rex in oz

back in Canada

2006-01-23T14:18:00.000-08:00

We are home in Canada now. I have some additional posts to make from the last few days we were there. I'll post them in the next day. Sorry for the delay...but the last 2 days in Australia were a bit hectic...what with partying and packing.

By the way....when we left Melbourne, it was 42 degrees (107 F) and blowing 40 knots. Back home it's 0 degrees, and blowing 0 knots.

Cheers mates,

Rachel

More racing on Day 4

2006-01-19T16:40:00.002-08:00

After the "official" racing on Day 4. The regatta hosted another race. In some kind of interclub boat, round robin series, winner of each "heat" (as they call them here) competes in the finals. They called Scott up to race, but he sent Hollywood in for him. Hollywood gets a bullet. Next heat, they call Mike from "Brain Cramp" and he gets a bullet (his third of the day by the way). In the finals, it's Mike, Hollywood and two other countries (sorry, can't remember who). The prize....$500. The pressure is on...

Lining it up for the start. Mike in the red boat, Hollywood in the blue boat:

Scott and Rossi watch as they head for the windward mark:

Mike gets his 4th bullet of the day:

Hollywood finished 4th. But in all fairness he was running interferance:

Day 4

2006-01-19T16:40:00.001-08:00

Today's gonna be a drifter......10 - 15 knots. Update as of 4:20 pm, Rex finished 7th and 15th.

Day 5

2006-01-19T16:40:00.000-08:00

5 pm. Day 5.

The boys are back home. No racing for today. The race committee called it at 1 pm. Winds blowing at 40 knots from the north, did a complete 180 degree shift and continued blowing. It started out sunny without a cloud in the sky -- right now it's grey, pouring rain, thunder and lightning. Oh, and still windy. Rex finished 21st overall out of 40 boats. Kinda disappointing not to race but then again, they spent the afternooon packing up the boat, replacing all the halyards, sails, blocks, etc. We are heading off soon for the closing banquet. Tomorrow we go into to Melbourne to see the Volvo boats. If there are any!! More posts still to come.

Rachel

11:30 am, Friday, Sandringham. Day 5.

Right now the race is postponed. They didn't even send them out. It's blowing about 30 - 35 knots, gusting up to 45 knots. I reckon that dogs are being blown off their chains all over Sandringham. Ah yeah.

I called to see if they were still on land because the apartment is rattling it's so windy. They didn't answer at first and I thought they sent them out. But they called back. Scott says it's so windy that in mid step his flip flop almost blew off. Now that's windy. Ah yeah.

Will keep ya posted.

By the way, "I reckon" is Australian for "I think". In fact, I reckon they don't even have the word "think" in their vocabulary. And "ah yeah", is the affirmative response to anything.

Q: Would you like a beer?
A: Ah, yeah (translation: yes please, what a lovely person you are for asking)

Q: It's windy today.
A: Ah, yeah (translation: it's blowing the dog off the chain. or, it's blowing flip flops off your feet)

Q: Do you think we should tack?
A: Ah, yeah (translation: I reckon we should)

Day 3

2006-01-18T17:14:00.001-08:00

It was windy. 20 - 30 knots all day. Blade up the whole time. Lots of carnage on the race cource.

"Racing's haarrrdddd".

"Oh look a keel".

Fortunately for Rex, no wipe outs, no breakage, and they flew their kite the whole time. Y flag up all day (which means it's mandatory to wear your life jacket). Many keyholes spotted.

I was able to get out on a boat to take some pictures, but since it was a 46 foot racing boat and it was windy with big waves, we weren't able to get really close.

Rex:

More pics from Day 3

2006-01-18T15:59:00.002-08:00

Day 2

2006-01-18T15:57:00.000-08:00

Started out 15 knots or so and got windier and windier. Got in a protest with the other Canadians (Single Malt) in the second race. Actually, it wasn't just us. Four boats in the whole incident. Two Canadians, a Japanese crew (Cerezo) and an Aussie crew (Code Violation). Oh, and the jury witnessed the whole thing too. But in the end, Single Malt got tossed.

