Hot Rum Series: results

We lost to this guy. He has a pretty good sailing history. He came in 1st place out of 145 boats. We finished in 72nd place...the upper half! & 15th out of 35 in our class...still the upper half. It was fun.

Rum Caliente, Dos

Ross, Dave, Bill, Gene, Nita & Kirsten racing to the finish line.

Hot Sailing Action

The wind calmed down greatly for the Hot Rum II race, so much so that this time the course was shortened mid-way by the race committee so that everyone could get back to the docks & the bar before dark. We did well (we love light air) finishing in the top half of our group. Here we are rounding the mark, Kirsten on the bow and your's truly with the spinnaker sheet.

y swap

It's almost Thanksgiving and that can only mean one thing. Time to start preparing for the yankee swap. This year, to make things simpler, I propose that we do the actual swap using "skype". This way it can be more real-time. So, Dave, your assignment is to download and install skype (if you do not already have it), after which we can do a test call. For the rest of you, all you need to do is have your $25 gift wrapped and ready for the 25th. At either location. That's it for now. More later.

Now That's Sailing!

Picture the largest wave you've ever ridden. See it taking form behind you as you prepared to swim or paddle into it. Recall how if felt as it took hold of you and began to propel you through the water.

Well, that was nothing.

In the first of three Hot Rum races, Ross and I had just completed a five-mile leg that began inside San Diego Bay and ended well out into the Pacific. We were crewing for a guy named Eugene on his J105 (a 35-foot boat), called "Vamoose." Ross was trimming jib and I was trimming main. That first leg was predominantly a beam reach, but as we rounded the first mark, we turned onto a run, and so put the swell directly behind us. It was therefore much more noticeable than it had been.

The first wave to reach us was easily ten feet — perhaps more like twelve. Another boat rounded moments behind us and the wave lifted it first, so that although it was overlapped with us, it was for a moment four or five feet higher up than we were. We were basically looking at the underside of its hull. It was about half out of the water and then, a moment later, so were we — surfing. I should mention, by the way, that the wind was blowing a sustained 25 knots with gusts to 30.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

All the way out on that first leg, our minimum speed was eight knots, with bursts of acceleration up to nine and more — speeds rarely achieved in this particular class of boat. Everyone on board was just having a blast (there were three others in addition to Eugene, Ross, and me), so we were all a bit disappointed when, moments after rounding that first mark, the Race Committee broadcast that it was abandoning the race. Seems the conditions were so severe that the race marks wouldn't stay put, despite being held by anchors and chain. They drifted literally miles away.

In fact, that first mark that we rounded was not actually a race mark at all, but was instead a channel buoy that everyone seemed to have decided to round because the race mark was missing. That was an adventure in itself. As we approached it our tactician brought us closer to it that we meant to be — almost close enough to reach out and touch it. Just then we stalled (we had, perhaps, entered the lee of one of those large waves). We all held our breath, wondering whether we would roll right into the buoy, which would have been rather messy. Fortunately, we picked up speed and shot safely past the buoy.

One of the great days of sailing! The Hot Rums, I should mention, are a racing tradition in San Diego — three fun races that sort of extend the sailing season into the autumn because no one wants to see it end. They start in the bay, go out into the ocean, and finish back in the bay; it's not unusual to have a hundred boats, of all classes, competing. (Starting's always interesting, even in calm conditions.) Naturally, when you finish racing you go back to San Diego Yacht Club and drink rum, which his how the races get their name. So, two more Hot Rums to go — one next Sunday and the last two Sundays later. Perhaps we'll get an entire race in next time.


P.S. Emma Gets Her Fifteen Minutes

You may have heard some nonsense or other about a big earthquake drill that was staged recently out here. A local paper — the North County Times — dutifully provided coverage. It sent a photographer out to Mira Costa College to see if he couldn't get a shot that somehow encapsulated things. Sure enough, the front page of the issue for Friday, November 14 featured a picture of purposeful people striding briskly about in a parking lot while one person, apparently finding it all a bit silly, sat and read. That person was our Emma! I'm hoping to find an on-line copy of the photo, but for the moment have only one, paper-and-ink copy here at home.....

Supporting Marriage Equality

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Don't Tread on Emma

 

Perhaps you'll remember a little item in this blog from a while back, telling of the Aikido test in which Emma advanced from blue belt to brown. An achievement, certainly, but it left one more color (or is that the absence of all color?) for her to work toward.

