Port O’Connor – Clark’s Bait Shop to Sargent Beach
Departure: 28°26’26″N 96°24’30″W
Destination: 28°46’24.5″N 95°36’41.9″W
Distance 49nm
Port O’Connor to Sargent Beach.
After waking at the Inn at Clark’s and having breakfast on the boat, we cast off and doubled back the channel to load up on diesel. The two cylinder Volvo is efficient but, having left Port Isabel with three-quarter tank and now down to one-half, I wanted to fill up in case we need an extended run with the engine. After the fill up we headed to our next stop, Sargent Beach. Our jib once again took over as we entered Matagorda Bay and cleared the spoil islands that blocked the wind. With engine off and jib unfurled, we were smoothly pushed along, a relief from having the engine drone on.
In Matagorda Bay we were escorted by a pod bottled nose porpoises. Unfortunately the bay waters are so murky you could only see them when they surfaced for air. The pod left us when we entered a narrow stretch of the ICW that would lead us to our destination.
Mom & baby escort through Matagorga Bay
Barge traffic increased as we headed towards the large industrial complexes in Brazosport and Freeport. These vessels, of intimidating width and length, were steered with small but powerful tug-boats through rather narrow channels avoiding residential docks and industrial structures on the banks. Communication with the tug-boat captain was imperative to make sure that you did not get in their way. You do what they tell you to do. If they want you to pass Port/Port – you do that. If it’s Starboard/Starboard – you do that.
If you miscalculate and run aground avoiding a barge, you can get off and continue on your way. If you get in their way and they run you down, there’s no coming back. There is limited steerage in the ICW and no stopping a barge in motion. We stayed out of the way and close to the edge of the channel and left enough room to safely pass these lumbering giants.
Typical barge. Large, lumbering hulk of metal that will kill you if you get in it’s way.
We reached Sargent Beach in the early evening and tied up for the night at the rickety dock of an empty house just past the Corkscrew Bridge. Not good etiquette but it was the only place we could safely stop for the night. Had there been occupants at the house we would have certainly asked for permission.
The depth at the dock was just right for us to nudge in. Four foot and possibly inches. You could feel the keel kiss the mud with the movement from tide and wakes. I slept lightly that night as the barges lit us up with their searchlights as they felt their way through the ICW. All night we would be rocked; pushed and pulled onto the dock as barges ambled through displacing tons of water in the narrow channel. The only thing that kept us from getting sucked into their path were the multiple dock lines tied to the tipsy pilings holding up the dock. It was not a restful night for me.
One of the large barges that passed that night. I ‘slept’ on deck with a flashlight.
Arrow marks the dock where we stopped for the night. Empty house and nowhere else to stop for the night so we became ‘squatters’ for the night. The dock was pretty beat up – something heavy must have crashed into it.