View Full Version : Hey ELF
Enjoy your trip to West Kirby and the Wilson Trophy. I see they've updated their website http://www.wksc.net/wilsontrophy/
and it has this blurb
The Wilson is better than sex
The Wilson Trophy
By Chris Museler, Team New York Yacht Club (2009 will be my second Wilson missed in eight years, both due to child birthing responsibilities. Note to self: Stop having sex in August!)
There are six Manchester stamps in my passport. Not much else in there. Up until very recently, my only view of England has been of the highways and winding pastoral roads leading up to little West Kirby on the Wirral. When I tell that to anyone but a sailor they are quite confused. But to me and any American who has been lucky enough to run down the edge of the Marine Lake at 7 a.m. Sunday morning saying, “I can’t BELIEVE they’re really starting on time,” and to have stood on their chair to raise a glass at one of Saturday evenings grand dinners under the tent, West Kirby and the Wilson Trophy are undeniably the most exciting and enjoyable combination one can imagine for a sailing event.
For Americans, the event is fabled. It has always been referred to as the unofficial world championship for team racing, even today. The top two US teams have always received an invite and sailors would come back saying, “It’s crazy,.....
The unofficial anthem of Liverpool is You'll never walk alone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ1wVOzYhcc&feature=related) which is originally from the R&H musical "Carousel" set in Maine. If you learn to sing this you won't go far wrong (unless you're singing to an Everton supporter, recognisable by a demented stare).
Have fun, send us lots of pictures.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/221/503656461_3f38011440.jpg
Yeah. I'll miss Chris. He drove a boat for me at the Grey Goose Worlds 4 years ago and was a great boon. If he were driving for me this weekend this gig would be a piece of cake.
He used to sail on Team WHishbone with that guy whose boat you don't like, too.
Studying Google Maps now. Sorta wishing I'd bought some books but I'll pick Ray Griffen's brain when I get there. Car's all rented, route all scoped out. I've been told to bring clam chowder base as a gift, they don't want cranberries, or maple syrup.
What must we look like to furriners!
How do they get the water into that lake? I can't see any sort of lock from Google Earth.
How do they get the water into that lake? I can't see any sort of lock from Google Earth.
Sluice valve.
Get a map, I could have lent you one, when are you leaving?
Weather looks not too good, Saturday might be a good day. Winds from the SW.
Take your rain gear
Weather looks gross. At least it's not going to be 45 degrees, like it's been all March and April in Red Brook Harbor shooting sailing club.
And I won't be shooting into the sun, or having to move my boat so I'm not.
Leaving here Wednesday at noon. Flight's at 5pm from Logan. Amer. Airlines.
I wish Google Earth showed elevation in an easily grokable way. I gather Caernarfon is hilly? Steep or gentle? I gather Anglesey is elevated with cliffs mostly around the perimeter? Flat on top?
How far east of Chester are the Pennines? Can I drive through them to York from Caernarfon? Or do I have to go around? Will it take all day to get to York through them? Or half a day.
Where can I get Cheshire cheese?
P.I. Stazzer-Newt
04-27-2009, 11:22 AM
....
How far east of Chester are the Pennines? Can I drive through them to York from Caernarfon? Or do I have to go around? Will it take all day to get to York through them? Or half a day.
Half a day, no problem - choice of routes - North on the M6 then East on any of the trans-pennine routes - Snake Pass is the traditional one but the pick of the bunch involves driving north to Penrith then east across the Pennines by way of Alston, stop at the top of Hartside where the view is breathtaking. - and approaching York via Durham.
Where can I get Cheshire cheese?
Sainsbury's
Anglesey is flat, Caernarfon is on a small coastal plain, but Snowdon (approx 3,500ft) is only 12 miles away. Your youth hostel is on the other side. The valleys are glacier cut and make the driving easy (roads are a bit narrow and flanked by dry stone walls), it's rugged by U.K. standards but not Pinkham Notch standards.
Enjoy the local cheeses, you'll be passing through Wensleydale. (beloved of Wallace and Gromit)
Weather looks gross. At least it's not going to be 45 degrees, like it's been all March and April in Red Brook Harbor shooting sailing club.
It's a much warmer 45 degrees, probably because there is no chilling effect from the water (Gulf Stream and all that)
rbgarr
04-27-2009, 12:06 PM
A description of some common team racing tactics: http://www.boating.co.nz/sailing/teams_racing_tactics.shtml
Yup. Sounds like team racing!
