The wind was cooperative, the races were many, the committee work was flawless, and the food was hearty and abundant.  The Great South Bay did throw one nasty at us and that was the weed. There was a bit more than we would have liked but the wind made up for it. It seems there is always something but everybody just dealt with the situation since we were "all in the same boat."

The nineteen racing teams were divided into three divisions, Hobie 16s, PNs of 719 or less and PNs of 720 or greater. Each of the three divisions had their own start.  The 719 and below group sailed four buoys races on Saturday and the eastern half of the Great South Bay 60/60 on Sunday. This was a 30 mile distance race in moderate to light air to the end of the bay in Bellport and back. The bigger boats finished in about 3 hours. Some crews now have first hand experience with 50% of this new distance race and will be able to tune in on the R6 at the end of the Great South Bay with no problem.

I do have to say that watching the spinnaker equipped boats accelerate after the crew sets the kite both in the round the buoys and distance races was like watching someone turn on the afterburners. The boats almost jump out of the water and just charge forward. (I got to get me one of those kites!)  It was also great fun to watch the Inter 20 and the Taipan 5.7 battle it out around the course in what looked like a match race. The Taipan 5.7, sailed by Glen Ashby, current World and European A Class Champion and 5.5 Uni sailor David Chamberlain seemed to have the upper hand over the Inter 20 except for a DSQ received for an error in sailing the course. The other  boats in this group had their own battle royal each day with the Taipan 4.9 doing the wild thing in almost no wind. Way to go Jim and Julie!

The seven Hobie 16s and the six boats in the 720 an up group ( 2 Hobie 18s, a Nacra 5.7, 2 Nacra 5.0s, and a Hobie 17) sailed five races on Saturday and three races on Sunday. The sailing in these two groups was  excellent with one sailing team in each group demonstrating outstanding performances by winning every race in their division. Way to go John and Martha on their Hobie 16 and Dave and Rich on their Nacra 5.0. Great job! As soon as I get the results I will post them.

I had the good fortune, along with a few others, to sail the Taipan 4.9 and to crew on the Taipan 5.7.  It is safe to say that if you sail on these boats you will walk away very impressed. The 5.7, at only 300 lbs.. all up, is an 18 foot 8 inch boat that thinks it's 20 feet long. The smooth ride and blistering acceleration are just incredible. Boy would I like to have one of these. The Taipan 4.9, at 231 lbs. all up, is responsive and accelerates with every puff. You really have to sail these boats or they will attempt to sail themselves. It sounds like a lot of hype but if you sail either boat you will understand what I am talking about. They are just amazing and sailing something that light and responsive is a real treat which spoils you for anything else.  It really makes it difficult to get back on to that beach cat you were sailing, at least it did for me.
 

On July 18 and 19, 1998, Division 12 volunteers from The Long Island Catamaran Sailors' Association and Hobie Fleet 143  hosted the Division 12 Mid Summer Classic Regatta, one of the many events on the  Division 12 Schedule .  Participants in the various classes represented some of the most competitive sailors on the east coast including top finishers in the Hobie 16 Nationals, an Alter Cup Area B representative, and the sixth place finisher in the 1998 Worrell 1000.

The Mid Summer Classic was not nearly as windy as it had been in the past. Winds were light to moderate out of the northeast on Saturday with a shift on Sunday to the southeast. This is very unusual for the Great South Bay.  Even with the light winds, 8 races were completed. The Hobie classes, 16s A and B, 18s, and 20s, raced five buoys races on Saturday and three buoys races on Sunday. The open class, which included two Nacra 5.5 Sls, a Tornado, a Nacra 5.7, two Hobie 17s and a brand new Melvin A boat (a rocket in the light air!), raced a modified distance race of about 8 miles and two windward leeward races on Saturday with three buoys races on Sunday. Everyone enjoyed the fine weather and the many races. After 5 back to back races, the crews were very hungry so the huge hero sandwich lunch which followed the last race on Saturday was appreciated by all. Next year participants will be advised to bring snacks out on the race course. The soft drinks, fruit, donuts, lemonade, and coffee on both Saturday and Sunday were also well received.