Date: 26 August, 2006/Depart: 1030, Anchor Marina / Arrive: 1530, Anchor Marina/Wind SSE 25-30mph/Skies: Hazy/Temp: 92 deg F/Water temp:89 deg F/Water: Off color

Underway with DW, twins, R and A, SW and DM . Winds are strong from almost due south as the coast is pounded by a strong pressure gradient. A low in central Texas, our first cold front of the season is competing with high pressure in the Gulf of Mexico, and the resulting tug-of war has unleashed out of control winds in the 25-35 mph range. What a weekend to take Sean and  his girlfriend out.

We eat a somewhat leisurely breakfast at Isabels, before heading down to Olivia to brave the wind. I ponder sail selection like D would ponder shoe selection before going out on the town. I finally settle on the 135 genny and the mizzen sail, jib and jigger, leaving the main under the blue cover.

I check the engine oil, turn on the seacock for the raw water pump, turn on the battery switch, and fire up the engine, it purrs along as usual. We untie, and a gazillion hands help guide Olivia out of the narrow slip and into the channel, where gusts of wind snatch the masts and try and fling her every which way, but they are no match for the W-27, and we motor glide out to the channel and to the entrance, where I notice that some idiot has removed the entrance buoy, and now there are only matchstick pieces of PVC to indicate the edges of the treacherous and non-existent channel.

Keeping the boat within the confines of the channel till well past 13, we turn into the wind and raise the mizzen and jib, cut the engine, and the wind is pushing us with some spirit along the shoreline. The wind is gusting, and it is a struggle to keep the sails trimmed, to hold a course. At Pirates Landing pier we tack port, onto an easterly heading, as Wind Fit comes alongside, overtakes us and shoots the causeway near the shoreline, by the southernmost pier. We carry on our tack and suddenly I feel the rudder and keels bouncing on the dirt. We are momentarily stuck on the spoil banks that the Corps of Engineers so thoughtfully deposited near the GICWW and left unmarked. We fill the sails on the opposite side, but it is not quite enough, so I fire up the engine and we easily motor off, catching wind and tacking back toward the piers.

Several more tacks put us in the GICWW, and I try to line up to shoot under the causeway, but the wind is too southerly, and each tack falls short. I’m beginning to get embarrassed, as an occasional wave slithers over the top of the house draining through the cockpit. I seldom have this much trouble, but wouldn’t you know it? On a sail where I wanted my friends to enjoy the ride, especially Sean and his girlfriend who will be accompanying us on the big circle trip…..

Well, I guess that’s what they make engines for, and we douse the genny, fire up the Westerbeke and pass easily under the causeway.

On the other side, we fly the 135 again, and struggle for a bit to pick up a line in the gusty uncooperative breeze, finally sailing back and forth on the southern part of the bay, with no other boats out (I wonder why?). We sail balanced for an hour or so, with Sean at the helm, doing a great job. He takes us north through the causeway, and in an instant we are back near the entrance channel. I turn the boat around, light the engine and we douse sails into the wind, chugging back into the harbor.

Inside, we pass Night Magic, which is loading people, getting ready to get underway. I salute her master as we continue to glide towards our slip. Sean and I secure the mizzen sail. Just this side of the turning basin a squealing noise starts down below, in the engine. I know it’s the belt, and I ask Sean to go below, check it out. Sure enough, the freakin’ fresh water pump is seized. I goose the throttle and it breaks free, wobbling like a drunken sailor. I back the throttle down to low, and it straightens out. I briefly consider pulling into Island Times slip, which we are alongside, but the mooring lines are at Anchor, so decide to go back there and tie up.

Entry to the slip is routine, and we tie up on the falling tide. Sean grabs a water hose, and scrubs the boat, something few others have ever volunteered to do. We secure the deck and go out to get a bite to eat, a quick nap before going to Schlitterbahn to cool off.

I will address the water pump dilemma as soon as possible