International 14 Mailing List
Re: Being in SanFran, and being beaten by 505's

14

From: RJBoehm@aol.com
Date: Thu 30 Mar 2000 - 06:26:55 BST

Warren,
I'll give you some data points and you can make up your own mind. I only
visit SF to race, so locals will have to give you more details. The 14s
generally race against the 505s twice a year on the City Front, in the Spring
Dinghy (March) and in the Fall Dinghy (October?) regattas. We just sailed
there a few weeks ago.

The 505s used to start ahead of the 14s, despite complaints from the 14ers
for a couple of years that we were catching them. The last two regattas we
started ahead of them, as the race committee figured out we were right.

On many of the races we had a few weeks ago, we started about 6 minutes ahead
of the 505s on 5 leg windward, leeward twice arounds with finish above the
weather mark. Beats were about 10-12 minutes, runs about 5-7 minutes. We
caught up with their midfleet at the leeward mark after they had had done two
legs, and we had done four legs. 12 knots of wind

Upwind, their top sailors are still a bit faster than on average, but its
very close. Downwind, they're just parked compared to the 14s.

Oh, and Howie was at the regatta a few weeks ago. Maybe he meant when the
505s were starting 5 minutes ahead, their top one or two boats would just
beat our top boat to the finish.

Ron Boehm
USA 1114 Goin' Postal

In a message dated 03/29/2000 4:02:58 AM Pacific Standard Time,
callisto@primus.com.au writes:

<< The recent publication 'Annual Reference Yearbook 1999/2000' for the
 'Yachting Association of Western Australia (Inc).' had a disturbing piece of
 information that needs clarification.
 
 In the book there is a blub for each class. The International 505 had a
 section which is quoted as (and extracted from an article by Howie Hamlin):
 "Incidently, the 505's in San Francisco frequently race against the
 International 14s, and even with the 14's dual trapeze and huge asymmetrical
 kites, the 505 consistently beats the 14."
 
 What is happening over there in sunny Cal? Could the I14er's in San Fran
 please verify or deny this extract so I can a) be quite embarrassed, or b)
 give the 505 association a serve and request a retraction for such untruths.
>>

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