Too busy to add to the log here but plan to get organized soon and will try to start writing up more simplified posts to track our experience here.  Other than a couple gaps (primarily around Tara's ACL/MCL/Meniscus knee surgery and recovery) we've been getting out about twice a week since jumping into sailing keel boats in February.  It's been a ton of fun and we're only a few months into it!

We've even been going out after work!  Here's a quick video from Friday evening...

Winds: SW 2.5 to 7 knots
Temp: 39F to 46F
Boat: ISC #8 Santana 23

Second day of practice for Nat and Tara on a small keelboat.  Started the day around 11AM with calm winds.  Anchored at the east end of Tomahawk island next to a huge bald eagle on a pylon, really cool!  It took us two attempts before we were dug in solid but after that the boat stayed put except some swagger due to the current which is pretty strong here.  Relaxed on the hook for little less than an hour, read some, tried out a couple anchor drag alarm applications on the tablet.  These monitor our position with GPS and play an alert if we move more than a pre-set distance like 10 meters.  Forgot to turn on the data logger until just before raising anchor.

We stayed west of Government Island today sailing up and down between buoy 14 and Tomahawk Island.  Made one run down river to try going under the Interstate bridge.  Current is very strong here and the wind is blocked by the bridges structures so we wound up firing up the motor to come back through up river.  Watched a barge come behind us through the open railroad bridge but then cut south to pass under the fixed part of Interstate before cutting back north to the main channel.  This saves the drivers on I-5 from a bridge lift.

Lots of boats flying beautiful spinnakers, amazingly we were able to pretty much keep up with them!

Firsts: Anchored the boat Raised the sails flawlessly without incident Passed under the Interstate bridge (I-5)

Winds: NW 6 to 12 knots
Temp: 38F - 48F
Boat: ISC #8 - Santana 23

First day on a keelboat with just Tara and Nat!  Cast of at 10:30AM and returned to dock around 4:30PM.  Good winds but we motored for around 15 minutes through a lull to reach the Glenn Jackson (I205) bridge.  Crossed under the bridge and rounded one of the support structures before heading back down river.  Awesome day with some sunshine even!  Little bit rough coming back into the slip with Tara at the helm but we'll work on that.

Firsts:

• Except for sailing on the Hobie cat first time being skipper (and everything that comes with)
  
• Sailed under the Glenn Jackson bridge