The distance factor in 'Reasons NOT to go' was stretched beyond 'reasonable proximity to Monterey' with the mention of Kentucky. That was a reference to Steve and Pam Haines who are from Kentucky (and sometimes Florida). They attended SCA CC VI. However, they flew.
It's tough to rationalize Einstein's universal rule of Distance and Time equals Money. There's rational distance, irrational distance and ludicrous. Mini vacations - maxi vacations - distant galaxy vacations. John Edwards, M17 "Miss T" (attended CC V) might have an interesting opinion about distance. A Steinbeck footnote: the desert and orange groves are now casinos and a parking lot at Disneyland. The courses seem balanced, fair and not favoring a particular design. The buoys are about the size of 55 gal drums. From a distance, the swells/wind obscure them a little. The buoys have GPS coordinates and some utilize GPS so as not to meander to far off course. The smaller boats, which start 5 minutes after the large/mid size fleet, can see and just follow the larger boats. Of course, if the lead boats (and this happened last year) miss and go around the wrong mark . . . There's a dozen or so marks/buoys in the bay of which the course can be selected from. Its just you don't know which will be used until the skipper meeting before the race. Lyle Hess' "best little boat I never designed" might be fast, however, the little Potters are improving. Newer (i.e. modern) type sail rigs are appearing and their increase in speed is very noticable. If you don't keep your boats pointy end moving forward quickly, your field of vision might soon be that of a Potters stern. Frightful little thought. Rick Reynolds M15 #460 "Lil Becca" _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
