Saturday, April 25 2009-

Game Plan

-Start at the Western most point of the start line. -Give up speed for heading. Don’t give in to speed. We are not racing against other boats and do not have the capability of their heading. We are racing against the elements, and cannot race another skipper’s race. Our win is crossing the finish line. -When wind allows, head as far South as possible -Be patient. It’s a long day.

The race began with excitement as we prepared the Hunky Dory for the motor out to the start line. There was a light Easterly breeze blowing as we left from the Pier Street Launch. The start line was approximately five miles and our journey began with a prayer led by Mike. Mike and I talked about our strategy for the race as we motored out. The sky was beautiful. There was a ring of foggy haze surrounding the bay, which made seeing the sailboats coming out of Fairhope Yacht Club something special as the boats would appear out of the fog. The waters were smooth. As we went out, "House of Cards" by Radiohead played on the radio. It was very tranquil, and we both seemed laid back, but I was actually feeling anxious on the inside.

Our start time was 9:45, and we approached the other boats at about 9:25. I began to receive contact from Christian on Natural Mystic via a walkie talkie I had loaned him. Mike and I tacked several times, staying on the West side of the start line. It was my idea to try and begin the race as close the middle of the bay as I could. Most skippers, including Christian, started toward the East end of the line. I soon heard from Christian that they had a very light East wind which was helping them and others move toward Point Clear. Mike and I sat in the sun and baked. At times, we even drifted backwards, waiting for the wind. During that time, we had a couple of beers and watched some of the larger boats along the Eastern shore that had more sail footage slowly slip away in the distance. The only movement we had was when I felt a light NW wind blow because the wind was shifting for the day. I winged the sails, and we slowly moved pass a couple of boats. While moving past a giant boat, we called to the crew for a beer. They answered, "What kind?" "How about a draft?" we joked. A gentleman tried to throw one to us, but that beer was soon floating away. Another guy slung two over to us. Nice guys.

Finally, about noon, the wind began to pick up out of the SW, and we started to move. I had my GPS set on Middle Bay Lighthouse.  In the light winds, I sat on the leeward side to provide the boat with a lean to help the sails capture our wind.  We began moving steadily due South.  Mike had brought along a disposable camera.  We found out later that it was the wrong speed of film.  However, as the boats that were ahead of us passed Point Clear and tacked out toward Middle Bay, I got an incredible picture.

 

 

Not following the pack, we continued farther South instead of tacking across.  I was concerned that the current and waves would push us back up the bay.By doing this, tacking boats had to avoid us since we were starboard.  However, in three cases, we avoided the larger boat on  their port tack.  Once we decided to tack, winds started really picking up. 

(The following stats include the motor out to the start line and the tacking to move into the harbor at DI.) Trip Odometer- 35.7 miles Total time- 9:44:40 Time moving- 9:30:43 Max Speed- 9.9 mph Moving Avg.- 3.8 mph

 

 

Saturday, May 9, 2009-

A real family sailing day to remember. Winds were strong in the morning at 15 knots, but slowed by 3:30 to 5-10. Winds were steady and perfect out of the Southwest. Highs were in the upper 80s, and it was partly cloudy. Everyone that owns a boat in the family got thier boat out today. We all launched at the Fairhope Pier, and we beached our boats down by the duck pond on the Fairhope Beach. The day was spent switching boats and taking quick sails out and back. Everyone had a great time. Mom, dad, Beau, Beth, Andrew, Page, Caleb, Beth O., Mike D., Jeanette, his girlfriend, Michael, and Kevin all took part in the fun. I was able to get on all of the boats. Several times, all three boats raced around together. Beau took a spill off of the Sunfish when I went into a hard lean on a beat, and Michael flew off the Cat while trying to trapeze. At the end of the day, Beau and Mike D. capsized the Cat. This led to a motor boat rescue while Dad and I sailed to help out in the rescue. Dad and I hauled Mike D. into the boat. The motor boat aided in righting the Cat and Beau sailed her back in. As Soon and dad, Mike D., and I began sailing back in, the main sail took a spill due to a pin malfunction. The three of us sailed in on the jib. I then walked the Hunky Dory up the coast to the launch to pull out. We also passed out a few flyers about the upcoming Point Endurnace Sail on May 30th. Kevin, Mike, and I ate T-Bone steaks back at the house that evening and talked about the adventures of the day.

 

Saturday, May 30, 2009- The Point Endurance Sail was founded. A lengthy sail for He-Men in small sailboats.

