Texas Mariners Cruising Association upcoming events

Palapa Island Cruise - Chris Hollomon (9 Oct 2026)

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Join Us for the TMCA Palapa Island Cruise!

Cruise Leader is Christopher Hollomon

October 9–11, 2026

Come cruise with us from Clear Lake to Palapa Island for a fun fall weekend on Galveston Bay. We'll make the roughly 17-mile run south, anchor off the north side of Palapa Island, and enjoy a weekend on the water with fellow TMCA boaters.

The route has been carefully planned, including waypoints, shallow-water cuts, channel crossings, tide information, communications, and anchorage procedures, so skippers will have a detailed cruise package to help with preparation.

Dates: Friday, October 9 – Sunday, October 11
Destination: Palapa Island – North Anchorage
Planned cruising speed: About 6 knots
Distance: About 17.2 NM each way
Cruise time: Approximately 3 hours underway

Whether you're an experienced cruiser or looking for a good opportunity to stretch your boat's legs with a group, this should be a great weekend trip.

Bring the boat, bring the crew, and come spend the weekend at anchor with TMCA.

Register now and join the flotilla!

Allen's Landing 2026 (16 Oct 2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Cruise Leader : Len & Mandy Meyers

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This is an amazing cruise, and always a highlight of the year. Travel past the Fred Hartman Bridge, into the Houston Ship Channel, then feel like you're on the Jungle Queen as you venture up Buffalo Bayou and into downtown Houston. We tie up at Allen's Landing, at the end of Main Street. Allen’s Landing is located @ 1001 Commerce St., 77002, nestled next to McIntyre’s Downtown.

Because this trip is unique, below are some essential instructions for the cruise:

· You will need to fly your TMCA burgee while in transit thru the security area.

· The flotilla will primarily communicate via VHF radio throughout the cruise for staging, docking, and while underway. Monitoring VHF CH. 16 while underway is required by the USCG and is strongly suggested that all vessels carry at least one additional VHF radio for ship-to-ship communications within the flotilla. Alternate, ship-to-ship, staging/docking and suggested additional frequencies to monitor underway will be assigned by the Cruise Leaders.

· Security Permits will be sent by email just before the cruise; everyone must print them out and have on your boat in the event we are boarded by the Coast Guard.

· Your boat will need to clear 25' bridge height at Mean High Water (MHW) and must be able to maintain a minimum of 7 knots speed made good.

· There is no electrical or water at Allen's Landing, so please check your generators and fill potable water tanks in advance so you won't run dry. It is also a good idea to inspect your vessel in advance and check all fluids, belts, hoses, batteries, and the overall mechanical integrity of your boat because mechanical struggles or breaking down in the Port of Houston can create numerous issues and challenges for the Skipper.

· The registration fee for the cruise will cover a park fees, porta john, overnight security, entertainment, and permits, Credit card fees.

· The flotilla staging area will assemble by NO LATER THAN 0800 hours Friday, near LT89 on the Houston Ship Channel. This is in the northern part of the bay before it gets narrow. You will receive an order for line up within the flotilla. The flotilla will deploy up the Houston Ship Channel at 0900 hours sharp. All boats must travel together from this point to Allen’s Landing, Coast Guard Rules; this applies on the return trip as well! The CG has placed new rules on all future Allen’s Landing Cruises. We will have to travel with CG escort there & back! Our max speed will have to be 7 knots. The trip should take about 4 hrs normally, but with reduced speed & waiting for escort may take longer. It will take an hour or more to dock all the boats. Possible Friday activities are still being finalized.

· You may wish to stay at Bayland Marina Thursday, October 8th to lessen your morning commute. You can make your reservation by calling Bayland Marina 281.422.8900 and speak with Harbor Master-Tim.

· All boats must stay in order and in the flotilla while in the security area. There will be a docking plan for boats distributed before departure based on verified attendees. The order of boats for the flotilla are essential for and will greatly streamline the docking process.

· Be prepared to have other boats tied up to you, so bring plenty of lines and fenders. Please realize those rafted to your boat must have access to cross your boat to get to the landing. Please create easy access for them.

