The end of 2011, The 1st season

Its official, The 2011 season has ended. I just plowed my driveway clear of the white water, 3 inches worth. The boat is high and dry.

I want thank the special friends that helped get the boat ready for our first 2011 season.
My brother Walt King and George Voulemenous who tirelessly helped with the removal and replacement of ALL the hardware while at Sarns Marine during the restoral phase of our J30. Thanks to Tim Sarns and his crew of Adam, Gino and Tom for all their great work in bringing our J30 back to life.
We launched by the end of April and made the voyage to EBC to retrieve her mast.
Stepped the mast and bent on sails for the maiden voyage to JBM. Aboard were wife Diane and BFF George and Alyce Voulemenous. A really fun ride with a smile plastered on my face as this was my first sail on a J30. CONUNDRUM  felt fast and easy. She manuevereed like a cougar and accelerated like one too!

Before Rehab

   After Rehab

Thanks to the 2011 Crew;  George Voulemenous, Mark Elliot, Brian Hawkins, Todd Moore, Tom Cadotte, Tom Deske, Mark Caroselli, Bob Long, Mike Brock, and special guest crew from "Leprechaun", Tyler and Sean.
You all contributed to a successful first season. I hope everyone will return next Spring.

Our first season was filled with excitement. The first outing was a blustery Wednesday race to test our abilities. We learned a ton, the curve was steep. Crew of some new and some seasoned sailors made things interesting. Everyone had great enthusiasm. The next few races showed continued improvement. Learning the fractional rig is proving to be challenging. The difference being that it is much more adjustable and this is good. The problem is that it is much easier to get it wrong.  Learning will come and the winning will follow, I am sure!!!
CONUNDRUM won one race this season. I am quite proud to have won the LSSC Singlehanded Race.
The Lone Sailor Trophy is decorating my Living Room this year. I will be defending next year!

New sails are ordered for 2012 and should be ready by the end of February.
The bottom came out great and should be easy to ready come Spring.
There are a few winter projects but nothing major, namely the backstay adjusters and rehab the windward sheeting cars on the traveler.

I am looking at the 2012 sailing opportunities and trying to find the right mix of Distance, Bouy and Adventure races that everyone on Team Conundrum can make.
That would be
LSSC Wednesday Night Sunset Series                                  12 races
LSSC Distance -Commodore and Thomas Cups                     2 races
LSSC Sunday Club Series                                                          4 races
LSSC Special- Jack and Jill, Petticoat, Singlehanded             3 races

DRYA Saturday Point -to-Point-WYC, CSYC, GPYC           3 races
DRYA Saturday W/L                                                                  3 races

BYC Port Huron to Mackinac    Long Distance  200NM       1 race

ILYA Bay Week   Put - In - Bay    3 days                                 5 races
ILYA  TYC Mills Race     Long Distance  80 NM                 1 race  

Dates will be posted soon so we can make plans.

I am sincerely grateful to everyone who was part of the TEAM CONUNDRUM . That includes spouses who are contributors at large as well.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !   

Don 
11-30-2011