166 replies to this topic

[RockHead]

The RBYC in Bermuda has a great "Gold Cup", but I doubt they would let it be used for a Viper event.
Although there are some "mini" replicas kicking around...

You own long PANTS? That's shocking!
Never mind the jacket and that thing around your neck. Who knew?!?

Nice mug you've got there for Dark & Stormies...

[Broomstick]

Fantastic to see the Viper hitting the Aus east coast.
Hard to beat the package - one design racing, competitive on SMS too, and the whole kit at around $36,000.
The boat reminded me why I loved sailing as a kid..... it's bloody great fun..... and my teenage kids, who sail on the Viper agree too...
I just heard there is one heading to the banana benders and one to Melbourne too.

Yep first four boats at RPAYC Pittwater and production slot for second container booked, by early next year we will have a fleet spread from Vic to QLd. so where will we have the first nationals? How about Port Lincoln regatta?

Great to hear your fleet is growing guys

[AnchorSteam]

Next weekend,16 Dec is the first OD event for the new group. Also saw the Shaw 650 Barely Legal in the RPAYC parking lot. Looks like a sport boat centre is taking hold.

Hope to see any and everyone on the water. If anyone wants to join for a sail, let me know by PM.

Cheers.

[Rawhide]

RPAYC looks like becoing the center of sport boat sailing in Sydney, with 4 Vipers currently and more on the way, M24's and hopefully the Shaw, a good fleet is building. The club is very keen to support sport boats and will run a class under SMS along side OD results for the Vipers and Melges and is making more room on the hardstand for boats actively racing.

[Broomstick]

RPAYC looks like becoing the center of sport boat sailing in Sydney, with 4 Vipers currently and more on the way, M24's and hopefully the Shaw, a good fleet is building. The club is very keen to support sport boats and will run a class under SMS along side OD results for the Vipers and Melges and is making more room on the hardstand for boats actively racing.

Great to hear your sports boat fleet is building and that you all racing together and having OD results inside the SMS racing, we all need each other to keep creating great sports boat fleets

[Ricky Bobby]

RPAYC looks like becoing the center of sport boat sailing in Sydney, with 4 Vipers currently and more on the way, M24's and hopefully the Shaw, a good fleet is building. The club is very keen to support sport boats and will run a class under SMS along side OD results for the Vipers and Melges and is making more room on the hardstand for boats actively racing.

Great to hear your sports boat fleet is building and that you all racing together and having OD results inside the SMS racing, we all need each other to keep creating great sports boat fleets

No it would be much better to have 2 small fleets with compleatly seperatre results than one big fleet everyone else has it wrong.......

[Scotch Whiskey]

RPAYC looks like becoing the center of sport boat sailing in Sydney, with 4 Vipers currently and more on the way, M24's and hopefully the Shaw, a good fleet is building. The club is very keen to support sport boats and will run a class under SMS along side OD results for the Vipers and Melges and is making more room on the hardstand for boats actively racing.

Great to hear your sports boat fleet is building and that you all racing together and having OD results inside the SMS racing, we all need each other to keep creating great sports boat fleets B)/>

No it would be much better to have 2 small fleets with compleatly seperatre results than one big fleet everyone else has it wrong....... :P/>

And completely different courses...giggle .

Still, they happy to have a drink afterwards .

[RockHead]

RPAYC looks like becoing the center of sport boat sailing in Sydney, with 4 Vipers currently and more on the way, M24's and hopefully the Shaw, a good fleet is building. The club is very keen to support sport boats and will run a class under SMS along side OD results for the Vipers and Melges and is making more room on the hardstand for boats actively racing.

Fantastic!

Get us pics and/or video!

[oregami]

We had a few beers celebrating your first OD event for Sydney this weekend... hoped you cracked a few too... (afterwards of course)

The Viper 640's in WA had a 15 boat SMS event this weekend. (See Shortcourse )

It's great to be able to sail SMS and have competitive results, but choose to sail OD when you want to, as well.

[schoonerman]

The RondarUS site gets many inquires from OZ for Vipers. I send them down to you guys all the time. Hope you're getting them!

