The Legend Begins:

It was a miserable day with the wind hard from the south, 20-25 knots on that second day of the “Down the Bay”. We stood on the beach at Windmill Point awaiting the arrival of the few boat that hadn’t dropped out of the race that day. Around the point came the two big modified Worrell NACRA 6.0s w/ Ladderracks closely together. Up onto the beach they charged . WOOOOOSH …….

One of the crew jumped off his boat, turned and pointed, he exclaimed “ Who the hell is on that boat ….. God ?????!!!!!!”

And coming around the point was a Hobie 16 with white prism sails. It was Lee and John McLaughlin, Lee was puking and John was steering …… The H-16 slide up onto the beach through the surf, and we grabbed her ….. Lee fell off the boat and kind of crawled …. John with the biggest smile I have ever seen, turned and said “ … anyone got a Ciggie ??? “

And the Legend of John McLaughlin began …..

I so witnessed and testify
HarryMurphey
H-18/ #9458
P-19mx/ #86