There are not that many interesting places to stop. It is mainly industrial area until you hit Mobil Bay. Area is littered with oil rigs, in some places it is like sailing in a forest. Heavy workboat traffic.
Most cruisers prefer intracoastal way - there are many canals running along the coast. It is more protected but about as boring...
I did sail the area outside in Gulf, staying close to shore and ducking into little bays for nights, when I could.
The area is dangerous for night sailing. It is possible to navigate, however careful planning is needed. Most oil rigs are in clusters with relatively big stretches of open water between. You will need most recent charts and treat those clusters as islands, planning your route around. It worked for me.
There is some dark beauty in the area, sort of postindustrial, end of world variety.
I didn't see another sailboat between Galveston and Mississippi Delta.
I did short runs, something like Sabine Pass, Calcasieu Pass, then my motor died, so I sailed to Vermilion Bay entrance,anchored just inside of channel, then Wine Island Pass, anchored just inside the hook, then Grand Isle Pass - first recreational marina there. Here I had to fix my starter, I couldn't find mechanic, so I did the job myself,learning new things.
I motored into Tiger Pass, stopped at Venice for restocking and regrouping, Exited Mississippi delta at baptiste coleite(sp?) pass, sailed into Mobil bay, took ICWW into Florida, sailed outside from Panama City to Cedar Key, sailed outside to Tampa Bay...
Here is my post
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/cruisi...al-nc-how.html
I made it sounding simple, however I would not recommend this route to unexperienced sailor.
It it true that I was new to keel boat "yachting", however I had a few thousands miles in open small boat in different adventures, I knew how to sail, I was beach catamaran racer in a past...
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