WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FORGET YOUR CHECKLIST

Went for a little longer paddle yesterday.  I was going to head towards the San Mateo Bridge and measure the distance. Wouldn’t you know it, I forgot my GPS!  The day I forgot my PFD the first thing I did when I got home was make a check-list.  Yesterday I forgot about the checklist. (:  Anyways another storm was due on Sun. so there was very little sun today. Here’s where I put-in.

Lots of sailors out, but the wind wasn’t too bad the first hour or so. The bridge is north of the marina so I went left out the main channel and the longer I was out the windier it got.  I went about an 1-1/2 hours and turned around going with the tide and the wind to my back.  However, there were some pretty good gusts from starboard (almost lost my hat), and a headwind once back in the channel to the marina.

Because I’m going longer I started timing my drinking; about 4 oz. every 15 min.  Today I learned I couldn’t hear my alarm to drink with my watch on my wrist.  So, I hooked it to my PFD near my shoulder. Also I was trying out a new Platypus Soft Bottle.

Soft Bottle

I thought it would be good, not only because it’s so light, but when empty you can roll it up. But, the fact that it was so pliable was a problem on the boat; even the deck lines barely held it.  So, it was a good day.  I learned 2 important things I can apply to my race: have to use solid drinking bottles and placement of my watch.  Oh, any suggestions for my memory, besides ginko?

eat well, sleep well……..paddle fast!