Pensacola Bay

[Brent]

A plan is brewing for a week long thin water sailing expedition out of Pensacola, probably in March. Thinking about visiting Dauphin Is, Ship Is, and any other locations that provide a good anchorage, an interesting place to explore, or a good meal. The agenda will include some local historical sites as well.

So with that in mind, could anyone recommend a place to launch that provides a relatively secure place to leave a car for the duration.

AND

What suggestions are there for must see/do destinations/anchorages.

[Charlie Jones]

Check with PMSC Pensacola Shipyard Marina Complex. Good ramp and we leave trucks and trailers there every year for the BEER Cruise. We've left our truck and trailer there in their lot for 2 weeks twice now. Talk to Chip in the office. great guy. Tell him one of the BEERCruise people recommended the place.

Pirates Cove used to be a good ramp and parking spot but I don't know what is working since the hurricanes. Speaking of which, DO be careful sailing over there - according to friends in the area, there is still a lot of junk in the waters - washing machines, refrigerators, etc. You know the normal post hurricane crap.l

By the way, chart 11378 covers Pensacola Bay. Long way from P'cola to Ship Island isn't it? Isn't that sorta closer to Pascagoula Miss?

Check out the anchorage at what we call Mosquito Cove. I think the locals refer to it as Ft Mcrae. The ruins of Ft McRae are there and interesting and the cove is a great anchorage. It's JUST inside the inlet from offshore too.

We are planning a six weeks cruise from here in Texas to over there and return during May and June, hopefully.

[Travis Votaw]

Brent, I second what Charlie says about PMSC. It has to be the most perfect place to launch from and leave your vehicle and trailer. I don't have the web page address handy, but you can Google them and get it.

I was there last summer for BEER 04. They have showers and laundry facilities, too.

I'll be pulling my new Princess 22, "Pilgrim", down there in May for BEER 05. I can hardly wait!

I wish I was ready to go earlier and meet you there, too.

TV

[Brent]

Thanks, this is just the information I am looking for.

[Steve Day]

Brent,

When in March are you planning to be down there? We are going to be in the Point Clear area in Mobile Bay from March 12 thru 15. Maybe we could meet up, if that is the right timing.

Steve

[Brent]

Meeting up would be great, however my plans are to be there later in the month, probably during the full moon. This time of year the total plan is contingent on weather. It may boil down to choosing a weather window and going.

[Steve Day]

Brent,

Too bad. We would have liked to meet up with you and see your boat.

We had planned to be down there at the same time during the week between Palm Sunday and Easter. That would have gotten the full moon and a little longer in the area.

That was not to be, since my boat will be on charter that week. We had to opt for the earlier time to accommodate the charter.

Maybe we can get together some other time.

Steve