B.E.E.R. 2011 - great time

[brackish]

Back from the B.E.E.R cruise for a couple of weeks, boat maintenance done and back in the lake.  Thousand miles of towing for a hundred miles of sailing, seems like the right ratio.

Went to Mexico Beach, FL first spent ten days day sailing with my extended family, mostly around Cape San Blas, near Port St. Joe.  All prettied up at the temporary dock at Mexico Beach.  New lifeline cushions, copied from Salty19.



Then on to Pensacola for the Beer cruise.  Actually talked the Admiral into doing the cruise with me.  First evening before we set out, most of the boats participating were staged here.  Enjoyed a low country boil put on by Cajun John Roddy, who normally cooks for all on the first night.  I'm second in line, inside alongside just behind the pretty Com-Pac Suncat with the blue hull.  There were four Com-Pacs this year, two 23's a Suncat and a Horizon cat.



Four days of sailing and three nights out, we sailed 17 miles on the first day from the Pensacola Shipyard Marina to the Pavilions (Opal Beach). Great night aboard, and on Santa Rosa Island, cooked steaks on the Magma, swimming on both the gulf and sound side.  Prepping for my approach to anchor, flaking the main, difficult over the bimini.  



Next day sailed to Quietwater, the Pensacola Beach boardwalk area.  Promised the Admiral a night in a motel (AC and a proper shower), so we stayed at the Paradise Inn which has a pier to tie up to and unload luggage.  After the fact, she said she preferred sleeping on the boat, so next time no motel.  No cooking at this stop ate at several of the very good restaurants in the area.  Dock at the Paradise Inn:



Next day, on to Sailboat Cove in Big Lagoon on the West side of the bay.  This was the most challenging sailing, a beat the whole way with relatively high winds.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well the 23 did.  Although it wasn't a race, we kept up with or passed a dozen boats that would normally have to give us time, including a Catalina 36 and a Laguna 33.  Ran aground coming to anchor, but got off (missed the skippers meeting where they gave us the best approach), had another great night of grillin and chillin.  Next morning got up sitting in the cockpit drinking coffee and watching the Blue Angels practicing above us.  What a great show!!

Then back to the Marina for a pull out and tow home.  Spent the night in Biloxi at the Admirals mother's home to break up the trip a bit.

Hey next year a few more Com-Pacs down there!  Some links to various photo albums of the cruise.  There are quite a few more, go to the trailer sailor BBS board, compressed forum and look for references to BEER.


http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/tsbbcomp/trailersailor/index.cgi/read/793410
http://bbs.trailersailor.com/forums/tsbbcomp/trailersailor/index.cgi/read/794005
http://www.youtube.com/user/BillfromLouisiana?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/wbQzJRtz1oQ

[Shawn]

Sounds like fun, did you notice this pic...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiobiz/5815457262/sizes/l/in/set-72157626797489447/

[brackish]

Yep, and a few later, same place still watching the show.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiobiz/5815487684/in/set-72157626797489447

[Bob23]

Wow, Brack:
   Great report...wish I was there. This work thing really gets in the way of life!
Bob23
(ps: In considering a bimini for my 23, I never thought about it getting in the way of handling the main. I might consider a "poor man's bimini"- old beach umbrellas!)

[brackish]

Wow, Brack:
   Great report...wish I was there. This work thing really gets in the way of life!
Bob23
(ps: In considering a bimini for my 23, I never thought about it getting in the way of handling the main. I might consider a "poor man's bimini"- old beach umbrellas!)

Bob, the bimini is essential, the Admiral would not sail with me in the summer without it.  It actually doesn't interfere with the main while sailing, but reaching over it to flake and tie off the main when lowering it is a stretch. Guess I could get one of those self flaking systems, but I can manage without one.

[Salty19]

Thanks for the trip report, Brackish.  One of these days I'm hoping to be able to attend...quite a haul down there though!
Sounds like a good time was had