OVER THE TOP HYPERBOLE?

You be the judge. I find it hard to compare Dr. Laura to Bernard Montessier, perhaps the author is just trying to create controversy.

NEARLY A MODERN DAY BERNARD MOITESSIER

Dr. Laura Schlessinger – who is based in Santa Barbra, CA – might be best

known as a nationally syndicated American talk radio host. However, she has

the sailing bug big time, and is finishing construction on a custom Tim

Kernan designed 46 footer that she plans to race in the March 2011 Newport

Beach, CA to Cabo San Lucas Race.

While having been largely committed to buoy racing, she first ventured

offshore nearly a year ago in a similar race to Cabo on her J-125 (Warrior),

winning overall in both ORR and PHRF. Here she comments on the experience:

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I did the Cabo race purely for the adventure. I had never been out on the

open ocean and simply wanted the experience. By the end of the first day and

one-half, I was cold, damp, exhausted and generally miserable. I clicked my

heels but couldn’t get back to Santa Barbara. Then, on the second and

one-half day I got with the rhythm of it and can’t tell you enough how much

I absolutely loved it: huge turtles, whales, dolphin, the horizon with no

land and no other boats – it was just amazing!

We followed the progress of all the boats on the computer and we were well

behind our competition for most of the race. Ultimately – I didn’t care that

much because we all were having such a fun time with each other and with the

elements. I would guess that if the amount of laughter aboard a boat won a

trophy – we’d get it. On the last day I woke up from my four hour down-time

to find zero wind. I did see a shark fin and wouldn’t let anyone swim! We’d

gone way out to sea and were totally becalmed. I decided I was the “wind

witch” and would bring wind any moment now. They all scoffed at me – until I

pointed to some tiny cat paws on the surface of the water growing larger in

diameter. Suddenly, we started to take off.

The best part of the entire experience was that night when we were coming

into Cabo. I was driving (that’s my job) through the moonshine on the water.

It was so beautiful I was crying. Believe it or not, I turned to my crew and

suggested we forget the finish line and just keep sailing. I meant it – as

strange as that may sound. I got voted down, so over the finish line we

came. From the day I suggested we do that Cabo race, I never considered the

possibility of winning. I just wanted the adventure. And this year, we are

doing the Cabo race to qualify for Transpac – talk about an adventure. —

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