not sure if the terminology has been consistent throughout the history of the event - i certainly saw mike worrell allow teams to race that were wholly unknown or completely new to cat sailing. the new OA is incredibly concerned about risk as evidenced by the in-depth waivers teams and race volunteers signed this year, so i get that an early step in mitigating that risk is to only accept entries from teams with experience. there will be more entries for the next event (easy prediction) and it would be consistent with the OA's view of risk management if some of those entries don't meet their criteria for past experience and ability.
John Williams
F18 USA 70
Some years the bar was set a little lower than others. In 2003 after the W1000 cancelation and the Tybee 500 was created, the Great Texas 300 was also born. Since we had planned on doing the W1000, and had a sponsor supplied RV for 30 days, when we finished the T500, we turned west and drove to Padre Island. There was another team that was scheduled to do the W1000, but they were counting on the chartered 18HT for the event. So they drug an old Nacra 5.8 out from behind the barn and showed up in Texas with a leaky boat and only one dagger board (they figured that they only needed one board since it was supposed to be an off wind run all the way). Everyone was WTF, but the GT300 organizers assumed that since they were entered in the W1000, then they must have been "experienced ocean racers". On day one, they finished hours behind the fleet because they kept having to beach the boat and bail it out. On day 2, we gave them a 1 or 2 hour head start, and they still finished hours after the fleet. On day 3, they didn't make it the beach in time and sank. They swam ashore, a surf fisherman picked them up and transported them to the nearest pay phone. Their ground crew was dispatched to collect them, and I think that was the last we saw of them. Not sure they made it back home, the van they were living in wasn't in any better shape than their boat...
wlrottge wrote: We worked hard to prepare; I designed an adapter to fit the standard rudders to an FCS boat, but it was deemed illegal. Nacra later decided to produce new gudgeons and promised them in time for the race, but they arrived three days after the start. We weren't going to sail the course, spend more money, drill unnecessary holes in the boat and abuse it by running it up on the beach just for the sake of being there. By the time the Aussies were announced, we had pulled the plug, missed preparation deadlines and knew that we wouldn't have the parts we needed.
Sucks that you were not able to do the race, but it sounds like you made the right decision, and sad you got slammed for it..
I know it has been asked here, and if you don't mind sharing, what sort of checkbook does one need to compete in a race like this.. ballpark figure will work..
Anyway, hope you can do it next year.. the Worrell is not on my bucket list, but I would the to take a shot at the Texel...
JohnES wrote: sad you got slammed for it..
neither will nor brian were "slammed" for pulling out of the race. any criticism they received, public or private, was not related to their decision. it doesn't do anyone any good to air it out, but i won't sit by for mischaracterization or a rewrite of what went down. far better to look forward, imo.
John Williams
F18 USA 70
john_williams wrote: [quote=JohnES]sad you got slammed for it..
neither will nor brian were "slammed" for pulling out of the race. any criticism they received, public or private, was not related to their decision. it doesn't do anyone any good to air it out, but i won't sit by for mischaracterization or a rewrite of what went down. far better to look forward, imo.
No one here would have been none the wiser on this if you didn't bring it up... is that a sign of moving forward?
not so, john. will brought it up and you apparently bought it. it needed to be corrected.
John Williams
F18 USA 70
Some years the bar was set a little lower than others. In 2003 after the W1000 cancelation and the Tybee 500 was created, the Great Texas 300 was also born. Since we had planned on doing the W1000, and had a sponsor supplied RV for 30 days, when we finished the T500, we turned west and drove to Padre Island. There was another team that was scheduled to do the W1000, but they were counting on the chartered 18HT for the event. So they drug an old Nacra 5.8 out from behind the barn and showed up in Texas with a leaky boat and only one dagger board (they figured that they only needed one board since it was supposed to be an off wind run all the way). Everyone was WTF, but the GT300 organizers assumed that since they were entered in the W1000, then they must have been "experienced ocean racers". On day one, they finished hours behind the fleet because they kept having to beach the boat and bail it out. On day 2, we gave them a 1 or 2 hour head start, and they still finished hours after the fleet. On day 3, they didn't make it the beach in time and sank. They swam ashore, a surf fisherman picked them up and transported them to the nearest pay phone. Their ground crew was dispatched to collect them, and I think that was the last we saw of them. Not sure they made it back home, the van they were living in wasn't in any better shape than their boat...
:mischuge:
crazy but believable
MN3
john_williams wrote: not so, john. will brought it up and you apparently bought it. it needed to be corrected.
Pint taken and I stand corrected.. Lets move on