Please update the forum page with more info about what's happening down there.

http://forum.viper64....php?board=17.0

[oregami]

Geez schooner
My wife nags me do things....
(Don't tell her your nagging has worked or I'm in big trouble.)
I usually put the Australian news or results in the Australian fleet section under race results. (not too regularly)
I will now put it in the forum section too.... Happy...

So how many boats are going to the Bacardi Race Week??
We Aussies have tasted the American hospitality and it was great ...
and the Australian dollar makes it even better!!!
Biscayne Bay looks great and even though we like Bunderburg Rum ....... I've got a feeling we might develop a taste for Bacardi....

[Ricky Bobby]

Geez schooner
My wife nags me do things....
(Don't tell her your nagging has worked or I'm in big trouble.)
I usually put the Australian news or results in the Australian fleet section under race results. (not too regularly)
I will now put it in the forum section too.... Happy...

So how many boats are going to the Bacardi Race Week??
We Aussies have tasted the American hospitality and it was great ...
and the Australian dollar makes it even better!!!
Biscayne Bay looks great and even though we like Bunderburg Rum ....... I've got a feeling we might develop a taste for Bacardi....

i always knew there was something wrong with viper sailors, normal people dont drink that queensland diesel (unless you are from QLD)

[Rawhide]

Geez schooner
My wife nags me do things....
(Don't tell her your nagging has worked or I'm in big trouble.)
I usually put the Australian news or results in the Australian fleet section under race results. (not too regularly)
I will now put it in the forum section too.... Happy...

So how many boats are going to the Bacardi Race Week??
We Aussies have tasted the American hospitality and it was great ...
and the Australian dollar makes it even better!!!
Biscayne Bay looks great and even though we like Bunderburg Rum ....... I've got a feeling we might develop a taste for Bacardi....

i always knew there was something wrong with viper sailors, normal people dont drink that queensland diesel (unless you are from QLD)

You would be surprised how many Queenslanders had infiltrated south and west of the boarder!

[oregami]

I wondered why all those Queenslanders drive around with their windows down and a happy look on their faces.

[schoonerman]

LOL...I'll keep it a secret.

Not sure on Bacardi Miami. Perhaps 20? Maybe more. I think Charleston will be huge though...maybe 50+. We sold a boat to a guy from BC who is sailing both then bringing the boat home!

Geez schooner
My wife nags me do things....
(Don't tell her your nagging has worked or I'm in big trouble.)
I usually put the Australian news or results in the Australian fleet section under race results. (not too regularly)
I will now put it in the forum section too.... Happy...

So how many boats are going to the Bacardi Race Week??
We Aussies have tasted the American hospitality and it was great ...
and the Australian dollar makes it even better!!!
Biscayne Bay looks great and even though we like Bunderburg Rum ....... I've got a feeling we might develop a taste for Bacardi....

[atefooterz]

Just saw "Barely Legal" going up Penno Hills Rd .. is a viper?

[fireball]

Just saw "Barely Legal" going up Penno Hills Rd .. is a viper?

It's a Shaw 650.

[atefooterz]

Just saw "Barely Legal" going up Penno Hills Rd .. is a viper?

It's a Shaw 650.

ahh cheers, looked like a sorta 16` skiff with the bow just visible behind traffic then saw her in full as she went passed.

[Rawhide]

Well we have done our first regatta (Geelong Festival of Sails), 4 first places on SMS out of 8 races, with a few shockers thrown in, including an OCS leaving us fourth overall, our best results were two fourth place over the line in a fleet of 16. Not bad for our first races. Shows just how easy the Viper is to sail and what a weapon it is when it blows. Just have to work on some light air pace.

Next container of fout leaving UK March with two already sold

[Timbo]

Good job Rawhide... keep getting the little reptile out there. More folks are coming around to the logic and economics of fun sailing every day

[oregami]

Fantastic effort Rawhide. Great to see the boat doing well on the east coast too.

We have actually found the Viper is quite quick against other sporties in sub planing and marginal planing conditions.
Its quick uphill, when we go the right way, and really quick downhill when you soak deep.

It's hard to beat the bang for your buck the Viper gives....

