- 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 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 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 5496
The first of many episodes of daytime sleep for Patrick. - IMG_2267
The skipper and matriarch of the longhawk celebrate a 3rd place finish. - IMG_2268
Doug and Patrick with trophy. - IMG_2236
Noble captain at the helm. - IMG_2238
As the wind dies late in the morning on the second day, we bust out the "whisker pole," a pole to hold out the jib (sail at the front of the boat) perpendicular to the boat and allow us to sail with the light wind at our backs. - IMG_2239
Bryan doing some random sailoring. - IMG_2241
More fun with the whisker pole. - IMG_2242
Doug sailoring. - IMG_2243
Bryan pulls on some lines. - IMG_2244
A view from the deck up at the mainsail and jib. - IMG_2246
Our happy family: Julie, Mike, Patrick, Sam, Doug. - IMG_2247
One of many offshore oil/gas rigs with a boat alarmingly close to it. - IMG_2250
Bryan at the helm. - IMG_2256
Doug at the helm.