FD News   30 DEC  2001

This is the last update for 2001. It was a year we won't forget...

While we northerners are frozen in, the FD class is active in the southern hemisphere currently. In New Zealand they have just had their South Island Championships. Results can be seen at NZL1.com/NZFDA . In Chile they had their Copa "Alto Laguna" a few weeks ago. The NOR  was posted in the Chilean popular press, but we have not seen results yet. We hear that renowned Dutch International FD oficionado Clé Jeltes will be visiting with the FD Class in Chile this winter. The Chilean FD fixtures are published in the FedeVela website calendario.
The Australian National Championships are this coming weekend Jan 5 and 6. Check the Australian FD website , as there may be results posted.

In North America, The Midwinter regatta is fast approaching. It will be February 7-10, 2002.  Have a look at the St. Pete Yacht Club web site . The NOR and registration form are now posted. Pick 'One Design Regattas' from the menu at the left, then scroll down to the bottom of the list and click on the Flying Dutchman link. They are usually able to post results and pictures daily.

Do AOL users see the sheet tabs at the bottom of the screen to access the different subject areas of this web site, as shown here?

 If not please let me know, you are missing most of the content!  I dont have the AOL browser handy, and it does tend to display a bit differently from the one 89% of the world is using.
 
 

Trapeze 136 is now complete, and will be in the mail soon. It includes four regatta reports, replies from eminent FD sailors to Ron Baerwitz' analysis of the FD rig, and the write-ups of the two redecked and rerigged boats owned by the Association and now for sale. The International FD CO has shipped an issue of the Bulletin this month as well, and when these are recieved they and the Trapeze will be mailed together.  Next issue of Trapeze will be February next year, following the Midwinters. By then a full racing schedule for next year should also be complete.

There has been no news from Mission bay regarding the Planing Boat regatta.
 
 

Saratoga (NY) Yacht club held their annual Indian Summer regatta the weekend of October 6 and 7. For a variety of reasons, not many FDs participated this year. The principal draw was the wedding of Tim Gorbold in Canandaigua. We wish him the all the best. Those who went to Saratoga that weekend were met with a fearsome autumn blow, 20 knots gusting to 30, occasional rain squalls mixed with bright sun, and all the hospitality we have come to expect from lovely SLSA. The race committee waited until after lunch to send us out on Saturday as several competing weather systems did battle over the lake. One good race was had in the afternoon, not without incident, but with no injuries. Three FDs and a mixed handicap fleet of Scots, Lasers, Sunfish and Windmills raced.  On Sunday two races were had before noon in an even harsher gusty, shifty Northwesterly wind. Two FDs and a dwindling handicap fleet struggled around a smaller course, and only two boats finished the last race. The reach legs of these races were amazing, not to say terrifying! Joe Doyle of New Jersey crewed on USA-7. This was his first time sailing in an FD, and despite some a bit of swimming in the chilly lake, he had a fine time and went home in high spirits. Joe owns a '66 Plastrend FD which he hopes to have ready for next year's racing season.  FD results:
Bill Hamilton/Doug Hamilton USA-1474   1,1,1
Jonathan Clapp/Joe Doyle USA-7       3,2,DNF
Tim Sayles/Pavel Ruzicka USA-251    2,DNS,DNS

The final event of this year will be the Planing Boat regatta at Mission Bay YC in San Diego. All indications are for a good turn out at that event.

The North American Championship was sailed in beautiful sunny California breeze during the weekend of September 7-9. The fleet was made up of four east coast and four west coast teams, leading to an informal east vs west challenge. Eastern teams took first and second places, and scored better overall. Complete results are available.  Next years NAs are proposed for St. Petersburg, and may be coordinated with a container for the 2002 Worlds in Portugal. The West coast fleet has some very enthusiastic FD sailors who plan to do some travelling next summer, so that all may fit together.

October brings regattas on both coasts, The Lake Sartoga Indian Summer regatta and the Planing Boat regatta on Mission Bay, which is on the north side of San Diego.

St.Petersburg Yacht club has posted the date of the next FD/505/IC midwinters regatta. It will be February 7-10, 2002. It really isn't too early to start planning. St. Pete is an outstanding venue. Have a look at the St. Pete Yacht Club web site . The NOR and registration form are now posted. Pick 'One Design Regattas' from the menu at the left then scroll down to the bottom of the list and click on the Flying Dutchman link.

