Sailing The Gulf Coast

Aventura sold

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 17:31:00 +0000

It was a bitter-sweet experience to sell our boat, Aventura. The empty slip, part of our identity, and so many memories! We were awash with different emotions. On the one hand we had determined that, at this stage in life, we didn't feel as able to manage her at sea under all conditions. On the other hand, we are missing the serene sunsets when on the hook in the many natural settings that were part of our trips. And then there was the camaraderie of sailors exchanging stories of travels near and far, fun marinas, exploring shores and towns along the way. It was always about the journey, not the destination. Rich experiences. But we are also happy that the new owner is just right for this Lagoon 37 cat. Passing Aventura on to another enthusiast who would take care of her and coax her on to more exploration and new horizons is a comfort to us. Happy trails, Aventura!

Aventura, our Lagoon 37 TPI cat is available

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 16:14:00 +0000

Saturday 4/22/2017

Aventura has been the source of great pleasure and adventure. We initially got a small sailboat, a C&C 27, to play around in Pontchartrain Lake (New Orleans). After Hurricane Katrina devastated our area and our boat, we pondered what kind of vessel we would want. Finally, driven by a curiosity for adventure in the Gulf of Mexico, we upgraded to a larger boat, a Pearson 365, that would accommodate overnighters and more space for longer trips. We began month-long trips along the northern Gulf Coast and we delighted in the variety of places and environments. After some time, we developed a desire for a more comfortable boat. That lead to our current one, a catamaran named Aventura, a 1993 Lagoon 37 TPI. Yes, it delivers comfort in terms of sleeping, eating, and other leisurely activities. But it also delivers ease in navigating.

Check out the blog postings of all our trips over the years.

Unfortunately, we must leave the cruising life for the moment. We have reached the decision to put the boat up for sale. If you are interested in information about Aventura, equipment, amenities, and pictures, please email my husband Mike at nadsib1@cox.net

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 May 2016 18:40:00 +0000

From May 16-18 2016 failed trip

May 18, 2016

We were heading out for a long trip along the northern Gulf of Mexico on our Lagoon 37 TPI catamaran. But something happened and disappointment set in! First the weather had been unkind; so, we had put off our leaving for another day. Then we encountered the problem that actually sent us back ashore.

The day of departure we left from our marina on Pontchartrain Lake (New Orleans). A grey day but nothing menacing on the horizon. We passed through the Hwy. 11 bascule bridge, passed under the I-10 bridge, as also under the Hwy. 90 bridge into the Rigolets. That's about the time we started getting excited: we could see the railroad bridge that gives us passage to the Gulf of Mexico and adventures to be had.

Our port engine started losing power. So, Mike got in the water to check whether a line from a crab trap (yeah, have got to keep an eye on crab traps that are all over the waters of south Louisiana) or other had wound itself onto the propeller. Nope. Black smoke and other signs ushered us back to our marina, hobbling on one motor.

Mike is presently fixing the mixing elbow and so forth. Time to reassess what, where, how of boating. Aventura has given us four years of marvelous adventures, as did Talisman before her, and even Sassy Lady, our first sailboat. (See archives).

More to come....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 May 2016 00:09:00 +0000

Sunday 5-15-16

It's been 1 1/2 yrs. since we last sailed Aventura out into the Gulf of Mexico! Not by choice. My beloved mother fell ill and passed away. Then the estate settlement issues, etc., etc. A sad time for sure.

But now the sirens are calling. Mike has installed a new set of solar panels. We have the foldable bikes, kayaks and snorkeling gear. Food and beverages in the pantry and a sense of urgency to explore once more the northern Gulf and its many nooks and crannies!

We'll try to reach some part of the western coast of the Florida peninsular this time. From New Orleans, our home port. Can we? Six weeks should be enough to work the weather and other variables. Any number of possible stops from New Orleans heading East.

The Mississippi Barrier Islands: Cat, Ship, Horn and Petit Bois.
Marinas along the Mississippi coast: Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, and Biloxi.

Dauphin Is., Alabama. Along the Alabama Canal (ICW inland): Wolf River, Ingram Bayou, Big Lagoon.

Palafox Marina, Pensacola, Florida -- a must.

Destin Harbor, Florida Panhandle. Also: St. Andrews Bay, Panama City, Port St. Joe, ICW from Port St. Joe to Apalachicola, inland and pristine, and Carrabelle. That's as far as we've gotten.

Looking towards new horizons on Florida's western coast: Tarpon Springs, Clearwater, Tampa region.....

Follow us!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 22:32:00 +0000

When the wind is right and the mood is right, sailing is fabulous! Just like last Saturday 10-17-2015. We left around 1:00 p.m. on our cat, Aventura, a Lagoon 37 TPI with northerly winds between 13-16 kts. and 1-2 ft. waves. Taking a turn to the West once outside of our marina on Lake Pontchartrain, the wind on the beam had us moving along swiftly. A wonderful experience for our friends and enjoyment for us, too. It's what makes sailing fun: good friends and good sailing conditions.

Looking for more such days to set off on our Fall trip!

Testing New Kyak

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 01:37:00 +0000

Testing the Kyak

Exciting! Getting ready for our Fall trip. This is our first kyak, and we're considering another one -- two people, two kyaks, right? Given my mother's illness and then passing, we didn't take a Spring trip. We're ready now, mostly. Northern Gulf Coast, here we come. And the kyak(s) should provide extra exploration options.

Any suggestions whether a second kyak should be seat on top or seat inside?

Spring trips coming up

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 01:33:00 +0000

The last few months have delivered rain and unappealing weather, plus family visits and other issues. So now we are so looking forward to our Spring trips.

After making Bimini and mainsail cover, Mike tackled the tricky project of the helm seating. Look how great it came out! And, we just had to have a kayak too for added excitement.

Mike and George, our friend and marina neighbor, are headed off for a couple of weeks of guy fun. Then Mike and I will go for a month long cruise along the northern Gulf Coast from our home town of New Orleans. Stay tuned!

New canvas and solar panels

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 02:57:00 +0000

A new bimini and solar panels proved convenient and made our last trip more comfortable. Our old Bimini was, well, getting too old and visibly worn. Not able to really continue to protect us from sun and rain as it was coming apart.

The solar panels were notably the difference between running the (noisy) engines when anchored and experiencing the peace and quiet of nature surrounding us. What a difference!

Now Mike and his mighty industrial sewing machine have produced a minimalist, easy to use mainsail cover. It elegantly protects the furled sail without too much hassle.

Check out Aventura's new look!

New Marina at Bay St. Louis, MS

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 29 Nov 2014 19:40:00 +0000

When leaving Pontchartrain Lake and the Rigolets, LA, and entering the Gulf of Mexico, the first marina available to our 37 Lagoon, Aventura, is the Bay St. Louis Harbor & Marina, MS. It's just past the railroad bridge and before the Hwy. 90 bridge. It's quickly accessible and convenient All those times when a marina makes more sense, given weather conditions. Or simply to enjoy a quaint, historic town with plenty restaurants and retail, all within walking distance from your pier.

For us, Bay St. Louis Harbor or Pass Christian Harbor make sense for the first night or last. In fact, they're just over 5 mi. apart. Possibly just a bicycle ride apart. Bay St. Louis Harbor has joined our list of alternatives to the Mississippi Barrier Islands when weather dictates safe harbor.

Always looking out for new opportunities and planning the next trip along the Gulf Coast!

Aventura Eastbound III

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 02:25:00 +0000

Headed Home to New Orleans!

