Destin to Panama City Beach cruise

fragmag

fragmag

New Member
Mar 27, 2007
287
Pittsburgh, PA
Boat Info
185 Sport
Engines
4.3l
I'm going on a cruise with the club Destinations on Saturday and Sunday. This is the first time I have done a large group cruise. There should be about 60 boats, estimated, that will make the cruise. We will end at Bay Point Marriot for dinner, drinks, then golf or relax at the day spa on Sunday.

I will take some pictures and post if anyone is interested. I'm super excited since this is my first time.
 
club destinations? What's that never heard of it but you've peeked my interest tell me more.
 
fragmag said:
I'm going on a cruise with the club Destinations on Saturday and Sunday. This is the first time I have done a large group cruise. There should be about 60 boats, estimated, that will make the cruise. We will end at Bay Point Marriot for dinner, drinks, then golf or relax at the day spa on Sunday.

I will take some pictures and post if anyone is interested. I'm super excited since this is my first time.
Click to expand...

This is my local area. You will love the cruise. I know you're probably all booked up, but as you come in the pass, we will all be anchored up to your right about 2 miles. As you make your left to go into the Grand Lagoon, you will pass very close to the sand on your left and a marker on your right. It's ok. It's deep there in the middle.

Before you turn right into the channel to Bay Point, our main Sea Ray dealer is straight ahead a couple of miles on the left. As you make your turn into the channel to Bay Point, be sure to go around the red marker. Do not stray from the channel.

Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
If you do run the ditch (beach cruise?), then my comments about the initial turn directions were reversed. Either way, you'll end up just inside our pass. Our beach hangout is to the SE on the inside of the barrier island, and the marinas are to the NW.

I don't personally find the ditch boring. We've seen dolphins, bald eagles, and other interesting sites. Additionally, it's really calm in there and the boats just cruise.
 
Morpheus said:
club destinations? What's that never heard of it but you've peeked my interest tell me more.
Click to expand...

here is a link to the "club" : http://www.legendarymarine.com/content.asp?nav=112743&cpid=8203&

Basically it is offered by the local marina for all the people who either buy boats from this dealer/marina or store their boats at the marine. My friend stores his boat there and invited us along as his guests. I know they do different trips throughout the year.

Hampton- I know we will be travelling thru the ditch and finishing up at Bay Point Marriot, other than that I am not exactly sure of the coordinates. If I see a big 'ole Sea Ray maybe I'll give you a holler. Anyways, should be exciting, and hopefully the weather will hold out for us.
 
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There's only one way. After you come under the Hwy 79 bridge on the West end of West Bay, stay in the channel. You'll be entering a huge expanse of water which is shallow on the West end. Once the markers spread apart, there's more room to breath. You'll arc around the wetlands on your right, then approach the Hathaway bridge from the North. On your left, the colleges, and on your right, a couple of neighborhoods, condos, and then the Navy base after the bridge.

You'll pass the sea port after the bridge on your left and arc around St Andrews on your left. Next, there's a narrow area of 12' deep water in the middle of the bay I normally cut through before taking the next right turn toward the pass. The conservative route is way to your left around the marker before turning right toward the pass. Once you're heading SW toward the pass, Bay Point is part of the entire peninsula off your right (NW). You'll cruise a couple of miles toward the pass and then make a right into Grand Lagoon immediately before exiting toward the Gulf.

On the entire route, stay between the markers as there are shallow shoals that stretch out into the bay from the shore. It'll be like slalom skiing on a grand scale.
 
Expect some barge traffic all along this route and some construction operations at the east end of the ditch where the hiway 79 bridge is being widened. Do not try to pass a barge without making radio contact....the ditch is narrow and sometimes they swing wide and need you to pass in an odd fashion or for you to hold station while they make a bend. It is a good idea to contact the crane operators at the 79 bridge on VHF 16 before you pass one that is working. They are all over the channel and really don't seem to care if they get in the way of traffic.

Finally, in the West Bay area from the bridge to about 3 miles east, pay attention to the markers do not wander out of or even close to the markers. The bottom is sticky mud and more then one boater has nosed up on the mud and back off. Sea Tow is the only option if that happens.

Its a nice trip, but a tad boring after about 1/2 mile in the ditch.
 
The trip wasn't cancelled, however it was rain delayed. I will post some pictures either today or tomorrow.
 
OK, sorry for such a long delay. The weather was horrible, but our moods weren't dampened. The trip was supposed to start at 11 am but we didn't leave until about 4:30 pm. The first picture is of our mini Armada leaving Destin. About 12 boats total were all that showed up. The second is everyone gathering on the dock in Panama City Beach. The third is me goofing around and fishing from the dock. The fourth picture is from the hotel balcony overlooking the bay. The last picture is of a cool looking steam boat that passed us by on the way in.

All in all it was a fun trip. We didn't get to go to shell island, and it was hampered by the foul weather, but we still had a great time.
 

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