6.5 Blasting and Crashing

Yep, Was out today with a 6.5 Meter sail and totally tuned up, blasting to the point the fin spun out a few times. Really kind of odd to sail a board sideways on a plane at about 20 degrees angle to the forward motion.

A couple times I crashed - once ran aground on a sand bar and - well at 25 knots, the board stops, I didn't. Hopefully you get the picture.

All too much fun to just lean back - full strapped in, and may have 20% of the board in the water.

High Wind - Not in water often

Yep

After work got airborne more than I think I was in the water.
Fun to get wet again after a 3 week trip to the US sans WQindsurfing.

Arms definitely paid the price as no windsurf for a month was like starting over and so after too short time, I had to rest.

When I went back out, the wind was dropping off at 7 PM, end of the day - all in all - still a wonderful time.

Tess dropped me a weed fin - originally in like was one of Mark's that I bought a few years back.
It worked well, and when fully blasting had enough of a load to go upwind a little - like a formula fin almost.

Fun way to end the day

A light wind day after work with light wind but during the gusts was plenty fun.

Some gust happy planing - pretty good scoot

Sailing below my future house (I can wish)

Cheers!

After Work Speed Sail

After work it was forecast to blow 15 to 20 knots, so we planned to head out and sail somewhere.

Lake connewarre near Ocean Grove ended up being the destination and so I rigged up in the blowing sand, wondering it I was rigging too big (5.0). SMS came from Red who earlier in the day was fully powered up running a 6.4, and the forecast said now was supposed to be stronger, so with only a 6.5 and a 5.0, I went for smaller, hoping it was a correct choice.

The gusts were difficult as they were all over the place,so  the 5.0 was well under control if the board was not, but it was fun, though in the lulls it was far from being enough to stay planning, so I was slogging between gusts. The gusts were twitchy at times, making it difficult to feel comfortable loading up the harness.

GPS said average[2]:  38.394km/h  20.731knots

I like the Koncept sail, even though it is old, it seems to be pretty good. I need a shorter mast to get this sail down on the water line. The chop was at times testy an pushed me airborne more than once which is a feat considering the lake is only just beyond fin deep or about 3 feet deep.

Windsurfing in OZ

Well, After 30 some year delay I finally can check off that I have windsurfed in OZ.

Many years ago, the windsurfer World Championships were held in Perth, maybe 1984 to be more precise, give or take a year or two. Yesterday on Gumtree.com I saw a hire board used during that event that ironically turned out to be a wind less event, and a washout. I am glad I did not go to sit on the beach, but at the same time, I wish I had gone because I was a really good course racer, at the top of my game, and I needed the worlds to test my skills to motivate me to keep training.

Anyway, the wind here is better than in the US, most days, but does have slow days like today where I go to the beach with just a surfboard and try to stand up and real surf without a sail.

Friday we went to Geelong to do some business, and on the way home we stopped at Point Henry for an after work sail.

Light breeze up on a plane

Anyway - the sailing is helping me feel more fit and more like I used to. A few times I have had some awesome rides that start to make it all worth it.

Cheers

Philip US 287

This weekend was crummy weather. The wind was awesome but periods of rain made it not so much fun. Saturday afternoon we got caught walking on the beach and treated to a double rainbow - pretty cool.

Surf was poor so I did not surf Sunday - which I had wanted to try.
3 more weeks until my gear arrives in Oz!

Went Surfing

Hard to believe after 30 some years of windsurfing all over the world I never went just "surfing". Recently in Australia I find myself without windsurf gear - on the ocean with wind and nothing to do south of Melbourne near what they call the surf coast.

So I decided to try just surfing,.

I was amazed at how simple this sport is - well.. equipment wise - just pull on a wet suit, strap on the leg strap and hit the water.

Equipment wise this is so simple - one of the pure sports I suppose, pretty different than rigging a sail and always hauling gear, etc.

Surfing however takes some work. There are some things years of sailing and surfing waves make familiar, and then there are a lot of things that are not.

