It took longer than planned to get underway. The ice machine in the boat house was in the middle of a cleaning cycle, so there wasn't any ice to fill the ice well. Fortunately, I found a "Double Ice" vending machine in the parking lot of the public boat ramp. Fifteen dollars and 160 lbs of ice later I had enough ice to (mostly) fill the ice well. Sanctuary pulled out of the slip just after 11am. The engine seemed a bit sluggish, possibly because I had to plow over the sand bar just past my slip. Even at high tide that sand bar is pretty annoying. I was leaving a bit later than desired so I was just glad to get out of the slip while it was still daylight.
Remembering past experiences of hoisting sail, then something immediately going haywire, followed by promptly running aground ... I decided to wait until I was in the eastern half of Aransas Bay before hoisting any sails. The main sail went up nicely. It caught the wind and maintained about four knots through the water, but just the main sail alone is incapable of pointing Sanctuary into the wind. A few minutes later I unfurled the genoa. It caught nicely in the wind and Sanctuary lurched ahead with a few more knots of speed.
Then, abrubtly, the genoa came crashing down.
All hell broke loose as I struggled to get everything under control. I started the diesel, which provided wash over the rudder to enable positive steerage, however feeble. Fortunately, due to my remote location in the bay, I had several miles before Sanctuary would be driven into the the shallow end of the bay. With the wheel hard over, forcing a continual turn into and out of the winds, I was able to lash the downed roller furling, along with the massive genoa, to the port side lifelines. Each time the bow crossed the wind I was able to get a few more feet lashed down. About half an hour later the genoa was secured and the mail sail was mostly secured. Using the diesel, Sanctuary limped south (into the wind) at about one knot. The boat shook terribly. It took another 30 minutes to reach Platform 199, which is an abandoned oil platform in the middle of the bay. With one line around a post, and the anchor set, I took a nap.
About thirty minutes later I had the distinct feeling that Sanctuary was dragging anchor. Which, would be silly, considering she was secured to the oil platform as well as anchored. But., unfortunately, a quick look topside verified the line had broken and the anchor had failed to catch. I went forward and pressed the foot switch for the recently rebuild anchor windlass. The windlass made about a quarter turn, then stopped. I noticed a long streak of clean oil along the starboard toe rail, indicating a loss of hydraulic fluid from the windlass. It looked like I was going to hoist the anchor, by hand, yet again. So much for those three days spend rebuilding the windlass. Half an hour later, despite the protesting of the diesel, Sanctuary was tied off to Platform 199 -- this time using two lines.
I put on my snorkeling gear and went overboard to check out the prop shaft. I suspected something (probably a bit of nylon line) was wrapped around the shaft and was fouling the prop. I was correct, ... but I also discovered there was a significant amount of wire rope wrapped around the shaft. It's a smaller diameter than the wire rope on any of my halyards, so chances are it is from a fishing net from one of the many shrimping trawlers. Holding my breath, and diving for about a minute at a time, I was able to get a large chunk of nylon rope cut free from the prop. A large bundle of wire rope, however, was going to remain wrapped around the shaft until I could get back to port. It is going to require bolt cutters, or possibly a hack saw, to remove. Staying underwater long enough to remove the wire rope will require a regulated air source (scuba gear).
The day was so tiring that, even though it was only around 5pm, I stayed at Platform 199 until the next morning.