Summer Solstice Cruise June 4-14, 2004

Cruise Leader: Luke Sterling Reporter: Ed Herndon

Thursday June 3, 2004

Preparations for Summer Solstice Cruise are under way.

Friday June 4, 2004

Remedy, Lucky and Alembic take advantage of good sailing weather and head for Offats a day ahead of the scheduled departure date. Winds were SSW 15kts and made for nice reach to the ship channel. For a while it looked like we might be able to sail the channel but the wind shift to S 13kts sent Remedy and Lucky out into East Bay near marker 48. The water depth is 10 feet passing into the bay at that point. It was a first East Bay sail for Lucky and three long tacks were all that was needed to make Texas City dike. Alembic had a later start and elected to motor down the HSC.

Remedy and Alembic anchored out while Lucky took advantage of shore power at Moody Gardens. I got the dinghy ready and went in to arrange a time for dinner. M/Y Hours Alone was docked at Moody so I visited with Bruce and Mary Ehni for a while. They had three teenage girls who were up at the hotel pool and could not join us for dinner. We went by dinghy with Doc and Monica to Boudreaux's for dinner. The food is good. They have a Fried Calamari and Texas Toothpick (Jalapeneos and Onions) appetizer that is my favorite. Marion and I split their big seafood platter. Doc now swears by the Miss Piggy salad. Rating for Boudreaux's ***$$$.

"That sure does look like rain to me." said Monica as we finished up dinner. The wind had calmed down and it was very black off beyond Texas City. We delivered Doc and Monica to their boat and headed out to Remedy at anchor. We both were reading our novels in the cockpit and keeping a weather eye.

"Marion," I said, "I think Monica was right. The wind is shifting to the East and I would feel safer on the Dock. There's a storm coming."

"Let's Go" she said.

We make it in and are tied up nicely on an inside slip while the storm is still a mile away. Alembic observes our move and decides to come in also. We watch as they make a wide sweep for the inside slips. The storm hits just at that time. Bob Bennett is forward busy readying the lines and Pat is at the helm. Just then their engine quits. Without power Alembic drifts aground.

"Alembic is aground." I called to Bruce Ehni. "Can you pull them off with your Runabout?"

"Yes, but I want you to come and help with lines." he answered.

He practically rappelled off the bow of Hours Alone into the Sea Raider 5 feet below. He had to struggle to free the lines at bow and mid cleats. By now the winds are 25 Kts and the water is getting rough. I was aft on the swim platform where he came and picked me up.

Meanwhile Bob manages to get his engine running. He is trying to power off as we arrive to offer him a tow. It was an exciting attempt at rescue, but Bob managed to get off on his own and head into the slip. He came in a bit too fast and managed to strike his bow on the dock. Damage was minor.

The storm winds peaked at about 35 Kts and we got some rain. It was nothing compared to the downpour that hit Houston. After an hour or so the front moved offshore and we spent the rest of the night in relative comfort.

Saturday, June 5, 2004

Sailing is great on our way to Bridge Harbor. Alembic gets an early start to compensate for their slower speed. Marion goes aground softly at the new washout by Mile 365 near Green's Lake. It is easily solved by powering off in reverse. Beware of the Red side in the ICW washouts, that seem to be the place to go aground. The rest of the sail to Freeport is uneventful and the towboat traffic is light.

I spent an hour tracing down strange phenomenon in the power system. With shore power on or with the Genset running I could run the Air Conditioners on the B side of the AC panel, but nothing would run on the A side of the panel. It fact when I turned the A Bus breaker Off the desk lamp on Outlet 1 circuit of the A panel would come on briefly and show 90 volts on the meter. The Inverter would then cut off and the power would disappear.

Luke and Linda arrive on £ Sterling after a long day all the way from Seabrook.

He brings the Summer Solstice Tee shirts. Martin and Marylou Clark arrive on M/V Unanimous Decision.

Dinner is potluck at Bridge Harbor. This would be the only time all five of the boats would be together.

Sunday June 6. 2004

Wind is S 20Kts the offshore conditions are rough. Four of the boats decide to do the ditch instead of offshore to the anchorage at Matagorda Beach Club. Alembic feels that is too far and plans to go only as far as Matagorda Harbor and take an extra day to get to Rockport.

Sunday features the finest sailing in ICW. Remedy spent two hours averaging over 7 knots on sail alone some bursts to 8.2 Kts. There were no delays getting through the Brazos floodgates or the Colorado River locks.. £ Sterling experiences some engine overheating and decides to return to Maragorda Harbor to do some repairs. Next Ed runs aground hard at mile 451 on the red side. He calls for help and Martin and Marylou come to the rescue with Unanimous Decision.

Remedy passing Lucky
Remedy at 8kts

<<=== Lucky needs more sail

20 knot winds make the Matagorda Bay crossing rough. Remedy takes water over bow four times.

Once in close to the shore we have a delightful raft up with Lucky.

Martin and Marylou anchor Unanimous Decision nearby and come over by dinghy.

We had a great dinner prepared by Marion and Monica.

Bouncy night in 20 knot winds.

The raft with Lucky made for no swinging at anchor.

Alembic and £ Sterling go as far as Matagorda Harbor. Storms are in the forecast for the next several days.

That afternoon I made a steady sail from discarded sail I found by the Dumpster at Bridge Harbor.

Monday June 7. 2004

We broke raft after a bouncy night. We had an Awesome day of sailing in the 18-25 Kt wind. No motor from Army hole to Aransas Bay. Several times hit 8.2 Kts on 75% JIB 70% Main.