[schoonerman]

Well we have done our first regatta (Geelong Festival of Sails), 4 first places on SMS out of 8 races, with a few shockers thrown in, including an OCS leaving us fourth overall, our best results were two fourth place over the line in a fleet of 16. Not bad for our first races. Shows just how easy the Viper is to sail and what a weapon it is when it blows. Just have to work on some light air pace.

Next container of fout leaving UK March with two already sold

Better sell those other two quick or I'll reroute that container to SF Bay. We're out of boats to sell :-(

Keep up the good work Rawdie.

[Shaw-650]

Great boat and sailed well... 3 bods in the light and 4 in the heavy is uncool tho.....

[Turkey Slapper]

Great boat and sailed well... 3 bods in the light and 4 in the heavy is uncool tho.....

Funny people OS heard of this, but nothing done?

Its how we got in this mess in the first place!

[Shaw-650]

Great boat and sailed well... 3 bods in the light and 4 in the heavy is uncool tho.....

Funny people OS heard of this, but nothing done?

Its how we got in this mess in the first place!

Because the PRO's claimed not to have seen the ASBA requirements for NOR even thought it was sent many months before. It was then taken advantage of.

[Turkey Slapper]

And they are welcomed into the class! Pffffft!

Rumor is they won't fit in within the intent of.the "Sportboat" rule anyway!

[GybeSet®]

regatta organisors must uphold the NOR
if they are quoting 'asba' compliance then that is that, and protest-able

there is no GREY area here

[Rawhide]

regatta organisors must uphold the NOR
if they are quoting 'asba' compliance then that is that, and protest-able

there is no GREY area here

GS you are correct, there is no grey area it is either in the rules for the ragatta or not. it is not in the FOS documents and as far as I can see it is not in the ASBA rules, so where is it? One of the owners at Geelong told me we had to sail with the same crew each day, as I said then, I can't find where this rule is written and if some one could show me where it is we would have withdrawn (and still will do)from the applicable races. Geelong was all about learning the boat and haveing a bit of fun, if we have broken a race rule then we will withdraw.

[GybeSet®]

Rumor is they won't fit in within the intent of.the "Sportboat" rule anyway!

how so ?

details or you are full of shit

[oregami]

Geelong Regatta seemed to be sailed under the published rules and Regs - end of story....


Extra breeze - Nothing wrong with getting an extra mate (or three) on board every now and then....




May not be as cool as having multiple sets of sails ......




but achieves the same aim ..... and is a bit cheaper too.

Shaw-650, great to hear you're impressed with the boat. The Shaw 650 is obviously a very competitive design and good to see the Viper and Shaw having good racing on the west and east coast now.

Both boats are very different design concepts:

• The Viper is an affordable strict One Design, that can race competitively on SMS.
• and the Shaw, also highly competitive on SMS, has more design and build options.

Great to see both classes and concepts prospering here and overseas.

(If you're OS and wondering ... Historic Australia 18' Skiffs.... )

Attached Files

•  18 foot skiff.jpg   148.02K   6 downloads
•  18 foot skiff dw.jpg   177.97K   4 downloads

[(p)Irate]

That's not the point which is can you stack the rail in an ASBA regatta? Normally no. Maybe FoS NOR and SI's didn't reflect this. We sail 4 up and lightish. Could have signed up a fat bastard for the 30knot day as we would do on a non ASBA regatta. Should we have read the docs to see if there was a mistake we could exploit or sailed in the spirit of the ASBA rules? Maybe we should get some EPO on standby for the next regatta and find out if Lance Armstrong is free to crew.

[Turkey Slapper]

Rumor is they won't fit in within the intent of.the "Sportboat" rule anyway!

how so ?

details or you are full of shit

Pfffffft! Comming from you!


Remember its Australia, where shutes go to the top of the mast!

[83TER]

Rumor is they won't fit in within the intent of.the "Sportboat" rule anyway!

how so ?

details or you are full of shit

Pfffffft! Comming from you!


Remember its Australia, where shutes go to the top of the mast!

So why do you have fractional hoist on your boat ?

[oregami]

All a person can do is turn up at a regatta and sail under the class rules, NOR, SI and RRS.

