Reply To: HTOWOA Association and the website

My thought on the whole issue, and I believe I have the support of the committee and many of the existing members is that we need to enrol as many Patterson boat owning members as possible to the Association. There are no new boats being made currently, and the amount of boats can now only decline with age and neglect, never increase. For the association to stay alive, we need to recruit as many boats as we can, and keep them in the fold each time they change hands.

We not only publish newsletters, which document all the modifications ever done to the boats, as well as cruises undertaken, we also go out of our way to meet with other boats worldwide. We have some organised local rallies, but as many impromptu affairs when we are out and about on the water. These have happened from UK to Australia, and back. Boat owners abroad are not immune to us popping up to say hello.

As well as encouraging Patterson boat owners, we do now need to welcome other similarly minded multihull sailors, or people with an interest in the designs. At present these are welcomed as Associate members.

I have owned Patterson boats for almost 20 years, most of the committee have done the same, some more, so our combined experience with the boats must exceed 100 years. We can give a lot of help and support to new and existing members. This is a vital pool of knowledge, and should be encouraged and harnessed.

The very small cost of belonging to the association is not an unreasonable price to pay for the privilege. I regret that people feel they need to shun the Association, just because of the joining cost.

I repeat that I am most willing to welcome any new members to the fold, and look forward to a long and successful life of the Association. May I wish you all a great season in 2008, and in years to come.

Chrissie