So we had 41 Vipers racing at Charleston Race Week. As of today, there are 40 Vipers registered for the 2012 North American Championship. Fifty seems to be a foregone conclusion given that we're still almost 5 months out from racing. So how many Vipers will be see in Marblehead in September. Guesses? 55? 60? More?
Want to learn more about what may well be the largest fleet of sportboats racing in North American in 2012? Visit 2012na.viper640.org
Of course, Rondar Raceboats will be happy to build you a new Viper so you can join the party!
So we had 41 Vipers racing at Charleston Race Week. As of today, there are 40 Vipers registered for the 2012 North American Championship. Fifty seems to be a foregone conclusion given that we're still almost 5 months out from racing. So how many Vipers will be see in Marblehead in September. Guesses? 55? 60? More?
Want to learn more about what may well be the largest fleet of sportboats racing in North American in 2012? Visit 2012na.viper640.org
Of course, Rondar Raceboats will be happy to build you a new Viper so you can join the party!
Interests:sailing, sex and success...not necessarily in order
Posted 25 April 2012 - 10:57 PM
Andy McCormick is building a 5 boat Viper hauler..put one on top and he's able to haul 6 at a time. His new rig has a crane to lift the boats on/off the keels.
This will open up the whole USA to the Viper fleet. He will be offering everything from simple delivery to full concierge service. Hell of a sailor and a great guy!
I'll post picks when he finishes up the build on this.
We had a small but well earned celebration at work yesterday evening and the celebrants came over to help me finish off some old scotch. I was writing a follow up post at about 2 am addressed to the Texans that weren't signed up yet.
Fortunately I fell asleep in the middle of it. I read it in the morning and thought better of it.
Interests:Recognized Owner of the i550 design and main hawker of all things i550, Owner of Watershed Sailboats with Susan, my wife. Challenging Woodworking (the regular stuff is boring).
Posted 09 May 2012 - 04:43 PM
Fast CHEAP fun
i550 Logo.jpg356.49K4 downloads The i550 hulls are so easily built to plan specs that the hulls are nearly identical. 6 mm marine ply is used for everything. doubled up in some places to be tough and take loads. The CHINE is back in style. It has always been fast. Now all the plastico boats are getting them. WOODIE DESIGNS -----STAR LIGHTNING SNIPE I550 We think the i550 might be able to establish itself in the ranks of these great boats. Fun fast boats. A DIY i550 is the cheapest new boat you can have. A Watershed kit is cheap right now. A watershed built i550 is in the low twenties.
We are encouraging community sailing programs to consider the i550. High Schools and Colleges need this sort of boat to get out of the slow lane and actually teach some practical skills. A group of Sea Scouts is building an i550 in Florida. Probly gonna kick the yacht club's ass, again. They are just across the bay but a world away.
I am going to adopt the very successful Viper.org tactic and become annoyingly persistent all over the place. Apologies to Scot T (but I think he might be quietly entertained by the brash new marketing strategy).
Interests:Sportboat sailing, indoor soccer, Mac OS X, iOS, GoPro, web design
Posted 09 May 2012 - 05:44 PM
I am going to adopt the very successful Viper.org tactic and become annoyingly persistent all over the place. Apologies to Scot T (but I think he might be quietly entertained by the brash new marketing strategy).
It is like Beetlejuice. You need to wait until someone mentions the i550 and then post.
Interests:Recognized Owner of the i550 design and main hawker of all things i550, Owner of Watershed Sailboats with Susan, my wife. Challenging Woodworking (the regular stuff is boring).
[quote name='timber' timestamp='1336581818' post='3705869'] Fast CHEAP fun
i550 Logo.jpg356.49K4 downloads The i550 hulls are so easily built to plan specs that the hulls are nearly identical. 6 mm marine ply is used for everything. doubled up in some places to be tough and take loads. The CHINE is back in style. It has always been fast. Now all the plastico boats are getting them. WOODIE DESIGNS -----STAR LIGHTNING SNIPE I550 We think the i550 might be able to establish itself in the ranks of these great boats. Fun fast boats. A DIY i550 is the cheapest new boat you can have. A Watershed kit is cheap right now. A watershed built i550 is in the low twenties.
We are encouraging community sailing programs to consider the i550. High Schools and Colleges need this sort of boat to get out of the slow lane and actually teach some practical skills. A group of Sea Scouts is building an i550 in Florida. Probly gonna kick the yacht club's ass, again. They are just across the bay but a world away.
I am going to adopt the very successful Viper.org tactic and become annoyingly persistent all over the place. Apologies to Scot T (but I think he might be quietly entertained by the brash new marketing strategy).
