Change in plans for the WaterTribe Everglades Challenge

I had been planning to go back to my paddling roots and take the Kruger Sea Wind sea canoe with it's Balogh BOSS sail rig, but my old racing partner, Michael Collins had sold his boat and sail rig to make ends meet, so I decided to dust off the Core Sound 20 again and get it ready for the race.

You can follow the race, starting March 6, 2010 at watertribe.com.  Our racing handles are Greybeard (Michael) and Ridgerunner (me).

"Dusting off" the Core Sound means building a real folding frame under the dodger so that we can access the rigging on the front deck, changing the hatches from Bomar inspection hatches (which leaked) to traditional wooden seat hatches, and building some floorboards that can be used as bunks.  I'll put up pictures in a few days.

This project has taken up all of the time at home (except for responding to emergencies like tornados and ice storms) since mid December.  I never want to do a project under time pressure again.  It takes all of the fun out of it.

Back to basics

On December 23 before a big storm broke, we had 10 mph winds on Tims Ford, so I took out my first build: an 11 foot lapstrake Shellback dinghy designed by Joel White.  Five hours of fast sailing with nothing but the sound of water gurgling under the hull.  A peaceful break before the hectic days of Christmas.

Solstice Paddling on Lake Dimmick

It was sunny and cold, but the day was 2 seconds longer than yesterday.  Moki and I went for a paddle on Lake Dimmick to celebrate.  We saw a flock of 20 or more geese, a pair of raccoons, a blue heron, a soaring red tailed hawk, and, of course, deer.  All the wildlife interested Moki to no end.

December on Tims Ford

Foggy and misty and cold for a typical winter paddle

The next day sailing under blue skies in jeans and T shirt in the upper 60s.

Sailing Kruger Sea Wind with Balogh sail rig

Burying the Ama

Skipping along

Fall Paddling on Tims Ford

Fall color

Moki studying the water (below)

Tims Ford Sailing and Paddling

This last month I have been alternating mountain biking with paddling my Kruger Sea Wind canoe on Tims Ford and Nickajack Lakes. Trusty dog Moki has joined me for many of the paddles.

This week I rigged the Balogh sail rig on the boat and added sailing to the paddling so that I will be prepared for the 2010 WaterTribe Everglades Challenge (http://watertribe.com). I haven't done it solo since 2003, but I have had several successful goes paddling a tandem Kruger canoe with a Balogh sail rig with Michael Collins (we won and set a record in 2004, then cut 5 hours off that time only to finish third in 2006.).

Pictures to come.