I don't usually jump in on a thread that discuses the fall of racing popularity. And I don't like to read about the fall of cat sailing popularity, so I probably have only skimmed this thread. I don't like to read about the fall of the popularity because it depresses me. Racing: I personally never needed racing; I am just as thrilled to sail by myself as anyone might find in racing.

I've skimmed because a) I don't' care much about racing EXCEPT to the extent that I want my fellow cat sailors to be able to have their races when that is what is important to them. And, b) I can't bear to read all the bad news about the fall of the popularity of cat sailing.

But I am tossing in a few cents worth of opinion here just because I feel that I have a little bit to contribute to the whole conversation and that my thoughts might be appreciated by some. I am *not* contributing for any selfish reasons and I am also not whining nor complaining about anything; just making some observations.

I think that the sport of cat sailing is experiencing the same illness and epidemic as just about any other physically demanding (physically exercising, physically responsive, physically interacting) activities that people once did and are now becoming detached from. I think that our society has digressed away from physical fun stuff and become more benign in their behavior.

I also think that cat sailing is following the same path as any other activity that takes a lot of time to prepare for, that more and more people are not finding time to take their time to do anything that is not more instantly gratifying.

Too many people can't appreciate the exercise, both mental and physical, in preparations for an activity. Too many people won't bother to spend a lot of time and energy in preparing for an activity or event.

The reason I judge that 'too many' people are no longer doing such activities is that you can see that the health of the people who used to do this is much better than the health of the ones who don't do it. People! You need to be a cat sailor; it is good for you!

Anyway... It saddens me to see my sport go down the tubes. But honestly, I am more saddened to find out that today's youth are not doing 10 minutes of calistentics, followed by 35-40 minutes of physical play, every day of the school week as we did when I was a school boy. This is absolutely sickening and if I had a child, I simply would not stand for this BS.

Now get your arses off your couch and teach your children the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of working hard at playing hard. I'll continue to sail by myself if need be. I don't really need you to be out there on the water; but I will miss you very much in knowing that you are missing out on something that you might or might not understand.

I hope that everyone who wants to sail, gets to sail. I hope that more people will find the opportunity to find the appreciation for the sport as I have been able to find.

I wish that cat sailing would grow in popularity; it is good for people's soul, mind, and body. People need to do such activities and cat sailing is one of the best of these kinds of activities.

I wish you all
Fair Winds,

GARY