Printable View
Jackie - Belated happy Birthday. Screw away old chap. You couldn't possibly offend me with your additions to this, or any other thread. By the way, that word curmudgeon is one that my wife sometimes uses for me. I don't understand. I thought I was loveable. Perhaps we are both just loveable curmudgeons. Best Regards You Old Fart - Steve
I just joined this forum recently and am happy I did. I started reading this page today and am up to page 7. Saw a picture of my Dad ( Don Pruett). I am his second son Randy. My Mom is Joan Pruett went to school with you and Bill. I remeber Bill fondly. He was always nice to me as a kid. Not sure if I ever meet you Steve. I called my Mom today and told her about this thread so far. She say that you wrote a very nice letter when my father passed away. Thanks for that. Mom still has the letter to this day and says she will send me a copy. I cant wait to get back to reading more of this thread. I also have fond memories of lake X, however I am sure they are very differant from yours since I was just a kid all the times I have been there. I have not seen it since the 80's. Thanks again! :thumbsup:
Picture of Bill on page 26 is how I remember him. Also somewhere in this thread I read about our monkey Flint and himpeeing on folks. I remember Flint he was fun however my Mom hated him seems he liked to throw poo at her. :eek: Well I will have to go back to reading this tommorow since its now 0013 hours and I have to be at work tommorow. Thanks for this thread. Any idea where I might find more stories of Dad?
Hiya Randy, Last time i saw you was 1973, you were living in Sarasota, dad was still getting over his accident but still flying a plane out of Bradenton,'cos he collected me from Loma Linda. There are more stories and legends about your dad than anyone who ever put their bum in a boat.
Any one of the characters on this thread could tell you tales for the next ten years.
Garbrecht once said " There has to be something i like about Pruett, but i'm damned if i know what is" Think it was Dave Biers who said------ YEAH !!!!!!!! JOAN.
I think in 73 we were living in California, but I would have been 6 so I could be wrong. We moved to Sarasota in around 83, which was the first time I lived in Sarasota. Of course my parents lived their before me so you might remember my older brother Bill. Actualy he is a half brother from Dads first wife. Dad had a total of 6 kids from two wifes. Bill, Donna & Jan from his first wife. Craig, Randy (me) & Ben from his second wife Joan or Mom as I call her. Hope to here from you guys that knew Mom & Dad. I think I remember you or at least Mom and Dad talking about you. Damn its 4am I better get to bed. :cheers:
Topar
Randy, you have a personal message. You might remember me, Joe Fielder. Don & I had P&F marine in '72. I was the one posting about Flint !!!
Fielder
Regards to all,, Happy Late Birthday to Jackie W. Whom I never met but always enjoy his writing wit and humor......Quick update on WPB OSS series race in October, Have talked with Steve and is progressing nicely, Will meet with the group from Miss Geico, when the boat show season gets past us and start separate thread to keep everyone informed,,, Anyone going to Miami Boat Show next week?????? Stop by Rampage Booth and say hi... :cheers:
I dont know if this is okay to put on this Lake X thread or not but since I have posted on here a few times and some of Dads friends seem to be here I thought I would show you the form of motorsports I play in. I am a Police Officer for a living (Not sure what Dad would think of that). However since I dont live anywhear near the water I had to find something to do. I rock crawl. I have built this truck from the ground up. The cab and front clip is an 81 Toyota other than that its all Randy built.
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...T0494Small.jpg
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...Picture004.jpg
If anyone is intreasted in hearing about it I could start a new thread and tell you guys about rock crawlin.
