Navy Memorial Reliefs

Some of the "Reliefs" at the Navy Memorial - lots of HOO-YAH in these select examples (and one with a ton of CAN-DO too)! Look at the caption on the float ring of the re-entry capsule - "UDT" - precursor frogs and UCTs. As I leave this chapter of my life and move on to another career, I will miss feeling the intense pride of being a part of the UCTs - part frog, part bee, and a whole lot of "I don't know the meaning of quit". If you haven't had the chance to see the Navy Memorial, here's some pictures to see some of the more intricate details (like UDT).

Aloha HOOYAH!!!!

We sold the HOOYAH!!!! this past Thursday. I'll miss this boat, but we be a whole lot more flexible as we transition to civilian life (and the current uncertainties of where we will live, whether we buy a house or rent, when can we get into a house, so on and so on). ALOHA good boat - we had a blast with you!

Weta Hull #200 Reannointed with Saltwater

A large part of our amphibious assault this weekend was towing our Weta Trimaran down to Virginia Beach. It's been over two years since I've had this boat out - being stationed overseas and getting used to living in Northern Virginia (i.e., transitioning from flyfishing in saltwater to catching the local piscine denizens) has had it's toll on my watertime on the "HOOYAH!!!!". I was on three runs - the first with Dave Hallam up front, the second with Charlie Bisgard and La onboard and the last with Dave on the helm. The wind was hovering between 10 to 15 mph, which made for a really good first time back on the water - not too much power, but more than enough to generate a steady stream of stoke. Dave was the owner of hull #287, but he sold it prior to his recent move - I've never been crew on my own boat until this last run. I forgot to bring my small hand held GPS so I didn't get max and average speed like I normally do, but despite the short period waves and the chop on the water, the boat held up well and we all had a great time - even Marlon and Noe who ended up not having to go out (the water coming over the bow during a nose dive between wave peaks was cooler than they prefer - although that didn't stop them from playing in the shallows).

Weta Trimaran for Sale - Blades

I'll post a reference to this on the yahoo groups site, but in case you are browsing via a web search, here are some pictures of the blades - daggerboard and rudder.

Weta Trimaran for Sale - Add Ons

Pictures of the balloon tires for pulling the boat across the beach, the hinged mast base for smoother (more reliable mast stepping) and proof that I've switched the battens out for better ones. Give me a shout if you are interested in becoming the HOOYAH!!!!'s new owner.

Weta Trimaran for Sale - Sails and Spars in Perfect Condition

As the post title says - the sails and the spars (bowsprite and tiller extension) are in perfect shape.

Weta Trimaran for Sale

We have decided to sell a few more things - our 14.5' trimaran and trailer. $9495 for the boat and trailer and all the goodies I've modified the boat and trailer with - hinged mast base, wide tires for the beach dolly, ramp for the trailer, wind vane, clam cleat on the attachment point for the main halyard, and more. The boat is clean as can be, the sails crisp and the trailer has never touched saltwater. Email me if you are interested. I am willing to drive within a days range to deliver/meet halfway. We are hoping to move overseas next year - hate to sell the HOOYAH but in the land of perfect surf, do you sail, or do you SURF?

Lazy Saturday

As much as we have been laying around and moping, we made a commitment to get some stuff done and get out of the house. The weather was crap yesterday and La took the opportunity to put up the Christmas tree - I know she reads this so this is more for her than anyone else - The kids and I don't help. She doesn't want our help. Everything has to be perfect to her and if we try to intervene, it really isn't good for anyone. SO, the kids and I don't help with the tree. The kids even have their own small trees so they can decorate them and not La's tree. This is not a bad thing, so don't interpret this the wrong way. I have just come to realize over the years that La will decorate the tree and it is ok if I standby and watch. So that was yesterday.

Today, La and the kids rode their bikes (Noe and Marlon got upgrades - Marlon has adapted to his with little issue; Noe is getting the hang of starting and stopping on a larger framed bike). My knees have been acting up so I stayed home and worked on the kiteboard and the upcoming flatwater paddleboard.

Around 2pm, I made a declaration that "I'm taking the boat out" - the kids were silent. I guess I'll be sailing alone...

Well they did come to the beach and dug holes and built a cool sand castle. I made a few runs before the sun set. I unfurled the reacher a few times and was able to tack it with no problem (although the wind was light -I'm sure with a stiffer breeze I would not be saying this).

I finally figured out how to rig the reacher so it'll unfurl and furl fully - after raising it with the halyard, cycling it will solve the issue.

I got the beach wheels that I ordered, but not the axles. The drag to and from the beach sucked! It'll be nice to get those fat wheels installed.

Tomorrow should be time on Roger's boat. Hopefully the wind will be decent.

Awesome Sail!

Wind from the SE at 12-18 mph.

HOOYAH was ripping!!!

Slicing through 1-3 ft wind swell on the outbound legs and riding the same swells back in!

I haven't smiled this much in a while!

Tri Sailing

Today - our amphibious adventure consisted of sailing our trimaran.

Took the tri out on two independent runs:

The first was with the family - rigged up just the main. We still got 9.1 kts in 14 kts of breeze. Marlon said he didn't get seasick this time - a good plus, while Noe started crying her eyes out saying she was cold - negative. One for two isn't too bad. They are still too young to keelhaul to improve their morale, so we tried the old fashioned way to make them feel better - dippin dots ice cream.

I called Roger up and then I rigged up all three sails. I wanted to sail with someone with more knowledge than I had to get better with the boat, especially off the wind (broad reaching). We made a long reach to the R2 marker off Cat Island, then headed back pinching for a bit so we could make a reach with the screecher back to the harbor. I forgot to tie off the roller furler line so we had some issues with the screecher, but we still had it up and running. Got 13 kts out of HOOYAH in 14-15 kts of breeze. Roger even coaxed me into sailing into the harbor to land the boat (I would have never done that on my own - clear, uncongested beach has been my mainstay) - smooth operation. There seemed like there were a few holes in the wind flow, but what a great day of sailing!!!

Nothing like a bunch of sore muscles and sun warmed skin to make you feel alive!

Sailing World's Boat of the Year

in the Dinghy class is in MY GARAGE!!!!

The Weta Trimaran was recognized by the judges for it's versatility, performance and value - and nearly took top honors and not just the dinghy class.

It's always reassuring to know you made a wise decision and other feel the same - not to mention it helps resale value and fleet growth.

The pictures are just a reminder (to me mostly) of how cool this watercraft really is...

I am hoping 2010 turns out to be a decent year for racing our boat here in the South.

HOO-YAH!!!!

Quickie

Punched out early today (heck I was on leave... ended spending 3/4 of the day in the office, but we are really busy - just watch the news) and took the boat out for a late afternoon sail.

5-13 kts on the NOAA Gulfport Port Weather Station during the late afternoon.

Got 12.1 mph on the GPS - not bad.

No crew today - kids are just getting over the flu and La doesn't like the cold. Maybe next time.

I did play around more with the reacher - I need to pay more attention to wrapping it tight enough before going out.

On our way to Jacksonville for the Holiday weekend!!! The forecast calls for some great winds!!!! I'm bringing a 16, a 12 and an 8!!!