Date: 30 August, 2006 / Temperature: 92 deg F  / Wind: ESE, 18-20 mph/Depart: Anchor Marina 1300 / Arrive: Anchor Marina 1730/Skies: Clear to overcast / Water: offcolor blue / Water temp: 82

Last week, we had dinner with CB who wanted to come over and go sailing this weekend. I also spoke with DH who still can’t get Renaissance out, and was needing a sailing fix too, we decided to make a day out of it on one day of the weekend.

We spent the night aboard after an evening on the island with Don and Linda barbequing. The phone starts ringing at about 0745, and I figure it’s CB, anxious to get underway. Sure enough. So, I get up around nine and took down the third world bimini, rigging on the sails as the day starts to heat up. It takes about an hour and a half to get the boat ready after staying aboard, but we’re getting better, and D is getting things together to leave aboard permanently. Olivia is taking on a personality as part of the family.

I fastened the ice chest to the tailgate (swim platform), and we load some more ice and drinks. As routine, I check the engine oil, water, belts, hoses, connections, turn on the batteries, and finally the raw water strainer seacock in preparation for starting. At about ten DH calls, says his wife K is still at the grocery store. No problem, I need to get some diesel, and we want to grab a quick bite to eat prior to going out anyway. CB shows up, and it’s off to Wallyworld, the gas station and Wataburger, not necessarily in that order.

Back at the boat and DH, his wife and daughter (another Savannah) are waiting, and we load aboard, start the engine, and with plenty of help, cast off lines, back out into the cannel and are underway, outbound. We have eight people aboard, and I am a bit apprehensive how it will all work out, but once outside 17, we raise sail as usual, douse the engine and are sailing. There seems to be no real crowding, as we come about the normal three tacks to the causeway overpass, and Savannah and the twins have disappeared below to watch a DVD at the dinette, CB is on the foredeck, and DH, K and I are lounging in the cockpit. We have a good wind, and I back off the main a bit to reduce heel.

Under the causeway, and on the south side of the Lagoon, I give the wheel to CB, and just enjoy the ride. There is not much traffic for a Sunday afternoon as we head for the powerlines, slipping through to the other side. CB has a bit of challenge holding the boat on a heading down the channel towards Brazos Santiago Pass, and near the farthest south marker, strays outside into shallow water, momentarily dragging the bilge keels in the mud, but we power back on a starboard tack without incident.

The pass is quiet and calm, and even the mixmaster is only about a foot or two as we poke our nose outside on a northeast tack. We sail for about forty five minutes in the gulf. CB as usual wants to go further, but since we have a diverse crew, and some who do not particularly care for the ocean motion, I decide to spin it around about a mile or two from the entrance buoys so that everybody has a pleasant experience. I vow to take CB further off before he leaves to his new landlocked existence.

Back in through the pass, broad reaching southwest, jibing to wing on wing, I raise the baby sail and we slip quietly back towards the powerlines, I enjoy a cold beverage, and everyone is lounging around, content. At the causeway pass CB decides he has a better approach, but it fails, and we come close to the green channel marker. DH says “ ahhh well, we’ll just put it on our normal course anyway”, and we glide underneath without incident. The girls are all dragging their feet, and squealing in delight at the cool shady water underfoot as Olivia happily picks up wind on the north side and heads towards the entrance channel.

We douse the canvas, I light the engine and we cruise into the harbor and into the slip. With the multitude of folks aboard, tie up is a breeze. I stow gear, we change clothes and head for schlitterbahn once again to cool off. Later, we return and stow the sails, offload gear and give the boat a well deserved scrub….