Sure. Good morning everybody. It's me, Scott Temp Pesta. It's our 61st podcast, which doesn't seem like that many, you know, in the context of people podcasting, you know, you see some of these. They're on their 9000th podcasts over the last six months. Yeah, we're a, we're a slow and somewhat steady delivery here at Sailing Anarchy. Um, hey, thanks for listening as always. I appreciate it. I got a couple things I wanted to get into, um, three topics actually. Um. And they all involve me. Shocking. Um, the first thing is I got asked to do the Sydney to Hobart race. Okay. Um, you know, oh, there's so many angles to this. Um, you know, the, I I won't go into any details yet about who asked and what the boat is and, uh. Other than to say that I really, really, uh, like the skipper and the various programs that he's been involved in, and, um, so there's double thumbs up on that. Um, and my first reaction was, yeah, hell yes. Oh my God. Fuck yes. Sidney Hobart. Yes, yes, yes. Um, you know, weighed all weighing, I should say. I'm still weighing and waffling, um, about it all, primarily because. Dudes. I'm 68. I'm fucking 68 years old. I know I sound like, you know, a child adolescent. Um, you know, but, um, I'm old and while I'm in reasonably good shape and I am hitting the gym again and, you know, I am really being careful about what I eat. Um, just on a general perspective, you know, I'm sort of at that age point where. You know, if not now, when, if not now, never is really the answer. Because if I don't start getting in shape now just for, just for life, for going forward, then you know, you could get to the point where, I mean, I don't know what if I need a hip replaced or I, you know, tear an ACL or whatever, you know, the, the myriad of things that can happen. Um. You know, then I'll, I might not ever be able to get in the position to like get in shape and stay in shape. So I'm doing that for just general purposes going forward. I'm a little flabby and, uh, you know, I'm weak. Definitely lost muscle mass as I go forward. But, uh, or I should say, as I've gone forward, as I go forward, I'll be building muscle mass slightly, slowly. You know, it doesn't happen overnight for. Old son of a bitch like me. But the other thing is, I, I wanted to do it to start to get in shape for Sidney Hobart, right? I mean, it's a brutal race by almost any reckoning. It can be, you know, life changing in terms of how incredibly rough it can be. Um, and so, you know, if you're going to be 68. As I am, and you're going to do this race as I might, you better be in frigging good shape. Uh, just I have to be, I mean, there's just no way I could, I couldn't show up now as I am now and think that I'm gonna make it through this grueling affair on a relatively small boat. Um, so, you know, I've kind of got those things that, that I'm doing and that I'm weighing and, and considering. I'm, I'll be, I'll be brutally honest here. I'm not sure I wanna do it. And I know that sounds like a what? A pussy and oh my God, you have this one time, bro. Bro, if I had the chance to go, I'd go, oh, would you? 68, would you? Soft, weak, virtually, you know, no spine. I mean, some of those things are true. You have to guess which ones all of them. I just don't know if I want to do it. I just, and I am waffling, like just the, I'm the worst, you know? This is very stream of consciousness. You know, I don't plan on anything that I'm going to say other than I might have a topic in mind. Uh, but you know, I don't script it. Oh, I'll hit the highlights. Here's the pluses and here's the minuses. No, no, no, no. I just say them as they come into my head, you know, and they bypass the filter completely. Um, when they get to my mouth and out these words come, as you well know, I don't know what to do about this. I just don't. It's a tough one. Um, you know, on the one hand. It could be a really cool race, a really great race. Maybe not all that gnarly. Not that I'm afraid of. Gnarly. Uh, I've sailed. Listen, when you've been sailing, as long as I have anybody who's been sailing as long as I have, you know, you're going to run into what would be considered rough conditions for you or, you know, for the area that you sail in. Hell, even some of you lake sailors. And pri primarily the, you know, the Great Lakes that I can think of here in the States, but it can be really, really, really frigging rough out there too. So, you know, I've been in that stuff. If I encountered a city to Hobart, like it's capable of being, uh, in terms of its worst, no, I probably have not actually sailed in that, and certainly not for. As many miles and, and on such a small boat. But anyway, that's, I did get the invite, which is cool. It's much appreciated. I'll feel douchey if I say no. I'll also be realistic about it if I'm going to say no. Uh, and on the other hand, what the hell do I have to lose? You know, this opportunity ain't coming around again. So, uh, just, I just have to think about that. And, um, you know, if you got any comments on that, you can always drop me an email at editor@sailinganarchy.com, um, anytime. Always like to hear what you guys have to say. Um, the other thing that I wanna jump into today is the Admirals Cup. I know you hardcore sailors, you know, are following this. Um, you know, it's a, it's a rebirth, if you will, of a series that was once just like the premier sort of big boat, uh, you know, inter nation rivalry slash regatta slash wow. Um, and you know, it, it died. A number of reasons why it died, but I think primarily