On the Water Again
Racing C-18s on the lake in Westlake
Another busy day today with a welcome home cake at church and then I went racing at the Westlake Yacht Club. It was actually my first time racing on fresh water but there's a first time for everything. The wind was pretty light for the first two races but built as the afternoon went on and we had an awesome last race.
My younger brother Toby, entered the race as the only sabot contender and came in first! This was pretty impressive as he has only sailed sabots for two weeks at sail camp which ended last week. He was out there dodging all the older kids in their lasers but did really well.
Geraldo at Large got canceled again but will reschedule.....there were a couple news cams and a photographer from the local paper watching me race this afternoon.
Anyway, thanks for the intersting ideas for more adventures. Please don't get too serious on me - I've only been back a week. Still if any one has any ideas for a good adventure for me to do next, let me know.
Cheers,
Zac
Toby's first race
Toby (with trophy), Carol Amenta (head of junior sailing program) and sister Jessie
posted by Zac at
10:13 PM
29 Comments:
Please give Toby a big HIP HIP HURRAY!
So Zac, have you ever thought about the
Summer Olympics? They have some sort of sailing sport catagory don't they. A GOLD METAL seems like a pretty cool adventure don't ya
think! Hum. . .maybe?
Glad you are adjusting well being back home on terra firma. Peace - J.
Good on you Toby!!!!
Zac, you're probably the master at sailing in light air! Sounds like you had fun....awesome!
I raced this weekend also, crewed on a Cal-28 on Seneca Lake, winds gusty about 12-15 knots. The club also has a Star and Thistle fleet. Good times were had by all!
Blessings!
Anita
Waterloo, NY
Captain SV "Wombat"
Good job Toby. I'm sure you made you whole family very proud.
I'm glad you're enjoying the summer Zac. So it's the first time on fresh water. After taking a trip around the world Zac tells us he has never been sailing on fresh water. I guess you always have an opportunity to do things for the first time!!!
Enjoy,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
Mazel Tov, Toby!
Since he didn't mention it, can we assume that you placed higher than Zac did in his class? Guess that shows who the real pro in the family is. ;-)
I've never sailed anything smaller than a Lido 14, but I'm building a Sabot (actually a Glen-L Sabotina) right now. Since I'm 6'4" and 250 lbs., I don't know how well it will work for me, but I'm hoping to have as much fun as you did.
Even if I'm too fat to sail it, it's been a learning experience for me. I just laid my first layer of fiberglass over wood yesterday while building the daggerboard case. You could probably already do that a lot better than I can!
So, yes, I spent my whole comment talking to Toby. The world can't ALL revolve around the big brother, can it? ;-P
Still praying Numbers 6:24-26
Mouse in Whittier
www.myspace.com/mouseonamotorcycle
Buy "Death and Coffee" here!
Just saw a short blurb about Zac on KTLA. Looks like the video was from the Westlake races. The bit was basically about Zac planning his next adventure, and, unfortunately, the commentary showed that the anchors aren't familiar with people like the Sunderlands. I guess they're too used to idolizing 2D famous people.
Yeah, Toby!
When you feel up for it, drag a Sabot up to Ventura Harbor, and you can race on Friday nights with the Lasers and Lidos...
Nice going!
Mike
Way to go Toby. What an accomplishment.
Have a blessed day today all Sunderlands
Kathy
Bend, OR
Toby,
You rock! Sail on.
Janis
P.S.
Give your big brother a hug from all of YOUR new fans!
Yaaahh! Toby! The family tradition of seafaring excellence continues!
Zac, don't rush off on a new adventure. Finish school, sail on fresh water, eat those burgers, drink milkshakes, sleep late, and generally enjoy the foolishness that should go with being 17. Youth is temporary. Maturity is permanent! Just enjoy doing nothing important for awhile.
Whatever the next adventure is supposed to be will present itself when the time is right. ... and don't ask us. Follow your own star!
The Croaker
Congratulations to Toby! Nice picture of Toby and Jessie and the trophy is awesome!
