Association Forum - Pensacola

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Pensacola - Destin cruise

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

dhunt
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
83 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/22/2004 : 18:59:28

The first mate and I will be chartering out of Pensacola next week with no particular place to go. We'll have 4 teenage girls aboard so some stops are going to be necessary (or I'll go crazy!) and some beach time is required.

We'll be on a 34ft catamaran (they didn't have any C25's so we stepped down a bit). We will take a run over to Destin to visit some other folks on vacation there. I have a few questions for you panhandle cruisers.

1. Pensacola to Destin . . . ICW or outside?
2. Santa Rosa Island . . . great anchorages/beaches?
3. Best burger/beer spots?
4. Secluded anchorages? (I can beach this boat - just need 18" at the stern)
5. Not to be missed???
6. Best place to grab an overnight slip (or mooring) in Destin???

Thanks in advance for your suggestions - I have charts but can't find a cruising guide and the web has little info.

David and Sharon Hunt on Solitaire, #800 sk-sr, Marietta GA

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2004 : 19:09:10

Claiborne Young has a Cruising Guide to the Northern Gulf Coast
I have only sailed the Gulf Coast once in Appalachicola Bay and near Dog Island. His recommendations were right on.
His book on the Keys is good too.

It seems he researches his bars, restaurants, and anchorages well.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2004 : 19:24:30

Edited by - on

Mark Loyacano
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2004 : 19:31:17

Dave and Sharon ... if you get as far West as Mobile bay there is an overnight spot not to miss...Bon Secour inlet. Protected water, gorgeous scenery and you can tie, stern to, the local fish house dock. The folks were very friendly, wouldn't take a dime for us being there (we did eat a scrumptous meal there).

Bon Secour is right off the intracoastal at the South East corner of Mobile Bay. Another great spot to anchor for the night is Ingram Bayou just East of Perdido Bay.

ENJOY your trip. We bareboat charter in that area...just love it.

Edited by - on

dhunt
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
83 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2004 : 22:07:14

Frank - I ordered the 4th edition from Amazon - Muchos Gracias

Mark - We've been to the beaches LOTS (this is a senior trip for our 4th and last teenager) but this is our first charter and we're really looking forward to it.

Edited by - on

svmoxie
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
331 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2004 : 22:15:57

David

You should drop in the Trailer Sailor forum with this question as well.

http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/trailersailor/index.cgi

Ben Allen puts together the annual BEER (Backwater Environmental Escape Rendezvous) cruise for the past several years and he is a great source for the Pensacola sailing area. Check out the BEER site too.

http://www.knology.net/~ballen1/

Edited by - on

eric.werkowitz
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
283 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2004 : 22:56:37

David,

I'll try to answer some of your questions.

1. If the wind is out of the south, the gulf will be choppy. If it is out of the north, I'd go outside (gulf). If you go the ICW, it will be busy sailing, lot's of maneuvering. You'll probably motor considerable portions. The route can be relatively narrow in spots.
If you come into the Destin gap from outside be sure to check the tides. The current can be very strong. If it is going against you you'll be making slow headway.

2. Most of Santa Rosa Island has great beaches. Anchorages may be more of a problem. Between Navarre and Pensacola is a long stretch of National Seashore. There may be places to anchor if you have a dinghy to get ashore. In the ICW between Pensacola and Ft. Walton Beach, marker 50 is a popular rendezvous and overnight spot. Should be on your chart.

3. Near Brooks Bridge on Santa Rosa island is a Fudpuckers with burgers and Beer a plenty. There are also a number of other eateries. These should in the vicinity of Marker 20 in the ICW in Ft. Walton Beach.

4. Rocky and Boggy Bayous almost due north of the Destin cut in Choctawhatchee Bay have good anchorages and are relatively protected. Should be quiet (except on the weekend) if not secluded.

5. It's all great!

6. Just as you come into Destin harbor on the right are some sandy beaches that I believe you could pull that Cat onto. Shouldn't be hard to find. Otherwise you can anchor in the harbor.

Hopefully, some of the other locals will give you more first hand advice.

Good luck and have fun.

Edited by - on

Sid
Navigator

Members Avatar

129 Posts

Response Posted - 03/23/2004 : 11:24:11

Where/who do you charter from? I was stationed at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola from 1998-2000. We return there every summer. we charter from the base but they have limited cruise area and no ovenights

. We would like to find affordable charter and stay on the hook as oppossed to hotel. Guess we could drag our C25 the 13 hours to Pensacola, but would like to know of alternatives.
Thanks,
Sid

Edited by - on

coach
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
231 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2004 : 13:43:06

I tried to book a Cat 25 from Lanier sailing in Pensacola Beach just last week while I was down there. Booked to far ahead of time to get one.

Pensacola Beach is very nice. White sand, great restaraunts. Eat at Papa's Pizza and Flounders...Flounders is great, open air restaraunt with live music just about every night. I was in heaven.

Just remember when you fall out of your boat in the bay there, you are a part of the food chain then. We were told that there are quite a few sharks around Pensacola Beach. In fact while we were on the pier, we saw two of them swimming around the end of the pier.

Edited by - on

Captain B
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
88 Posts

Response Posted - 03/26/2004 : 09:08:02

Dito to Eric's comments. On the first day of sailing, I'd recommend a stop at Juanna's in Navarre beach. Right next door is the Sailor's Grill. Both are located on the southwest side of the Navarre Bridge and offer a good anchorage close to the beach. Day 2, I'd sail east along the intercoastal waterway to Choctahatchee Bay and then east to Destin. Lot's of harborside dining available. As an alternative, or for day 3, sail north east across the Bay to Boggy Bayou. Inside marker #9 you'll find Great anchorages and Giuseppi's Wharf for dining.
Cheers,

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.