Where's the Wind?

There wasn't much wind in St. Pete for the NOOD race...
There was a lot of lounging around...
Enjoying the sun, warmth, hotel pool and hot tub.
although... the days really were beautiful Florida "winter" days...

The first two days with winds so variable and light, we didn't do so well. It's difficult to know where the wind is going to be on a course in such variable conditions. In one of the first races the winds started out with a breeze, then dropped to nothing like a hot potato. We rounded the windward mark in third, just barely eeking around in the no wind, the winds continued to foil us and we fell back in the fleet.
When the winds finally started to pick up on the third and last day of racing, we placed 3rd in both races.

St. Pete Nude...

I mean, NOOD!!!!!

When I first heard the word NOOD, sounds like nude, I thought, "wow, people sailboat race nude... I mean, I know a lot of sailors (usually cruisers) like to spend time sailing nude, but racing???? hmmm... ouch, but, that might be something worth trying at least once... ;) "

So, what does NOOD, sounds like nude, stand for anyways???
- National Offshore One-Design -
So, in a NOOD race, our J/105 team races on a J/105 against other J/105 teams on their J/105s. makes sense, right ;)
I mean, why race against a boat that isn't the same...

So, here we are, first day in St. Pete (short for St. Petersburg, FL), putting the sailboat in the waters of Tampa Bay, after a short ride from Naples trailering the sailboat with myself, John, Jim, and Ken a close knit together group in the back seat ;) and Rob and Sandy up front. We all had great laughs that morning listening to Larry the Cable Guy...
http://www.larrythecableguy.com/
hysterical!!
Well, we better git-r-done!!!!
The pics from St. Pete are thanks to Jim Dickey. Thank you Jim!!!!
although, I can take some credit for these two, since I snapped 'em ;)

Joey's on Marco Island

After return from Key West, the team meets up at Joey's on Marco Island for yummy dinner and last night of hanging out.
After Joey's it's over to Cold Stone for some cold stone ice cream... yum yum.
and then good-byes until next time.

Breakfast

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........
eat........ breakfast after weigh in!!!

The first morning in Key West included weigh in for the team.
Key West Race Week has a total weight limit for the sailing crew.
After weighing in below the limit, we all raced across the street to eat breakfast!!!

Heading out and in

On the left. All the sailboats heading out from north side of Key West passing Mallory Square and cruise ships.
On the right. All the sailboats heading back in.

And more...

More party tent pictures and hanging out with the gang from SV Flame.
Flame sails out of Naples, FL.



Am I really as short as I appear in the pic on the right...

More pics from Key West Race Week 2008

Seriously now...









never a lack of smiles from this crew :)


these next blog entries with more photos from Key West thanks to Sandy Butler! Thank you Sandy!!!!

What is a skunk ape anyways...

Docked on the edge of the everglades, one wonders, does the skunk ape really exist....
Is he/she starring at me as I run by the thick mangroves most humans refuse to traverse...
My eyes strain as I try to see anything distinct in those thick mangroves.
Who would walk amoung the prop roots of the red mangrove or
tidally swamped pneumatophores of the black mangrove?
Anything could be in there...
What are the chances the skunk ape would step onto the dock from the mangroves and walk towards the sleeping boats in the marina at night... or, perhaps simply lie in wait for the midnight stroller to the on-land head...
http://www.floridaskunkape.com/what-is-the-florida-skunk-ape/
Just more Florida fun :)

One more week until St. Pete!

One more week until St. Pete.
Going to the gym, instead of living in sin.
Running over the bridge and through the mangroves,
Hoping the Skunk Ape doesn’t grab me again…

Then on the dock we shall meet.
Heading out for a day of sailing can’t be beat.
Ready the lines, check the back stay.
Raise the main, we’re on our way.

Tack port, tack starboard, come around again.
Grooving and jibing to the rhythms of the wind.
A frisky dance over the water.
Think we can make this thing go faster?

Good luck to all the teams that will be there.
There will be no lack of fun,
And hopefully no lack of Florida sun!

Cheers!
-Wren