I guess my absolute favorite cheese is a very old, sharp Cheshire, but Wensleydale is no slouch! Scounting around the web I came up with a cheese show in Nantwich in July which gives out awards. Unfortunately the Wilson is always in early May, so it will never coincide with Nantwich, but the awards for Cheshire came from Malpas, which is SE of Chester.
Are you saying Mt. Snowdon is west of Gwynedd, Hwyl?
Never mind. I found it. What's that train doing there????
Thank goodness it's not coal fired!!!
Paul Pless
04-27-2009, 12:56 PM
Emily, what are the dates of your trip?
Peerie Maa
04-27-2009, 01:11 PM
Half a day, no problem - choice of routes - North on the M6 then East on any of the trans-pennine routes - Snake Pass is the traditional one but the pick of the bunch involves driving north to Penrith then east across the Pennines by way of Alston, stop at the top of Hartside where the view is breathtaking. - and approaching York via Durham.
Sainsbury's
If you go north to Penrith, you'll pass Morecambe Bay, and the southern Lakes to your right, both very scenic for a Landscape photographer.
There is a Farm Shop at the Tebay services (M6 south of Penrith) with a good selection of cheeses, Wallace would be in heaven there.:D
Have you planned your return route?
Leaving Wednesday, returning the 14th. Going to West Kirby for Wilson Trophy, then hostel in Wales, NW up the road from Beddgelert for 4 days. Then crossing over to Whitby on the North Sea, N of York, a few days up and down the coast with a stop in Cromer for a folk festival on a pier in the North Sea and finally back to Manchester to come home.
One the very finest dances Pat Shaw invented is Morecambe Bay. And then he has one called the Heswall and West Kirby Juibilee. Not to mention that there's one called The Lord of Caernarvon's Jigg, from way back.
Studying this map is very interesting.
Gotta go shoot sailing. Be back later.
Peerie Maa
04-27-2009, 01:55 PM
Leaving Wednesday, returning the 14th. Going to West Kirby for Wilson Trophy, then hostel in Wales, NW up the road from Beddgelert for 4 days. Then crossing over the Whitby on the North Sea, N of York, a few days up and down the coast with a stop in Cromer for a folk festival on a pier in the North Sea and finally back to Manchester to come home.
You'll love Whitby, best fish and chips in the UK. Try to get to Flamborough Head. Robin Hoods Bay is very picturesque. There was a colony of artists working around Staithes, your own Winslow Homer worked there for a time.
Have you planned your return route?
Spending my last night in Scarborough. My trip back to the airport is probably going to be frantic, since my plane leaves at 11:05, which means I absolutely have to be crystal clear about exactly how to get back. No missed exits permitted!
But I'm a grownup, and can deal! Even on the other side of the road!
Paul Pless
04-27-2009, 08:46 PM
any wbf ebs events planned?
Not as of this moment. Anybody there who wants to get together?
Beddgelert for 4 days.
The Beddgelert myth always gets me
Prince Llywelyn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llywelyn_the_Great) was very fond of hunting and in the summer he lived in a hunting lodge (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting_lodge) at the foot of Snowdon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowdon). Although he had many dogs, his favourite was Gelert, because not only was he fearless in the hunt he was also a loyal friend and companion at home.
One day Llewelyn and his wife went out hunting, leaving their baby son with a nurse and a servant to look after him. The nurse and the servant went for a walk in the mountains leaving the baby alone and unprotected.
Llewelyn was absorbed in his hunting, but after a while he noticed that Gelert wasn't with the pack. The Prince knew something was wrong as Gelert was always at the front of the pack. He reasoned that the only place Gelert would go was back to the lodge, so he called off the hunt and headed back home.
As the party dismounted, Gelert came running out of the lodge towards his master, covered in blood and wagging his tail. The Princess, calling her child's name, fainted. Llewelyn rushed into the baby's room to find the cradle overturned, the bloodstained bedclothes thrown all over the floor - and no sign of his son.
Filled with anger and grief he drew his sword and ran Gelert through. As the dog died, his whimpers and his cries were answered by the sound of a baby crying from behind the overturned cradle. When Llewelyn pulled aside the cradle he found his son unharmed and the body of a huge wolf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf) next to him. Gelert had in fact killed the wolf as it tried to attack Llewelyn's son.
