Our weekend trip to Corpus Christi

First and foremost, Janna and I had the greatest time in Corpus.  If you have a trailerable sailboat (trailer-sailor), and want a great destination on a limited budget... then this is the place for you!

 

To start the story, I must preface it with the history of the “Omega.”  She is an aging Balboa 26 that needs some work.  I bought her with that assumption, and it has been overly accurate!  Don’t get me wrong, she is a great boat..  sailable even with the work that is necessary.  She leaks, but she’ll sail! 

 

The worst leak is the starboard handrail and main-halyard block.  This needs to be remedied before we can stay on her overnight in rain.  Also, the windows leak profusely.

 

So, let’s start this story on Sunday. 

Sunday – March 9, 2003

I picked Omega up from the dry-dock -- after a short run :-)

 

Wednesday – March 12, 2003

I expected to start this adventure on Tuesday.  But hey… nothing a day of missed work can’t cover!  Wake up and begin removing the rail (old wood that should be “teaked” more than it has) and the halyard block.  Per Don Casey’s book Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair, I drilled the holes bigger, and bored the core with a nail.  Only three holes really took to the nail part, and they were the worst leakers (imagine that!). 

 

I then began sealing the windows.  My logic here was that the windows must be done before we leave… they must be on the boat in order to go > 35, right?  In hindsight, they were probably reasonably sealed, and the through cabin fittings were the culprit, but at the time… I had no idea. 

 

The windows are awkward.  They have frames that were quite unlike anything mentioned in Casey’s book.  They were permanently cased in frames that are supported from within the cabin.  Removing them revealed that the someone had used butyl strips in trying to seal them.  It wasn’t sealant, so I removed it.  I then began taping the window (for fear of getting sealant everywhere), then I put a nice bead of marine sealant around the window and adjusting the “thing” within the cabin that actually sealed it.  To my surprise, there was still a 3/8” gap between the window and the “thing”.  Nothing a little plastic from home-depot couldn’t handle!  Using the plastic and the sealant, I got a nice closure for the window.

 

I got two done.

 

Then it rained.  And rained.  Sealant doesn’t seal with water in the way.

 

Then I started to remember.. the through-cabin fittings must be cured at least 24 hours (without humidity)!  Doh!  I really wanted to finish this portion of the work before we left (and I wanted to leave today), so I waited with towels over the open holes and hairdryer in hand.  Finally, at 2:00pm, it stopped.  Off came the towels, and out came the dryer.  I syringed in the epoxy (no hardener) and let it sit while I worked in the windows.  Instead of sealing them all, I just closed the remaining windows (no sealant, but added separators so the windows would close).  Then, I used a hardener mixed epoxy on the holes.  It was amazing how much epoxy the three holes that leaked the most consumed. 

 

And we were off to Corpus.  Three hour drive from Austin to Corpus (in a car).  That’s four hours and change with a Durango and 4600 pound payload.  We arrived around 11:00pm and stayed with a friend.

 

Thursday – March 13, 2003

Not quite an early morning, but an immediate start on the windows!  Sealed all the windows and bored the smaller holes for the handrail.  Put the handrail back on.  A little reservation about the curing of the epoxy… but it seems to be dry.  I finished the halyard on Friday..

 

Off to Corpus Christi Municipal Marina.  Get there around 4:00 pm.

Per Embob Walker's advice, I go see John Lillard at the Corpus Christ Sailing Center.  He is a very helpful and friendly gentleman.  He informs me of the location of the CCMM (Corpus Christi Municipal Marina) office and who I should talk to.  After I talk to the Marina, I head back to John for guidance about getting my boat in the water, etc..  Great guy.  You go and take lessons from him.

 

Benita is a very pleasant person.  She is manning the desk at the marina.  She informs me that my overnight cost is $17.  Sure beats a hotel!   She tacks on 5$ a night because I must leave my trailer somewhere.  Unfortunately, this also costs me an extra $25 for the trailer lock (I still owe Clint for this!!), but it is well worth it. 

 

After dinner at Waterstreet Seafood & Grill (walking distance from the boat), we meet our friend, Clint, in downtown Corpus at his favorite bar.  It was Thursday – Keg Party night.. $5 glasses and 50 cent refills.  Quite the bargain. 

 

Friday – March 14, 2003

Wake up and try our quasi-coffemaker – a camping grill and Folgers.  Horrible.  Later revealed that the water we used was 3 months old and not the water we bought for this trip.  Ech.

 

Raise the mast.  Takes about an hour.  During this feat, I meet a member of the Bay Yacht club, Jerry.  He helps with the mast.  What a nice guy!  Great stories too.  He invites us for dinner with the club.

 

Put the sails on.  Takes a little longer. 

 

Decide it’s a gorgeous day – 70 degrees and sunny.  Let’s go for a bit of a ride.  I don’t have a chart of the bay, so I go talk to John at the Sailing School.  He gives excellent directions that the sailing school uses for their day sail.  I also purchase a guide to Texas’s Coasts from him.  Neat book.  Go buy it… from him. 

