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(As about as much Offshore I could get last week!)

I spent last week in Jamaica and just had to get some type of boating in. Being as there was not a Hi-Perf boat to be found anywhere, I had to settle for a Hobie Cat.

A Hobie was my first boat while growing up, although I totaled the 10 ft Mono Hull while trying to beach it at Jenkinsons.

This trip brought back memories as I flipped the mono Hull transom over bow from being picked up by a wave.

The difference here is I was on a Catamaran.

After speaking with the rental guys, they 1st ask if I had sailing experience being as they were down to one last boat. The last guy ran one up on a reef and tore the rudders off of it.
I assured them I was experienced.

So I jump onboard and took off like a bat out of hell . The winds were cranking 25 knots plus. I was having a blast hiking out as far as I could reach, getting the boat up on it's side. I got outside of Bloody Bay in Jamaica looking for more wind until one of the guys from another resort starting pointing to me to head back to the beach. So I spin the boat around and started chasing down.
I was hoping to pass him !

The discomforting thing I started to notice was how the sponsons were starting to dig in. I moved my weight almost over the rudders to try to keep the nose up. At one point, I was hit with a really good gust and was gaining on this guy, that was until I stuffed both sponsons and went end over end !

I had no worries as I knew to release the sail as I was ready to depart from the boat. I was very familiar on how to flip it right side up. Here is where the real problem came. The balloon they have on the mast to keep it from sinking failed. It took the mast to the bottom like an anchor! I knew I was not getting this boat righted without help.

The guy I was chasing down comes back for me and as he was coming by I jumped from the bottom of the sponsons of my boat onto his bow of his.

On the way in we passed another cat flipped but theirs worked the way it should although the guy never released the sail.

I come walking up the beach to the rental guys and they ask, "Where's the boat ?" I said, "Do you see the bottom of those two white sponsons a little over a half mile away ? That's your boat.

As they sent people to go get the boat, I went to the BAR to get them some Baileys and Rum and all was forgotten....

It was an interesting week to say the least.

The shots from the island are now online:

2011 THE REAL LIFE in JAMAICA

Enjoy !

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Went on a tour and someone asked to stop at an ATM. Unfortunately the Tour Guides are targeted for shake downs.
We were asked to pull over and park. The cop accused the driver of being parked in an area he was not allowed.
15 minutes of harassing our driver he comes back shaking his head.
I could see he was disgusted.
He was let off without a ticket. I asked him how much the cop hit him up for and he said $20 bucks.
I reached into my pocket and handed him the $20 and told him not to let it ruin his day. He was very grateful but said, honestly, the guy in the back that went to the ATM should have offered it to him...
We went onto to have a great tour afterwards....

When I blow this image up, I can almost see in the side mirror him handing the officer something ???

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Rick's Cafe

Rated #10 in the world for best bar.

I think it was for its amazing location.

How many OSO members have been to RICKS ?

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Also came across some wild life:

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No problem smiling for the camera !

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This was a 1st for me to see:

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RunninHotRacing163.1

Cool pics Tim ,thnx for sharing looks awesome for a getaway

glassdave

iTrader: (1)

was there several years ago, great place. Looks like your staying right by were we stayed.

Madcow

We really should have jumped off the cliff the morning of the wedding like we talked about.