Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A Final Bite For 2008

"Ahhh..."sums up my feelings as the final hours of 2008 dwindle. I've gone about scanning the "news" and published "opinion" on the state of sailing and honestly have no interest in wasting the last hours of 2008 looking over the year's down falls. Never mind the current state of things. We get it. I get it. There are hard times ahead but I still love sailing and wish for everyone else who shares this passion a year full of it! No matter how and what you have to do to enjoy the sport you love (even if it isn't sailing,) there are ways to enjoy the things we love on a nickle and a dime.

In the mean time, in the spirit of getting excited about something to kick-off 2009: Acura Key West Baby!!! It's going to be a party and with the folks from Sailing Anarchy promising live coverage, the return of our "Premiere-Bloggers" from last event, ESPN coverage and all the media gurus flocking for the Southern Love found only in America's most Southern Point: the folks at home will feel the party on every corner of the globe!

Wishing the world of sailors a fabulous New Year ~ here's to 2009!

And for those who would like a title "Year-In-Review"



Want more...The Boston Globe's "Big Picture" has an INCREDIBLE three part series of photos essays from the world's top photojournalist...and that is the last bite for 2008!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Sydney-Hobart: Big Bite!

Some people are curled up recovering from the post Christmas Day "coma," watching T.V. tucking in the over-tired kiddos (and adults) and then there are those who recover by huddling around the computer to watch the start of the 64th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race...

And They Are Off!

Wild Olds Dominated Right From The Get Go!

Ahh...this is fantastic! Though I was unable to run a larger screen view the commentary was fantastic (still is as it is still on...) and the video/sound quality: excellent. There was a 1 minute delay, but hey, it's a real treat to watch and zero complaints.

As I close this out, at twenty minutes into the start, "Oats" was building, building on their early lead...now we follow to see how they hold out...

Hope all had a lovely Holiday ~ Cheers!

P.S. One Last Parting Screen Shot: "Oats" to left of screen and in the lead as they leave Bondi Beach to their starboard hip (upper left corner of screen.)

Monday, December 22, 2008

A Few Bites Behind!

Made a move North to visit family in Vermont just in time for two winter storms and snow removal detail, which is no excuse for getting behind on my bites! I simply chose playing in the snow with my sister over blogging. Though, since it is taking two days to "relocate" the snow from key places around the house (including the 3 feet on the roof), blogging is WAY more fun!

My Younger Sister Taking Breather. The Next Door Neighbors Tell Us This Is The First Time They've Had This Much Snow Before Christmas. The Slopes Are Killer Power! ~ Cheers!

The winter "play" has been a fantastic workout and sparks thoughts of all the fellow sailors who head to the mountains. If any of you are chilling in the Sugarbush, Mad River area: send a note! It would be a blast to join up with fellow sailors on the slopes this winter.

Back On Topic

YAHOOOO!!!!! Telefonica Blue Won Leg Three!!!!! Sorry but it was members of this team who came to my aide while stranded with no place to sleep in Alicante and they have a special place in my heart and so pleased they got this one. Though, to top it off, Puma snuck right on past Eric 3,4 to grab Second and FINALLY a reprieve of the Ericsson domination!! Ha ha.

Its a good night in Singapore but I had a weird dream about Delta Lloyd last night...who are trucking along and making headway.

The bites may be more like nibbles the next few days, though I am looking forward to sneaking in some healthy bits for those who like a little virtual coach. I think tomorrow will cover recovery and self care for those in snowy regions...from shoveling to skiing: the body may actually work harder than a day on the water!?!

Happy Holidays!!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Breaking Bite: Delta Lloyd Serious Keel Issue

Never my favorite news to share....

