
now. We are a brand new class in which most of the participants have built
their own boats. These boats have expensive carbon masts and high quality
sails that will not like the shallow water and current up near the point where
most beginners seem to meet their demise. To send new sailors out for their
first few sails in a Swift in over 8 knots is simply absurd. The skill level
rose considerable from last year to this year and I expect that same will
happen next year. Remember, 17 knots of wind has twice the force of 12 knots
and 24 knots has twice again the force of 17
Second, it is not practical to set the start times of racing or clinics
based on current wind speed. Families on vacation do not want to hang around
all day waiting for the wind to die (or to come up). Race times and lay days
need to be set before the regatta and racing postponed for more that two hours
needs to be canceled for the day so that attendees can do other things.
As to a Solo regatta being a 5 to 6 year proposition to be ready for the
Gorge, that too is off base. If the class grows, there will never be a time
we
do not have less experienced sailors. There will always be a full range of
ability levels. This is as it should be. In the Gorge, there are a range of
wind levels in each day and from day to day. The one constant is wind. We
almost always have wind at some level. Skunked days are very rare. (If I
remember, the kids got skunked one day)
In 17 knots, approximately 30% would finish the first race and if the race
committee were not immediately ready to start the second race, that number
would likely drop to 20%. That is not a regatta! We are in the same stage
as
the 49er class was two months after the first boats arrived. In 5 to 6 years,
the number of finishers will likely rise to the required 66%.
All of this is not to say the Cascade Locks is not an appropriate place for
a clinic and regatta for seasoned Swift sailors. It is a great place and we
will likely have 5 or six sailors in our area by next season that have enough
experience to attend such an event. I look forward to coming down in August
and sailing in that warm water and 15 to 18 knots of breeze that has been
typical in the 15 or 20 days I have spent sailing there.
Best regards,
Bram
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