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

Pirates of the Caribbean

How many times do you think someone living on a sailboat can watch Pirates of the Caribbean before they remember to stop at the library on the way home for a different DVD....???
Any guesses?
Hmmm... How about, at least one more time ;)
And, any sailorette would surely have a crush on Captain Jack Sparrow!
so, although no tv on the boat, the computer with DVD player sure comes in handy sometimes. It's just too bad my copy of The Curse of the Black Pearl is warped and unwatchable and I just watched Dead Man's Chest last night :(
what's a sailorette to do?
good night to the lot of ya!

KW2008 - More Racing on Thursday & Friday!

After a slow start to the wind on Thursday, the race committee sent us out after a delay hoping the wind would fill in that afternoon. And, yes, yes it did. We managed to get two races in before sunset placing 16th and 30th. That darn second race....

The wind continued to build into Friday making for exciting racing in 20-ish knot winds, placing 5th, 35th (dnf), and 9th...

That darn second race!!!!

Wait a second........

What did happen in that second race?

What does "dnf" mean anyways...?

For starters... dnf means 'did not finish.' The reason we didn't finish that race is because not all of the crew was on board going over the finish line... So, who was missing????

Yup, the crazy American of the crew!! Darn it!!!!!

Jibing the spinnaker, it happened. A pause to see if the spinnaker was going to make it over, then suddenly, it did. All wind caught and the boom on its way over towards me, I ducked out of the way, but forgot to grab on... The boat heeled and water washed over the deck and me into the drink!! In a flash, like a torpedo, I felt rocketted into the water, right under the lifelines.

The only thing running through my mind was "drop." I need to drop, to sink quick out of the way of the boat so as not to get hit by the boat. drop drop drop. As I dropped it seemed I was looking up watching the water fill up above me. I'm not even sure now if I was watching, even though it seems to be in my memory. When I recovered I hadn't taken on any saltwater and my eyes weren't stinging. I don't remember consciously deciding to hold my breath. I don't remember trying to breathe. I just remember feeling a calmness as I sank. A very strange feeling as it seemed I was drifting away from reality and all up above. Like a gentle good-bye... in a womb of warm clear sparkling water and all was calm and quiet.

But, seconds later, the inflatable PFD came to life and shot me to the surface!

I love my new inflatable PFD. I could be a spokesperson for that inflatable PFD.

Stunned back to reality, I swung around to see what sailboats might be heading my way on the race course! I watched too as my crew lowered the chute in attempt to turn around and retrieve me, but not before I was retrieved by another. I was half thinking of telling the other team to leave me and let my team pick me up, knowing that we would get dnf if I wasn't aboard. But, I didn't really know the rules on that, and so I let myself get hauled up onto their deck.

What an experience. I hope to never fall off again though!

In the end we finished 19 out of 34. A wonderful week I won't soon forget.

More photos and stuff at the following Key West Race Week 2008 site.

http://www.premiere-racing.com/08_KW_Results/kw08_results_reports.htm

Thank you to everyone that made the week so awesome!!!

Thank you Rob for everything you do above and beyond for all of us!!!!

Thank you Sandy!!!!

Thank you Jim!!!!

Thank you John!!!!

Thank you Ken!!!!

and, Thank you Travis for watching Miss Bi-car!

KW2008 - Wednesday - No Wind!

The wind left the area on Wednesday. It was a nice day of bobbing around out on the water in the beautiful Florida winter sun for a little bit until the race committee decided to call the races for the day.

With the afternoon free, the crew went out on a mission to make team t-shirts.

Jen at the computer helm ;)

I am shy... really, I am... truthfully ;p

I don't care what they say about my Hula Hooping on the sidewalk in front of the smallest bar in Key West for over half an hour that one night...

I'm shy... really!!!

While waiting for the finished product, we toodled around Key West visiting the southernmost point and milemarker zero.

Left pic, from left to right, Jim, John, and Ken.

Then we all wore our shirts to the party tent that night ;)

What a great looking team!!!!