I like the i550, we were thinking about one before our Viper purchase. i550 is pretty cool, plywood, chines, reminds me of this affordable option:
The CHINE is back in style. It has always been fast. Now all the plastico boats are getting them. WOODIE DESIGNS -----STAR LIGHTNING SNIPE I550
Fun fast boats. A DIY i550 is the cheapest new boat you can have. A Watershit kit is cheap right now. A watershit built i550 is in the low twenties.
A group of Sea Scouts is building an i550 in Florida. Probly gonna kiss the yacht club's ass, again.
I am going to adopt the very successful Viper.org tactic and become annoyingly persistent all over the place. Apologies to Scot T (but I think he might be quietly entertained by the brash new marketing strategy).
I like the i550, we were thinking about one before our Viper purchase. i550 is pretty cool, plywood, chines,
Okay. You've got me interested.
Before I spend $30k on a 3 person one design state of the art racing sport boat with established class rules +carbon mast , trailer and sails. Before I sign up for the 50-60 boat North Americans in September. Before I head out next weekend to race with 15 of my mates at a local one design regatta. Before I plan my winter vacation week in Miami at the Viper-fest next March. Before I join the fastest growning class of built (completed) sport boats in North America. Before I head to New Orleans to start with the largest class at Mardi Gras Race Week. Before trying to find a front row start among 40 Vipers at Charleston Race Week. Before. Long Beach Race Week, Whidbey Isalnd Race week, Newport Regatta, Houston 2013.........
....before i get too addicted to Vipers. I really better check out this I550 thing, made of plywood for $20+k that is remniscent of a Lightening. Ooooh please post some more information.
Where will the 2013 NA's be held? If the venue hasn't been chosen yet, Coronado Yacht Club would like to be considered. September 2013 in South San Diego Bay would be great!
Where will the 2013 NA's be held? If the venue hasn't been chosen yet, Coronado Yacht Club would like to be considered. September 2013 in South San Diego Bay would be great!
We need to get you a Viper fleet there 1st... Any members ready to jump in on the funest keelboat on the Left Coast??
Buy a whole box
Where will the 2013 NA's be held? If the venue hasn't been chosen yet, Coronado Yacht Club would like to be considered. September 2013 in South San Diego Bay would be great!
I count Snapper as one of our own, since he wins so often here it seems like home waters.
It was nice having 16 Vipers sailing out of our club for the San Diego NOOD. It would be even more fun having 70 or so on the line 5 years from now.
CYCSailor
We need to get you a Viper fleet there 1st... Any members ready to jump in on the funest keelboat on the Left Coast??
Buy a whole box
Where will the 2013 NA's be held? If the venue hasn't been chosen yet, Coronado Yacht Club would like to be considered. September 2013 in South San Diego Bay would be great!
At the other end of the spectrum from the glamour of the NAs, we went to the Wickford Regatta this weekend.
What a hidden gem of a regatta!
Back in the 1970s/80s, Wickford hosted a cult dinghy regatta off the town beach. It was one of the first Laser regattas. A few years ago the Wickford Yacht Club revived the regatta . This is Skip Whyte's home town (US Olympic sailing coach for 17 years) and he is PRO. This is a very cool, off the beaten track kind of regatta. Vipers, A cats, 5-0-5s F18s, International 420s .
The Viper fleet was postponed ashore on Sunday waiting for the sea breeze (which turned on at 11.05 am as promised). We were all sitting in the shade, with the coolers open, trading stories and rigging tips....when someone remarked "This here, this is what its all about". I looked around at our boats rafted up waiting for us all to go out and surrounded by a great bunch of friends that I have been racing against for the past 5 years, I gotta admit he was right.
Skipping a couple of numbers, because we just hit 50. For those of who holding your SHIFT key with excitement, that's %) (or more) Vipers coming to Marblehead for NAs in September.
For those who haven't heard, there are charter boats also available. Not that hard a boat to jump in and sail (speaking as a guy who got one last year), and lots of fun. Hopefully we'll get a few more people to join us.
i550 Logo.jpg356.49K4 downloads The i550 hulls are so easily built to plan specs that the hulls are nearly identical. 6 mm marine ply is used for everything. doubled up in some places to be tough and take loads. The CHINE is back in style. It has always been fast. Now all the plastico boats are getting them. WOODIE DESIGNS -----STAR LIGHTNING SNIPE I550 We think the i550 might be able to establish itself in the ranks of these great boats. Fun fast boats. A DIY i550 is the cheapest new boat you can have. A Watershed kit is cheap right now. A watershed built i550 is in the low twenties.
We are encouraging community sailing programs to consider the i550. High Schools and Colleges need this sort of boat to get out of the slow lane and actually teach some practical skills. A group of Sea Scouts is building an i550 in Florida. Probly gonna kick the yacht club's ass, again. They are just across the bay but a world away.
I am going to adopt the very successful Viper.org tactic and become annoyingly persistent all over the place. Apologies to Scot T (but I think he might be quietly entertained by the brash new marketing strategy).
