Screwpile Regatta--Strike Papa

(Solomons Island)

 (Screwpile Lighthouse)

 Nope, not some off-beat sexual position but a sailing regatta that lasts three days on Solomons Island in typical July Chesapeake heat & no wind (or very light air).  Of course, most sailing terms could be considered sexual....but I digress.  I spent 4 days down on Solomons sweating buckets & baking myself in the sun.  But unlike another blog post that I saw (whine, whine, whine) about the regatta, I had an amazing time.  Yeah, it was blistering hot most days & I got pretty dehydrated, & yeah, we had serious equipment failure on day two, but my team rocked!  Especially on day 3 when our crew was down to only four people (6-7 is favored for the J-30). I was just so damn happy to be down there--last year I got bumped off the boat I was to race on less than a week before the race, and on my birthday no less, which majorly sucked--so this year I was greatly anticipating...including the fact that Xing Fu would also be racing.  Altogether a great few days.  

So a recap of sorts:  On Saturday Xing Fu & I drove down to Solomons & pitched a tent (more on this in an upcoming post).  There had been an overnight race from Annapolis to Solomons & a lot of folk were already in, but my boat had just taken Saturday to motor down from the West River.  Sunday was the first day of Screwpile and we knew it was going to be a scorcher--light winds, etc.  But, luckily it was not too bad--we had a good crew on board--6 of us, including a guest appearance from an old buddy of mine--Seamus.  As I've mentioned previously, he is a great sailor & tactician & his joining our team led us to a second place.  It was great fun to catch up with him.  

The entire fleet was divided into 3 courses: North (our fleet), South (Xing Fu's fleet) & West.  Our Race Committee was phenomenal--they really were an excellent team.  I loved hearing them over the radio, "Strike papa, raise delta" just before start for the one minute warning.  My understanding was that not all of the courses had as good an RC.  Our courses were windward-leeward (four legs).  As for my boat--we executed beautifully on day one & ended our day very hot but happy--hopped in the pool at the marina to cool off & then joined the party under the tent at the Holiday Inn.  Big Party--lotsa rum drinks, Spinsheet Birthday--15 years.  I purchased a t-shirt & a long sleeve tech shirt with our boat's name listed along with the other competitor's names on the back.  

Day 2 was not such a good one--we had sustained 18-20 knot winds which is actually really good but as we were reduced to only 5 crew it became very difficult--in addition, we had some problems with equipment namely that our spin halyard broke, the traveller lines broke as well as the boom vang...time to go back & visit Marine West for some needed repairs--we cut our loses after the second race & returned to port--swimming & party--a girl can get used to this.  We also visited a few restaurants on Solomons--I had a great crabcake the second night at Stoney's Kingfishers.

Day Three brought even more challenges--further crew reduction to 4, had to repair the damages, blistering heat--but I gotta say that we kicked ass--not only did we get the boat around the course very well but we put some serious pressure on the leaders--they covered us & watched us quite closely--a tip of the Mount Gay Rum red hat to the underdogs!  Speaking of red hats--as the core 4--we received the red hats for this regatta...nicely earned.  After the last race, we pulled up to another boat in our class & I hopped aboard as we were sailing...had to slow power as much as possible to bring the two boats together but we did & I scrambled on for my ride back to shore as my boat pulled off for the long trek home. 

I must say that I truly enjoyed the entire experience at Screwpile this year & am looking forward already to next year's--Xing Fu says that Screwpile is the height of his sailing summer--he looks forward to it all year--I agree--we had a blast & got a ton of sailing in too.

Believe it or not, I came back for more yesterday--it was the Wednesday Night Series after all. 

Call On Me

 Call On Me                                            

Well, baby, when times are bad,
Now call on me, darling, and I'll come to you.
When you're in trouble and feel so sad,
Well, call on me, darling, come on call on me, and I'll help you.
Yeah!

A man and a woman have each other, baby,
To find their way in this world.
I need you, darling, like the fish needs the sea,
Don't take your sweet, your sweet love from me.

Baby, when you're down and feel so blue,
Well, no, you won't drown, darling, I'll be there too.
You're not alone, I'm there too,
Whatever your troubles, honey, I don't care.

