From today's Scuttlebutt:
<br>
<br>* Randy Repass, chairman of West Marine, said his company figures emphasised that 92 percent of sailors were involved in recreational sailing. "Our figures show that only eight percent of sailors go racing."
<br>
<br>This statement fits with the observations I make when I go sailing (in fact, I race only a few days per year). If we want cat sailing to grow, we need to make sure it stays fun for all of the participants, especially the new people and guests we bring out to give it a try!
<br>
<br>So, invite a friend out sailing, let them try the helm, have a fun day of sailing followed by a BBQ and a beer.
<br>
<br>Alan Thompson
<br>I20 - San Diego<br><br>

This goes hand in hand with what we see as well. Some of the events we hope to see happening around the country in the coming year:
<br>
<br>CATFLIGHT- This is a race but only in fun and the winner gets beer or root beer etc. Boats start from one beach and sail to another. The boats start every 30 seconds one at a time. Your time delay is then subtracted from your finish time.
<br>
<br>This effectively make for a parade of speed and color. To ensure maximum effect be sure to make the course sail by populated beaches and hopefully on an early summer or spring weekend.
<br>
<br>You then sail back to where you came from after a snack.
<br>
<br>~~~~~~~~~~~~
<br>
<br>Fun event #2:
<br>
<br>TOP GUN-There are light impact pellets that are completely environmentally safe and are shot from traditional "paint ball guns."
<br>
<br>You arm each boat with a gun and a WIZO. The other person on board is the pilot.
<br>
<br>You make boundaries of 1/2 mile X 1/2 mile with flags. You may sail out of the GAME BOX once in the one hour game.
<br>
<br>The game is started by one or both A TEAM boats sailing through a pair of markers placed 100 yards (or less if the wind is light) up the beach from the "launch point" for the B TEAM. At the moment the A TEAM Boat(s) enters the lane that marks the start of the game the B TEAM boats can launch from their position. The B TEAM boats must start at a complete standstill. On the beach is ideal.
<br>
<br>The goal is to hit the other team's mainsail twice or inside a 4'X4' box on the mainsail once. Each boat has TEN AIM 120 sidewinders (okay paintballs).
<br>
<br>More than one game can be added to the course at a time and this makes things really interesting! ~ You should definitely bring the video camera and obey all rules of navigation.
<br>
<br>Write back with your ideas on what makes for a fun day without racing on the water!
<br>
<br>MM
<br>www.sailingproshop.com<br><br>Mark Michaelsen
<br>http://www.sailingproshop.com
<br>(800) 354-7245

The Dallas Fleet and PI Sailiing put on a fun event last spring that I really enjoyed- It was similar to what you describe as the CATFLIGHT in that we were given a map of Lake Texoma w/ a rough "course"- utilizing all natural or existing "marks" (nav bouys, islands, etc.), divided into roughly comparable speed groups and everybody just sort of started together and met on different beaches, taking breaks between "legs" and then all starting again for the next "leg". All in fun, no real rules or trophies and even though the weather was rainy I think everybody had a good time! In our "group" we had Inter 20's (one w/ 3 on board), Hobie 20's w/ and w/o spis and my Taipan 4.9 and we had some fun "racing" each other and just trying to find where we were all supposed to be going!
<br>Another variation of your paintball game is to use waterballoons (I know- not the most environmentally friendly unfortunately!) and have "wars" within a specified area.
<br>Fleet "cruises" from one locale to another (where you can have a meal, etc.) are fun also and allow experienced sailors (and racers) to get the "newbies" to crew with them on the way there and then trade positions on the way back-
<br>
<br>Kirt <br><br>Kirt Simmons
<br>Taipan #159, "A" cat US 48