East Coast Winter Regatta's.

[Keith Ziegler]

Okay, we are off and running on all talking about the different reggata's that we would like to attend like we do every year. The list so far from what I see is

1. St. Pete
2. Easter Regatta
3. Charleston
4. Something in Pensacola

If I have left any out add them to the list. We need to decide where we are going asap as we all need to begin our plans for the 2014 season.

My opinion:
1. St. Pete is a great venue with alot of hotels located near by to stay at. Draw backs are I have done 12 regatta's on different boats and it seems it has been blowing off the chains and cold or warm with no wind at that time off the year. Also they always put us out by the bridge which is a long haul if the weather is bad.

2. Easter Regatta is out for me as I have an elderly mother which I spend my holidays with.

3. Charleston also a great venue with plenty to do and places to stay. Draw backs are cost and in the 10 I have done we have lost a day of racing in 4 due to weather.

4. Pensacola is also a great venue with a club that is more than inviting and affordable places to stay nearby. Draw backs are I have done many regatta's and depending on the time of year it can be dicey on the weather.

I travel as much or more than most on the east side and time constaints will only allow me to do one of these this winter as I am planning on the NA's in Racine and have commited to crew for other major regatta's this summer. If you have an opinion please give a vote on where you would like to go.

I am commiting to do 3. Charleston

Keith Ziegler
#173

[Tim Dunton]

Good comments Keith.
Spring and Fall in Pensacola is usually the best breeze. Of course on any given day...
The tigers have been fixtures at the IKBR for last few years but I guess that fleet has run its course. Charleston was epic last year but big and a lot of hassle.
I think we are planning on 
IKBR in Pensacola Feb 22
Dogwood/Maxine Series mobile/pensacola Dates TBA (usually early-mid march)
Easter Regatta in columbia April18
Nats in Racine in August (have to get some work stuff shifted to make that work)

would consider a trip to St Pete if others are going but I agree with Keith the wx can be flaky and its a long way to the course.

Tim

[Keith Ziegler]

Tim,

 Was one of the guys crewing on a Tiger and had a great time when we could race. Problem was two of the last three years we were there we got four out of nine days of racing. Maybe a day or two was because of gear failure, but the break downs came from low pressure systems that sat there the hole weekend. This is not to say that this is normal for late March and I got to spend sometime with my brother who drove over from New Orleans. Maybe we get some input from a local on the weather. Billy? When we had the Nationals there in April the breeze was not planning but consistent and great for racing.

Keith
#173

[Tim Dunton]

Err well actually I am local. I sail on pensacola bay and am a member of PYC and PBYC ;-)

Tim

[Dean Nelson]

The LNYC Keelboat MidWinters Regatta will be held on March 15 & 16.  The 2013 LNYC Keelboat MidWinters had 11 U20's participating, with winds 15 to 20 mph and temps in the low to mid 70's. 

[Keith Ziegler]

Sorry Tim didn't know you were there. So was it jist a fluke with the Tiger's or does that happen often?

Keith
#173

[Billy Ellis]

Any where on the Northern Gulf in Late Feb/early March can be a little unpredictable as late season fronts still move through. With rare exception the worst case senario is 20-25. From what I have seen in Charleston the same can be said during race week. The good part is the sailing is right out the "back door" with no long slog to get to the course.  Kinda like having a ski in/out condo on the slopes. Having said this I think some of the best sailing on the Gulf Coast can be during that period.  90% of the time the weather is excellent. Push it back a few weeks into late March and Earley April and the sailing is really good with planning conditions plentifull. We missed that window by 2 weeks during the Pcola NA's but as Keith said still had really nice conditions.  By comparison If  I had to choose between racing in Pcola Bay in Feb/Mar vs Jul/Aug/Sept and if I had to drive 12 hours to get there I would pick the Feb/Mar window 10 out of 10 times.

My current thinking is that I want to do the Easter in Columbia and then what ever might happen down here. If the Feb date does not work and folks want to come south we can certianly look for another venue between New Orleans and Ft Walton.  I will say I much prefer smaller events as it cost less, and the line to buy a drink is not as long. I am looking to take the VX to the mid winters @ Davis Island so my traveling will pretty much be spent. One way or another I think 139 will be at the NA's with or without me. Unfortunately School starts that week and I don't think I would be very popular around the house if I was off sailing.
Billy.

[Steve Rose]

I don't think we'll have enough boats for East Regatta regatta so we can take that off the list.

My plan is:

1) Pensacola IKBR
2) Charleston Race Week
3) Bayfield Race Week?
4) Racine NA's

[Tim Dunton]

Steve
How many do we need for the easter regatta?
Prior work commitments (speaking at conference...cannot change) preclude Charleston for me and I am not sure if Billy can make it either.
Otherwise we are in for IKBR and 75% on nats 1 more schedule to juggle

[Tac Boston]

WOW, wait a min, you are cancelling the Easter event?

[Steve Rose]

Tac,

The initial response back in November was lukewarm. But it's starting to warm up. I'm checking with the regatta chairman to get this moving again.

[Jim Ulatowski]

How is it looking for Charleston this year? Are we going to get some numbers? I love this Regatta and planning to register Soon. What are people thinking? There seams to be a lot of discussion but not much in the way of commitments.

Who is in???

Jim Uli
Juiced!

[Billy Ellis]

Looks like Pensaola is on with 3 boats definate and 2 more on the fence.  I can do Easter but not Charleston. The class needs to coalesce soon or my spring schedule will be set with the current firm options on the table which at this time is Pensacola.

[Chuck Ballew]

Billy,

Don Corey and I are waiting for the SI's and a place to sign up. It sounds like we'll have a nice turnout. With Steve's two boata, Don, myself and you: thats five. I bet we can double that with Lake Norman and the east coast boats that travel.