A man and a woman have each other, baby,
To find their way in this world.
I need you, darling, like the fish needs the sea,
Don't take your sweet, sweet love from me!

Please! So baby, when times are bad,
Call on me, darling, just call on me.

--Janis Joplin

The Quest for Piggly Wiggly & Other Stories From a Packed Weekend

 OK, weirdly I decided that this was a great logo & I wanted a reusable bag to carry my groceries from the Piggly Wiggly's.  We don't have them up here--so I was on a quest.  Sometimes I just get on these tangents, but in all honesty, we needed breakfast stuff so I had a legitimate reason to go there.  Sadly, the PW we went to in New Bern had no reusable bags.  The cashier was very helpful though--she said that they had bumper stickers (not the same but still fun), again we struck out.  I now am in possession of 2 regular plastic grocery bags--ah well--perhaps online is the option.  I must say that I'm very happy that Xing Fu indulged my quest & didn't make too much fun of me.


We'd driven down to NC & I'd been a bit worried--all those hours in a car--how would that work?  Boredom?  Irritation?  Nah--all of us did quite well & aside from the nasty rain at one point, we made it down to Oriental in fairly good time.  I'd found these cabins right on the river in this town & they were really quite charming--the cost per night was an amazing value & it was quite a comfortable night.  The next quest was of course the one for a good bbq--every time I'm down in NC, that's what I look for--and happily found--two times this year.  One was Moore's in New Bern--great NC style stuff--we'd been last year & I knew that another visit was in order.  After dinner we went back to Oriental & walked along the docks--it was quite a magical evening--a hot, sultry July night with the stars shining after the storms pushed through, surrounded by sailboats, & listening to the fish flip & play in the water.  My son decided he'd rather watch TV than go look at a bunch of sailboats in the dark--OK, so I guess that is a bit over-the-top--the sailboats in the dark, but in my mind there's nothing more peaceful than listening to the gentle swaying of the masts & lines gently bumping.  Plus there were a lot of great boats to look at--even in the dark.  (yeah, ok--my son says I'm sailing obsessed--guilty as charged)

                               Oriental, NC


The next day we dropped the kid at camp (and yes, I cry every time) & Xing Fu got an opportunity to see this great sailing camp--watch my kid summarily dismiss his mom, & then we took off to meet a couple of Xing Fu's friends from college.  It was very cool because I had an opportunity to sit back & watch the interplay--I think I learned a lot about Xing Fu & the type of friends he has--it was a great experience for me--I enjoyed being the fly on the wall at one point--glad that these guys were comfortable enough with me to go about their discussions & normal interactions without altering their behavior because "a woman was there."  I continued to indulge my best bbq quest & we all enjoyed a great meal--& I also was able to satisfy my desire for grits too (mebbe there's a bit of southern in me--does the fried okra give it away?)  I guess it makes sense that I'd like his friends as well.  The next day we left to make the long drive back up to Baltimore & still no Piggly Wigglys...

Driving home was another opportunity to grow our relationship--the hours passed & as I usually despise long car trips, this one passed in a blink--again reaffirming what I've known all along--we are a good fit--that we don't run out of things to talk about.   Recently read a brief article in Redbook that states that "good relationships are built on daily loving interactions."  Can be a look, a hug, whatever, but the daily connections are key.  So far, we manage to do that even on the evenings we aren't together--and when we spend long hours in a car...and it has been easy.   


We needed to get back to Baltimore because we had tix to see Counting Crows & Augustana at Pier 6.  Yet another concert--one of three for this summer--coming up Arcade Fire & Spoon (!!!! again!!!) & then David Gray & Ray LaMontagne.  Hopefully add the Virgin Festival as well.  It was a great evening of music & rounded out my birthday (yup).  Oh, did I mention that the 12th was my birthday?  This one was one of the better ones & unlike last year's, no disappointment in sight.  


It was a great jam-packed weekend--forgot to mention the racing on Friday night (imagine that), & now to get ready for the next series of events: one of my buddies from college is in to visit on Friday (we're going to the ballgame  & maybe, just maybe the Orioles will pull out a win--a girl can dream) & then on to Screwpile....and then maybe a few days off....but I wouldn't trade this--it has been wonderful.

