Let your love Flo
Charlotte McIntyre sails off to one of the Sunshine State’s hidden gems
Sitting on the edge of a trimaran, legs dangling over the side, I watch the dolphins leaping out of the water as the sun sets in the distance. I’m on a Condor Sailing Adventure experience, just off Pensacola Beach in north-west Florida.
And unlike any other boat trip I’ve ever been on, it promises no leaning or seasickness and I can testify, as someone who doesn’t have the greatest of sea legs, these claims are not exaggerated. Even when I’m allowed to take charge of the steering, under the calm instructions of Michael “Captain” Kirk, a nickname he’s had all his life, it feels as if we are gliding through the air.
Time at the helm is all part of the fun when you’re aboard the captain’s very own “starship”, Dare II, a rare world-class, 40ft racing vessel. Only 21 of these beauties were built. To boldly go sailing in what is known as “the Ferrari of the water” is certainly one of the highlights of my trip to this lesserknown part of Florida.
When it comes to trips to the Sunshine State, the theme parks of Orlando and the Art Deco delights of Miami usually spring to mind. While the Panhandle, as it’s affectionately known, is a well established holiday destination for Americans, it is only just starting to appear on the travel radar of Brits. Drawn by its wild beauty, windswept beaches, state parks, lakes and rivers, it appeals to adventure seekers and nature lovers. It prides itself on its friendly Southern hospitality and is also home to some of the best seafood restaurants in Florida.
I jet in via a short stop-off in Atlanta and head for Panama City Beach, a resort town with 27 miles of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. After