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As you can see on the left side of the blog, we have a feature that shows who follows the Gratefulred Blog. So far, only 4. We would love to see you up there, and with a picture attached.
Tonight, Ken and I are "testing" some Freeze Dried meals in preparation for the food menu of the crossing. Mountain House pro-pak's are what we purchased. Check out the website. www.mountainhouse.com We have to try, Chicken teriyaki with rice, lasagna with meat sause, beef stew, pasta primavera, rice & chicken and sure to be a favorite, beef stroganoff with noodles! Yummmmm!
This past weekend, Bob Connors, Ken and I participating in our last Wreckers Race with Grateful Red. Happy to say, Grateful Red placed 2nd out of 15! All that fine tuning! We went to the skippers meeting the night before and checked out our competition, and yes, had a few...
Never sure who all will show up to actually sail with us, we responded to a request from a couple looking to crew. After their passing our "test", (can you drink rum/coke?, do you like strawberry daiquiris?...and maybe some sailing experience) they decided it would be fun to sail with us. Little did we know, Cherie writes columns for Sailing magazines and writes a weekly column in her local newspaper. Wreckers race was outstanding with the all-point spinnaker and several gybes, we crossed the finish line with our wigs on. Cherie also has a blog you should check out that has some incriminating photos of our day... http://www.wherescherie.com/
The long weekend itself was bittersweet with only one or two more visits before the boat leaves to start the journey up the East Coast of Florida and beyond. The trailer is almost empty and our plans are set for a going away happy hour at the Conch Harbor Tiki hut March 11th. It will be sad to leave as we have made many friends and lasting sailing relationships. But, the adventure must continue.
Never sure who all will show up to actually sail with us, we responded to a request from a couple looking to crew. After their passing our "test", (can you drink rum/coke?, do you like strawberry daiquiris?...and maybe some sailing experience) they decided it would be fun to sail with us. Little did we know, Cherie writes columns for Sailing magazines and writes a weekly column in her local newspaper. Wreckers race was outstanding with the all-point spinnaker and several gybes, we crossed the finish line with our wigs on. Cherie also has a blog you should check out that has some incriminating photos of our day... http://www.wherescherie.com/
The long weekend itself was bittersweet with only one or two more visits before the boat leaves to start the journey up the East Coast of Florida and beyond. The trailer is almost empty and our plans are set for a going away happy hour at the Conch Harbor Tiki hut March 11th. It will be sad to leave as we have made many friends and lasting sailing relationships. But, the adventure must continue.
Key West Race Week and Conch Harbor Weddings
Key West Race Week has come and gone. Light attendance - last year maybe 280 boats this year 150 boats but still great Key West weather. Everyday the Grateful Red crew changed - had a few Chicago Beer can sailors, nice contingent from the Lake Kegonsa Sailing Club and the core team from previous KWRW's. On Thursday we picked up a couple sailors from the Key West JWorld racing school - used the symmetrical spinnaker for the Thursday races. Ended the Key West regattas with two races on Friday. Used the A- sym and showed race committee the finest wigs for a Key West race crew. Lots of sailing fun.
Dock side we showed blender and the boat across from slip 24 at Conch was a nice Swan - the skipper came over to see the kegerator. Next thing I hear is that we are all invited to his wedding that afternoon on the Conch dock across from the Grateful Red. We donned our wigs, fired up the blender and joined the wedding ceremony. Great party and nice touch for KWRW.
Back February 22nd for the Key West Wrecker's race!
Dock side we showed blender and the boat across from slip 24 at Conch was a nice Swan - the skipper came over to see the kegerator. Next thing I hear is that we are all invited to his wedding that afternoon on the Conch dock across from the Grateful Red. We donned our wigs, fired up the blender and joined the wedding ceremony. Great party and nice touch for KWRW.
Back February 22nd for the Key West Wrecker's race!
Grateful Red upgrades...
Maybe I should be sorry to say this, but alas, it makes the Captain happy!...we have made some major domestic upgrades on the boat. If you look closely, this picture is NOT a shower at this time. It is, indeed, a high-tech keg-er-ator ready to fulfill your every desire (when it comes to beer comsumption). One unfortunate fact...it will, most likely, only last one race at a time. Hence Captain Ken's attraction to Schooners Wharf and Avelina and her unlimited source of restocking! All she asks is that we spend SOME time in her bar and run a reasonable tab during race week! Easy to do!
Testing the new Whisper Pole
At the new Sunday meeting spot, Matt from JWorld Racing School, Stu his co instructor describe thier recent sail from Newport to Key West in Stu's 40 foot racing boat a CX40 while consuming Bloody Marys. Winds of 50 plus waves over 30 feet they hove to for two nights before deciding to go to Bermuda to lay over. Took over 10 days to go from Newport to Bermuda (by the way Bermuda is 200 miles further from Key West then Newport). Can't wait to do the Charleston Bermuda race! Stu, Matt and their third instructor Graham (Canadian from Nova Scotia) had only one student for the week in JWorld racing school - Larry. So they invited Larry and wife to sail with us on the Grateful Red on Tuesday. 80, sunny, winds of 15 + ...... beautiful sailing. Sailed upwind to beyond the reef, hove to to eat lunch (Matt and Stu were experts at teaching this technique) then downwind. First with the symmetrical spinnaker and pole, then the new whisper pole and wing on wing sailing with the 150 genoa. Always sailing eight plus knots, good fun and three excellent teachers. At Conch Harbor we removed the dacron sails to prepare for Race Week, drank rum and made plans. Perfect day! Now back at Kegonsa - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday high temperatures of less then zero. Why do we return! kj
Testing new blog skills
Hi all,
Occasionally, you get a new "toy" that requires some basic intuition on how to make it work. If that basic intuition fails, you read the manual. Today I am trying my basic intuition with our new blog site, hoping you will get a e-mail invite to read...
We are hoping that this blog will be fun, and informative as Grateful Red continues it's journey. It is set up to "flag" you when there is a new post. (you, being the crew members that will participate in some part of 2009 transatlantic voyages). As you read the old posts, keep in mind, we were "feeling" our way around what a blog can do. We are still "building" it, but comments are welcomed as to what you would like to see, aside from the daily titter I might come up with!
Occasionally, you get a new "toy" that requires some basic intuition on how to make it work. If that basic intuition fails, you read the manual. Today I am trying my basic intuition with our new blog site, hoping you will get a e-mail invite to read...
We are hoping that this blog will be fun, and informative as Grateful Red continues it's journey. It is set up to "flag" you when there is a new post. (you, being the crew members that will participate in some part of 2009 transatlantic voyages). As you read the old posts, keep in mind, we were "feeling" our way around what a blog can do. We are still "building" it, but comments are welcomed as to what you would like to see, aside from the daily titter I might come up with!
Gad! Back to 20 degrees and snow. So glad to have missed the freezing rain, but our turn will come I am sure. Key West was wonderful and it felt like going home. The boat is pristine and ready to sail. New whisper pole included and tested. Also tested Heave-to process. Allowed us time for a great lunch on-board. Wish you all were there.
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