September 10, 2006
When it comes to a Sale, I usually look at what Banana Republic has to offer.
When it comes to a Sail, I immediately think of Lake Minnetonka.
I got invited recently to help emcee the Wealth Enhancement Group's Sailing Regatta. The benefit of doing so was two-fold. First, it was to help out the Wayzata Sailing Foundation. This is a group which helps youths trying to get involved in the sport, including those in the inner city who don't normally get the chance to sail. The other perk, (forgive me for the shameless pun) was the opportunity to race in a regatta.
I was teamed with 2 of the best racers in the area. John Noller and Lars Hansen were the perfect partners.
After about a half hour warm-up and lesson, they put me to work in an actual 5 lap race. I can't even tell you how exciting it was. Especially since we were one of the lead boats.
Watching these guys take calculated gambles as they studied the wind puffs on the water, speaking to each other in a sailing jargon I had to try to decipher as the race went on, and then responding instantly to their commands of "Tack!" and "Jibe!", was really a gas.
I'm not sure how much I really contributed. I kind of felt like Bob Wiley in the movie "What About Bob?" when he went sailing.
In the end, we didn't win, we got edged in the home stretch, but we did take 3rd place, and I got a trophy out of it, which now sits proudly on my desk. Now when's that sale at Banana Republic?
perkout