Being on a sailboat gives many a sense of peace and closeness to nature. Let the wind carry you to pristine locations along the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico, or sail the calmer Pensacola Bay. The warm waters of Pensacola Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway make vacationing in Pensacola a water wonderland. Sailors and boaters have long discovered the beauty of this area. It is the ideal playground for cruising, sailboat racing and of course, sunset tours and dolphin watching.
Wherever you decide to set anchor, be on the lookout for giant lightning whelks, sand dollars, olive shells, fighting conchs and other seaborne prizes while strolling along Pensacola's white sandy beaches.
Sailing in Pensacola has a long history. In 1559 Don Tristan de Luna sailed 11 ships into what is now known as Pensacola Bay, establishing the first European settlement in the United States. Pensacola was chosen by de Luna because of its natural deep-water harbor. When a hurricane struck just five weeks after the colonists" arrival, de Luna lost seven vessels from his fleet.
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