At one point in the not-too-distant past, there used to be a bunch of Mini 6.50s sailing in United States, mostly concentrated in the northeast. In 2007, eight Minis from the U.S. and Canada competed in the Bermuda 1-2, some with hopes of competing in the Mini Transat. Over time, sailors moved on to different programs, and boats were sold--some overseas to race in the Classe Mini circuit. Although a core group of Minis remained strong north of the border in Quebec City, Mini sailing in the United States, for a period of time, was sporadic at best.

However, with the continued design and development of "series" boats including the RG650, as well the efforts of Mini proponents like Joe Cooper and Tristan Moulinge, and builders like Jerome Sammarcelli, who built Pogo 2s in the United States between 2011 and 2014, Mini sailing here on the left side of the pond has experienced, and is experiencing, a resurgence. That resurgence is being felt no more powerfully than in my home waters around New York City.

Pogo 2 USA 829 (ex-Flying Fox) somewhere in Nevada. — Pogo 2 USA 829 (ex-*Flying Fox*) somewhere in Nevada.

In the span of less than two seasons, we've gone from having one Mini in the area to having five!

In 2012, the OpenSailing-built Pogo 2 USA 829 (Abilyn, ex-Flying Fox) journeyed over from Marina Del Rey, California via a very creative courier. Around the same time in mid-2013 that we acquired USA 829 from her former owner, a fellow sailor from the western Long Island Sound racing scene picked up USA 702 (Frogger), a Manuard-designed Tip Top that previously raced in the Bermuda 1-2.

Later in the year, it was announced that USA 415 (ex-Carbon Neutral), a proto that also raced in the Bermuda 1-2, would be joining the party from Newport, Rhode Island. Around the same time, we met up for drinks at Campbell Apartment with an out-of-state sailor who came into NYC just to talk with us about Mini sailing. We must have said the right things, because two months later, he picked up the Pogo 2 USA 806, previously owned by Jerome Sammarcelli, who sailed her from San Francisco to Hawaii in the 2012 Single-handed Transpac.

Most recently, we learned that the Lombard Zero USA 530--the only finisher in the 2013 Mini Pacific Challenge from Los Angeles to Hawaii--will soon be on its way from California to its new owner who intends to keep her within spitting distance of the lower Manhattan.

At least three of these five boats will be raced regularly on Long Island Sound during the 2014 season (which can't come soon enough!), and likely will be on the starting line of the 2015 Bermuda 1-2 Yacht Race, including our Abilyn. USA 702 has already qualified for the event by taking the long route from New York City to deliver Frogger to her winter home in Newport, Rhode Island.

Although there are other Minis scattered about, including one in Newport, RI (proto USA 754), one in Chicago, Illinois (Pogo 2 USA 812), one in Charleston, South Carolina (Pogo 2 USA 831), one in Annapolis, Maryland (RG650 USA 837), New York City by far has the most concentrated grouping of Minis in the United States right now, which means that the 2014 will be an exciting one to say the least. The IRC-optimized race boats that dominate these waters have never seen so many fathead mains, runners, fat asses, and dual rudders.

But what is more exciting than having heads turn is being able to race with a great group of sailors (which hopefully will include former world #1 ranked Mini sailor Jeff MacFarlane) who we know will push each other to take their racing and seamanship to the next level, and support each other as we continue to take our Minis farther and farther offshore. This camaraderie and support is a critical component to what we at Abilyn Racing are trying to achieve because, at the end of day, we'd rather not be alone when we're alone at sea.

Plus, it will also be nice to finally race with a group of sailors who share a common goal--to have the breeze always at about 20-25 knots and 140 degrees TWA.

See you out on the water.

Abilyn is an amazingly fun boat, not simply because she screams off the breeze in a blow (literally), but because she is highly technical, and responsive. When you do something wrong, she doesn't just tell you, she slaps you in the face. But, when you do something right, she rewards you by reaching deep into your brain, and pressing the endorphin-release valve. The feeling of accomplishment, even in a simple maneuver, leads to a feeling of being connected to the boat that can be described only as sublime. Although some sailors, most notably Bouwe Bekking, skipper of the Brunel entry in the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race, believe that sailors should "never get attached" to their boats, it's hard not to with a Pogo 2 like Abilyn.

Sailing Abilyn last season produced many "hell yeah" moments, but there's one that sticks out as my most memorable sailing moment...ever...on any boat. It was a Wednesday in July. After working from home that day (and putting out fire after fire), I "cat sixed" my Giant Rapid 0 road bike (nicknamed "Suzy") five miles from my home in Brooklyn to Grand Central Terminal. The plan was to take Metro North up to Larchmont for an evening practice aboard Abilyn. I arrived at GCT at 1630 only to be turned away. Apparently, bikes are not allowed on northbound trains out of NYC from 1500-1900 during the week regardless of how crowded the trains are.

