2007 Holiday Letter

January is the most flexible month of the year for me. No sailing, no vacations, lots of time for whatever I want to do. This year I spent the time x-country skiing, spending time with friends, and planning the Calgary launch of Canada 25's last policy report.

February marks the start of sailing season for me. Everything was iced over in Alberta so the Alberta Sailing Association teamed up with the Royal Victoria Yacht Club to put on a 5 day training camp over family day weekend. Coach Peter MacDougal kindly hauled our boats out there on the ASA trailer. I travelled in style with WestJet buddy passes (thanks, Lisa!). The sailing was so incredible, it sent chills down my spine (or was that just spray going down the back of my wetsuit?). Check out my sailing blog for details and a few pics. I was accomodated in luxury at the Miraloma in nearby Sidney by the sea (thanks Mom and Dad). After 5 days of training, I took 3 days off sailing for some R&R, wrapping that up by seeing RVYC sailing coach Jenn Braem's play about the Kelowna forest fire and sailing. I practiced on Friday with Phil Round and entered the Frozen Assests regatta on the weekend. Saturday was wildly challenging with winds gusting to 35 knots (that's just strong enough to call a gale) and big rolling waves. Although the conditions weren't quite as bad as our keelboat trip on the west coast of Scotland a few years back, I had never sailed a Laser in anything like it. I'll be back for more in 2008.

I returned to Calgary to find that I had been elected Vice-Commodore of the Glenmore Sailing Club. It's a pleasure to be involved in such a wonderful club. In March I took a real business trip (i.e. a trip somewhere other than Fort McMurray). 5 nights, 4 days, 3 cities. We spent a record 7 hours in Calgary International Airport just trying to get on a plane after Continental Airlines delayed and then cancelled our flight to Houston. We did eventually make it to Houston and spent a sleepy day and a half meeting some of ConocoPhillips technical experts. We saw the tallest NBA player play the shortest NBA player with the Houston Rockets running away with the game. Then off to Oklahoma to visit ConocoPhillips R&D facilities in Bartlesville and Ponca City. Although not top holiday destinations, it was a fascinating trip. March also brought a visit from Carol who brought the Queen's gang together for her birthday dinner.

I was only back in Calgary a few days before heading back to Victoria for April's Easter training camp. A little warmer this time, but still a few days of exciting winds. Back in Alberta, Little Bow Reservoir thawed out at the end of April and we drove through snow to find a wonderful sunny day of sailing to open the Alberta season. We plan to return in 2008.

I spent May, June, and July sailing all over Alberta in my little Laser Radial. Weekend regattas, Wednesday night racing, and Monday night practices made for a busy summer.

At the end of August, I took break from sailing and spent a week in beautiful Fort McMurray for the Surmont Pilot Plant turnaround. After a safe and successful turnaround, I returned to Calgary tired and grumpy. Labour day weekend I drove up to Edmonton Yacht Club for the provincial regatta. Light, spotty winds, numerous fouls, and some very unsportsmanlike conduct from a competitor made for a very unpleasant time on the water. I filed (and won) my first two protests to salvage some educational value from the regatta. Fortunately, fellow Glenmore Sailing Club members were camping out with me at the club for the weekend and were fantastic and entertaining company in the evenings.

I then took a holiday from Laser sailing and headed back to Victoria for a week's vacation. My parents chartered a beautiful C&C 115 and we were joined by long time family friends the Gears as we cruised the Gulf Islands with a brief jaunt to Gibson's Landing. A few pictures and tales of the trip on the trip website, which will be available on the sailing section of my website.

It might be hard to imagine, but I returned from my sailing vacation rested and ready for more sailing! Glenmore Sailing Club hosted the Frostbite Regatta and Dick Degner Memorial Laser Reunion. I finally reached this year's goal of beating Coach Peter in just one race. Peter easily took first in the regatta and I squeaked into second place - a wonderful way to end the racing season.

It ain't over til it's over - although racing was finished, for the truly insane, the best was yet to come. We finished off September with a trip to Waterton to sail on Waterton Lake. Waterton is known for strong, shifty, gusty winds and we weren't disappointed. Upwind tacking was hard work and the downwind runs were positively frightening. It wasn't warm either and we awoke in our tents on Sunday morning to a winter wonderland. A few of us cleared the snow off our boats and went for a sail. I came in after half an hour shivering with frozen hands and feet. I probably won't try that again without a drysuit.

In October, I cut back to the occasional recreational sail on the weekend. This freed up some time to volunteer for my aldermanic candidate in the municipal election campaign. I went to Ontario for Queen's Homecoming as it was my 10 year reunion. I visited Dad's cousins Dave & Vickey and Stan & Anja and had a late night chat with Maya in Toronto before driving out to Kingston with Carol. I stayed with Syncrude friend Susan, who is in Kingston doing her MBA, for the first few days and then enjoyed the hospitality of Meg and her family. We had a great time reuniting with people and then Carol went back to Toronto and I hung out with Meg and Colin and my Godson Angus and his new baby brother Ewan. To finish up the trip, I took a train to Ottawa to visit Bryndis. We celebrated Person's Day and met a few politicians. The fall colours were beautiful and we took a drive to Mont Tremblant in Quebec.

I don't remember much about Novemeber - probably spent repairing the trailer, packing up boats for the winter and working.

December has been terrific. My sister, Helen and her boyfriend, Francois came to visit for Christmas. I can't believe it's been two years since I last saw Helen!

That is the old year in a nutshell. I'm looking forward to good times with friends and family in 2008. I plan to have sailing holidays in Victoria (several times), Vancouver (July), and Kingston (August) in 2008 - let me know if you are going to be in or near these places and we can plan to get together. I'm also hoping to take some friends coastal cruising - possibly in Washington state's San Juan Islands where we can take advantage of the high Canadian dollar. Let me know if you are interested in coming on that trip.

Best wishes to all for a Happy New Year!

Kate