The boats come back in:

A crowd gathers around Single Malt:

Me and Scott:

Mess, Daniel, and Hollywood:

Me, Mess, and Daniel

Daniel gets a head start:

Quinn, Mess, Rossi, and Mike:

Scott tries his hand at Cricket:

Forecast for this evening....dark and stormy

2006-01-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

The two boats from Bermuda decided to host a party. A Dark & Stormy party (which is rum and ginger beer). Things were looking up. Till about 8 o'clock at night when we all got smashed and could barely walk.

Rossi with some of the crew from Bermuda:

Scott ordering "Dark & Stormys":

Cheers:

Hollywood, Mike Lewis (one of the Bermuda Skippers) and Bobby:

Bobby and Hollywood:

Bobby showing off his farmer's tan:

Bobby and Peter, one of the skippers from Bermuda:

Me and Scott:

Mess, Hollywood, Ernie from "Brain Cramp" and an unidentified male:

Things get outta control:

Idiots:

Rachel and some idiots:

Hollywood wins a shirt for guessing the long and lat of Bermuda:

The Worlds. Day 1 (Jan. 16)

2006-01-16T20:38:00.000-08:00

Day 1 of the J24 Worlds. Between 7 - 10 knots of shifty breeze and choppy water. After 3 races (finishing 31st, 10th, and 11th) Rex is 15th overall out of 40 boats.

Day 2 conditions: a typical thermal coming in. 15 - 20 knots, gusting higher. Results remain to be seen. The boys spent the weekend engaged in a slump buster. Actually, it started Friday afternoon and was carried over to Saturday. Sunday they worked on the boat and measured in for the Worlds. They cover up the charter boat logo with one of their own.

Rex is back:

Race day 1 of the Worlds, Rex leaves the dock:

Rossi's friends, Danene and Pedur:

After racing...day 1:

Rossi takes a bite out of a sardine:

Hollywood socializes with the crew from Bermuda. We've been invited for "Dark & Stormy's" on Tuesday after racing. Ah yeah!:

A weekend excursion

2006-01-16T20:09:00.000-08:00

Scott and I rented a car and drove along Great Ocean Road. Daniel came along but wanted to be dropped off in Torquay to wander around.

Great Ocean Road:

Split Point Lighthouse (nicknamed The White Queen or White Lady) constructed in 1891 to safeguard navigation throught the treacherous waters of Bass Strait:

Scott:

Me and Eagle Rock in the background. The lighthouse (not pictured) is to the left:

Driving is a bit harry:

Rock on one side:

The ocean on the other side. Looking down from the side of the road:

Sharp turns:

Me, driving with my hands at 10 and 2:

Fortunately there are many spots to pull over, take some pictures and get some circulation back in your knuckles:

Scott visiting someone's final resting spot:

I repelled down the cliff to get a closer look. Actually, I just climbed down some stairs:

Penguins in Australia?

2006-01-16T17:44:00.001-08:00

Daniel, Scott and I also drove to Phillip Island to see the Penguins. The Little Penguin (Eudyptula Minor) is only found in Southern Australian waters. At 33 cm in hieght, the ink blue bird is the smallest of all the 18 known species of penguin and is unique in that they wait until sunset before coming ashore. First one arrives, then another and they waddle up from the beach in groups, rather than individually (there's safety in numbers and occasionally one gets spooked and hauls ass back to the ocean only to wait for another group to form). It takes a while. They get knocked down SEVERAL times (like bowling pins) by waves. Usually it takes about 6 attempts before they are successful. The gathered crowd cheers!

