How did I get here?

Posted byolePosted inMalcesine

Something to know about me – I’m a rock music fan. The Talking Heads song Once In A Lifetime has this lyric: “and you may ask yourself, how did I get here?” and I ask myself this all the time.

At the appointed hour we all gathered in the public gardens, each country designated their flag bearer (US was Helena Scutt), and these cute little kids carried signs introducing the athletes from each country. After the customary disorganized queueing everyone got set and we marched through ancient twisty little streets of the old town.

Of course everyone stopped to watch, it was quite the show. 150 Moth sailors from 30 countries parading behind a band of drummers through Malcesine, Italy, before sailing in the Worlds on Lake Garda, and I was one of them. How did I get here?

the flags are ready
Luca Rizzotti – President of the Moth association, great guy, and owner of the boat I have chartered – and me
adorable little kids with the signs for each country
team USA assembles – Helena Scutt, Richard Didham, Brooks Reed – actually we have 8 boats here
and we’re off, marching in the parade
unexpected entertainment for the diners
down to the waterfront
back up to the public square

This video gives you the flavor of the parade:

marching through Malcesine with Mothers

After the parade it was time for some speechifying…

President of the FVM Yacht Club Giovanni Testa Opens the Worlds, with Luca Rizzotti

And then of course, eating and drinking and hanging out…

par-tay

All in all a pretty amazing evening. How did I get here?