On to Alabama

We left Pitt's Bayou about noon with the plan to make the outer mark about two.  If the forecast held true, that would put us at Perdido Pass's  outer mark just after sunrise.  We didn't want to go in without full light since it is a narrow pass with shoals in both sides.  The first 10 hours were perfect. The wind was moderate and we flew all 3 sails and made a respectable, planned speed.  Then the wind picked up and our speed was much better but the boat was still comfortable.  After a few hours of this speed however, we realized we would be there way too early so we doused the mizzen, reefed the main and jib to slow us down.  It didn't work since the wind increased too.  If we had been going farther, it would have been perfect but, Oh Well.  In the end we decided to heave-to for a few hours.  This made the boat wallow but we didn't like the alternative of diverting to Pensacola so we endured.  Finally we set full sail again  but about 10 miles out the wind died altogether so we pulled in sail and motored in. We arrived at our destination, Barber's Marina telling ourselves, "It better be worth it."  It was.  This is the nicest, cleanest marina we have ever visited.  It is very reasonably priced with the cleanest restrooms-showers.  The laundry room is also clean and well appointed, just like what a nice house would have.  This place is so interesting.  It is one of many holdings by the Barber group and no expense was spared in it's construction or ongoing maintenance.  The floating docks, vast areas, are all an exotic hardwood.  The pilings are solid and slips and fairways wide.  What really makes this place unique is the collection of antique outboards, driftwood art, various pieces of statuary around the marina proper and as we discovered with a short bike ride, even more unusual sculptures stretched out along the road leading up to the marina.  We had heard about them but never seen them.  Overall, the few hours of wallowing seas were worth it.

We had these Plexiglas windows added to our bimini so we could see sail shape
without having to get wet.  We have one on each side so it doesn't matter what tack
we're on.  There are shades, installed from inside the cockpit to provide shade.

Panama City Beach, condo alley.