The 1999 Season
The summer of 99 led the way for many new sailing experiences.  As with any good thing, there is also usually a darker side.  I have discovered that most of the darker side of sailing comes from the dark empty spot left in the wallet.  I don't watch the stock market now for my retirement but to help decide whether now is the time for a new sail.  At least one of the sailmakers around here follows the stock market like Fred's Wholesale Furniture and Liquor Mart follows the "IRS spawning season" (some of your money swims back "upstream" during the first few months of the year and must be SPENT).  I guess I'll get another season out of my sad looking jib and another winter out of my old "fatman" chair.

With  increased knowledge comes sharper awareness.  Things that just went "bump" the first season now translate into losing a "zinc".  That little "thwack thwack thwack" sound, when on the diesel, now means we are chewing through a cable of some kind and one end is flogging the hull and the other is remodeling the fine edges of our screw.  We have learned MANY new things!  We made our second attempt at racing in the company regatta, learned all about "ablative" hull paint, had our first "man overboard", discovered why early sea captains were allowed to use flogging, how to recognize the early warning signs of a "mutiny", and we got to call "SeaTow SeaTow SeaTow".

More to come.....
Just some more pictures to tide ya over
.

The Company Regatta 1999
 

Crazy Larry readies himself for the 1999 Company Regatta "Comeback"
 

15 minutes into the race, after the screaming, shouting, and indecision at the beginning of  the race, we noticed that our speed and manueverability  were falling off.  What could the problem be???

Sea Tow to the rescue!!!


What is Crazy larry holding?
Multiple Choice
A.  Seaweed a la' Buoy!
B.  White or Red wine?
C.  Buoy got too close to seawater discharge from the plant where they make Monixidil
D.  Hair Club for "bouys"  (very very baaaadddddd)

HawkEye and Old Friend hold the coveted "SeaTow Receipt"
SnakeBoy and Crazy Larry figure the shades will help hide their elation
I proudly display the regatta Lobster Pot.

A little bit of 2000

Pierside, downtown Mystic.
 

"Giant Robot eats Mystic building!"
Ugly Yachtsman looks on....
 

Darn!  Kids washed up on the bow again!  I bet they want to be fed too!

Another "Sunset" Picture

The dodger takes the picture, "AUTO" drives, my insurance company looks on..
(l to r) The Ugly Yachtsman and his trademark hat that doesn't fit, Ooochman the Human Fender, HawkEye, new guy that has yet to form a nickname

Storm coming in from the east over the Mystic River.  This was in the fall. A local weather expert told me that none of the rain actually fell and evaporated before it hit the ground.  Right.

It's always fun at the "fuel pier".

It would not be a summer evening with going to "Fred's Sea Shanty" for chow!!

After the obligatory "sunset" picture we have the mandatory "getting dark" picture.

 Run While You Still Can!!!!