A fine gallery of photos of this years Cazenovia Cuspidor regatta is now available for viewing. This can be found in the Cazenovia area of the Fleet information page. Also some more items from early trapeze issues have been added and a look a fine photo taken at Miles River MD has been added to the FD history coumn.
 
 

St.Petersburg Yacht club has posted the date of the next FD/505/IC midwinters regatta. It will be February 7-10, 2002. It really isn't too early to start planning. St. Pete is an outstanding venue. Have a look at the St. Pete Yacht Club web site . The NOR and registration form are now posted. Pick 'One Design Regattas' from the menu at the left then scroll down to the bottom of the list and click on the Flying Dutchman link.

This past weekend saw the completion of another Cuspidor regatta at Cazenovia, New York. Eleven teams entered making this the biggest US event so far this year. Saturday three races were had in very light shifty conditions with periods of dead calm. Sunday was much nicer with a fresh southerly allowing for trapezing and nice planing spinnaker reaches. The Gorbolds took the Cuspidore trophy once again. This trophy has been in use so long that this year it has been mounted on a walnut base to allow the Gorbold's names to be attached in more places. See the complete results here .

Newport is done. It was a remarkable event in many ways, full details will be available shortly in the Trapeze. Nine boats showed up with crews from eight states. Day 1 was sailed out in the ocean with some big keel boat classes in 18-20 knots of sea breeze and three foot swell. A really glorious day. Lin Robson/Serge Jorgensen showed their usual finesse and won both races.
Day 2 and 3 were sailed up in the bay in patchy, shifty winds and occasional sea breeze. Several races were abandoned due to one or another problem.  In the fourth race every FD went the wrong way, but since there were no discards that race is in the results. Besides the fickle wind, the weather was simply perfect all weekend, and Newport is a beautiful place to spend a weekend.
 Sail Newport's web site is a mad chaos, so here are the race results .

Pavel introduced the new line of FD shirts at Newport. These area availible from him now. Contact info is in the last Trapeze and will be availible here shortly. Silk screened T-shirt is $17 and embroidered polo is $24.

Have a look at the new Austrian FD home page . It is very well put together with lots of nice pictures and graphics interesting (German language) information about the FD scene in that country.

The FD Worlds ended after six races. Final results can be seen at the FD Worlds web site.
David and Dennis finished 5th. An outstanding performance, consistantly in the front rank with no black flags. Paul Hemker and Gary Schwantz finished a respectable 40th. IFDCAUS members are proud of our representatives at the Worlds, and especially to see that US teams continue to place in the top 10 in world class events.

Incidently Paul Hemker is off to Japan next for the Flying Junior Worlds

Over here, meanwhile, the 41st Cannonball regatta has been raced. Nine teams from three states attended, in mixed weather conditions.

The regatta callender page now includes links to results sheets for each completed event.

Sail Newportis next, July 13-15th. IFDCAUS would like everyone who is going to Newport to pre-register, if possible, so send your check today.

I have discovered an FD web site built by a South African enthusiast and entrepeneur. It's a few years old but none the less interesting.

Have a look at the collection of pictures of FDs from old sailing books . These pictures are mostly over 25 years old, and of great historical interest. The captions in the books usually provide no information about the subject, so anyone who recognizes a person or place in the pictures please do send it.
 

Trapeze #134 is in the mail. If you havent recieved it by the end of May contact the class Secretary to find out why. The Trapeze takes a month off now to get some boat maintenance done. Next issue is due end of July. Submission deadline is July 21st. Anyone who would like to submit ads or features for consideration may e-mail them to jfclapp@net1plus.com , or mail them to my address on the ground:

Jonathan Clapp
368 Daniel Shays Hwy
Pelham, MA 01002
USA
 
 

Details of this and other IFDCAUS projects will be availible in the forthcoming Trapeze, #134, due out end of April. See the Trapeze archive page for a preview of this issue, as well as selections from back issues. Dead line for submissions for #134 is April 15th. Anyone who would like to submit ads or features for consideration may e-mail them to jfclapp@net1plus.com , or mail them to my address on the ground:

2001 Worlds at Gilleleje Denmark	2001 Kiel Week

Jonathan Clapp
368 Daniel Shays Hwy
Pelham, MA 01002