Tuesday March 15^th

After a night of fun, I was a bit tired out to start the first day! Not a problem, just slip into island time, and chill…. Managed to get over to the Casa Rita balcony for breakfast, and dug in to the awesome spread! Ahh!! That feels better! Just love the awesome breakfast buffet we have here! Coffee like no other! Fresh fruit and juice! It’s good to be back! Bird song accompaniment to the wonderful swish and squeak of the palms! LOVE IT!

I planned a day of settling in, and wasn’t sure if I was ready to sail yet. OK, I was hung-over. So I set up the room and finally got to the beach before noon! The beach chair is a great salve for a sore head! I checked out the now familiar scene of plenty of sailors on and off the water, from the comfort of my station on the sand and shade of the palms. I saw so many ‘regulars’ in attendance again this year! Too many to list! (Not to mention I have no name memory!) Be assured, you will all be mentioned at one point or another! If not in text, for sure in photos!

With each year back here, I seem to gain more and more friends, both local and visitors! So sweet to have your name called and turn to meet some more sailing buddies! I feel like I’m home! Love the beach, but the people are super to share the stoke with!

After a nap, and plenty of chat with folks here and there, the guys at the center asked to play a round of hacky-sack! Perfect! Just what I need to get stretched and ready to sail! What a great sweat session! Lost track of time, and missed going out on a 6.0 or so for the afternoon session. Still, glad I took it easy to start, I can afford time to wait for tomorrow’s wind!

It was Thai night, and of course I signed up for some awesome food and drinks. Not to mention, Tuesdays are Live music night at Gabby’s! Party tonight!!! I headed back to the room to get ready, and was down early enough to chat at the bar with Peter and Liani

before we moved to the Vela table on the balcony of the Beach Hotel.

We got an early start, and the three of us were soon joined by one after another client, all ready to refuel! We had a great time chattin and telling stories of windsurfing, as we feasted on the tuna salad, thai chicken, beef, and shrimp! Mmmm Mmmm good! Plenty of rum to go around as well! Soon we started to disperse and some of us were talking about the party at Gabby’s, and made plans to go out!

It was slow to start, as it was very early, and the band was not setup yet, but it soon picked up, and by 1:00am it was a rockin! Plenty of dancing, drinking, pool and some awesome live music! It wasn’t long before they started the Tambor dancing, and then it really got wild! What a total blast! So many people smiling and dancing! I wasn’t the only one having fun! At one point I gave my camera to another fellow surf-photographer, and he managed some awesome party photos! I was just starting to wonder where my camera was, and he strolled back over, and we enjoyed the previews! Some great shots! See the photo gallery, intense fun!

We all eventually joined in on the dance floor at various points, and with me being lucky enough to now know so many of the local people, I felt like I was at my hometown bar, with all my best buddies sharing rounds of drinks! It was 3:30am before I pried myself away from the fun, and ‘stumbled’ home! What a great time! Slightly harsh on the body, but wouldn’t have missed it!

More Tomorrow…