Tomorrow is the day

[RECESS]

We are going to make our first off shore adventure. Three days on the hook in our newly acquired Catalina 22. About four miles off the coast of Carrabelle Florida is Dog Island. No way to get there but boat. Pristine beaches and a beautiful natural protected harbor. The weather window is awesome though. All three days are supposed to be high of 78 and low of 60. Perfect for sleeping on a boat.

There are 20 permanent residents on the island but no facilities for visitors. We have use of the facilities back in the marina in Carrabelle, but as you can see in this photo looking back to the mainland, it is not exactly a quick ride back for a shower.

My wife is a camper since a child. If this goes smooth, there will be many more of these to come. For longer trips, we plan on using the O'Day 25. We get 13 mpg hauling the Catalina 22 and 9 MPG hauling the O'Day. So the Catalina will be our quick trip boat.

We are all psyched!!! We will be taking many videos and pictures.

 

[Freedom77]

Have a wonderful cruise. Wish I could be there. Looks beautiful. Fair Winds and Full Sails...

 

[Ken]

Sweet...... Wish we were going with you. We splashed in Lake Seminole in Oct motored down the river to Apalachicola then on to Fort Walton Beach... Was a great trip. Keep us posted on the trip.

 

[All U Get]

That's awesome. We have ice forming on the ponds here so have a great time.
All U Get

 

[Ross]

That is perfectly do able. You won't leave sight of land. Check your anchor light before you go.

 

[JVB]

Hmmm, too bad that 2700 foot turf runway is a private airport. Who took the aerial photo ?

 

[Ed Schenck]

Will you take your time and sail over? Forecast is for SE winds. Should be a fun ride home though. Here's a nor' coaster wishing he was crew.

 

[Winkfish]

Looks fun!!! Have a great time!!

 

[RECESS]

We are harbored in the last cove before you leave the western tip of the island with a 40 ish catimaran and a 35ish monohull. I am on my cell phone so I will do a real trip report with purdy pictures in a few days. A few quick thoughts though. Four miles off shore is really not that far. We totally over packed. Hot showers are really cool. There is always something that delays the start of the launch. Starting an outboard with a cord from the flywheel may look ghetto, but it is a very useful skill. No matter how much you want to sail,motoring becomes necessary in shallow unfamilar waters.

 

[Ed Caldwell]

Hmmm, too bad that 2700 foot turf runway is a private airport. Who took the aerial photo ?

Landed there once on a long distance cross country many years ago. Had to make a low pass first to ensure no animals on the runway, then landed to full stop and took a walk on the beach. Looked like a great place to get away from it all, hopefully still the case. Enjoy the trip Dave!

 

[kloudie1]

Dave.. did you have a chance to pick up Rob White's book Flotsam and Jetsam before the trip.. He has some fine stories about the area in the book of short stories.. Was recommended to me by Roger Long and is a fine book !!