Filled with remorse, Llewelyn buried Gelert in a meadow nearby and marked his grave with a cairn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairn) of stones. The village of Beddgelert (Gelert's grave) owes its name to this site.
Are you saying Mt. Snowdon is west of Gwynedd, Hwyl?
Gwynedd is the county
Never mind. I found it. What's that train doing there????
Thank goodness it's not coal fired!!!
Ahem
http://www.star-attractions.co.uk/attractions/snowdon_mountain/2009new1jpg.jpg
Snowden is actually called Yr Wyddfa (ur oo ith var)
and Snowdonia Eryri (Err ur eeh)
you'll get extra points.
The "ch" is like the one in Bach (which actually means small, and is a nice thing to say, so if someone calls you Emily bach, they've become your friend)
Which brings us to the polite greeting Sut a chi (sit are cheee) means "how are you" second person plural. When you become familiar replace the "chi" with ti (tee), with everywhere the "ch" being pronounced like "Bach"
You'll see "Croeso" a lot pronounced crow ess oh , means "welcome"
C. Ross
04-27-2009, 11:09 PM
Bon voyage, Emily! It's been fun reading about your preparations.
Of course we expect many pictures and a complete travelogue.
The sun sat nicely over West Kirby this evening.
Boy, the roads here are really narrow.
Paul Pless
04-30-2009, 05:06 PM
> :)
15 knots SW tomorrow. Perfect wind, go to bed or go and get "last orders" (last call in American)
Peerie Maa
04-30-2009, 05:25 PM
Not as of this moment. Anybody there who wants to get together?
I think that I am the only one anywhere near your route.
33 miles from the M6 west of junction 36.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=la14+3rt&sll=54.168062,-2.960815&sspn=0.360165,0.884399&ie=UTF8&ll=54.192173,-2.991028&spn=0.359955,0.884399&z=10
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=la14+3rt&sll=54.168062,-2.960815&sspn=0.360165,0.884399&ie=UTF8&ll=54.192173,-2.991028&spn=0.359955,0.884399&z=10
The Beddgelert myth always gets me
Man, now you've gone and done it :( That story always brings tears to my eyes. Sorry to be a complete nancy but it must be the saddest folk tale ever.
I see that the West Kirby marine lake is officially closed while undergoing some repairs between March and June this year, but special arrangements have been made to accomodate the Wilson Trophy. I hope all goes well Elf. You can walk out to Hilbre island at low tide (it has seals and its own unique species of vole). And, as an ex resident of Anglesey (Cemaes Bay and Amlwch) I can guarantee that you will love North Wales.
Laboriously output video from today now here;
http://www.wksc.net/wilsontrophy/results.asp
Looks like the local teams are going well :)
Postponed 'til noon. Then probably only the quarters, semis and finals. Wind consistently very high. Looks like Buzzards Bay.
52 °F
Scattered Clouds
Humidity: 62% Dew Point: 39 °F Wind: 20 mph from the WNW
Should be great for photography
West Kirby hawks sailed incredibly well. Larchmont needed to practice and seemed to panic slightly.
Knocked the passenger side rear view mirror off again in Betwys-y-coed on way to hostel - sigh.
Finally, today was the first day I didn't walk around the car and try to get in on the passenger side...
Rain, drizzle, fog, drizzle, rain, fog, etc. Spent nearly 2 days in the hostel getting a grip on all the video. Slipped out today to find free wi-fi, but no power outlet so not here for long.
Will work on better solution once I process the photos from this afternoon.
At least the car gets Radio 3...
Interesting wooden boats in Beaumaris. Nice black and while lighthouse nearby. Photos in camera. Maybe Monday.
Paul Pless
05-07-2009, 02:02 PM
Nice that you're able to check in. Having a pleasurable time I hope?
Looking forward to your pics and videos when you get home, no worries now... enjoy yourself!
Interesting wooden boats in Beaumaris. Nice black and while lighthouse nearby. Photos in camera. Maybe Monday.
I suspect the boats will be either Fife One Design, or Menai Strait One Design which are unique to the Royal Anglesey Yacht Club. They have a great racing tradition on the Menai Straits. I look forward to seeing the photos Elf.
Do I hear a Puffin Sound
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/3183372626_e320275def.jpg
http://http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/3183372626_e320275def.jpg
Accurate sign on lighthouse. Yes. Puffin Island, too, and that amazing red nun on the rocks as well.
Next year if I do West Kirby again I'm staying on Anglesey somewhere. just not enough time,
I'm in Whitby now, staying in Scarborough. Saw John and Martin in Cromer, spent the next day around Blakeney, ate crab, looked at many styles of lapstrake boats with varying propulsion arrangments from engines to oarlocks to sails. Jibs on furlers.
The Fifes were in the water, one on stands was glass. I passed up shooting it, it was indoors with messy sodium vapor and fluorescent light.
When I was at that lighthouse the tide was nearly completely out. There was no water on the landward side of that light!
So::::: Overall impressions, did you have a good time?
Next time I spend the 10 days on Anglesey. A whole day spent looking just at Beaumaris and Penmon, surely 10 days would be too little to check out all of the island!
I drove way too much, but it was really important to go to Cromer. If I had realized how much time it took to get from Chester to York I might have done the trip differently. If the Shropshire Bedlams dance out on Mayday, and the trophy is still on the first weekend of May, I will go earlier and see the Bedlams and then cruise carefully up to West Kirby and over to Anglesey from there.
Why can't I buy Cheshire and Caerphilly cheese here on Cape Cod? Cheshire is one of the finest cheeses I know.
Navigating while driving was extremely difficult. I must have driven at least 300 miles out of my way for not understanding the signs quickly enough. I came home dislocated from navigating around Manchester, but I found a charming little gift for you, Hwyl, in the Yorkminster shop.
At the end the clay-limestone Cretaceous cliffs of NE Yorkshire were simply terrific. After Anglesey, more of Yorkshire. I was right in my original plan to spend the entire time in Yorkshire, but I'm very glad I had to go to Bryn Gwynant or I might not have looked at Wales at all.
And the Ll is easy to pronounce when one is a fan of Bach!
And I'm still not sure how anyone expects to sell a narrow steel canal boat from a parking lot at a defunct restaurant above Rhuthun! But I got the phone number if anyone's interested!
Glad you had a good time. Did you get any pictures of the dovecote at Penmon, an interesting way to provide meat for Monks.
Were yoou the "official" photographer for the Wilson? Did you get to Felinheli?
I got a handheld shot out the cupola on the dovecote. I think the exterior is in the pile somewhere.
I was the official videographer. There are vids of the finals on the Wilson Trophy site and a few of other things.
Didn't get to Felinheli. Where is it?
Got to Caernarvon, Porthmadog, Llanberis - got wandering on little one-lane roads in the mist and fog, through tiny village intersections. Nearly impossible to find places to pull over and take a few photos - the buildings and hedgerows are right up against the roadway.
Didn't get to Felinheli. Where is it?
aka Portdinorwic. between Bangor and Caernarfon, you missed it because of the bypass. I did send you a link to my old club www.pdsc.org.uk
Here (http://landsedgephoto.com/Beaumaris) are some Beaumaris pix.
aka Portdinorwic. between Bangor and Caernarfon, you missed it because of the bypass. I did send you a link to my old club www.pdsc.org.uk
3 days of rain and adjusting to driving - I missed a lot, too. Sorry about that.
Here's what's landward of Gareth's lighthouse:
http://landsedgephoto.com/Penmon/images/ELF%20_MG_3856.jpg
Mrleft8
05-24-2009, 09:06 AM
How was the cider? :D
I don't know. I don't drink it. So I couldn't evaluate it and decide what to bring you.
Amazingly they do now actually have real cider, made from varieties of local apples, in the mom-and-pop stores, chilled.
The last time I went to England, in 1968, some group I was affiliated with for the trip had a party and there was great excitment about "cider" at the party. I was hot from biking, or something, and accepted a cup of it with great anticipation. It was very unpleasant - turned cider, the kind I put out in the compost pile.
Of course all the other people were just thrilled.
I'm just not really in to alcohol at all.
Mrleft8
05-24-2009, 09:44 AM
The small batch mom and pop ones are usually extrordinary.
Sorry. I'm not sure I'd know where to find them. But maybe I missed them at the Welsh farm stores.
The fresh lamb chop was great, however!
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