For the novice like myself I am not interested in earning points, having my name on a trophy, or some cash prize rather I am just looking for a good time where win or loose I make a few new sailing contacts.
....why isn't there any casual boating clubs out there particularly since most of us in the north have trailers for our boats. I used to sail with Hobie Fleet 444 for a time on Pepin and it was great. Just a bunch of Cats on the lake having a good time with the occasional BBQ. It was a great time that did not cost too much and built awareness of sailing and supported camaraderie and friendships.
This is exactly what got me into sailing, and eventually racing, back in the early 80's
A bunch of Sol Cats, Hobies, etc. racing all over the area. Small clubs would host and we'd tow the boats all over the place.
Alas, that has died out on our side of the border. We have a bunch of clubs that have keel boats for both serious and informal beer can racing, many of which are sailors who grew up with those races decades ago. I don't know of any "informal" racing for mixed dinghies + beach cats etc. locally.
I have no idea how the local clubs expect to attract younger members who don't know someone with a keelboat, or simply are willing to take a risk and buy one.
I started this post to attempt to do the same for the Catalina. I may try my hand at racing at some point this year, though the LOWISA is out because of scheduling issues, but I am interested in just finding a good group of like minded trailer sailors out there to hang out with. You know a group of people with similar interests that want to get together on one of the more than 10,000 lakes for a day sail and if an impromptu race breaks out great but not required and nothing is won or lost but a smile.
I plan on sailing in the Lowisa with our C22, but I could care less about my racing result. (I could care less about sailboat racing in general now) Like many, I see it simply as a great way to spend a week sailing on Lake of the Woods, with BBQs, campfires, etc. on shore.
Some people still do it in open daysailors (gear is hauled in a support boat if needed), some people in keelboats... While it's technically a race... it was meant, from day one, over 50 years ago, as a way to promote the Lake and thereby help the businesses on it.
For those of us who just want to go sailing, the C22 NSA, has some great "cruises", on the Great lakes, or the Gulf Coast etc., but through no fault of the C22 NSA, for midwesterners, they involve days of towing to get there.
That's fine for people if it fits their schedule, but it would be awesome to find C22 owners within a weekend's distance.
It looks like my reply ended up hijacking the thread, which was definitely not my intention.
I too would love to find some C22 cruising types where I could haul the boat to their lake, and experience a new location and camaraderie with fellow trailer sailors. Racing to the anchorage, dock for lunch, or the navigation mark is optional.