Fun. Really fun. Okay, ridiculously fun - I haven't had so much sheer fun sailing in a long while. Racing with John Casey this past week was a kick in the pants start to finish. I swear it is not false modesty when I say that he could have performed well with any half-awake monkey on the front of the boat - he is stunningly talented. Normally I would have put this in the middle or end of the post, but if I had, JC would have never read it.

The volunteers who put on the event baffle me - why so many people are so generous with their time and resources is a mystery that I hope is never solved. Real people make this happen; Gordon Isco who made the trophy with his own hands; Darline Hobock, Dave and Barb Shafer, Jake Kohl, Kevin Rejda, Tom Farquhar and others on the Committee who have evolved and refined the event over the years; sailors like Chris Stater who first proposed the current rotation system; competitors like Jacques Bernier who reinforced the idea that the Championship should end on an A-fleet race to avoid abandonment possibilities and keep the spectators engaged; builders like Jack Young, Doug Skidmore, Matt McDonald and now Greg Goodall, who take a paltry charter fee to field a fleet of brand new boats, year after year in support of a small but avid community of sailors. Like bricks, each element has been added to a foundation lain by Hobie Alter to build an edifice to one-design competition. Between races, going over the boat you get assigned and double-checking every knot, shackle and block, it might be too easy to forget to be humble standing in the shadow of the sailors who have gone before you. A quick glance at the names on the trophy put it back in perspective for me. And the sense of good-natured and fierce competition fed the feeling of sanguine peace and focus that kept me warm all week.

Thanks to everyone who worked to make it real, and thanks, too, to the other teams. I hope everyone got home safely. Now I'm going to take a break from unloading and catching up on e-mail to go tell my daughter a bed-time story about a big race for a sacred Cup.

Congratulations Champ!

Most definitely!
<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Thats a flippin awesome picture!

fitting that they are on boat #1

Congrats JC and JW.

u guys rock.

Congratulations JDub. Next year's Cup is on Capricorns right? If that's the case, I'm sensing a repeat.

Way to go JW & John. My goal is to get a Blade some time in 2008. So have you ever sailed it uni? I am looking at getting a new age both that I can race at 200-220 lbs solo and race with grand daughter Ashleigh at combined crew of 310-330. We have 7 years on a Hobie 17 with 78 sq ft reacher. Again way to go. How DI did end up? He is our local hotshots.

Doug and Ashleigh Snell

Hi John,

well done, your post say's your feelings about the event and your skipper so well. It reflects the way I feel after sailing a good regatta on my F16. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Hope the Blade F16 had something to do with your enjoyment, would love to hear your comments on the boat performance if you are in a position to do that <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

John,
It was a lot of fun reading the daily reports and watching the results. It was even more fun watching you and JC do so well. Congratulations to BOTH you and JC, on winning the event, and creating a memory that will last your lifetimes.
Someday, you will probably tell that story to your "granddaughter" :::Chuckle::: Hopefully, it will be just one of many.

Stephen

John,

I'm sure John Casey is every bit as talented as you have pointed out but....
you don't post those kinds of results with a "half-awake monkey" on the pointy end of the boat.

Fantastic result by both of you......Congratulations.

Regards,
Phill

Post deleted by tback

What, no comments about sail trim, crew position, etc? I thought every picture was immediately followed up with critique?

Nice work gentlemen.

John's hair is in perfect form.

Way to go, enjoy the moment!

Bob Hodges

JW...
wanna give your opinion of the Blade?

Thank God! For a while there, I thought I was gonna have to ask! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

WD John!!! Pls send same to Darlene & all committee & riggers from the gang at Roton Point

Thank you for such a wonderful commentary John!

Congratulations to the two of you!

GARY

When are you going to take some credit for yourself, we all know how good you are on the front of the boat. Nearly all of my strong showings (except Round the Island) involved you on the front end keeping me straight and going fast. Congradulations again to you BOTH!

John

You sailed a great regatta and did a great job. Have you taken your medal off yet? Will we see you sailing with the medal around your neck ? It will be good to see your name on the trophy because you have definitley earned it. You have spent so much of your time building the Alter cup back up to a high caliber event.