Our Summer Solstice Adventure June 14-22, 2003

Ed Herndon, Remedy

Friday an early start

We rendezvous with Ambiance for Happy Hour and plan for an early start the next morning. Westerly winds made Redfish Island an undesirable anchorage so we settled in at the A Frame Anchorage. Around sunset we see the beginnings of a thunderstorm; we break up our raft with Ambiance to settle in for the night. Lightning down toward Texas City begins to move our way. We are below watching TV and resting calmly at anchor. Within a half an hour the winds shift to the north and begin to rise. Ed goes topside to see what's happening. The Storm is moving up from the south and the surface winds have shifted to the north. Our peaceful anchorage has become vulnerable. Should our anchor fail we could be driven ashore.

"Marion," I called below, "we are going to get hit by the thunderstorm."

She came topside to watch with me. "Do we have enough scope out?" she asked.

"I will go add some more," I said going forward.

"Turn on the engine just in case we need it," she urged.

"Good Idea," I agreed. On our previous boat, a twin screw trawler, we had used the engines to relieve strain on the anchor and maintain a heading straight into the wind.

At first it looked like the storm might pass to the east of us. The winds were up to about 25 Kts but the boats were riding well. Marion called Ambiance on the VHF to check on them. They were riding OK.

"Remedy, Remedy, This is Promise," called Ed Reh. We answered and went to VHF 68.

"Remedy, we are on the dock at Houston Yacht Club. We heard you on the VHF. There is a very strong North wind hitting us here right now. How are you doing?" he asked.

"We are OK.... about 25 kts out of the North... have the engine going in case we need it." answered Marion.

"Just point straight into the wind and you should be able to ride it out." he counseled.

'Thanks for checking on us, It's nice to have you there." replied Marion.

The wind was rising and I took the helm to steer directly into the wind. The rain came gently at first, we could see the lights at Bayport five miles away. In less than ten minutes the storm reported by Ed Reh was upon us. It was sheets of rain and winds which clocked at 45 Kts.

"It should be over in a half an hour," I predicted to reassure both Marion and me. We settled into a routine, Marion watched the wind instrument, I steered for the Bayport lights when I could see them. The rest of the time I followed her instructions, steering left or right at her command. Ed Reh checked in on us several times.

On several occasions it required full power and full rudder to bring her head into the wind. As the storm wore on the waves increased to perhaps 4 or 5 feet. A few even came over the bow and sprayed over the windscreen and bimini. I was aware that we were considerably up wind of our original anchorage after powering into the wind. As the storm subsided I went forward to check the anchor. Tugging on the rode I found no resistance... I pulled it in and found the rode had parted.

We had no alternatives except to head for port. Ed Reh invited us to come up to HYC, but it was much closer for us to head for Clear Creek Channel. As we got in, the winds fell to almost calm. We tied up to the dock at Sundance Grill and spent the night.

Saturday

We needed a day to rest, recuperate and replace the lost anchor. I had the original Danforth that came with the boat but the chain section needed to be spliced to the nylon rode. I had three books on boat maintenance but none dealt explicitly with splicing nylon onto chain in a way that would pass through the windlass. After studying the splice on Jay Green's Hunter 38, I did an adaptation from Rousmannier's chapter on splicing. It worked when tested several times.

Sunday

The plan hatched with Ambiance and Morning Glory was to leave early Sunday and attempt to catch the rest of the crowd somewhere before Rockport. Remedy set off an hour early because I read my watch wrong. We were underway with thunderstorms in the forecast. When we called Ambiance we were already at marker 2. Steve suggested going to Offats for the first night, and leaving after the thunderstorms passed. They would meet us there. We forged on ahead.

We were about a mile above Texas City dike in the Ship channel when we got the Sunday morning version of Friday's storm. This time we were not at anchor, but running before the storm when it hit from the north. The rain made reading the chart plotter impossible and the radar picture was so full of rain echoes that you could not pick out the Day marks, ships, tows, and shrimpers. Marion could read the depth sounder so we steered to the right when we found 50 foot water then headed 150° when the water was 20 feet and hard to the left when the water got around 10 feet. We did hear five blasts from a passing ship. (That means a collision is immanent)

"Steer to the right," Marion shouted., "We are in the middle of the channel."

