Hi,
After eight months of planning meetings, sending out E-mails , making phone calls, asking favors of many old and new "Hobie Sailors .... it was finally Thurs July 8th. I was both excited and terrified ..... excited that the Hobie Youths were going to compete in a US Sailing JO's for the first time ... and that something would go wrong.
IT WAS A FANTASTIC EVENT!!!!!
We had (8) teams of Hobie Youths competing w/ one team coming traveling as far as from SailSandPoint-Seattle Washington. Fleets 250, 54, 204, 443 and Potomac River Sailing Center were also represented.
The HCA-NA and its members were a big part of making this event the resounding success that it was .... Jimmy Glanden loaned out a boat ... and loaned out his RV .... taught in the "Training Seminar" .... and made a BEAUTIFUL perpetual trophy of hand-turned local walnut, out of a piece of wood saved for 40yrs!!!! Wally (do I have to mention a last name??) came and along w/ Jimmy ... and Sue and Tom Korzenieski's ... and Matt Bounds ... and Bill Colgan ... and some RHYC members conducted a "Training Seminar" that was both off-the-water and on-the-water on Friday .... Geoff Becker came by on Friday also, to give a rules and tactics talk (unfortunately we ran out of time and energy before he could start) A lunch of hamburgers and hotdogs were provided for the youths by the HCA-NA ....and cooked by RHYC volunteers. The coaching continued through-out the event w/ Tom K and JC further coaching on Sunday as the "on-the-water lunches were passed out from a "Mark Boat" .....
Did I mention that Matt Bounds had flown in to be the PRO for the Catamaran/Hobie Youth Course!!!! .... using airline tickets provided by the HCA-NA!!!!!!
Members of Div11 readily "loaned" (not chartered!!!) out their H16's to Youth Teams, thanks to Bill Kast, Jimmy Glanden and other Div11 members who ready to give them up if needed .... just a small but very important detail .... the "loaned" boats were covered by insurance provided by the HCA-NA!!!!!
And when a protest committee was needed it was to the "HobieCatters" they came to .... Matt chaired the "Protest Committee" w/ Bill Colgan as arbitrator, along with Tom Korz and Wally filling out the committee.
The "Hobie" youths were just outstanding both on and off the water ... their conduct was exemplitory and impressed many of the other team's coachs ... RHYC volunteers and everyone else there. Please note that the reason I got permission for the "Hobies" to compete was because RHYC had seen our youths attend and compete in several "Open Class" and "Hobie Points Regattas" at RHYC and were very impressed !!!
While it rained hard on us on Saturday morning, then drizzled into the afternoon ... that didn't stop the racing ... (4) races under Matt's supervision were run on Saturday .... and (3) more on Sunday on a gorgous day ... (to add to the spectacle of 148 youth boats racing, the Chesapeake Log Canoe fleet was out racing too in the same area having their much longer course located/passing near our JO courses).
To see results please go to
http://www.rockhallyachtclub.org .... the racing was tight w/ (3) teams tied for first and a fourth team one point back in the standings with only one race left to be run!!!!!
US Sailing President Mr Gary Jobson arrived to present the awards ..... he was very impressed w/ the perpetual trophy Jimmy had made for the "East Coast Youth Catamaran Championship" even walking out in the crowd assembled to shake Jimmy's hand when Jimmy was identified!!!!!
But beyond just our class awards "Trey" James was awarded the "Kindness to Your Competitor's" Sportmanship Award for rendering assistance to a fellow youth sailor (in Opti green fleet) .... and Matt Raybon was awarded the Corinthian Sportsmanship Award for withdrawing from a race after hitting the windward mark and thereby losing the possiblity of winning 1st place ..... these awards are in my view the most important awards!!!!!!
More people to thank ..... Dave Raughley/Div11, Rondo/Div11, Joe Laporta/Div11, Dan and Lynn Flannigan/Div11, Donna Murphey-Donovin/Div11-RHYC, JC/Fun in the Sun-Red Gear Racing, Div11 members-at-large, HCA-NA members-at-large, Gordo/HCA-NA Youth Program, Chris Wessels/HCA-NA Chairman and the "Hobie Cat Co" who provide boxes of give-a-ways/raffle prizes for the youths.
It was a GREAT event ..... and you too can make it happen in your area !!!!
Thanks to everyone
Harry Murphey
H18mag/#9458
Fleet54/Div11
RHYC Member