December Sail

[Dick Dixon]

Last Saturday my sailing buddy and I took our sailboats beyond the islands out into the open Gulf of Mexico for a sail. With west wind around 8 knots in the morning, our eight mile sail from the harbor out to Horn Island Pass was off the starboard aft quarter. Because the pass has a bit of a dog leg, the wind moved somewhat forward of the beam, speeding things up as we nagivated southwestward through between the islands. Horn Island Pass in the Mississippi Sound south of Pascagoula, has Petit Bois Island to the east and Sand Island just to the west. Depending upon tidal and wind conditions, the pass can be treacherous....but Saturday was different. Conditions were perfect as we shot through the pass and out into open waters. Easing sheets, we sailed south on a beam reach, enjoying the ride as winds increased to 12-14 knots and boat speed climbed to a steady 8+ knots. We passed several anchored ships and a semi-smerisble drilling rig waiting on tugs to tow her in. After an hour or two we turned northward, retracing our course to a point where we bore away and headed for our favorite beach run. With seas flat but wind conditions excellent, we sailed parallel approximately one mile from the beach so passersby could enjoy the view. Back in the harbor all safe and sound, we enjoyed a nice Captain Morgan to finish the day. Attached is a photo of my sailing buddy, Capt. Ron, on board his 1979 Tartan, ISIS. :dance: Wish you could have been there.

Dick

 

[kloudie1]

Outstanding, Dick.. That is a great place to sail.. I usually get through there once or twice a summer.. GREAT sailing normally.

 

[Chuck Creel]

You ole salty dog you,,

Soounds like a great day to me also.

BTW im looking at buying a hinter 34 and bringing her up from south florida in late feb early march.. Wanna ride along?



Chuck

 

[Ed Schenck]

YOU wish we could have been there. Would give lots of money. Great story and super picture. So now I am looking at your area on Google Earth. Which pass are you writing of, east of Horn Island I presume? There is a tiny island and then Petit Bois to the east. Water looks deepest between the little island and Petit Bois.

 

[Dick Dixon]

Ed.....yes, you are looking in the right area. Horn Island is actually a couple of miles west of Horn Island Pass. The pass, part of the Pascagoula Ship Channel, is between the western tip of Petit Bois Island and the eastern tip of Sand Island. Of the islands, Sand is the only one created by man. Many years ago spoils from dredging the Pascagoula Ship Channel were pumped on the western side eventually creating Sand Island. Even today they still pump spoils on Sand Island. One other tidbit of information: islands along the northern gulf coast are constantly moving west northwest due to prevailing winds and currents. In my lifetime of sailing this area (I'm 56), I've witnessed tremendeous changes in these islands, most all from the hand of Mother Nature. Katrina, which rolled through this area seemingly with a vengence, knocked the dickens out of the islands, killing vegetation and wildlife with tremendeous winds and waves. In 2010, the Corps of Engineers is to begin replenishing parts of the islands devastated by the hurricane by pumping sand from deeper nearby waters. Protected by the National Seashore Parks System, these islands play a key role in the defense and protection of the mainland from hurricanes and tropical storms. Without them, the devastation to mainland habitation would be much worse.

 

[Dick Dixon]

Chuck....I saw your post about crossing Florida in a Hunter 34 and figured it was about buying a boat. It would be a fun trip but I'm saving vacation for our two week trips in late May and early October.

Dick