Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Another Multi-Sport Day

The day began with the usual Breakfast at Betts, and some shopping.

Breakfast at Bette's

The forecast didn't look sparkling, so Big Jim headed home.  He has to be on an airplane early Thursday morning, and he wants to spend a little time with his wife before he goes....

Kent - looking at a Quatro

A little confusion about where to sail as Big Jim sent some of us to the Event site, and after we left convinced the rest to go to the Hatchery.  Eventually we all congregated at the Event Site, but conditions were not epic (to say the least).  Most headed for the golf course.

Harold looking at a new Harness

Kent and I sat in the parking lot - Kent doing some work on his laptop and me reading a Sherlock Homes novel.

I had rented a 134 litre JP board - just to try in the light wind - so I felt I had to try it out.  I started to rig.  Kent got a call from Ross inviting him to go mountain biking so he left.  About 2 minutes later Kent returned.  He had got to the end of the parking lot and noticed that the wind had picked up.

My rental - a JP Excite - rides like a truck...

I went out on my 7.0 and the rental board, while Kent rigged his 6.6 and Roberts Board.
A little drama for me, on the far side of the river I was pumping onto a plane on the way back, and my mast snapped just above the boom.  Nothing to do but swim back - all the way across the river.  With the current, I was flushed down to just before Swell City (Cheap Beach). It took about an hour (maybe 45 minutes to do the swim.  I was very happy to see Kent waiting for me with my van, so it was an easy ride back.

Ted - showing off his new sailing/swimming style.

I went into Sailworks to get a new mast, and was back on the water within an hour.  Kent and I gad a great day.  The wind was not as strong as the gusts yesterday, but it was a lot steadier.

I took my little camera out to mid river - Kent sailing past.

The big board got me planing, but was like driving a truck.  I don't think I will be buying one any time soon.

Ok - don't get too much closer....

Karen spent her day at the Event Site, and decided to rent some windsurfing gear.  She said she got a waterstart!


KITING

Ross and Andreas had a great session kiting.  Andreas came up to the Hatchery and sailed with Kent and I for a while.  Lazelle had her first Kite Lesson.

GOLFING

Mike made an Eagle (Two shots under on a par 4) on his first hole, so everyone everyone heard about his expert Golfing technique for the rest of the game.

Big Air Jim figured he was golfing with the three stooges.

Larry aka Harold A
Curly, AKA Cam, and
Mo - Allan

He said that Larry shot about 107 on the first 6 holes.  He was begging me to stop keeping score.  Curly on the other hand, thought the higher the score the better.  He thought was really good.  Mo just couldn't find any green stuff.  He was so bad he begged to go slogging in the river with sub planing wind conditions.

Jim says he couldn't have possibly golfed another nine holes with those guys.

TENNIS

International 2013 Tennis Invitational between Handre from South Africa and Big Air Jim (the defending champion) representing Canada did not present any surprises as Big Air Jim crushed the #$%%^ out of Handre.

LATE SAILING

Big Air Jim and Handre, having missed all the good sailing, decided to head down to the Event Site late in the day.  They started out in light wind and big gear.  Shortly after they headed out, a storm front came through and litterally blew them off the water.  Way over powered.


DINNER

Harold, Allan, Kent, Rene and I went to 6th Street, while most of the others went to Nora's.

I had a PBR for Harold W.  Too bad you couldn't make the trip Harold!
See you in the fall.

LATE NIGHT CARD GAME

Kent, Rene, Andreas, Allan and I sat up until way late (11:30) playing Hearts.  I got lucky.  I understand that Rene is working on an update that I will add when I get it.


Here is Rene's contribution...

A new form of entertainment manifested itself last night. It contained all the all the same joys and thrills of gybing around a fallen fellow sailor, passing someone on their blind side, and the reliving, reviewing, and critiquing all the moves of the group. HEARTS!

It was most interesting to see the different strategies employed by the group to try and mislead one another in order to stay under the radar, in order NOT to get the infamous Queen. 

Ted was uncanny in his ability to always start the round with his 2 of clubs and maintain a very quiet demeanor so as to slide under the radar which he did very successfully as he won! 

Kent employed a completely different tact. Almost always going for power, and his playing the the dummy with "whoops I didn't mean to look at the middle cards - it was an accident" didn't fly and he lost miserably. 

Al had an interesting strategy of winning the the last tricks which, of coarse contained lots of hearts. 

Andreas inadvertently attempted the "power" move, but was unsuccessfully to his demise. 

Rene on the other had was only one who did successful get "power" but too little too late and didn't win either. 

All that being said a great time was had and we are looking forward to the next "session".

Rene