BOOK REVIEW The Competitive Cat: Racing Small Gaff-Rigged Catboats By Bill Welch, MD, www.competitivecat.com Review by Dave Ellis Classic designs, whether in wood or fiberglass, hold a fascination for many sailors. There have been many a rally, show or flotilla attracting gaff rigged sailing craft. Next April at Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa there will be a huge wood boat event that will include some racing. Dr. Bill and Sherry Welch are well known in the Tampa Bay area. She was instrumental in promoting women’s sailing, and raced a J-27 and then a J-24 and a Snipe. Dr. Bill raced an International 14 GP and a Snipe. Also, for years we all hoped that if we got hurt it was Dr. Welch who was on duty at the area’s largest hospital emergency room. Now the Welches have retired, moved off “Sails”, their Florida Bay Cruiser and spend winters on Useppa Island, Florida and summers near Cape Cod. And they sail a gaff rigged catboat. What better person to write a book about racing these sailing gems! As the forward to the book states, “Surprisingly, there is a void of literature to guide the serious catboat sailor/racer. Much has been written about the history and romance of the design, but there are very few specifics on how to race them. This little volume strives to fill that gap and bring the technique and skill level of catboaters up to the 21st Century.” With copious photographs and illustrations and concise text, this book is a valuable addition to a classic sailor’s library.
you’ll still breathe it and tolerate it—but you won’t swim in waters where you see a pipe dumping pollution. Everyone wants to swim in clean water. “Jump in that? No way!” That’s what this book is about, and perhaps Boat Green is not the best descriptive title because it goes far beyond the boat part. It begins by discussing the state of our polluted lakes, rivers, oceans. Then it moves on to what causes pollution and how to prevent it. In fact, the book doesn’t discuss boating much in the beginning. It discusses clean water. When the book does move on to discuss what you can do as a boater, it continues to discuss pollution from other sources, but it also talks about onboard waste systems and the law and other more well-known polluting subjects. But it delves into other subjects that you don’t expect: biodiesel, ethanol, solar energy, wind energy, gray water discharge, recycling onboard, etc. It has a good section on making your batteries last longer. How many people know that more than 97 percent of all battery lead is recycled? The book also discusses bottom paint, boatyard work, green cleaning products, keeping your engine tuned to pollute less, oil spills and more. The boat ends with a discussion about environmental issues, and what you can do in your area to help keep the environmental impact of boats to a minimum. This book is one good step in getting all of us to keep our waters clean. Only problem is, it just doesn’t mention how to deal with people who don’t think there is anything wrong with pollution in the first place. I say tell them to go jump in a polluted lake.
Boat Green: 50 Steps Boaters Can Take to Save Our Waters By Clyde W. Ford, New Society Publishers. www.newsociety.com Review by Steve Morrell Boaters have always felt a little closer to the water they play in than those who play on land. Everyone likes clean water. When you are on land and come to a body of water, you are cautious about what waters you will swim in. If it looks polluted, or the cows are pissing and shitting in it, you won’t jump in. You’ll walk across a pasture stepping between cow patties, but you won’t swim in water with them in it. You’ll see a factory spewing out what you know is polluted bad air, but News & Views for Southern Sailors
SUMMER SALE
SOUTHWINDS September 2008
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