I think you are right Ole....:iagree:Quote:
Originally Posted by OLEGATOR
Not only too skinny but too light. Roy was fair completed and would burn easly, Odell, like me was dark completed.....Poor Roy would be burnt after a race day and I would be darker....:thumbsup:
I will never forget my first view of a Molinari running. I was standing at the entrance to the old Lake X boat slip (by the motel) with several others, to include Mr Kiekhaefer. Roy Ridgell was coming straight at us from across the lake. We could see all the way through the tunnel to the lower unit and the boat was flying perfectly stable. I think we all realized that this was one of those history changing moments. This was just prior to the Gold Coast Marathon. If I do a little research, I can figure out which year. After the race Roy told me that he would run up next to one of the several SK type boats, stabilize next to him, look over at the driver and wave, the look on the guy's face was pure astonishment, then he would accelerate and leave the guy shaking his head. Not too long after that I got to spend some time running an open cockpit, 2 seat (or was it a 4 seater) pedestrian Molinari. It had been sitting in the boat shed for some time, so I asked if I could re-paint it black with yellow accent (which I did) and run it (which I also did). I don't know what ever became of that boat. The last I know of, it was still sitting in the boat shed. I am fairly sure that it was a different boat than the one Roy ran in the GCM, but I could be wrong. :p Best Regards - Steve Sirois
First i would like to thank ALL the guys who sent me birthday wishes --even Welch !!!!! who cannot understand how anyone who lived the life i did could possibly reach 77 and flying. Well i can tell you now-----HE was no Saint William either.
The very first time i came across Roy Ridgell was at the London Motor Boat Raceclubs Saturday afternoon competitions. 3 heats of 12 laps round a mile circuit with a wicked right hander. Good time for the Mercury 1100 boats was 1-08, these were either MM levis, Shakespeare Avons, Yarecraft, or Bristols.
I had just bought The Torriggia tunnel boat and was running at 1-02 and it was creating something of a stir in British powerboating circles. This American came over and told me he was running a tunnel boat over in the states and had "FLIPPED" it. Stupid pratt i thought,!!!!! what an idiot,!!!! how could you "FLIPP" one of these wonderful craft,???? How indeed !!!!!!! The very next heat, the wind got up, and i had it trimmed out on the fifth pin hole and i got away with it for 10 laps and thought what a magic indestructible piece of kit this was. Then the damn thing just went Up, and Up and even further up, after shaking hands with God, and being told i was not wanted up there, he waved me a fond farewell, and like all good pilots do occasionally i did a full 360 and landed the right way up, still clutching a very bent and worse for wear AVANTI wood and polished alloy steering wheel. Fired up the engine and went on to win the heat. Ridgell was waiting with the biggest grin on his face at the dock and he said, "i told you you were going to do it Boy, just like that "!!!! Roy had a wonderful way with people, he just said "YES" and agreed with everything, i could never understand how he never made top management at Mercury, he was friends with everyone.
The black and yellow Moli - if it was a wood hull and side by side seating, Tom Wenstadt, who worked for Mercury engineering in Oshkosh in the early 80's, ended up with it. He ran a 1500XS on it, I had a ride on Lake Winnebago one day in about 3 foot seas, that thing went right over the waves witout a wiggle. Tom blew it over down at Grass Lake IL at a 'run what ya brung' event and destroyed it. Tom went on to become head engineer for Four Winns and I think he has retired from there, possibly still lives in Cadillac MI.
Bernie - Definately wood hull with side by side seating. The yellow part was on the deck and vee shaped. Sure wish I had a picture, but a camera at Lake X could get one in big trouble. - Steve
Jackie - Bobby could confirm, but I think Roy went on the Bass Fishing Tour as Mercury Rep in the later years. - Steve
Bernie - See post #840 on previous page
For the longest time I did not understand why if Kiekhaefer possessed some of these boats he did not send them out to conquer the world.
Only today did I get it correct in my head that Dieter Schulze's trip to the US only accidentally coincided with OMC coming back into racing head first and making Kiekhaefer bring out his big guns in retaliation. Kiekhaefer wasn't reacting to Schulze's single engine class win, he was reacting to the OMC motors. That is why there was a delay between Kiekhaefer acquiring these early Molinari tunnels and going full blast later.
