Key West 2009 Race Week to Start Monday

I am down in Key West working on the Division 1 Signal Boat for the 2009 Premiere Racing production of Acura Key West. A sailboat racing event that draws top notch competitors for some exciting sailing in the waters off Key West, Florida. Our Division 1 team is led by Ken Legler. We are setting and managing the course on our circle for the Farr 30s and Farr 40s, the Swan 42s as well as IRC Classes 1and 2.

The weather is shaping up to give us great conditions through Wednesday. Thursday looks to be light and dicey with the wind coming back for Friday.

I will be making daily reports of the events on our division as well as posting pictures up of the daily action.

Check here Monday through Friday for live updates:
Acura Key West 2009 - Race Course Blogs

More information on this event is located at www.premiere-racing.com.

Gypsy moves to a new home today---

After 5 years in Alamitos Bay watching the marina deteriorate to simply unacceptable and dangerous conditions I made the move to the Long Beach Shoreline Marina where the facilities are just outstanding. Alamitos Bay is on the fast track to becoming the next Ala Wai marina. The docks are rotten beyond belief, basically broken and rat infested. Nails sticking out all over the place, planks that are broken and jagged, floats that are compromised and sinking. Just a state of severe disrepair with no solution in sight. So sad to see.

In contrast, the LBSM (Long Beach Shoreline Marina) has state of the art facilities and upbeat, enthusiastic management. Very refreshing.

Gypsy's new slip is fabulous with a great view of the downtown skyline from her fantail. The cement docks are well built with all the bells and whistles (Cable hookups, modern electricity and water hookups and an efficient design). And her new digs are within walking distance of the LB Aquarium, numerous shops and restaurants.

Thanks to my good friends Bob and Carol Hickman for helping me ferry cars and get Gypsy re-located today. A brilliant clear winter SoCal day with Santa Ana conditions.

I look forward to many weekends hanging out in a comfortable chair on Gypsy's transom reading and relaxing!

Good Times. :0)

The SS Catalina is now officially toast.

Click on the title for the news article.

SoCal Winter Day Sail on Gypsy

Special stuff--- My son Steve is home for winter break from Wash U. (St. Louis) . We took Gypsy out for a brilliant sail on a SoCal winter day with three of Steve's close friends. We really enjoyed a "3 hour tour" around Long Beach Harbor. Setting Gypsy's A2 for a nice slide from Long Beach Entrance to Sunset Beach was very cool.

From the post below Steve had this day planned out-- He deserves the credit for making sure it was a success!

Gypsy gets a bath----

Stevie and I had an awesome day today spending time together- We are taking his friends out sailing Tuesday and he wanted Gypsy to look spotless-- he volunteered to scrub her down and that he did! She looks great----

We had lunch at Schooner or Later and had a nice walk around the marina enjoying a SoCal fresh winter day. Ran into good friend Stan Gibbs who was working on his newly acquired Cal 36. Another classic from the 1960s that he is restoring that we checked out.

Good Times.

New 2009 Racing Rules of Sailing

PDF versions can be accessed by clicking on the title of this post.

SPW