Ok, Folks... Game on! Let the Season Begin!

I was kickin' it on the boat yesterday reviewing my to do list, and it's extensive... little Annika, who is not so little anymore, was cruising around the boat playing with the extra bits of line, screw drivers and shot glasses I have stashed in the navigation table when I realized that it was only one week away until I do my annual pilgrimage to Svendsen's for the usual bottom paint, hull buff and a week or two of daily work to the boat to make her ship shape and ready roll for the first day of racing which is fast approaching. I haven't been all that excited about sailing since it's been winter, but the Spring keel regatta where I did race committee and the annual Spring meeting got me all fired up! I've been studying all the pictures of top performing boats and scouring them for those minute details that could be the difference between, what? ... a few tenths of a knot? Crazy, but I think about every detail over and over again. How can we improve performance this year? I ain't tellin'. But I am taking some tips from Christoph, tid bits I overheard from Paul Cayard and several other top sailors who may have had loose lips from all those drinks I fed them. Doesn't matter how you get your information, it's weather or not you can incorporate what you've learned into the routine and make it stick. Regardless, I have few tricks up my sleeve and I can't wait for those critical moments to try them out.
While I was having all these powerful thoughts, little Annika found the viking helmet and sword from behind the stern and created a very awesome photo opp. Yes, the Viking Princess has inspired me!

Spring Keel Regatta March 6-7, 2010

The first regatta of the season began this last weekend and started off like so many mid-winter events do... in postponement. So, what do you do when you're not in the regatta, but doing race committee while you wait? Practice tying knots, review race rules and talk smack about Larry Ellison now finally having the opportunity to redeem himself as a quality human being now that he's reached the top. Hey, What was that sound?
Something is wrong with this picture.
Oh, Snap! The hoist broke and this big chunk of metal slammed down on some poor dude's deck punching a hole through it. It's OK... no Folkboats were harmed in this accident. But a Moore 24 will be entering a boatyard near you soon. I recommend Svendesen's, but I'm biased. Speaking of which... I didn't race because I haven't had the bottom cleaned since the last weekend of the series last season and well... we'd be slow. I'm hauling out at the end of the month to have maximum bottom, new sails, repair status at full strength with all kinds of new tricks I've been working on all winter when the season starts for real. This regatta didn't count, it was just another way us Cali folks can say ha ha ha to all our Northern European and Scandinavian friends. :)
Brocks all set to go. Had Terry and Kimmi and son rotating crew jobs this weekend.
Upper 50's, low 60's and light winds by our standards made that serious flood a navigable challenge.
Bill Madison lead at the first mark and all the home.

I got to learn how to set and retrieve marks from a PRO... Jeff Zarwell.
For regatta results follow this link. http://www.stfyc.com
Day 2 had only one race with wind at 20 knots Peter wins the race and the regatta on a tie breaker. That sneaky Peter Jeal did it again. Cheeky fellow I say.

Spring Keel Race 1 Weather rounding

First races of the season are always good for getting the rust off and the bugs out and... backwinding your jib at the windward mark. Can't say I've never done this, but look who's leading... Bill Madison! Don't call it a come back, he's been here for years and again showing the fleet his stern. First to the windward mark and first over all at the end of the race.