Category Archives: Sailing

Sailaway

Posted on August 26, 2007 | Comments Off on Sailaway

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This is from earlier this month, at the former Yacht Harbor Marina where Paul Schmidt, one of only two sailboat riggers on Lake Travis, did a superb re-rig of the family sloop’s standing rigging. Also the topping lift and lazy jacks. If I’d thought of it, he could have done the main and jib halyards, but I can go back for that in a few weeks when it cools off a little. I had the sails ready just in case, but I motored back to Anderson Mill without any problems. Looking forward to tomorrow morning, and the first chance I’ve had to singlehand it since the re-rig.

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Posted in Sailing

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Lake Travis declining

Posted on August 20, 2007 | Comments Off on Lake Travis declining

The road to the docks was covered by rising water yesterday at Anderson Mill Marina. I had to turn around on the steep hill descending to the road, in order to retreat. I noticed half a dozen cars and trucks parked on the hill, as if their owners had come early to taken their boats out before the water came up. They would be be in for a surprise, I thought, when they came back and found the water had risen to block their retreat. But I see now that it didn’t. In fact, it has fallen a little, by this morning, to 686.43 feet msl. Mr. B. and I might be able to sail, after all, in this last week before school resumes– if Hurricane Dean stays well south of Texas. So far it looks like it will.

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Posted in Mr. Boy, Rancho Roly Poly, Sailing, Weather/Climate

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Up she rises

Posted on August 18, 2007 | Comments Off on Up she rises

Lake Travis is getting an unfortunate boost from heavy Hill Country rains (12 inches in 24 hours along the Pedernales River which feeds the lake) generated by the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin. The LCRA is forecasting the lake to rise to 690 feet msl by Monday–and higher if we get more rain by then–which is about four feet too high for the dock extension to shore at Anderson Mill Marina. Six ninety is one foot below the height that the Army Corps of Engineers allows flood gates to be opened on Mansfield Dam to quickly lower the lake. Once again, lake levels are taking the family sloop out of our reach. At least we got the rerigging done. Too bad we can’t use it. What a year!

UPDATE  This morning, they revised the peak rise to just 688 feet msl by Sunday afternoon, still two feet too high for the docks at the marina. Also three feet below where they’d open flood gates, though they are running the hydrogeneration gates which lets some water out. So the 688 will linger awhile. Then, we’ll see if Hurricane Dean sends us a lot more rain to raise it still higher.

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Posted in Sailing, Texana, Weather/Climate

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Return journey

Posted on August 3, 2007 | Comments Off on Return journey

The family sloop, newly rigged, returned to its slip at Anderson Mill Marina about 1 p.m. this afternoon, with a tired and sunburnt captain at the tiller. The outboard only quit twice on the two-and-a-half hour trip, both times when it had almost sucked its tank dry. Amazing little gas-eater, especially considering it has very little oomph left after almost twelve years hanging off the stern mount. The journey, which took me down around Arkansas Bend to Lakeway for the first time in almost a decade, was enlightening: many new marinas, much shoreline development, and a definite trend to sailboats judging from the bobbing masts. Probably reflective of the rise in gas prices. I was only buzzed once by a boy-toy cigarette boat. Saw mostly ski boats and party barges. No sails as there was no wind. Maybe there’s hope for Lake Travis yet, if not a complete return to its 1980s status as primarily a sailing lake.

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Posted in Sailing

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Sloop’s getting rigged

Posted on August 1, 2007 | Comments Off on Sloop’s getting rigged

I left the Catalina 22 overnight at Sail & Ski Yacht Club, the former Yacht Harbor Marina, on Lake Travis, for the rerigging of the standing (wire) supports for the mast, and new halyards for the topping lift and the lazy jacks. Getting there was a chore. I swear the 11-year-old Suzuki 4 outboard is controlled by an Aztec god. It’s never satisifed until I’ve given blood, in the form of blisters and bruises. First it wouldn’t start at all, then it wouldn’t stay running. Finally got it going and set out on what proved to be a 2-hour trip. I had almost got there when the outboard quit again and wouldn’t start. Called the rigger on the cell and told him I would sail on but it would take longer as there was only light air. Hot as blazes. Poked along, trying the outboard now and then, until the it finally would stay running, then motored on in. He met me in a John boat, offering a tow. Wasn’t necessary. I can’t wait until the return trip home tomorrow afternoon. Not.

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Posted in Sailing

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Rerigging

Posted on July 30, 2007 | Comments Off on Rerigging

The rerigging of the family sloop, put off by the floods on Lake Travis, is back on for Wednesday. Meanwhile the marina that has the service has changed hands and is now the Sail & Ski Yacht Club. Looks like it will be an all-day affair. If I can get there by 9 a.m., the rigger thinks he can be done with the standing (wire) rigging by 3 p.m. I’ll have to put off replacing the frayed running rigging until later, possibly in the fall. But the wire is the important part. It holds the mast up. Weather looks cooperative so far. Only slight chances of rain all week, tho the temps will be climbing into the mid-90s, where they usually are in July.

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Posted in Sailing

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Another flood gate closed

Posted on July 18, 2007 | Comments Off on Another flood gate closed

Just one flood gate remains open on Mansfield Dam at Lake Travis and the sloop is accessible again:

"Late this afternoon, the elevation of Lake Travis was at 683.6 feet above mean sea level (msl) — nearly 18 feet lower than its recent peak elevation July 6. However, the lake — created to hold floodwaters — still remains in its flood pool; Lake Travis is at full elevation at 681 feet msl."

Went out to check the boat this morning, after finishing mowing the lawn. Cabin has no mildew and the outboard started on the first pull. Then, coming home, another thunderstorm passed over with blinding rain. Traffic slowed, fortunately, because the car ahead braked suddenly and I ran into it. My fault, of course, as it always is when you rearend someone. Fortunately no one was hurt, but I’m now looking at expensive bodywork. I do wish all this rain would go the hell away. The aquifers are full, the ground is saturated. We don’t need any more.

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Posted in Sailing, Texana, Weather/Climate

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