The Toilet Bowl

[bamamick]

Well, I have a decision to make. I had planned on running up to Manchester, Mass the first week in August for the Megabyte NA's. I've got the boat and a new sail and rig. By all intents and purposes that's what I should be doing, BUT....for some reason I don't get a good vibe about this event, so I might just change tacks and head to Lake Cazenovia in mid-August to sail my new/ancient Finn in the world renowned Toilet Bowl regatta.

Lake Cazenovia is where my boat is located. I have a friend heading up for this event and he had offered to bring her home, but the Toilet Bowl is a sort of rite-of-passage and I had always intended to do it anyway at some point.

Whaddaya think?

Mickey Lake

[John B]

You know what to do already Mickey.;)

[Salty Sailor]

There once was a sailor who could never make up his mind, for his choice was never there to begin with...:rolleyes:

[bamamick]

My daughter made up my mind for me :). Come to find out, her college graduation is the weekend of the Megabyte event, so it's off to upstate New York for me the middle of August.

My wife always says that things work out the way that they should.

Mickey Lake

[Vince Brennan]

May you be "flushed" with victory!

[Hwyl]

I hope you won't be a flash in the pan.

[Concordia...41]

I guess he could just gas out.

[Hwyl]

Either way, he'll be pooped.

[John B]

Long as he doesn't end up driving the porcelain truck...

[P.L.Lenihan]

or talkin' ta Hurl on the big white phone.....:)



Peter

[bamamick]

Hardee har har! You guys crack me up.....NOT!

I am really getting PUMPED up for this. You could almost say that I am FLUSHED with excitement at attending this event.

On a more serious note, I ordered a new sail for this Finn last night, out of dacron! There is a group of Finnsters who use aluminum spars and dacron sails. I have two buddies in New Orleans doing this and two in Palm Beach, Florida. I think that there are several on this lake in New York that I am heading to. Won't make any difference as far as my finishes go, so I figured I'd give it a go.

Mickey Lake

[John B]

or talkin' ta Hurl on the big white phone.....:)



Peter

We'd call it ringing up ruth on the big white telephone.;)

New sailll mmmmm. I have one coming too.:D

[bamamick]

Made it home alive, once again. Geez, I am not sure exactly why I do this stuff. For the stories, I guess.

1300 miles one way. Left home Thursday morning after about three hours sleep and made it Winchester, Va. before crashing. Got up the next morning and drove on up to Lake Cazenovia. I have been worried about the trailer since I lost a wheel bearing last year and scarred the axle a wee bit, and this time I put a small load of 4"x4" on the trailer so it wouldn't bounce so much and I was worried they'd fly off and cause a massive pile up on someone's interstate, but that part of it went well.

Cazenovia is a 1 mile by 5 mile lake running north and south and surrounded by ridges on the east and west sides. Interesting place to sail no doubt, but it's close to Syracuse and any city of any size that can has a sailing club. This one is very nice. Big Finn fleet, as well as Lightnings. They used to have a lot of Comets, but I take it that that fleet has passed on by. The Willow Bank YC is one of the most interesting I have ever been to. Once a large lake home, now it is a three story maze filled with sailing gear and workshops. I liked it a lot. And the people were some of the most hospitable I have ever met. I didn't meet one single person who didn't go out of their way to make me feel at home.

The boat is about what I had expected. A project boat. I spent all afternoon Friday rigging it with the lines and blocks that I brought with me, and then spent the evening socializing before retiring to my tent. The camping out thing has been the subject of much amusement among my family and friends. I haven't camped out in over 25 years, and most thought that with my less-than-svelte physique that I would be running into Syracuse (25 miles away) for a motel halfway through the first night. Actually, the tent was fine with the air mattress that I carried with me. Not bad at all. The only problem was that it was cold the first night. Bloody well freezing in comparison to what I am used to. I was actually shaking with cold and didn't sleep well at all until I finally gave up, went to the truck, and put on several layers of what I had with me. The only thing that surprised me about camping was the noise. Really noisy.

