Gulf of Mexico Cruising - Need Advice

[Steve Hall]

Fellow Members,I am going to make my first ocean trip from Panama City to Pensacola via Ft. Walton the end of the month. I have a few other sailing friends in the community and when I asked them about going to Pensacola, they said that they only traveled via the ICW. This doesn't make sense to me since it seems like it is a longer, more involved way to travel. Is there any reason, other than bad weather, that a Gulf trip would be bad? What decision would cause you to go ICW instead of the Gulf?Just for reference, I have a 25 foot Hunter that has been to the keys and back so I am pretty confident about the boat's ability.Thanks in advance! This is a great place to communicate with other cruisers!!Steve

 

[William Peyregne]

Would like to sail to Mobile Via Dauphin Island

I would like to sail to Mobile Bay and stay on Dauphin Island. I was planning on doing this in July 02. I was planning on taking the gulf via Fort Walton, Pensacola, Mobile Bay. I have never sailed that far before. I feel that I can do it. peyregne@aol.com

 

[Mark Major]

I'd like to hear more about it

I am planning a trip from Pensacola to points east June 10 through 18, planning a round trip both in and out of the ICW. Having sailed the Gulf all points south from Port Richey to the Dry Tortugas I don't see why you couldn't do it in open water up there as well. Let me know how that goes, and I would love to hear of any particular points of interest you discover along the way. Mark Major, s/v Lesismor 86H23 memajor@mpinet.net

 

[Larry]

Sailing to Dauphin Ilsand

You can go all the way ICW, or the gulf if you are comfortable with it. If you do go the gulf route, just follow the ship channel in past fort morgan to your east and DI to your west. After that just follow the ICW under the DI bridge. After you pass under the bridge heading west for about a half mile, there is a well marked channel heading SE back into Dauphin Island. Stay in the channel, it gets shallow in a hurry. This channel leads into the harbor where everyone rafts up after the Dauphin Island race, so there is plenty of room.

 

[Don]

Suggestion....

Going inside from Panama City to Destin is not that great of a trip, since you have to motor 16 miles thru the "ditch". On the other hand, this time of the year, we have SW winds. Going outside you will probably have the wind on the nose. The ICW between Destin and Pensacola is a beautiful trip, with winds off the Gulf and flat water. I would suggest going inside over and have a beam reach on the outside on the way back to PC.

 

[Steve Hall]

Great Feedback - Thanks, and more...

Thanks for the feedback. I will write more about it when I return. We have reserved a marina slip in Holiday Harbor, at Perdido Key where we are staying at a condo for a few days, then sail back. We can't wait!Steve