Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore

Recently, a friend and I took advantage of a lovely sunday afternoon. We went to my favorite calming place in the world.. The Sleeping Bear Dunes, and we took Newport!

A couple of pics that capture that day...

Summer of 2nd.

Well folks, last night concluded the gtyc summer racing series. And man, what a humdinger it was!

Breeze on! Our J-33 seemed to like these conditions... Although the bigger boats would nip us upwind, we were definitely fast under our S2 symmetrical.

We ended up winning last night, which cemented 2nd for our fleet in the summer series... Seems like we've been the bridesmaid quite a bit this year... Was nice to squeek out a bullet last night.

J-100 Day

I love sailing on new boats... Today, I was happy to sail on the new J-100 and man, oh, man... What a riot...

I actually was lucky enough to be aboard two 100's today... 1.) in charlevoix... the second 2. ) in Harbor Springs.

The second is the one in which I got to go sailing...

Although not a complete 'sportboat' , this daysailor kind of exceeded my expectations... It was a blast.

I met the owner, a single female socialite , who summers in Haba...She was awesome, new to sailing, and I think... grew to love me... We set out in a southerly breeze from Irish at a good clip towards the point... This boat likes to move...

I had to take some photos of the mainsail, and make nice-nice in my efforts to gain a strong hold back into the Haba Market. Everything set well and looked nice...

It was a good sail, and I look forward to working with Ms. 'Courage'...

Pressure! PRESSURE!

Man, it's been a while folks... And with do cause... It's the end of the season? or is it...

I have whittled myself into a position of do this... do that... oh... and while you're at it, make sure this and that and that other thing get done... Please do it with a smile, and don't screw up...

Damn, everyone has always told me the importance of saying no... But, why is that the most difficult thing for me to do? I find myself getting myself deeper and deeper into situations where I feel like I can't see the light sometimes...

I feel at the crossroads of either a complete success in life, or yet, maybe a complete breakdown? I feel that emptyness of being extremely one dimensional again, and worst of all ... I'm tired.

This is typical of my inability to let others down, my thrive to juggle the world and hang onto too many responsibilities... After all, if I didn't... who would?

So, with the sence of this being my theraputic response to taking myself too seriously in a pampered existance... I'm back to blog...

BLOGGING BLOCK...

OVER!


More posts to begin tomorrow... Sorry I've been absent...

HAPPY!!!!

Birthday NEWPORT!

Newport Turns 1 full year old today!

Updates Coming!

Sorry I have been away... New updates are coming... You'll definitely want to watch what's coming soon...

Updates include...

Harbor Springs Ugotta Regatta on the Melges 32...

Kick Off of the 3rd annual TC Film Festival...

Will Newport learn to Swim.???

Have I gotten over the trauma of the death of my reefs???

Stay Tuned...

Summer of Sinking.... Part II

Update to Summer of Sinking...

These exclusive photos show the salvage of the Beneteau 40.7 'Barracuda' lost on a delivery from the Chicago YC's Race to Mackinac...

My good friend Doug just happens to have a cottege only a stone's throw from these pics, and he even assisted the salvage crew by shutteling them between the keel location and boat...

Photo Credit... Wip....

So Damn Close....

Alright guys... Getting gripped again with Wanderlust!

Stuff like this looks dreamy! (You in , Sailracer???)

http://providence.craigslist.org/apa/380283271.html

Bayview Mac Yacht Race

We're hours away from the start of the 2nd Mac Race. Our 'good luck' goes out to our friends on the 'Equation' and the 'Pied Piper'

Enjoy tracking the progress.

http://www.byc.com/mack07/

Is this the summer of sinking...??

Barracuda (Beneteau 40.7) sinks during Mackinac return delivery

We are sad to report Barracuda suffered keel damage and sank on the Mackinac return delivery. The keel struck the bottom repeatedly during heavy seas in shallow waters before failing. After the keel was lost, water filled the hole and Barracuda sank within minutes. Three people were rescued, according to accounts from eyewitnesses, and no injuries or casualties have been reported.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to owner Steve Pelke and crew chief John Boyle, and all crew on board. We hope for the sound recovery of Barracuda.

Source: Sailing Anarchy forum thread

http://www.sailinganarchy.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=57688

Chicago Yacht Club

Currently the Chicago Yacht Club is getting a serious ass lashing for rules regarding a certain type of flares required for their Race to Mackinac... Lot's of boats being protested for not having a certain type of flare on board... Lots of unhappy, tired sailors on the island.

Enjoy the bitching in this thread...

http://www.sailinganarchy.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=57352

A Fine Year...

Not to do the Chicago Yacht Club's Race to Mackinac... Too little breeze and too much bobbing instead of sailing...

But congrats to a couple of boats that I really like who did well.

First of all... Congrats to a big hurt put on by my buddies on the Padawan2 (Beneteau 36.7). This is a great group of guys and they definitely crushed one of the most competitive fleets.

More congrats go out to our guys on the...

Windquest
Saturn
Surprise
Heartbreaker
Seagoon
Tyrant
Kokomo.

Damn, I am happy not to be out there! Many boats still have yet to finish!

http://chicagoyachtclub.org/racetomackinac/

Reef... R.I.P.

Today is a very sad day... I am so upset that I am having trouble focusing on the smallest of tasks... I can't smile... And the spring in my step--well it's gone! long gone.

Last night, my reef's died!

Every present day sailor knows how important a fine sandal is... I've had my present reef's for 3 years. We've been around the world together, multiple times, and they have never let me down.

I knew my reef's were in a grave situation, but I couldn't stomach the idea of a mercy kill (purchasing a new pair). Lately, they have smelled like death, and they were breaking down at a rapid rate.

No matter how much I prepared for this moment... I still feel devestated... I loved my reefs.

(Definitely open for donations of a new set if anyone reads this blog who works for that wonderful sandal company!! Size 10 us..)

Swiss...

Right now, the Swiss are looking mighty fine to me!

Sports Out Loud

America’s first-ever sports magazine aimed at a gay and lesbian audience, Sports Out Loud has launched.

Good luck to them!

(Let's hope that this magazine is actually geared towards sports!)

www.sportsoutloud.com

Finding the Lord...

Man, tonight I have just opened up a huge can of worms... Damn, Damn, damn, damn!

My inquisitive nature has put me back into a position where I now feel like I need to go into hiding, change my phone number, and drop back into nonexistence... Damn it... I called Jessica!

Ms. L is an interesting character. A once time heir to the Honeywell fortune, she had everything that anyone could ever want... I mean, this girl had some freight.

I met Jessica during my first break home from college. Everyone at my then home yacht club knew Jessica, and her cute vintage convertible--great 'cottage' on exclusive Round Lake, her sailboat, and more than anything... Her craziness.

Being young, I grew to like Jessica. The drama surrounding her was intriguing. Her life with money was fascinating. She wintered at her home in San Francisco, and summered in Charlevoix.

I drove from Michigan to California strait through and back to get her Melges 24 sailboat one crazy weekend. We were close... But we weren't.

Jessica's craziness started to wear on me, quickly. Her mood swings and depressive, negative, brutal behavior was increasingly hard to handle.

Jessica swindled all of her money away on frivolous things... She was the epitome of the poor lil' rich girl.. The more money she realized that she didn't have, the more clever she tried to be on get rich scams and borrowing from friends.

I hadn't talked to Jessica in years-- and I really was interested to see how she was doing... My fingers led the fateful call. (damn, why did I do that!)

Jessica answered, and we had several minutes of general niceness... Then , it got crazy... Like Britney Spears crazy...

After arguing about the America's Cup, she asked me if she could borrow $30,000.00 to help pay off her credit card. ( Are you Serious?) Next, she asked if I would marry her so she could get on my health insurance... (seriously, are you serious?)

I've worked hard for everything that I have in my life, and I've learned to make peace with what I don't have. On the opposite, Jessica was making me so angry with her inability to find a job, and her assumptions that I would just hand over a ton of cash with no form of collateral really irked me.

Thank god my phone died midway through the conversation... But as I sit here and continue to reflect the actions of my once was friend... I continue to roll my eyes.

Feelin' the love!

Last night was a perfect night for yacht racing! Sunny skies, temperature in the low 70's, and a crew who is feeling good after coming off of a victorious win at the LeBlance Cup!

With the big boats out of town preparing for the Mac race, it was our turn to score our first bullet in the summer series! With 2 melges 24's in the fleet on a primarily reachy course, we definitely had to play sharp.

Our start was intense! A similarly rated boat in our fleet (Illusion) with an unsimilarly talented crew (yes, they suck) started in a little prestart smack down. You see, Illusion had DG aboard. DG is an awesome professional sailor who I have been working with for the past 10 years. When I say he's good, he's pretty f'ng good. He starts ruthlessly and takes every opportunity to try and make you fuck up. He's that damn good.

But, last night there was lacking on the part of DG... I don't know if cockiness got in the way of his abilities, but everything he threw at us, we successfully evaded.

The Wip was amazing on the helm... In every situation where a dial up or dial down occurred, we were successful in freeing ourselves from their grip. The team was on fire, and after a number of overtly aggressive moves, our team was fired up even more. (Our boat has a number of people I work with as well as Illusion has a number of employees as well from our office).

3..2..1... Milliman counted out as we successful started near the pin on starboard, with clear air above and Illusion pinned to leeward. On the first windward leg, our speed was always better and our point was higher. Gretty and Ben called puffs and shifts, and our hiking was more than we had ever done to try to give Wip the ability to sail as fast as possible.

Knowing that DG was on the other boat, our tacks needed to be stellar, and they were. We rounded 'red eight' first in our fleet, followed by the two Melges, and then Illusion.

Our race yesterday was against the melges... The 24's are very zippy in any condition that they can plane in ... and parts of yesterday allowed them that luxury.

We eased the genoa and set the barber hauler for the reach down to 'yacht club'. Gretty, Vez, and Wip worked the sheets with the puffs, and I joined the crew on the rail for some massive hiking.

We reached the bouy off of yacht club and readied the spinnaker in the forward hatch for hoist...

Rounding YC, we hoisted the red spinnaker in which was the quickest hoist to date... We were determined to win this race, and by the way we had extended on the melges--you could tell we were working harder than anyone.

A nice run with our lightweight runner brought us past the city front twards the mark off Bryant Park. The melges took a higher course than us, hoping to get their speedster on plane... As we rounded the mark at Bryant Park and eased the pole foward for the spinnaker reach to Sand Pit, we noticed they had closed the gap slightly.

