One More Time, Maybe....

It was a royal blast to get out on Dazz for the first Wet Wednesday of the year that counts in a series. Except, for us, it didn't count! We have to race two more times before we qualify for a handicap.

Nevertheless, my youngest son came up from Marina Del Ray to sail Dazz for the first time. He, in fact, hogged the helm from start to finish. There was little room for argument: in his hands Dazz crossed the finish line 3rd out our fleet of dozen boats.

Sunny, warm and maybe 14 knots of wind for this 4.5nm course. A good time was had by all aboard as well as family & friends watching from the bar.

Is There Life After Sailing?

I have to take a moment to record and acknowledge an unpleasant development. This moment is about as good as any other.

On the 4th of January, a day after the first race of the new year, I had to be hospitalized. Last week I was again hospitalized and underwent a couple of surgeries. In the middle of this depressing experience, I realized that my time-on-the-water had been terminated by medical exigencies much earlier than I had thought possible. I could not complete a final year campaigning the best boat I ever owned. My disappointment was deep and profound.

My doctors agreed. So, I have placed my bucket boat, the ultimate Laser-for-the-geriatric-set, on the market.

It has been a wonderful life, pursuing performance in Corinthian sailing, the best individual and team sports out there. Where else can deeper friendships be forged among fellow competitors? Where else can you find your level playing field uniquely disheveled, from one day to the next, by the forces of nature? With your wife by your side every day for 45 years?

I never thought I could live without it, apart from it. But I'm going to try.

Hot Rum #2

We were really sad to miss out on this year's second race.

But I was able to stop by after the start long enough to record that all competitors were obeying posted traffic signs.

Celebrating the Past Year of Sailing Together

But it will also be the last year. I barely made it to the party!

On Getting Caught

This was a pursuit race and we were having fun being pursued until we were caught by every boat that finished!

In class, ninth out of nine. In five knots of wind, what are you going to do?

Closing the Year 2014 with Its Opening Race Today

I didn't venture out for this year's Opening Day. I cancelled crew a day ahead because I didn't want to risk my engine in the Harbor's Sargasso Sea. The next day, the Club cancelled it anyways. But it had to be re-sailed because it figures into our Fleet's championship tally.

Today was the day. 5 knots of wind. 14 boats sailed a 4.7nm course. Biggest challenge in the light winds was keeping under-powered boats moving through post storm chop bouncing off the breakwater.

Had a great start. Immediately luffed a boat up to clear our air, and the race was on.

By the end of the 3rd leg, all of the boats behind us were on the horizon. Finished 6th on corrected time and I think that was our elapsed time finish too. 

Very satisfying.

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!