EyeSplice

So we had three races today in winds from 9-16 knots with 2.4 mile beats. Lets just say I am completely beat and we didn’t hit the dock until 5:30. After the three races we are in 11th. Our tactician Cameran Appleton is doing a fantastic job and could’t get a break most of the day. Tomorrow is supposed to be lighter (Like postponement light) so we will see. Time to go to sleep.

As we thought about how the Pats were going to pound the Chargers, Ramrod practiced in the big breeze in KW. While the rest of the competitors were hanging in KW for their second cup of coffee, we went out and ripped it up with a bunch of teams. Our top speed for the practice was 21-4 knots with the masthead kite. Pictures and video to follow. [ Picture: Sharon Green / Ultimate Sailing ]

 Tomorrow, big breeze and beginning of race week.

As I am writing this, the stark realization that I am stranded in Philidelphia waiting to fly to Jacksonville so I can then drive 8 hours (Ted K tells me it is 8.5) to Key West. All thanks to US Airways. All I can say is, there are many mudslides in my future.

It is hard to describe the feeling one gets in anticipation for Key West Race Week. Currently it is 32 degrees in Annapolis and the forecast is for rain and snow showers, however I have a ticket to paradise where 25 Farr 40s will come together to beat the living snot out of each other. Granted our goal is the Worlds in Miami this April, however it is hard not to be a little excited.

 Look for some windy days of practice, a light spell to hit the fleet in the early part of the week and the end of the week being full on. - God I hope it snows while I am down there Tomorrow will consist of getting sorted with my kit before flying down Friday morning and at least one trip to the gym to avoid the weight paranoia.

While reading up on all the advances in the Laser as of late, I was directed to an excellent article online at Sailing World written by Olympic representative Andrew Campbell. Take a look.  Lord knows, this guy knows his stuff. Photo by: Rolex / Dan Nerney

So for the recent Annapolis Yacht Club Frostbite series, I’ve been sailing with Andrew Kennedy and his crew on BAT IV. It’s been a learning experience for everyone with pretty amazing results. Frostbing is so cleansing of sorts as it is so simple. No spinnakers, short courses, and good company. I am going to try to write up reports from the second series with what we were thinking as we were racing. (Call it a confessional of the mind)

Call it a non-mid-life, mid-life crisis but I have decided to go back to sailing Lasers. Since I was about 14, I have sailed Laser’s on and off and for some strange reason I have been gravitating back to them for their simplicity. Over the years, I have owned four lasers, the latest being one I picked off of Craig’s List for $700. My next goal is to start sailing them again locally ( In Annapolis ) and start training for the US Laser Master’s Nationals in New Bedford, Mass this June.

It is always amazing someone who can sail this well in the big breeze. This is a training video of the amazing Luis Martinez Doreste training off of Cadiz. The beginning of the video is pretty tame. Just wait until it gets to the downwind work. It is awesome.

With the Patriots cleaning up the NFL, it must be time for Key West. This year, I’ll be going down to KWRW with Rod Jabin’s Ramrod. It has been kinda cool to see the transformation of Rod. What I mean by that is he has transformed himself from a IMS laggard to someone who is really trying to step up to the next level. For KW, Cameron Appleton will be taking the place of Gavin Brady and we will be joined by Rob Salthouse (TNZ ‘07) on main. I will try to post some reports during the week with updates.