Wanted: Viper 640's for Mardi Gras Race Week

[Jeff Jones]

Very refreshing to get an email like this.  Just out from the regatta chair to viper participants.   It's not too late to dig your boat out of the snow and join us.

If you're missing MGRW, you might be missing the best regatta / party of 2011!

Schedule:
WED - Welcome to NOLA meet & greet. 5pm til.

THURS - Welcome to MGRW Party, live music, drink specials and
Red Beans & Rice/King Cake buffet. 5pm til.

FRI - Crawfish boil/NOLA Brewing kegs in NOYC dry storage, NOYC Grill, MGRW Mt. Gay Rum Cocktail Party, live music, Happy Hour drink specials, daily awards, NOYC Grill, GYA/One-Design Flip-Cup championship. Starts @ 3pm.

SAT - The Mt. Gay Rum Krewe of Wrex Mardi Gras Ball with live music, cash bar, drink specials, Gumbo Cookoff, daily racing and parade awards. 5pm.

Email from this morning:
- Practice Races on Thursday: Please respond to this email if you think you will be partaking in the tune-up races. We are considering running two, but would like to hear from y'all as to how many you'd like.

- Currently the Viper Fleet controls the MGRW Perpetual Trophy which goes to the overall winner from the largest OD class, unfortunately though it appears that with 10 V15's registered so far and with the bulk of the New Orleans and coast fleet being too lazy to register online - the V15's will probably overtake you guys.

- NOYC is providing 3 wrist bands per day to each Viper crew. These wrist bands get you into all events and everything that comes with it. Extra all inclusive wrist bands can be purchased for $20 each.

- Over the years, we have learned that it is quite difficult for us to compete with the French Quarter with out-of-town crews, therefore events, food & live music are all scheduled to commence fairly early after the racing allowing for plenty of time for hitting Bourbon St. afterwards. Just remember that NOYC is notorious amongst the Gulf Yachting Association for winning the party - especially our own.

- Speaking of, the semi-official MGRW HQ bar in the French Quarter is the Chart Room. This is a relaxed, character filled locals joint in the heart of the Quarter. 300 Chartres @ Bienville. (FYI - they are cash only although there are ATM's everywhere. It is also very reasonably priced.) Other bars I would recommend: The Absinthe House, Cosimo's, anything on Frenchman St. (the locals Quarter), Buffa's, Molly's at the Market, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. (Note: with some rare exceptions, Bourbon St. is what it is - for tourists. If you want the real New Orleans - explore.) (Further note: the French Quarter is the safest neighborhood in New Orleans, but do use common sense.)

- If someone asks you, "I bet I know where you got your shoes." Don't bet them. You will owe them $20. The correct answer is "on your feet." Don't laugh, this is a cottage industry. Drunk tourists fall for it every time.

- For those of you who plan to heavily party in the FQ, please note that the NOPD is extremely lenient towards good "wholesome" partying in the city. Just do not push it with them - they will be exhausted from Mardi Gras. If someone happens to run afoul, realize that it will mean a minimum of 24 hours in the OPP. You may call me directly if this happens and we will do our best to help you navigate getting your fellow crew released... The best plan is to simply not achieve the interest of the NOPD.

- On a lighter note, here's an important phone number: UNITED CAB: 522.9771. The yacht club is New Orleans Yacht Club - 403 N. Roadway - West End. Jeff has the cell # of my favorite cabbie, Billy Wright, who is on call for the Vipers staying out at West End.

- On arriving in West End, you will notice a massive amount of construction. Literally four blocks from NOYC is where one of the massive levee failures occurred during Katrina. All of the floodwalls leading into West End are being rebuilt, but once inside West End and the parks behind the floodwalls, it is less chaotic. The surrounding neighborhood of Lakeview sat under 10 feet of water for 6 weeks, but has recovered nearly 60% of its residents. Businesses have nearly all returned, the neighborhood even has a Starbucks now. Repairs to the exterior of the building housing NOYC are currently underway and the marina still rests without water or power, although we have these in NOYC's dry storage. My point is that Katrina scars and reconstruction are everywhere.

- Across West End Park from NOYC is Sintes' Sea Chest where you can purchase nearly anything you might need for your boat, there is also a West Marine on Harrison Ave. North Sails' loft is located in nearby Bucktown.

- If you are interested in food outside of the regatta, West End has multiple options all within easy walking distance. Russell's Marina Grill is great for breakfast. There is also sushi at Wasabi, great Mexican at Salsas por de Lago and Zachary's next door to the Rose Manor Inn is good for food and drinks. A little bit further out, Deanie's for classic NOLA seafood in Bucktown, burgers at Lakeview Harbor, po-boys at Koz's (the two latter are on Harrison Ave. near West Marine.)

- To get into West End, the floodwall has caused road detours. From West End Blvd., take a left onto Robert E. Lee Blvd. and then hang an almost immediate right onto Pontchartrain Blvd. Then take a left onto Lake Marina and follow into West End.

- Google map of West End and surrounding marine businesses, restaurants & bars.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=30.013368,-90.112352&spn=0.046005,0.090895&z=14&msid=210060024412171989112.00049daa11953fa0ab7c7

- The Vipers have full access to NOYC's dry storage and our two 2-ton hoists. If possible, we would prefer for you to keep your boats launched throughout the regatta to cut down on delays, but this is not required.

- The weather is looking pretty good 10 days out - especially Thursday and Friday!

Cheers and see y'all in 5 days!