Thu 11/6-Sat 11/8/14

Santa Rosa Yacht & Boat Club (SRYC) was a pleasant surprise. Nestled on the north side of the Pensacola Beach Bridge, it's easy to ignore in favor of Little Sabine Bay or other anchorages along the Pensacola Beach side of the Santa Rosa Sound. But SRYC is actually a good stopover: attentive staff; very nice bathroom/shower; use of their Club Room with Cable TV; free pump-out and clothes washing; WiFi; and, really close to shopping and eateries. We biked to groceries and coffee. One can also cross the street to eateries nearby, or bike to plenty more. Of course we needed to take advantage of all-of-the-above right at that point in the trip. So, we did. The only minus was the layout of the marina in terms of protection from wind and waves. Not much protection there because there's a low wall separating slips from the open waters. But no problem. We were not facing bad weather. That would come later on.

Sat 11/8-11/14

When we left on the morning of the 8th at around 11:00 a.m. it was dreary and a bit cooler. The idea of anchoring in Big Lagoon off Pensacola Bay was the original plan. However, as we passed a favorite spot, one which Mike calls "The Cut" (because it cuts through to the entrance/exit to the Gulf of Mexico), we saw a large group of boats. How so many power boats and sailboats crammed into the small body of water at the foot of Fort McCrae was a wonder. And then we remembered: the Navy Base across the way (part of Pensacola) was putting on an air show!

Change of plans: pick another spot along the Alabama Canal. We entered Robert's Bayou at 3:15 p.m. We had long known about it and even entered to explore it with our previous sailboat (a monohull). But we were hesitant to take Aventura in with its two hulls/keels (20.3 ft. wide beam) in such a narrow passageway that had shoaling on its east side to boot. Talking to other sailors and reading reviews convinced us that we could enter without grounding if we took it slowly and carefully. That's what we did with success and, wow, were we happy. The Bayou had been cleared of old, abandoned boats that used to populate the precious anchorages. Robert's Bayou is so pretty with its untouched nature throughout and tasteful homes woven in along some of the banks. Anchored in 10 ft. of water. Position: 30 deg. 19.423' N/87 deg. 32.033'W

Plus there's Pirate's Cove, a legendary, laid back, rustic eatery. Drinks, food, and views of the Alabama Canal are good. But it's the characters that frequent the place that make this a must for transient boaters. We rowed our dinghy over there twice and enjoyed. We also rowed to the Josephine Picnic Area on another bank, and explored other parts of the Bayou. Lovely, lovely, lovely!

Tue 11/11/14

We left at 9:00 a.m. thinking of going into Dog River, just off Mobile Bay, but weather reports indicated several cold fronts headed south over the next week or so. We were doing 7.5 kts. along the AL Canal (a strong current in our favor) and passed up Dog River to make it to the Mississippi Barrier Islands. We knew we had just that one day and night to anchor at one of the islands, and then we'd have to find a marina along the Gulf Coast for a few days, waiting for another good day to make headway toward New Orleans. We reached Horn Island, MS just in time for the 6:00 p.m. sunset, anchoring on the northeast side of the Island. Just past what seemed like a convention of pelicans. Too many to count. And settled at a spot where we'd feel the least rocking overnight. Position: 30 deg. 13.707'N/88 deg. 35.355'W

Wed 11/12-15/14

Once again in Pass Christian Yacht Harbor, the first and last port of call on this trip. We hunkered down for a very chilly few days. Saturday would bring milder temperatures, wind and waves for our trek back to Pontchartrain Lake and New Orleans.

Forget the bike riding. Bundled up to the nines, we walked to Shaggy's for dinner one night and to Cat Island Coffeehouse one morning. Otherwise, it was popcorn, our one DVD, reading, chores, and bonding. Of course bonding; that's one of the sought after prizes of our sailing adventures. And, yes, some conversation with other sailors. That can be interesting and often informative.

Sat 11/15/14

Brr! Cold day but we had to leave by 7:30 a.m. to make it back to Lake Pontchartrain and our New Orleans home port before dark. We watched the fishermen congregating in certain parts of the Mississippi Sound, the barges that lumbered along in single file in the ICW, took turns at the helm, and tried to stay warm. Hot tea, hot chocolate and hot soup got us through the nine hours it took to get us there.

The discomfort of cold or dashed plans didn't diminish the feelings of satisfaction and pleasure at adding another chapter to our sailing adventures. So, we're already thinking about when and how to embark on the next trip.

Arrivederci! Hasta luego! Until the next time! Oh, and remember to double click on the slideshow (any of the slideshows), if you want to see the pictures and in a larger format.

Aventura Eastbound II

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 20:30:00 +0000

Thu 10/30 - Mon 11/3/14

Knowing that we would face strong winds on the nose and much wave action, we determined to set out at 7:00 a.m. for Destin. Usually an 8-9 hr. run on the outside, in the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, I couldn't sleep since I wanted to get up before boat preparations to do my yoga. Weather predictions had underestimated conditions. After 4 hrs. of 25 knt. winds on our forward quarter and 3 ft. waves, making only 4 - 4.2 knt. speed at best, we decided to turn back. At that rate and discomfort we would have probably made it to Destin after dark, and would have had to start all over again slugging forward to St. Andrew's Bay (Panama City area) the next day. Fall was up to its old tricks of warm and little wind, then cold and heightened wind.

Back to Palafox and enjoyable downtown Pensacola for long bike rides, Saturday Farmer's Market, meals and chores. Good provisioning at Ever'man Grocery and Joe Patti's Seafood, both within 1 mi. of the Marina, easily done on bikes. Our outings took us to East Pensacola, which is quaint and different, and to the Bayou Chico area with its marinas. Last sailing trip we had met a group of avid Catalina 22 sailors that rendezvous and caravan along the Gulf Coast and elsewhere every year. This time around we met the Fort Walton Yacht Club boaters that were loosely travelling together along the ICW's Sta. Rosa Sound, Pensacola Bay and the Alabama Canal. Just having a great time together, and probably old friends by now, as they do this often. Always good to meet others and swap stories over drinks/food.

Mon 11/3/14

Our plans have changed since I only have a month to vacation. No problem. We turned our attention to the Sta. Rosa Sound, with notions but no plans. We started out around 10:00 a.m. Sailing and/or motoring along the Sound is very pleasant because there are communities on both sides and plenty of places to duck into. At the Pensacola Beach Bridge, we turned South to explore Sabine Bay and check out anchoring possibilities. Very cute, indeed. We determined to come back for a night. Then we proceeded East toward the Navarre Bridge area that another sailor had raved about, namely the south side Navarre Beach anchorage. The winds were a little strong that day for an unprotected spot; so, we decided to stop halfway (kinda) at Big Sabine, on the south side of the Sound, where a jetty of land with some trees would somewhat protect us from Easterly winds expected to pick up during the night. Another sailboat must have come to the same conclusion; so, two of us anchored nearby overnight. Position: 30 deg. 21.238' N/87 deg. 03.511' W

Tue 11/4/14

We left around 9:00 a.m. and arrived at the Southwest side of Navarre Beach Bridge at noon. Juana's Pagoda loomed on the horizon, a place we were told we must experience. Getting there was tricky: head south off the ICW just before the Bridge (when coming from the West); stay between the markers for pipelines, but also watch out for a shoal area like a finger that intercepts the "passageway." The light wasn't right to even notice the difference in color of the water that might indicate shallower areas. We were grounded but briefly in a sandy bottom. Mike backed us out of it swiftly. Most of the area has 16 ft. depths. We got in as close as possible to Juana's. Position: 30 deg. 23.065' N/86 deg. 51.911' W

The day turned lovely and warm. We rowed our dinghy to shore, sat under one of Juana's palapas, had a beer and watched Aventura resting on smooth waters. Ah, nothing like a nice afternoon in a pleasant, new place to erase the memories of nasty weather and broken plans.

