tizak

Strange day for the final of Ahmanson. The downwind blast from Long Beach to Newport Beach was fully cloaked as an upwind beat in the standard (although larger than usual) slop off that part of the SoCal coast. Major challenge for drivers and main trimmers with minimal jib adjustment tossed in to occasionally wake the rail weight up - four intentional tacks and one of the crash variety (see below). Breeze 15 - 20 all day and never further aft than about 45.

 

Great to see Windward Passage and Ragtime come at us from behind. Passage finished just in front of us (after first hitting the beach near the line ahead and to leeward) and Rags didn't quite get by. As we were about to finish a large cruising boat (NHYC opening day racer) went into irons right at the committee boat in our path. Crash tack onto port got us over the line and away from the mess.

 

Bottom line, in spite of our 1, 2, 16 record, we managed to maintain a one point lead over Amante (Choate 48) and clinch the 2013 Ahmanson Cup. For those interested Fletch was on Amante yesterday and, as usual, entertaining after racing.

In first so far...

 

Ahmanson Series scoring this year includes a third race on May 4 (NHYC Opening Day race).  I believe Rock n Roll will be at Yachting Cup in San Diego that weekend.

We've changed plans. We're going to complete Ahmanson and see if we can win it on the water. The last race is from Long Beach to Newport so we expect to be able to let R&R spread her wings and take off. Fun to beat the sleds boat for boat with a 38 footer. Will also be special because Windward Passage is signed up to race.

 

Plus, the final race is part of opening day for NHYC which we're told it's quite the party.

 

Last wekend was a lot of fun - not only because of the results but because it was good days on the water. We felt we were handling the boat well. Still lots to learn but we're making good progress.

 

And, this may be our second Ahmnason win - took it in '05 w/ the 105.

These things are big money-makers.

Cal28, eh? Usually it's a Cal25. You can find a beat-to-shit Cal25 for cheap, slap on a new 4-stroke outboard which cost more than the boat, bolt on some Home Depot patio furniture and you are off and running after you get a few permits.

The guests pay a fixed price. The alpha gay male drives the boat around inside protected harbors while the submissive gay partner serves up wines with hors d'œuvres. The guests get a yachting experience complete with Grey Poupon.

I saw my first one in Alamitos Bay, then shortly thereafter in Newport. They gotta have them in Marina Del Rey by now. Anywhere there is a protected harbor with interesting sites to see.

Saw one in del Rey. Heavy cruising boat about 45 ft. long. Had a set of wicker furniture + cocktail table strapped to the foredeck.

Years ago worked w/ a guy who, over a couple years, developed a very serious dislike for our company's president and went on a campaign to cause him serious embarrassment. By having porn and gay material sent to the office addressed to this pres. and getting him on a number of phone lists for related adult services, he managed to divert a number of personal / petty vendettas that had begun to rage. Actually played a small part in getting the company culture refocused in more appropriate directions. Hard to pursue personal vendettas and petty schemes when corporate is breathing down your neck on a weekly basis. He managed to do this anonymously, was never discovered and told me about it after the fact.

Great to hear Abduction is in caring hands and doing well. Last we knew the Stanford prof who bought her discovered he was in over his head and she was sitting in some Bay Area harbor full of water waiting to be broken into dumpster sized pieces. Good on ya.

I'll pass this info onto her former owner here in Santa Barbara.