To make the story short, a couple of days prior to the regatta I drove 59 hours from Dallas to Long Island (back and forward, a touch and go trip) to pick up hull #107. This was the only way we will make it to the regatta. At the beginning the idea sounded crazy but now a couple of days later I look back and all the effort was so worthy.
"It has been a long time since I had so much fun at racing sailboats!"
On the first day, races where postponed and rather that just sit and wait, the Texas Viper group (which is really crazy) pop up the blender and start having drinks like it was the end of the planet. From there, it was pure FUN! 4 races in shifty 8 to 12 knots, lots of lead changes, 4 winners in four races... What else can you ask for? Ok, maybe a couple of big swells for downwind surfing but it cannot always be perfect, right?
Sailing with Giacomo, my 13 year old son and Rod Favela (145 lbs) meant that we will need to hike extra hard and since it was over 11 years since the last time I had to hike it, it had been painful at times but we always end up with a smile. How did we manage to win the regatta?.. I don't know and I will leave it for later, in the meantime, I am looking forward to the next Viper event: Wurfest Regatta (San Antonio, TX).
Drinking Final Tally from the Pisco Sour Bar prior to the first gun (as reported by our Fleet Captain):
- 4 bottles of Pisco,
- 2 pounds of sugar,
- 40 limes,
- 16 pounds of ice,
- yielding about 20 batches of Pisco Sours.
Don't let your Viper sit at your garage, see you at the next event!!!
Juan Mauri
"It has been a long time since I had so much fun at racing sailboats!"
On the first day, races where postponed and rather that just sit and wait, the Texas Viper group (which is really crazy) pop up the blender and start having drinks like it was the end of the planet. From there, it was pure FUN! 4 races in shifty 8 to 12 knots, lots of lead changes, 4 winners in four races... What else can you ask for? Ok, maybe a couple of big swells for downwind surfing but it cannot always be perfect, right?
Sailing with Giacomo, my 13 year old son and Rod Favela (145 lbs) meant that we will need to hike extra hard and since it was over 11 years since the last time I had to hike it, it had been painful at times but we always end up with a smile. How did we manage to win the regatta?.. I don't know and I will leave it for later, in the meantime, I am looking forward to the next Viper event: Wurfest Regatta (San Antonio, TX).
Drinking Final Tally from the Pisco Sour Bar prior to the first gun (as reported by our Fleet Captain):
- 4 bottles of Pisco,
- 2 pounds of sugar,
- 40 limes,
- 16 pounds of ice,
- yielding about 20 batches of Pisco Sours.
Don't let your Viper sit at your garage, see you at the next event!!!
Juan Mauri
