LETTERS

⇑⇓ PUTTING THE FLEET IN ORDER FROM CHAOS

Randy Norman and I spent a couple of hours with the Benicia Yacht Club fleet in the Benicia Marina boatyard yesterday. We finished draining the boats and propped each up. We also put working wheels on each boat cart so we can begin to rearrange each vessel and begin to get some order from the chaos.

Along with the Benicia Yacht Club, a group of volunteers has formed the Nautica group, which is looking to expand its current operations to include a high school sailing club. Volunteers unearthed several neglected but otherwise quality dinghies ready for community service. "We have about a dozen 12-15-ft boats in pretty good shape, and about a dozen Optis," said Stephen Dale, one of Nautica's organizers.

Despite the disorder, these boats are a treasure with the potential of inspiring a new crop of mariners. I can't wait to see youth and their families, and the occasional senior like myself, taking these babies out in the Strait for hours of fun and adventure.

We are hoping to have at least one of these boats at the Nautica Meeting at the Benicia Yacht Club March 18 at 9:30.

Stephen Walter Dale

Stephen was commenting on the February 27 'Lectronic Latitude: Benicia Yacht Club Launches Community Outreach Group.

⇑⇓ WHY? WHY AM I DEAD F@#%ING LAST?

Why am I DFL? I have been sailing and racing 20-plus years on the Bay and many other places in this world. I have recently purchased an older, smaller boat. I am going backward, so older and smaller is better for me.

But why am I DFL? I think I have figured out what many may already know: PHRF ratings are supposed to make things more fair.

But they do not take into account the tides. If I am racing my five-knot boat against a six-knot boat while sailing against a four-knot current, the five-knot boat will go one knot against the current, and the six-knot boat will go two knots — twice as fast. Is this fair ?

Steve Hocking Impulse, a Smaller, Older Boat Bay Area

⇑⇓ DON'T COMPLAIN, VOLUNTEER

I was on the PHRF SoCal Board for eight years, and I just love hearing people complain about their PHRF ratings.

And the ratings of their competitors.

And PHRF in general.

And IOR and IRC and ORR and every handicap rating