Been trying to get out on the water for weeks and finally made it. The Ker IRC 11.5 is fast and light. And the experienced crew was amazing to practice with. Will try and get a better picture now that I see how few are on the Net — had hands more than full trying to accomplish whatever I was supposed to do on the bow so my picture-taking was a little challenged.

Mostly just good to be on the water. Compared to all else wind and water seem a whole lot more permanent and for me, a connection to the planet. While work is always both a challenge and reward, but the water is a giant reset — not that one think is more rewarding than the other, kinda ying/yang, both are necessary in their own way and take diligence, require skill with no shortage of lessons to be learned. Just that I can really feel the wind and the water…

First time out this weekend on a Shields 30. Pretty exciting on a windy day. 4 boats (all Shields), 12 or so crew (one down for stitches after a boom/accident). Stepping on a boat you don’t know (especially for a race) is always a little nervy. You get about 10 minutes of instruction, given while you’re getting underway, over the noise of the wind,  and then you’re off.

We were doing three person crews generally with the buoys laid out earlier than the 10AM start and the committee boat standing by. First call was there was too much wind for Spinnakers (gusts probably to 25 maybe 30 knots I dunno).

I was on the Main Sheet, so was in the very small cockpit between the helmsman and Kirk working the jib. Kirk then jumped (literally) to the committee boat to assist getting Bernie to the hospital — leaving just the two of us. And as two we won the first two.

The jib was very unlike the bigger boats as you’re really releasing with one hand and trimming with the other — hopefully at the same time. There’s kind of an art to this while ducking under the boom. Good bit of water coming over the bow as well. And loud (wind).

In good wind the boat comes about quickly and heels so the rail is in green water before you know it. In wind. All good — nothing like a few hours in the wind to make you forget anything else but wind and water. I don’t even really know where this nautical fascination came from — think it’s all part of a general wanderlust. Is perfect for now. The boats are courtesy of Oak Cliff Yacht Club (more on Oak Cliff here: http://very.fm/little-rainlittle-fog).

Made it out to Oyster Bay, Long Island this weekend. Sailed (raced) a 1957 52 foot Rhodes (named Caper), more or less grinding on the jib and happy to have had the opportunity.

The boat has been restored to what I would consider immaculate condition. You can take a look at the entire fleet of Classics at The Oak Cliff Yacht Club site. Sailing these restored gems puts a bit of art back in sailing (and there is already a good bit) — the lines look better, you work a little harder (or a lot), and there’s just not as much focus on electronics…or there wasn’t today.  And like turning the many (or any) screens we all have off, even for a few hours, is more of a relief than I remembered (and I like electronics!). No radar today, speed was down below and called out occasionally, but we were all just focused on the wind and its direction….toss in a little rain and a little fog and it was perfect. (Pictured above are Don standing, and Jeff working the Main, I’m on Jib and took the picture, we’re trailed by two other classics in today’s race — there are a couple of shots of Caper & some of the Classics up at Flickr)