Good places to Anchor near Mobile

[tom]

Anyone have any suggestions as to good places to anchor around Mobile??? We are at Dog River and want a place to sail and do an overnight anchor. Going up the ditch to Ingrams Bayou or even to Big Lagoon is possible but how about to the west or other suggestions. Ideally somewhere that we can sail to without motoring. Love sailing hate motoring.Thanks

 

[Andy]

Check Nautica

Check with Capt John at Nautica over on the eastern shore. Do you ever sail out to Daulphin Isle?

 

[tom]

we are new to Mobile Bay

We have been around Dauphin Island in our sea kayaks but have been warned that it is very shallow for sailboats. We would love to find a reasonable place to anchor near DI as a jumping off point to Biloxi or Pensacola. Keith at Turner Marine said that there is no place to anchor that provides any shelter.Thanks

 

[Rick Webb]

Very Shallow Indeed

I've been pondering your question and cannot think of any place between Pensacola and Horn Island. North of the fort on the east side of Mobile Bay is a good sheltered anchorage but not quite what I think your looking for. If your ever going as far east as the Florida line there is a great place that straddles the Alabama Florida Line called the Florabama Bar, wonderful place. I knew some folks from the Auxiliary in Mobile if I can find their numbers I'll pass them on.BTW how was your trip over to Mobile? I've been wondering which way you ended up going.

 

[tom]

through the ditch

Sailed the inside passage. The wind was on my tail and we made great time with only a reefed main. Anchored just east of the bridge at Pensacola and had a rough night. It got dark and when we tried to get close to shore it got shallow. Finally gave up and anchored in 13' of water 50-100' out of the channel. The anchor dragged according to the GPS and I let out more scope and we held all night. Next morning sailed all the way to Dog river except for a few miles between Wolf Bay and Mobile bay. It felt strange sailing up the narrow channel from Choctawhatchee to Navarre and again at the west end of Big Lagoon but with the wind that strong and on our tail there was no need to start the motor. Finally after Wolf Bay near the bridge the trees etc knocked out the wind and we had to motor. Once in Mobile bay we had a great sail with reefed main all the way to the channel at Dog River. Tied up in the slip just after dark.

 

[Rick Webb]

Sounds Like a Good Trip

I have the number of a guy in Fairhope who may have a better idea than I do. Email me through this site and I'll pass it on.