March 30, 2012

Chris, Tamala, and Jaime went out sailing today,,,it was a little windy...they were going to try to go to Rockport today...decided to move her to Kemah...but decided weather was too bad for them not enough experience...so...just staying another month here in Corpus...Chris and I will be spending the week here in Corpus...enjoying days and nights on the boat...storm came up so we discovered a few leaks...had bottom cleaned...found out main sails needs repair...taking it in Friday on our way home...we rebuilt engine...hoping to take her out several times this week to make sure...not sure when we will be moving her to Kemah...talked to Captain Chris to see if he would help us out in May and sail her around...need to have it there for June for family reunion...kids can't wait to sail...neither can we...

Preparations for sailing!

We worked on the sailboat this week.  Replaced the original standing rigging; replaced the batteries; pulled the Tohatsu 15hp motor for a complete annual; replaced the Windex; replaced the anchorage light; replaced the navigation lights (red & green); wired the new VHF radio; pulled the water tank out in preparation for replacement while removing sedimentary layers, which looked liked it dated back to 1978 when the boat was manufactured, from the bilge/water tank area, using an age old bilge yoga technique; and Tammy reworked some of the teak wood including the tiller from a gray color to a nice teak brown color with character.  The wiring was updated to utilize the battery Both/1/2 switch.  The diver is scheduled this week to clean the bottom removing the green garden of undergrowth and any stowaways such as barnacles.

We are in preparations for moving the sailboat from Corpus Christi, TX to Kemah, TX.  Preparing to navigate around the coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and through the Intracoastal Waterway.  Quite a bit of knowledge mining, sailboat prep, and supply gathering.  We are having a blast, if I could only wake Tammy up to do this one last thing!

Wow, now who was thinking we would jump in the sailboat and sail away into the sunset with an umbrella flowery drink?

Tammy, Tamala and I can now sail the boat.....

So we finished the American Sailing Association ASA101 and can now sail our boat; well once the standing rigging is all replaced.  We had a blast.  The first day the winds picked up to 40 knots and about an hour early we had to knock it off, learning had ceased to exist.  The second day we had to make up the hour.  Man overboard drills etc.  As soon as my next time off we are sailing!

March 5, 2012

Spent first night on boat...it was great...we have a clanging outside...but for the most part slept well...rocking didn't bother either one of us...of course winds were calm...just piddling today...cleaning her up and getting to know her...she is starting to come together and become our own...enjoy spending time with Tamala also...she is great on the boat...still thinking of moving to Kemah port...just being patient until we know what she will do and we know what we are doing...next trip down the mast will be fixed and we can take her out...till next time...

March 2, 2012

Winds were better...class was better...wind started picking up later and we were a little frazzled...but we made it through and all passed our test...Captain Chris came to our boat and hung out...gave us some pointers about our boat...complimented is was a nice little sailing vessel...we feel if the winds aren't too high tomorrow we could take her out and play...but we still needs lots of practice...engine is working fine so we always have that...very glad we took lessons...

March 3, 2012

Took our first lesson..OMG...it was 25 knots of wind gusting to 35...it was fast and furious...it was hard to understand...Tamala pulled us out of port and I was able to pull into port...but all the I between was intense...unfortunately I accidentally Jibed...it was nerve racking...fortunately we didn't know what I did and no one got hurt...Captain Chris was a little worried...no one was hit by the boom...we were all aware of it swinging back and forth the whole time above our heads...tomorrow winds will be calmer...only 5 to 10 knots...it will be less wind and stress...realized there is a lot to learn about sailing...