So we're out in the Gulf on Sunday, again heading to Egmont Key, when a few friends come up next to us. We'd never met them, but new friends are new friends. So we cut the engine, relying only on sail power.
That's when the new friends -- a pod of dolphins -- really got playful.
As we're cruising at a pretty good wind-powered clip some of the mammals dove under the boat, p
opping up on the port side, then swimming back. One, with a bite missing from its dorsal fin, swam right up to the side of the boat at one point. 
There were several calves in the pod, but their mothers never let them get too close.
It was really an amazing sight.
We made it to Egmont and beached the boat as we did last time. A nice picnic on the beach and then it was time to sail.
But when we were ready to leave, the tide wasn't in our favor. It was coming in as we were going out. Another couple helped us launch off the island and we were on our way back.
Despite the tide cutting across the bow, we made it back to the marina in a little over an hour.
But we were not leaving just yet. Proving the adage that a boat is a hole in the water into which you pour money, the winch post on the trailer cracked as we were lifting the boat out of the water. So we had to hold off and I went to a nearby Walmart to buy help. I found a ratchet winch with two hooks, and one went to the boat and the other to the SUV.
It worked and we hauled the boat, stowed the gear, packed the masts and sails and made it home about six hours later.
What a day and and night. Still, the dolphins saved the day and made the whole thing worth the effort.
That's when the new friends -- a pod of dolphins -- really got playful.
As we're cruising at a pretty good wind-powered clip some of the mammals dove under the boat, p
opping up on the port side, then swimming back. One, with a bite missing from its dorsal fin, swam right up to the side of the boat at one point. 
There were several calves in the pod, but their mothers never let them get too close.It was really an amazing sight.
We made it to Egmont and beached the boat as we did last time. A nice picnic on the beach and then it was time to sail.
But when we were ready to leave, the tide wasn't in our favor. It was coming in as we were going out. Another couple helped us launch off the island and we were on our way back.
Despite the tide cutting across the bow, we made it back to the marina in a little over an hour.
But we were not leaving just yet. Proving the adage that a boat is a hole in the water into which you pour money, the winch post on the trailer cracked as we were lifting the boat out of the water. So we had to hold off and I went to a nearby Walmart to buy help. I found a ratchet winch with two hooks, and one went to the boat and the other to the SUV.
It worked and we hauled the boat, stowed the gear, packed the masts and sails and made it home about six hours later.
What a day and and night. Still, the dolphins saved the day and made the whole thing worth the effort.
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