Sunday Race

Just a quick update on this past Sunday's race at DIYC. The winds have been so consistent lately and the temperatures have been perfect. It has been so good that the race didn't really matter. The batteries on the boat were dead so we had to swap a car battery in to get the boat started but we had an awesome sail once we were underway.

The winds were about 10 knots and no real chop to speak of. I got some helm time around two of the marks of the course. Definitely a great time.

On another note, it looks like I will be crewing on Cool Change for the Egmont Key Race on January 7th. I'm looking forward to that because it is always a great crew to spend some laughs with.

Update

I know, it has been a little while since a recent post. Well I thought something was overdue and since most people on my Facebook could care less about sailing, this is the venue for it, even if it just entertains me.

I've been doing some sailing in the local Tampa Bay waters. The weather has really been cooperating and reminding us why it is so nice to live and sail here. The winds are consistent and the temps are comfortable. I've been out on my friend John Bettini's 28 foot Sabre several times. It was great casual sailing and just great experiences. I had a good amount of helm time on both outings, which is really nice.

Pat and I did the usual Sunday Race at DIYC, which was also great because the winds are great and the temps are perfect. I'm pretty sure there is a race this coming Sunday and I will probably play hooky one day next week since work is kind of quiet with the holidays and all.

I do have some new pics and need to update some to the blog. Hopefully I'll have some time soon for all that. I did however want to include the latest video from the Volvo Ocean Race. I've been following the legs and daily reports on Youtube.

October and November Sailing

Well, again I have fallen short on some posts and helping to build this blog into what I'd like it to be, a cool place to come and see sailing stuff and a record of some of the things I'm doing. Here is a quick recap of some of my sailing stuff. Pat and I have been racing in the DIYC Sunday Races on Rebel Rose. The winds have been awesome since fall is hear. We've done well and most importantly had a good time. There has also been some casual sailing as well. I invited a friend to come sailing and watch the MacDill Air Force Base Annual Air Show. It was really cool to being anchored off the base's markers in the Bay and watch the jets fly over you. The real cool show was watching the Thunderbirds scream across the sky and right over us on several occasions.

Last Sunday I had a great time with friends as we did Sunday afternoon sail on my friend's Sabre. What an awesome boat. Only 28 feet but so comfortable. I can only imagine how nice a 30-34 would be. I was also given a bunch of helm time and had a great time sailing down the bay. Needless to say that these little experiences are the reminder of what I want and it provides just a taste of what I would be doing on my own boat.

On another note, there has been some really cool racing going on around the world. The America's Cup World Series Races are about to start this afternoon in San Diego, the 3rd location for the 2011 races. Should be plenty of video on Youtube if you miss the actual live streaming. There is also the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 which is posting new videos all the time. Check them out on Youtube as well.

Hopefully I get some sailing this coming weekend with good winds.

Sailing!

Well time for some updates. Not a lot to report but the season is getting really nice for sailing. Pat and I raced a couple of Sunday's ago on Rebel Rose and the winds were awesome. When you have a great sail like that, it is such a high. Let's see if there is some sailing this coming Saturday but definitely a Sunday Race on Rebel Rose again. I don't have any pics because the sail was too nice to go below and get the camera but I'll try again this week.

Attached is the latest video from the America's Cup Uncovered

Updates and Blog Fixes

It has been a while since a post and the main reason has been that Google can make it kind of difficult to operate one account while being logged into another account at the same time. You see, I usually update the blog during a break at work but with my office G-mail running, it would let me log into the blog. I have found a fix for that and now can easily post while not interrupting or disconnected from the work at hand.

As far as sailing goes, well it has basically been nothing other then Sunday races on Rebel Rose. That's OK since the summer months can be kind of boring on the sailing side of things in these parts. When those midday doldrums kick in, they can last the better part of the day. Any hope for wind comes either early morning or real late afternoon. Then again we have had some awesome Sunday winds with building storms and weather systems caused by the heat of the land.

The America's Cup has been awesome to watch. They have already completed two World Series Races and the 3rd for the year is coming up in San Diego in a couple of weeks. Below is the latest Uncovered episode.

Anyway, now with this fix to the blogging, I'll be able to update more frequently again on the personal sailing, The America's Cup races and some pics along the way. I found out that I had some followers so maybe I'll pick them back up.

