Doc:

I have several thoughts/observations as I read your post . . .

1) You are going considerably slower than Mad Dog and Hollywood, hence giving you more time to see the buoy and react.

2) I'm not sure whom you would find to give this lesson to Hollywood (aka Glenn), as I know that he has been in at LEAST 1 or 2 races before.

3) The compass headings and mental picture are great, but what happens when you are forced to take a dramatically different line, due to either faster or slower traffic? Also, what happens when you use a visual aide that moves during the race? (the shrimp boat in Savannah, for example)

4) I was in your shoes last year. It is a whole different ball game when you step up a class (or two).

5) If Typhoon didn't rule the seas, and Mad Dog and Hollywood would just let a boat or two in front of them, they could simply follow the competition around the course, and not have to worry about this!
:D :D

6) I hope Chris and I can get back in the green bat boat at some point during the season, and give you and Tread a run for your money. (actually it is a run for Reindl's money, but you get the idea)

I applaud your enthusiasm, and look forward to racing against you some day soon.

I think JB finally found the problem. Typhoon is in the lead too often and Glen needs glasses.

I like the OPA markers. I can see those flaming red flags a half mile away. Plus they are higher off the water than a pillow.

The turn boat is there for the racers to see from a distance and then when they get closer, the markers appear. Turn boats should never move.

I'd like to see a dozen white markers to show the inside of the course. I just don't want to set them or retrieve them.:)

Folks, that 10" screen wasn't even in play. We used it as a big speed display, so that we wouldn't be breaking any rules ...

Navigating to and finding the turns is not the problem. You go where Ron's turn boats are.

It's the tight quarter stuff, especially with 5 boats going into the same turn, and a frikken Larry Flint boat trying to find an opening in our rear ...

JB, I didn't mean any disrespect to any fellow racers, I was just trying to be positive. Are your friends so good that they cant learn more, If so I would think they would want to move on to a higher challenge. Which class do you recommend moving up to? Which class goes so fast you cant read your compass? Which is harder reading a compass at 70 mph in a 24' boat or 80 mph in a 36"? I hope I continue to be blessed with the ability to race and one day move up but it would have to be at least P-3 because we beat P-5 and P4 now. Call Chris he can put you is boat, he would love the business. Then Tread and I can take you to buoy school. LOL Just kidding, Norm

Maybe a large orange flag like a biker flag waving in the wind attached to the current bouys standing 6 ft might help....20/10 is better than 20/20....let's get sirius now..

Re: Much BIGGER turn markers.
 

I disagree. ;) I could see all 5 turn bouys at the Savannah Race and I was on shore near turn 5, near Ft. Screven. :o

Also, this is what I know....

1.) I was told those bouys were brand new.

2.) The bouys were so big in Marathon they would hardly fit into the boat!

Have a good race guys.


Example: (Marathon Race Bouy)......

Marathon has never been a problem beaucause of the calmer water. What happens when the seas are 4-5 feet and your marker is 4 feet tall? Also a 50' turn boat is fine if there is no other boats in the area but at a mile away with other passer buy boats its hard to pick which one is the turn boat. This is just my opinion which doesnt mean APBA will do anything about it. I just like to hear the input of other racers. Sometimes following is much easyer!
MD:D

Maybe the turn boats could have some simple type of strobe light that can be picked up even in the dense haize from miles away so at least your heading in the right direction and inevitably the buoy will be evident as one gets closer.....there are many ways to help with visibility, not everyone has eagle eyes but APBA should open theirs' to the driver's liking....

question. if you guys make the turn markers so big, how can the cat hull boats get over them.and if you hit or deflate one do you loose points or time penalties.and the big question is does the team pay for a new one.$$$

The Buoys they are using cost around $5000 and yes, if you hit one, you buy one.

I think Doc had a good Idea to get a sponsor to Pay for them. I am sure if any (or all) of us came to them and said "here are your new Buoys, if they get hit, they get bought, but use them for us." They would be glad to use them.

If you remember, they had larger ones and a few of them were "Popped."

JB, we would love to see you in the class again this year, winning a few more flags.