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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

35 miles offshore ??

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jdk9185
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/20/2006 : 08:31:03

I am from central Texas and do quite a lot of lake sailing. I would like to make a 35 mile offshore trip from Port Mansfield to Port Isabel along the Texas coast. I have been offshore many times on small sail and motorboats, but just for daysails. I have a 1987 tall rig with a wing keel. I read that the 25s are "coastal".Does that mean they are OK for "offshore"?I estimate the sail time for this trip about 9 to 12 hours. What I would like to know is if anyone thinks this is to much of a trip for a 25. My plan is to depart at daylight and arrive before dark. I am planning the trip for this summer in good coditions only. Thank you for any input.

John

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2006 : 09:40:10

John,

I've sailed my 1979 C-25 swing keel from Port Canaveral across the Gulf Stream to the Abaco islands in the Bahamas, so no I don't think a 35 mile gulf coast hop is beyond the design's capabilities. Other C-25 owners have done short ocean trips without problems as well. In my opinion, the largest factors in the safety and advisability of such a trip are: skills, experience, preparation, weather, that sort of thing. An appropriately outfitted C-25 in good condition, in the hands of a competent skipper, in fair weather, should have no problem.

Enjoy the trip!

-- Leon Sisson

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2006 : 09:42:47

John,
I know the C25 is capable. I make trips to Catalina Island ranging from 48 to 60 miles one way each year. Usually average about 5 knots. If I can't maintain 5 knots I motor. Three things to consider:
1. Your sailing experience
2. Weather
3. Seaworthiness of the boat
Any chance you could sail up the waterway between Padre Island and the mainland? Might make for a less sressful experience. But if you feel confident that all three considerations are met I would take the trip. Nothing gets your blood flowing more than a port-to-port trip on your C25. Maybe someone here has some local knowledge they can share as well.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5904 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2006 : 10:13:29

John, I agree with the others. Check your weather carefully. Get charts for the area and keep track of your position all along the way. Take along enough fuel to motor the whole way, if necessary. Also, I suggest you get at least an inexpensive GPS and plenty of batteries. It will not only help you establish your position along the way, but, if you don't arrive until after dark, it'll help you find your way through the pass. Program important waypoints or routes into it before you leave. Plan on starting your motor before it becomes questionable whether you'll arrive before dusk. Take along a million candlepower spotlight to help you find marks on the way in at night. A flashlight or lantern isn't powerful enough.

If you have good weather and get in before dark, it should be a piece of cake.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2006 : 11:27:55

John,

From the sounds of it, your 35 mile trip will be parallel to the Texas coast which is more "coastal" in nature than offshore so I don't think you should be overly concerned. Before departing on your trip, locate harbors of refuge between your departure point and destination just in case some weather pops up or you need to make a quick repair. Don't forget to plug in their lat/long's into the GPS in case of darkness, fog, storms,..etc.

Have fun!

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2006 : 11:46:24

Wait until spring break and do it with a female crew!

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At Ease
Admiral

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672 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2006 : 12:43:11

As noted above...weather is the key.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2006 : 13:54:01

Check out my 600 mile, 3 week, 50 mile offshore, solo adventure San Diego to Santa Rosa Island. Planning and fanatical attention to weather forecasts is required.

http://www.indiscipline.org/cat25/indyIII.html

Click on Vacation 2004 San Diego to Santa Barbara Island, Vacation 2005 San Diego to Santa Rosa Island, and some of the races like Crew of Two around Catalina to see what the boat is capable (and not capable) of.

Go for it. Make sure you have plenty of anchors, chain, reefs and small jib, fuel, safety equipment, radios, prepare the boat and yourself.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2006 : 16:18:26

The term "offshore" with regard to sailing generally means "over the horizon" far enough that if even the forecast changes (much less the weather), you might not be able to get to shelter in time. The C-25 is not designed to be out in a big storm on the Gulf of Mexico, an ocean, or even a Great Lake. It can probably survive, but you'd certainly wish you were on something else (or were somewhere else).

If your trip is inside Padre, you're definitely "coastal cruising". Even if a storm pops up, you should have places to hide, and seas shouldn't be too huge. Outside would appear a bit different--I don't see inlets between your two ports, so you could be a little exposed. (Midway, you'll be 4-5 hours from anything but beach.)

