We headed out on Thursday, July 8 for Pensacola Beach to get a good spot for anchoring over the next few days. The Blue Angel’s Air Show was coming up July 9-10 over the beach.
We typically don’t go to Saturday’s show, since Friday’s is the “Dress Rehearsal” and the exact same show that it put on Saturday. This year though the show on Friday wasn’t as good as previous years with only one stunt plane that started after 1pm, then the Blues were late starting and was short a plane for some reason. After the Friday show, we decided we’d stick it out for Saturday in hopes of getting a better show.
Saturday’s show was a little better, but still wasn’t as good as previous years. It started around noon with 11 prop planes flying in a unison flyby, followed by the 1 stunt plane. The Blues started a little late again with Fat Albert stalling, but we did get all 6 planes.
Bobby and Max joined us Thursday and rafted up “Pearl” overnight to watch Friday’s show. They departed Friday afternoon.
Jody, his wife, daughter, and daughter’s friend came out Thursday night and stayed rafted up with us till Saturday afternoon. They had some friends (Ricky and Tasha) join us for Saturday’s show.
Jody and Chrys.
Jody and Chrys’s daughter and daughter’s friend.
Ricky and Tasha.
Ken and Sheri were out in Cantata (to be properly renamed in coming future to “Private Stock”) with us. This was their maiden voyage with Cantata and they stayed Thursday till Sunday morning.
Jim and Denise on s/v Another Chance also joined us Thursday through Sunday. Here they are in the foreground.
We ultimately stayed until Sunday morning as well.
Here are some additional pics for your enjoyment.
Blake.
Pogo.
Cantata.
Hanging out.
Carol.
Tasha taking a nap.
Hanging out.
Blake.
We had a storm blow through Saturday afternoon; Ken decided to swim over during it.
He picked an interesting place to get back on his boat.
At one point the wind blew strong and broadsided us to heel our boat 15 degrees sitting at anchorage; it didn’t last, but Blake prepared himself for the next one.
Pogo hanging out.
Ben worn out after the weekend.
Ken and Sheri.
Fat Albert.
The Sheriff’s office and FWC did a fine job of keeping the wake down.
Blue’s.
Lots of boaters.
Jody.
Jody and gang leaving for home Saturday.
Storm coming in on Saturday.
Blake hanging out.
Another Chance as the storm is coming in.
Cleared out quick with the storm coming.
Pearl on the left, Monomoy in the middle, and Christiana on the right.
After Pearl left on Friday.
Scot (marina neighbor) cruised by.
Pogo, Ben, Blake, and Carol.
Blake ready for bed.
Pearl on Thursday.
Ben: “Uh, yeah, I’m at the office.”
Carol having fun.
Ben at the helm.
Blake and Woody.
Sunset each night.
Enjoying a hotdog.
Enjoying watermelon.
Now a Shrek ice cream delivered by the ice cream boat.
We departed Quietwater on Friday and headed back to the marina.
We could see the new Margarittaville Hotel.
People were already out having fun.
We noticed a Gemini 105Mc sailing.
We didn’t get as many photos Friday as we normally do, but we had a good time just the same.
Saturday Blake wanted to take The Force solo sailing, so that’s what he did; with Ben following in the dink.
After sailing, we went to our marina’s annual customer appreciation party, which was a lot of fun. Then we all went back to the marina and settled in for the night.
Sunday was Carol’s birthday. There was no wind, but we made it out on the water aboard our friends Silverton 42. We motored over to Paradise Bar and Grill on the beach, next over to Quietwater, then one last stop at The Oar House, before heading back to the marina.
Blake took the helm.
Coy and Marlin were aboard.
There were a few sailboats out, but note the luffing sails.
We left Ft. McRee Thursday around noon when oil cleanup traffic became noticeably increased. Oil skimmers were in the Pensacola Land Cut, which is already narrow, so it was difficult to pass. We were under sail while approaching, so I furled in the jib a bit and fired up the diesel to maintain better control till we were passed all of the boats.
After that, we had a fantastic sail!
Crew-boat heading out to the Gulf.
Blake having a good time.
Pogo was pooped out.
Once we arrived to our destination of the night (Quietwater), we noted the main halyard had slapped around a spreader and caught around the steaming light. Ben tried to shake it loose, but it wasn’t happening, so Carol went up in the bosun’s chair.
