Top Ten from Mid-Winters West 2009

Doug Stumberger wrote about his top ten lessons learned at Mid-Winters West 2009 in San Diego

10. I learned that the song lied, it really does rain in southern
California, and that sometimes it even rains heavily, and for extended
periods of time, and that even though it is southern California the
rain does not feel warm when it is pelting your face in a fifteen knot
southerly.

9. I learned that the folks of San Diego Thistle Fleet 13 and Mission
Bay Yacht Club are as friendly and downright helpful as ever, and that
they know how to put on an awesome, well run regatta, and that any
Thistler within 3000 miles who doesn't make the MWW trip is missing
some of the best sailing of the year.

8. I learned from the ever helpful Greg Fisher (that man is
everywhere!) that a big wrinkle above the little mainsail window could
be a symptom of "middle masticus overbendicus" and that a little
wrinkle above the big mainsail window could be a symptom of "lower
masticus justrighticus." (Thanks Greg, we felt fast upwind!)

7. I learned that weather reporters in sunny San Diego can use words
like "hail" and "waterspout" without being the least bit facetious,
and that the parking-lot consensus is that the proper reaction to
encountering a waterspout on your upwind leg is to put your head
between your knees and kiss your (insert synonym for `bottom') goodbye.

6. I learned that it is advisable to wear one less layer of clothing
when match racing in the Larry Klein Memorial Regatta, since your
adrenaline level shoots up to such an extreme level after you enter
the box that it blocks all thoughts of being cold or wet from entering
your mind (see item #1), or, for that matter, any thoughts at all
except that racing sailboats is the coolest sport in the world.

5. I learned that Karinya still doesn't make their otherwise excellent
drunken noodles spicy enough (What's Thai for "please burn the inside
of my mouth?"), and that the portions are very generous over at
Filippi's Grotto if you need a fix from the lasagna-ravioli-spaghetti
family of carbohydrates.

4. I learned that a Thistle does not sail to its full potential with
twelve feet of kelp affixed to its bow just below the waterline, and
that if I were President-For-Life of Thistlemenistan I would decree
that all new (35 pound) Thistle centerboards would include a built-in,
razor sharp, electronically activated, VHF-radio controlled,
retractable kelp cutter.

3. I learned that a grande split-shot iced americano with room for soy
is the perfect apres-racing refreshment, and that the coffee at
Javanican around the corner on Grand is (no surprise) better than that
weird burnt-tasting coffee from [insert name of international coffee
chain here], though that suffices in a pinch.

2. I learned that staying in a homey little condo with a full kitchen,
plasma TV, free laundry, and working toilets is way better than
slumming at the Pacific Shores Inn, but that I miss the old days with
K.E., D.C., P.L., and the gang.

1. And finally, I learned that it is possible to shred your spinnaker
in race one of Thistle Midwinters West on the ocean, sail your Thistle
close enough to the surf to be warned off by a patrol boat, jump into
the water, swim ashore through the surf, run six blocks to the
yachtclub, retrieve your spare spinnaker, run back to the beach, down
an Monster drink, cut a quick deal with the nearest boogie board
vendor ($12.95!) convince the lifeguard you are not insane, hand your
empty can to the aforementioned lifeguard to avoid littering, swim
back through the surf to your boat, and return to the starting line in
time for race three. And make the cut for the Championship division
with one DNC on your scorecard. And finish the regatta in fifth place.
And qualify for AARP membership. (My hat's off to you, Stu!)

And that's the top ten from MWW! If you missed it you missed a good
one, despite the rain. Many thanks to Dwaine and Deanne Trummert on
3669 for getting the boat to San Diego and being an awesome team to
sail with!

MWW results:
http://www.mbyc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=471&Itemid=51

Larry Klein results (this is all from memory, so pardon any errors):
Top eight after fleet racing (not necessarily in order): Lettenmaier
3922, Hart 3852, Roberts 3581, Schirmer 3663, O'Bryan 2069, Trummert
3669, Poltorak 3410, Gillum 3820. Match races: Gillum beat
Lettenmaier. Hart beat Schirmer. Hart beat Gillum. Trummert beat
Roberts. Poltorak beat O'Bryan. Trummert beat Poltorak. Final race
Doug Hart and Dwaine Trummert, won by Doug Hart.

Doug Stumberger