Not A Lot to Report

Well I have been a little lazy about blog posts but it has not been from a lack of interest, rather more attention in other areas like work. I have been doing some sailing but not as much as usual. I have done a few Sunday Races with Pat on Rebel Rose and those have been great because they are really the only sailing I'm doing these days. Work has me pinned a bit and I have had to pass on the Thursday Night for the time being. I did go out on Jessie's O'Day a couple of Fridays ago, after work. It was a good sail with a stiff breeze but because the winds could have built, we decided to go with a storm jib. It was a good choice as the other would have had us well heeled over.

I did meet this past Saturday with Sharon, Reggie's sister to help clean out his boat. We removed all his personal effects along with all the valuable items that were extra and not part of whatever may end up happening to the boat. Very sad to do that chore but also a reminder to reach for the goal of having a boat while one still has the youth and health to do so. She did give me some very nice things of Reggie which I will cherish. She gave me all of his nautical charts but I am especially fond of the two he had hanging in his home, which is a chart of the entire Gulf of Mexico and the chart for the Tampa Bay to Havana. I have had them both nicely laminated and hung in my office. She also gave me some other personal items like the Habana yacht Club hat that he got when we sailed to Key West last year.

I finished the USPS Piloting Course and will be taking the final exam this weekend. I just need to put together a few hours in a block so I can chart the course they asked for in the exam. So as you can see, not much to report. I am looking forward to re-reading the Weather Course book. I found that information so interesting and would like to refresh the material or getting my head around it a little better.

Here are some cool videos I have been keeping up with on The America's Cup



Checkout how fast these catamarans can take off

Updates

Well it is about time that an update is in order. I sailed last Thursday for the first races in the DIYC Thursday Night Racing series. We practiced on Cool Change the Sunday before, doing nothing but Spinnaker gybes back and forth, up and down the bay. That practice obviously came in very handy as well had a spectacular race this past Thursday. We led our competition and even ended up in the middle of the fleet that started ahead of us.

I am into my 3rd week of the USPS Piloting course and it is very cool. I'm learned how to chart lattitude and longitude, measure distance and use a plotter to determine true and magnetic bearing. All good so far and very interesting. I will say that it is kind of a pain in the ass to work out of two books but that's the way it's structured. I did get the results of my USPS Weather Course Exam and I got a 95, only missing 5 question. Two of those were related to reading the surface analysis, so my answers were in the back park with regard to where the wind was going and where it was coming from. I mean come on there is not a whole lot of difference in answering W versus WSW. Never the less, I'll take it.

After the Piloting course is over, I look forward to reviewing the weather material from scratch again, just to make sure I have a good handle on it. I have found this material very interesting. I've even given some of the Thursday Night crew a lesson on weather each time we have been out, and now that seems to be expected of me. It's a great way to review.

In the interest of not making this all text or about me, I've posted a new link to one of the latest videos from the America's Cup AC45 boats. Check it out, if there is anyone out there...

Sailing

Well here is the latest update on my current activities. My sister is still in the long recovery process so I have been spending my Friday nights and the better part of my Saturdays at their house helping to watch over the girls, my nieces. I did take my final exam for the USPS Weather course and am waiting for the final results. I think I did very well and the final week of review and re-reading everything was a tremendous help. I find myself mentally reviewing what I have learned and have been trying to make it a morning habit of looking at synoptic surface maps of current conditions and also looking at forecast information for the Tampa Bay area, which is home for me. I have some cool weather links on the side of this blog for anyone who may be interested in following along and getting the information.

I have found a real interest in understanding the weather and look forward to reviewing the course manual once I have some more time. Right now that does not seem very possible because immediately after the weather course, the Tampa Power Squadron started the Piloting course and I am taking that course now. I think I am well on my way of meeting the goal to have weather and piloting done by end of the year. The only thing left for the yearly goal would be to get advanced piloting done but I'm leaning towards making that happen towards the end of the year. My immediate plan is to finish piloting and spend the next couple of months reviewing the weather and piloting course material again.

As far as sailing goes, we were not able to practice last Thursday because a bad storm that rolled into the area and cause a lot of rain and other not so good things. Needless to say that sailing was not going to happen given those conditions. I must say that it was kind of cool to look at forecast maps and make the determination that I knew it was going to be ugly.

The group from Cool Change did meet this past Sunday to practice Spinnaker Gybes both in theory and on the water. It was pretty good and we were able to shake the dust off our skills and get it done. The first of this season's Thursday Night Races at DIYC is this coming Thursday and I'm looking forward to it. I especially look forward to my forecasting the conditions and determining how right or wrong I am going to be.

Updates on Sailing

It has been a few weeks since a post but between work and my sister that got sick and was in the hospital, things have been a little busy. Add to all that my weather course that was getting towards the end of class where everything learned was coming together - needless to say I had my hands full.

