Can someone help me locate good places to beach launch without the aid of Catrax, or the locations of some decent ramps on the Mississippi coast? The water looks pretty thin in a lot of places. Where are the better places? Thanks.

Long Beach had a good ramp next to the Yacht club (gone I think). Used to sail a lot there (had a house just down the road, its gone too!

Over in Ocean Springs next to the bridge is the OSYC. Find tami here on the forum she'll give you the low down on the area (lives there). BTW check out Slip 2 Ship regatta memorial weekend... great fun. Sail out to Ship Island with a bunch of boats cool ride great party.

BTW, what do you sail?

Good luck,

Clayton

Just bought a Melges 17. It's a scow with a scary amount of sail. Carbon fiber mast with pre-bend and spreaders. Carbon 'sprit. Aluminum foils. Draft is 4' with the foils down. My crew and I need some practice before we attempt a Slip-To-Ship. Since we've only had it out once we would be a little ugly out there at this point. Buddy Melges and Reichel-Pugh did a good job on the deck layout but you have to know where to carefully and quickly step when the time comes to move. Keeping the boat behind the spin is like riding a runaway sled sometimes.

I thought some Mississippians would know where I could put in. Ponchartrain is a big mud puddle with the spillway open (or closed). I'd rather not go there.

I saw the 'sites of the clubs along the MS coast but they're too far away for me to join. We wouldn't be going over there that often. MS is closer for a weekend than Ft. Walton or P'cola.

I figured we could make a list of some launching spots and then make a check out trip one Saturday to MS.

Someone at work told me of a cat sailing beach on the Louisiana Gulf Coast and I would appreciate some local knowledge for that.

I'll also make a post on Sailing Anarchy (or is it Snailing Malarkey?)

Hey, Tami! Where y'at? Thanks.

You can launch a Melges from the beach? If you need to launch and sail, try comming over to Lake Charles Yacht Club. Lake is not the largest but plenty big enough. Good launch ramp at the club (for sailboats only) check Google earth. Of course the satellite pics are post storm so they are not accurate.

Or try this link:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/lake+charle...0:::::f:EN:M:/e

Good view.

Clayton

Ah, you have a scow. OSYC totally won't work for you. Besides, unless you belong to another YC you can't expect use privileges from any YC, anywhere.

Texas:
Pleasure Island/Sabine Lake area (south of Beaumont, Bridge City area.). Go over to www.tcdyc.com and ask who to contact for information

Louisiana:
--Cypremort Point State Park (near New Iberia)
--Grand Isle (I'll furnish you a contact if you're interested in going there.)
--Lake Arthur (Clayton... your camp house is there...?)
--Right there in Baton Rouge is False River, where the Hobies used to sail
--Lake Charles (as Clayton has mentioned.)

MS coast:
--Bay-Waveland Yacht Club (unless you belong to a YC, you can't expect to launch - reciprocal privileges, but you could ask.)
--Long Beach Yacht Club (there is a public ramp in its harbor)
--Your best choice is Biloxi: right next the new Schooner Docks is a rather nice public ramp, with some beach next to it. And it's very protected there in Casino Row. And I do believe they've just dredged off that beach there in the area, so it does drop on off.

Oh, I wasn't expecting to launch from a club without being a member. I wouldn't mind joining a club to help the coast.

A beach like the one at the start point for the around the island race at Bayside Park on Okaloosa Island would be perfect: asphalt parking lot, concrete ramps across a short beach into the water. I was hoping for something like that closer to Baton Rouge. Dream on, but I figured it never hurts to ask.

We drove up to False River one day last summer. Wow, was it crowded with stink boats. I took a quick look at the yacht club there.

We've passed the lake in Lake Charles a hundred times when we lived in Houston and noticed the cats on the shore by I-10. Nice beach. We always said we'd have to stop one day. I guess that day is coming pretty soon.

Tami and Clayton: Thanks A LOT for the suggestions. We'll take a look. Thanks to everyone else for the instrusion of a scow skipper here on the forum.

Hey, I might have an option for you....

I sail in Lake Des Allemands, she isn't the prettiest of lakes and not that deep but she is big enough and very few powerboats. If you are interested you are welcome to bring your boat over and give the lake a "test sail". Right now we have a Neptune 24, Hobie 18, Hobie 16 and will have my Hunter 23.5 their soon.

PM me for my phone number or email address.

Check out:
No wind on this day but we had a good party:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Scubajeep/Sept22006SailingDay?authkey=kEddODXhOE0

Another weekend:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Scubajeep/2006SpringRegatta?authkey=2MnEScKvJOc

The camp I use is here..
Google map of camp....

Later
Todd Hubbell
Thibodaux, LA

Thanks for the post and pics. Looks like a good time. I may be in touch.

If anyone ever needs an extra crew member I am looking for
experience. Just got a Hobie getaway but need to learn.
Took a few leason but just need to be on the water.
Live in Covington.
Thanks
Phil

How far are you from Morgan City, La?

Doug