More Sailing Fun

This week I had the chance to take the kids and wife out on the boat. Its always fun to take new Youth on an evening trip. We had a chance to heave to and jump in the water for a quick swim and cool down. The kids also enjoyed being pulled behind the boat for a little while.

Jordan and Brook sailing Rosinante on Lake Belton

I also had the Opportunity to spend July 6th on the lake to watch the lake post July 4th fireworks. I didn't realize it was a yearly tradition, but they did a great job and lots of boats of all types showed up. I did a lot of practicing setting anchors by diving down with snorkel gear. I also had the opportunity to cook steaks on the new grill.

Boats anchored for Fireworks on Lake Belton

Cooking Steak on the new Grill and potatoes on the stove.

Finally, one of the best things in sailing is spending time with other sailors and friends. I had the chance to sail on a Hunter 18 named Adventurer with good friends Mark and Tom.

Mark Sailing his boat Adventurer

Tom and Tom learning the nuances of Rocinante for their Saturday Regatta

I was not in town for the First Lake Belton Yacht Club Summer Race Series Regatta, so I offered the use of Rocinante to Tom and Tom to Race. I was told they placed Second and Third and raced quite well.

I was unable to attend the race because I was on a family trip in Galveston. There is a lot more sailing history than many think, and great places to see and learn that history. One of my interests has always been to crew on a tall ship.

It turns out the Tall Ship Elissa is docked in Galveston, and they train crews each year to sail during Gulf sea trials.

Tall Ship Elissa docked near Pier 21 Galveston Island

Elissa's Saloon next to the Captains Quarters

Galveston was a great trip. I recommend anyone who learning to sail visit some of the old traditional sailing ships. I also recommend old sailors visit them from time to time. I found on this trip the knowledge and terminology I have learned and used over the last couple of years completely changed my experience and understanding of what I was looking at. I had a much greater appreciation of the efforts involved, and the "lines of the boat" that indicated this old rusting diesel tub was once a majestic sailing vessel.

Galveston was looking for a boat that had ties to the island. Elissa had called twice on Galveston during her sailing career. However, over the years all her masts came down, engines were added and the bowsprit was removed.

Elissa's Builders plate and main mast.

The Island determined they could always replicate a tall ship, but it was getting harder to find boats that actually did the work of the day. The only indicator of Elissa's glorious sailing past was the builders plate on what remained of the main mast below decks. Elissa was taken in, overhauled and rebuilt into what you see today. Great story for a great ship.

Next week we will have an update on our first raft-up with Rocinante. Our second Summer Series Regatta on Saturday will be followed by a Club Raft-Up social just below the Dead Fish Grill on Lake Belton. It should be interesting to see all these boats tied together, and who knows what they are doing.

Leave you with a sailing quote.

"There is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it. Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not."

- Kenneth Grahame, Wind in the Willows

Till next time happy sailing

Michael