Sawyers on to Miami

After 3 races the Sawyers are in 2oth out of 41.
Not too shabby.

Results

Johns story for the day:

Sunday: Got out of Savannah a little early and stopped at West Marine to replace some of the stuff that is now at the bottom of the Skidaway River. Fortunately none of the sacred parts like mast blocks are missing, if that were the case we would have to do a voodoo ritual, incense etc. to make new mast block that were eggzackly right. Drove as long as possible, had an Italian dinner in a restaurant next to the roadside hotel. Me and a few bikers and a lot of restaurant employees.

Monday: More driving, my GPS wanted me to take toll roads to Miami, I did not agree and we argued several times about it. She is British, I thought maybe a

Proper brit would be more respectful of my wishes but at every possible interchange she would demand that I exit I 95. I finally gave in.

By the way following my British lady through the Miami interchanges was a joke. Arrived at Coral Reef YC late morning and settled in to my spot with the boat. Had a glorious day of fixing stuff on the boat, meeting lightning sailors originally from Australia then Nigeria and now Houston. Coral Reef YC is great , warm and sunny. Crewed for a new Lightning owner in on the water coaching this afternoon in about 15-16 wind, coached by Skip Diebold. I knew I was in trouble when I noticed no vang on the boat, flashback to Savannah, being the guy on the boat with experience, I forced my host into rigging the vang before leaving the harbor.

Retrieved my rock star crew, Becky and son Jack at Miami Airport. This arrangement promises to buy me several get out of Becky jail cards.

Monday (crew version): Late pickup at Miami International. Some excuse about “helping some guy with his vang”. Captain smells like rum and has glitter on his pants. We see a “Gold Club” valet ticket on the dash. Crew has suspicions but we stay quiet. Next stop: the Miami equivalent of the “Heart of Charleston” hotel. Dinner from the vending machine as the captain rants about some Fireball race from the 80’s. I imagine the captain will be ornery tomorrow and want to re-rig the entire boat. Better get some shut-eye…

Tuesday: Our regatta registration includes a big hot breakfast followed by the competitors meeting, racing starts at 11am, three races today.

John Sawyer

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