Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Non-stop busy!
Business at Sailing Florida has us all running to keep up Term charter activity is way up as well as demand for daysails, sunset sails, and corporate team building match races. I'm on the water almost every day now. In the course of a sunset sail I can take a breath, look around, and appreciate.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Feeling a little wore-out, but in a good way.
Riding a roadracing motorcycle is physically demanding. I was not in shape for Sunday's trackday at Palm Beach International Raceway. I hadn't ridden my R6 in nearly 18 months. And while I run regularly for cardio fitness, I haven't been going to a gym for upper body workouts since I left Portland.
So now, after six 20 minute sessions on the track, I am sore all over. But that's okay, because it was great.
My Cycletune prepared Yamaha worked great. The engine felt more powerful than ever. Riding PBIR is fun: great surface, 170 mph straight and three 180 degree sweeping turns that make for lots of knee-drgging time.
So now, after six 20 minute sessions on the track, I am sore all over. But that's okay, because it was great.
My Cycletune prepared Yamaha worked great. The engine felt more powerful than ever. Riding PBIR is fun: great surface, 170 mph straight and three 180 degree sweeping turns that make for lots of knee-drgging time.
Friday, February 18, 2011
A run of great days.
Since Monday the weather has been sunny with temperatures in the 70's and the long range outlook continues that streak.
Yesterday I spent the entire day, through sunset, and into the full moon light, sailing a Catalina 44 with an AirTran 737 pilot, his flight attendant wife and family.
Today I will sail the new Beneteu 40 rocketship on a sunset cruise.
Saturday I will do a shakedown cruise on a new Hunter 45 and coach the owner from a famous family.
Sunday I will take my Yamaha R-6 to Palm Beach Raceway for a day on the track.
Yesterday I spent the entire day, through sunset, and into the full moon light, sailing a Catalina 44 with an AirTran 737 pilot, his flight attendant wife and family.
Today I will sail the new Beneteu 40 rocketship on a sunset cruise.
Saturday I will do a shakedown cruise on a new Hunter 45 and coach the owner from a famous family.
Sunday I will take my Yamaha R-6 to Palm Beach Raceway for a day on the track.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Where I work.
Yesterday while walking to the marina I was again struck by my good fortune to work at such a beautiful location.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Another weekend of messing around on boats - teaching.
Students Kyle, Tad and Wade on our Catalina 39.
The weather was sunny but with a cold north wind. As of Valentines Day Monday, the long range forecast is non-stop sunshine and temperatures in the 70's.
The weather was sunny but with a cold north wind. As of Valentines Day Monday, the long range forecast is non-stop sunshine and temperatures in the 70's.
Friday, February 11, 2011
My racebike arrived!
The shipper got it to me without a scratch. Now it's waiting in Captain Patrick's house until the day -soon- when I take it out for a day at the track.
Monday, February 7, 2011
A Sailing Florida conga line headed south.
I spent Saturday morning helping a crew from Colorado get organized and going on their trip down to the Dry Tortugas in our Hunter 44.
Yesterday afternoon a group of guys from Oklahoma arrived to take our Catalina 350 down to that same part of the world. I'm out the door early this morning to make sure they properly stowed and lashed down, and see them off.
Seems like the busiest part of charter season is beginning.
Yesterday afternoon a group of guys from Oklahoma arrived to take our Catalina 350 down to that same part of the world. I'm out the door early this morning to make sure they properly stowed and lashed down, and see them off.
Seems like the busiest part of charter season is beginning.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The cross country drive
Portland to St Petersburg is a very long drive. 3, 179 miles. Five very long days. Even in good weather conditions it is a grueling drive. Much of my drive was in less than good conditions. Parts of it were in horrid conditions.
My original planned route would have taken me east to Illinois before turning south. After one day of driving I had to toss that route and find a new one. A massive winter storm would close off the Midwest. At the end of day one I was in northern Utah and had to find a way to get south without going very far out of my way. That meant continuing east to Colorado and then diving south.
Parts of the drive across southern Wyoming were concerning. The country was snow covered and new snow was falling. Snow fall intensified as I drove south in Colorado. The weather was deteriorating quickly. I woke up on day three to -17 F with strong north winds creating windchill at -39 F. There wasn't a lot of new snow on the ground, but blowing snow and the dangerously low temperatures made me question whether I should stay put or push on.
I did push on. The road south was in good condition and wind was mostly from behind me, which the Civic handled easily. Conditions suddenly turned bad as I approached Wichita Falls Texas. The road became snow covered and then there were large sections of ice. I overnighted in Wichita Falls in hope that the morning would bring improved conditions.
