Kid’s Say By Jabbo Gordon
Art Linkletter, a former radio and television personality, used to exclaim that kids say the darnedest things. To prove his point, Art even hosted programs around that theme. The kids didn’t let him down.
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ill and Anne Hyatt, former owners of Tampa-based Sailing Specialties, had some similar experiences and could have written a book too, but Anne simply jotted down a few of her favorite yarns, compiled during the 30 years that she and Bill took their company’s products on the road to various regattas. For example, they were in Chicago for a major Optimist regatta when a very young Green Fleeter (first year competitor) came to the Hyatt’s tent. “Mister, I need a piece of that line,” he announced. Bill replied, “OK, how long do you want it?” The lad looked a little bewildered at first and then rose to the occasion. “For the whole regatta.” It all started with the Orange Bowl when the Hyatt’s son and daughter raced International Optimist Dinghys. Parts were hard to find, but Bill always had a van full of spare parts in case of breakdowns. As a Flying Dutchman skipper of considerable repute, he knew the value of having back-ups and replacements. You probably know the old saw: 3 is 2, 2 is 1, and 1 is none. Soon, other sailors found out that the Hyatts had parts and began buying spares. When their children aged out of Optis, the Hyatts thought that their regatta days were history. However, the Orange Bowl Regatta chairman asked them to provide parts for future events. And a business was born, starting with a card table and a few cardboard boxes of parts. Eventually their mini-van grew into an oversized cargo van. Four six-foot tables replaced the card table, and the cardboard boxes evolved into some 60 plastic boxes. Later the Hyatts added a 15-foot tent for clothing and glove racks. That reminded Anne of another story – one of a sailor wise beyond his years. It was blowing hard at an Orange Bowl Regatta and hiking pants were new at the time, and very popular. “We sold all we had within a matter of minutes,” she recalled. “Except for one pair, size XL,” Anne added. “When a sailor wanted to buy them, I explained they were way too big for him and that hiking pants need to fit to work right.” “Well I know why they were left,” the skipper offered. “Extra large people don’t hike.” Also regarding hiking pants, the Hyatts were in their store when they received a long distance call from Lake Garda, Italy, where the wind was howling. The father of a competitor wanted to know if a pair of hiking pants could be shipped overnight. Yes, they could and the hiking pants made it to Italy on time, only to be held up in customs. Apparently, the officials didn’t know what they were and cut open the padding looking for drugs. What a disaster. The Hyatts quickly learned that young sailors and their parents also needed help installing the parts they
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purchased. Bill spent almost as much time changing tiller universals, tightening a few bolts, rigging a new boom vang system or replacing a flat dolly tire as he did selling the gear in the first place. At one Green Fleet regatta, Bill noticed a young skipper standing by his boat, but his boom was upside down. Bill pointed out to the sailor that the boom needed to be turned over. “No it doesn’t,” he quickly replied. “My daddy rigged it.” Fortunately the father overheard the conversation and was most grateful for Bill’s help. Anne’s specialty was pasting on sail numbers, and both became expert at translating problems such as, “The u-shaped thingy is missing the little round deally” or “The rope that holds the boom to the mast isn’t holding in the cleat.” Furthermore, the Hyatts became a source for borrowing tools. At a national event in Sarasota one year, the official measurer was causing concerns among competitors in a variety of areas. Bill and Anne started the regatta with four tape measures and were down to one when a sailor came up and wanted to borrow it. Anne told him that he could use it, but that she needed it back in 15 minutes. “ If you don’t bring it back, I may have to find you and wring your neck.” “I’ll bring it right back,” the boy promised. “But I really, really need it.” However, in about 15 minutes, the lad came back with a long face and empty hands. Anne demanded to know where her tape measure was. “I don’t know; I lost it,” he wailed. “What do you mean you lost it?” Anne countered. “I’m not in the habit of wringing little boys’ necks. Go back and find it.” With that the lad reached behind him and produced the tape measure that he had stuck in the back of his pants. He was laughing so hard, he was almost crying. His laughter was contagious and Hyatts began laughing almost as hard as he was. Then there was the time that the Hyatts spotted a youngster in deep despair. He wasn’t weeping; he was crying crocodile tears. “What happened?” Anne asked. “I lost my tooth,” was the reply. “Well, it’s OK. Another one will come in where that one was,” Anne counseled. “No,” the kid sobbed. “It came out but I lost it and so I can’t put it under my pillow for the tooth fairy.” “I’m not the tooth fairy,” Anne admitted. “But if I give you a set of sail ties, will you feel better?” The tears seemed to evaporate. He took the sail ties and left grinning. Catastrophe averted. Who would have thought that sail ties could replace the tooth fairy? www.southwindsmagazine.com