Paddle paddle paddle, push up, then stand up and oh yea - don't loose your balance - there is no sail to recover with.

The water was a refreshing 12C - so not a normal day in bath water - but the cold was offset by fun, spills, and of course paddle paddle paddle.

I think if there is no wind I will try this again

Blue Skies - Blue Seas

Saturday morning we took off from home and drove down the coast. We stopped for lunch in Anglesea, then after lunch drove up to Belle's beach to watch the surfer's, then Tourquay the home of Rip Curl.

Pretty day.

Makes us want to learn to surf - .... just maybe

Belle's is spectacular:

More photos here

https://plus.google.com/photos/118421207849482976791/albums/5790986224106782593

Old friends – Marathons - Life

Having traveled for many years all over the world I have made many new friends and unfortunately, lost contact with many other great friends.

Recently I succumbed to the repeated requests on LinkedIN to scour my email account and dig out lost friends.

It has turned out to be a wonderful event as many folks I had long ago lost have been dropping notes to say hello.

A dear old friend I lost contact with for 18 years due to relocation to the west coast recently wrote me. Much has happened in the 30 years since we first met. Many fun memories still flood in today as I think back in time to Fenn Tower and East 24^th street.

The human brain is an amazing thing to store so many tid bits of life, that only get unlocked with a special key. Yesterday that key arrived. Pretty cool.

Lately, my running motivation has been in the basement this winter. I am not a great runner – just usually persistent and can say I have completed some 14 marathons and a 50 Km trail race, though not always fast, and in the case of the trail race I finished on a broken ankle that took months to heal.

Running and Windsurfing are passions, and in China I have neglected both to focus hard on work. Perhaps the lesson is simple. Work is for today, friends are forever, if you don't loose contact.

In different worlds once connected, my friend is also a marathon runner – though since 2006 struggles to recover from an ankle injury.

The Cleveland Marathon is in MAY – so perhaps I'll read about a nice return to the finish line soon.

The simple words of encouragement about running, from the email were more than enough to push out a run this afternoon south down the china coast. I didn't run with purpose, just thinking until over an hour had past by. It was quite fun to leave work and China all behind and travel back in time. While running I saw things I never knew were there, but they have always been so close to home, just had forgotten how wonderful it is to run through the Chinese neighborhoods and experience wearing different color glasses.

Today was for my friend – and when you read this – I thank you.

Having both run so many marathons and all the miles before hand to prepare, but never have run once together seems odd.

Perhaps someday that will change.

Life you see is funny that way.

Chinese New Year – Bucket List – Check!

Honestly – the Chinese New Year was not on my bucket list of things to do before I kick the bucket, but it should have been.

Today the crescendo of fireworks began this morning at dawn and continues to increase as we roll towards midnight.

Being stationed in Dalian China has its unique opportunities', one of which is to experience the New Year first hand – Chinese Style.

Today began like many with an early trip to the market to prepare for a few days with most shops closed for the holiday. The major stores

Like Wal-Mart and Metro were still open, and quite busy. At Wal-Mart we bought food, but did not think the fresh squid looked so healthy, so we passed on that.

Metro is like a Sam's club in the US – Members only – whole sale store. We picked up some party items for Friday when folks are coming

To watch the official fireworks on Xing Hai square form our apartment. Considering Dalian just blew off more fireworks than exist in the State of Ohio, I cannot imagine

What is in store for Friday. Size wise I ran close to the fireworks launch site behind the open book (foot ball field size book open to the sky next to the sea). If the number of tarps and motor systems being built is any indication, this will be a monster show.

Running tonight was incredible. The constant concussions reflecting off the mountains and sky scrappers, coupled with a solid dose of sea fog, and gun powder smoke makes for one

Intense running motivational moment.

It was good to run – the broken toes ar healing, so I can start to ramp up more next week. The swimming has conditioned the upper body more, (not enough) and that helped. I did get a crap in my right calf, and felt like I pulled something in the ham string area – hopefully those were just lack of training whining from my body and nothing real.

