Houston to New Orleans
Well, Dale, there's an easier way than trying to dodge all the rigs. There exists what's known as 'fairways' which are kinda like superhighways on the oceans. They are 2 miles wide and are devoid of rigs or obstructions -- other than shipping traffic -- and are well marked on all charts including all e-charts. You can couple a laptop with navigation software to a handheld GPS and steer right up the middle of the things. I've done it a bunch and it's a safe way to go and to avoid the rigs. You can follow them across the coastal waters of Texas and Louisiana and even 'turn the corner' up the mouth of the Miss. River if you want. You can also take the ICW all the way from the Houston Ship Channel to New Orleans without having to drop you mast. It takes a bit longer -- you can expect maybe 50 miles per days since not too many people want to run the ICW at night, even the pros -- than going out across the Gulf. As to crossing the Gulf this time of year, well, truly good weather's not likely in the offing 'til spring. We have what I call "3-day Fronts" down here and you can some pretty nasty weather associated with them, but if you time it right, you can beat most of it altho I'd advise you bringing your foulies with you. Assuming you can average 6 knots, you could make the mouth of the Miss. River in about 2 days out front in the Gulf and New Orleans by the 3rd day. You should plan at least 4 to be on the safe side, but once in the river, there are places you can put into at night. I'd not advise you to try running the Miss. River at night unless your name is Mark Twain and I'm not even sure he tried that! Get good charts, make sure your sounder and radios work, take along a back-up for the radio and GPS and you should be ok. Good luck.
