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...