On the reach from BP to SP, we finally took a lesson learned from our years of racing Melges's. How to successful fend them off reaching. As the Melges was coming on fast, and slightly higher than us, we headed up to fend them off. At the point where they were about to roll us, we executed a successful aggressive dive to leeward, squaring the pole back in the process. The melges ended up having to gybe for the mark, thus taking our stern... We successfully blocked them.

We rounded Sand Pit for a very short beat to the weather bouy. When I say short... I mean very short. The race was determined on who could get their spinnaker gear around to the other side of the boat, and have a quick clean hoist at WB.

Again, it must have been in the cards, but we had an 'America's Cup' style hoist and jib drop. As we were heading back to SP for the penultimate leg of the course... Illusion crossed our bow--2 full legs behind us... We lapped them!

One final douse and a concentrated beat to the finish at Red Eight ensured our Win.. The team was finally working together, and you could tell that everyone was having a great time.

On the finish, high fives all around, a round of brews, and a lot of loud music took us back to the dock. One of the best sailing nights of the summer!

Photojournalist of the day.

Check out the awesome shots that Tyler takes... Pretty amazing.

Wonder if we could get him to take some of the boat while racing???

http://www.lightstalkers.org/tylersipe

Boats have personality, the Amorita has perseverance!

Owners hope to rescue yacht sunken in race

By Sean Flynn/Daily News staff


The owners of a classic sailing sloop that sank Saturday afternoon after a three-sailboat collision off Beavertail in Jamestown hope to raise the boat today.Jed Pearsall and William Doyle, both of Newport and co-owners of the Amorita, each said they are optimistic that the New York 30 sailing sloop built in 1905 can be salvaged.

"I'm devastated," Doyle said Monday, as he talked about the accident. "We'll use whatever means are needed to get her up. She will be rebuilt. She's not lost, but damaged."The owners said the Amorita went down quickly after the Sumurun, a classic sailing yacht from 1914, hit it. The Sumurun has its homeport in Antigua, in the Caribbean.

Also involved in the collision was the Alera, another 1905 New York 30. The Alera is based in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.The owners and others connected with the boats did not want to talk about details of the accident because there are insurance claims involved.

Pearsall, Doyle and two crewmembers from the Amorita were in the water after their boat went down, but nearby boats quickly picked them up.The classic sailboats were racing in the Robert H. Tiedemann Memorial Regatta, in a course that went around Conanicut Island. The boats were going around a marker when the Alera reportedly nudged the Amorita into the path of the Sumurun.

Doyle said the hull of the Amorita suffered "significant damage." He said the other two boats had minor damage.Scott Backholm, a search and rescue controller with the Coast Guard, said the call came in Saturday about 3 p.m., and the Coast Guard at Castle Hill launched a boat. He said everyone was out of the water by the time the Coast Guard arrived.The state Department of Environmental Management is investigating the accident but was not prepared Monday to release any information, according to DEM spokeswoman Stephanie Powell.

Members of the New York Yacht Club formed the race committee for the regatta, which set the rules and procedures for the race. Michael Leavitt, communications director for the New York Yacht Club, said the club would not release information because it was an event sponsored by the Museum of Yachting.

Doyle, chairman of the Museum of Yachting, said he was concerned the accident would detract from the overall success of the regatta, which is planned as an annual event in memory of Tiedemann, a founder of the museum. Last year, the regatta was only open to 12-meter yachts, but this year it was open to other classic sailing vessels as well, he said.Doyle said 30 boats participated and it was a successful event in terms of fundraising. He said the weather was fine and everything went well, except for this "unfortunate accident.""There were perfectly safe conditions on a beautiful day," Doyle said.

In 1904, New York Yacht Club officers decided to contract famous yacht designer and builder Nathaniel G. Herreshoff, of Bristol, to design and build 18 one-design sailboats for club members to race against each other.

During the winter and spring of 1905, the Herreshoff boatyard built the 43.5-foot sloops, including the Amorita and Alera. They are 30 feet long at the waterline, hence the name.The New York 30s won immediate accolades and had an avid following because of their sleek lines, smooth handling, speed and strong mains.Pearsall said he and his father, Adrian, bought the Amorita in 1981. They restored the boat according to original specifications, including reframing and installing new planks, deck, cabin, cockpit and engine. Doyle became a co-owner in the early 1990s and he and Pearsall raced the boat successfully in many regattas.

Sail Magazine in January 1994 listed Amorita as one of the "100 Greatest Yachts in America."Boothbay Harbor Shipyard bought the Alera from owners in Ontario in 2004 and totally restored it in 2005. David Stimson, a master wooden boat builder and designer, oversaw the work, and sailed to Newport with his wife and two sons during the inaugural cruise in the summer of 2005.A. Robert Towbin has owned Sumurun, built by Wm. Fife and Sons in Scotland in 1914, for more than 25 years.

Pearsall said the three boats came together at the course marker off Beavertail, at the southern tip of Jamestown, about one-fourth of the way into the race, when the accident occurred.Pearsall said he is confident the boat will survive this ordeal. "Boats have personalities," he said. "The Amorita has perseverance."

Ellegedly.com

Quick Shout Out to my friends at Ellegedly.com.... This site is run by a very successful, creative, genuine guy who I was lucky enough to meet in Key West a couple of years ago... Be sure to check out his site and especially his blogroll!

A horrible collision yesterday has sunk the classic NY 30 yacht, 'Amorita'. Amorita is one of the most photographed and beautiful yachts belonging to my friends Jed and Bill.

Salvaging begins today... My thoughts are with Jed and Bill.

http://www.ny30.org/amoritahistory2.pdf

It's Over!

