Hi Gregory -
When I stumbled on the Moth site during a meandering surfing session, and saw the great M symbol pop up on the screen, I was jumping up and down and carrying on so much that my kids must've thought I'd cracked! This is a great site, and I'm thrilled with the interest in the class! And, yes, I've been telling all the old Moth sailors I can reach! Hopefully the word will continue to spread, and you'll be seeing a lot of my 1960s and 70s Sea Isle City, NJ friends online.
To me, the beauty of the Moth was its simplicity to sail, and complexity to race. When I was a mere lad of seven, I simply decided it was time for me to sail. I hopped into my brother's Moth (#2287 Fletcher Cates) behind everyone's back, and went merrily sailing up and down the channel. My mother was in a panic thinking I was lost, and must've nearly had a stroke when she figured out where I was! For thirty five years since then, whenever one of my kids or nieces or nephews have turned seven, my father never fails to mention to me as an aside, "ya know, that's how little you were when you took that Moth out on your own!"
Of course, I was out of it almost as quickly as I got in. By the time I was 13, I was closing in on 6 feet, and the light wooded flimsy speed demons of the early 70's were no match for my size. I still have my last Moth, #3037 (a Fletcher with classic rigging), in storage and it still has a cracked hiking board from the last race I was in thirty years ago! (Anyone interested in a project?!)
When it was time for me to move on, it was pre-Laser craze and the only single-handed alternative on the circuit were Sunfish which had no appeal to me. For my age, I made the unusual switch to Comets, which I never regretted despite putting myself into a predominately adult fleet.
About five years ago, the Yacht Club in Sea Isle allowed us to have a reunion party and dozens of us old Moth sailors got together. It truly felt like a family reunion, and it's a bit sad to know that the world doesn't seem to allow for kids to spend entire summers sailing the way we did. We had a real gift back then, and your pages take me back to those times and make me appreciate it all over again. Post all the pictures you can! Thanks! (And hi Nancy and Janet!)
Best regards -
Jim Giarrusso
February 21, 2001