Maris Stella Yacht Club and Crabbing Society
Overall April Capri 22 Race Results
1st Place - David Christie
2nd Place - Dennis Burks
3rd Place - Clay Karmel
Friday, April 28, 2006
Friday, April 14, 2006
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Hot Sailing Action!
Last Sunday was the annual Opening Day Race at Harbor Sailboats, a random-leg race all over San Diego Bay in which boats of all classes are welcome to compete. You’ve heard all that before. This year, though, there was a twist: the race committee brought along a video camera and got some exciting footage of the start.
It focuses, at the outset, on a couple of boats already rather out of things, then pans to our great friend and archrival, Steve McNally. He, unlike the others, has lined up his start beautifully: sailing in a boat called Echo just off the wind on starboard, he turns up at just the right moment, trims sails, and looks to reach the line with clear air right as the horn sounds. But suddenly, from nowhere, comes Alpha — its crew constisting of Emma, Ross, and Dave — and smokes him, taking the windward position to win the start.
We may have led at the start, but Steve smoked us at the finish, after a really great race that saw the lead change many times among us, Steve, and a professional sailor named Ray Treppa. At the end it was Steve in first, with us taking third, some two and a half minutes behind him after three and a half hours of sailing. FUN!
The video’s pretty cool. To see it, click here. (And, as we say in the computer biz, the file may take a few moments to load. Please be patient.)
It focuses, at the outset, on a couple of boats already rather out of things, then pans to our great friend and archrival, Steve McNally. He, unlike the others, has lined up his start beautifully: sailing in a boat called Echo just off the wind on starboard, he turns up at just the right moment, trims sails, and looks to reach the line with clear air right as the horn sounds. But suddenly, from nowhere, comes Alpha — its crew constisting of Emma, Ross, and Dave — and smokes him, taking the windward position to win the start.
We may have led at the start, but Steve smoked us at the finish, after a really great race that saw the lead change many times among us, Steve, and a professional sailor named Ray Treppa. At the end it was Steve in first, with us taking third, some two and a half minutes behind him after three and a half hours of sailing. FUN!
The video’s pretty cool. To see it, click here. (And, as we say in the computer biz, the file may take a few moments to load. Please be patient.)
Saturday, April 08, 2006
It's Raining, It's Pouring . . .
And all of it is backing up in front of our house!
This is in front of our neighbor's house. The hazard cones are in front of our house.
The right-hand side is sort of what it's supposed to look like.
Many, many years ago, Myrtle Avenue had cobblestone gutters to handle all of the rainwater that flowed down the street. They worked, but not terribly well. We complained to the town, because the street was collapsing in front of our house, creating a hazardous circumstance (along with many of the neighbors, our cobblestones had long been paved over) (one of our other neighbors had a far more dangerous circumstance as well). Eventually, the town came in with a plan to put underground pipes to carry the water, and belgian block curbs to make the street look nice. But the head of the historic preservation group lives two houses up from us, and so the project had to be reengineered to restore all of the gutters. This would have required an additional assessment, but the town was going to get an historic preservation grant from the state. So far, everyone was reasonably happy (the project was delayed a year, but we could live with it). Then came March, and the town announced that it didn't get the grant but it would do the project anyway. They came in, start taking down trees and digging four - five foot deep trenches. We were all confused, but figured they knew what they were doing. Then they started laying cobblestone (actually - very large rocks) and we realized that this was it - the plan was for a four foot deep trench (or moat, as we all like to call them). Imagine the cars falling in and not being able to get out! Imagine small children falling in and not being able to get out! Imagine the (literally) hundreds of emails circulating among the neighbors and the town! Long story (relatively) short - the mayor comes to view, issues a 'stop work' order, the plan gets (again) reengineered, and they should be starting up again this week. In the meantime, since they're half done (of course, the 'stop work' order came through after digging our moat, but before installing the cobblestones), all the water rushes down the street and now deadends in front of our house. Instant swimming pool!
This is in front of our neighbor's house. The hazard cones are in front of our house.
The right-hand side is sort of what it's supposed to look like.
Many, many years ago, Myrtle Avenue had cobblestone gutters to handle all of the rainwater that flowed down the street. They worked, but not terribly well. We complained to the town, because the street was collapsing in front of our house, creating a hazardous circumstance (along with many of the neighbors, our cobblestones had long been paved over) (one of our other neighbors had a far more dangerous circumstance as well). Eventually, the town came in with a plan to put underground pipes to carry the water, and belgian block curbs to make the street look nice. But the head of the historic preservation group lives two houses up from us, and so the project had to be reengineered to restore all of the gutters. This would have required an additional assessment, but the town was going to get an historic preservation grant from the state. So far, everyone was reasonably happy (the project was delayed a year, but we could live with it). Then came March, and the town announced that it didn't get the grant but it would do the project anyway. They came in, start taking down trees and digging four - five foot deep trenches. We were all confused, but figured they knew what they were doing. Then they started laying cobblestone (actually - very large rocks) and we realized that this was it - the plan was for a four foot deep trench (or moat, as we all like to call them). Imagine the cars falling in and not being able to get out! Imagine small children falling in and not being able to get out! Imagine the (literally) hundreds of emails circulating among the neighbors and the town! Long story (relatively) short - the mayor comes to view, issues a 'stop work' order, the plan gets (again) reengineered, and they should be starting up again this week. In the meantime, since they're half done (of course, the 'stop work' order came through after digging our moat, but before installing the cobblestones), all the water rushes down the street and now deadends in front of our house. Instant swimming pool!
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Sunny Southern Cal
Here's a view of my back yard after a little winter storm blew through — not much for a New Englander, I know, but rather unusual around here. I was supposed to go racing today; I guess I'm glad the skipper discovered some damage to his boat and had to cancel so that repairs could be made.