sort of rule changes and, you know, all that kinda stuff. And so it, you know, it's reborn and it's underway and it's done. I mean, I think that maybe the last finishers of the facet are coming across and, you know, we'll determine who wins the whole thing. I, I don't have the exact up to date result information for you. You can easily find it online. Uh, I'll be posting something on sailing anarchy this morning about it. But, um, I, I don't, I, it just, yeah, the boats, I mean, I, if you haven't seen pictures of the boats, you should check it out because the boats are, I mean, everything is modern up to date and, you know, very cool boats, really, really nice stuff. And, you know, some of the countries really came to play. Um, and, um, and it, you know, it's a serious regatta in that regard, but like. Okay, so, I mean, I don't know, does any, does anybody really, really care except the hardcores? I mean, I don't, I don't know. I don't, I don't think so. I don't get that feeling. Let's just say that. Um, I wouldn't say there's much of a vibe about it here in the States. You know, probably for good reason. Um, but it's, it's great. But is it, I think they're really trying hard to reclaim lost glory and I don't think they're doing it. Um, once something tends to fall out of, uh, the sailing audience consciousness, um, you know, you can bring it back for sure, but will it come back in the way that. You wanted to like it once was only better. I don't think, I think it's only better in regard of how cool the new boats are. I mean, listen, this latest generation of, you know, TP 50 twos and, you know, some of the 40, 46 footers and I mean, they're just, they are pretty amazing for sure. Um, but okay, we see these boats in a lot of other regattas. I'm just, I just don't know that I feel that this has reached any sort of. Peak. Um, we, we'll see. I mean, you know, it's probably too early to call. I think the, excuse me, the ultimate, you know, decider would be, uh oh, what are the numbers? You know, how many people are watching and you know, how many people are clicking here and clicking there? I don't have that data. Um, but you know, I think that's really the only way to determine if people care about stuff. And so for sure, the race organizers and whatever sponsors there are. For sure they're paying really careful attention to that because, you know, it's just, it's just a big deal in terms of, well, do we have something that's, that people are really interested in, or do we have something that, you know, the fringe dopes, you know, like me and you, uh, you know, are, are, are looking at, I, I think they've done a good job presenting it today. They, they released a press release that was just. Really excellent. I mean, it was basically, it was about blackjack 100, you know, they, they were the first mono hole to finish. And, uh, I, I think to nobody's real surprise, the boat's a rocket. Um, and under the new ownership, they don't seem to, they seem to have gotten, actually gotten better. But, um, it's, it goes into really good detail and depth. A lot of quotes from navigators and sailors and skippers and owners, you know, and that sort of stuff is interesting for sure. I mean. You know, it's, it's like any sport, okay? On the surface, the sport is what it is. It doesn't matter the sport. It could be hockey, it could be soccer, it be any number of things, but it's really not until you get to know the people behind the sport. That you can feel like, Hmm, I have, I have a real, not, not necessarily just a connection, but I have like, Ooh, somebody I really like, or, oh, somebody I don't like. I mean, I don't know about how, how you are, but I need enemies in my life and God knows I've got a few, um. Some, um, just natural and some just created, you know, and so I like rivals, right? We every who doesn't love, like if you go to a pod San Diego Padre game and the Dodgers are there, who doesn't love to yell at the Dodgers and say how much they suck and, you know, so just fill that in with any team, any rival, you know, and everybody feels pretty much the same. Um. Uh, IE even your own team. It's fun to yell at your own team. You know, I, I went to a Yankees game a couple months ago, uh, at Anaheim Stadium here in, uh, in SoCal to see them play the, uh, the angels and the Yankees were playing really good ball, but they. They left, they left a reliever in for way too long. And I just stood up and I just go, oh, for fuck sake, how long are you gonna leave him in? And we, we were sitting right behind the, the Yankees dugout, you know, and. You know, I don't know. My son who I went with said that Aaron Boone turned around and looked directly at me as I was screaming at the Yankees, and I'm a huge Yankees fan. So, you know, part of that is, is fun and part of the reason why we can get. That emotionally invested in something that ultimately really doesn't matter. Um, it's just one of life's distractions, although many of us, like our lives become part of these distractions. Uh, and because we like them, we like to watch Formula One. Just go down the list of sporting events that you like, love, and we'll do anything to watch. I mean, I miss no F1 race ever. Of course I record them all, but I try to watch'em the same morning, you know, that they happened. Um, but so it's getting to know the people. Uh, the race car driver with his helmet on and his tinted mask on. You don't know who he is until he takes it off and somebody puts a microphone in his grill and starts talking and you're like, oh my