Prior to the 1967 racing season Kiekhaefer was working under the impression that there was a "gentleman's agreement" for factories not to fund big time racing teams. Once the OMC GT-115 and X-115 came out, along with the 55hp Triumph 3 cylinder, a new day began.
Steve - you are correct about Roy, he was tournament support for a number of years. One of these days i'll find a picture I took of him and his trailer.
jeff
Hiya Steve, I met Roy in the early 80's [ think that was the date] and he told me he was looking after the fish tournaments . I look back at some of the senior management at Mercury and it left a lot to be desired, there were some real dingleberries employed !!!!!!! A little experience would have sufficed.Quote:
Originally Posted by seeroy
Don Ross built the "ROSSINARI" in 1966/7 and i borrowed his boat builder and made a tunnel boat in my workshop loft. Roy brought his friend with him to see it, He was called Joe Swift. They were at Iver Heath when the boat made it's debut.
The reason i tell you all this is because it becomes obvious that boats and motors are developing faster than at any other time. Mr K. and co. were really keeping up with the times and searching everywhere both home and abroad.
Bill Shakespeare [shakey] had a boat builder by the name of Dave Burgess.
Freddie Miles was full of Ideas and later employed `Dave Burgess.
Chris Hodges had left Cougars and branched out on his own as a tunnel boat builder.
They all wanted to get into Mercury's knickers, but all of them batted for both sides.
Hodges was given the biggest cheque of his life to build solely for O.M.C. and anyone they said could have a V8. But he did give the world the safety cell as we know it.
Cees Velden was churning out boats and fart arsing with a safety cell that never quite made it. Neither did Bill Browns attempts to solve the problem.
Molinari was in full flow and producing from a production line to replace boats that were destroyed more frequently than ever before. The bubble lasted 3 years before it finally burst, leaving a trail of devastation that was only slowly mopped up by a few dedicated enthusiasts. But it took a while to sort out.
Ok . Start the fan and throw the excreta !!!!!!!!!
I really only meant to point out that Mr. K. and Co. were on the ball at that time, but i guess my mouth is going to get me into trouble again
JackieQuote:
Originally Posted by jackie wilson
Roy had baggage including a little ( politically incorrect) brother:reddevil:..I pulled a few stunts that did not help Roy at all in the ole days and Europe was a good example. Roy put up with a lot of me over the years...He was doing the BASS tournament series when he had his last heart attack. There was some great write-ups in the Bass mags and some fine tributes from some of the Pro Bass Show Hosts.
Roy was a better driver than credit was ever given.... He had a great life...
As we all did ....given the oppoptunity to drive the best equipment in the marine world, tear it up, and still have the same job the next day.....Lake X was one Hell-of-a-place to play and still get paid...:leaving::leaving:
BobbyR
Hiya Bobby, I am so glad Pruett took me to Lake X, People all over the world wondered about this mysterious ,magical place where the future of marine propulsion was being developed. Had they got aliens working there ? why was it so secret,? had they discovered a lost world ? Outside the U.S.A. it was regarded with wonderment, and i am certain nobody working there knew what an impact the place had on the boating world, particularly the sporting section. What on earth were Mercury thinking about when they closed the place.??? I heard a load of b-ll sh-t from management, but the real reason has still to be told.
It's great that 40 years after i visited, i am still in touch with the people who actually made the place tick. I know Mercury have moved the facility to another place, but i am damned if i know where it is or what it's called.But one thing i do know, it will never ever have the impact on the world that Lake X had.
Well said Jackie,,,,,,,,, After over 40 years it has been incredible to have kept up with the guys I ran endurance with and have kept up as friends,, In many respects, it was magic.........:cheers:
As the terrestrial motorcar set down the operator said “There it is Lad, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://forums.screamandfly.com/forum...laceType w:st=Lake</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">X</st1:PlaceName></ST1:p, tell them your Roy’s brother”. “But I don’t even look like him” I said... “No matter” the bloke replied and off down the terrestrial carriageway he went. (You were right Jackie)
The year 1960, the place the front gate of the <ST1:pLake</ST1:p, a 21 year old kid (fresh out of the Army) stood as the guard asks what I wanted. “Roy Ridgell” I said, throwing out my chest, I was <st1:City w:st="on"><ST1:pRoy</ST1:p</st1:City>’s little brother. “Go on down to the shop and ask anyone”. He replied.
