Thomas describes himself as an “enthusiastic bicoastal year-round sailor.” His boat is a 1978 Hobie 16 called Smurfette — a FrankenHobie. For the 2019 race, he rigged a bowsprit using an old windsurfer mast and flew an early 80s Olson 25 symmetrical spinnaker.

He writes:

“I bought her off the original owner a few years ago. He had bought the boat with his first pay check as a logger in 1978. Smurfette was the second of 3 Hobie 16s I bought over the last 5 years and uses the best, or least worn out parts from those 3 boats. She is part of the Denman Hobie Fleet.” 

Long-coming late addition to team Gaspe Cured came in the form of Troy Jungen; our Mountaineering Wandering Bear who loves nothing better than a little gentle foray into the great outdoors. New to the sport of sailing, when you climb mountains for breakfast, pulling a few lines in the afternoon then dinner with beach fire side revelry seems like a summer dream. We shall love it all.