Keep it positive please!

Any negative comments and I will ask Rick and Mary to delete your post.

If you want to give your friend props for helping out a n00b, by all means do it here. Give yourself a pat on the back? Do it here! Maybe you're a n00b and someone helped you get on the water? Let's hear it.

Let's all learn from people that are making a difference in their home port. This is a thread for the acknowledgment of good deeds.

What have you done for the betterment of sailing in your community? Don't be shy. Post away...

J

Okay, since you are asking about TODAY, a guy just called and asked how and where he can learn to sail. He's right here on the island for the summer. So I told him, "Sorry, can't help you."

Just kidding, folks. This is like manna from heaven. I talked to him for quite a while and gave him the number of someone from our Wave fleet who is experienced in teaching people how to sail. Hopefully, we will gain another fleet member.

Also, we have an extra Wave available, so we are going to post something on the bulletin board at the general store to get more people interested in coming out and sailing with us.

Plus, we have a standing invitation to the club's junior sailors to come out and race with us on their 420's and FJ's and Lasers, or whatever-all they use. But so far they haven't done it. Sometimes one of the junior camp instructors will come out and race with us on a spare Wave.

I'd like to say thanks to several people for helping Wet n Wild regatta.
Our sponsors,
Catsailor Magizine, OnlineMarineStore.com,
West Marine,
LayLine Marine, Zkik sailing
Murrays Marine,
Hobie Cat Corp,
Surf City Catamarans.
These people generously donated to our regatta and our raffle helped to make the event a success. We put the sponsor logos on all our t shirts 80 of them sold out, And as an extra bonus to our sponsors their logos well be on the Round Treasure Island shirts as well.
Thank You all.

Gave away a Hobie 14 to some kids last Sunday then on Thursday spend the night building some Laser storage racks at a local club where we are getting a weeknight series together.

TODAY? Today I didn't do Jack (actually Jack, I spent an hour at S.I.R. watching the Porche Club go round and round!) but YESTERDAY I took my Prindle across the lake to my Doctor's house, and I took him out in 10-15 knots for an hour.

First I had him just sit on the tramp and watch me traping and steering, and I had him do the jib in the tacks. Then after about 30 minutes, we switched places and I let him steer while I trapped and worked the main for him. He was flying a hull and grinning from ear to ear! Next time we go out I'll have a harness on him and put him on the wire, steering for sure. I think he's interested in buying a cat now.

I don't know if he's interested in racing, -one day at a time- but I'll slowly lead him in that direction, especially if he gets a cat of his own, which I am trying to find for him now.

He just bought a Hobie Adventure Mirage trimaran kayak with sail, he's the guy I mentioned who is interested in the Everglades Challenge, or he thinks he is!

I'll keep working on him, he's got two sons who would be great crew, ages 18 and 21. When I get my Blade back up and running, I'm going to give him a taste of the spinnaker.

Maybe I can get some of his Doctor buddies to give up golf and start sailing as well?

The day before yesterday, I took a friend out sailing a Valk sailboat and taught him how to sail it in about 2.5 hours. TYou guys won't know the Valk design but Phill and many Dutch people do. He enjoyed very much and want to do such evenings of after work sailing more often.

Best part is that we can rent these boats fro 25 bucks an hour and it is day light overhere till 10:00 PM. Not need to put on wetsuits either. Just nice cruising in a open sailboat of 22 foot length.

Today ? Well, we'll see in the next 2 years whether today will be a turning point in the beach catamaran scene. The missing link of the sport we all love could have found it's momentum today. And just as with the F16's back in 2001 it happened in the last week of mei !

Wouter

This could be a great thread, Jeremy. Thanks for starting it, and I hope it keeps going forever.

This friend of a friend whom I don't know very well knocked on the door the other day. He's in his early 20's. I answered the door, and he introduced himself and excitedly told me that he and his wife got a sailboat for their first anniversary. So I walked over to his house and wedged into his carport was a beatup Nacra 5.2. I invited him to the harbor the following Tuesday when I had an opening in my schedule and I'd help him rig it up and take him for a spin.

We rigged the boat up and hit the water. Sunny Santa Cruz, 15-18 knots and flat as can be. Those two kids are hooked! Happy anniversary!

J

In addition to the normal fair of awards, I created new awards for our regatta last weekend for:

Best In Show
Best Classic
Best Under Construction
Sportsmanship Award
Best Stunt


Some guys and gals that don't always win awards walked away with something this year.

