Let's Go To The Races

This post is from back in April, but a lot has happened lately and now I'm even further behind than before. CC has been diagnosed with leukemia and already started chemo. As weird as it feels to be talking about all this other stuff on here right now, I still want to get caught up. So I will continue on and fill in the details at the right time. 

This year we scheduled our big ASA Sailing Expedition (back in April) to end at the beginning of the Family Island Regatta so that we could enjoy the races and avoid the hotel and store crowds.

Dallas finally got the chance to get out on one of the boats during the races. Apparently, there are many boats at the last minute looking for extra bodies to race, so it isn't that tricky to get on one, but this boat here, Two Friends, is owned by a guy Dallas has become friends with and he has really let Dallas just jump in to the action.

Chris and Anita were still in town, this was there last little hoorah before they headed back for their busy season in Scotland. If you're ever looking for a fun way to explore some beautiful parts of Scotland... please, give them a chance to show you: http://www.wildernessguides.co.uk/ I can't wait for our turn :)

The boys have been so great with all the time in the boat following along with the races. I hope that they come to love the watersports as we do. It's a bit insane to think of all the stuff your children MIGHT be really good at or interested in. I know first hand how it feels to have the support of your family encouraging you to do something you love or really enjoy, and I hear stories of what it is like to have an activity (sport, lifestyle, music,etc) forced on you.

I hope these boys never feel like we 'forced' anything on them, but rather gave them opportunity to try some really cool things.

Anita was my First Mate for this race (you can see Dallas standing up at the front of his boat just behind her above). I've had someone with me on the boat in just about every race, and few duplicates, but a lot of 'first time racers' as well. We've all enjoyed learning together (at least I hope they have).

I'll try to share the little bit of knowledge I have learned from the races, but I'm sure there will be more lessons to learn :) Above you will notice how all the boats are lined up waiting for the shot to signal the start of the race. They have to line up between two buoys. The Race Committee Boat will be out there making sure everyone is lined up just right, not too far forward, not too close, etc.

The Committee Boat gets out in front of the group (you can see it below for this race just behind Dallas). Then they fire a "1 minute warning" shot. After the minute, they fire another shot to signal the start of the race.

According to what Dallas has been taught you want a nice long anchor line out so that you can pull your boat quickly to gain good forward momentum as you raise the sails. Dallas is raising the main sail as the other guys pull up the anchor.

This was my first big regatta race to drive the power boat in. And let me tell you, it is pretty nerve racking and crazy out there. For every boat that is in the race, there is probably about 3 powerboats following along out there.

You have your larger powerboats, which I consider ours to be a little on the larger size, and then you have dozens of little dingies from the sailboats anchored in the harbor.

Then, you have the occasional sea plane come buzzing by and land next to you....

MAJOR thrill for the boys :)

Giving each other sweet hugs. They play their own little games and have constant dialog going on with each other or me during the races.

And for any of you that don't spend time on boats...there are no brakes :) You can't just slam on your brakes and come to a stop out there.

SOOOO....between the many powerboats buzzing around me, the little dingies I was trying not to run over, the race course that I was trying to stick close enough to so I could snap pictures, but not get too close to so that I got in the way, while providing snacks to my boys, answering questions for my boys and helping them go pee from time to time and still managed to drive the boat without any major hiccups.... I give myself an A+ for the day :) 

This little boat below is one of the D or E class boats. They look like so much fun! Can you believe that these suckers could still run you about $10-15 THOUSAND. CRAZY!!!

There were so many little times in the races that from our perspective it looks like this...

But when we drive around for a slightly different angle, we see there is a little more space between them than appears. HOWEVER, there were many little bumps and taps and tangles, around buoys especially.

This is a little taste of the crowd at the finish line or final buoy. The blue mast there in the middle is Dallas' boat. I stayed back for these moments... just too stressful driving around in that mix with our boat.

The boys did great for their first race of the season... and they were pretty excited to come back and see some more the next day.

More to come as I find time and internet....