Tuesday, August 24, 2010

What Is Wrong With This Picture?



Next month I will be racing in the Laser Masters Worlds at Hayling Island on the south coast of a country called England.

Prior to the Masters Worlds (aka sailing vacation for old farts) the Real Laser World Championships will be held at Hayling Island for Real Laser Sailors (aka incredibly fit young guys who go to the gym every day and sail about 250 days a year.)

Some of the US Laser Olympic hopefuls are already at Hayling Island training for the Real Laser Worlds. One of them, Kyle Rogachenko, posted the picture above on Facebook with the comment...

Since Sail for Gold I have been training here in Hayling Island. We have had strong winds and great sailing. Yesterday and today we practiced in 30+ knts which was incredibly fun.


30+ knots?

Incredibly fun?

What have I let myself in for?

What is wrong with this picture?

17 comments:

Baydog said...

He's sailing with an Opti Rig?

Joe said...

Baydog beat me to the punch, so I'll change it to an El Toro Rig.

O Docker said...

Wrong? What's wrong?

Looks like a nice summer day on the Berkeley circle. You're not cancelling your trip here, are you?

Tillerman said...

O Wise One, I just checked this week's weather forecast for San Francisco. It had lots of words like "drizzle", "fog", "mostly cloudy", "highs in the upper 50s", "winds 5 to 10 knots."

Please give me Ten Reasons to Sail in San Francisco Next Summer. I'm willing to be convinced. You could even make it a blog post (unless you are planning to write more posts about frigging flowers.)

O Docker said...

Forecasts? They always say 10 knots so as not to scare off the tourists. It always blows 10 more than the forecast in the slot and on the circle.

And if Mr. Aeolus does wants to take the week off, there's nothing I can do about it. Some days are for sailing, some for Merlot. On the whole, he treats us pretty well. Usually, a little too well.

Come on out next year and you will have a great time. I'll be anchored out at the weather mark. Sail by if you'd like some liquid refreshment.

Baydog said...

Is that invitation extended to all readers? And do we have to be sailing a Laser? Actually, can we come out on Morning Star? No pressure

Tillerman said...

Today in Rhode Island it was cold, rainy and 20 knots gusting 25-30. So I didn't go sailing.

Wait. What am I saying? This is perfect weather for practicing for Hayling Island. You stupid boy!

Emily Titesphinker said...

The horizon isn't horizontal.

Joe said...

I don't know what weather forecast you have been looking at, it is caliente aqui. I took a gander at the ocean a few moments ago, fog is nowhere to be seen.

Baydog said...

Joe, does that mean hot water?

Joe said...

I was in the water (bay, not ocean) today without a wetsuit!

Ocean = frio = fu@king current from Alaska = wetsuit

Chris Partridge said...

Kyle's put a video up. Despite the broken mast the guy keeps on sailing, and putting on a good speed too. The sea is what you normally get when the wind is against the tide at the harbour mouth.
What's wrong with the picture? It isn't raining.

O Docker said...

Chris, that's the way most Laser sailors reef in San Francisco.

Antolin said...

the original laser was a square rigger

JP said...

Apart from the obvious, its strange there no other Lasers out there, as I've noticed that species has a strong urge to flock or go around in packs.

Particularly as the weather looks so good for a sail - proper wind there :)

Tillerman said...

Good observation JP. Actually the original photo on Kyle's Facebook page does show a bunch of other Lasers out there. There is quite a large group of sailors there already training for the upcoming Worlds. I cropped the picture for dramatic effect.

Anonymous said...

Tillerman, Just so you can get a feel of the waves here in Hayling Is, here is a little clip. You can then modify your training program in preparation for your Worlds. Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moQjoP0b4ZY

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