- IMG 5496
The first of many episodes of daytime sleep for Patrick. - IMG 5501
More boats amassing. - IMG 5511
To pass the time at the windless start, Sam unveils a squeeze box and proceeds to play classic sea shanties such as "Silent Night." Julie feigns a smile. - IMG 5513
Skippers Sam and Mike consult. - IMG 5514
Bryan finds a comfortable spot to wait for wind. - IMG 5515
As does Patrick. - IMG 5519
More waiting (the boat has many lounging options). - IMG 5524
I was also a fan of this little spot. - IMG 5532
An attempt at communicating the glory of night sailing. Darkness on deck, the nearly full moon high above, and no other lights or sounds except the occaisonal stern light of a boat we're passing or the whistle of an oil rig. - IMG 5536
Another night shot attempt. The wind actually picked up terrifically around nightfall, and we spent most of the rest of the night at near full speed (about 8 mph). - IMG 5538
Julie at the helm. - IMG 5542
A gas/oil pipe in the foreground, and a rig off in the distance. This is what we had to stay up all night watching out for. - IMG 5543
- IMG 5548
A bird that miraculously managed to get miles and miles off shore stops for a rest on our boat. He seemed tame but was probably just too exhausted to hop away. - IMG 5549
Look at the ease with which Bryan steers. - IMG 5550
- IMG 5551
- IMG 5552
- IMG 5557
After a good nights sleep and a shower, we spent the next day lazing around Port Aransas. Here, Bryan has convinced Julie and Doug that despite the dead fish on the Beach, a swim is in order given the nice waves and relative warmth of the water (compared at least to norcal standards). - IMG 5564
swim swim swim - IMG 5570
Julie negotiates a wave. - IMG 5574
After being stung by a couple of (tiny) jellyfish, the swimmers emerge to dry. - IMG 5576
Julie drying off. - IMG 5577
Bryan's ocean-styled do. - IMG 5580
Have a free bottle of rum for finishing the race, but please don't take it around to 5 bars drinking it. - IMG 5582
To show their appreciation for being taken out on the boat, Julie and Bryan by a liter of Woodford Reserve for Sam. Chambord is both an inferior liquor *and* a boat we bested in our class. Get it?!? - IMG 5583
Some crews had even better get ups than our pink-orange crew shirts. - IMG 5584
Texas barbecue awaited us for the dinner party on Saturday! What bliss. Bryan consumes roughly 1.5 lbs brisket and several rum drinks. - IMG 5586
People eagerly await the announcement of winners. - IMG 5588
Julie makes full use of the free West Marine hat and West Marine light-up plastic ice cube.