Will not sleep tonight – the roar continues as folks blow off fireworks to chase the ghosts away from the new year, so it is free and happy.

Amazing Thunder for hours –

Bucket list – Check!

Celebrating Dalian

We are here in Dalian for about 10 months – maybe longer. What a wonderful energetic place to live and get to know my children better.

Stepping back for a few years has been worth it, and the time to focus and see children grow on all fronts has been a welcome addition. The Dalian city is so full of life, I think about 6 million total in Dalian, but with 3.5 being in the city itself.

Last weekend I spoke at a wonderful event in Dalian to a small elite group of individuals, and their wives and friends. It was fun to speak and talk a little about the journey that has led to a new book being published on Business Performance Management. The talk I kept short as I was speaking ahead of dinner, and people looked quite hungry J

Dalian is getting cold as winter approaches. The wind is up most every day, but we lack windsurf gear so we must patiently wait for next summer to enjoy windsurfing. In the mean time we have made many wonderful Chinese friends. Dalian is a wonderful place.

 

Back to writing for a while longer then some sleep – work work work is a hectic pace, but small opportunities' to relax are were needed.

Move to China

Well today we did it!. Matt, Sam and I moved to China for 10 months while I go to work for my company.

The flight was not too eventful. Sam enjoyed the meal as did Matt.


Matt had a more reserved look after deciding what to do, donning his faded Hermosa Beach Lifeguard shirt.

Day 3 0f 30 – Last day in Germany

Hanau Germany is near Frankfort and quite a nice place to visit. This morning's run (3 of 3) in Germany was a fast tempo run at 5K pace with brief breaks to recover, along the bike path along the river.

It is quite a lot of fun to run in Europe, as there are some many historic places to see, that can only be truly appreciated on foot. As I ran along the battlement walls of a castle, I wondered it years ago, an attacking force had run as was I close to the wall, concealed from above. After a moment I thought, well no, I'd be full of arrows by now. It is quite neat to see these old areas restored and maintained.

Yesterday I ran in town, along the cobblestone roads and tight alleys that were not built for automobiles. When required driving up on the sidewalk seems to be the norm.

On the way back as the sun was trying to break above the horizon, a cruising barge went down river with sleeper cabins full of resting passengers about to awake for another day somewhere new in Germany.

Work has been a true pleasure, Both Ralf and Holger are true experts and they shared freely. The real challenge will be with others who don't yet understand the power of what a Center of Excellence can develop and adopt those methods as standards. Tonight I fly to China, and that will be yet another long flight, but I am getting electronic things charged so that I can read and listen to music while I work into the night to prepare for my next round of meetings.

Beijing – Smog – Zero Visibility - Sadness

Left Dalian this morning. I was sad. So much of life is in Dalian.

It is so hard to leave.

In Beijing, the smog and humidity is so thick you cannot see the end of the run way.

Amazing that this is the future of industrialized nations.

Yuck.

13 hours to Chicago

Leaving Paradise Soon

For my friends in Dalian

Soon you will embark on a journey that will take you many places and see many things. Your families will be most proud.

 

Along the way I wish that you can be blessed to learn from those who are willing to share, and that you will put knowledge in a high place.

 

Long ago I was once blessed by a great mentor/teacher who shared with me what I now share with you.

In time you must share these words with another just beginning their journey.

 

Knowledge is like life, it is something man will never master forever. We can at best hope to capture it for a while, and enjoy the fruits it bears.

 

As you begin your journey you must capture knowledge, store it and share it with others.

You see, without sharing, knowledge has no value.

 

Sage Says:

 

A thousand men without knowledge will die of hunger.

 

A thousand men with knowledge will eat ants and herbs.

 

A thousand men with knowledge together in purpose as one will grow old and fat.

 

 

Kindly obey the priorities of life.