PHRF B? (Not Quite a Sailing Post)

 It has been hella-hot around the B-more area these past few days--so much so that BCPS(S) has closed summer programs for the past 2 days (I'm not complaining but I don't get paid on the summer days that I don't work) and it has been nice to just have to focus on getting the kid packed for camp.  We leave to take him to camp on Saturday & it should be an interesting & fun trip.  And then next weekend is Screwpile...more on that later.  It will be less than a week that I see my kid--back now from France (he had an amazing time) & off to camp for a month on Saturday...must be nice.  I'll miss him but he'll continue to have an amazing summer.

So last night was a Wednesday race evening.   And did we race????   No way!  Well, mebbe....It was so hot with a spotty breeze--my skipper pulled up in her little runabout powerboat stuffed full of water skis, a board, & a big tube & said that she'd rather swim & ski--how did the crew feel?  Some of us were game to race (Xing Fu & myself, along with others who, if pressed may have acquiesced), but we then thought about the downwind leg & decided that perhaps tooling around in a motorboat was far more preferable than bobbing on a hot sailboat for hours.   I had brought my suit in anticipation that the race may be called & we'd swim so I was all set..changed on the sailboat & dove in...it was a great evening--team building a bit, a bunch of sailors enjoying an evening on the water.  We motored over to the start with our PHRF B flag flying & registered for the race & then went around to our competition hitting them with a watergun.  Later, after we'd tubed & skied, as we watched the boats begin to die on the downwind leg as predicted, we decided that for once we'd finish the race in first place.  One of our crew got on the water skis & flew the PHRF B flag from his hand as we crossed the finish line & got the gun from the RC.  Finally, a first in our class--without the spinnaker!!!  We finished the evening at the skipper's house for a bbq. She had brought back pre-mixed Dark n' Stormys from Bermuda--they came in soda cans--very cool & quite good for a pre-done drink. Looking forward to Screwpile & 3 days of craziness on the water with my boat.  But it isn't a total loss this week--Xing Fu & I will be racing Friday on a new boat for the AYC Beer Can series.  Non-spin, but still racing... 

The Fight and Other Weekend Adventures

Do not need to say how busy the weekend was--kinda can be implied most of the time these days.  

We went to see Phish at Merriweather on Saturday.  It was great fun until the break between sets.  We were all chilling on the lawn, chatting with our neighbors when out of the blanket of people a group of folk with a double stroller with two babies bouncing around inside decides to park itself against our cooler & our backs.  The next thing we notice is that the "couple?" sorta disappears leaving one of the babies (must've been around 18 months old or so) standing up in the stroller, which of course was perched precariously on the hill (as I said, our cooler seemed to be the brake).  The couple directly next to the stroller & a little ways up the hill, kept putting up their hands so that if the baby fell, he or she wouldn't hurt themselves as there seemed to be no responsible adult in sight attached to said baby.   

Xing Fu & I turn back around & start to chat with the guy sitting to our right.  Next thing we know, there's beer pouring down on us & the sheet we were sitting on, & a roiling mass of folk directly behind us are engaging in a huge pushing & shouting match.  The guy to our right snatches the baby out of the stroller just as it starts to lurch back & forth because it would have been far worse if the baby had been trampled by the crowd.  Still no mother of baby in sight, btw...The baby is whimpering but doesn't seem too upset by the fact that a perfect stranger is holding him & that masses of people are tumbling about right near him.  I stand near the baby as well--a soothing female presence perhaps.  From what we can gather, the father? of the baby & hence owner of the stroller, was being asked (or told), to move the stroller as it was no place to be in the middle of a huge standing & dancing, etc. mound of people.  He didn't like what the guy had to say to him & proceeded to start shoving him.  That's when the fight broke out--we were amazed--at a Phish concert???  The vibe is decidedly Grateful Dead & most folk were just laid-back & grooving to the music.  Finally, the guy settled a bit & evaporated, leaving the guy next to us still holding the baby who now was beginning to cry & fret & the stroller.   Mom?  Mom?  We hear about 2 minutes later a woman crying out, "Where's my baby?  Where's my baby?"  The "hero" next to us hands the kid over & then she & the kid disappear--stroller with all their crap still sitting in the middle of us & not even a "thank you" to the guy who really did take care that the baby was safe.  Not a uniform in sight.  The couple who were directly next to the stroller begin to push it up the hill & out of the way, when the dad materializes again & reclaims the errant stroller.  The rest of the concert passed rather uneventfully but what an experience!