As far as sailing has been concerned, I sailed a few weeks ago at the request of family members for my friend that passed away. I was asked to sail his boat so that the family could honor his memory on his boat. I took off that Friday afternoon and it was a spectacular day for sailing. The previous days were affected by a front that came through the area where the weather was obviously crappy but that Friday after the front had passed, the winds were a perfect 15-18 knots out of the northwest with clear skies. We set sail around 2pm and had a direct broad reach all the way from the St Pete Pier to the Skyway Bridge. We crossed under the bridge and headed towards Egmont Key. After our little remembrance for Reggie, I suggested reefing the mainsail and it would be a close hauled point of sail all the way back. We arrived back right at sunset and we all agreed that we could not have asked for a better day.

I was very happy to be invited to such a special occassion but I was also very happy to test my skills at analysing the winds, forecasts, my suggestions for point of sail and the decision to reef the main for the beat back. It is a good sense of accomplishment to know one has the tools and skills to prepare for what conditions are expected and what is actually going on while on the water. The boat handled beautifully and needless to say, I think Reggie would have been proud...

I had a Sunday race that same weekend at DIYC but the wind conditions were much different. It was a slow start just drifting along to first mark but as the afternoon developed, so did an onshore breeze that made the rest of the race a lot of fun. I helmed for some close hauled point of sail and had a great time with the group on Rebel Rose.

On another note, tomorrow is the final exam for the weather course and needless to say I am in the process of reviewing, testing myself and reading the final chapter I did not get to before because of everything I had going on with the family. I'm planning on a good score for the final exam and starting next week, the Piloting class will begin here in Tampa.

That being said, it seems I will have some great sailing experiences to build my skills on this year and as far as course are concerned; I'll have Boat Safety, Seamanship, Weather and Piloting course done in the first half of the year. At this rate I might be able to get advanced piloting in by end of the year and maybe a navigational course. I'd consider it a real successful year if I could get through all the piloting. Then I can focus the rest of my time in reviewing the weather course and the material learned in the piloting class.

I've added some new weather links on the side bar that I know will serve me and hopefully serve anyone who happens to read this blog.

Updated Sail

I met up with Pat and several other sailors for last Sunday's DOYC race. The start was very slow with almost no wind and a very hot and slow beginning. After rounding the first mark, the winds picked up and we had an awesome sail the rest of the afternoon. The winds were a consistant breeze that kept the boat making great progress. I did mostly sail trim but also had some helm time which felt great.

It was a very exhilerating feeling at the helm with the sails full on a close hauled point of sail and the boat healing over. Definitely an awesome rush.

On another note, there are only a few weeks left of the Power Squadron's Weather course and it feels good to have a much better understanding on weather and forecasting. The manual is definitely a great reference source that I will rely on as a refresher and relearning as I go. I was also told that immediately following the weather course, they are going to provide the Piloting course. I'm signed up for that and looking forward to that as well. It seems I'm making great progress on my goal of weather and piloting being completed this year and with any luck, especially since it is early in the year, maybe I can get an Advanced Piloting class done as well.

For anyone out there that reads this blog, stay tuned and more to come.

Cheers!

Loss of a Sailor

The last 24 hours have been a sad time. My good friend and fellow sailor, Reginald Peniston suffered a severe stroke and did not survive. I am saddened by the loss of a good friend, a good man and a fun sailor. I will always be thankful for his friendship, the conversations, the opportunities to sail with him and the reward of a cold beer afterwards. I will cherish those special memories for a lifetime.



This picture was taken after our return from Key West in 2010.

Interesting Article on Sailing in the Dry Tortugas

I read an article in this month's Sail Magazine and it was regarding the Dry Tortugas. Sounded pretty cool and since they are relatively close to Key West and the west coast of Florida, I thought I'd share.

Enjoy!

http://sailmagazine.com/cruising/destinations/dry_tortugas_adventure/index.html

Higher Learning

I thought I would post that today is the first class of The Tampa Power Squadron's 10 Week Weather Course. I'm looking forward to the class and learning all there is to know about forecasting and weather conditions. I think it will make me a more informed racer and crew to the team, plus a great piece towards my goal of long distance cruising at some point in life.

I'll update from time to time how the class is going and what I've learned.

