One real way of getting a new generation into the trap seat of fun is with the Boy Scouts of America & their Sea Scouts program. I'm an active member of a BSA troop here in Okla and we have an active sailing program for the older (14yrs) scouts. We sail every Sunday. We have 3 mono hulls and 3 hobies. All donated. The hobies are old (1981 vintage) but the boys don't care and they have a blast. Contact a local BSA troop or council. Help them set up a Sailing ship and I'll bet you'll get the boats donated (if you pester the right old boat owners). It's a safe harbor for kids and rewarding for the adults. Fair winds to all.
Amen to that idea!
One of the more fun things I did this summer, was to take my neighbor, Justin, sailing. Justin is a Boy Scout and is probably about 13. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a cat someday.
He told me they sail sunfishes at Boy Scout camp, and becuase of that, he figures his first boat might be a sunfish or a laser. I think that's great! It goes to show though, plant a few old Hobies out at Boy Scout camps, or other summer camps, and your bound to plant the future seed of cat sailing!
Fair winds,
Tim J.
Hobie 20 #541
Bald Eagle Yacht Club, Fleet 52
White Bear Lake, MN
Sailing a sunfish and snark at scout camp is what 1st gave me the sailing bug. That was a big contributor to why I have boats today.
David
my first boat was a wooden, yes wooden sunfish and no, I'm not that old, but the boat was. It leaked, it looked like crap and it went even slower than a regular sunfish, I loved it. I sailed that boat till it was about to sink, then went to nearest shore, dumped it out and did it again! I learned to sail that way, just went out and played with the sail untill the boat was going as fast as I could get it at that point of sail, Then my father bought a H16, WOW to a 13 year old that was cool!
I'm now 32 and I have a H16 and a sunfish in my yard.
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Cheech,
Hope the boats you have are still being used! If not, pass 'em down to another 13 year old, and plant the seed! Keep the fire burnin' man!
Fair winds,
Tim J.
Hobie 20 #541
Bald Eagle Yacht Club, Fleet 52
White Bear Lake, MN