JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT CRUISE!

The MYC Cruising Committee develops and executes programs and activities for Mobile Yacht Club members that educate and benefit our cruising community.  Those activities may include cruises, sailboat races geared toward cruisers, training classes, educational seminars, courtesy vessel inspections, banquets, parties and social events.

MYC Cruisers are fortunate to have so many different environments in which to experience the joys of cruising; blue water, ICW, bays, sounds, and rivers. Within easy reach from MYC are no less than five U.S. and Civil War era forts to explore, numerous opportunities to drop the hook and go to the beach, and a wide array of marinas, harbors and anchorages.  Yacht cruising is not the preserve of the rich and famous, anyone can experience its unparalleled feelings of freedom and natural wonder but be prepared – it can easily take over your life.

To join MYC Cruisers, an application form should be completed. Membership is not required to participate in the cruising activities, but the MYCC Committee maintains communication with the cruising members regarding upcoming events and completing the application provides us with the information we need to contact members and plan cruising activities. Those participating in MYC cruising events should also refer to the Standing Cruising Instructions.

To see a calendar of cruising events, click here. For more information about MYCC, contact the MYC General Manager at (251) 471-3131 or manager@mobileyachtclub.org.

To assist MYCC members in planning and preparation for cruising, the following documents are available in printable PDF format. Please click on the document name to view the document:

• MYCC Application Form

• MYCC Standing Instructions

• Calendar of Events

• Cruising Checklist

• Guidelines for Guests on Boats

• Your First Week-Long Cruise

• MYCC Chairperson Duties

• MYCC MSD Inspection Program

• MYCC Rafting Protocol

• MYCC Float Plan

Popular destinations for overnight and extended cruising from MYC include:

• Surrounding GYA affiliate yacht clubs

• Gaillard Island

• The Mobile River delta

• The Grand Hotel

• Dauphin Island

• Sand Island

• Mississippi Sound cities of Biloxi, Gulfport, Bay St. Louis & Long Beach

• Mississippi barrier islands including Petit Bois, Horn, Ship and Cat

• Louisiana destinations including the Chandeleur Islands, New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain

• Alabama inland waters of Ingram's Bayou, Pirates Cove, and Orange Beach

• Pensacola area waters including Redfish Point and Pensacola Bay

• Florida panhandle cities of Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City

GYA Affiliate Member Yacht Clubs

As a MYC Cruiser, you can use your GYA-affiliate yacht club reciprocity to berth in GYA yacht club harbors to get in a little "landlubber" time. The following GYA member clubs offer reciprocity to Mobile Yacht Club members. For more information, please visit www.gya.org or the GYA member yacht club’s website.

*Charter member yacht clubs of the Southern Gulf Coast Yachting Association organized in 1901 and reorganized in 1920 under the Gulf Yachting Association. ** Charter member clubs of Gulf Yachting Association. *** Both.

Nautical Charts

Even with the extensive "local knowledge" that many MYC members possess, no prudent skipper would leave the dock for anything more than a day sail without up-to-date paper nautical charts to cover anticipated cruising grounds. GPS chart plotters have certainly made navigation easier but they are not a replacement for paper charts and should not be relied on as your source of navigational information! Not only are electronic charts not entirely accurate, as a result of the methodology used to produce them and the fact that we boat owners don't buy a new chart chip every year, but equipment failures can and will happen. Always keep current paper charts on board your vessel. The coastal charts you'll need will depend on where you plan to cruise. As with electronic charts, be aware that paper charts are only as accurate as the last Notice to Mariners update that you appended to your chart.

Cruising Guides

Some sailors like to play Columbus and go off cruising as if they will be the first people to set foot on newly discovered territory. They claim they want to avoid structure and shun the use of cruising guides. Others are eager to learn everything they can about the areas they plan to visit. There are numerous cruising guides for those who care to use them. A good cruising guide is an invaluable resource for information about the cruising area, including safe harbors and anchorages, where you can obtain service, repairs, and medical assistance, and locating dockside amenities like restaurants, hotels and entertainment. But remember, cruising guides only supplement the government's marine charts. No guide can take the place of prudent seamanship, the NOAA charts, the U.S. Coast Pilot, or other aids. For our immediate cruising area, selected cruising guides include:

• Cruising Guide to the Northern Gulf Coast by Claiborne S. Young

• A Gunkholer's Cruising Guide to Florida's West Coast by Tom Lenfestey

• Exploring Coastal Mississippi by Scott B. Williams

• Waterway Guide (Southern edition) www.waterwayguide.com 

Navigational publications may be desired, depending on your destination, include the following:

• Pilot Charts: Used for blue water navigation, these charts Illustrate the typical direction and strength of surface currents, average wind strength and direction, main shipping lanes, number of days fog can be expected, typical hurricane paths, mean water temperature and a variety of other pertinent data depending on the area covered.