America's Cup AC45 Pics

I thought I'd share a copy of a link that shows some of the pictures of the new AC 45 Multihull sailboat, that is planned to be raced in the America's Cup. Check out the link with multiple pictures...

http://www.americascupmedia.com/index.php?fn=folio&co=1&FolioID=84&lang=en&numpage=1&pre=g



Checkout the fabrication and trials of the America's Cup AC 45

Pictures from 2011 Egmont Key Race

I'd like to thank my friend Jennifer Davila for always being so much fun on the Cool Change crew. She always has an entertaining way to look at and explain things. I'd especially like to thank her for the pictures she took of me during the very cold 2011 Egmont Key Race.

It was chilly all day and dropping as the day went on.



Trimming Spinnaker on the way back from Egmont Key to Davis Island Yacht Club.



At the helm prior to the race, while courses and other details are being computed by the rest of the crew.

Cool Navigation Tool

I read this article a while back related to how some people are using hardware like the IPAD to help in their navigation during extended cruises. I can definitely see how it would be cool to have navigational charts, personal notes on the e-charts and having a piece of equipment taking up so little space while being so functional.

On the other hand, I can't help but think that it is still very important to keep paper charts of the area being traveled, keeping DR positions on the paper chart and being familiar with the ability to do the traditional navigational methods like the old salts did before such advancements. Never the less, I hope anyone who follows this blog will enjoy this article and find it interesting.


http://www.sailmagazine.com/boatworks/electronics/ipad_app_review/


Here is the previous article related to the one above. It has some other cool information on other applications for the Apple Iphone or Ipad.


http://sailmagazine.com/gear-and-reviews/the_top_iphone_apps_for_sailing/


Cheers!

2011 Egmont Key Race @ DIYC

This past Friday after work, I helped Martin move Cool Change from her slip to one of the docks at Davis Island Yacht Club. We motored over and rafted up to another boat so that we could all meet at the club in the morning and be set to start the race from the club. If Friday after sunset was any indication of the temperatures, it was going to be a chilly race as the day progressed.

Saturday morning before the race was beautiful. We met at the club and had a hearty breakfast prior to loading everything on the boat and getting her ready. The winds were forecast to be in the mid teens throughout the day, which would make for a much faster race then previously thought. The direction of the winds and the directional forecast throughout the day meant that there would be very little Spinnaker sets, if any. Our start was competitive and we held close to the competition from the start to the first mark. One of our competitors reefed their mainsail a little early and we stayed with the full main until just prior to rounding the first mark. That was a wise move because the distance from the first to the second mark was a beat to windward. This is Cool Change's strongest point of sail and we really put some distance between us and our usual competition. After rounding the second mark we sailed straight for the Skyway Bridge but not without throwing in a tack for good measure, allowing us to make the span and prevent a necessary tack in the traffic of other sailboats competing and fishing boats camped out close to the bridge.

It should be noted that the day was sunny and beautiful but not without some wetness. Because of the winds and the long fetch of the winds over the bay, it made for choppy conditions. The deck got soaked as did I with my spot on the rail. I went below and put on my foul weather gear. It was great, I was now warm and dry. We rounded the bell at Egmont Key and started out climb back up the bay. By this time the winds were clocking further north meaning a Spinnaker set would be difficult. never the less we set the Spinnaker and I trimmed for this leg between the bridge and the mark. It was difficult because the winds continued to clock northward and I was flying a symmetrical Spinnaker like an Asymmetrical. We ended up dropping the Spinnaker and using the jib because we were not making the mark given the wind direction and our line. After rounding the mark we reset the Spinnaker and had an awesome sail to the final mark. It was short but quick because of the Spinnaker. This sail increases our speed by a little more then half a knot and over time, it makes a big difference.

Our sail from the last mark to the finish line was also a beat to windward and there was no need for a tack. We continued to head to windward in the lifts and very little falling off when the wind would take a small shift forward. By this time the sun had set and the temperature was dropping. I was still very warm in my foul weather gear. We crossed the finish line and were able to take the boat back to her slip immediately following the race. We headed back to the club for a bowl of chilly and drinks with friends.

It was an awesome day and even though we were the first in our class across the line, our finish put us in 4th because of corrected time. We sailed fast and efficient, the only thing that beat us today was rating and time we needed to give the other boats in our fleet. Still, I had a great sail and awesome experience today. It was beautiful, windy and long. It helped a lot that I was warm and dry. I didn't take any pictures but Jennifer did and once they are posted, I will add them to the blog.

Cheers!

The 34th America's Cup

What has become of the America's Cup? On the one hand I feel this race has gotten away from the classic monohull boats that were the staple of the race in past history and on the other I can appreciate the advancements in design and cutting edge technology that exists today. Far worse is the fact that they have also made the race so out of reach for competition that it is almost not even worth watching. The money that it takes to be a competitive team is so unrealistic that it has become the race of billionaires and I believe is turning off it's audience.

