Our in depth interview is with the indomitable David Cook from Victoria, BC; that discusses his PORKY PIG line of custom boats and his inspiring approach to life. We document Gary Boell's system for safely and quickly packaging your boat for commercial shipping. Regatta reports include Hood River Carnage and Region 6 Championships in Foster City. Our NCS, Fred Rocha, reports on Class News.

Our in depth interview is with Australians Tim Brown of Radio Race Yachts and sailmaker Mark Paterson who together produce their licensed versions of the PIKANTO and FRAKTAL. Rod Carr provides an interesting history of the Seattle MYC that begins in 1927 and includes forgotten photos of our lost world-class venue at Golden Gardens. Regatta reports include our COW Cup and the US Nationals at Oracle's Pier 80 in San Francisco.

Our in depth interview is with experienced designer/builder David Creed from the UK, where we discuss his LINTEL and LINTEL MMX designs as well as his opinions on a host of other designs and things radio sailing. John Ball discusses changes in the 2013-16 RRS. The editor writes on his hands-on experience with rig assembly at Precision Park West in Idaho, which provides tips for amateur rig builders. Regatta reports include the windy Dallas Blowout. Our NCS, Fred Rocha, reports on Class News.

Our in depth interview is with sailmaker Brad Gibson of BG Sails & Design that discusses his World Champion BRITPOP design. We make a pictorial visit to Martin Herbert's shop/studio on Saltspring Island, BC. Regatta reports include CAN Nats, the Cranberry Caper, and our first local reports on new San Francisco area venues at Oracle's Pier 80 and Central Lake in Foster City. Our NCS, Fred Rocha, reports on Class News.

Our in depth interview is with Graham Herbert, a retired sailmaker/artist living on hornby Island, BC; who is as unique as his beautiful and fast IOMs. The UK's David Hollom honors our newsletter with his Theory on Canoe Body Lift. Regatta reports include Canadian Westerns, Hood River Carnage, and US Nationals in San Diego.

Our in depth interview is with New Zealander Ian Vickers and his V8 prototype. David Cook shares his extensive "Boat Notes" with tips from many sources that he acknowledges. Regatta reports include the Blowout in Dallas, Famous Potatoes Regatta in Boise and our COW Cup. Our NCS, Fred Rocha, reports on Class News.

Our in depth interview is with Adrian Harrison, a retired shop teacher in Victoria, BC, who is building high-quality SKA designs for himself and his Canuck buddies. We begin our discussion on chines, which has led to many responses from our readers in subsequent issues that culminated with the UK<'s David Hollom's Theory on Canoe Body Lift in our September 2012 issue. Regatta reports include the US Nats in Florida and Governor's Cup in San Diego.

Our in depth interview is with Scotland's Ian Dundas on his beautiful ECO design, a derivative of Aussie Jeff Byerley's EVO design. Regatta reports include the Canada Nats on Saltspring Island and the Cranberry Caper at Deception Pass State Park. The Cranberry Lake action cover photo by Wayne Martin is worth the visit in itself.

Our in depth interview is with Brazilian Denis Astbury and features his beautiful MERLO. Graham Bantock designed MERLO for Denis and provides us insights behind this design and some related designs. We have an article on mast prebend tools. Regatta reports feature the Hood River Carnage. This marks the first time we included a cover shot, which in this case is Graham Herbert holding his LEO design in his spiffy souvenir Hood River Carnage t-shirt.

Our Playmate of the Month is David Cook's Porky Pig, which he now calls PP1. This was before we figured out we prefer to interview the designer/builder, but David writes about how PP1 came about. In a separate article David also reminisces about his recent visit with New Zealander Geoff Smale, who sadly passed not long after this trip. Regatta reports include the Canadian Westerns on Saltspring Island and our COW Cup.

Our interview is with the Netherlands Huub Gillissen and features his woodie OBSESSION - a Craig Smith design from Australia. This is one of the prettiest IOM designs I have ever seen, it is so highly resolved and the white fiberglass deck frames the varnished wood hull perfectly. Local regattas are covered and there is an interesting Letter to the editor from Robert Grubisa in Croatia.

Our Playmate(s) of the Month are Michael Sharmer's latest custom wood boats from GER, which compete at a high level despite the flexible wood masts, simple fittings, and home made sails. His construction and narrow hull form are so against the current fashion, and yet competitive. An article discusses the latest trend in deck forms and local regattas are covered.

Our Playmate of the Month is the uniquely stylish woodie IOM designed and built by Jochen Burhenne from GER, who continues to build custom IOMs like no other. An article discusses a preference for lee helm by some very good skippers, and local regattas are covered.

Our Playmate of the Month is "Zorro", a custom Zoom design from Graham Herbert on Hornby Island, BC. All of Graham's Zooms are competitive and of a high aesthetic with custom acrylic graphics. There is an organic aesthetic in play here and many custom details worth examining. Not the least of which is the applied tubercle bumps on the leading edge of his foils - a mind blower. There is an interesting commentary by Brig North on the newish Lintel design that took the USA Nats by storm, and an article on the cost of IOMs. There is a letter from Graham Bantock on big wind sailing tips in anticipation of our sailing in the Hood River Gorge soon, and local regattas are covered.

This is our inaugural 'newsletter' issue five months after our first promo regatta, and before we figured out the Playmate of the Month interview should be a key feature of our newsletter. Besides race reports and schedules, we had some tuning tips and a discussion on options to assemble Euro kits. Also a discussion on how close to the deck the jib boom should be.