 

1.    Family and Faith always before work

2.    Safety of your self at all costs

3.    Safety of those who work around you

4.    Safety of those who work for you.

5.    Safety of the plant critical equipment - 2500 families will depend on you to keep these items safe.

6.    Having fun coming to work every day

7.    Working as one not many.

8.    Capturing Knowledge - allow no escape

8.    Share Knowledge - Together our strength is from knowledge through sharing

10.    Occasionally, Make some tires so we can all come to work tomorrow.

 

As I leave your wonderful city, I leave behind some wonderful memories and I leave you something else once shared with me.

 

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

 

I wish you long life, knowledge, and fatness from sharing.

 

Philip

Late Night Arrival – Internet Identification

Singapore has a extremely modern and clean airport. The transit through Customs, Immigration and H1N1 health scanning has started to get routine.

I arrive at baggage claim, find my bags, hook up my train of stuff, and head out of the international area to find a cab.

Emily had sent an email with cab information, telephone numbers and recommendations along with the hotel confirmation. I scan the horizon for the money exchange and start heading towards it, as I meet the eyes of a lady making a bee-line for me with a I-tunes photo from the internet.

She shows me the photo of Matt, Sam and I at Worthington, from my blog and introduces herself and her Husband.

Sally is amazing. Knowing she did not get a response, she searched the internet for a photo of me to identify me from an entire plane load of folks. I guess it pays to be careful what you put up in a blog because someone "can" find it.

J

I am glad she did find it.

Sally it seems missed Emily's e-mail, I missed Sally's email that as a result of missing Emily's e-mail she would pick me up at near midnight and make sure I would get to the hotel OK.

Without email on any mobile form of tech, the last time I had plugged in was over 10 hours ago, and Sally had not sent her email at that time, so the communication tech conundrum was hatched.

After we laugh at the silliness of emails, and tech misses, Sally's husband helps with the luggage and we head to their car. It's a short trip to the hotel. The heat and humidity are oppressive at first,

Singapore seems like a really clean and well kept town. At night the lighting in some areas is spectacular.

Soon we arrive at the Mercure Grand Hotel on Marine Parade avenue, I thank Sally for coming out to meet me, it was extremely nice of her and her husband to do that. We agree to meet at 9AM and head into the office. I check in , take a shower and check out into a deep deep pillow from God.

 

Long run in Dalian

Dalian is a vibrant city – full of life and people in love. There is no better way to end a great day other than a 2 hour run from the center of the city to the sea and ShingXI Square.

Today Charley and I went to lunch. We ate at an off the beaten track barb b que place. Rick introduced us at Men's Kitchen night at Shangri La on Remin Road.

Eating off the beaten track sounded dicey, but I took a chance.

The squid on a stick looked really gross uncooked, but man that stuff is good with some Cajun like seasoning – like a rub – not a sauce.

Chicken hearts on a wooden spear were, well interesting things to bite down on. I think some of the meat was pork? Or maybe dog? Not really sure.

The veggies were cool, mushroom sprouts grilled to perfection, with a pot of tea.

Cost 49 RMB – (about 7 US$) for both meals.

After lunch it was off to Archee market – a 2 building 5 floor bazaar that is made for bartering. Everything has inflated prices, so you basically figure if you can get them down to half of the list price you are doing pretty well.

Everything is there from curtains to pots to clothes and real tailors in the basement if you want anything, you can basically get it.

I bought a nice polo shirt for 100 RMB or about $14 USD. Walking thru a sea of humanity on a pretty day is just amazing. You can go by cab most anywhere for 8 RMB ( just over a dollar) but why would you?

Walking is way more fun, and bazar.

Crossing the street is like running an obstacle course. Cars have trhe right of way and if they beep to warn you, they are absolved of any wrong doing if they hit you, so like ants lines of people march acorss the busy intersection one lane at a time. For about 3 minutes today we stood in the middle of the street with traffic flowing inches away on either side waiting for a moment to inch a lane further across.

Dangerous perhaps, but quite fun to be part of.

The run to the sea and Shing Xi Square was just fun – Michael Stanley in the Ipod Shufflle knock off eased thru the memories of when they were the in band in Cleveland years ago. The Olympic Soccer stadium has been torn down, the rings are still there as a reminder, and all along the way the new subway terminals are under contruction.

