Dolphins in Galveston Bay

Our friends Jody & Dauphin have Monarch, a beautiful Island Packet 45 foot cutter. These two are geat sailors that love having fun. While out sailing one day they ran into a pod of Dolphins that played in the wake of their boat. It is really hard to get pictures of Dolphins but they were able to get this video. 

Location: Kemah, Texas

Flying the Spinaker



Jim at the helm



Jim & Elaine









  Last Sunday Sept 12th we went out sailing with some friends, Mary and Eric. They have sailied with me in the past and are fun to sail with.



The Bird

Dousing the Spinaker





Well I have had a spinaker for the last three years and have never flown it. So with the winds as light as they were I decided that it was about time we get that spinaker in the air and see what it looks like and how it sails. We were out by the Houston Ship Channel and the prevailing wind is from the S/E. So we turned downwind and rigged and deployed the spinaker. It is really colorful and sails very good. With a little trimming I could set the spinaker and let it sail inself with the autopilot.

Elaine, Eric, Mary





Flying High



We sailed downwind to Houston Yacht Club and once we passed it, we doused the spinaker using the sock. It was so easy that even a cave man could do it. The wind had picked up and with two tacks we were headed back to the Boardwalk and Watergate Yachting Center.

Another great day on the water.

Location: Kemah, Texas

Labor Day 2010 Redfish Island Raftup

Kelly and Andy's Starfleet Yachts

Kelly Mcquire was having his Labor Day Redfish Island concert again. This year it was going to be an all day party. Also performing was Andy & the Deamsicles and Southbound. All the bands were set up on different large power yachts. The sound was also simucast on an FM station.

Redfish Island Raftup

 Greg and Ann s/v Nauti-Gal, Dauphin and Jody s/v Monarch and our daughter Heather joined us on Barefoot Babe for a sail out to Redfish Island. We had some heavy winds and put the rail of the boat into the water a few times. When we got to Redfish Island there must have been a few hundred boats anchored out. We found us a spot and set the hook the first time. Now it was time for Dauphin to make some drink specials and the rest of us to clean up the boat. The inside of the boat looked like it had gone through a hurricane.

Redfish Island Raftup

Once we got to boat cleaned up and a couple drinks in our hand we lit up the grill and threw some hamburgers, bratwurst and sausage on the grill. The typical boat food. As it cooked, we kicked backed and listened to the Kelly Mcquire concert on the water. When Kelly was finished the boat he was on pulled up anchor and went slowly around the anchored boats singing a few more songs and as he passed us, told us Barefoot Babe needed to sing a little louder. (He has never heard us sing or at least the guys)

Redfish Island Raftup

Andy and the Dreamsicles then started playing as Kelly's boat headed to port. Andy's music was good and we could hear it at our boat good. After we ate a few people went for a swim and I took the dinghy around the anchorage for a little spin. Andy finished up about 4:00pm and then Southbound took up where they left off, playing a little southern rock.

Give Me a Beer

We raised the anchor and headed back in about 5:30pm. Everyone had a good time and were working on a nap as I let the Mr. Auto (autopilot) sail Barefoot Babe to Kemah. We were treated to a nice sunset as we arrived back to Watergate Marina.

Location: Kemah, Texas

Finally Got The Islander 36 to Kemah

Tom Leaving Freeport

Well we got down to Freeport on Wednesday 9-1-10 at about 7:00am and was planning to leave at 7:30am. The fuel dock was supposed to be open at 7:00am. They didn't open till after 8:00am. We took on 10 gals of diesel and tested the motor. We had good water coming out the exhaust this time.

Freeport Ship Channel

I untied all the dock lines while Tom was at the helm. As I started to untied the midship line Tom put the boat in gear and gave it the gas. Tom ran the bow into the dock and pile blowing up the port navigation light. I think he was just so excited to be leaving Freeport. Well I got it untied and off we went heading out to the ICW. The motor was running well at this time. We motored under the Surfside bridge and then out the jetties to the Gulf of Mexico.

Freeport to San Luis Pass

We started out motor sailing with about 5 knot winds and about 3 foot swells making about 3.5 knots. it was going to be a long slow ride. There were a few squalls out on the gulf and we headed towards the edge of one to try to catch some wind. Well we found about 25 knots worth and took off like a jet with a steady 7 knots over the ground. When the squall played out the wind went back down below 5 knots, so back to motor sailing. We reached San Luis Pass and the motor started to run hot so I shut it down and tried to work with the little wind we had. It started to pick up to about 15 knots and I was able to pick up a little speed and headed to the jetties. I reached the jetties and tacked into the ship channel. The sun was setting and the entrance was full of ships, barges, tows, crew boats, pilot boats and ferry boats. It was worse than a Houston freeway on a Friday evening.

San Luis Pass to Kemah

We are still running under sail alone and no port navigation light or steaming light. Tom was unable to see and make out any of the vessels or nav aids at night. I tried to teach him how to spot the lights and to tell what they were and which way they going. He needs a lot of practice. I sailed the Islander all the way up the ship channel to the S. Boater Cut where I crossed behind an inbound ship. Once we were in the safety of Galveston Bay I let Tom take the helm all the way to the Boardwalk. Once we were beside the Flying Dutchman I rolled the jib in and dropped the main. Tom started the motor and took us into the slip at the Boardwalk marina. We arrived  at 1:30am the morning of 9-2-10 17 hours after we started. Just in time to tie up and then head over to T-Bone Toms backyard for a couple of ice cold beers (had me some Land Sharks) to celebrate our successful arrival.

Location: Kemah, Texas

One More Time

5:45am
The 36 Islander is supposed to be ready so I am headed to Freeport. If everything goes right I should be back in Kemah at about 9:00pm. We are going to dock the Islander at Boardwalk Marina.

You can track our progress by clicking below :
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0GdPevUzg8CkG0iT053sszA9T9GLAsaI5

Location: Kemah, Texas