Return trip from Port Isabel -Day 2

Another early start! We left the dock at Port Mansfield at 6:25 am enoute to Port Aransas. It is about 88 nm  and took us almost 11 hours.  The big event of the day was being boarded and inspected by the Coast Guard.

They told me to maintain course and speed although I did slow all the way down to 6 knots from our "break neck" cruising speed of nearly 8 knots... The inspection took about 15 minutes, which was enough time for 3 of them to be fairly thorough. They separated both of us by leaving me at the helm while the Admiral showed them around. I answered "no" to the question about firearms on board, but I then qualified that by adding that we do have a flare gun (for signalling distress). Technically it is a firearm since it fires a flare that is the same size as a 12 gauge shotgun shell.  That perked their interest enough to want to examine it. The flare gun lives in the "Emergency-abandon ship-ditch bag". When they left, they put the ditch bag in the aft cockpit away from us.  They said that we could take it back to the upper helm where we were AFTER they were gone... Obviously, they do consider it to be a "firearm" and took caution. The picture shows the Captain displaying our copy of the inspection. 

     After putting the boat to sleep, we rode our electric scooters to a great seafood restaurant that the Admiral had found. Great way to end a long day on the water.

    The photo shows Lucky Us resting comfortably at our very good floating, concrete dock. A nice looking condo that faces the main shipping channel is in the background. Tomorrow is a "lay day" when we plan to relax in and around Port Aransas before continuing our homeward journey.