Archive: July 4, 2011

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happy birthday, USA!

Monday,  07/04/11  10:33 AM

Happy Birthday USA!  235 years of freedom =)

My biggest worry today is winning a sailboat race, hanging out with my family, and hosting an informal BBQ at our house later.  As I consider my life and lifestyle, I have to be grateful to my country and the freedom it represents which makes it possible, and also to the men and women in our armed forces which keep that lifestyle and freedom intact.

I hope you all have/had a wonderful weekend, and have a great day.  While you're relaxing or partying (or sailing or whatever) today, stop for just a few second and say, "Happy Birthday USA"!

 

TDF stage 3 / sprint - Farrar first on forth, Hushovd golden in yellow

Monday,  07/04/11  10:39 AM

Tyler Farrar blasted out from a bunch sprint to win today's stage 3, featuring a golden leadout by teammate Thor Hushovd, who keeps yellow.  I thought HTC started too soon for Mark Cavandish, and Lapre never got themselves organized for Alessandro Petacchi.  Surprise Spanish sprinter Joaquin Rojas Jose of Movistar scored consistently all around to move into green, and Philippe Gilbert kept his polka dots.

I like the change to the rules wherein each days features one intermediate sprint that means more to the overall sprint standings; it has given us something to watch midway through what would otherwise be pretty boring days in the flats.  There was one climb - a high bridge - which made for beautiful views but didn't do anything to the standings.  Tomorrow's stage should be a bit weird; it kind of looks flat, but there's a hilltop finish on a Cat 3 climb at the end to make things interesting.  Everyone seems to think Gilbert is going to win, but I look for Contador to establish himself, and Evans will be trying to take yellow.  Stay tuned!

[ Tour de France 2011: all posts | index ]

 

victory!

Monday,  07/04/11  08:52 PM

Great: sailing my C-15 for the kazillionth time in the Westlake 'Round the Island race.

Not so great: Megan decided to sail a Laser herself instead of crewing for me.

Great: a chance to do it singlehanded (!).

Not so great: reverse start gave sabots a 45 minute head start.

Great: took advantage of South wind to sail around the island "the other way".

Not so great: wind shifted to North as I exited deadwind channel.

Great: mast dropped perfectly, paddled underneath bridge, made it even into the wind.

Not so great: sabots got there about the same time (!),

Great: got mast back up and flew up to top of island, fetched it in one tack,

Not so great: met all Lasers FJs C-14s etc at the top, (but Great: they still had to negotiate bridge),

Great: flew down main channel wing-and-wing,

Not so great: sabots emerged from deadwind channel way ahead of me, but

Awesomely Great: a huge puff took me past all of them to squeak by at the line.

Also great: Meg finished in fine style, I was most proud. Pretty much a perfect day :)

 
 

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