The breeze in late September is reliable. The typical breeze is South Westerly and can be expected to be around 10- 15 knots with gusts in the higher teens. Northerlies are more frequent at this time of year and can produce 20 knots. The race area is a championship course location located about 1 ½ mile offshore which has hosted Etchells World championships and J24 World Championships. It is open and free from obstacles and land effect. There is a mild tide which runs relatively evenly over the entire course.
(I ripped this from my own post on the viper640.org forums where we also have a thread about the event). Come join the fun. Charters available...
Interests:sailing, sex and success...not necessarily in order
Posted 05 September 2012 - 06:59 PM
looks like a tiguan
Touareg
It's a V8 Tourag. I have a Jetta Diesel and it looks like I've found my next car...though I'll buy the Tourag Diesel. Timbo said the drive went without issue.
Interests:sailing, sex and success...not necessarily in order
Posted 05 September 2012 - 08:17 PM
KM...they can't fit. Viper is 8'2" wide. Believe me, I've tried to work this one out. Our friends at ACRM shipped the America's Cup Village via train from the East. It turned out to be much tougher on gear than any of the boat rides. Some weird stuff happened like hitch pins wearing through from just he constant motion of the cars.
My fav so far is the 3 car hauler that Jim Sears and Ed Feo bought down in SoCal. Easily takes 3 Vipers sitting on their trailers which in essence means it'll take 6 Vipers, bookended.
It's a V8 Tourag. I have a Jetta Diesel and it looks like I've found my next car...though I'll buy the Tourag Diesel. Timbo said the drive went without issue.
It's a V8 Tourag. I have a Jetta Diesel and it looks like I've found my next car...though I'll buy the Tourag Diesel. Timbo said the drive went without issue.
Interests:Sailing - Sailing some more, and yes sailing.
Posted 06 September 2012 - 06:41 PM
looks like a tiguan
Touareg
It's a V8 Tourag. I have a Jetta Diesel and it looks like I've found my next car...though I'll buy the Tourag Diesel. Timbo said the drive went without issue.
Interests:Sportboat sailing, indoor soccer, Mac OS X, iOS, GoPro, web design
Posted 07 September 2012 - 12:56 AM
I wish I could be there, but I'm choosing to sail one last overnight race with my 76-year old father before his boat goes on the market.
However, I hope the Bermudans chartering our boat do well! BER 125 in the sails and crew, USA 42 in the hull. It seems fitting, since the sailing tales I heard growing up were often about racing Marion to Bermuda. I even made a trip there as a little kid to meet my dad after a race.
Anyway, cheers on a great Viper 640 North Americans! It is such a sweet boat to sail.
That...looks foolish. For starters, it looks illegal. What is the gross vehicle weight rating? excluding safety, is it worth killing your transmission?
looks like a tiguan
Touareg
It's a V8 Tourag. I have a Jetta Diesel and it looks like I've found my next car...though I'll buy the Tourag Diesel. Timbo said the drive went without issue.
The best placed US driver is in 9th place . Bliksem is Dutch. Pink Storm is British (driver is 2 time representative of team GBR at Olympics and crew is 3 time GBR 470 Olympian), But still plenty of runway for US sailors to avoid a Weymouth repeat.
Argo was the great white hope for USA and they were in top 3 in the first race, but there was a tangle at the mark. Not sure what happened, we were rouding the other gate. Hopefully they will be fixed and fast today.
Fantastic close racing. Giving up 3 feet costs you 2 boats. Great vibe onshore - the whole fleet descended on Maddie's last night. 100+ Viperers in the upstairs bar.
Peloton trophies are being fought for just as hard as the podium places.......ruthleslly tough in the pack, but lots of good humor moments. Qoute from Wilmot "Now that was entertaining!"
More this evening......As usual, I have work to do on our boat.
I can't believe no one has posted a picture of Sommers new Asail! I mean you Viperers always talk about him bringing the ingredients for Dark and Stormy's and when he does, nothing.
Interesting trailer......Wondering if there might be more trailer photos available? Also, seems as though some rear-trailering-lights might be missing......the typical 3-light-bar for long-overall width (trailers over 80 inches wide).....and.....what about lights for the long-rear-overhang-away from the rear trailer light? Wondering?
Interests:sailing, sex and success...not necessarily in order
Posted 07 September 2012 - 05:37 PM
That...looks foolish. For starters, it looks illegal. What is the gross vehicle weight rating? excluding safety, is it worth killing your transmission?
looks like a tiguan
Touareg
It's a V8 Tourag. I have a Jetta Diesel and it looks like I've found my next car...though I'll buy the Tourag Diesel. Timbo said the drive went without issue.
Interests:Sailing - Sailing some more, and yes sailing.
