| Vol 1 - Issue 4 | December 1996 |
 Bill Mattson This may be the last issue of 1996, but thanks to Hobie Cat and The Boathouse, it's not our last issue altogether. We are still hanging by a thread, but at least our advertisers will reduce the out of pocket expense. Patronize our advertisers with your sailing needs, and make sure and mention how much you appreciate them bringing you continuing issues of On The Wire. This month, Tami Shelton brings us an exciting review of the Round the Rocks Race in Grand Isle, Louisiana. Tami's coverage is unique in that it provides an account from the point of view of each participant. This is an enjoyable read, and I hope Tami remains a regular contributor to the site. Also in our features, Frank Pineau covers the Sail Expo boat show in St. Petersburg, Florida. Frank met Hobie Cat's Matt Miller at the show, who is a regular contributor to the Hobie Mailing List. Don't miss Frank's account of the show and the accompanying pictures. William Wallick premieres his column on book and video reviews. This regular feature will be a valuable resource for any sailor wishing to research the sport and improve sailing skills. While those in colder climates have their boats under wraps for the winter, they can still stay in the sport with a hot cup of cocoa and a William Wallick reading recommendation. Kim Miller takes humor high tech with his "multimedia" contribution of "Abide With Me - A Hobie Sailors Version". Have a sound card? Download the WAV or MIDI version and sing along! Hobie sailors are aways looking for ways to sail faster. Look no further. This month's humor section includes a Hobie 16 pushing the speed of sound. See what happens when you mix a Hobie, some solid fuel rocket boosters, and a free weekend. The pilot? Regular readers can probably guess correctly. Enjoy the issue, and remember that we are always looking for content. The January issue is exceptionally slim. If you would like your story to appear in our pages, drop us a line. Sail fast, sail safe,  William R. Mattson, Editor mattson@earthlink.net
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 Frank Pineau First of all, I would like to wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas season. I feel especially thankful this year, thankful that I can enjoy this Christmas at all. As you might have heard by now, Bill and I have been doing a little "experimenting" with my boat, in the scientific interest of "LetsGoFaster". It seemed to have made all the major news networks here in Southern California, and just short of "60 Minutes". Everything seemed to be going fine, but there must have been a malfunction in one of my safety devices. The doctors tell me that I should begin to regain some of my sight by mid December, which will allow me to do some much needed research on "explosive bolts". The doctors mentioned that they've never quite seen the amount of "flash burn" I received, despite the permanent "Oakley" impression left on my face by my sunglasses. (Forget the UV and Bluelight protection crap, how many "G's" will they take?) And another thing, Hobie should publish the "melting point" stats on their boats! Normally I would defend Hobie's reputation for durability, but now I will need to quantify my advice. (Like, will most of your sailing be below 200 mph?) On a lighter note, the nurses tell me they have some really neat ways to decorate my IV stand and bed during the holidays. I'm really looking forward to the tinsle on the bedpan levity! They remembered me from the "missile incident", and I now have my own brass nameplate on the door. In future issues, I hope to be able to elaborate on a new "air tacking" method I learned, but unfortunately, didn't get a chance to try out an "air jibe". (Note to Matthew: traveler adjustment did not seem to be a concern this time). This month I'm reporting on the St. Petersburg "Sail Expo" show I attended November 1st. Lot's of activity, and Hobie's were in the water. Just really glad to be conscious again,  Frank Pineau, Editor frp@pacificnet.net Next Month: Tips on Tell Tales - by Kim Miller Cover Photo by Tami Shelton |
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