carwreck.com: around Boston harbor...

I had a number of things I set out to accomplish today and I got to almost every item. First I set out to register for a two-day PADI scuba certification course. I brought my dive gear with me so I could offer my services for inspecting a boat bottom, or clearing something from under a boat, but I figured that I should take advantage of the opportunity (warm weather = opportunity). Mission accomplished; and all the study material is on CD-ROM!

Then I head off to locate any of the local sail lofts. If anyone has a good line on who is competing in upcoming regattas, it's the sailmakers who maintain every racer's sails. Strangely enough, I had trouble getting handle on the crazy layout of the streets in the Fort Lauderdale area. After not finding the Hood loft and the Doyle loft, I stumbled across the North Sails loft. It turns out that the Hood loft was on a ~different~ 15th Street (there are 6 or 7 different 15th Streets and Avenues in Fort Lauderdale) and the Doyle loft had closed up shop a few months ago. The North guys were awesome and gave me a number of leads for boats to get aboard.

Then I headed to Derecktor Shipyards which handles the preparation for most of the grand-prix race boats for the winter season. There I found about 30 Farr 40s all lined up as well as many other race boats in varying states of preparation. I got there late in the day, so there were only a few people around, but I was able to speak to a few folks and gave out some contact info for prospectives rides at the Key West Race Week.

By then it was the end of the day (several hours were burned looking for the sail lofts). I stopped at two more boating stores looking for new sea boots before heading back to the Sea Tow offices for dinner and to study for my scuba class. Tomorrow will be more of the same.

back to the roots of your HS internship... hanging out with the sailmakers! good luck dude... sounds like you are really getting things done down there... how about some digital pictures? i want to feel warm ;)