Once again, I represented the Montgomery Boats at the Trailer Sailors BEER (Backwater Environmental Escape Rendezvous) that is held annually in Pensacola Fla. Check the next issue of SCA for details. This is a 4 day event where participants from all over the country meet and sail to a different location every day then party on the beach that night. The Pensacola area has numerous great sailing sites and marvelous white sandy beaches. Some 68 trailer sailors showed up including a number of Mac 26’s down to a Guppy 13 and a Potter P-15. I must say that my Monty 15 gave a great performance, arriving at the next stop well ahead of the main fleet (although not ahead of several Sea Pearl 21’s from south Fla).
Friday night, there was a skippers meeting and great meal furnished by the host committee (GRITS – Gulf Regional Interstate Trailersailors) at the Pensacola Marine Shipyard where we all had launched that afternoon. Saturday morning, we got up and sailed to Navarre, some 27 miles down Santa Rosa sound (google Juana’s Pagoda). Just as I arrived, a summer thunderstorm struck. Luckily, I had managed to drop my sails and fire up the motor. I was still struggling to get the two anchors out of the cabin when the rain hit. I closed the cabin and motored in circles huddling under my Bimini top while lightning and hail plastered the area. The storm finally blew out and I motored into shore and dropped my anchors. We typically anchor bow out in 30 inches of water with the big Danford and run the big claw on the beach. Soon the area around Juana’s was full of boats, anchored side by side. I waded ashore and joined the party. Juana’s is a favorite local beach hangout live bands, drinks, and food (Think spring break in Cancun). After eating with a few trailersailors, I left the party scene and headed back to the luxurious cabin of Sweet Dream for a good night sleep. Sunday we sailed to Pensacola beach about 14 miles away. Another great sail and this time I waited until several boats had arrived and anchored. Pulling into the beach (google Flounder’s Chowder House and Quietwater Beach) several folks held my boat while I got out and set the anchors. I waded ashore and again joined the party. Pinja Colata’s and cold beer to replenish the bodily fluids as the temperatures soared into the high 90’s. That night the bands from the surrounding bars competed as trailer sailors sat on the beach and chatted about boats and other things in the tropical twilite. I sat in Sweet Dream’s cockpit in front of my fan and enjoyed the admiring glances from the other boaters who wished they had an M-15. Monday, I bid fairwell to the trailer sailors. The group sailed about 10 miles to Sand Island, on Big Lagoon between Alabama and Fla in the ICW but I couldn ’t join them. They were rewarded with a practice show right overhead by the “ Blue Angles” the Navy air team. The winds were light in the morning and I mostly motored the 12 miles back to Pensacola Marine to pull out my boat since I had to be at work the next day. Don Ludlow – from Mobile M-15 # 620 Sweet Dream ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
