Redneck Riviera Cruise (Texas get-together)

[CharlieJ]

Jesa- and any other Texas  (or close) sailors-

Laura and I host a small cruise each 4th of July here on Matagorda and Espritu Santos bays.

We spend Friday night in the marina at Port Lavaca to take in Larry Joe Taylors"Doing it on the Deck" concert. Then Sat AM we sail for Pass Cavallo,, the natural pass out into the gulf from Matagorda bay. We have a pot luck on the beach there, weather permitting, and watch the fireworks at Port O'Conner from across the water. Those of us who can stay awake do anyway 

On Sunday we sail around to the free docks at what WAS Matagorda Island State Park ( no longer a state park) and wander the island bird watching or fishing as desired.

Then on Monday we sail back towards Port Lavaca and various trailerable boats peel off to the ramps they used to launch, while the slipped boats continue on  to the marina. Last year we had 5 boats along including a boat from New Iberia La join us, and several more boats have indicated they might make it

[CapnK]

Since everything is bigger in Texas, maybe that's where most of the members should be from...

CJ - Thanks for posting about that - with your permission, I'll fork the thread, and make it it's own so it's seen better - might be unregistered visitors who would be interested in meeting up with y'all down there. I know I would...

[CharlieJ]

OK- we call it the Redneck Riviera Cruise by the way

[CharlieJ]

Something further on the Redneck Riviera Cruise.

Where we sail to has no facilities, no shopping, no restaurants. The state park area has no facilities other than an open air shower and a toilet. No water available. In fact, no nothing available, although the docks are free.  In fact, we deliberately choose areas that are primitive.

Matagorda Bay is a large body of water and can get rough. Boats that attend should be able to handle that, plus you really NEED good anchoring setups. Pass Cavallo is an open anchorage and if we happen to get some thunderstorms it can get rough. Espiritu Santos has more protection but if the winds come from the north IT to can be rough. We plan a path for small boats in protected waters, but you still need to be fairly self sufficient.

[Captain Smollett]

How far is the drive from Pasgagoula?

[CharlieJ]

7 to 8 hours, to WAY longer if you get heavy stuff crossing Houston. We usually  try to cross Houston BEFORE 0500 and arrived Pensacola area around 2 - 3 in the afternoon, towing a boat.

Are you IN the Pascagoula area? A very good sailing friend of ours is in Moss Point. Sails a Bolger Bobcat and a Victoria 18. In fact on our planned sail to Florida this spring we have definite plans to anchor in Lake Yazoo again, to  visit him.

[Adam]

Ok... this is weird... my cruise 2004-2005 started in Moss Point, MS. The island right in the middle of the river that the BIG bridge goes over is/was a big machine shop. It has an 87' white sailboat (s/v Bon Voyage) tied up there usually... That was where we prep'd the 35' Coronado for the Bahamas cruise...

small world!

Adam

[Captain Smollett]

Are you IN the Pascagoula area? A very good sailing friend of ours is in Moss Point. Sails a Bolger Bobcat and a Victoria 18. In fact on our planned sail to Florida this spring we have definite plans to anchor in Lake Yazoo again, to  visit him.

No, but my sister is.  We've been trying to plan a trip to visit her, and this would be a cool opportunity to plan a visit with her and do some sailing, too.

We are in SC, so it's about 8 hr from here to Pasgagoula.  We'd definitely need plenty of time to do all that driving.  Plan around Atlanta on the first leg, Houston on the second.  Ick.

[Captain Smollett]

Charlie,

I was hoping to make the trip this summer, but alas, my wife has to work the week of July 4th (a coworker has already gotten that week off).

Maybe next year.  It sure sounds like fun.