Texas200.com is a non-profit
association whose mission statement is: To promote the design, building
and sailing of small boats and to provide sports and recreation
for those builders, designers and sailors by facilitating and developing
an annual cruise competition along the south Texas coast.
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.