Larry brown

Fog was thick upon arrival so initially cancelled going out. After a couple of hours hanging at the dock we motored out to test some depth scanning electronics. We got to the Kemah boardwalk and the fog appeared to have lifted a good bit so we kept on motoring out the channel to see how it was further into the bay. It ended up being good enough visibility so we popped the sails and did some casual sailing at about 3kn in 7kn of breeze into the night. We turned around to head back in and shortly after the fog started to roll back in. It seemed we were staying ahead of it at first and then the lights at Kemah started to dim. The fog was consuming us. We fired up the motor to motor sail back to get there faster but Kemah disappeared in the fog. It was still not visible as we entered the channel before markers 3/4. We filled in the jib for visibility but left the main out until we got into Kemah. As we navigated the channel we were not able to see the next red light flash on the next marker as we passed the current one. We navigated by gps and sounded our horn in intervals. We also hailed a Securite as we passed by markers alerting anyone potential listening of our position and the dense fog. About half way between 5/6 and 7/8 the Ferris wheel at the boardwalk started to come through fog. It was an eerie crawl back in the final channel to Watergate as we could barely make out the next post ahead. But TT made it back to her slip safe and sound and the crew had an adventure.

Weather was perfect. 6-8kn in the morning and 10-14 in the afternoon. Performed all the maneuvers, tacking, jibing, more tacking. The crew and experience was amazing.

At the dock, executed training for spinnaker hoist jibe and douse. On the water, - practiced helming upwind and downwind under main only to train helm and mainsail trimmed. - successfully launched kite and performed three jibes - had issues raising headsail in preparation for douse. Doused with jib halfway raised. - cleaned everything up, untangled lines and rehoisted jib without issue. - then jib halyard broke free on our last tack and skyed. - safely motored back into slip - retrieved and stowed halyard

Sustained 20kts of wind, gusting to 26kts

Well did loads of on the dock training. Primarily boat preparation and spinnaker logistics. We tried to head out and put some of it into practice but the weather had other plans. When we arrived near Kemah boardwalk, the fog was so thick you could not even see the bay. With boaters’ horns blasting and sailors hailing security we decided to turn around and call it a day.

Winds were light and shifty today. Had a 90 degree shift end of first race. Completed two races. Finished regatta 4th overall.