One-Winged Pelican

Spent most of today working on mounting the wind vane, but was pestered by a one-winged pelican.  Most pelicans swoop down and scoop up fish to eat, so a one-winged pelican must get pretty hungry.  It really begged for food, but then spit out the banana pieces I threw to it.

Mounting the Wind Vane

Started mounting the wind vane self-steering mechanism.  It is a used Norvane unit from another Albin Vega, like Pequod.  The challenge is holding it over the water at the right height to figure out where to drill the holes.  Wind vanes are generally preferred over autopilots for small sailboats on offshore passages because they do not use any electricity.  They do require much more attention to sail trim and the overall balance of the sails and helm.  This unit will be able to steer in most conditions, allowing time to cook food, take a nap, and make repairs.

Beach Report -- Pensacola Beach

On Sunday, I checked out Pensacola Beach while waiting for the local surf shop to open.  The white sand and blue water of Pensacola Beach is amazing.  A few surfers were riding small waves by the Pensacola Beach Pier.  The beach population was growing, even though it was an overcast Sunday morning.  Overall, this seems to be a first class beach.   Then I headed over to Yancy Spencer's Surf Shop in Gulf Breeze and talked to Greg about a longboard, but am still not sure where to carry a surfboard on Pequod. 

Sailing Report -- WFORC

Spent Friday and Saturday sailing on Tom Stokes' boat Free Spirit in the Western Florida Ocean Racing Circuit at Pensacola, Florida.  Saturday night, after five total races over two days, we were in a solid 4th place out of six boats in our class.  The courses were Windward-Leeward with about 1.5 mile legs and twice around.   I was the bowman and the bottom line is that was a lot of work for a big, heavy boat on such short courses.  But it was a good time and great experience.

Sailing Report -- S/V Cool Runnings

Spent yesterday afternoon and evening helping Scott Corey move his boat, S/V Cool Runnings, from the boatyard at D&H Marine in Gulfport back to his slip in Pass Christian Harbor, a trip of about 30 miles.   At first, we motored because one of his wooden spreader tips had rotted off and the mast was only supported by the lower shrouds.  With a perfect wind for sailing, I finally tired of motoring, so I climbed the mast and used a couple pieces of strap iron and 4 hose clamps to splint the spreader tip back in place.  After that we had quite an enjoyable sail, mostly by the light of a half-full moon.  

Cat Island Race

Raced around Cat Island today as part of an annual race sponsored by the Pass Christian Yacht Club.  Nine sailboats started and I raced on a 36' Pearson owned and skippered by Tom Stokes.  We placed 2nd in the Spinnaker division.  It was a great day for racing, with light breezes, lots of sunshine, and occasional visiting dolphins.

Horn Island Trip

Six of us, on two sailboats, headed across the Mississippi Sound and spent an overnight at Horn Island.  Horn Island is a very natural place, being part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and the least visited and largest of the Mississippi Barrier Islands.  Jim Boernge and his wife CJ, along with CJ's daughter Phyllis and her friend Piper, sailed on Short Circuit.  Millie Newman and myself sailed on Pequod.

We anchored both boats close together about 200 yards off the northern side of Horn Island.  The anchor riding sail I built worked quite well for steadying Pequod at anchor.

The dinghy rides to shore  were more exciting than necessary because the outboard motor really did not want to run.

Horn Island is about 15 miles long and almost a mile wide.  It really takes a beating when hurricanes hit the Gulf, but the ecosystem's speedy recovery is a true testament to the healing powers of nature. 

We found a dead sea turtle washed up on the beach.  Blood coming out of its head suggests it was struck by a fast boat.  

A short hike across the island brought us to the Gulf side.  On this day the swells were small and stingrays were swimming in the clear blue water.

We returned as the sun was setting and dinghied back to the anchored sailboats.  There we rafted up and fixed supper.  

Short Circuit's Salon was home to an enjoyable evening, with a feast of porkchops, boiled shrimp, baked beans, rice, salad, and wine.

The next morning, a school of dolphins entained us by playing near the boat.  About noon, we weighed anchor and they escorted us for awhile. 

The weather was absolutely perfect.

The wind was a sailor's dream.  How often does the wind allow you to sail both ways and use the spinnaker most of the way?