· There will be a brief Skipper's Meeting the Wednesday evening October 14th at 6:00 at the Elks Club before the cruise.

· It will be up to each boat captain to collect money from his crew or not. (Sail boaters, riders, etc. please be prepared to split cost with the captain if asked) Once, we have the list of power boaters’, we will see who might have space for you to ride along with them not stay on their boat. (You can have a car waiting for you @ Allen’s Landing, or better plan - stay at one of the Downtown hotels. Marriott hotels close by are Marriott-The ICON Hotel- 220 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 832-667-4484 and SpringHill Suites Houston Downtown/Convention Center-904 Dallas Street, Houston, TX 77002, 832.366.1000.

Passenger Information: You will need to submit the Names/DOB/TDL of everyone who will be traveling on your boat. It makes sense to register anyone who might go along as it's easy to remove people from the list but impossible to add anyone after the deadline. This will be submitted to the Coast Guard. Click this link to complete the information. This is a pdf form where you can type directly on the form. This form will not be saved. You must print or save.

All forms must be submitted to Len by Sep 16

As the cruise approaches, you’ll receive additional instructions and docking order.

As this cruise has budgeted for mandatory expenses (security, permits, porta-john), you will only receive a refund if we are able to fill your slot with someone on the wait list.

Agenda for the weekend:

FRIDAY:

Boats arrive at Allen’s Landing on Friday approx. 12:00 pm, docking complete around 1:00 pm

Afternoon events on own (see below)

5:00 pm Docktails Please bring an appetizer and BYOB.

Dinner on your own

SATURDAY:

9:00 am Shared breakfast Saturday morning with Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s (boats to bring bubbly/Vodka, TMCA to provide OJ, Bloody Mary mix)

Afternoon events on own. A detailed list of events and activities will be provided to attendees by email prior to the event and will include location and distance from Allen's Landing.

SUNDAY:

Prepare to depart between 9:30-10:00 am. Must depart as a group.

Breakfast on own

Depart for Home @ 9:30am

Land Yachts are welcome to party with us for any & all festivities. Please bring an appetizer for docktails. Please do not hesitate to make your hotel reservation.

Thanks

Location Allen's Landing- 1001 Commerce St 7700

October TMCA Monthly Meeting - Anchor Extravaganza 2026 Part 1 (16 Oct 2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

From the Commodore:

The October Meeting of TMCA is quite important. This is when you will hear who has stepped forward to fill a position on the TMCA Board for 2027. There will also be time for nominations from the floor. Each nominee will then be asked to speak to the membership about their aspirations for their position - a stump speech.

From the Vice Commodore:

Come hear Tim Marshall present the basics on anchoring, followed by a weekend of hands-on activities focused on anchoring your vessel.

Dinner and socializing will begin at 6:00 at the Elks Lodge in Kemah

The presentation this month will be Part One of Anchor Extravaganza, Equipment, Theory and Best Practices. This years' presentation has been edited and modified significantly. At least 2 new pieces of information were discovered in the process of revising the presentation so everyone will likely have at least 1 new thing to put into their anchoring practice. Phil is unavailable this year so Tim is going to try his best to get it done.

Part Two, the Case Study, will be Saturday morning at Waterford and Part Three will be Saturday afternoon at Redfish Island. It will be a little different than in years past where we all met on Phil's boat, Awesome One. Lamy and I will try to coordinate assistance if needed as people arrive at Redfish but we don't have a big host boat available this year due mostly to the scheduling conflict with Allen's Landing Cruise.

More information on all three parts of Anchoring Extravaganza will be made available as we get closer to the event but Phase 2 is available for registration on the website now so go ahead and register if you're coming to the clinic portion.

Redfish Island Kite Fest 2026 (17 Oct 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Cruise Leaders: Lamy & Wendy Chopin

This is an overnight cruise to Redfish Island. Saturday afternoon we'll fly kites from our boats and possibly from the island too. There may or may not be a winner declared. There will likely be a bonfire on Redfish Saturday evening with snacks and maybe s'mores so feel free to bring a little wood to contribute to the pile.