• Sailing Directions or Pilots: This is a government publication issued in loose-leaf form to assist large ships. They contain more information than most of us will ever need but can be handy to have on board. For example if you are lacking a detailed chart for a coast area or a major harbor entrance, you can almost draw a chart based on the information in the pilot.

• Light Lists: Publications by the U.S. government for various regions of the world, they indicate all the navigational lights for each country in the regions covered. The list gives light characteristics, its exact latitude and longitude, its height and elevation, and a brief description of the light itself. For the coasts of the U.S. and its possessions, there is a multiple-volume set of Light Lists prepared by the U.S. Coast Guard.

• Tide & Current Publications: The U.S. government publishes tidal current tables for the U.S. coasts. Depending on where you are sailing, knowing the time, strength and direction of tidal currents may be critical to cruising safety and convenience. Most GPS units now incorporate tidal information, but the prudent mariner should not rely solely on electronics for information.

Yachting publications and books directed at those who own boats, are fascinated by them or are addicted to spending money on them are too numerous to name. Suggested reading for those interested in expanding their general knowledge include the following (* highly recommended):

• Nigel Calder's Cruising Handbook by Nigel Calder *

• Handbook of Offshore Cruising by Jim Howard *

• Why Didn't I Think of That by John & Susan Roberts

• Offshore Sailing by Bill Seifert

• Practical Seamanship Illustrated by Das and Schwarzlose

• The Annapolis Book of Seamanship by John Rousmaniere

• The Sailing Lifestyle by John Rousmaniere

• Boat Maintenance - The Essential Guide by William M. Burr, Jr. *

• Shipshape - The Art of Sailboat Maintenance by Ferenc Mate'

• Chapman Piloting by Elbert S. Maloney *

• Marine Navigation by Richard R. Hobbs

• Marine Diesel Engines by Jean-Luc Pallas

• Storm Sailing by Gary Jobson

• How to Cope with Storms by Dietrich von Haeften

• The Sea Survival Manual by Frances & Michael Howorth

• Dr. Cohen's Healthy Sailor Book by Michael Martin Cohen

Reference manuals & documents that a cruising yacht should have on board will depend on the type of cruising you do, what your interests are, how well you know your boat, how mechanically inclined you are and how far from assistance you may venture. Suggestions include:

• Vessel's registration or documentation papers *

• Medical reference manual *

• Emergency contact information *

• Cookbooks

• Travel guide for cruising locale

• Fishing regulations & identification

• Engine maintenance & repair manual

• General maintenance & repair manual

• Your boat-specific maintenance & repair manual

* Should always have onboard

Rafting-Up

A sociable way to spend an evening is to tie one or more boats alongside each other in a raft. The largest boat drops and securely digs in her heaviest anchor at greater scope than she would use if anchoring alone. Then other boats tie-up alongside using fenders and bow, stern and spring lines just as they would when docking. The main danger from rafting-up is that the masts and spreaders may tangle when the boats roll; alert adjustments to the spring lines should keep the rigging well separated. Another problem is dragging, in which case the raft should be broken up immediately. Caution suggests that rafts should not be left unattended and that they be broken up before anyone goes to bed.

Scope & Anchor Line Angle

If there is any point about anchoring that consistently gets the novice in trouble, it is the failure to lay out adequate scope. Scope is the amount of anchor line relative to the water depth. Scope largely determines the approach angle of the anchor line to the anchor, which in turn controls the orientation of the shank and fluke angle. The conventional amount of scope for a working anchor is 10:1 for an all-rope rode, 7:0 for a combined rope and chain, and 4:1 for all-chain. The careless sailor may think of scope only in terms of what is shown on the depth sounder, but on most boats the depth sounder is two feet or more below the waterline and the deck may be four or more feet above the waterline. Always allow for this differential, and remember, when in doubt, more scope is always better.

Tenders for Cruising

The importance of a proper tender comes as a great surprise to some sailors when they begin cruising. For years they have been used to staying in a marina or harbor where they could tie up to a pier. But once out on a cruising circuit they discover that in-port time is usually anchor time. Marinas can be few and far between in many of the best cruising areas, and those that do exist may be costly.

