July 2011 P’cola Beach Air Show

It typically gets crowded at the Blue Angel Air Show, so we tend to go over the day before in order to grab a good spot for anchoring.

We headed out Thursday morning and sailed for about an hour till the wind died completely causing us to deploy this iron sail.

Ty and Kiki followed us over to the beach on s/v Shooting Star.

Sailor cruising to the beach.

Ty and Kiki under the Bob Syke’s Bridge.

Captain Ben at the helm.

Father and son.

Blake and Pogo.

The parachuters were out.

Ty and Kiki rafted to us for the night.

Blake and Carol discovered a stowaway frog in the anchor locker.

We dinghy’d over to m/v Fantasea for evening cocktails and Captain Coy’s birthday celebration, but didn’t get any pictures, though had a really nice time visiting.

The next day the beach began to pack out.

Fat Albert!

The United States Blue Angels!

Stunt planes.

United States Coast Guard keeping an eye from above.

Other folks enjoying the Friday air show.

Ty, Ben and Blake lounging.

Ben hanging out in the hammock on the bow of Monomoy.

Carol and Pogo lounging behind Monomoy.

Our Friend Bill sailed in on s/v Times Aargh Changin. He docked up against the beach pier.

Ken cruised in on s/v Private Stock.

Ben and Blake went to the dock to pick up Carol’s mom who joined us for cocktail hour.

Carol and her mom enjoying a little mom/daughter shot of tequila.

Blake went for an evening row.

Ty and Kiki decided to head back to the marina and Carol’s aunt/uncle niece showed up at the beach to have dinner with us.

We had a really nice evening, then headed in for a good night sleep.

We awoke early on Saturday morning ready to defend our anchor line as the hoards of boats came cruising in.

Jody and family cruised over and brought Carol’s aunt/uncle/niece. Jody went straight for the hammock.

Ben and Blake playing in the water.

Keeldover anchored nearby, but it was so busy we never had the chance to say hi to Aaron and Aja.

A large storm brewed over Pensacola and appeared to threaten us, but changed course and headed East.

Carol was feeling patriotic.

Brice and Ashley along with Ashley’s brother and his girlfriend showed up and rafted to our other side.

We enjoyed a second air show.

Boaters at Quietwater enjoying the show.

Kelly and Jerry on Caribbean Dreamz arrived and anchored nearby on Friday, so they were up and at ‘em for the show.

Private Stock and Caribbean Dreamz.

Carol taking pictures of the Blue Angels.

Kelly and Jerry dingy’d over to say hi.

Ben, Blake and Pogo relaxing in the water.

Ken picked up some ladies on shore and was taking them back over to his boat when the Marine Patrol checked his life jacket count; he was all good.

We dinghy’d over to Bill’s boat to enjoy cocktails with his friends and family.

Another calm and quiet evening at anchorage.

Overall it was a fantastic few days at anchorage with family and friends; the weather spared us and we returned to the dock on Sunday to get Monomoy cleaned back up.