It did not. The entire 80 plus mile stretch to Ft Worth was a continuous sheet of glaring ice. I'd never seen such an expanse of ice. The ditches and median was littered with cars and trucks that had fallen off the surface. The smallest mistake would do that. Driving required complete concentration and delicate movements. It was slow going. Demanding. The challenge was to get safely across, not quickly across. Nonetheless I found my pace picking up. I grew more confident in the Honda's handling. By the time I approached the Ft Worth/Dallas metroplex, I was comfortably negotiating the snowy, icy road conditions there that other traffic seemed utterly intimidated by.
After slogging through the DFW traffic road conditions became good again. I got to Baton rouge that evening, thinking that I'd left the bad stuff behind. But after dinner I checked in with the Weather Channel. I was shocked to hear talk of sleet and freezing rain for the next day - even down here along the Gulf Coast. I slept well for a few hours but at 1 AM was wide awake. I turned on the Weather Channel again. Sleet and ice was on the way. I couldn't sleep now. I got up and going. I was determined to drive out of this threatened area before the it arrived.
My decision paid off. I encountered some rain but avoided the falling temperatures and dangerous conditions that came later. I drove on for 12 hours and arrived safely that afternoon back in St Petersburg.
My original planned route would have taken me east to Illinois before turning south. After one day of driving I had to toss that route and find a new one. A massive winter storm would close off the Midwest. At the end of day one I was in northern Utah and had to find a way to get south without going very far out of my way. That meant continuing east to Colorado and then diving south.
Parts of the drive across southern Wyoming were concerning. The country was snow covered and new snow was falling. Snow fall intensified as I drove south in Colorado. The weather was deteriorating quickly. I woke up on day three to -17 F with strong north winds creating windchill at -39 F. There wasn't a lot of new snow on the ground, but blowing snow and the dangerously low temperatures made me question whether I should stay put or push on.
I did push on. The road south was in good condition and wind was mostly from behind me, which the Civic handled easily. Conditions suddenly turned bad as I approached Wichita Falls Texas. The road became snow covered and then there were large sections of ice. I overnighted in Wichita Falls in hope that the morning would bring improved conditions.
It did not. The entire 80 plus mile stretch to Ft Worth was a continuous sheet of glaring ice. I'd never seen such an expanse of ice. The ditches and median was littered with cars and trucks that had fallen off the surface. The smallest mistake would do that. Driving required complete concentration and delicate movements. It was slow going. Demanding. The challenge was to get safely across, not quickly across. Nonetheless I found my pace picking up. I grew more confident in the Honda's handling. By the time I approached the Ft Worth/Dallas metroplex, I was comfortably negotiating the snowy, icy road conditions there that other traffic seemed utterly intimidated by.
After slogging through the DFW traffic road conditions became good again. I got to Baton rouge that evening, thinking that I'd left the bad stuff behind. But after dinner I checked in with the Weather Channel. I was shocked to hear talk of sleet and freezing rain for the next day - even down here along the Gulf Coast. I slept well for a few hours but at 1 AM was wide awake. I turned on the Weather Channel again. Sleet and ice was on the way. I couldn't sleep now. I got up and going. I was determined to drive out of this threatened area before the it arrived.
My decision paid off. I encountered some rain but avoided the falling temperatures and dangerous conditions that came later. I drove on for 12 hours and arrived safely that afternoon back in St Petersburg.
Back to work
I was gone for eleven days, but it felt as thought I'd been away for much longer. Each of those eleven days was filled to capacity. Each day I was up early and hit the ground running. Dealing with our new car, our old car, my race bike. Preparing for the pack and move. Cleaning and touch ups around the condo prior to listing it for sale. Then the long drive back to St Petersburg.
Being back here in warm temperatures and back on the dock with our fleet of boats felt wonderful, but at the same time I felt out of touch. I needed conversations with Capt Dave, Capt Patrick and Kyle to understand what had been going on with the boats, what was scheduled to go out next and what the priorities should be.
Yesterday, Friday, I was back in my charter captain uniform (golf shirt, khaki shorts and Tevas) and on the dock reacquainting myself with the boats, doing dozens of chores on them, making them ready for charter. We are entering our busiest time of the year. The next few months will be hectic. But that's how we like it.
It's good to be back.
Being back here in warm temperatures and back on the dock with our fleet of boats felt wonderful, but at the same time I felt out of touch. I needed conversations with Capt Dave, Capt Patrick and Kyle to understand what had been going on with the boats, what was scheduled to go out next and what the priorities should be.
Yesterday, Friday, I was back in my charter captain uniform (golf shirt, khaki shorts and Tevas) and on the dock reacquainting myself with the boats, doing dozens of chores on them, making them ready for charter. We are entering our busiest time of the year. The next few months will be hectic. But that's how we like it.
It's good to be back.
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