Story by Bill Kneller

Everyone knows that Dave Erwin, our Class co-president and the Zephyr boys had some pretty significant Katrina damage to hull number 324. This boat was resurrected as Toy Box after some significant work by Neil Borne.  Dave Erwin now has Zephyr V2.0 restored from hull number 87 and sails again. Well there is another story here that was passed on as a reply from the 2010 registration email sent out to everyone.

I received a message from Tim Lawton that he updated his hull number from 197 to 341. I thought there was a problem so replied to Tim indicating that hull 341 was a boat in Annapolis. Was he sure about the hull number? He said yes, that he bought the old Tiger that was previously owned by Tom Donlan, and renamed Learning Curve when it was sold to a couple of other folks on the Chesapeake who only owned the boat a short time. Tim sent a message that he previously owned hull 197 but it was lost in Katrina. I followed up with Tim over the phone and learned some more.  Here’s the story and a little about Tim Lawton…

I sincerely apologize for not getting back to you sooner. I’m terrible about keeping up with email. I think it has something to do with work because I have to write a lot of survey / survey law, and technical emails all day. Emails are supposed to be brief, however, when tech and legal issues jump out at you, you find yourself writing long missives.

I’ve been out of sailing and racing since 2003 when my boat was totaled after dropping a mast during the GYA Challenge Cup in Gulfport, MS. I was tied up in a law suite for 6 years with my insurance company before they ended up paying policy limits and other associated fees. Just to add insult to injury, the boat was being stored at my local boat yard when Katrina hit. Last time I saw it was at 1330, 28 August 2009 … it just disappeared along with 15 other boats in the yard when Katrina hit and has never been seen again.

I acquired Hull #341 which was Tiger out of Annapolis, I renamed it CHAOS!

I’m trying to find time and rebuild my crew so I can resume racing again. The post-Katrina world of the Mississippi Coast 5 years later is stil rather bleak, regardless of what you see on television.  … It’s nice to be sailing again….

I did indeed enjoy our telephone visit…always a pleasure talking to other sailors, and sharing a beer or six. Oddly enough, down here, a good portion of the racing guys are also fishermen. My sail maker, David Bolyard (West Wind / Ulmer-Kolius) is a notorious light tackle guy as is Benz Faget. We target spotted sea trout and redfish. Most of the reds are released, the specs go for a swim in bayou l’greisse….

Thanks Tim for your Emails and time on the phone. Good luck with fishin & sail’n – hope to share a beer with you sometime soon.

– Bill