Back at it.

After a busy Thanksgiving weekend with visiting friends, I was back on the water with a "proposal cruise".  The guy was rather nervous about popping the question, so we helped with a banner attached to the headsail.

She said yes.

We've been non-stop busy.

On the evening of Thanksgiving we welcomed my old friends from back in the Virgin Islands days, Gary (now in Portland) and Anna (now in North Carolina) who introduced us to her friend Mike.  It was a great pleasure to hang out together once again, reminisce, look at photos from those times back in the Islands.  I took them out sailing, which was another reminder of how we once lived, when we'd jump on a charterboat from our fleet and go.

    

I've said it before. It's more true now than ever. St Petersburg Rocks!

When I arrived here in July this town was rather quiet.  We could walk into any restaurant and get a table with no waiting.  Now that "season" has arrived, this place has become very busy.  Last Saturday evening the restaurants on Beach Drive were filled to capacity and still taking names for tables.  The sidewalks were busy with happy, chatty people.  The streets were filled with traffic and parking was an issue.

The attraction is not just the weather and the restaurants.  It's also the city's party planning.  The weekend before last was "RibFest", a huge three day event that included concerts by The Doobie Brothers, Rick Springfield and others.  Last Saturday was "Chillounge", another big city park setup that drew a large crowd for jazz, a fashion show, food and wine.  On my early Sunday morning run there were again crowds of people out for a woman's half-marathon.  Walking home from the Vinoy Marina after work yesterday I saw there is a new temporary marina being built next to the city marina.  It's across from the Mahaffey Performing Arts Center and the new Dali Museum that will open in January.  This new temporary marina is being built out of sections of floating deck all strung together into long finger docks.  This will be the setting for the St Petersburg Boat Show next week.

This town just does not quit!

On the other side of the camera

I usually get photos of my students while sailing. 

My Bareboat Chartering student Jim got photos of me while teaching.

Kick-ass sailing!

On Day 2 of Basic Keelboat Sailing we had some kick-ass sailing conditions - steady 18 to 22 knot wind out of the south.  It was fun! 

Jim, Steven and Scott kept our Catalina 350 in the "slot" and moving well. 

We went hunting for other boats to race with.  This Beneteau 37 is out of our Sailing Florida fleet.  It's being sailed by repeat charterers. 

Busy days

I haven't been keeping up here with what's going on.  For example - in addition to mechanical work on a couple of the boats in the Sailing Florida fleet of charter yachts - as well as boat briefings with charterers - I skippered a daysail on Wednesday.  I had another daysail on Friday.  Last evening I had a sunset cruise.  Monday I begin six days of teach ASA curriculum from Basic Keelboat Sailing to Bareboat Chartering.

Cathy, meanwhile, is now in Galveston.  She'll be in Texas all week for a series of meetings and to give a paper at science conference.   

It happened twice yesterday that I fell into conversation with charter guests on two different boats.  The conclusion of both conversations was the same.  I am very fortunate, and it is my further good fortune to appreciate that fact.

New from Cycletune!

Chris from Cycletune - my racebike tuner in Portland - posted these photos on FaceBook.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  This is my racebike in it's new livery! 

It was nearly a year ago when we took the engine out and had the top end freshened.  I knew Chris was having the bodywork painted, but I followed Cathy to St Petersburg before we got the bike put back together.  I never saw the bodywork until these photos.  

I've got this beautiful racebike with a faster-than-ever engine waiting in Portland.  I need to get it shipped to Florida soon! 

Cold front

Friday morning began a weekend of cool weather here.  I wore long pants and socks for the first time in months.  Morning temperatures were below 50 degrees.  It never got above 70 degrees, despite perfectly clear skies. We had strong north winds which made it feel even cooler.  Everyone was wearing sweaters and jackets.  But Sunday, when I took a group of friends out sailing on the Hunter 44', we sure did have great sailing.  Even with reefed sails and not really trying to trim for speed, we cruised comfortably at 7 and 1/2 knots. 

Thursday, November 4th

Another day of corporate team building/match racing.  Patrick on the Hunter 44'.  Me on the Hunter 41'.  This time we had wind and weather.  We raced twice.  In the first race the 41' came from behind on the downwind leg to win by a couple boat lengths.  The 44' won the second race by a similar margin. 

I know our clients had huge fun, but I wouldn't bet that they had more fun than me and Patrick.

These photos are of the 44'. 

Wednesday, Nov 3

Patrick and I skippered two of the newer Sailing Florida Hunters for an afternoon of corporate team building exercises.  We raced the two boats against each other.  Unfortunatly the wind became very light and then utterly clam.  It was nonetheless a fun afternoon.  

At one point I needed to join the others on Patrick's boat, so I anchored the 41' I sailed and took these photos of it.  I like the postcard quality of them, set as they are along the St Petersburg water front.   

This is Patrck on the bow of the 44'.  Note how calm the wind is and one of the crew acting as a wisker pole.  Note as well that I'm taking this photo from my 41' ahead of Patrick's 44'.  Not that we're competitive or anything....

Halloween in St Petersburg

Key West and South Beach are well known for their celebrations.  I'd never heard that St Petersburg went over-the-top in its Halloween festivities, but it does!  These photos are of a house decorated in a Jimmy Buffett theme.  It was just one of dozens of extravagantly decorated homes in NE St Petersburg.  Thousands of people crowded the streets to look.  It was like walking through a theme park.  

Another weekend of messing around on boats - teaching.

My students - Mark and Miki.

Great crew and fun to sail with.  Their plan is to sail in the Virgin Islands.  I know they will do well and love it down there.  I wish I could go along and be part of their joy.  

But mentors. like parents, must let go of thier progeny and let them take flight.