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May 2003 For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

Southwinds

May 2003

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Southwinds

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS ■

VOLUME 11

NUMBER 5

Steve Morrell Heather Nicoll Kathleen Elliott

MAY 2003

Publisher & Editor Design/Graphic Production Proofreading

ADVERTISING SALES Steve Morrell (941) 795-8704 (877) 372-7245 toll free Morgan Stinemetz (941) 792-3044 Gary Hufford (727) 585-2814 Southwinds Media, Inc. PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach FL 34218-1175 (941) 795-8704 • (941) 795-8705 Fax Carol Bareuther Ron Butler Cindy Goebel Kim Kaminski Stephen Sommer Bill Welsh

CONTRIBUTORS Dean Barnes Dave Ellis Gary Jensen Richard Oliver Morgan Stinemetz Ron Yankowski

Sherry Beckett Rona Garm Jim Kempert Cherie Sogsti Rennie Waxlax Suzanne Yankowski

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: ARTICLES & PHOTOGRAPHY: Southwinds encourages readers, writers, photographers, cartoonists, jokers, magicians, philosophers and whoever else is out there, including sailors, to send in their material. Just make it about the water world and generally about sailing and about sailing in the south, or general sailing interest, or sailboats, or sailing in some far off and far out place.

Keep them 1500 to 2000 words maximum (and we also like shorter stuff), and we might sometimes take something up to 3000 words. You can send it typed, double-spaced, with all your contact info or by e-mail or on a disc. We’d much rather receive it on disc or by e-mail, as that saves us lots of work. In that case, it’s better single-spaced. If you want the stuff returned, then enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and give us a good 6-8 weeks to get back to you, although sometimes we move faster. Keep in mind we might be sailing or trying to meet the next deadline.

PHOTOS: We like photos with just about every story, so send us some of those. We’ll take photos of interest alone without stories, too. We also like funny ones of the water world. We’ll take them via e-mail, on disc, slide, or prints, black and white or color.

If they’re comin’ electronically, then make them high resolution – like 300dpi, but a little less will work if needed. Send to the address below or e-mail to editor@southwindssailing.com.

Southwinds is published monthly by Southwinds Media, Inc., copyright 2003. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication can be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

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From the Carolinas to Cuba…From Atlanta to the Abacos…Southwinds Covers Southern Sailing 4

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TABLE OF CONTENTS From the Helm ................................................................................. 6 Letters .............................................................................................. 8 Southeastern Sailing Association ..................................................... 11 Racing Calendar ............................................................................. 12 Boatek: Watermaker Solutions ........................................................ 17 Stephen Sommer Bubba Gets Into Farming ............................................................... 18 Morgan Stinemetz Sailboat Fishing Florida and Bahamas ............................................. 20 Ron Butler Bill Koch Talks About the America’s Cup ......................................... 23 Morgan Stinemetz Taking E-mail With You ................................................................... 24 Gary Jensen Cherie in the San Blas Islands, Panama, Part II ................................ 28 Cherie Sogsti Catamaran Racing: Alter Cup ......................................................... 32 Ron Yankowski Southern Sailing: The Sailor’s Wind ................................................. 34 Dave Ellis

San Blas Islands Part II Cherie Sogsti photo

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Sailboat Fishing Part II Ron Butler photo

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Racing and Regattas ....................................................................... 36 Lake Eustis Sailing, West Florida, East Florida, Upper Gulf, Carolinas Southern Beach Cat Sailors Soak up the Sun, Fun & Rum at Rolex in St.Thomas ..................................................................... 42 Carol Bareuther Short Tacks ..................................................................................... 46 Around Alone Race, Challenge II, Conch Republic Cup, Summer Sailstice 2003 plus more and Business Stuff Classifieds ....................................................................................... 51 Index of Advertisers ........................................................................ 53 Subscription Form ............................................................................ 6 Cover: Beach Cats on the Beach in Front of the St. Thomas Yacht Club.

Dean Barnes Photo

Sail the Web with Southwinds: southwindssailing.com See many of the current features on the Web, along with past issues, Cuba articles and more.

Send your letters to the editor on the Web. Stay tuned, this Web Site is evolving.

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FROM THE HELM

Charter Sailboats

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here are two ways to go sailing in the non-professional sailing world (where most of us are): on your boat or on someone else’s. We boatowners know which is the most expensive route. If you go on someone else’s as guest or crew (hopefully they are the same thing), that’s probably the least expensive.

You can also buy a boat and put it into charter. This sounds like the dream to end all dreams: Own your sailboat and get income from it. Is that possible? We all know those sailboats sit in their slips unused for much of the time. But to charter it out to some stranger who might not treat it with the loving care that you do? How many horror stories have we heard about charter companies? The horror stories that I have heard are not about the charterers, but about the charter companies. In my past I have owned a boat that was in charter, and the experience was nothing but excellent. The charter company took good care of our boat and took care of the charterers. We met the company by chartering with them (San Diego Yacht Charters, if anyone is wondering). If a charterer had a problem, and that was fairly uncommon, they took care of it by rushing to repair it, or doing whatever it took to keep them happy. But the main thing was that the boats were kept in good condition. In fact, I would venture to say that boats in this particular company were better cared for than the average sailboat out there. Preventive maintenance was normal, as they didn’t want to have problems, which could cost them dearly. And we didn’t have to worry about our boat not being in good condition. Whenever we went to use it, everything was working well. It actually was a profitable deal. Owning a sailboat and it’s profitable? Hard to believe, huh?

The charter company I refer to above had older boats in service, but none more than perhaps 12 years old. Another option is to buy a new boat and put it in charter with a company that handles the entire deal and gives you regular income and makes the payments. That sounds pretty good—somebody must come up with the down payment, of course. These companies usually only keep the boats in service for a few years and then it’s yours—to pay for, maintain and everything. However, it is a way to get your boat for less money.

When chartering with these companies, the charterer might find the boats in better condition than with those companies that keep older boats, but what I’ve really learned is that it is the charter company itself that makes the difference. There are simply good ones and bad ones. My personal experience with chartering with one of the larger, well-known companies was an all-around great experience.

If anyone out there has some experiences, good or bad, about chartering, either as an owner or a charterer, we’d like to hear about them. Contact editor@southwindssailing.com.

And if you are thinking about buying a boat, or own one now, interest rates are so low that boat finance companies are burning the midnight candle trying to keep up with boat re-financing. If you purchased and financed a boat a few years ago, re-financing now could lower your payments substantially—leaving more money for improvements. editor

S U B S C R I B E T O Southwinds AT $12 A YEAR New special offer for third class mail only. Fill in coupon, cut out, and mail the attached form, or send us your name and address, and check or credit card number to Southwinds Subscriptions, P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175. You may also call (941) 778-5774.

Name ____________________________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________________________ City/St./ZIP _______________________________________________________________________ ENCLOSED $ ___________ Check _______ Money Order _________ #_______________________________________________ Name on Card _________________________________________________Ex. Date __________ $12/YR. 3rd CLASS or $24/YR. 1st CLASS. CALL OR E-MAIL TO SUBSCRIBE RIGHT NOW! 6

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ADVERTISE WITH Southwinds DISPLAY ADVERTISING Delivered to more than 500 locations and sent to subscribers throughout the South and to other parts of the country, Southwinds reaches thousands of sailors. Our advertising rates are the best value in the country. We cover racing, maintenance, electronics, cruising destinations, sailing tips, and more. We also have special coverage of the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and the Florida Keys.

WEB SITE ADVERTISING Our Web site, southwindssailing.com, gets 20,000 impressions a month. Our crew and boat listing service, Press Gang, has over 140 listings of boats and crew looking for each other. And it is growing. We are now offering limited advertising on the site.

DISPLAY ADVERTISING IN CLASSIFIEDS We offer display ads in the classified section starting at $34 a month, sold by the column inch. Advertise your products or services.

Contact editor@southwindssailing.com or your sales representative. Call toll free

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LETTERS “Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one.”

H.L. Mencken In its continuing endeavor to share its press, Southwinds invites readers to write in with experiences & opinions.

RACE COVERAGE APPRECIATION I wish to express my thanks for including the article on the Jaguar Cup (Etchell Class, Miami) in your March issue. All of us appreciate the coverage and your Southwinds publication.

Mark Storrs Miami

LOOKING FOR A RACE TIMER Many years ago I built a digital timer for our PHRF race committee but now need a replacement. The main feature was a hold button on a cable, which when depressed would freeze the display for writing down finish times. When the button was released, the display caught up to the current time. Does anyone know of any manufacturer that might offer such a unit? Can anyone suggest any other possible sources?

Thanks, Pete Bonk

MORE ON POWERBOAT WAKES I’m glad to hear that Capt. Freeman is as troubled about powerboaters who are unmindful of the effect of their wakes.

Last summer a powerboater in a new Bluestar 29 pulled into a local marina’s gas dock at half speed pulling a huge wake while I was gassing up my 13-foot outboard. I could fend off, but the resulting rocking of boats at their slips caused two cruising sailboats to lock spreaders. The dockmaster stormed down onto the dock, pointed out to the smug, ego-driven powerboater what he’d done, untied the powerboat, pushed it off, and told him to never return.

The owner sputtered loudly, claiming that he was running out of gas and was in a hurry, etc., etc., all to no avail. His crew was obviously chagrined although at least one of them was nodding his head in agreement with what the dockmaster said.

Dave Tew Boothbay Harbor, Maine

SAILBOAT RACING: TWO SAILBOATS VS TUG AND BARGE Capt. Shea brought out a nicety in the Racing Rules of Sailing in his March article, which is that the Rules of the Road replace the RRS “if the sailing instructions so state.” One of the last major regattas to be run under ROR rather than RRS was the Miami Key Largo Race, a/k/a “Run what ya Brung.” Because the race was run under ROR, such things were seen as yours truly and two others who collectively tip the Toledo at over 700 pounds in bosun’s chairs hung from the spare halyard tramped out well over the lifelines of a Hobie 33; multiple sails flying at one time; ooching, scooching, pumping and other kinetics, etc. Oh, and no protests. Probably in reaction to some of the foregoing, the Miami – Key Largo race is now run under RRS. ROR always applies as between a race participant and a non-participant such as a RAM (Restricted in Ability to Maneuver), a NUC (Not Under Control) and other miscellaneous powerboats with the right of way over a blowboat, such as the tug and barge in Capt. Shea’s example.

The protest mechanism in RRS is intended only to settle squabbles between participants in the race, not between racers and racer-chasers. If there are local conditions which cause diffi8

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Southeastern Sailing Association (SESA):

The Voice of Southern Sailors

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group of dedicated business men and women, who serve the sailing industry in various industry careers, have joined forces to reactivate a non-profit association to support and serve the sailing industry in a manner that they hope will become contagious throughout the nation. Their goals are to promote sailing through support and education of both the general sailing public and the sailing industry.

The Southeastern Sailing Industries Association and many members of the current group (SESA) were the nucleus of the team that created and established the now nationally famous Sail Expo St. Pete sailboat show held annually in November. The sailboat show was eventually turned over to Sail America and has continued to grow into a formidable national sailboat show. Today, this nucleus of talented sailing industry men and women have reactivated the organization and have put together a new and exciting team of sailing veteran professionals to take steps in promoting the sport of sailing.

One of the major services now available to SESA members is the informative Web site located at www.sailingvoice.org. This Web site provides important political information on current issues and policies affecting the sailing community. There is information for sailboat dealers and consumers alike on all sailing calendar events, such as boat shows, regattas, seminars, industry trade shows and special events involving the sailing community.

LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

There are features on the main site (for non-members) that provide a list of all industry members and their products and/or services—a great plus for consumers looking for service on, or places to purchase, a new or used sailboat. A special feature for members includes a daily forum in which members can provide their personal views or concerns on any sailing-related issue. Both members and non-members have the opportunity to answer the survey questions, providing invaluable information on a wide variety of sailing-related issues. Future services will include anything sailors and sailing industry members, alike, don’t see on the site now, but wish they did. The Southeastern Sailing Association is the Voice of Sailing, and committed to providing a Web site in which sailors, sailing enthusiasts and industry members can find all the sailing-related information they need in one easy location.

It is the hope of the Southeastern Sailing Association board of directors to generate productive interest throughout the Southeast and eventually around the country to establish similar associations which will and can serve their communities with professional aids and education to raise the interest in the sport of sailing and all its rewards.

To learn more about the Southeastern Sailing Association and how to become a member, please visit the Web site at www.sailingvoice.org or call (727) 742-2279.

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UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR We’d like to encourage all sailing associations, yacht clubs and regatta sponsors to notify us of upcoming events in your area.

Simply fax or e-mail us by the 10th of each month to ensure that your racing and regatta schedule will be included.

Send to calendar@southwindssailing.com or fax to 941-778-5579.

Southwinds Magazine also offers reduced advertising rates for non-profit organizations.

FLORIDA EAST COAST & KEYS May 10 Snipe Lauderdale Ocean Lauderdale Yacht Club snipeus.org MAY 17 Hospice Regatta Lauderdale YC lyc.org MAY 17 - 18 Florida Regional Sunfish Championship Melbourne Yacht Club cgates@cfl.rr.com (321) 727-7227 MAY 24 - 25 Goombay Regatta Coral Reef YC coralreefyachtclub.org JUNE 7 - 8 KBYC Annual Regatta coralreefyachtclub.org FLORIDA WEST COAST & INLAND MAY 3-4 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program Sailfest Regatta All Class event (941) 388-2355 MAY 3 - 9 1st International SailCuba.Com Regatta St. Pete to Havana OffshoreRacing@sailcuba.com MAY 10 Pram Hula Cup and Florida Women Sunfish Champ’s Women only event Sarasota Sailing Squadron (941) 954-6923

MAY 10 Windjammers Gulf Bikini Cup Keelboats windjammersofclearwater. org MAY 14 Clearwater to Key West PHRF cyc.org MAY 15 Naples- Key West PHRF WileyParker@ wcicommunities.com (239) 851-3278 MAY 17 Clearwater to Key West Clearwater YC 727-447-6000 MAY 19 Key West to Naples sunshinesports@ earthlink.net MAY 23 Annual Conch Race to Cuba doran@southernsail.com MAY 24 - 25 Schools Out Regatta One design Davis Island YC diyc.org MAY 26 Around Lido Key Race Sarasota Sailing Squadron Dinghies (941) 954-6923 JUNE 11 - 14 Bradenton to Key West “Corinthian” Regatta Race/cruise mtimillertime@yahoo.com

NORTHERN GULF (AL, FL,LA,MS,TX) MAY 3 - 4 GYA Opening Regatta Mobile YC gya.org MAY 10 - 11 Sea Buoy Regatta PBYC gya.org MAY 17 - 18 Spring Regatta Buccaneer Yacht Club Mobile, AL gya.org MAY 24 - 25 Juby Wynne Memorial One-Design Regatta MAY 24 - 25 Memorial Day Regatta PBYC gya.org MAY 31 - JUNE 1 Memorial Day Team Race FWYC gya.org SERIES RACES syc.org or noyc.org for information MAY 4 CSA Spring BOTY #1 MAY 7 CSA/SYC Starlight #5 MAY 10 SYC Opening PHRF MAY 11 Opening PHRF makup if needed MAY 14 NOYC North Sails Spring Twilight racing MAY 17 - 18 C/N/S/SS Fleur De Lis MAY 18 Pam Sintes Memorial

MAY 21 NOYC North Twilight syc.org MAY 28 NOYC North Twilight May 31 SYC Spring Series JUNE 1 CSA Spring BOTY JUNE 4 NOYC North Twilight JUNE 7 SYC Spring PHRF SOUTHERN STATES (AK, GA, NC, SC) MAY 3 Jean Ribaut Cup PHRF 21-feet + Port Royal Sound, SC Beaufort Yacht & Sailing (843) 522-3320 MAY 3 - 4 Pursuit Of Sailing Regatta Slowest PHRF starts first For novices and experts Benefits Disabled Sailing Lake Norman doylenc@cs.com (704) 483-6656 MAY 4 - 5 J-22/J-24/Melges Atlanta Cup Lake Lanier Sailing Club llsc.com MAY 9 - 10 Cape Fear Cup Bald Head Island, NC ncyra.org MAY 17 Charlston Harbor Resort & Marina Charleston to Bermuda Race 777 miles open ocean racing (843) 856-9996 charlestonharbormarina.com

MAY 22 Wrightsville Beach to Beaufort Race ncyra.org MAY 23 - 25 NCYRA States PHRF, One Design multihull, maybe Beaufort, NC ncyra.org JUNE 1 Lightning Districts llsc.com JUNE 21 - 22 Lowcountry Regatta One design Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Contact Frank Pontious 843-522-3320 JUNE 21-23 Reggae Regatta Lake Lanier, GA llsc.com JUNE 21 - 24 2.4 meter Nationals Lake Norman YC doylenc@cs.com JUNIOR REGATTAS MAY 1 -4 Optimist Dinghy Team Trials Little Egg Harbor YC New Jersey lehyc.org MAY 24 - 25 Schools Out Regatta Davis Island YC FL mwd571@gte.net (813) 949-4840 JUNE 8 Summer in the City Regatta Miami Yacht Club miamiyachtclub.net

SAILING CLUB DIRECTORY IS NOW ON THE INTERNET

For a list of yacht clubs and sailing associations in Florida, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, visit our Web site southwindssailing.com. Their addresses and Web sites will also be listed. We are asking all these organizations to e-mail us your Web site address and we will put a link to it.