Team Dinners & the Party Tent

Part of the fun of Key West Race Week is hanging with the team and becoming like family :)

Around our little world from left to right in the pic on the right is Jim, Ken, me, John, and Sandy. Our leader, Rob, has already finished dinner quicker than you can say the word "dinner" and headed back to the ranch. And, what a beautiful ranch it was. We all got to stay at the Gallion Resort, right next to the sailboat, our cozy home for the week. An awesome location thanks again to Rob and Sandy!

Our home away from condo home for two hours every evening was the "party tent," for socializing with the other racers (pic on left). Mount Gay Rum drinks anyone??

Through a series of events over the week I walked out of the tent one evening with a new Lewmar winch handle...

Key West Race Week 2008 - Windy!

With 40 knot winds on the first day of race week 2008, the first day of racing was canceled.

But, not until they sent us out to the race course! Our S/V clocked a true wind of 39 knots while we were out there, steady in the 30+ knot range. I enjoyed just being out in the weather to see what it would be like, since I don't put myself through such conditions generally...

On the Beaufort Scale a mean wind speed of 30 knots is "near gale" force... a mean wind speed of 37 knots is "fresh gale" with wave height of close to 6 feet. I wonder what they mean by "fresh"... a mean wind of 44 knots is "Strong Gale." hmmm...

With wind and waves it was a rather wet start to the week...

I think the boat speed got up to 14 knots, or was it a couple more...?

The day prior, given the weather reports, I purchased foul weather gear (pic of me on left in my new pants), and a new inflatable PFD that I've been meaning to get for some time... Yes, mom, I finally have it!

The second day of the race, with winds blowing nicely, we completed three races taking 11th, 28th, and 15th out of 34. that darn second race...

Tuesday was great racing and our team made it into the color photo section of the daily race week paper! see pic (courtesy of Tim Wilkes, check him out on the web, http://www.timwilkes.com) on the right, action shot getting ready to hoist the spinnaker!

Windy wet days call for rinsing of gear back at the dock!!!

There was never a shortage of smiles from our team during the whole week :)

From Naples to Miami to Key West Baby!!!!

Friday before race week busily trying to finish up work and get ready to be gone.

Visited Brian and & Beth to drop off Peppermint Patty. Thank you so very much B&B for watching her while I was away!!!!!

Spun veggie oil for the drive to Key West and headed out. First stop, Miami Airport to pick up one of our crew from Canada, John. It's always very interesting to pick up someone from the airport you've never met before and don't know what they look like...

Somehow it all worked out and I didn't even have to pay for parking! Drove in, made the pick-up, and drove out. An enjoyable ride with company down to Key West.

John supplied most of the pics that I'm using to relay the tale of Key West 2008. Thank you John!!!! It was a lot of fun getting to know you and I wish we could steal you onto our team!!!! You are awesome at the main!! but, we know you're loyalties are to another J/105 ;)

How does a cruiser learn how to sail????

She goes sailboat racing!!!!!!!

Two winters ago I thought I'd never sailboat race again after being on a sailboat with a "yeller," as in yelling angrily when things weren't going right... even though we were only racing in local regattas. Okay, so the crew isn't suppose to take the yelling personally... hmmm... ya, whatever! Didn't seem like much fun to me. I'd rather be home alone on my own sailboat drifting to Panther Key!

But, then, last year, I met an awesome group of people from Canada that I just love and enjoy sailing and hanging out with.

And this year, I was so fortunate to be invited to sail with them during Key West Race Week 2008!!

What an experience I will never forget.

I feel so lucky, such good karma, to have been a part of this with them.

Thank you Rob & Sandy!!!

So, here goes the stories and pictures...

January trip exploring Panther Key

Like most every trip to Panther Key, a landing and exploration must be done at low low tide!
Not to be confused with high low tide ;p

I was lucky enough to have a wicked low low tide first thing in the morning.

Bundled up in hat and warm clothes, I kayaked over and explored the squishy mud flats.