Two weeks ago, she had her chance. By then, she had progressed to second kyu (mid-level brown) and was asked to test. The yudansha (black belts) acknowledged in advance that she might do so well as to join their ranks, but that would require her to move up two levels — by no means a certain thing. If she didn't have sufficient ki (or "schwartz," as Mel Brooks might say), she could always be promoted to first kyu (highest-level brown), and no shame in that.

The day arrived — the Friday of a week in which she had already endured four midterm exams. Talk about stress! That afternoon she and I cleared the furniture out of the living room and practiced all manner of attack and defense, just to warm her up.

And, finally, the test itself. She was great! I know that the fellow flying through the air in the photograph would agree.

If you remember that earlier blog entry, you'll remember it said that the yudansha sit in a line in a corner of the dojo, the better to judge everything the test-taker does. So, an added wrinkle: As a fairly new recipient of a black belt, I was one of them, sitting in judgment on Emma. It's possible I was more nervous than she was. When she had done all she would do, the yudansha had gathered to confer, and it came my term to comment, I began by saying, "I might be a little biased...." And it was quickly decided that that was all I would be allowed to say; I was given a pass.

The others, however, loved her performance, and so she is now Sho Dan — first-level black belt!

Law and Order, SVU

Did anyone see last week's episode? Elliot's mother lived on "Long Beach Island".

More brushes with fame

Today I took Cher to Gloucester, where I was photographed for a tourism brochure, sailing in a picture perfect postcard of autumn in New England. Perhaps someday I will see it and be able to share it with you. For now, this photo of They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships will have to do.

The whole story: Rosemary wanted to go up and see her (liberal cool) cousin Teri who lives in Gloucester and Teri agreed to show us where I could put my boat in while they took the dog for a walk on the beach. So she took me to Annisquam where there was an inlet not much wider than the lagoon we all love to navigate. So off i went, downwind where I noticed a man on the shore taking numerous photos of me. I hope he got my Red Sox knit cap in the photo (wait till next year!).

Before long I came upon a footbridge spanning the inlet with no way to get through. The photographer had made his way to the bridge and was still snapping away. Rosemary and Teri appeared on the bridge also, apologizing for the error. This is when they found out why the guy was taking photos. So I tacked back to where I had put in, against a mighty tidal current, which was tricky. Teri had this to say: "Sorry, but I'm not a sailor so I didn't know!"

Next she took me to various ocean beaches. No, that won't work either, waves crashing against rocks ala the Maine coast... I explained I needed something a little more protected than that.

The lightbulb went off and she took me to a road that dead ended on a tiny beach right on Gloucester Harbor. Perfect!!

Nobody sails there anymore.

It's too crowded.

Post-Debate

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

A Sad Day in Sailing

Better Late Than Never

Look out San Diego Derby Dolls, here comes Linda

Angerica and I roller skated along the Charles River yesterday. It would have been a good idea to google "how to stop on roller skates" beforehand. But all went well, at least until we were on our way back to where the car was parked, and were passing by Fenway Park, which was in between games and there were hundreds of fans wandering around and sitting at sidewalk tables drinking beers. OK you know what comes next. Yes the sidewalk began a slight downward slope and I wiped out right into a bouncer who was standing at the entrance to one of the establishments, landing on my butt, while my sunglasses, hat & the soda I was carrying also went flying. Literally hundreds of people were staring at me. Angerica said "it could have been worse, there could have been tv cameras around". Fortunately I was wearing a red sox t-shirt so there were no hard feelings.

R U Smarter Then a Fith Greater ?

Finally somebody is. Click the title to find out.

Robin to the Rescue

Who's there for ya baby, the US Coast Guard or Robin?

why two times

Today we thought we had a window of opportunity - there was no rain, lightning or thunder in the immediate future, so Dave, Ross and Graham went out on various sunfishes, Linda and Stuart on the Vanguard 15. After straightening out some technical difficulties with the main halyard, Stu and Linda made slow progress paddling down the lagoon toward the bay. When they finally made it to the bay, a storm was visible. They managed to capsize twice before turning around to return to the dock and not before it began to pour. Now Lauren had made us promise before we left that we would tell her if we capsized, which we did. Why twice? a her question. "Because we weren't out very long."

Fun with playdoh

We almost missed Carousel because we were having too much fun with Play-Doh!

Three on a sunfish

Saturday, my "little sister" and I went to day camp on cape cod, where we played kickball, made tie-dye t-shirts, practiced archery and swam in the pool, but of course the most fun was sailing on a sunfish. Angerica didn't want to go out on a boat, so I took another "big" and her "little". Three on a sunfish, what fun!!! Meanwhile, after a bit more gentle persuasion by the camp counselors, Angerica decided to give boating a try.

