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Fear and Loathing in Santa Barbara, Act 4 - 2005 Hobie Tiger Worlds
Well Damon, they predicted a blow today ant they got it. On the
committee boat we were measuring gusts to 31 knots and average wind
speed of 22! Wow - what an exciting day! If you came for racing this
was your day, or maybe not...
The signal boat with Eric and me on it pulled out around 9:30 a.m. and the sea was already at 3 feet and breaking white caps all around us. We set up a photo op for the press and started all 90 boats at the same time. It was a beautiful sight until one Tiger mounted another in a mating frenzy! At one point the crew of the bottom boat was literally holding the hull of the top boat up so to prevent it from crashing down on him. And we hadn't even started racing yet!
We took the signal boat off shore about 3 miles to set up a course but with the wind and the depth of the water couldn't get the hook to set. In a futile attempt to get one race off we set up a start line but promptly drifted towards the pin boat and closed off the starting line. The decision was made to pull up and move the course closer to shore.
We finally got the course set with the up wind mark 1.8 nautical miles away. It was a fair distance but with the way the wind was building the race officials felt the Tigers would be there in no time at all. Carnage ensued with groups of boats going over as they all got hit with guts at the same time. There were sometimes five and six boats over at once, and the safety crews had their hands full as they raced to make sure everyone was all right.
Being on the signal boat gave a great vantage point of the down wind gate and we were treated to many near flips in today's trying conditions. Many teams suffered equipment failures with one team losing their mast. Two dagger boards were found floating in the water, hopefully they were returned to their owners. Others were injured physically with a broken nose and twisted ankles being reported.
We got one race off and the wind continued to build to a point that the Harbor Patrol came out to keep an eye on things. Many crew and skippers were being separated from their boats and were being picked up by other competitors. There were three official redress notices up for picking up stranded crew. After the first few finishers crossed the line the race officials decided to call it a day as the wind was still increasing in velocity and the safety of the competitors was coming into question.
Many boats were towed in and some even ended up on a southern beach away from the venue just to pull down the jibs and secure the decks for the ride home. Some boats waited on the beach for well over an hour for the wind to subside (it didn't) and to just catch their breath and collect their thoughts before making the trip back.
Right now they are calling for 25-30 mph tonight with gusts to 50. All the boats have been secured for the night and repairs have been made. Tomorrow they are calling for a lighter wind, but it will still be 20 plus. It should make for an interesting day once again.
Still no money Damon, I am beginning to doubt your integrity. The constant buzz that we have attained is starting to dull due to the fact we are now drinking Thunderbird wine and my stomach just can't handle it. I am afraid that a champagne taste does not go well on a Boone's Farm budget. I think we may need to renegotiate our compensation package when we are done here. Eric did get a good price for the generator out of the motor home though.
Fear and Loathing in Santa Barbara, Act Three - 2005 Hobie Tiger Worlds
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!
Fear and Loathing in Santa Barbara, Act Two - 2005 Hobie Tiger Worlds
Day two has come and gone Damon with very little to report. Most of the
day has been spent measuring sails and weighing boats. There has been
very little drama of excitement, although there have been a few
European chutes that have a newer cut that are not legal at this race.
It seems that the Tiger class continues to evolve over time little by
little and making small refinements all the time.
Eric and I were jacks of all trades yesterday doing multiple jobs while we floated around the venue. We did a short stint in the sail measuring room and had a great conversation with Eric Olsen, the official measurer and also a member of the ISAF board of directors. His take of the future of all small two handed boats (dinghy as well as cats) is that they will all be sailed with three sails. Apparently in Europe it is all that the sailors want and the traditional rigged cat is a thing of the past. The Tiger is currently very dominant in the F-18 class with about 75% of the boats competing being Tigers and taking the top spots in all competition. Mr. Olsen feels that the future of youth sailing lies in a spinnaker rigged Hobie 16 as well. Time will tell if we see this movement in the US as strong as in Europe, but from the beach here in Santa Barbara, it sure looks to be headed that way.
The great wind we enjoyed yesterday when Eric tried to kill me on the Super Cat has subsided to a mild breeze in the 7-10 range. Quite a few of the teams made it out on the water playing games with each other to see who was faster. I can only imagine at this level of competition that there is a fair amount of sand bagging going on as well. The chutes were out in full force with a few teams showing their prowess at flying the windward hull while going downwind. Most of the competitors on the beach are jovial and very friendly, but there are also quite a few very serious game faces on already, but with a title of "The Best Tiger Sailor in the World" on the line I can understand why.
Eric and I also did a stint selling the official clothing of the event with t-shits, sweatshirts and ball caps available. High quality merchandise at a reasonable price. I know that you sent us some money to buy you some mementos, but we found an adult bookstore on State Street and all of a sudden your money was gone. I don't even remember what I bought...
Speaking of money, that last Western Union transfer that you sent is already gone. How long do you think we can last working in these kinds of conditions? Eric and I have even moved out of the presidential suite to a "mini" suite to save money! Do you know how much they want for one of those little bottles in the fridge?
Until tomorrow,
Dave Atwater
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