Unfortunately, we didn't know that you weren't allowed to take pictures of this event. So here are some pictures that will have to do:

A key chain I bought at The Phillip Island Nature Park Gift Shop:

A picture I took of a post card I bought at the Phillip Island Nature Park Gift Shop:

An "interesting" vehicle we saw in the parking lot of the Phillip Island Nature Park:

Though unrelated to the visit to The Phillip Island Nature Park, another picture of more wildlife... a shark. The only one we've seen up close:

Some misc-pics of some mis-fits

2006-01-16T16:34:00.002-08:00

The crew of Rex on Day 5 of the Australians. The charter boat, Nokomis, hauled out for the weekend so that they can work on it some more for the Worlds which start Monday, Jan. 16.

From left to right (as if you don't know): Hollywood, Daniel, Mess, Scott and Rossi:

Hollywood, Mess, Danene, Daniel, Rachel, Rossi, Scott and Pedur:

Below is a shot from the street of a little party on our balony. It's a daily occurance. In the centre, tipping his hat, is our friend from Rochester NY, Bobby, who sails on the US boat "Brain Cramp":

Team Rex and Bobby on the balcony:

Rudders:

J24 Australian Championships over (Friday, Jan. 13)

2006-01-15T00:35:00.002-08:00

So the J24 Australian Championships are over. Thank God. Rex finished 20th out of 31 boats.

Of the 10 races, they didn't finish 2: the first (which they led for the first 2 legs) they lost their halyard on the third leg in 40 knots of breeze.

The second race they didn't finish (which ended up being the last race of the regatta) they quit at the windward mark and wanted to be first to haul out. So rather than sail AWAY from the club, they chose to retire from the race and were the first to the crane to haul out and start working on the boat. It's all about the race to the crane.

I've posted a link to the final results for the Australians (see J24 Australian Champs Results). They've been working all week and weekend on the boat to try to get it up to speed. Hopefully the adjustments they've made will pay off for the Worlds.

J24 Australians, Day 1 (Jan. 9)

2006-01-15T00:34:00.000-08:00

Getting ready for the first day of racing in the Australian Championships (one of my many long overdue, now outdated, posts that I've been wanting to make for days). Mess and Daniel make some final adjustments adding a skirt line to the genoa.

Mess....sewing, Daniel standing by....with bandages (just kidding):

A Dingo approaches. Perhaps Mess pricked his finger and the smell of blood draws The Dingo near:

The Dingo spots fresh meat (Messenger's leg) and moves in to get a closer "whiff":

The Dingo contemplates Mess's leg ..."Maybe the Dingo ate your leg":

But in the end, Mess's charm wins over The Dingo and they become friends. Kay, so maybe it's only half Dingo. The other half? German Sheppard:

Soulmates:

The boys get ready to race for Day 1 of the Australians:

Leaving the dock:

Heading out, the anticipation building:

But their first challenge? Far worse than shark-infested waters (and I'm not just talking about the big fishes) the boys navigate through optimist-infested waters. Thanks to Rossi's tactical skills, only the Opti's are bonking into each other. Rex breezes past with no issues:

Unfortunately I haven't been able to get on a boat to take pictures of the J's racing. I hope to soon. The only, um, "racing" I've seen are the junior sailors in their opti's practicing in the harbour. Which, in many ways, can be much more entertaining and educational:

Mark rounding:

I learn later that evening that while they managed to steer clear of the Opti's, one of the boats came up to them, bonked into them and said "Your Canadian.....say 'about' ".

Prepping the boat (Jan. 6 - 8):

2006-01-12T16:31:00.000-08:00

We all arrive in Melbourne. Scott flew in from Sydney on Friday. Rossi flew in from Brisbane. The dudes drive in from...wherever it was the dudes were driving in from. I stayed an extra day in Sydney, met Daniel at the airport and the two of us flew into Melbourne on Saturday. Thanks to Mess for picking us up at the airport. Yeah...thanks. We got lost 5 times driving from the airport to Sandringham Yacht Club. Ya had to send Messenger....didntchya! The boys spent the weekend fixing up the charter boat.

