It’s time to do some warm weather sailing…
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Snake Bytes
February 10, 2022
Builder update, regattas notices, and more
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Builder’s Update
Our class builder, Rondar Raceboats, has kept themselves ticking throughout the global slow-down caused by Covid restrictions and regatta cancellations. The good news is that orders are now back up to pre Covid levels!
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They have large fleet orders for Vipers, Sonars, Fireflies and other classes which will be keeping the workshop very busy over the next 12 months and beyond.
As many of you know, the Class has commissioned new Viper keel and rudder tooling, machine milled for absolute accuracy, and this project is well under way. Rondar received the newly machined rudder plug early in January and have now manufactured the new rudder mold. The first new “flat top” rudder will be molded in the next few days.
The keel plug proved slightly more of a challenge to cut, but it is now finished and is now at Rondar where they are laying up the new mold over the next couple of weeks. The first new keel should pop out sometime in early March. A new hull “plug” has also now been built, so the laying up of a new hull mold is also about to start. All of this effort, jointly financed by the Class and Rondar, will not change the design or performance of the boat, but the improved tooling will help Rondar produce consistently high-quality boats.
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Keel plugs in solid aluminum
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New carbon mold for flat top rudders
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For the real Viper geek in all of us, there are some videos of the aluminum plugs and molds being manufactured HERE.
Rondar has firm orders for a batch of 7 new Vipers and the plan is to begin shipping in April/May. The next building slots available for Vipers will be in the fall, for delivery later in 2022 and early 2023. Of course, the Viper Worlds are in New Orleans in March 2023, so if you are thinking of a new boat in time for the 2023 Worlds, you really do need to get in touch with Tyler Moore in the USA (or Rondar direct if you are elsewhere in the world) to book your slot and ensure that you do not miss out.
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A new Viper year and a new Viper tradition kick off in Sarasota!
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As reported by Cole Constantineau
The Viper fleet welcomed 2022 by sailing the second weekend of January on the Sarasota Sailing Squadron Viper Winter Series Part II.
Fleeing the record low temperatures of the week before in the north for ‘balmy’ 60-degree weather in Sarasota, Friday was filled with fun tune-ups out on the bay as new teams to this years’ series worked to shake off the rust of being out of the boat for (sometimes) a couple years. There were also totally fresh Viper teams working to get up to speed. Upon getting ashore Friday evening, warm conversations kept the fleet from shivering as beverages were had from the ‘magic cooler’ on Meow! as the locals, wearing puffy jackets marveled at the shorts/short sleeves of the hardy northerners… The excitement for the next day was tangible, as the forecast was looking absolutely perfect: 70 degrees F and 15kts of breeze from the ocean.
Upon arriving at the Squadron the next morning, it was apparent the wind gods were smiling at least for that day (Sunday forecast was looking iffy…), and a new Viper fleet game was hatched at the skippers meeting! Based on the results from Sarasota Series #1, a ‘mentor’ was paired with a ‘mentee’ in the fleet, with the pairing being determined by position in the fleet. For example, the winners were paired with the last place boat, 2nd place with 2nd to last and so on. The combined scores after day 1 of the pair were then tallied, with podium finishers rewarded with 6 packs! After assignments were given, the pairings reviewed tuning with one another, arranged for on the water speed testing, and shared any other secrets they could think of. All secrets were revealed, and everything was done by the teams to help one another short of team racing during actual races. This was quite a fun time on and off the water, and a new wrinkle for the standard ‘debrief’! I know for this mentee, our goal for the regatta became to beat our mentor , which we almost did…
The on the water conditions for the day were perfect, champagne conditions as the forecasts predicted. Downwind it was transition planing during races 1 and 2 and then full-on planing to finish it in races 3 and 4. To start things, the NESS team continued their dominance started in the first event, with two bullets over the Amthor team in race one (a 2nd) and team Z in race 2. Races 3 and 4, in the slightly bigger breeze (15-18kts) saw Jackpot start to dial it in, with them beating NESS in both races, and the team on Great Scott! grabbing a nice downwind left flyer in the last race to get the bullet over both! Congrats to our top 3 for the day: 1st NESS, 2nd Jackpot, and 3rd Great Scott!. Also congrats to team Z and Meow! for taking the win in the first Viper fleet Mentor/Mentee pairing event. The fleet does need to come up with a name for it…
Unfortunately, the last day came in as predicted—with a 35kt to 40kt wind blasting over the bay. This single almost perfect condition day at the last event made it all worth it, as did catching up with Viper friends and making new ones! The winter series wraps up with event #3 scheduled for February 19-20, there’s still time to join in if you can make it down! https://www.regattanetwork.com/event/23405
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2022 Viper North Americans Update
October 15-16 – Women’s and Youth NAs
October 19-23 – North American Championship
Gulfport (MS) Yacht Club’s Viper NAs Championship Committee is fully up and running in preparation for this fall’s three North American Viper Championships. The NoR will be published and circulated next week. In the meantime, Event Chair Sam Vasquez said, “Tell everyone to save these dates! This is going to be a trio of Championships sailed with a Southern flair like nothing the Viper Class has ever seen before.” Knowing Sam and his tend to under-promise and over-deliver, this will be a week of sailing in Mississippi that none of us will want to miss.
