Elise got a haircut

This Saturday 12 December, Elise and her intrepid crew signed up for the Berkeley Midwinters Series. This typically is a no to light wind event, usually on a cold, cool or warm dry winter day. The forecast this time was a bit more interesting according to NOAA.

"

SAT S WINDS 10 TO 20 KT...INCREASING TO 20 TO 30 KT IN THE AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. SAT NIGHT SW WINDS 15 TO 25 KT. SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS"

We were certainly determined to make the most of the day. First, we had a full crew signed up and a lot of weight on the rail. This clearly would have made a light air day interesting. Looking at the forecast, we figured we should swap David and Mark for lighter weight crew w/ at least one Elf (Heather) * to make heavy weather sailing more interesting.

[* David actually had a fever and Mark a sore back ]

We sailed to the start line, trying the compute the likelihood of getting hit by lightning on San Francisco Bay, in a sea of masts and tall buildings. We started the race on the late side but were creeping up the ranks on the first upwind leg. It was hard to see both a mark and the committee boat, or sometimes either one actually in the fog. We were navigating a la 'Blue Angel'. Just spot the tip of the sail of a neighboring boat and don't get too far away from it...

One thing we had forgotten is that the Berkeley races happen during the day marker mating season and Elise's natural beauty enhanced by the air of mystery the sombre and wet atmosphere did not go unnoticed. Among all of the other Expresses, she was The One.

Day Marker 'D', for decisiveness, made the first bold move, as Elise was elegantly dancing around it. As day markers are a fairly sedentary specie, it enlisted Aeolus' help to engineer a wind shift, and Poseidon's support to increase the current by 20% in a most sudden manner. Both Gods were already out and about as we have observed and were their usual responsive selves. [Zeus and his thunder were only now catching up] - in dating terms, this is called a 'setup', and given the limited visibility, it doubles as a 'blind date'.

Poor Elise was caught unaware and was at a loss as to what to respond. 'D' became insistent and seized Elise's pony tail (backstay). Elise was torn between the urge to continue the race and the attractiveness of a deeper conversation with 'D'. We all thought she was splitting hair frankly and told her so. Apparently, she took our remark literally. The top of her mast decided to stay with 'D' while the bottom opted to pursue the race.

A violent dispute ensued which caused havoc in Elise's hairdo. See for yourself...

It was out of the question for Elise to continue the race with such a hair emergency, so we had to fold up and motor back to the nearest HairdressClub - where we could finally put some order in her usually flamboyant mane.