WEATHER
LTTS Weather Readings Here are the most current weather readings for Lake Travis.  The Lake Travis Test Station (LTTS) is operated by the Applied Research Labs of UTAustin and is located adjacent to Mansfield Dam.  The site includes a continuously updated photo of the lake.
NOAA National Weather Service If you are interested in national weather, here you go.   Also links to local weather station.  Latest weather conditions at Camp Mabry or Austin/Bergstrom International Airport including wind/temp/humidity data for each hour during previous 24-hour period.
Intellicast This is a national weather site that provides information for Austin and central Texas.  Click on their SAILCast or WINDCast to get an idea of sailing conditions on area lakes.
       LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
All Catalina Fleet (Austin, TX) For those Catalina owners out there (regardless of size), here is the site for our local fleet.  This includes Catalina 22 Fleet 69.
Austin Yacht Club Founded in 1969, the club has an active sailboat racing membership, with events throughout year. Classes include Laser, Sunfish, J-24, J-22, Ensign, Southcoast 21, Catalina 22, Thistle, along with PHRF boats rated in the 50s and up.
University of Texas Sailing Club Any student, faculty or staff of the University of Texas is eligible to join this organization.  Members have access to any of the club's 25+ boats (Hobies, Sunfish, Lasers, 20ft. keelboats).  The club offers daysailing, sailing instruction, and inter-club racing.
University of Texas Sailing Team The "Official" website for the University of Texas sailing team.  These undergraduates compete on a club level and against varsity teams from around the country.
       REGIONAL SITES
LCRA Daily River Report When you need to know the latest on lake levels dam releases, you can't beat this site.   The LCRA supplies electricity to more than a million Texans and it is also responsible for maintaining lakes and dams on the lower Colorado river and its tributaries.  This site contains historical lake data.
Highland Lakes   Everything you need to know about the upper Highland Lakes area including lodging, recreation, shopping, even real estate.  This site covers Lakes Buchanan, Inks, LBJ & Marble Falls.
Texas Mariners Cruising Assn. This non-profit "cruising" association hosts cruises to destinations on Galveston Bay and other Gulf Coast waters.  In addition, numerous social events are scheduled, ranging from informal dock parties at local marinas to the Annual Commodore’s Ball.
Bay Area Rum Runners BARR is a group of fun-loving Galveston Bay sailors who pride themselves as being the "organization that's not."  Check out their "Local Knowledge" link for great information on Galveston Bay anchorages and more.
Southwest by South Sailing News An online sailing magazine for the Southwest & South.
Texas Parks & Wildlife The state's website for boating, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities.  Book your reservation for state parks using the ON-LINE reservation system.
Guide Texas Outside A very comprehensive site for state-wide outdoor activities.   Items of interest to area sailors include Texas Gulf Coast Marina Guide.
       FAVORITE RESOURCES
StatPower's Customer Service
 "Tech Notes" 		StatPower (now XANTREX) is one of the industry leaders in marine battery chargers and inverters.  Their informative "Support" section offers good information on the technology supporting multi-stage charging as well as info on how to properly size chargers and inverters. 
Peggy Hall's "Head Mistress" Forum Peggie is recognized as one of the few experts in marine sewage systems.  She is a member of the American Boat and Yacht Counsel (ABYC) and sold her company (Peal Products) to Raritan Engineering in 1999.  The Peal Products line of environmentally safe sanitation and cleaning products are TOP rated by Practical Sailor and Powerboat Reports.

Her forum on CatalinaOwners.com discusses the myths about onboard head odors and solutions to remove them from your vessel.

West Marine's "West Advisor" These are the "digital" versions of the same helpful information that appears in West Marine's catalog.  Topics range from Gelcoat blistering and barrier coats to mechanical systems and electrical systems.
Arlyn Stewart's "Catalina 250" Site Arlyn has one of the best sites around . . . C250 boat modifications, "how to" guides, cruising stories, theories and other ruminations about sailing.
      OTHER SITES OF INTEREST
Guide to Sailing & Cruising Stories Brought to you by the folks at Cruisenews.net.  The Guide to Sailing & Cruising Stories focuses on personal accounts of bluewater ocean sailing voyages, coastal cruising, ocean passagemaking, exploring the wilderness by boat, living aboard, river voyages and adventure travel by boat around the world. The stories include a wealth of information on destinations, equipment, remarkable situations and general foolery for anyone interested in traveling in their own yacht or boat.
Ocean Navigator A new website from the publishers of Ocean Navigator and Professional Mariner.
Pocketcruisers.com:  The Small Boat Sailing Site Includes a number of articles and commentaries of interest to the small boat sailor (less than 28' LOA).  Click "News" on the homepage and then "Article List" for a number of interesting articles.
U.S. Coast Guard A comprehensive and information packed site including the RadioNavigation Bulletin (published semi-annually and contains radionavigation-system related news and articles), Local Notice to Mariners, descriptions of the various radionavigation systems (LORAN-C, GPS, DGPS, OMEGA), Maritime communication information and much more.  Most of the documents are available in Word or PDF formats.  Very well done site.
U.S. Naval Observatory   Here is a site that will give you sunrise, sunset & moonphase information for any place on the planet.  Also includes data for major solar system bodies and bright stars. 
Trailer Sailor Message Board This site has a wonderful and very active discussion board dedicated to trailer sailors.
Cruising World/Sailing World General Message Board This board attracts owners of larger boat .  Don't go here is you hate to hear bad things about Hunters.
A Comfortable Pocket Cruiser Sailboat Jobst Vandrey's site gives the prospective sailor a good rundown of the issues related to acquiring  the "perfect [small] sailboat".
Adventures of Rainbow Chaser This site is dedicated to the many adventures of Gene Gruender, his family and their 37' Hunter.  Gene has contributed articles to various sailing magazines including Southwinds published in St. Petersburg, FL, and Telltales published in Clear Lake, TX.
Catalina 25/250 National Assn. One of my personal favorites . . . the "Sailors Forum" page is heavily trafficked by C25/250 owners and prospective owners.
CatalinaOwners.com Another great Catalina site containing information for all models.  And, it offers a well-attended discussion group.
SailNet A good general site built and maintained by Sam and Cheryl Boyle.  Important features include: a "BoatCheck" section where you can see reviews of many sailboat makes and models; and numerous discussions lists that they sponsor including those for Catalina, McGregor, Benetaeu, Chrysler, Rhodes and many others.

Also, they now have a wonderful collection of articles by John Rousmaniere, John Kretcshmer, Don Casey, Steve Colgate, Betsy Alison, Tania Aebi, and many, many more.
Apparent-Wind.com Mark Rossenstein's site dedicated to sailing with a large sailing index including a list of sailboat manufacturers, magazines, etc.
 

© 1998-2003 by Mark T. Melchior  --   All Rights Reserved  -  Revised:  20 Dec 2007 16:28:41 -0500
"In a powerboat, you get there in a hurry . . . in a sailboat, you are already there."