Wed 11/5/14

Off to Little Sabine Bay at the other end of the Sound, by Pensacola Beach. We left at 9ish and arrived at noon, the wind and possible current moving us along nicely. Little Sabine Bay is quite attractive: not too large nor small so that one appreciates the surrounding community of pretty homes, boats and commerce without hearing much of the noise. There was another Lagoon 37 anchored there! We rarely run into any others as there was a short production line before Lagoon moved up to its 38 model, etc. Position: 30 deg. 20.018' N/87 deg. 08.710'W

The water was flat, mirroring everything. Fine weather for dinghying over to Shaggy's Restaurant and a walk on Pensacola Beach. Shaggy's is a small chain with restaurants in Pass Christian, Biloxi and Pensacola Beach. Good atmosphere along with fetching views.

Thu 11/6/14

We left Little Sabine Bay towards noontime to make the 45 min.run to the Northeastern side of Pensacola Beach Bridge where the Sta. Rosa Yacht Club (SRYC) is at Gulf Breeze. Weather conditions would be deteriorating over night with high winds and cold setting in towards the late evening. Plus we needed provisions and, why not, some landlubber pleasures such a biking and lattes.

Stay tuned for the rest of our stay at SRYC in Gulf Breeze and the rest of the journey headed back home, with stops at new and favorite anchorages and marinas. Hasta luego!

Aventura Eastbound I

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 21:16:00 +0000

GONE SAILING!!

Tue 10/21/14

The new Bimini and two solar panels have been installed. Everything looks really good! Mike made the Bimini from scratch, his first try. And he installed the solar panels with the requisite wiring. Wow! We've loaded up the boat with provisions, clothing, spare parts and completed all the maintenance/cleaning.

Ready to go, right? Well, not quite. Weather in the Gulf of Mexico is rough and expected to stay so for a couple of days. So, we spend two nights on the boat and play tourists in New Orleans for a day.

Thu 10/23/14

Left at 8:30 a.m. in rocky seas; waves kick up easily in shallow Lake Pontchartrain. By the time we slid down the Rigolets and into the Gulf, things had quieted down. But the wind would increase by evening through the next morning. So, anchoring at one of the Mississippi islands was not a great idea, just for comfort because heavy swaying all night long would have kept us awake. Pass Christian Harbor/Marina is a good choice. The price is perfect: $21.40 per night total, including water and electricity, and all taxes/fees. The cheapest anywhere. Shaggy's Restaurant onsite is terrific and the tiny historic downtown is close. Two nights in Pass Christian satisfied our desire for biking, good coffee shop, fresh seafood sold dockside and pleasant views. We met Smitty with his catamaran, and other folks along the piers who were headed/returning from somewhere interesting. Meeting people and socializing is easy and part of the allure of boating. Sharing stories and info over a sunset beer on one's boat beats many landlubber activities for sure.

Sat 10/25/14

Left Pass Christian 7:45 a.m., planning to make our way to Petit Bois Is., MS, the final one before Dauphin Is., AL. The wind gods were good to us; we motorsailed at 6.5-7 knts. all the way to northern Dauphin Is. where we anchored in Pas Aux Herons, near the Mobile Bay bridge. In time for a nice sunset, meal and early bedtime. Just watch out for the flies; they're like cannibals at certain times of the year. A swarm of them seemed to attach us out of nowhere as we were navigating the ICW on the way there. How those creatures are able to fly long distances has me completely baffled. Anchorage: 30 deg. 15.731’ N/88 deg. 09.482’ W; around 3/4 mi. from shore. No protection if wind kicks up but very nice anchorage in mild weather and to be repeated again

Sun 10/26/14

We weighed anchor around 8:00 a.m. It was all motoring across Mobile Bay and inside the Alabama Canal (ICW). Once in the Canal, it was lovely to see the pretty sights of homes and vegetation along the shores, past Lulu’s Restaurant (a favorite stop for food and marina services), The Wharf (a dressy marina and vendors-center, clashing with our attraction to more natural/funky settings in keeping with sailing), past Wolf Bay (an anchorage option), and into Ingram Bayou. It was early, 4:00 p.m.-ish and, as we followed another sailboat in, we wondered if one of our all-time favorite anchorages might be full. Unfortunately, it’s not a secret. Yet we were lucky enough to share this peaceful cove with the Southern Cross sailboat that preceded us. Not to mention the Ospreys and dolphins, and maybe raccoons hidden to us by the vegetation, plus who knows how many other living creatures. Bill came over from his sailboat on is kayak to pay us a visit. After some wine and peanuts and plenty of conversation, Mike was invited to try the kayak. See pic.

Anchorage: 30 deg. 12.583’ N/89 deg. 24.128’ W

Mon 10/27

We dinghied over to Bill’s sailboat for coffee and admire his well-kept 1980 craft, which he singlehands. We left for Pensacola, FL around 10:00 a.m., expecting a 4-hr. trip for the rest of the Alabama Canal, passing through Perdido Bay and Big Lagoon before entering Pensacola Bay. Pretty all the way. Never get tired of it. Even when the weather is hot – say the 80’s! Finally in Pensacola Bay we were able to sail without the motors, just the sounds of nature. Palafox Marina is great, not only because it is clean and modern, but also because it’s nestled in the historic downtown Pensacola so easy to enjoy by foot and bike. Every time we come back, there are new establishments in keeping with the architecture of the area. Between that and the waterfront, there’s nothing to complain about. Except for the chores awaiting.

Next: Destin Harbor – St. Andrew’s Bay and Panama City. Stay tuned and don’t forget to double click on the slideshow for better picture viewing. Hasta luego, amigos!

Overnight Mandeville, LA

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Even during the hottest days, such as any day in the New Orleans summer, there's an urge to get away on Aventura, our 37' Lagoon Catamaran. George, our fellow cat owner and marina neighbor, went along for the ride. We left early morning for the 3 1/2 hr. crossing of Lake Pontchartrain, from the "south shore" to the "north shore." That is, from New Orleans to Mandeville, La. There are several communities around the Lake that make it a nice short trip, and they are all pleasant to visit. For example: Slidell, Bayou Lacombe, Mandeville, Madisonville, and a couple of points along the New Orleans lake shore. These are communities that have a history and share the love for fishing and boating. That makes for good eating, good stories and good landscapes. If you visit the area, they are interesting enough to spend time at each one. Mandeville offers a free dock by the Yacht Club. Three nights maximum and you sign up at the Yacht Club. Water and electricity included. Walking or biking along the shore reveals a lovely neighborhood of southern homes, restaurants and other small businesses. There's even a biking trail called the Abita Trail that brings you to the closeby town of Abita with a well-loved brewery. Try it some time. Until next time, keep on sailing!