Sunday's a day off but I spent the last three weeks rebuilding Sabots for the juniors program. If you're ever looking for a working vacation Jake... I also gave out $2000 in scholarships a week ago.

Tomorrow we put the dock back in the water and get the chain replaced on the moorings for the juniors boats. Classes start in a little over a week. We've now got 15 boats so we'll have 30 kids in each class.

Jake, back when I raced Flying Scots, at the big regattas they always gave out trophys for:

1. Furthest Distance traveled to the regatta
2. Top Husband/Wife finish
3. Top Parent/child finish
4. Top Junior team (age 16 and younger)
5. Top Female Skipper
6. Top all Female crew
7. Top NEW sailor (first year or First Regatta if there were more than one)

ETC.

The point was, there were a lot of trophys and lots of people went away with one, and a smile, and lots of people came back next time.

While I was out in a Safety Boat for today's club regatta, my wife sat in the picnic shelter out on the point, enjoying the weather and the view of the boats on the water.

A young man came out and joined her and said he had just moved here from Chicago, and had sailed as a kid. Now he was looking to buy a boat and for a good place to sail. She gave him the spiel on the club, and told him about our bulletin boards with boats for sale. She gave him my name as a contact for questions, and he said he would probably join, based on her friendliness and helpfulness.

I just spent 3 very long days on a signal boat out in the middle of Lake St. Clair, calling starts and finishes of 6 classes in the Detroit NOOD Regatta (T-10s, Etchells, C&C 35s, S2 7.9s, Level 123 and J105s - yes, it was the "4kt s**t box course".)

I also met Carrie Howe's brother at the bar (he was wearing a "Team Hobie" jacket), talked up with Mr. Clean and his lovely wife, Mer - and how stoked they were to go out on an N20 after the Tybee.

What's really scary? At the age of 49 - I was the youngest of the 7 people on the signal boat. By a lot.

It wasn't me but credit where credit is due.

"To All Officers, Board & Members:

On Thursday, May 28, 2009 GYC hosted a Field Trip to our Club for the kids from the Gulfport Recreation Center.

Volunteers Dorothy Whyte, Jim Craver, two new members, Susan Hutchinson & Myra Schwarz, Bob Feckner, Fred Metcalf & I worked the event. We had 32 kids from ages 6 to 11 years old. Fred & Susan had the kids wearing a trapeze harness and riding the rail on the Hobie 16. Bob, Dorothy & Jim were doing tactical moves on the sunfish. Myra and I were showing videos of catamaran sailing. They especially liked "T.R.O.U.B.L.E." (it's on UTUBE). The last event was a quiz show game of "Who Wants To Be A Sailor?" MC'd by Fred. (GYC's version of "Who Wants To Be A Millonaire?) We gave out prizes and medals, pencils, pencil sharpeners and special coloring books we made promoting GYC. It was a smashing success. It was so much fun & the kids were totally great!

I believe it was a great event and a way to give back to the community. Hopefully we'll get some kids who will be interested enough to be future sailors. (One young girl wanted a membership application, so I gave her one.) Bob took some pictures and will submit them to the Gabber along with an article for publication.

I want to thank all of the volunteers who helped with this event and made it such a terrific success. Also, I wanted to let everyone know that we are constantly working to promote sailing and our club in the most positive light.

We have attracted many new members this year and we are getting many more inquiries as well. Four new members with monohulls have joined the club and rented our wet slips. We now have all of our wet slips filled as of this date. That's a first in at least 5 years as far as I know. We only have 4 to 5 dry slips left as well and that's since adding 6 new dry slips with tie downs.

Again, I want to thank all that participated and the next time you see a volunteer at GYC just say "THANK YOU" to them. Without volunteers the club would not exist.

Thanks,
Mary Ann"

Just washed my boat..

By staying off the boat this weekend I helped raise the level of respect for sailors everywhere.

Had a good training session at ABYC - Steve Hansen took delivery of his new F18 and got his girlfriend suited up in full Zhik kit from the Sailing Pro Shop. Jeff Newsome and Bill Westland practiced on a borrowed Infusion - both are A-cat guys who are going partners on a Wildcat for the F18 Championship. Dan DeLave took his two nephews out for a spin on the Tiger - there were big smiles on that boat. Dennis Key drove up from San Diego to sail with me for the day - we tuned a bit with Jeff and Bill. While at the club, I had the pleasure of informing someone their time on the wait list for a yard mooring was over. I also listened to a proposal for a non-profit that would lease Tempests (a 22-foot keelboat) to members between 20 and 30 years of age (career/family-building age and harder to own a boat).

