Boat Delivery from Tampa to Port Arthur

[otaycec]

Hi Yall,
A friend just purchased sailboat in Miami. He's asked me to help him sail it to Port Arthur,TX where he will put it on a truck and ship it to Long Beach. Has anyone out there sailed this route before? If so, could you share your experience and some tips with me? What are the prevailing winds in that area? How much sea traffic and avoidance of oil platforms? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[MARC2012]

Are you planning on ICW or outside?Will have to go outside in La now due to flooding.How tall are you off the water.Have never been to port authur but have been fl to la several times.Also help to know what kind of boat.marc

[otaycec]

The boat is an Irwin 38 cruiser, center cockpit, and shoal draft keel of only four feet. We plan to go just south of the rhumb line to Corpus Christi instead of Port Arthur. I think the mast is 56'.

[MARC2012]

.Also aprox 50 ft east bay (panama city area) & fort walton beach.If going straight across should be ok until La,plenty of oil rigs,will have to be very carefull especially at night..You might ck active captain for places to stop.Good luck..marc