By the way, Traci & I sailed with the mystery crew, a newbie, because we waited to reserve a boat for so long that there were no longer boats to be had. Sailing with her was the only way we could sail at all. Her name (I think) was Adrian, although she let it be known that she preferred to be called "Elena." So of course I said that my name is David but I preferred to be called Dimitri. No, I didn't really......
Friday, March 10, 2006
The March Lions & Lambs
The racing season has begun here in San Diego. That is, for me it has begun. For Dave it kinda never stops. Anyway, the first races of 2006 out of the Harbor Sailboats Club took place on Sunday, February 26. At race time, 1:00, there was absolutely no wind. We had to keep turning on our engines to stay close to the starting area. The first race start was postponed until the wind came up a little which was at about 1:30. We had a good group of 12 boats with a few newcomers who haven't had much race experience. Dave teamed up with friend Traci and another woman whose name I forget. Kyle and I raced in another boat. D, T & ? sailed well and had two first place finishes but one stinky race out of the five races on the afternoon. They took third on the day. K & I were very middle of the pack and took fifth overall. This Sunday we all race again. We have a big storm coming at us and so Sunday's races may get very interesting. We will see who are the lions and who are the lambs. One thing is for sure, it is going to be a foul weather gear day. I'm psyched. I love bad weather.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Torino 2006 Olympic Games
Final Torino 2006 Olympics Medal Count:
Franklin Lakes/Mahwah, New Jersey: 0
Montclair, New Jersey: 0
Roslindale, Massachusetts: 0*
La Jolla, California: 0**
Carlsbad, California: 1, GOLD, Shaun White, Snowboarding
*Courtney Kennedy, Woburn, Mass(only a snowballs throw away from Roslindale), Bronze, Ice Hockey
**Sasha Cohen's mother lives in La Jolla
Franklin Lakes/Mahwah, New Jersey: 0
Montclair, New Jersey: 0
Roslindale, Massachusetts: 0*
La Jolla, California: 0**
Carlsbad, California: 1, GOLD, Shaun White, Snowboarding
*Courtney Kennedy, Woburn, Mass(only a snowballs throw away from Roslindale), Bronze, Ice Hockey
**Sasha Cohen's mother lives in La Jolla
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
You asked for it...
Another victim who foolishly came up from behind without following proper hunting protocol.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Thursday, January 19, 2006
the bridge to nowhere?
This is the lastest report from New Jersey Audubon...
The Barnegat Light BLACK GUILLEMOT is no longer reliable, but was
rediscovered Jan. 4 and seen again Jan. 12 at the inlet. It
apparently is wandering further south down the bay with unconfirmed
reports from 15th and 18th Streets in the marinas there in Barnegat
Light during the last week. Barnegat Light State Park is hosting a
state record number of Common Eiders with as many as 138 reported
there along with one female King Eider Jan. 6 and 7. Harlequin Ducks
at Barnegat Light State Park total 33, along with 50 Snow Buntings
Jan. 8, several Purple Sandpipers and one Red Knot Jan. 5 to 8.
A DICKCISSEL was discovered in Manahawkin on Jan. 8 at the
intersection of Bay Avenue and Rt. 9 and three ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS
were noted at the bridge to nowhere at the end of Stafford Avenue.
I sure hope these nice birds decide to stay until July 8. See you all then.
The Barnegat Light BLACK GUILLEMOT is no longer reliable, but was
rediscovered Jan. 4 and seen again Jan. 12 at the inlet. It
apparently is wandering further south down the bay with unconfirmed
reports from 15th and 18th Streets in the marinas there in Barnegat
Light during the last week. Barnegat Light State Park is hosting a
state record number of Common Eiders with as many as 138 reported
there along with one female King Eider Jan. 6 and 7. Harlequin Ducks
at Barnegat Light State Park total 33, along with 50 Snow Buntings
Jan. 8, several Purple Sandpipers and one Red Knot Jan. 5 to 8.
A DICKCISSEL was discovered in Manahawkin on Jan. 8 at the
intersection of Bay Avenue and Rt. 9 and three ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS
were noted at the bridge to nowhere at the end of Stafford Avenue.
I sure hope these nice birds decide to stay until July 8. See you all then.
Friday, January 13, 2006
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Goin' Fast
I just read about a boat in the Volvo Ocean Challenge Race that set a new world monohull distance record of 563 nautical miles for 24 hours. That is an average speed of 23.4 knots! Holy Sunfish. The Southern Ocean between Cape Horn and Sydney is howling. I think that Dave is the only one among us to have experienced serious speed in a large sailboat during a race in gnarly weather and his boat was quite a few notches below 23.4 knots. When he returned from that race he looked like he was returning from a war. How do these guys manage to race under these insane conditions? Go faster boat, hold on everybody.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Happy New Year 2006
How I spent my New Years morning (not hung over)...somewhere between yachting and crabbing: pelagic birding on a fishing boat for four hours with the San Diego Field Ornithologists. Short-tailed Shearwater to port!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
How do you vote?
Acting Governor Richard J. Codey unveiled the top five entries for New Jersey's tourism slogan yesterday and asked state residents to vote for their favorite.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
LBI Bumper Sticker Sighting
This morning while driving Kyle to school I suddenly found myself behind a car with an LBI bumper sticker (the one with Barnegat Light as the I). The car ended up going to Kyle's school and dropped off a student. So, I think that I can safely assume that there are two kids going to La Jolla High School that have made exit 63 on the GSP. This sighting amazingly raises the total of LBI sticker sightings to four (one of them being Dave's Honda) in San Diego County. In all four cases the LBI sticker was the only sticker on the car. 3,000 miles away the magic lives. I guess that it is time for me to get one for my car and raise the total to five.
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