Rossi working on the keel:

All the hard work pays off as the keel measures in, officially:

The rudder that came with the charter boat had a CRACK in it. So after much scrambling they find one to borrow and work begins on that. Mess and Daniel working on the rudder. Mess holding a tool (given to us by Margaret) that literally saved the day:

Daniel and the rudder:

More prepping of the boat

2006-01-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

Rossi with the ONLY drill that was floating around the yard between 20 boats. Spends valuable time fooling around with it. Just kidding:

Scott watches as the blade measures in:

Hollywood and Scott. The spinnaker measures in, no problems:

After the mast measures in, the boys carry it back to the boat:

Mess:

Still more prepping of the boat

2006-01-12T05:19:00.000-08:00

Mess and Rossi put the bow numbers on. #55:

Taking the boat to get weighed. Don't ask me how to pronounce the name of the charter boat. Don't know...don't care. Let's just say it's not "Rex". In more ways than we care to mention:

The boat getting weighed. Unfortunately the wind had picked up and the official measurers weren't sure if that was affecting (effecting? I can never remember) the reading on the scale. So, they had to do it again the following day. It weighed in fine. The interesting thing about this picture below (which I didn't realize at the time because it was so sunny and I couldn't see the lcd monitor properly), is that while Rossi is working hard (that's him on the boat), the rest of the crew (Scott, Daniel, Hollywood and Mess) are distracted by SOMETHING:

Dude....where's the car

2006-01-12T04:47:00.000-08:00

The Dudes decide to rent a car and drive from the Gold Coast to Melbourne, via Sydney.

Dude #1. aka: "Hollywood". aka: Mark Goodyear

Dude #2. aka: "Mess". aka: Jon Messenger

The meet a couple of locals:

Get some culture. Hollywood.....near.

Hollywood....far!!

Mess...near.

Mess....far!

And stop "somewhere" along the road to take pics:

Graham and Margaret

2006-01-12T04:12:00.000-08:00

When news of our impending trip to Australia reached my uncle Alan (my mom's brother) he mentioned that there was a cousin who lived in Sydney. And so, pictured below is my mother's ("long lost") cousin, Graham, and his wife, Margaret. Although I'm not sure what that makes them to me. My cousin once removed? Twice removed? A second cousin? I'm not sure. It doesn't really matter, they're family. I'd just like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Graham and Margaret for opening up their home; for their kindness, hospitality, tour guide skills and great sense of humour. We only wish we could have stayed longer. Another time perhaps. And if you're ever in Canada...

Me, Graham and Margaret outside an Irish Pub in The Rocks:

Here's a picture of something so brilliant and useful, I'm sure it saves many tourist's lives every day. If only they did this everywhere in Australia:

The Rocks, Sydney (Jan. 6)

2006-01-12T03:38:00.000-08:00

It's Friday and Scott has left for Melbourne. I was supposed to go with him but decided to stay an extra day in Sydney to explore and spend more time with Graham and Margaret.

The Rocks (which gets it's name from all the sandstone) is Sydney's first non-aboriginal settlement and oldest historic neighbourhood. Again, much thanks must go to Graham and Margaret for pointing out some of the sites pictured below.

The Argyle Cut - a tunnel excavated by convicts through sandstone hill. According to "The Lonley Planet" (tourist guide) it was quite the engineering feat in its time. Research on the web reveals that it was started in 1843 by convicts with hammers and chisels, and completed in 1867 with the help of explosives. For some time until 1900 it was the underground home of thugs, petty gangsters and rats. The site was cleaned up after the plague forced authorities to sanitise the area:

Just down the street from our hotel, original homes from the time of the plague in 1900. Now they're known as The Plague Houses. The one on the far right is now a catering school:

A plague house, the painted on "X" long gone:

An original foundation:

And this, which is kinda cool. An outdoor "museum" of what the original homes were like:

Back in the day, sewage used to run down this alley into Sydney Harbour:

Today, there's a restaurant right beside where the sewage used to run freely. I think I'll eat somewhere else, thanks:

The Royal Botanic Gardens (Jan. 6)