I'm pleasantly tired, my boat seems sorted out and tuned, and there are good events on the horizon. I am content.

On Saturday I ran our cadet family sailing morning, it was pretty windy so we only had a dozen kids out in oppis and most gave up after 30 mins to an hour, The kids are aged between 7 and 14, but a hardcore of three stayed out all morning, getting some great practice and really improving, my own three older children 7, 10 and 12 were not in the latter group but I was pleased they gave it a go.

Today I am teaching at our Monday evening after school cadet group this is a well established group, we will get around 70 children on the water tonight, with loads of adult volunteers, helping with everything from rigging the boats, supervising, safety boats and providing hot food. I joined this sailing club three years ago as it has the best kids sailing in the area and it is the best thing I ever did. No catamarans yet but I am working on that.

Gareth

Well Nothing today because it's Monday Morning.

Yesterday I helped a new Hobie Tiger owner at our club rig his boat up for the first time. He was missing a few parts and I tossed those to him for free.

He's a new sailor. He's never sailed in his life. But has a nice Tiger now with wings. He took it out yesterday in drifting conditions and got back to shore somehow.

Then I helped him pull his boat up the beach with a flat tire on his cat trax. I informed him that was the last time I'd help until he fixes his trax. Then I explained how to fix them.

More SCHRS stuff, I do SCHRS stuff most days.

I donated all of my old windsurfing gear (racing - some barely used) to the local sailing club to increase awareness. Seeing kids on high-tech (well, for the late 90s) boards/sails should help increase participation...

Jake, can you add the following classes to the regatta?

- oldest sailable yacht. Where is that egyptian cotton sail?
- (my favorite) The annual Buh Tugly memorial award (obviously, for the worst looking - but still sailing- craft).

I scored our Wave Fleet Racing Series from Saturday's first of the year here at Put-in-Bay, Ohio. Last year we got in 68 races just in our series, not counting regattas attended.
Our Key Largo Fleet got in 92 races during the winter -- over 150 series-only racing. Guess that is why both of the fleets do so well at major events.
Nothing beats time on the water.
Rick

Came is 60% under budget for the tropies I was assigned to make for the Don Coe Memorial Regatta in Clear Lake.
22mph sustained, with gusts to 31 btw. Wicked sailing this weekend!

Our work continues at Sail Sand Point in Seattle, www.sailsandpoint.org All the Waves are ready for the new season. Updating our six H-16's is ongoing. Installing new "Bobs" is nearly done. All local cat sailor volunteers are welcome to stop in and help out.

Our Fast and Fun program is underway.
Our next two events are Kirkland downtown Marina June 20, and Luther Burbank Park, Mercer Island June 21. Looking for volunteer skippers for both events. We will also have nine new Hobie Cat Kayaks at the Fast and Fun Free outreach programs.
Big thanks to all our volunteers. Without their support, we would not have the success we enjoy.

Caleb Tarleton
Sail Sand Point

I too washed my boat, then took it to Madcatter, hired a babysitter, got the boat off the trailer and registered.

Michelle and I then got scared of the wind, so we went out to help with RC for two days. Had a blast as always!

Lots of RC work coming up this summer, a good amount of them in youth classes.

Not to mention Hobie membership.

Mike

Just got back from putting the dock in the water. Tomorrow is tape and the first coat of bottom paint on the Sabots. We'll move two of the new Open Bics from the warehouse to the club too.

Going to make Oneida lake, (N.Y.) look prettier this year.
Paintin my 18 Hobie mag. from yer basic white to yellow. Had to fix some of the 'battle scars' from the previous
owner(s)... Now if I could find some yellow sails to match it? Supposed to take a girl I know out sailin to show her the ropes on the Hobie 14T she bought from me. She also wants to go on the 18 when I get it back in the water~~hopefully by this weekend.......

Today, nada,
but I did set up some user friendly google maps for my club and help out with the website. I also translated some of our forms into English for our international visitors. My aim in general is to lower the threshold for new people to come in and check things out.

I sailed so purrty that anyone who saw me MUST have decided to join the sport! (kiddin)

Just spent over an our trying to devise a cat superior to the Laser and Optimist in key aspects: as a kids trainer, teen/adult one design racer and cruiser, while also safer, simpler, lighter and cheaper.

Just dreaming, of course.

Luiz,
Have you been to our Formula 12 Forum?

Thought I already did that and was ignored -- Hobie Wave with a Hooter, sailed 2-up
Rick

Yes. I support the F12.
Rick: the Wave is expensive.