Unfortunately Alinghi beat Team New Zealand today to conclude the America's Cup! Amazing racing today, as the finishing delta was the closest in Cup history... 2 seconds!

2nd Inside Post.

Marla Hooch is a pretty girl!

My Inside Post....

Fridays.... Good day to remind yourself that you love your neighbors... I know I do...

Damn! Damn, damn, damn, DAMN!

(the heading.... a direct quote from Terry Hutchinson who just phoned here moments ago.)

New Zealand, after a great start, held the advantage at the weather mark. The expectation has been that Alinghi would be faster in 14knots and more. This did not appear to be the case today and it looked like we were set up for a very close race. What a pity that the result was decided by gear failure! In a bit of breeze (which it was for these boats) gear failure is an ever-present fear.

Watch the videoA few minutes after both boats did a tack set, New Zealand’s bowman was seen going to the end the pole with the tack of the back up spinnaker, to set up for a peel. It became evident that there was a small tear close to the tack of the spinnaker.

Unluckily for the New Zealanders, just before they were ready for the peel, the spinnaker blew, knocking the bow man off his perch at the end of the pole. The new spinnaker was not properly attached at the tack with the peeling strop and was hoisted prematurely. (Will the debrief point to a case of bow bungle or grinder red mist?) The back up spinnaker then blew around behind the main. The head of the original spinnaker had to then be retrieved because they had now run out of haliards. To add to their horror, when the second back up kite went up there was a twist in it. By the time the new spinnaker was flying and the second spinnaker was “tender-dropped”, they were on the layline.

Although the chaos on the bow was somehow sorted out in time for them to gybe, Alinghi was already safely ahead. Teams spend a lot of time smoothing out every possible sharp point on the boat, especially around the hatch and headstay foil area to prevent a knick in the spinnaker, but these things happen. Looking forward to a great battle tomorrow! (www.americascup.com)

Congratulations....

...to Gersh (Kate) and Emily... My two friends who are definitely in the middle of a great adventure...

I once was lucky enought to work with Emily and I've been friends with Gersh for years.... She even refers to me as 'Sailor Joe', which I find quite endearing...

Together, the two have sold their house and have purchased a boat in which they will be living aboard---in West Grand Traverse Bay... This is definitely an adventure that I wish I had the cajones to do!

So, Gersh and Emily, Congratulations on your new home and adventure Together...

PS. Boat Warming Party tonight.... Contempo Casual Marine Dock A..

Not bad....For a First Series!

So, they've just posted our sailing scores under the racing section of www.gtyc.org... Feel free to follow our progress... Our boat sails in Spinnaker A and goes by various names...

J-33 Sail Number USA 33009...AKA 33009....AKA Rotten to the Core...AKA TBD...


Spinn A Fleet

Sailed:3,
Discards:0,
To count:3,
Ratings:PHRF,
Entries:7,
Scoring system:GTYC PHRF


Boat
SailNo
Helm
Adjusted Rating
SP 1
SP 2
SP3
Total


1.)Kokomo
97834
Schulz
-21
1.0
4.0
2.0
7.0
2.)33009
33009
Wipperman / Richter
84
2.0
2.0
3.0
7.0
3.)Flying Toaster
513
Dow
90
DNC
1.0
1.0
10.0
4.)Relentless
43816
Hagen
45
3.0
5.0
5.0
13.0
5.)Liberty
51778
Phelps, D
69
4.0
3.0
7.0 DNF
14.0
6.)AHYADOOIN'
25489
Husted
-21
DNC
6.0
4.0
18.0
7.)Illusion
43790
Porter, Scott
66
5.0
DNC
DNC
21.0

Wow... Nice Article from the Record Eagle?

TC man sails to top
Former resident a tactician in the America's Cup
BY JAMES COOK

The Associated Press Emirates Team New Zealand, left, sails next to Swiss Defender Alinghi.