New Orleans Eastbound III

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 May 2014 12:03:00 +0000

5/18-19/2014
Knowing we had a long day ahead, we left Barber Marina on the AL Canal early, around 8 a.m. An unencumbered day for travel -- temperatures in the upper '70s, and mild. We motored to Dauphin Is., AL, passing Wolf Bay, The Wharf Marina complex, Lulu's Restaurant and Homeport Marina (she is Jimmy Buffet's sister)along the AL Canal. Then we crossed Mobile Bay, turning south at Dauphin Is., working our way to Pelican Passage, an anchorage at the underbelly of the Island. Our first time there, it proved to be an acceptable cove and very popular for locals. We rowed to shore, splashed around in the water for a while before retiring for sunset and dinner. This anchorage offers very little protection from weather, but the Windfinder indicated good conditions through the night. By the way, if there was any passage or cut through before, there isn't now, which makes for a longer trip when leaving to go westward. Maybe locals ought to refer to it as Pelican Cove. Location: 30 deg. 14.634 N/ 88 deg 06.902 W

5/19-20/2014
Weather conditions continued mild. So headed for the next island west of Dauphin called Petit Bois, and it's across the state line in Mississippi. If you're from the area you call it "Petiboi," a little bit of a departure from its French root, but who's challenging that. It did take a while to reach the northeastern part of Petit Bois from the southern part of Dauphin, also because there's no real channel between the two islands. So, you pick your way through very carefully, watching the depth meter intently. It seems that the whole string of Mississippi islands plus Dauphin Is., AL are slowly moving westward, so scientists say, and the continuous shoaling makes any chart outdated. We arrived at Petit Bois in the early afternoon, a destination we're familiar with and like. Again, limited protection, as are the rest of the Barrier Islands off the Mississippi coastline. In this case, there was no boat nearby, which made it a peaceful anchorage. We dropped the dinghy and this time the motor worked! So we made it to shore and walked around a bit plus swam. Time to break out one of the DVD's we had bought at a garage sale or somewhere like that, pop popcorn on the propane stove and enjoy the evening. Even watching a DVD on a battery powered, 7 in. screen can be fun when in the "camping" mode. Beside that, I have my Nook and Mike his reading material, too. No cell phone connection. The VHF would cover communications with another boat or the Coast Guard, or hear weather reports. But otherwise, it was just our floating cabin in the natural setting. OK by us. Location: 30 deg. 12.261 N/ 88 deg 26.679 W

5/20-22/2014
You notice how we alternate between the nature experience and the town experience? If water tanks are full, there's plenty of provisions, boat operations systems are working well, and there's no issue with weather, then there's a choice. Choosing nature takes you to a simple state of body and mind, best for introspection, and feelings that develop from a natural setting. Marinas, hence city life, feeds the addictions: technology, places, foods, entertainment. Our addictions were calling. So, we headed for Point Cadet Marina at the eastern tip of Biloxi, across the bay from Ocean Springs, and across a narrow channel to Deer Is. We left early and made the approx. 30 nm run in less than 5 hrs., motor sailing. The Golden Nugget Casino is next door to the marina. Gambling and the gambling environment is not for us, but the Starbuck's inside was. In fact, the Hard Rock Casino, about 1 mi. down the beach, also had a Starbuck's, and we visited that as well. Guess it's true that Starbuck's is everywhere. We did the usual biking, looking for the historic area, grocery shopping, and taking in any breeze we could. It was getting hotter by the day. We also looked in on the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor, which is much better located if you're biking, but they discourage (or so we thought) pleasure boats in favor of commercial boats. It's full of fishing vessels, and some sell fish/seafood off the boats during certain seasons. Many Asians involved, which is a usual sight along the Gulf Coast. So, that means Asian stores and restaurants, too, which adds texture to towns. A good thing.

5/22-24/2014
We left Point Cadet and made the 3-hr. run to Gulfport Harbor Marina where we stayed for a couple of nights, while waiting to rendezvous with our friends at Ship Is. on the 24th. No casino visits, but yes biking and the usual. Gulfport Harbor Marina is first class and most of the boats are pleasure boats. A totally different atmosphere from the Biloxi marinas, as we saw it. Otherwise, the town has an historic area, restaurants and coffee nearby, just like Biloxi. The big difference in the towns is that Biloxi has become synonymous with casino life, though it was a fishing town (many tournaments available for you sports fishermen) and historic town way before the casinos.

5/24-26/2014
We were eager to meet up with George and family at Ship Is., which in and of itself is an attractive destination. So, we left mid-morning for the 2 1/2 hr. straight run down to the northern part of the island where Fort Massachusetts is and the better anchorages. It's also where anchorage spots are closest to shore for exploration. Though a popular island, this was Memorial Day Weekend, and the sailboats/motorboats abounded. George's cat, a Privelege 39, was in a perfect spot, and we dropped anchor nearby. Saturday and Sunday were days to visit, share meals, go ashore, swim and generally frolic. If you're ever in the area, don't hesitate to visit Fort Massachusetts and the Gulf beach area of the island. Very nice, so much so that there are several daily excursions back and forth from Gulfport, and maybe from other towns. All in all, this was a wonderful way to put the finishing touches on a trip that was meant to relax and did.

IN SUMMARY:
This was a 3-week plus sailing trip that started out with no plan. We stopped where we wanted and moved at the speed we chose at the time, and it worked well for us. Weather, as well as boat and body functioning cooperated to make it a memorable trip. We visited new places: Pass Christian Harbor Marina, Lake Yazoo, Redfish Point and The Cut on Big Lagoon, Paradise Inn anchorage, Pelican Pass/Dauphin Is., and Point Cadet Marina. We revisited places we already knew and liked: Ingram Bayou, Palafox Marina/Pensacola, Barber Marina/AL Canal, Petit Bois, Gulfport, and Ship Is. Sailing for us is all about exploring and relaxing, and this trip delivered. Even when the weather is inclement, as in last trip (November 2013), there's always something to remember warmly. Memories that keep us going in life.