Team's Press Release:
Broken Keel Structure Finishes Team Delta Lloyd In Third Leg
Kochi / India, December 18 2008


A broken keel structure finishes Team Delta Loyd in the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. The Dutch/Irish VO70 was halfway the Bay of Bengal on its way to Singapore, as the port side carbon structure around the ram broke. That happened on Thursday December 18 2008 at 19:30 hours local time. Skipper Roberto BĂ©rmudeze de Castro (ESP) and his crew are safe. The boat doesn’t take water and continues sailing, without withdrawing from the third leg.

“We are currently putting up the J4, and we will sail eastward (upwind) with the keel centered using only the starboard ram”, reported navigator Matt Gregory (USA). “We should be able to sail at 7 knots. According to the boat designer it is safe to continue under sail and we are about 400 miles west of the northern corner of Sumatra. We have a fuel range of 450 miles and only enough food for 11 days at sea.” Meanwhile, Edwin O’Connor (IRL) is leading the process of fixing the keel.

Media Crew Member Sander Pluijm (NED) explains what happened two hours earlier: “We heard a big bang. Johnny and I thought the mast had come down. Everybody was shocked and we started searching below deck. It did not take long before we found the problem; the port side carbon structure that holds the ram was broken. At the moment, the guys are consulting external expertise to secure the keel.” It is too early to know the exact cause of the damage, but it is likely to be a failure of the hydraulic system. Pluym says explicitly that the race has not been abandoned yet: “The seal is still on the engine. We are looking into the possibilities of going the nearest harbor or to continue towards Singapore, which we prefer.”


Safety first
Skipper Roberto BĂ©rmudez de Castro (ESP) reacted disappointed: “This is incredibly bad luck, but the safety of the crew is my first priority. It is my job to bring them home safely.” The shore team is ready to start fixing the damage, which should enable Team Delta Lloyd to line up for the In-Port Race on January 10 in Singapore.

Additional Reports Posted At VOR

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Dear Santa

If I ever have the opportunity to be a true blue ocean sailor, may I please be like Sam Davies of Roxy!?!

From Sam:

Dear Santa I hope I have been good this year, and I hope you have time to come and visit Roxy this Christmas. If not, don't worry, but if you can, here is my Christmas wish list:

1. A Gore-tex balaclava
2. A second jockey pole, so I don't have all the palava of changing each time I gybe
3. A hair-dryer (12 V)

4. Rust cleaner (to get rid of the marks where the solar panels rust)

5. A fractional gennaker

6. A fractional halyard
7. A penguin (request from Lucky and Foxy who are scared of Albatrosses)

8. A nail file

9. Some fruit (mangoes, oranges, apples preferably)

10. Noise reducing headphones


I hope you manage to make everyone happy this year, and that the weather
is kind to you out there on your sleigh.... Love, Sam

PS if you have a tow-rope, I'd love a tow, up to be a bit nearer the leaders too please! Only if Rudolph doesn't mind the extra weight!

Everyday, No Matter The Day

You have to sit back and admire those who respect their choice to go out and do this race, or others like it and they just have a blast (within reason, as Sam noted when she saw her first iceberg, "Not Funny" her words, but it brought more appreciation.)

Let's Take Page From Sam: Keep It Light

It is Wednesday! "Hump Day" and it's come to my attention one of my fav sailing comics has a book out for this holiday season!!


I learned of Dave during a short stint working for WindCheck sailing magazine a few years back. I've been getting a kick out of these monthly doses of sailing laughter ever since. Cheers!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Disapointed Tuesday: Golding Dismasted In Vendee

Every morning, get up and dive right into the sailing scoop of the day; starting with the Vendee Globe. The various retirees is apart of the game, but never a feel-good-moment when one of the fan favorites has a misfortune.

From The Vendee Site: Golding relives the incident...

" Suddenly the boat took off on a wave. The wind instruments said the breeze was well over 40 knots. I grabbed my jacket and had just got on deck, half in half out my jacket, and the boat really sort of heeled over. The breeze got really strong and there was a big bang and the rig let go."

