Sailing into the Sunset

Team Elsie Piddock had a great night sail on Friday night.  After a fast session with Alex Simanis from Ballard Sails--Nice jib, HUGE roach--in which we regularly hit 14 knots, and up to 10.5 upwind, we headed back to the marina to tighten the rig down.  All that new high tech rigging stretches under load, and we had her loaded up a bit.

Then back into the night.  The wind was down, and then up again as we rocked into Elliott Bay.  The boat goes as fast as the wind.  Literally.  It feels wickedly fast, but completely in control.  We have to wear funny costumes to have this much fun though!

 Yes, I have a Pencil Neck.

 No, you can't have the helm back!

Cuts like hot knife through butter...

A beautiful city, a beautiful boat, and a fine evening for a sail!

Wanted to give a big THANK YOU to all who have helped get us to the start line.  Thank you UCO for the running lights and headlamps, thanks to ESBIT and Light My Fire for the food jugs and Titanium sporks.  Thanks Morakniv for the knives.  Thank you KIND for all the bars, bars, bars.  Thank you Alex and the team at Ballard Sails for the rigging help, and the jib.  Oh my, what a jib!  (Kotuku has a ton of fast sails from Ballard Sails too.  Fast sails win races!)

Most of all we want to say THANK YOU to Alan, Jennifer, and Katie.  Whose beautiful, fast, safe boat Elsie Piddock will carry us to Alaska.  Without your support and hard work, our dream would be just that.  Thanks for trusting us with her, and for sharing in this adventure with us.

Soon now, we race.  North.  Tomorrow.  

Ride, Elsie Ride!