Let's see who the possible starters are that could be in the lineup for the 2012 US Multihull Championship for the Hobie Alter Trophy -

starting locally: Rice, Whitehurst, Bello, Smyth, Reiss, Whitehead, Pitt, Amador, McDonald - then moving south: Daniel, Casey, and many new young pilots I do not know out of Sarasota.

I am sure hoping JW and the Glasers will join us from the west coast and spark a couple other teams into attending the two weekend F 16 Sailing Festival. As far as Mark's F 16 Fleet on Chesapeake Bay, which he claimed would not be attending, all I can say is that you will be missing the warm water, white sugary sand, and challenging racing which you could always remember - if you had been here.

The new 'open' format will require competitors to sail hard all four days on Pensacola Bay - which can become filled with sheep and very angry.