When I pulled in front of the shop (driving a ‘58 Chevy convertible with a 348 tri-duce) and parked, I was approached by what looked like the gardener. Grey haired gentleman in dirty coveralls with a cigar. “Who are you looking for?” He asks. “<st1:City w:st="on"><ST1:pRoy</ST1:p</st1:City>was the reply.” “Wait here” and he walked back to the shop.
<st1:City w:st="on"><ST1:pRoy </ST1:p</st1:City>came out, greeted me and we when over to one of the trailers. “You can sleep here if you want; Mr. K said if you want a job for me to get you up with Collins in the morning”. Oh! By the way the Ole Man wants to know if will run. “Low 15’s mid nineties” I said. “He wants to try it against one of his Plymouths in the morning”
That is how it started for me……
I helped build the road around the <ST1:pLake</ST1:p... Many stories<O:p></O:p>
1961 Miami-Nassau with George Thompson... Great story <O:p></O:p>
First <st1:country-region w:st="on"><ST1:pBahamas</ST1:p</st1:country-region>500... Many stories<O:p></O:p>
Steve,<O:p></O:p>
If I get out of hand please let me know..... I saw where you had someone object to long winded entries but the stories I have are not short. The more I read and think the more I remember...Again I thank you for putting this together for my enjoyment....and Jackie’s:cheers::cheers:
BobbyR<O:p></O:p>
P.S. Jackie, the ones flowing in our footsteps will never experience the fast development of the marine world nor the many outlets for our sport. The water ways are so crowed now that many races we experienced will never be again...<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
<O:p></O:p>
Bobby - I don't know where you got the idea that I don't like long stories. The fact is that I love them, as you can probably tell by reading some of my early ones. I would probably be writing some right now if it wasn't for some recent problems with my right hand. Recently had some surgery on my right thumb. If it ever heals properly I want to write some long stroies about Doug Janisch and Houseboat trip. Have you ever thought about how many things a healthy right thumb is necessary for? :o Best Regards - Steve
I wasn't working there, but we drove from Miami to the Lake towing a Raveau for a new motor..the road was pretty bad in Phil Young's Impala..two ruts and a hump in the middle..never got stuck though..Mr K was there to meet us..either George Thompson or Joe Anderson ran the place..hard to tell who was boss when the BOSS was around..Must have been late 59 early 60..Chuck, Johnny B, Odell, Bill S, Roy, were all there..WOW ...what a place..Johnny B had a hot rod Plymouth, or two, Chuck had a 59 El Camino with a 348..3 on the tree w/overdrive..
Hiya Steve,Quote:
Originally Posted by seeroy
Without a shadow of a doubt, the right hand thumb is the most important of the 10 hand digits. Just think back to all the things you have used that great piece of equipment for and smile !!!!!!!!!!
Makes me realise the struggle we have to keep up with the Jones's. Feb 18th right cataract removed---March 28th. left one removed------that's on top of the Gout problems------the diabetic pills------- the athritic hands to name just a few. 20 years next month since the triple by-pass. But if you passed me in the street, you would comment on the finely tuned piece of kit i have left called a body. [i tell lies and tall stories].
But if anyone wants to take me on in a 10 yard sprint, i'm up for it as long as its for the over 65's.
If your living, breathing, can walk round the pits, and hit the centre of the can when you take a leak. be thankful, your in great shape !!!!!!!
