We are planning to vacation in Pensacola Fl. area this June. never been there . I am a Hobie 18 sailor looking to rent something while there ,dont want to bring my boat from Wyoming ! Found "Key Sailing " there to rent , probably do that. any tips about sailing down there ?

Check this place out. http://www.juanaspagodas.com/ They rent waves and jetski's. They will be cats on the beach. And sometime racing. Bakery next door has great food.

Doug

Not sure whether key rents anything other than waves and getaways- same with juanas. You can send an email to Key and ask them if there are other boats to rent. I know they have a nacra 5.2 ? 5.8? sitting on their beach. If that doesn't work, I think I know of someone who would rent you a TheMightyHobie18 though. Send me a PM if you are interested.

you might get a discount if you bring a case of coors light with you to Key Sailing <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ask to "test drive" an Infusion or a Nacra 20. At Kirk's, everything is for sale... even his personal boats. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My picks - parasail at Key, breakfast beer with the guys, drive to Navarre on the beach road (is it open?!) to have the prime rib sandwich at Juana's, listen to Juana's husband, Steve, tell some tall tales about their big Gemini cat trips, on to Destin for putt-putt and go-carts, back to Key for happy hour, wander into Hooters with the boat dogs for a Cuban sandwich, then to the Irish pub for darts, Islander for some shuffle board and some really funny pole dancing spectacle from the locals (there's always room for Jello), then to the Break for some serious pool (BYOS). Everything after about 4 PM is by foot and in a group of six to ten good friends...

Nah - I don't miss P'cola at all. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

June 16 is Round The Island.

Another sailor and I just sailed at Juannas this past weekend with out 16s. Thye have 3 Waves that they rent there along witht some jet skis. Its nice there and you can get a beverage of your choice and some good food. Let me know when you come into town!!

That's really funny - I happened to be eating lunch as you guys pushed off the beach! It was a perfect day for it - you must have had fun. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

ps - I knew those 16s looked too clean to be rentals!

Stop with all the temptation. You're making me want to grab a case of coors light and catch the next flight down there. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

And you're not because.........


Clayton

I saw you guys when my wife and I were out on our boat on Sat!

JW: I'm compiling a list of motels with beach access for cats. Got one for P'cola?

Pete:

We had a ball at Juannas Pagoda in Navarre. Fun bar with nice cat beach in front and Bakery has really good food. There is also a good beach at Fort Walton Yacht Club. Key Sailing could probably tell you about Pensacola.

Doug

Pete,

I think there's a hotel right across the street from Key Sailing that we've stayed in several times for Perf. Mid-winters there.

I've never sailed up there. Does Key Sailing permit access to the general public? Are they a rental place? How was the motel?

We've only been there for regattas, but there is a public boat ramp/parking right next to Key Sailing (the store), and I would presume if you were kind enough to offer Cap'n Kirk a brewski, you might be able to keep your boat tied down there for a weekend.

Just north (like 100yrds) of Key is quietwater beach.. a perfect place to sail out of. You could probably leave your boat there overnight but I would just talk to Kirk and see baout keeping the boat next to his for a weekend... who knows if he would ask for a small fee (coors light?) but if he did it would certainly be very fair.
Juanas is a good place and you can keep your boat next to it for a while... but there ain't no hotel there but there is one right across the bridge on the water (not sure you could keep your boat at that hotel, but it would be easier to keep it the mile away at Juanas). I know of a perfect beach spot/camping spot if you have a HT <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That is a great place to sail. Few years back I was able to leave my H20 there while I was in town. Worked out real nice. If I needed anything his shop was right there, of course I didn't break too much. It didn't hurt that I had purchased my boat from him <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

You won't be disapointed in the area at all!

Clayton

I agree with most of John's picks. Just back from a few weeks ago. Also agree with John on missing that place and I never lived there!

The road to Navarre is still out. see attached picture. Was a weird day, bright sun but white haze rolling in off the gulf. Not just a bad picture, it looked like this. Road out to Ft. Pickens also out... Park service not rebuilding either maybe.



If you need place to stay with cat, try the sound side condos instead of gulf side beach... you can still get out if the surf is big. Stay as far west as you can (Ocean Club , Tristen Tower, or Baywatch) so you can sail around to the gulf if you want. All of them are available through JMR reality. In light air, you want to be on this side of the bridge as opposed to east of it.

Drinks: After your coors lite with Kirk, Diesel Fuel at Flounders (Thurs special), Voodoo punch at Peg Legs, and Hurricane at Crabs.

Food:
Crabs food sucks but service was great.
Flounders is just ok.
Peg Legs Po Boy and sandwiches are best food for money on the beach. Live music at night. Playground for kids. Best drinks on the island and good oysters.
Sam's Seafood on Pensacola proper across from joe patti seafood used to be favorite away from the beach... closed sun-tue I think. Not as good as it used to be. Good gumbo. When leaving pcola beach, stay left when you go over second bridge and hug the shoreline past downtown... it is on your right.
Around the same area, west of bridge on water, back towards bridge just off downtown by marinas is new place called Oysters (and something else). One casual, one more fancy... both same hostess station. 25 cent oysters on tuesday. More hoity-toity and less southern fried if that is your thing. Not bad prices.

Mike:

What happened to road to Navarre? It was fine in June when I got the 4.3 at Great Bay Race.

Doug & Ashleigh Snell