Sailing, sailing, sailing

[Beam]

Summer sailing season has started. :) Last week was the North Sea Race. Scheveningen - Harwich > [drunk] [party] [drunk] > Harwich - Scheveningen > [drunk] [party] [drunk].

Your fellow wabbit played co-skipper/tactician on the Beluga (taking the heath from both skipper and crew if not played carefully ;)) which means operating expensive, complex and sensitive equipment and trying to make something usefull out of weather forecasts, tidal patterns, crew experience, tracks and what so ever.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Beam/2005512224051_VuurschepenRace 00006.JPG
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Even regatta sailing can have it's romantic moments, just forget you're gonna get about 3 hours of sleep, can be called for sail changes at any ungodly moment and have to spend most of the time in "the rail".

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Beam/200551222438_VuurschepenRace 00048.JPG
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Sorry no pix of the [drunk] [party] [drunk] section, believe me it was fun! Just after the start outside Harwich, Beluga carries a dark blue spinnaker:

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Beam/200551222459_P5062035.JPG
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Coastal races are held near Scheveningen this weekend. :)

[Pastorius]

Cool!

quote:
I am sailing, I am sailing,

I am sailing, stormy waters,
to be near you, to be free.

I am flying, I am flying,
like a bird 'cross the sky.
I am flying, passing high clouds,
to be with you, to be free.

Can you hear me, can you hear me
thro' the dark night, far away,
I am dying, forever trying,
to be with you, who can say.

Can you hear me, can you hear me,
thro' the dark night far away.
I am dying, forever trying,
to be with you, who can say.

We are sailing, we are sailing,
home again 'cross the sea.
We are sailing stormy waters,
to be near you, to be free.

Oh Lord, to be near you, to be free.
Oh Lord, to be near you, to be free,
Oh Lord.

[col]

All the nice boys love a sailor
All the nice boys love a tar.

[Pastorius]

BTW Beam, sorry to see your majority in Parliament being reduced, but congratulations on 3rd term in office!!!

[Beam]

I feel a pressing need to arse somebody who claims he can't.

[akots]

While being little boy I always dreamed of sailing. Unfortunately, my guts don't like it. Being jealous looking at the pics.

So, you got enough energy now and can play the DeathmatchIV? Don't arse me either please.

[ERIKK]

Looks good - captain Beam! ;)

[Whomp]

That looks like good fun Beam. The North Sea looks as if it can be treacherous at times. I have a boat here in Chicago. It's funny but the sailors here are kind of snobs. They really look down on us lazy arse power boaters. Is that the same there?

[Beam]

@akots, I'm moving back in a more or less normal rhytm now, this stupid lost the sav however :(. Already PMed Matrix for a resend.

@Whomp, admit it. Power boaters are lazy arses ;)

I could write an essay about snobbish boat owners. The vast majority has the bucks to buy one for status and lack every bloody skill and interest to learn anything about how things really work on the water. The only way left to "establish" the status they bought is by acting snobbish and buying expensive stuff [pimp]. There really isn't much of a difference between motorboat and sailing yacht owners from that perspective. Fortunately there still is a group that is interested in the real thing and the sailors I know deal with motorboaters normally.

Upcoming trips:
- 10 / 11 June: one of my student housemates bought a family sailing cruiser last year and invited his former housemates for a trip across the IJsselmeer (Medemblik - Stavoren v.v.). Sounds like a good beer trip! [drunk]
- 18 / 19 June: Around North-Holland race on the Beluga. Interesting from a navigational point of view because of the tidal currents and local advantages that can be gained. A very tactical race. Track: Muiden > Enkhuizen > Den Oever > Den Helder > IJmuiden.
- July: Tourist season, to busy for my liking.
- August: The Fastnet on Beluga. Start on the Solent > Lands End > Fastnet Rock (just south of Ireland) > Bishops Rock (near the Scillies) > Plymouth.
- Couple of days later: Challenge Cup on Lucifer (30 feet one-design Pion). IJmuiden > Lowestoft > [drunk] > IJmuiden.
- September: Dutch Championship Pion on Lucifer. Number of shorttrack races on the IJsselmeer near Muiden.
- October - December: IJspegel (Icicle) Cup on Lucifer. Every other sunday shortrack races offshore near Schevingen.

I'll try to find some maps of mentioned areas.

[Whomp]

Yeah I'm a lazy arse although I have taken the U.S. Coast Guard tests. Most of my activities are for pleasure. I admire people who sail like you do. Have you ever heard of the Chicago Macinaw Race?

[Beam]

yeah, I once saw spectacular video footage from that race with a strong Southerly. :) How long is that race btw?

[Whomp]

It's 335 miles(kilometers?[blush2]). I think this will be the 99th year. There are some really amazing boats.
Here a couple sites on the race.

http://www.chicagomackinac.com/2005/2005coverage/

http://www.southwindssailing.com/articles/0108/chicago.html
These are the Coast Guard guys that board my boat every year. :D
http://piersystem.com/external/index.cfm?cid=443&fuseaction=EXTERNAL.docview&documentID=17869

[Beam]

Nice, maxis, Whitbreads. :)

Be carefull with USCG this year now you're in touch with bunches of liberal Europeans ;)

Pic of your boat would be nice!

[Whomp]

No worries with the Coast Guard. The USCG reserve guys are in my harbor and we give them food when they're done for the evening. [mischief]

I can't seem to find any pictures of the vessel "Juicy" except my ugly mug sitting at the helm. I will take some this summer.
We have the 2000 version of this boat. A little longer swim platform and a white hull.
http://www.searay.com/online_brochure.asp?display=brochure&tab=2&modelid=43717&reqtype=1,9,19,24

[Beam]

quote:except my ugly mug sitting at the helm

Join the club and don't let us wait until summer!