2006-01-10T22:20:00.000-08:00

Me (Rachel) in the Royal Botanic Garderns with a parital view of Sydney in the background:

Shot from Mrs. Macquarie's Point in the Royal Botanic Gardens, you can see a ship go by. And what might the name of that ship be? Why, it's called the "Toronto", of course. You might have to click on the pic and enlarge it....but it's there:

Fort Denison: A small island off Mrs. Macquarie's Point. Before it was fortified in the mid 19th century during the Crimean War, it was used as a punishment "cell" to isolate troublesome convicts. Aparently they were dropped there (and it was just a rock at the time, no building)
without food or water for a week. Later they added the fort. Then later still, a cafe. Go figure. Thanks to Graham for the bit of information and my Sydney travel book, which I plagurized a teeny tiny bit. Not enough to get in trouble though...i hope.

The Gap (Jan. 6)

2006-01-10T20:35:00.000-08:00

This is the entrance to Sydney Harbour from the ocean (unfortunately I can't recall what it's called). Well, actually, Sydney Harbour is much further inland. In a nut shell, you go between these rocks...blah...blah...blah, pass some other lesser known bays and harbours, whatever, etc...and eventually you'll see the Opera House and the big bridge. You get my drift:

The curved out part is called The Gap which, apparently, used to be a place where the victoms of unrequited love threw themselves over. Oh, that and the Mob "make 'em dead" here too.
The Gap:

Looking down. Fortunately not as a victom of unrequited love or The Mob, but rather, as a tourist. Which is considerably better:

Me at The Gap (which prior to this trip would have meant that I was shopping):

Graham pictured with the anchor of The Dunbar. The plaque reads: "The Dunbar was wrecked about 500 yards south of this spot in a heavy north east gale at night, August 20th, 1857. From a total of 122 there was only one suvivor. This, her anchor, was recovered by local residents 55 years later and is now set up in memory of the tragic event". At least, I think that's what it says. Something to that effect (affect?). Anyway. Here's a picture of Graham and an anchor.

Bondi Beach (Jan. 6)

2006-01-10T20:21:00.000-08:00

Graham drove me to Bondi Beach (pictured below):

Surfers at Bondi:

Some local wildlife. A sea gull. We have those at home. But they are MUCH more civilized and better behaved in Australia:

Graham points out some beached whales (figuratively but not literally):

Having problems

2006-01-10T20:20:00.000-08:00

I'm having problems with the internet connection at the place we are staying. It's driving me nuts. I hope the situation will be fixed soon. Sorry.

Rachel

Pics from scuba diving (Jan. 5)

2006-01-09T21:56:00.000-08:00

Pics from my scuba diving trip. Actually, that's a flat out lie. Scott and I went to the Aquarium.

Every time I go to an aquarium, I try to get a picture of a sea horse. And every time it comes out blurry. Which is amazing considering how slow they move.

More pics from the Sydney Aquarium

2006-01-09T21:10:00.000-08:00

A little blurry. Well...a lot blurry but I still like this pic.

I found Nemo in the gift shop.

Sydney Harbour (Jan. 4)

2006-01-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

Scott and I arrive in Sydney. Jon and Mark have rented a car and are driving from the gold coast to Melbourne via Sydney. Rossi is staying in Brisbane with friends and we will all meet up in Melbourne on Friday. Daniel flies in on Saturday.

I went a bit overboard with the pics of the Opera House. It's easy to do though. Will try and post some more interesting stuff later on.

The view from our hotel room:

The view as you walk on the bridge:

Me and Scott on the Bridge:

Another view of the Opera house from the Sydney Harbour Bridge:

View from one of the many Ferry boats, on our way to see the aquarium and maritime museum:

For the females

2006-01-05T13:43:00.000-08:00

Speedo, speedo, surfboard, speedo, surfboard, speedo, speedo. After my post about searching for topless sunbathers, I thought I'd post this for the ladies. Although, I'm not really sure if it's a good thing or not. Speedos. Blech!