" It was knocked by a wave, not knocked flat so it was still powered up. The first thing you do with a gust is dial the pilot down while you work out if you have to do something about it or you can sit it out. There are very awkward seas and a big sea just pushed the stern round, so the boat was probably at 120-130 degrees and so the boat was very powered up at that point."

" The rig gave way very quickly so it was over in seconds. On the data feed you can see the wind gear stops at 49 knots and the boat speed was 30 knots. So it is just an overload on the rig. I wasn’t expecting the squall." Read Full Piece...

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Exciting: Sydney-Hobart LIVE!

Sailing Fans, Mark Your Calendar!

Regatta News:
Live start broadcast and webcast details:
December 11, 2008

In addition to Seven Network's live television broadcast in Australia, Seven Network and Yahoo!7 will provide a live 90-minute webcast of the start of the 64th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race to a global audience.

Anyone, in any country, around the world will be able to watch the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race provided they have a computer and broadband internet access from 1230 AEST until 1400 AEST.

In addition to the live 90-minute broadcast and webcast, Seven Network and Yahoo!7 will present up to 4 race updates per day until the overall winner of the 2008 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race is determined.

To see all the action of the start of the 64th Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race tune into the Seven Network or the official race website www.rolexsydneyhobart.com and follow the links to www.yahoo7.com.au/sport from 1230 AEST on 26 December 2008.

A fleet of 105 yachts will compete in this year's race, which starts at 1300 AEDT, 26 December 2008. The Rolex Sydney Hobart fleet will represent the USA, UK, New Zealand, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Russia and New Caledonia as well as every Australian state.

To view the entry list, visit: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com/yachts.asp?key=526

In the lead up to the Boxing Day start will be the Rolex Trophy One Design Series from 12-14 December followed by the SOLAS Big Boat Challenge on Tuesday 16 December and finally, from 18-21 December, the Rolex Trophy Rating Series.

Event website: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com

Saturday, December 13, 2008

18 Foot Affair In 2009!

Here's an event for the 2009 Calendar if you are an footer fan!

This sent out today from France:
International 18ft Skiff Class Association
Double Bay, Sydney, Australia

Press Release
December 13, 2008

New Trophy for the International 18ft Skiff Circuit

The 18 Foot Skiff International Association is delighted to announce a new global competition, the Mark Foy Trophy, to be sailed for the first time in Carnac (France) between June 29th and July 04th 2009.
Mark Foy was one of the founders of the 18ft Skiff Class in Sydney in 1892 and a uniquely designed trophy bearing his name was recently rediscovered in the clubhouse of the Sydney Flying Squadron. Newly renovated and kindly donated by the Foy family, this valuable trophy will now take its rightful place as an International 18ft Skiff trophy.

As a sign of the importance of the class outside Australia, and to show particular support for the class in Europe, the first venue to hold a series of races for this Trophy will be Carnac in France, often cited as the birthplace of European 18ft Skiff racing. A huge turnout of 18ft Skiffs is expected, with over 30 boats representing Australia, New Zealand, the USA and many European countries, with previous JJ Giltinan winners and champions from other classes competing over 6 days in a gala event hosted by Yacht Club de Carnac.

John Harris, Commodore of the Australian 18 Footer League, comments, "Our International class organization is mandated to foster the growth of the class building on its success Internationally, and promoting the regattas held annually in Australia, Europe and the USA. The JJ Giltinan Trophy has been raced as a "world championship" on Sydney Harbor since 1935, and the Mark Foy Trophy is both a reflection of the popularity of 18 Footer Sailing Internationally and a fitting celebration for the class as it looks to continue its growth on all continents. The JJ Giltinan event will continue to be run in Sydney every year and maintain its iconic status as one of the ultimate sailing trophies to be won in the world today".

In 2010, the Mark Foy Trophy will return to its birthplace in Sydney, Australia and will be run alongside the JJ Giltinan Trophy to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the world's most exciting skiff class. San Francisco in 2011 and Auckland in 2012 are then scheduled hosts for the Mark Foy Trophy.