Yacht Clubs and Sailing Associations: Please update your phone numbers by e-mailing yachtclubs@southwindssailing.com and give us your W eb site address also.

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BOATEK

BY STEPHEN SOMMER

SOLUTIONS TO ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, AIR CONDITIONING, REFRIGERATION AND OTHER YACHT SYSTEMS

What To Do When The Watermaker Stops Steve – My watermaker suddenly stopped producing water. The display shows that the water quality is poor. Up until it stopped working, the water quality was excellent. Is it possible that the water quality has gone bad so fast, or is it likely to be a water quality sensor problem?

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will presume that the watermaker really did stop working “suddenly.” This does not mean that it didn’t work on one monthly visit, when it worked just fine the month before. This is an important distinction, because time can be harder on a watermaker than heavy use. A month of improper storage can be enough to end the life of your membranes. If your watermaker went from good to bad from one minute (or day) to the next, then proceed on.

It’s possible that the water quality has gone bad very quickly, although it’s more likely to be a quality sensor problem. As usual, the way to proceed is by fault isolation.

The first, most obvious step, requires a portable water quality tester. Simply test the water that is coming directly out of the membranes. You won’t be able to test the water that goes directly to the tank, because the water quality sensor normally controls a valve that diverts the product water to waste. If you have more than one membrane, check the product water from each. This will also allow you to determine which of the membranes is at fault. You can tell which of the membrane connectors is the product output very easily. There are normally three connections to each membrane vessel. The input saltwater and the brine output connectors are heavy-duty hydraulic style connectors that must handle 1000 psi of water pressure. The output product connector is for low pressure and is often a plastic connector that can be disconnected by hand. Most watermakers, in good condition, produce water that will read around 200 ppm TDS. Depending on whose standards you like, the acceptable limit is between 500 and 1000 ppm TDS. (That’s “parts per million of Total Dissolved Solids.” Most water quality testers test actually the electrical conduc-

tivity of the water, which is then converted into the equivalent TDS, assuming the solids are salt. ) If all of your product water quality is good, you can re-route the water flow around the automatic waste valve while you work on correcting the sensor problem. You will have to manually re-route the product water to waste every time you start the watermaker, until the product water quality is acceptable. All watermakers produce poor quality water for the first few minutes of operation.

If the water quality is bad or you don’t have a portable tester, you can proceed assuming that your built-in quality sensor is good. This procedure assumes that you have more than one membrane. Try disconnecting the output water from all membranes except one, while watching the water quality indicator. This will give you a quality reading for one membrane.

Repeat this process until you have a figure for each membrane. DO NOT plug the output of disconnected membranes; the backpressure will damage the membrane. If you determine that one of your membranes is producing the bad water, you can continue operating the watermaker with the output of that membrane diverted to waste while you order a new membrane. Individual membranes do not often fail while the others are working well. In this case, however, the symptom of a drastic quick reduction of water quality that you experienced points to a failure of just one membrane. If you find that all membranes are bad, you should doubt the assumption that the water quality meter is working properly.

If you don’t have a portable water quality tester, don’t worry. There’s a lot of fault isolation that you can do without one. If the water quality has suddenly gone out of limits, it’s probably bad enough that you can use your taste buds

to determine if the water is really bad.

Don’t try tasting the water if the seawater you are operating in isn’t safe for tasting in the first place. You might have raw input water in the product water output.

If all of the product water tastes okay, you still might have marginally bad water, or you have a problem with the water quality sensor system.

Diagnosing the water quality sensor system: The water quality sensor works by testing the electrical conductivity of the water. It does this by putting two electrodes into the water flow, and then measuring the electrical conductivity of the water between the electrodes.

Before changing anything in the sensor system, manually reconnect the product water flow to send the output water to waste, without relying on the automatic waste diverter valve. This will avoid the possibility of contaminating your tanks with raw seawater.

Disconnect the wires from the water sensor to the electronics. Disconnecting these wires should force a “good,” water signal, because this stops all conductivity. If the display does not show “good,” then you have a problem with the electronics unit. If the display shows “good,” then check the in-water sensor. Remove this from the water flow and plug the hole. With no water on the electrodes, it should indicate good water. If it doesn’t show “good,” your in-water sensor is bad or just dirty.

One of the common problems with these sensors is a crack in the plastic insulating body that holds the electrodes.

These cracks become fouled and start conducting.

If you get to the end of this fault isolation process with good tasting water and an apparently functional quality sensor system, it is time to get an independent water quality sensor.

Stephen Sommer is a degreed electrical engineer with extensive experience in electrical, mechanical, refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and holds a USCG Masters license. He consults in all areas of yacht systems, which include all the equipment on board yachts beyond a basic hull and motor or sails.

Have a systems problem or question? Ask Stephen Sommer. E-mail: boatek@southwindssailing.com.

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Bubba Gets Into Farming

By Morgan Stinemetz

Bubba stories are not available on the Internet because Southwinds does not have the electronic rights to the stories.

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Bubba stories are not available on the Internet because Southwinds does not have the electronic rights to the stories.

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FISHING

Sailboat Fishing Florida & Bahamas Part 2

By Ron Butler

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n part I of this article, I discussed the hardware and rigs that I generally use when fishing off a sailing boat. To summarize the first part then, stout tackle, long mono leaders, lead sinkers instead of planers, and matching the lure to the bait produces fish. You still need to be there when the fish are, and you still need to be at the right depth and right speed, but having the right stuff helps get you fish. In this part, we’re going to discuss the “what can be caught and when.”

In the spring and fall in the near offshore waters Esprita of the Tampa Bay area, there are king mackerel runs. These usually occur in November and March, but it depends on the Gulf water temperature. Kings feed in water that’s between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. To catch these tough guys that can range upwards of 60 pounds, (the record is over 90 pounds) you need large spoons, say five to six inches long. These resemble cigar minnows or threadfin sardines to a near-sighted kingfish.

Also effective are long, flat rubber lures designed to resemble eels or ribbonfish, a favorite king mackerel meal. They run up to 18 inches long. Kingfish lures are deployed on planers or weights to get the bait down in the 8 to 12 foot depth range. As mentioned in part 1, set the drag very lightly as a hard strike will just rip the hook right out otherwise. Speeds of 5 to 8 knots works best for hardware kings. The best place to catch these guys is near channels. In the Tampa Bay area, the Egmont Ship Channel, near the outer half dozen buoys is very productive, but most areas of hard bottom also produce fish. How do you find hard bottom? Welllll, during king season just look for a bunch of boats.

Otherwise you need good bottom-scratching fish finder sonar. You can also fish where you see birds working the surface. Look for the big ugly seagulls. These lazy birds are just picking up fish chunks left by feeding mackerel or jacks. The terns can dive and catch live fish and therefore are not necessarily a sign of feeding fish.

Keep in mind other boats when you’re out there fishing. You’ll see some boats drifting, some anchored and some slow trolling. These guys are usually fishing with live baits. Around the ship channel the boats generally fall into a traffic pattern of some sort. Try to see their pattern and follow it, staying far enough away from other boats that gear doesn’t get tangled.

If a king hits, the best fisherman on the boat is your rod holder.

Assuming you have the drag set lightly, the rod will play the fish better than you can because the rod holder won’t jerk the rod around. Remember these fish have tender mouths. Any jerking or “setting” the hook usually rips it right out. Slow the boat by furling sails, cutting back the engine or heading into the wind. Then take your time getting the rod out of the holder and playing the fish. You want these guys 20

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dead tired when you finally get them to the boat.

Remember the legal limits on kings.

Maximum of two fish per day per person and a minimum legal size of 20 inches measured to the fork of the tail.

In the late spring, early fall and summer off the Tampa Bay area, the most common catch du jour will be Spanish mackerel. These fish travel in schools and generally run from small at 1/2 pound to large at 5 pounds. All of them like to feed on small glass minnows, or anchovies, which also travel in schools. Glass minnows are baitfish that seldom exceed 2 inches long and mostly run about an inch long. This means that your favorite 7-inch spoon or 12-inch tube lure won’t work. In fact, if that’s what you’re dragging, you probably won’t catch anything at all since, at that time of year, there’s little else worth catching while trolling in the near offshore zone.

To catch Spanish mackerel, tiny silver spoons (no more than an inch long) are the order of the day. Clark’s spoons in size 0 or 00 work very well. These need to be fished near the surface but not on the surface. Four to 6 feet deep is usually most productive, but some days deeper is better. If you have a fish finder sonar, you will be able to see schools of bait and schools of mackerel and determine the correct depth to fish.

Otherwise, it’s a guess. Match the depth of the baitfish schools. Faster speeds are also better. I find 5 to 8 knots or so most productive. Again, set the drag lightly. You might consider a lighter leader, maybe down to 20 pound test. The Spanish mackerel limits are 15 fish per person per day with a minimum fork length of 12 inches.

You can also catch grouper in the Gulf by trolling. This technique is a little different, but it does catch fish. Troll slowly with large Bomber lures fished near the bottom, say 2 to 6 feet above the bottom. Bomber lures are a specific brand of floating plug about 6 or 8 inches long with a large diving plane usually of clear plastic fixed to the nose. There are other big deep-diving plugs made by Rebel, Rapala and others that will work also. Rig it with a long leader and enough weight to get it near the bottom for the speed you are moving. Remember to crank the drag up to maximum. This usually produces fish during the fall and spring when grouper migrate to near shore waters in search of food. In the summer and winter, grouper stay well offshore in Florida and usually are only caught in www.southwindssailing.com

water deeper than 70 feet but, when they’re inshore, I have caught them while sailing as near as a mile off Honeymoon Island in no more than 16 feet of water. The main problem with this fishing method is lost tackle. Getting your lure snagged on a rock is not uncommon, and those dang Bombers are expensive little devils. Slower speeds work better on grouper, say 3 to 5 knots. Limits on grouper are confusing because it depends on the species. Mostly, near shore on the west coast of Florida, you will catch gags or reds. The limits on these are 22 inches overall and five fish per person per day.

In the Bahamas, fishing is generally better than the Gulf. Mahimahi or dorado can be caught most of the year there. The best lures for dorado seem to be green and yellow-skirted bubblers that are dragged very fast right at the surface. Seven or 8 knots is not too

fast. Perfect cruising catamaran speeds. Trolling below 5 knots is generally not productive for these fish. The best lure size is about 5 to 6 inches long. I think these look like skipping ballyhoo to the Dorado. Again long leaders help. These same lures will also pick up an occasional billfish like a sailfish or marlin. Dorado like shade, so it helps if you can troll along a weedline or near floating debris. With dorado you can set the drag pretty firm. Once you get a fish on, you can tighten the drag. Remember too that when a fish jumps, it usually loosens the hook so resetting the hook after a jump usually pays. There is a limit in the United States of 10 fish per person per day.

In the Keys, dorado are caught mostly in the late spring to early fall months, but the tackle is the same and summertime fish are not uncommon. Dorado are usually taken in deep, clear water (+600 feet). They can be had in the Gulf off Clearwater but it will take you a while to get out to water deep enough and clear enough.

If you’re looking for bird sign, look for frigate birds. Frigate birds track the dorado schools and feed on the same baits. Deep-water drop-offs are best, but sometimes fish are taken near deep passes.

One favorite area is in Northwest Providence Channel along the deep drop-offs near Chub Key in the Berry Islands.

Also, in the Bahamas and Keys, barracuda can be caught year round. Yes, they can be eaten and they are some of the best-tasting fish you will ever eat. Usually barracuda are taken with bright yellow or orange tube lures called ‘cuda tubes that are about 10 to 12 inches long fished with or without weights at or near the surface although silver spoons will also work. On our last trip, we caught a nice mutton snapper on a ‘cuda tube trolling inside the Sea of Abaco so who knows what will turn up. If you plan to try to eat barracuda, settle for a small one, say less than 4 pounds. To help minimize the ciguaterra risk, clean the fish and set some meat outside

Salt Creek Marine District LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

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FISHING on a paper plate. If the flies will land on the fish, then it may be safe to eat, but if the flies refuse to land on the fish, don’t touch it. At least this is what the natives say.

Then what happens if you get lucky? First, just make sure the autopilot is set…. That way you and the wife can fool around without having one hand on the tiller.

Hmmm. Next…slow down…

You can’t reel in a 40 pound dorado with the boat moving 7 knots. Slow it down to a nice 1knot crawl. You may have to furl the genny or even drop the main, but usually just turning a bit into the wind will do the trick. Next strap on your fighting harness.

Any cheap plastic one with a rod socket will do. Remember that up till now the rod’s been in the rod-holder and the fish is probably stripping line like mad.

Adjust your drag if required. Then wait for the fish’s initial run to slow down.

Wrestle the rod out of the rod-holder and firmly set it in the harness, then find a place to sit. Now pump and reel until you need a break. If the fish is running hard and stripping a lot of line, you may need to cool the drag in the reel. You can pour

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water on the reel to cool it. If you get too tired, get some help to put the rod back into the holder while you snag a beer.

Don’t bring a big fish near the boat until he is dead tired and just floating along. We had a big barracuda attempt to jump right into the cockpit once…he just missed Carole’s head!

Okay, so now you have a tired 5-foot long Barracuda alongside, what next?

Well, I generally don’t boat fish what I’m

not going to kill and eat so I try to remove the hook without damaging the fish. If he really swallowed it, then just cut the line. The fish will eventually spit the hook. Sometimes you need to slip a gaff into the lip of a fish just to control it while you use pliers to work out the hook. Then dragging the fish slowly through the water will usually revive it enough to swim off.

Speaking of gaff hooks. Get one with a wooden handle or one that floats or alternatively one that is tied to the boat. I’ve lost a couple of really nice gaffs when a big fish wiggled violently and ripped it from my hands.

If you plan to eat the fish, then just gaff it and bring it aboard. Keep in mind that a large fish flopping around on deck can be dangerous. I keep a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol handy in the cockpit.

A few squirts over the fish’s gills will anesthetize it so that you can operate in relative calm. They tell me rum works too, but I prefer saving the rum to anesthetize myself.

Also, remember that cleaning a fish on deck can splatter blood everywhere.

It’s generally better to clean fish down on the transom steps or swim platform than on deck. I keep a supply of large Ziplock bags handy to stow the fillets after butchering. There is no substitute for sharp filet knives. A cooler full of ice or a fridge/ freezer completes the storage options until you can use the meat. Fresh fish will keep 3 to 5 days on ice or refrigerated and up to 4 months frozen. It’ll keep even longer if you have one of those vacuum bagging machines handy. Fresher is better for eating so I prefer to only keep what we can eat over the next few days. A good-sized dorado we caught in the Bahamas served up about 12 big meals worth of meat. We were pretty tired of dorado by the end of that week!

In addition, it may pay to wait until you are in calm waters to clean your catch. Staring at a pile of blood and guts while rolling around in 12-foot seas, can be a wonderful purgative. In that case, just ice down the whole thing until you can find calmer cleaning time.

So, generally, stout tackle, long mono leaders, lead sinkers instead of planers, and matching the lure to the bait produces fish. You still need to be there when the fish are, and you still need to be at the right depth and right speed but having the right stuff will get you fish. The rest is luck and nearsighted fish. www.southwindssailing.com

COMMUNICATIONS

Taking E-mail With You

By Gary Jensen

O

ver the past several years the world has come to rely on e-mail as the preferred medium for conducting business and staying in touch with friends and relatives. While the volume of postal mail and voice-based telephone calls is steadily decreasing, the annual volume of e-mail has exploded. Most of us have incorporated e-mail into our lifestyle, and we want to have the same convenience and access to e-mail while cruising, whether we’re in foreign ports, coastal anchorages, or at sea. So what are some of the e-mail alternatives available to the cruising sailor?

