Harvest Moon Regatta 2007
The Harvest Moon Regatta is a coastal regatta in the Gulf of Mexico from Galveston's Flagship Hotel Pier to the Port Aransas Jetties, about 150 miles. For us this is a social regatta, a parade to a party. This Harvest Moon Regatta included a special participant. In celebration of her 130th birthday, Elissa, the official "Tall Ship of Texas" sailed with the fleet. Elissa, a square-rigged barque launched in 1877, was the 2007 charity recipient of the Harvest Moon Regatta.
We left Watergate Marina at 6:00 am on Thursday, October 25. We had an ebb tide all the way down the Houston Ship Channel, so we cleared the Galveston Jetties by 10 :30 am. As we entered Bolivar Roads, the Elissa was steaming out of Galveston Harbor, and we followed her out into the Gulf of Mexico as she set sail. The wind was blowing about 10 to 15 knots from the north. We had one reef and the working jib and were screaming under sail. We sailed around and took pictures of the Elissa and our friend's boats while we waited for our 2:30 start time.
Since we are one of the slowest boats, we had a one of the first starts. All of the serious (fast) race boats started after us. We sailed off toward the sunset as the wind gradually died and faster boats passed us. After an hour or so, we started hearing what sounded like freight trains behind us as boats flying spinnakers bore down on us as if we were standing still. The sun set and the big, bright Harvest Moon rose to light the way. Over night we passed a few boats and were passed by a few others. By Friday morning, the wind was merely a breath, and we ghosted along at about three knots behind many but still not last.
The wind continued to decrease until we were all becalmed on a glassy sea. Running out of ice and afraid we would miss the party, we fired up the iron jib and withdrew from the race. The sun set Friday, and the wind gradually started to build again. We turned off the engine and sailed on toward Port Aransas, wing and wing. We rounded the last mark at 6:00 am and called the race committee to announce our arrival and withdrawal. Trey took the whisker pole down and we hardened up on a starboard tack. We arrived about 6:45 am on Saturday morning just as the charter fishing boats were taking their guests out the jetties.. The fishing boat Captain's know just where to put their throttles to throw up the most wake, and they were having fun swamping sailboats to show off for their customers.
We furled the sails and turned into the City Marina harbor. The Harbor Master was busy rafting up the big boats, so we headed in to the back of harbor where the shrimp boats dock hoping we could get a slip with power and water, and we did! These slips had no finger piers, so it was on and off over the bow pulpit. The next boat to pull on near us was Moonlighter, a Cal 29 from Freeport, TX owned by Travis Smith and crewed by his son David and friend Steve. Travis let us borrow his water hose to wash the decks, telling me just to drop it on his foredeck when I was finished as they were going to sleep. I did as I was told, but part of the hose dropped into the water. Not wanting to wake the crew, I gently stepped on board to fish it out and ended up straddling the pulpit like a horse. Needless to say, I woke Moonlighter's crew. David popped his head out of the companionway and inquired as to what I was doing. I explained that part of his hose was in the water, and he said "It's ok, Lady. It can get wet on the outside too.". I apologized profusely and went off to take a shower.
The Awards party started, and we caught up with many friends, walked the docks and looked at fast boats, and drank lots of rum. After the party, all retired to their boats and continued to drink and listen to the band. I looked over toward Moonlighter and noticed that Travis had passed out on deck with his rum. Good Party!
Sunday morning the wind was blowing 20-25 knots from the North East, so we decided to head back up the ditch (the intra-coastal waterway). We made plans to rendezvous with Moonlighter outside Port O'Conner off the channel to Army Hole and Matagorda Island State Park. We reached our evening destination about midnight. After locating the shallow parts in the channel, we pulled out around #9 and rafted up with Moonlighter for a late evening meal of Burgers and Beans. The beans were the best I have ever had, and even though spam can be the best meal you have ever had when you are underway, these really were the best beans ever! With our stomachs full of grub and rum and still rafted up, all retired for a few hours sleep. We were awakened about 5:00 am as the wind picked up again out of the NE, and Dawntreader started to push Moonlighter around. We broke the raft and headed to Port O'Conner for fuel and ice, not looking forward to the long windward slog across Matagorda Bay.