I know and that is very unfortunate. But that's why most people buy used Waves for $2,000-$2,500.

That's still rather high if you ask me.
Here's what I did:

I got into trading old Hobie parts (shortened, bent-straight H14 mast off my mast pile with good boom) for H16 batten set with an older gentleman who owns lakefront property. 8^)

I just wrote a cheque for well over a thousand dollars worth of parts for F12 catamarans despite having no kids and no intension of having any.

I've loaded my GRAVELY Tractor w/ 42" mower deck, Echo Weedwacker and Backpack Blower into my F150 Ford to drive down RHYC and start to cut/trim/clean up the 7-8 acres of developed property for the sailing events being held on June 19th through 21st at RHYC. Also inflate and check "marks" condition for equiping/setting three different courses

So it looks like I have several different days of work over the next several weeks ....

Harry

Tomorrow is Day 5 of the first week of summer sailing camp I'm teaching exclusively on Waves. This is the 4th summer I've been teaching this camp. I've already started spamming the forum with tons of video clips of kids sailing beach cats.

Barb,

That ain't "spamming" ..... so bring it on, girl!!!!!!

Harry

Check out this site for some helpful hints and tricks. There are also some boats for sale.

This weekend was the best sailing "ever" I rigged up and took over a dozen club members (mostly newbies) out for their first cat ride. Smiles for miles (especially after I popped up the spin).

Next weekend we are having a Catamaran Open House whence our cat owners and our sailing camp instructors will be rigging up our cats and giving rides to anyone who shows.

In sailing,

Ken

This saturday and sunday,

Trey, me, and the rest of the EMSA fleet raced on the same race course as kids on lasers, 420's, lightnings, thistles, and, yes, opti's, in about 10-15 knots of breeze.

While it was truly terrifying coming into the finish line at 20 knots and seeing 20 opti's in front of you sitting there, we got a lot of kids telling us "whoa cool!!!!'

I think we made at least 3 new multihull sailors this weekend. Trey especially with his high speed reaching fly-bys between races.

I recall quite fondly a mixed regatta in Sarasota many years back. They put us in a short course with a bunch of 420s.

Picking our way downwind was fun, especially since we'd go flying by realitively quietly and they never expected us to go so quickly past us.

I was going above one 420 downwind and had to single trap as we picked up a header right behind them. Probably hit 15 kts as we went around them (doing about 6). I thought the spinnaker was going to brush their spin pole. The collegate team was duly impressed, and they (along with their parents on a coach boat) asked us about the boats between races.

Only drawback (besides having to pick our way through the fleets) was trying to start with them all bobbing around the PRO boat with their coach boats in tow...

Well, YESTERDAY I took my whole family sailing. I usually have several of my kids friends along for the ride. They love it!

Want to talk about priceless times? Thats it!

Clayton

I took four groups of visitors out on my Wave during my sailing club's Open House. The wind was great, 10-18; everyone got wet and had a Great time. Recruited a new member and convinced a father to enroll his son in our sailing camp.

Before the open house started, I took a weed-eater and a golf-club-style weed chopper to our Hobie Beach. I cleared out all the weeds and bushes under and around all the un-used boats, around the trees and down to the water. I made the place look nice and well used!

Sail Sand Point in Seattle, logged two more Fast and Fun Free Sailing Events last weekend on Lake Washington. On Saturday, at Kirkland, we had 96 new sailors on the water. Sunday, at Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island, we had 60 people out before a thunder storm with lighting cut the program short.
Thanks to our Volunteer Sailors and Assistants: Jill Stewart, Thayer, Jim Etta, Alec Wade, Cynthina Weed, Jeff Renihold, Scott Ruggles, Will, Bob Combie, Paul Carter, Andy Bender, and Morgan Collins. Special thanks to Mark Sele, wife Della, and daughter Heather, that traveled half way across the State from Wenatchee, and spent both days sailing and helping with the Events.
Caleb Tarleton
Sail Sand Point

Caleb, how do you get the word out about these events?

The Kirkland Event was part of the "Day on the Water", and was advertised by the City in their local paper and Emails. Mercer Island was part of the "Greenway Days" an Event from Seattle to Central Washington, and advertised by The City of Mercer Island. Sail Sand Point, www.sailsandpoint.org has sailing programs in both Cities. The Mercer Island program is sold out for this year.
Caleb

This week I've got 30 kids enrolled in sailing camp on our Waves! We've had 15kts so far and they are loving it. They will never forget how much fun they had on a cat when they were a kid (ages 8-16).

Let me think .... it's been a busy week !!!