The Beautiful Trophy!

SailTrim Is Getting Its Groove On!

The VOR boys are back at, it's darn cold in the Southern Ocean and SailTrim.Org is finally getting its groove on!

The best of SailTrim can now be found in the article section of SailGroove.Org; a fabulous site for getting everything from event coverage, sailing tips and now a bit of healthy content for good measure. Ideally, all things a sailor may need for success and entertainment!

This decision to start partnering with other sites had been on my mind for some time and the reason I chose SailGroove for the meatier topics was for it's strong College and High School sailing concentration, a community which has put SailTrim's efforts to greatest use these last few years.

Where To Find SailTrim
  • SailGroove: Feature lengthed articles covering core topics for sailing fitness, nutrition and wellness. I'll occasionally submit relevant event reports and interviews.
  • SailTrim.Org: By 2009 will point to this site and still house some of the attributes from original location, however, making use of WordPress platform to share news and updates (i.e. when a new article is posted to one of my affiliates, etc.)
  • Suite101: Will house general pieces which are suitable for an audience new to the sport.
By stepping away from a formal website, the focus will be to produce content for these and other sites; reaching out to more people and making the information available for a broader audience. Over the years, SailTrim has been a great "ice breaker" to sharing the sport with non-sailors. It's also been a rewarding avenue to ensure current sailors enjoy their time on the water.

There is no exclusive arrangement with SailGroove or any other site at this time and if there are other outlets interested in "healthy content" for their readers, just shoot me a note. I will not publish competing articles but will produce material fitting for a specific audience.

Now that is settled, back to doing what I love: reading and writing. We'd like there to be some sailing mixed in but since we'll be heading North here soon, we'll keep on day dreaming about Key West Race Week!

Friday, December 12, 2008

Do You Feel The Warmth?

Ahh, one has to love a good imagination (and book marked images of Key West Race Week!) The sun is trying hard to make a much needed appearance here in the Northeast. Though, my head is day-dreaming of crystal blue water and the world's most beautiful sunsets. I may be in Connecticut this moment, but in my head it's a beautiful day in Key West and counting down.

Technically, TODAY is the deadline for signing up. I considered doing a boat count of how many signed up as of yesterday, but take a look! Is it record breaking? Maybe not this year but who cares! Hello, Key West, the most happening place to be in January!

See you in Key West...if you're not already there in your head ;)

Thursday, December 11, 2008

The Glass Is Dished Out

The VOR had their prize giving and these are my two photo picks from the event:

Well Deserved Enthusiasm!
Ericsson 3 are presented the 3rd place award by Mr Sujay Kewalramani, Executive Director - Jaisu Shipping, at the Leg 2 Prize Giving Ceremony in Cochin, India, Rick
Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race

A Good Crowd Turn Out!
Rick Tomlinson/Volvo Ocean Race

Full story and details on this weekend's re-start...

A Healthy Fix For This Thursday Bite!

It's a lifestyle! Though it takes more than saying you want to "lose weight," "get fit," or "be healthier." You have to seriously make an effort and modern day lifestyles of cramming into the day as much as possible, push healthy nutritional habits out-the-door!

The Today Show had a great mini segment on nutrition this morning. Nothing like the norm of do this, do that, rather an individual approach to encourage each in thinking about their daily habits. For as informed as we are, many people, present company included get caught up in their day.

It's very easy to dive into work and before you know it: it's mid-day and you've had nothing but 3 cups of coffee! How does one tackle that? Well, what do you use to keep on schedule?

Since there is a decent chance I'm on computer and it's the root of losing track of time, set daily alarms. In the day's of being chained to the desk in cubicle land - post-it notes! I was horrible, they took over my office but kept me on track.

