Old Nr 2249

Last post for the year 2013 is this pix of your old diarist driving his George Szabo-built Cates Moth to weather at the 1963 summer invitation regatta at Sea Isle City.  I was 16 years old, and didn't have a care in the world or a head of white hair for that matter!  That Seidelmann sail looks well set in spite of having the primitive tied-off sail shape controls of the day for outhaul, downhaul, etc.  At a strapping 150 lbs. it looks like I had my hands full keeping her flat while driving to weather in maybe 12 knots of breeze.  Photo courtesy of Dave Schill.  I wonder where my old boat is tonight.  Perhaps enriching the earth?  I hope for a better outcome than that.  She was a sweet boat.  I hope she's still sailing and treasured by someone somewhere.  I had to let her go in the early 1970s when I entered the service with a draft number of 52.