POCKETMAIL For cruising sailors who have opted to not have a laptop computer on board, Pocket Mail is a solution worth investigating. The Pocket Mail system consists of a relatively small hand-held unit called a PocketMail Com- Pocketmail Composer poser, and a subscription to one of the PocketMail service plans. Like most e-mail systems, PocketMail is a batch-oriented system; messages are composed and read off-line.

Unlike Web-mail services like Hotmail, it is not necessary to be connected to the PocketMail system to compose or read messages.

Messages are stored in the hand-held PocketMail Composer, and then uploaded/downloaded during the connection session. To send/receive e-mail, find a pay phone, call a PocketMail access telephone number, place the telephone handset in the built-in acoustic

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coupler, and follow the prompts.

Advertised pricing for PocketMail Composers start at $99, and the service is priced at $49.95 per quarter, or $149.95 per year. The quarterly pricing plan will be especially attractive to seasonal cruisers who spend part of the year on their boat and the rest of their time at home.

The biggest problem experienced when using PocketMail outside of the United States is finding a functional pay phone, and knowing how to use it. In Mexico, for instance, many of the pay phones don’t work, some don’t accept 800 numbers, and certain phones in resort areas can cost up to $5 per minute to use.

MARINA OFFICE Cruisers with laptop computers have the option of carrying their computer to the marina office and connecting to the Internet using a marina phone line. Connecting to the Internet using a phone line provided by the marina office is both convenient and cost effective. Marinas typically charge less than a dollar per minute of connect time (40¢-60¢ is typical), and a typical quick e-mail session like an AOL Automatic Session lasts no longer than a couple of minutes.

The two biggest problems with using a marina telephone line are that not all marinas have a line available, and lines in many developing countries are in relatively poor condition. This slows down the data rate, increases the connect time, and causes a long

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COMMUNICATIONS lineup of cruisers waiting to plug in during the popular morning and evening hours.

INTERNET CAFES Internet cafes have popped up everywhere. They provide access to both e-mail and the Internet. If you have a network access port on your laptop, some Internet cafes will allow you to plug-in to their system and log on to their network as another node. The advantage of using the network connection is that you can then use their Independent Service Provider (ISP) to get onto the Internet. You don’t need your own MSN, AOL, or Earthlink account.

Instead of using a laptop, many cruisers choose to use a Web mail service like Hotmail, and access their Web mail account using the computer systems setup at an Internet cafe. This works well as long as there are Internet cafes around, but leaves the cruiser without e-mail services when underway or at anchor.

Costs of using Internet cafe services vary from country to country, and the time of day (peak vs. non-peak hours). Typical hourly charges run anywhere from $ to $13, billed in 15 to-30 minute increments.

SATELLITE SYSTEMS Satellite-based e-mail technology is becoming more affordable and suitable for the cruiser. Satellite-based systems offer the ability to send/receive e-mail, whether you’re at sea, at anchor, or in a marina. Two strategically different technologies are employed in satellite systems; geostationary satellites (satellites parked about 22,500 miles above or slightly north of the equator and LEO (Low Earth Orbit) systems (a constellation of low orbiting satellites that orbit the earth).

Accessing a geostationary satellite requires a tracking high-gain antenna and software and relatively high power, while LEO satellites can be accessed using a low-power battery-operated hand-held unit similar to a telephone.

Tracking antennas require that a sizeable platform clear of obstacles be available for mounting the antenna. Because the heavy antenna must be bolted to a substantial platform, geostationary systems like Inmarsat are suitable for larger boats, and not practical for smaller cruising boats.

Globalstar and Iridium are two of the more popular LEO satellite systems. The tri-mode Qualcomm 1600 satellite phone used with the Globalstar system sells for $495.95, and the minimum price for the monthly subscription service is $34.95 for thirty minutes of airtime. Go over the thirty-minute allotment and you’ll pay 99¢ a minute thereafter. The phone for the Iridium system is a bit more pricey at $1285, or renting for $70 per month. The lowest priced monthly access fee is $27.99 for zero minutes, and minutes used are billed at $1.49 per minute. These systems provide both voice and data capabilities, bringing regular telephone service on board; however, they also have limitations.

When using the Globalstar system with the $495.95 satellite phone, the satellite phone needs to be up on deck where it has a clear view of the sky. Like a GPS, it does not work well when the handset is below decks and the view of the sky is obscured. Carrying the handset up on deck to place a telephone call usually isn’t a problem, but it can be an issue when the handset has to be connected to a computer for sending/receiving e-mail. To remedy this problem, a powered marine satellite antenna kit can be added for $899.99.

Not all satellite systems provide coverage everywhere in the world, or the Caribbean for that matter. There are “dead spots”, areas where satellite coverage does not exist. Satellite orbits and antenna positioning are chosen to maximize coverage over populated land masses where there are lots of potential customers, not relatively empty oceans and off-shore areas.

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Business model constraints also affect both the cost and availability of service. Sending/receiving e-mail requires placing a telephone call, and telephone service is not available from all countries (e.g., Cuba). Also the cost of making a call varies between countries and can be as high as $5 per minute. So be sure to verify the availability and pricing of the services you intend to use, and where you intend to use them, before buying.

SSB (HF RADIO) SYSTEMS Add a radio modem (SCS PTCIIPro/IIe) and some software to an existing marine SSB or amateur radio system, and you have world- SCS Pactor-IIPro Radio Modem wide e-mail capability. There are four e-mail systems based on this technology; two for-profit companies (Cruise E-mail & Marine Net), one non-profit system (Sailmail), and one amateur radio based system (WinLink2000). These systems all connect or link to shoreside stations that act as an interface between the cruising boat and the Internet.

Sailmail is the system used by most cruisers who do not have ham radio licenses, while cruisers with ham licenses favor the WinLink2000 (WL2K) system. The Sailmail system is owned and operated by the Sailmail Association, and provides services to association members who pay a $200 annual membership fee.

The WL2K system is the most robust of the four systems. It comprises more than thirty shoreside stations, allows file attachments, and provides easy access to weather maps. Besides requiring an amateur radio license because the WL2K system operates on the ham bands, business-related communications are not permitted if access to commercial communications is available. Sailmail, CruiseEmail,, and MarineNet, on the other hand, operate on the marine bands where business-related messages are allowed.

SUMMARY There’s an e-mail solution for nearly every budget and need. Cruisers can choose from an array of solutions ranging from a couple of hundred dollars for a year’s subscription to PocketMail, to tens of thousands of dollars for a sophisticated geostationary satellite-based system that combines TV, telephone, e-mail, etc., services into a single package. Each of us must decide the type of system and services we will buy based upon our unique set of circumstances and needs.

Gary Jensen owns and operates DockSide Radio, specializing in Sailmail & WinLink2000 e-mail systems. Gary and his wife Peggy lived aboard their Hans Christian 38T for three years while cruising the West Coast of the United States, Mexico, and the Sea of Cortez. They now live on the west coast of Florida. Gary can be reached at (941) 661-4498, or by e-mail at gary@docksideradio.com.

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Cherie in the San Blas Islands Part II

By Cherie Sogsti

I

f the San Blas Islands had a decent gro cery store, I’d stay there forever. Eating lobster every meal sounds like a dream, until you do it. Lobster casserole, lobster chowder, grilled lobster, poached lobster, lobster omelet, lobster pasta. Even Bubba Gump couldn’t think of a new way to prepare the cheap crustacean (which sells for $2 bucks a tail). Then my boyfriend Greg and I tried fishing (to add a little variety to our seafood diet) off his 41 Morgan Out Island (that we’ve been cruising on since October 2001) and we caught a shark! After that mess, we craved only one thing — chicken.

Kunas have chickens, but they seem to be more like pets than poultry. Most cruisers buy their chicken from the Colombians, who motor to the San Blas Islands to buy coconuts.

The Colombians sell poultry out of a dirty bucket. (When you go cruising, you have to leave your sanitary standards in “storage” along with your oak desk.) The chicken’s rubbery skin was like gooseflesh, the neck was crooked like a check mark, and its feet were ridged and yellowed. Greg always delivers this same line to folks who sell chicken from buckets: “Can I give you this plastic and foam and you make the chicken look like it comes from the grocery store?”

Greg’s question always gets the same strange look because the poultry-provider rarely speaks English. Then I say something like: “We’d only like to buy the chicken breasts,” and the chicken-seller is always shocked. Americans—we’re so wasteful! We just haven’t been raised properly and don’t appreciate the delicate flavor of heads and feet.

Sometimes, when Greg and I are dying for protein, we’ll go to Hotel Porvenir and order up the “chicken special.” It usually takes over an hour to prepare, because the cook really starts from scratch (a live chicken). I realize I am a hypocrite writing this, but while I am able to pick my lobster dinner out of an aquarium, I can’t choose my chicken lunch from somebody’s front yard.

The Kuna Yala are the native people who live simply and happily in the San Blas Islands. The indigenous people are extremely friendly with cruisers and have told Greg and I that we seem like family to them. In fact, the phrase “Sugar Daddy” seems oddly appropriate since all Greg seems to dole out is chocolates. We share our food with them, and they share their water with us.

Sharing our provisions was a great idea until we ran out of food. That’s when we learned that a Kuna “store” is simply a “hut” selling expired canned goods. After two weeks of eating pork-and-beans and canned tuna, we decided to sail to Carti (the most populated island in the San Blas chain) in the ridiculous hope that they had a larger selection of groceries.

“Let’s try to do this quick.” Greg suggested. The plan was: paddle in, shop, and then paddle back. But it couldn’t be that easy. Greg and I were informed at the “dug-out-canoe dock” that we had to meet the island’s chief before we were permitted 28

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to walk around the Carti. The leader’s hut looked the same as everyone else’s, except he had a framed picture of himself tacked up. (I laughed because it seemed like something I would do if I were a Kuna Yala.)

What do you do when you meet a chief? Bow? Shake hands?

I was at a loss for words. I had never met a chief before. What should I say: “How about them coconuts?”

The island leader turned out to be a pretty relaxed guy. In fact, during our entire visit, he never got out of his hammock.

Greg and I sat in his hut and made the strange conversation you make with people who you have nothing in common with. “Yeah, I know what you mean. We have those same drainage problems when we build our huts in the USA.” The Kuna leader gave us a couple of beers and told us how difficult it was to watch “all this technology” change his island. I wanted to remind him that he was living in a thatched hut, but I thought it might be rude. I think the “technology” he was referring to was his tiny refrigerator (which I was thankful for since warm beer is just plain nasty.) While we bonded with the chief, a few Kunas stopped by and brought their giddy children to sit on my lap. Headline: Quick Shopping Trip Turns Into All Day Event.

We thanked the chief for his generosity, still dreaming that Carti might have a greater selection of food in their market. “Look at all this technology!” I exclaimed sarcastically as I entered the dark store-hut (no electricity.) Even in the poor light, we could see that pork and beans lined the thatched walls like bad 70s wallpaper.

Nevertheless, we headed out with a Costco-sized supply of canned goods. After we re-provisioned, we ran out of water again.

It is expensive to have water flown into the islands (because water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon), so the Kunas generously gave us over 100 gallons of water from their well. Greg and I even “showered” at the Kuna well with all the other locals.

Afterwards, they’d invite us to hang out and have a coconut. The Kunas thought they had so much technology, and Greg and I thought we were living like natives!

Then one day I saw a Kuna slathering suds over himself in the very well that we’d been jugging our drinking water from. I had an attack of ISA (immediate sanitation anxiety.) Usually, everyone removes the water from the well with a bucket and bathes www.southwindssailing.com

Greg fetching water from the Kuna well.

Photo by Cherie Sogsti.

off to the side. I walked over to the Kuna and asked him if the well water was safe to drink.

“Of course!” he replied in Spanish.

The newly-cleaned Kuna climbed out of Cheri learns to sail the Kuna Yala way. Photo by Rennie Waxlax. the hole and poured a random amount of Clorox bleach inside the well. “The water should be fine in a few hours,” he added.

Imagine my face at that moment. I could have landed the lead role in the next Friday-the-13th horror flick.

“What’s wrong?” Greg asked. (Can you believe he asked that?)

“I am not going to drink any of that well water.” I announced.

“What? We just spent three days jerry-jugging over 100 gallons of it to Scirocco. You are over-reacting. The water is fine.”

Greg’s the kind that thinks mold makes cheese prettier.

“I don’t want to drink disinfected-Kuna well water. If I took a bath and then poured bleach in it, would you want to drink the water a few hours later?” I asked.

“Okay,” Greg said, “you have a point.” (Greg will admit that I have a “point” much easier than he will admit that I am “right.”) “Let’s come back tomorrow and see how the water looks.” Greg offered.

“I don’t care how it looks! For all we know those germs are going to have an all-night-sex-party and triple their population before morning! The bleach probably just cleans them off and makes them more attractive to each other!” I was over-reacting.

Absurd thoughts were swirling in my head. What if all the Kuna teenagers came to the well at midnight and urinated in it? What if I was drinking bleached pee?

I finally calmed down and compromised. We bought bottled water to drink (a huge waste of $2 a gallon in Greg’s opinion.

Gas is cheaper than that!), and we used the Kuna well water for showers and dishes.

Thus I’ve come to the sad realization that Greg and I wouldn’t make good Kunas. First, I wouldn’t want to eat coconuts at every meal for the rest of my life. Second, the average Kuna family has eight kids, and I can’t imagine taking my immediate family out to dinner and having to make a reservation LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

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for ten. Third, Greg has still never caught a fish (which is how the Kuna men “bring home the bananas”) so we’d be living in the “poor hut.” And fourth, I just can’t see myself sewing “molas” all day, while Greg farts around sailing his little dugout canoe.

Eating lobster and hanging out in hammocks all day is something I could get used to. Nevertheless, I think I’ll stay a sailor.

I’ve never felt more peaceful than when I am sailing. Lately, Greg and I have been trying to accomplish what I call a “free sail.” It’s where you sail off the hook, never start the engine, and sail into the anchorage. An additional rule is that nothing can break during the passage (because then it is not free!) We accomplished our first “free sail” on the brief passage from Porvenir to the Western Holandes Cays.

After we hoisted the sails, I strolled to the front of Scirocco and watched the jib billow in the breeze and let the balmy wind kiss my cheeks. The salty gravel of past waves laid gritty beneath my feet on the bow. I leaned over and watched a cacophony of color glide beneath me: orange starfish, yellow coral, red crabs and blue fish. The sea fans were a bright, magnificent purple, as if the creature had invented the color. All of this was free!

We dropped the sails upon entering the anchorage. We let the 16-knot wind set the anchor and Greg and I celebrated our success with a glass of wine. “It doesn’t get better than this,” I thought as I drifted to sleep that night. But five hours later, it felt more like we were drifting than sleeping.

Greg had felt it first; he was already in the cockpit.

“Are we moving?” I asked.

“Yes.” “Aren’t we supposed to be anchored?” When I’m sleepy I have a tendency to ask the obvious.

“Yes.” “Isn’t that a problem?” I asked rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

“Yes.” “What should we do?” I was more confused than scared.

“Figure out which way we are drifting. See if we are going to run into anything.” Greg is always composed in emergency situations. It’s a good balance, because I usually need a tranquilizer.

As Greg pulled up the anchor, I examined the GPS. The last thing we needed to do at 2:48 a.m. was foul the anchor on a lumpy bed of colorful marine life. The second-to-last thing we needed to do was smash Scirocco into another palm-infested island.

LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

After careful GPS and map-analysis I informed Greg: “We’re drifting north.”

“No, we’re not. We’re heading south.”

“Why’d you ask me if you already knew?” I asked.

“The arrow on the GPS is pointing north!” I twisted the GPS so he could see. When possible, I try to support my statements with electronic devices. The GPS never lies.

“That’s the way we SHOULD be going. We’re actually drifting south. See if there are any reefs in our way!” (So we could brace ourselves?)

It was a moonless night and it felt like we were floating in a mass of India ink. If we were going to crash into submerged coral, surely we’d feel it before we ever saw it. Luck, karma or divine intervention, I’m not sure which, but with a tangled mess of reefs and islands surrounding us, we miraculously slipped into a deep channel of water. We had an entire three hours of “float time” before we were scheduled to collide into another landmass.

Greg leisurely pulled up the anchor, motored back to our original spot, and re-anchored. I decided to amend my “free sail” rules to include starting the engine upon arrival to set the anchor.

After that, Greg and I really slept like babies. Which (as my sister Michelle always says) means you wake up every three hours.

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CATAMARAN RACING

How About A Hot Dog & A Hamburger With That Catamaran?

