Pensacola FL Sailing Blog - sailingnightwatch

The weather around here could get the weatherman asassinated. Beside the dog days of summer, there have been 50-60% thunderstorms forecast. That is not abnormal. During the summer we normally call them I-10 storms because they are caused by the sea breeze and build around the interstate and north in this part of the panhandle. You see them, they are there and you do not pay them much mind. This year we have also had thunderstorms lurking off the coast. We are surrounded! I have never been one that gets mentally frozen and can not make a decision. This year, I have probably lost a couple good sailing days because of my not making up my mind. Last Saturday was the same scenario. After dinner I am out on the pier kicking myself for not going out. True, both the wife and I got projects done that needed to get done after being out of town for a week. Still, why are we here…? To sail.On a dieing breeze we motored across the ICW to a place on the Beach called the Boardwalk. It is full of shops and restaurants and bars. This was a one hour evolution. I launched the dingy, showered and asked the wife if she was coming along to get a bushwacker. “No, but bring me one.” So I went and had 2. Also brought back 2.We had anchored about 100 yards off the beach and equal distance between 2 large beach bars with good sounding bands. When I returned (10:30) I sat in the cockpit listening to the music thinking they will stop at midnight. The only thing that stopped at midnight was the wind. Did I mention it is the last weekend in July, that the day had thunderstorms in the area, that when they dissipate in the evening, the moisture goes straight to my body. And the music goes on. When we go to the boardwalk, we usually come back to the boat and re-anchor about ½ mile east. You can still hear the bands, but it is greatly muted. Sleepable.Well I did not re-anchor. Lazy. 12:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00 I go to bed, the wife says it was 2:30 when it got quiet. She also mentioned the wind had died, don’t touch her, she had her own sweet to lay in, why did you decide to stay here, I’m never going to do this again.Could have been worse, there was room at the pier and we could have tied up their. At 2:30 all the people from the bars decide to walk the pier and look at the boats caring the last call drinks. You can party for a couple more hours.We got up to the same weather forecast, plus no wind and already in the 90’s We got back to our slip by 11 am. We put the boat to bed, grab a couple beers and went to a friend’s pool and discussed my misplaced spontaneity.This week the weatherman has a new line. All those thunderstorms off the coast are getting together to do something tropical. Well if it does not have rum in it, I am not interested.