Last weekend was the Rock Hall YC Annual One Design Regatta ... we had 79 boats total w/ approximently 35 (!!!!!!) being catamarans. That's 44.3% of the boats competing where multi's !!!!! As the Catamaran Rep at RHYC I am stoked!!!

Mon and Tues I spent cutting grass at the YC for the upcoming Junior Regatta on Thurs.

On Thurs RHYC hosted a CBYRA Junior Sailing Regatta ... by the time I arrived at 830am the field I had cut on Tues taking 3hrs (its big) was FILLED w/ Opti's, Lasors, and coach boats !!!!! There were 75 Juniors competing!!!!! The sight of all those Opti's and Lasers sailing around ... well ... PRICELESS is an understatement!!! My job .... cook lunch for everyone (and drive the club manager crazy ... "I need more Burgers, more Hotdogs .... more buns ... more, more, more ...) By the managers count we used 108 Burgers and 50 HotDogs !!!! I cooked for 3hrs and had a blast ( luckily they sent the classes in one-at-time). I can't wait for next year!!!!!

Harry Murphey
Cook: Junior Regatta

Last week I took 3 days off work to teach an adult "learn to sail" class. We had 26 students and 13 instructors. I taught on a Hobie 18. The students got to learn on their boat of choice. Three choices were Hobie 18, San Juan 21, or Flying Scot. It went very well. Taught a few folks that had bought boats recently but didn't know how to sail. Hopefully be keeping these folks sailing.

Not much wind but that was probably good. Funny going back to square one and teaching after all of these years.

My son had his first day of a sailing program on an Opti last weekend and was getting around like a pro in no time. Watch out for this kid in a few years.

Introduced the Beaufort Scale to a nub.

I took my 9 year old nephew out and showed him how to trapeze. I thought he would be scared to death but instead he thought it was the most awesome thing ever. I also took out a friends son and daughter for their first sailboat ride. I think the daughter liked it better than her older brother. I then took out a father and son from Long Island, NY. I usually stay clear of sailing strangers but my nephew had befriended the little boy and wanted his new friend to go sailing, the dad had to go in case something happened. So, taught the nephew to trap and took 4 non-sailors out!

This is not my grand daughter, BUT I started her when is was about this age. This girl is 3 1/2, Ashleigh was 6. She now has 9 years of racing with me and is starting to helm now. They are never to young to start. We need to do all we can to build the sport.




Doug

Go Doug! I sailed with my son (4 1/3 YO) he loved it. Strange thing is he wanted to go sailing around the buoys he saw (maybe some potential there)! When I turned back toward the beach he almost wrenched the tiller out of my hands and screamed "No, We're not going back!" (in Dutch).
That made me proud Dad as you could imagine.

I'll tell you what got me. We where going out for the Wed night on the H-17 with a reacher and I could not get the rudder cam to lock. So we sailed to the end of the lake and I gave Ashleigh the stick. Told her to keep the Telocat under the post. About 5 minutes in she said "Paw Paw, I don't have to look, I can feel it". About broke my heart, I trained her well. Another trophy winner in the works.

Doug

"About 5 minutes in she said "Paw Paw, I don't have to look, I can feel it"
Awesome!

Last Weds and Thurs I towed the "Coach Boat" over to AYC and SSA in Annapolis Maryland for their two Junior Sailing Regattas. I stayed and ended up helping coach the kids from RHYC racing Lasers in tactics since I do not know how to make a Laser sail fast. If you ever have a chance to coach any Junior Sailors, it will wear you out by the day's end, but take it!!!!!!! You will recieve more then you give .....

It's the one positive side of unemployment ... and there are also some more Jr events this week ....

Harry Murphey
TheMightyHobie18/P19MX

July 4th took 18 people out for a sail (at the same time!), Most of them was their first time on a sail boat. The next day, took out 7 was even able to fly a hull with 4 on the windward side. This Saturday we had 8 out for a sail, no hull flying but they sure thought flying a 750 sq/ft spin was cool!

Gotta love those Stiletto's,

Clayton

And you can carry an ice chest!

Started our second juniors class today. We've got 29 kids in this class. Here's the twins moving along at a good clip.

made an inquiry to the yacht club that if we can get five f-18 to show up for the Tri-Point Ocean Race coming up in August would the give them a separate start.

Should know something next week

That's awsome! Put a big smile on my face,

I took six new-to-sailing people out on a Hobie 16 in good winds and I didn't scare them off.

Spent the week at Sail Sand Point in Seattle, working on the Waves and H-16's, while Grandson Dan was in the H-16 Class.

