If you live in Canada, this probably doesn't seem like a big deal, but we're not exactly used to waking up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit here. Cars don't start, water pipes freeze, the dog has no interest in going outside, and for whatever weird reason, the harbor starts smoking (I'm sure there's a simple meteorological explanation for it, so if you know what it is, please tell us).
When this happens, we start thinking about the next chance we have to go sail somewhere warm, and the good news is ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS UNTIL KEY WEST! Run by our next door neighbor Peter Craig and his Premiere Racing team, Acura Key West Race Week has become the premiere sailing event in North America. 261 entries and counting including 60 non-US boats (a new record according to Peter, and not terribly surprising given the current state of the US dollar), this fleet includes all the names you've followed in the sailing press and around the race track over the years (except Mr. Coutts, who probably has a full plate right now).
Go for the sailing, go for the parties or just go to get warm. It's a chance to see old friends from around the country, meet some new ones, experience some incredibly competitive racing with world-class race management and enjoy the climate and atmosphere on this funky little island at the south end of America. If you want to go but don't have a ride, check out the Scuttlebutt Crew Board at http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/calendar/eventdescription.asp?ID=5344. Looks like there are a couple of boats still looking for crew.
And as much as we tend to complain about the cold, and wonder why we chose to live in a place where it can get so cold that the harbor smokes, here's a little something to give you some perspective. You think you're tough? Try doing this for a living...
