Jess and I got to spend some time with my family at the outer banks including my sister and her family who flew in from the west coast. We got a fair bit of rain, but made the most of the beach days.

I also go to do some paddle boarding – the first two days on the ocean where I saw dolphins swimming around. The second two days were in Kitty Hawk Woods Reserve on some of the canals and marshes there.

Jon & Jess

On the last day, Jess and I drove down the island, did some shopping and visited Sam & Omies for lunch before the drive home.

PICTURES

Bote Traveller on top of the VW Atlas at my favorite food stop.
Bote Traveller on top of the VW Atlas at my favorite food stop.

I had been wanting a second stand up paddle board in addition to the Isle Cruiser we already have so that paddling didn’t have to be a solo pursuit. I had been looking at touring style boards and when this Bote Traveller showed up on Facebook Marketplace- I knew this was what I wanted and drove to New Jersey to get it in February.

Friday it finally made it down to the river and I went out for a maiden voyage on a beautiful evening in April.

Bote Traveller padding back to Queens Creek into the sunset.
Bote Traveller padding back to Queens Creek into the sunset.
Fully rigged Bote Traveller
Fully rigged Bote Traveller

This week we got a new Stand Up Paddle board to use down by the river. I found a deal on one we liked by Isle that should be a good all-around beginner board. We took it to the river and Jess and I both got to try it out on a beautiful day. Lucky for us we stayed upright and didn’t fall in as the jelly fish in the creek were unreal.  Looking for many more weekend mornings of paddling.

PICTURES

The first full day of the US Sailing Leadership Forum was started early by west coast standards.  I ran the 1.5mi from my hotel to the beach in front of the event hotel and  we got to do a Stand Up Paddle Board fitness class.

2/6 early morning stand up paddle board fitness class

After running home and cleaning up we started the forum with presentations by Gary Jobson and Ken Read.  It was great hearing their views on sailing as well as it’s challenges and opportunities.  I attended sessions on:

  • Sailing Industry
  • How to Unleash the Power of Social Media
  • Lowering the Average age of Your Sailors
  • Fleet and Club Owned Boat selection

2/6 opening keynote with Gary Jobson on stage

Between the sessions and getting to talk to so many sailors from such a wide background was really a great experience and great way to share ideas and learn from others.  I took about 2 pages of notes from each session and after I get home I distill those down and share some of the biggest things I learned this week.

In the evening was the US Sailing Community and One Design Awards Ceremony held at the San Diego Hall of Champions.  I got to sit next to the President of US Sailing, Tom Hubbell, on the bus there and talked to him about being/having been sailors on Chautauqua Lake among other things. The Hall of Champions is a great sport museum and as a sailor I loved the full-sized Star boat on display as well as all of the sailing history and America’s Cup history in the rooms of sailing exhibits. I also got to visit with my sister and meet her boyfriend who came down from L.A. for the dinner.

2/6 Jon, my sister Cheryl and Dean at the US Sailing Leadership Awards Ceremony

The awards ceremony itself was neat to see and hear about all of the amazing and wonderful things that so many others were doing for the sport of sailing.  It was an honor to be among them and it was an even greater honor to receive the 2013 US Sailing One Design Leadership Award presented by my friend Margaret Podlich.

2/6 Jon with US Sailing Executive Director Jack Gierhart and Gary Jobson

2/6 2013 US Sailing One Design Leadership Award

Saturday at the Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championship started out with the wind too light for sailing.  So what did we do with 45 Laser Masters sailors while waiting for the wind to fill?

PADDLE BOARD RACES!

Lucky for us the wind filled a short time later and we got to go racing!  Regatta Results | Sailing Video