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- 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_2225
Sunrise on day 2. Notice the surface of the water: we have wind! At about 9pm the night before the wind slowly picked up and we had a good 6-7 hours at near-top-speed for the boat (7 knots, which is a bit more than 7 mph). - IMG 5538
Julie at the helm. - IMG_2235
A noticeably happier if scruffier crew. - IMG_2236
Noble captain 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_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 5543
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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
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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. - IMG_2261
The finish line! We got in about 12:30am on Saturday morning, squeaking in ahead of at least on boat in our class. Sorry for the poor quality, camera operation was a tall order given my mental state at this point. - 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.