A view from the ass end

A view from the ass end.

I missed SPP’s email.  Sounds like it was a shit show at the house.  I was already on Fury before I checked on my email.

I was there anyway – so what the hell.  I could see that Misty was understaffed. 3 regulars and one rookie.  So I wandered over.

Pam didn’t recognize me.  My disguise worked.  They think my name is John.

Me: “Hi – did you guys need an extra hand?”

Pam – to the rest of the crew:  “Well, we weren’t going to ask anyone but what the hell – just what I said we wouldn’t do.  We can handle this ourselves”

Pam – to me:  “Can you sail a spinnaker?”

Me “Yes ma’am.”

Pam “You got something besides those boots - like sailing shoes.  I am tired of looking after rookies and worrying about them overboard.”

Me “Yes ma’am.  I have sailing shoes”

Me “I just finished Safety at Sea – I might be ok?”

Pam “Ever trimmed a main before?”

Me “Yes ma’am.”

Pam  “Come aboard”

Michelle Bennett swung by just to see what the hell I was doing.  I exclaimed “she is a better sailor than me – maybe you want to take her!!!”

Everyone else “Damn right she is – we don’t even know you!!!!”

Michelle was having nothing to do with it – she waved goodbye and took to the crow’s nest.

Pam “We do not just set the main and go.  I expect you to trim the whole time!”

I think I did ok – Besides giving me boat trimming techniques on where to trim the main from – they left me alone.

I helped them lee roll a boat and then Pam let them lee roll us – I didn’t say anything.

A Cascade 36 is great boat to be a main trimmer on.  Misty is set up for a rear trimmer.   You get the whole ass end of the boat to yourself and all you have is a sheet and traveler to worry about.  Ok, maybe I was watching the weather helm and the backstay also – but not because someone asked me.  I watched everyone do the dance.  On the way back I helped the rookie with packing the spinnaker – I kibitzed and she packed.

The weather wasn’t bad – light wind – 14-18-14.  No rain and it wasn’t really cold.  The hail started after we had put the boat away.  Everyone put on party hats and glasses and sung Fred (a different Fred) a happy birthday.

Seriously Phast Phreddy – sorry about the fiasco at home and you couldn’t come play. I missed all of you. 

I had a good time.

Regards,

Skippy

PS  If I get aggressive I will make some Chili for the cookoff next week after the race.  How many alarms should I make?

From: Fred Hazzard
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 3:55 PM

Sorry about the late notice today.  Things here were going downhill in a hurry. All is good now.

We will be out next week to do the final race and for the chile cook off at PYC after the race.

Sailflow weather forecast was off by 30 mins.  They said no rain from noon till 3PM, when in fact if was 11:30 to 2:30.

Fast Freddy