Feb 12 2009

Fast Sail in SoCal

Published by at 11:18 under Sailing

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The Fast Sail Crew

The usual suspects did a Fast Sail last weekend.

We used to do Fast Cruises in the Navy.

When I first heard that expression, I thought “Hey, back home in less than 9 months. This’ll be great!”

What it really meant was that we were going to do some of our pre-deployment training while tied FAST to the dock.

The war was raging in Viet Nam and we were training for a Med. deployment. Our priority for fuel, parts and manpower was very low. So day after day, we went to General Quarters, dutifully manning our battle stations and donning battle dress tied fast to the pier in Norfolk.

We aviators hated it. Everyday another boring APM (All Pilots Meeting). And that was the high point of the festivities. We were simply trapped in the Ready Room. We wanted to be flying or ashore on liberty or at least in our staterooms catching some Z’s. It was Mark I Mod 0 horrid situation for us.

But it would get worse, they’d sound the ABC (Atomic Biological and Chemical Warfare) alarm and set condition Zulu, turning off all ventilation.

The damage control parties hustled about, and we sat trapped, sweating for hours.

How could that be fun? It could not.

But we Behind the Breakwater Sailors changed that this weekend. After sauntering toward the Rudder Room and checking out the rather nasty swell flowing into the harbor and watching a 70′ fishing boat disappear in the troughs and then assessing the relatively low winds – we decided that sailing in that would be too much work, too little fun. So we headed to Sancerre, checked that she was tied up securely and uncorked a bottle of red.

We proceeded to tell sea stories and other tales embellished by wine effect involving our boats, our mishaps, our misdeeds and our lapses in headwork. We uncorked a second bottle and proceeded to outright lies.

We laughed past the point of ache and, as the sun set, declared it a great day.

I’ve always said that 65.7%* of the fun of sailing is the conversation. Last Sunday it was 100%.

The Navy could learn something from us … and we hadn’t even gotten around to discussing the grounding of the billion dollar Port Royal guided missile cruiser last weekend.

* I’ve also always said that 87.6% of all statistics are made up.

—————————-
I initially reported that the sailor pictured below was with us. He was, in fact, only a suspect, but his aura is so strong it felt as if we were in his presence. In any event, he should have been there. Because of this unexcused absence, he’s got to buy the first round at LVC choir meeting this Friday.

All in favor, say Amen.

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7 responses so far

7 Responses to “Fast Sail in SoCal”

  1. # Shirly Ujeston 12 Feb 2009 at 15:19

    40′ sailboat = $250,000.00
    Monthly slip fees = $650.00
    2 buck chuck = $1.99
    Behind the breakwater sailing = PRICELESS

  2. # Randy Bushon 12 Feb 2009 at 16:14

    2 buck chuck? How ghastly! Hope Dennis doesn’t read that…

  3. # Shirly Ujeston 12 Feb 2009 at 20:01

    Shirley says Amen!

  4. # Shirly Ujeston 12 Feb 2009 at 21:37

    I meant Shirly…forgot how to spell me name.

  5. # Capt. Danon 13 Feb 2009 at 09:47

    Shirly -

    Is the Life Vest Calvary (sic) Choir practicing at the Lookout on Friday afternoon?

  6. # Shirly Ujeston 19 Feb 2009 at 15:04

    The statistics on sanity is that one out of every four persons is suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best friends — if they’re okay, then it’s you.

  7. # Dan Ryderon 19 Feb 2009 at 15:58

    Dear Shirly -

    Those statistics are probably correct for power boaters, inverse if you’re talking jet skis, and wildly optimistic if your friends are sailors.

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