1. Late game thursday night in newport then early game friday in bubble
2. Plenty of bonding that weekend in the hotel
3. Must have been your wife at the Marriot...IHC if memory is correct. Good at handling a large rod. I brought my gaff, she brought the bait...
My son played a few years ago. 7 games to reach the finals. We commuted from the Merrimack Valley about 80 minutes each way over 5 days. Grueling but doable. Better than staying in some $hitbag hotel in Providence.