You can only go by the rules that are printed and presented, and not guess what was probably/possibly/should be/ included.

Not all classes, divisions or regattas have a restrictions on changing the crew numbers from one race to another.

[Turkey Slapper]

Rumor is they won't fit in within the intent of.the "Sportboat" rule anyway!

how so ?

details or you are full of shit

Pfffffft! Comming from you!


Remember its Australia, where shutes go to the top of the mast!

So why do you have fractional hoist on your boat ?

Its not the only hoist!

Is a handy option like the SBS races in 30 knots where we were the only boat to fly a shute and finish!

[Rawhide]

Rumor is they won't fit in within the intent of.the "Sportboat" rule anyway!

how so ?

details or you are full of shit

Pfffffft! Comming from you!


Remember its Australia, where shutes go to the top of the mast!

So why do you have fractional hoist on your boat ?

Its not the only hoist!

Is a handy option like the SBS races in 30 knots where we were the only boat to fly a shute and finish!

One of the great pluses of the Viper, only three sails. You never put up the wrong one! Full new wardrobe about $4,500.

[Hobbs]

So why do you have fractional hoist on your boat ?

Its not the only hoist!

Is a handy option like the SBS races in 30 knots where we were the only boat to fly a shute and finish!

One of the great pluses of the Viper, only three sails. You never put up the wrong one! Full new wardrobe about $4,500.

Hahahaha! Is that the sales pitch?

Multiple sails extend the working range of a rig thus making it more competitive in more conditions! Managing your equipment is a part of sailing and dumbing things down to the point where you can't do anything would seriously limit the enjoyment for many sailors.

Being able to take a T7 around the course and win in 5 and 30 knots has a hell of a lot more appeal than a plastic fantastic pickle dish campaigner designed for ideal conditions only!

[GybeSet®]

I think it was a point as much as a pitch

well a Magic has 3 sails and can do everything a T7 does

we had 7 sails on a Rocket and all that achieved was getting caught with the wrong one up,
not a SB but a E22 seems to manage with 3

On the other hand the 2nd jib on a tboat is good, your big sail can be lighter & faster, last longer

[oregami]

Cost of sailing is always a consideration affecting the growth of sailing.
It's hard to beat the cost of a viper at around $35,000 including covers and trailer. A complete set of sails at around $4500 sounds good to me too.

I agree that managing your equipment is part of sailing and far from dumbing down things to a point where you can't do anything, a viper sailor develops a very good knowledge of their sails and also adjusting their rig to suit different conditions.

I am glad you can get your T7 around the course and win in all conditions. Obviously shows you're a capable sailor.

Over the last three years that the Viper has sailed in WA it has won in 5 knots and 30 knots against T7's, 750's, Shaw 650's and M24's on SMS so it is a quite competitive boat.

[Rawhide]

Looks like the critical mass for Vipers is swinging up toward QLD, next container most likely to be delivered straight to Brisbane.

[ultraracer613um]

If any of you fella's are thinking about attending the 2013 NA's in Houston - i have two charter boats available.

Edit: I know of two available.

[Mambo Kings]

Looks like the critical mass for Vipers is swinging up toward QLD, next container most likely to be delivered straight to Brisbane.

A fifth container of Vipers going to Aussie? Can't you at least pretend to be aware that half of the rest of the world is stubbornly in recession and the other half are buying J70s so they can live aboard when global warming melts the ice cap?

[Port Tack Start]

Looks like the critical mass for Vipers is swinging up toward QLD, next container most likely to be delivered straight to Brisbane.

A fifth container of Vipers going to Aussie? Can't you at least pretend to be aware that half of the rest of the world is stubbornly in recession and the other half are buying J70s so they can live aboard when global warming melts the ice cap?

Melting ice caps? Sounds like the start of a Viper X-Prize challenge...first Viper to sail at (not to, _at_) the geographic North Pole gets...?

[GybeSet®]

mambo
there is a rating 'floor' (as opposed to ceiling) of sms .755 here to race sportsboat
your aforementioned J does not reach it, if it had a SB sized mainsail it no doubt would, it does not.
our "ma & pa" TY water caravans have bigger sails here ....
so ..........

more boxes of Vipers to aus i'd say !