God, this dude is awesome. Oscar Ptri comes to mind for me. He's my, my new favorite in F1 and has been for a few years. I remember when, you know, he won the f there's not a lot of press about this and you have to be a real geek fanboy to find out. But, you know, he won the F three and the F two, uh, world championships and then was whisked right into F1. And now what he's doing is nothing short of phenomenal because he is nothing short of phenomenal as a driver. But then you get to see, see the kid, right? Handsome young man, like so many of these F1 drivers are, but you know, a really nice kid. Really sort of genuine and, and humble and likable, you know? And so it's easy to gravitate towards. Being an Oscar Piore fan or, or, you know, whoever it might be. Once you kind of get to see them, know them, hear them, you're like, okay, I like this guy, or No, I hate this guy. Um, and sailing is like that to a large degree. Sure, the boats are bitching and yes, there are names, but until you actually, you know, hear from them, uh, read quotes from them, you know, it's hard to, to get a real. Firm connection with them. And the Admirals Cup, I think, has done an okay job with that, the O-R-O-R-C. And, um, so I, I don't know. I, I do enjoy it, but I'm not sure it's. That big of a deal. Does the Admirals Cup really carry any, carry any weight in 2025? Yeah. I, I, I don't know. I really don't know. Hey, I wanna talk to you about something else before I get to my final topic today. Let's talk about Tajima Direct. Do you know who they are? I mentioned them before, but they make custom polarized lenses for your glasses. You got some frames, you dig, you want to have some prescription? Uh, lenses made. They can do it. There, it listen. Polarized lenses are great. Everybody makes them. Nobody does it quite like these guys. I mean, these are specifically designed and made with sailing in mind. And you know, it's because of sailing has a really, really unique relationship with our eyes. Uh, and, and what we do out there, right? It's not just the water, it's the wind on the water. It's the currents, it's the puffs, it's the lulls. And when you slap on a pair of really high quality polarized lenses, you can see these little differences out there. Um, it really helps a lot of really, really good sailors use them. Uh, John Cast Stacky won the Star Worlds. He uses them. Olympians, Dave Hughes Do McNay. They doom. Cam Lewis, Steve Benjamin. Scott Tempesta, we all wear them. Uh, they're great. If you wanna find out more, go to to jima direct.com. It works for me and it can work for you. Okay, final topic today. I mean, I, I think I've hinted at this before, but excuse me. I'm selling my boat. Um, uh, that Hobie 33 that spent a lot of effort. And money on making it really nice. Um, yeah. I'm gonna, I'm gonna dump it and, um, for a couple reasons. Uh, and I mentioned this before, I don't wanna go too, too far into it, but it's the, you know, it's the fact that for some reason the people in charge, one person in particular who has decided. We're only gonna do ORC. That's it. Nothing else. Oh, there can be PHRF cruising classes, but there's no actual PHRF racing anymore under this, under really any yacht club. The two primary yacht clubs in in San Diego. San Diego Yacht Club. Hardly, I don't think there's any PHRF racing. It's all, it's always been a hybrid and now I think it's straight ORC and then the other, uh, Cortez Racing Association here in San Diego. You know, they do the most of what used to be PR races, and now they're all ORC, and that's just dandy. If you have a boat that's ORC friendly, and if you don't, you're fucked. And I'm fucked. Hopi 33 does not rate good in ORC. Zero chance around the buoys. Um, you know, we've got our hat handed to us. I will say this, had had all the races that we've done been in PHRF, we win most of them. Guaranteed. We win the yachting cup, guaranteed we win. Beer can races guaranteed. Um, but instead, you know, just getting my ass kicked. We had a lot of problems out there too, crew wise, et cetera, et cetera. What, let's just say this, this effort was not like my past efforts in terms of, I kind of hit the, hit the ground running. With the boat that was, you know, good to go. Like I've done with virtually every single one of my prior, like eight boats. I always make sure that when we hit the race course for the first time, God damn, the boat's ready to go, man. I got new crispy sails. The bottom's good. The crew is, you know, very often I carry over from the boats that I had before.'cause I usually go bang, bang, bang, bang. Right? I sell one, buy another. Someone by another. I don't wait too, too much time in between because I, you know, like everybody, I love to race. Um, but I gotta say, man, after just getting punished by ORC, getting no relief in terms of like, wanting to say it, wanting to get A-P-H-R-F thing going? No, there's, I don't know if there's any momentum, but it's been effectively killed by ORC, Uber Alis, and, you know, that's just not right. And then there's a, there's a so-called ORC Sport boat class. That I tried to, tried to join, but the wing nut that runs it down here, you know, has effectively made sure that I couldn't, and boats like mine couldn't. It's, it's ridiculous, you know, it's when people are in charge who just don't understand the bigger picture. This is what you get dwindling numbers for turnout. I mean, I, I, I'm going to take a look closer at the actual numbers, uh, between last year and this year, some various regattas. Curious