Monday, February 28, 2005

This week on the Island 05/30/2004

'This week on the Island' is written by Doug Bennett and is an update to friends about happenings in Key West last week. Everything is true except for those parts that are lies.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We had the Minimal Regatta this week. A team of people get together and build a boat and race it. Each team consist of 6 members. Each boat is built from 1 sheet of very thin plywood, two 2 x 4 's, a pound of fastners (screws), and a roll of duct tape. No glue or caulking. There are winners for faster sinker, best paint job, best dressed Captain, most original, and of course fastest. Our boat, the Drunken Parrot, looked like a small 6 foot row boat decorated to look like a parrot.

We started with the team meeting each night this week from 6 - 8 PM in my large (10' X 40') back yard. Monday we planned and took pictures of the material, Tuesday we cut and put together the frame, Wednesday we added the plywood, Thursday we sanded and painted, Friday we started the art work, Saturday we completed the boat, and Sunday we raced the boat. We lost our first race.

Other than that, I have been painting the new front porch. The guy from the city came to inspect and said I need 'hangers' at each 2x6 joint. I put up 27 hangers. I will need to reschedule the inspection.

Days painting and nights building a boat.

Key West, You have got to love it.
Doug Bennett