More dates for your sailing calendar!
2023 North American’s
September 19-24, 2023
The Nepean Sailing Club in Ottawa is pleased to host the International Viper 640 Class North American Championship in September 2023. The event will be held September 19-24, 2023. Located on Lac Deschênes, just west of downtown Ottawa, the club has great facilities and a strong volunteer organization accustomed to hosting major events. Save the dates!
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The 2023 Viper 640 World Championship – Save the dates!
March 24-31, 2023
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Very exciting news! The fourth Viper 640 Worlds are headed to New Orleans! Southern Yacht Club is going to host the 2023 Youth, Women’s and Open World Championship in the last week of March 2023.
Southern Yacht Club has a long history, being the second oldest yacht club in the USA. A very well-established pedigree of racing, hosting major championships and sending members to challenge at the highest levels, Southern Yacht Club has competition in its DNA and should prove a fine host for our next championship. Situated on Lake Pontchartrain in the heart of the Gulf Yachting Association, the sailing venue will provide for excellent competition. SYC has an active Viper 640 fleet who are excited to welcome us to New Orleans!
In addition to the open World Championship, we will run both a Women’s and a Youth Championship as part of the event.
So save the dates:
Women’s & Youth March 24-26, 2023
Open World’s March 27-31, 2023
Look for more news and the Notice of Race in the weeks to come.
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Upcoming Florida Regattas
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The Viper 640 winter sailing season is in full swing with regattas planned on both sides of Florida. First, there is the third segment of the Sarasota Viper Winter Series #3 Feb 19-20. There are currently 19 boats registered so there’s still room (and time) for you to register. Register HERE.
Sarasota Viper Winter Series #4 Mar 18-20 Registration not open yet.
There’s even a bit more time to register for the 2022 Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta in Miami from March 9-12. With 15 Vipers registered, the current plan is to host all the boats at Shake-a-Leg, right near the hospitality set-up. More details on that soon. Register HERE.
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If you’re not in Florida, there’s still Vipering to be done!
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The Arizona Yacht Club’s Birthday Regatta
& Leukemia Cup
Arizona Yacht Club, Lake Pleasant, AZ – 8 boats registered
Feb 18-20
Registration and information HERE.
San Diego NOOD
Coronado Yacht Club, San Diego, CA – 8 boats registered
Mar 25-27
Registration and information HERE
Viper Atlantic Coast Championship
Eastport Yacht Club, Annapolis, MC – Registration just opened and a dozen boats already registered.
May 13-15
Registration and information now available HERE.
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Still haven’t ordered your Viper bow numbers???
Click HERE.
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Questions or comments?
Have a something to share? Have a question or comment? How about a great Viper photo? Contact Viper 640 Class Administrator Ed “Buttons” Padin at epadin@padesta.com.
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Ed Padin: Viper 640 Class Administrator, Office: 914-834-8286 Address: 18 Normandy Lane, New Rochelle, NY 10804
Viper 640 Class Association Website: www.Viper640.org Facebook Unsubscribe
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