The ole guy's still got it! <;~D

[couchsurfer]

Been camping down in Baja this winter,, nice Norte winds most days, with ~2500 miles of coastline.  

   Last time I used the boat was 3 winters ago when I was down here last.  With a knee replacement, it's not flexible enough to do those nasty light wind contortions, so I only bother when I can stretch out in a breeze., not worth bothering with it back home.

   Another camper took some drone video of yesterday's outing.  A moderate breeze, but some very fun wave action, on the edge of a shoal. I waited 3 days for a fuller breeze, scoping out the edges and rocks, and taking bearings. There's not a lot of breeze, but enough to make some play of it!  &lt;;~]

Pretty funny that the drone started filming just as I had my one capsize of the day.  
... Not bad for an old guy, eh?   

Those drones are sofa king cool!

 

[Fasterdamnit!]

Bravo, Sir!!

Killer sailing in a gorgeous place with outstanding camera work.

Wow. Just Wow!! 

 

[Gouvernail]

Most people would be intimidated by those waves and you are a guy who finds them to be fun. 
That’s the fellow I prefer to remember. 

 

[couchsurfer]

Yahh, I gottah say life post racing is a lot more fun for not meeting somotha dix out on the course.  &lt;;~]

 

[couchsurfer]

Yahh, I gottah say life post racing is a lot more fun for not meeting somotha dix out on the course.  &lt;;~]

But I'd also say that goes for myself as well.  I don't think racing brings out the best in everyone's nature.

Knee replacement, like many things in life can seem both a curse and blessing at the same time.  It caused me to stop racing, but there's so much more in life that I've done more of because of it.

 

[martin 'hoff]

Great sailing and pretty good drone/camera work!

 

[Martin T]

Looks like you were having fun, which is what it's all about.

 

[Emilio Castelli]

Couchsurfer:

I've been diagnosed with severe arthritis in my right knee; it's not too bad, {especially for the level of racing I do}, but it probably won't get any better with time.

I'm interested to know about your knee replacement and why it's preventing you from racing. Are you able to walk and hike (walk) extensively? Skiing? How long did it take to get back to "normal"?

BTW, looking at your video, I think you would be fine racing the master circuit.

Thanks in advance.

E

 

[Wavedancer II]

SO jealous!

BTW, nice recovery from the capsize.

 

[RobbieB]

Agree on the light air crouching in the damn boat.  My knees are sore for days after a light air event.  Hate that stuff.   

That shallow water makes for some great wave action!

 

[couchsurfer]

Couchsurfer:

I've been diagnosed with severe arthritis in my right knee; it's not too bad, {especially for the level of racing I do}, but it probably won't get any better with time.

I'm interested to know about your knee replacement and why it's preventing you from racing. Are you able to walk and hike (walk) extensively? Skiing? How long did it take to get back to "normal"?

BTW, looking at your video, I think you would be fine racing the master circuit.

Thanks in advance.

E

... Look into the amount of flex that the mechanical knee has, and compare it to your own. This will give you the story.

... My surgeon was excited about my relative youth, but after a few return visits, he was very apologetic to say that most people are happy to be able to walk to the store without pain, but I'm asking to get back to 'too much'. He defnutly didn't like what I was describing when I was talking about hiking in sailing, he described it as sheer force.  But yeah, I don't have trouble stretching out for the amount that a 220 pounder needs to. 

The other factor about kneeling is that you can only really high-kneel,, no scrunching down. Which was terrible for my work which was a large part under or inside boats. In the breeze it's necessary to not have the vang tighter than block to block tension, and it's totally crumb bum uncomfortable, and painful to move around in the boat in light winds.

... As far as walking and hiking and even skiing, you're probably all right. In the cold I find my knee numb and clunky.  It's known as farm fit in some places, where there's a looseness, and I sometimes have a click in walking long distances, but it's okay.

If I was to do it again, as in fact was indicated for the second knee, I'd put it off as long as possible as I am doing. At the point that you're really feeling disabled for the pain of your arthritis knee, then sure, go for it! Then you'll get a fabulous relief from that pain.   &lt;;~]

 

[Crump's Brother]

Mr. Surf, respect!

What are the logistics like there for the winter?  Where? 

 

[Gouvernail]

Some people feel the waves. Others just fight them. 

 

[Bill5]

Some people feel the waves. Others just fight them. 

As in life…

 

[Xeon]

True but in life the world is only changed for the better by people that fight the waves 

 

[Gouvernail]

True but in life the world is only changed for the better by people that fight the waves 

Thread drift warning:

When the waves are irresistible, those fight them simply exhaust themselves. Those who get out of the way survive.  Those who find a way to ride and / or use the waves enjoy the greatest success. 

 

[couchsurfer]

Mr. Surf, respect!

What are the logistics like there for the winter?  Where? 

Jeez.  The toughest logistic for it is to.... 1...grab a brain

2... Break free from whatever else the fack is going on.

My first stop is a hot spring in the hills just south of Ensenada.  Of course, that's after picking up at $12 kilo of jumbo prawns at the Ensenada fish market.   I-overlander is a useful app nowadays, where people drop spots to camp,but literally, there is about 2600 miles of coastline, I'm near daily North breeze of over 15 between November and March, and you can camp anywhere you damn well please.  People are friendly, not pushy. Really, the biggest fear is of hitting a roaming donkey if you're driving at night.   .... Budget wise, gas is about 85% of California price. Familiar brand foods are about American prices, just as beer is. But domestic product is a lot cheaper. And if you're camped at the beach, there's usually a small fish camp close by. Try the equivalent of $7 for a kilo of skate fish.

Outside of fuel cost of about $650 from Canada to 500 miles down baja, with many many side trips, my expenses otherwise are about $700 a month.

 

[couchsurfer]

Wowww, I found laser heaven, I tell you!

20 mi off the highway, up The far side of have Bahia Conception, about halfway down the thousand mile peninsula.  Didn't hear a human generated sound for over 5 days, not even a freaking plane!

This flat Sandy point had a little notch at the end which prevented waves from curling around and affecting the lee shore.  My camp was about 140 ft from the open breeze, the never went below 20kts for 3 days.  Mark me as totally pooped, hey good day to sit in the easy chair, driving to the next town.  &lt;;~]

View attachment uploads

 

[couchsurfer]

ahh, another clip.

... It's the great thing about joy sailing, you see a nice wave set, and you optimize it for fun.  There is no having to dig deep for the leeward mark. 

Here's a clip of the 6 mile dream reach!....   I needed some supplies. Overlander app showed a resort, restaurant, store and internet 6.4 miles across the bay.  I set off early for a long upland, planning to make some distance before the real breeze came in, but it was already high teens by 11, and pretty much stayed in that range for the day. Made the mistake of getting too close to the lee of an island on the 1st reach, and got darn stuck for a while.  After picking up provisions, I did a bit of a beat to get a nice angle home, and pretty much stayed on the plane for about 5 miles.  ... The pointing around I was doing, it was that I had no idea where my camp was on the other side of the Bay. Everything much looks the same!

I've been messing with my sealed cell phone strapped to the boom, and the Bluetooth control from a selfie stick, made into a wristband. There is lots can get in the way of things working out, but here's a fun clip.  

This place was so wonderful. I really think I've frikken died, and these notes are somehow getting to you from laser sailor heaven.  &lt;;~]