News

4.-.16.8.2008 Fehmarn Rund 2009 – two Predators in the top ten.

By Vladislav Ptašnik

At Fehmarn again. This year 82 boats gathered, 49 of them in our category. We raced here with a smaller sail last year, and it was the very first sea race for me and for Tadeáš. This year, two boats came from Bohemia. The first was CZE 007 and the second CZE 008, brought by Milan Hájek and Martin Mudra. We arrived two days in advance, but we could not train the first day as the wind was force 6, waves were rather big and we did not want to risk. But on the day two, we went twice. The wind was milder (4-5) and the waves were large and... read more video phototogalery

1.-2.8.2009 Catamaran Match Racing at Bolevák

Well, nothing like this had been here before! Who would have ever believed that match racing of the fastest sailing boats – catamarans – could be organised on such a small pool? Yes, it was possible and it was done successfully. I hope the yachtsmen from Plzeň forgive ... read more clip

27.7.2009 Hnačov Blue Ribbon

The usual course of Modrá Stuha Hnačova was ‘interfered with’ by the participation of three catamarans. Two Predators from the CompoTech team and the Pilsener Tornado of Martin Šedivec arrived. Thanks to the reasonable decision of the main judge, the catamarans did their heats on a rota basis together with other boat categories, i.e. with Finns and Evropas. Especially Saturday was worth it, mainly due ....read more clip

15.6.2009 Fantastic achievement at Round Texel 2009!

It takes couple of days for tiredness of demanding racing and long travel home to fade away. Very pleasant feeling of success overtrumps the tiredness. F20 Predator CZE 0087 Hajek/Krizek 7th to cross the finish line in the world biggest catamaran race! Only six Marstroms M20 crossed the finish before them. How it all happened? More than 550 catamarans gathered at Netherland island Texel as every summer ...read more video

11.6.2009 Predators at TEXEL 2009

Two Predator boats are now present at Texel in Netherland which is the venue of the world biggest catamaran race. Predator CZE 008, skipper David Krizek and crew Milan Hajek and CZE 007 with father and son Ptasnik. As a preparation for the main Saturday race on 13.6. around the island they are taking part in Dutch Open Championship. There are more than 80 boats buoy racing for three days. Among first five boats after two days of racing you can see CZE 008 on fourth position. Promising beginning...?

Open Fleet I

1. Sunnucks/Farren (22 punten) 10,3,2,6,1
2. Styles/van West (26 punten) 5,1,1,12,7
3. de Koning/Visser (39 punten) 2,4,15,10,8
4. Krizek/Hajek (47 punten) 13,10,11,1,12
5. Wilson/Lynch (48 punten) 18,14,3,3,10

You can watch details here.

3.6.2009 wind smashing at nechranice

There was pretty strong wind on Friday 3.6. and Predator CZE 008 David Krizek and Milan Hajek was busy. The event was reported in Aha newspaper (pdf). Wind nearly smashed Predator out from water, check photos. There was another Predator (CZE 008) fighting at Lipno at the same day with V. Ptasnik and J. Patak. Unfortunately there are no pics available.

16.5.2009 Lipno marathon

Predators took part for the first time during May weekend 16. and 17.5. in this event. Long distance race was planned on Saturday. First two positions were occupied by Predators. However admirable effort in very light wind showed both Melgeses 24 just behind the second Predator. Pics here. Perfect organizers from Lipnoservis prepared course racing for Sunday. All races dominated by Predators. Hopefully we will see more catamarans here next time. Thanks to Martina Barnetova you can enjoy pictures. Results here.

26.4.2009 training at nechranice

Predators for the first time at Nechranice. There were two boats having together Sunday training session. David Krizek with Milan Hajen and father and son Ptasnik's. At the beginning it looked like very light wind but fortunately it started to blow later afternoon. And thanks to Jaroslav Boucek you can check some action videos of CZE 8 and CZE 007 Predators. Some photos too. Lidové noviny newspaper also brought an article.

