2nd Friday the 13th Status Report
Commodore B. J. Turk, 13 August 2004

When you see names like Torben Grael, Dean Barker and Paul Cayard being bandied about, most people who actually recognize the names think of America's Cup racing. I mention them because I ran across them yesterday, but it wasn't in anything about the Cup. Not at all, and that's what surprised me.

All three men, and others, are sailing in the Athens Olympic Games that were kicked off yesterday in a gala opening ceremony. Cayard represents the United States, Barker sails for New Zealand, and Grael is from Brazil, though I admit that I'm not sure in which event each is sailing. Of these three, Grael has the track record to claim yet another medal. Since 1984, he has taken one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals in Olympic competition. Neither Cayard nor Barker have been so fortunate, and according to what I can find, neither appears to have been to the Olympics before.



None of this should surprise anyone, as Russell Coutts, skipper of the last two America's Cup winning boats, is an Olympic gold medalist himself. It stands to reason that sailors who can achieve on the Olympic stage are in demand for the Cup. In the case of Troben Grael, the reverse is also true. Wouldn't it be nice to be that good of a sailor?

It would be nice, but let's be realistic. I'm not there and I don't expect to ever be, and the odds are that things will turn out the same for you too. That does not mean that we shouldn't do our level best to become better sailors, if for no other reason than to avoid the cost of replacing the things we lose overboard when we capsize (I'm expecting most will read that last sentence with grim smiles and nods of agreement).

So even if the Games aren't in your realistic future, do what you can to get better. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from those more skilled than you are. Wear your PFD every time. Don't take chances with your boat or your life. Strive to improve every time you go out. Only you can make yourself a better sailor, and heaven knows that you could use the practice!



I'm dealing with more catastrophes in the testing of the member module. Nothing is working quite like it should, and some things have gone haywire in the stores module. I think I can patch the stores module with some degree of ease (which means that it will probably take me a week), but the stores are giving me fits. I haven't started pulling my hair out, but I am all too aware that a club with no members isn't much of a club. Rest assured that I am working on it as much as I can, stressing out over it when I'm not working on it, and thinking about it all the time. Sometimes I get great ideas that just don't work (some of you can relate), but sometimes I get one to work, and that makes that effort worthwhile, even if what follows is a total train wreck.

Have patience, be safe, and keep your sails out of the water. If you can do that, we will both be happier, and you'll certainly stay a little drier than you would otherwise.



Other Commodore's Log entries:

      Thankful (13 November 2005)
      Shorter Days, Longer Nights (13 October 2005)
      Summer's End (13 August 2005)
      Summer Sailing (13 July 2005)
      3rd Friday the 13th Status Report (13 May 2005)
      Ode to Spring (13 April 2005)
      The Misfortune Continues... (13 March 2005)

      Commodore's Log Archive (old stuff)


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