flipping the boat

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Dear Wetasse,

I was born in Jax Beach. When I was a year or less my folks let me get knocked over by the waves hoping I'd develop some fear of them. I didn't, I just held my breath and came up for more. I got my first hobie from Paul Califano when I was 17 and learned to sail it in Jax Beach. Until I sailed in my first race at the Rudder Club in the calm waters of the St Johns I didn't realize that not everyone learned that way or knew how to sail in the surf. One of the first races I won was at 16th Ave South during a northeaster and turns out I had mono and hepatitis. I flipped my boat, righted it, came in and threw up. I think pretty much everyone flipped that day, they postponed the race; I won it a month or so later. I was the first woman ever to singlehand a boat in the mug race in 73 I think it was. I was leading the 14 A fleet but made a very dumb move and Peter Flick passed me and stayed ahead of me to finish first. I came in 2nd. My point is, northeaster and all, chances are it won't be too "bumpy" for me. If it is I'll jump off and swim in.

Barbie

Barbie, that is a very funny story.

The reference to "bumpy conditions" was from the perspective of my wife, the former Susan Vaughn (Fletcher HS 1980) and who gauges sea conditions by how much her cabernet sloshes in her wine glass. And as we all know, a fine cab should be served between 70 - 75 degrees, not the current sea temp of 63 degrees.

Apparently you sailed past me several times in the Mug Race when I was on J-24 Boom Boom. I always wanted to sail the Mug on a cat as it would have shortened the elapsed time by a third. As I understand, you and Jack are sailing the Mug again. My hat's off to ya both. At my age, I would have to attach a laz-y-boy to the trapeeze for a race that long.

Do you know Walt Bunso.? He's a Jacksonville sailor who races the circuit. He and I went out on my boat last fall and had a blast. That day holds my current speed record of 21 knots per the GPS. We plan to sail more this season.

Also, I started sailing cats in 1974 in the river, not the ocean. Then moved to the beach.

BK aka wetasse

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Are you bringing the 20 or the 16 this weekend. It is predicted to be blowing NW at 15 knots, which should be pretty darn good conditions, ie less wave action, but good wind. The air temp will be a high of 65. I got my boat ready this past weekend but did not launch even though it was warm and beautiful, but light.

Barbie and Jack, just for the hell of it, meet us for a cocktail Friday evening when you get ito Jax Beach. We like the bar at either Roy's or Bonefish especially since both are 2 blocks from our house. We have other plans Saturday night, but I will probably sail my boat on Saturday for the first time since late November.

We have a small beach house and if you want you can leave you cat on the beach in front of our house, we can make accommodations.

Let me know
Thanks,
BK

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Mugrace,
Look for the blue, red and yellow sails starting from south of the pier. I'll see what Walt and some of the others are up to this weekend. I know everybody must have the fever.

Hope you survived the tornado scares in SC.
wetasse.