Sunday July 27 2014

You might not believe all these pictures were in the same day, but it was a crazy weather system in the South Bay.  I say that, because I left to sail in strong(ish) wind and hot sun (notice the hat which I found last weekend floating in the marina is now on my head), saw Palos Verdes to the south and it was swamped in a rain storm, so I sailed over to A Cenoura and told Mia (who was studying) to close all the windows in case the rain gets up to us. I then sailed over to the main channel when I saw lightning strike south redondo, probably a mile away, so I got back to my dock and out of my sabot real fast. It started to downpour just then and there, and the wind completely died - so I’m glad I made it back when I did.

After about an hour of heavy rain, I put the sabot away and it became sunny and nice again. During this time, the unfortunate even of that same storm traveling north to Marina Del Rey and Venice Beach apparently struck the beach or water and electrocuted about 14 people, and killed a 20-year old who was in the water. That’s rare, and very sad.

With the sun out, and my boredom taking over, I washed Mia’s yoga mat, and I washed the moldy/bird-dung/dirty mainsail cover. It came out really nice so I feel like it was a productive afternoon.

To clean a yoga mat: nice-smelling dish soap, water, and scrub a brush.

To clean a sail cover: Water, Woolite, and a brush.

6-22-14
She’s a natural!

Sunday June 1 2014

I had a really fun day number two of sailing around the new used sabot. I’d like to point out that it was my first time towing something with my big boat. I backed out of the slip and up the channel like normal while Mia held the dinghy line in one hand off the bow and a boat-pole in the other to fend off the dinghy from hitting my boat. Worked perfectly. Once we got turned around and headed out to the main channel, Mia took the wheel and I tied the sabot to the port side against a couple fenders and forgot about it until after we were set anchored. Rigging it and hopping on was pretty simple from the big boat, and the rest of the afternoon I had a ball sailing back and forth, pushing the limits as best as I could in the given wind. Coming back to the Catalina 30 to pee and grab a beer.  Tons of fun.

Saturday may 31 2014

Slept in, woke up and set up the little sabot, went sailing pretty much all afternoon until grabbing dinner.  It’s funny how long it takes to rig a sailboat for the first time, it’s been that way with all four of my boats - holy cow, the sabot is my fourth sailboat in 9 years. Sounds impressive.

The joy of small dinghy sailing is so different than cruising on a bigger sailboat. Every little movement from body shift to a few inches of sheeting in effects the boat, I missed that while sailing the Catalina 30.  Of course, the sabot lacks lounging comfort, and a bathroom, and an ice chest, and music, and shade.

Mia and I made these pineapple burgers and put salsa and avocado on them, too. We agreed how nice it is to have dinner while it’s still light out and promised to make an effort to do it more.