Well, it's happened twice now, so it's not a real trend yet, but it definitely is something. I've recently started sailing out of Marina del Ray in Los Angeles. At the end of the day, when the boat is back on the trailer and I run it over to the fresh water for a washdown, people come running over to ask what kind of boat it is, it looks very salty, it looks very nice, it looks very big and roomy for a 17-footer, I've never seen one like it before, etc etc etc. The kids are running wild, I'm racing the sunset to get everything buttoned up and put away, and they all want to stand around and talk about the Montgomerys and ply me with compliments and sort of get that puppy-dog look in their eyes, wishing they could be invited aboard and take a look around. They walk right by all the big cool racing trimarans and other trailer sailers without a word or glance and stop at my boat. There must be something friendly and inviting about a Montgomery. One guy today asked "Is that a Nor'Sea?" as an introduction! I had to explain the whole heritage thing, Lyle Hess and his English workboats, the Nor'Sea was designed first, and then came the Montgomery's. The pleasant hazards of owning a Montgomery. Hopefully, once I go there enough, I'll have exhausted the supply of closet Montgomery lovers. Maybe it's just Marina del Ray, so jaded by big-money boats that a view of a Montgomery with young kids running around and having fun takes them back to what sailing's all about. Shackled to their big money pits, they realize you can have just as much fun, maybe more, without exhausting your bank account. "God boys, we wish we were you". Other than that ... It was a good day for sailing. Yesterday was thick and chilly fog all along the coast. About 9PM last night, a warm wind blew in, chased all the fog away, and today was pleasant, sunny, and cloudless. The Admiral's away, but the kids want to do something, so let's go sailing. My 12-yr old son did a good job of helming in and out of the Marina, and out on the ocean when he felt like it. The ocean was relatively calm today, not like some other days, no short-period chop and waves from two directions to make every point of sail a roller-coaster. Even with my blown (I think) mainsail, Star Cross'd can point. Today was a good example of what a Montgomery can do. The higher I pointed, the faster I went. She'd heel over and just rocket away, faster (by my uncalibrated knotmeter) than the 4HP engine can push in calm water. When the kids got tired of too much time spent pinned against the lee cabin sides, I'd just de-power to a broad or beam reach and we'd drop about a knot and just keep on cruising. One close-hauled point of sail was directly into the waves, so we did a little up and down pounding but just cut through. The other was cross to the waves, so we'd just roll with it, and occasionally the wind and waves would gang up and push us over further than I cared. But I never felt out of control. It wasn't anything more than the normal 10 knot afternoon breeze we get here every day. Star Cross'd must still be out of rig, though. I would only get good weather helm once we started pointing high. On a beam reach, it'd be lee helm. I guess I need more mast rake. Not many more weekend like this before El Nino hits bringing sub-tropical deluges, the jet stream shifts south connecting us with the North Pacific gales that bring the big northwest waves and too-cool weather to Santa Monica Bay. I very much doubt I can get the whole family out on days like that. They say that December and January are the only bad months here for sailing. We'll see. Happy sailing, John Fleming M-17: "Star Cross'd"