Along the way we passed the returning Let's Pretend We Cruise. Magic Reunion had two halyards full of Flags and Burgees but no sails up. Eliza had full sails. Thunderstorms hit us once before Rockport and Twice after we made it in.

Luke and Linda made the 76 nm from Matagorda on a grueling 12 hour passage. This day had been an Athletic event, Not a Liesurely read a book along the way cruise.

Doc Wayne Mulloy rented a Dodge Ram 6 passenger Pickup truck for transportation during our stay in Rockport. Thanks, Doc, it gave us freedom to move about the area.

TMCA members Steve and Mary Marrone Ambiance met us dockside. They keep their boat in the slip next to the Rockport Yacht Club. For that evening they recommended Crab N for dinner... Superb food. Crab Bisque was TDF. Black beans with corn spiced just right, Fried catfish Fingers with a crab and Shrimp butter cream sauce was delictissimo. Dinner salad with their Roquefort cheese dressing was outstanding. Ranking ***** $$$. Perhaps The most outstanding Seafood Restaurant on the Gulf Coast.

Tuesday June 8, 2004

It stormed all night and we put on extra lines. The docks held the boat well. Winds were to 40 knots 60 degrees off the starboard bow. We were tied starboard to pier so there was no bashing on the dock, but there was a lot of complaints from the dock lines.

At Rockport Dock

Ed, Linda, Marion Monica, Doc, Martin ==>

Touring took us to the Lighthouse Inn on Fulton Beach. It's Brand New and beautifully done. Has a Cape Cod Look about it. Later we had Lunch at Seafare Restaurant. I had the Soup and Salad Bar because I was saving up for dinner. Rating **$$ Plus One Margarita ** $$$. Then we all went shopping at HEB and bought lotsa Shrimp .

The Big event was our Shrimp extravaganza at Rockport Yacht club. Felix Keely of Rockport Yacht Club was our Host and Bartender for the evening. All four Solstice Boats were represented. Bob and Peggy Rakel came by car from Port Aransas where they were staying on M/Y Sabattical, they brought Diane and Shorty Hamrick. Our Rockport members Steve and Mary Maronne joined us as well.

<<== Luke, Doc, Ed, Shorty, and Bob

Above Doc and Ed get Bottomfeeder Awards.

Check out those neat Tee Shirts.

Wednesday June 9, 2004

Too stormy to head for Army Hole so we stay in port. Ladies go shopping .. guys fix boats. Chicken dinner on Remedy four couples.

Thursday June 10 2004

Still too stormy to head for Army hole, so we stay in port another day. Several trips to Seaworthy Marine store with Doc buying ICW Charts.

CJ Rome MD and his wife Diane * joined us for Lunch at Alice Fay's.
===>>

Try the Chicken fried Rib eye steak.

Unanimous Decision sets off for Port Aransas to continue their trip on south.

Marion, Luke, Linda, Diane, CJ Rome, Doc Mulloy, Monica, Ed, Martin and Marylou

* CJ Rome MD and his wife Diane were two of our hosts at Rockport. They are locals who live at Key Allegro. CJ was Wayne G (Doc) Mulloy's class mate at UTMB.

That evening Steve and Mary Marrone invited our Group to the Dinner party at the RYC monthly meeting. It was a catered Mexican food affair, followed by a brief business meeting, and a talk by a couple of RYC members who had just completed a nine month cruise to the Bahamas. It was a great way to cap our stay at Rockport.

Friday June 11, 2004

The weather has improved and we are treated to a wonderful sail to the Matagorda Beach Club anchorage. Wind SSE 15-20 Kts. It is a quick 52 nm passage. All three Boats Raft up for the night.

Saturday June 12, 2004

Remedy Homeward bound on Matagorda Bay

Kindred Spirit sailed by Doug Griffith and Michelle Lamb are returning from the Vera Cruz race. They pass us in Matagorda Bay in a hurry to get home. He plans to make Bridge Harbor that evening. Remedy and Lucky stop for Ice and fuel at Matagorda and plan to meet £ Sterling at the San Bernard river that evening.

We arrive at the San Bernard River and found it silted up after the first quarter mile. We were all rubbing bottom and we were nowhere near the beach. Its only another 11 miles to Bridge Harbor so we press on.

A very long Day 66 miles in about 12 hours. Doug and Michelle catch our lines and later help us polish off the Franzia CardBordeaux.

Sunday June 13, 2004

Another fantastic sail gets us in to the Offats anchorage in the early afternoon. Along the way we meet Mick and June Muecke headed south on Rum Runner. So far we have met more TMCA members on the waterway than we have in our Cruise. Again we all had Dinner at Boudreaux's and a repeat of the previous weekend's stormy weather. Again we raced back in the dinghy to beat the storm. We weighed anchor and moved to an open dock at Moody Gardens.

Monday June 14, 2004

The passage of the storm left us with a Wind ENE 10 Kt. We had to motor from the Causeway to Pelican Cut, but once in East Bay, we enjoyed a leisurely sail home.

Summary and Gratias

The Cruise was a good mixture of partying and sailing. Not as Leisurely as we were expecting.

Thanks to the Rockport hosts who made our stay so pleasurable; Felix Keeley, Steve and Mary Marrone, and CJ and Diana Rome.

Special Thanks to Luke and Linda for all the planning that went into the trip. And to Martin and Marylou for hauling us out of the Grounding. And to Doc and Monica for the special ground transportation. And to Marion, my partner in sailing and coping, It's wonderful being with you and cruising together.

Ed Herndon
"keep your keel off the bottom"