I have been hoping that one upside of higher gasoline prices might be more sailboats, less jet skis, but the higher gas prices are going to limit long distance regatta travelers, no doubt. I drove to Alabam and back last weekend, it was over $350 in gasoline, and the prices have gone up since last weekend!

I really think we need to get the cat manufactures and sailing clubs out to the big boat shows (power boat shows especially) and bring new people into the sport. It's an easy sell when you tell them they will never put gas in their catamaran. If there is a club representative present, they can explain the benefits of having a storage place and regular racing or instruction available.

I think we will see growth at clubs like Gulfport that offer mast up storage and regular racing. I would be there every weekend if I lived closer, but it's over $50 in gas for me to drive there now and the price keeps going up. Hard to justify it when I live on a lake and my mast is already up. But we really need the big manufactures to step it up, advertise in Outdoor Magazine, (and not just their Kayaks) as well as all sporting mags, push the -no gas required- angle and get some clubs to show up and advertise their programs too. This could be a great oportunity to grow the sport as gasoline goes up, up, up.

One bright note, my twin daughters, just home from college, went out (one at a time) with me on the Prindle yesterday, first time they have sailed in many years. I had them steer from the wire while I worked the mainsheet. We were able to fly a hull a few times in the puffs.

They said they really enjoyed it but I'm thinking they are just learning how to work the old man, just like their mom. They must want me to buy them a new horse or something... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />