It's strikes me that not all sailing stories necessarily have to be written about being on a boat.

This week I had Monday and Tuesday off from work.  On Tuesday the little family and I took the RV down to Shelter Island.  We needed to run it a while to charge things up etc...

So we kicked it. The baby napped, mama napped, daddy lounged outside with some sunflower seeds watching the bay do it's thang.

I watched boats go by and with a tinge of the green-eyed monster and I truly enjoyed watching. It is really relaxing watching boats go by with so little effort or input from me...  I just sat there.  Happy!

A large grey research vessel left port as I watched.  She was docked north east of the submarines.  I could see the tugs waiting for her, then with a puff of black smoke she was moving and headed towards the mouth of the bay.  Bye bye...

Not long after, a grey warship entered the bay.  I watcher her slowly glide by surrounded by tugs and security boats, helicopters going back and forth.  I could see the sailors at sea-detail waiting for their orders to tie her up to the pier. I remember doing that so many years ago.  I think I prefer watching them...  Welcome home boys...

We have a large yellow Dole tanker in San Diego. I think it goes down to Honduras and back loaded out with fruit.  She was headed out of the bay.  She was really moving!  The tanker barely missed 3 guys in an aluminum boat out fishing in the channel.  Seems like there might be better places to fish.  Hope they enjoyed the ride.

A little while later an enormous panamax car carrier came in.  Those cargo ships don't waste any time getting in and out of port.  Damn those who might get in the way...  I wonder who's buying all those cars in "this economy..."

During all this excitement, sail boats on a starboard reach are headed out the bay.  Boats on a port reach are headed in.  little buzzing jet-skis are zipping about.  Powerful motor boats are making their presence known through noise and wake.  The yachts in the cruisers anchorage off Shelter Island are reacting to all this activity by rolling back and forth and swinging slightly on their moorings.

Then she made her appearance being swiftly towed in by well powered Zodiacs.  I marked her speed at 15kts, towed!  She is the biggest trimaran I've ever seen.  Most likely the most expensive I may ever see.  USA-87 is Larry Ellison's next America's Cup effort, and his crew, Russel Coutts et al, are training with this spectacular piece of Kevlar and carbon off the coast of San Diego.  I walk past where she's stored most days but usually by lunch time the boat is out being put through her paces.  So it's not often that I actually get to see her.  Even more rare is seeing her in the water.  Even under tow she is a sight.  For her size, there is really very little there.  Basically three pontoons connected with lateral spars and an enormous carbon mast that must be at least six feet front to back.  At nearly 100 feet long and almost as wide she takes up a lot of space but gives the appearance of so many assembled tinker toys...

She cruised by and I continued to my relaxing...