to see ORC inspires No, uh, uh, sort of. Okay, let's go ORC racing, gosh darn. Can't wait to get my boat measured and, and see which one of the nine course, uh, courses they're gonna choose in terms of win strength. And win direction and point of sale. Ooh, isn't this gonna be great? We're either first or we're ninth. You know, it's like, and who, who makes those decisions? Well, it's the people that run these things. They make the decisions. Uh, I got really screwed in the first beer can race. It was an easy second for us. Would've been an easy first in PHRF instead, we got fourth because they chose the wrong course to use. Okay, so. You know, people complain about PHRF being arbitrary. Jesus Christ. The application of this ORC rating rules is really arbitrary. It's worse than PHRF because PHRF, at least, if your number is not right, you can go in and make a case for it. And I know this is part of the problem. You know, a lot of politics. Oh yeah, we'll give you a rating bump, we'll give you a hit. You know, how are these decisions made? They're usually not done. Very well. There's al almost always a self-interested person making decisions that aren't right, that that's enough. I don't want to get too far into it, but for us, for me personally, and this boat here, the boat, you know, most of what we do is inside the bay. There's very few point to point races, um, which the boat would really do well in, but also be rated very harshly for it under ORC. So I'm, I'm selling the boat. This isn't fun. I had crew issues, a personal issue, uh, and um, so involving the crew and one of the crew. And so I'm not, uh, I'm not motivated. I, in fact, I'm unmotivated. I'm demotivated. I'm Devo. I'm de evolving. I just don't want to do it. It's not worth it. It's been too much, too much difficulty for me to get crew and it's been a situation where racing under ORC sucks. With no other alternative. I mean, I don't know why they couldn't have just done it, offered A-P-H-R-F. Here's what you do for fuck's sake. Here's what you do. Gee, hmm. We think this or thing is working or see things working. But why don't we go ahead and offer PHRF as well? Let's see how many people sign up with each. Fleet and then you could get an idea of like, oh gee, there is a real interest in people sailing PHRF, so let's offer them the opportunity and the option to sail in PHRF. Oh, no, let's not find out. Let's just. Foist, ORC, right down your throat, whether you want it or not. That's what's being done here and it's bullshit and it's driven me out of the, out of the sport. Seriously. I'm dumping the boat and I don't know if I'm gonna get something else. In fact, I would tell you the odds are extremely, extremely high that I won't be coming back. I mean, again, as I mentioned earlier with my Sydney, the Hobart rant, I'm, you know, I'm 68. Like I, I've, I've lost touch with a lot of people that used to sail with me. Other people are off doing other things, you know, and it's, it's been difficult to get crew. I mean, people have stepped up and wanted to sail with me, but almost everybody that's come on the boat has been terrible. I'll just tell you, that's straight up awful. And, uh, you know, I'm just not gonna lower myself to thinking that those substandards are acceptable. They're just not. I mean, my game is okay. It's better than most people's game, even still even being 68. Uh, that's for sure. But it, you know, I've lost a step. I'm not what I once was, but you know, I'm still pretty decent. And alls I wanted was decent people. And listen, I've got a couple people who sail with me, excuse me, religiously. And they're good and I like that. And they've been the only reason that. We've been able to do anything at all, but some of these other people, oh my god, no offense, but y'all blow and I'm just not going through that painful process again. So the end result is I've got a really, really, really nice Hobie 33 for sale. Um, it's in the sailing anarchy classifieds, if you wanna take a look at it. You know, everybody knows what I've done to it. If you've listened to these podcasts, I've done a fair bit to it. And the latest thing is a really nice white antifouling bottom on the job. It looks great. It's smooth, and um, so you know what? The boat is good to go. I mean, it is turnkey in every way, and I helped a lot of the, uh, cosmetics on the boat. Primarily inside. And you know, it's got new everything. And Christ, it's a good thing. People love Hobie 30 threes. It's a real cult boat, no doubt about it. And, uh, most of'em are beaters though really and truly most are beaters. This one is not a beater this's cherry. Um, and I actually, I'm going to do a. Um, a retro video on it. I did one earlier and it was up and it got, you know, a thousand views like right away and climbing, but there was a technical issue with the thing, so we had to make, we had to remove it. And, um, I'm gonna do another one and I may even do it today. So, um, so look for that, a little, uh, short version of the retro video on my Hobi 33. And, uh, yeah. So listen, that's it for today. I wanna thank you all for hanging in there with me. Sidney, Hobart. Mm, probably not Admirals Cup. Yeah. Okay. Okay. But, but, okay. So what. I don't know. And yeah, selling the hobie, this isn't how I had things pictured at all, like in any way, shape, or form. I thought we were sailing under PHRF when I got the boat. Did not know they were doing a midstream switch to ORC exclusively. So fuck that. Fuck them m fuck it. All y'all, Scott Tim Pesta, Audi.