Posted 07 September 2012 - 06:50 PM
Tow RAG vs FT - not a big deal given the Tow RAG's rating. The big downer about the Tow RAG is their miserable history in the shop thats about the only issue with it. I think the past many years the Tow RAG holds the record for the most time spent in the shop of all the SUV's out there.
The Diesel MB GL's are nice machines also but suffer the shop time problem also.
Tow RAG vs FT - not a big deal given the Tow RAG's rating. The big downer about the Tow RAG is their miserable history in the shop thats about the only issue with it. I think the past many years the Tow RAG holds the record for the most time spent in the shop of all the SUV's out there.
The Diesel MB GL's are nice machines also but suffer the shop time problem also.
That was the first years production. I had some problems with mine too until VW gave in and gave me a new vehicle - never had any problems since. Will easily do 90-100 MPH with my 3500 boat/trailer behind. Mine has the auto leveling (pneumatic suspension) which is GREAT for towing.
I can't believe no one has posted a picture of Sommers new Asail! I mean you Viperers always talk about him bringing the ingredients for Dark and Stormy's and when he does, nothing.
Sadly he walked thru duty free and customs this year with nothing .
The sail raised our hopes but no refreshments to back it up.
But free bar at EYC, and a bunch of people ended up on my porch, including one who seems to be staying the night.
We brought ready to drink "hand grenades" - can't leave home without supplies! That would be silly. But did save you from the 140 proof. Didn't want you to have any memory loss.
What a fantastic regatta. Great boat.... Fun, diverse group of people who are really enthusiastic about sailing.
We were worried about it being light, but we've had a range of conditions, and then today.... 15 to 18 knots
What a hoot.
There is nothing better than 45 one design sports boats on one line. Love the closeness upwind and then downwind... The waves built up.........Sending it down waves at 14 to 20 knots....You've got love it.
Marblehead has turned it on!!!!
Its not over yet ....but... The Aussies are planning our next trip. This is what sailing is all about.
I've got to say -eight (?) years of Viper racing, and day 3 of this NAs stands out as one of the top 3 epic Viper race days ever. 18-22 knots of breeze (per Sail Flow) and big rollers from a tropical storm offshore made for some of the fastest, most fun sailing ever.
And at dinner, I got to give away a new Ulman kite to a brand new Viper owner from Kentucky, sailing his first ever Viper regatta, as a last place prize. He was thrilled with the boat, the class and the event. Next 2 lowest in the standings received a Doyle-Boston main and and Evolution jib that they can use on the last day of racing.
And at the end of Day 4, I get to give away 3 suits of foul weather gear from Atlantis, for the entire crew of the mid-fleet boat.
The Viper Class celebrates all of our sailors, not just the glory whores at the top of the results!
Location:Somewhere between Charleston, Boston and LIS
Interests:If you're on this site, probably not that much different than yours
Posted 10 September 2012 - 12:05 AM
Well done all, even if I was only there for the weekend (and only two races on the big day yesterday, thanks to a little nudge from a competitor that took out a chunk of our port side). Eastern and the class put on an A+ event. Keep it up!
And, as one who just sailed a major regatta in Houston a few weeks ago, I can say that the hospitality next year will be second to none. I'm just glad they're doing it in October, and not August, this time around!
But still plenty of runway for US sailors to avoid a Weymouth repeat.
also what was the cock-up in R9 with all the DNFs & RAF ? ? ? did they throw the alternative course in ?
Race 4 (4 races with 4x 1.2 mile legs) on a big breeze day = Tired bodies and tired minds = The usual carnage. Every boat (except Zack's)was fixed overnight and racing the following day.
Huge props to Ben Parkah and Zimster who burnt the midnight oil, fixing boats at the Rondar/Whitecap composites shop.
A memorable result by Alice to come 4th at their first attempt.
Yup. Jumped in a borrowed boat and nailed it.
Anyone know how the name "Dont forget Alice" came about. At the awards, someone hollered "Tell us about the boat name Roddy" and all Rod would say is "She was a nice girl".
I've got to say -eight (?) years of Viper racing, and day 3 of this NAs stands out as one of the top 3 epic Viper race days ever. 18-22 knots of breeze (per Sail Flow) and big rollers from a tropical storm offshore made for some of the fastest, most fun sailing ever.
And at dinner, I got to give away a new Ulman kite to a brand new Viper owner from Kentucky, sailing his first ever Viper regatta, as a last place prize. He was thrilled with the boat, the class and the event. Next 2 lowest in the standings received a Doyle-Boston main and and Evolution jib that they can use on the last day of racing.
And at the end of Day 4, I get to give away 3 suits of foul weather gear from Atlantis, for the entire crew of the mid-fleet boat.
The Viper Class celebrates all of our sailors, not just the glory whores at the top of the results!
Can you get me the owners info who received the Spinnaker? We made it here and want to send a shout out to him.
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