S/V Wave Dancer
Spring Fling Cruise 2014
The Gang of Six AKA Ed & Cindy,Steve & Laura and Bob & Julie.
The plans are made and re-made and Wave Dancer and Sogni d’Oro set sail for Offets Bayou on Sunday afternoon. Anchoring overnight and setting out early Monday morning for Port Aransas.
The planned route was to take the intercostal waterway channel under the Pelican Island Bridge and up to the Galveston yacht club for a fuel stop, unfortunately the Pelican Island bridge was closed for repairs so the long route back through the Bird Island cut was the order of the day. As we approached marker 13A the fog started to roll in and visibility went from clear to zero in a matter of minutes. This was our first trip with the newly installed AIS and it proved to be a great asset.
The fog cleared around 1pm and we headed out into the gulf with a waypoint set at 28°52.798N 94°53.164W putting us just inside the safety fairway a slight turn to stbd and a new waypoint of 27°59.507N 96°26.088W the sailing was splendid and the watch schedule worked out to be perfect at 3,4,5hrs. One more offshore waypoint would see us entering the Port Aransas jetties midafternoon Tuesday.
Wednesday morning and a short dinghy ride to explore the Lydia Ann channel and San Jose island we walked across the barrier island to the coast a much longer walk than anticipated.
The next few days were spent eating, drinking and visiting awaiting the arrival of Orontes 2
The gang of six were reunited with the arrival of Orontes 2 and more drinking eating and visiting was enjoyed.
Leaving Saturday morning with a stiff breeze Sogni d’Oro and Wave Dancer made our way back up the coast to Galveston a little more lively a return trip with the winds and seas picking up as night fell, by morning we had reefed the main and rolled in much of the jib, but still doing 7 to 8 knots in six foot seas as we arrived in Galveston after only 29 hours at sea.
Great trip with fantastic friends.
Sogni d'Oro
Wave Dancer
Fourth of July 2014 Double click me.
How we love entertaining guests aboard Wave Dancer, the Fourth of July celebrations were no exception with John Lucia and Daylynne joining us for the fun, fireworks and sailing.
Setting out into Galveston Bay we sailed from marker 2 to the ship channel with a nice 10 to 15 knts of wind, as we made the first tack to Stbd the black clouds to the North East provided an ominous promise. Not to disappoint, with a sprinkle of rain came a twenty Knt gust and another, Wave Dancer as usual grabbed the bone between her teeth and took us on a wild ride across the foam. Unfortunately the storm passed and the wind returned to the 10 to 15 Knts and we sailed into the anchorage at Red Fish Island. After dropping the hook and having a cocktail Daylynne decided it was time to go swimming, John Daylynne and I all dropped over the side and had fun floating on fenders while inspecting the waterline of Wave Dancer. Back aboard Cindy and Lucia were busy preparing dinner a fair fit for an admiral.
Fresh salad with fruit an entre of chicken curry with rice. After dinner with the weather deteriorating the decision was made to raise the hook and head for the marina, approaching the Clear Lake outer channel marker the Kemah fireworks display had just started, not to disappoint the display was awesome.
Labor Day Weekend 2014. Double click me.
Sogni D'oro and Wave Dancer Head out for yet another adventure, leaving the Dock at approximately 1545 heading for Galveston and Offets Bayou. Departure was delayed slightly as the Coast Guard and Seabrook fire dep’t had closed Clear Creek channel to salvage a 45 ft power boat that was ablaze in the channel.
The fire contained and the channel open we cast our lines and headed out, as we approach the Seabrook marina we catch sight of Sogni D'oro and crew just exiting the marina, the weather forecast not great but the weather around us is nice with a few clouds and blue skies.
As we pass under the Hwy 146 Bridge we get a glimpse of the burned out power boat now moored and boomed in the Kemah Boardwalk Marina entrance.
Onward we push with a course of 110° after leaving Clear Lake marker 2, this first leg the wind is directly on the nose no sailing just yet. As we arrive at the waypoint Sogni D’oro has cooling problems and is forced to shut down her engine and clear a blockage, all good we change course with a heading of 150° to skirt the Houston Ship Channel, the first squall hits us with fury and torrential rain. The rain continues for almost all the trip to Galveston but the wind on the beam at 15 to 20 knots is a blessing and speeds of 7+ are enjoyed as we push South.
Turning into Pelican cut we encounter “Red River” a tow exiting the Texas City channel who for some reason cannot be raised on the VHF, the encounter proves harmless as we alter course and duck his stern.
As the Sun sets we enter Offets Bayou and anchor in 18 feet of water a stone throw from the beach.
A short dinghy ride over to Sogni D’oro and dinner back aboard Wave Dancer of Chicken Curry with our dear friends Bob & Julie. Another short dinghy ride to deliver Bob & Julie back to Sogni D’oro and its lights out in anticipation for good night’s sleep on the hook. Sometime around midnight an electrical storm moved in producing much thunder and lightning with some rain, brief sleep disturbance but welcoming cooling of the air.
Saturday morning breakfast of bacon and eggs and a dinghy ride to discover Offets bayou and the surrounding area, lazy day with preparations later for dinner aboard Sogni D’oro with Vlad & Carman joining the party and bringing Tres Leches yummy!
Sunday morning and yet more Bacon and eggs with Cindy's Bloody Marry I like cruising!
