The most frequent question asked when we tell people that are are on our way back to Texas is, "Are you going straight across or around the edge?" and "When will you be home?"

The answer continues to be, "it depends upon the weather". So far, this year the weak cold fronts continue to hit one or two per week. Sometimes they come with thunder-storms, sometimes they don't.

The recent weather pattern in the western Gulf of Mexico near Galveston Bay is for brisk winds, which we would rather avoid. The eastern Gulf pattern has been light and variable winds, which doesn't make for very reliable sailing.

So, we're going to keep working our way around the coast until we get a weather window large enough to make a crossing. You may recall that we're still using a temporary bob-stay. We really must avoid rough weather or risk losing our bow sprit and potentially toppling the mast.

The furler jammed a few days ago because the 3/8" SS Chain temporary bob-stay stretched and made the fore-stay too slack. So, I re-tensioned it. But, that doesn't give me a warm feeling about its strength and durability.

Pictured is a Manatee that is swimming around our boat near Punta Gorda, Florida.