Totally Stu
Sailing attracts characters. Maybe it’s the fresh air. However, some stand out in the crowd, and if you have sailed some of the popular small one designs in Southern California, you have likely met Stu Robertson. A former Marine, Stu is a no nonsense guy, and couldn’t care less if his clothes or attitude don’t blend well with the yachties.
My favorite Stu story comes from a regatta where we were tent camping, and me and my buddies were up a bit late, making a bit too much noise, enjoying a few too many adult cocktails, and doing it all a bit too close to Stu’s tent. Stu never said anything that night, but early next morning, I awoke to Stu slamming two enormous frying pans against each other, just inches above my head. Totally Stu.
Here is another Stu story from the Thistle Midwinters West, held Feb. 5-7, 2009 on the ocean in San Diego:
“Stu ripped his spinnaker in race one and needed a replacement. Even taking a high speed motor boat ride back to the club would take too long so Stu got creative. With his crew sailing his boat as close to the beach as they dared Stu dove out of his boat and swam through the waves to the beach. He walked 1/4 mile back to Mission Bay Yacht Club and then back to the beach with a replacement spinnaker under arm. He bought a boogie board from a surfer, laid the replacement spinnaker on the board and paddled through the surf back out to his teammates sailing patiently in and out of the waves. He missed one race but made the third race and sailed well enough to still finish 5th overall.” -- http://www.northsailsod.com/class/thistle/thistle_whatsnew.html#61
posted by Blogger @ 9:53 AM
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8 Comments:
What should be added here is that Stu is a great racer, and while his style is a bit unorthodox at times, he has collected an enviable number of championships.
Stu's the man! He's the best sailor I've ever crewed for. Some things are guarnteed to happen whenever I crew for him. First, its going to be a great weekend. Second, it'll always action pack racing. lastly is that one of us is going to for a swim for sure!
Plus, he has really fast boats, too. In fact, he has the fastest Lido 14 {#3113} on the planet! Flower Power, baby!
Apparently Anonymous doesn't know that when someone raves about a one-design boat being the fastest on the planet that it's a red flag to other competitors and their one design class to take a closer look at it?
Isn't Stu the guy that made Scuttlebutt news a while back for racing an illegal Lido 14 at their championships?
Is he still racing the same one?
Apparently, old man, you are unaware that that PROTEST WAS THROWN OUT. Stus boat was weighed & measured just like everyones for a national regatta. Nothing illegal about it. Sadly, instead of improving their sailing skills, some lido sailors resort to petty protests to eliminate the competition.
Try to get some sleep.
Go get 'em Stu!
Actually, Stu's boat is overweight.
He dug it up from a dock in Colorado when it was full of water and submerged. The gel coat on the bottom is constantly cracking from the long immersion and requires continual attention to keep smooth--maybe he gives it more attention than most. Originally the boat was the property of Dick Lineberger (RIP)and it got Dick a gold chevron or so in his keep.
Lido Historian
I have helped Stu on a number of his boat projects. Gota love a guy who thinks out of the box, and gets things done without breaking the bank. Stu is my favorite sailing personality, bar none.
Brownie
Everybody wants to think they can sail a boat as well as the next guy. After sailing with Stu for over 25 years I know that very few people have his talent. I have had nothing but fun sailing with you Stu.
Paul
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