The Texas 200 starts 1 month from today.  To quote from an article by Ken Apel:
"The Texas 200 is a “Raid”-type event; that is, it involves a scheduled gathering of small boats traveling more or less in company from Point A to Point B over a period of several days, camping along the way.  2009 was the second year for the Texas 200, which goes from Port Mansfield Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico, north for five days and about 200 miles along the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to Magnolia Beach Texas." 

When Gene learned about the event from Dave Ware, who had done the race in the past, he decided he really wanted to participate.  We knew Sun Chaser, at 40 feet, was far too big for the race.  Since we are lucky enough to have a smaller sailboat Gene decided the "Baby Boat"  at 22 feet would be perfect for the trip.  

Since that time he has worked tirelessly to make it what I call "Diva" ready.  Meaning if I was to be a part of the crew I needed some basics, and Gene has far exceeded the basics.  We now have not only a head, but an ice box, running water and a beautiful new bimini.  He was also kind enough to install a led light for the inside.  

Aside from making the boat "Diva" ready he has added all the safety things so important, and required when sailing.  Bow and transom lights, an anchor light, compass, an an autopilot to just name a few.

Since our blow up dinghy would be too large to trail behind the boat he has built by hand a wooden dinghy which will be sturdy enough to get ashore, but light  enough to trail behind the boat.  This production has been under Dave's tutelage and has been produced in Dave's garage.  

My part in getting ready has been to buy sleeping bags for our berth, a propane stove, dishes, silverware, and all the other things we'll need for the 5 day sail.  Right before the race I'll do all the provisioning. Then I'll do a final inside the boat prep and make sure that all the items that we have on the list are aboard and stored safely.  

One of our other big decisions was what the boat would be named.  Since buying the boat in 2002 she never had a name other than Wynsom which was  done by the previous owner. Gene;s take on boat names is that it must be something that can be easily said and understood over the radio.  (VHF is the main means of communication)  Many of the names that I came up with were in Gene's opinion not "radio worthy".  We already had a Rainbow Chaser and now have Sun Chaser so those names were eliminated.  We considered Moon Chaser, Chasing the Moon, and several others, but none seemed quite right.  One afternoon sitting in Dave and Mary Ware's living room Dave suggested the name Sun Dog (which is a rare haze around the sun). After thinking about it the name grew on both Gene and me. So, the "Baby Boat" has been renamed Sun Dog. It's rumored that changing a boats name is bad luck unless you have some kind of ceremony...so, I see "some kind of ceremony" to make sure she doesn't live under a mariner's curse.

More to come as we get nearer to race time....Till then we'll be Sailing The Suns.