Progress Report to the Previous Owner

This is the date I wanted to present you Dazz's first 1st-Place glass.

Sadly, I can't do so today. But We came close. In 12 knots and a 14-boat fleet, we were in 2nd place on the second of four legs. Bam! We hit a string of kelp that stopped us cold. Five boats passed us before we were free of its tenticles. The third leg was a spinnaker run and #28259 regained her position, but she could not claim #1.

Here we are fighting off a sister Wyliecat-30 for a 2nd place glass.

Sunset Cruises Are Over-Rated

Raced the course assigned to us, to circumnavigate Oil Platform C. Maximum wind was 7 knots and the average was well below that. For this 11.4nm race, Dazz was on the water a little under 5 hours. She was among the ten boats in the 19-boat fleet which did not finish. Yes, we quit at sundown. But only because I was outnumbered 3:1 in a incipient mutiny. So, the Dazz had been worked hard and had to be put away wet.

In the dark.

To Hell With (Just) Sailing!

I'm going to have to concede that I don't like sailing for the sake of sailing. I haven't wanted to admit that. It's come to me that the logistics are such that it's not worth it to me to go out on the water without the lure of a race.

If I could dial 1-800 how-am-I-sailing from my cell phone, maybe that would make a difference. But without other boats being out there, sailing the same course, I don't really know how I'm doing. And I need that. I need that competitive event. I need that company of boats. Their presence some how validates my efforts and measures my performance.

Otherwise, it's just too much effort. Too much logistics.

Another Confession!

Sailed Dazz in the club's annual Double-Handed/Shorthanded race. I didn't notice that, for this pursuit race, there were two sets of start times for courses with two laps. I had never seen this before. But duh. I had plenty of chance to puruse the start times chart. My mistake.

We were deluded that we were in first place for much of the race. It was a rude awakening during trophy presentation that we had started five minutes early.Those details: they are eluding me.

But we had an enjoyable 6nm sail with my second oldest son, who proved to be the best sailor Dazz has had aboard since her arrival.

Confession!

Woulda finished 4th outta 15 boats had we started correctly. We were both short-handed and late (waiting for crew) for the warm up before the start. In 18 knots we started the wrong start line. Not having recorded a start, we were not rewarded a finish. But gawd were we fast!

Lovely sail!

Das Boot Sails Again!

While I spent four hours losing in the first round of my club's annual dominos tournament, my oldest son was racing Das Boot in his club's holiday pursuit race. I had to admit she's a good sight for my sore eyes!