The west tip appeared (behind me in the pic) as the tide continued to fall away... The tide is often right up to the edge of the driftwood making it difficult to navigate around the tip to the southern side...

I followed some racoons around the west tip... but they disappeared before I could capture them in photo.

On the southern side of Panther Key, I stumbled upon a very cute red shouldered hawk.

Lots of critters found. Many sea stars (not to be confused with star fish! a misnomer) and a few live sand dollars.
Living things should be left behind of course, and only pictures taken.
Especially the brittle star, which is so named because it simply falls apart when one tries to grab it. Although appearing large in this picture on the left, the body of the brittle star is smaller than your thumb nail.

Annual January Trip w/ Mom & Bev

January 5th sailing to Panther Key with mom and Bev.

Our trip to Panther was "Florida cold" and rainy. I felt like I was sailing in New England, though I've never sailed in New England....

It spit on us a little as we were underway, but when we arrived to our anchor spot, the weather turned like another day.

We watched as rain passed around us and cleared.

Then enjoyed a beautiful, like glass sunset.

I could barely take my eyes off of the calm still of the water and the beautiful blues and pinks in reflection.

The next evening the sunset was spectacular as well and the nearby mangroves glowed in the fading light.

Exotics....

The cold cold front of January 1st/2nd, knocked a lot of reptiles for a whirl as they fell out of trees... Found this poor tree frog (left pic) barely hanging on... Near lifeless sitting in the middle of the dock amongst the mangroves that overhang.

Wonder if he's an exotic though. The invasive exotic cuban tree frog has been displacing the native tree frogs. They are invasive exotics in Florida; exotic because they are not native AND invasive because they eat many native species and are a threat to Florida's natural biodiversity.

Cuban treefrogs are believed to have been introduced into Florida in 1931 in cargo imported from Cuba.

The "management" technique for dealing with invasive exotics...??? Killing them.
It's not the animal's fault that they have been brought to a place where they grow, thrive, and multiply. They are not consciously doing wrong. Simply survival of the fittest. Typical human style though, we screw things up, affect the natural balance, and now believe we should be practicing management by death. As if we have the power to decide which species is more important. We're probably going to kill off the only things that are able to survive in the new world that we are creating. and, personally, if we're such idiots that we can't learn from mistakes that have been made over and over and over and over again... we don't deserve the enjoyment of the many special critters that have been existing long before we came along and started destroying everything. Kharma. the law of cause and effect.

Even the beloved sea turtle. Most who know me know how I feel about sea turtles. Even though I love sea turtles, I still believe that we should not be killing one species to protect another. One management by death practice includes killing of raccoons, which happen to be natives, in order to protect sea turtles. As much as I love sea turtles, I would never be able to kill a raccoon. Is the raccoon's life really that much less important than the sea turtle? Why is the sea turtle's life that much more important? Who exactly decided that? It pains me that sea turtles are endangered. Let's learn from that, instead of simply deciding to kill something else. Why are sea turtles endangered? Is it because we've over-fished them? perhaps destroyed the various habitats they need to survive? brought their populations to levels not sustainable with the continued pressures they face both natural and human caused. Sea turtles overall don't seem to be bouncing back even with regulations. Why is that? Have we gone too far with our destruction? cause and effect.

As I'm writing this, it's been confirmed by one of my fellow biologists that the frog I found is more than likely a cuban tree frog. So, should I have taken advantage of the fact that he was at my mercy and killed him? would that have been more humane then letting him continue to eat up the native species? I don't know what the right answer is. I just know that it's very difficult for me to decide to personally inflict suffering and death on another being. Why are we putting ourselves into this position?

We are all children running amuck in a room of beautifully arranged glass dominos.

Dirty Dinghy...

Getting ready for a trip to Panther Key.
Reorganizing in the sailboat and Patty has found a new spot she likes.

Checking the prop to make sure it's not a football of barnacles... looks clean. I'm still so very very thankful to Russell for taking care of the football of barnies that was on the prop before for me! See how clean she still looks!



