Eric and I spent the morning riding our bikes up State Street, the main
drag here in Santa Barbara. It is a very trendy California type of
street with a mix of clubs, restaurants, and shops that I can’t afford
to shop in. Due to the fact that it is Easter Sunday the ladies were in
a higher state of dress that we have previously seen. We are hoping
that this trend is reversed, and soon. We have replenished the stock of
Coke in the fridge due to a visit from Connie and Glenn Brown, and the
subsequent Crown and Cokes that were consumed along with a really
fantastic tri-tip steak from Swingle’s Butcher Shop in Ione,
California.
We have finished with the weighing and measuring of boats today and it
looks like all the teams have registered. The water was flat and the
air still in the morning, but picked up mildly in the afternoon. We
headed out on the signal boat about one p.m. for some practice racing
and starts. As we anchored about a mile off shore and set the course
about half the fleet came out to play.
We had about 45 boats on the line for the first practice start and sent
them off on a number one course. The up wind mark was set a little
under a nautical mile away and the fleet was an impressive sight as
they all crossed over clear for a clean start. The fleet soon split up
with about half going over to a port tack. The starboard boats seemed
to have the advantage (perhaps from a shore lift?) and reached “A” mark
first and there wasn’t anyone who was hesitant to pop the chute to head
down wind. Conditions at this point were just about perfect for the
down wind sleigh ride with the wind speed in the 10-12 knot range. Greg
Thomas and Jacques Bernier were over the finish line first and looking
very good. We did one more practice start and headed back in because it
was almost party time!
We took off for the welcoming party that evening that was held in a
very nice park that overlooked the ocean as well as the city. The beer
flowed freely (Gordon Biersch, very nice choice…) and we noshed on
BBQ tri-tip, chicken, and veggie kabobs for the weird people. And we
had some more free beer. There was a small raffle and some great prizes
were given away like hobieHobie sunglasses and a Gore-Tex dry top. And
we had more free beer. Steve Leo, the host of the event, got up, said a
few words, thanked a bunch of people, and we had more free beer. And
after all that free beer, Connie Brown was kind enough to drive us back
to the motor home.
Yes you heard right – we had to give up on the hotel and move into a
motor home in a parking lot just like the lowly masses. I would like to
tell you Damon that we made this choice just to be close to the working
man, and to get down in the gutter with Joe Racer, but the truth of the
matter is we got kicked out of the hotel. You will be getting a bill
for some repairs, but what ever they tell you, those holes in the wall
were there before we got here, and we never saw the 60 inch plasma
screen that they say is missing.
It’s a good thing that the beer was free tonight Damon, because we are
still waiting on that money transfer. Eric goes to the Western Union
office every day like a lost child looking for the drunken mother that
has abandoned him. Please don’t break his heart like this Damon,
besides; we are down to Pabst Blue Ribbon in a can in the fridge. It
was on sale at the Piggly Wiggly $4.98 a case. If we don’t get some
funds soon we will have to resort to drastic measures. Eric thinks we
can part out this motor home for some pretty good money…”Eric! Put
down that wrench! Not yet, let’s give Damon another day!” Send money
soon Damon, soon!