Weekend blur

A weird, fast-moving weekend hit us and left us gasping. But, it did have its good points, including quite a lot of time on the water.

The Sorceress (Batwoman), Tadpole (007/WMCIK), and I sailed on Friday just before sunset in a really nice mix of winds.

Saturday didn't work quite as well, with me and Tadpole baking our brains out waiting two hours to start the first race (as race comittee) in ephemeral winds and broiling sun, and the Sorceress having boat problems (fouled rudder) at the start of the single-hand race; my "advice" proved neither useful nor wanted. She was on our old cruising boat, which had a foul bottom and some other problems, because she had lent her boat out to one of the more experienced racers for the single-hand race.

Then, shifty light winds required multiple re-sets of the committee boat and starting line, along with multiple re-starts of the second race; we just couldn't keep up with the changes in winds and in directions from the race committee chair, so we had to survive a lot of confusion and yelling before the second race could finally get a good start. We wound up changing course flags a few times, which required tying and un-tying flags onto a broomstick (no mast or halyard on the ski boat that had been provided for race committee duty). I also got some cramps from hauling up the anchor multiple times up fifty feet from the bottom; we set it so well that a couple of times we had to use the boat's motor to break it out.

Difficulties were compounded by being on an open power boat without some of the equipment needed to run the races and a resulting need to improvise. Our family's only portable two-way radio was with Batwoman on Syzygy, and the race committee boat didn't have a two-way radio, so we were out of touch with the racers until they passed within earshot. Also, with no air horn, we had to turn the boat's engine on and wait for it to build up compressed air to sound the boat's horn, which wasn't as loud as an air horn. Of course, running the motor made it harder to hear people when they passed near us, but it was the only wayto have any kind of horn. (The race committee box had recently been stocked with a new horn but it had disappeared, leaving three horn tops but no cans of compressed gas to power them.)

By the end, both Tad and I were tired, dehydrated, and headachy; Tad said he had a continuing migraine. At least the boat got us back to the marina very quickly after we finished the final race and picked up the anchor and pin buoy; Tad drove the boat to an unholy speed (at least by sailboat standards) that would have gotten him a speeding ticket on many highways. Later on, Zorro also enjoyed tooling around the lake, sporting shades and a tan in "old Hollywood" style.

The sailing club dinner was also a disappointment in that attendance was poor. However, the food was good and the staff friendly, plus we had some nice conversations with the sailors who were there.

Sunday was also awkward, with our skipper refusing to go out in medium winds (some white capping) and mad at me as a result of Saturday. Only four boats went around the course, and on a couple of those the woman (I had always thought it was supposed to be a hers-and-his race with women helming but found out otherwise a few days later) wasn't steering. However, we eventually went out (as a foursome with CA helming, Husker on foredeck, Tadpole on mast and jib, and me on spinnaker trim and helping with the boom and traveler) for a really good sail, including a nice long spinnaker run. Then Batwoman really proved her skill in getting the boat to move in light winds as the wind dropped away to almost nothing.

After a late lunch, we hauled Syzygy (our other boat) out of the water and prepped her for a road trip.

Returning to the marina, we were about to bag the idea of a late-afternoon sail when Zorro whooshed up in the Etchells USA 438 and told Batwoman to hop on and take the helm. She did, with me and Tadpole following a little while later on Black Magic (USA 125) for some mock racing. We didn't have to let the Batgal win her private Mothers Day regatta, since she was definitely a better helm than me, and her crew also had a big edge in experience over Tadpole. However, after shaking off some of the initial rust among USA 125's crew, there were a couple of times that we at least caught up partway, so that was also nice. We also managed a short spinnaker run on both boats.

Also, on Sunday, I got the good news that the Heron Lake marina was ready for operation and was also ready for the replacement "A dock" to be installed. The new dock was mostly assembled as of Sunday and perhaps right now is being attached. The new stainless-steel gas grill has been installed under the marina pavillion and was used to cook a first meal for some hungry volunteer dockmasters.

Since the weekend, we had a nice hike in the river-bottom bosque late Monday afternoon, and dinner at the Coronado Restaurant and Cantina in Bernalillo. The restaurant is run and partially owned by Mark, who used to be the manager of the Damsite marina at Elephant Butte Lake and hence is a good friend to many sailors. Today, Carol Anne got some a used mainsail and a couple of jibs for her boat. This afternoon, Tadpole gets to do some boat scrubbing and tonight we'll take in a movie and some sailing videos.

On a sad note, we've learned that one of our long-time skippers, John B., died this week. I met him for the last time after what was perhaps his last sail just a few weeks ago. John, we'll miss you, and, as you requested, we'll be raising a toast to you.