My pleasure, Dave - your accommodations await.

Karlus Maximus - you complete me.

ON ANOTHER NOTE! I hate to be a downer, but I'm wearing thin on one issue that shouldn't be a hassle.

There are many new boats arriving at the event; some are arriving as hulls in one container and rigging in another, making pre-measurement impossible. For those of you with boats that COULD have been certified before the event and WEREN'T, I have little comfort to offer. You're in for a long wait in line when you could have been out sailing. In 2010, Robbie and I sat in line for two, full days. No kidding.

For those of you that DID get your certificate in order (as required by our Class rules); thank you - your wait to check the ready-to-sail weight of your boat and crew live-weight should be minimal.

Measurement and check-in: Some Tips.

• 1. Patience, please. Remember - it is NOT the responsibility of the Club, the Class or the volunteers to get you sorted; it is incumbent upon you to have a certificate.
  2. If you have a COMPLETE certificate, you'll hand a copy to the check-in folks - you get it back at the end of the event. The jury holds these in the event of protest.
  3. You'll then have your ready-to-sail and crew live weight recorded for the Notice Board. If you are required to carry corrector weights (boat weight or crew weight), they will be checked and noted; please have them ready. You don't want to have to get back in line, do you?
  4. BE PREPARED - dry boat, mast down, no sponges, tools, ditty bags, race watches, Go-Pros... please read your Class rules and be prepared to weigh in as described. No hiking boots, biker wallets, etc., please. If you're not prepared, you're gumming up the works and risk being sent away. You don't want to get back in line, do you?
  5. The folks volunteering to check you in or measure your boat don't really need to hear your opinion of the requirement for certification or your unhappiness about sitting in a line. They would rather be sailing, too. You only have one boat to deal with. They have 125. Which, while daunting, makes me smile.
  6. The whole set-up is intended to run smoothly, as quickly as possible, and create certainty that there is a level playing field; there is no part of this that is designed to make you upset.

The people in charge of measurement? Your International F18 Class Measurer, Pierre-Charles Barraud, and the US Measurer, Ela Sliwerska. They will both be on hand to answer questions in an official capacity.

That dispensed with, an updated social schedule is being posted as I write this - we're going to eat well.

More later - cheers from SoCal.