By Ron Yankowski Photos by Suzanne Yankowski

I

t seems like an unusual statement to make but it is true!

A special regatta for catamarans, the US Sailing Multi-hull championship for the 2003 Alter Cup, was held in Clearwater, FL, in midApril. The events all week were headquartered at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center on Sand Key and Clearwater Yacht Club. This unique facility, according to Joe Calio, a member of the board, has IRS status of 5013c, which gives it preferred status and special deeded rights for sailing recreation on adjacent land.

Let’s get back to hamburgers and hot dogs and the catamaran connection. According to Chip Short, local host of this prestigious race and regatta co-chair, one of the actual races is laid out in the water in the shape of a hamburger with a hot dog laid across it. This particular format tests the ability of the sailors with their boats, which are a trim 286 pounds (net weight) as compared to the normal 440 pounds and can reach speeds up to 20 knots.

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This race was sponsored by the HoytJolley Foundation and the world-famous Rolex watch corporation, (which sponsors all US SAILING adult championships). It was an inspiring and colorful sight to see, as the twenty-foot hull Bimare Javelin 2s, provided

by Novacaine’s Mutiny, Inc. skimmed the surface of the blue water.

The Bimare Javelin hull and the carbon fiber mast by Riba are imported from Italy. In fact, the special mast is manufactured by the same company that makes the distinctive Ferrari automobile. All cats used in this race are brand-new and later sold at a discount. Jean and Chris Brown were busy before the race checking out all of the ropes and the condition of the F18HT-type hull. They ensure that all of the boats, as well as the rigging, are identical and in ship-shape order for this formula race.

Winners in their divisions, competitive mariners, come from as far as California and Minnesota to test their mettle against the forces of nature. They have the opportunity to practice for about

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one hour the day prior to the beginning races to try to get used to the feel of these cats.

There are heats, involving 10 catamarans at a time, with a skipper and one crew, lasting about 45 minutes depending on the prevailing winds. Each team of two changes boats for every race so that by the end of the week they have sailed all of the boats and been up against each of the other teams.

What makes this type of race special is that the sailors are of all ages, sexes, and skill levels although they are considered the best in their division. One of the most difficult parts of the race is to cross the starting line when the cannon goes off. The wind does not slow down to allow an even start so each crew is jockeying for position! Clearwater is known for it’s excellent weather; however, storms prevented racing on Thursday of the race week, and on Friday the waves were such that the race had to be moved to the Intracoastal Waterway. The condos along Sand Key played havoc with the wind and further tested these seasoned sailors on the turns.

At the end of a week of sailing, the weathered sailors met at the Clearwater Yacht Club to share their experiences at an awards buffet dinner. The informal camaraderie created an atmosphere of congeniality and playful teasing.

The most significant and interesting event of the evening was awarding the Alter Cup to Matt Struble (Bay City, MI) along with W. F. Oliver (Virginia Beach, VA). Their score was a perfect 8 points.

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Matt has won it for three years in a row, quite an accomplishment for a thirty-year-old, who has sailed for twenty-five of those years!

A manager of a machine shop in Michigan, Matt finds time to sail competitively once a month and has enjoyed sailing cats for the last 12 years. Brian Lambert and Jamie Livingston came in second with 16 points and Bob Hodges and Jason Sneed took third with 18.

Two participants from the youth division, Frank Burns and Marc Kennedy, from Michigan, had “skipped school” to test their seamanship. They had been allowed to be in the race in an additional open spot due to their competitiveness and qualifying during the year. While they finished 19th, they won the respect of the other sailors, who said that they expect to see a lot more of them in the future.

Another winner, in 12th position, was Chris Batchelor, skipper, and his father Mark as crew. Chris, a junior in high school, was the national youth multihull champion at age 16 and has been competing for 5 years. When not sailing, he also enjoys participating in sports such as soccer and surfing. He has done well enough to have gained a sponsor, Dirty Dog Sunglasses, which he wears proudly.

The Alter Cup Race over, these sailors can hardly wait for the next event when they can pit the skills of one sailor against another using the same type of boat and rigging.

The Alter Cup was named after Hobie Alter, well-know surfer and creator of the Hobiecat.

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SOUTHERN SAILING

The Sailor’s Wind Part 1 Dave Ellis

A

t a racing clinic at Offshore Sailing School’s Captiva Island, FL, location in 1986, the well-known sailing writer Stuart Walker predicted the winds for each day’s sailing.

One day the wind was nothing like he had predicted. When ribbed by the class, he stated in his booming voice, “Oh, it was accurate…at ten thousand feet.”

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College sailors have been disappointed when they take a class of meteorology to try to help their sailing. Most winds are predicted for well aloft of our sailing area.

Let’s review some of the principles that govern the fluid that we use to get to our destination, whether on a cruise or a race.

Wind aloft is usually stronger than wind at the surface. Note that a pelican or other large bird will glide so close to the water that wing tips touch. Under a meter off the water there is a significant drop in velocity, especially in chop. Pilots know that when approaching a runway in a cross wind, there is suddenly less wind at a lower altitude, depending on temperature and wind speed.

A puff of wind is simply wind that has come from aloft.

Puffs are evident on the water by the

darker color caused by the increased little ripples. The water reflects less light than when it is smooth, so it looks darker to us.

It is tougher in cloudy days to see the puffs coming. Also, oil on the water, whether from a passing powerboat with a 2-stroke engine, pollution or an area of sea grass that is decomposing, inhibits the forming of those tell-tale ripples. There is wind, but you can’t see the effect on the water as well.

Water movement in the direction of the wind, whether from tidal or river current, makes the ripples less evident.

Where you see more ripples, there may very well be more wind to your boat floating on the moving water in an upwind current, while an anchored boat would feel no change. Obviously, a downwindflowing current would make your floating boat seem to have less wind, and there would be fewer waves and wavelets.

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In the Northern Hemisphere wind aloft also blows from a more right, veered direction. Don’t try to figure out why. It has something to do with the earth spinning and inertia. A puff will come from the right.

Oh, there are exceptions, like a sea breeze that happens to come from the left, overlaid on an ambient breeze. But watch lower clouds scud by on a windy day. They will be from the right of your wind on the water, unless you are visiting New Zealand or Oz. In our sailboat world, a puff is a lift simply because it is stronger, and the boat speed/wind speed ratio goes more to the wind speed off to the side of the boat.

But, since the wind usually also goes right in a puff, starboard tack will be more of a lift than a puff on port. Reaches are especially affected.

Vertical spins in the moving wind

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cause puffs and, on the backside of the spin, lulls. Small puffy clouds marching down the wind are the tops of the spin.

You may feel a puff in front of it.

Shifts are spins in the wind in a horizontal plane. Naturally, in the real world, there is a jumbled mix of vertical and horizontal vortices.

When a puff hits the water, especially in light air, it tends to fan out. It is just like throwing wet mud at the ground that fans out when it hits. So where your boat intercepts the puff helps determine whether it is a lift or a header.

Suppose you are sailing in light air on the lake and the wind makes the sail luff. You know that there is wind flowing. If the wind had stopped and you kept moving, you would luff, and in any direction you went. But in this case, the wind shift makes you luff and may increase a bit. Don’t tack! You are likely go-

ing into a puff. Proceed into the fanning puff/header. If it is one of those long trains of wind, tack when you get into the lift on the other side! It is better to be going twice the speed in that light air than gain a bit on a shift, but going slowly.

If you observe on the water a puff coming down the lake or bay at you that will converge with your boat in the middle of the puff, there will be an apparent wind shift and then a really nice lift as you get to the other side of the puff.

If there is lots of puff still to windward, now behind you, tack.

Finally, if the puff hits and you have a really big lift, it could be you are sailing out of it.

The sides of a puff are often a lull, actually caused by vortex, so either be in it or far away, going to the next puff.

Next month, geographic shifts and things in the wind will be discussed.

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RACING & REGATTAS CENTRAL FLORIDA LAKE EUSTIS SAILING CLUB, MARCH 13-15 McNEIL CLAIMS MC SCOW MIDWINTER TITLE Sixty-eight boats came to Eustis, FL, for the 2003 MC Scow Midwinter National Championships representing 12 states. The group found great sunshine days along with one day of stiff winds, one day of no winds, and one day of light air.

Doug McNeil claimed the title with 25 points, which was six points ahead of second place. McNeil did not claim a first place finish in any of the four races completed. He had a second, a third, an eighth, and a 12th place finish to win the title. None of the top nine boats won a race.

The two races in the light air were won by Jeff Surles, while two in the stiff breeze were claimed by Jeff Annis and Brian Heimsch.

The different divisions were claimed by several different sailors, while McNeil claimed the under 50 title. The master division (50 to 59) crown went to Skip Moorhouse, who took second overall. The grand masters (60 to 69) title was earned by Jack Kern, who also was third overall. The mega-master (70 and over) went to Jim Hoffman, who was 17th overall. Kelly Reese was the top woman finisher in fourth place, while John McNeil was the top junior with an eighth overall place.

Many of the sailors were glad to see the brand-new clubhouse at Lake Eustis Sailing Club.

Listed below are the complete standings for the 2003 MC Scow National Midwinter Championships. In the listing is the place, skipper, division, sail number, and number of points. The only divisions marked are master (M), grand master (GM), mega-master (MM), women (W), and junior (J).

Top ten results: PLACE: 1. Doug NcNeil, 2166, 25; 2. Skip Moorhouse, M, 1702, 31; 3. Jack Kern, GM, 2148, 31; 4. Kelly Reese, W, 2128, 32; 5. Eric Hood, 2201, 39; 6. Johnny Krawcheck, 1838, 44; 7. Lenny Krawcheck, GM, 2196, 45; 8. John McNeil, J, 1643, 46; 9. Mark Marenakos, 1712, 47; 10. Jeff Surles, 1995, 49

WEST FLORIDA

years of women sailing together and against one another on the waters of Florida’s west coast. In these 30 years, FWSA has continued its mission of encouraging interclub yacht racing, advancing nautical education and promoting fellowship among women on the water.

All nine member clubs of FWSA participated in Thursday’s regatta co-hosted by the Broad Reachers of the Pass-A-Grille Yacht Club and the TI Tackers of the Treasure Island Yacht Club. The other clubs competing were: the Bitter Ends from Venice Y.C., the Bow Chasers from Clearwater Y.C., the Dingy Dames from Davis Island, Y.C., the Luffing Lassies from the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, the Mainsheet Mamas from Tampa Y.C., the Salty Sisters from St. Pete Y.C. and the Windlasses from Dunedin Sailing Center.

As is the case with any sport that depends on the weather, the winds were unpredictable, and the sailors made do with less than four knots of wind. The first race on the Clearwater Optimist Pram course was started at 10:30 in 3.5 knots of wind from the southeast, which rapidly diminished to less than 1.5 knots before any of the sailors could reach the windward mark. The race was abandoned after 45 minutes with only ten boats reaching the jibe mark by that time. After a long delay the wind increased somewhat, and a second race was started. The winds were enough to enable most sailors to finish a windward/leeward course; however, fifteen boats were unable to finish within the allotted time limit.

On the Sunfish course things were a little different. Because of the ability of these 14-foot boats to sail in significantly less wind (due mainly to the larger sail area), they were able to complete two races successfully.

Race Results Sarasota captured the Sunfish class this year. Coming in first, second and third respectively were last year’s 1st place winner Rita Steel, Ursula Olson again won 2nd place and 3rd place was Kathy Bush. The Sunfish Master was Bonnie Sevier from the Dingy Dames (Davis Island). Second place Master was Teri Schweiger and third was Marianne DeCosta, both Windlasses from Dunedin. On the Pram course the team winners were: 1st place the Dingy Dames (Davis Island), 2nd place the Windlasses (Dunedin) and in 3rd place the Mainsheet Mamas (Tampa). Individual Pram winners: 1st place Amanda Huss (Dingy Dames), 2nd place Carrie Green (Dingy Dames), 3rd place Sylvia Mabe (Windlasses). Tove Kullman from the Salty Sisters (St. Pete) won Pram Masters; second was Bertha Nelson of the Mainsheet Mammas (Tampa) and third was Carole Bardes of the Salty Sisters. The give-a-way trophies for the Rainbow Regatta are usually handmade and this year’s trophies were exceptionally well done by Maggie Kline of the Broad Reachers. All of the winners received a gold-plated hand-painted dish.

A big thanks to all who helped in one capacity or another with this regatta!

FINAL BOAT OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2002-2003 West Florida PHRF Boat of the Year, Top Three: Non-Spinnaker: 1;Grand Illusion,2; Intrepid, 3; Escapade Spinnaker: 1; Tack Tick, 2; Semper Fi, 3; Southern Crescent Davis Island Yacht Club Boat of the Year, Top Three: Spinnaker A: 1; Time Bandit, 2; Fire & Ice, 3; Mariah Spinnaker B: 1; Cat’s Meow, 2; Forerunner, 3; Nancy’s J Spinnaker C: 1; Pistarkle, 2; Capellin, 3; Mad Cow Non-Spinnaker: 1; Intrepid, 2; About Time, 3; See Ya

WOMEN SAILORS OF WEST COAST FLORIDA STILL SAIL CLEARWATER OPTIMIST PRAMS On Thursday, April 3, 2003, the Florida Women’s Sailing Association (FWSA) held its annual Rainbow Regatta at the Boca Ciega Yacht Club. A total of 47 Pram sailors and 18 Sunfish sailors competed in the twentieth event held since its inception in 1981. (At that first regatta, everyone admired the fleet of boats with all their sails rigged and the colorful burgees denoting the 9 different teams racing. It looked like a rainbow of color out on the water. Hence, the unofficial, but now official, name of the Rainbow Regatta.)

The Florida Women’s Sailing Association has experienced 30 36

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Some of the Intrepid crew relaxing after a good race, which helped them gain the Davis Island BOTY title and second in the West Florida PHRF BOTY. Owner and Skipper Jeff Russo stands smiling in the foreground. Sue Russo, on the right with her back to the camera, is co-owner of Intrepid, and skippered the boat last Spring to win the Bikini Cup. Steve Morrell photo. www.southwindssailing.com

GULF COAST LASER MASTERS

ROLEX WOMEN’S MATCH RACE, APRIL 11-13

By Dave Ellis Laser sailors aged 35 and over gathered in St. Pete April 5-6 for the Gulf Coast Masters regatta. While the event was counted toward points standings in the Masters, it was attended by only twelve sailors.

The wind also didn’t show up. Only two races were successfully completed on Saturday, and Sunday was windless. The two races proved to be a challenge with great shifts and holes in the wind.

One competitor led the first race by a great margin, only to round the bottom mark and sit. The fleet behind was lifted, and he finished near the back of the fleet.

Ian Lineberger, a top Masters competitor, finished the first race in next-to-last and the other race in first.

Nevertheless, even in this fleet, old age and treachery overcame youth and vigor, as J-24, Windsurfer and Laser guru Dick Tillman, 66, of Merritt Island, F, had consistent finishes to top the fleet overall.

If one chooses to race Lasers, a certain tolerance for kinetics, even in drifting conditions, must be accepted. However, it is noted that Tillman just sailed the boat fast and smart, not taking chances and always playing the percentages with the wind.

For complete results go online to spyc.org

By Dave Ellis Rolex watch is noted for sponsoring high-profile yachting events.

The Women’s Match Race is, instead, an effort to encourage women to try this aspect of the sport. When match racing was passed by for the Olympics for fleet racing on the Yingling for women instead, it took the wind out of the genre’s sails.

But it is still an intense, demanding and fun aspect of the sport.

Sailors were invited who were not part of the regular match racing scene.

Elizabeth Kratzig of Miami and crew Sally Barkow, Katie Lovelace and Leah Hoepfner were the winners. Elizabeth is part of a top Yingling crew vying for the Athens games.

Third overall was St. Petersburg sailor Rachael Silverstein with crew Alexis Ackman, Meredith Pelton and Kristin Britt.

They were significantly younger than the other competitors, yet sailed with poise and smarts.

Competitors from as far away as Chicago and California made up the nine-boat fleet, sailing on evenly matched Sonars from the St. Pete Yacht Club fleet.

America’s Cup veteran Ed Baird scheduled a seminar on match racing for Thursday. The floating part of the teaching was blown away by winds over 25 knots, as was the racing on Friday.

Saturday was perfect for the windward-leeward courses, while Sunday dawned windless.

US Sailing head of race officials Tom Farquhar was principal race officer with a full band of on-the-water judges and RC help.

