2ND TRIAL RUN

For our second trial run, we decided to venture a bit further. We joined a group from the yacht club for a trip to Niceville/Valparaiso. The journey consisted of just four boats: three sailboats and a Tiara Yacht. Each of us traveled at our own pace, which for us was about 4-5 knots. This pace allowed me to become comfortable with sailing the boat while Marcus managed raising the sails and handling the control line systems like the Cunningham, Halyard, Outhaul, Traveler, and Boom Vang. I was quite anxious as my only prior experience was racing with the sailboat group, but I can confidently say that what I learned from them has been incredibly beneficial in sailing our own boat.

Upon arrival, we chose to anchor at a distance from the other boats. This wasn't out of a desire to be antisocial, but rather because anchoring a sailboat near other vessels is quite different from doing so with smaller or regular-sized boats. Two of the sailboats were connected, while our sailboat and the Tiara Yacht were anchored separately. Fortunately, one of the sailboats equipped with a dinghy offered to pick us all up from our boats, while another sailboat volunteered to take us to the restaurant, Boathouse Landing. For dinner, I ordered the stuffed Flounder and Key Lime Pie for dessert, while Marcus opted for the Coconut Shrimp along with two orders of fries. The meal was exceptional! Then we were dropped off at our boat. Marcus took Ryder, our furry companion, on the stand-up paddleboard to a nearby public access point. After they returned, we spent hours outside on the cockpit, stargazing, discussing our future travel plans, and savoring a splendid glass of wine.

The next morning, we woke up and took our furry friend to the public access point on the stand-up paddleboard. Marcus prepared a delicious breakfast on the alcohol stovetop, which we thoroughly enjoyed. After breakfast, we took a refreshing swim in the cool water, and I had my first experience with stand-up paddleboarding in the Boggy Bayou. Later that morning, we set sail for a bit before returning home to pack the sailboat and tidy up. Sadly, all the fun had to come to an end.