On to the racing. Some good people at this event. I am not sure how many we had but it was between 15 and 20 boats, with several Canadians and some good guys from the east coast. Well, I won't dwell on how I did but as I say, it is a project boat. The first sign that things may not go as well as I had hoped was when I raised my new sail and it pulled right out of the track. I had to borrow an old sail from someone, but the sail wasn't my problem. The mast wasn't a problem. A pretty nice old aluminum Needlespar mast. It was also not my problem that none of the cleats would hold on the boat, that the board would not stay up off the wind, or that one of the bailers was jetting water into the boat at an alarming rate and for most of the morning I had water above the floorboards (this old Teel does not have a double bottom though it does have tanks in the sides). No, my problem is that I am still one of the worst Finn sailors in the world. A good sailor will overcome any of that stuff. I just get overwhelmed with it.

The first race I was 10 seconds late for the start, went the right way, worked up to what was probably sixth or seventh after the first triangle, got lost on the second beat and wound up beating four or five people. The second race I got lost at the start and matched raced one guy for the whole race. It was one of those weird lake things where you sit in a hole and watch other people sail away. Serves me right for going for speed instead of position at the start. I went left. Left wasn't the way to go. Anyway, I finally got by the guy at the end of the race (amid the lighting and rain, giant puffs and slicks) and wound up beating him.

After the second race they came in for lunch and I went ahead and pulled out. I had to fit the boat to the trailer and de-rig. I had only intended to sail about three races anyway and when they came in to eat that pretty much did it for me. Turns out they had more fun in the afternoon with giant shifts, more rain, more sun, big puffs dying to nothing. Interesting place.

Not much else to tell. Stripped the boat and packed it up, had a shower and a very nice meal cooked by the ladies of the Finn fleet and the WBYC, said some heartfelt goodbyes, and lay down for a nap. My plan had been to get up no later than 3am and head home since I had to drive straight back. Well, there was this beautiful full moon out, and when I woke up with a start at 1:30 I was sure that I had slept the night away. I jumped up and threw on some clothes before digging around for my watch and seeing what the time actually was. I blundered around packing the tent and doing my best to not disturb the other campers before finally getting away at 2am. A long drive home with no real problems (many prayers were said by myself and others, I can tell you). Arrived about 11:30 last night, and now I am sitting here in my home office with three snoring dogs at my feet. Life could be a lot worse.

So I have been to the famous Toilet Bowl regatta and I see why it is famous. Beautiful spot, super people, very challenging conditions. I have sort-of promised to come back after I get this old boat refinished and rigged properly, and I would love to go back again some day. I am just burned out on these super-hurried, fast paced trips where you don't get time to catch your breath. I think that this year has been a good learning experience for me in traveling. Next year I will pick one or two trips and try to spend more time.

Mickey Lake

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

Made it home alive, once again. Geez, I am not sure exactly why I do this stuff. For the stories, I guess.

1300 miles one way. Left home Thursday morning after about three hours sleep and made it Winchester, Va. before crashing.

Hell Mickey, you could have come about 25 miles East and crashed at my place, comfy bed, good food, etc...:mad:
And gotten back on 81 w/o having to go back to Winchester.

Glad you had a good trip though. Let me know the next time you're passing through my 'hood.:)

Course you probably could have talked Lefty into setting you up w/ his F-i-L, he lives in Winchester!:eek:

[bamamick]

Dave, I appreciate it. I always stop in Chambersburg but this time I was just out of gas (physically) and decided that I needed the sleep. I don't know if I will ever catch up on my sleep the way this year has gone.

Mickey Lake

[John B]

1300 miles!... 2600 miles!!
You're committed to your sport aren't you Mickey, good on you.
That all sounds like a great sort of adventure but camping.... you mean , sleep on the ground with one of those pointy fabric things propped up with sticks... noooooooo.:D

and doing my best to not disturb the other campers before finally getting away at 2am. LOL.

[Hwyl]

I think you are being far too modest. Seems to me that you acquitted yourself very well in a boat that had serious problems.

Just what is your boat inventory at the moment.

At least one Finn
Megabyte
International Canoe
Dragon
Sharpie Schooner

What have I mssed?

[bamamick]

lol. Two Stars.

Mickey Lake

[John B]

You're the man.:D

[bamamick]

Yeah John, they've got places for 'men' like me, they just haven't caught up to me as of yet :).

Mickey Lake