New Orleans Eastbound II

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 17 May 2014 21:35:00 +0000

5/8-12/2014
Pensacola, easy to get around the historic downtown and bayfront. Not only did we follow the coastline on bikes, and roam around interesting neighborhoods, but we also satiated ourselves with dining out, coffeehouses, frozen yogurt treat, and a visit to the Saturday arts & farmer's market. The market was a surprise, but it takes place every Saturday on the neutral ground of Palafox St., a leisurely walk from Palafox Marina. Can't beat the package of a first-class marina in the historic district and at the right price.
5/12/2014
Visiting fun towns has its pluses, but we were itching for other experiences, too. What happened with anchoring out and communing with nature? Well, on that urge we left for parts unknown mid Monday morning, crossing Pensacola Bay, entering the Sta. Rosa Sound and heading East. Finally we were able to sail without motoring at speeds between 6 and 7 kts. Not a rush feeling but lovely not to have to hear the engines churning. Just after passing under the Pensacola Bridge, we made our way towards the beach areas, picking a spot definitely not near a high-rise. Instead we dropped the hook less than 1/4 mi. from a funky little bar/grill on the sand facing the Sound. We rowed to the dock of Paradise Inn, took a walk to the boardwalk down the beach, and returned for a laid-back dinner looking out on Aventura, the golden rays of the setting sun, and people watching. It was delightful. Location: 30 deg.20.23 N/87 deg.8.05 W
5/13/2014
As wonderful as it was to sail, bob on the boat when at rest and enjoy the view, this wasn't exactly the "communing with nature" full fledged experience. After all, we had once again ventured into a human-made environment. It was time for the total OM. We weighed anchor mid morning and crossed back over Pensacola Bay, doing 7 kts motorsailing in 13 kt. winds. We headed straight for "The Cut" over in Big Lagoon. It lies between Sand Island and Perdido Key and is known as the McRae Cove anchorage (as in Fort McRae). "The Cut" is appropriately nicknamed so because it leads to the channel that connects the Gulf of Mexico with Pensacola Bay. Too bad the winds were picking up for it was too choppy to row to shore and see what's left of Fort McRae. We hadn't tried the outboard engine since it failed days ago. No use trying to fight wind and waves. Great anchorage. Location: 30 deg. 19.65 N/87 deg. 19.24 W
5/14-16/2014
The expected forcast for the next couple of days was not good for poorly protected waters. We weighed anchor at 8:30 a.m. and took off for Ingram Bayou, one of the best storm holes we have experienced along the northern Gulf. I was apprehensive that the place would be full, given it's popularity. But, arriving around noon, we were pleasantly surprised to find only one small sailboat, leaving us plenty of room to hunker down and ride the bad weather. Others appeared later, but we got a good spot early. Protected from all sides, Mike nonetheless put out two anchors, our 45 lb. Manson at the bow and a 25 lb. Fortress at the stern so as to reduce swing. The howling of the wind through the trees and the sound of rain accompanied us for a couple of days. Reading, popcorn and a movie kept us in a good mood.
5/16-18/2014
The sun came out, but the wind was still smacking us at 20 kts. We decided to go into a marina for a couple of nights: laundry, groceries....But before heading for Barber Marina on the AL Canal, we decided to take a tour of upper Wolf Bay. We had anchored there before but closer to its mouth. Now we moved toward its northeastern corner called Hammock Creek. Depths OK, around 7-9 ft. Nice homes on the shore. An acceptable cove to duck into when enroute. Then off to Barber Marina, which has its uniqueness, right off the ICW, but far away from towns. In fact, it is a part of several thousand acres of land, mostly just manicured and park-like, all belonging to the Barber family, a very prominent family in Alabama. The Marina is clean, large, first-class, and can fit any size boat. Plus there's a significant dry dock storage area, and other ancillary services. On the land just behind the businesses, there's a kind of mini Jurasic Park recreation: life size fiberglass dinosaurs. There's also a copy of Stonehenge. Not to mention stone sculptures of other animals placed here and there throughout. Interesting, yes, but curious. Until we saw a family with kids visiting the dinosaurs. Leaving tomorrow for the Mississippi Barrier Islands. Stay tuned! And don't forget to double click on the slideshow to get a better view.

New Orleans Eastbound I

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 10 May 2014 00:06:00 +0000

Sat. 5/3 – Mon. 5/5/2014

We say our last goodbyes to our friend and pier pal, George, as we head out into choppy waters and nippy winds (15-18 kts.) on Lake Pontchartrain. It’s 8:00 a.m. and the weather is exhilarating (sunny skies, highs to reach mid ‘70s), foretelling adventures and good times as we move foreward. Unlike all our past trips, there is no plan. The plan is no plan, just to head east.

We decide to try Pass Christian Harbor & Marina, MS. I’m itching to play tourist with our Dahon Speed Uno bikes and just ramble for a couple of days. The town is easy to navigate, and it’s great to see how well it’s been recovering from Hurricane Katrina (2005) when it was hit really hard. Plus you can’t beat $21.40/night including all taxes and fees. And, what can I say, we love the ritual of the coffeehouse. Cat Island Coffeehouse & Pass Christian Bookstore was perfect. If you venture there, be sure to ride your bikes along Scenic Drive with a long row of beautiful antebellum homes on one side, and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. Nice!

Mon. 5/5 – Tue. 5/6/2014

We left Pass Christian early and hoped to either anchor at one of the Barrier Islands off the Mississippi Coast or Lake Yazoo in the Pascagoula area. The winds would have to be just right for either Horn or Petit Bois islands; so, we put our sights on Lake Yazoo, which we hadn’t been to before. It was a slow crossing with hardly any wind from behind and hot. Not a memorable day, but we were pleasantly surprised with Lake Yazoo, a tiny oasis in the midst of industrial activity. Ingall’s Shipyard, with its massive building contracts for the navy, and oil refineries engulf the area. But Yazoo is surrounded by high end residences and smart boats. There were others anchoring there as well. A good storm hole between Biloxi and the Alabama Canal. Location: 30°20.85N/88°33.52W

Tues. 5/6 – Wed. 5/7/2014

Given that high winds are expected by Thursday, we bypass another new anchorage spot, which is on the south side of Dauphin Is. in favor of reaching the Alabama Canal. From Yazoo we motor-sailed past Dauphin Is., across Mobile Bay and into a part of the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW), which is both protected and beautiful. That’s where the trip acquires texture. Surrounded by lush vegetation, interesting homes and a few marine businesses, not to mention people bustling about, there’s more to see and appreciate.

One of our favorite anchorages is Ingram Bayou, nestled between Wolf River and Perdido Bay. No signage. You just have to know where to turn in. A little secret but, alas, not only ours. There were already three boats anchored; so, we nudged our way in and settled for the night. We had hoped to stay a couple of nights at least. And we’ll probably do that on the return because the attraction to Ingram is that you are surrounded only by the sounds of nature. Nothing artificial. And you could almost reach out and touch the foliage on shore; your boat is that close. Plus, doing my yoga first thing in the morning to the sounds of birds and occasional dolphins that enter the bayou is most gratifying. Location: 30°19.27N/87°33.41

Wed. 5/7 – Thu. 5/8/2014

In between Perdido Bay and Pensacola Bay there’s a long body of water called Big Lagoon. We headed for it and decided on an anchorage in a wide open space with the Gulf Shores Nature Conservancy providing protection from the open Gulf. The best spots are near Redfish Point.

We got in the dinghy to go explore the sand dunes and look out into the Gulf. The motor didn’t cooperate but we took turns rowing. And we swam. A beautiful sunset and meal. What’s not to like about that? Location: 30°19.19N/87°20.21W

Thu. 5/8/2014

Well, it’s time to duck into a marina again. Palafox Marina in Pensacola is great. Not only is it a first-class marina at reasonable rates (for Boat U.S. members), but it’s smack in the middle of the historic section of town. On the agenda: groceries, eat out at least one meal, laundry, biking, more biking, odd jobs, coffeehouse….We’ll probably be here through Sunday, given rains and high winds forecasting. Not sure where we’re going next. Stay tuned!

Be sure to double click on the slideshow for larger format viewing.

My Book Club Goes Sailing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 01:57:00 +0000

Saturday, 4-26-2014

A Book Club Party on Pontchartrain Lake

It's fun to host a group of friends on Aventura, our 37 ft. Lagoon catamaran. Especially when the weather is just right: clear day, upper '70s, winds out of the SE at 12-18 kts. We beam reached toward the East, pleasantly talking, laughing, eating and simply enjoying each other's company. Most of my book club friends haven't sailed. And they were happy but also tired by the end, as being out in nature tends to do to you. Some tried their hand at the wheel. Others just hung out in the cockpit, our "back porch."

As Cap'n Mike and I prepare for our May trip along the Gulf Coast, we are reminded of how much pleasure a sailing vessel can provide. Getting away from it all is important, even for those who live in quirky, funky, wild and crazy New Orleans. Enough festivals and city life! Let's go commune with nature, I say!

Look for our upcoming May adventures. We have added foldable bikes to our equipment and, therefore, our options. More texture to our sailing trips. Hasta luego, amigos.

New Orleans to Apalachicola, FL IV

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 02:29:00 +0000

But for the kindness of strangers....

