I'm checked out of the hotel and lurking in the lobby until the airport shuttle comes to take me home!
Many frustrations accompanied the positive aspects of this month's tour. The worst of which is jealousy, perhaps the most demoralizing emotion.
After fighting my way through the professional ranks of this sport for a half dozen years now, a team of under 25's is being assembled and funded to promote young, American off shore sailors.
The first project is July's Transatlantic race from Newport, RI to Portsmouth England on a 6 million dollar 65 footer. I think it's terrific that such a project is in the works, but a pity that I'm too old to qualify. Puma's Volvo Ocean Race Team and Ramble 100 will be competing in the race and such exposure would be a great way to secure one of the under 30 positions required for the circumnavigation.
This could officially be my quarter life crisis.
Get me home.
T
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
PRD
The depression sets in as soon as you cross the finish line. Win or lose, the rush is over and reality sets in for us all, regardless of what we're going home too. Unfortunately for Titan, we went into the day one point out of first and finished last. It makes the slump that much worse.
As each program packs up their beloved multi million dollar toy, we make lists of modifications and pointers upon which to capitalize for the next event. All but one team wishing that such adjustments had been made a week prior to change the current outcome.
Most races last about an hour, and in the ten race series we lost a half dozen points by less than five seconds. Everyone on board can find that time in some personal short coming and wonders 'what if?'. As painful as the feeling is, this unique pursuit of perfection is what keeps us coming back.
I am grateful to have another project to sink my teeth into next week to distract me from this loss. Many of my teammates are not so fortunate.
The opportunity for redemption is yet to be scheduled, but in any case it will be months until this weapon sails again. I love this boat, she's a winner and I hope to get the opportunity to prove it!
Two of my teammates this week are owners of the Pittsburg Steelers. Our focus turns to their Sunday game against the Jets. Yins got this!
Safety first!
As each program packs up their beloved multi million dollar toy, we make lists of modifications and pointers upon which to capitalize for the next event. All but one team wishing that such adjustments had been made a week prior to change the current outcome.
Most races last about an hour, and in the ten race series we lost a half dozen points by less than five seconds. Everyone on board can find that time in some personal short coming and wonders 'what if?'. As painful as the feeling is, this unique pursuit of perfection is what keeps us coming back.
I am grateful to have another project to sink my teeth into next week to distract me from this loss. Many of my teammates are not so fortunate.
The opportunity for redemption is yet to be scheduled, but in any case it will be months until this weapon sails again. I love this boat, she's a winner and I hope to get the opportunity to prove it!
Two of my teammates this week are owners of the Pittsburg Steelers. Our focus turns to their Sunday game against the Jets. Yins got this!
Safety first!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Key West
Since my last post I've done a lot of sailing and not much writing.
The three days in Marina Del Rey were very light. Excellent conditions for sailing a new boat with a new team that has been experiencing teething pains during the commissioning process. Maxi race boats are never delivered 'ready'. It takes months of modifications and calibration to get them competitive. It's generally in it's second year that a program begins to reach it's potential, but by the fourth year her outdated design becomes the limiting factor.
After the high design and build costs, it's hard to commit additional resources to this stage of the process. Fortunately, this Pendragon team understands that pushing the budget hard this year will prolong the yachts golden years.
The month's second project was also a success. The Denali program recently purchased a 55 footer that has been proven through and through with previous owners. She passed her prime about five years ago, but will be the perfect platform for this team's schedule and goals. It was our first time on the boat with none of the original crew, so our challenge was to sort out the rig tune and sail cross over chart as efficiently as possible and keep everyone safe. The boat has intricate block and tackle systems to avoid any hydraulics. Very rare these days and a fun challenge to calibrate.
We sailed well in a stiff down winder, completing the 160 mile course in just under 15 hours with few mistakes. Brother Sam and the 68 foot Bella Mente crushed everyone in just over 11 hours.
After arriving in Key West at 5am last Thursday, I slept as long as I dared before switching accommodations to the Titan team and prepared for the week ahead. After five races in varied conditions we are sitting in second, one point out of first. There are only four boats in our class, but all are extremely well funded and at the top of their game. Great racing!
Today's postponement due to lack of breeze has given me a much needed opportunity to update this blog.
Boat call in 10. Bye for now.
The three days in Marina Del Rey were very light. Excellent conditions for sailing a new boat with a new team that has been experiencing teething pains during the commissioning process. Maxi race boats are never delivered 'ready'. It takes months of modifications and calibration to get them competitive. It's generally in it's second year that a program begins to reach it's potential, but by the fourth year her outdated design becomes the limiting factor.
After the high design and build costs, it's hard to commit additional resources to this stage of the process. Fortunately, this Pendragon team understands that pushing the budget hard this year will prolong the yachts golden years.
The month's second project was also a success. The Denali program recently purchased a 55 footer that has been proven through and through with previous owners. She passed her prime about five years ago, but will be the perfect platform for this team's schedule and goals. It was our first time on the boat with none of the original crew, so our challenge was to sort out the rig tune and sail cross over chart as efficiently as possible and keep everyone safe. The boat has intricate block and tackle systems to avoid any hydraulics. Very rare these days and a fun challenge to calibrate.
We sailed well in a stiff down winder, completing the 160 mile course in just under 15 hours with few mistakes. Brother Sam and the 68 foot Bella Mente crushed everyone in just over 11 hours.
After arriving in Key West at 5am last Thursday, I slept as long as I dared before switching accommodations to the Titan team and prepared for the week ahead. After five races in varied conditions we are sitting in second, one point out of first. There are only four boats in our class, but all are extremely well funded and at the top of their game. Great racing!
Today's postponement due to lack of breeze has given me a much needed opportunity to update this blog.
Boat call in 10. Bye for now.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
This morning Grace and I were invited on a helicopter tour of the greater Los Angeles area in a R44 Raven II. This was my second time in a chopper and far more memorable than the first.
I've been sailing 18 foot skiffs with a local real estate developer that needed to log some flying time. We were in the air within an hour of the invitation and enjoyed a relaxing, aerial tour. We flew up to the 'no-fly' zone of today's Rose Bowl, down to Long Beach and up the coast to Malibu. The highlight for me was flying along the beach by LAX at a 150 feet of altitude and over 150 kt of speed. Commercial planes were taking off too the West over our blades.
A big thank you goes out to all those with both means and generosity. Proof that 'trickle down' can work when we all subscribe too 'he with the most toys wins!'
Safety first.
T
I've been sailing 18 foot skiffs with a local real estate developer that needed to log some flying time. We were in the air within an hour of the invitation and enjoyed a relaxing, aerial tour. We flew up to the 'no-fly' zone of today's Rose Bowl, down to Long Beach and up the coast to Malibu. The highlight for me was flying along the beach by LAX at a 150 feet of altitude and over 150 kt of speed. Commercial planes were taking off too the West over our blades.
A big thank you goes out to all those with both means and generosity. Proof that 'trickle down' can work when we all subscribe too 'he with the most toys wins!'
Safety first.
T
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