A big congratulations to the skippers for getting to the start and finishing in fine form. Hanalei is a delight. The race committee toils to support the racers in one delightful setting.
Wish I was there! Not sure whether that wish is to be full filled as a racer or part of the race committee. There are repeat offenders, so the Hanalei attraction is strong. Should I realistic and look at my age, and social security benefits of course not.
oh, Dear Ants. Do you seriously want to start being realistic after all these years?
The Awards Ceremony last evening was lovely. It was held at the former Nawiliwili Yacht Club building. The NYC has moved, along with all their burgees. I don't know why. The location at the small boat harbor is now the Kauai Sailing Association. The children who are learning how to sail at the Kauai Sailing Association are doing much more than that. The good news? David presented an SSS burgee to someone at the club, and it will be the first burgee displayed at the Kauai Sailing Association!!!
Larry Conklin was here earlier today, collecting the Sea Squirrel. He and David and Greg were sitting around on beach chairs in the carport chatting. Larry waited for his knee brace to be returned to him. Larry provides so much more than just a boat. A knee brace, for instance, to Randy. Larry has also been our entre to the island. Everybody knows him, he has even begun to ... dare I say it? Like Us Singlehanders. Some of us, anyway.
This is what Larry said about Carl Anderssen's youth sailing program: "They're doing much more than teaching those kids to sail. Sailing is just the tool. They're raising those kids."
What did I learn from Carl last night? One of the littlest kids - Silvio Fonari - maybe eight years old, came over to me and put a tea leaf lei around my neck. What is a tea leaf lei? It is the most beautiful thing in the world and it's mine. I don't have to give it back. I am so grateful. Mahalo, that's what I have to say.
Carl said that the children are taken over to a remote village called Lula Lolo Kai, somewhere in the Napali Coast area. There elders teach the children the ways of Hawaii. They are taught the larger meaning of pono, I think, with all its attendant qualities. Not just hula and tea leaf leis and Hawaiian songs, although they shared that with us last evening.
When we first arrived the kids came out to the car to take in all the food we had collected from a Brazilian food trailer in Hanalei. Really good food, too. They took it upstairs to the outside/covered deck and laid it out. They were ready to serve, and did a wonderful job. Carl's daughter Astrid (far left in the photo) did a particularly find job of herding the children ("Out of my bar! All of you! You're too young to be behind this counter.") and did they scurry when she told them to move!
As each sailor in turn was named by David Herrigel, a child came up and put a tea leaf lei around his neck. Then David gave the sailor his belt buckle, then Synthia gave them their embroidered boxers (yes, this was again the year of Synthia's boxers!), then sailor was handed the microphone in turn. Of course David Garman was funniest, but Chris Jordan was not far behind in the funny land. I'll write more about what each sailor said when I get back to the Mainland.
More stories, more photos over the next week or so. I've got lots of video, too. Going swimming now.
Our last day on Island and it's overcast. But that's okay because Hanalei Bay has its own kind of beauty in every possible weather. Here are some photos, they will trickle out over the next week or so, and then I will post videos. I've got lots of those.
Jonathan and Christine have created a start line gallery on their Norcalsailing site. They also have a larger gallery on which they have posted more photos of the racers in Hanalei Bay. A video will follow, so keep checking back here: Norcalsailing.com
Here is a photo of Hula with Bill and Darlene Stange aboard the morning after arrival in the dark.
Jim, David, Christine, Greg and Synthia. A couple races ago the Air National Guardsmen informed me that this hand signal meant 'I love you', but I'm pretty sure it means 'thank you'. Those military personnel: they're such kidders.
Here are Jim and David laughing at the Kalypso
Here is Hanalei Bay with a gorgeous multihull called Dragon in the foreground and the new swanky hotel on the hill between us and Princeville.
Here is Dennis Maggard (pronounced ma guard'), putting his new SHTP boxers to disreputable use.
Synthia has flown the coop, sailed on Gwendolyn with Todd Olsen to Oahu: "Tied up at Keehi marine center @ 0830, 23 hours after anchor up in Hanalei Bay. Very pleasant trip. A bit sporty from sunset to 0100 with 2nd reef and partially furled jib top. 7 knot boat speed half the journey."
David is safe with Naomi in Lihue, far far away from the responsibilities of being Race Chair for 16 lunatic sailors.
Jonathan and Christine are off, in search of a mythical slushy-type drink that people love so much it makes them crazy.
Greg is laying on the couch, wearing his boxers the old fashioned way.
And I am here with more photos, will be taking the bus from Hanalei to the Lihue airport tomorrow morning. For $2. That's public transportation for you. Public transportation for the public. Like me. Thank you, Kauai.
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
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