Anchoring Extravaganza Phase 2 - Clinic (17 Oct 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Anchoring Clinic

Join Tim and Lamy for this hands-on anchoring clinic where we will work through a real world scenario in a protected anchorage with deteriorating weather conditions over 3 days determining if and where to move, what ground tackle is most appropriate for the current and coming weather and bottom conditions in the bay. It's a lot of fun and opinions will abound.

Meet at Waterford Harbor at 9:00 AM for Phase II, the clinic.

It doesn't look like we're going to be able to have Phase 3 this year due to scheduling conflicts with the Allen's Landing Cruise. That said, several of us are heading out to Redfish Saturday afternoon for Kite-fest and plan to anchor overnight if you'd like to come practice with some potential help close by.

Possible alternate date if weather is an issue: Nov 7 2026

Cedar Bayou Anchorage (23 Oct 2026)

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Cruise Leaders: Tim Marshall & David Embry

Join us Oct 23 - 25 for all or any portion of a cruise up Cedar Bayou. It’s an easy navigation as posted on the TMCA website and following Philip's great navigation instructions (linked below). We anchor in a very protected channel, with an easy 6+ foot entrance at the channel. This is a casual Cruise, so bring your dingy to explore.

As a reminder, since a barge company took over the Finger Lakes, we now anchor downstream of the Finger Lakes in the 'cooling channel', which is well downstream of the height restricted bridge so we won't have any height restrictions and both sail and power can join this cruise.

There are limited places to take dogs ashore, but it has been done.

This is a great chance to practice anchoring in a protected anchorage. If you forget to register, no worries, come anyway. I plan to head over on Friday but others will likely come Saturday.

For Philip's detailed navigation instructions, click here.

Looking forward to an enjoyable weekend. In case of bad weather, we will try next weekend again so stay in touch.

Friendsgiving dock party (6 Nov 2026)

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Mark your calendar! We have a great party planned for this date. More information to come.

2026 Chilin' Chili Cruise at HYC (6 Nov 2026)

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Cruise Leaders : Kevin & Marieanne Bjork

Though this has been held at Bayland Marina for the last couple years, we're going to HYC because the tides are bad for getting in and out of Bayland at appropriate times of day if you draw more than 3 feet.

Please register ASAP for this if you want to go because we have to build a spreadsheet of boats to send to Phillip the dock master at HYC so he can assign slips.

Do not contact HYC directly. You'll check in at the front desk on arrival and pay for your slip and get your guest card and number to pay for things in the bar or restaurant.

Bahamas Training Cruise (12 Nov 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Cruise Leaders: Phil & Matilde Geren

The destination is still not nailed down but the point of it is to learn required skills for successfully cruising to the Bahamas. This will include anchorage selection and anchoring practice and many other things. There will likely be a couple of lectures/classes ahead of time to discuss the details.

More info to follow as plans develop.

Holiday dock party (4 Dec 2026)

Fri, 04 Dec 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Mark your calendar! We have a great party planned for this date. More information to come.

Commodore's Ball 2026 (19 Dec 2026)

Sun, 20 Dec 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Save the Date!

Morning After Brunch (20 Dec 2026)

Sun, 20 Dec 2026 16:30:00 GMT

No, not the hangover! It's a meet up for brunch the morning after the Commodore's Ball at the South Shore Harbor Hotel. Hosted by Marylou Clark, the hotel restaurant has a nice traditional brunch buffet along with live piano music. Those of us who attended last year had a delightful experience. The waitstaff was excellent, the food good and the music very pleasant.

Please register for the event by December ________ so we can tell them how many will be coming. They had set up seating for all of us together last year and will probably do it again this year.

The cost of the event is ___________ paid at the restaurant.

Note: You DO NOT have to attend the Commodore's Ball to attend the Morning After Brunch.

Remember: cutoff date is December _______.

New Years Celebration at Moody Gardens (31 Dec 2026)

Thu, 31 Dec 2026 06:00:00 GMT

An enjoyable and rewarding time at Moody Gardens

Arthur Tailleur