Hiya Jim, Long time no see, !!!!! but we can rectify that if this here Florida get together comes to fruition.Quote:
Originally Posted by OLEGATOR
Thanks for the info on the new Mercury test site called X, sounds imaginative [to a toad]. Didn't Bob Mc Culloch Call his secret lake SITE 7 or something like that.? Didn't It become Lake Havasu in later life. ??
Yes, McCullough's location in Arizona was called "Site 6" when he bought it from the US government (US Army R&R Site 6, I think pilots went there to go fishing). It wasn't as much a secret as it was just plain remote and hard to get to. Yes, he did develop it into Lake Havasu City ... which I'm sure was his plan all along. To use it as a race development location was just a side benefit along the way. :cheers:Quote:
Originally Posted by jackie wilson
You have to admit if that's the case, Bob was a whole lot smarter than we all gave him credit for. I thought he was the guy who made chain saws, obscure outboards and kinky flying machines, and bought the odd London bridge when it was on special, as well as sticking up $64,000 in prize money.
Can remember Scottie offering me a lakeside plot of land he won as a secondary prize for $500 cash, there and then, but who the hell would want to build a holiday home beside a lake in such a god forsaken place as Havasu, [ it was the late 60's]
Which of us was the idiot. ????
You are right. He was also the guy who invented the supercharger that was used on Studebaker and Ford Hi Performance cars in the 1950's.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackie wilson
The Outboard World Championships and prize money were just a stunt to put Havasu on the map so people would know where to look in the desert for a nice holiday place.:cheers:
Beats the hell out of billboard, radio, classified, T.V. and gossip columns. Old Bob must have made a shilling or two from his erstwhile efforts. Well done sez i, we were there !!!!!!
SteveQuote:
Originally Posted by seeroy
Roy did if fact go with the service rep's and then to the bass tourn. He died at one of the tourn. and Bob Lee was in route to help him. ( Masive hart attact). I think it was in Alabama.
Mike Ramsey
To all the "old 'uns"
If any of you happen to be in Miami between the !2th and 15th February, why not pop into the Miami Boat Show and say hello to my grandson Craig. He will be working on Reggies stand. I'm sure he doesn't believe i still talk to all you guys after all these years. Hell !!!!! he wasn't even the twinkle in his daddies eye when we were playing boats. Anyway, you never know who you might meet there, go on, give it a try, you might like it. I think his P1 42' Fountain is on show. I know it's nothing like the kit we played with but at least it just needs water.
The Rampage exhibit where I"ll be is very close to Sir Reggies Fountains will make it a point to say Hello,,,,,, and tell him "How it used to be" Hell we can even compare heart attack stories,,,,,,, BTW Reggies stock today is trading @ 11 cents a share...... Pretty expensive boat show to go to when business is like this.........:cheers:
The Lake </ST1:pwas a buzz of activity preparing for the coming ocean race. I was helping anyone that could use a hand and especially George Thompson with an 18’ Ted Jones catamaran sporting a couple of full gear shift 800’s, I thought. Wooden at that, with the old flat pads that made it take up the south end of the lake to make a turn. All the boat assignments complete… I wasn’t in the hunt…
The boats being prepared were not the sleek Cigarettes, Donzs or Scarabs of later years but mostly fishing and cruising boats off the production lines along with a few one offs like the Mabry Edwards boat. The boat George had chosen was not a typical boat that the sound minded boater would have picked for an almost 200 mile open water ocean race, but then at the Lake who’s sane or sound … <O:p></O:p>
I believe that this is the same year that the specially made Power Cat cabin cruiser (another story) had been cut down and a couple of 409’s with No.2 drives installed. Two brothers from <ST1:p<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comhttp://forums.screamandfly.com/forum...st1:City w:st=Key West </st1:City></ST1:pwere to drive it…<O:p></O:p>
(Disclaimer) If at anytime my memories and yours differ please jump in and help me make this Lake “ X” History… add your memories….I stayed so busy and there was so much more going on around me…no way I can remember it all or correctly.<O:p></O:p>