The Graduate & Friend

Up, Up & Away

Perhaps a bowline would have worked better?


NORTH BATTLEFORD, Saskatchewan (AP) -- A skydiver's hope to set a new free-fall record might have come to an end Tuesday when his ride to the sky left without him.

The helium balloon Michel Fournier was going to use to soar to the stratosphere detached from the capsule he was going to use to jump from 130,000 feet (40,000 meters).

It happened after the balloon was inflated on the ground at the airport in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. The balloon drifted away into the sky without the capsule.

Ocean Sunfish

The Ocean Sunfish, otherwise known as Mola Mola.

I went on a long distance (2 days & 2 nights) ocean bird watching trip a couple of weekends ago and at about 100 miles offshore we came across a couple dozen of these guys. Weird looking fish they are. They were eating the large jellyfish that were also out in this area known as Tanner's Bank. A good fish to name a sailboat after.

Today's NY Times Xword Puzzle (for Stu)

see 27 down.

Opening Day Regatta

We led the fleet for the first 2 1/2 hours but we lost the lead and finished in second place. A good race and a fine party afterwards.

Tribute to Sox Hitters Past & Present

Click on the title to watch the video

End of Big Papi's Batting Slump?

Perhaps this was the cause?

Click here.

Spring Arrives

Approaching the Mark

A Day at the Races

There we were, on the first leg of the first race, close hauled on port tack, among the leaders after a nice start, Dave at the tiller, Ross sitting on the cabin top to hike moderately hard. In response to nothing in particular (the wind was steady, the water flat) Ross adjusted his position — only slightly, but enough to lose his balance, fall backwards through the companionway, strike the back of his head on the coaming, and fall to the bottom of the boat, knocked unconscious for just a few seconds.

Ai yi yi! Yet he came to almost right away and answered repeated insistence that we should return to the dock with repeated refusal. He lay there a while and, after we were both satisfied that he had recovered, we went on to…win the race. We were third around the first mark (after our little "moment" led us to overstand it), but passed both boats ahead of us on the downwind leg, and stayed ahead on the second upwind and downwind legs.

Naturally, in the second race I asked Ross whether he would be willing to knock himself unconscious again, since it seemed to work so well for us, and would you believe it? He said no! Whatever happened to taking one for the team? This race, the most he was willing to do was whack his arm hard enough against a bulkhead to raise a lump and, predictably enough, we only came in third. That result had nothing to do, of course, with the helmsman making bizarre decisions on downwind legs.

And so it went. Our worst finishes came when Ross merely cracked a fingernail or almost (but not quite) fell overboard (a fifth, out of ten, in both cases). Once again, of course, the helmsman's tactical decisions and performance could not be faulted.

In the fifth and final race, Ross was kind enough to wrench his knee, and so our performance improved — we finished third once more. And so, a third place finish over all, with no one (permanently) hurt and nothing damaged (except for the other boat in the collision I didn't tell you about, in which of course we were blameless.)

Ah racing!

Tea Party - Raven Riddle

`You should learn not to make personal remarks,' Alice said with some severity; `it's very rude.'

The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all he said was, `Why is a raven like a writing-desk?'

`Come, we shall have some fun now!' thought Alice. `I'm glad they've begun asking riddles.--I believe I can guess that,' she added aloud.

`Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it?' said the March Hare.

`Exactly so,' said Alice.

`Then you should say what you mean,' the March Hare went on.

Wetsuits are for Wimps

Went for my first ocean swim/bodysurfing of 2008 yesterday. Waves were great. Water was a chilly 59. It took me about 10 minutes to get "all in' but it was worth it!

Full Wetsuit Required

http://www.surfline.com/video/video_player/video_player.cfm?id=13885

I'm in the 500 Club!

Click here!

We've worked out the kinks

fluffie has her equipment cooperating and lbilightnin' has found his invites so now we are ready to roll

only .15 miles to go??? oh come on!!!!

because we are also about dogs....

SunfishGirl ! & SunfishBoy ?

Congrats to Sunfishgirl for a great end of the season climb up the ladder to beat msmollin and all those other runners. Let's keep it going in 2008. I have taken up the challenge and logged in my first 1.8 miles yesterday. We are un-officially the MSYC - Crabbing - YankeeSwap - cats & dogs - soccer/football - kilt wearing - Bosox - rummy - surfing and running w/ipod society.

If Tom's not ready

We have Daisy!

Boat Builder races to finish

click on title to read fascinating story...

The Chargers Versus The Greatest Football Team Ever

San Diego Super Chargers

Working at home

How am I supposed to print?


No problem!

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