So take a break, think, what would help you remember to drink some water before starting your morning routine? How can you ensure an AM meal is not missed (even if it is a granola bar, better than nothing at all?) What tools can help you keep to a healthy nutritional lifestyle day-to-day?

Oh! look at the time.... 10:30....mid-morning snack time! Yum! (sliced apple and natural peanut butter)

FYI....regarding yesterday's note on Fonica just ripping it up in the Southern Ocean...hello..top TWO this morning EST! He rolled RIGHT on past BT (Seb Josse) and something tells me he is not done...

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

World Yacht Racing Forum

There could be scoop elsewhere, but here's the "bite": YachtSponsorship.Com is twittering about it while they are in attendance...fragmented but entertaining.

For those interested, The DailySail is compiling the event's transcripts...sadly the documents are not for free which I don't agree with. I think for people/business to learn something from this as many/most could not afford the cost of attending; these documents should be made public.

Just my "bite" on the matter....

It's Hump Day Alright

There is a lot going on in the world of sailing and scanning all the various news, events and blogs makes the head a tad dizzy and it's only Wednesday!

The dismasting of Gitana caught me with a huge, "ugh..." setting down my cup of coffee to thoroughly check out the Vendee fleet. It's a terrible disappointment, however he is safe and it is apart of the adventure and these men and women are seriously diverse in tackling such things.

Once I got past the Gitana incident, had to take a monster double take as Fonica (Michel Desjoyeaux) has seriously sailed through the fleet after a slow start to this event and currently in fifth. Nice. Something says not to be surprised if he lands in the top three over the next week.


Volvo Sailors Have An Angel

The VOR is in "stop-over" mode but it's still fun to visit the site daily for little bits and this feature was an eye opener!

Nilson's Narrow Escape

Wednesday 10 December, 12:00 GMT

While seven of the fleet’s eight navigators fret over the leg ahead, Roger Nilson is relieved to be able sail at all after he narrowly avoided being part of a tragic building collapse while on leave during the stopover.

The Telefonica Black veteran was visiting a Hindu festival with a friend east of New Delhi when a roof, upon which they and 6,000 others were eating lunch, collapsed.

Nilson had left to make a phone call about 15 minutes earlier, while his friend avoided the catastrophe by less than a minute. According to Nilson, approximately 150 people died.

“The whole roof fell in,” he told Amanda Blackley in a radio interview. “If I hadn’t left to have a pee and make a call I probably wouldn’t be standing here. Full Article...

The Future Of Yacht Racing

If you swing through SailKarma and new site I've bookmarked: www.yachtsponsorship.com you'll find some content covering the World Yacht Racing Forum which is going on in Monaco. I'm hoping the editors at YachtSponsorship feed some scoop as the website...no comment. It's clearly an exclusive event but have to have little faith the people involved have some decent intentions.

Those are my "hump-day" bites...back to the day job tasks... cheers!

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Late Night Snack: Did You Know Sailing Has A Mascot?

The other day I stumbled on this sailing lifestyle apparel line...caught my eye...does it catch yours? Post your feedback.



I've yet to see there gear in the live and they are a New England based company which started out as a class project, very interesting, but what do you all think?

A Video Bite From Puma

The Puma PR Peeps sent this out...



A little coffee break...but not terribly long...enough for about three sips!

But if you would like a little more, a recap to what India put into this stop-over:



Still not enough? The VOR "boat bimbling" in India:



That's all for this Tuesday nibble...though if not enough the Vendee Peeps have loads more ~ Cheers!

Monday, December 08, 2008

Get Biting For The Ski Season!

We just had our first little bit of snow in Southeastern CT and this has my head all wrapped around the ski season (or riding!) I have a fav website for getting ready for this particular winter pleasure and they happen to have a great article on getting ready:

From The Outside Mag Folks:

The Simple Plan
A week at a ski resort is supposed to be a vacation, not a marathon. With this in mind, we asked Ann Hodel, former NCAA Division I nordic ski racer and owner of Bodywise Physical Therapy, in Boulder, Colorado, to devise a 12-week winter fitness strategy. All you have to do is augment your (hopefully) regular routine of biking or running with a few ski- and snowboard-specific exercises. The best part? If you already work out regularly, this plan should take only about three more hours per week.

The whole plan to get you started!

And if you need a little stimulation to motivate you, how about this nice video treat from our Delta Lloyd peeps (click image to take a virtual ride):


It's just another manic Monday...cheers!

Thursday, December 04, 2008

A Healthy Sip For Holiday Cheer!

It's Thursday night and would I love to be in town for a little night time cheer at that local pub. This time of year is such a great time to meet friends out for cocktails with all the holiday spirit in the air! My local sailing club has their annual party this weekend and Grrr I'll be missing it. Which got me thinking about, at-home cocktails that take the edge of a day of shopping madness, warm the body from a day of frost-biting, or just because.

So...I've been having a very productive search with a little bit of "taste testing" for the recipes whose ingredients I have on hand.

My fav "sip" for this Thursday evening is from Eating Well Magazine (no surprise as it is one I subscribe too!)

Hot Cider with Apple Brandy and Spices (I had to improvise on the brand of brandy, but here's their version):

A natural, cloudy apple cider is delicious for this exotically spicy and aromatic winter warmer, but if you desire a sparkling-clear drink, apple juice can be substituted. Calvados, which is a French apple brandy, adds richness. If you wish to omit it, just add more cider or juice.

Makes 8 servings (I cut the whole thing in half)

ACTIVE TIME: 5 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 25 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
  • 8 cups apple cider or apple juice
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 4 whole allspice berries
  • 4 whole cardamom seeds
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 cup Calvados or brandy
Combine cider or juice, cloves, allspice, cardamom and cinnamon sticks in a large saucepan. Simmer for 20 minutes; strain out spices and stir in Calvados (or brandy). Serve very hot in heavy mugs. (Just holding the cup close and enjoying the aroma...lovely!)

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 184 calories; 0 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 30 g carbohydrate; 0 g protein; 0 g fiber; 0 mg sodium; 1 mg potassium.

2 Carbohydrate Servings (Not too bad, it has this "warm filling" affect and sipping one in a nice ceramic mug goes a long way for sitting by the fire with friends after a long day!)

Wouldn't the solo Vendee folks, who are playing in the 40s love a sip of this warm cider!

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Counting Down One Regtta At A Time


It's amazing how fast the year goes by when measured by famous international events like the Sydney Hobart, Chicago to Mackinac or Key West Race Week. It would be a dream to fit them all in, then again there are those who do!

Feels like months ago, I contributed some SailTrim.Org content for an Australian Sailing Publication covering physical preparation and nutrition for this event and here it is, due to start in ~ 22 days!

Also nipping on our heels, good old Key West Race Week and despite hard $$$ times, we may be missing some of our Grand Prix favs but this event is not just about the "rock stars," and for many PHRF sailors, this is one hell of a holiday that does not have to be anything less.

In The News...

The VOR folks are on for a quick re-coup before getting under way. I was afforded a little informal chat with Delta Lloyd navigator Matthew Gregory and all sounds well and team excited for the Singapore Stop-over. It was an off the record chat...so that's all you get! Sometimes, when your life is "not typical" it's nice to have a "typical", "how you doing?" sort of conversation.

The Vendee folks are making way through the first "ice gate" and an interesting mix of how they are meeting this race safety measure...

Final Thought...
I may come back and change my title, as the clock chimes and just noticed there is some sort of "countdown" on every site I scope out and the TV commercials, which I think is as much of a theme for this time of year as the impending visit from Santa...

And why not jump on the holiday humor wagon when my "web research" found this little gem of a site, so fitting to my passion:



Games at Miniclip.com - Winter Workout
Winter Workout

Help Santa complete four winter themed events.

