Regatta by Air

This weekend will be the first time I will compete in a regatta getting there by air. I have been generously loaned a boat for the Train Wreck regatta in Florida. This is the regatta where I purchased my boat last year. So it is the one year anniversary of sailing MC-Scows.

So there are a couple challenges wit hthis regatta. First, I haven't sailed, worked out, or even slightly exercised since sailing ended last year. I am woefully out of shape.

Second, I have to pack whatever I need and carry it with me including a sail. I took a coupe hours today to clear out my family room furniture, unroll the sail, fold and roll it, pack it in a tube, and put the tube in a ski bag. It should be good to go. I emptied my scuba gear bag and started filling it with gear: life jacket, boots, rain gear, gloves, glasses and such. The bag is 2/3 full and I still need to pack clothes.

On top of this I am putting the regatta into a business trip, meaning I still have to pack the business clothes and laptop bag with reports. It ends up being a week long trip.

Last year at this time there was a nasty storm crossing the country as far north as Pennsylvania and as far south as North Carolina. It made the drive interesting to say the least. This year the storm is hitting as I try to fly. We'll see if I even get there.

A month ago this regatta was a 20% possibility, two weeks ago the business trip plans fell in line to make it work, maybe a 90% chance of sailing. I hope I get to sail.

I've been sailing competetively since I was about 10, winning my first junior regatta at 12. But living in NY this means sailing from June through September. Each WInter by March or April I would be stir crazy, really going through withdrawl, not so much sailing withdrawl but competition withdrawl. I miss the chess match aspect, the intensity of a close race.

Graduating to E-Scows and getting a drivers license allowed me to sail some regattas starting around Easter and ending in late September. In college these were full blown road trips, coolers, tents, all night travel, the works. We could do a regatta for the cost of gas, registration, beer, a loaf of bread and some peanut butter (and Dad's boat).

Later when I had a real job I would do regattas with hotels, day travel, time off from work, etc. The cost jumped way up. Well I have two kids about to need college tuition. I'm back to cheap regattas. I have to figure out how to get back to basics.

MC-Scows have a great regatta schedule, but it isn't very local to the Northeast.

2011 Season is Starting

I am confirmed to sail my first regatta of the year, the Train Wreck regatta in Lake Eustice, FL, the first weekend in February. At this regatta last year I purchased my boat. For this one, I hope to borrow a boat. I just so happen to be in Jacksonville for a businss trip. What a coincidence.

In the off season athletes train constantly to keep in tip top shape. The schedule for training may be easier in the off season with a bit more relaxed approaches. With me, I emphasized the relaxed approach more than the exercise. So I am completely and totally out of shape. I did get reading glasses for the first time in my life.

Time to kick-start the season. I'm going to drop a few ponds before the event, and maybe even start some sort of exercise plan. Yeah... I think I will. Sure.

So if I can find the money, time, and approval, my plan is to sail this regatta schedule:

• 2/5-2/6 Train Wreck, Lake Eustice, FL
• 4/30-5/1 Cow Town Classic, Hoover SC, OH
• 5/14-5/15 Scowabunga, Privateer YC, TN
• 6/4-5 MC Horse Race, Saratoga, NY (new this year!)
• 8/4-8/7 Western Michigans, Crystal Lake, MI (tentative)
• 9/10-9/11 nor'Easterns, Keuka Lake, NY
• 9/14-9/17 National Championships, Keuka Lake, NY
• 9/24-9/25 MCSA Blue Chip Championship, Spring Lake, MI (if I qualify)
• 10/1-10/2 Cowan Scow'n, Cowan Lake, OH (probably not though)

Now that I have all this on one page, it is a lot, maybe too much. but I'm not getting any younger. I've always wanted to do a full campaign. Maybe this year is the year. But it means I will miss most of the marching band season, which I really enjoy as much as sailing. It's my kid after all!

I'll have to ponder. Maybe early season success will convince me to persist. Or early season flops will teach me I'm just a local hack sailor and should stay with that.

Time will tell.