I suppose that Autumn is meant to be my slow period but for some reason I have trouble saying no. After 5 weeks in Europe with Team Moneypenny sailing Vesper to 3rd Place in the Cascais Cup and then a First place in Les Voiles de Saint Tropez one would think I might take a little time to chill. But with worklists to accomplish on Moneypenny 601, Vesper to unload in Florida, 11th Hour Racing's CONNECT in San Francisco, the North American Speed Sailing Championships on MVY and a Sunsail trip with my oldest son to the BVI's the Autumn has flown by at a rapid rate.
The Sunsail trip would certainly be the highlight of the fall for me. I have worked with Sunsail on a few different projects over the last year but to be involved with them on this photo and video project was definitely a different beast. Especially since I had my son with me. My son has only gone down to the Caribbean once before and he was only three years old at the time so the opportunity to take him back at age 7 and to spend some direct time with him on the Ocean was very special. He is a total water rat so the idea of spending a week on a boat snorkeling and exploring was a dream come true for him. I guess it was a dream come true for both of us actually. I probably average two trips a year to the Virgin Islands but I realized that I hadn't been down to just explore and enjoy it in almost 10 years - which is crazy. Its easy to see why it is such a popular cruising destination with short sails between the islands and great anchorages and swimming spots. Not to mention watering holes like Willy T's and Potters up at Anegada. Towards the end of the trip I started prying into him to see what his highlights were. Without question he answered snorkeling at the Indians, pretty great choice in my opinion as the Reef is still more alive there than anywhere. My snorkeling highlight would be at the Baths with the perfect sandy bottom and crystal clear water and to watch my son drop down 14 feet with ease. It wasn't so much about the venue but more about watching my son progress and gain a new sense of comfort in the Ocean.
It will be interesting to see the media that comes out from the trip as Tony Demin was there shooting still photography and AeroVest was there with multiple drones buzzing overhead. Their involvement was exceedingly interesting as I had not fully grasped their level of production or their ability to capture this moment in my life with my son. Its something that I will forever be grateful for and certainly there are captured moments that he and I will have a very big laugh about when he is a bit older.
The Sunsail trip would certainly be the highlight of the fall for me. I have worked with Sunsail on a few different projects over the last year but to be involved with them on this photo and video project was definitely a different beast. Especially since I had my son with me. My son has only gone down to the Caribbean once before and he was only three years old at the time so the opportunity to take him back at age 7 and to spend some direct time with him on the Ocean was very special. He is a total water rat so the idea of spending a week on a boat snorkeling and exploring was a dream come true for him. I guess it was a dream come true for both of us actually. I probably average two trips a year to the Virgin Islands but I realized that I hadn't been down to just explore and enjoy it in almost 10 years - which is crazy. Its easy to see why it is such a popular cruising destination with short sails between the islands and great anchorages and swimming spots. Not to mention watering holes like Willy T's and Potters up at Anegada. Towards the end of the trip I started prying into him to see what his highlights were. Without question he answered snorkeling at the Indians, pretty great choice in my opinion as the Reef is still more alive there than anywhere. My snorkeling highlight would be at the Baths with the perfect sandy bottom and crystal clear water and to watch my son drop down 14 feet with ease. It wasn't so much about the venue but more about watching my son progress and gain a new sense of comfort in the Ocean.
It will be interesting to see the media that comes out from the trip as Tony Demin was there shooting still photography and AeroVest was there with multiple drones buzzing overhead. Their involvement was exceedingly interesting as I had not fully grasped their level of production or their ability to capture this moment in my life with my son. Its something that I will forever be grateful for and certainly there are captured moments that he and I will have a very big laugh about when he is a bit older.
Moving a bit further back into October I was fortunate enough to once again compete in the North American Speed Sailing Invitational. This year was a bit different in that I hadn't competed in over two years and I was going to miss a number of days in order to go to Florida and unload Vesper and participate in CONNECT with the other 11th Hour Racing Ambassadors. This meant that I had to shelve my ego and look at the event as an opportunity to develop my own skills and to see what the top guys were doing. I have to say it was amazing to see the level of guys like Nico Parlier, Max Nocher and Brian Kender were doing. Pushing the new Giant Speed Boards into the upper 40 knot range and riding them like wild men right on the edge of control. For me personally it was great to learn to ride the newly built Temo Vento Razzo 555. It is an absolute beast of a board and takes total commitment to push it above 41 Knots. The first few days I really struggled with trusting the board and myself to push it but by the end I was feeling very comfortable and really enjoying the feeling of pushing it. The other really interesting side of the development which I have just barely scratched the surface of is my new Delta Hydrofoil Speed Foil. Its a mini wing, mini strut little weapon that has the potential for some great speeds as all it wants to do is go fast and its so steady at speed. Without even really pushing it I hit 31 knots and I know it has so much more in it. The one thing that I had a purposely forgotten about the even and that I am going to do try really hard to remember for next time are the crashes. It really hurts to do be going over 40 knots one second on top of the board to going 40 knots on the top of your head. I think my chiropractor is going to have his work cut out for him over the next few months.
So now with all the hectic bits of travel and adventure over and done with for a few weeks its time to keep plugging away at the maintenance on Moneypenny which never stops. Besides its only 7 months until she is back in the water and sailing again and you never know what adventure might pop up between now and then.
So now with all the hectic bits of travel and adventure over and done with for a few weeks its time to keep plugging away at the maintenance on Moneypenny which never stops. Besides its only 7 months until she is back in the water and sailing again and you never know what adventure might pop up between now and then.
Down the line at Cape Poge
NASSI 2015
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