FALL CRUISE September 30 – October 6, 2010

A recent article on an on-line sailing forum wistfully recounted the author’s last sail before hauling the boat for winter storage.  The writer was surrendering his sailing season and was surprisingly complacent with the approaching court-like sentence.  I would have been po’ed since summer was not quite over.  Along the Gulf Coast we have just started sailing again now that Gulf waters are free from the BP oil spill threat and the long heat spell that held sailors at the docks.
                My old college roommate, Mike Mills, and I sailed out of Fly Creek Marina (Fairhope, AL) on ‘Lagniappe’ my 28’ Columbia sailboat on Thursday morning for a one week cruise down Mobile Bay and eastward through the inland waterway toward Pensacola.  Bright sun, strong 15+ knot north winds, short pants, sun lotion and a well supplied boat: the sail south on Mobile Bay was beautiful and fast.  We were making 5-6 knots on a 25 nautical mile run to Point Clear then Mullet Point and finally to the waterway.  A large pod of dolphins (est. 30+) played around us for about 20 minutes.  Two smaller ones even jumped clear of the water.
                After another 10 miles through the IWW we anchored in Ingram’s Bayou at 1630.  The 35 nau mile trip was very pleasant and fast with the strong north winds.  We were in the back of the bayou and well sheltered from the forecasted 15-20 kt north winds throughout the night.  In reality, the winds abated and we slept like lumberjacks- sawing away all night long.
                Friday morning was bright and clear with light winds.  We pumped up the inflatable dinghy and motored around the bayou.  The old British SeaGull outboard started on the second pull. What an engine!  I washed Lagniappe’s hull to the waterline and got her ready for the short sail to Pirates Cove at Robert’s Bayou where we anchored then went ashore for hamburgers and cold refreshments.  Captain Larry Klaas in an Marine Trader 44 had anchored near us in the bayou and joined us in the cafe where we struck up a fast friendship.  We had intended to depart Pirates Cove the following day but after discovering that musician Grayson Capps and his band were performing Saturday night at the Cove, we stayed at anchor a second night and left Sunday, the 4^th day of the cruise.  Saturday we went ashore, watched Auburn (our alma mater) win in football, listened to the band rock out and finally motored back to Lagniappe.  It was after midnight.  Another deep sleep ‘dead mullet’ night ensued.  There were 8-10 abandoned/sunken boats at the Cove - see attached photo.  We got up late Sunday and left Pirates Cove about 1330.  Winds were still 15+ out of the north but the skies were clear and bright and the passage to Fort McRee was fast and exciting.
                Wind gusts of 25 knots were reported as we crossed Big Lagoon.  That stretch of open water provided some very fast and exciting sailing.  We anchored behind  a 40-50 foot ridge of sand dunes created from channel spoils, swam, grilled steaks, gazed at the stars, contemplated our miniscule existence in the galaxy, and slept the sailor’s sound sleep.
                Monday was still windy, clear and bright.  We motored the dinghy to Fort McRee and explored the fort and island.  I caught a small Spanish mackerel and found a nice clam.  I released the fish but sautéed the clam in olive oil and seasonings.  It tasted good but chewed like rubber.
                We sailed back to Pirates Cove on Tuesday under jib alone.  Winds were still very strong and I did not want to bother with reefing the mainsail.  After dragging anchor several times in Roberts Bayou we decided to leave for Ingram’s Bayou where the bottom was better.  It was a good decision because the anchorage was quiet and peaceful with only one other boat in sight.  Ospreys, hoot owls, and catfish eating food scraps kept us entertained.  Mike finished the novel he was reading.  I never completed one third of mine.  Another peaceful night at anchor.
                Wednesday we paid for all the great sailing and fine weather.  Strong north winds of 15-20 kts with higher gusts were still in the forecast and they materialized for a long and very rough trip home.  The smart sailor would have stayed at anchor but we had to get back.  It took us 11 hours and 15 minutes to return to my slip in Fairhope.  The total distance for the week long cruise was 102 nautical miles and except for the last forty miles, it was a most excellent cruise.

John Henderson
s/v Lagniappe
Fairhope, AL
Attached photos: 1. Abandoned boats at Pirates Cove.  2. Lagniappe at Fort McRee.  3. Captain John