Background:

For years now I have wanted to sail with a group along the wild and scenic texas coast. Back in 2002, Sandra and I sailed our Caprice with a couple of friends in their 14 foot gaff sloop. That trip is documented in an article in Duckworks. That trip was a kind of life changing experience. Later when I got involved with the Everglades Challenge, I thought there should be something like that on the Texas coast. I asked Steve Isaacs if he would do a Texas version but he declined. Then, after meeting him in Florida, I could see why – he had his hands full already.

So I talked to a bunch of my sailing buddies here in Texas and all were enthusiastic, but most I talked to thought something more like a Raid would be preferable to an all out every-man-for-himself race like the Everglades Challenge.

I thought about it long and hard. I wanted to sail with everyone else – I did not want to end up with everyone asking me what to do next. At some point it hit me: we needed an organization that was owned by the folks who sailed the course. Thus the Texas200 started to grow.

The Course

Since it is about 200 miles from the southern tip of Texas to Magnolia Beach the traditional site of the Duckworks annual Messabout, it seemed like a good, not to mention alliterative course. The first 120 miles is as wild as any place in the country. This partly exists because the famous eight hundred and twenty-five thousand acre King Ranch to the west and Padre Island National Seashore to the east keep development to a minimum. Our route takes us up a large body of water known as the Laguna Madre – the mother of all lagoons, if you will. After that we travel from one bay or estuary to another: Corpus Chirsti Bay, Aransas Bay, San Antonio Bay, Matagorda Bay – all behind the wonderful chain of barrier islands that protect the coast of Texas.

But don’t get the idea this is a Sunday picnic. There is the famous Texas heat, the ceaseless wind, the two hundred miles we have to travel – you will know you have done something when you finish.

Is it an adventure race or a raid?

It will be something of a combination of these two and an expedition. Some will be keeping score of times for each day’s run. Others will be along for the ride. There will be preset stopping points and all will be encouraged to stop with the group. We will begin at Port Mansfield on a Monday and pull up to Magnolia Beach near Port Lavaca on Friday evening just in time for the Messabout on Saturday. The stops will be approximately 40 miles apart. It is a long slog. It will be tough.

Who can enter?

I have thought about various “filters” or restrictions, such as only allowing sailboats or only home built boats, but in the end I can’t bring myself to eliminate anyone. This may change (more on that later) but for now, all are invited. There will be no entry fee. I think mostly sailboats will come – I plan to bring my Caprice – but powerboats are welcome. We do not know when some type of rescue will be needed. We also encourage paddle boats – kayaks, canoes, etc. There is no reason a larger boat cannot carry gear for a smaller boat. I hope a PDRacer will show up.

So what is the “Organization” part?

I do not wish to be the big kahuna of this deal. I want to have fun like everyone else. I tried for years to get someone else to get the ball rolling but it was not happening. So here is the deal: I have initiated texas200.com, a non-profit organization. From now until the end of the first cruise (the first week of June, 2008) I will be the big Kahuna. At the end of the thing, everyone who completes the entire course will assemble for a meeting. At that point those finishers will become members of the board of directors of Texas200.com. They will each serve a three year term. They will elect officers for the following year, and perhaps pass some bylaws. During the next 12 months, the board will discuss the format for the following year and vote on issues.

What’s left?

In the coming weeks and months, this website will grow and improve. There will be maps, photos and links. I encourage everyone with a small boat who ever wanted to sail this course to come back frequently to see what is happening.