George had asked for my help and I was glad to give it. The boat was hard to top over (get on plane) so we had rigged a rope from the bow to the engines that the co-driver could hold on to in order to find his way back to the small seat behind George after riding the bow to get on plane. I had helped him find a place for all the safety equipment in this small boat, also helped in foaming in the new fuel tanks in each sponson, rigging the porter power jack and ram for the jack plate in the tunnel. I would say that finding room for all the required equipment, tools, spare props and enough room for a crewman was by far the most challenging. In the floor between the driver and crewman legs were a couple of WW11 bombardier compasses with the parallel lines and a rotating bezel that allowed you to swing the lines to a position that when you were on course all you had to do was make sure the compass line was inside the parallel lines. EASY – it was on the lake in a chop.<O:p></O:p>
Then the ECK game started …. No we’re not going… Yes we are…. No we’re not…<O:p</O:p
The game was played like this if the “no we’re not” flag was up we did not work on race boats if the ole’ man was around, as soon as he left or they could get someone to distract him it was full steam ahead… <O:p</O:p
Every day was filled with installing engines, rigging controls and prop testing. You could look around and see glass work, engine work, wood work, rigging, welding and anything in between happening. Everything was at such a pace that I went for three days without more than a couple of hours sleep at a time.<O:p></O:p>
The ole’ man had us all load up to go to <st1:City w:st="on">Miami</st1:City> for the pre-race meeting at the <ST1:p<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">DuPont</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Plaza</st1:PlaceType></ST1:p. This is the third year for a race started by Sam Griffith and Dick Bertram. The 1961 Miami-Nassau Race, 187 miles from Government Cut to Nassau Yacht Club, with a stop in Cat Cay for a transire to enter the Bahamas.<O:p></O:p>
That’s right, 60 miles into the race we had to stop a get a piece of paper that allows us entry into a foreign country. I believe there were 60 + boats for this race. Got crowded at the docks in Cat Cay… I’m getting ahead of myself…<O:p></O:p>
Don’t remember what happened but I do remember the ole Man came over and asked <ST1:p<st1:City w:st="on">Roy</st1:City></ST1:p if it was okay for me to ride with George… Yes!….Yes! I was going on the race. We had crash courses in navigation and if everything else failed, follow the day glow orange tailed Grumman Goose…. Izzy would set it on top of you if you got off course.<O:p</O:p
The race committee had decided (for the spectators) that the start would be in rows motoring out Government Cut. I believe George drew row seven or eight… <st1:City w:st="on"><ST1:pRoy</ST1:p</st1:City> in a 25’ Bertram was a two of rows ahead of us along with a couple of Coast Guard Diesel entries. A young lady in the front committee boat was standing with a flag. Now the whole group was to parade down government Cut and spread out outside of the jetties and she (the young lady) was to lower the flag. Nothing to it….. About half way to the Coast Guard station she (the young lady) slipped and fell... The flag goes down…..<O:p></O:p>
All hell breaks loose… I see <st1:City w:st="on"><ST1:pRoy</ST1:p</st1:City>’s Bertram stand straight up, I see billowing clouds of smoke from the diesel entries including the record holder, Jack Manson’s Allied GX, a 42 footer that holds the record in the mid forties for this race. I jump up on the bow and George gets ’er on top. We immediately head to the south side of the cut in the shallow (calm) water dodging crab trap buoys. (There were no big docking facilities there then). There is total chaos on the north side; one of the Coast Guard entries has run over another entry…No harm to anyone, but one maybe both boats out of the race. She (the young lady) is back up and tries to raise the flag… too late; the race is on….. George and I out drag everyone to the jetties. And then………they must have been at least two footers… huge waves for an eighteen foot boat…<O:p</O:p
<O:p</O:p
To be continued……….:cheers:<O:p></O:p>
<O:p</O:p
Bobby - You are exactly what this thread is about. Thank You - Steve
This is great reading. Oh I said that before. But it really is great. TKs
Steve, How is your thumb???? ---:thumbsup:I hope.........