TRAVERSE CITY — To put it in layman's terms for those unfamiliar with sailing, Terry Hutchinson is in his version of the Super Bowl.
The former Traverse City resident is a big component in this year's America's Cup, the granddaddy of sailing competitions.
"He's ascended in the world of sailing to the top,” said Ed Reynolds, president and co-owner of Quantum Sails, where Hutchinson worked for several years after college. "This is his life-long dream. The guy has been on a relentless pursuit for 25 years and has achieved it.
"The local sailing community is proud. He was out sailing with us on Wednesday and now he's Peyton Manning trying to win the Super Bowl.”
Manning won his Super Bowl this year, and the 37-year-old Hutchinson is chasing sailing's version of the holy grail.
This year's America's Cup has some interesting plots, especially the matchup between the Swiss team Alinghi and Emirates Team New Zealand.
Hutchinson
The New Zealanders won back-to-back Cup titles in 1995 and 2000 (both in 5-0 sweeps), but was hit with a large defection of its best sailors to Swiss team Alinghi shortly after the second victory.
In the next America's Cup, the Kiwi-led Alinghi swept New Zealand 5-0, embarrassing New Zealand on its home waters.
Three years ago, the Kiwis turned to Hutchinson as their tactician, an unpopular move at the time. Bringing in an American to fill such an important position in a country where sailing is one of the top sports was vilified. Only six of the 28 team members are non-New Zealanders.
But that was then, and this is now.
Hutchinson has outmaneuvered one of the all-time greats in competitive sailing's history — former New Zealand skipper Brad Butterworth — to put the Kiwis up 2-1 on Alinghi in the best-of-nine series.
"Unless you're hooked into the sport, you probably don't appreciate it,” Reynolds said. "But New Zealand has beaten perhaps the greatest tactician ever on tactical calls by Terry.”
The fourth race is Thursday, and two more wins by Hutchinson and his crew would end the three-time reign of Butterworth's as the sport's supreme tactician.
In head-to-head competition heading into the America's Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand has won six out of 10 matches with Alinghi.
"On the first run we picked some nice places to gybe and they didn't really get away from us,” Hutchinson said on the team's Web site. "On the run into the bottom, we gybed in a tough position for Alinghi and then they gave us the right gate when we had the left gate favoured by about 10 degrees. Further up the leg we were coming at them on port. They tacked about a length to leeward of our sailing line and we were able to pin them there out to the layline. The boat was going well but we did not lose concentration at any point in the race. We know the chances are that the boat in the lead at the first cross will win. Yesterday we sailed a really good race, but we didn't win because the breaks went Alinghi's way. Today one came to us and we took advantage of it.”
Reynolds, 52, and Hutchinson became best of friends in the time Hutchinson was in TC, and the two still talk almost daily, especially during the Cup.
Reynolds has even been invited to the New Zealand by the team, but doesn't know when he'll be able to go, because of his work schedule.
While Hutchinson was in Traverse City in the '90s, the Grand Traverse Yacht Club held fund raisers to send him to the Congressional Cup in Long Beach, Calif., a race he won, which added to his already impressive college credentials and helped get him noticed on the national level.
Hutchinson earned first-team All-American honors in each of his four years at Old Dominion and helped lead the Monarchs to four national championships. In 1989 and 1990 he was named National Collegiate Sailor of the Year — the first person to accomplish the feat twice.

I'm Cheering on Team New Zealand!

(Various photos of working in Europe with parts of Emirates Team New Zealand)

New Zealand Team Pulls Ahead

June 27, 2007 Associated Press

VALENCIA, Spain -- On a day of shifting winds and swelling waves, the challenger from New Zealand took the lead Tuesday, beating defending champion Swiss Alinghi after nearly losing a crew member overboard.Emirates Team New Zealand is ahead 2-1 after prevailing in an America's Cup race that featured eight lead changes, bow-to-bow sailing and a victory margin of 25 seconds. The fourth race in the best-of-nine series for the Auld Mug, the oldest trophy in sports, is today. The last three series were decided in 5-0 sweeps.

Wind blew in all directions across the course, generating large swells and testing both teams' decision-making. By the finish, Alinghi found itself with a deficit for the first time in America's Cup racing.The race was delayed for nearly two hours because of the tricky winds, and Alinghi owner Ernesto Bertarelli said the sailing should have been postponed."I don't think the wind should decide the regatta," he said. "The competitors should decide the race on their ability. I think we raced really well, we were just a bit unlucky."New Zealand conceded the early lead to guard its advantage on the right side in the blustery conditions. The move paid off as the Kiwis took a 300-meter lead up the first upwind lap. But a poor spinnaker set around the second marker almost threw bowman Richard Meacham over the side, allowing the Swiss back into the race up the third leg.Alinghi's faster boat gained on the Kiwis to round the final marker by a boat length. But the Kiwis split to the left behind a stronger breeze, and the lead changed three times over the final run before the NZL-92 boat earned a difficult victory.After a quick start, the Swiss team sped out on the left but came back too late to keep the Kiwis from getting away. The SUI-100 yacht crashed through the whitecaps as the Kiwis bobbed up the right, slicing through the swell.

An Old Fashioned Boy Bitch Fight!

Definitely file this under 'ABSURD', but enjoy the start of an all time winning boy bitch fight between my inflated friend Andy (Notam22) and myself (collegetripp..)

On Tue Jun 19, 2007 08:35 PM, CollegeTripp wrote:> long time no see... how are you?

On Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:58 AM, NOTAM22 wrote:> > ok. i thought maybe you disapeared. so much for being such great friends > huh.

(that was kindof bitchy? Huh?)

> On Thu Jun 21, 2007 02:22 PM, CollegeTripp wrote: yea... I guess... weird how that phone-thing works two ways... but thanks for answering anyway...

(alright... matchpoint college!)

On Sun Jun 24, 2007 06:11 PM, NOTAM22 wrote:
> I guess I kind of figured it was because I didn't want to date you or sleep with you. I believe the last time we hung out was in march and I was the one who called you. O well. It doesn't matter. Andy

(Ok... ouch! Uncalled for... yet still makes me laugh... Alright...seriously, are you serious! Seriously readers... when he called me in March, it was his birthday and he invited himself to my party! pathetic!)

On Sun Jun 24, 2007 06.12 PM, CollegeTripp wrote.
>Wow...
People have told me that you're pretty full of yourself... and I had a hardtime believing it until I just read the first line of that message you sent me...
I guess my friends were right...
Cheers...

(Dude, that has to hurt a little hearing from someone who introduced you to all of my friends. To which the Troll wrote...)

On Tue Jun 26, 2007 09:36 AM, NOTAM22 wrote:
> Your a real piece of work you know that. Maybe if you were hot enough to get a bf you wouldn't have to go home to your dog and cat. I guess this is the end of our shallow friendship. Bye

(OK... ouch to me... I love my dog... He's probably spot-on about the cat however... Unfortunately... at this moment I had a Dixie Carter moment, like she normally had on the show 'Designing Women!... Ready for the flood gates to open?!!)

