Texas Rain-Gutter Regatta

[marc]

Bobby Mac and I are putting on a Rain-Gutter Regatta this Sunday in Houston as part of a party/fundraiser we are sponsoring to support HLS&R youth scholarships. Everyone is welcome to attend and you'll find the NOR below.

What is a Rain-Gutter Regatta? you may be asking yourself. It's a bit hard to explain, but here's a great video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uykq0cSzveQ

Simon Thomas has been nice enough to build the race course and we're ready to go.

Texas Rain-Gutter Regatta
Notice of Race

Sunday November 14, 2010
The Vintage Lounge
2108 Kipling
Houston [/u]
ORGANIZING AUTHORITY[/b]

Texas Rain-Gutter Racing Class (AKA Bobby McNaughton & Marc Holdaway)

RULES

Rules will be announced verbally prior to racing

ELIGIBILITY & ENTRY

Up to 10 Boats/Teams may enter on a first come first serve basis with registration beginning at Noon. There is no entry fee.

SCHEDULE

Noon: Registration begins and bar opens (not entirely coincidentally)
1PM-3PM: Build kits will be released to participating teams. Teams have until the start of racing to design and build their boats.

2PM: Race Course opens for Tank-Testing and practice. This step is highly encouraged to ensure the sea-worthiness of your yacht. If your yacht exhibits dog-like tendencies there is still time to make modifications.

Immediately following the Texans victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars (Approximately 3PM): Racing begins.

YACHT DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

Each team (four crew to a team) will be given an identical kit to design and build a racing yacht whose hull conforms to the following box rule:

LOA: Not to exceed 8?
Beam: Not to exceed 3?
Draft: Not to exceed 1.5?

Only materials supplied in the kit can be used to construct a competing yacht. Only tools supplied by the Organizing Authority can be used to construct a competing yacht.

FORMAT

Racing will be a round-robin format. Upon completion of the round robin round, the top four teams will sail a semi-final and then final series to determine the winner.

INFORMATION

For further information contact Marc Holdaway at mholdawa@yahoo.com.

[MaryM]

Very fun!

[SteveP]

So it's like a Pinewood Derby for drunken sailors.  Pretty cool.
And it's held on hallowed ground...the original site of the Velvet Elvis Pub.

[marc]

The race course is built (Thanks a bunch Simon) and everything is ready to go.

We've arranged for parking across the street behind the Petsmart on Shepard.

Texans game starts at Noon.

Texas Raingutter Regatta starts at 2PM

Come early for Hubcap Grill's new burger truck. Houston Chronicle says they're the best burger in the city.

$1 beers and Mt Gay Rum specials

Prizes from

Sur La Table
Truluck's
Tony Mandola's
Houston Rockets Tickets
Houston Aeros Tickets
Classic Cafe
And Many More

I can think of no better way to spend a wet and rainy Sunday.

[marc]

Oh, and thanks to Ed Christie at C&C Sailmakers for providing the sail material for the boats.

You'll be racing with brand new Kevlar sails.

[Sailchick]

I thought I was going to need a paramedic at the end but.....awesome time Marc and Bobby and congrats to my boat design partners Simon and Huey for building the winning boat!!! 

[ChrisK]

That was fun. Raised >$600 for the kids with ugly chickens.
I wish I got of pic with Sailchick, complete with the pack of Marlboros in the back pocket on that last winning leg...

[Bee]

Marlboros?  You sure it wasn't something else that start with an M?

[marc]

A less than shining moment from yesterdays festivities.

[ChrisK]

That red face is not from the booze...ok, maybe a little.

I sunk last, and (more importantly) ahead of Burns...so I win that round, right?