One of the impossible things to explain to non-sailors is that floating around waiting for a race to happen (that never does happen) can actually be a fine way to spend a day. Such was the case with Saturday’s Three Tree What’s the Point Race.
The point was it was a lot of fun to catch up with mates. And while the crews all cheered when CYC called it off (after valiant attempt to get a shortened course race off), my guess is for nearly everyone it was a welcome, enforced, time off from their daily lives. There weren’t even too many cell phones out.
Thank goodness some cell phones were out, because we caught some shenanigans on Double Take. Thanks to Brian Ferris and Dave Ferguson for the footage.
First, there was that seal. We’re not sure what particular kind of salmon she was smoking, but she went crazy, porpoising and clearing the water over and over again for what seemed like an hour and a half, but was probably only about 15 minutes. There was something about Elusive that kept her there most of the time, so close the crew could have easily touched her on some of her jumps. (Maybe somebody from Elusive can share the video that surely took)
Then there is Malcolm’s Jump, perhaps inspired by the seal. Nobody has embraced sailboat racing more quickly or with more enthusiasm than Malcolm MacNeil. And he’s got the fun part down better than most.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have our friend the seal visit for every race delay? Or maybe Malcolm can just swim around from boat to boat and jump of spreaders. Regardless, it was a fine day for animals.
So, the results from the first two races stand and all those rivalries will have to wait for another day before they’re settled.
Kurt grew up racing and cruising in the Midwest, and has raced Lasers since the late 1970s. Currently he is a broker at Swiftsure Yachts. He has been Assistant Editor at Sailing Magazine and a short stint as Editor of Northwest Yachting. Through Meadow Point Publishing he handles various marketing duties for smaller local companies. He currently is partners on a C&C 36 which he cruises throughout the Northwest. He’s married to the amazing Abby and is father to Ian and Gabe.