Here we are recovering from another big day, let’s relive the excitement, shall we….???
700 Didn’t have to get up as early today, no skipper’s meeting, just be out at the race course by 1100 start.
800 Arrived to the boat parking area to the reprimands of the tractor organizer; Doug, for being late!! He expressed his disappointment in us and informed us he will reschedule the minions for tomorrow. Now we've done it!
Repeated attempts at computer connections were made, most to no avail. Difficult to log on to the internet as well as get clear cell phone signals in the metropolis of Deltaville (Google-earth it, we dare you) Don't misunderstand, we are not complaining we will gladly sacrifice some communications to be rid or traffic, A-holes, jet skis, etc.
906 Heading off the dock, we have about 5 knots of wind from the southwest. By the time we approach the race area it is fading out, shortly after and it is dead calm. Quite a few sailors went for a swim, we dangled our feet in the water and decided against a swim. The water is a bit chilly for these two Floridians. We did, however, take a moment to query Harry Carpenter about the possibility of getting one of those sweet custom aluminum trailers. We may be in luck...
1100 Postponement flag up, till about noon until the sea breeze came in from the southeast allowing for the start of first race. Lightish winds to start with, which filled in to about 7 or 8 knots from approximately 130 degrees. We did pretty well, kinda nice being near the rock stars (Kelly and Heidi Gough, Jeff and Amy Linton, Ryan Malmgren, the team of Fisher and Eagan), we think were 8th in that race. The right side is generally better, as it was yesterday.
Then between races Dave was just talking with Jeff, saying how surprised he was that the wind hadn’t come in stronger (great, Dave, now you’ve done it!). Within, like, 15 min, the wind was up to 15 or 16, we knew we were done with the long fetch across the Bay (Check the results page, it’s too upsetting to discuss here.) Not long after the breeze arrived the waves followed making starboard tack very challenging to steer especially for the boats with light crew weights. We broke the vang in a big wave on the middle beat and lost a few boats there, and lost a few more on the 2nd downwind while Kim was down below repairing it. With too much weight forward we riding bow down trying to catch a little surf on the waves but it didn’t work to well. At one point we were being passed by surfing boats on either side of us. It was fixed just in time to set up for the spinnaker take down, so we had the use of the vang for the last beat to the finish. I think we would have dropped in to the 30’s if we had not repaired it, so at least we held on for a 24.
Vang on! For an hour or so... Whats up with that?1500 The wind dies again, Amazing, it just HAD to be up for the second race only? Quite unbelievable, but, as they say, that’s sailboat racing. We wouldn’t care quite so much if the forecast for tomorrow wasn’t so foreboding (10-20 mph – whatever) for us lightweights, at least.
1630 Finished gabbing, must head back to the Taj Mahal (our home, here in Deltaville formerly known as the INN) and partake in poolside activities and clean up for the Board of Guv’nor’s Dinner. (yippee)
Marie, Jim and Andrew Davis; new friends from Michigan and Michigan District Governor
1830 or so, aArrive at Eckhard’s Restaurant for the Board of Governors dinner, good drinks and food, chatted with good people, it was more fun that we might have expected. Hans (the local District Governor) is quite pleased and announces to the crowd that they are part of the Biggest Flying Scot event in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD!! We suspect we may be hearing more of this...
2125 Stop back at the yacht club to check results. We’ve jumped to 12th, but anything could happen tomorrow (the best of which - that the forecast will be completely wrong!!) Amy and Jeff are doing really well, and since it’s the Nationals, there are a lot of categories to win. Aside from overall champion (which, they are in the lead for presently), they are also leading the First Time NAC award, Highest Place for Husband/Wife team, Highest Place for boat with woman on board, Highest placing boat with Busch Beer in the cooler (not really, but it seems as though the list gets quite long). We will have to make a reservation for a rental car, or a second trailer for all the hardware those two are going to pick up if they keep going the way they’re going (and that’s just plain ol’ fast!).
Wish us luck! We’ve got a lot of work to do! Hope the wind forecast is wrong.
Hike Dammit Hike!!!
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