Haul-out. No need to ask Scott Tillema (red vest) how he did today! Talk about body language!! After yesterday's three races, Scott had been tied for the regatta lead with Andy Fox after placing 2-1-3 but in today's drifter Scott fell to 20th and ended up series 3rd in MCs.        - click here for larger image

... Glenda, owner of the LESC's only Rebel, had recently bought, for a mere $200, a Rebel in need of TLC, a Rebel that will be a sister for her lovingly maintained QT (Quiet Time). That fact had set Uncle Al's mind awhirl and he promptly set aside $50 USD (above) with which he hoped to buy a 25% interest in the "new" acquisition that would enable Al to join the Rebel Class as an "Active Owner" which in turn has made him eligible to sail Rebel Nationals as a helm - because Glenda accepted Al's proposition, so to speak (photo above).

We were sad to be leaving such a lovely place so soon. Though we still had some fun to look forward to: Taking our hosts Mike and Dotty Murto to a favourite haunt of the LESC club members: Stavros and Sons, before heading back to the Murtos' to take in the Super Bowl between Pittsburgh and Green Bay. The restaurant was great and to be highly recommended, not least because of reasonable prices!

How can they, I asked myself, look so happy when they are leaving? But then it came back to me: on the Midwinters' Sunday night, these two traditionally book a romantic get-away in St. Marys, Georgia, a lovely little spot on the ocean in the very SE corner of Georgia. And doesn't Richard look like he'll be up to no good!!! Shifty-eyed doesn't even begin to cover it!!

For us, it was a no-nonsense trip back as Tony really wanted to make it in one day and be back at work on the Tuesday. As I recall, Tony went to sleep as the Super Bowl started at 6 PM so that he (and we) could leave refreshed at 3 AM. Poor Mike actually dragged himself out of bed to bid us farewell for another year while Tony, Mary and I dashed out to the truck through a (relatively warm!) downpour! Tony again excelled as our one and only driver through rain, then sun, then more rain which turned to snow in Tennessee, I seem to recall. We made it back to Whitmore Lake before midnight to the best of my recollection to a house whose water heater had given up the ghost. Tony rushed off to work at some ungodly hour before I could properly thank him for not only being our lone and outstanding chauffeur but also for being a crew with whom it was almost as easy to sail as with that all-time all-star, Marc Bennett!