Massive amount of civil building projects in progress.

The square is absolutely beautiful at night. It is probably 1 mile by a ½ mile across lined by 2 story granite sports figurines and landscaping to die for. Just outside the square are hotels, and what appears to be a one upmanship contest to see who can supply a more pretty building lighting. Not over done, just outstanding.

I ran around the figuring statue in the middle of the square. Couples walk hand in hand 0 it is a lovely night.

1 hour and 45 minutes latter I arrive back at my hotel just in time to watch a fireworks display in the park across the street – Boom echos rattle building to building. Amazing stuff.

Now its raining – darn it – I seem to have lost my umbrella. Time to go eat and maybe go catch a band at Shangri La.

Only in Dalian.

7AM

Jennifer is up, and Kevin was starting to make noise. Oh Oh….

Last night was too much fun but not "too much fun" – I feel pretty good, it's a Regatta, and Its still early. Very good!

I looked straight up from the mattress and see a Mistral screamer. I have one of those boards back in the day, they were hot boards, and in fact, they still are.

I don't sail mine much, in fact at all these days. Funny place to put such a cool board.

As my eyes adjust to the morning sun and the calm lake in the background, I recognize the signature on the board. US 9 Nevin Sayre. Kevin is US 8.

Nevin? – As I stare this is not an ordinary board. It is Thee board!

Nevin Sayre was pretty much unstoppable in the mid 1980's and probably still is. We were friends on the regatta circuit, and I often marveled at how he could sail through most anyone.

There is much lore on the ceilings, I think this board is from a world championship. Wow, I slept under the wind surf Gods and dreamed of sailing all night.

How did those two things align? It is going to be a good day J

This is starting to be a really cool weekend. No cell phone, surrounded by wind junkies with some of the worlds best memories right over my head showing visions of past and digging out of vapor some of my most fondest memories. I think some of those memories and dreams last night were not mine, but were shared with me by friends nearby.

As my eyes clear further, I see more and more history unfolding form the days of old, when windsurfing was an unstoppable force. This is a very positive place.

So how it had all disappeared, or so I thought. Mostly there was only a race series in the mid west and in Florida today. In the Midwest, I know about the race series, or at least as the President of the Mid West Organizers of Windsurfing, I had better know about it. Back then there were races everywhere, with folks jetting around the lobe to catch the best wind and waves.

But this place was different. Friends and folks that sailed together 10 and 20 years ago, we still here.

Wow.

Last night Jennifer took a picture of the group while we sat on the rocks as the sun sank into the committee boat. She was up early working on photo shop to clean it up, so she could email it. I hope she does, it was a smaller group at sunset, the fun really began after that, but it represents the fun I once had and I think lost with windsurfing so many years ago.

It was perfect!

After I get moving, Kevin disappears to go get the committee boat fuel, and we focus on the broken step on the front porch. A little wind junkie team work, 5 screws and some scrap wood we dug from Kevins garage and it was like new (almost). Folks are showing up and it is a beautiful morning.

Slowly sailors with every imaginable version of a trailer begin to show up. The only rule for wind surf gear trailers is there is no rule.

Sails begin to sprawl on the grass of the park across the street and folks begin to register. Soon we are 20 sailors and friends strong listening to Arden Anderson explain the course he intends to set, the expected wind and the days activites. Ted and Tara and I stand and watch yet another regatta unfold. This one will be different. I know it, just not why.

Something is different here in this place.

Much like the Tarahumara Indians who run more miles than some consider humanly possible for fun, these folks sail every imaginable contraption year round, just for fun. Maybe it's the people.

 

I head out to dig out my wetsuit and harness. I had almost not come. I am more than happy I did not make that decision.

3AM?

Well just where did that come from?

Magically it appeared in a night full of history, fun, and friendship.

 

As the night had unfolded something magical seemed to happen.

Kevin said "Don't worry – I'll take care of you".

And he did, as did his friends, and fellow wind junkies.