Thanks guys, I wasn't sure how my rambling would be accepted. As I write I remember more things that happened.
The fuel tanks that were used for many years were surplus aircraft wing tanks. The ends were cut off, painted with a reflective paint and put on water pipe to mark the endurance course at the lake. The welder thats was hired for this job spent so much time before the '61 race that he had some bad burns.
George and I found some pipe and plate and had him weld a grab bar that we installed in front of my seat right behind his back. That bar stopped the batteries when he stuffed it at Baker's Haulover later in the Round -The- Beach-Race.. George said that judging from the damage they (the batteries) did it probablly saved his life. Pictures are in "Letters from Heaven" Miami 1960
I mention that I had seen the bow of Roy's Bertram go straight up, well after the race he told me that he had stepped to the back of the boat (remember - these are open production boats) to check something around the engines when the flag fell. His co-driver that he had left at the wheel was Nat Tashman (Editor & Chief of Go Boating) who had little to no experience with a boat in a race. This was not unusual for the ole' man to have someone from the News media riding with you.( i had the pleasure of Hank Bowman for the Around Long Island race.)
Nat had pushed the throttles forward hard and the boat when up and fell over on it's starboard side. Roy said that by the time he could pick himself up off the floor and get back to the wheel they were heading south in a race that was going east. He doesn't know how they missed everyone but was glad they did.
Johnny Bakos won the race in a 25' Moppie this year and Odell in '62.
If they are reading this I know they have a lot of Lake X stories to tell.
I know that Chet has stories along with many others... We have lost so many (Bill, Roy, Jim) it's a shame to lose all the history of the lake...
thanks Steve........
Bobby - Great stories! Keep them coming. One of the things that I really like about them is that they are from the time period before I got to the Lake. Consequently they are very informative to me. Therefore they fill in a lot of blanks for me...and others. BTW...thumb is about 95% now. I'm very glad I did the "Trigger Thumb" release surgery. My thumb and hand are feeling better than they have for about 6 months.
Best Regards - Steve
George and I had left the field in a confused mess and were the first boat out the jetties. High flying and stalling off the waves got our attention... Let me say now that I never had any doubts about George’s abilities at the wheel… My thoughts were about how long this ole’ Cat would take the pounding. George backed off and we started watching the field pass. I mention the Allied GX earlier, as it passed George jumped the waves and we got right on her fan tail, letting her knock the tops off the waves. I may have given it too much credit; the record may have been the low forties. So that’s the picture the cat hugged up close to larger boat for 187 miles
Now history lesson, Helmets and life jackets recommended but not required. (You had to have your coast guard equipment on board)<O:p</O:p
Yep, there we were looking at a comfortable crew (no jackets or helmets) moving about their spacious boat having coffee as George and I bobbed along behind, staying close to escape the “heavy” seas. Now the seas were running 2 to 3 which were ideal for the big boat, just a nice ride. They even had to rub it in a bit by walking to the back and offering us a cup of coffee. Not really an option, by now the diesel fumes were getting a little over whelming. <O:p></O:p>
George dropped back as far as he could and still have a ride we could live with. We watched as more boats passed…<O:p></O:p>
This continued for about forty plus miles, that’s right the first hour was spent looking at the transom of a diesel cabin boat and crew….Then the seas disappeared, just swells with no chop. George jumped the wake and in seconds we were at top speed. The ten +or- miles to Cat Cay went quickly. As we entered the small harbor it was obvious that the transire process was having some trouble. There must have been ten or so boats trying to get to the dock. I motioned to one of the Bahamian’s to wad the paper up and throw it, I am riding the bow and we are off plane in the harbor. The gentleman grabbed a stone, shell or something, wrapped the paper around it and sailed it our way. I don’t know how but I caught it and in the harbor George gets ’er on plane. Later on we learned that were in 36th place at Cat Cay…<O:p></O:p>
more to come…..:cool:<O:p></O:p>