Looks like a great trip, well done.

Although I live in the UK, I get to San Antonio with work quite often have thought about going to Corpus Christi for a break, it looks like the sailing is great, the Corpus Christi wiki says "The city has one of the highest average wind speeds in North America"

Is there anywhere you can rent a cat in that area?

Gareth

I am sure there is somewhere but I can't say for sure.

Gree:

Friend Kris just bought a 5.2. can you make in down for Wayward Winds Regatta Jun 2-3? It will be fun and you could get a LOT of pointer on boat.

Doug

I might be able to, how early do I have to sign up?

Whats worse than getting your timing down with the ferrys is the super tankers coming through that channel. They haul butt! We were playing around in that same shipping channel last Feb and came flying out past the jetty to get outta the way. We worked our way up past the ferrys when there was a tanker heading out. We had better than a mile head start, and probably less than a 1/4 mile by the time we made it back to open water. I couldn't believe how fast those things move. Somebody told me down there the faster they go the better control they have. I'm pretty sure we would have been the loosers in that collision.

You are not talking about the barges that go through there are you? You must be talking about real supertankers because we could pass those barges like they were standing still unless we got on the leeward side of them.

Gree:

You can register right up till race day. Check www.tcdyc.com later for NOR.

Doug

Doug,
I will probably try and come down for that. It all depends on if I can get my regular crew to come along, but if I can, I will be there.

Gree:

Kris went out with his new crew (girl friend Erin) on 5.2 in 15-18. They FLEW. Wind went to 20-22 with gust to 30. They guys wet out this time. They were screaming!! Hope you can come down.

Doug

The 5.2 is a hot boat in heavier wind and you can keep it upright as the wind builds easier than some other boats.

Nope, the big butt tankers. Did you sail out to any of the oil rigs. I never did get a real number as to how far out they were. Some people said 2 miles, others thought 20. I figured about 5-7 miles to the close ones. Being a lake sailor I felt mighty small being that far out on a little catamaran.

Yeah, there was a time when we couldn't see land. I felt pretty small. Also the weather report said there were some 7-8 foot waves. I know that there were times when between waves I couldn't see anything.

I think it takes about five miles to not be able to see land.

what is all the stuff you had packed with you? GPS, tents, etc? or what?

GPS, tent, sleeping bags, cloths, food and water. Everything that two guys need to survive for 4 days. We had dry bags that did wonderfully and also one large duffle bag that we kept other stuff in. The only things in the dry bags were electronics and cloths and sleeping bags. Everything else was in ziplocs or just got wet.

I have a full write up that is almost ready, I will add it to this post sometime soon.

I believe it's 9 to 11 miles out that you can no longer see any hint of land.

That was what I thought also, but we usually lost sight at around 5 or 6, but we were sitting down or out on the trap.

why go so far from shore and not stay closer?

In the immortal, infallible words of Rick White -

"Stick to the Beach"

Most of the time we did stick to the beach but there were alot times that we crossed bays and to stick to the shore would have been alot more miles and infavorable winds.

Also, we are lake sailors....it felt good to have water all around and know that we didn't have to tack for at least an hour!

You gotta venture out a little bit.