11/24/2013 Nothing like grey, cold (really cold) and dreary days to dampen one's spirits. Having to duck out of nasty weather again and again is one way to feel loss of control. We stayed in Mary Walker Marina in Gautier, MS for several more nights while waiting for a chance to enter the Gulf of Mexico on our way home. Optimism did prevail, however, and we found a way to enjoy ourselves. Long walks through the neighborhoods of Gautier, another couple of DVDs (with popcorn, of course), another meal at Tiki Restaurant, reading, chores, and good talks filled our days.

Yet it's people that made this last portion of our trip memorable. Sylvia, the manager, that loaned us her car for grocery shopping, also invited us for Thanksgiving dinner, were we to stay on. And a neighbor sailor just down a couple of slips from us, a liveaboard, knocked on the side of our boat, Aventura, to say that he had a space heater he wished to loan us for the cold nights to come (in the 20s!). With his and our small space heater, would be comfortable enough. Yes, we took him up on it and were heart-warmed to have perfect strangers extending a hand. And, when we finally did take off for the Gulf and then on to our last stop, Long Beach Marina, a couple invited us for Thanksgiving dinner on their boat.

It was Thanksgiving Day when we left early morning for the Gulf. Passing through Mary Walker Bayou, following the Pascagoula River to the Gulf got us in a good mood. We motored and then motor-sailed the Mississippi Sound, passing the barrier islands of Petit Bois, Horn Island, and Ship Island. When we had Cat Island on our port beam, we took a sharp turn towards north and entered Long Beach Marina for the night. Why not anchor off one of the barrier islands? Winds from the north and we needed shore power for our one space heater. That was fortuitous, that we should go into the Marina because there we met Ken and Marty on their liveaboard, Carolina. We had a full Thanksgiving dinner replete with wine, turkey, yam, peas, stuffing, cranberry sauce, apple pie with ice cream....lovely company, and very comfortable on their motorsailer, a Sea Trader. And these boats are a work of art, with their hand carved doors, magnificent wood accessories, good distribution of space...a real home, Ken and Marty's home.

11/29 We left early for New Orleans, along the Mississippi Sound, into the Rigolets, then Lake Pontchartrain, finalizing with a magnificent sunset on a calm Lake with the New Orleans skyline in the background. A great homecoming, what we felt we deserved.

New Orleans to Apalachicola, FL III

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:06:00 +0000

Waiting for a weather window....

11/17/2013 We knew we ought to leave Panama City Marina before 7a.m. to deal with a rambunctious Gulf of Mexico and make it through the tricky entrance to Destin Harbor before dark. Winds were from the NE at 14 knots, and waves 4 - 6 ft. knocking Aventura on her stern quarter. Getting slapped around drained us both. Destin Harbor has great anchorages. Exactly what we needed to turn in for the night early with an expectation we'd be able to play tourist the next day. Maybe dinghy in to one of the many restaurants and take a walk around. I woke up to rain and had to move my yoga practice inside (mostly use the cockpit for daily yoga), and it rained all day. A time to read, make soup, watch Oceans Eleven and putter around.

11/19 We left Destin Harbor before 7 a.m. for an early start to Pensacola Bay. Finally, a beautiful day and beautiful for sailing. Winds were out of the NE at 18 - 23 knots, and we slid along on a beam reach at 7.5 - 8.5 knots most of the way. It was exhilarating! Probably all sailors would want to sail more and motor less, but, alas, this is not the case.

We decided to go into Palafox Marina in Pensacola, a great marina and close to much. We took turns on the bike getting groceries, went for coffee, walked the streets, took care of laundry and other maintenance on our cat, and enjoyed Pensacola.

11/23 Then on to Ingram Bayou, one of our favorite anchorages. Location: 30 deg. 19.167' N/ 87 deg. 33. 298' W. A great storm hole along the Alabama Canal (ICW). Never ever tired of Ingram Bayou. Beautiful, small and intimate feeling.

Weather forecasts have been worsening as time goes on. After much deliberation, we decided to head for the Pascagoula, MS area, the first place we could duck into for a several-days nasty weather block. We left Ingram Bayou before dawn, around 4:30 a.m., and headed for Mary Walker Marina, Gautier, MS. We wanted to have time while still light to negotiate the new-to-us Pascagoula River. 61 NM later, we made it, but not without some drama. Fog set in during our crossing in the Mississippi Sound, and the Pascagoula River wormed its way around, with plenty of little tributaries that would have led us into dead ends in the swamp. Plus a slight grounding which Mike backed out of. On the exit, we will take the shortcut along a canal that crosses the marsh to take us back to N. Pascagoula River and out into the Gulf. That's the way to get to Mary Walker Marina: just past the Hwy 90 bridge (80 ft. clearance) at the entrance to the River, cross the marsh, turn north into Mary Walker Bayou, the Marina is on the south side. It's really simple.

Now at Mary Walker Marina we feel safe from the strong winds, currents, cold and rain. The Marina is part of Gautier, MS, just across from Pascagoula. The people at the Marina couldn't be nicer, especially the manager, Sylvia. She even loaned us her car to get groceries down the street. Tiki Bar & Restaurant is just a block away. Good food at a good price. We have taken walks that included George Martin City Park with its piers that jut out into the marsh. The view from our cat, which is snugly ensconced in a slip wide enough for us (20.3 ft. beam)...what a surprise! And the weather window has been pushed back...we have to wait for a window, then on to Gulfport or Long Beach Marina as a last stop before New Orleans, our home port. Weather!!!

New Orleans to Apalachicola, FL II

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:53:00 +0000

From Apalachicola, we headed back to St. Joseph Bay via the inland Intercoastal Waterway (ICW). As Mike slowly pulled out from Apalachicola Marina, I took pictures of the town's wharfs, buildings, boats and river traffic to illustrate what this area of "Old Florida" is about. The ICW was its usual enchanting self with wilderness all around and an occasional vessel meandering through or fishermen stalking their prey. White City was again a nice stop-over. We met trawlers heading for the western coast of Florida both going and coming back from Apalachicola. They all have interesting tales of how, when, where and what it means to travel inland America and the coastal waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico and up the eastern seaboard.

White City is approximately 3 1/2 hrs. from Apalachicola and 1 1/2 hrs. from St. Joseph Bay motoring at 5.5 - 6.5 knots. Aside from good tie-up and depth, there's a clean bathroom and water. And a country store, namely the Wimico Country Store, about .5 mi. from the dock, and a sign that says "Beer, Bait and Ammo." That pretty much sums up priorities and perspectives for the region (author's opinion).

Early morning we witnessed the start of a fishermen's race. Then on to St. Andrew Bay, which was a day's journey. Once we crossed St. Joseph Bay and entered the Gulf, we motorsailed to the entrance of St. Andrew Bay with winds on the beam or aft quarter and clocking 6 - 7 knots. Nice weather invited us to anchor in Bunker's Cove, just east of the Panama City Marina. Location:
30 deg 8.406'N/85 deg 38.979'W. This is where some of the 1% live judging from their boats and homes. We got into the dinghy and motored/rowed around the get the lay of the land and then settled into a calm overnight.

We had hoped to explore another anchorage we've been wanting to try out, namely Smack Bayou, just across the way. But, alas, no water left in the tanks! There's always something happening to remind you that boats are like independent islands that require much work in keeping them afloat and functional, which includes the necessary power, water, food and other supplies, and the list goes on. So we headed for Panama City Marina. And that's where we are for a week because unkind weather has delayed a departure. For those occasions, shift into tourist mode and turn your vessel into the proverbial "cabin on the water." Besides, the Marina offers deals for weeklongs; so, ask.

