Aruba Trip 6/8-6/15/02 - The Real Facts

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Aruba Trip 6/8-6/15/02 - The Real Facts

June 12th.  Wednesday
                 
The conditions this morning were light - 14 - 23 top gust 31.  Conditions on the water were much less.  I had promised everyone in the group that I would do a photo session from 11 to 1:00.  I loaded the trunk of the car with my 500mm Video Camera, my Nikon 35mm with 650mm lens, tripod and loads of film.  I had hand signals worked out with Andrew so that everyone could do there best and I could take some great shots for the ABC web site.  I drove the loaded car down to FisherMan’s Huts parked it next to one of the huts where I would do the filming and walked back to my room at SBV.   Everything was set.  Drew and I got our gear, me on a 6.5 and Drew on a 6.0.  We sailed down to the filming spot.  The wind was light but I was able to get on a plan with a little pumping.  Danny showed up on a 6.0 that was just not enough.  Joe showed up on a 6.0.  Andrew came with a 5.7 still not enough.  Larry came on a 6.0 and asked me what time it was every 15 minutes because he was flying home at noon.  We fooled around a while and Danny said he didn’t want to wear himself out in the light stuff in case the big stuff came later.  The people in the know said it would definitely build today.  By 1:00 it was only Drew and myself on the water.  It had filled in and the 6.5 was fully powered.  I set up the filming gear and Drew and I took turns filming and sailing.  I shot 52 minutes of video and 7 rolls of 35 mm film.  The only problem was that no one else was on the water.  Where were they?  I had no idea.  Drew and I sailed all afternoon.  Drew is well at the top of  his learning curve now.  He was sailing in the straps-in the harness-fully powered speed runs and to top that off he was dropping in the front hand and the back hand, doing shockas, leaning over and dragging the back of his head in the water, sticking his foot out and water skiing, and trying to jibe.  He is doing really well.  We can now sail together side by side at speed.  It’s really great.  Still nobody on the water but us.  By 3:00 I was fully powered up and doing my best for filming.  I was able to get up on a fast plane and take all the effort off my hands and arms except in the turns.  This was my kind of sailing.  The water was extremely flat.   This is what I came for.  Great speed and very uncrowded.   Sometime after 3:00, Danny comes back out on a 6.0 but is still having trouble planing.  Chuck came out too but by the time I realized he was there I had already done most of the filming and I did not get a shot of Chuck.  I did get a few shots of Danny but I know they will not be impressive.  On the other hand since it was Drew and myself mainly on the water this afternoon all the footage is of us.  I guess that is ok but I wanted to bring back some good photos of everyone so they could be posted on the site.  Today was by far a perfect day.  So if William puts up the photos don’t think that I didn’t try.  On this day I sailed to the very last minute 5:00.  I was a tired from a good day but I didn’t get beat up like Sunday and Monday.  Finally Drew admitted he was tired.  You have to remember that Drew is 17 and a cross country runner at school.  After a shower we headed to the beach in front of the Marriott to find the rest of the gang.  There were some people in our usual spot but none of them were ABC’ers.  Where could they be?  I didn’t have a clue.  This was supposed to be Danny’s birthday night.  Plans changed.  Danny his crew and Chuck went to a place called Tobasco’s to drink and listen to a LOUD band.  Since I don’t drink Drew and I instead went to the ALL YOU CAN EAT SEAFOOD BUFFET.  Drew played the slots and lost it all, then we sat down to a feast and it was a feast.  I didn’t see much of anybody on the water today.   I guess I will get the story tomorrow.  As soon as I do I will let you know.  

My opinion of the day -WHAT A GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!&!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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