Timing is Everything!

When we set our sailing schedule for this season, we did so as snow blanketed the ground. Combining the regatta schedules of all the fleets, divisions, and other sailing organizations around the area, allowed us to choose from the remaining weekends for our fleet events we like to call “Fun Sails”.

The first fun sail of the year is always a risky one. Mother Nature could turn ugly and supply us with a final winter dusting, rather than be kind, and bless us with weather that will bring spring flowers into bloom.

Well, lucky for us, she was in a good mood and supplied us with beautiful blue skies, enough wind for some occasional hull-flying, and a picture-perfect start to our 2005 sailing season!

Once again, our Whitmore Lake hosts provided us with plenty of food and drink, a freshly groomed beach, and some beautiful new patio furnishings. Sailors spent much of the morning trying to remember how to set up their boats after their long winters nap.

As usual, everyone helped each other out and soon the beach was covered with nearly the entire Hobie Cat product line: 2 Hobie 14’s, 2 Hobie 16’s, 1 Hobie 18 Formula, 1 Hobie 20, 2 Hobie Tigers, and 1 Hobie Sport Cruiser.

We welcomed some new folks to the fleet, and we talked with many people who are shopping for new boats. When it is all said and done, we will be adding at least 3 new boats to our fleet! People took rides aboard all the boats, we all traded boats with each other, it was spectacular!

Tim Holton decided to inspect the underside of the trampoline of the 14 and wash the sail off a bit. John and Gregg took curious apartment dwellers on some white-knuckle rides. Dan Rule showed all of us the Hobie cruising lifestyle…smooth ride and a cooler on board!

All in all, it was as good a day as we could have dreamed of. Typical of Michigan, the weather forecast throughout the week was calling for rain. By Friday, the idiots had changed their minds…sunny and warm. Indeed it was. As people packed up their boats, only two things remained…a bit of sunburn and large smiles on their faces.

It’s sailing season!!!