Cruising Destination - Texas Gulf Coast

[Don]

I will be moving to Houston, Tx in Feb, 2004 from Vancouver, B.C. and am wondering about cruising destinations on the Texas Gulf Coast. I presently own a Cat 30 which I will need to sell and am wonder what sailing there is to be had around Houston. Are there actual desitinations ( islands, marinas etc ) to sail to or is it mostly day sailing out and back to the dock. ThanksDon

 

[David]

Try this.....

There is a organization in Houston called the Texas Mariners Cruising Association. Can't think of a better place to find all the great places in Texas that can be reached by boat.The web site is www.tmca.nuCheck it out, I think you will like what you see.David L.

 

[IslandJack]

3 types here on the border

Hey it'll be good to have another sailor around!I live aboard at a marina in Port Isabel Texas. Last stop in the US.Around here we have 3 basic groups of people sailing:1. daysailors bay & close in coastal sailors. by far the biggests group. 90% of them have boats here that never leave the slip except a few times a year.2. daily sailors. we have a lot of retirees. there are several that go out to the gulf and back everyday. its an hour to the gulf with the right wind, so usually they do a couple of 'laps' then park.3. a couple of us sail to destinations. mexico has lots of stops...but it takes time to find the places to stop that you want to stop at. haha. going north, a good trip is to stop at mansfield, corpus, houston. winds are predominantly out of the SE, excepting the few northers each year and the rare westerly. the ICW is barely sailable. 25 yards wide surrounded by mud spoils banks at 0-2 feet. some powerboaters make the trip via the ICW, but not sailors. i've done some icw in a 22 inch draft Mac 26, but my 39" H-27 goes straight to the gulf.sailors are a small minority this far south and a lot of camaraderie. laid back lifestyle, lots of burnt out professionals like me haha... stop by Anchor marina in Port Isabel if you are headed this way. good place to stop before the turnaround or to provision up before mexico.just an observation about the poll on self reliance. its a matter of survival here. the seas are usually yours alone. the CG has a buoy tender unit here, and Corpus Christi has the first full unit. Powerboater won't offer you spit if you are on a lifeboat with no water, if they know you are a sailor. Don't ask me why! hahaEnjoy it. We are truly in a 'last of' situation here. Low population, vacant coastline and great wind!IJ

 

[Karl]

Home to thousands of sailboats and sailors

We keep our boat in Kemah on Galveston Bay. It's only 30 minutes south of Houston and you'll find all the sailing and in any variety you could wish for. From day sailing on Galveston Bay, short hops down to Galveston for an over night on the hook, to Gulf Passages to Port Aransas, Port Isable, Mexico, etc. You just missed the Harvest Moon Regatta, a 150 offshore race from Galveston to Port Aransas that takes place every October (during the harvest moon of course). Lots of fun and a great party in Port A for the sailors after the race.Try "Campbell's Guide to Cruising Texas". You can buy it from Amazon.com or other places on the net.