10/20: I joined Steve Birchfield on the RC Boat for SMSA Youth Sailing
10/21: With Troy and Andy on the chase skiff for SMSA youth sailing
10/22: In drizzly, rainy weather but with perfect wind for sailing, Captain Dave Ohler and I sailed on sv Aloha Spirit, out into the Bay, and back into the river, past 6A before returning to the dock. We finished up with chili at tye SMSA Clubhouse.
It was a really nice evening with just the Skipper, Steve and his son, Tommy, on board. We had fun sailing beside Patriot and taking pictures. They are a faster boat but with our new mainsail we had fun pacing them for as long as we were able. Thanks Steve for getting me out there! I'm one day closer to making it to Century Club!
The Skipper of Barba Roja is determined to get me to "100" and join the Century Club. With my post-surgery bad arm, I'm not much crew right now, but six of us had a great evening on the Pax River.
Well, since I had surgery to repair my torn bicep tendon, my ability to sail is limited. However, with a little help from my friends, I'm still going to make Century Club. This was my first time back on the water since my surgery. Steve asked me to join him on the RC boat while he coached the SMSA Youth Sailing group.
Since the Fall Frostbite Series does not start for another month, what else is there to do on Wednesday nights other than go sailing? A crew 5 of us sailed the Pax River basin and then up to the bridge. We doused the spinnaker just after rounding the pylon. Now, don't tell Mom but, what do you do when the mainsail trimmer (me) has his arm in a sling from the injury incurred last week racing? You give him the helm of course and let him steer one handed on the reach up to the bridge! It was a great experience steering with the spinnaker with excellent coaching from the Skipper!
We held off our competitors again to win the race and the series. However, it came at a price for me. I probably tore my biceps tendon when I reached up to pull the boom over. It may require surgery to repair. However, my crew is determined to get me the Century Club! I so much want to make it, and I will with the help of my friends and crew!
With the new carbon mainsail and a determined crew, we nailed the start! We sailed hard and fast around the course in good wind. We finished seconds ahead of Elan. It was enough for a first-place finish and first-place for the series! Go Team Barba Roja!
At the request of my oldest granddaughter, I rented a tandem kayak so she and I could kayak "together." Well, she did not paddle much, and it was like paddling the Titanic for me, with her in the bow and not paddling, but we did make it to Horsehead Cliffs against a freshening breeze and chop. It made for a great memory, and that was the whole idea!
I drove down to Worthington State Park to surprise my granddaughters who were camping there for the Labor Day weekend. I took my kayak and kayaked from the beach south, down to Horsehead Cliffs and back.
I went out on a calm Bay and paddled south to the private pier off Breezy Point. I took in the quiet, the herons, and an amazing pink and purple sky in the east as it was getting dark. Nice night for paddling!