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