Texas Centerboard Circuit 2015

[ortegakid]

Agree with ya Larry, canyon is really nice place and great club. And my up north is north of DFW, we are in Whitesboro, horse ranch country. Long story short, came for visit to my wife's parents in 2005 in june, fell in love with Texas and it's people, so incredibly friendly. Housing market in stupid cali went to the sky, sold our 1100sqft house for ridiculous money, bought 7 acres and the rest is history. Funny thing is, forgot all about sailing for years, decided to get back into it with FD, six boats later found my love and AC's, will be sailing them till I can't. My local lake is 80,000 acres so plenty of fun, hell, they build Valiant yachts there! Only prob is no real dinghy activity so I travel south to the events. You bring that big kite out, probably clean up on our circuit. (I sailed a kite as a kid in marina del rey, before we moved to SD)

 

[RedTuna]

It is usually prettier greener up there. Probably more consistently higher winds up your direction, too.

Vtfb, if you make it to San Antonio to look around, let me know. Our Mexican food and fish tacos are quite a bit different than what you're likely used to.

So, back on topic, Lindy. What are you thinking about for Corpus? CC Bay? Bird Island?

 

[DTA]

It is usually prettier greener up there. Probably more consistently higher winds up your direction, too.

Vtfb, if you make it to San Antonio to look around, let me know. Our Mexican food and fish tacos are quite a bit different than what you're likely used to.

So, back on topic, Lindy. What are you thinking about for Corpus? CC Bay? Bird Island?

Maybe even off the beach out on the Gulf of Mex if winds aren't too crazy?

 

[ortegakid]

Sounds awesome DTA!

 

[duwke]

I'm stoked for Corpus. It's a hike, but I'm in.

 

[ortegakid]

Me too!

 

[RedTuna]

Oh, bother, I haven't launched a boat through the surf since I had a Hobie decades ago. But yeah, I'm game, I suppose. How would marks be set up off the beach? A capsized AC would drift too fast, but could make for an interesting pursuit.

Any dinghy racing in CC Bay? Didn't see much nosing around the CCYC and BYC calendars. A 420 regatta was about it.

I'd prefer the Laguna off Bird Island, as there are already channel marks in place. And pretty flat water.

 

[lindy 911]

We're working on a site for Corpus, nothing even near final yet. But it's on the top of the list to get done. I'd like to have it out of one of the clubs there; we'll see.

 

[drew584]

You guys every consider getting together with the catamaran guys around Texas to maximize turnout and Share race committee etc? I know when I lived in Australia they always had dinghies and cats racing at the same events.

 

[ortegakid]

Dats a good idea! Lake Lewisville has a bunch of cat guys, maybe check it out.

 

[View from the back]

It is usually prettier greener up there. Probably more consistently higher winds up your direction, too.

Vtfb, if you make it to San Antonio to look around, let me know. Our Mexican food and fish tacos are quite a bit different than what you're likely used to.

So, back on topic, Lindy. What are you thinking about for Corpus? CC Bay? Bird Island?

Ok, View from the Back here. We are flying into San Antonio on January 7th. Plan is to tour Austin on Friday, stop of at AYC of course, check out Waco, and then head north to the McKinney area north of Dallas that evening. Check out McKinney/North Dallas area Saturday, head back to Aunt's place in San Antonio Saturday night, tough San Antonio Sunday, fly home that evening. Any input as to areas of Austin that are in the $300k range? And finally, in reality vs. chatter, how active is the Texas Centerboard fleet in the Austin/San Antonio area? I've gone to the AYC website, and it seems like its fairly sparse, that its more PHRF keel boat racing than anything else, which doesn't make my Finn feel that loved.

Anyway, this is becoming reality, so I'd be grateful for any advise, areas to check out, etc., mainly in the Austin area which seems to interest us the move, in areas ranging from San Marcos to the South, to Pflugerville to the north.

 

[ortegakid]

Ok Kleinman, sell deez fine folks a home so's he can bring that old Finn out here and see what fun sailin is all about! Pfflugerville is very nice from what I've seen. And let me know if you want to get together near mckinn, we travel past there every eve. My cell is listed here, or FB me: ortegakid or Derek b McKesson.

 

[View from the back]

Ok Kleinman, sell deez fine folks a home so's he can bring that old Finn out here and see what fun sailin is all about! Pfflugerville is very nice from what I've seen. And let me know if you want to get together near mckinn, we travel past there every eve. My cell is listed here, or FB me: ortegakid or Derek b McKesson.

Where is your cell listed?

