DaySailer.org Forum

The Texas 200 starts this weekend with the boats gathering at Port Mansfield, Texas, with sailing starting on Monday June 9th. We will sail to Magnolia Beach on Matagorda Bay, finishing on June 13th. Although I will be sailing a 1973 O'Day Mariner this year, there are three Day Sailers registered with the fleet of approximately 63 boats. Two of the Day Sailers are DSII's and the third one according to the roster is a DSIII with a lug sail rig.

I am trying to set up a SPOT transmitter to show the postion of the fleet. I will post an address for the SPOT when I get it working right.

I will be trying to post updates here from my Kindle when I can get a 4G signal. The "Texas 200 Sailing Club" on Facebook will also have updates as will Duckworks (hopefully with pictures). I hope the other Day Sailers will post here as well.

John

If I get my SPOT transmitter working right, you should be able to track the fleet at (if interested) http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... 74Tohdackr

John

I got the no-reply from SPOT, so I think you're in like Flynn!

Have a great trip!

There is test data on the SPOT site now, of course it is just from driving home last night. We start sailing Monday, that's when it will start getting interesting.

John

We have arrived in Port Mansfield. We will get the boat in the water today. The SPOT is working. Sailing starts Monday morning.

John

I'll be following along closely!

Sunday we moved vehicles and trailers to the finish of the event, and got our bus ride back to Port Mansfield. I met TopHat from the forum and his DSII. I haven't seen the other two Day Sailers yet.

If you look at the SPOT track you can see our final destination at Magnolia Beach (from the drive).

We will head out Monday morning before 8pm hopefully.

John

And away they are.

Looks like John has reached the land cut by now.

Today is the first time we have had cell/4g coverage. Monday was very windy. One boat capsized only a few hundred yards from the dock. Winds first day 25 to 30 knots with gusts. Sailed under double reefer main only. Only have seen one of the Day Sailers. The DS Reservoir Dog said they sailed the day with jib only. The DS is doing well.

Second day, winds light in the morning, 10 to 15 in late afternoon. Third day the winds were light in the morning, getting around 10 to 15 in afternoon, then around 20 in late afternoon. We broke a tiller. Had DS tiller as spare.

On to Army Hole tomorrow. Been a hard sail.

John

Sounds like a rough time.

Surprised that for running downwind you chose the main instead of the jib. Does the Rhodes have a backstay?

Mariner and Rhodes 19 both have a backstay.

Another windy day. Winds started at 10 - 15 this morning. Forecast was to strengthen to 20 with gusts to 28. Today's sail took us thru the reefs. We are tied up at Army Hole near the Day Sailer. Duck fleet came in a little while ago. Wind this afternoon clocked from south this morning to northeast.

Tomorrow is the last day.

John

Glad to hear y'all are hanging in there John!

Can't wait to hear the full report. And it's been really easy to follow you on SPOT. Fair winds to you tomorrow!

We finished the Tx 200 on Friday. It was a long short days sail. Winds clocked around to the north, a first for the event. Boats without motors had to tack up the Port O'Conner channel. The channel had a lot of boat traffic, current was about 2 knots going south. We tried to sail, but made little headway. The DSII was tacking and making some progress. We decided to motor. We passed up the DSII, then after changing propane the propane cylinder on the motor, we headed back to the DS to take them under tow to open water. Some had to walk their boats along the channel, a few tacked for over 3 hours. More later.

John

Congratulations on completing another TX200!

Thanks. Good event this year. I'll get a rough report together soon. The DSII "Reservoir Dog" did great.

John