14.4.2008 First race, vele di pasqua, italy

Two F20 Predators took part in this Easter regatta, CZE 007 and CZE 008. Ptasnik's crew and David Krizek with Milan Hajek. We were the only boats in open 21 ft class. Fortunately we could race together with Tornado class which was very good for comparison. However our result were not as good as we expected, up and down. We need to work out our front stay and have more trainings with gennaker. There was no surprise, David and Milan winning our category. Results and pics. David Krizek point of view on his blog (Czech language).

2.4. TrAINING WEEKEND ON wesser RIVER

While crew of Predator CZE008 had training camp at Adriatic Isola, the other Czech crew CZE007 set up for North Germany river Wesser. Main purpose was to compare Czech and German Predator speed. This was achieved only partially due to not good trim of Czech Predator. There was training session just on CZE 007 on Friday afternoon in strong gusty wind which calmed down in evening. There was a mini race held on Saturday. German Predator GER 005 was doing much better than Czech one. Third catamaran racing was Prindle 18. Unfortunatelly there was no wind on Sunday thus no training. Wind calmed down and Sun appeared. Just "bad weather".

1.4.2009 march training camp slovenia

Just one cat set up for Slovenian Isola at the end of March. No other crew could join David Krizek and Milan Hajek. However they had many good training sessions in a very good and also hard weather. They managed to establish couple of new class speed records. Judge on your own that it was fast from the video here. More information in Czech language on David Krizek blog.

1.3.2009 february training camp slovenia

Three cats set up in last February week for training camp in Portorose. Two Predators (David Krizek and Milan Hajek, Vladislav Ptasnik and Tadeas Ptasnik) and one Tornado (Martin Sedivec and Jonas). Main target was to trim both Predators and compare them against Tornado and against each other. Surprising and unbelievable was training session with humpback whale from which you can see some pics and videos. There is nice story on David Krizek blog.

25.2.2009 ICE yachting

Waiting for spring could be too long sometime. Some people can not wait and jump on ice yachting. Sailing DN ice yacht is very similar to catamaran sailing. Have a look at couple of wild clips from Lada Ptasnik. DN ice yacht can achieve speed about 100 km/h and ice yacht racing is really impressive. If there is wind...

16.12.2008 Waiting for weather

There is thin ice cover on water and snow on trampolines. What can we do...some slight arrangements on mast in the meantime...

21.11.2008 established single handed speed record without gennaker

As yesterday there were catamarans sailing today at Lipno lake. Wind was stronger and steadier. It was 6-8 m/s gusting sometime up to even 20 m/s. You could see two cats on water. First prototype with Vit Sprdlik and Jonas, second Blue Flame PREDATOR sailed by Vladislav Ptasnik. Unfortunately there was no speed meter on prototype. Blue Flame during nearly successful try to catch prototype in front catapulted Vladislav at 17.5 knots. Strong wind helped Vladislav to right 3.05m wide cat without use of water bag. A moment later achieved Blue Flame speed 18.9 knots at narrow place above Lipno marina. "It was too much for single handed today. I was sailing nearly all time with loose main sail at the very edge of close hauling. It was nearly impossible to balance the boat properly whenever I beared just a bit off " said Vladislav.

20.11.2008 new single handed record with gennaker

Vladislav Ptasnik established solo gennaker record today at Lipno Lake, Kovarov bay. He achieved 19.2 knots (100m 17.9 knots, 500 m 15.9 knots). He was accompanied by Jonas and his friend on an Esse Para catamaran. Air temperature 3^o C, wind 5 to 6 m/s gusting up to 15 m/s. Vladislav, sitting on trampoline got to 17.8 knots during first try and then PREDATOR leeward bow went deep into water. Weight of just one crew member sitting on trampoline was not sufficiene to balance the boat. See video. Vladislav went into back stripe and trapeze for the second attempt. At the end of the try PREDATOR at speed of 16 knots tended to pitchpole. Bowsprit went deep under water. Thanks to the second back trapez line Vladislav managed to stay where hi was and was not catapulted. Both bows went up again and he safely continued. It must be said that later on the rider falled into sail and tore it so that other record attempts had to be cancelled. "Unfortunately I did not manage rake mast more before sailing which showed to be necessity in today's wind. Boat tendency to pitchpole would be much lower. I have never seen such broken and gusty wind here. I had often zero wind and suddenly 15 m/s" said Vladislav.

20.10.2008 Boat Exhibition Brno 2008

Thanks to Yachting Revue and David Krizek you will have a chance to see CompoTech F20 PREDATOR catamaran at the above mentioned exhibition from 6.11. to 9.11.2008. PREDATOR will be exhibited at Yachting Revue stand right at the entrance. Looking forward to see you there. -VP-

1.10.2008 NEW GENNAKER SPEED RECORD IN F20 PREDATOR CLASS

"David Krizek and Martin Sedivec established new class record on CompoTech F20 PREDATOR catamaran in sailing with gennaker at Lipno Lake, Lipno village. There was wind about 15 m/s since early morning and even more in gusts. It was difficult to get boat on water. Three yachtsmen had to hold wild PREDATOR down as the cat was bouncing 10 cm above the ground. Right after launch the boat got to very good speed and on close haul it made soon 14 knots. Geenaker hoisting kicked speedometer up and the cat started literally to fly. These gennaker flights were followed by a cruel pitchpolling and huge crew catapult. New record value is 19.7 kn (36.5 km/h) instant, 18.9 kn best 100 m, 16.7 kn best 500 m." So quotation from David Krizek website. David and Martin overcame previous record of 19.3 kn made by Vladislav Ptasnik and Renata Babjakova at Nove Mlyny Lake. Need to say that current no gennaker speed record holders are still Vladislav Ptasnik and Mira Spedl, Hnacov pond 4.8.2008. Its value is 20.3 kn. It is clear that it will not last too long any more. More about speed records at our record page. -VP-

9.9.2008 "Tornado Killer“ Showed its teeth

The Czech Republic Championship in Tornado Class was held on 27.-28.9 2008. There were also racing F20 PREDATORS in their class F20T. It was not a championship for F20s and it was second race for F20s in CR whatsoever. The very first race - Frymburk Cup was organised on 14.-15.6. 2008. During the first race two F20s were introduced, one cat as a prototype with not so powerfull rig and another brand new Blue Flame just assembled before the race. No wonder that Tornado people were a bit embarrassed from F20s performance as they had to wait quite a time for us to get to finish line. I even did not recalled an internet article I had read on some international website saying basically that Tornado people do not like racing with F20s as they are too fast for them.

We dedicated more time for preparation of the second race. Blue Flame took part in several regattas abroad over the summer. Mast and sails were trimmed. We trained technique. On top of that we also prepared third F20 PREDATOR with originally designed mast accomodating 22 m² main sail for David Krizek and Jan Will. I (Vladislav Ptasnik) was racing on Blue Flame with Tadeas Ptasnik with smaller Tornado size main sail (17m²). Vit Sprdlik prepared prototype and was solo racing. His main was also 17 m².

Blue Flame ended up closely behind the last 6th Tornado in the first race where David and Jan did not take part in because they were desperately finishing new ropes. David and Jan tried to get accustomed to their new boat during the second race where they ended up 5th or 6th out of 6 Tornados and 3 F20s. We managed to beat one Tornado on Blue Flame. It became clear that we are much faster downwind or at least as fast as the best Tornado downwind on Blue Flame. We were always able to overtake 2 or 3 Tornados downwind. However they gained more metres close hauling than us downwind. We obviously missed their jib sail area against wind on Blue Flame. Not David and Jan on their Predator with 22 m²main sail. In the third run they improved to 3rd among all cats and the in the last race they even won overall! What a joy. We have fastest cat in the Czech Republic! And then I recalled that article again...

Results in F20T Class (detailed results)

David Krizek and Jan Will
Vladislav and Tadeas Ptasnik
Vit Sprdlik