What is there to do besides chores? Plenty. In terms of chores, the usual: laundry, cleaning, maintenance, use electricity and great Internet plus Cable, grocery, turning the cockpit into our back porch, checking in with other boaters, etc. In terms of what else:

walks through the historic downtown and nearby neighborhoods
buying fresh fish at a nearby fish market
coffee and poking heads into small shops and bookstore
take the special Panama City Bay Town Trolley to Panama City Beach and St. Andrew Marina/community
bike
eat a few meals out but also fix wholesome meals in
enjoy our cabin on the water with cockpit/back porch and great sunsets

We're looking at weather windows to depart Sun. 11/17 either for another anchorage or Destin Harbor, which requires heading out into the Gulf, a full day's run.

As one sailing acquaintance once said, "It's all good," meaning relax and make the best use of your time away. So, double click on the slideshow to get a better view. And, of course, stay tuned!

New Orleans to Apalachicola, FL I

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 02:09:00 +0000

New Orleans to Apalachicola, FL I

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

This was supposed to be our trip to Tarpon Springs, FL and points south. But making plans where Nature is heavily involved is subject to change. Oh well! Weather has gotten in the way and we'll just have to adapt. Sailors and boaters in general seem to know that and don't get unnerved by changes in plans. In fact, they tend to not have rigid plans.

I arrived in Port St. Joe, FL to meet up with Mike, who had started out from New Orleans with our friend George. Ina, George's and our friend, helped me drive the 8 hr. trip from NOLA to Port St. Joe. No problema. We had a great time together. Eating, sharing stories and spending a day in Apalachicola (easy 25 mi. straight shot away). George and Ina left, and we decided to enjoy Port St. Joe before heading off.

We took the Intercoastal Waterway that leads from St. Joseph Bay to Apalachicola Bay via inland. Normally a 5 hr. trip through swampy areas full of birds and natural beauty. It kind of reminds us of the Tchefuncte River in Louisiana (off of Lake Pontchartrain). Instead of motoring straight through in one day, we decided to spend the night in White City. Not much there except that the town offers a free public dock, period. It's in the middle of all this nature. Just a few docks, some picnic tables, and yes a bathroom facility. We ran into a couple with a trawler that does the loop of inland waterways, hence the name "Loopers" to refer to these types of people. And there are plenty of those coming down from America's heartland, taking a share turn to the east when reaching the Gulf of Mexico, heading for Florida and up the eastern seaboard, thus closing the circle. More or less. Interesting folks. Great tales.

Now we're in Apalachicola, enjoying a town we haven't tired of yet. It's old Florida. A fishing town with nice architectural structures and salt of the earth people. But it's also trending upwards with the number of visitors that pass through, whether for the seafood festivities or the word has gotten out that there's character in this town. Art galleries, theater, plenty of restaurants and inns. There aren't many boat slips, and definitely not much for multihulls like ours. Though small as catamarans go (Lagoon 37), our Aventura, we have a hard time finding a slip. And tides/depths are a problem. But we enjoy this part of Americana very much.

Next we are heading towards New Orleans but plan to stop in some new places. Stay tuned!

Mississippi Coast

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 19:10:00 +0000

Road trip to the Mississippi Coast: Scouting for nearby getaways

June 11-13, 2013

The drive from New Orleans was pleasant and quick. We reached Waveland within 1 1/2 hrs, taking the I-10 from New Orleans to Bay St. Louis and then State Highway 607 past NASA’s Space Stennis Center and Buccaneer State Park. Waveland is a backyard to Bay St. Louis. All the Mississippi Coast area suffered dramatically from Hurricane Katrina in late August, 2005. But much of the coastline from Waveland, Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian were the hardest hit. Those areas are coming back but they're not yet there. See post-Katrina, post-BP Oil Spill

St. Louis Bay, where Bay St. Louis town is located, was new to us in terms of anchorage options. The marked channel guides boats through the 13 ft. CSX Railroad (swing) Bridge and the Hwy. 90 fixed 85 ft. St Louis Bridge. From there three possible anchorage areas depart from the channel: Bayou Portage, Wolf River, and the Jourdan River. We had followed the western shore of St. Louis Bay, through quaint downtown Bay St. Louis, crossed the intersection of Hwy 90 and continued along the shore to the Bay Waveland Yacht Club & Marina and onward to and along the Jourdan River.
The Yacht Club & Marina accepts transients and allows boats to anchor there. It's just that the depths are constantly low, around 5 ft. Continuing on, we came upon the newly renamed Hollywood Casino with a small marina, boasting depths of 10 ft. This might be a refuge from stormy weather, in addition to offering the casino/hotel services. We would probably aim for anchoring on the Jourdan River as a first objective, however. The Jourdan River presents sufficient depths, 6-6 ½ ft. depths within channel. This is the west side of St. Louis Bay.

If one would rather enter immediately into a protected area from the Hwy. 90 Bridge, turn right into Bayou Portage. Navigating Portage and the Wolf River might represent more of a challenge because there is little in the way of marked channels and depths are tricky at best. Though, as one sailor reminded us, touching bottom means mud rather than rock. In other words, not catastrophic. But the scenery and ability to duck oncoming troublesome weather might be worth a try. We will certainly give this area a try during these summer months and a prediction of active storms/hurricanes. These opportunities are but a day's sail/motor from our New Orleans harbor. Close enough for a brief getaway and quick return if a major storm is brewing.

Just around the corner of the eastern bend of St. Louis Bay, on the Gulf of Mexico, is the town of Pass Christian and its marina. There are a lot of pluses to making this a stopover. Most of the little town is within walking distance from the marina, therefore shops and eateries, plus a great restaurant right on site It’s an attractive town that was once the main vacation spot for New Orleanians back when. The price at the marina is just right: a flat fee of roughly $25/night including water and electricity (30 or 50 amp). Transient slips are inside the wall and measure 36 ft. by 27 ft. Depths are 8-9 ft. throughout. Bathrooms, laundry, pump out, WiFi and other services will be coming online sometime soon, we're told. Long Beach is the next community when travelling west to east. It’s easy to negotiate the entrance. Depths are 9 ft. Transients use a back wall and dock alongside. At $1/ft. one gets good level services: water, power, bath/showers, access to laundry room. The marina is working on fuel and pump out. There are restaurants within walking distance but other shops and eateries are roughly a mile away.

We had stayed at the Gulfport Small Craft Marina, which is the best of the marinas mentioned here. See last two postings regarding our truncated trip to Western Florida. We stayed at this Marina for two nights while trying to retrieve our anchor and chain lost to the Gulf of Mexico during a storm. The Marina couldn’t have been a better choice. Management was attentive, the services – slip, electricity, water, bath/showers, laundry, ease of entry, one free pump out – are fantastic. The Marina is working on WiFi. This is a newly refurbished marina, part of the Gulfport Harbor Complex that includes daily departures for Ship Is. for the day and a Large Craft Harbor. I walked to a coffee shop for Internet connection and saw that there are plenty of eateries within a mile.
Follow us on our upcoming first trip to St. Louis Bay and beyond. We will embark on our trip to Western Florida in the Fall. After the storm season and after the intense heat that envelops the Northern Gulf.

New Orleans to W. FL II

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:47:00 +0000

New Orleans to W. FL II

Fri., June 7, 2013

Sorry, readers, but we have returned to Home Port, Louisiana. Just temporarily to regroup. Absolutely we will travel again, and very soon, but first we have to solve the anchor problem and reconsider travel plans during this active storm season. Follow me on the steps we’ve taken so far.

