Gary Jobson Tonight!
on Friday March 25, 2005 08:55AM
* From Michelle Slade (edited to our 250 word limit): I just attended the Corinthian YC (Tiburon, Calif), first evening of its 2005 speaker series with Gary Jobson. I know this has been said before but it simply can never be said enough - Gary is truly a gift to the sport we all love. It's been both a heart rending and heart warming experience to watch him over the past few years battle through his illness. To see him healthy and happy today, his humor-incensed enthusiasm for the sport a complete inspiration is awesome. I wonder how often we stop and appreciate how much he's brought to this sport in this country.
His presentation was fantastic, in particular his "Ultimate Sailing" footage, which should become compulsory viewing for all kids regardless - how could they not get a grip on the thrill sailing offers after watching that? In fact, I am going to order myself a copy for those moments when I feel that, 'I need to get the hell out of Dodge.' Obviously very dear to Gary was his overview of the America's Cup. It's a great event, very addictive, notwithstanding all the related drama. However, as Gary noted, there is something terribly amiss in that two of the most highly respected A-Cup skippers - Coutts and Cayard - will not participate in 2007 for all the reasons previously made public. The competition simply won't be as good as it could be, which is unfortunate - it will be just, different.