2008 I14 Worlds

It was my first time to Germany. It was great. Good wind, good friends, and good beer. Our goal was to get a respectable finish with no breakdowns and we did just that. A 15th overall out of almost 90 boats. We had speed but we were definitely on the light side compared to other top teams. It blew pretty hard all week. Big waves too. It made the Long Beach Worlds look easy. Even a squall came through but we did fine. Our starts were good but not great. We were usually in or close to the top ten consistently and we'd fall back on the tight reach legs. That was noticeable. We got a great place right by the boatpark so we could walk everywhere. An absolutely fantastic regatta. The Germans did a fine job.

Gybing Boards - My View.

So I have a gybing daggerboard in the boat. Does it work? Of course, but only in specific conditions. When this boat won the 2006 Worlds with 2 other sister ships taking the next two spots, there was lots of chatter on and off the web. A proposal to ban them was made and the 14 class took a vote - PASS. I took a gamble and it paid off as I just bought the boat before the ruling.
In a nutshell, the board does several things for you. You can drop the bow down and burn quicker upwind than most. You also do not need as powerful sails as most. Designed by Baylis, built by Tuttle. This is perfect for light crews like us. The downer is the cassette inside point loads the case. Contaminants like small pebbles and sand can also reak havic on this system. Ultimately, if not properly cared for, your case will leak and you will start to take on water. If one chooses to go with this system, make absolutely sure your case is bulletproof. Also make sure the gybing mechanism is enabled during a capsize to spread the load. It's another step but cheap insurance in the long run.

USA 1168 This boat rocks!

Two years ago, I bought this boat, An International Fourteen from Howie Hamlin after I got dusted at the 2006 Worlds. This was on my own stomping grounds. I've been sailing these things for 12 years already. I put a lot of money and resources into the old boat but I was literally blown away by the speed difference between a Bieker 3 platform and the newer Bieker 5 platform. Granted, a B3 could get around the course just fine, but capable of being competitive with the latest and greatest on an international level? Nope. Uphill - not so much a factor. Downhill - could not even come close speed wise. A finer entry and less rocker. Narrower overall, higher aspect foils, and add the fact that the rig is farther back - it's all working well. Now we have something to compete with. Our first regatta, we were surprised how easy it was to accelerate and maintain our speed. Rigged flawlessly, the boat is frickin awesome. The best I've ever had and I've had many boats before her.

Addicted to Wind

I'm not sure what it is, but I am addicted to wind. The sensation of harnessing that restless energy and turning it into not only a means of self power, but a way to trim, optimize, and finely tune a craft to it's absolute potential. Mix in water, and you have the most satisfying sensation of planing above the surface. It's always exciting and certainly addictive. This blog is about sailing high performance boats and the trials and tribulations involved with them.