Today starts a new book in the Harris Family Sailing Journal.
We are buying our new (to us) Catalina 27 today. The fella we are buying the new boat from will be heading to St. Pete on Monday the 21st to purchase the boat he is planning to buy to replace the boat he is selling us. We were originally supposed to complete our deal on Monday, but have moved it to today instead. The seller is a sailing instructor and already had classes planned for this weekend, so we agreed to complete the sale today, but with the allowance of him still using the boat over the weekend. So we’ll own the new boat as of today, but won’t transfer her to the new berth till Monday. We are excited about having the additional room for those overnight trips and about keeping the boat at a slip, so after a long day of sailing, we can just tie off and go home. Of course though with slip fees as they are, you pay for that luxury.
Knotical will also be sold today. The fella buying has already provided a deposit and is driving the ~8.5 hours this morning from Stuart, FL to purchase and will arrive around 2pm. We had discussed taking Knotical for a quick sail while he has me to show him everything about the boat, but the weather (mainly wind) doesn’t look like it will be favorable for the Potter, so I am planning to show him a dry run in the driveway. He is bringing a video camera to tape the dry run, so that he will have a reference video to study at home. The buyer is a first time sailor, which is the reason for me doing the dry run with him. He has never owned a sailboat before and is really excited about getting out on the water with one and has sailing lessons scheduled with an ASA class in Stuart sometime in the next week or so. He has three kids, so I am very glad that Knotical is going to a good family who will be able to catch the sailing bug together.
That’s all I have to report for now and will update once we actually have the new boat in her berth.
April 18th, 2008
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We haven’t had any sailing time in just over a month, which is unusual for us. We typically get in at least a weekend of sailing once a month during the winter and nearly every weekend during the summer. The last two weeks of weather haven’t been favorable for our Potter. Prior to that, our dog Buddy, became very sick, which was about 5 weeks ago and was diagnosed with a failing heart with only a week expected to live. She had been with us for a decade and never had any kind of health problems. The vet put her on a concoction of heart pills that we had to give her every few hours. We had a trip planned for Lawton, OK and was going to take Knotical with us, but we canceled in order to take care of Buddy. She ended up passing away on March 30, which was three weeks after being diagnosed with her heart condition. So we haven’t had any sailing time since she became sick, but it was worth it to be able to get a little more time with her.
April 17th, 2008
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Feb. 9, 2008…
Went sailing for the day. Weather reports called for sunny skies and 70 degrees, but it was overcast half the day, then partly cloudy the rest and probably only made it to 65 degrees. It was still a good time sailing though.
We departed the PSMC at about 9:45am CST and sailed over to Ft. Pickens for lunch, arriving around 1pm CST.
Of course Blake had to build a fort of his own.
After we shoved off from Pickens (about 2pm CST), we headed over to Quietwater Beach for dinner at Hooters. My son loves their wings and root beer.
While on the bay, we were hailed over the VHF by Pan Dragon, which came fast on our tail.
Capt. Kevin of Pan Dragon and a crew member sailed along side of us around to Quietwater, where Pan Dragon was anchored and the Captain and crewman boarded Knotical for a shore excursion to Hooters.
Once our belly’s were full, we shoved off from shore and went back out to Pan Dragon where Capt. Kevin offered to tow Knotical into home port while I and my family boarded his vessel for some evening music and drinks.
The wind had died off at this point and it was around 6pm, so we tied off Knotical to the stern of Pan Dragon, boarded, and enjoyed a 2 hour diesel powered run back into the PSMC channel.
It was a great time and we look forward to next weekend’s promising weather report.
Till then…
Fair winds.
February 9th, 2008
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Feb. 2, 2008…
Took Knotical out for a sail this afternoon. Spent around 5 hours just sailing around Pensacola Bay. It was a good time. My son, Blake, took the helm for the last 30 minutes and sailed us to the channel where I took back over and motored us into port.
We launched at the PSMC.
As we arrived back to port, I noticed that the sailing vessel Pan Dragon must have been awakened by her captain, because she wasn’t in her resting slip.
Blake sailing:
February 2nd, 2008
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January 6, 2008…
First sail of the new year. It turned out to be a fairly great day for sailing. The sky started sunny, but turned overcast in the afternoon. Winds were around 10mph with calms seas.
There were quite a few other sailing vessels who decided to take advantage of the day as well, so it was nice to see so many sailing the Pensacola Bay.
After loading Knotical back on her trailer, then I walked down to the dock and met Kevin, the Capt. of sailing vessel “Pan Dragon”; good to meet you in person Kevin and thanks for the beer.
It was a good day, but my son was tired by the end.
Well, time to have another beer and eat some dinner.
Till next time…
January 6th, 2008
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December 9, 2007:
Family events have kept us out of the water nearly the past month, but we were able to catch a break in the fog today and launched this afternoon from PSMC.
Temp was around 75 degrees and wind about 7mph. It was a quiet, leisure sail and a good time. Despite the ugly sky and haze, we counted about 10 other vessels sailing the Pensacola Bay.
December 9th, 2007
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Oct. 13, 2007…
Launched at Big Lagoon in Pensacola and headed over to Ft. McRee to camp for the night. It was my son’s first camping trip and he loved it. We could have used a bit more wind, but it was a relaxing sail.
Oct. 14, 2007…
Packed up camp after a great night and headed in. Would have loved to stay another night, but had plans for dinner at my wife’s parent’s home.
Oct. 20, 2007…
Launched at Navy Point in Pensacola to just putt around the bayou for the day. Nothing exciting, but we were sailing. ~12 knot winds.
Nov. 11, 2007…
Launched at Big Lagoon in Pensacola. The ICW was really choppy around 9am. Winds were reported to be around 10 mph, but felt more like 20 mph on the ICW. At least we were sailing.
November 12th, 2007
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