Nine hours is a loooooong day at the helm--do you have crew, or a tiller-pilot?

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2006 : 18:27:32

File a [url="http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-opr/float%20plan.htm"]Float Plan [/url] with someone you trust. Make sure they know when your leaving and when you should arrive. Oh, and don't forget to contact your trusted friend when you do arrive. The Coasties hate looking for boats that are tied up in port.

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jdk9185
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2006 : 19:30:34

Thank you all so much for you advice. I’m very glad to hear from fellow C25 owners that my plan for a “coastal” trip is not too foolish. I do have a GPS that I have entered waypoints for the entrance of both Port Mansfield and Port Isabel. I do not own an auto helm but I will have a very experienced crew member that will help with those duties. My crew is a good friend that sails a C22 very often and is probably a more competent skipper than myself. As far as my experience is concerned, frankly I am not sure. The winds in West Texas are very often brutal and unpredictable. I am very used to reefing and reducing head sails. The route in the ICW is an option but a very boring one. The ICW in this part of Texas is extremely remote with little to enjoy. As I said, I have been “off shore” many times in small boats, and have been scared out of my wits a few of those times. Weather will be the most deciding factor between taking the ICW route or the gulf. The vessel is very sea worthy with no leaks or rain water evident in the bilge. I plan to carry plenty of fuel and the normal safety equipment. I will not attempt a bad weather voyage since this is supposed to be a vacation. My hope is that I will be able to maintain VHF contact with the coast guard in Port Isabel or Port Aransas at any one given time. It is likely, as in many parts of Texas, that cell phone use will be sporadic at best. You as a group have kept the hopes of my first “coastal” trip alive.

Thank you again
John

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brian
Deckhand

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USA
23 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2006 : 03:20:45

John,

Sounds like a fun trip. I live near Austin. What lake do you sail on mostly? I been thinking of making a coastal trip in the next year or two.. Let me know how it goes.

Brian

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jdk9185
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2006 : 07:21:37

Brian,

I sail most of the time on lake Brownwood. I own some property there and have a dock that I keep my C25 at most of the time. The lake has two Islands and a very nice state park where I launch. I used to own a C22 that i sailed often on lake Fort Phantom. We actually have a very active sailing asso at Phantom with about 80 members.(funny for West Texas) We have ramps and docks with a clubhouse, restrooms and showers.It is a sail only club. The club is really set up well for sailboats to launch and retrieve. There are about 45 boats that stay parked on the property with mast up. We welcome any sailboats as guest.The water is low at this point at Phantom but last weekend one C25 and 3 C22 did launch. The lake is not much to look at but the wind is just about always there. We have a very good wind surfing facility also. As far as your first trip to the coast you might look at Port Aransas. If you look at a chart of this area you will see that you can stay in protected waters and make port at Corpus Christy, Rock Port, Aransas Pass, and go out in the gulf on nice days. I good day sail is to depart from Port Aransas and cross the Corpus Bay to Kennedy Bridge. There you will find Snoopy's , which has good food and drink. I like to troll a rod in the summers offshore from Port Aransas for kingfish. They are great on the grill and put up a exciting fight.
Good Luck
John

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3321 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2006 : 16:04:50

John, is the "hurricane hole" still undeveloped? That's a great place to overnight and grill up. If memory serves the entrance is at marker 55 about a mile past Snoopy's.

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jdk9185
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2006 : 20:35:00

Derek, I’m not sure what the “hurricane hole “is. I don’t have enough local knowledge. I do know if you go past Snoopy’s to the south there is a big subdivision. Part of the subdivision is still undeveloped with homes but the canals are there. I have never been up in those canals. Is this what you are referring to? I would think it might be a great place to anchor. If I remember correctly there is not much past that. I once sailed an O’day- day sailor about 30 miles up the ICW past Snoopy’s . I hit what the locals call “the land cut” and turned around. There was no room to tack and I had no motor. This was in the King Ranch Area.
John

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2006 : 21:02:58

If I can find capable crew, Swimmer is going to PEI next August. It's a little more than 35 miles off the coast and a Capri isn't quite as stout as a C25.

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