The Carr Trophy, a yacht club challenge for old dudes

Ed/Out

Your Ed is heading out today - actually going racing, a rarity these days (at least until my Flying Tiger gets here). I'm racing in a thing called the Carr Trophy being held in Frisco this weekend, a yacht club challenge for old dudes (like me). I'm crewing for Keith Lorence and representin' SDYC. I'll report as it goes.

06/22/06

Non Race Report

"Is That Your Sandwich?"
I knew this trip to Frisco for the Carr Trophy was going to be a bit different when as we were sitting on the plane, the flight attendant opened the overhead bin across from our seats and there was one of our sandwiches crammed in at the last minute, and just stuck there, all by itself. She immediately looked at us (of course) with a look of horror, and asked, "is that your sandwich?" We said you bet, grabbed it and proceeded to wolf it down right there on the spot.

"Center Seat Roulette"
Two guys rarely will sit right next to each other on a plane, and we were no exception. As the plane started filling up, we realized that we didn't want some other dude sitting in the center seat, rather, how about some fine young thing? That is when we invented "Center Seat Roulette." When we saw the big fat guy, or the surly guy or any guy for that matter, we placed our stuff on the center seat, leaned in and opened the newspaper, successfully keeping them out. Ditto for the unacceptable females. When the acceptable chicks came, we moved the stuff, leaned away, and made the seat look very available. Sadly there were no takers, but we did get the same attendant back, with a complaint from a woman that we were blocking the seat. She sat somewhere else

"Pizza To Go!"
Hard to find a stuffier bunch than the people at St. Francis Yacht Club. We stopped by there for drinks, watched the kite boarders rip it up,enjoying bitchin weather and the Hors D'oeuvres, namely the free pizza. They'd fill it up, we'd empty it. Since we were sitting at the table right next to the food, and we were dressed, um slightly less than the standard YC frat boy fare, it was pretty obvious that us dago white trash were eating most of it. After some surly looks, snooty glances, and the stink of too much money, we stood up, took some pizza, and left. We'll be back tomorrow.

"What?"
We just found out there are only three boats signed up for this event! Oh boy, look for tomorrow's report, well, tomorrow.

06/23/06

Frisco No Go

We're up here in Frisco for the Carr Trophy, the sparsely attended (three boats) yacht club event for seasoned (read: old) sailors. Today was the practice day and oh boy what a day it was. First, we had to pick up the Cal 20's that were selected for this event. Can you say "beaters?" These 20's were in awful shape - just old and beat and really had no business being used for an event like this. From a town with at least a half dozen good active one design classes, using these fossils is a joke. No wonder nobody showed up.

The first practice reveals one nice surprise: in about 10 knots of breeze one boat is so much faster than the others it is not even a contest. Well, no problem - we switch boats after each race.

Race two - now we have some breeze - probably a good 20 true. These cal 20's with their old everything are going to interesting to race in this stuff, right? Right - especially as one of them drops their rig before the start!

So the racing is abandoned for the day. There is supposed to be another Cal 20 brought from the graveyard for tomorrow when the regatta really starts. The RC is starting us an hour early to hopefully avoid the kind of embarrassment rendered today. We'll see....

06/23/06

SDYC Crips Scary looking white gangstas flashing gang signs while invading the Frisco Blood's turf. They worked the homeboys wack whips, snatched their gold, showed much respect, and 'den they outty, y'all. Peace out. 06/27/06

Old Men and The C

If you've been following my "blogging" (okay, I'll never use that term again) of the Carr Trophy (see Frisco No Go and Non Race Report below), you know that I haven't been very effusive with my praise about the event. And rightly so - it was a weak turnout (three clubs) sailed in awful boats (beater Cal 20's). The sad part is that there were some good folks running the thing, Frisco is a good place to sail (mostly), and there is little reason this event cannot and seemingly does not attract more people. Next time, let SA publicize the event - we'll get some action!

We (skipper Keith Lorence, Ken Bertino and myself) managed to win the event, and despite all my bitching here, had a great time doing it. Maybe the most fun was sailing the 20 back to Presidio yacht Club across the Bay in 20 true with an ebb, drinking wine, telling stories, breaking balls, and just having a hell of a good time (while trying to keep the rig in the boat). Thanks to the all involved. (Except the crank who was yelling at us to get off our cell phones and fold the main after we got in. I almost went off on him, and it would have been a great story, but I was there with SDYC so I actually showed some restraint. Christ, I am getting old). Good times.

06/26/06