Letter Log
December 2019
30° 25.60’N 86° 35.58’W
Paul Beaudry, FWYC’s sailing director, wants to put you in a
sailboat and let the wind take you across the bayou. “It’s a great
sport. It can be whatever you want it to be, a relaxing sail, to
cruise with dolphins, or highly competitive racing,” said Paul, a
retired offshore racer, and sail maker, who loves being on the
water.
The best part, once you learn to sail, as a FWYC member, you
don’t have to get your own boat. The club and ECSA have 43
boats that accommodate all skill levels: 17 Optis, those are what
look like dinghies with sails that youngsters used to learn on this
summer; 2 Sunfish, perfect for one or two people; 4 Tazes, the next
step for young sailors after Optis; 4 Fevas, 15 footers with a
mainsail, spinnaker, and jib. Perfect for one or two adults, or two
kids. They’re made of plastic. You can’t break them; 2 Flying
Scots, great for family sailing or day sailing around the bay; 3
Lasers, single-handed for adults or double-handed for kids; 12 420s,
athletic racing boats; 1 Hobie Wave, that’s easy to rig and easy to
sail, especially for beginners; 1 Vanguard, a racing craft for three
or four.
Paul continues to be busy with Opti team sailing, high school
sailing, NWFSC
UWFSC sailing and adult lessons. Paul also is a great
resource for information about problems you may have on your
boat.
During summer months the club holds Wednesday night fun races.
Now that the colder months are here and the fun races are over for
the year, Paul invites you to the club on Wednesdays, from 3:00
until 5:30, to learn how to sail. You can email Paul at
[email protected], 828-736-1119.
Paul with three juniors from
Choctaw High School who
qualified for a spot in the
Great Oaks Regatta held at
Southern Yacht Club in New
Orleans each November. l-r:
Erin Conway, Spencer Odom,
Paul Henderson, Jr.
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