 

We head over towards the Southern side of the bay.  Great, constant wind.  Nothing like Lake Travis.  Almost too much wind.  And the waves!  Almost hard to keep a steady course!  Quite fun.  We are back by 4.

 

Nap time?  Oh yeah. 

 

Then it’s off to find the adventures of the CCMM shower.  It’s quite nice actually.  A private (and roomy) bathroom and shower for the transiant boaters.  Unfortunately, the water heater is a bit off!  It’s hot… then cold!  Then warm.. then cold!  Then tooo hot!  You get the picture.  The room does have a nice AC/Heater to somewhat offset this inconvenience.

 

Dinner with the BYC.  I don't think there is a yacht club in Texas more friendly than the BYC.  A roomful of  “wet puppies” (A very accurate Jerry quote).  We ate the etouffee, drank the beer, and sipped the wine!  All for Jerry’s $10!  Thanks man! 

 

Jerry then showed us his Hunter 40.  What a beautiful boat. We sat and chatted for a good hour.

 

Off to meet friends in Corpus (drove there).  A little note here – we parked our boat just in front of Nina on the T-Head, and our truck was parked next to the boat.  Very convenient. 

 

 Our friends showed us a great time.  Ping-pong, taboo, and cranium.  Woohoo!  We were up till after 3.

Saturday – March 15, 2003

I was a bit unsettled about the possibility of running aground, so I woke up at 7:30 and made my way to West Marine.  They obviously knew that I was up well before my usual hour, so they open at 9.  Well.. the coffee from the corner Whataburger was nice.  (Side note: there is a Whataburger on every corner in Corpus).  Opened by 9, Garmin GPSMAP 76 in my hand by 9:30.  In addition, I also bought the fisherman's guide to the bay.  Very handy chart.

 

10:30 It starts raining... of course.

 

11:30 Our group (who, the night before, all swore that they were going to make it regardless :-) decides that the rain is too much and backs out.

 

12:00 Janna and I go out anyway!  No thunderstorms, and the rain is quite light.  We leave the marina, and make a 5 degree heading towards the "safe" side of the Lexington.  This could be summarized into a 30 minute epitaph, but I'll give you the 10,000 ft view instead - we hit the shoals.

 

It really was quite an adventure.  15+ knot winds, rain, and waves.  The waves were at least 5 ft (yes... within the bay).  It was quite a sight for a lake sailor!  Looking from the high side of a sailboat down a wave is quite an experience!  Anyhow, I was trying to be as gentle as possible to Janna while she was down below, but with the waves, I was quite certain she would get motion sickness.  At the point that I thought the waves were getting out of hand.... WHAM!  We stopped suddenly!  The next wave picks us back up.  Then WHAM again!

 

Holy cow.  My keel is hitting bottom.  I can't believe we didn't look at the new GPS unit in addition to the new map!!  

 

Well... lunacy begone, we pulled them both out and decided we should follow strict waypoints from now on.  We pulled the keel up a bit, and moved away from the shoals and into less shallow waters.  

 

At this point, we noticed the lightning.  It was quite a ways away, but close enough to count.  We made a new waypoint (GPS and chart included!) back to the marina.  And then it happened...

 

This is probably something usual for the salty of the group but quite new to us.  Three dorsal fins popped out of the waves at our back.  One even made a bit of a jump just next to the cockpit.  We sat in wonder.  What a moment.

 

Back to the marina.  Since it was thunderstorms (with too much rain) and my boat's grounding is a bit suspect, we drove around the island for a while.  Through Corpus, through Port Aransas, through Mustang Island, and back to Corpus.

 

And it was nap time. (7:00 pm)

 

I awoke to Janna introducing herself to our neighbor, JT.  He had a beautiful offshore rig named "Worker's Risk".  46 ft?  I was amazed that he has a Captain working for him that tends to this boat.  How wonderful!  I need to make more money...

 

After showering, we made out way over to Worker's Risk.  J.T. and Shannon were as friendly of people we have ever met.  I hope to see them again.

 

Off to Murdock's for a St. Patrick's day celebration.  I had more Green beer than... well.. you know.

Sunday - March 15, 2003

Today, we are scheduled to return to Austin.  But before we go, we must take a few friends out.. just for a short sail.  

 

It changes from cloudy & 65 to sunny & 75!  Still, relatively little wind.  We stay out from 11:30 till 2:00 and travel 3.5 miles, half of which is under power.  

 

Our friends must leave, so we reach the marina at 2ish.  It's too nice to leave!  We go back out.

 

And sail... sail.... sail.

 

15 Miles in 4 hours (2:30 to 6:30).  While only averaging 3.7 miles per hour, we made most of that in the later part of the trip.

 

Pictures may describe the afternoon. (click through for all the pictures)

 

 

Shower.  We eat at the restaurant on the T-head - Joe's Crab Shack.  Good food, poor service.

Monday - March 16, 2003.  

Settle up with Benita for our extra night stay.  Put the mast up.  Put her on the trailer.  Head back to Austin.