2011 Nat's Dates

[Ken Haines]

Hello Racers,
It looks like we are finally going to to have some pond site approvals for the 2011 FE Nat's in Florida within the next week.
The next hurdle is making the final decision on when to have the event.
We are seeking some feedback from all who may likely to attend.

Briefly, due to the extreme heat of June, July, August in Florida, and trying to avoid hurricane season Sept, Oct, and maybe even November we are targeting the May possibly even April time frame. Currently there are two weeks in May that seem to have no conflicts so far in our club. These are:
May 11th - 15th (Wed-Sun) "Wednesday Practice" or
May 25th - 29th (Wed-Sun) "Wednesday Practice"
Considering the Easter Holiday (Sunday April 24th) & Mother's Day (Sunday May 8th),
which we definitely will avoid, and a CD conflict on May 18th - 22nd,
we are more seriously considering both these weekends.
We do realize that there is the Memorial Day weekend conflict with the 25th - 29th, Memorial Day being on the 30th.

Our real question on this thread open for conversation is that weekend a plus or minus in your minds for hosting the race. We do want to be respectful as a club to all the veterans past and present and would likely honor the veterans currently in our club that Sunday the 29th.
Obviously this would give everyone an extra day to travel home, and 1 less vacation day used up from work.
However we do not want to pick that weekend if a bunch of racers can't attend due to family picnics and gatherings etc. Please reply to this thread and let us know your thoughts. Nothing is definite at this time on the dates, so a heated debate should not be neccessary to help us decide. I have spoken to some of the previous Nats directors and this post seemed like a good idea, let's see how it works !

There was also a recent suggestion to have the race the first week in June, this would be another option.

Thanks for all your anticipated help,
Ken Haines
Terry Cowger
Rick Workman

[BILL OXIDEAN]

Hey Ken! What exciting news! Looking forward to it.
I think the farther off the better, as it is May will be throwing the nats much less than a year later.

Any sooner and it really won't be a contest of how a racer has improved or developed their skills over the course of a season.

That's may just be my opinion though..

[sailr]

Hey Ken, tried to return your call todayl

I would vote for May 11-15 but my first preference would be to back it up to April. The cooler the better.

[longballlumber]

my first preference would be to back it up to April. The cooler the better.

Has it been considered that most racers from "up north" will have a VERY VERY limited time to prepare/test for the Nats?

Just curious,
Mike

[bill34207]

Just pluggin in to listen & learn. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

[hebner]

I vote for May 11 - 15, I agree with sailr the cooler the better, even in early June it is a very hot.

[RayR]

May 11-15th for me as well.

All the best,

Ray

[RayR]

Has it been considered that most racers from "up north" will have a VERY VERY limited time to prepare/test for the Nats?

Just curious,
Mike

Mike,

Come a week early and warm up!

Ray

[sailr]

I'm not sure how 7 months is not long enough to prepare?

[hebner]

I was thinking the same thing.

[bill34207]

I'm wondering if you have to be there for Wed practice to run on Sat/Sun.
I'm still among the working class and don't think I can make it for all the days.

[Ken Haines]

I'm wondering if you have to be there for Wed practice to run on Sat/Sun.
I'm still among the working class and don't think I can make it for all the days.

Hey Bill,
The Wednesday practice day is completely optional.
The actual racing starts Thursday thru Sunday.
Also, we do not have the classes set yet, but depending on
the boats you intend to race you may or may not need Thursday.
Tentatively, the offshore classes will be on Friday, but certainly
nothing is in stone yet.
Thanks for everyone's replies, keep them coming.
Thanks, Ken

[longballlumber]

I'm not sure how 7 months is not long enough to prepare?

Snow and ice?

[Doby]

Snow and ice?

Exactly, the world does not revolve around Florida.

[bill34207]

I thought all you guys moved down here about November and started thinking about going back north at tax deadline time. (at least that's the way traffic flow in this area looks) It's just now getting bearable weather to run down here.
Trust me, you do not want to be spending the day down here lakeside in June or July unless you have an air conditioned motor home or something to stay in.

[T.C.]

Oct., Nov. would actually be the best time of the year because it's usually dry and cooler.
I think the main reason for staying away from this time of the year is the hurricanes.
Although we are on the downside of the hurricane season this time of the year so that may be a consideration.
I must agree that the June, July,August and sometimes into Sept. can be really hot.
Remember though, April showers bring May flowers AKA humidity.
T.C.

[Hydromaniac]

Oct., Nov. would actually be the best time of the year because it's usually dry and cooler.
I think the main reason for staying away from this time of the year is the hurricanes.
Although we are on the downside of the hurricane season this time of the year so that may be a consideration.
I must agree that the June, July,August and sometimes into Sept. can be really hot.
Remember though, April showers bring May flowers AKA humidity.
T.C.

I'd be for OCT / NOV

[bill34207]

When you get right down to it, I'd prefer Oct-Nov myself. The weather is more bearable (unless there's a hurricane coming through.) It's the slow season where I work and makes it easier to get a couple of days off as well. March-April would be my second choice, but I'm just along for the ride and not as serious about it as some. So, pay no attention to me.

[BILL OXIDEAN]

October/November would only make sense.
Our nats here was scorching 100+ degrees still made for good racing.

The nats is an anual event, let me give you guys an analogy. We're in the 2010 world series right now right?

Would it make sense for them to start the 2011 world series in July next year less than a year after the last one?

I hope you guys see my point.

[BILL OXIDEAN]

The super bowl is in Febuary every year. Would it be fair to teams to throw the next one the following august?

[bill34207]

The super bowl is in Febuary every year. Would it be fair to teams to throw the next one the following august?

Shoot... they can play the super bowl any time they want. It will get the same attention from me regardless. :yawn:

[obrien]

I am looking forward to this.

[sailr]

Should be great! Good to have you back Obrien!

[sailr]

Has a date ever been firmed up?

[obrien]

June 1st - 5th

[highndry]

Just saw this thread..

[BILL OXIDEAN]

June 1st - 5th

Too soon.

[AlanN]

Oh c'mon Willie. Are you saying that you're not ready? I'll build a new LSH you can try to chop up!

[bill34207]

I'll go along with him myself. I think we should push it back to Sept or Oct when it's cooler.

[BILL OXIDEAN]

Oh c'mon Willie. Are you saying that you're not ready? I'll build a new LSH you can try to chop up!

Ok, now my spirits are up, Nayman you're comin'?
Ok, this can't happen soon enough.

LSH Kharma got me good. Last week in practice, I hit a turtle in the apex, rudder breakaway kicked back and lost steering at full clamp.

Boat goes straight out of the apex towards a wall, I got out of it, but not quite soon enough. Slammed just hard enough to shatter a sponson.

I'll get her mended, but..

I saw you and Tucker at 2010 nats Colorado, but when I went to say whats up you guys were stuck to a poster dressed nice holding boats lol!!