Preparations and decorations for Lowrie to arrive and celebrate his Birthday. Fun Fun Fun! As Cindy Lowrie and I all do the new zip line at Moody Gardens as Tom, Jeff, Denise and Billy watch on. Back aboard Wave Dancer burgers and birthday cake swimming and water gun fights to celebrate Lowrie’s 10th birthday. Later live music and fireworks display close out what proved to be a great birthday for the little guy.
Monday morning after more bacon and eggs (did I mention I love cruising) we raise the anchor and Cindy Sue sails us away and off to Clear lake.
Slight delay waiting for the causeway rail bridge to open and we are planting trees and taking names as we sail with full main, Jib and staysail up to Pelican cut.
As we clear Pelican cut it’s a downwind run so we break out the chute and fly it all the way into Clear Creek channel. Approaching Red Fish island we raise Island Dancer and Orantos II on the VHF a little frivolity and on to west bay for some photos, thanks Lora and Steve.
LYC Harvest Moon Regatta 2014
Preparations all completed Wave Dancer and crew head out for the start line.
Steve and Laura Brown, Cindy and I aboard we leave the Galveston jetties around noon 10-9-2014 a little early so sailing around the start line area awaiting the arrival of the fleet of 171 more boats and eager competitors.
The winds are light and continue to drop off all the way up to the start at 1400hrs, we cross the line about a minute late.
Port tack for the next twenty odd hours and by Freeport we are flying hitting speeds of 8.3 knots.
After starting our watch at 0400 Friday Cindy & I feel a reef is in order for the main just a little too much sail for the 25 to 30 knot winds. Cindy wanted to reef the Jib wish I had listened to her advice as later in the day we could have used the lift it would have given us.
As we approach 16 miles to go we are forced to tack over to escape the beach and get back on the rum line, (should have listened to Cindy) so we tack over and loose probably an hour and a half in the process.
Crossing the line in Port Aransas a little after five Friday evening we feel we could be in the running for a trophy!
Alas its not to be, after all the times are entered and corrected for handicaps we were 40 minutes behind the third boat in our division (should have listened to Cindy).
So in the final analysis we were fourth in division had it not been for that tack we would most surely had a third place trophy, (should have listened to Cindy!!...)
Thanks Steve and Laura for all your hard work in getting us there and back!........
RUM where RUM
Christmas 2014 CruiseTitle. Double click me.
What to do for Christmas is a question probably asked by many.
For us it was a no brainer "go cruising"
Next question was where to? Galveston sounds good!
Galveston it is, with Wave Dancer all dressed up with lights and wreath off we go Christmas Eve bound for Galveston TX.
Arriving at Harbor House marina late afternoon Bill & Carol meet us to catch our lines.
A couple of drinks aboard Wave Dancer and we are off to Carols Loft for dinner, spiral cut ham and Hot Buttered Rum "Yummy"
Christmas Day
Cindy finds a new Laptop under the tree and we spend the morning trying to figure out "Windows 8.?" Then off to Mum & Joe's for early dinner. Roast chicken with home made stuffing and trimmings OMG it was goooooood!
Homemade apple pie and Cindy's sweet potato pie for dessert (if your reading this in the UK your probably wondering what sweet potato pie is! Well it’s like pumpkin pie! Damn not sure you all would know what pumpkin pie is like either! Let’s just say it’s awesome and leave it at that.)
After Dinner its back to Galveston by car and off to bed.
Boxing Day
After Mimosa breakfast, Cindy heads off to the store "Modern Vintage" at 10am. Time for me to sit back and do some people watching, funny how many folk must have gotten a camera for Christmas it was like being at a Japanese photo convention (if your reading this in Japan I apologize).
Cindy gets off work at 1730 and it’s off to “Olympia Grill” for drinks and dinner, great Martini (well great three Martini’s) sitting having such a good time I felt compelled to pick up the tab for a uniformed police officer who was waiting for an order to go, before we left a stranger at the bar picked up our entire tab including the police officers! Astonishing God Bless America.
The next morning it's off to Offets Bayou and the “Pelican Rest” Nice day for a motor sail up through Pelican Island Cut and onto Offets Bayou.
Passing the wreck of the concrete ship and as we approach the cut Cindy arrives in the cockpit with bacon eggs toast & mimosa, thank the lord for auto pilot Yummy.
That evening was spent with guests Tim, Lia and Lia's Mum aboard Wave Dancer for dinner of chicken curry and cupcakes, Yummy.
Seems to be a pattern here food and drinks!!!!
We close the night out walking our guests to their car and having a night cap at the "Number13" restaurant and bar.
The 28th proved to be cold and wet so Movie marathon was ordered we watched four great movies , "Gravity" "Chef" "The other Women" & "And So It Goes" all very good.
Our wonderful friends Bob & Julie came to visit with their daughter Amanda and we had a brief interlude to go have a burger at the "Spot" back to the boat more movie time and homemade Ravioli Meat balls and sauce brought by Bob & Julie another Yummy.
Another work day for Cindy on the 29th so a dinghy exploration trip for me. Long seen a boat sitting in the distance off of the ICW so away we (the dinghy and I) go and get close to explore, she is an abandoned hulk sitting almost dry.
Splashing around in the shallows I came across these two dwellings, going to assume they are crab holes but really do not know, if anyone can explain them I would be greatful.
Finally heading back to the mother ship with our propane dinghy motor, I love this little motor!
