Training Miami #2 - Nov. 17 - 21

So - back to the sailing adventure - or maybe I should call it the "de-
rigging - packing - driving - unpacking - rigging" adventure. Wow - I
am getting good at it. I time myself now speed - but there is also a
quality factor that has to be taken into account.

Due to logistics (that I won't go into) we had to go to Miami AGAIN to
train. Don't get me wrong - Miami is a great place to sail but it is
EXPENSIVE. Anyhow.... drove the 3 hours SE via "Alligator Alley" and
once again - NO alligators sighted. Got to MIA - set up the boat &
got a nice sunset shake-down sail. At that point - it seemed to be
worth it. Sometimes those moments in life (where you actually stop &
smell the roses) are GREAT!!!!!

Day 2 MIA - get to the boat - getting ready to rig & the weather is
looking dark & stormy (not to be confused with the YUMMY rum drink) -
check the radar. Oops lots of red (which is not good) showing on the
radar. So we go into a holding pattern. Start doing boat work (cause

Pat & Scott - "under cover" rain storm #14 of the day!!!

what else do you do on a SKUD, but boat work). Deluge of rain - hide
under cover. Rain stops - back out to do more boat work. Deluge of
rain - run & hide..... repeat - repeat..... get the picture? So that

was day 2. Here is a few pictures of "sunny Miami".

Raindrops on the water

Saturday & Sunday - we had two really good days of training!!! We are
really happy with the boat we have chartered. It is solid & the new
rigging/sails are great. Finally feeling like we have the boat set up
the way we want it. Communication between Ken & I is GREAT. It is
good to sail with him. He is smart tactically & is really learning how
to sail the SKUD. (NOTE: Ken has sailed for a long time - but came
from a different class. All boats sail a wee bit different. Now add
the weirdness of the SKUD & there is a need to sail the boat different.)

Monday - packed up the boat & headed back to Punta Gorda. Excitement
on the road - 1 alligator spotted by Kenny. I however did not see it.
I arrived back home & got to move to my "new" condo - thank goodness -
right next door. I am in there for the next 2 months. Thank goodness -
I don't have to move anymore.

Brenda