FWYC Letter Log December 2019 | Page 8

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. 8