I live in mobile al and I am looking for places to sail nearby. I bought a hunter 23.5 last june and it has yet to get wet. There is nothing wrong with it just been a little busy. I am wanting to sail from ocean springs ms to horn island off the coast and stay for the weekend on the boat in April. Would my water ballast 23.5 do ok sailing there? I have heard others say a water ballast boat isnt good for this since they are ten miles off shore but was unsure.
Horn island
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Yes. I've never been to Horn Island, but it was one of the selling points used on me when I bought my 23.5 in Gulfport. Actually, they described the 23.5 as a perfect boat for the soft-bottom, shallow gulf coast. It's easy to beach, or should I say un-beach? Years back, I had trailered over to Biloxi but didn't make the trip to the island. Check out the Walter Anderson museum in Ocean Springs before you go. His artwork was inspired by his trips to the island. Supposedly, he would row out there. I've read that there are cactus plants mainly found only in Mexico out there, delivered by the droppings of migrating birds. Find a cruising guide for the coast and it should have some details about anchorages, etc. I have one , but it is several years old and too many hurricanes past to fully trust all the details. I think I'm going to start looking into a trip out there maybe this spring before it gets too hot. Thanks.
should be fine if ya watch the weather.. The only real thing that ya need to consider is the lack of protection if wind is from east through north through west.. Look for a predicted southeast through south through southwest and you'll be fine. I sailed my Spirit 23 out there and things were fine.. Take some hikes .. talk to the ranger if ya see him.. I have anchored there several times during trips to-from Pensacola .. Enjoy !
I Have Made That Trip several Times
We bought ours in Gufport when we lived in Biloxi. Sailed to Ship, Horn, and Cat Islands. You can (or could at least when we were there) anchor on the west end of the island and step right off of the boat without getting your feet wet.
The thing to watch for are the summer afternoon thunderstorms that roll through. If there is a wind out of the north when you go out it can be very rough coming back when they pop up. If you are staying overnight they are not typically a huge deal as the tend to die out before they get out that far to sea but they do cool things down some.
We bought ours in Gufport when we lived in Biloxi. Sailed to Ship, Horn, and Cat Islands. You can (or could at least when we were there) anchor on the west end of the island and step right off of the boat without getting your feet wet.
The thing to watch for are the summer afternoon thunderstorms that roll through. If there is a wind out of the north when you go out it can be very rough coming back when they pop up. If you are staying overnight they are not typically a huge deal as the tend to die out before they get out that far to sea but they do cool things down some.
Good sailing
You will find good sailing throughout that area. Also there is Ship Island, Cat Island and Petit Bois Islands within your range for a weekend. You can probably get into Smugglers Cove with your shallow draft, something that a lot of deeper draft boats can't do since Katrina. It is a very well protected anchorage, with lots of sea life. Go out and enjoy.
You will find good sailing throughout that area. Also there is Ship Island, Cat Island and Petit Bois Islands within your range for a weekend. You can probably get into Smugglers Cove with your shallow draft, something that a lot of deeper draft boats can't do since Katrina. It is a very well protected anchorage, with lots of sea life. Go out and enjoy.
Are you going to be bringing the boat over to Mobile Bay at some point? I wrote this awhile back on sailing in the area:
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=832281&highlight=sail mobile bay
http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=832281&highlight=sail mobile bay
I have wanted to launch the boat and sail mobile bay but was unsure of any sailboat freindly launches around. I really just need a launch that has a place for me to raise the mast while staying out of other power boats launching. If I was going to sail the bay I would rather not drive to Fairhope ; are there any closer?
Check out the launch at The River Shack, on the south side of the Dog River just under the Dog River Bridge. They do have some power boat traffic but the launch area is pretty good size so there's likely room for you to be off to the side to put the mast up.
http://www.dogriver.org/river-shack-launch.html
http://www.dogriver.org/river-shack-launch.html
BTW, to answer your question, Smuggler's Cove is on the south side of Cat Island. I have not been there yet, but have been told you have to sail a ways south of the island, then due north, to avoid 1-2' shallow areas. The charts show this.
As others have mentioned, if winds are out of the south-west to south-east there are anchorages on the north sides of Ship, Cat and Pettit Bois Islands. If winds come anywhere out of the north, though, those anchorages can become untenable and you'd be on a lee shore. The only anchorages for north winds are Smugglers Cove and the little island (I don't remember the name) that is south of Pascagoula. So it's important to watch the weather if you plan on staying in the Barrier Islands overnight.
As others have mentioned, if winds are out of the south-west to south-east there are anchorages on the north sides of Ship, Cat and Pettit Bois Islands. If winds come anywhere out of the north, though, those anchorages can become untenable and you'd be on a lee shore. The only anchorages for north winds are Smugglers Cove and the little island (I don't remember the name) that is south of Pascagoula. So it's important to watch the weather if you plan on staying in the Barrier Islands overnight.
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