Maybe it would be helpful to determine common ground, if there is any. Please take a few moments to post a list of those things you want the multihull community to be.

For brevity, I've limited my list to 3 items:
1. Social- it would be nice to get together a few times each year and greet familiar faces.
2. Informative- I like to know what's going on in the world of cats. And, from time to time I have problems I'm not able to solve on my on.
3. Competitive- my sailing tends to get sloppy. If I don't compete occasionally my skill drops off badly. Over 90% of my sailing skill was learned on the race course. Without that experience, I would not have had the confidence to even attempt cruising.

Please let me and others know what you're thinking. It's important to the overall growth and developement of the sport.

1- FUN boats
2- FUN people
3- FUN times

Could you be just a little more specific!?

Do you mind sharing the starting line with boats of another class?

How about a party at the event?

I prefer to share the starting line with different make boats. Racing against dissimilar boats is an excellent way to figure out the strengths and weaknesses of each design.

Party? Heck, get some local bands, a volleyball net, and post flyers all over the local colleges about a beach party that happens to have some sailboats racing nearby I'm a decent crew but a rather poor skipper, so when I go racing I'm just there for the people anyhow. I'm lucky to get around the bouys in the right order

alcohol seems to work for me :P

There's an idea Maughan! A whole new "handicapping" system! First place skipper and crew have to take three shots each of... let's just say Vodka. Second place takes two shots, Third place takes one.

After a few races a couple noobs might even start placing in the top 3, depending on the difference in sailing skill and ability to handle alcohol

Actually, a small catamaran club up on Lake Erie had an annual event like that many years ago. They raced down the beach a ways to a local bar, had to imbibe a certain number of margaritas and then race back. It was fun at the time, but looking back from the perspective of age, I guess it was pretty stupid.

I don't think my buddies in the coast guard would like that very much

But if we were on land....

1. Social activities... bondfires, club races... etc
2. Host a national event now and then to show off our beach.

Our group of 30+ boats that lease beach slips are all very social. My only complaint is that we don't do enough fun-runs when the wind is out of the correct direction. Otherwise we have our own beach. We host one HCA points regatta a year. We are hosting Divisionals this year. Club dues are usually spent on food, drinks and bondfire permits on the beach.

The #1 thing that keeps me here is our club and fantastic beach / lake. Otherwise I would have moved to someplace without snow a long time ago.

I think the sailing spirit is stronger in the northern climes because the season is shorter and you appreciate it more. I know we did far more sailing per year when we lived in northern Ohio than we have ever done living in southern Florida.

At the Texas City Dike, (a place, not a woman), we get together just to get together, have bon fires, have informal races, group sails, etc.

We even have a website, devoted to the group that frequents this place! Fin it here:

http://www.texascitydike.is.dreaming.org/

The comraderie is second to none. We come from all walks of life, and just seem to really respect each other, etc.

Getting together to sail, have a bon fire, etc., it's excellent. I feel fortunate to have met, and be associated with all the people I've met there.

So my answer is more places like the dike!

Todd Bouton
N6.0na +
#111

Mary, I heard once from one of our natural resources officers that Franklin County (Columbus, OH) had one of the highest boats per capita ratios in the US... something like in the top 3. That is for a city with two rivers with just a handful of boats on them. There is a parade of boat trailers heading north, south and east every weekend. When it is nice weather, people want to take every advantage of the weather and of course a boat is a way to do that. I agree with your assesment of the northern climate folks.

>Please let me and others know what you're thinking. It's important to the overall growth and development of the sport.<

I would like to watch an annual celebrity regatta telecast by ESPN from the BVI. (well its safer than auto racing) Who would you like to see out on the wire?

Me.

Especially if I'm in teh BVI

The celebrity regatta requires you to be sailing with a celebrity, who would you like out on the wire with you?

Katie Holmes

Hrm...

this poses the question as to whether or not I'd actually want a heavier crew in high winds if I could pick and choose any celebrity to crew for me ... hrmm :P

I shall ponder this.

Maughan,

At the risk of sounding immature and sexist when I'm only trying to be funny...

Just have a little scale handy- wind speed to cup size
For example: 8-12 knots would be a "Meg Ryan" day while 12-20 knots would be "Pamela Anderson" weather.

Opray Winfrey emailed me and she said she could weight whatever you require, just to crew for you. (she said something like 130-160)

BTW, Richard Branson is sailing with J-Lo, and Keith Richards is sailing with Britney.

Gwenyth(?) Paltrow works for me, but don't tell my wife!

Who's katie Holmes?