If it is Sunday, it must be Seattle. And what a switch from sunny, warm Southern California where it was 80 deg F (27C) yesterday. When Jane and I arrived here last evening, it was 40 deg F (5C) and raining cats and dogs. The locals say it has been raining for a week, and will continue until, well, May. Regardless, and as many of you will know, Seattle is a beautiful, vibrant and cosmopolitan city.

The closest restaurant to our hotel turns out to be -- LOL -- a tapas (Spanish) restaurant. Across the street for a quick "deener" and it was like being back in Valencia. Home away from home. And, if nothing else, it's great sleeping weather. After doing shows three nights in a row in three different cities, sleep came easily last night in Seattle.

Sunday morning, and finally a few free moments to post about Friday evening's Stop Six in Los Angeles at Cal Yacht Club....

No surprise that Friday night shows (see the GGYC blog post) bring a high-spirited crowd, and Cal YC was no exception. Another SRO turnout, an auction that almost topped Long Beach's record total the night before, and many incisive questions from the large audience of nearly 100% racing sailors. As always, check out Jane's report on our main team site for details.


Cal YC: Olympic medalists, offshore champions, three-time winner
of the prestigious St. Petersburg Trophy for race management
excellence, and spiritual home of the popular and influential internet
sailing newsletter Scuttlebutt edited by longtime CYC member
Tom Leweck.


His second night on our YC Tour, Fresh was on fire. His design-
focused presentation is proving popular with the audiences and
spurring a spirited back and forth during the Q&A. Fresh always
handles the tough questions with a twinkle in the eye -- providing
enough info to be tantalizing, but not giving away team secrets.


Staff Commodore Bill Stump with Mirko. Bill, with help in absentia
from Tom Leweck, organized the special evening. Uniquely, Cal YC
asked for a $10 donation at the door to support the Gulf Coast yacht
club junior programs devastated by Hurricane Katrina.


Olympic sailing multi-medalist Hal "Hollywood" Haenel (center), with
18th man auction winner Kellie Fennessy (right) and her husband
Mike Priest (left). Their friends Tom Hintz and Peggy Lidster were
the winning bidders of the 18th man spot at St. Francis YC on
Wednesday night, so they were determined to win so they could go
to Valencia together next year.


Maxi and offshore racing champion, Jim "Kialoa" Kilroy (left) with
Tom, Steve Hathway and CYC Tour Stop organizer Bill Stump. Steve is
a champion rower and President of the Cal YC management company.



As we left Friday evening it was seasonally cool with dew on the
roofs of the BMWs on display outside the CYC entrance. But nothing
like the temps we found upon landing in Seattle Saturday evening.


As I finish this post Sunday morning, the
Sun has come out and it has turned into a
beautiful day. Time to go check out our
venue for tomorrow evening's Stop
Seven -- the storied Seattle Yacht Club.