That evening we watched a beautiful sunset with two swans swimming in the foreground.
We headed out Wednesday, June 9, 2010 with the intent to go to Pirate’s Cove in Josephine, AL, but with the concern over areas being boomed off, we didn’t want to get stuck over there and ended up at Ft. McRee instead.
Keeldover and Another Chance cruised with us.
Once at McRee we walked over to the Gulf to find crew working the beach. They were carrying bags of something and when asked what it was, they put their heads down and said they couldn’t say; that was a disconcerting feeling.
So we walked on.
View of the boats.
Once we got back to the boat, Blake did a little fishing.
We anchored at the Navarre Pavilions Saturday and had quite the rain storm move through. Weather reports stated 50-60 knot wind, but everyone’s ground tackle held with all the cruisers hunkering down to ride it out. Some of the following pictures may be out of order, but you get the idea.
Pogo.
Blake.
Keeldover.
Pan Dragon.
Doggie aboard Pan Dragon.
Captain Kevin of Pan Dragon (don’t think he knew his pic was being taken).
Pan Dragon.
Blake napping on a cooler.
Sailing.
Crazy hair, but having fun!
Portofino Towers
Sailboats on BEER 2010.
Goofing off in the rain.
Macgregor catamaran.
Pogo.
Blake.
BEER Cruisers.
Mmmm…
We awoke Sunday morning to a beautiful day.
I don’t think Pogo had enough sleep.
Most of the group sailed to Juanas in Navarre, while a few of us decided to go to Big Sabine. One of the boats needed provisions (more beer), so we sailed to Quietwater so they could stock up. Once we dropped the hook at Quietwater, everyone was ready to just hang out, so we never sailed back to Big Sabine. The rest of the BEER group will be heading to Quietwater for the final leg of the trip, so that’s where we’ll stay.
The day started a little overcast, but we weren’t complaining.
Blake listened to his own tunes.
Jody came over the night before to the marina and stayed the night with us. He brought his boat and cruised out early along side of us Saturday morning.
Many other sailboats out taking advantage of the day.
Carol enjoyed herself.
Captain Ben at the helm.
The water was gorgeous!
After we set the hook, Jody rafted up with us, then we all hit the water.
More boaters.
Carol took some more pics of our boat interior.
Here’s a picture of our galley.
The salon.
Blake’s room.
Ben and Carol’s room.
OK, now back to other pics… Kevin with Pan Dragon anchored near and ended up stopping by for a cocktail.
A severe storm blew in, so Carol took that opportunity to bake chocolate chip cookies.
Brian Hart with Wind Song anchored nearby, but the rain kept him inside.
Jody enjoyed the cocktails.
More rain.
OK, both Ben and Jody were enjoying cocktails.
Pogo stayed below.
Blake watched a movie after having a cookie.
The rain stopped for a little bit, so Ben jumped back in the water.
Later that evening, Jody cruised over to pick up his wife (Chrys) and daughter (Myriah) who stayed the night with us as well.
Another storm came in and gave us quite a lightning show.
Sunday, May 30, 2010…
We woke up early and decided to pull the hook and head back in after coffee. Weather reports were calling for some more bad thunderstorms.
Sky darkening.
Pogo was watching.
Then Pogo decided to take a nap.
The sky as we approached the Navy Base Point.
Looking toward Bayou Chico.
More sky.
Monday, May 31, 2010…
The weather was iffy with rain, then blue skies, then back to rain, so we stayed around the marina and took the opportunity to cruise in the dinghy for the afternoon.
Just under the Bayou Chico bridge, BP has a cleanup crew on standby.
The crew is ready to work, but no oil around here, so they can hang out and relax.
The sky actually looked nice for a bit.
Blake skippered the boat.
It’s amazing what you will see in the bayou. This boat had evidence of being on its side for quite some time, but was apparently raised and floating.
The same dock had this boat as well. Note the holes on the port side. The lines you see near the roof is actually PVC with water pumping out of them, probably to keep the boat afloat.
Then we came across this pirate looking boat.
On our return trip, we passed by Patriot at rest in her slip.
As well as White Caps.
BEER 2010 is just under a week away, so we are stoked and looking forward to the cruise.
Welcome to s/v Monomoy's blog. This site is a journal of sorts in regards to sailing and maintaining our 1987 Hunter 37.5 named "Monomoy".Contact the Captain at: bharris [at] RationalRealty.com