Matagorda Bay lived up to its reputation of strong currents and rough waters, and we s-l-o-w-l-y made our way across, lucky enough not to run aground at the shoals where the Matagorda Ship Channel and the ICW intersect. Most boats took the new North ICW cut, but we had forgotten about it since the last time we had been there in 2005. Trey won the Most-Impressive-Meal-Made-While-Underway with his scrambled eggs and sausage burritos made with out spilling a drop! We crossed back out of the bay and into the ICW about noon and continued on to Sargent, TX to dock at a city park for the night. The park has the ICW on one side and the Gulf on the other. After a walk on the beach on the morning, we departed for Galveston and planned a short stop in Freeport for fuel, ice, ice-cream sandwiches and a visit with Moonlighter at Bridge Harbor Yacht Club. They have a lot with a shop, a couple of picnic tables, and three slips. It was like heaven. David gave us some jigs to use trolling in the bays and advised us that we would not catch anything in the ICW which really bummed me out since I was looking forward to having some fresh fish for dinner. David took care of that too with some Gulf Snapper from his ice box which I fried up later that evening and served with Saffron rice on our way to Harborwalk Yacht Club to dock the night with Sunner. After dinner, I lay down to rest my tummy before cleaning up the dishes. I was resting peacefully when I felt us bump ground and then HARD ground. I rose to inquire if this was where we were spending the evening and was told "Yes."
Seven miles from our evening destination and the deep water about 5 feet to Starboard, we tried to get ourselves un-stuck. We tried swinging the boom out with Steve and I on it, and then with Trey on it. Nothing. We waited for a Towboat and barge wake to hopefully help lift us out of the mud so we could motor off. Nothing. Since we were traveling light for the regatta, we did not have our dinghy with us and could not row the anchor out. Not ones to admit defeat so readily, we had an anchor tossing contest in our underwear (to keep the mud off our clothes). Trey can throw the anchor about four feet. Still nothing. Muddy and tired of trying, we finally broke down and called Tow Boat US. I did the dishes, made coffee, and the guys cleaned the decks best they could. Tow Boat US, Captain Don, arrived to pull us the 5 feet to deep water. He was kind enough to make sure we made it in to Harborwalk before leaving us. We tied up behind Sunner on their T-Head and fell fast asleep.
In the morning Trey washed the remaining mud off the decks as I made espresso. We departed about 7:30am for the last leg of our voyage. We were able to motor-sail once we cleared Pelican Island Cut, heading up the Houston Ship Channel. The wind once again slowly died as if knowing we wished not to end our voyage. We rounded Redfish Island as the last of the wind left us once again on glassy water, motoring toward home.
We left Watergate Marina at 6:00 am on Thursday, October 25. We had an ebb tide all the way down the Houston Ship Channel, so we cleared the Galveston Jetties by 10 :30 am. As we entered Bolivar Roads, the Elissa was steaming out of Galveston Harbor, and we followed her out into the Gulf of Mexico as she set sail. The wind was blowing about 10 to 15 knots from the north. We had one reef and the working jib and were screaming under sail. We sailed around and took pictures of the Elissa and our friend's boats while we waited for our 2:30 start time.
Since we are one of the slowest boats, we had a one of the first starts. All of the serious (fast) race boats started after us. We sailed off toward the sunset as the wind gradually died and faster boats passed us. After an hour or so, we started hearing what sounded like freight trains behind us as boats flying spinnakers bore down on us as if we were standing still. The sun set and the big, bright Harvest Moon rose to light the way. Over night we passed a few boats and were passed by a few others. By Friday morning, the wind was merely a breath, and we ghosted along at about three knots behind many but still not last.
The wind continued to decrease until we were all becalmed on a glassy sea. Running out of ice and afraid we would miss the party, we fired up the iron jib and withdrew from the race. The sun set Friday, and the wind gradually started to build again. We turned off the engine and sailed on toward Port Aransas, wing and wing. We rounded the last mark at 6:00 am and called the race committee to announce our arrival and withdrawal. Trey took the whisker pole down and we hardened up on a starboard tack. We arrived about 6:45 am on Saturday morning just as the charter fishing boats were taking their guests out the jetties.. The fishing boat Captain's know just where to put their throttles to throw up the most wake, and they were having fun swamping sailboats to show off for their customers.
