Back in October of 2001 I began to notice a local sailor whose name I recognized from prior posts. Gary Wyngarden was posting discussion questions... and they were a heck of a lot better than the ones I was using for the weekly quiz! I fired off an email, not sure whether to thank him or ask him to stop showing me up. 
By November of 2001 he had taken over full responsibility for the weekly discussion topic and quiz. While I felt like Tom Sawyer watching someone whitewash a fence, I also realized that Gary brought far more skill to this task than we had ever enjoyed before. Exactly one year later, Gary suggested we expand the quiz format to include a ten question, multiple choice skills quiz, drawn from the writings of authoritative authors. As you know, this has been a hugely popular event on the sites. Today, 132 quizes later, Gary is preparing for a summer-long cruise in '05, and handing the paint brush back to us. Unless you've written a newspaper column you probably can't quite grasp the tyrrany of creating a fresh idea every week. One that is inclusive of ocean and lake sailors, owners of dinghies and Macgregor 65's, home ports from Alaska to Zihuatanejo. All in a rigid, 4-option multiple choice format and due come rain, shine, hell, or high water. Gary has met that challenge 124 times, much to the benefit of thousands of owners who enjoy and contribute to his discussions every week. We will miss Gary's creativity, diligence, and of course, his ability to make a deadline! Please join us in thanking him for his substantial contributions to sailboat owners worldwide. ph. P.S. If you'd like to pick up the brush... uh, I mean, take over responsibility for our weekly discussion and quiz, please email me at phil (at) sailboatowners.com. It is a paid position, but just barely.
By November of 2001 he had taken over full responsibility for the weekly discussion topic and quiz. While I felt like Tom Sawyer watching someone whitewash a fence, I also realized that Gary brought far more skill to this task than we had ever enjoyed before. Exactly one year later, Gary suggested we expand the quiz format to include a ten question, multiple choice skills quiz, drawn from the writings of authoritative authors. As you know, this has been a hugely popular event on the sites. Today, 132 quizes later, Gary is preparing for a summer-long cruise in '05, and handing the paint brush back to us. Unless you've written a newspaper column you probably can't quite grasp the tyrrany of creating a fresh idea every week. One that is inclusive of ocean and lake sailors, owners of dinghies and Macgregor 65's, home ports from Alaska to Zihuatanejo. All in a rigid, 4-option multiple choice format and due come rain, shine, hell, or high water. Gary has met that challenge 124 times, much to the benefit of thousands of owners who enjoy and contribute to his discussions every week. We will miss Gary's creativity, diligence, and of course, his ability to make a deadline! Please join us in thanking him for his substantial contributions to sailboat owners worldwide. ph. P.S. If you'd like to pick up the brush... uh, I mean, take over responsibility for our weekly discussion and quiz, please email me at phil (at) sailboatowners.com. It is a paid position, but just barely. 