So, I sat up and watched the whole boring 'Geraldo at Large' last night, waiting for Zac. I determined that they had canceled you again. I think they are just trying to raise their ratings with people 'tuning in' to see you Zac.
I remember when I ordered your DVD part 1 Zac, that I was thinking it would be cool if we had a big screen TV to watch it on. Then yesterday morning the color on our old (anchient actually) TV was all crazy, so we did some research on line, then headed out to shop and came home with a 42" LG LCD TV! Now I'm ready for 'Zac's World Adventure - Part 1!" I think I'll have a 'Zac's World Adventure' party and serve up some shrimp salad and crab dip and maybe tuna salad sandwiches while we watch the 'flick!'
Give Ben a birthday squeeze for me!
Namaste~~
Sailing obviously runs in your family! Good job, Toby!
@Becky... Great idea for treats while watching our much anticipated "Zac flick"! :)
Blessings -
Marie
WA St.
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (NLT)
It's all part of his plan for you my dear. Enjoy it! Savory it! Remember it!
OH! Fundraiser night at one of the yacht clubs for PREVIEWING the DVD before they get sent out.
With commentary from Zac and the family, Autograph time etc.
Just an idea.
Really great photos of the fun stuff going on at home! I'm glad you're enjoying hanging with your family and your friends. And congrats to Toby! But watch out---Sabot today, 36-footer tomorrow!
Anyhoo, Zac, I've been trying to put myself in your shoes. You are, after all, fresh off a super amazing record-setting adventure and wondering what the heck to do next with your life. I'm glad you're not going to rush things. It is smart to weigh your options with the guidance of your parents and your agent. And since your parents are so grounded and have only your best interest at heart, they will no doubt be your biggest touchstone and reality-check as to what path you will soon head down. They will not steer you wrong!
Again, trying to put myself in your shoes, I can totally see how it's tempting to "strike while the iron is hot"---capitalizing on your fame while you are fresh in the public eye. I, for one, would like to see you reap the rewards of all your hard work and yes, I mean financial rewards as well. Since you're such a great guy (and now a role model for young people, whether you like it or not), I wouldn't want to see you lose your dignity or become fodder for tabloid gossip. A program on MTV would be great as long as it's done well, you get to have fun doing another great adventure, and it provides a positive message to the world. In other words, it would be a cut above most of MTV's current programming. For instance, someone else mentioned doing something on the environment. Well, that's something that MTV viewers SHOULD be concerned about. MTV doesn't need more salacious shows---just YOU BEING YOU on some sort of expedition or adventure would be really awesome!!
BUT, where I really see you is on The Discovery Channel. You remind me of Bear Grylls of "Man vs. Wild". I don't know if you're familiar with him but he has climbed Mount Everest, been in British Special Forces, been to Antarctica, and done some really crazy things all over the world. I don't know how he got his start on TV, but maybe "your people could talk to his people" and find out. And I think you would have a blast if you could team up with him for an episode or two.
I'm not sure where I come down on the college now vs. college later thing, but I did have an idea. I had some of the best times of my life in college and learned invaluable lessons, most of them outside of the classroom. Any college would be THRILLED to have you. I'll bet you could swing some sort of deal where you get to take a leave of absence part way through college, do something wild and crazy, and come back and finish up when it's over. A big university might not get on board with something like that, but I could see a smaller college being able to accommodate you. How about that??
Thanks for keeping us up to date on all the busy and fun things you're doing. Loving the photos, too!
Peace to you and your family,
--Sue McGah
Laguna Niguel
What I want to know is: Did Toby get his four-eyed possum?
Zac ---
How much of an "extra donation" would it take for you to autograph the copy of your DVD that I have already pre-ordered? :)
Seriously, I can't wait for it to appear in my mailbox!!!
...For some strange reason, I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that you are actually HOME!
Blessings always,
Marie
WA St.
