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Tropical weather dominated our activities in September.
Collision in Port A
We arrived in Corpus on Labor Day weekend with plans to spend
the following week exploring the Matagorda Bay area. However,
the appearance of a tropical wave moving across the Gulf convinced
us to change our plans and stay closer to home. On Labor Day,
we sailed to Port Aransas and spent the night on the transient
dock at the municipal marina.
On Tuesday morning, we departed for a much-anticipated day
of sailing in the Gulf. As we motored away from the dock,
Nick glanced toward the stern and declared, "There's
no water coming out of the exhaust!" I peered over the
transom and verified this to be true. So back to transient
dock we went. This problem had occurred once before earlier
in the summer, but we thought it was resolved. How naive of
us! So Nick primed the system and got the water flowing through
the exhaust again. The wind had picked up, so getting off
the windward dock was a clumsy ordeal, but off we went. Nick
throttled up and...AGAIN the familiar sound of dry exhaust
sent us back to the dock. This time we tied up at the end
of the transient dock, hoping we could back off for an easier
departure next time. We later regretted this decision.
A squall started moving in from the Gulf, so we diverted
our attention to tying the boat up properly. Nick glanced
up from his work to see a small fishing boat motoring across
the harbor on a collision course with our boat. The fisherman
was standing in front of the helm looking behind his boat.
Nick frantically waved his hands and yelled a warning. I ran
over and joined him in screaming, "STOP! STOP! YOU'RE
GOING TO HIT US!!!" Visions of our boat sinking under
us flashed before our eyes as the fishing boat continued on
her unguided course. In the final seconds, the fisherman turned
around and gaped at us blankly, unable to respond, as his
vessel slammed into our starboard side. Cabinet doors inside
Caribbean Soul flew open on impact.
There was more screaming from our deck as the fisherman muttered,
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." The man seemed unable to
think or act. He just stood there as his boat bounced against
our hull in the storm. Nick instructed the man to tie his
boat up to the dock in front of ours. I wasn't quite through
screaming yet, but Nick managed to reel me in and the adrenaline
finally subsided. Fortunately, Caribbean Soul was only
scratched, but the experience was quite upsetting. And we
still had an unresolved engine problem.
Nick called Duke Earwood to tell him how much fun we were
having on our vacation. Apparently, Duke wasn't having nearly
as much fun in Corpus, so he headed over to Port A to get
his fair share of abuse. By sunset, water was finally flowing
through the exhaust. Thanks, Duke!
The next day, we moved to the Island Moorings marina and
got in a little sightseeing in Port A before the tropical
wave arrived. The remainder of our vacation week was soggy,
but we did catch up on watching movies.
Bahia Fun Race
The BYC fun race to Bahia marina and Ingleside Cove took
place on the third weekend of September, and it almost made
up for our tribulations the week before. A south wind at 10-15
knots provided two wonderful days of sailing. On the Sunday
return trip, we sailed back alongside Horizon Dreams
with cameras clicking. What a perfect sailing day! But as
we reluctantly pulled into our slip Sunday afternoon, the
VHF was broadcasting a report for Rita, a new tropical storm
headed for the Gulf.
Hurricane Rita
Three days later, we arrived back in Corpus towing a U-Haul
trailer. Rita was now a Category 5 hurricane, and Corpus was
under a mandatory evacuation order. We began preparing Caribbean
Soul for the storm, knowing that our efforts would not
save her if Rita made a direct hit. However, luck was with
us and not with our neighbors on the Texas/Louisiana border.
The only effect in Corpus was a high tide that flooded the
sidewalks at the marina.
In September, we experienced the full range of emotions
that boat ownership provides: endless hours of frustration,
despair, anger, fear, and dread, interspersed with moments
of pure joy--those perfect moments that keep us out there
sailing.
And hurricane season continues....
Restaurants and business all over town were boarded up and
closed
Rita's high tide flooded the sidewalks
Nick upside down in the engine room, keeping his chiropractor
in business
A swarm of moths coming from the T-head
Dakota's first dinghy ride--rowing only, no motor yet
Rita who? I need a nap!
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Dakota sporting his foul weather gear during our rainy vacation
Doing the tourist thing in Port A
Downtown Corpus sunset
A perfect day on the water in Corpus Christi Bay
Our redesigned bow pulpit makes a comfy seat
Horizon Dreams
Duke and Carrie
Kiva
Todd takes Sasanoa out for her debut sail on the bay
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