All Aboard Julianna 7-27-08

Our friends Tim and Julie invited us to sail on Julianna, so we joined them for a daysail. Another rough day out on the big lake. We had a great time with these special people! We were out for about three hours and Tim suggested that we sail the protected waters of Lake Macatawa. So we did.

Eileen and Julie...two peas in a pod

Julie...WE'RE SAILING!

Hanging on the low side

Tim going gangsta with his new pirate wristband

Zweigle hots on the grill (no, they are not available in West Michigan)!

Jamie and his new pal Charley

Pirates!

She's mine and you can't have her!

The Newlyweds 7-26-08

Hal and Sarah, just married a few weeks ago, joined us for another sail. When we were ready to leave the dock, a freighter was just about to exit the channel. We had to wait about a half hour, so we busted out the food while still at dock. Good thing, because the winds were strong and the seas rough.

Jamie, Sarah, and Hal playing Bananagrams up in the pool area as I preparing the boat

Of course there was kissing!!

My best girl, deepening her love for the sea! I hope!!

The scalawag was well behaved and did well in spite of the lumps on the water

Shock of the century...Jamie doing another crossword puzzle

Sailing in a Blow 7-21-08

We set sail on Monday evening under full main and a reefed genoa in 20+ knots of wind on Lake Michigan. Waves were 4-6 feet. I was pleased with how the boat handled the rough stuff. We only sailed about 5 miles off shore beating aginst the northwesterly blow and then reached back to Lake Mac.

This is my friend Alun, owner of the boat I race on, a J/100

Here is some of the wave action! It is amazing how much bigger the waves are than what the pictures show.

This lady likes her high heels!

Another shot of the port rail which was burried at times

Another beautiful sunset just after docking

Guy's Weekend 7-19 & 20

I took a trip this weekend to South Haven, MI aboard Julianna, my friend Tim's Beneteau 361. Both of our wives were out of town and we thought we would set out for a guy's adventure! We had a great trip together and it was good to get to know Tim a little better. On the way to South Haven, we had all kinds of weather. It started out with no wind on Lake Mac to mild winds on Lake Michigan to a stiff breeze building to 20+ knots and waves were solid four footers. We got rained on and the fog rolled in and reduced visibility to a mile or two. We didn't see land most of the way down and relied on Tim's electronics (chartplotter, autopilot, etc.). Although it was raining most of our way down, atleast it was warm! We wore our foulies and stayed dry underneath. We never questioned why we were doing this! We really had fun...thanks Tim!! Here are some shots of our trip...

On Friday night, I slept aboard Latigo. This was the sunrise on Saturday, the morning were were leaving for South Haven.

Here I am making myself at home in the gally aboard Julianna

While Tim was sailing in this!!!

Here is Tim looking very sailorly as we were leaving the Holland Pierhead

Hot breakfast on a rainy day! The menu was Greek omlettes, sausage and english muffins

Here is one of the cells that we sailed into...there was no avoiding it!

Here the wind was blowing like stink and we had a reef in the main and genoa

This is Friends Good Will, a ship that was just outside the South Haven pierhead. It is part of the Michigan Maritime Museum at South Haven. They had a crew doing a pirate cruise. A pirate left the ship on a dinghy and attacked the power boat that is in the lower right corner. It was kinda cheezy, but they seemed to be fascinated!

Here we are leaving South Haven on Sunday morning. We enjoyed an easy sail as winds were at about 15 knots and blowing from the WSW. We reached at speeds over 7 knots.

Captain Tim enjoying a cup of coffee!

Pics from Julianna 7-6-08

Here are some pics that Tim took from Julianna. He was sailing next to us on our port side and cranking some Eminem rap music!

Leah begins to feel the beat...

Leah definitely has it going on now and Eileen is feeling it...

All together now...

Captain Rizzo goes gangsta!

First couple to dance on the bow!

Little of Everything 7-6-08

Last day together before Leah and Matthew head home to NC. Stehpanie leaves on Tuesday. All hung out at the pool while I did some maintenance (changed the primary fuel filter). We then sailed for a couple of hours before we came back to enjoy the pool, a little table tennis, and some tasty treats from the Piper (pizza).

We met up with our friends on Julianna, Tim and Julie. Tim is rocking out to Eminem!

First, second and third mates out on the foredeck

Two peas in a pod...

Stephanie with one in the oven...can't wait to meet him!

Eileen and Stephanie pool-side

Jamie and "The Eileen"

This is the belly stroke!

More pool fun

This was a serious match. Leah struggled to make legal serves! Steph and I won by a sliver!

Sailing Lesson 7/5/08

I am not sure, but I think Matthew is hooked on sailing. Talk ensued between he and Leah relative to buying a sunfish for their anniversary! Here are some shots of the sailing lesson...

What a difference a day makes! Just look at the confidence!

Nap time!

She is her mother's daughter!

"Boy...stop looking up already!"

"Give me that wheel!"

July 4th, 2008

Independence Day, "it is so cool, it's awesome" (Zoli, circa, constantly)! We were joined by Leah and Matthew, and surprised by a visit from Stephanie (and crew)! We sailed in fantastic conditions, winds NNW at 10 kts and waves less than two feet!

Jamie and Leah on the way to the marina.

Avast, a shot of Matthew not looking at the top of the mast!

Now here is a shocker!

Stephanine and crew manning the wheel on a reach back to the Holland harbor!

Back on land at last! "Not sure I enjoyed that!"

What is with the lanyards guys?

Our shy guests, Linda and Maggie, joined us for dinner and fireworks.

The grill master and the not-so-shy guest, Greg. He goes with Linda and Maggie!

One happy mom!

Hey, are you smoochin with my daughter...again?