Hi All from Annapolis, driver of Boomslang here....
This was a great race, thank you to Loyal West End for doing the honors...
Here in Annapolis folks do race and take it seriously....
The CatFight rules clearly state this race is rated F for Fun....
Catatonic is always a top finisher, and a well sailed boat. Kudos to her skipper and crew for that. As well, her skipper also was a prime mover behind the Dawg Rock memorial, so heartfelt thanks for that...
On the subject of the race.... it was sure as heck fun to be on sailing boat, with like minded scallywags, in the BVIs on that beautiful day.
Yes, the mark was hard to find. Yes, there is always controversy and good natured bitching. Part of the fun.
If folks want to get into the weeds about the rules of the race, good luck! Hope you enjoy that aspect of it. I have been doing that race for quite and never have I read such nit picky stuff. I have to think the race organizers could not give a whit about parsing the rules to this degree, and I am in favor of that approach. If the serious racers on this forum want to organize a "by the Hoyle rules" actual cat race, have at it.... in the mean time, can't we just enjoy the casual fun CatFight just the way it is and was, and hopefully will be?
The spirit of the race is FUN. You are competing against charter cats crewed by relative amateurs, who do not know the local waters.
If it were a serious race- you would see crews lightening their boats, dumping water and anchor chain, limiting crews, taking off provisions- the stuff we see up here in championship races. Some yachts do not even allow crew to have a freakin' beer during the races!!! If you tried that at CatFight, your crew would mutiny!
So see you all next year- and again- despite the concerns over the race- it is a great event, and Catatonic rocks for honoring our late friends Mark.
JAM
Annapolis <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />
