I took the opportunity to show of Halfpint at a local regatta today.
I was encouraged by reactions. The first comment is usually a chuckle followed by a remark about how cute it is. The next comment is surprise at how well it sails for such a little boat. Another reaction is that it would be perfect for racing in swimming pools!
I talked a couple guys into building one, so they can have fun, too. Loaned out my hull molds to encourage new boats.
I’m also discovering that there are more Footys out there than we know about. I’d like all the stateside Footys to be registered with AMYA, but I realize it’s a lot to ask. Skippers are reluctant to spend the oney to register for a class that isn’t officially recognized.
So I was thinking we could use this forum to get a Footy census going. If you have a Footy, let us know. If you know someone who has a Footy, let us know. It would be great to have the skippers’ name, location, and email address or other contact info. That way, as we gain momentum, we can start to contact Footy owners and encourage them to register their boats. We’d also see where there might be enough Footys in an area to get a local regatta going.
My “trial by fire” was the weekend of June 5th. My Footy was well received during the SW Region 4 championship and had similar reactions. I felt that it’s a good handling boat, provided that weight consideration be placed on building. I’ll be registering all mine! May the class be recognised!!!
Got an e-mail from Stan Abadie (Open Class Secretary). I have been issued my trademark 761 for my Footy, “The Murph”, a ‘PipSqueak’ kit. Target in-water day: June 26, assuming no more new crises at work. How dare they get in the way of my fun?!!
Bad news: Stan informs me that he has resigned as Open Class Secretary, and refers all questions and registrations to the Membership Secretary of AMYA (see AMYA.org)
Another great reason to get ALL domestic Footys (?Footies?) registered - get our minimum 20, get our own Class, and handle our own registrations.
I have my PipSqueak started. Not yet a AMYA member. At what point should I join and register my footy? Should I wait until it’s finished or register it in progress?
You can register (AMYA and hull) now and get it all started at once, though the Footy registration is an additional $7 to the $25 standard AMYA membership. That’s exactly how I did my Vic. I’ve yet to start on my Pip Squeak as I’m currently committed to hull #2 & 3 of the Bob Abouts. After some thought, hulls #4 & 5 will wait until next year for delivery, but I’m thinking of getting them registered now so that I can acuire consecutive numbers on the six total hulls I’ll have done, eventually.
Okay, so let’s start counting, simce I can’t get a total from Stan yet.
Stan Abadie registered his Footy in Open class, that’s 1.
My registration is in = 2
Bill and Travis are or have sent theirs in = 4
oops, Travis has 5 more coming, so that’s, ummm, 9
John and Ol Man, you would be 10 and 11
Rob in Colorado would be 13 with his 2 in process.
Looks like we’re rolling along. Let’s get 'em finished, on the water, and generating interest. I’m trying to get my web-site software warmed up to get all I have published (thanks to all for the pics and other comments and plans - they will be put to good use in very short order.
I’ll have a total of 6 as of right now. This includes one kit (still waiting to get out of the box), one Bob About completed, two in construction, and two more to immediately follow. But I’ll be registering them all here shortly. There’s not enough time in the day, nor finances available to complete all I want to immediately. Ugh!!!
A clarification: AMYA class recognition requires us to have 20 members, not 20 boats. Although multiple boats are a great way to get others involved, they don’t count toward recognition as a new class.
So give one to a friend on the condition that he/she registers the boat. Sell one to a buddy. Give away copies of plans. Give away hulls. Make up “kits” for people. Loan out your hull molds. Or anything else you can think of to get more people to register.
The more skippers we have, the more fun, 'cause you can’t sail more than 2 at a time, anyway. [:D]
I know of some other Footy skippers: Rob Amaral and Rick Moynahan in California, Vince ? in Colorado, John Whalen in Massachusetts, Joe SanAntonio in New Hampshire.
Didn’t realize it was 20 members needed - I should have thought it through.
Guess we all need to do like Bill, help others build or acquire and encourage membership and registration. Got a buddy with a partially-built BobAbout from plans - I think I’ll help him finish as soon as I get “The Murph” in the lake.
I’ll be registering myself as soon as Bill gets the details worked out. I have a Bob aBout, and a Mark^8. I have 8 total so far, but I’m only going to finish the best 2.
Ever heard of Frappr.com? It’s a system where you can set up a ‘group map’ for different kinds of groups. We could even get one set up for Footys to see where owners live.
