Day 1: Friday 8-September-2017

Following a 2-week period of natural disasters and family emergencies, I flew back to Houston from LAX on Thursday night, just in time to make it to the ASA 103/104 Combo Course. This would bee a great break from the stress anxiety of the past 2 weeks, so I’m glad I could make it.

I arrived to the Bay Area Sailing School on time at 8:00 AM, but since one student was late, I drove to the nearby marine supply store to pick up a digital watch because I could not find my fitbit. Once all of us were present, around 9:00 AM, we sat down to spend about a 1/2 hour to get to know each other, and to give our stories about why we’re taking the course.

There were three of us students. Me, I was there to get proficient at keelboat sailing, because dinghy sailing has many limitations. The two other gents were close to retirement age, and both had plans to pick up a new sailing hobby for their retirement. Our instructor Jon seemed pretty laid back. He learned to sail during a U.S.-Canada exchange program and picked up the practice again years later. We learned that we ere to spend the next 3 days aboard Jon’s personal boat – a Catalina 350, which is a 36-foot sloop-rigged keelboat with a steering wheel, head with toilet shower and sink, a galley (kitchen) with sink, faucet and propane stove, two staterooms (bedrooms), air conditioning, and a main cabin with a common table and chart table.

Planning the Itinerary & Provisioning

The basic ASA 103/104 Combo Course at the Bay Area Sailing School is generally as follows:

• Day 1, AM: Learn the boat, get provisions
• Day 1, PM: Sail to Galveston Bay, Sleep in Galveston.
• Day 2: Sail to Gulf of Mexico, and return to Galveston.
• Day 3: Sail back to Kemah, take written exams while docked.

So we got about an hour of introduction to the boat, and then Captain Jon left us students alone so that we could decide on a final itinerary. This was important, because the itinerary would also include how many breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to provision for.

So here is the itinerary we settled on:

FRIDAY 8-SEP

• Lunch in Kemah, on shore
• PM: Sail to Galveston Bay
• PM: Dock in Galveston
• Dinner: Onshore, at a nearby Pub
• Sleep on the ship

SATURDAY 9-SEP

• Breakfast on boat
  • Coffee, Bagels, & Cream Cheese
• AM: Anchoring practice in Galveston Bay
• Lunch on boat
  • Deli-meat sandwiches, chips
• PM: Sail to the open sea in the Gulf of Mexico
• PM: Practice sailing in the Gulf of Mexico
• PM: Sail back to the slip in Galveston Bay marina, and dock.
• Dinner on boat
  • Chicken quesadillas, chips & salsa
• Sleep on ship

SUNDAY 10-SEP

• Breakfast on boat
  • Coffee, Bagels, & Cream Cheese
• AM: Sail back to Kemah, Bay Area Sailing School
• Lunch on boat
  • Deli-meat sandwiches, chips
• Finish written exams
• Part ways.

So based on the itinerary, we decided that we needed the following provisions:

• Two Breakfasts:
  • 8 Bagels
  • 1 Pot of Cream Cheese
• Two Lunches:
  • 1 Sandwich per person per lunch:
    • 16 Slices Whole wheat bread
    • 16 Slices turkey deli meat
    • 16 Slices provolone cheese
  • 1 Bag tortilla chips
• One Dinner:
  • 2 Chicken Quesadillas per person:
    • 16 flour tortillas
    • 2 bags shredded cheese
    • 1 lb. pre-cooked fajita chicken
    • 3 tomatoes
    • 3 jalapenos
  • 1 Bag Tortilla chips
  • 2 Jars salsa
• Other Provisions
  • 20 lbs. ice
  • 6 gallons bottled water
  • Granola bars
  • 2 cases lite beer
  • 3 bottles Gatorade

So armed with our list, we got the provisions from a nearby Randall’s grocery store, made a quick stop at the marine supply store so I could pick up a re-usable water bottle, then we had lunch at a Chick-Fil-A. With bellies full and a trunk load of provisions, we headed back to the BASS.

Before getting under way

We loaded the provisions and our suitcases/duffel bags onto the boat, then Captain Jon stepped us through the rest of the preparations required once the itinerary is set. We checked the tide tables and weather to get a good feel for how soon we should plan to be sailing in each leg, and adjusted our planned timings accordingly. Best to hang out in Galveston Bay on Saturday morning, and go to the Gulf in the afternoon. Then an early start on Sunday to avoid an ebb current which would fight us all the way back to Kemah.

So after commending us on not over-provisioning, Captain Jon trained us on using the stove, toilet and engine, and we headed out for Galveston on our boat, the Wind Orchid.

Sailing out to the Ship Channel

Steve (one of us students) took us out under motor, out to Clear Lake, then past the Kemah boardwalk. Once clear of the boardwalk, we were able to raise sails, and so we cu the motor and began sailing to the Houston Ship Channel.

But first, a lightweight chart navigation challenge: if we need to target day marker “61” of the Ship Channel, what compass bearing should the helmsman steer to in order to hit the mark? This was not too difficult, and Ed & I rolled out the chart to determine the right heading: 100 degrees. And sure enough, we eventually made it to the right marker, by steering to that course. I had to learn a lesson though, that you cannot stare at the compass while at the helm to keep a steady course — the best you can do is to glance at the compass from time to time.

The plan was to sail outside the Ship Channel, and maintain a course parallel to the Ship Channel. But when the wind suddenly died, we needed to tackle the next chart navigation challenge: how long will ir take us to reach the Galveston marina if we maintain a speed of 4.5 knots? It turns out that the answer was 2 1/2 hours. And since it was already 16:30, we decided to drop sails and use the motor to get us to Galveston before nightfall. (because we were going slightly downwind)

Settling in for the night

Eddie was at the helm to take us to the slip, and after docking and connecting the boat to shore power, we rushed out to the gastro-pub around the corner to get some dinner & beer before they closed.

Back in the boat, we hung out, drank beer & talked shit for another hour or so before tucking it in for the night. On the Catalina 350, there is one  bed per person: one bed in the V-berth, one bed in the quarter berth, and two convertible beds in the main cabin. So each man on his own bed, we slept on the boat.