Last Friday I took a day off work to go sailing. I arrived at Ventura Marina at about 10:00 am and met club member Brian. In short order we had the 170 rigged and in the water. It was cold, overcast and misty at times, but we sailed out of the marina into the open waters of the Pacific. we had some chop, about a foot, just the very beginning stage of white caps, 8 to 10 mph winds on shore. Setting our sails the 170 quickly picks up speed and with the occassional spray comming off the bow, we set our course. Sailing in open waters is fun, you can set a course and hold it for miles on end. The sky tried to open up with the sun rays filtering through hitting the water miles ahead of us bring an emerald green appearnace to the water which all ways just seemed out of reach, Kind of fitting since Saturday was Saint Patricks Day ! After rounding the Mandolin Marker we headed north, the 170 really moving and healed over about 15-20 degrees with Brian and I on the rails. we held our course all the way back to the Ventura Harbor Marker and rounded that running down wind back into the marina, once inside the waters were calm and we easily tied up at the docks ending our sail. Glenn