The anchor was not retrieved from the bottom of the Mississippi Sound off Ship Is. We knew the probability was low because neither Capt. Mike nor Capt. George had the necessary equipment and because of wind, currents, low visibility underwater, etc. It was worth a try, nevertheless. The day after our “misadventure” George, Mike and Nick made the two-hour run from Gulfport Small Craft Harbor & Marina to Ship Is. on George’s cat, Añejo, to sweep the area surrounding our anchorage spot, roughly within a one-acre diameter. They tried: (1) using mask and snorkel but visibility was no more than 3 ft.; (2) they tried using the dinghy and dinghy anchor to snare the chain or rode to no avail; and (3) they tried using a heavy fishing pole with hooks and weights but only snagged weeds. No luck! One day somebody will stumble upon our 35 lb. Delta!

Should our cat, Aventura, proceed on its course to Western Florida with a secondary anchor, a 28 lb. Fortress with only 30 ft. of chain and 200 ft. of rode? Even under good weather conditions, using a light anchor with a 14,000+ lb. fully loaded cat would represent an anchoring challenge. Now, add in the probability of frequent thunderstorms and other low pressure phenomena, and that sounds like too high of a risk. So, getting a new anchor became paramount. In fact, getting a better anchor rose up on Capt. Mike’s priority list.

Finally, given the prediction of a very active storm – read hurricane – season, we needed to rethink what trip(s) we could take nearby that would put us in close proximity to home port or other shelter. Yes, there are always the communities around Pontchartrain Lake, such as: Madisonville/Tchefuncte River, Mandeville, Bayou Lacombe/town of Lacombe, and Oak Harbor/Slidell. But in looking for places beyond the Lake, in the Gulf of Mexico, there are other interesting communities that pepper the Mississippi coastline, such as: town of Bay St. Louis/St. Louis Bay, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi/back bay, and Ocean Springs. Next week, we intend to take a car ride to these communities (while awaiting delivery of anchor and chain). Of course, we know these communities. Yet a lot has happened since Hurricane Katrina leveled many of them in 2005. The information we will cull from Active Captain and our personal visits will show up in my next blog.

Stay tuned! And, oh, I can truly say that the phrase “calm before the storm” has new, rich meaning for us!

New Orleans to W. Florida I

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 17:17:00 +0000

New Orleans to W. FL I

Mon., June 3, 2013

Capt. Mike and I left New Orleans (finally) on Sat., June 1st. Our marina neighbor and friend, George, and his apprentice, Nick, arranged to caravan with us part of the way on our trip to W. Florida. So a Lagoon 37 and Privilege 39 set sail early with hopes to reach Ship Is., MS by evening. That is with the cooperation of the winds and wind direction, mechanical health of the cats and its people, if, if, if. That day would be memorable, as the next day would be too but in a very different way. More like opposite way.

The first day held the thrill of starting out and hours of terrific sailing (not motoring) at a good clip. The next day, however, surprised us with a sudden thunderstorm that initiated another kind of adrenaline rush accompanying the loss of our main anchor, running aground, and general misery. We're all well and at the Gulfport Small Craft Marina. I'm at a local coffee shop reporting on the experiences. Meantime Capt. Mike is on Capt. George's boat gone to try to locate and retrieve our 35 lb. Delta anchor, possibly still attached to its 70 ft. of chain and some rode.

Day 1 was what most sailors look for: favorable sailing conditions to speed along, in full harmony with Nature. The winds were out of the southeast, maxing out at 18 kts. Mike tuned the sails until we reached speeds of 7.9 kts without motoring. Both cats reached the northern side of Ship Is. by 7:00 p.m. (Central). We went to bed tired but content with expectations of exploring completely intact Fort Massachusetts and other points of interest on Ship Is. We had hoped to dinghy into shore, less than a quarter mile from our boat next morning before resuming our trip east.

Day 2 was what most sailors try to avoid: a sudden and strong thunderstorm that catches you unaware and creates havoc. May I also add havoc in an otherwise ideal environment? We were up shortly after 6:00 a.m. and I commented how calm the waters were, almost flat with a beautiful shimmer. A rainbow arched above George's boat. The calm before the storm. Then we noticed dark clouds building on the horizon but didn't react accordingly since the day before we had had a brief shower during our sail, and predictions were for several days of the same. For the next hour or hour and a half we experienced up to 30 kt. winds and heavy chop. We were not able to pull up anchor and push us away from shore in time. It seems that the anchor rode got caught in one of the propellers while the waves were pushing us inevitably towards the shallows of the shore. Though Mike wanted to cut the rode and attach a buoy to it for future retrieval, the propeller cut the rode first. Before we could redirect the boat away from the shore, the waves had moved us onto the bottom. We bumped several times on sandy bottom before finally being able to thrust the boat northward and point towards Gulfport, a couple of hours away.

Now Mike, George and Nick are trying to locate the anchor settled in up to 22 ft. of water in the approximate area around our anchorage, 30 deg. 13.061' N/ 88 deg. 58.208' W. Stay tuned for Part II: anchor retrieved or not.

New Orleans to Florida V

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 00:44:00 +0000

LAST LEG OF THE TRIP

Sun. 11/26
On the last stretch to home port, back to New Orleans, we experienced what probably other sailors do: a kind of bitter sweet feeling. On the one hand, we were a bit weary from the stresses of the trip and being alert 24/7. On the other hand, we were sorry to put closure on an often exciting journey. But we'll be off again sometime in the near future. Winter is setting in; so, there's less in the long trips but more in terms of short weekender type jumps.

We left Barber Marina at around 8:00 a.m. and traveled the Alabama Canal (ICW) to Mobile Bay, crossing it and passing north of Dauphin Is., finally entering the Mississippi Sound (ICW). It was still light, so we passed Petit Bois Is., part of the Mississippi barrier islands, and stopped for the night around mid-way across Horn Is., arriving roughly at around 5:00 p.m. There we anchored around 1/2 mi. off shore. Though light, the wind was out of the East where we had no protection. So there was plenty of rocking well into the night until the wind shifted. Location: 30 deg. 14.227' N, 88 deg. 37.876' W

Mon. 11/27
We left Horn Is. at around 8:00 a.m. with winds pretty much on our back quarter. SE 10-15 knots and seas 1-2 ft. Thus we made great headway and, instead of anchoring out again at one of the Mississippi islands, we thought we'd try Rabbit Is. which is ensconced in an area at the entrance to the Rigolets, LA. Still light, we decided to make it through the Rigolets and into Lake Pontchartrain, finally reaching home port at around 8:30 p.m. Exhausted but safely home (for Aventura) at South Shore Marina.

SUMMARY

Itinerary: New Orleans - Cat Is., MS - Wolf Bay on Alabama Canal - Pensacola's Palafox Marina - Destin Harbor - St. Andrew's Bay State Park - Port St. Joe Marina - Apalachicola's Scipio Marina - Carrabelle's C Quarter Marina - Oxbow on ICW back to St. Joseph's Bay - Ingram Bayou on Alabama Canal - Horn Is., MS - New Orleans

We loved seeing some of our old favorites:
- The Alabama Canal with Perdido Bay and Big Lagoon
- Ingram Bayou
- Pensacola's Palafox Marina and quaint downtown (arts festival and all)
- Port St. Joe's Marina

We added a new favorite:
- Apalachicola

We learned new skills:
- operating the vessel throughout the night on a multi-day schedule
- fixing mechanical problems along the way (Capt. Mike, that is)
- perfecting sailing on our relatively new Cat (a work in progress)

See New Orleans to Florida I - V. Send comments.

Looking forward to continuing our adventures on Aventura!