The major reason I have never gotten a single-handed boat is I like sailing with someone with me. I started sailing with my niece, Megan in 06' in some local events. This year we did the 07' H-18NAs, Megan at 12yrs old was, I believe, the youngest competitor at the event. She did EXCELLENT, though I did have to explain that it wasn't a good time to do a "man overboard" drill in the middle of a race, but she at least picked the first beat to do it on. It was a great time.
At the last regetta in Div 11 for 07' at Rehobeth Bay SC we were first to A-Mark in the first race on Sat, her eyes got really big as she turned to me and said "we are in front of George and Susan", she got this big smile on her face ... and then I could see the change ... SHE GOT IT !!! You could actually see a physical change , the determination, concentration and focus on her face and her body language.
On Sunday we were first to A-Mark in the first race again ! Megan was OUTSTANDING and that allowed me to get my head out of the boat. In the second race we had a good start but the H-16 fleet ahead of us "hosed" us when they rounded A-Mark and ALL jibbed over and came back at me ( we were sailing up the "right" side), leaving no clear lanes. So we rounded A-Mark in fifth but we were bow to stern with the four boats in front of us. Megan said " lets get them" and she crawled out to the bow and we went to work .... The first were the Dowdies on the run down, next was Bill Colgan on the next beat to windward. That left George (and Susan) in second and Dave Raughley (and Valerie) in first. We closed up on them and hung tough. On the last run down George jibbed away first and we continued sailing after Dave. about 1/2 way down on the run we jibbed over to center ourselves on the course. We found an excellent lane, we leaned the boat over ( the wind was dropping) and got "quiet" on the boat. We crossed in front of George !!! Second Place!!! We jibbed on the Starb layline onto starb tack and went for the line .... Here comes Dave and Valerie .... I think we have "constant bearing" ... WE DO !!!! this is going to be close !!! I warned the two H-17s running on my Port side " once you clear the Committee Boat, I'm going to dive for the line, be ready!!!
Here we come .... the outside H-17 cleared the Committee boat ... Here comes Dave and Valerie .... Dive the boat !!! ....
You could hear all the cheers on the beach !!! Everyone cheered !!! George and Susan ... Dave and Valerie ... the H-17s ... the Race Committee ... MEGAN'S FIRST WIN, MEGAN'S FIRST BULLET !!!
It was my first horn/gun in many years, but what made it really special was my niece is the one who helped and made it happen.
My crew/niece made it possible ... I'm just the "idiot on the stick" !!!
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] Then I thought about how right (and important) the us was. My oldest son Paul is my crew and without his being on the boat, half of the team, no way we'd get a mention in the Hotline. I get to drive and concentrate on boat speed and pretty much EVERYTHING else is his call. We collaborate on decisions and occasionally I overule (more of a gut feel and NOT always right 
) but calling out the laylines, traffic, timing, course strategy, downwind flow, are all his decisions. Maybe that responsibilty has kept him interested enough to not want to helm his own boat? All the bells and whistles alone on the front end of a 20 are enough to keep a crew VERY busy.