Don't get me wrong, I am pulling for an American victory but with the most recent race still so fresh in my mind, it really was no big deal. There were only two competitors in a best of 3 races, which was decided in only 2 race because one boat way surpassed what the other team could put together. Add to that the trade off of gentlemenly sportmanship for the new age litigation and lawsuit mentality of today. By the time the race finally happened I felt myself almost pulling for who seemed to be the more gentlemenly and sportsman of the two, Ernesto Bertarelli and Team Alinghi.

Less we forget that the race actually suffers from the lack of interested commerical sponsorships. I don't understand why any company would want to spend the millions it takes to be a sponsor for such a short race series and such few competitors. With so many other major sailing races around the world, sponsors have their choice of more affordable and greater returns on investment with other races and race models. While we are on the topic of sponsorship, how much are the cities really getting out of it? The locations make all kinds of concessions on land and building on prime waterfront real estate to make this race happen in their area but I really have to wonder if Valencia got their monies worth for such a short 2 races in 2010.

So here we are January 2011 and it has been annouced that the race will be another Multihull race which will take place this time in San Francisco. I don't know any other details but I can't help thinking how much I would prefer a race consisting of multiple teams competing for the prize. Maybe even hoping for an affordable and mutual agreement on boat design so that it is realistic to have other competitors in the race. The result would be a race won by a team of sailors and not a design team beating out another design team.

So that's my 2 cents worth and I guess in 2013 we will see what has become of the America's Cup. I do have to admit this though, I have attached a cool video of what these multihulls are capable of and I have to acknowledge that the speeds are simply amazing. Boat design, all be it in the multi million dollar range, has come a very long way from the original America's Cup boats.

The Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race

My friend Pat Green suggested I add some other stuff related to sailing on my blog and I thought that was a excellent idea. Although I find my sailing entertaining, many other that are a mystery too me may find my posting boring. So in an effort to keep anyone out there entertained, I've decided to post any other random sailing stuff I find interesting.

Today I'd like to add some information on a really cool race and a slide show I found on Youtube for the most recent race of The Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race, which occurres every December 26th, Boxer Day. Wikipedia has a brief description which I have attached. The link is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Sydney_to_Hobart_Yacht_Race

Check out this awesome slide show of some of the pictures taken during this past race which happened on December 26th 2010.



Cheers!

First Sunday Race of 2011 - NOT!

After an awesome sail on New Years Day, I was looking forward to the first Sunday Race of 2011 with Pat and crew on Rebel Rose. The conditions were awesome for a good race, much like the previous day's winds but overcast and maybe a little lighter in the wind gust department. Never the less, we had a great start and were climbing to the first mark. We stayed ahead of the pack and round the mark just behind a competitor who had finally caught up at the mark. As we were sailing toward the second mark we noticed a Laser that was dis masted and just bobbing along. We decided to ditch the race and offer this guy a tow back to the club. After packing in the sails and throwing him a tow line, we began the long motor back to the club.

Because of our actions we did not finish the race but because of the tow and helping a stranded competitor, we earned ourselves a 2nd place for this race. Too bad we didn't finish the race, it would have been fun. At least we helped someone out and if they say karma is a bitch, maybe we earned some browny points.

New Years Day Sail

Ok so old habits die hard and I am a few days behind on some sailing updates to the blog. Well here goes! After this past New Years Day, I think every New Years Day should be spent Sailing. I met up with Reggie and Janice to go sailing on his Catalina 309, the beautiful boat I sailed on when we went to Key West in mid 2010. The day was beautiful with consistent winds in the 10-12 knots range with some gusts in the upper teens. The weather was cool and sunny the whole day. We quickly sailed out of the basin and headed towards Apollo Beach, truly an awesome ride. We tacked around a channel mark and I helmed all the way back to the basin. It was real nice to get some helm time, especially in those conditions. The boat handles beautifully and it was an exhilarating sail.

As I neared the pier, which marks the entrance into the basin, the winds kicked up to 18-19 knots and I was experiencing a good amount of weather helm. The set up on this boat is great for single handling so I reached for the jib sheet on the winch and eased her out in order to spill some wind. That allowed her to come back to a nice heel versus being on her shoulders. I think you can tell from the pictures that I really enjoyed myself today.

After the sail we went for a New Years beer and just had great conversation for a while afterwards. I think this is a great way to start a new year, each year. Some people may eat certain bean or meals to bring good luck in the coming year but I think I will be satisfied if I kick off every New Year with a sail.

Cheers and best wishes to all my friends in 2011!