 

Thursday, June 4, 2009-

The Point Endurance Sail introduced me to alot of local sailors, especially from FYC. I met Rick Byrnes that day. He has an S2 down at FYC, and he invited me to skipper the Damn Yankee in the Thursday night race. It was raining terribly the entire afternoon. However, the the rain cleared at 6:00 and a strong SW wind blew for the race. As soon as we got the boat in the water, Rick told me to take te tiller. I never let go after that. I skippered the 5 mile course, racing boats like K'oatic and Stoked. It was a blast. The only mishap was a badly cut heel when I was trying to tack. I came in 3rd in the race. Then all of the skippersd collected at the FYC gazebo for beers and watched a huge thunderhead filled with lightning approach the shore. After that, I met Rick, his wife, and three others at El Hiro's for dinner. It was a great evening.

 

 

Saturday, June 8, 2009-

Beau and I took out Christian and Marty's C&C. It was a great day. We went out about 2:00. Winds were dead for the first hour, and it got hot quick! About 3:00, winds picked up to about 12 knots out of the SW. We had a great time cruising around. We particularly sailed the FYC Thursday night race course to become more familiar with it. We did this to prepare for a race this Thursday night. We got in about 5:00. We wee pretty happy with our crewing seeing how this was our first time out on this boat.

 

 

Tuesday, June 9, 2009-

Solo run. I left off the Fairhope Beach about 3:15. Winds were strong and steady at about 15K. I headed toward FYC because there were five Hobie Cats out. The Cats each had a Special Olympian and a guide on them. They were practicing for Special Olympic events. One Cat capsized and the olympian was picked up in a motor boat. I circled the capsized boat several times and watched as the folks tried to right the cat. It took them about 45 minutes to get her up. I had a great time zipping around, and came in around 5:30.

 

 

Thursday, June 11, 2009-

Rick Byrnes invited us to begin racing in the Thursday night races at FYC. Beau, Joel, and I raced in the C&C. Left out of Fly Creek at 5:50. Winds were steady and strong at 15K SSW. Sailed around until our start at 6:35:30. (The C&C carries a PHRF of 234, hanicapping us by 5 ,mins and 30 secs.) Got off to a great start, but we were on a poor line. By the first marker, boats that started later than us were passing. Beau was skippering and I was running the sails. We both could have done much better. Even though we began ahead of everyone, we finished last. When we came in, the motor would not start. I sailed her into the marina, then a motor boat towed us into the slip. Afterwards, Beau and I headed up to El Hiro's and met Rick and his crew for dinner. Beau and I finished the evening at "My Place" with drinks.

 

 

Friday, June 12, 2009-

Page and I went on a sailing date! We had a wonderful time. Winds were about 10-12K SSW. We left from Pier Street about 5:15, and we came in at 6:30. It was a light sail, mainly using just the main. We were home by 7:00.

 

 

Saturday, June 13, 2009-

SW winds 15K Hot outside. We have been in a heat wave the past two weeks with no rain. (Putting in this entry on June 21.) I took Aidan out in the Sunfish about 4:00. Aidan and I took several trips off the beach. We ran into two other Sunfish racing out of FYC, and we sailed around with them for a while. Aidan and I made sandcastles on the beach. We also saw a huge blimp in the sky that was from the Wind Creek casino. I had never seen that in our area before. The blimp traveled right along the Fairhope Beach and up the Eastern Shore. Aidan left with Gram. I was heading out to race around with the Sunfish, but the started going in. I met a guy and his family on the beach named Jeff Williams, and I eneded up taking him and his kids out on quick sails off the beach. They were very appreciative and they had a great time.

 

 

Thursday, June 25, 2009-

SW winds 15K+. Heat wave has continued, and we have really been in a holding pattern: NW winds in the morning, changing over to SW in the afternoon and remaining steady at 15K+ until around 8 PM. An occassiona, quick thunderstorm pops up, but that has not gotten in the way of the sailing. Mike D. and I raced the Thursday night race out of FYC. Our start time was 6:34. Out of 10 boats, we came in 8th, beating two boats. We were in 2nd around three points, but we were blown away on the the North leg whenb all the spinnakers came out. On a beat, we're definately speedy. Our total time to complete the course was 1 hour 12 mins. Afterwards, we met at the gazebo briefly with the other skippers. We then went back to the poarch and met Michael to hang out a bit.

 

 

Saturday, June 27, 2009-

Still in the same weather pattern from the previous post. IT IS BOILING EVERY DAY WITH NO RAIN! Brought Matthew and his girlfriend, Bailey, out about 4:30. (It the only time to go during the day.) Left out of Pier Street, heading toward the Point Clear platform. Watched Joshua, a 50+ foot schooner, come out of the Grand Hotel Harbor making its' daily charter sail for the tourists. We tacked and beat with Joshua for about a mile, we then tacked under her and dipped just under her stern. We waved at the tourists. It was fun! We then winged the sails and cruised home easily.

 

 

Saturday, July 4, 2009-