Sunday found us on the "imaginary" push-button sailboat that my folks own.  I say "imaginary" because up to this point Xing Fu had never been on it & said that he didn't believe that it actually existed...we had a great sail & I was very happy to see that my dad had to give respect to my boyfriend's sailing prowess.  Xing Fu couldn't help himself--trimming the main for maximum performance on a cruiser--just cracked me up--that's what happens when you put a person who primarily races on a cruising boat--they want to make it go better...but we dropped the anchor like good cruisers & went swimming in the bay--no jellyfish yet so it was a great swim.  Afterwards we ate dinner at the yacht club & played the "Ugly Commodore Contest"--anybody who is new to the yacht club has to pick him out--points given if you make the correct selection--of course Xing Fu passed....

Summer is Always Busy

 I think as soon as the summer solstice arrives things kick into high gear.  I have been going nonstop since the 21st & haven't had time to breathe.  Looking back on the two summers that I've been at this blog, I can definitely see a trend.

So, a recap of sorts:  my son was supposed to be in Paris by now (obviously he is not--instead he is spending 2 days in Boston touring that fine city & NOT using his French).  Most of this past week has been spent prepping & packing him for this trip & getting excited for him to go to the country whose language he's been learning & immersed in since kindergarten.  Tomorrow they're supposed to fly out finally--so no 3 days in Paris now, only one...no La Jaconde for him but at least he'll see the La Tour Eiffel.  But he'll get a great overview of the entire country & fly out of Nice.  Shortly thereafter, we're driving him down to camp in NC.  Busy, busy him.

On Wednesday I went out with another boat--not my usual.  It was different to say the least--far more laid-back--people were not interested at all in winning--in fact, this boat is in the same Spin-A class as Xing Fu's boat & we watched them take off as we were still fumbling to set the spinnaker.  But I had fun--skipper has great food on board & as I trimmed the jib, I munched on lemon hummus & sushi--go figure!  It was sad watching as we left to race & my usual ride was anchored to its mooring--harder still when watching my usual fleet out & sailing by--except one one of our regular competitors ran aground & had to be DNF(Did Not Finish) because he was so on hard that he had to motor off (decidedly against the rules).  Next week I'll be back on my regular ride with the regular crew--looking forward to it.

Yesterday I delivered my son down to Reagan National.  We took the MARC & then the DC metro to the airport--so easy--until I had to get back.  I had a great time wandering around Union Station & window shopping in the stores there, but the train ride back was horrible.  The A/C in the train was broken & noxious fumes were in the car I was in.  I emailed Xing Fu just before I arrived at the BWI station half joking that I was going to hop off & could he pick me up?  Surprisingly he emailed me back & said sure--he rescued me from being overcome by diesel (or something) fumes--such a knight in armor...from there we drove back up to Baltimore where he was supposed to meet work friends for happy hour.  I was concerned about crashing but needn't be--very nice people--had a great time still meeting more of the folks in Xing Fu's circle.  

Earlier today, I posted that article from EHarmony--didn't really comment on it but after reading it I have found that most of what was written appears to hold true for us....makes me happy to be in a relationship that works well on the many levels it does--sorta confirms the direction we continue to follow & that we're there for each other. Case in point, this morning, after leaving his place, I drove to Starbucks for my usual fix.  As I was waiting in line, my phone rang--I thought it might have been my son updating me about his current situation, but it was Xing Fu just calling to tell me how much he enjoyed our morning & to have a great day--put a huge smile on my face despite my frustration around my kid.  That's what I mean--those seemingly little things really make it big & I appreciate us all that much more.  

But the weekend looks to be hugely busy...again.  Phish concert tomorrow & sailing on Sunday...a blur as usual.  This blog is great at keeping a good record if nothing else.

9 Signs You've Met The One, Have You Met The One? Meet your Soulmate, Advice, Relationships, Dating

9 Signs You've Met The One, Have You Met The One? Meet your Soulmate, Advice, Relationships, Dating


I liked what this little article had to say.  Somehow EHarmony keeps sending me stuff but in this case I'll use it.