Looking forward

Conditions are shaping up for another peak experience – and I could use one about now

This coming weekend is the Big Boat Regatta at Elephant Butte. Entries must be at least 27 feet long and at least 5000 pounds displacement. By ocean standards, this isn't particularly large, but on our lake, these restrictions mean only the very biggest boats will be participating.

Desert lake winds are often fickle, and light winds would make a race of big boats, to put it mildly, frustrating. It takes some air to get these things moving.

Fortunately, the weather prediction for the weekend is for stiff winds. It should be an exciting race.

We're looking forward to a reunion of the team and boat from our peak experience last June in the Anniversary Cup – Zorro will take the helm of Twinkle Toes' 34-foot Hunter, Windependent, and we'll have many of the same people on the crew. Zorro himself is really excited; every time he sees a new weather forecast, he phones Pat or me to communicate how great this weekend's sailing is going to be. The excitement is rubbing off, and that's a good thing. I've been feeling somewhat low lately, with Pat's and my local corner of the economic downturn looking especially bleak. There are times when I feel low, and I know a good dose of Zorro helps a lot. His enthusiasm about the weekend is making me feel better already, and if we have a great experience on the water, that's going to be even better.