Keeping the marine industry supply companies in busine$$.

Nobody has done anything since June 2? I hope that means everybody has been out sailing, which is probably the BEST thing you can do for sailing.

I've just been doing the scoring for a couple of regattas here at Put-in-Bay, and taking a few pictures on land. I am putting together photo albums for the Wave North Coast Championship and the Shark Nationals.

Mary,

At our last Fleet Fun Day we did that "Ball Hunt" game that either you or Barb suggested, and it was a roaring success!

Mark balls with the sail number of each boat, (can do single, double, or multi-hand teams). We had eleven people and three boats (with very little wind) so we let them chose teams amongst themselves.
The only rules are retrieve your ball and be the first team back to the beach. We threw in a twist to sail ccw around the breakwater before returning to the beach, giving the stragglers another chance.
There was boarding of vessels, hoarding of balls, paddling and other non-sailing skill set activities.
One post-game comment was "I've got some ideas for next time we do this!!", of which they weren't sharing.

Thanks ladies for the great suggestion, I think the old salts enjoyed it as much as the newbies.

Must have been Barb's suggestion. Sounds like fun!

Got a friend of mine ''hooked'' He bought a 16 Hobie
'Don't fear the speed~~ Fear the addicition'

Ya all know the rest of the story!!!!!!

Ha, same here! I took him out on his first race a week ago after I got him hooked the month before. He and his wife are now looking at which boat to buy! I love taking strangers out on my cat. Pity they need a lot af special clothing to get into the sport in the Netherlands. This does complicate matters. Probably not a problem in Florida!

Took the 6.0 out last friday in slow to moderate conditions with my buddy Mike. ran across two other sats on the water, both had newb abord. First one, a H-18 single handed, was pointy side down so Mike jumped in the water, helped right it, and gave some instruction before jumping back abord the 6.0.
Second one, a hobie 16 with a young couple aboard, had the idea that it would be safer to raise the main wile under way instead of doing so on the beach. Had things all F'ed Up. Again, Mike jumped aboard and helped rig the main, gave some instruction, and some advice on setup.
Any time we go to the lake and see other cats with newbs, we keep an eye out to lend a hand. . We also try to talk to them on the beach and exchange contact info so that if they need help rigging, or someone is going to the lake and wants some company, rail meat, whatever, they have a chance to get it.
We also send them to this website, or to our local cat club websites, so that they can get information from others more experienced than us.
We also do a little showing off to folks on the beach whenever we get the chance. We make cat sailing look awesome! And it is!

Great Press

Like Mark noted. Good press helps our sport.

Also a good idea to add your comments to the article. They like to know we are reading.
Caleb Tarleton

Thursday night Rick and I went to the organizational meeting for next year's I-LYA Bay Week Regatta. At stake was not just the need to revitalize this regatta, which has been an institution on Lake Erie for well over a century, but to SAVE the regatta from extinction.

At least 30 people showed up for this important meeting, which lasted more than three hours and yielded much valuable input. It was great to see so many people committed to getting this regatta, which used to be the biggest freshwater regatta in the country, back on its feet.

By the way, this regatta is for all sailboats, big and small, monohull and multihull, handicap and one-design. Rick and I were there to sort of represent the small-boat racing, which includes centerboard monohulls, beach cats, and sailboards.

Nobody likes to go to meetings, but I can now see how important it is for people to get involved on the organizational level.

Took a 1st timer out on my boat last Friday, being a powerboat guy he was really impressed with the control and speed of the cat

How about what I didn't do for sailing? At last weekend's regatta I T-boned a Hobie 16 with my Hobie 18 and severely dented the 16's side rail to the tune of $200 of damage. The next day I brain-farted during the skipper's meeting and missed the admonition to avoid a restricted zone - then I sailed in it and caught the wrath of the entire fleet and RC.

Don't ya like it when ya take a 'motorhead' out and he's impressed... Almost makes ya want to give him a few bucks for a downpaym't on a cat~~~ 'Naaaawwwww'' he can use his GAS money for that !!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I like is when u FLY by the motorboat later on a reach and just SMILE!!!! ROTFLMAO!!!!!!

Doug

Just glad he had a good time sailing I actually like performance powerboats too...shh just don't tell anyone

For the past couple months our yacht club, Put-in-Bay Yacht Club in Ohio on Lake Erie, has been allowing us to keep our fleet of Hobie Waves lined up on the lawn right up at the front of the club, along the road and across from the water. It's a great advertisement for the club and for sailing and to recruit new sailors.

