When a good sailing trip goes bad

Flies. That's all it takes. Lake Michigan is filthy with them this time of year. We lost air. The flies arrived. And our arch-enemy, Matt is ahead of us.

2012 NOOD Distance Race

Donnybrook wasn't able to sail in the NOOD distance race, but I was able to sail with my friend and Mac crew member Todd on his boat, Grace Anne, a Catalina 30.

The weather is perfect, high 70s on the water and southeast winds in the low teens. We're sailing along very nicely and having a great time.

Here, Ryan, Brendan, and Todd are keeping things under control while I'm serving as rail meet.

A Racer on a Cruiser

I rode my brother's old road bike, a Cannondale R1000, to the harbor this morning. It rides like a Corvette (I want a yellow Corvette) compare to my commuting bike, a Trek 7100.

Here it is secured to Donnybrook. Maybe the bike can teach Donnybrook about speed and Donnybrook teach the bike about comfort.

Wilson Crib

Spring Return Sail to Belmont

Perfect. 25 knot northeast winds and 50 degrees seems the norm. Today is an exception with east-southeast winds in the low teens. Chicago's high was >90 today. It's in the 60s on Lake Michigan.

The NATO summit is this weekend. We stayed at least 3 miles from shore to avoid any fed intervention. It's been quiet except for the pair of F-18s circling.

My buddy Danny P is driving in this picture. It's a damn fine day on the water.

Green on the Beach

Here Conor and Emmet are building a pool with rivers to fill it. The Lake Michigan shore is winding north in the background.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

It isn't every year in Chicago we go to the beach for Saint Patrick's Day. Here are my feet in the cold Lake Michigan water. The boys and I are at the beach in New Buffalo while Karen is shopping in Michigan City.