The photoshoot: The morning was gray, I dropped off Anne and the airporter and we kissed goodbye. I ran to the boat hoping like hell the paint I just finished at 8pm as the fog rolled in was dry. (Visions of white sticky paint stuck to the bottom of everyone’s ass would ruin the day for sure.) To my pleasant surprise, it was dry and looked like a quick dirty job but looked pretty damn good for four quick hours the day before. It was trouble shooting time. I still needed to fasten the rear pulpit. I figured I could do this while waiting for 7am when I would call Tom to find out what the hell is happening with the lifelines. I lost two wrenches in the bilge abyss but managed to get it on (save for two bolts but hey, its over kill anyway). 7am, no answer from Tom…. Ok. I realized that in a stroke of genious, I had not cut the old lifelines so the were still a viable option. Hey I had to have a lifeline or we were dead in the water, I reattached the old lines.
Corrie had setup the Port track, but we had not attached it. I drilled the wholes for the starbird and called Corrie. He was about to be my first mate on this trip and didn’t know it yet. He agreed and said he would be there before 10am.
My phone rings, its Tom from South Beach Riggers. He told me couldn’t get the lowers done but he didn’t have the clamps anyway so it wouldn’t have mattered. He said the uppers and done AND the HALYARDS, they are hanging in the shop! SWEEEEEEEEET! I ran to west marine, bought bolts for installing the tracks, stopped and picked up the parts from South Beach. The halyards were so sexy, (I bought them without seeing them) that I started to get really excited. All of this brand new line neatly curled on deck is going to have to look awesome in the shots. I am tired exhausted dirty and sweaty. I raced back to the boat and laid out the lifelines and halyards. I would do these if we had time. I tried to install the tracks, could not do it myself and the bolts were too long. Kay shows up with the stylist and photographer. They need an hour to prep. Thank God! I run to the store for the right size bolts and now I know I have to wait for Corrie but this will be a 5 minute job with two people. I caulked down the inspection plates over the gapping 6inch holes in the back deck. Starting to come together. Installed the new lifelines, Looking great! Main halyard, what a difference! Jib halyard…. Pulled through and both the old and new halyard fall to the deck. SHIT! This is a problem.
Just then Corrie shows up and I explain that we have two projects. I need to go up the mast and pull this halyard thru, and we need to bolt down the tracks. He started giving me shit about how I always have projects at the last minute (true) and I responded that I love him, he is right and I don’t need any negativity today. I busted out the bosons chair and was up in 5 minutes. I dropped the halyard. Back down, up again and finally the beautiful new red jacket solid vectran core halyard adorned my mast.
Five minutes later, the tracks were installed and the boat was ready. I sat down and enjoyed the moment with a beer. An hour later, the sun started to break through the clouds and by noon, we were bathed in sun, passengers aboard and off to capturing some amazing shoots.
The first shoot was a blue swimsuit cover up and Kay was positioned on pillows from the collection along the starbird cockpit seat. The mile high, devil red parade heels came out and I just had to laugh, this was the least nautical footwear that has and ever will be on my boat but how sexy! I may have a fetish. Kay, as it turns out, is absolutely stunning. (No real surprise).
We were anchored near the beach in Sausalito and the light and shoots were amazing. Kay started sitting on the boom, and then standing! I don’t need to tell you that it gave me concern. The last thing I need is for her to tumble of the boom. She was amazing, balancing in serious precarious ways. She’s also amazingly kind, warm and engaging. I pleasure to meet and someone I am glad to call a friend.
The 300 million dollar mega yacht “A” owned by a Russian billionaire was parked in Richardson bay so we circled several times and we captured some great shots. Finally, we dropped off the photographer on the dock at Horizons. We moored up and he was able to capture Jeanne’s silver cover up flowing gracefully off of Kay. The tourists dinning outside started taking pictures of the scene, thoroughly enjoying our company as they dined.
We head back, cracked a round of beers for everyone and made plans for dinner. We decided on RN74 in SOMA, one of my favorite spots. Kay had so much fun sailing, we decided to do sailing lessons the next day for her and her sister. Dinner was first class, and the company was better. After dinner, Corrie Jeanne and I headed to Nihon for whisky and then back to Jeanne’s for a tequila nightcap. I always have known Jeanne is awesome but her place in my book has gone WAY up. What is also interesting, is although she is talented, beautiful, articulate, creative and funny, I have no attraction to her whatsoever (maybe this is because of Dan). I hope to be friends with her for a long time.
The sailing lesson turned into another day, as fun or more than the last. Richard my roommate finally joined me on the boat for the first time as did Corrie and Jeanne (Corrie actually missed part of a wedding reception to join). The weather was perfect, and as I taught the girls knots and terminology parts of the boat and how to set it up, Corrie took the helm. It was great learning and the girls were very sharp and eager to learn. We sailed around Angel Island, and then dropped Corrie without stopping the boat and without hitting the dock off at Horizons (Again, the tourists appreciated this show of superior nautical ability).
A funny moment for me was that as I was steering the boat and drinking a beer (both hands busy), Kay started feeding me crackers with hummus. Now, this is not big deal, but its really cute and something I could never imagine happening. She is so down to earth and fun. I also found a new crew member, her sister Laura who kept asking how we could go faster, drove the boat naturally and basically showed great potential. I look forward to sailing with her again!
The area between Angel Island and Alcatraz is known as the “slot” because the winds are compressed here by the two islands. We had an ebb current and contrary wind so the slot was “going off”. The girls took it with stride and thoroughly enjoyed the ride complete with plenty of sea spray (sometimes, a lot of it). It was perfect.
Jeanne, Richard and I ended the day with cocktails at my place and a BBQ with Sam (Anne’s roommate) next door. Sam grilled up the most amazing burgers with custom toppings and I simply collapsed after dinner, content, tired and happy. I woke up early and headed back to Michigan, and spent the afternoon on the beach in Holland with Maureen. This was one of the better weekends of my life.
Here is the link to the photos from the day... more to come: Apres Collective Photoshoot for the Spring 2011 Collection
I would also like to thank all of the people that went out of there way to give me a hand. Especially Joseph. Joseph helped with the back breaking work of painting the boat and really did not get to enjoy the benefits of it yet. I would like to thank South Beach Riggers for their continued excellent job and working overtime, and of course, Corrie. If it wasnt for Corrie, I would not have been able to pull off the flawless trip.