ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - Residents on the eastern end of Pleasure Island will get a chance to watch the LuLu float by as she's towed to the site where it will be sunk as a reef.

The ship will leave it's berth just west of the Foley Beach Express at noon Saturday heading east for Pensacolas Pass.

Because of a concern about wind direction and because the route is 30 percent shorter, crews from Walter Marine will take the LuLu east from Orange Beach to Pensacola Pass before sinking her on Sunday, David Walter said.

Walter, owner of Walter Marine and Reefmaker in Orange Beach, said the change of plans was made Friday morning. Originally the plan was to go west to Mobile Bay and then out to the Gulf, the same way Walter brought the ship into Orange Beach in June.

That means it will pass through Wolf Bay and Bear Point and within site of Pirate's Cove.

After a noon departure, Walter said the ship will overnight in Big Lagoon before heading out to the sink site 17 miles south of Perdido Pass.

Walter said seas must be under three feet for the sinking to take place and the forecast calls for one to two foot seas on Sunday.