Check the web-site for the Florida 120. They have a lot of information about the Pensacola area. They launch from a park just east of Pensacola. Also look at the site for the Backwater Environmental Escape (B.E.E.R) They used the Pensacola Shipyard Marina, which is a good launch point. The area has a lot of decent anchorages inclean sand, with short walks to the Gulf side of the barrier islands. I also made a trip out of Carrabelle. Launched at a motel with a short ramp and pier in my M-15. A few more shoals in that area. Large gyres near the inlets could either slow or hasten your progress. As for North Carolina, sailing large bays, rivers, and sounds offer unlimited sailing. The Albemarle Sound has a half dozen towns and marinas that offer free dockage, often with showers. Google "Albemarle Loop" ( Albemarleloop.com ) for a cruiser friendly site about the historic towns that lie around the sides of the Sound. Towns like New Bern, Beaufort, Belhaven, and (Little) Washington have good boating opportunities, ramps, On Tue, Sep 20, 2016 at 2:14 PM, AM Middleriverstudio < middleriverstudio@gmail.com> wrote:
Consider coming to the Chesapeake Bay! Ches Bay Maritime Museum has a nice Small Craft Festival (geared towards wood boats of course) which should be lots of fun.
http://cbmm.org/events/annual-festivals-and-special-events/ mid-atlantic-small-craft-festival-and-maritime-model-expo/
Message: 1 Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2016 13:23:31 -0500 From: Richard Everett <1.064um@gmail.com> To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: M_Boats: Sailing an M17 in the Florida pan handle gulf area Message-ID: <CAAVL5qBGHfByhRAm84LNrzP8KN06Hwf2qJS_TyS3rUhxX+fpkg@mail. gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Hi this is Rick and Debora (M17 #635 Eidolon). It has been a long while since we posted on the list and we are no longer in the Pacific
Northwest.
We built a RV from scratch and are now full timing in it while pulling our M17. We have been on the road for four months and have sailed in Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Tennessee. Eventually we want to sail in every state (maybe not Hawaii).
Anyway, we are now considering heading from Tennessee down to the Florida pan handle in mid October and spend a month in that area before going further south in Florida for the winter. I am curious to know if any of you have sailed in that area (anywhere along the stretch from Pensacola to, say, Carrabelle). I would like to know how the sailing is in a M17 and also if you recommend any certain marina or preferably marina/rv park. I am looking now at Sunset Isle RV and Yacht club or Presnell's Marina/RV park. There may be other places that are better...
Thanks for any tips!
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-- *Antonio Martinez* *Middle River Studio*