01/06 Regatta's 'n Things

Things are building up toward summer, here in Venice. We’ve had good times chilling by the boat (Mathias’s beloved Blue Jay) and having our routines jumbled by regattas preventing vaporetto traffic.


I spent one of my many longs weekends cleaning and rigging Blue Jay. I got burnt to a cinder and suffered gladly through it as I realized summer is finally here! After much sweat and a few bottles of wine she (Blue Jay) is looking ship shape and keen for sea. We’ve taken her for a few outings in and around the lagoon and have found a few choice spots to stop and make lunch. Mathias tells me he got the boat to ‘pick chickens’ (pick up chicks) but it seems it’s better suited to vagabonds. I’ve met a myriad of interesting characters as result. Martin, Mauro, Tom (I think his name is) to name a few randoms whom we now call friends.


We spent two days on board with one, Butch Dalrymple-Smith. A fantastic character! One afternoon he had us motor straight through a regatta at standstill for lack of wind.


There was a touch more wind for the Extreme 40’s in the iShares Cup Regatta. But they still did their thing and put on a glorious show in but a zephyr. They sailed a course between San Marco and Giudecca for 3 days, upsetting all traffic.


Today was the Vogalonga, a 32km rowing event around Venice and through the Grand Canal. The city came to a standstill in the festivities. It was bitterly cold but was wonderful! (Summer took the day off today.) We watched from a bridge called Tre Arche (Three Arches) which forms a bottle neck in the canal. You can imagine the jostling for position and the light hearted curses thrown back and forth between the Italians. They take their rowing very seriously, after all this is the home of the gondolier!


I saw the Bulls won the Super 14 again..! (sorry Kiwi's.) I can imagine the parties! I do miss watching the game with friends... I'm just not that into soccer. I heard roumor of a rugby club in Lido. I'm going to check it out tomorrow.


So, mommy and daddy are on their way... They'll be here in Venice for a couple days, I guess just to see that I'm eating properly and making my bed in the mornings! Haha, I can't wait to see them. My two bestest pals!

Comments

  1. Niki J6/01/2009 1:18 AM

    Sorry about the formatting... I seem to be slacking.

    ReplyDelete

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