Adventures of s/v Barefoot Babe: Back From The Harvest Moon Regatta

Heading to Start Line

Starting Line

Leaving Boats Behind

Overall the Harvest Moon Regatta was a great experience. Everyone on board learned alot about sailing in heavy weather. The start was looking like we were not going to have any wind at all for the race. The gulf was smooth and it was a slow start. But within a few hours it started to blow and the the seas came up to about 3 to 4 feet. As we passed Freeport the winds were blowing about 28 knots and we were in about 6 foot seas. We were cruising along really well on a close reach. As we were approaching Matagorda the wind was blowing 32 to 35 knots and the seas had grown to 8 to 10 feet and now we were more on a close haul and pounding through the waves. The waves were not swells but more like a washing machine on turbo wash. We were running full canvas so when the wind went to 38 knots we reefed the jib down about 40%. Glad we did because the wind then went to 40 knots steady with gusts to 49 knots. We were close hauled with the wind on the nose and beating into 12 to 15 foot seas with 20 foots breaking waves. This was making for a very wet ride. We also had the cap rail buried in the water. So if you looked out the forward portholes all you saw was water and fish swimming by. When we crossed the finish line we were doing 9.2 knots.

Everything inside had got soaked. Elaine & Jodie drove up to Port Aransas to meet us at the dock. We had reserved a slip at Island Moorings Marina. It was nice to see them on the dock waiting for us. Once we got the boat secured, another boat pulling in the slip beside us was blown over by the wind and hit the back of my boat. There was no damage except a gps mount. We then all went to the Club house at Island Moorings, which the service and food there was not all that good. But we were all glad just to be on stable land having a meal that didn't include salty sea water. Most of Saturday was spent cleaning up the boat. We found water being held in lockers and storage areas. We fresh water washed all the cushions and dried out all the cabins. Once we all got cleaned up off to the City Marina for the BBQ dinner, free rum and the awards...then the live band Hanna's Reef and Troy Allen.

On a Run Before the Big Seas

We took 4th place in our division. Not to bad since I lost two of my crew to severe sea sickness that incapacitated them. And I had one rookie helmsman that took the boat over five miles off course north of the rhumb line.

We came back the ICW from Port Aransas and had a great trip. The first night we found a place to pull in and tie up in Port O'Connor. There were several other sail boats tied up in the same area. The next night we were experiencing a minor boat problem and pulled into Bridge Harbor in Freeport for the night. It was like another party there with all the sailors from the Harvest Moon there.