Before, we were banished to the far back end of the property, where nobody could see us.

Wow! "For the times, they are a chai-ai-ngin"
Let's hope so, anyway.

[EDIT]
Before: "we were banished to the far back end of the property"

After: "lined up on the lawn right up at the front of the club"

That signifies a very nice change to me. Made me think of the old Bob Dylan song! But in a positive way!

http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/times-they-are-changin
[/EDIT]

WHAT!?

For the first time in my life I just joined US Sailing, and while doing so subscribed to Sailing World and Cruising World, also opted for the donate option.

I hope this will do something for sailing.......

Have to report on a great Youth Event in Seattle this weekend. CYC and Sail Sand Point run a Regatta, October Fest every year. This year we had 82 boats on the water, good winds and sun. Kevin Cunningham ran the race from one start/finish line. Opti's, Lasers, FJ's, 29ers, Hobie Waves, and Moths took part. The 10 Moths provided the excitement, foil borne, and cutting thru the fleets at will. Lucky for us, they were all excellent skippers.

Caleb Tarleton

That's fabulous, Caleb! How many Waves?

Mary, only five Waves on the line. Four came down from Comax, BC, Canada. We had six SSP Waves ready to go, free to the sailors. Only taker was Grandson Dan, who placed first. Our last Division 4 Regatta was seven weeks ago. Most youth have switched to other sports. Dan did have a soccer game on Sunday, which he made after the last race.

Caleb

This thread is coming along nicely! Thanks everyone for doing your part!

J

Another friend of mine~~ ( thats two this yr. ) that bought a Hobie 16..... now I don't have any friends to sail with me...

I'm picking up a set of sails and delivering them to HavaMega from Sacramento.

Just Started a google group for Scottish Stealth Sailors (a rare breed) to nuture and encourage same .

Very cool.. where do you sail out of? I did a race or 2 at the Campbelltown Yacht club about 20 years ago..

Helensburgh Sailing Club , on the upper Clyde

http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/

used to do a lead mine race into cambletown many many years ago , trips ashore weren't for the feintharted , bandit country

very cool.. i have been there many many times (Helensburgh, not the club).

Bandit country??? do expalin please... the only thing i found in campbelltown were Las's that wanted to get out of there (worked very well for us Yanks in uniform)

Cambletown has a formidable reputation and dislike of strangers especially yotties perhaps they preffered fly boys , to be fair I think things have moderated from days of tying up to pier and locals spitting down on you , not safe to walk around alone at night .
not the usual scottish welcome


I say "fly boys " as I guess you perhaps were stationed at us airfield near Cambletown.

Next time in helensburgh give me a shout , and you can come and meet the helcats and share some scottish swally

Here is a quick note about what I have done to help sailing in my area. I live in Hayden Idaho, next to Hayden Lake, Lake Coeur d’Alene, & Lake Pend Oreille.

1. I started a trailer-able sailing club 2 years ago called Sailing the Inland NW. Primarily we sail Hobie Cats, AI’s, Keelboats, Sea/Super Snarks, and RC model sailboats. We run one big regatta a year followed by many smaller sailing get-togethers. In 2008 we ran the first Hobie/multihull regatta in 23 years in our area. Also ran the first known AI regatta nationally/internationally.

2. I have been running a disAbled/accessible sailing program called Self Awareness In Leisure (SAIL). My program is featured on the new Paralyzed Vets of America sports video. We are currently working on funding to help our sailors get to regional and national events. We sail Access Dinghies, AI’s, Waves, and Hobie 16’s with Trapseats.

3. I run Its Tiller Time Sailing School and teach on AI’s, Wave’s, Hobie 16’s with and without Trapseats, Super Snarks, a Catalina 22, and a Reynolds 33’ catamaran. I am currently writing a sailing book that will have no biases related to monohulls or multihulls. Plus it will have disAbled sailing tips, games, etc.

4. I started a sailboat shop called SAIL Marine. I sell Hobie’s, Catalina’s, Snarks, and other boats. Plus of course I sell gear, etc. Running a sailboat shop allows me to really support local sailing efforts.

5. After a long time of frustration related to trying to find info about the local lakes and other marine info I started Boating the Inland NW. This website has everything related to the boating and marine info for the Inland NW. I have spent the last 2 years mapping, photographing, and exploring the hundreds of lakes and reservoirs within the Inland NW. The Lakes Guide has been a huge project but it’s really paying big time in brining the club and all things marine together in this area.