Byron Bay (Jan. 3)

2006-01-03T23:21:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday we took a day trip to Byron Bay (where all the hippies hang out). Started off nice but became incredibly windy. And then a storm came through so we quickly left the beach and went to a bar. Big surprise there.

Mess driving:

The Beach at Byron Bay. Take a closer look and you'll probably see some topless sun bathers:

A storm rolls in. Not just a storm....a huge thunderstorm that we ended up watching from our hotel room balcony later that night in Surfer's that was INCREDIBLE!

Tomorrow, we all head our separate ways.

A day trip to Currumbin (Jan. 2)

2006-01-02T07:29:00.000-08:00

Hollywood had the idea that we should go to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and then hit the beach where we met up with Rossi. It turned out to be a great day....even though each of us got knocked down by the waves. I got whooped by a wave and ended up bonking my head on a surf board. Which is saying something when you consider that I wasn't even surfing at the time! Amazingly it didn't hurt.

Mess and Hollywood rent a car and pick us up at the hotel:

A koala bear at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary:

Rachel and a real live, albeit smelly, koala bear:

The ferocious Tazmanian Devil. Napping:

I don't remember what this is but thankfully it was enclosed. Which is a good thing:

Kangaroos at the sanctuary

2006-01-02T06:53:00.000-08:00

Very cool experience getting to mingle with real live kangaroos. Although this is not what you can expect should you meet them in the wild.

Scott makes a friend:

Rachel feeds a mom and her Joey:

A little to the left, now down a bit, that's the spot. Mess lends a helping hand:

They may look like fuzzy dice, but they're not. Hollywood and a (male) friend:

Kangaroo humour:

The sign didn't mention anything about this.

2006-01-02T06:04:00.000-08:00

Here's the warning sign as you enter the kangaroo exhibit:

You will notice that there is absolutely no mention whatsoever of the "stance" pictured below and what to do when you find yourself face to, um, face with this situation:

This is the alpha male red kangaroo pictured above. He's the head cheese of red kangaroos at this particular sanctuary. Seriously. This is what he does when he's not eating and doing what it is that being the alpha male entitles him to do. You may think that we hit a kangaroo with the mini cooper on the way to the sanctuary and that I hopped out to take a picture of the road kill. But I swear that's not the case. This guy woke up long enough to scratch himself and then roll over. And that was pretty much it. As it turns out, when faced with this situation, there is only one thing you can do. You take pictures.

Currumbin Beach

2006-01-02T05:36:00.000-08:00

After the sanctuary we went to the beach. Another gorgeous one where, again, the sand squeaks when you walk on it. Here, we met up with Rossi and some friends for a few beers before hitting the beach.

Rossi on the patio:

View of the beach from the patio bar:

View of the bar from the beach:

Hollywood coming back from surfing:

Messenger coming back from surfing:

Surfer's Paradise, New Year's Day

2006-01-02T05:08:00.000-08:00

New Year's day we decided to check out Surfer's Paradise (which is a bit like Fort Lauderdale during Spring Break. Okay....maybe it's a lot like Fort Lauderdale during Spring Break). The beaches are awesome though. White sand that "squeaks" when you walk on it when it's dry. Oh, and it's Hot and Sunny.

Mess arrives in Sydney

2005-12-31T15:13:00.000-08:00

Mess makes scheduled flight:

We hooked up with Hollywood for the Vancouver to Hawaii leg:
(The dudes from left to right: hollywood and mess)

Saw a beautiful sunrise from the plane on the way to Sydney:

Senechal losses official status as Vegas Odds Maker:

We hook up with Rossi (second from left) in Sydney:

Rossi is staying with friends in Brisbane and we'll see him when we all get to Melbourne. Scott, Mess, Hollywood, and Rachel will be spending some quality time on The Gold Coast (surfer's paradise). We'll hook up with Daniel and Stan later in Melbourne.

By the way....it's HOT and SUNNY.

Rex Regional Express

2005-12-31T15:07:00.000-08:00

After 4 different planes, we arrived only to discover the airline we SHOULD have flown:

We leave today!!

