Dana to Lily on the phone: It's foggy, but the fog might blow away.
Lily to Dana: Okay!
The day began with Sally and Michael visiting Lily and Wilson in Three Mile Harbor, and aside from a commitment to play hide and seek with Emma and Allie, all other plans were TBD. But we'd brought our gear, the forecast said Napeague might be planable from 4-6pm, and the other half of the Lilywilsondanaandy axis was already in position, so off to Napeague we went.
Lilywilsondanaandyland is located directly across from the traditional Napeague launches...more or less due east from Lazy Point. We rigged in what will soon be the shadom of the new Chateau Lily and Wilson (house designed by Dana), which was having the finishing touches put on its foundation even as we carried our rigs down to the red sand beach. Sure enough, the wind kicked in just enough at 4pm, and we all planed off into the fog. Sally was working on jibing and waterstarting and straightline speed ("why do you go faster than me" she asked/accused her rigging-boy husband, who suspects that she'll be passing him soon enough.) Dana was working on...well, we don't know, because visibility was only about 100 yards, and she and the rest of the Napeague regulars just sped off into oblivion. Turns out that they knew the water was shallower in oblivion, whilst Sally and Michael found themselves waterstarting in overhead depths.
With both speed and history in mind, Wilson noted the 50th anniversary of the Soviet Union's Sputnik space program, and declared that it was a good reason to pull out his drag board, an old F2 Sputnik, a board which in its day had the reputation of being the scary fastest board on the planet.. After a brief discussion ("Want to try sailing it? Yup!") Wilson put a fin on the thing, and Michael took it out for a spin. Pretty fast it went, though it was clear the board wanted more power. Hey Wilson...take that thing out with an overpowered race sail...just wear a flack jacket when you do!
As the sun began to set our thoughts turned to the impending dinner party at Dana and Andy's. But while the grownups were discussing politics and duck jibes over a civilized glass of wine or G&T, Una and Emma were hatching a plot to hijack the event and move it to the domain of a giant jack-o-lantern that held court outside the house.
"Tell the grownups to come outside" Emma declared. "Sit on that towel" instructed Una. And we did, and were soon rewarded with a sumptuous feast of clams, swordfish (grilled to absolute perfection by Andy) and a choice of pie.
It was outstanding.
We also had some discussion about fog sailing...Dana noting her complete comfort jetting around on the bay she knows so well, but saying she'd be hesitant to so sail at Mecox. Michael said "Mecox is just fine in the fog, and for the same reasons (it's enclosed, no boat traffic, mostly shallow.) In any other conditions, though, windsurfing in fog can go very wrong, very fast.
(Photo: Sally and Dana, at the recent ABK clinic.)
Going out in the fog can be a very dumb thing, especially on San Francisco Bay. Think ferries, freighters, and tankers oh my!
Posted by: Joe Rouse | October 07, 2007 at 07:48 PM
I regret to inform you that there is a strong possibility that my next bad verse will be about Sally. Sally, I apologize in advance although I bet you've heard the refrain before. Although probably not as many times as I have heard My Bonnie Lies Over the You-Know-What.
Stop by frogma Fish On Uh comments for additional explanation.
Posted by: bonnie | October 10, 2007 at 03:04 PM