From: CollegeTrippSubject: Re: ya def wowDate: Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:27 AM
>Andy...
Come on... You're proving my point again and again... It's amazing you can get into your condo with your head as swollen as it is.. And now you're calling me ugly and that's why I don't have a BF? Wow... 7th Grade is fun... And what do you expect--to make me feel pathetic because I live my life the way I do and have pets? None of my friends seem to agree with you!

Are you finally feeling better now that's off your chest? What's going on with you? Have the anti's worn off? Maybe it's some bad reaction to a "protein" shake? Let's check, is the acne under control? That's usually a sign of a problem... Seriously, your
anger needs some attention?

It's funny that you actually sent me that last message... What a child! I'm copying and pasting it to my blog, and showing my friends; we've been in search of a good laugh. ... and may even email it to my friend Rick Gordon! You may have heard of him... Don't think he'd be impressed with how you treat people.

((So long... Enjoy the condo and puka shell necklace shopping (that's fromReid!)).

Probably won't see you downtown at any of the spots we went out... You know, being ugly, or as you may call it... an un-hottie, I tend just to gohome and feel sorry for myself with my cat and dog...

Man, you do know me Andy... Wow... You really know me! I guess all my friends who met you (and subsequently refer to you as "the narcissist") are only there either because they're successful, and pathetic, or just maybe feel sorry for me...

Well, now you've done it... I guess I'm crying... Damn , where's my dogand cat for support.

Talk to you when I get back from the Med... Enjoy your boring life, dude!

(Whew! That actually felt good!)

(Tonight my salute goes out to doucebag of the day.... ((da da da daaaaaaa)) Andy the No-Tam22!)

The Next Offshore Adventure.

We've just signed up for my favorite regatta of the year... Heading to Beaver Island is definitely a highlight of the summer, and it's always fun to sail there with all friends...

Submarine Newport!

I was of the notion that golden retrievers knew how to swim from birth? When Newport came into my life I couldn't wait until she was strong enough to take to the beach... All the goldens that I have ever been around love to jump of the dock and fetch sticks or the tossed tennis ball... Being a water dog and being named after the sailing capital of the United States--I have envisioned the day that she would follow me to the beach and swim, like the other goldens do.

Man, I sure have been robbed of my dream... Recently Newport and I strolled after 'doggy daycare' to east bay... She immediately ran after rocks that I threw out into the water... She ran and played and chased the waves...

On leaving the east bay beach... I decieded to walk to the end of the dock for one last look at the water on such a lovely day... Newport was drying out and seemed happy as a clam...

Until..

While walking out the dock, I happened to kick a group of rocks off the end of the dock. Newport immediatly chased them--right off the end of the dock...

Now this is where I feel robbed.. Instead of Newport kicking her paws for dear life, just floated off the end of the dock, submerged about 6", and not moving one bit.

Time stopped... 1 second.... 2 seconds... I looked for a rock to toss at her to get some form of response. 4 seconds... 5 seconds... At this point I was ready to jump.... 6 seconds... 7 seconds...

Finally, Newport started struggling to get her head above water... She attempted a gulp of air which all she attained was water.... Gagging she started sinking again...

By this time, a small armada had arrived to see what was happening... As I grasped for her from the dock , all were shocked when they saw what was surfacing...

A golden retriever who couldn't swim?

Although it terrified me, I take Newport to the beach daily... You'll be happy to know, she is now at least attempting to look like she's swimming... What this equates to is bouncing on her hind legs while fiercly splashing with her front paws. (quite comical to watch, especially when she gets quite deep.... it's like she's riding an underwater pogo stick...)

So, hopefully we'll get it... But in the mean time... any suggestions?

UPDATES COMING!

I know, I know... I've been slacking while the transition to the new loft has been taking place. Lots and lots have been going on and can't wait to tell you all about the trials and tribulations going on.

Please keep checking... You won't want to miss...

10..3...2...1... Blast off!

Today was the last day I'll ever drive to 10321 for any work function... Although excited that the pressure of maintaining two addresses is over, I started to get a little emotional as we shut the doors for the last time.

I've been traveling from downtown to 10321 for 10 years now... I experienced 10321 as a summer job, which blossomed to a career. I've met my bestfriends from 10321, was able to purchase a house because of 10321, and have had some of my most stressful times because of 10321.

I celebrated 9 birthdays at 10321, including the month of "joe" (aka: 23 on the 23). I've started and ended about the same number of relationships...

Shutting the doors for the last time today was difficult. The building is nothing but an empty core, ready for it's next owner to spend some more love. I hope they do.

I'm really going to miss 10321, but look forward to what lies ahead at 1576.

I'm attaching the only two pictures that I have of 10321. One of a blizzard in early october taken from my old desk... And the other shows some of the fun we had growing up and working at 10321.

Tonight...

I finally fell back in love with sailing with my friends.... Having been ever so absent the last couple of months from my "cheerleading" obligations with our sailing team, I feel like I've just gotten it all back... I don't know if it's just that today feels like summer for the first time, or if tonight's race on the 33 was really fun, but I'm back with a new enthusiasm that I had unfortunately lost...

Ridgetop Farms.

So, it's one of the warmest days of the summer so-far... We've been working our butts off trying to get this move done, and luckily to say were almost there. So what does a guy do after a stressful hot day?