"That's what I'm doing," I was a bit defensive.

"Do it faster, or we will be hit," she implored.

I overdid the correction and soon we were out of the channel into the shallow water.

Back and forth we went using the depths as our guide... The day markers and other boats were hidden in the blinding rain. Rain let up, but the winds around fifty and the waves building to six foot rogue waves on the quarter made boat handling a heroic endeavor. The turn toward Pelican Cut placed us almost broadside to the wind.

"Lets head for the Galveston Channel for protection," I was looking for support.

"Any thing that gets us out of this." Marion agreed.

The closest safe harbor was Galveston Yacht Basin. It was still blowing 20 as we tied up to the fuel dock assisted by the crew of Irish Ayes. After one hour, two Vodka and Tonics, and a change of clothes, the storm was gone. We then set out on a non eventful cruise to Bridge Harbor Marina for the night. That evening we discovered that Lucky, Sunk Funds, and £ Sterling had spent the night at Matagorda; with luck we could catch them the next day. Our route took 61 miles from our home to Bridge harbor.

Monday

Again Thunderstorms were in the forecast. We got an early start and made it to the Brazos Flood gates to find them closed to Barge traffic. The storm that hit us near Texas City had also caused a barge driven by the high winds to rip a massive steel plate half off the guide wall. Repairs were under way. "Hold right there sailboat, We need to move some materials to the other side. Then we can let you through." said the gate mistress. I was placed ahead of two westbound tows and seven eastbound tows which had to wait for the repairs to be completed. They let us pass because we were narrow enough to slip through a half wide opening.

By early afternoon we were at the Colorado River and had a brief wait for an eastbound tow to clear the lock on the west side. The wind picked up to about 15 and, aided by the current, we were making 7.2 kts over ground. At this rate we would be at the Matagorda Club anchorage by 4:30 PM. All day we listened to the NOAA weather and watched a wall of thunderstorms about eight miles to the north. By the time we approached the entrance to Matagorda bay the storm was six miles ahead and to the north.

"I'm not sailing across this bay in a Thunderstorm." declared Marion.

This one looked as bad as the two we had already experienced. "I feel the same. The anchorage could become a nightmare if the winds shift to the north" I said, "Lets go back and tie off to the Government Moorings, they are protected from wave action."

Marion drove the boat right up to one of the large mooring buoys and I stepped off with a stout line attached to our port bow cleat in hand. These moorings are about eight feet in diameter and the deck is about three feet off the water. Walking around on the mooring is easy and quite safe. There is a heavy attachment cleat on top. I looped around the cleat, stepped back to the bow of our boat and secured the loop to the starboard bow cleat. We were ready to ride out the thunderstorm should it come.

The anchorage with Lucky, £ Sterling, and Sunk Funds was 11 miles away. We contacted them expressing our concern for their anchorage and told them we were prepared to spend the night on the mooring if things did not improve. After about an hour the storm dissipated and moved away to the north.

"It's looking better down here," said Philip Kropf on the VHF. "We are all riding peacefully at anchor, y'all come on down."

"OK" I said, "We will be there in an hour and a half. Keep Happy hour going."

The Porpoises greeted us as we entered the bay and escorted us for the first 20 minutes.

Lucky and Sunk Funds in the glow of sunset

Matagorda Sunset from Remedy Click me

We were Happy to be caught up with the fleet and slept the night peacefully. Birds fly 61 miles from Bridge Harbor to Matagorda Club Anchorage.

Tuesday

There was no sign of thunderstorms when we awoke. The trip to Rockport is 48 miles. It would be an easy day. There was a light wind out of the north and we set out motor sailing.

Lucky, Sunk Funds, and £ Sterling
In ICW 10 miles west of Port O'Connor

It was a peaceful easy motor sail until around noon. Then the wind died for about twenty minutes in San Antonio Bay. Then the wind returned from the southeast and gradually built for the rest of the afternoon.
By 4:30 Luke Sterling was leading the fleet into Rockport Harbor. Marion was at the helm following Second in line Sunk Funds. I was preparing lines and fenders.

