Local Fleet Race

Wow, great turnout and a great picture!

You do this every Thursday Night? No wonder you Fleet 204 guys/girls are so good!

Every Thursday all summer long. Then its throw the boats on the trailer to leave for the weekend racing!!!

Except for this weekend. One of our top teams is hosting a skills and drills day. Switch crew lunch, debrief & back on the water.

Thank you Herb!!!!!

Since the new wind on the forum is about showing kids and youth sailing a catamaran I thought a bit of non-hobie example was justified.

So here goes

http://www.gulfportyachtclub.com/

12 Year Old Zach Lynch Takes 2nd Place in Gulfport Yacht Club Race

Gulfport Yacht Club wrapped up its Spring Racing Series on Saturday with 4 races on beautiful Boca Ciega Bay. The races were sailed in moderate winds with a nice sea breeze kicking up for the last race of the day. Olli and Kelly Jason took first place overall with wins in 3 of the 4 races. The big story of the day however was 12 year old Zach Lynch Skippering his F16 catamaran, with father Matt as his crew, to a second place overall finish including a first place finish in the 2nd race. Robi Robles took third place.

Snatching a race win from the Jasons ?

Well done Zach !

Wouter

Check the front page of www.sailinganarchy.com this morning

Big Bill and Little Bill sailing his first regatta at Cinco De Mayo

Thats great!

we have a new H18Mag sailer who's crew is his 12 year old son (guessing at his age)... they both seem very into the sport and its great to see.

I suggested they enter some races to speed up their learning curve. they took the bait and ended up in heavy air and wild conditions at our Mini Macho Man event last month.

Besides a capsize and need of assistance,.. they both seemed to really enjoy it and the camaraderie. IT is nice to see...

Tom, This is the type of news that has me chanting 204! 204! 204! Thanks!

I don't get the connection, nor do I see the justification. It WAS all about the kids.
So, I'm at odds with the need for a

non-hobie

example. The post was showing a great success story regarding the youth program.

Could I trouble you for some clarification?

Don,
I didn't realize this was a Hobie-only thread. Plus the topic is local fleet racing, and Wouter's post was about a local fleet race.

Wouter,
I for one am very grateful whenever I get information like that for the magazine, especially when it involves a youth sailor. Too bad I have to get it from someone in the Netherlands, instead of our local sailors right on the scene here in the U.S.

Most cat sailors just are not very good at publicizing the sport.

I fully understand why you mean. There was also another club event (but turned into regatta) recently were two adult/kids teams sailed well on F16's in an open fleet. I think it was Tom Shannon with his kid that earned a bullet in a race where also Jim Leonard and Lynn Olsen particaped. Both notible good sailors.

I think It is not in fact not uncommon to see such teams in this class. But Zach is indeed the most inspiring example. Sadly, everything that is published on the Gulfport website is all I know. Afterall, I'm very far away from the

crime scene

!

Wouter

Here you go Wouter - F-16 two up, kid on the wire, kicking some butt on a Tuesday night -

Thanks Keith !

That is the family McLaughlin right.

Hey Mary, another two tidbits for your magazine.

The McLaughlin Family scored a bullet in each tuesday night race they entered this while racing under the new and faster F16 USPN handicap.

They have a DNC for 1 race so they are ranked 4th overall. But it may to keep an eye on them. Could they possibly win the WRCRA Spring and Summer series 2009 ? In a fleet full of N20's, A-cats and other F16's ?

http://wrcra-org.win2017.nexpoint.net/racerslt.html

And it appears that Zach has been training with Robbie Daniels. According to Robi over at the F16 forum, Zach has been improving significantly throughout this season.The kid can seriously drive and will only get better and be a force to reckon with.

Wouter

Mr Wouter,

Yes, I can confirm that is Mr John (Hollywood or

You got a Ciggy

) McLaughlin and son!!!!!! The same John I've managed to find/locate and pick-up on various beaches in the middle of the night (over the years) on his many Chesapeake advantures.

There is a funny story of John and Scott Bunting

borrowing

for the

Down the Bay

my H18Mag when Scott's boat broke ... then his trailer broke .... the voicemail was

classic

.

John .... any time, anywhere my FRIEND

Harry Murphey

Wouter - yep, that's John and son. John normally sails 1-up, though. Lately the fight for top cat has been between John and Ed Mills. Ed has been the man to beat...

We know him here in the southeast as

special Ed

As do we! Ed is very special...

This site has a few boats for sale.....and a good bit of helpful information: www.sailinglouisiana.com

Mary,

Rumour has it that Matt Lynch and crew (possibly and likely Zack Lynch, 12 year old) Have won their (F16) class at the Kelly Park River regatta.

Results are a bit vague at the moment, but there were 43 boats in total this win could be quite hard fought.

We await more details.

Wouter

Matt Lynch's crew is an adult (sorry can't remember his name). He's around 6' 190 lbs. and regularly sails Melges 24s. He and Matt sailed big boats together.

43 was the combined number, there were only seven F16s. All the spin boats started together and generally the top F18s were off by themselves at the front of the pack.

I stand corrected !

A 190 lbs you say ? And sailing two-up with another adult male(355+ lbs) ?

Well, I guess we can chalk this up as another

midget

F16 team winning the pot !

Ohh yeah ! <img src="<>/grin.gif" alt="grin" title="grin" height="15" width="15" />

Wouter

Mary,
I never said, or implied that this was a Hobie Only thread. I simply asked Wouter for an explanation on his

justification

to bring brand name into the discussion in a negative fashion. My view too was that this was a thread about youth sailing on multihulls. Does it really matter what boat the kids were sailing on?