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.

Cool clouds.

Jim heading over for a visit.

Another Chance.

Sunrise each morning.

Pogo, Carol, and Blake.

Blue Angels.

Ben taking the girls to retrieve a ball.

Another Chance is surrounded.

Fat Albert.

Morgan against the dock.

Another great weekend.

The work boats were back out in full force.

We sailed over to Quietwater with Pogo assuming her position.

Captain Ben.

The evening was gorgeous.

Pirate Blake.

Sunday morning the parasail boat was running early.

Sailboats were out cruising.

We didn’t get as many photos as typical this weekend, but we had a great time just the same.

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.

What a fun week!

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.

Keeldover joined us at the anchorage.

As did Another Chance.

Friday is supposed to be another beautiful day!

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.

Well, time to pull anchor and head to Quietwater.

Monday the group of BEER Cruisers who had gone on down to Juanas, cruised over to Quietwater.

Everyone had a great time.

Friends Marlin and Aaron.

BEER Cruisers.

Blake took his turn at the dinghy helm.

Ben took Pogo to shore.

BEER Cruiser.

BEER Cruise is over and heading home.

Approx. 60-61 feet tall mast with 63 feet of total clearance.

Showered and settled back down at the marina.

What a fantastic time! See all BEER Cruisers again next year!

We’ve all had a great time thus far.

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.

Sailboats on BEER.

‘Another Chance’

‘Another Chance’

Friends came over to visit on Monomoy.

Looking forward to a beautiful Monday.

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.

Friday, May 21 we went down to the marina at the end of the day and stayed the night on the boat tied to the dock.  I set a hammock up on the foredeck, so Blake took in some relaxation time.

Saturday morning we awoke, had Cafe Beletage coffee, and cooked breakfast on our new Fagor induction cooktop.  The induction cooktop is fantastic.  We have a propane stove on the boat, but it just heated the cabin way too much, so we decided to give induction a try since we already run the generator for making coffee, charging batteries, and heating water.  We intended to video the induction cooktop in use, but never did, so we will do that next weekend; it’s really neat.

Anyway…  We headed out around 9ish Saturday morning and cruised out onto the bay to ~5 knot wind.

Carol took the helm for a bit.

Pogo relaxed.

The Coast Guard was out working to protect our shorelines.

Rabbit took in some sun.

Pogo still sunning.

As we arrived to Ft. McRee, we noticed Jim with s/v Another Chance was already there.

Once we set the hook, Blake went straight for the water.

Ben took Pogo to shore.

Pogo found a new place to sit and observe a little later.

Jim dinghy’d over and enjoyed an afternoon cocktail with us.

Blake enjoyed a popcicle.

Saturday evening Pogo was pooped out from such a hard day.

Blake played with a blue glow stick in his v-berth.

Sunday morning we were up and at it again. Swimming, then sailing and enjoying our beautiful water (no oil here!!).

Carol had some Blue Bell ice cream.

Blake had another popcicle.

Blake took the helm and verified we were on course.

We cruised by Ft. Pickens.

Other boaters were out sailing.

Pogo sunned some more.

Once we returned to the marina, Blake took a dock shower.

Ben was in conversation with a marina neighbor.

We began our weekend by heading over to the marina Friday evening after work. Jody launched his boat after work as well and joined us over at the marina where we all stayed the night.

Saturday morning we were up early to get things together for heading out. After coffee and dock chat with neighbors, we headed out about 8:30am.

Blake was on the radio with Jody.

Cocktail hour begins at any time on a boat. We received a gift this past week from extended family. They sent us some great cups that have the name of our boat, port, and our names on them. Perfect size for that rum and coke.

Jody cruising by.

Jody took this picture of us with his cell phone and picture mailed it to us.

At Ft. McRee anchorage.

Ben and Jody hopped in the water to scrub the bottom and replace the shaft zinc.

Ben getting the zinc ready.

Later that day Carol rowed Blake and Pogo to the shore.

Brice, Ashley, and Jason cruised over Saturday on Jason’s boat to hang out for a bit.

Brice and Ashley.

Brian Hart sailed over from Alabama, so we had the opportunity to chat with him for a bit.

Saturday evening we ate well; steak and salad with cocktails.

After such a busy day, Pogo was pooped out.

Sunday we awoke to a beautiful sunrise.

Good morning.

Carol decided to take Pogo to shore, but didn’t realize how strong the current was moving as tide was coming in.

So Jody had to go rescue her.

He then demonstrated the art of rowing and took them over to the shore.

Later in the morning, Ben, Blake, and Pogo went ashore to explore.

Heading back to Monomoy.

Later Sunday morning, Jody’s wife and daughter joined us (Jody picked them up on his boat), so we took a cruise on their boat for a bit.

Chrys and Myriah

Blake was pooped out by early morning.

Arriving back to Monomoy.

We set sail about 1pm to head back home. We passed many other sailboat out and about.

Cocktails again!

We had our own personal flyover.

Blake and Pogo watched a movie.

It truly was a great weekend and was enjoyed by us all.

Can’t wait until the next beautiful weekend to do it all over again.