Summer Speeds By in Minnesota

As soon as I got back from Antigua, I was on the water in Minnesota, teaching sailing and racing, and racing on Lake Superior in Bayfield Wisconsin. My work this year consisted of teaching 15 sailing classes, helping out at a youth sailing class, and skippering a family outing. I didn't get any sympathy when working long days. And even though I was outside a lot this summer, it flew by.

I raced on Lake Superior for the major holiday weekends, race week, and spend a relaxing mid-week sail in August, enjoying sleeping on "the hook". I also participated in "The Hook" race in Lake Michigan with a great crew. We flew into Chicago, moved the boat to Racine for the start of what was to be a 51 hour jaunt to Menominee, MI. How nice that the skipper was also a French chef. He wouldn't have anyone else in the galley, even for cleaning up. The seas were calm, winds light to medium, and the rain stopped just in time for my shift. All in all, it was a good weekend.

September came way too fast. Before I knew it, I was headed to Los Angeles for wedding planning. No, not for me, for my niece Laura. She and fiance, Brian, are getting married in LaJolla, CA in October. Many decisions were made within a month of their engagement, but many, many details are still being attended too. I've been honored with being asked to do a reading in the ceremony. But before that, I'm flying to Sulawesi (Indonesia) for almost three weeks on scuba diving, divided between being on a boat to get to those further out dive sites, and land based. The operator, Wakatobi Dive Resort was just featured in Sport Diver as one of the 8 top live-aboard trips not to be missed. Check out www.wakatobi.com to see where I'll be diving.

Have a nice Fall.