i550 north regatta

[Marino]

Looking to organize a i550 regatta in Toronto,Canada in 2013. Before approaching the race committee at the club, I would like to know if any i550 owners would be able to come.
If possible late summer. If 2013 is not good, 2014? Sugggestions would be welcomed.

[Chad]

Sounds good!

[ryderp]

Put me on the list. I'd love to attend and it's only about a 4 hour drive for me (well, without a lot of traffic on the QEW)

Phil Ryder

[jray]

Bit of a pull for me. It would depend on several things falling together just right to make it there with the boat. If that doesn't work out, I might be able to fly in and crew for someone who is shorthand. It does sound like a blast.

[Mist]

2013 is questionable for Mist. 2014 I'd seriously consider making the trip.

[admin]

I'd love to come in 2013, but realistically, 2014 is better....that'll give me time to rip apart and rebuild all the wrong stuff I discover in 2013. Thanks for getting the ball rolling on this stuff, Marino. Toronto's a great town (I actually prefer it over Mt. Royal, but it's politically incorrect to say that!).

One question though: do you think there will be any issues with Customs? When I was a kid, we caught all kinds of grief trying to take an outboard motor into Canada...this was a long time ago, but I was wondering if customs was still a hassle once in a while. Don't even get me started on what a bunch of COMPLETE ASSHOLES u.s. customs was when (pre-911) my wife and I reentered Los Estados Unidos with a cartop sailboat from NB to Maine...the guy actually threatened us. As unprofessional policing as I've ever seen anywhere on the planet and I've seen some doozies.

Can you tell I hate customs?

tf

[slowpoke]

I deal with customs at the mexico/u.s. border every day, and I'm right there with you TF. I was also wondering if there would be a problem with customs. Other than that, 2014 is probably do-able for me, 2013 only if I win the lottery!

[micah202]

...I'm not really considering the 3500 mile drive vancouver to central canada,,,consider myself bound to the westcoast and NW for driving to events,,,
....but I can certainly pipe-in about customs,,as I go back and forth between can/US a few times with the boat.
...firstly,,having bought the boat in the states the canada customs were a bit all-over-it when I first imported,,suspecting a falsely low price to base 12%GST on.....they were happily consoled with the trailer,,which gets treated as an imported vehicle and requires a $200 registration fee over top of GST.
....going back and forth for events,the US border usually focuses on my clearance papers for 30 year old arrest ,,,and never bothers scrutinizing the boat,,,Canada just lets me home.
.....it's always been rather mystifying that NEVER has either border said 'what's in the boat'...rather tempting-don't try it!!!

...there was a period of time ~20 years ago that canada customs would collect a few hundred $ bond from visiting americans,,return on departure from canada--haven't heard of that since.

[Kevin]

I'd put my hat in the ring for 2013. By late summer do you mean mid-August? I have a kid starting college next year so late August will be sucked up with getting him to school I'm sure.

About a 10 hour ride for me. I'd put that on the boundary of doable. Chad and I could caravan and then hit the border with a 1, 2 punch adding legitimacy to the "for a regatta" story at the border.

I'd want some more details on getting the boat across the border and back before I attempted it. Rarely are these types of things simple. And you'll want all your registration paperwork in order for sure. It took me an age to get my boat registered in Illinois.

Kevin.

p.s. Jon, I'll take you up on that crew offer any day. If this works out, I got you covered.

[Chad]

Dibs on cstay if he makes it, then!

FIL has a 20' flatbed trailer.... wonder if two i550's on their trailers could fit?

[jray]

p.s. Jon, I'll take you up on that crew offer any day. If this works out, I got you covered.

Good Deal!

[Marino]

OK I get the picture - CUSTOMS,customs,customs,and customs. oh YEA AND 2014.
Will try and put something together for the wolfs in the group

[cstay]

I'd love to think my boat would be done by late summer but I doubt it. Def spring 2014 it will be. I will still go regardless if my boat is done to crew or spectate. I went to viper North Americans in sarnia Canada last year and they seemed to care less about the boat at the border. We are going for a race and will be back in 4 days. Ok have fun they said.

Chad. What are you dibsing me for? Crew? Carpool? I'd be down to crew or ride up with whoever if my boats not done

[Chad]

Dibs on your body, if you're still boatless (and willing).

[cstay]

I don't know if I'm ok with another guy dibsing my body. :p

[Kiwi22]

I just joined the forum, I purchased my plans last week. I'm an hour north of Toronto, certainly won't splash this year, 2014?.........., well maybe.

[Chad]

I don't know if marino's regatta will happen in Toronto this year, but I think there will be at least one northeast gathering. Whether it's Champlain in cstay's and TimF's backyard, or just the cobweb regatta between Cleveland and Chicago in Kevin's other thread, I plan to hit the road at least once.

Of course, it's a class rule that no guest is left on the dock...

... isn't it?

[jray]

I believe you're correct Chad, seems that it is somewhere in the fine print. Also that all guests bring appropriate beverages! Welcome Kiwi22, happy to have another builder here on the fourm.

[cstay]

Stoked that this thread is back and alive. We should try to set real dates and locations so we dont just do circles for awhile and not actually get anything planned.

[Chad]

I know there's a bunch of schedules that need to be considered- Tim's completion date (I recall an indepence day prediction, last year!), Kevin's kid's school, lakes thawing, July racing to Hawaii, and so on. Might be a good idea to schedule a conference call or GoToMeeting?

[Tim Ford]

I'm still up for Champlain (and Champagne). I feel confident the boatie will be done. I am doing one of the Bermuda races in June, but late July early Aug sounds very do-able. Even Toronto, assuming the hassles with the border cops can be mitigated.

Let's see, a 50 USD bribe is how much in Canadian dollars?

[Marino]

Because most of the response felt 2013 was not good for them, will start gathering info and permission from the sailing club for a 2014 date. Want to display a info package by late fall.
Would really like to see this regatta take place, and have some friendly racing between the i550's.

[Big_Dog]

What’s that?
It is friendly at the bar.
It is friendly at dinner.
It is friendly at the offsite Put-Put tournament.

BUT there are only hostel intensions after leaving the dock.
Prepare the cannons and get the boarding party on deck.

[Chad]

Yeah, understood Marino. Just using your thread to plan other NE activities now, with whoever we can gather together on the same water and date!

If Hawaii happens for me (50/50 still), I'll be needing to stay home for a month on both sides of mid-July.

[cstay]

I was voted in as Rear Commodore in our club so i can easily bring it up at one of our meetings. I would take responsibility for the planning as far as boat storage, launching and housing. The drawback to our club is that we have no clubhouse or dock space. We sail out of a marina. There is a free public ramp 1000 feet from the marina which is new and nice. Depending on water level you would need to motor a few hundred feet before you dropped your keel. The Hoist you could drop your keel at the dock and sail out of the marina. I believe this costs about $70.00 Boats could be pulled each night or dock space could be rented. It all depends on what we want. I can also find out what the cost would be to have the racing under our insurance and using our comitee boat marks and having people run the race. I am sure i can find people to volunteer to run the racing.

What are the boats we are interested in this?

Tim F
Chad M
Kevin
Ryder