Sailing along the Emerald Coast

[rjlgeo]

Thanks everyone for the replies and info. Definitely planning a vacation down there.

Randy

[RKsailsolo]

The Santa Rosa sound should be warming up nicely right about now. http://santarosasound.com/

[thomm225]

That link shows the area of one of the big races of the year for catamarans.

It's the 100 mile Round the Island (RTI) Race.

The race starts at Leeside Park in Ft. Walton Beach at 0700 which means you have to rig the boat practically in the dark and be at the start line at 0700. From there, you sail out Destin Pass, take a right at the Sea Buoy, sail about 55 miles or so and come in Pensacola Pass. Then take a right and sail back. In 1997 we had 82 boats finish.

It was usually a great race, beautiful scenery, and could be done in 12 hours or less IF the wind cooperated. If the wind cooperates is on the stern quarters for the whole race except the first 6 miles which is upwind to the Destin Bridge.

I did finish a couple times in 20 - 21 hours though becuse the wind didn't cooperate.

[RKsailsolo]

Thom, sounds like an awesome race in a place where the entire community is oriented to the Ocean. IMHO FL is the place to be if you sail. Where ever you go, you are not more than 75 miles away from the sea. Lots of wide open sheltered waterways and a well developed marine industry plus no income tax and you can sail all year.