2011 Ultimate 20 North Americans - Holland Michigan August 12-14

[Rick Sellens]

Laura and I would like to come and bring Dragon Bait with a third. Between us we are 500 lbs, so even with a small third crew we will be over the weight limit. I'd like to request a weight limit waiver for Dragon Bait based on the fact that we're partners and not trying to gain a competitive advantage. If you have any objections to this waiver, please post them here. I'll ask the executive committee for a ruling in a couple of weeks so we can firm up our plans and register for the regatta.

Cheers,

Rick

[Jim Pearson]

No problem with me. Glad your coming. To date commitments are pretty slim. I hope we get some more action soon. A dozen boats for a NA. would be sad and look terrible for Class. We seem to get lots of chatter about going to Regattas and then people fall off the radar as Regattas gets closer.
Jim Pearson
CAN200

[Gregg Henning]

Rick,

We had this circumstance last year at North American's in Dillon, CO.  All skipper's were in agreement to let the overweight limit boat race.

I do not forsee any issues.

See you at NA's

Gregg

[Mark Allen]

Wanted to book early. Where is a good place to stay?

Thanks

[Tac Boston]

Mark

If you want some place swank and near all the downtown pubs and such then City Flats is a really cool place right downtown, about a 10 min drive back to the boats.

Otherwise look at the Microtel like the Comfort INN. they are about the same mileage but shorter time to get to the boat. There is not much around that area though.

If you see the Holiday INN Ex or Fairfield INN's they are about 20 mins from the boat.

Cheers
Tac

[Mark Dobie]

I'm in, not sure if it's crew on Semper Gumby or chartering Running with Scissors. But I'm in, either way.

[Mark Allen]

Thanks Tac,

Not looking for swank, just cheap but would like to stay where other teams are staying.

Mark

[Gregg Henning]

Just a follow-up on Hotels for the U-20 NAC. Both the Haworth Inn and the downtown City Flats Hotel are taken for the regatta dates (weddings). Still, there are plenty of good.  hotels in the area. The one I would recommend is the Double Tree Hotel Holland, Michigan. I've talked with their Director of Sales, Lisa Wedding and she has set a block of 20 rooms for the regatta dates 8/9-8/14, 2011 at a discount rate.  You can view the hotel and its amenities at www.holland.doubletree.com .To make reservations you can:
1. Phone the hotel directly at 616-394-0111. Please mention the group code "NAC" and the dates.
2.Phone the reservation specialist office 1-800-222-8733.Mention the group code NAC to get the special rate
3. Visit the hotel's web site www.holland.doubletree.com. Enter the group code NAC in the field provided.
 To receive the special rate reservations must be made by 7/10/2011.  If  you have any problems call or email me.
There are a number of other good hotels available in Holland. Some that I would recommend are: 
Holiday Inn Express Holland
12381 Felch Rd
Holland MI
616-738-2800

Hampton Inn
12427 Felch Rd
Holland MI
616-399-8500

Best Western
2888 West Shore Rd
Holland MI
616-994-0400

Residence Inn Marriott
631 South Point Ridge
Holland MI
616-393-6900

Days Inn Holland
717 Hastings Ave.
Holland MI
616-392-7001

Econolodge
409 US Hwy 31
Holland MI
616-392-7073

[Gregg Henning]

I got my reservations!!!  My registration is in the mail!!!!

The offer still stands for any west coasters heading east to stay at my house to save on costs.  If you feel like racing the weekend before you can enter the Al Henning Memorial Regatta!

Let me know, I have plenty of space for people and boats!!!  Plenty of Rum as well!        

[Mark Allen]

As we all know logistics of getting your boat to the event is a big part of if you will go or not. I would like to get some details around the rig the Bostons used to get 2 boats to Dillon on the same trailer. Tac, who came up with the design and what were some of the challenges you overcame? I would like to see if we can put together something similar.

[Gregg Henning]

If you are considering coming to North American's in Holland and are not sure you have the crew or you would like to charter a boat because you cannot make the drive.  Post on this thread and let us know your intentions.  Let's see what we can do to bring it all together.

That's what the U20 Class is all about!

[Don Corey]

Have made reservations at the HI Express and the registration was mailed a couple days ago.  Lake Norman U20s need to make every effort possible to attend this one as regatta coordinator Mike Bremer has faithfully been attending LNYC Keelboat regattas for years (even before U20s).  This regatta is a central location for attracting U20s from a very large portion of the country.  We could easily make this event the biggest and best U20 gathering of all times.
Be there or ?   

[Tac Boston]

Mark, sorry it took so long to answer. For some reason I could not reply.

Anyway, in order to do this properly you need to have 2 sailmakers, 2 boat builders and a shop teacher. I figure that was just about enough brain to equal 1 normal person

Abbott's have a 40' mast trailer that we used. We put Pearson's boat on first ass first at a slight angle. We had his boat just on shop cart/cradle. Then our boat went on, on our trailer with the wheels off. it was bow forward and angled as well then pushed as far forward as we could to give the "yin/yang" look.

We then strapped the heck out of them. We had the Honour tin rig under the boats strapped to the trailer and Putz's carbon rig was up on his boat. I have been seeing a bunch of 5th wheel car haulers that I think would be awesome for trucking U-20's or Vipers around. I think you could get at least two on those if not three. You might look at that.

All this took about an hour and half to set up.

Worked very well behind the big diesel van. We did blow up some tires but that was a fender issue if I remember correctly. When Brad gets back from SD I will have him pipe up as well.

BTW, I have bought part of Dr. Mike's boat so that it will sail at the NA's.
Cheers

Tac

[Michael Eisenberg]

If I were doing this, I would build a stacking trailer; One boat on its trailer over the 2nd boat on its trailer.  We've built stacking car trailers for years.  The bottom trailer should be a dual axle trailer.  The advantage to doing it this way is that it would be easier to tow, and easier to launch.  I would use a ramp system to load the trailers with a cantilever system with a winch or hydraulic operated rams to lift the top trailer.  The masts would be strapped to the top boat. It can all be done, and it would look totally cool, but it doesn't seem to be worth the investment involved.

[Don Corey]

Wait a minute, just load one U20 and trailer on top of a P/U camper and tow the other one behind.  There's a photo of this as U20 #62 is being hauled west to a new owner.  Does anyone remember this photo?  I'll try to find it.
Don