This coming weekend I am crewing on a J-105 (34') racing sailboat in the LYRA Regatta hosted by the Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club. This will be my first sailboat race in about 20 years. I hope it's like riding a bike. I used to race a lot in high school and university and got involved in some major national and international races. That came to an end when I started work. The boat owner is an orthopaedic surgeon and I crewed with him for the first time in 1968 when he was a medical student. He is now 72 years old... and North American champion in the class! Wish me luck!
Anticipating some of the replies to this post, I suspect the following thoughts from my friends at TEMAC:
Andy: "If you're going to be hanged from the yardarm, take my GO-PRO. I love the drama"
Jack: "Why go around a race course once in 3 hours when you can fly 10 laps in a Nooner in 1 minute 2 seconds, or in Frank's case- 1 minute 22"
Piker: "Join two of the boats together with inter-boat struts. We'll call it a bi-boat."
Eric: "That thing has how much lead (3400 lbs)? I only needed 15 pounds for my freighter"
Graham: "Glenn, we should have removed the ladder from the tree while Frank was still up there retrieving the Apprentice"
Dr. John (an experienced sailor)- At least if you are keel-hauled on a race boat, the leading edge is sharp. None of this blunt force trauma of the old galleon days"
EdEdge: "Kinda think sneaking a 10 cell lipo on board with a 52mm water-cooled out-runner and a 2" prop should allow you to win the race."
Cadez: "Yes! Quarter scale would make it 8 feet long and should fit in the VW bus. She'll never know!"
Simon: "You're still right nuts, old chap"
Cliff: "Oh lord I will have you to thank,
If you help my flying buddy Frank
He still has a lot to learn,
But before this weekend, teach him the difference between "bow" and "stern".
Michael: "That's it. Jack, we need to add an IQ test to our TEMAC application form to keep guys like Frank out!"
Greg H: "There's got to be an "off" switch somewhere!"
Andy: "Damn!, just found out a racing rule requires the boat to finish with the same number of crew as it started with. There go half my wishes for Frank!"
Sorry Jack, I wasn't even painting today. :D
Frank
You took the words right out of my mouth :D
Have a great time and get some pictures
A boat? What's the point of that?
(Good luck!)
I have an alternate response seeing as you predicted my "more power" one so easily.
"Have a good time with all the other semen!"
First day results- 3rd place in a very close finish. It really was like riding a bike. Second race was cancelled due to lack of wind. Back at it again tomorrow.
In the photo- middle is Dr. Jim Rathbun, right is Jim Flannery (Ex CS Yachts) a life-long friend from Vancouver whom I have known and sailed with since high school.
Frank