Downloadable Charts

At right are links to downloadable charts with route information prepared by John Alesch - These include USGS Quads, NOAA charts and Aerial photos all with routes and alternate routes in different colors overlaid. These are very large files so allow lots of time to download them.

Note: in the files and images below, position information is approximate and only presented here to give a general idea of the route - not to be used to establish waypoints.

Overview:

For a Google Earth file, click the icon at right. To enlarge the screenshot, click the image below it.

Day 1

This is the easiest day. There is only one route. If you leave early, you should be out of the bay before the chop gets too bad. Get ready to really fly in the land cut. Watch out for new wind turbines to the west. There is no set time to leave - we all meet at camp one Monday night.

Day 2

This is a pretty easy day until you have to turn and beat up to PIYC. If you get there early, you may find a place to tie up at the yacht club dock. Otherwise, anchor in the channel to the south.

Day 3

Today we have a lot of choices. The first section (dark green) is in the ICW channel and you have no choices. You do have the option to stop at Marker 37 for ice or a few other items in their store if you need that.

From there the ICW (light green) goes across Corpus Christi Bay, then past, Aransas Pass, Cove Harbor, and Rockport but then you have to turn into Aransas Bay and beat across the chop to Pauls Mott.

The best option (blue) is across Corpus Christi Bay (mostly deep but watch your chart), behind Shamrock Island, through the pass between Point of Mustang and Pelican islands into the CC Ship Channel

For the adventurous (red), take the Morris and Cummings Cut to Corpus Christi Bayou - but first you have to go under an 8 foot bridge. There may be some pretty shallow water here.

Day 4

There are two main routes and several combinations. The "back way" (yellow) is through the bays and passes but you may follow the ICW (dark green) all the way to the marked channel across Esprito Santo Bay to Army Hole. While longer, this second route is probably faster, but will involve bay chop in San Antonio Bay and Esprito Santo Bay. To take the back way, be ready for water as shallow as two feet and have good charts and preferably a charting GPS.

There are two options to join the "back way" without taking the whole thing. The first (light green) is a good one that bypasses most of the shallow water and difficult navigation. For this one, turn southeast at Red "50", just east of Rattlesnake island and head down the lee of the Second Chain of Islands to the lee of Matagorda island.

The other (pink) is not recommend as it takes you through a lot of potential bay chop to Steamboat Pass where you then sail in the lee of Matagorda Island for the rest of the trip. For keelboats, this may be a little better than going all the way to the Army Hole channel as there is deep water all the way.

Again, there are limited facilities at Army Hole so the first ones here will get the spaces.

Day 5

This is our shortest day and can be straightforward. The main route (green) takes you across Esprito Santo Bay to the ICW, turn right and then left after Port O'Connor when you get into Matagorda Bay. Then reach down to Magnolia Beach.

If you feel adventurous, have good charts and shallow draft, you may want to take Saluria Bayou (pink) to Matagorda Bay.

There will be a Shrimp Boil on the beach Friday afternoon and the traditional Duckworks Messabout on Saturday.