2005-12-29T03:10:00.000-08:00

It's 6 am and I've been up all night packing. We leave today (Thursday). We arrive in Sydney early the morning of December 31st, then fly to Brisbane to ring in the New Year in Surfer's Paradise. Hope you all have a happy and healthy 2006.

Merry Christmas

2005-12-23T22:48:00.000-08:00

Hope you have a Merry Christmas. Click on the link to hoops&yoyo for a laugh. Please note: Scott would probably prefer that I did NOT have a hoops&yoyo link. But he doesn't even really know what a blog is....so. Merry Christmas!

Sun is shining...well maybe not here

2005-12-23T20:53:00.000-08:00

Temperature for Port Credit. Well, actually Toronto, but close enough:

Dec. 24th: 2 degrees; cloudy with drizzle
Dec. 25th: 1 degree; rain or snow
Dec. 26th: 0 degrees; a few flurries
Dec. 27th: 4 degrees; cloudy with drizzle, drizzle, and more drizzle

Extended forecast for Canada: very few degrees, drizzle-drizzle, rain, flurries, and/or snow in the immediate future. Extended periods of misery.

Temperature for Surfer's Paradise. Well, actually Brisbane, but close enough:

Dec. 24th: 32 degrees; sunny
Dec. 25th: 34 degrees; sunny with itty-bitty cloudy periods
Dec. 26th: 33 degrees; sunny with scattered showers (no big deal)
Dec. 27th: 32 degrees; sunny, sunny, sunny with teeny tiny cloudy periods

Extended forecast for Australia: many degrees, sun, sun, sun, perhaps a few clouds and some rain (a welcome change from all the sun), then more sun, sun, sun and hopefully some wind.

The Crew

2005-12-13T15:46:00.000-08:00

Scott (helmsman; weakest link). Co-owns Rex with partner Stan. A little known fact but Scott only owns 25% of Rex (see support crew). Scott's pride and joy is his flip flop tan line. And while we hate to admit it...it's actually pretty impressive. Or perhaps disgusting when you consider that he has to wear the same flip flops every day all summer long in order to achieve this feet (sic). Commence Yachting!

Daniel (bowman). After Stan and Scott, is next on seniority list as far as "regular" crew. No one knows for sure where he'll be staying but we'll be happy as long as he shows up each morning.

Jon (trimmer). Also known as "mess". It's not just a name, it's an adjective, warning, lifestyle, state of mind and being. Whatever...just remember we told you so. A former J owner himself, Mess can often be found dividing his time between one J and another. Blogger's note: this is the least incriminating photo of Mess in existence. Ever.

Hollywood (spinnaker trimmer). Also goes by Dude, The Dude, and Mark (though we're not even sure that is his REAL name). Has made guest appearances on Rex in the past. Although technically, he was a lifer for 2 years. But in all fairness dude...you left. The only crew member to inform me of an error in his bio. A former resident of Oz, Hollywood is happy to be going back and spreading the love.

Rossi (tactician; boat wright). Our resident Bulgarian. Also a J-owner but not Rex. Rossi was the last to come on board, leaving Stan to his natural habitat. We'll just be happy if we can figure out what he's saying. Oh, and if he can find a new sweater to wear....that would make us happy too.

The Support Crew

2005-12-13T15:12:00.000-08:00

Stan (co-owner). Also known as "Kostanky". Seen here in his natural habitat...on the deck with cocktail in hand. Stan is co-owner of Rex, with the majority share holding at 50%. Stan can't wait to un-tie the dock lines, push Rex off and then hit the beach. Vegas odds makers have listed Stan as the overwhelming favourite to be recognized by more pretty girls than anyone else on the crew. Including Daniel.

Rachel (official rex photographer and blogger). Another, albeit silent and non-recognized, co-owner of Rex with 25% ownership. Not unlike Big Foot, although sightings have been frequent, there are few good quality pictures in existence.