Vipers Bite in Australia

[Jon Stubbs]

We might have to look at international regattas soon!!!

Four Viper 640?s were landed in Western Australia in 2009.
They suited the 20 ? 25 knot ?Fremantle Doctor? (seabreeze) perfectly. What?s not to like about an 18 knot downwind ride on the Swan River.

Another container of four Vipers will arrive in the New Year. Three have been sold and another awaits a prospective owner.

Not bad growth.  Eight boats in eighteen months.

[Drew Harper]

That is AWESOME. Great Job

I'm booking my flight now!

Let's have the highwind worlds alternate between San Francisco and Perth every year. I'm in!

[Justin Scott]

Okay, I'll bite as well.

Where are the first world's going to be?? Somewhere in the middle would mean Cape Town, Dubai or Hawaii.

Oh yeah.   

[Peter Beardsley]

Long time reader, first time poster.  Sounds like we're getting there on the Worlds bit.  Just need that pesky ISAF certification.  Never a great sign when you need to flip to page 112 of the regulations to find out how to become a certified class, but it looks like we'd need (and yes, I can basically say "we" now -- I'll let someone else announce the new fleet that is starting in our neck of the woods) 20 boats per country in at least 6 countries that are on 3 continents.  U.S. is good.  Canada is probably pretty close or will be soon.  Australia is well on its way (and thanks for being a continent too Australia, that is key!).  Anyone want to work on the Brits to add Europe to the mix and have a fourth country?  Still would need 2 more countries after that...otherwise we're just stuck with calling it the Viper Intergalactics...

[Drew Harper]

The Viper was just approved by ISAF last night.  :-D

[Kelly Bechard]

I think it was the Viper catamaran that was up for ISAF status not the 640.

[Drew Harper]

damn...I'll ask Dave Hall about getting this done.

[Justin Scott]

Mixed feelings about becoming an ISAF class.
ISAF needs to lighten up a bit before the Vipers would feel welcome.

But we're working on it!   Maureen Tucker - US Sailing Bored of Directors.    Justin Scott - US Sailing House of Denigrates & One Design Council.  First we gain control of North America......next stop "we vill conquer zee world!"