Dry Suit

Today my new Helly Hansen drysuit arrived in the mail from Great Britain.  It is all red.  It was so hard to find a bright colored drysuit that was affordable and in my size.  It ended up fitting perfectly even though I ordered it online.  They do not yet sell this drysuit in the US but I found it being sold online in the UK.  I tried it on as soon as it arrived and jumped into the lake.  I stayed completely dry which was great.  It has full feet and neoprene wrist and neck seals so it is really comfortable but the water still does not come in.  Dry suits are great for winter sailing because they keep you warm when it is really cold outside.

Crazy Conditions

1/25/09

WOW today we had some crazy sailing conditions for race team practice.  5 other girls from my team, my coach, and I went out to practice at Shilshole.  The wind was blowing 20-25 mph and we sailed a 29er.  There were snow flurries as well as large swells on the sound.  We rotated between the 29er and the coachboat.  The 29er flipped a few times before we went in.  Two of us were wearing drysuits (including me) and we were still cold.  Our fingers, faces, and toes were cold even with gloves, boots and hats on.  It was crazy but was a great experience.  Coming form California I never would have imagined sailing in these conditions, but remember...don't be a fair weather sailor!!!

 These are pictures of Dick Rose who gave a great seminar on rules 18- 20.

Sailing Rules Seminar

Going to a Rules Seminar tomorrow night at Manuson Park Theater in Seattle.  It is going to be conducted by Dick Rose.  It should teach me a lot about the rule changes in 2009.  If you didn't know the racing rules of sailing are changed every 4 years.  One major change is on rule 18 this year.  There is going to be a change from the two boat length circle around a mark to a 3 boat length circle.  The seminar will hopefully be very helpful.