At anchor is a cleaner and quieter setting, and a way to enjoy the natural surroundings. For cruisers, this is one of the most pleasurable aspects of the trip. It is truly a way to get away from it all; leaving any worries or stress you may have on shore and enjoying nature. Although there is always a chance the weather may become inclement, when the weather does cooperate and the anchorage is calm and protected, a "peaceful easy feeling" sets in. There will be a pleasant breeze blowing most of the time, and the mosquitoes, gnats and cockroaches are greatly reduced. You have more privacy because anyone coming to visit must have a boat or make arrangements with you beforehand. But anchoring does necessitate a reliable dinghy to shuttle the crew back and forth and to carry groceries, fuel and water to the boat.

There are two principal choices for a dinghy - an inflatable or a rigid boat.

Inflatables vary greatly in quality. Usually, but not always the quality is reflected in the price. As with most yacht equipment, advice from experienced cruising sailors who use their inflatable constantly is worth considering. While almost all new inflatables come with a foot pump, an inexpensive 12V DC air pump is a highly recommended addition to the ship's equipment list.

Rigid tenders come in a tremendous array of sizes, shapes, and construction materials, and quality is likewise variable. For the cruiser the most important consideration is the dinghy's strength and ease of rowing. Even if you plan on using an outboard motor or sails, the first consideration is how well it handles with oars. Another important consideration is the amount of freeboard to keep you, your crew, and your supplies from getting soaked when maneuvering in choppy water or waves.

Trash & Garbage

Trash and garbage should be brought back to the dock and disposed of properly. A lot of potential trash can be eliminated by how your provision your boat. For example, you can make the effort not to buy things that are over-packaged. Repackage products in reusable containers, prepackage meals in appropriate portions and make an effort to right-size everything before you take it to the boat. A little effort beforehand can greatly reduce your onboard trash and help you be an environmentally friendly cruiser.

Short Checklist for Packing

As a guide, here's a suggested list of clothing and accessories to carry aboard for four days of cruising in an area where the days are hot and windy, the nights are cool, the seas may be rough, and the air may be damp. Click here to see a complete Cruising Checklist.

√ 2 pair of cotton socks

√ 2 pair of wool socks

√ 1 pair of polypropylene or silk socklets

√ 3 pair of underwear

√ 1 pair of polypropylene long underwear

√ 2 pair of short pants

√ 2 pair of jeans or long pants

√ 3 T-shirts

√ 2 long-sleeved shirts

√ 1 pile jacket

√ 1 light wool or cotton sweater

√ 1 heavy wool sweater

√ 1 wool watch cap

√ 1 swimsuit & cover-up

√ 1 pair deck shoes

√ 1 pair sunglasses & sun hat

√ 1 floating croakie for sunglasses

√ 1 toilet kit & prescription medications

√ 1 towel

√ 1 set reading material

√ 1 eyeshades for sleeping in daylight

√ 1 rigging knife

√ 1 set foul weather gear

√ 1 wallet with $100 cash

√ 1 flashlight with spare battery

√ 1 garbage bag for dirty clothes

What Clothes Do You Need?

The first answer to this question always is, "More than you think". But exactly what kind of more you take along depends on the weather (which you can only guess at) and your own physical capabilities (which you probably know pretty well). So as you sit in your bedroom contemplating the open seabag lying there ready to be filled, ask yourself the following questions.

√ "How wet will I get?" Always assuming that there will be spray, carry along a windbreaker, a water-repellant jacket, or, better yet, take waterproof foul weather pants, sea boots, jacket and a full set of back-up dry clothing.

√ "How cold will I get?" Remember that the water temperature is always lower than the air temperature. Remember, too, the wind chill factor. Try to anticipate those fluctuations.

√ "How much sun will there be?" No matter how warm the air temperature is, if there's a good chance of burning - especially hazy - sunlight, take at least one long cotton shirt, such as an old dress shirt, and a pair of long pants. Also pack some sort of head protection, such as a sun hat or baseball cap.

√ "How long will I be out there?" Add up the numbers of days and nights and take a pair of socks and a pair of underwear for each day, plus one dry-weather outfit (depending on the temperature, shorts and T-shirt or long pants and long-sleeved shirt) for every two days. Be conservative; fill every nook and cranny in your sea bag. From The Sailing Lifestyle by John Rousmaniere

Seasickness

It is a physiological fact that everyone (if you are human) is prone to seasickness. Some of us just haven't had the pleasure of experiencing it yet! For those who have and don't wish to again, or new to the water and not excited about the possibility, it is prudent to come prepared with a product designed to prevent the malady or at least alleviate your discomfort.

