I give Dan a ribbing about the jacket, but nobody makes him wear it. I believe he EARNED the right to wear it.

There are not a lot of places that you can get mast up storage in Southern California. The reason is that there are only so many spots in a yard designated for catamaran storage and they are rather full right now. I would like to get more catamaran storage at our club but I have to remember we do not live in a multihull vacuum. There are other fleets that would like to claim more area in the yard if we do any redesign. so I will put my voice in where I can.

I am part of the board of directors at the Yacht Club. I really like the club and can talk to many "other boat" sailors easily. We are primarily a One Design club and that seems to bring the conversation to an even keel.

The depth in numbers we have showing up at regattas helps with the interest in these boats. I talk to a lot of people interested in catamaran sailing just because of that. Lots of Dads would like to sail with their 10 to 20 year old "video game entrenched" children. The Formula 18 is the perfect boat for them as it is never boring.

For those that are looking for a getaway boat, kids too young or no kids, the A-Cat is a very capable and exciting class...in my area.

We are getting between 9 and 15 Formula 18s at regattas this year. This weekend we will top 20 Formula 18s on the line. This kind of exposure is noticed, and appreciated.

When spinnaker cat sailing started in this area the perception was that the boats had to be out of control because they went so fast. After many years of sailing without incident others are starting to realize that, if we can sail on the same course as even Cal 20s, and not get into trouble then spin cat must be, at the very least, controlled chaos.

I am pretty sure at this point we are accepted at any So Cal Yacht Clubs regatta which we could fit on the schedule, baring offshore events. We have 14 regattas on the schedule this year. There are some others that are "pick up races" for the "die in the wool" fools like me. About 1/2 of those regattas are shared with monohulls. Right now the Yacht Clubs that seem sincere in inviting us to their events are ABYC (of course), Santa Barbara Yacht Club, Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, Coronado Yacht Club, Mission Bay Yacht Club, Pierpont Yacht Club and I am missing some. There is a buzz that is growing and to show up at the Yacht Clubs with a fast, sexy boat keeps the interest going.

Thank you for the kind words about Alamitos Bay Yacht Club. I love to hear them and I will pass them on. It helps keep the Club members interested in doing events big enough for you to decide to come here.

The blue blazer picture may make us look stuffy but we are just a bunch of sailors. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Later,
Dan

I have only heard once the mention from a local Yacht Club not allowing beachcats to participate in any of their events, but hey thats OK because as Dan pointed out many clubs are welcoming beachcats with open arms to participate in their events. ASAMOF I believe the other sailors/members enjoy having us around; not only for our money, the level of excitement that beachcats bring to sailing, and the confident colorful personalities that come with them. And in the case of the Pierpont Bay Yacht Club in Ventura, they support beachcats with helping for the Blue Water Regatta, and sponsoring a class for the Land Rover Island Ocean Race series - and for that I am thankful for their support.