He goes hay-bailing....

Two people that I love dearly have a farm on one of the most beautiful ridgetops in Leelanau County... For those of you not familiar with Leelanau County, do a quick google of it and experience it's beauty.

I've been bailing hay with Bill for a couple of years now... Back in the day that I had my sportscar, Bill made me a deal that in return for my work bailing hay, that he would give me this old blue minivan... I agreed...

I think that by now my due is paid up on the minivan, but I like going out to bail hay.. Sure, it's messy and hot and makes my skin itch... But there is some family ritual to it.

You see, Bill and Betsy are family to me.. In fact, I would say that everyone who know's Bill and Betsy feel the same way...

So, althought it's been a stressful, long, day... I'm bringing Newport to the farm and am going to spend some time with the fam. No better way to relax.

Pressure Cooker

We're well into the move to the new office, while continueing production at both locations.... Getting a tad bit stressful to everyone... Fuses are very short at the moment, and there seems to be no concise plan of exit strategy here other than pack your own shit and go...

No wonder everyone is bitching at everyone. Hopefully we'll make it through sanely.

Martini Tuesday...

YE Haw.. My favorite night of the week... Martini Tuesday... Beacon Lounge... Top of the Park... Downtown Contempo Casual.

!Palabra, a su madre!

Ok... Ok. Here it is... Wip, I'm finally telling everyone...


My trip to Spain has been cancelled... As it often does, in my line of work, plans have changed...

You see, we are in the middle of moving from our lowly, cramped, dirty, un-codeworthy office into a very large, state of the art, comfortable office. This project has been going on throughout this past year, and has been quite a large focus... It's been quite the education; if you've never built a building from the ground up, be prepared for some snags along the way. One mainly, being overages and delays...

My boss has been pretty amazing through this process. Besides doing his job and working on restructuring our company from the ground up, he has taken the roll of being the project foreman... And he's done an amazing job.

With so many responsibilities on his shoulders, he's delegated a couple to his trusty support staff... Mainly Nate and I. It's been very cool being courted by companies that want you to buy from them! We've set the contracts with the new telephone and paging systems, trash, internet, and furniture... Pretty fun stuff... Or is it...

Here come the lessons from building a new office... Delays... For the past 3 months I have had the pleasure of calling ATT. (Ho hum) We pretty much have a set meeting... You see, we need to keep our phone number the same... But unfortunately aren't able to have dual service at both locations while we move... The dilemma... Finding a date to switch the phones over...

Now I know that sounds pretty easy... But believe me, I am finding the stress in it... Looking at my wall calendar, I started my ongoing relationship with the phone lady in march.... Calling nearly everyweek as the building move in date dragged out...

Our current date is June 13.... Just one week away... I haven't called to change it? Do you think I'll have to?

So... what does this have to do with Spain? Thanks.. I often get sidetracked..

I was to leave for Spain in 2 days... Right in the middle of the move... Right in the middle of our busiest time of the year... Trying to get everything done to be gone for 10 days in the middle of our current situation seemed impossible... Which it seems to have become...

Luckily, the trip was cancelled, and I can concentrate on having a successful move... But, in a nutshell--that's why I'm relieved not to go to Spain.

UPDATE!

Excellent Replacement Found... Excellent Replacement Found...

Finally...

Today Nate and I started packing our offices up and the first shipment has been successfully moved to the new loft.

Quick Shout out of Gratitude.

After being away for a weekend on the J-33 sailing... I wanted to give a quick shout out to a couple of people in my life who make things a little bit easier....


Connie and Sue... Newport and I thank you. I never had to worry that my little "hunny baby" was taken care of.. Plus, I love coming home and getting the best receptions from you.

Mom... Again, Newport and I thank you... I loved coming home and seeing you playing with Newie in the back yard while you were doing your word search... I love that "we" are rebuilding a family, and don't worry, we'll get the "holiday family" time thing down.

Christian... Being my roommate has been one of the best things lately... Not only are you a great roommate, but you are a wonderful friend.

Wip... Thanks for always supplying us with a great time... You spend countless hours working so that we can have the best of the best and most prepared vessel.

Lib.... Man, those sammies were unbelieveable...

Reed... Thanks man for the use of the glasses... And Prada even... Can you believe how shiny that fog was?

Your help this weekend made everything that much more fun.

The Hunt is On.

I'm spending today searching for a reasonable replacement.

Charlevoix.... Glorious Charlevoix

Grand Traverse Yacht Club

NOTICE OF RACES

TRAVERSE CITY TO CHARLEVOIX - June 2

CHARLEVOIX TO TRAVERSE CITY - June 3

When: Saturday, June 2, 2007. Sunday, June 3, 2007. Saturday Warning gun at 10:00 am. Sunday Warning gun to be determined at Saturday morning Skippers Meeting.

Skippers Meeting: Inside the GTYC at 9:00 am Saturday, June 2, 2007.

Course: Saturday – TC to Charlevoix. Sunday – Charlevoix to TC. Course determined at Skippers meeting.

Format: Two fleets are planned – Jib and Main, and Spinnaker. One start.

Fees: $25 for GTYC members, $35 for non-US Sailing members, and $50 for non-members.

Boat of the Year: These races will count as “Long Distance Race #1” and “Long Distance Race #2” in the “JAM Boat of the Year”, and “GTYC Boat of the Year” competitions.


