First the disclaimer: We’re not the best Hobie 16 sailors in the country but we have won a few events and we were 4th at the 2003 Continentals. The following isn’t the gospel truth just the best we’ve been able to figure out so far.

Crew Weight: The minimum allowable class weight, for adult racing, is 285 lbs combined helm and crew. Most teams try to be right at minimum weight. I think 300 lbs is more ideal over a wide variety of conditions. Liza and I are at minimum but we have trouble when the wind kicks up over 20 knots.

High-performance beach catamarans will once again be screaming up the Eastern Seaboard, from Florida and around Cape Hatteras, in two combined races totaling 1000 long and grueling miles.

The Tybee Island Sailing Association, organizers of the successful Tybee 500 that debuted last May, has teamed up with the Outer Banks Catamaran Club to produce two back-to-back five-hundred-mile races starting next year. The contests will form a new 1000-mile annual challenge called the Atlantic 1000. According to race organizers, these two events -- the Tybee 500 and the Outer Banks 500 -- will culminate in a third award honoring the sailors and classes with the best combined times for both.

MIAMI, FLORIDA (January 30, 2004) --Breathless was the word to describe the final of four days of racing at the 2004 Rolex Miami OCR. To 503 sailors competing in the regatta's 11 Olympic and Paralympic classes, no wind on Biscayne Bay resulted in the cancellation of all racing. Yesterday's results, therefore, have determined class champions and left those who were within striking distance of the leaders disappointed. The regatta winners, most with sights set on competing in the 2004 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Athens, counted their performances here as critical, since this is one of North America's largest ISAF Grade One ranking events. The 323-boat fleet, flush with world champions, Olympic medallists and America's Cup veterans, represented 39 nations.

ST. THOMAS, USVI (January 27, 2004)--When it’s "off" season in other spots around the world, Caribbean racing will be in full swing at the start of the 31st International Rolex Regatta, hosted by St. Thomas Yacht Club in the U.S. Virgin Islands. From March 26-28, the three-day regatta is compact yet large in terms of offering dependable tropical trade winds, warm water and serious competition for everything from over-50 foot "Sleds" right down to beach catamarans.

Miami, Florida, USA - Saturday, January 24, 2004 - By Michael Grandfield

The 2000 Olympic Gold Medal team of Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher (AUT) proved to be in top form as they took the overall win at the 2004 North American Championship. The Austrians lead from the first day and never finished lower than 3rd in a very competitve fleet of 27 boats from 12 countries.

The USA team of John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree finished 7 points behind Hagara/Steinacher, taking 2nd place overall. Lovell and Ogletree also captured the North American Champions title as the first North Ameican boat.

Third place overall went to Olivier Backes and Laurent Voiron (FRA).