Hobie Fleet 43 - IT'S BACK

Well, Hobie Fleet 43 is back after a long hiatus. We got our charter last night.

We mainly sail out of Shell Point, FL with most of our members residing in Tallahassee FL or Thomasville GA. Members own H16, H18, Nacra 5.2, H Dragoon, Nacra 18 squ. with a few other boats such at a Corasair F31R, a Discover 20 tri, and a fleet of Windrider 17s and some keelboats.

Shell Point is 30 miles due south of Tallahassee on Florida's "Forgotten Coast." There are no hotels or restaurants in the immediate vicinity so plan on grilling and camping when you come to visit.

Our primary regatta will be the Stephen C. Smith Regatta which is usually held the third weekend of April. Next year will be the 36th year of this regatta which is named after a late member of Fleet 43 lost to cancer in the early 1970s. We expect a H16 class this year with other classes possible and welcome. Learn more at www.smithregatta.com.

We are keen on building realtionships with other fleets. Many of us welcome the opportunity to travel to clinics, regattas, races and parties.

We appreciate the hospitality demonstrated so far by some sister fleets west of us. It is our hope to bring many people to or back to beachcat sailing while helping to build some good relationships.

Thanks,

John McBride

Nice job John, you guys have fun down there.

Well done! I've heard of you guys from my buddy, Karl, from Santa Rosa Bch. Maybe we can make the regatta next spring! Any of you guys coming over for Juana's Good Time Regatta? There should be a bunch of H-16s, and it's a blast!

http://www.juanaspagodas.com/RegattaNews.htm

Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mississippi

Karl, Bridget and Karl's nephew came to see us this Saturday and it was great. The weather was uncooperative but we spent time looking over our beginnings of a fleet parked on the beach. Their input and observations were indispensible.

If most fleets members are 1/4 as cool as these folks, we will love getting to know you all.

Big props for them using their time and gas money to come see us beginners. They are a credit to the sport.

I will pass the Juana Good Time through our email list in case some can come that way. I will have to miss this one.

John, are you related to Jon McBride, retired Capt. USN and former NASA Astronaut? Jon was a Fraternity Brother at West Virginia University, and now lives in FL.
Caleb Tarleton

Caleb,

No, I come from a long line of Alabama white trash. My uncle is Gen. Chenault though so all may not be lost.

Most of the people you meet doing this stuff are pretty cool, but Karl & Bridget are indeed special. We'll be hanging with them at Juana's, so, if any of your folks come, tell 'em to look us up. We also sail with them a lot at the Ocean Springs (MS) Yacht Club Regattas:

www.osyc.com

Haven't heard yet if OSYC going to have their Shearwater Regatta this fall. If so, I'm sure we'll try to do it. Note that all these regattas are VERY laid-back, friendly affairs.....perfect for novices.

Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton Mi'sippi

Caleb, what house were you in?

Chris, sent personal Email.

John, looks like good stock, check out http://www.chenault.org/NoFrames/profiles.htm

Interesting info for people who do not know who General Chenault was or the Flying Tigers from WWII.

Caleb

Caleb,

That's my people. My mother's maiden is Eleanor Chenault.


John