Lodging is available in Charlevoix Saturday night at several nearby hotels (within walking distance). These include the Edgewater Inn 800-748-0424; The Lodge Hotel 231-547-6565, Pointes North Inn 866-547-0055; Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites 800-552-0025, Capri Motel 231-547-2545, Aaron's Windy Hill B&B 231-547-2804, Bridge Street Inn (B&B) 231-547-6606, Charlevoix Country Inn (B&B) 231-547-5134. All are reasonably close to the municipal docks.

My faith...

Has been restored in finding great conversation and a fine tailored tuxedo.

This is Not Gloating...

So... I leave for southern Spain in an a couple of weeks...

It's for work...

I'm trying not to gloat...

But...

This is how I'm traveling home!

Dog House

I need to remember to pick up dog food tonight.

B and T ini!

I have the perfect neighbors... We live in our neighborhood, 'the gay ghetto'.

I remember moving into my house in 2002... I scored big... My own first place--in town--near the civic center, beaches, and tart trail... I loved it... The woman who lived there previously had passed on and her family had allowed me to purchase it... It was cute, quaint... a real grandmothers house...

I have quite a private back yard, for being in the city... I have a privacy fence between my house and the neighbors, and it has a window cut out of it... It was put there by the previous tennant so that she could speak easily with the family on the other side.

The other side family is a very religious family with lots and lots of kids.... Don't get me wrong-- I don't hate kids or the extremely religious, it's just that I don't think that I have anything really in common...

I wanted to close up that window, but never really had a good way of approaching it peacefully between neigbors.

Move a couple years later... The religious family has moved out, and I now have a beautiful woman as a neighbor... She's gay too, and really dynamic. "Connie"!

Connie had just purchased her house after getting out of a long term committment. I loved having her next door, and felt an immediate attachment.

After a couple of months... Connie met Sue. Sue is very cool.. Having worked for the prison system in upper management for years, you could tell this lady doesn't take shit from anyone... She's cute, and is a sailor with one of the most caring and gentle souls that I have ever met.

Connie and Sue have moved in together to the house next door... I no longer want to cover that window. You see, that window is the way that my dog, Newport, gets to ask Sue to throw the ball, and how we can get the run down on each other's day. Connie and Sue invited me over to the house last night for a birthday drink. Connie produced this unbelievable new martini created by their long time friends... They call it the B and T ini, and it knocked me on my ass.

Connie and Sue have become my family, and I am greatful for their presence in my life. I hope we get to share many more fun times, and B and T ini's!

2nd Verse... Same as the first...

Another 2nd place for the unnamed yacht... 1st for the season to date.

Check out the breezy conditions.

http://207.74.227.36/

Falling in Love...

Have you ever fallen in love with someone because their wonderful, glowing, fun personality?

Neither have I...

The Dreaded Ex...

I've been plagued in my post-JC world with any ability to receive closure on the full 3 year hurricane which was my life... Being quite young at the time of our meeting and subsequent moving in (pretty much all in the same day), I can't help but be amazed that it did last as long as it did...

I remember the summer of meeting JC... I was 19 years old and had just completed my freshman year of college. I , although closeted, was starting to explore my sexuality... I had supportive friends who I spent all of my time with, and felt for the first time in my life, that I was actually part of a family.

I remember a conversation I had with Lucy (my moving girl) about what I was actually looking for... I clearly remember talking about finding the V8 guy... The rugged, successful, active guy who would have to kick his dog out of bed so that there would be a spot for me.... JC was this guy...

I don't deny that we had a really close bond... And, I don't deny that we were both extremely strong willed and stubborn. I loved him, and the thought of him being without me sent me into uncontrolled panic attacks... Whenever I would see him, I always felt nervous... The butterflies in my stomach... Weird that this guy actually had the ability to chemically change me. I've learned to run from those who give me those feelings...

Being stubborn and strong willed, our break up was dramatic, emotional, and pretty fucked up... JC and I at the end were getting increasing rude and physical with each other...Pushing and grabbing...

Looking back, getting out of that situation was the best thing ever. Although it took quite a bit of time to stop being emotional, I did find myself in a great group of friends... Friends that fit my personality... The ENTOURAGE..

I healed and developed my own life, friends, home, and career.

Fast forward to 2007... After years of trying to approach JC on a friend level... It disturbs me of the recent chain of events that I have been put through... Actually, it makes me laugh to know that someone I held in such high esteem has turned into such a little kid.

Recently I was IM'd by JC... He has quite the approach everytime he does this, and I know where it is going... Not good..
He always asks if I ever see us getting back together?

Are you serious?

This is the guy that tells me he can't talk to me because of all of the horrible deceit and untruths that I told him--and he asks me if I ever have any interest in getting back together? What did I miss? He can't talk to me, or be my friend if I'm not willing to fully commit to a relationship again? I haven't seen JC in years, what right does he have to even assume... JC knew me in my venerable early 20's, now I'm scooting towards 30...

I just thought that was weird to have him get so angy at my answer to his question... NO, no I don't ever see us getting back together... Anyone else have similar amusing drama?...

1st Race... 2nd PLACE!

by 16 seconds to a boat that fouled us in prestart....

First Post, First Race

Alright... May 16th... You would think that it's spring, right? Wrong...

46 degrees, dark overcast sky, driving wind from the north over the 40something degree water... Sounds like a perfect night for our first sail on the newly refurbished J-33 ....

Start time 6 pm... More to come.