For complete results go online to spyc.org

LIGHTNING CIRCUIT SAVANNAH MARCH 8-9; MIAMI MARCH 11-12 ST. PETE MARCH 14-16; MASTERS APRIL 9 - 11

By Dave Ellis Each year the Lightning Class migrates south for a three-regatta circuit. The Savannah-Miami-St. Petersburg sojourn has been a tradition in the class, the St. Pete regatta now in its 56th year. This year the Masters Worlds and World Championship are in Miami at the end of April.

Savannah is a regatta not to be taken seriously for its actual racing. The Skidaway and Wilmington Rivers are used as a race course.

You cannot sail directly to the windward mark. Pigeons walk between the two. The current flows, but the wind sometimes does not for one boat, while another nearby is in full hike mode.

Amy Smith Linton reports, “You can go from the front, make a mistake, and end up at the back - except you didn’t make a mistake.”

Ched Proctor, a sailmaker from Southport, CT, has been sailing the circuit for long enough to garner two seconds in the two races sailed to win this venue with 28 boats in the fleet.

Miami was next, with its warm sunshine and water.

Again, the winds were not cooperative, but the race committee worked hard to get five races completed, with race three ending in a fine sunset view.

Former World champ Jeff Linton of Tampa, FL, won this venue with ten points in hand in the 47-boat fleet.

Then it was on to St. Pete where the temperature stayed up and the wind stayed down.

Only four races could be completed in spite of Bob Johnson’s RC efforts. Friday proved windless and Saturday only one race was completed.

Sunday the fleet enjoyed two full-length races and the final one shorter in dying breeze.

Brian Hayes, a sailmaker from Connecticut, won this event by a small margin over Bill Mauk of Miami. Frank Atkinson of Loxahatchee, FL, was fourth and Jeff Linton fifth.

Jeff Linton and crew wife Amy and Mark Taylor were the winners of the combined Southern Circuit scoring.

Jim Crane won the Masters, read “experienced” sailors. Among Southeast sailors, tops was Colin Park of St. Petersburg with crew Karen Park and Cam Carlin.

For full results see lightningclass.org LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

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RACING & REGATTAS SUNCOAST RACEWEEK

By Dave Ellis Distance racing, instead of around the buoys, is the fare for the annual Suncoast Raceweek. Sailing from one club’s venue to another each of three days has become as much of a tactical issue with automobile transportation each day as it is on the water.

This year the course proceeded on Friday, April 4, from off The St. Petersburg Pier near the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, around some navigation buoys to Upper Hillsborough Bay near Davis Island Yacht Club.

Saturday the fleet sailed down the bay toward the entrance of the Manatee River, but the light wind did not cooperate. The race was shortened at a navigation mark waypoint before the Sunshine Skyway bridge.

Sunday an effort was made to shorten the course by starting near the Skyway rather than the mouth of the Manatee. Frustration for the larger, faster boats was a delight for the smaller vessels, as the wind died very near the finish, allowing the smaller boats to close up.

The number of boats was gratifying and, despite the light air, smiles were seen on the crew at the docks.

For complete results go online to diyc.org

DISABLED MIDWINTER CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA

By Dave Ellis The final major regatta for disabled sailors at the St. Petersburg venue before the Athens Paralympic trials here in November was sailed on Tampa Bay the last weekend in March.

St. Pete Yacht Club’s Judy Altenhoff and her race committee crew started races around times of little wind and blustery conditions to make the event a good test.

Three classes were represented, including the Sonar and 2.4 Meter, both Paralympic boats In the sixteen-boat fleet of the Martin-16 class, Canada’s Brad Boston and Liz MacDonald finished first among the spinnaker Division 2, and Danny McCoy of Canada with crew Ken Carpenter, who hails from St. Petersburg, were second. In third were Australians Daniel and Greg Fitzgibbon.

Karen Mitchell of Deerfield Beach, FL, was top female skipper.

Dallaire Rene sailed his boat using the “Sip and Puff” configuration. Not having the use of hands or feet, he used straw-like pipes for the steering and sail controls that activated servos that responded to his “commands.” He came in seventh overall in the 16-boat fleet.

Countries also represented were the United States and England, with the majority of the field from Canada.

“Sailing these boats is the only time I get out of my wheel-

John & Maggie Manderson in the Snipe Midwinters. Photo by Bill Welsh

chair.” said Nigist Sewnet of Toronto.

Sewnet was first among the Division 1 Martin-16 sailors.

These sailors don’t use spinnakers, and the “crew” just goes along for the ride, not participating in the sailing of the boat.

Americans swept the 2.4 Meter class, with Tom Brown of Maine in first with 5 points, followed by John Ruf from Wisconsin in a close second with 7 points. Tom Franklin of Miami was third. Twelve boats competed with representation from Canada and Singapore.

In the 23-foot Sonar class there were nine teams competing with a skipper and two crewmembers. The United States finished 1-2-3 in competition that was very close. Competition in this class has become heated, with three top teams vying for the one US slot at the Athens Games.

Winning overall was Paul Callahan from Rhode Island with crew Keith Burhans and Mike Hersey with 18 points.

Also with 18 points, but losing the tiebreaker, was Rick Doerr from New Jersey with crewmembers Tim Angle and Richard Hughes.

An apparent rules infraction between the Ireland and Great Britain teams was overturned on further review. If the ruling had stood, Doerr would have won the Sonar class.

In third was 1996 bronze medallist John Ross Duggan of California with J.P. Creignon and Mike Ross crewing.

The Netherlands was also represented.

SNIPE PAN AM GAMES AND CIRCUIT

By Dave Ellis Clearwater Yacht Club has been hosting the Snipe Midwinters for an astounding 65 years. This year the venue was moved to the Clearwater Community Sailing Center for more convenient storage and launching and easier access to the Gulf.

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www.southwindssailing.com

The Pan Am trials for that Dominican Republic event were held March 21-23 just before the Midwinters. Chris and Antoinette Klotz of St. Petersburg won the event. Chris can’t make the Pan Ams, so second place finisher Henry Filter and crew Lisa Griffith of Annapolis will be the USA rep.

The Midwinters enjoyed excellent sailing conditions on the Gulf of Mexico. Augie Diaz and crew Jon Rogers ended up victorious and had a grand battle with sailors from New Jersey, California and Sweden. John and Maggie Manderson of Keyport, NJ, took second.

Then it was on to Miami for the Don Q Regatta, hosted by Coconut Grove Yacht Club. Again Augie and Jon bested the fleet in fabulous sailing conditions. For a complete description of the racing and results visit the excellent Snipe Web site, snipeus.org.

EAST FLORIDA PERFECT FIRST WEEKEND FOR MYC SPRING REGATTA APRIL 12-13

By Stu Shadbolt Perfect weather prevailed for the first weekend of Melbourne Yacht Club’s Spring Regatta. Bright, sunny days, 80-degree temperatures, a line of non-threatening cumulus clouds and steady southeast breezes blowing a light chop across the Indian River south of Melbourne brought smiles to skippers and crews of 21 competing boats.

The weekend began with a Friday night Rebel Rally. The race, which did not count toward Regatta standings, gave the out-of-

LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

Sherry Beckett on her Lindenberg 28 Fast Lane on starboard tack about to cross Jim Boyd, on his Laser 28 Luff Affair during the Melbourne Yacht Club Spring Regatta. Richard Oliver photo.

towners a chance to check the local waters and the locals an opportunity to test their gear. That proved fortuitous. Four boats dropped out either with equipment failure or because they couldn’t find the marks in the dark. Broken gear was repaired before the next day’s racing and, in the bright sunlight, the big, yellow, floating pyramids were easy to spot.

Saturday’s racing began right on time for all three classes: six Melges 24s, a class for ten spinnaker boats and a group of five non-spinnakers. A course of one triangle and two windward/ leewards with a windward finish worked nicely for all three races.

The Melges fleet stayed in tight formation throughout the day. Tom Carter, of Indian Harbor Beach, and his crew aboard

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RACING & REGATTAS that the club hopes will continue.

Trust Me worked hard to score three bulThe regatta sponsors, Boaters Exlets taking the day’s honors. change, US1 in Rockledge, entered In the ten-boat spinnaker fleet 2 boats in the Catalina 22 fleet, and Frank Ziolko, of Melbourne, in an SRtook third place with Winnie Butz, Max, Tug, took advantage of his craft’s behind Ray Laguna of Orlando and planning ability to lead the bigger boats Dick King of Melbourne. around the course. He was in first place The Force 5 champion was Tom at the end of the day.

Trump of Key Largo, with Steve Perry, Among the four non-spinnaker and James Bigham, both from Miami, competitors, Paul Alexy of Merritt Istaking the minor podium places. land, on his S-2, 9.5 Impaulsive, seldom The smallest class, the Portsrelinquished the lead on all legs and finmouth, was won by the international ished with three perfect scores. pairing of Mike Barile, Palm Bay and On Sunday, the race committee set Flying Scots in hot pursuit. Sherry Beckett Photo Jacksonville, and Richard Oliver, a course of three windward/leeward legs Indiatlantic and England, with Paul Henderson of Merritt Island with a finish upwind. The wind had picked up slightly from the day taking second. before, making the competition even tighter.

Fourteen multi-hulls competed in 2 classes, with David In the Melges class the lead on Sunday switched to Karen Carlson, Gainesville, beating Chris Cordes, Jacksonville, and GorKnockel, of Vero Beach, on board Caliente. Among the spinnaker don Isco, Gulfport, in the A Class cats. In the open multihull class, boats, Gary Smith of Melbourne, on board his Lindenberg 28 Five Brian Karr of Satellite Beach, triumphed over Frank Rodericks of Speed moved from second place into first by taking two bullets.

Rockledge, and Dave Andrews of Cocoa.

Paul Alexy continued to dominate the other three non-spinnaker boats.

All in all it was an excellent weekend of racing, following on At the awards ceremony at the Melbourne Yacht Club followfrom the previous weekend’s “Big Boat Regatta” where the racing ing two days of close competition, the line-up was as follows: was as close as ever.

Melges: First place, Tom Carter. Second place, Karen Knockel. Third place, Ray Laguna, of Full results and photos from both weekends are posted on the Orlando, on board Iemonja. Fourth place, Mary Anne Ward, of Cocoa Beach, on M&M. east central Florida sailing site, www.sail-race.com.

Fifth place, Randy Pawlowski, of Sanford, on Black Hawk and in sixth place, Jim Lacy, of In addition to the traditional Spring, Fall, and Mermaid regatMelbourne, on Animation. Spinnaker; First place, Gary Smith. Second place, Frank Ziolko. tas, Melbourne Yacht Club has added 3 Sunfish regattas to the racThird place, Sherry Beckett, of Satellite Beach, on her Lindenberg 28, Fast Lane. Fourth ing calendar this year, starting with the Sunfish Regionals on May place Hasty Miller, of Palm Bay, on a Northwind 35, Skimmer. Fifth place, Larry Etheridge, of West Melbourne, on his S-2, 7.9, Purr-fect. Sixth place, Jim Boyd of Melbourne, on his Laser 17-18. Details can be found on the MYC Web site, by clicking on 28, Luff Affair. Seventh place, Duncan MacKenzie, of Satellite Beach, on his J-29, Dirty Dog. the racing link at www.melbourneyachtclub.com.

Eighth place, David Summers, of Titusville, on a J-24,Free Bird. Ninth place, Michael Nulf, of The 25th annual Melbourne Mermaid Regatta, September 20Cocoa, on a Viper 640, Venom. Tenth place, Mary Williams, of Melbourne, on a Lindenberg 21, promises to be an outstanding event, and boats with an all-lady 24, Volant.Non-Spinnaker First Place, Paul Alexy. Second place, Jerry Ross, of Melbourne, crew should mark their diaries and endeavor to attend. Details will on his J-30, Sleighride. Third place, Jim Miller, of Satellite Beach, on his Beneteau 38, Sea also be on the Web site.

Turtle. Fourth place, Jerry Butz, of Rockledge, on his Catalina 22, Boaters Exchange. Fifth place, Brent Saunders, on his Hunter 37.5,Swept Away.

Also on Sunday, the Melbourne Yacht Club was challenged by the East Coast Sailing Association for the Cirripedia Cup, a circulating trophy among Space Coast yacht clubs. By a scant few points, the MYC won and returned the cup to its place of honor at the MYC.

MELBOURNE YACHT CLUB 2003 SPRING REGATTA, SECOND WEEKEND APRIL 12-13

By Richard Oliver The wind of the previous few days eased to allow some excellent sailing for the One Design boats at Melbourne Yacht Club’s Spring Regatta on the second weekend. A total of 56 boats competed in several classes, with the Sunfish fleet having the most competitors, at 20, and with the Flying Scot class, 12 boats, with much of the closest racing.

In the Sunfish class, that well-known champion, Dick Tillman of Merritt Island, took home another championship, with Paul Strauley of Casselberry, and Danny Escobar of Fort Lauderdale, taking the minor placings. Ryan Enoch of Melbourne was the junior Sunfish champion.

One of the most spectacular finishes to a race was the last race of Saturday for the Flying Scots, when 7 boats crossed the line, all overlapped with each other, colorful spinnakers flying in the breeze, a minor headache for the race committee on the finish line trying to sort out the order. The winner in this class was Fred Stammer of Nokomis, equal on points with Al Hersey of Sarasota, but beating him on countback. Jeff Penfield of Longboat Key was third. The Flying Scot fleet uses this regatta as 1 of the 8 for its overall series, and the number of boats attending increases year by year, a trend 40

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FLORIDA NORTHERN GULF INTERNATIONAL MELGES 24 U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP PENSACOLA, FL

By Kim Kaminski The 2003 International Melges 24 U.S. Nationals were held in Pensacola, FL, March 11-15, 2003. Professional, semi-professional and amateur sailors traveled from across the globe to the Pensacola Yacht Club in order to participate in this exciting three-day sailing competition. The National championship got underway Wednesday evening March 12, with the official race briefing sponsored by the Pensacola Yacht Club (PYC) and the race sponsor Mount Gay Rum. The evening began with the introduction of Chip MacMillan, race regatta chairman, and the PYC race management team along with the principal race officer, Matt Jones from the San Francisco Yacht Club.

The racing class consisted of a small fleet (27 boats) filled with high quality sailors from around the world. With the completion of the America’s Cup competition, many of the crewmembers from the European teams (Franco Rossini from Alinghi, Sebastian Col from Le Defi, and Flavio Favini from Mascalzone Latino) took the opportunity to compete here in the international competition. With the heavy concentration of skilled sailors taking part in the Melges 24 championship, the racing proved quite interesting out on the waters of Pensacola Bay. Opening day of the championship started in light to moderate breezes (6 to 10 knots out of the south-southeast). All 27 boats engaged in the competition (a total of 4 races) scheduled for the first Continued on page 44 www.southwindssailing.com

Puerto Rico’s Enrique “Keki” Figueroa and Jorge Hernandex on Movie Star/Suzuki

multihull sailor, Robert Onsgard.

“I’ve been the instigator to get the U.S. catamaran sailors down island for several events,” Onsgard explains. “It started with the Curacao regatta in 1990, when the regatta organizer saw my name in a magazine and called me. He said the regatta would cover the cost for shipping of the boats if we would come down. Well, after much speculation as to the risks involved, we did and then went back six more times. The St. Martin Heineken Regatta contacted me next, and we went there twice. And finally this year Pease Glaser and Ruth Miller (Rolex regatta director) got together, and an invitation was extended to us to attend the Rolex Regatta this year. The shipping of the boats was the key factor in making this happen.”

Avid San Antonio, TX, beach cat sailor, Stephen Acquart, agreed. “When I heard the shipping was free, I was ready to go.

Even though it meant being without my boat for about six weeks with the transit and racing time. I’ve never sailed in the Caribbean and wanted to see what it was like.”

Remmer, from Buda, TX, and Stone’s crew, drove 24 hours straight, towing both their Inter 20 and Acquart’s Hobie 17, USS Enterpooop, to Miami, for shipping, as Acquart was in Baja, CA, for another regatta at the time. “It wasn’t a bad drive. Actually it was fun,” Remmer said.

To transport the boats, Onsgard and helpers built racks in the shipping container and loaded the catamaran hulls on in layers.

About a dozen boats fit this way.

In addition to the Texas sailors, there were teams from Massachusetts including two-time Nacra 6.0 North American champions Rick Bliss and Brandy Woods, sailing a Nacra 6.0, aptly named, Yellow Boat, and the husband-and-wife team of Jay and Pease Glaser from Long Beach, CA, who sailed a Nacra F18, Team Tropical Shipping. The Glasers have gained sailing fame both together and individually. Together, they are three-time Tornado North American champions; individually, they are Olympic medallists. Pease was also named the 2000 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.

