Looking Back at 2012

I'm very blessed and grateful in many ways.  I can't think of anything better than enjoying the outdoors with my family and friends.  Before we look forward to 2013, lets take a brief look back at 2012 - another fun year of adventure with family and friends. Tip: click on the arrows at lower right to watch it in big screen.

2012 Year In Review from WaterTurtle Productions on Vimeo.

Here's to a great 2013 for everyone.  Happy New Year everybody!

Early Christmas Gift

Winter windsurfing, Lake Norman style...



Lake Norman Windsurfing December 2012 from WaterTurtle Productions on Vimeo.

It was so windy, it was blowing dogs off chains

James

Alan airing it out

Alan - sail 360 sequence

Rigged my 5.5 sail first in what turned out to be a suckers lull in the wind and was quickly overpowered.  Rigged the 4.6 and was much better, although I got overpowered on it for a while too.  It's been a while since I've windsurfed in heavy wind like that....it was good to shake off the cobwebs.

Looks like some more wind in the forecast over the holiday break...hoping to hit the water hooked in to my boom again soon.

Son of a Son of a Sailor

This is a replica of an 1889 Herreshoff Coquina sailboat.  Nathanael Greene Herreshoff was best known as a very innovative sailboat designer and for producing a long successive string of winning America's Cup sailboats between 1893-1920.  The Coquina was his personal sailboat.  My dad built this Coquina replica, all by hand, including the wooden masts and booms.  It took him three years to build it - he estimates he spent an average of 4 hours per day, 5 days per week, and 10 months per year out of those three years.  He named it the "Dandy".  A friend was happening by the docks and asked what kind of boat it was.  Dad yelled back, "It's a Dandy!"

I grew up crewing with my dad in one design (Tanzer, then Flying Scots) dinghy sailboat races in NC.  That's how I eventually got into windsurfing.  One of my sons and I went out last weekend for a sail with my dad in the Dandy.   It was a perfect mild winter day for sailing - sunny and 10mph+ breeze.  With acknowledgements to Jimmy Buffett, this makes my sons a son of a son of a sailor...

It sails real nice - I love the way the water flowed out the back...very similar to how water flows out the back of a SUP race board.

Yes, you can even stand up paddle it!

As the son of a son of a sailor
I went out on the sea for adventure
Expanding the view of the captain and crew
Like a man just released from indenture

As a dreamer of dreams and a travelin man
I have chalked up many a mile
Read dozens of books about heroes and crooks
And I learned much from both of their styles

Chorus:
Son of a son, son of a son
Son of a son of a sailor
Son of a gun, load the last ton
One step ahead of the jailer

Now away in the near future
Southeast of disorder
You can shake the hand of the mango man
As he greats you at the border

And the lady she hails from trinidad
Island of the spices
Salt for your meat, and cinnamon sweet
And the rum is for all your good vices

Haul the sheet in as we ride on the wind
That our forefathers harnessed before us
Hear the bells ring as the tight rigging sings
Its a son of a gun of a chorus

Where it all ends I can't fathom my friends
If I knew I might toss out my anchor
So I cruise along always searchin for songs
Not a lawyer a thief or a banker

But a son of a son, son of a son
Son of a son of a sailor
Son of a gun, load the last ton
One step ahead of the jailer

Im just a son of a son, son of a son
Son of a son of a sailor
The seas in my veins, my tradition remains
Im just glad I don't live in a trailer