- 64.5 miles
- 6 hours 58 minutes
- 9.2 mph average speed
- 2-11 mph winds
We enjoyed our trip from Destin to Panama City and arrived to find several Loopers already at Bay Pointe Marina. As we are nearing Carrabelle, the location from which we will start our overnight Gulf crossing, everyone is scouring the weather apps for a good weather window for the roughly 20 hour trip across the Gulf. There may be an opportunity to cross around the 28th but it may be the beginning of February before it is advisable to make the crossing. While some had planned to wait it out in Panama City, we decided to go on to Apalachicola for a couple of days and then wait it out in Carrabelle. We learned that there are usually only about 5 to 10 good travel days for the Gulf crossing during each of the months from November to February when most Loopers make the crossing, or only 25-32 good crossing days over the four month period. Many things must be taken into consideration, most importantly, wave height and wind speed.