Had a friend make that trip
The Intercoastal maybe your best bet, you have to remember that the mouth of the mississippi to New Orleans is about 100 miles "UP RIVER", where typically you experiance a 2 or 3 knot current. If you sailed around the mouth to the channel, what we refer to as the "Ditch", on the east side of Louisiana your looking at an additional 100 or more. You could sail out of the Seabrook area in Texas and come up through Cameron Louisiana into Big Lake and traverse the Intercoastal. I know its only motoring, but what better time to check out you prop and enjoy the Louisiana scenery. The intercoastal will take you to Morgan City and you can take that into the Mississippi River via the intercoastal waterway. Once there you proceed to New Orleans and the ship channel is just south of the city at the bend in the river known as the crest, that will take you directly to the Ponchatrain. But then you have a decision to make. Where to you plan to house your vessel? The South Shore Marina is closest to you by the ship channel or you could go to the Municipal Yacht Harbor a few miles to the west once you get into the Lake. My suggestion is to go a few hours more to Oak Harbor which is in Slidell, La. (eastern end of the lake). It is the only Hurricane safe harbor in the lake, floating docks, reasonable prices, protected entrance. And it is the closest to the Gulf where you can have quick sailing access to the Mississippi Islands where many of us take off to on a 3 day weekend. Good Luck, I hope this helps.
