All posts in Sailing
Travel Thursday: Catalina Island Sailing
It has been about three years (or more) since I’ve been telling myself that I’ll move to California to be closer to sailing. While I was on vacation in Los Angeles, I did a little Wednesday night sailing — and what best way to spend a mid-week afternoon than sailing? Then, on Saturday we sailed out to Catalina Island. The beginning of the race was slightly concerning since the winds were scant, and I was afraid the race would drag on forever, but soon enough they picked up and propelled us forth toward BBQing and camping at a reasonable speed.
Marina del Rey to Seal Beach
California.
What is it about you and your “coast”? Why must you have “ocean” and perfect weather? Every time I embark on a weekend trip to San Diego or Los Angeles, I wish I could just stay. I would sail on weekends, walk around Santa Monica or Venice Beach (when I found parking… actually, I would just get a bike), and go to lovely coffee shops and restaurants.
But I realize that it’s easy to say how much you love a certain place when you don’t really live there. After living there for a bit, I’m sure I would complain about traffic, parking, hipsters and small dogs. Everyone seems to drive a BMW, so I would have to get one to be accepted by my new circle of friends. And how could I afford that? My life would be too expensive for my own good, and then I would have to live a half life — life on a 50 percent discount, which I would have to purchase with my food stamps.
A little sailing video
During the transit from Key West to Charleston we were booking it with Force 6 winds and 7-8 foot seas. Here’s a little snippet. I’m now regretting not doing more video. Oh well.
Sailing on the Cramer from patricia lapadula on Vimeo.
I have started a running list of things to do and people to call/email to catch up with. For now I’m focusing on the web projects that I had to put on pause before the trip. Then I’m figuring out some job options on the horizon. Thanks to everyone who has given me leads on things happening at their papers.
Photo by Jeff Schell.
Here I am at the helm while going through the Haiti/Isle de Tortue passage. It would be cool to have a little get together in PHX when I get back. I could hook up the computer to a big screen TV and have a little viewing party with all my peeps there. It’d be a swell way to see everyone and share photos and tales of the high seas.
It’s good to be back, but I don’t know. I miss Cramer and my shipmates. Before we went to sea, we were warned that it usually takes some adjustment coming back to land. I thought that was baloney. Now though, I realize how true that statement turned out to be. Through all the good and bad, that was our world, and to not be in it… Well, it’s weird. The things that mattered, the boat checks, the wake-ups, the bells, are meaningless on land. I guess it’ll just take some time to figure out once again what are the things that matter.
On the course yard. Photo by Maggie Welch.
My packing nightmare
We were shopping for a duffel bag when my mom encouraged me to get a bigger bag than I really wanted, because she argued it’s always better to have extra space than not enough. My counterpoint was that if I have the space, it is my moral duty to use it all.
Now, I know you’re looking at that photo above, asking yourself, “is that an AC filter?” but let me assure you that as untalented in prioritizing packing as I am, I’m not taking that with me.
I do have to clear enough closet and storage space so that my friend Brian (who is subleasing my place) will have room for what I hear is a clothing collection of Lady Gaga proportions.
That aside, do you know how hard is it to narrow down months worth of clothing for Northeastern winter and Caribbean heat in the same trip?
On a happier note, a consensus was reached at my going away gathering, that I should of course show up wearing my pirate costume from Halloween.
There was also plenty of advice, such as…
1. Beware of Caribbean men who will seduce me for a visa
2. Somali pirates, of course
3. To turn my area below deck into a floating nightclub
4. Pack only a leopard thong, because I should naturally leave all pants at home. Pants being optional below certain latitudes.
Thanks everyone for coming to say adieu, and I will be sure to take all these fine points into consideration.
Recent Comments