- 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. - 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_2264
Cleaned up for the party the next day, the crew of the Longhawk celebrate with pink-orange shirts and rum drinks courtesy Bacardi. - IMG_2166
The last picture you'll see of the whole boat... from here on out we're on it. - IMG_2171
Motoring out of Houston through a channel. - IMG_2176
Dawn on the first day (before the start of the race). - IMG_2178
From left to right: Sam (the skipper), Mike (the... uh... other skipper), Doug.