Safety at Sea

The rules here are "no loose gear" and "a place for everything". This does not mean that the boat needs to be in a constant state of emergency readiness. It does means that every piece of gear should have a designated storage place that will keep it from being broken or becoming a hazard in rough seas, and of course, constantly sliding to leeward. It also encourages the crew to put things away.

VHF Radio

Another "must have" for obvious reasons. Don’t even think about cruising without a reliable VHF radio (or two). Some 12V models will accept a remote microphone/speaker that can be mounted in the cockpit; a real plus. And having a handheld has advantages too numerous to name. Of course, your VHF radio, like everything else exposed to the marine environment, must be tested often to insure that it is functioning properly, and both receives and transmits properly.

Binoculars

A good pair of binoculars should be on your short list of "must haves" if you plan to do much cruising. They will go a long way toward reducing your apprehensive, and will absolutely keep you safer. They come in handy locating navigational aids, discerning which marker you are looking at, verifying which way a vessel is headed, locating obstructions, spotting shallows, and so on. In short, get a pair. Your life will change!

Jacklines

All boats heading offshore should install jacklines (safety lines or jack stays) to add to crew safety when moving on side and foredecks. Jacklines should run from the cockpit to the foredeck on each side of the boat, and be securely attached on both ends. By hooking your safety harness to the jackline you are always attached to the boat.

Standing Watches

Maintaining a proper watch is a duty, a responsibility, and a necessity. It is a well known rule that "vessels will maintain a proper watch at all times". Watch-standers must have a clear view of the horizon from the cockpit and a comfortable, reasonably dry place to sit. A dedicated watch is required near land, when a ship is nearby and whenever sailing in or near shipping lanes.

Radar Reflector

A radar reflector is far from infallible, but it provides one more layer of safety. Most models are so inexpensive and easy to rig that there is no reason to cruise without one. The radar return echo from a fiberglass sailboat is minimal and though a radar reflector only improves that slightly, it is better than nothing. In rough seas a small boat's reflector return will probably be lost in the sea clutter. In fog, however, when the bridge watch of a commercial vessel should be paying close attention to the radar screen, it may be of significant value. At anchor, and in congested shipping lanes or harbors, it is a piece of mind that few cruising sailors should go without.

Waterproofing

Some boats are wetter than others, but all boats risk the possibility of water damage to supplies, clothing and equipment from time to time through deck leaks, condensation, or water coming aboard unexpectedly. Regardless of how dry you think your boat is, you may change your mind after beating to weather for several days. Put everything you can in waterproof or at least water-resistant containers whenever possible. Zip-lock bags and Tupperware-type containers with snap tops come in handy. Zip-loc bags can also reduce storage space when packing clothing by flattening and released all the air inside.

Photography

Don't forget to bring along your camera to capture the moment. We encourage all MYCC members to send us your pictures for posting on this site, and to add to our MYC history collection. Please send your pictures and story to manager@mobileyachtclub.org.

Hurricane Boat Preparation

Two excellent websites that provide a good deal of practical information to help you prepare your boat are www.southwindsmagazine.com/hurricane  and www.boatus.com/hurricanes. Theses sites contain real-experience articles, links to related websites, and just about everything you need to know to properly plan and execute hurricane preparation and evacuation, if necessary. All boaters are encouraged to have a plan in place, a stand-by crew committed to the assisting you, a "hurricane hole" pre-selected, and make necessary equipment and supplies purchases well in advance of need. Failure to plan early and take decisive action often results in unnecessary damage to your vessel, to other vessels around you and to MYC facilities. If you are a MYC member with a boat in our harbor, you are obligated by the terms of your slip rental agreement to take action to protect other members' boats and our facilities from damage that may occur if your vessel is not properly secured or removed from the harbor during a storm.

Websites of Interest for Area Cruising Destinations

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Ship Island, Fort Massachutsetts http://www.nps.gov/archive/guis/extended/MIS/MHistory/Forts.htm 

Gulf Island National Seashore, Petit Boise Island, MS http://www.dmr.state.ms.us/Coastal-Ecology/GEMS/Petit-Bois.htm 

Gulf Island National Seashore, Horn Island, MS http://www.cclockwood.com/stockimages/mississippi_hornisland.htm 

Sand Island Lighthouse, AL http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=649 

Fort McRee, Pensacola, FL http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortmcree.html 

Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island, AL http://www.dauphinisland.org/fort.htm 

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