[fireball]

The SB3 also doesn't make the 0.755 SMS cut-off.

There's also a minimum length of 6m, so the VX doesn't qualify without modifications. They have to add a little extension to the hull to sail in ASBA events.

The Viper can sail OD or SMS without any modifications and is cheap with the current high AUD. I bought one last year and it's a lot of fun. Plus hiking is very easy: none of this straight legs hanging over the side laser style. You sit on the outer part of the gunwale in a very comfortable position.

I'm not surprised that more are on the way.

[Scotch Whiskey]

It's just a rule. Change it.

[Rawhide]

Looks like the critical mass for Vipers is swinging up toward QLD, next container most likely to be delivered straight to Brisbane.

A fifth container of Vipers going to Aussie? Can't you at least pretend to be aware that half of the rest of the world is stubbornly in recession and the other half are buying J70s so they can live aboard when global warming melts the ice cap?

Saw the J70 for first time at NSW sport boat states. Quite a nice looking boat, as long as it is in the water and you cant see that hideous 1970's keel. Would be a great boat for trailer bucket regatta's, but a bit like bringing a knife to a gun fight at a sport boat regatta.

[Scotch Whiskey]

It's just a rule. Change it.

[Mambo Kings]

mambo
there is a rating 'floor' (as opposed to ceiling) of sms .755 here to race sportsboat
your aforementioned J does not reach it, if it had a SB sized mainsail it no doubt would, it does not.
our "ma & pa" TY water caravans have bigger sails here ....
so ..........

more boxes of Vipers to aus i'd say !

I was sober when I first read this post so I had no idea what Gybo was talking about.....but Ive had a few cocktails and now I get the gist of it.

[Mambo Kings]

My general point is that with the absurdly strong aussie dollar and a great economy, its nice to see the someone has money to spend on boats. Heck, order a few more containers. You only live once and you cant take the money with you.

[Rawhide]

My general point is that with the absurdly strong aussie dollar and a great economy, its nice to see the someone has money to spend on boats. Heck, order a few more containers. You only live once and you cant take the money with you.

There is no doubt that boats are the cheapest in Aus that they have ever been, by quite some way. We are so used to being gouged here with inflated imported prices, but now a Viper in Aus retails for much the same as it does in the US.

[GybeSet®]

The SB3 also doesn't make the 0.755 SMS cut-off.

There's also a minimum length of 6m, so the VX doesn't qualify without modifications. They have to add a little extension to the hull to sail in ASBA events.

The Viper can sail OD or SMS without any modifications and is cheap with the current high AUD. I bought one last year and it's a lot of fun. Plus hiking is very easy: none of this straight legs hanging over the side laser style. You sit on the outer part of the gunwale in a very comfortable position.

I'm not surprised that more are on the way.

fireball
There is an 18' SB competing all over the east coast multi states (a Sprint from Vic.)
Possibly (tho I don't know) he applied for a singular exemption on length, his speed and 'rated speed' are all OK.

He's got the volume to lug the CAT safety gear no issue. looking like the Egan 6m Shorty/Evolution(i.e. it's not the minimalist 'Skiff + Ballast' config.)

The last point is the challenge the VX faces, IMO

[Turkey Slapper]

Looks like the critical mass for Vipers is swinging up toward QLD, next container most likely to be delivered straight to Brisbane.

Hope im on shift when that one comes through!

It's just a rule. Change it.

No!

[Scotch Whiskey]

Looks like the critical mass for Vipers is swinging up toward QLD, next container most likely to be delivered straight to Brisbane.

Hope im on shift when that one comes through! :P/>

It's just a rule. Change it.

No!

Slapper

[Rawhide]

Looks like the critical mass for Vipers is swinging up toward QLD, next container most likely to be delivered straight to Brisbane.

Hope im on shift when that one comes through!

I know you want a Viper TS, but I think we will notice if you show up with one missing from the container, even if you put the T7 logo on the sail.