Don't worry about doing another adventure for awhile, as a person needs time to rest, get caught up on things, and build their adventure fund back up again. It might be possible that you will not do another adventure like you just did again, and if that's the way it works out it's no big deal either...you've already done more that tons of people have ever done.
Ben's 2nd Birthday....how lovely to be back home for that. He must have changed a lot since you have been gone. Happy Birthday Ben!
And CONGRATS to Toby.Loved the picture....looked like fun.
The DO HARD THINGS conference looked lots of fun too...hanging with loads of other likeminded kids.Keep up the fun!
UK friend
I am so glad that people are keeping this blog alive.
Good job Toby!! So many people learned sailing and the true feel of it by sailing a sabot. Mine still sits on the deck of my Challenger 32 sloop but I havn't sailed it in many years. To me it was like driving a go cart and always great fun. My sister also still has hers. She never got into big boat sailing but always loved sailing her sabot. My Dad used to tow it over to Cat harbor behind his boat so she could sail it over there at the island. She always had on a big smile as she jetted around in it.
Rusty
I did a lot of sailing as a kid with my parents but I haven't sailed in more than 15 years. I'd love to get my kids into it as they are 6 and 5 and at a good age to start. We've followed your progress, and you've been an inspiration to us. thanks :-)
Oh, and congratulations to your brother for winning his race!
Started to read "Dove" today...
Laura
Take some time out Zac! :)
after your recent epic adventure, you need time to re-charge those batteries, and to maybe take it easy for a while, and enjoy yourself in the company of what seems to me, to be a heck of a loving and very close knit family.
Get your film people talking to National Geographic Channel or Discovery Channel, and maybe your story will be told all over the world, as it really deserves to be.
Whatever you decide, give yourself some breathing space, I reckon you earned it!
Best Regards from here over the pond...
@ Laura
I also just got "Dove". It was on a front table display at the Little Old Bookshop in Whittier. I'm really enjoying it. It's a much more relaxing book than, for example, Chichester's "Gipsy Moth Circles the World". I was suprised to discover that it's about half hippy love story, but there's some good sailing in it too!
I also got Tanya Aebi's "Maiden Voyage", and I'll probably start it today. I'm guessing that they were so prominently displayed because of the publicity surrounding Zac's trip, but I can't prove that.
@ all
So we know about Graham, Aebi, and Slocum from lots of posts here on the blog. What other books & authors piqued or sprked your interest in sailing, adventuring, and suchlike groovy stuff?
Still praying Numbers 6:24-26
Mouse in Whittier
www.myspace.com/mouseonamotorcycle
Buy "Death and Coffee" here!
@ Mouse..believe it or not, Borders and Barns & Noble were both out of "Dove"..must be because of our own capt. Zac :} i found it at the library though..get this..the librarian started telling me about"the 16 year old who just got back" haha..i shared a few pictures i had on my cell phone from the big day..she was impressed lol
Laura
Congratulations Toby! You go get 'em big fella.
Also, happy birthday to Ben. My goodness they grow fast.
Blessings and Psalm 91!
So now calm fall down, I feel so happy for you , Marianne your mom, your father, all of your,
I followed you after you passed that bad moment in Rodrigues, Because I was there just a little moment after it, So I regullary followed you, without to much comment because English is not my first language as you can see, I keep you on my favorites, so I will see when you do another extraordinary think ! Hi Tobby !
Take care !
Congratulations with everything Zac. I just saw you at the Jimmy Kimmel show here in Norway.You are an amazing sailer. Enjoy the Summer and keep up the fun.
Blessings - Synnøve (17) Norway
Don't let people in CA make you believe that the entire country is talking about you. I have been in the Midwest and you have had blurbs in the local papers. I didn't see any coverage in the coastal area of Florida where I live (a sailing community). The success of your video and book may not be as great as you think. Your audience may not be as big as you think. Temper your success and focus on what you really want to do. You have done a great thing - believe in yourself.
Todd - SW Florida
I am glad to see the skills of sailing run in the family from Ryan & Ben
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