It did not seem to matter than I was from Ohio and had not sailed on Fond Du Lac for 20 some years. By 3AM, a variety of beverage had been consumed including something called a SB – supposedly if you drank one you would take off your clothes, thankfully I declined.

As I walked toward the door, I realized,

I guess I had better ask Kevin what "don't worry, I'll take care of you" meant. I mean, I had no tent, sleeping bag nor hotel room, and even if I did, there was no taxi nor way I was driving anywhere.

Certainly up to this point he had done that famously, but sleeping the car would be a real pain.

Soon we were walking back to Windpower and once inside Kevins Home, a mattress appeared, as did a pillow and a blanket.

This was most Welcome. I smiled, laid down, my head filled with a James Taylor song – His town too…. Always a shade of a doubt.., Who comes to call, maybe a friend of a friend of a friend….

….Sliding into a bottom turn off Buck Island in St. Croix,,,,

Drifting off into deep sleep below what appeared to be windsurf gear hanging from the ceiling was soon easy. Kevin came into say one last thing, "welcome to the Regatta."

I was finally happy. Not sure what it took to make that happen, but it is now cool.

My head was filled with orange bouys of past, surfing and jumping waves, and the start line at the 1984 World Championships – 410 strong.

400 Sails on one start line. I was there, and it was doubly cool.

ZZZzzzz ZZZ zzzz ZZZzzz….

The lost Tribe at Fond Du Lac

Really there probably was. The region was once heavily populated by American Indians and explored heavily by French Explorers. But this tribe is different.

They are wind junkies. I once was. Somehow I got responsibility and that faded and I lost it.

20 years ago there were these tribes on every continent. Windsurfing was the "in" rage, and most everyone had a "Windsurfer" brand one design board and sail that was identical to everyone elses.

We had a great group of families that traveled together, sailed together, and lived life on the weekend together each summer.

The One Design days were cool.

This meant the janitor could compete on the same equipment as the CEO, and it came down to who had the best skills and desire that won at races, but more than that, it meant everyone was equal, and we all learned to windsurf. It was not uncommon to find 60 plus at a local spot on a good day, who just turned out to have fun. The higher the wind, the harder it got, kinda like climbing a step hill on a trail race, there are different gears needed to handle these different challenges.

I have been reading a great book, and tis group syncs up with the spirit of the book. They still get together to sail, often. If they are not sailing they are having fun. Even when they are sailing they are having fun. Born t Run is about running for fun – Great parallels,

Anyway, Friday evening the wind machine of the afternoon shut down, and folks were packing up gear when a few folks arrived and floated in out of now where, or perhaps from the past. It would have been fun to get in some fun on the water.

The History of Windsurfing: A lost pair of old friends are found again.

In the mid 1980's the Schwietzer family was centric to the windsurfer brand. So - when Ted and Tara showed up with an updated version of a windsurfing van, with 2 old school windsurfer boards on top, it took me back to the days when we traveled all points on North America, with barely a dollar to eat with, but somehow managed to pay for gas and entry fee to get into the next regatta.

Going to events back then was just fun, racing was fun, winning occasionally was fun, and being with friends from all over the world was fun.

Here they were again, first time in 20 some years. This event had a feel it was going to be different. As the sunset over the lake in a spectacular display of orange and red, we retired to the sunset supper lounge and restaurant, established in 1838. Old school place. Kinda looked like it could be fun latter.

After the gear was away we headed over under the leadership of the Fond Du Lac tribe (Kevin) to the tribal house.

Tribal drink flowed as did the flow of more members from the local gang. So we were many strong, and the discussion ranged from wind, history, massage techniques, body parts, and then slid into the deep abyss. Somewhere in the enchantment I ate a wonderful piece of Salmon, and laughed. The issues of the day were far behind.

I had found a lost tribe of wind junkies, and their friends of the last 20 plus years were joining them at the tribal lodge.

There used to be a word – I think form the sixties – Karma.

Perhaps way to deep into words for a good time and being with friends.

There is however something going on here.

Perhaps it is Karma. If that is how it is actually spelled. Not a word I normally allow in my vocabulary.