from Houston to Florida

r1texas · #1 (**permalink**) 05-14-2010

Hi,

I plan to sail my First 310 from Houston to south west Florida in november. I guess that my route will depend of the wind but my concern is more about all the rigs.
Can I follow the ship channel to avoid to cross the rigs field?
I don't have radar but AIS, so at list I'll be able to see the ships. I heard that some rigs don't have light, is that true?

Erwan.

nolatom · #2 (**permalink**) 05-14-2010

I wouldn't advise following the ship channel (actually called "fairways" offshore. They're only a two-mile wide rig-free area, so the rigs are still around, and you'll be dodging ships who don't really want to see a small sailboat in their "lane", and you're wasting distance. Plus you'll pass out of the rig zone (if you're heading straight to SW Fla) after the first day or two. you might as well head straight there if you have a good 5-day weather window and enough fuel and water, since there aren't really any really accessible harbors enroute til you get east of the Miss River, and those are out of your way.

Yes, some of the lights may be out on some of the smaller platforms, it's unusual for one to be completely dark but happens occasionally, so keep a careful lookout at night, but often the bright lights from the big platforms help you see the small ones, even when unlit.

r1texas · #3 (**permalink**) 05-15-2010

Thank you for the advise. My first idea was to cross the rigs zone but when you look at the chart, it's a bit scary!!
But may be better than to be rounded by ships which go 3 or 4 times faster than us...

PBzeer · #4 (**permalink**) 05-15-2010

Also look at heading southeast out of Galveston, and then coming back up heading nor'east. You can get some fairly strong blows that time of the year in that area.

You can also head nor'east from Galveston and come into the GIWW at the Calcesuei (sp) River (brings you in around MI 146 I believe). About 6 days to New Orleans, take the canal into Bogues Sound and offshore to Pensacola. Three full days to Tampa offshore.

MARC2012 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-16-2010

Calscieau(sp) more like 246.Been a while since been that far w.Better hope oil spill finished.I just came from Bradenton to Louisana a couple of wks.ago.Did not do new orleans no fun.marc

r1texas · #6 (**permalink**) 12-01-2010

I just come back from Florida where I left my boat after the Gulf crossing. Actually I didn't get the choice for the way to follow...I went where the wind wanted us to go...So we sailed Est/Sud-Est from Galveston till south of New Orleans, then we went south, and Est, and finally straight to Key West.
We spent 3 days in the rigs, but it's OK. They are very well lighted and it's easy to sail between them, especially with the full moon. It's a bit impressive when you look at the charts, but in reallity they are far enough from each others and with a good watch, it's not an issue.
Even if we did it with the wind in nose almost all the way, it's a good experience and very beautiful!!

smackdaddy · #7 (**permalink**) 12-01-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by r1texas

I just come back from Florida where I left my boat after the Gulf crossing. Actually I didn't get the choice for the way to follow...I went where the wind wanted us to go...So we sailed Est/Sud-Est from Galveston till south of New Orleans, then we went south, and Est, and finally straight to Key West.
We spent 3 days in the rigs, but it's OK. They are very well lighted and it's easy to sail between them, especially with the full moon. It's a bit impressive when you look at the charts, but in reallity they are far enough from each others and with a good watch, it's not an issue.
Even if we did it with the wind in nose almost all the way, it's a good experience and very beautiful!!

Do you happen to have a GPS track of your trip? I'd be very interested to see what route you ended up taking.

We get these kinds of questions around here a lot and it would be really cool to have a "gallery" of routes that people have taken between various ports - to go with their trip reports.

If you have a GPS track and can output it - let me know. I can take it and map it over a Google map and post it here.

r1texas · #8 (**permalink**) 12-01-2010

Yes, I have the .gpx file of our trip. I enclosed it, I hope it will work.

smackdaddy · #9 (**permalink**) 12-01-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by r1texas

Yes, I have the .gpx file of our trip. I enclosed it, I hope it will work.

Gpx will work fine...but I don't see it attached to the post. Can you send me a private message with it attached?

sailguy40 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-02-2010

Congrats on completing that trip. I would like to see that route too and how long it took you. I am one who asked about a trip similar a while back but I was referring to New Orleans to Key West.