The dinghy however... is not clean... Had to take a day off from work to clean the dinghy and get the boat ready for a long weekend trip.
With just a nozzle spray hosing of water, the dinghy is almost clean... almost... still took some muscle and care to get the barnies and algae off... The dinghy is now clean and resting on the bow of the boat, out of the water!

Happy Birthday to Me...

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to meeeeeeee...

Happy Birthday to me!

Thank you Beth for a super special raw food cake!!! yum. yum. yum. yum!!!!

January b-day turns me one year older.

I'm looking forward to this year ahead.

I'm surrounded by wonderful friends. I have loving family, including those friends that have become just like family. I live in a gorgeous spot on this beautiful planet. I've achieved my goal of working in a field I've been wanting to be in for over 10 years, without going back to school!

I have much to be thankful for as my life continues to progress each year.

How amazing life can truly be.

Baby Barracuda

I'm becoming increasingly interested in fish...
I saw this little guy in the mangrove shallows and wondered what he was.
Back at work with reference materials in hand, he looks like a baby barracuda to me at 6 inches in length. quite good at camoflauge. look for the distinguishing big eyes and you should find the rest of the body...
definitely click on the picture to enlarge to see.

Even lower than the wicked low low tide!

The tides just keep getting lower and lower...
The cold front that came through in early January kept the water out of the estuaries and bays for days...
we were asking... "will the water ever come back?"
Will it come back in time to sneak out of the Coon Key shallows and head to Panther Key this weekend...????

5 months...

5 months since I lost the Fluff.

I was searching through some old pictures and found this one, from probably about 4 years ago, that I just love.

I miss the Fluff.

Wicked Low Low Tide

In southwest Florida, and I'm sure other parts of the world, we have low low tide, and high low tide. High low tide refers to the tide of the day that is the highest low tide of the day, meaning, if there are two low tides in one day, one is usually higher than the other. Low low tide refers to the tide of the day that is the lowest tide of the day and really low, like below mean sea level low. And when cold front winds are streaming out of the northeast... well, the tide can get even lower as the water is actually pushed out of bays and estuaries toward the Gulf.
We had a wicked low tide this morning following a cold front that blew through very very early this morning bringing lots of winds whipping through the rigging and leaning SV Athena to starboard against the strain of dock lines. Cold temperatures had me curling into my warm blankets and closing the hatches in the middle of the night. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

How much Stuff can one have on a sailboat?

I spent last evening further cleaning and organizing the sailboat in preparation for visitors.
I did more organizing and by the end of the evening found that the boat was starting to actually look a little organized and quite homey. Organizing the sailboat always gets me thinking about stuff and how much stuff one has and how much stuff one really needs. For, if one has too much stuff, it's difficult to make a small sailboat look clean and organized!!
In fact, one of the reasons I really love living on a sailboat is because of the lack of "stuff" that I can reasonably keep on the sailboat and therefore I'm a lot less likely to acquire things, i.e. "stuff," that I don't really need. In fact, I find living on the sailboat a great excuse for telling others NOT TO GIVE ME ANYTHING!!!! Unless, of course, it's something useful for the sailboat ;)
In my humble opinion, minimizing the amount of "stuff" one has is a really good way to minimize one's footprint on this wonderfully beautiful planet.
Minimizing stuff means that one is minimizing consumerism or an inherent consumption of resources.
Everything on this planet takes resources to create and we don't always see the full cost of those resources in the cost of the item we have acquired.
Not to mention all the waste in packaging that goes along with acquiring all that "stuff."
Not that I'm perfect by any means, but I probably have a lot less stuff then most citizens of the U.S. I won't compare myself to the world, because there are many many many people in this world with a lot less.
I find it very fitting that one of my New England friends, Cyndy , just passed along the following very worthwhile to watch 20 minute video on STUFF!
Thank you Cyndy!!

The Story of Stuff
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
"Ever wonder where all our "stuff" comes from and where it goes? Here is a short (20 minute) video that provides a detailed yet entertaining look into stuff, how our system of producing stuff is in crisis, and identifies how we might move towards more sustainable systems.
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever."