Surprise's Log Day Sailer 11750

Water Day 2006

My friend Joe and his family have a party annually on Memorial Day Saturday, and I have sailed Surprise there several times. Kathy and I did so again this year and we had some great winds from the South-Southeast.

We rigged up at the Topwater Grill, and left April Fool Point with some help on the dock from a family who sail a MacGregor. We sailed on starboard into the middle of the channel and tacked to port and made it out of the harbor. We tacked again, cleared up a misled jib sheet, and sailed off to the north. As we sailed along the Eastern side of the San Leon peninsula, the waves were a bit choppy and we got a little spray once or twice. A green wave hit us on our backs once.

As we rounded Eagle point, I noticed the GPS had stopped recording the track so I reset it - the old track was still in memory and so the memory was full. I lost a bit of the track which would have been interesting from the standpoint of knowing for sure that the path I had chosen between Redfish Bar and Eagle Point was indeed deep enough to sail through. We rounded the point, jibed, and decided not to set the spinnaker since the wind was a little too far forward. In any event, we didn't need it for a speedy passage. The fastest speed we reached according to the GPS was 9.7 knots. This was about halfway between the Bayshore spillway park - labelled "Boat barrier" on the map and 'Clifton Beach'. Because I had to save the track log that had filled up, I lost the time data on the first part of the sail. I must remember to clear the track log each time I use the GPS. I think we left the dock about 1:30pm, and we arrived at 2:44pm, so that's an hour and 15 minutes to make the whole trip.

I took some friends out for a sail in the bay and had a good time. When I came back from that sail, I tied the boat up to a piling nearby and felt a scratch on my left shin. When I got up on shore I saw my leg was bleeding pretty badly and there was a 3-inch long cut on my shin just below the other scar I recieved a few years back when I cut my leg open on the trailer roller bracket.

I applied a bandage and washed it out using the garden sprinkler. I still felt no pain, but decided I should have it looked at. Kathy drove me to the ER and they gave me four staples, two shots and two prescriptions. A note for the record: I had a tetanus shot on May 27, 2006. I should be good until May 27, 2011.

We got back to the party, Joe and Jim had furled the sails and moored Surprise head and stern for overnight. I had a good time except for missing the part of the party while I was at the ER.

The next day Joe and Kathy sailed Surprise over to a nearby public boat dock and I pulled the trailer over there and help unrig.

I get the staples out on or around June 6th.

For some reason, My left shin is always hitting things. Even when I was a kid, it would constantly get hit by things like bicycle pedals, which must be one of the most excrutiating forms of pain there is. Nowadays, I'm constantly scraping it on the corners of open doors, and hitting nearly everything. Once in a great while the boat traveler does it, but it's not that often. (People assume it's the traveler, which is very ironic.) Last night, I hit near the wound by running into a cardboard box in the dark. I think I will have to wear some sort of shin guard to keep from hurting it further. Oh, the joys of being clumsy.

Photos from HID

Our RC from the HID has some photos posted on his gallery.
I've grabbed two and saved them here for my use.

Holiday in Dixie regatta

We had four boats show up in Shreveport this year. I little light, but at least we raced. The company as always was great.

I almost got first but lost it to Andy since I didn't cover him and he gained on a shift. I think I had my head inthe boat or up some other place.

However, I got what I came for: a good time. The winds were anywhere from 10-20. Never felt overpowered.

At one point I thought we'd never get there. K had bad back pains. Took her to a clinic and got some medication and a cordazone shot. That helped and we were able to sail.

Results:
Shreveport Yacht Club
Class: DAY SAILER
Holiday in Dixie 2006

Overall Score:	Last Race Date:04/30/06	Sail Boat	Skipper	Type	RACE 1	RACE 2	RACE 3	RACE 4	RACE 5	Total
1	13163	You Dance So White!	Katz, Andy	DS	1	2	1	2	2	8
2	11750	Surprise	Hunkins, Bob	DS	2	1	2	3	1	9
3	540	toocajun	LeBlanc, Manuel	DS	5(RAF)	3	3	1	3	15
4	14014		Woodson, Marshall	DS	3	4	4	4	4	19