Subject: offer of Rally help and
other things from Michigan's Gary Hirsch (W1321)
-----
Original Message -----
To: Gary Hirsch (W1321)
Cc: Tom Graefe ; Al Schonborn
Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2007 10:35 PM
Subject: 08
International Rally & other related topics
Hi
Gary,
Thanks for the email. Your help and enthusiasm are
greatly appreciated. I'll insert my reply within your text.
DICK
----- Original
Message ----
From: Gary
Hirsch
To:
Richard Harrington <rmharrington@sbcglobal.net>
Sent:
Sunday, November 18, 2007 5:44:16 PM
Dick,
Now that sailing season
is behind us for 2007 and we are thinking of next year almost
exclusively, I wanted to offer my help for the 08 season. Since
we are getting many from Europe coming over, the resources are probably
getting more critical. I have never attended a rally and so will
need to know what to expect in terms of helping our guests coming to
the US. I am also green when it comes to the Wayfarer sailboat,
but I hope to have much more experience by next August. So, if
you think that I could help out in some way, just let me know. I
have read all of the information on the internet related to your past
rallies, so I have some idea what you do during these events.
The areas where
we'll need help is with camping equipment and providing space in
boats. We will need to put together a complete comprehensive list
of equipment needs, but it will mainly entail tents, sleeping pads, ice
chests, water container, stoves (and some pots & pans) and maybe
flys to go over the picnic tables. Some things can be purchased
at reasonable cost by the Europeans from the campground general
store. I also need to find someone who will be willing to let
Ralph Roberts pitch his tent on their campsite. Ralph is a well
know Wayfarer cruiser and a good source of knowledge. Regarding
sailing the main thing will be to bring along extra PFDs for guests.
I am also reading
everything that I can get my hands related to cruising topics. I
noticed that in England, they have an annual Cruisers Meet in the
winter months. I wonder if that would be feasible on this side of
the Atlantic? Have you entertained that notion in the past?
Of course, it would be very challenging to try something like that
without you as a significant participant based on your
experiences. I think that this would promote dinghy cruising and
the sharing of ideas would be valuable for everyone, especially newbies
like myself.
The Brits run a
very nice cruising conference. I was invited to attend one of
their conferences a few years back and was very impressed.
They run for about three or four days but aren't cheap.
You need a large base of potential participants to make something like
that work. About that same time several of the well
known Canadian cruisers (Don Davis & Tim France) were
conducting a more modest scale one day cruising conference which
was happening every two or three years. It was similar in
scope and near Toronto. I attended one of these as one
of the presenters. That died quite a few years
ago. The guys got too old and it was just too hard to get
people to travel long distances. Trying to do a multiple day
conference is not practical as it requires a lot of leaders and
involves a lot of cost. However, I'm glad to say that the
cruising rally to some extent at least has served as a
substitute. Many of the people who attend came because they
wanted to meet and pick up tips from the more experienced
participants. It would be nice to actually work in some
formal on the water instruction, which we've talked about, but so
far that hasn't happened.
Then, I was reading about
an event called the “Small Reach Regatta” and noticed that you attended
last year. The dates for 2008 overlap the International Rally and
I was wondering if you were planning on going to any of the 08 Small
Reach Regatta while in Maine? Was it a good experience last year?
The experience is
a lot like our rally and you would probably enjoy it. Tom
Jackson, the WB organizer, is a great guy. You'll get to see a
lot of different beautiful wooden small boats. If that is one of
your areas of interest you will be in heaven. Some of the folks
are wooden boat builders, or wanna-bes, that know each other so there
is a little bit of cliquishness.
Lastly, do you foresee a
return of the Chesapeake Cruise for 2008? That one will be
cutting it close for me to get my boat together in the spring (I am
pretty busy with work until the end of April), but it sure would
motivate me to do so. Uncle Al’s web page doesn’t list this one
as confirmed.
Yes. We
will be doing the Chesapeake cruise as long as I can climb into Blue
Mist. Same time next year. Guess I need to get after Al!
Thanks and I hope this
message finds you in good health!
Gary (W1321)
-----
Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2007 10:47 PM
Hi, guys:
This will start next
week's Weekly Whiffle off nicely!! If you want to check the W
Calendar of events and confirm those dates, I'll be happy to change its
status to confirmed!! I didn't want to do that without your say-so,
Dick.
Good night, all!
Uncle Al (W3854)
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