FUN ON THE WATER

We continue to be involved in sailing, with Cathie crewing "Nice Aft" our Catalina 22 and me sailing our boat while crewing for others in local races when ever possible.  Since our boat is on a trailer it takes considerable time to get ready to sail and to remove it from the water when we're done.  We've decided it's better to launch the boat every couple of months and leave it at a slip for a week or so.  This method seems to be working and we've been getting in some quality sailing here in San Diego Bay.

We usually invite friends for a day of sailing ending up at the dock for hors d'oeuvres and liquid refreshment.  After two years with our boat, we're finally getting the kinks worked out and figuring out the best sail trim for optimum speed.  Our head sail is old and stretched out of shape, so next year we B.O.A.T.*for a new one.  We've raced it a couple to times in the local beer can race but haven't fared too well usually comming in towards the end of the pack.  Not the very end, but close.

I do seem to do better when I crew for someone else.  Perhaps that's because I'm not driving.  I've crewed a couple of times for Larry on his Catalina 36 named Sabbatical.  Currently in first place for the season, it's been fun racing with Larry.  One race involved sailing from San Diego out to Coronado Islands and return.  So you start in the bay, sail out to the North Coronado Island, sail around the island and return. If the wind is right you can make it without tacking.  The wind was iffy to make it without tacking, but Larry figured we could do it.  Just about every other boat in the race had to tack, but we managed to just clear the north island without any room for error. We sailed across the finish line in second place. 

JUST MADE IT!



ROUNDING THE NORTH CORONADO ISLAND

Probably the most exciting segment of any race is the start.  Everyone is trying to time their crossing the start line with the starters signal so it gets pretty crowded.  Collisions are not uncommon, but being across the startling line first puts you in good position to win.

A TYPICAL START

NOW THEY'RE ALL PASSING US!

I sometimes crew for Dave, my sailing instructor.  He also takes new and old students on his boat for fun sails.  Dave, in the red hat is probably thinking, "What did I get myself into".

NOW THAT'S MORE LIKE IT

AT THE HELM WITH MY BACKUP

YOU GOTTA FEED THE CREW

CATHIE AND MARVIN

SUNRISE ON SAN DIEGO BAY

* Break Out Another Thousand