Stiff local competition came from Puerto Rico’s Enrique “Keki” Figueroa, who is a two-time Hobie 14 World champion, former Hobie 16 World champion and who has won seven national Hobie Cat class titles. Sailing his Tornado, Movie Star/Suzuki, Figueroa won the Spinnaker Beach Cat Class — and pocketed a Rolex watch, a signature feature of this event — with five victories over seven races. “It was very challenging and lots of good fun sailing against a new group of sailors from the U.S.” Figueroa says. He and crew, Jorge Hernandez, are hoping to qualify for the 2004 Olympics at the Tornado Worlds in September.

Local knowledge did benefit Figueroa a bit, as it did St. Thomas sailor, Terry Jackson, who ended second in class aboard his LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

Tornado, Century 21. But first time competitors to Virgin Islands waters, Jay and Pease Glaser, did inch into the number three slot by awards time. However, day one did prove a bit daunting. “We’re used to a wide field, but not this much diversity in boat size. At one point, we were coming into the mark with a couple of 70-footers,” said Pease, about the range of competition in the 97-boat fleet competing in this year’s Rolex Regatta.

Day two sent sailors off on a 28-mile-long sightseeing trip through the islands and offshore cays. Stone and Remmer didn’t have time to be spectators. “We were doing fine, driving down the puffs, when there was a big shift. Bigger than I had corrected for and we were still flying the chute. When the Inter 20 stalls, you can kiss it goodnight. After we got it upright, we noticed a tear in the snuffer bag, and the spinnaker was hanging out. We packed it back in and were working our way back up through the fleet when the mainsail went off its track. You’re looking at high rocky shorelines out there. No beaches to make repairs, so we just limped in,” Stone explained.

Day three featured more tight mark roundings in a building breeze but an early return to the beach to get awards underway on time.

Life on the beach wasn’t so bad. While not sailing, local beach cat sailor and two-time Worrell veteran, Davis Murray, took the group on an island tour, snorkeling trips and out to visit some of the laidback beach bars for which the Caribbean is known.

Onsgard, who injured his back packing the cats and didn’t get to make the trip, said: “I would note that the sailors who go all have a ‘Caribbean Spirit’ that they cannot resist. Once these sailors go on one trip with us, they are always asking when the next one will be.

Hopefully the next one will be the 2004 St. Thomas Rolex Regatta ‘cause this instigator wants to go, too!”

INTERNATIONAl ROLEX REGATTA (97 boats, 11 classes) BEACH CAT RESULTS SPINNAKER 1. Movie Star/Suzuki, Tornado, Enrique Figueroa, Puerto Rico, 9; 2. Century 21, Tornado, Terry Jackson, St. Thomas, USVI, 15; 3. Team Tropical Shipping, Nacra F18, Pease Glaser, California, USA, 22 ; 4. Yellow Boat, Nacra 6.0, Rick Bliss, Massachusetts, USA, 24; 5.

Impulse, Nacra 6.0, Garrett Norton, Massachusetts, USA, 37 ;6. Caribbean Auto Mart, Inter 20, Tom Ainger, St. Croix, USVI, 40 ; 7. Soul Surfer, Inter 20, Jim Stone, Texas, 50; NONSPINNAKER ; 1. Exodus/Ensysa, Hobie 16, Enrique Figueroa, Puerto Rico, 14 ; 2. Yuisa, Hobie 16, Rosarito Martinez, Puerto Rico, 19 ; 3. Lolo Too, Hobie 16, Anton Guernica, Puerto Rico, 28 ; 4. HF Mortgage Bankers, Hobie 16, Ibrahim Mustafa, Puerto Rico, 29 ; 5. Water Fit, Hobie 16, Denny Junco, Puerto Rico, 39 ; 6. Rush, Prindle 19, Bruce Merced, St. Thomas, USVI, 45 ; 7. Blame it on Rhea, Prindle 19, Mark Chong, St. Thomas, USVI, 53 8. USS Enterpoop, Hobie 17, Stephen Acquart, Texas, 61 ; 9. Casper, Hobie 16, Ricardo Gonzalez, Puerto Rico, 61 ; 10. Haz-mat, Hobie 16, Carlos Gonzalez, Puerto Rico, 66 ; 11.

Top Cat, Nacra 5.5, St. Thomas, USVI, 78 ; 12. Love Never Fails, Inter 17, Bruce Andryc, St. Croix, USVI, 84 ; 13. Big Bamboo, Prindle 19, Eric Johnson, St. Thomas, USVI, 100 ; 14.

Harper’s Express, Hobie 17, Harper Jones, St. Croix, USVI, 100 Southwinds

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RACING & REGATTAS

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 40)

day. Mother Nature provided these competitors with an ideal day for racing by offering plenty of Florida sunshine and filling the sky with light and then a more moderate breeze for the first two races. On the last two races of the day, the competitors finally obtained a stiffening breeze.

Doug Kessler with his Melges 24 boat Liberty has also enjoyed a unique experience here at the National championship. This is the first regatta he has participated in where his team included prosailors from the international sailing community.

Sebastian Col from France was a tactician on the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger boat Le Defi. Sebastian is also the current French Match Racing champion. Doug Kessler stated, “After sailing with

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a pro-competitor, I can see why these teams are so fast. Sebastian is our tactician, and he is making calls on the racecourse that simply wow us. What a great opportunity this has been. I have learned how significant hiking can be, and one important lesson I have learned...never give up.”

The second day of the race competition began under a slight delay as the Pensacola Yacht Club race committee waited for the breeze to fill in on the racecourse. Gradually, a light southeasterly breeze (5 to 8 knots) allowed the contestants the opportunity to start race number 5 of the championship. Principal race officer Matt Jones planned to make an adjustment of the placement of the sailing course area from the previous day’s races due to the heavy tidal currents and the light wind conditions that were experienced. This adjustment allowed for much closer race finishes among the competitors. A total of three races were completed on day two. The first two races were sailed in light air. However, in the late afternoon, the breeze finally picked up to 10 to 12 knots for the last race of the day.

Upon completion of the second day, the P & P Sailing Team on Doug Kessler’s boat Liberty found they were in a well-established lead over the rest of the competition with an astounding 11-point standing. Helmsman Morgan Reeser had the opportunity to display his sailing skills—skills which helped him to earn a silver medal on the 470 Class sailboats back in 1972. Despite their standing, there were other racing teams chomping at this team’s heels ready to capture the lead. Roger Peacock on Black Seal completed the day with an 18-point standing, Franco Rossini on Blu Moon with 22 points, Brian Porter on Full Throttle with 26 points, and Argyle Campbell on Rock N Roll with 29 points, rounded up the top five positions as the teams headed into

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the final day of racing. There was plenty of awesome talent, and skilled sailors on several boats throughout this competition definitely made it a demanding event. The number of professional sailors in this fleet went pretty deep into the class before you could find a boat that was sailing with all Corinthian (amateur) sailors.

The final day of racing began on Saturday, March 15th. The wind conditions (a steady 10 to 12 knots) were more like the breezes common to the Pensacola, FL, area. The top five competitors battled the fleet for the lead and their final standings. Black Seal easily grasped the lead on race 8 with an amazing first place finish. Argyle Campbell from Newport Beach, CA, on the Melges 24 Rock N’ Roll, finally found his wind and earned second place in race 8. He went on to capture first place in the final race of the competition giving him a fourth place in the overall standings.

Argyle is the defending Corinthian (amateur) champion.

LAKE NORMAN YACHT CLUB HOSTS MID-WINTER REGATTA MARCH 15-16

By Rona Garm With over 40 boats competing in the Lake Norman Keelboat Mid-Winter Regatta, it was obvious that a little weather wasn’t keeping these sailors indoors. While the weather reported was 45-55 degrees, the fog, mist, and drizzle made it seem much colder on the water.

Beset by collisions of one sort or another, the SR33 class seemed to be the most damaging. Beginning with a boom and forehead incident pre-start at the first race to a T-boning of an SJ21 in the last race, these competitors were obviously not shy to give their all. Adding this SR33 Spring Championship to Local sailor Hal Pickering and crew battle through the fleet his win at the Larchmont SR33 Fall during the 2003 U.S. Melges 24 National Championship. Championships, Richard Jones (OutraPhoto by Kim Kaminski geous) stated that the competition was strong with boats coming from as far away as New York and New Jersey. His crew confirmed that the series win could’ve gone to one of several boats until the last race.

RESULTS Photos of the event by Josh Jones are available at 1: Doug Kessler: P&P Sailing Team; 2: Roger Peacock: Black Seal;3: Franco Rossini: Blu Moon; www.lakenormanyachtclub.com.

4: Argyle Campbell: Rock N’ Roll; 5: Nergaard: Baghdad; 6: Brian Porter: Full Throttle;7: Paula Zubrzycki: First Crush; 8: Bret Gripenstraw: Sofa King Fast 9: Tom Freytag: Wicked Feet; 10: Hal Pickering: Chacal

NORTH CAROLINA NC STATE CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA – MAY 23-25 THE CAROLINAS PREMIERE SAILING EVENT

By Rona Garm Adding on to the success of the past few years, this year’s NCYRA Regatta looks to be bigger and better. With sponsors including Mount Gay Rum, Bacardi 03, and Jboats South, and additional onedesign participation expected, event organizers are pleased with the way things are shaping up. In addition to the traditional May 22 feeder race from Wrightsville Beach, NC, to Beaufort, the Cape Fear Cup will be held at Bald Head Island the weekend of May 911. Combined with Charleston Race Week, the Cape Fear Cup and NCYRA Regatta will constitute a high point series for the Carolinas Cup Spring High Point Championship. Bald Head Island is offering dockage deals that can’t be beat to encourage boats to participate in these three events.

There are PHRF Spinnaker (A, B, C), PHRF Non-Spinnaker, J105 and J24 classes planned. If indicated, Multihull and other one design classes will be added based on participation. More information is available online at www.ncyra.org or by e-mailing ncyra@ec.rr.com.

Several participants are just off of strong wins at major regattas, including Robin Team’s J120, Teamwork, with a first in class and PHRF Boat of the Week at Key West, and Richard Jones’ SR33, Outrageous, with a third in class at Key West.

This is a great, hang-out-with-the-crew, male-bonding type of regatta. Don’t miss the great competition, excellent venue, and fine, fine parties. Conveniently located in both time and location between Charleston Race Week to the South and the Black Seal Cup and Block Island Race Week to the North.

LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

RESULTS: Level 174; Cadieux, Indulgence, 4,1,1,2,1 (9); J22; Powell, Excelsior, 1,1,1,1,1 (5); S27.9; Boston, B,520,5,1,2,1,1 (10),Boston, S, Freq Flyer, 4,2,1,2,4 (13); U20; Corey, Uh-huh, 2,3,1,2,1 (9); McGrath/Linde, Pinocchio, 1,1,2,3,2 (9); SJ21; Longhini, Kanga, 1,1,4,3,3 (12); Alexander, Orion,2,6,3,1,2 (14); Dommel, Wh Knuckles, 3,3,6,2,1 (15); S33; Jones, R, Outrageous, 1,1,2,5,3 (12),Smith, J, Wild Thang, 3,2,3,3,2 (13)

ROCKET REGATTA

By Rona Garm Credited as the regatta which gave birth to the Cape Fear Yacht Club (CFYC) in Southport, NC, this year’s Annual Spring Invitational PHRF, aka “Rocket Regatta,” was held April 12, 2003.

Pro Mark Tallon had a beautiful sunny day with a steady 910k wind from various northerly directions. Setting a short course in the Cape Fear River, participants were easily able to get back to the awards party at Fish Tales Restaurant and Tiki Bar. A slightly smaller than usual turnout was attributed to the preceding week’s non-stop rain – which kept those last minute procrastinators from getting their boats ready prior to race day.

Even so, a dozen boats registered – as CFYC says, “Come join us. The challenge and fun are here. Renew old friendships and start new ones.”

With only three boats in the Spinnaker class and one retiring, the battle for first was between John Kluttz’s Tartan 10, 10acious, and Tom Burns’ J24 Charette. Kluttz’s crew triumphed, utilizing the boat’s former owner, Bob Cowen, as helmsman.

The Non-Spinnaker class certainly saw more excitement, at least aboard the Cape Fear Yacht Works, CF38, Too, which now displays a sporty green stripe courtesy of a Cape Fear River buoy.

It was wondered if boat designer Bruce Marek didn’t plan the collision to demonstrate how solidly the boat is constructed.

Scott Kaseman’s Lucky Stumbler, a Hunter 29.5, finished first ahead of Regatta Chairman Ed McKinnon and the crew of the Catalina 22, Victoria. C-Breeze III, a Cape Dory 25, owned by Robert Creech took third with Henry Bridgers’ J24 Banana Wind in fourth.

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SHORT TACKS THE CONCH REPUBLIC CUP 2003: KEY WEST TO CUBA The 8th annual Key West to Varadero Ocean Race—3rd Conch Republic Cup Key West to Cuba Race Week—will be run May 23-30. The Conch Republic Cup is fully hosted by the Cuban government. Dockage, water, electricity and visas are supplied; therefore, there will be no cost to the participants while in Cuba.

The Conch Republic Cup is a series of races that begins with a race from Key West to Varadero, followed by a competitive around-the-buoy race off the beach of Varadero with the Cuban Olympic Team participating. Then there is a 75-mile spinnaker run to Havana. The final race is from Havana to Key West.

Race classes include one design, PHRF, multihull and cruisers.

All seaworthy boats are welcome. Participation in any or all races is optional.

Awards will be presented after each race. A low-point scoring system with rule A2 will apply. Cumulative scores from each race will decide the winner of the Conch Republic Cup. Registration for all boats will be on May 22 between 1530 and 1830 at Geslin Sailmakers. The bon voyage party will follow at 1900 in the gardens of the Oldest House Museum on Duval Street.

Return awards will be held in the garden on May 31, at 1900.

For information or registration contact: P. Goldsmith, 2627 Staples Avenue, Key West, Fl. 33040. Phone/Fax (305) 292-9881. Web site: conchrepubliccup@aol.com. E-mail: conchrepubliccup@aol.com

WORRELL 1000 RACE CANCELED The Worrell 1000 Race, the catamaran race from Miami, FL, to Virginia Beach, VA, was recently canceled due to problems with a key investor defaulting. Neither Bimare Catamarans, the North American Bimare distributor, W.F. Oliver, nor the F-18HT class share any responsibility in this matter. Bimare makes the boats which were to be used in the race. There were 36 entries ready to start in May. The management now plans to focus on the XXI 2004 race in May of that year. It will be sailed in the Nacra F-18, a Formula 18 class boat manufactured by Performance Catamarans of Santa Ana, CA. A February press release from the race organizers announced that the 2004 event “will feature a One Million Dollars Cash Purse.”

Refugees from the not-happening 2003 Worrell 1000 are being welcomed at the Tybee 500, which runs from Islamorada, FL, to Tybee Island, GA, on May 12-17. At least some of the displaced would-be Worrell competitors have indicated they’ll compete.

Classes in the Tybee 500 will consist of 18- and 20-foot production catamarans with beams no more than 8.5 feet, spinnaker rigged by the factory. Classes shall include, but not be limited to: Inter 20 - factory spinnaker Nacra 6.0 - New England 6.0 spinnaker Hobie 20 - factory spinnaker NAF 18 - factory spinnaker Open - factory spinnaker rigged, Portsmouth .6300 or below For more information on the Tybee 500 go to tybee.com.

AROUND ALONE RACE LEAVES ON ITS LAST LEG On April 13th the Around Alone boats departed Salvador, Brazil, on leg 5, the final leg of the around the world race which brings them back to the finish in Newport, RI, 4000 miles away.

The only boat which did not make the start was Derek Hatfield on Spirit of Canada, which having been dismasted near Cape Horn, was still finishing leg 4 after getting a new mast fitted.

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approached the equator, until Alan Paris aboard BTC Velocity reported on April 15 that his boat collided with two whales while doing 7.5 knots. “The boat came to an abrupt stop. I got up from the Nav station and again the boat was shaken by the whale moving away. I fell against the nav station on my ribs, but am OK. There was much blood in the water and I clearly saw two whales on the port side. One then followed me as BTC Leg 5 start from Salvador, Brazil. BTC Velocity closes the gate off Barra Lighthouse Velocity started moving with Spirit of yukoh in the distance. Mary again, but luckily did not at- Ambler photo tack the boat.” He reported no visible damage, but two days later had to call the Around Alone medical team, complaining of a sharp pain in one of his ribs. They determined it was a fractured rib, but he was not in any real danger. Since ribs take about 10 weeks to heal, he will be having a painful last leg to the finish.