Play this free game now!!
Have fun, more "bites" to come...

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Late Nite Snack

It's the end of the day here in CT and I was just looking through the VOR images and enjoying a hot tea. These photos struck my fancy:

A Rock-star Moment
Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race
Ericsson 4, Skippered by Torben Grael from Brazil (pictured) is interviewed by the media, as they arrive in Cochin, India, to win the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09.

Bird's Eye Coverage
Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing

A Digital Record
Sally Collison/PUMA Ocean Racing
Kenny Read Being Interviewed By Media/Press


There are SO many amazing shots of the boats, and handsome shots of sailors and their families; it's hard not to capture them. What I really enjoy finding are the ones, which in one shot make you feel present at the time of capture.

A Nibble Of History

It's so easy to slide down a negative path when someone mentions the America's Cup, AC or any other term related to the historical event. With the VOR on a mini break while teams recoup (though keep the rally going for Team Russia!) and the Vendee is about to get more interesting as the solo skippers head into Mother Nature's idea of an extreme amusement park ride; it's the holidays. A time for traditions and remembering.

Thought it would be nice to remember the yacht that gave the America's Cup it's name:

"Her performance that summer would influence British yacht design for well over 25-years. It was true then as it is today - the America's Cup is an inspiration for designers, builders and sailors, and an opportunity for innovation and excellence like no other." ~ read more!

Here's to the history of yachting!

Monday, December 01, 2008

A Weighty Matter

Tell me, how are you all feeling after the American holiday? Which is completely focused on eating and drinking, with some more eating and a little bit more drinking, eating, etc. If your an American, does not matter where in the world you live, the last four days were focused on good eats!

How'd it go this year? Actually, should be asking, "how do you feel?" I'd share, but there seems to be this expectation the founder of SailTrim and front runner in the campaign for healthy One Design Weight Management never over indulges. Ha! Thanksgiving IS my most favorite holiday of the year.

With 48 days till Key West Race Week, this is my plan for the next couple weeks and there is no gym involved but there is some restraint. Ya ya, not easy during the holiday season and I can see the look on your face, I've been doing this for a few years, you OD sailors have a "look" at the thought of restraint.

  • Do Not Skip Breakfast! Bit of a broken record, but do whatever you have to do to to eat SOMETHING before 10am everyday. Eating this one meal, especially on the day of a holiday party, will ensure you do not over eat (unless you are one of those personalities that mirrors my pup, who will eat whatever is in front of them ~ tip for those types in a moment.)
  • Stay Active! This, a harder feat to achieve when your job requires you to be glued to your computer and under a deadline. Walk. Ride. Play with your little ones. Take the stairs. I say it every year but one has to make it a habit and apart of their lifestyle for it to carry them through this particular season. They say 15 minutes a day. This only works if you pair it with:
  • Clean Eats! Be GONE with the cream cheese ladened bagels, danishes, heavy cream based soups and sauces, super-sized anything, etc. I think the point comes across. IF you can clean up your eating habits, do your best to not eat, for the sake of eating because you are bored, stressed or nervous about something; you WILL be able to maintain a healthy weight with moderate day-to-day physical activity. This does not have to be a miserable task that involves carrot sticks and rice cakes.
  • Accessorize with a glass of water, hunger is many times dehydration in disguise and staying hydrated with non-alcoholic beverages will help you ward off unnecessary snacking.
I'm not racing in the 2009 KWRW and will be working behind the scenes, so no impending scale to motivate, but this really shouldn't be what motivates. Feeling awesome, having good energy and hell, looking hot while doing what you love: sailing and being with your sailing peeps on a cool island!

Life's too short to not feel your best all year long. BoatBites will keep the tips rolling till we all survive the holidays. Cheers

In The News:
All Smiles!

Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race
(l-r) Ericsson 4 Skipper Torben Grael greets Ericsson 3 Watch Captain Magnus Olsson