 

[ortegakid]

939-300-4392, call anytime to talk sailin , have an hour drive home every eve at 7 pm cst

949-400-4392

 

[ortegakid]

Stupid autocorrect

 

[Claire1000]

If you're really looking for centerboard action, I think our random group of misfits may be your best bet. Not sure any clubs are regularly having centerboard races except Houston. But it's fun traveling around with these yahoos once a month or so.

Conroe is mostly board boats and is a beautiful lake and club. Not on your list though but certainly a real pretty part of the state.

 

[lindy 911]

The great thing about the TCC is that you don't have to belong to a physical club to go race your boat. We travel the state and get to go to the best lakes Texas has to offer, which in my opinion, are as good as they get. You could live virtually anywhere as long as you're close to a sailable lake to practice / day sail on. Then you load the car once every three weeks or so and come test your skills with the rest of us. I don't know anyone who's tried TCC and didn't like it. If every three weeks is not enough of a race fix, grab a used laser and sail Wednesday nights at AYC. Seabrook (Houston) also sails Lasers every Saturday and is open to all. Plenty of racing to be had if your wheels can travel.

 

[ortegakid]

Sure he'll be replying shortly, but he's a perfect fit, sails out of long beach, they had 30 boats at his Nats, and he's sailed a swift solo!

 

[duwke]

Well, I guess I should represent 'Houston.' <Shudder>

I lived in Austin for 10 years. This was pre-board boat. We had an F-27, and a few other boats prior. I had sailed every inch of Lake Travis, and I was a little bored with it. So, we would spend our time trailering to other destinations. Corpus, LA, Kemah (I refuse to say I vacationed to Houston), and a few Texas lakes as well. After a few trips to Kemah, and a few Harvest Moon Regattas, we were really drawn to the coast. I have a job that doesn't need a physical presence, so we moved.

Now. The water is kinda gross to look at. It is what it is. We grow good oysters, but you ain't gonna get a tropical photo shoot on a beach. Secondly, Houston still sucks in just about every conceivable metric. But, if you don't have to live in it, it is nice to be around. You can uber in for the fun stuff - museums, professional sports, arts. And Galveston is just as close for me, and it has some of the best festivals in the country.

We found the sweet spot to be on Clear Lake. You live among the NASA heritage, so it feels more like Austin in terms of culture. The people are nicer though. I love me some Austin, but if they get a A for friendliness, Kemah gets an A+.

There is more sailing here than probably anywhere in the country. We sail every Wednesday (board boats too!) while Daylight Savings is not in effect. There is good board boats races on the weekends too. I found this lot to be more interesting, so I'll usually travel to them when they aren't coming here. Like big boats? GBCA is the coolest club I have been around, so much so that I am now on the board. With the other two big clubs around, there is a big boat race nearly every weekend. They ALWAYS need crew. What's more, if you like big boat offshore races, we are the only game in town. Last, if you really want blue water, for $100 in gas, you can take a power boat 70-100 miles to the flower mounds, and it is clear, beautiful water. A post card _is_easier, but it's there.

Ok.. last, last. It's cheap to live here. For under $300k, I had a nice little house on the water with two slips connected to Clear Lake. We recently moved and paid just a little more to be in a golf cart community with a community ramp also connected to Clear Lake. I park my little boat in the garage, roll it out for Wednesday nights.

I still refuse to admit that I live in Houston (If anyone asks - "I live in a little place near Galveston"), but I do really enjoy it here.

 

[Claire1000]

Man...unfortunately I agree with pretty much everything said above. I find Houston mind numbing, Kemah is boat paradise capital of the Texas, everything from lasers to mega boats people are always needing crew on, but aren't high strung and over competitive captains that are nuts, everyone is friendly as all get out, and really pretty cost effective housing wise. So if we wanted to arrange our lifestyle around the water, I am afraid we too would be Kemah residents.

Otherwise it'd probably be Canyon or Austin yacht clubs for prettier places to live with still some good sailing to be had and our types of folks. Pretty, laid back places but not as boat culture as Kemah. Austin Austin is a little too hipster for me these days, but the rednecks are still on the outskirts.

Dallas has some great clubs and lakes not as board boat friendly (from what I know, but those may always be help on opposite weekends than keelboats so maybe we just missed them)....but DCYC is full of fine folks, and Rush Creek is full of more fine folks with a little fancier boats. With the house savings over California, you could buy a Melges and fit right in to Rush Creek. Or their club IC thing was a sweet deal a few years ago, assume it's still going well. I'm just not a Dallas type girl though, but always do love visiting those clubs.