Day 42: Sand Destin to Panama City Beach, FL

Departed Baytowne at 7:00 am and arrived at Panama City Marina at 11:00 am

Perfect morning with flat water made for a quick hour run through Choctawhatchee Bay to the "Grand Canyon", a 16 mile land cut that has surprisingly steep "canyon" walls.  Both runs uneventful. The canyon ends at West Bay (St. Andrews Bay). Our original plan was to stop at the "Boondocks", literally, and taxi crew to and from the airport only 6 miles away. The restaurant confirmed a channel and dock via phone but recommendations from others and our own inability to find the channel brought us to plan B. 

Plan B was to test our radar and Raymarine IR camera while navigation West Bay through a serious squall line. After the much needed fresh water boat shower the sun arrived and we landed at the Panama City Marina.  The staff was very hospitable.  The cab rides were 40 minutes rather than 10 but the job got done. Lorri Murray had her four days of mostly great weather. We welcomed more than 50 guests and enjoyed some wonderful harbors on a great vessel.

The afternoon included entertaining friends, old and new, exploring the bay with a dockside lunch and a swim at Shell Island (white beaches and very clear water)

My son Stanton (20) flew in and joined took the first mate job from his mother for the offshore section of our trip. In our 5 hours run, we burnt 42 gallons of fuel averaging at 8.4 gal/hr

The Panama City Marina is ground zero for the area's firework display with the firework barge anchored just off the marina breakwater, 800 feet from our slip.  The marina staff invited us to join the VIP BBQ on the breakwater. Thank you for a great meal and your hospitality!

Wine selection- American Decoy to celebrate July 4

Best: fireworks from the flybridge

Worst: morning squall with little visibility