The boats are expected to begin arriving in Newport around May 1.

DEDICATION TO AROUND ALONE SAILORS (FROM SCUTTLEBUTT sailingscuttlebutt.com) March 2003. Have you ever wondered what kind of dedication it takes to do an Around Alone campaign? Let me give you a few examples starting with Alan Paris aboard BTC Velocity, who is currently just under 600 miles from the finish in Salvador, sailing in light headwinds. Since this race started on September 15 last year, Alan has been at sea for 170 days. He has been on land for 19 days. For every day spent on land, Alan has spent nine at sea. On top of that he sailed a qualifying voyage from Bermuda to the Canary Islands and then back to Bermuda before sailing to Newport for the start.

Whichever way you cut it, that’s a lot of time away from home, yet Alan’s story is bettered, if that’s the right word, by Kojiro Shiraishi.

In order to get to the start of the race, Kojiro had to sail half way around the world. He started from Japan and sailed across the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco, then to Panama before crossing the Caribbean Sea and sailing up the eastern seaboard of the United States to New England, a voyage of around 10,000 miles. Kojiro left this morning with some friends for two days’ vacation. Tomorrow will be the first day off he’s had since leaving Japan – Brian Hancock, Around Alone Web site, full story: www.aroundalone.com/raceviewer/archive/

CHALLENGE II RUNS INTO HEAVY SEAS IN THE SOUTHERN OCEAN Great American II, the trimaran attempting to beat the 154-year-old sailing record to New York originally set by a tea clipper, departed on the voyage known as Challenge II, on April 16. Originally appearing to be an unfair race—a modern trimaran versus a 19th century tea clipper ship—the trimaran ran into light winds and glassy seas for the first week and was trailing the clipper ship, Sea Witch, by a week’s time.

Upon entering the Indian Ocean on its way west, winds increased, and by April 10 they were matching the old record. The ocean, though, started to produce seas much rougher than they had planned on this early in the trip. The size of the waves varied from 10 to 25 feet, but it was the confused sea which presented the real hazard. Skipper Rich Wilson described it as a “washing machine.”

“How can a boat survive such a beating?” queried skipper Wilson in a satellite e-mail. “GAII is all heart and incredible strength, but www.southwindssailing.com

even she must have a limit. The forces that have been exerted on her since Saturday are overwhelming. Waves that shock the pontoon, that then shock the rig, you wonder how could it possibly be still standing? How could that pontoon not have caved in yet?”

At least the winds are keeping them on track, but they expect more difficult conditions later as they enter the Southern Ocean and round the Cape of Good Hope, 1300 miles away.

The old record was 74 days set in 1849. If all goes well, Great American II will arrive in New York and beat the record during the week of May 26. To track the voyage go to sitesALIVE.com.

offer to host a gathering or raft-up, enabling sailors anywhere to connect with various Summer Sailstice celebrations in their area.

SUMMER SAILSTICE 2003 FALLS ON A SATURDAY, JUST TWO MONTHS AWAY! New Web site goes live April 27

FLARES: REQUIREMENTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WHAT YOU DO WITH OLD FLARES

Summer Sailstice organizers are pleased to announce that in addition to new locations, prizes and partnerships for 2003, the company will launch its new Web site by April 27 at www.summersailstice.com.

“The improved site, along with a number of new locations and events for this year, is an indication of the popularity that this sailing holiday has developed in its first two years,” said John Arndt, Summer Sailstice founder.

Summer Sailstice is the only international sailing event that truly celebrates the summer sailing season on the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. Launched in 2001, the event has enjoyed growing support from sailors and a high level of support from sailing businesses over the past few years, according to Arndt.

New prize donors include Hunter Marine contributing a Liberty sailing dinghy. Gill, Good Old Boat, and The Chapin Company join continued participation from supporters including West Marine, Harken, Dubarry and others.

Summer Sailstice has formed a new affiliation with Seacology (www.seacology.org), a global non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of island ecosystems and cultures. Under the agreement, Seacology will receive $1 for every sailor registered for Summer Sailstice, supported by donations from West Marine, private individuals, Summer Sailstice and Seacology board members.

The party planners at the Bitter End Yacht Club will host their first Summer Sailstice event at the Virgin Gorda paradise in the BVI. They’re offering a day of special events to anyone sailing in the BVI during the solstice. Charter guests from the Moorings, TMM, Horizon Yacht Charters and all BVI sailors are welcome to join others in sailing revelry.

Sunsail Yacht Charters recently announced their support of a Summer Sailstice event for their charters in conjunction with the Bitter End Yacht Club on June 21.

Jeanneau will hold its 2nd Annual Pacific NW Fleet Rendezvous with a celebration in Bedwell Harbor, BC. In 2002, over 30 Jeanneau owners celebrated the sailing lifestyle on June 21 in and around Bedwell Harbor.

Other events organized for 2003 include a regatta hosted by the San Francisco Yacht Club (Tiburon, CA). The Pequot Yacht Club in Southport, CT, will celebrate Summer Sailstice with big boat racing, an Ideal 18 scavenger hunt, barbecue and live music. The San Francisco Bay charter vessels Yukon Jack, Rendezvous, Sea Raven and Bay Lady are registered to have their sailing guests participate in a Summer Sailstice sail on June 21.

With just two months until the solstice, the first day of summer and the longest sailing day of the year, information on event locations, prizes and other Summer Sailstice developments will continue to be posted at www.summersailstice.com up until June 21.

Summer Sailstice is the easiest event in which sailors everywhere can participate. Go now to www.summersailstice.com, and sign up to register for great prizes. The site is designed so people can find crew, a boat to crew on, announce their individual participation or LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

Summer Sailstice thanks the following supporters: West Marine, SAIL, North Sails, Harken, Hunter Marine, Yachting World, Dubarry, UK Sails, DeWitt Galleries, 48 North, Titan, Galleymate Stove, Boatblender, Latitude 38, Ronstan, Ocean Navigator, Dry Creek Winery, Sailing magazine, The Chapin Company, Doyle Sails, OCSC, The Sailing Company, and Good Old Boat.

By Wayne Spivak Branch Chief–National Training Department United States Coast Guard Auxiliary The off-season is here, and you’re begging to get back into the boating season. While chomping at the proverbial bit, you begin to sort through your boat equipment. You find your pyrotechnic safety items. We’re talking about your flares, your meteors and your orange smokes.

Now, we all know that the life, according to Coast Guard regulations, for pyrotechnic devices is 42 months from manufacture. It is also suggested that you should keep the “just” expired flares, smokes and meteors, because while they don’t meet the federal requirements, in all likelihood they probably still work. “Just” expired means that when your new flares expire, your old flares will have been onboard for six years.

Let’s focus on flares for the moment, but the following generalizations are also true for all pyrothechnics. The federal minimum requirements for flares are three. Should you ever need to ignite them, and you’ve decided that you only want to meet the minimum federal standards of three flares, you’ll find that a single flare’s life isn’t very long.

Should you fire off your flare at an inopportune moment, you’ve wasted what is probably 33 percent of your chances of being located by a passing ship or plane. A very sobering thought!

If you keep your older (just expired) flares on the boat and attempt to light these off first, if they do work, you’ve increased your number of flares by a factor of two. If they don’t, well nothing ventured is nothing gained.

But what do we do about the second generation (older than 6 years) of retired flares? The question you need to ask yourself is; “Do I think they will ignite?” If you don’t feel confident with keeping these second generation retired flares, then you will need to dispose of them safely and legally.

Pyrotechnic Disposal You have two choices when considering disposal of flares and other pyrotechnical equipment.

1. (Preferred method): Contact your local fire department, sanitation department or environmental protection department and determine your local hazardous waste material disposal rules. Then follow the rules.

2. Contact your local Coast Guard Auxiliary and/or United States Power Squadron unit and see if they would like to have some old flares for training purposes. The auxiliary and the power squadron teach boating courses yearround, and many of them sponsor (after receiving permission from the Coast Guard) pyrotechnic training days for the public.

The auxiliary has many more of these days for its members, since those members who want to qualify in the boat crew and coxswain on-the-water missions need to understand and know how to use flares and other pyrotechnical devices.

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SHORT TACKS Actually learning how to use pyrothechnics is a very important experience. Knowing how to ignite them, seeing how they burn and how the slag drops can make a big difference.

Pyrotechnics are dangerous! A good reason to take a safe boating course and a better reason for possibly joining the auxiliary!

However, there is a limit to both the auxiliary and the power squadron’s need for flares, and other pyrotechnic devices. Both organizations could not possibly use all the manufactured devices that have fallen way outside the Coast Guard legal standards and practical useful lives of these devices.

To learn more about what to do during a boating emergency, why not take a boating safety course! The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary has a variety of boating courses geared for all levels of boating knowledge. You can contact your local auxiliary flotilla by either calling your local Coast Guard unit or visiting the Coast Guard on the Web at http://www.uscg.mil or the Coast Guard Auxiliary at http://www.cgaux.org

SARASOTA SAILING SQUADRON STARTS NEW GROUP S.W.O.B. (Sailors w/out Boats) AND CRUISERS DIVISION Want to sail and don’t own a boat?

Own a boat and can’t find crew to daysail or overnight?

Want to meet more people who like to sail?

Want to make new friends?

Want to learn to sail or gain additional skills on the water?

Want to find a potential partner to buy a boat?

Want to charter in other areas like the Caribbean?

Want to expand your social life around the water?

Want to learn about racing?

Want to use the squadron but find you don’t because you don’t race or own a race boat?

Single or married without a sailing partner, but still want to sail?

If you have questions, please e-mail (preferred) randy@iycharter.com or call Randy Schweitzer (941) 955-3727 or cell 928-7292.

US POSTAL SERVICE ISSUES LIGHTHOUSE STAMPS FROM VIRGINIA TO SOUTHERN FLORIDA Come mid-June, the images of five lighthouses will extend the horizon to millions of envelopes around the nation when the U.S. Postal Service continues its popular series of lighthouse commemorative stamps. Located along the coast of the United States from Virginia to southern Florida, these five structures-Old Cape Henry, Cape Lookout, Morris Island, Tybee Island, and Hillsboro

Inlet-were selected because they typify the beauty and colorful history of the nation’s lighthouses.

The 37-cent postage stamps will be dedicated at an official first day of issue ceremony for these southeastern lighthouses on June 13, at 10:30 a.m. at the Tybee Island Lighthouse, Tybee Island, GA. The event is free and open to the public.

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BUSINESS BRIEFS NEW SAILING SCHOOL WITH PRIVATE LESSONS OPENS IN CLEARWATER Smooooth Sailing, a new school with private sailing lessons, recently opened in Clearwater, FL. The school is geared for both the novice sailor and one coming back to sailing who would like a refresher. Basic and intermediate US Sailing certification classes are available. They are taught either on a Sunfish or on a 27-foot Starwind sloop, or combination of both, depending upon the individual’s interest. They work with the 30-foot and under boat range. They will also give instruction on the student’s own boat, if desired.

With private lessons, they can modify the course to meet the needs of the students and their styles of learning. Classes are arrranged at a time convenient to the student. If the weather does not cooperate, the class is rescheduled. They find private lessons especially appealing to married couples, parents and children, or several friends who want to experience the fun of learning a new skill together. All instructors are US Sailing certified. Carol Elwood, the owner and chief instructor, brings with her over seven years of community US Sailing instruction, and 20 years of sailing experience, including dinghy sailing and racing, offshore racing and cruising, and a passion for sailing.

“While teaching in Clearwater over the years, I saw a great need and demand for private lessons and felt this was the niche I enjoyed and could fill. Many people do not enjoy learning in a group setting, or simply cannot attend all sessions, missing a big part of the class. I enjoy the personal service private lessons allow,” says Carol. Visit their Web site at www.smoothsailingschool.com.

NEW MARINA AND VILLAGE ON THE ICW IN ORIENTAL, NC A new 120-slip marina and village center are now open on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) in Oriental, NC. The new marina has 30-, 40- and 50-foot slips with water depths in the 6 - 8 foot range. The village center consists of a yacht brokerage, general store, Oriental School of Sailing, yacht club, Coastal Corner Deli, and gift shop. Slips are for sale, rental and transients. Call George Dobson for details. (252) 249-3783.www.orientalharbor.com orientalharbor@coastalnet.com

ST. THOMAS’ FORMER MARINE MECCA TO BE REBUILT From Carol Bareuther Marine mecca to monstrosity, that’s what the former Ramada Yacht Haven Resort and Marina on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, has transitioned to over the last two decades. But lifeblood is on the horizon for this complex as new owners seek to raze the old and rebuild a beautiful new marina complex.

Back in the late 1970s and early to mid 1980s, the crewed charter yacht industry developed and blossomed, adding as much as $100-million annually into the territory’s economy. Yacht Haven Marina, perched on the east side of the Charlotte Amalie Harbor, was the focal point for yachts to dock for passenger pick-up, dropoff and annual charter shows, which drew brokers from Europe and the U.S. mainland.

Enter the 1990s, when a recession, luxury tax and Gulf War, combined with a boater-unfriendly government in the U.S. Virgins created an exodus of charter yachts to the neighboring British Virgin Islands. The nail in the decline of the Yacht Haven complex was driven home when in 1995 Hurricane Marilyn turned the property into a site of devastation, earning it the nickname “Little Beirut.” www.southwindssailing.com

BOATING INDUSTRY REVENUES INCREASED IN 2002: SAILBOAT SALES INCREASED 27.2 PER CENT

The former Ramada Yacht Haven Resort and Marina. Carol Bareuther photo.

For nearly five years, the property sat dormant and declining after bank foreclosure. Asian investor Tan Kay Hock purchased the hotel and marina complex, then sold it to Chicago-based PRM Realty for $8.5-million when he couldn’t reach agreement with the West Indian Company, Ltd. (WICO) to purchase seven acres of reclaimed land adjacent to the property, which he hoped to turn into a $200-million project with a 350-room hotel, 100 condominium units and 700 marina slips.

In late 2002, Insignia Nautica Inc., a development company and subsidiary of financial and real estate giant Insignia Financial Group in New York, bought the property for an undisclosed sum.

According to a company press release, Andrew Farkas, chairman and CEO of Insignia Nautica, said: “Our plans envision a complete transformation of the Yacht Haven area, which will have a far-reaching beneficial impact on both the image and economy of St. Thomas. It will generate hundreds of jobs for local residents, while spurring increased tourism and tremendous economic activity on a long-range basis.”

Susan Chandler, executive director of the Virgin Islands Charteryacht League (VICL), says, “We’re thrilled to see the marina has new owners, and that there will finally be some forward momentum there.”

FLORIDA HOLDS OFF CALIFORNIA AS TOP BOATING STATE Florida received some tough competition from a West Coast rival but managed to hold onto the position as the country’s top boating state, according to statistics from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

According to the stats, Florida had $1.514-billion in combined boat, motor, trailer and accessory purchases, allowing the Sunshine State to hold onto the No. 1 position.

California charged ahead and became a much closer second than last year, with $1.450-billion in combined sales. That compares to $1.094billion from the NMMA stats released at this point last year.

The Rest Of The Top 20 Texas and Michigan held onto the No. 3 and 4 positions, with $883million and $625-million, respectively, but Minnesota ($595-million) jumped ahead of New York ($586-million) to grab fifth and relegate the Empire State to sixth.

North Carolina ($477-million) leaped ahead of Wisconsin ($474million) for seventh. Wisconsin was eighth, followed by Washington ($464-million) and New Jersey ($368-million).

The next 10 were Illinois, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina, Missouri and Oklahoma, according to the NMMA stats posted on the organization’s Web site.

LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

A stagnant economy and continuing uncertainty with Iraq and North Korea didn’t deter Americans from enjoying boating in 2002. Total retail expenditures on purchases related to boating increased 2.5 percent in 2002 to $29.2-billion, according to recent data announcedby National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

“We did not achieve the sales growth we anticipated at the outset of 2002,” says NMMA president Thom Dammrich. ”But, the year finished with a strong fourth quarter as Americans’ priority on family served as a strong driver for new boat sales.”

Retail expenditures increased in all major segments of the industry. New boats, motors, trailers, pre-owned boats/ motors and aftermarket accessories all registered higher retail sales figures.

Although unit sales decreased 3.3 percent, overall revenues increasing was a welcome sign for the industry. Sailboat revenues increased $876.7-million—a 27.2 percent increase.

