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