We furled the sails and turned into the City Marina harbor. The Harbor Master was busy rafting up the big boats, so we headed in to the back of harbor where the shrimp boats dock hoping we could get a slip with power and water, and we did! These slips had no finger piers, so it was on and off over the bow pulpit. The next boat to pull on near us was Moonlighter, a Cal 29 from Freeport, TX owned by Travis Smith and crewed by his son David and friend Steve. Travis let us borrow his water hose to wash the decks, telling me just to drop it on his foredeck when I was finished as they were going to sleep. I did as I was told, but part of the hose dropped into the water. Not wanting to wake the crew, I gently stepped on board to fish it out and ended up straddling the pulpit like a horse. Needless to say, I woke Moonlighter's crew. David popped his head out of the companionway and inquired as to what I was doing. I explained that part of his hose was in the water, and he said "It's ok, Lady. It can get wet on the outside too.". I apologized profusely and went off to take a shower.
The Awards party started, and we caught up with many friends, walked the docks and looked at fast boats, and drank lots of rum. After the party, all retired to their boats and continued to drink and listen to the band. I looked over toward Moonlighter and noticed that Travis had passed out on deck with his rum. Good Party!
Sunday morning the wind was blowing 20-25 knots from the North East, so we decided to head back up the ditch (the intra-coastal waterway). We made plans to rendezvous with Moonlighter outside Port O'Conner off the channel to Army Hole and Matagorda Island State Park. We reached our evening destination about midnight. After locating the shallow parts in the channel, we pulled out around #9 and rafted up with Moonlighter for a late evening meal of Burgers and Beans. The beans were the best I have ever had, and even though spam can be the best meal you have ever had when you are underway, these really were the best beans ever! With our stomachs full of grub and rum and still rafted up, all retired for a few hours sleep. We were awakened about 5:00 am as the wind picked up again out of the NE, and Dawntreader started to push Moonlighter around. We broke the raft and headed to Port O'Conner for fuel and ice, not looking forward to the long windward slog across Matagorda Bay.
Matagorda Bay lived up to its reputation of strong currents and rough waters, and we s-l-o-w-l-y made our way across, lucky enough not to run aground at the shoals where the Matagorda Ship Channel and the ICW intersect. Most boats took the new North ICW cut, but we had forgotten about it since the last time we had been there in 2005. Trey won the Most-Impressive-Meal-Made-While-Underway with his scrambled eggs and sausage burritos made with out spilling a drop! We crossed back out of the bay and into the ICW about noon and continued on to Sargent, TX to dock at a city park for the night. The park has the ICW on one side and the Gulf on the other. After a walk on the beach on the morning, we departed for Galveston and planned a short stop in Freeport for fuel, ice, ice-cream sandwiches and a visit with Moonlighter at Bridge Harbor Yacht Club. They have a lot with a shop, a couple of picnic tables, and three slips. It was like heaven. David gave us some jigs to use trolling in the bays and advised us that we would not catch anything in the ICW which really bummed me out since I was looking forward to having some fresh fish for dinner. David took care of that too with some Gulf Snapper from his ice box which I fried up later that evening and served with Saffron rice on our way to Harborwalk Yacht Club to dock the night with Sunner. After dinner, I lay down to rest my tummy before cleaning up the dishes. I was resting peacefully when I felt us bump ground and then HARD ground. I rose to inquire if this was where we were spending the evening and was told "Yes."
Seven miles from our evening destination and the deep water about 5 feet to Starboard, we tried to get ourselves un-stuck. We tried swinging the boom out with Steve and I on it, and then with Trey on it. Nothing. We waited for a Towboat and barge wake to hopefully help lift us out of the mud so we could motor off. Nothing. Since we were traveling light for the regatta, we did not have our dinghy with us and could not row the anchor out. Not ones to admit defeat so readily, we had an anchor tossing contest in our underwear (to keep the mud off our clothes). Trey can throw the anchor about four feet. Still nothing. Muddy and tired of trying, we finally broke down and called Tow Boat US. I did the dishes, made coffee, and the guys cleaned the decks best they could. Tow Boat US, Captain Don, arrived to pull us the 5 feet to deep water. He was kind enough to make sure we made it in to Harborwalk before leaving us. We tied up behind Sunner on their T-Head and fell fast asleep.
In the morning Trey washed the remaining mud off the decks as I made espresso. We departed about 7:30am for the last leg of our voyage. We were able to motor-sail once we cleared Pelican Island Cut, heading up the Houston Ship Channel. The wind once again slowly died as if knowing we wished not to end our voyage. We rounded Redfish Island as the last of the wind left us once again on glassy water, motoring toward home.
Create a free website at Webs.com