MARINE FLEA MARKET – JACKSONVILLE FL Sponsored by the Captains Club of Jacksonville, it will be held at Beach Marine (2315 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville at the Intracoastal Waterway) on May 17-18. FREE admission and FREE parking. For vendor information or directions call Bobbie Day at (904) 759-4451.

FURLING FEST Wednesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. top industry specialist, Mike Haber from Furling Pioneer Hood Sails will be speaking on the history of furling for Hood and other brands. At the location of the new Steve Smith’s Mobil Rigging, Chandlery and Nautical Consignment Shop at 101 16th Ave South #6 in St Petersburg in Salt Creek next to Massey Yachts.

WEST MARINE SEMINARS St. Petersburg Store North 2000 34th Street North (727) 327-0072 What: GENERAL BOATING SEMINAR SERIES When: Alternating Thursdays 7-9 pm Fort Lauderdale Store 2300 So. Federal Highway (954) 527-5540 What: GENERAL BOATING SEMINAR SERIES When: Thursday evenings 7 pm Thurs. May 8: FIRST AID AFLOAT Thurs. May 15: TARGET ZERO – WATERWAY SAFETY Thurs. May 22: EPIRP SEMINAR Thurs. May 29: HURRICANE PREP WITH PAM WALL Sarasota Store 3979 S. Tamiami Trail (941) 924-6777 Sat. May 3, 6-8 pm: CRUISING AROUND THE WORLD WITH PAM WALL Tues. June 10, 6 pm: HOW TO SPLICE NYLON

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SUBSCRIBE TO

Southwinds

$12 A YEAR The Sarasota Youth Sailing Program has openings for its summer Learn to Sail Camp.

Please phone Judy at 941-906-1150 for information.

SEE PAGE 6 FOR SUBSCRIPTION FORM 50

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C L A S S I F I E D

A D S

FREE CLASSIFIED ADS FREE CLASSIFIED ADS UNDER 30 WORDS FOR ALL PRIVATELY-OWNED BOATS, GEAR AND PRIVATELY-OWNED DOCK/SLIPS FOR RENT. PHOTOS INCLUDED & EVERYTHING GOES ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB! AD IS CANCELLED AFTER 3 MONTHS UNLESS RENEWED. Call (941) 795-8704, e-mail to editor@southwindssailing.com, or mail to PO Box 1175 Holmes Beach FL 34218-1175.

All other classified ads are $20 for up to 20 words and $5 for each additional 10 words, $5 for a photo.

DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS

Hunter 260 – New. Take the helm and plan your cruise. This boat is ready to GO! Enclosed full head, complete galley, 2 double berths. Own your second home on the water. Ullman Sails/Sarasota Sailboats (941) 951-0189 or ULLFL@mindspring.com

Advertise your business in a display ad in the classifieds section.

Sold by the column inch.

2 inches minimum.

(3 column inches is 1/8 page) Monthly Cost Ads Per Inch

12 6 3 1

$17 $20 $23 $27

Minimum Inches

Total Cost

2" 2" 2" 2"

$34 $40 $46 $54

29' Norwalk Island Sharpie Ketch, 1994 Luzier Custom Built , Kirby Design, shown in April 1998 Southwinds, Excellent Thin Water Performance,Bronze Ports, A/C, Many Extras, Reduced $29,900 Call 764 8904 (4/03)

Hunter 240 – New. EZ mast-raising system and a shallow draft make this centerboard boat simple to trailer and rig. Daysail or cruise. Large cockpit for entertaining and sleeping space for six. See it at Ullman Sails/Sarasota Sailboats (941) 9510189 or ULLFL@mindspring.com

Precision 15’ - 28’ – Daysailer or cruiser, we have the boat for you! Call for a brochure or stop by and inspect these well-built boats. Comfort and performance designed for Florida’s shallow water.

Ullman Sails/Sarasota Sailboats (941) 951-0189 or ULLFL@mindspring.com Hunter 1983 22.5 New paint bottom-top, 7 sails, 8hp Honda new, tandem trailer with brakes. All new rigging, AutoHelm D/S plus more $12,000. (352) 867-5841

LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

South Shore Marine features the new Santana 20.

A new deck and Harken gear. Sailed by one to five and trailered by most cars (less than 2000 lbs. including trailer). Enjoy quality family time. Cruise, picnic or test your skills on the race course. Starting at $19,000 delivered. See this great boat and check out South-Shore-Marine.com for the southeast’s lowest prices on all your marine gear. Located in Apollo Beach, FL - always open! (813) 843-8954. ’80 Buccaneer 22’ 4hp outboard, main, working jib, 150% Genny. Chemical toilet. Very clean.

Comes with slip. (727) 638-2339 1968 Morgan 25 - recent sails, new opening ports, freshwater use, trailer available, recent paint, 8hp mariner, in the family 26 yrs, no blisters, shallow draft/CB, $5,800 obo Dave (404) 819-5656

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CLASSIFIED ADS Regional Sales Representatives wanted to sell advertising space for Southwinds magazine in all areas of Florida and the South. Contact editor@southwindssailing.com. Sales experience a must.

Experienced Sailmakers Wanted – UK Sailmakers Palm Beach, FL, location is expanding and needs skilled sailmakers. Candidates must have strong “gogetter” attitude and be highly capable in Dacron and laminate construction and repair. Canvas experience a plus. Call (561) 844-3884 or e-mail ukpalmbeaches@uksailmakers.com

23' Kirby 1986. Super PHRF racer (180 swfl) or daysailer. 9 sails,GPS, fluxgate compass, Nexus CPU, boat speed-depth. Faired hull,keel. Details, pix avail. $8000 dixonwj@comcast.net (04)

If you are under 35 and cruising the Caribbean, we’d like to hear your story. We are working on stories about those out there cruising and why they went. Contact Cherie at supercherie@hotmail.com

C&C 24 Built 1975. New Main, Old Main, 4 jibs & one Spinnaker. 5hp Mercury OB. $6000 OBO. Located near Gulfport MS (228) 452-7380 (4/03) Hunter 31 1986, Shoal Draft, second owner,great Bahamas cruiser, ready to go again, lots of recent work, includes dinghy and outboard, $29,900.

Located North Florida (404) 236-0511 (4/03) 35' Island Packet 350 1997 Proven livaboard Cruiser. Well maintained. Setup for extended cruising. More info and photos at:: http:// home.mindspring.com/~pehler or (252) 671-0358 Imagine@Springmail.com (4/03)

Davis Maritime - Professional Accredited Surveys– see display ad in the index of advertisers.

(727) 323-9788

Colorful Books About Sailing the Bahamas and Caribbean. The Virgin islands Illustrated; Sailing Through Paradise (covering the Bahamas thru the Virgins); Wreck and Resurrection (sailboat repair); Alphabet Sea (AGES 3-8). Package deals. Tortuga Books. (800) 345-6665.

Have an interesting Charter story? Southwinds magazine is looking for people to send in articles about their charters – in the South, the Caribbean, or wherever. Contact editor@southwindssailing.com Best Prices – Solar panels, wind generators, charge controllers, deep cycle batteries, solar panel and wind generator mounting hardware.

Authorized dealer for Siemens, Kyocera, Solarex, and Uni-Solar solar panels, Air Marine wind generator, Deka, Trojan, and Surrette deep cycle batteries.™ Toll free (877) 432-2221 www.e-marine-inc.com SeaTech Systems – Computerized navigation & communication. Call for free Cruiser’s Guide to the Digital Nav Station and CAPN demo disk. (800) 444-2581 or (281) 334-1174, navcom@sea-tech.com, www.sea-tech.com

MARINE SERVICES Steve Smith Marine Rigging Services Used gear and chandlery. See display ad in Index of Advertisers. (727) 823-4800 Sailing Yacht Services Repairs, maintenance, equipment installed, marine consulting, yacht deliveries by USCG Licensed Captain, Free Estimates – No Job Too Large or Too Small – Reasonable and Reliable - Ron Butler 727-582-9335 (Largo)

Whitewater Wholesale Marine Electronics. Best prices on Standard, Icom, Furuno, Garmin, Raymarine, Clarion and more!! Call before you buy!!

1-251-458-8225

Ocean Routing – Jenifer Clark’s Gulf Stream Boat Routing/Ocean Charts by the “best in the business.”

(301) 952-0930, fax (301) 574-0289 or www.erols.com/gulfstrm Pier 17 Charts & Publications DMA-NOAA-TOPOS-NTM-Textbooks. South’s largest nautical store at 4619 Roosevelt Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32210. (904) 387-4669 (800) 332-1072 Fax (904) 389-1161

Sabre Sails is expanding its dealer network. If you are interested in a rewarding business with a fun side, call (850) 244-0001 or e-mail sabre@sabresails.com

Visit Southwinds new boat and crewlisting service at southwindssailing.com

Visit Southwinds new boat and crewlisting service at southwindssailing.com

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Writers, photographers, personal sailing experiencers (sic). Southwinds is looking for contributors – send your stuff in and let’s look at it: editor@southwindssailing.com Sailmakers/assistant sailmakers wanted Fastest growing sail loft in the Southeast is expanding and needs more sailmakers/assistant sailmakers.

Call (850) 244-0001 or e-mail sabre@sabresails.com

THIS SPACE FOR SALE FOR $34/MONTH WITH A 12-MONTH AGREEMENT (shorter terms available)

Dinghy davits, OB motor lock, and other gear.

Island Marine Products. See display ad in Index of Advertisers (727) 698-3938

CONTACT EDITOR: (941) 795-8704

Moisture Meters for Fiberglass or Wood. JR Overseas. (860) 927-3808 See display ad in Index of Advertisers

E-mail: editor@southwindssailing.com

Carry-on Portable air conditioner Model 5000 capacity 4800 BTU including air deflector. Excellent condition $375.00 Located Ft. Lauderdale phone (954) 525 0058.

www.southwindssailing.com

dwyermast.com • Masts • Booms • Hardware • Rigging

DWYER Aluminum Mast Co. 203-484-0419 Wheels Custom Leathered – Satisfaction guaranteed, 1 year warranty. Free turks head. Over 100 satisfied customers last year. Contact Ray Glover at Sunrise Sails Plus (941) 721-4471 or sunrisesailsplus@msn.com Dripless Packing Proven high-tech propeller and rudder packing that outlasts all other packings and is virtually dripless. Easy to install. Bilges stay dry.

Won’t damage shafts.

Economical. Dealer inquiries welcome. Toll Free (877) 432-2221 or www.e-marine-inc.com

TIRALO floating deck chair - a beach chair that floats in water and rolls easily on the sand. Looks great.

Folds and fits on your boat or inside your car. More info: www.oasisllc.com or swti@oasisllc.com [1-03P]

MISCELLANEOUS BOAT GEAR – USED Don’s Salvage Yard in Clearwater. Huge assortment of gear. (727) 576-8577. See Display ad in Index of Advertisers Nautical Trader. Buy and Sell, consignment. Venice/ Sarasota Area. (941)488-0766. See Display ad in Index of Advertisers Scurvy Dog, Marine Equipment Resale. Pensacola.

(850) 434-1770. See Display ad in Index of Advertisers

LOCAL NEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

LIVE ALONE SAILOR with unique cement boat looking for relationship with foxy lady with lots of money. Exotic dancers whose family members work for law enforcement are tops on the list. Women from Keokuk, Iowa need not apply. Woman I am looking for must know how to sail, cook and clean, in that order. Send your best recipe and acknowledge which gourmet markets you prefer shopping at. Am drinking Cribari by the gallon now, but would like to know more about bottled wine…snap-cap or corked, it makes no difference. If you like to sail and don’t mind a few roaches in your life, this may be your golden opportunity. If you know how to sew and have your own fishing gear, so much the better. No rap music fans, please. Email to: rightguard@southwindssailing.com.

Sail Covers & More!

Best Prices Ever for Custom Made Canvas Buy Online or by Phone & Save $$ Highest Quality & Satisfaction Guaranteed Family Owned & Operated

For more information and to see our products & pricing go to

www.sailcovers.net (800) 213-5167 USED SAILS SAVE $$$ 1000s of headsails, mains & spinnakers. We ship everywhere. Satisfaction guaranteed. We also buy sails. Sail Exchange. (800) 628-8152. 407 Fullerton Ave. Newport Beach CA 92663 www.sailexchange.com See Display ad in Index of Advertisers Hong Kong Sail Makers Cruising Sail Specialists Top Quality, Best Price Delivery 2 - 3 Weeks (852) 2789 1938 (852) 2789 3155 (FAX) E-mail: uoil@hkstar.com

Ponce de Leon Hotel Historic downtown hotel at the bay, across from St. Petersburg YC. 95 Central Ave. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 550-9300 FAX (727) 826-1774 www.poncedeleonhotel.com

Boat Name Special – $85 (as above) FREE matching Home Port and FL numbers with order. Call for a brochure of colors, styles, and low prices. We apply or mail orders welcome. Aqua Graphics In Pinellas and Hillsborough (727) 3434304; Manatee, Sarasota, and beyond (800) 2056652 VISA/MC Accepted.

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Atlantic Sail Traders .......................................................... 16 Banks Sails ........................................................................ 51 Barnett Yacht Insurance ...................................................... 4 Beneteau ......................................................................... BC Beta Marine/Engines .......................................................... 9 Blue Water Sailing Supply ................................................. 24 Boaters Exchange ............................................................. 39 BoatUS ............................................................................ 25 Bo’sun Supplies/Hardware ................................................ 38 Carson Yacht Brokerage .................................................. BC Charleston Resort & Marina ............................................. 27 CDI/Perfect Pitch Prop ....................................................... 8 Colgate 26 Boats .............................................................. 27 Corinthian Regatta ........................................................... 37 Crow’s Nest/Marina ......................................................... 73 Cruising Direct Sails ......................................................... 12 Davis Maritime/Surveyor .................................................. 34 Dockside Radio ................................................................ 26 Don’s Salvage ................................................................... 31 Doyle Sails ....................................................................... 13 Dwyermast ....................................................................... 53 Eastern Yacht Sales .......................................................... BC Ed Bahen, Inc. Rigger ....................................................... 19 Finish Line/Multihulls ....................................................... 44 Flying Scot Boats .............................................................. 51 Garhauer/Hardware/Fittings ............................................. 11 Glacier Bay/Refrigeration/AC ............................................ 32 Harken ............................................................................. 30 Hong Kong Sailmakers ..................................................... 31 Hotwire Enterprises/Fans .................................................. 52 Hunter Boats .............................................................. 14-15 Isla Del Sol Marina ........................................................... 27 Island Marine/Dinghy Davits,etc. ....................................... 3 JR Overseas/Meters .......................................................... 33 JSI .................................................................................... 13 Massey Yacht Sales ..................................................... 3, IBC Masthead/ Supplies/Yacht Sales .................................... 9,35 Mobile Marine Services .................................................... 16 Motion Eaze ..................................................................... 21 Murray Yacht Sales .......................................................... BC National Sail Supply ......................................................... 24 Nautical Trader ................................................................. 33 North Sails ......................................................................... 3 Oriental Harbor Marina .................................................... 52 Performance Sail & Sport ................................................... 8 Plastimo USA/Marine Supplies .......................................... 10 RB Grove/Westerbeke/Universal ....................................... 10 Regatta Time in the Abacos .............................................. 18 Rparts/Refrigeration ......................................................... 44 Sabre Sails .......................................................................... 7 Sail Exchange ................................................................... 32 Sailboat Row .................................................................... 32 Sarasota Youth Sailing/Boats ............................................ 50 Schurr Sails ...................................................................... 39 Scurvy Dog/New & Used Supplies ................................... 19 Sea School ....................................................................... 34 SeaTech/Satellite Phones ................................................. 24 Smooooth Sailing School ................................................... 9 Snug Harbor Boats ........................................................... 19 St. Barts Yachts ................................................................ BC Steve Smith Rigging & Chandlery .................................... 21 Suncoast Inflatables .......................................................... 22 Surrette (Rolls)/Batteries ................................................... 44 Tackle Shack/Marine Supplies .......................................... 16 UK Sailmakers .................................................................. 41 Ullman Sails ..................................................................... 35 West Marine .................................................................... IFC Windcraft Catamaran ...................................................... 16 Yachting Vacations/Charters ............................................. 29

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SAILING ENTERTAINMENT

Motorcycle on the water. Cindy Goebel photo.

Sailboat terms simplified.

Got an unusual photo?

Send ’em in.

You get paid for ’em, too, but donations accepted!

Everyone ready to come about? Steve Morrell photo.

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See page 4 for contact information www.southwindssailing.com