Seawolf sets sail for ninth season, Captain Scott Self sells Harbor Lights

Captain Scott Self christens Seawolf with a bottle of Bud. Photo by Richard Redig, Blue Ribbon News.

(ROCKWALL, TX – April 3, 2016) Christening a boat with Budweiser may be a bit unusual, but nothing about Captain Scott Self and his 40-foot-long, 25-foot-wide catamaran is ordinary.

“I don’t drink champagne, so why should she?” Self said, pouring beer over the bow.

Members of the press were invited to the launch of Seawolf for her 2016 season. Photo by Richard Redig, Blue Ribbon News.
Rockwall's own Jason Castro, Season 7 American Idol finalist, at the helm of Seawolf in 2008. Photo by Dawn Redig.
More than 15,000 fans await Jason Castro's arrival aboard Seawolf. 2008 photo by Dawn Redig.

When Seawolf launched from Chandler’s Landing Marina Saturday morning, about a dozen invited guests – including Blue Ribbon News – were on board the handcrafted vessel to celebrate her ninth season on Lake Ray Hubbard.

I jumped at the offer to stand at the helm, a privilege I had about this time eight years ago when Rockwall’s own Jason Castro, Season 7 American Idol finalist, sailed into The Harbor for a homecoming concert with 15,000 screaming fans waving us to shore.

Captain Scott Self gives some pointers. Photo by Dawn Redig.

Yesterday, with Captain Scott guiding me by raising one or two if his fingers in the air, I learned to turn the ship’s wheel one point to the left, or two points to the right, changing our course as needed. “It’s called being on point, and if you’re not watching the captain, you’re not getting the point. That’s where the phrase ‘you missed the point’ came from,” Captain Scott said.

Over the years, Seawolf and her colorful sails have become synonymous with Lake Ray Hubbard. Since 2007, she has journeyed thousands of nautical miles across its waters, providing thousands of visitors with afternoon, sunset and moonlit cruises – perfect for weddings, date nights, birthday parties, and anniversary celebrations. Custom built from Spanish cedar and capable of carrying up to 49 passengers, Seawolf is now open for the 2016 season, with excursions available Monday through Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Richard and Dawn Redig with Blue Ribbon enjoying Sailing with Scott. Photo by Jessica Juderman van Brunt, Drop Visionary Branding.
Harbor Lights is now under new ownership. Submitted photo.

And perhaps best of all, Captain Scott will have more time at the helm, after announcing yesterday that he sold the other boat in his fleet – Harbor Lights – to Captain Mike and Joy McMahon of Big D Cats, based on Lake Lewisville. They will continue to operate the 57-foot double decker power party boat on Lake Ray Hubbard.

Seawolf's new sails catch wind for it's first voyage of 2016. Photo by Richard Redig, Blue Ribbon News.

“It’s a wonderful time for me,” Captain Scott told his passengers during yesterday’s sail. “I sold Harbor Lights to a competitor; they bought the whole business. They will dock her in the same place, and I will do what I love instead of sailing two boats.”

Captain Scott, who has sailed across the Atlantic and the Pacific, now has more time to relax and share his passion right here at home, with people who may have never sailed before, aboard Seawolf in North Texas. After all, if you can’t do what you love, what’s the point?

By Dawn Redig, Blue Ribbon News. 

To learn more about Seawolf, visit Sail with Scott. To learn more about Harbor Lights, visit Big D Cats.

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