Hi, It's me again. So where is everyone? Only 6 boats at the around Shelter Island race this year - not a good sign. I went dwon to Heckscher during the week one day, and it was a ghost town (albeit, it was late September - but this IS the best sailing time, isn't it?). What an incredible place on the Earth Field 7 at Heckscher is. You couldn't ask for a better spot for cat sailing. I was awestruck with the beauty of the place when I went there, wishing I had my boat with me. (I was just passing by). So no mast-up storage? Who cares - it never bothered us before. Attached is a photo from 1985 - 300 cats at Heckscher!
Does anyone have a good number for Jim Mathews? He called, but the number I received in his message doesn't seem to work.
Anyone want to sail this Sunday??? I'll have my two kids and could go to Heckscher or Southold - Drop me a line!!!
I would like to know if anyone would like to join a club on the North Shore at the Nassau - Suffolk border that is a great club with mast up storage, private ramp, and a small beach ( could hold up to 15 cats at a time ) we already have four cats and one trimaran. I would like to get more to join so we can race more often with a larger diversity of boats.
Paul, I am a new 'used' Hobie 16 owner living in Manhattan looking for a mast up storage/launch location in the area. I would be very interested in recieving details of North Shore club. Boat is old and owner is not hugeley experienced but has plenty of enthusiasm. Are any of these a problem? Info would be most appreciated. Archie
Re: Anyone out there??
[Re: archie]
#24718 10/09/0308:00 AM10/09/0308:00 AM
Steve - We have race starts with in other regattas. I will get our people organized this winter so we can all shoot for the same weekends. If you belong to YRA of LIS you shouldn't have a problem entering any race, I believe. As soon as I get some rough dates I will keep you informed.If you have any e-mail addresses of any cat sailors send them to me and I will keep them in the loop.
The Hecksher crowd has thinned out this year. I don't think that there have ever been more than 5 boats on a weekend day this year. If the winds are not perfect, there is nobody there. I went there twice on a Saturday and went home because I don't like sailing alone.
Part of it is the weather, the rest is due to the fact that there are no new young people. Most everyone is at least in their late 30's. Why is it that only young Europeans are interested in high skill non-motorized sports?
I notice the same thing on hiking trails as well. Most of the younger people that I have met hiking recently are foreign. Americans are represented by the over 40's crowd. I used to run a hiking club in college in the 70's, and there where probably 30 of us. It all seems to have fizzed out.
Ironic in a society that drives SUV's that are advertised with canoes and kayaks on top, isn't it?