"Wow that water was pretty shallow." came Roy DeFee on the VHF.

SCHRRUNNCH went our keel as we came to a definitive halt on the shoal. Lucky passed us on our port fully five yards away.

"TMCA Cruisers, This is Remedy. We are somehow aground in the channel. Save us a slip in the Marina." I reported.

"Remedy, This is Lucky. I will come back and tow you off ." called Doc Mulloy.

"We seem to be able to turn the boat a bit... I will try to Power her Off.."

We did manage to get the boat turned around on the shoal but we were unable to make any headway. After about ten minutes of trying I called Doc to come back and help. Even with both of our engines working we were not moving.

"Doc," I called, "I'm going to call Tow Boat US, Thanks for the effort."

After we got in touch with Tow Boat US there was nothing much to do but wait. Their nearest tow was 45 minutes away in Aransas Pass. They were on the way. Meanwhile Marion made me a Vodka and Tonic and I pulled up the chart for the Harbor on the Cap'n down on the Nav station.

We were "In the Channel" but so was the shoal.
Why the Coast Guard placed day marks #3, 5 and 7 inside the 4 foot contour sure puzzles me. The Autohelm Chartplotter does not show this detail.

Finally the Tow Boat arrived.. They spent forty five minutes carefully working us off the shoal.

It was 6:30 when we were greeted at the slip and the celebration began in earnest. We had provided two hour of uninterrupted entertainment for the townspeople. Someone should have sold tickets.

That evening we had a great fish dinner at Latitude 28”02’... the restaurant. In fact there were 13 of us. The service was superb and all seemed very satisfied. Ranking **** $$$

Wednesday

On our day off we went exploring with Wayne, Monica and their son John. Wayne had rented a four door Dodge Ram pickup truck, so we went in style. We explored the beach at Rockport and then decided to go Real Estate Shopping on Key Allegro. There are a few very fine waterfront villas under construction or renovation. We visited with one owner who was in the final stages of his renovation. Fabulous flagstone decking started at the entrance and covered the entire grounds all the way around the swimming pool and to the bulkhead along the canal. The patio area faced East and there was a pleasant breeze blowing through the shaded area under the house. It was a very desirable home.

Next we went to Lunch at Dorado Grill at the Key Allegro Marina. They had a Crab and Shrimp Remolaude salad for $6.95 that perfectly matched my Atkins diet. Also had Michelob Ultra, the 2 grams of carbohydrate beer. Do the Dorado for a great lunch... Ranking *** $$.

After lunch we looked at a pair of side by side waterfront town homes which overlooked the Harbor. They faced West and had no breeze. They did have a pair of deep draft slips and very nice docks that came with the units.

When we returned to the Harbor both Philip Kropf and Roy DeFee reported on the Rockport Yacht Club.

It seem both had spoken with Felix Keely, a member of the Rockport club, as well as being Comissioner-At-Large of the Aransas County Navigation District, and Harbormaster to boot. He made us a deal we could not refuse. We could use the Club House for our Shrimp Feast dock party. We had to purchase our drinks from the Club and he would be our bartender. It was perfect.

We bought One pound of Jumbo Shrimp per Shrimp eater. Marion and John McBride prepared a garlic butter mix and sautéed half of the shrimp. The other half were boiled and served with horse radish red sauce.

The Cooks

Shrimp Eaters

Smooth Sailing Award

After dinner Luke Sterling presented a special commemorative award to Ed and Marion. The Smooth Sailing Award was to reassure us that there would be no more Grounding on this trip.

RYC Commodore Maryann Cox and several other members of the club dropped in for drinks and tales of Gulf Coast Cruising. The are a most hospitable group. Visit their web site at http://www.ryctx.org/. And be sure to check in with them when you are in Rockport.

Thursday

Lydia Anne Light

Last ones into Port, we were last ones out.

The fleet was already at the ICW when we gave the Rockport Shoals wide berth and headed out to catch them.

Port Aransas is only 12 miles away. And the only sight worth taking a picture of is the Lydia Anne Light House.

We settled onto the main pier by noon and spent the next hour getting the electric power to work. Then we unplugged and went for fuel when the fuel dock got free of customers.

