Saturday March 24th:
The morning brings another breezy start, and it holds promise for some more GPS speed runs today! Breakfast is again perfect, with some arepa’s from the kitchen of Wind Guru, This is a corn based flatbread, about a 1/4“ thick and serves as a holder for the ham and cheese inside. Hummm Hummm Good! Connie was kind enough to stop down and order them up as we started to get ready for the beach. Thanks Sweetie!
The wind was looking like yesterday, nice and strong! Should be some great conditions for a speed challenge! Steve was already chompin at the bit as the leader Gerry took out his kit. Gerry and Steve bantered the ‘it’s on’ statements to each other, and this marked the start of a grand competitive day of speed sailing!
With the wind picking up, I could see my current 2nd place position would not hold, so I quickly got out and started another great photo session! The water was filled with plenty of hi-speed ripping, and general fun action, and the card was filled in no time. See windsurf photos here.
Returning from the shallows, I noted each sailor in turn had taken a shot at the title, and the running of the trials was into full swing! All three GPS units were in use all day long! The record board changed hourly with new leaders, and now-defeated competitors that simply had to try again! I myself was removed from second place by Steve mid afternoon, and with the gantlet throw down, I had to respond in kind, with a new leader position! I took first with a 32.7MPH run! This was on the 78lt JP with a 5.7M sail, and was done on my first run, on the way out, between the wave sets; scary frickin fast!! All I could do to hold on! Loved it!
I returned to shore recorded the lead position, and simply had to relax for awhile! Normal sailing is not too demanding on the body, compared to the speed runs! Holding the ‘Carbon Body’ stance is tough on each and every muscle! Such fun to exert to your limits, and feel the burn! The hi-speed rides just fuel the mind further, and it’s such a blast to play! I took a break, hoping my new record would hold, and went back to just plain rides for jumps and jibes. Much easier!
Around four, I noticed the original first place holder Gerry bringing in his stuff, and actually running up to the center. I thought maybe someone had broken down or some other emergency requiring a run up the sand to the center, when I realized, he must have just set a new record, and wanted to be sure to get it recorded before the end of the trials at 4:30!! Crap!! I think he must have beat me! Ohhh Mannn!
I decided my legs couldn’t take another shot, and conceded possible defeat in my mind, and just rode the agony of defeat out of my mind with a soothing session of extreme jumps and awesome jibes on the outside. Love that stuff! So fun to be on the super small 78Lt board for me! It’s like I can jibe! And the way the thing takes flight is amazing!! The swell turn-ride soothed the soul, and I was ready to show my face at the center.
Before I could carry my stuff out of the water, word got to me of the new hi-speed record, 34.8MPH!! I soon also learned the cover-boy Gerry was the new champion! I knew it! Then I got to the record board and saw I was still in second place at least, and my wife Connie was now leading in the women’s category! The humiliation to take second, while Connie takes 1st! Woe is me!
Gerry talked to Dagmar, after a lower than expected speed run was logged, and convinced her to try again, going out, and then downwind between the waves. She promptly did so, and came back with an amazing 32.3 MPH!! Gerry’s magic rubbed off, and we now had a new women’s leader as well!! TWEEET! And it was now 4:30pm, the end of the speed trials!
With the record board taken away, the GPS units washed, dried and put away, it was time to get ready for the awards and happy hour on the roof of the El Yaque Club!! Steve had the place looking super sharp, as we drifted up the steps to the amazing ‘Sky Club’ on the roof! The view is so stellar, every camera in the place was shooting the vistas! The free beer and rum provided by the club and Vela was flowing well, and almost every Vela client was there to see the views, visit with friends, and share the fun life that is Margarita!
With so many windsurfing women in one place we had to take some ‘Women of Vela’ photos to prove to the world we have some amazing shredin Betty’s here in El Yaque! Some fun shots of the entire happy hour were easy to take, and with the awards ceremony as well, it was a great start to a fine evening! Tom and Kathy handed out the prizes and awards, and we stayed until long after sunset. See happy hour photos here.
Connie and I invited a few folks down to the apartment for a visit and to check out the great digs, Mike, Barb, Phillip, Gerry, and Dagmar stopped by, and we did a photo slideshow, before we got too hungry, and walked over to Da Roccos for Pizza. A tasty meal and some good friends is about as good as it gets! We ate to our heats content, and even had chocolate cake for desert!
With the stomachs full and the day’s fun complete, it was off to sleep. Buena.
Timoteo y Connie