|
by S.B. Stuart
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Nothing happened before Olive arrived as far as we know.
Olive took Swee'pea to the HQ in hopes that the sailors there would figure out her, as it turned out, elementary rigging.
 Nothing happened before Olive arrived as far as we know.
The weather service didn't scare the numerous boats encouraged by Dusty to Get Out There! And actually the weather herself didn't scare the boats. Just a bit of refreshing rain when we were going in anyway. I seem to remember nine boats at the HQ Saturday night. A sane amount of food evident. And beverages. Some people cooked sort of in the rain, because we've "always done it that way".
 When were the mousetraps set, tantalizingly near our toes as we stood at the counter? Saturday night? Sunday night?
Which night did wily Steve sit, still as a sailbag, in Pleiades cockpit in wait, with a bench brush, for a horrible boat mouse --some thought he had dozed off -- for what seemed an hour? But NO! when the vile mouse finally emerged and got well clear of cover, Steve swiped it gracefully into the water! There was boisterous rejoicing and congratulations.
Mouse evidence was found in the Great Boat also. The Bread gift was stowed in the standing ice box, the Mice Box. When were the mousetraps set, tantalizingly near our toes as we stood at the counter? Saturday night? Sunday night? Anyway, mice were caught.
Sunday, 6 September 2009
 Dina and Andy, were loveable and exciting and a first-class addition to the BOC gathering...
The guests of Pleiades, Dina and Andy, were loveable and exciting and a first-class addition to the BOC gathering, from breakfast time to lights out.
Sunday was a historical day because Olive was honored with a visit from the rarely sighted, and suspected by some as being mythical, Greg, mate of Thrin and daddy of Natalie, a treat for Olive. Now he knows where his family hangs out.
We forgot to enter it in the HQ Log. (Editor's note: Not to worry, I put an entry in the HQ Log before I left. It said to check this report on our website for the details.)
Olive got Greg (Christner) back to the courtesy dock in time to tear back to the Start, and actually cross in a workman-like manner. As to the thing known as racing, that is a distant dream of Olive's [not related: Olive was known in her past as Tippi]. But an actual start is bracing.
 We were in a good position to see Querida Tu sweeping along regally to First Place
When it turned out the course was two times around, we just started sailing for the fun of it. It seemed like hours of perfect sailing. Hours. Then there was the raft-up.
We had eventually gone "home" to the HQ and a voice from some radio said " Come raft up". It was Greg (Simon's). Well, we went back out, looking for the raft. Brant had said, just after finishing Second, he was going to go take a nap. But now, with the voice from the lake, he obediently got himself back out on the water and sought the raft. Where was it? It must be Dusty because he's the boss. Well, that was news to D., but he's obedient too, so he had us raft up to him. Was it around this time Brant thought he'd go get that nap?
 It seemed like hours of perfect sailing. Hours.
 Here comes the Greg Raft, proudly steaming down the lake, three boats
Swee'pea wanted to go for a row and may have got some nice pictures of the raft-up. The pea also had to row pretty quick when the raft decided to sail. Swee'pea decided to go back to HQ and Olive's crew, rafted up with no skipper and a crewmember needing to get to her car and home, looked confused as Swee'pea pulled hard for BOC cove-- it was going to be a longish pull and SwP has short oars. S'P remembered her duty, though, and pulled like mad back to the raft, somehow getting the skipper back on Olive, to start the cheerful visiting trip across the boats, about the most enjoyable routine in Cochiti yachting.
Sunday night was the big Food Nite. I hardly know how to start. I won't. Dusty had his camera working.
 
 
Monday, 7 September 2009
Lord, are we still here?
But now we have to get serious. This is almost the end. There has been some attrition. Boats have just slipped silently away. People look graver on the last day. At the last trumpet.
But Paul and Greg were kind enough to get Swee'pea rigged, and since Paul was in the boat anyway, he went out to see how she sailed. Paul sails perfectly and so did S'P. Amazing.
At the end of the day, Brant was treated to the sight of Olive trying to climb onto her trailer with the keel down---a visiting crewmember had ground it "all the way up". All the way down. The skipper learned that the skipper is ultimately responsible for everything done on the boat, no matter who does it.
Thrin said Brant was laughing. The ramp IS a first-class place to see drama, surprising incompetence, efficiency, genuine stupidity, generosity, and is best at the end of a big weekend, especially if there is a good crosswind. And I know there is a good store of embarrassment, but you can't see that.
Sal
 
 
View more pictures in our photo gallery HERE |
