Vacation/Snipe Pan Am Trials

The last week in March I took a rare vacation with my wife.  When I say rare, we go to regattas and take off sailing often, but we never consider those vacations, just normal lifestyle.  Now vacationing is something we are not very good at.  To sit around and not be active every day on the water, and working which we both love is not easy.  So this was a planned shut down week.  Fun yes, but there is a reason we do not do it often.
Finish our shut down week
I rented an efficiently for the week in the Keys on a private beach.  Air temp 75-78, and water temp similar or higher, which was nice.  We both worked for a few hours each morning on a nice porch outside overlooking the water in the shade.   Then off on local adventure, I even had a sunset run in the backcountry with my favorite Keys guide, to grab sunset shots and local wildlife.  But SUP and sailing were missing. Each time we do this we always miss our time on the water.  So next time we will bring our boards (SUP and windsurfing), sure you can rent, but ugh rental boards are not the same.
Then my plan was for my yearly visit to the Front Range in Colorado to see my oldest friend and do some mountain miles on bike/foot.  But the day before he text and said he was getting sick so I canceled and will reschedule.
So off to Ft. Lauderdale for my flight home and Carol to sail the Pan Am Snipe Trails.  With two days free I went out on the water with three Snipe teams training to help out friends, Ernesto Rodriguez/Hallie Shieffman, Peter Commette/Connie Commette, Carol Cronin/Jeff Elber.  It was a blast to be coaching high-end teams who get it.  They share information, know how to line up, know how to tow, and work together before and after sailing in brief and debrief. 
Ernesto upwind in training
Sunday afternoon after two great days on the water we hung out by the pool at Ft. Lauderdale YC, nice to know how the other half-lives.  Then Ernesto asked me to stay and coach them all week and through the trials.  This caught me by surprise from Ernesto, but then again we connected as coach/sailor and he is a pleasure to coach and be around.  So after some thought and a couple of schedule adjustment I was on the payroll coaching five teams for the week and regatta.  The other two teams were, Augie Diaz/Margaux Bacro, and Jim Bowers/Julia Rabin.
Another line up
After four great days of training and the three-day regatta just South of Ft. Lauderdale inlet with East to ESE wind every day through the regatta.  If you do not know this location you need to experience the fun waves that come with that direction in Lauderdale.  Five teams are really max for me to work with at a regatta, so I can give time to all, and they have to be the right teams.  It was a pleasure to work with such talented teams, who are all open to learning and sharing this is rare in todays cut throat racing. 
Ernesto and Hallie winning three races in a day.
The week was a success, everyone got faster and they were all in the fight, all the time at the regatta.  Ernesto/Hallie won and Augie/Margaux were second with all the teams in the top nine.
Final haul out on last day.
So you just never know how a vacation will go, all the more reason I do not like to plan them out. 
I need to thank all the teams, Connie and Peter Commette for hosting the regatta, and making it a fun week for all, Ft. Lauderdale YC for making us welcome, and our RI neighbors for renting their nice winter home for the week. 
Snipe sailing is something all one-design dinghy sailors should try.  Very technical boats, that reward people who know how to tune a rig, and hike very hard. And of course have great teamwork.  Serious Sailing, Serious Fun!
See you soon,
Paul

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