Running Aground – From Pensacola to Clearwater, Florida

Passage Revelation:  There are only two types of boaters, the ones who have run aground, and the others who will.

Lessons Learned:  Know tribal knowledge in navigating through new seafaring territories.   Ask directions from local sailors, before leaving the dock.

It is very tricky leaving the Pensacola Bayou Grande Marina.  The markers are confusing; yes I went aground, but recovered very quickly.  Over the years I have found the best solution to running aground is to re-track your boat steps.  This was especially important, as I had followed a local sailor, in a sister Vancouver 42-foot Tayana sailboat, into the marina.    The only difference in our boats; he was the original owner and bought an aft cockpit; whereas, we are the second owner and bought a center cockpit.

When I ran aground, I put the boat in reverse, and returned the way I had come, and backed into deeper waters.  Come to find out my husband and crew previously had run aground, but recovered by flying the spinnaker (whopper), in another area of Pensacola Bay.  The spinnaker provided the propulsion to ease the boat off the bottom.  So after 2 weeks, the JonNe’ had run aground 3 times; once in Portofino Marina, Houston and twice in Pensacola, Florida.  Fortunately this time, TowBoatUS is not required for the Pensacola groundings. 

After the almost running aground incident, we set our course to open seas heading toward Clearwater, Florida.  As night approached, the sky darkened with no moon to guide the way.  Previously we had 14 days of moonlight, with clear skies all the way.  Tonight the moon did not appear until midnight.  Out in the darkness, I heard whistling and blowing noises.  I searched for the sound, but nothing was over the side, except a phosphorescent illumination on the water’s surface.  This beautiful glowing light had replaced the moon and was guiding the boat through the ocean.  Then I heard the noise again, and saw magnificent dolphins gracefully diving in and out of the waves.  The dolphins were the culprits responsible for the magical seafaring sounds. 

The translucent light sparkled against the boat and dolphins as if fireworks on the fourth of July.  This brightly speckled light is plankton on the surface.   The dolphins were feeding on the micro -organisms available for other sea mammals.  The shimmering iridescent light accompanied our sailboat for hours, but soon the dolphins disappeared into the darkness.   This light had served two purposes:  one to light our sailing course; two, and the most important, as a food source, instrumental to the ocean’s Eco life cycle.