Cruising Guides to the Texas Coast
The Boater’s Directory, 11th edition, American Gulf Publishing, is “the Texas Gulf Coast’s complete information guide for both the fresh and saltwater boater.” This not only lists all the water-oriented businesses in coastal area, it provides reduced maps “borrowed” from the coastal chart series of the Corps of Engineers.
Coastal Cruising Texas and Louisiana ’97-’98, 2nd edition, Bernt Womack and Tony Smith (self-published, available sporadically in boat stores in the Galveston and Corpus Christi vicinities). Chatty descriptions of the coast and its charms presented as a slow cruise down the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway stopping in every marina and bait house. It must have taken years to accumulate all this useful trivia.
Campbell’s Guide to Cruising Texas, 2nd edition, Ed and Cindi Campbell (self-published but available through electronic book stores). Dull as drying paint, but filled with accurate information.
Telltales: Yachting Texas Style, a monthly sailing magazine published by Michael and Kay DuBois, written by local Texas sailors as they report trips both on this coast and abroad. Circulation is 12,000 in 38 states. Handy to have a copy, since in addition to sailing stories the DuBois’s have regular features on weather conditions, tide tables, and changing configurations of the coastal geomorphology.
Galveston Bay Charter Companies: Monohulls
Clear Lake Charter Boats, (409) 740-2628
Gateway Charters & Sailing School, (281) 334-4606
Houston Sailing Association, (281) 334-1856
Sacket’s Sailing Center, (281) 334-3080
Windward Sea Venture, (281) 334-5295
Galveston Bay: Multihulls
Big Cat Catamaran Cruises, (281) 615-3465
Reality Check Sailing Services, (281) 748-2628
Corpus Christi Bay: Monohulls
Captained & Bareboat Charters, (361) 881-8503
Corpus Christi Bay (actually Aransas Pass): Multihulls
Handsome Sailor Yacht Charters, (361) 758-1377
handsomesailor.com
