Changes

[CPYOA]

Changes by Larry Ferguson

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To begin with let me say that I have been a lake sailor living in Birmingham (AL), and sailing on local lakes in my Com-Pac 16, named Changes. It was with much excitement that I planned a trip to Perdido Bay (FL/AL) for a three day sail. I longed to feel steady winds and salt spray on my face. Cheryl, my `significant other', was as excited as I was at the thought of this adventure. We enjoy lake sailing and I figured a three-day sail in Changes would tell us a lot about our relationship and where it was heading. Besides we had just finished reading The Prince of Tides and wanted to find the White Porpoise.

We drove down on a Saturday morning and launched at Kits Marina at the top of Perdido Bay. This is a very nice marina with a big security fence that put our worries about leaving the car for three days to rest. The wind was light at first causing me to wonder if I wasn't back on Logan Martin Lake. Once we cleared DuPont Point we picked up steady south winds and had a smooth sail to Soldier Creek. This is an excellent gunkhole area, but be sure to read the various waterway guides because the entrance can be tricky even though it is well marked. One of the beautiful things about my Com-Pac 16 is that even if I had gone aground I could have easily pushed her off...try that in a thirty footer!

Once inside Soldier Creek we found four 30' sailboats anchored for the night in the best deep water area; no problem, we simply continued up the creek and found an excellent place around the next point. After a great supper we settled down to enjoy a sky full of stars and Alabama winning their football game.

Sunday, we re-entered a rather rough Perdido Bay where a fresh breeze created a bay full of whitecaps as far as I could see. The waves were at least three feet tall, maybe taller, but certainly more than we ever experienced lake sailing We battened down the hatches and charged out into the bay--this is what we came for. Changes was magnificent and seemed more at home in this wind and waves than ever before. Right then and there I became a confirmed Com-Pac sailor; these are boats I can trust

After a day of exhilarating sailing we settled in at Tarkiln Bay, much the same way pirates of old entered the Bay for safety long ago. A quick swim and supper finished off a day that I thought couldn't get better. I was wrong! Just as a huge red sun was setting in the west a huge full moon rose in the east. It was like a page out of The Prince Of Tides; or a line from a Jimmy Buffet song

Warning!! Sailor beware....when you experience this with your `significant other' you might be overcome and use the `M' word in a weak moment. Perhaps it was the atmosphere, or maybe the brandy, but what I do know is I said MARRIED and we both almost jumped overboard.

The next day four porpoise escorted us back to Kits Marina, one even surfaced right beside me, less than 6 inches from the side of Changes. They are magnificent creatures, so graceful in the water. We looked for the white porpoise, but no luck.

This story ends in story book fashion. Yes we did do the `M' thing and now I have a permanent first mate. Coastal cruising impressed us so much that we moved to Mobile (AL), found jobs, and sold Changes in anticipation of buying a Com-Pac 23. So you see, Com-Pac 16s not only are great sailboats, they are matchmakers too!

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This article was last updated on August 01, 2003.