We took our friend Jim for an afternoon sail on Monday and was having a great time with ~15 knot wind. When it came time to head back in, the transmission lever didn’t feel right and was determined to have a broken clutch cable.

Ben made a phone call to Ken at the dock who enlisted the assistance of a couple of other dock neighbors (Jon and Coy). They made a bridle for the boat and launched two dinghys to assist as needed.

The transmission was still in forward (checked at the tranny), so Monomoy was started in gear and we proceeded for the dock.

We attached a painter from Jon’s dinghy and towed him for a short period down the channel. We approached the dock very slow at about 1.5 knots. Once the bow just broached the outside pilings, Ben shut down the diesel and steered into the slip. Between the attached dink acting as reverse, the bridle, and Jim getting a spring line around a piling, it all worked out and was a non-event with Monomoy coming safely to rest in her slip.

So Tuesday afternoon Jim and Ben began the task of removing both the clutch and throttle cables for replacement. They couldn’t get them through the pedestal due to what felt like a lower attachment point. They thought they had removed everything that was needed, called Edson and Hunter Marine, with all saying they had done what was needed, but they still couldn’t get the cables loose. It finally determined that Hunter must have intentionally or accidentally clamped the cables in the lower pedestal, so they had to go through the task of removing the pedestal to get in from underneath. Sure enough the cables were clamped in a way that was unintended by Edson and most likely had caused binding over the years.

Wednesday morning Ben cruised down to WM to see if they have or could get replacements, which they did. The cables were purchased and by afternoon Ben and Jim were back at it putting the boat back together.

We’re happy to report that the dock trial was a success and the new cables work as they should.

We had never changed throttle or clutch cables on a sailboat before, nor had we taken apart a pedestal. All postings online said the task is quick and easy, but to that contrary we probably racked up 8 hours due to the need of removing the pedestal.

Here are some pictures from the day sail and the cable replacement.

Blake.

Jim.

Pogo.

Ben and Jim taking apart the pedestal.

Task is nearly done with just a few items left to put back in place.

The day started off with rain all around, so we figured it would be a day stuck at the dock. By afternoon the sky had cleared and it was hot/muggy feeling. Jim on s/v Another Chance suggested we motor his boat over to Santa Rosa Island (SRI) to swim and cool off; he also wanted to check out his new Danforth’s holding. It’d also give me a chance to experience his autopilot, which is close to the model we plan to get for Monomoy.

We headed out of the slip with Jim at his helm.

Ben handled the bow dock lines.

We passed Monomoy as she slept in her berth. Her name is obscured, because I had lowered the dinghy a bit to drain some rain water a little better while at the slip.

Blake went below to visit with Highway.

Once out into the bay we found that the wind was picking up. So we put out the sails and had a great sail over to SRI.

Pogo got comfortable.

After a bit, she decided she wanted to view the scenery.

Jim explained various functions of the autopilot to Ben.

Then Ben explained to Carol why we must have an autopilot.

Blake took a nap.

We found a good spot, anchored, and swam around for a bit.

After we all had essentially worked out by swimming against the current, we pulled anchor and headed back. The wind had built to around 15-20 knots with following seas that were in the 1-2 foot range.

The sky was beautiful.

As we were cruising back, Carol noticed a dolphin, then Blake thought he could see two, but it turned out we had 5 on our bow and 4 off the port stern.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=emmMfKmiOQY

Once our sea friends departed, we noted 4 fishing vessels headed out.

What a great experience and fun afternoon of sailing!

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.

We will made the best of it with Ben and Carol’s moms stopping by for a visit, then Ben and Ken sailed the little boats, with a fireworks display from downtown Pensacola being easily viewed off the bow of Jim’s sailboat.

Moms visit.

Ken is cruising.

Ben is right behind him.

Carol took pictures, video’d, and chatted with Sheri.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iIgFpF-OSE

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.

There was reasonable wind for light sail, but not enough to move s/v Nightwatch.

Blake enjoyed the day.

Pogo assumed her routine position.

It was a perfect Father’s Day.

Carol enjoyed the sunny day.

What a wonderful day. Many other boaters enjoyed the day as well, but the channel was busy with BP traffic.

s/v Carried Away:

The Coast Guard was out in full force.

Other sailboats were out.

Boats were staged near the Pensacola Lighthouse ready to combat the oil.

s/v White Caps:

Pogo in her routine.

Carol was taking pictures of other boats.

There was a regatta going on.

Not a sailboat, but I loved the name.

Upon returning to the marina, our little friends were out enjoying the water.

To complete the day, before the afternoon storm blew through, Blake and Ken took their sailboats out for a cruise.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFEYIYrKlfI

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.