Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Nuclear Winds

"This is the strongest I've ever seen it at Cascade Locks."
-Jonathan McKee.

Again the river was empty for the four or five hours in the middle of the day except for the whitecaps whipped up by the nuclear winds. People are talking about the US Nationals which start tomorrow and, if the conditions were like today, are expecting the race committee to possibly sail before 10:00 and/or after 5:00. If the fleet were on the water at mid-day it would be a race of attrition. Folks are understandably cautious about risking damage to their boat before the worlds (which start Monday.)



The parking lot is becoming more and more like a world championship venue. National flags are sprouting and sponsors' banners are flying and hull stickers are being applied. This morning we saw a second home-built (so I'm not alone!) Chris & Joanna Cochrane came in with a woodie (visions of the '70s!) Chris said he had sailed this boat only once in light breezes. The baptism tomorrow in the nuclear winds of the Gorge should prove interesting.




Here's a new batch of faces, starting with Chris and Joanna









The musical inclusion for this afternoon is again from The Jam. Enjoy Absolute Beginners, what I would feel like if I were to hit the water in this much breeze. By-the-way, I appear to have fixed the mainfoil but probably won't test sail it until tomorrow, allowing the epoxy an overnight to cure.



Absolute Beginners, Paul Weller (1981)

In echoed steps I walked across an empty dream
I looked across this world, there was no one to be seen
This empty feeling turned and quietly walked away
I saw no warmth in life - no love was in my eyes
I stared a century thinking this will never change
As I hesitated, time rushed onwards without me
Too scared to break the spell too small to take a fall
But the Absolute luck is - love is in our hearts!

I lost some hours thinking of it
I need the strength to go and get what I want
I lost a lifetime thinking of it
an' lost an era daydreaming like I do

I stared a century thinking this will never change
As I hesitated, time rushed onwards without me
Too scared to break the spell too small to take a fall
But the Absolute luck is - love is in our hearts!

In echoed steps you walk across an empty dream
But look around this world, there's millions to be seen
Come see the tyrants panic see their crumbling empires fall
Then tell 'em we don't fight for fools -
'cos love is in our hearts!

I lost some hours thinking of it
I need the strength to go and get what I want
I lost a lifetime thinking of it
an' lost an era daydreaming like I do

You can lose some hours thinking of it
You need the strength to go and get what you want
You can lose a lifetime thinking of it
And lose an era daydreaming like I do oooooooo

1 comment:

Emo said...

Managed to get any assassin shots yet Joe? Seen a couple on scott's flickr of Devin's boat sitting on shore, and there appears to be one obscured behind the shipping box in the front on shot of the woody.

That woody gives me wood but it's quite an old-school design. But, it gives you some competition for the DIY trophy! Good on them for giving it a go though - instant winners of the "natural materials" title.