June 10th:   Monday
The conditions, sunny all day.  Top wind gust was 41 at 8:13 AM and the wind meter says the wind is at 23 - 28.  The hammer has not let up.  Yesterday was a 5.5 day for me but this day saw 5.0 all day with several guys running 4.7 and 4.2.  The wind was no doubt stronger and just as gusty as Sunday.  I think everyone would agree that they had felt, on many occasions, that 41 mph gust recorded by the wind meter.  Conditions were a little less crowded today because all the locals had to go back to work doing whatever they do in Aruba.  I still haven’t figured out what they make in Aruba besides pigs and goats.  Scott was felling a little better this day and so was Chuck.  They already new what to expect from yesterday.  Larry said he was in fear for his life.  Larry was on a JP board with a 5.2.  Larry is quoted as saying, “ Scott would crash and burn and it sounded like two cars hitting head on, including the grinding of metal sound.”  Everyone hung out at the water cooler, this 10 gallon water dispenser tied down to two floating sailboards.  The water was good and cold.  Drew and I were wearing Camelback hydration systems.  We tried to fill them with ice but the ice was gone in about 30 minutes.  There were a lot of people making comments about our Camelbacks - like “what do you think you are going to do climb a mountain or something?”  But the fact remains that Drew and I had fresh water to drink at any time we desired.  I would highly advise this, since it allows you to stay on the water longer and with much more comfort.  Andrew looked really comfortable on his 4.7 but told me that he also was fearing for his life.  You must realize that conditions would have been really good if it just had not been for those gusts at 41 mph.  The gusts just drain all you energy.    

I am staying at Sailboard Vacations which is located right on the water.  At 5:30 we had a review session.  Dominic our one and only staff member took questions from a group of about 15 people.  It was very informative and biggest item of discussion was the planing jibe.  We went through the three steps of that jibe - set up - carve - exit.  It appears that I am not sheeting in enough, rotating my sail to late and not exiting on a down wind or broad reach.  I will work on that tomorrow, if I have any strength left.  I think we all could use a little less wind.  The day ended back on the beach at the Marriott.  Drew and I arrived to a large group of ABC’ers sitting around having an intent discussion.  I thought they were getting some sailing instruction like I had just had at SBV..  To my surprise everyone was sitting there listening to Dasher telling tall stories of Aruba.  This letting of Dasher’s mind was rather interesting and lasted about one and one half hours.  Oh!  It also included the insertion of this liquid that tasted just like beer. Apparently Dasher has this big party thing we are going to do on Thursday night and planning was necessary.  After the beach, I went to Danny & Jennifer’s room in the Marriott.  I thought it would be nice to let Drew see how the other half lives.  Danny had a 5 bedroom joint with kitchen, dining room, sofa, big 52" TV, hot tub, Jacuzzi and two big leather recliners.  All this for just two people.  I think Jennifer told me it cost, maybe, a million dollars per night but that it wasn’t the most expensive room available. Drew and I ate dinner with the Johnson at the sports grill for $26 and then went to bed sore and tired

My opinion of the day - CRASH & BURN - crash & burn - CRASH & BURN