Wednesday April 25, 2012
Day one “Family Island Regatta”. By the time I got up and had my first cup of coffee I was convinced in order to get really great pictures, we needed to move closer. We could barely see the marker and Fred said, “Well, I guess we better hop on the dinghy and get moving”. “Whoa...all the way over there?” What was I thinking, great idea. I grabbed my camera stuff and binoculars and off we went just in time to see them go around the first mark. We were really pulling for “Bul Reg” and “Keep An Eye On Him” because they were really the only two out there daily practicing. We didn’t know anything about them, just that they worked for the trophy in our opinion.
In Class C I discovered hose small boats can move! We didn’t make it to the second mark in time to see them round it but “Keep Your Eyes on Him” was one of the three boats that rounded first. Racing to the finish line, the cannon went off and “Keep your Eye on Him” won. We were really excited. We went into Kidd’s cove, which happens by the way to be named after a pirate Kidd who anchored there often, and we watched the boats coming in. It was a sight to see. As we floated around taking the pictures Ivan from “Blue Shadow” asked us if we would give him a ride to the dock. What fun that was! He answered a few questions we had about the races because the program failed to mention the difference between the classes. Class C is 17 feet, Class B is 21 feet and Class A is 28 feet. There are other classes as well but those are the big classes. We haven’t had Internet so it is difficult to research on these. We moved yesterday, thinking along with the move would be an Internet bonus but not so. Maybe this afternoon we will go ashore to pick up Internet.
Class A
I was too whooped after that Class C dinghy race we were in trying to get pictures and follow the race. I had this brilliant idea to turn to cooler in the dink sideways so I could turn as the boat turned to snap pictures, being the professional photographer I sometimes think I am but deep inside I know I am not. Well that worked until the first revving of the engine. I nearly fell out of the boat backwards over the side. I spent the rest of the race doing leg and stomach exercises trying to hold on to anything around me feet, holding onto the painter and clicking when I could. I mean it...I think those sloops were having a much smoother ride than I was. Half my pictures, which I have since deleted, were of things besides boats like tops of masts, water and boat hulls and some thing unidentifiable. It was wonderful. We were at the starting line and what a site, all the sloops quietly lined up anchored at the start with mast down, clearly anticipation of the start. The listened as the committee official informed them of their sailing path and where the buoys were located for each turn as well as where the finish line was. At the starting gun, every boat had each member of the scurrying crew doing their specific duty as if in a fire drill all like a finely written Opus. Anchors being pulled, sails hoisted and the colorful array of boats suddenly went into a line of excitement as the wind caught their sails carrying them on their Windward leg to their first mark. We raced to the first mark to see them rounding their way towards in their Reaching leg. What a site to see. All synchronized to the tune of wind and water and determination. We raced to the next mark watching them approach, a great opportunity for photographs. This mark was full of shouting and one nearly colliding with another, voices clearly dueling on who was in the right and who fouled. Within seconds the near mishap was forgotten and concentration on the Downwind leg was fierce and smooth sailing my favorite point of sail, wing and wing. We finally made it to the finish line a few minutes before the gun went off making s/v “Red Stripe” in first place, s/v “Lady Muriel”, second and s/v “Tida Wave” third although in this race, they say second and third really don’t count. I passed going into the cove to see them for pictures and we headed back to Casa Mare’ for lunch and a rest before Class B started. I could barely get out of the dink by the time we got back I told myself that was enough racing for the day. I am totally convinced watching a race is much more comfortable on TV, though probably not as much fun as we had today in the dink. I am thinking, getting older means smaller doses. That Fred...a WILD THING!
Class B, the 21 foot sloops went on without us racing with them for pictures. There are racing three more days so we will certainly have time to scoot out there in the next few days. We came back and Fred’s sugar was really low so took care of that, had lunch and a nap. I woke up to napkin balls being thrown at me and Fred had a plan. Walk to the Monument, go to the beach and then move the boat to a different location. It took me a few minutes to wrap my head around that one after I looked at the clock. It was 5:00 pm. I persuaded him to leave the monument and beach until tomorrow morning and we could just move the boat. I think Stasia has the right idea. Stay put and sleep, and let everyone do the work for ya! She too is a hoot. Fred has become quite attached to her. I hear them having a one way conversation from time to time. I heard them in the galley the other morning, she was meowing (crying) for food and he was trying to make coffee.
I was wondering who would win that battle, she or him. In that one way conversation I heard him say to her “Why are you being a cry baby. Did you know there are cats starving in China?” Then she got quiet. She won! Fred’s latest trick he is trying to teach her is to get her to take her treat from his lips. Good one Fred! I should call you Felix instead of Fred...eh? He is beginning to meow back in kitty language to her. And he thinks she has been out to sea too long? Don’t expect me back the same way I was when I left. You may just send us both back out to sea.
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