[GybeSet®]

lol RH

with a T on the sail & Magoo on the topsides no-one will know

googles himself will believe it & will argue it's his T till he's blue in the face

[Jerryd]

lol RH

with a T on the sail & Magoo on the topsides no-one will know

googles himself will believe it & will argue it's his T till he's blue in the face

GS, check your messages.

[Turkey Slapper]

Looks like the critical mass for Vipers is swinging up toward QLD, next container most likely to be delivered straight to Brisbane.

Hope im on shift when that one comes through!

I know you want a Viper TS, but I think we will notice if you show up with one missing from the container, even if you put the T7 logo on the sail.

I couldnt live with the shame of such a small shute in Australia!

Let me know when the box arrives in brisbane, i personally will make sure it is looked after!

[Rawhide]

Lots of action over here in Aus Viper land. Noel and Ben Leigh-Smith have taken over as agents for QLD and NT, there has been a lot of interest from up North so this is very positive for keeping the momentum up. Also means we have the start of a fleet at the Gold Coast, where due to its relatively shallow draft the viper is ideal.

My Viper is up in QLD at the moment in preparation for the Sanctuary Cove boat show, then on to Mooloolaba and Airlie. While at the coast, we filmed a segment for Creek to Coast which airs 11 and 18 May which is good exposure for the Viper and sports boats in general.

Can’t wait for the next container to arrive and get some OD racing going. We are looking at holding east coast championships early next season to kick things off, should have 12 boats by then

 

RH. 

[Turkey Slapper]

So has the container hit the Shaw, whoops i mean shore here in Brisbane yet?

[Rawhide]

When it has safely left the dock, I will be shaw to tell you.

[Turkey Slapper]

I was going to make sure it had VIP service through the terminal!

[Mambo Kings]

I was going to make sure it had VIPER service through the terminal!

 

 

Don't let Slap near that container !    VIPER service  =  "Viper Inspected Processed sent to Emigration and Returned"

[Turkey Slapper]

I was going to make sure it had VIPER service through the terminal!

 

 
Don't let Slap near that container !    VIPER service  =  "Viper Inspected Processed sent to Emigration and Returned"

Was just going to get a couple of ink'd bro's to help me drop one in the river and see what the hype is all about!

[AnchorSteam]

Tomb Raider is doing the 2-handed series out of RPAYC.  Hope some of the other Vipers or sportboats join in the fun.  First race is this Sunday 19 May.

[Speng]

 

Looks like the critical mass for Vipers is swinging up toward QLD, next container most likely to be delivered straight to Brisbane.

A fifth container of Vipers going to Aussie? Can't you at least pretend to be aware that half of the rest of the world is stubbornly in recession and the other half are buying J70s so they can live aboard when global warming melts the ice cap?

 

Saw the J70 for first time at NSW sport boat states. Quite a nice looking boat, as long as it is in the water and you cant see that hideous 1970's keel. Would be a great boat for trailer bucket regatta's, but a bit like bringing a knife to a gun fight at a sport boat regatta.

LOLZ!! that's what I said when I first saw that abortion on the trailer too.

 

Are the Oz Vipers coming from Pomland or the US? What's the better deal exchange rate wise?

[Rawhide]

 

 

Looks like the critical mass for Vipers is swinging up toward QLD, next container most likely to be delivered straight to Brisbane.

A fifth container of Vipers going to Aussie? Can't you at least pretend to be aware that half of the rest of the world is stubbornly in recession and the other half are buying J70s so they can live aboard when global warming melts the ice cap?

 

Saw the J70 for first time at NSW sport boat states. Quite a nice looking boat, as long as it is in the water and you cant see that hideous 1970's keel. Would be a great boat for trailer bucket regatta's, but a bit like bringing a knife to a gun fight at a sport boat regatta.

LOLZ!! that's what I said when I first saw that abortion on the trailer too.

 

Are the Oz Vipers coming from Pomland or the US? What's the better deal exchange rate wise?

So far buying out of UK, mainly because the waiting list from the US is too long, don't think there is much price difference at the moment, free trade agreement with US means we save a few % on duty but probably balanced by other costs. Am tempted to buy a few boats in US do some regattas then ship home.