All of this has been a lot of work but I have received a lot of satisfaction knowing and seeing local sailors and others benefit from my efforts. Right now the plan is to just continuing working on these 5 projects and keep expanding to grow the sport that I love.

Here are the links to my websites if you would like to see and learn more.

Supporting the new sailing school, now with 20 kids - an all time record in the country.

"Predated" the monohull oriented sailing school: talked the two oldest ones (14 y.o.) into crewing two Supercat 17 that needed crew for the Nationals yesterday. They loved sailing on the wire most of the time and their boats finnished quite well 3,3,3 and 2,1,1 out of six boats.

Hmmmm, despite a few brawls after pubs closed (and ALWAYS due to drunk locals being jealous of the girls attention on the "yanks"..) i didn't find the locals to be unfriendly at all... this was 20+ years ago.

I was in the USNavy, stationed at Macrahansih RAF base. There was very few Americans there.

Thank you for the invite... maybe one day....

Last Sunday we had 15 Boy Scouts learn how to sail and earn their sailing merit badges.

This weekend were teaching kids from a muni tennis team the joys of sailing.

I ask my yacht club, RHYC to offer an invite to the Chesapeake Bay Area Junior Olympics which we are hosting on July 9-11, 2010 to the Hobie Div11 Youth Sailors .... the Organizing Committee promptly offered a invitation!!!!

Now the real work begins ......

Harry

Today i made a webpage for next years paper tiger oz nationals, its 12 months away but its nice to be prepared!

http://papertiger2011.catsailor.org/index.html

Saturday I helped assemble 2 brand new spin rigged 420's for our kids sailing program. Sweet little boats, nicley rigged, and "some assembly required". Manuals are for pusses!

I went sailing and took my daughter with me. Encouraged at least three people to try to sail on a beach cat.

Started a web site for Canadian A Class sailors


http://home.mountaincable.net/~cececan51/

Very nice, everyone!

look what Harry Murphey did! Way to go Harry.
Caleb
http://www.catsailor.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=202090#Post202090

My students and I watched the first race of the 33rd Americas Cup on a 72 in. SmartBoard. They were so into it they opted out of recess and asked if they could eat lunch in the classroom to see the finish. The cheers when USA-17 crossed the line were priceless.
We had been talking about force and motion, so this was a great way for them to see it in action. We talked about how lifting a hull reduces friction in the water and related it partly to BMW's win today. Maybe it inspired some future sailors. Who knows?
In a couple of weeks comes my "how pulleys work on a sailboat lesson", where they get to see my H16 up close, unfortunately on dry land.

Awesome James.
Just make sure they know the difference between fast multis and monohulls.
Keep up the good work.
Todd

Great way to incorporate sailing with lessons about physics. Good job!!

As most of you know, West Virginia has one Free sailing school set up for the new sailor. Sewell Mountain Sailing was able to help 65 people start on their road to being sailors in 2009. In 2010 our group has become better known, thanks in large part to the efforts of "Catamaran Sailor" We are now arranging even more FREE sailing classes for both Church Groups and from WV. schools like Marshall Univ. ! So to ask, What have I done today,is really to say, what have WE done today..Thanks Rick and Mary..

We set up a facebook site for the Shark Catamaran. This goes along with the forum spot that Rick set up for us here.
http://www.catsailor.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=32&page=1
Please feel free to stop by, chat,upload Shark photos, get building advice or look for replacement parts. We love keeping this class going- 50 years of consecutive nationals is coming up in a couple of years. The time to get your boat ready for it is now- or talk to us about getting a new one!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=460564555388

Rob Turbett

Go 4 it Abbman, i still remember when my primary school teacher let us help setting up his land yacht!

Thought we all should know America’s national flagship, the SS United States, is in imminent danger of being bought by scrappers

Web site for more info: http://ssunitedstatesconservancy.or...tates+Conservancy&form_charset=UTF-8

I took up ICE SAILING this year. Alotta fun & very fast. I built my own~ a DN class~ here it is on 'YouTube'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG9AI5ICw3g Enjoy the ride.........

Appeared to be too much snow, but you were still moving well.
Very cool,
Rick

Well done. It is heartening to see multihulls included.

I spend 3 hours Sunday morning rigging a Dart 16 given to the club by the RYA. It's been sitting near salt water with limited maintenance for a while and required quite a lot of tinkering to get in shape for the coming season.

There are two more in the parking lot needing some TLC...

BTW, our club now owns a fleet of cats for kid training:

* 6 Hobie Twixxy
* 4 Hobie Catsy (Those are so cute, 3.1m, 10 feet)
* 3 Dart 16