Montgomery's in attendance at SCA Cruiser Challenge VI ? FOUR Montgomery's within reasonable proximity to Monterey ? More than a FEW ? REASONS to attend have been posted on the forums and the magazine 'Small Craft Advisor', supports and covers it well. Reasons so few Montgomery's attend is a question for this forum. If a few more than a few Monties show up, besides being fun, the Cruiser Challenge may become rather 'mo interesting'. You've heard and read the reasons to go. How about the practical and rational . . . Reasons NOT to attend SCA Cruiser Challenge ? (1) Distance (2) Time (3) Money (4) Not interested (5) Sailor not ready (6) Boat not ready DISTANCE can be a real factor. How far is Kentucky from Monterey ? TIME of which there is never enough. If you could arrange a mini vacation, away from the usual same old same old, would a picturesque setting on the Pacific Coast be OK ? MONEY, of which grows on trees, is always short. Monterey can be expensive. Some stay on their boat. Seaside is 7 minutes away from the harbor and a world away financially with economical lodging. NOT INTERESTED in good times sailing through the middle of a postcard ? SAILOR NOT READY. Practice tips for the Cruiser Challenge: Smile and laugh at regular intervals. Spend increasing time relaxing and enjoying. BOAT NOT READY. Is it ever ? My readiness program: (1) Power wash bottom. Boat had been sitting in dirty river water for months. Alien stuff growing on the bottom that would keep a biology class busy for a long time. Power washer opened a few of the blisters that heavily populate the bottom. Never was able to completely scrub the brown stain off. (2) Restitch original sails where battens were beating their way to freedom and various other worn areas. Quality of stitching is fine if seen from the back of a galloping horse. (3) Turned halyards & sheets end for end to give abused sections a rest. (4) Varnished over the nicks and gouges of the warped plank with rounded edges a/k/a rudder. (5) The outboard. In trying to clean out the hornet nests and spiders, I performed various no-no's as described in previous outboard maintenance posts. Happily, the little beast did eventually start. My race result after this high tech prep? I did all right, except for a first class dunce maneuver at the finish line of race #1. After 3 Cruiser Challenges, my thin dime opinion of what's important for boat readiness; SAIL TRIM and BOAT BALANCE. Add whatever go fast goodies to make your boat ready but don't forget to add trim and balance. So, there you have it. Don't let practical and rational get in the way. Treat yourself to one Cruiser Challenge. Like a good book or movie, your left wanting more and look forward to the sequel. The real challenge may be, can you do just one ? Rick Reynolds M-15 #460 "Lil Becca"