The “index”-page and “Latest” are already in the coloursetting I’d like them to be. Personally I think orange and dark bleu plus a lot of white look more positive to me, compared to the (business-like) dark red-gray. And it is my site, so I got to choose the colours!
Ciao
You’d might be wondering why have this title. Well, it’s got to do (still) with th Christmasdinner I’ll be enjoying Saturday with all of the people I live with. The walls are coming along nicely and as one of the cooks, I already know what’s going to be for supper.
Anyway the stress-part of this is (and has been) finding a date. So this is my fourth dinner and only on one occasion I had a date more than a week in advance of the dinner. At the moment… well I can’t say I really have a clue.
Oh, here’s a sneak preview of the invitation the dates are getting:
Remember it’s going to be folded in half…
But it’s not yet the day before, so no need to worry about a thing. Got to think of an outfit as well.
The troubles of preparing for christmas break…Does let the problems anywere in the world seem unsignificant!
Ciao
Couldn’t let this get by unnoticed. You probably know I’ve been involved with the 2005-2006 Volvo Ocean Race (otherwise, visit my portfolio for the published articles written on the race). After the victory of ABN AMRO I attended their celebration in Amsterdam and as a result wrote that I didn’t see them return for the next edition. I was right, but I certainly did not see the current Dutch entry coming. I can’t say I’m well informed and part of the circuit so I guess that’s nothing to be ashamed off.
But the Mean Machine Team announced their participation early on and is now the first team on the water. The Volvo-site has a piece of video online (click to open), it again shows off the VO70.
Well they got my interest!
Here’s a pic of Mean Machine XX (formerly Pirates o/t Caribbean), it’s courtesy of Sally Collison:
More info at the Team website: MEAN MACHINE
Respect to Peter de Ridder for getting ahead of the game!
So another week has gone by. Mostly busy with studying, but of course helped out getting the GR in shape (remember, I wrote about that earlier: GR = living room).
Thursday I had a drink at the DSSP (the fraternity I’m with), then I went to the party one of the guys I share my home with had organised. It was the youngest one in house, so naturally all who could had tried to make it. Anyhow it was great fun with most of the housemates, my club and lot’s of other friends.
Today (Friday) we had a get together at the row club were one of my housemates is in the board and after that we crashed in front of the TV and had pizza. Even though I’m a student it’s actually quite rare for me (and for my house in general) not to actually cook.
So what’s actually coming up this weekend and in the week leading to Christmas?
Saturday I’m celebrating the 23rd birthday of one of my long-time and best friends Sander. I’m combining that with a visit to my parents. Sunday I’ll probably be working on the counter of our bar, it still needs to get varnished now the apple is applied. Next week starts with the wrap-up of the interview assignment and I guess I’d be busy prepping for the dinner of Saturday. Christmas-break starts on Friday with the “VP-rede” and after the dinner on Saturday I’ll be off to celebrate the holidays at my parents.
So 12-18 knots of wind was predicted, 20-25 knots were actually present. Together with 4 metre seas it was quite a day out on the water. Can’t say it was a good day though.
With quite a complete crew (best combination as well, I think up till then) and the skippers usual bowman back I stood at the mast position. He has had more time on the boat (and probably more miles under his belt) so nothing unusual there. So we went out for the first race, all went well, good start, great first beat but then at the top mark: stress. The communication hadn’t been that good, so the spinnaker wasn’t ready for the hoist and it took a bit more time than with a crew that has sailed together more often. But okay that has happened. Then on the downwind leg more speed than anticipated, so the takedown became too hasty and to make matters worsen, the jib wasn’t even hoisted jet…
Spinnaker down and we had flown past the bottom mark. So time to hoist the number 3, but the luff-tape started to tear of the sail… So, get the #3 down and stowed and hoist the #4 and continue racing… But when karma comes to get you… First Race DNF
Okay, let’s focus on race 2, just go full pull with #4 and let’s leave the spi for the final downwind leg. Good start, close to the line but not over (or were we…) and a reasonable beat. Even though I was on the rail hiking my ass off I felt as if the boat was behaving nicely, maybe a bit underpowered but I don’t recall any dumps with the main. With the #4 up (which looked like a great sail for setting whilst reaching under Genni) we got both reasonable speed and good height. Downwind was not too bad (surfing at 14.2 knots) and a First 40.7 trying to pass us underneath, but hardly managed that. Another upwind leg and then to the finish with the pink spinnaker set. The set was reasonable (but I have the feeling I’m not able to hoist the Spi easily). No need for a gybe so everything was nice and calm and back to the marina. The speed under spinnaker disappointed me just a bit (no new personal record). Cleaning the boat up and after that into the bar, only to hear we were OCS the second race…
(picture from IJspegel.com)
Not the best result (DNF & OCS) but again learned more about sailing big boats. Biggest lesson learned:
COMMUNICATION!!!
So, after re-editing all the blog stuff, I lost most of the news. Anyways that’s in the past and let’s get going…
Last week was nice, started work on the new decorations for the Christmas dinner at my house the theme this year is “Sesamestreet on exploration” and the “hoofdaannemer” (“head of construction”) has everything going nicely. It’s a great task (did it two years ago), but takes a lot of time out of your usual schedule.
My project is the bar (yes I’ve got a real one in my house including a drafting installation) and there has been decided to give it a nice apple-colour. So that took some time prepping the counter and getting some layers on it. I’ve used all the paint and it’s hardening right now. Some clear coat on top of it and I’m finished.
To give you an idea of what it’s going to look like, this is one of the pictures we’re putting on the walls. 
Becides the preparations for the dinner (I’m one of the chefs, so I need to start worrying about what to serve about now) I had a small job. Needed to drive for the company my dad works for. So Wednesday I took off and drove from Utrecht to Strassbourg (France). Luckily I could join in several parts of the work there: Dinner. I know some people object to Foie Gras, but it is just great once every so often. Two days of nice dinner in France and listening to people who have experience in the business my education is all about.
On the way back on Friday I got to test both the car and the power of Vodafone’s data connect card: I now know it can stay connected on the German Autobahn at close to 200 km/h!
That’s all about last week. This weekend more work on the GR (=Gezamelijke Ruimte which is the living room) and another day of racing out of Scheveningen a nice 12-18 knots is predicted for Sunday.
