In reverse from Pensacola to Galveston, I left Palafox Pier in downtown Pensacola. They have fuel and ice, showers.. good access to walking downtown. Another marina close by is Seville Harbor, also great. I ran icw to Biloxi, wide open easy to sail. Docked at Point Cadet Marina behind the Golden Nugget Casino. $33 a night for a 30 footer! 2022. The casino has a nice pool with float up bar and hot tubs too. Just buy some food or drinks and it was free. From there I bypassed New Orleans and the icw, leaving Biloxi Pass and headed to the west end of Ship Island, and headed to the west of the Chandelier islands to the Baptiste Gulf Outlet markers 34 to 36. This is just a channel I crossed. This path puts you clear of platforms in safe water. From there I followed the markers into Baptiste Collette channel. Deep and we'll marked all the way to the Mississippi river. Once at the Mississippi river you cross almost directly over to Venice via "the jump". There are 2 nice marinas there, Cypress Cove Marina, and Venice Marina, both with restaurant bars. Depth is great all the way to either. Travelling west past Venice Marina, you take Red Pass. Ask the dockmasters for specifics on this route. Swing wide past the sandbar in the turn by the refinery. The depth was great till the last exit into the Gulf at the mouth of red pass where it got a little shallow. I ran into some mud there with 5 ft draft, at low tide, but was able to get free quickly and with the help of some local fishermen was shown that I needed to stick to the right, close to the land and string of white markers, which I assumed were crabpots, but weren't. It looks shallow from there to the deep water, but was fine, just shoot straight out, not to the right or left. Navionics has 4s and 5s there but it was much deeper. This is per local knowledge so ask all the dockmasters you meet, they even drew maps. From there its a straight shot to Grand Isle Marina, which has depth for deeper draft boats at the fuel dock which they will let you dock overnight at. The fuel pumps are 24/7 and the bar restaurant was fun and friendly. From Grand Isle I headed southwest to the west end of Timbalier Island where I tucked inside to get out of the swell with good holding. From there the west end Point of Au Fer Island is a good spot to anchor, or further along behind the west end of Marsh island is a good hiding hole. I made the mistake of skipping these and heading straight to Cameron, spending a rough night at anchor. Baby steps here, and it's a long run to the next fuel up from Grand Isle, so be prepared. There are many platforms out here, but with radar (didn't have) or finding day sail anchorages was easy. Many of the platforms on the charts have been removed. Didn't see many boats, mostly platforms. Cameron is extremely industrial, but safe and deep. There is a new marina under construction, but not ready yet. 1200 ft freighters come through here, but the channel is wide and we'll marked. Once inside I took a right into Monkey Island pass and pulled along a long we'll maintained seawall with excellent depth. This is owned by Venture Global LNG, they are the ones building the new marina restaurant, which looks close to complete. There is no marina otherwise, and anchorages look sparse. From there its a short walk (.8 mi) to food and gas/diesel. People are very helpful and nice here. When the gas station had no diesel a friendly person drove us abt 30 mins away to the only other gas station with diesel. Your alternative here is to continue about 30 miles up the Calcasieu River to Lake Charles where there are tons amenities. You can also access the icw this direction. Cameron to Port Arthur offshore is abt 30 mi, inland is about 60. I chose offshore. Not far inside the pass to the port is Sabine Pass Port Authority with depth, docks, fuel and more. From Sabine Pass to Galveston bay Pass is about 50 miles offshore passage. Then you're there. I don't recommend taking this route without serious planning, and extra fuel. Especially in hurricane season, or with any bad weather at all. The icw is long and slow but safe. I made this passage directly after a cold front moved through and it was nice. There were several days I sat tight at a marina and let weather pass and seas calm so I would be safe, and I never had to sail at night. Hope this info helps!