Rather than head home, I just biked up to Larchmont--an additional 20 miles through Manhattan, the Bronx, and Pelham Bay Park (NYC's largest park property). After about an hour and 20 minutes, with legs burning, I arrived at the boat, thinking how the heck was I going to sail that night since I could hardly walk at this point; I'm not a long-distance cyclist. I made the decision to HTFU because, up until that point, my gybes aboard Abilyn had been absolutely abysmal. I needed to practice. I needed time on the water to overcome this learning curve.

Jerome Sammarcelli aboard Pogo 2 USA 806.  Pole retracted. — Jerome Sammarcelli aboard Pogo 2 USA 806. Pole retracted.

Jerome Sammarcelli aboard Pogo 2 USA 806.  Pole articulated forward and to weather. — Jerome Sammarcelli aboard Pogo 2 USA 806. Pole articulated forward and to weather.

The learning curve for being able to sail a Mini 6.50 at all is extremely high. To give you a sense of the complexity of sailing this boat, the protocol for gybing Abilyn's oversize kite involves a 30-step process. Abilyn's asym is flown on an eight-foot articulating sprit pole controlled laterally by two afterguys, and controlled vertically by an adjustable bobstay. To fly the kite, the pole is articulated by a line led from the cockpit to a lever on the inboard end of the pole, which articulates the pole 170 degrees from a resting position on the lifelines (see top photo) to a reaching position about 10 degrees to weather of centerline (see below photo). The boat also has runners, which must be gybed along with the asym and mainsail. In certain conditions, the runners are essential to ensuring that the mast doesn't snap clean off.

During our early practices in June 2013 after the we commissioned the boat at McMichael's Yacht Yard, my co-skipper Sam picked up gybing the asym fairly quickly, which is a testament to his lifetime of sailing experience, and achievements in the International 420 class. However, my inability to catch on as a fast as Sam was quickly sending me into a spiraling vortex of doubt about buying this boat, and whether I would ever be able to sail her effectively. I had to remind myself that picking up a new activity--including sailing a new boat--sometimes involves a long period of "suck-assedness." Yes, that's how I will describe this period.

I had no expectations for that Wednesday night in July. My plan was to head out alone (for the first time), put the sails up, and see what I could do. After letting my body process the lactic acid that had built up in my legs, I hoisted the big fathead main and 140% jib and headed out of Larchmont Harbor with a warm, 10-12 knot breeze out of the west. Despite the favorable conditions, nobody was out on the water. Abilyn and I were alone on the dance floor. We reached over to Manhasset Bay, turned downwind and set the kite to port.

After settling in, I began the gybing process for 10-15 knot conditions. Maintain a course of 150 degrees TWA. Ease the weather afterguy to bring the pole to center. Take up slack on the lazy runner. Trim the spinsheet to bring the clew patch around the forestay. Turn the boat. Keep trimming that spin sheet. Tension the lazy runner to kick the main over. Exit the gybe at 140 TWA. Don't head up too high. Release the old runner to let the main fall to leeward. Fall off. Trim the afterguy to bring the pole to its new weather position.

When the kite gybed cleanly, frankly I was astounded. I looked around to see if anybody saw it, just like Tom Hanks looked around to see if anybody had seen him make fire. Maybe it was an accident. So I gybed again. And again. And again. Sailing across Long Island Sound that night, I gybed maybe 10 times back to back. They were all clean. I was awash with a wave of relief, and excitement for the future. You could see the grin on my face all the way back in NYC.

It was 2130 at this point. I doused the kite, hoisted the jib, and sailed upwind back to Larchmont Harbor.

I have many fond sailing memories. Blast reaching SE from Newport to Bermuda across the Gulf Stream in 30 knots of breeze, and sailing with my wife and daughters in the BVI are two unforgettable memories. But what made that Wednesday night aboard Abilyn my most memorable sailing moment ever is that it was a breakthrough moment in an extremely challenging endeavor to learn such a technical boat. With all do respect to Mr. Bekking, Abilyn is not "just a tool". She is a living, breathing being, and she understands my ambitions as a sailor.

Abilyn spoke to me that night. She let me know that I have what it takes to sail this boat. Or maybe she was rewarding me for biking 25 miles just to come play with her. Only time will tell.

See you out on the water.