Back in our slip I readied the dinghy with its trolling motor for the Big Trip across the harbor to Happy Hour #1 on £ Sterling.

That killed an hour, and a couple of beers, and prepared us for Happy Hour #2 on Lucky. At this party we got recommendations for Dinner at the Wharf and an offer to use Wayne's "rented wreck" when it would shortly be returned around 6 PM by the hosts of Happy Hour#1. (The Free Trolley does not run after 5 PM). We had plenty of time to kill, and Wayne had an almost inexhaustible supply of Merlon that needed attention. Roy and Carol DeFee and John McBride joined us for the excursion. Food at the Wharf was plentiful, good and reasonably priced . Marion and I both had the Senior Special fried catfish. Comes with a tossed salad and we just skipped the french fries. Rating ***$$.

Friday

This was a lay back and rest day. We took the Trolley to the beach. I had to wade through knee deep seaweed to get to open water. There were a few nice body surfing waves but Marion did not get past the seaweed. We then walked to Pelican Island for Bloody Mary's and a snack. Rating *** $$$$. Then we did the rest of the Trolley Loop back to the Marina. Got a short nap before Happy Hour started on our boat.

It wasn't planned that way but all cruisers (13) brought a different kind of Red wine and a snack. We knew there would be no drinking the next day offshore, so we proceeded to finish off (or spill) everything in sight. Our cockpit popup table is slanted and slippery so the least bit of motion sends wine glasses sliding around. Marion was headed down to get some anti skid when someone bumped the table, this tipped an open bottle. The bottle was caught by another just as it drenched Marion's back. A third person then managed to knock over a second glass of wine while reaching for the paper towels. The third glass was spilled by a fourth person who attempted to get the sponge for the red wine already on the cockpit cushions. This action sent a basket full of Frito Chips flying. Of the remaining eight persons seated in or around the cockpit, three fled the scene, one offered advice and assistance, the other four laughed heartily at the chaos. In the end every drop of spilled wine was cleaned up before another drop was served. That's the way we have Happy Hours on Remedy. It was a Laugh a Minute.

We did decide on a First Light departure and not to exceed 6 knots using our engines. That would hopefully keep us bunched up on the way home.

SaturdaySunday

These two days got run together.

There was not enough wind to make 6 knots on sail alone except for about four hours before sunset. We were the only boat that was not fishing so we were able to keep up the planned pace. The trip was delightful and relaxing most of the day. We alternated naps with duties at the helm all day long. Late afternoon I noticed the engine Temperature was indicating over 220° F and became concerned. For the next several hours I had numerous conversations with the other captains and checked everything we could collectively come up with. Water was flowing through the engine, fan belt was tight, sea water strainer was clear, overheat alarm did not sound, Engine compartment was not very hot and there were no odors like you get with an overheat. We turned off the engine for a while and just sailed. The gauge did not go to the usual bottom scale reading. When we restarted the engine it moved right back up to the high range. In the end the consensus was that we had a bad Temperature Gauge.

Around midnight we entered an offshore production field south of Freeport. I did not realize that many of the platforms were not lighted. Because there was no moonlight I never saw them. I did not have radar turned on because watching radar ruins my night vision. Marion was on rest break. Luke reported seeing unlighted platforms and got me worried. We needed both of us on watch so I woke Marion. For the next four hours we were both on alert and watching the radar. It was frightening because not even the radar was reliably finding them. Suddenly there would be one looming on the Starboard side perhaps a few hundred feet away, but too close for comfort. We had better luck spotting the ones to Port because there was a background glow from the shore that they would show up against. By the time the half moon finally rose we were past the worst part.

As daylight came we were off of Galveston. We both managed to nap a little before we made it to the Jetties. Our offshore had taken 26 hours.

"Let's not go right home," Marion said, "Just throw our anchor, clean up, rest and eat a snack"

"That's fine by me," I agreed, "Lets do it at Redfish."

Sunk Funds was about an hour ahead of us, Lucky, Savannah Rayne, and £ Sterling were behind and we would check them in as they passed our anchorage.

It was a great way to end our Summer Solstice Adventure.

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