Response from: Gregory

Ummm change the year to 83 I guess my memory slipped a bit on the year.  In the Nationals we broke the forestay about one minute after the start of race 2 and had to get towed in.  We couldn't locate and get a replacement installed in time to make the next race and that put us pretty much out of the Nationals.  The boat was #18 I believe.  You can check the Raven posting for 1983.  My first Nationals was in 1977 on lake Ontario working the main on Will Hands boat that I later bought

We were using 5 year old sails for the race.  My bright red spinnaker matched the color of the boat and was over 15 years old.  We were dynamite down wind and on reaches thanks to my Hobbie 16 background.  One leg we went from dead last to second on the spinnaker run and were gaining on the leader rather quickly.  But also thanks to my Hobbie  background our upwind skills hurt us badly.  the Niagara Sailing Club on Grand Island may have more info on any available boats hidden away.  Jim Clements may still be there.  He won the Nationals a few years before I got my boat.  The sailing club hosted several Nationals and may be a good source of photos and history.

Gregory,

Great to hear from you. I'll be posting this note on the web site.
Do you know the whereabouts of any of these Ravens?
What was Will Hands boat number?

-Doug Campbell-

From: Gregory Quick

Comments: I was the third owner of  Raven #47 a Nevins Boat built on City Island NY, and built for my Uncle Art Richardson he purchased two identical boats I believe also #48.  They were beautiful mahogany boats.  They were raced extensively in Towas MI.  #47 even sailed in a Port Huron to Mackinac race one year.   My father purchased the boat in 1975 from my uncle and it was raced extensively Buffalo NY at the Niagara Sailing Club where it was one of 12 Ravens.  It was donated to the Sea Scouts around 1983.  I then bought the National Winner from Will Hand in 1983 for $500, 5 sets of sails that one the nationals the trailer, two centerboards and two rudders!  I raced it in the Nationals, my first as the captain in 1984 at the Nationals in Savyille NY.  We came in 8th.   Not bad for a first time skipper and a $500 boat!  It was also donated to the sea scouts in 1986 or so.