Greetings from New Orleans

[Nice N Easy]

Hello all,
Just found this forum today, and had to sign up. Basically, I'm just an old retired guy who enjoys sailboats and sailing. Live just east of New Orleans, and sail mostly east, and usually for several days, to several weeks. on my Seidelmann 37, " CANDIDA",

[fjwiley1]

Nice N Easy .... Welcome aboard..you'll soon get many response...great bunch.....nothing wrong with "old retired guys".....

enjoy life, for the winds are free

[stevensc]

Welcome from a fellow Louisianian and one of the few powerboaters on this great site we keep our boat in Houma. If you ever cruise West and need help or infomation message me.
Maybe we'll see you out on the water
Steve

[Ocean Girl]

Welcome from your neighbor to the west in Texas,
Cheers,
Erika

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and Welcome aboard!
regards

[Hud3]

Good to have you with us, Nice N Easy. Hope you enjoy it here!

[zeehag]

nice n easy--welcome here!!!! hope you enjoy this place--has some interesting points of view---

[jlogan]

Easy..I'm thinking of a fall trip from New Orleans over to Pensacola or so. Could you tell me which facilities (marinas, fuel, anchoring spots) you use in your trips east?

I haven't done it since Katrina, and I am not sure what is still there or what is new.

What worked for you?

Thanks

[southsail]

Hey All,

Also new to the forum and from New Orleans. We are also planning a trip to Pensacola this December and would like some info on facilites & marina.

Thanks,
Brad

[Hud3]

Welcome, southsail.

Think about posting something about yourself and your sailing interests in the "Meets and Greets" forum.

p.s nice boat!

[mario f]

Nice N Easy .... Welcome !!
We are next door to you in the sound, hope to see ya out there.

Jlogan - this site has lots of good and current info asfar as local knowledge, anchorages and marinas.

ActiveCaptain

[pjop]

Hey there N&E, welcome to a great forum. I used to sail a good deal out of Pass Christian, MS. I was wondering if you've been by Smugglers Cove on the South side of Cat Island since Katrina.

[pjop]

Hey Jlogan & Southsail. I sail a good bit from Mobile to Pensacola and made the jump to Panama City last spring. There's a great gunk hole on the west side of the entrance to P'cola Bay; McRae Island, locals call it Sand Island due to the gigantic sand dune from dredging the ship channel. A great marina at a fair price per foot is Bear Point Marina, just west of Perdido Pass in Alabama. Be wary of heading outside at Perdido Pass. Last time I tried it they were dredging so there were two big work boats, one heading in and the other out and as luck would have it we all met there under the bridge. There are two channels on the inside. Note that the channel under the bridge does not run North/South. Also, there were quite a few charter fishing boats zooming in and out. Might as well just cruise on down to P'Cola to jump to the outside. If you go further East be wary of the shifting bars on the outside at Destin, bridge height is also kind of low at Destin, 50 ft, if my memory serves me. I hope this helps. Feel free to message me if you would like.

[Nice N Easy]

Hi all,
Glad to see several posts from members close by. Planning on heading out Tuesday morning, heading for the Dry Tortugas. Plans are to take it pretty slow, watch the weather real close. Stay inside to Pensacola, then jump over to Port St. Joe. Then Ft. Meyers, and from there direct to the Tortugas. Will be sailing a Seidelmann 37, name Candida. Blue hull. Anyone see us give a shout on 16. jlogan, not a lot has changed over that way since Katrina. I hear that Smugglers Cove is silted in too shallow for most sailboats. Haven't tried it so far. Ship Island, west of the excursion boat dock, from what I heard has been dredged down to solid shale. Last time I was over there, could not get the anchor to even think about holding. West of the dock, a couple hundred yards holding seems to be fine. Horn and Peti Bois are about the same. I heard that the Gulfport Yacht Club has now re-opened. Sometimes I spend a night at Point Cadet Marina, which is officially closed, but the harbormaster is a pretty good guy, and you can sorta slide in and tie up for a night. It's free, if you get away with it, but no fuel, elect. or water. Only time I go in there is if the weather is really snotty, or I want to eat at the Isle of Capri buffet. For 11 bucks it's a bargain, especially if you been eating boat food for a few days. Lulu's is of course open, and they have fuel and nice slips. Bear Point is also a fuel stop, and a very reasonably price if you want to spend the night. Usually I anchor out at either Wolf Bay, or Ingrams Bayou. Wolf Bay is quite a bit more exposed, but lots less boats. Weekends Ingrams is usually just about full.
In Pensacola, if I anchor, usually stay in Big Lagoon. If in a marina, I always go to Palafox. Several fuel stops in Pensacola. Everyone be safe out there, and if you see me be sure and give a shout.

[stevensc]

A few stops between New Orleans and Pensacola
Rabbit Island - anchorage just off Rigolets
Pass Christian Municipal Harbor
Point Cadet Marina Biloxi
Lulus or the Wharf Near Orange beach
Ingram Bayou - very nice anchorage
Bear Point Marina
Fort Mcrea - Between the spoil Island and the Fort enter from the West only
I have been in to these since Katrina in my trawler, 4 foot draft, check. Please check the depths, low winter tides or north winds will affect them.
Good luck
Steve