Port !

set-up1, originally uploaded by rosschristie.

Imagine a very fast boat (Stars & Stripes) at least twice as large as this one that is coming at you on port tack while you are in a considerably smaller sailboat on a starboard tack. You have the right of way but does the other boat really see you? And it keeps getting closer and closer......

On Sunday, Dave took us (Emma, her friend Sarah, Kyle & I) out on Blue Canoe, a 32 foot Ericson. I was a beautiful day for sailing and we went out a few miles into the Pacific and seemed to own the ocean. Unfortunately, Sarah began feeling the effects of the ocean swells and so we returned to San Diego Bay for a more comfortable afternoon of sailing. Still, a beautiful day, a nice boat, plenty to eat and drink, who could ask for anything more? As we sailed around the bay we were accompanied by two America's Cup Yachts, Stars & Stripes and Abracadabra that take interested passengers for a thrilling ride up and down the bay. Even though we would be moving along at times at a pretty good clip, 6 1/2 to 7 knots, these big boys would go right past us as if we were anchored. Well, early in the afternoon we were on a starboard tack and heading toward the Coronado Bridge when Stars & Stripes began a port tack run in our direction. It is amazing how quickly that boat can move over water! And it is amazing how nervous you can be as it gets closer and closer and you start to wonder if they see you and are they going to go in front or behind or straight into you? Should we hold our course or go into evasive maneuvers? Or just jump ship and swim for it? I guess that they were just kind of playing chicken with us but we didn't chicken out! They ended up going behind us like a rocket.

Skipper Dave with nerves of steel, true and brave, steady on the wheel, the good sailing vessel Blue Canoe, starboard! or not, an able bodied crew, is that a yacht or a Guernsey Cow?, we crossed Stars & Stripes bow!!!

Fair Warnings

Saturday was a beautiful, warm early autumn day on old Cape Cod, with blue skies and a good strong wind as we waited around to start power washing my friend's house in Truro, where Cher just happened to be sitting in the garage, and a boat launching ramp into Cape Cod Bay just happened to be down the road about a 1/4 mile (if that). Erica stayed home with the napping twins, Rosemary and Gretchen went off in search of lunch, and I of course headed down to the water with my $10 in hand to pay the harbormaster. "What's that you got there? A kayak?" I paused, wondering how I should answer, as a kayak only costs $5 to launch.

I figured no sense irritating the old guy who would undoubtedly notice that my kayak had a sail, so I fessed up that it was in fact a sunfish. "A sunfish!! You wouldn't catch me out there on a sunfish today. No sirree. Them's winds are 30 miles per hour out there." Hmm I thought, I can handle it! After all, I am a 3-time winner of the Barnegat Light Regatta. "You sure you can handle it?" Yes. "You gonna unload that boat all by yourself?" Yes. OK now I am tiring of all the questioning but I offer "I won't be out long - I have other stuff to do today, I'll be back soon". Now the other old salt in the corner who hasn't said anything so far adds the stern warning: "IF you come back!"

I went out, had a lovely sail, and did come back to tell the tale.

Watch out in 2006

Linda's got a brand new crew!

I lost my toy

ok so we decided that it really is ridiculous to have 3 vehicles and one of them had to go. :-(

I've Got a New Toy

What do I like best about my new Prius hybrid car?

Maybe it's the keyless entry. You just walk up to the beastie and, providing you've got the LEG (that's "little electronic gizmo") in your pocket, the car just unlocks itself.

Nah... Maybe it's the performance. You tool along the freeway at 75 MPH or so, under cruise control of course, listening to the CD player, enjoying plenty of space and comfort — just like a real car!

But then, maybe it's that moment when you're driving along, minding your own business, and suddenly you can hear the gasoline engine shut off. There's a moment of panic, inspired by years of experience driving obsolete cars. But then the car just keeps going, and you remember it's got an electric engine too.

But no, the best thing is driving along, setting the LCD panel to display performance statistics, and reading "99.9 MPG." Yeah, that's pretty good......

Two Trophies Make it to Boston

Next year, on LBI?

Saw *this* on the sunfish forum today...

Cape Cod Expedition

Yesterday, Rosemary and I successfully navigated aboard Cher, world famous 14' yacht, from Pamet Harbor (Truro, Massachusetts) to Provincetown Harbor (and back!). It was only our second attempt, having turned back the previous day before reaching our goal, fearing that we would not make it back in time before dark and extreme low tide. This time however, fully stocked with provisions, cell phones, and cash, we made it to the beach in P-Town and were able to secure one frozen mocha freddo and one frozen chai freddo from the "Wired Puppy", check our email and head home. On our way home we encountered the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel.