Southwindsjanuary2007 by SOUTHWINDS Magazine

SOUTHWINDS News & Views for Southern Sailors Boat Review: Gemini 105 West Florida Anchorage Web Site Key West Race Preview

January 2007 For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

January 2007

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS January 2007

WINTER WARM WEATHER SALE Through January 15, 2007

January 2007

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SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS

FOR

SOUTHERN SAILORS

From the Helm: Boater Friendly Communities By Steve Morrell

Letters

Southern Regional Monthly Weather and Water Temperatures

Bubba: Difficulties at The Sarasota Boat Parade of Lights By Morgan Stinemetz

Products Review

Short Tacks: Sailing News and Events Around the South

Our Waterways: Cruisers get Hassled in Marco Island Dockominiums, Part II

The Spirit of South Carolina Makes Progress South Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation

Travels with Angel. Photo by Rebecca Burg. Page 38.

Travels With Angel: The Real World By Rebecca Burg

Boat Review: Gemini 105 By Capt. Ron Butler

Seven Seas Cruising Association Annual Meeting By Roy Laughlin

Florida Sea Grant’s West Florida Anchorages Web Site By Steve Morrell

Southern Racing: Southern Regional Racing and Race Calendars Melges 24 National Championship Key West Race Week Preview Southern Race Reports

Update on Going Over to the Dark Side By Gary Gray

28-29 Marine Market Place 56-57 Regional Sailing Services Directory Local boat services in your area. 68 Alphabetical Index of Advertisers 69 Advertisers’ List by Category 69 Subscription Form

Gemini 105 Boat Review. Photo courtesy Performance Cruising. Page 40 Travels Angel. Photo by Rebecca Burg. Page 38. COVER: Optimists sail with in the Davis Island Yacht Club Thanksgiving Regatta. Photo by Gary Hufford. www.beachmaster.smugmug.com.

From the Carolinas to Cuba…from Atlanta to the Abacos…SOUTHWINDS Covers Southern Sailing News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

January 2007

FROM THE HELM

Boater-Friendly Communities

was recently in Punta Gorda and stopped by the Fisherman’s Village and Yacht Basin, which held its grand opening on November 30. The Village and Yacht Basin are run and owned by the city and were closed for repairs since 2003. The entire complex—the Village and Yacht Basin—needed rebuilding, plus Hurricane Charley did its share of damage. The town did it in style, reminding me of ’Ol Florida, although the marina was done top-notch, with all the modern conveniences. (See “Short Tacks”) The village is like one long pier (it’s actually on a long spit of manmade land) with shops and restaurants extending out to the very end. It also acts as the western border and breakwater for the new—rebuilt, but essentially new—yacht basin. This is a boater-friendly town. The Village has docks along its eastern side for boaters to tie-up to when they want to visit for a few hours—or a day—and roam the shops and restaurants. It also has dinghy docks for visitors who might anchor outside and dinghy in and want to come ashore for

Articles and Photos Wanted Contact: editor@southwindsmagazine.com

■ SAILING EXPERIENCES: Stories and photos about experiences in places you’ve cruised, anchorages, marinas, or passages made throughout the Southern cruising waters, including the Caribbean and the Bahamas. ■ RACE REPORTING: Generally, we are always looking for someone to send us race coverage throughout the southern states, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. ■ CRUISING NOTES: Southern sailors cruising on the high seas or cruising our waterways and coasts: Send us word on where you’re at and what you’re doing. How the cruising life is treating you. ■ BAHAMAS: Trips, experiences, passages, anchorages, provisioning and other stories that are of interest. ■ HURRICANE STORIES: Hurricanes are a part of owning a boat in the Southern waters, and we would like to hear how you and your boat might have been affected by a storm or how you prepare your boat for one, experiences you’ve had. Send us letters or articles. 6

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a bit. A mooring field is planned for the area, to be opened in the near future. The yacht basin has slips for nonliveaboards, liveaboards (you read it right—liveaboards allowed) and transients who are cruising through or staying a few hours. When the mooring field opens up, transient visitors who dinghy in will be able to use the facilities on shore—including a swimming pool (you read that right, too). The boaters will get spoiled. Imagine that. A pump-out boat will visit the mooring field for boat waste. Last March, Southwinds published some news on Punta Gorda’s efforts to invite boaters to visit the community—or keep them happy if they want to stay and live there. They are winning. Another—brand-new—80-slip marina has been approved and will be built at Laishley Park. The Punta Gorda Boating Alliance played a major part in advising and influencing the local community in how to develop the area as a boater-friendly community (more in SOUTHWINDS on this group in a future issue). The local

leaders worked together with this group. Imagine that. While there, I thought about all the battles fought against boaters in waterfront communities around Florida, bringing to mind those in Gulfport and Marco Island (see “Our Waterways”)—two communities now known as anti-boater. I read an article in the St. Petersburg Times recently where a Gulfport city council member called mooring fields “ugly” and said putting a mooring field in Gulfport would be a waste as boaters would still anchor outside it and dump their waste in the water. The same article said one Gulfport citizen—reportedly a lifelong boater—described mooring fields as “too flimsy,” and said boats that broke away from the mooring field in a storm would litter downtown Gulfport. Maybe he and the council member should take a trip down to Punta Gorda and see what they think about hurricanes and mooring fields.

■ OUR WATERWAYS: Information about the waters we sail in: disappearing marinas, boatyards and slips; mooring fields, anchoring rights, waterway access, etc. ■ MAINTENANCE & TECHNICAL ARTICLES: How you maintain your boat, or rebuilt a boat, technical articles on maintenance, repairs, etc. ■ INDIVIDUALS IN THE SAILING INDUSTRY: Interesting stories about the world of sailors out there, young, old, and some that are no longer with us but have contributed to the sport or were just true lovers of sailing. ■ THE CARIBBEAN: Stories about the warm tropical waters farther south of us. ■ CHARTER STORIES: Have an interesting Charter story? In our Southern waters, or perhaps in the Bahamas, the Caribbean, or points beyond in some far-off and far-out exotic place? ■ FUN AND UNUSUAL STORIES: Got an interesting story? Unusual, funny, tearjerkers, learning experiences and others wanted. Keep them short for our last page, 700-1000 words roughly. Photos too, but not necessary. ■ CUBA: Of course, there is always Cuba, and regardless of how our country’s elected officials try to keep Americans out of the largest island in the Caribbean, it will one day be open as a cruising ground. Today American sailors can legally go to Cuba and cruise if they follow the proper procedures. If you have a story about such a trip, let us look at it.

■ MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOS: Photographs are always enjoyable, whether for their beauty, their humor, or for many other reasons, and we take them alone. We would like photos with every story, if possible. ■ COVER PHOTOS: SOUTHWINDS is always looking for nice cover shots, which are always paid for. They generally need to be a vertical shot, but we can sometimes crop horizontal photos for a nice cover picture. They need to be of a high resolution. If digital, they need to be taken at a very high resolution (and many smaller digital cameras are not capable of taking a large, high-resolution photo as is on a cover). If a photograph, then we need it scanned at high resolution, or if you send it to us, we can do so. ■ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: For those of you who are not as ambitious to write stories, we always want to hear from you about your experiences and opinions.

Steve Morrell Editor

CONTACT editor@southwindsmagazine.com for more information and questions. For more Technical guidelines about layout, grammar, etc., please visit our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com and go to “Writer/photographer Guidelines.”

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News & Views For Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS Media, Inc. P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, Florida 34218-1175 (941) 795-8704 (877) 372-7245 (941) 795-8705 Fax www.southwindsmagazine.co e-mail: editor@southwindsmagazine.com Volume 15

Number 1 January 2007

Doran Cushing, Publisher 1993-2002

Publisher/Editor editor@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 795-8704

Steve Morrell

Advertising Go to www.southwindsmagazine.com for information about the magazine, distribution and advertising rates. Steve Morrell editor@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 795-8704 Regional Editors EAST FLORIDA mhw1@earthlink.net

(321) 690-0137\

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA RACING miamiyachtracing@bellsouth.net

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Roy Laughlin Art Perez

Production Heather Nicoll

Proofreading Kathy Elliott

Contributing Writers Letters from our readers Fairlie Brinkley Capt. Ron Butler Joy Dunigan Kat Malone Gary Gray Roy Laughlin Walt McFarlane Art Perez Hone Scunook South Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation Rick White

Artwork Rebecca Burg angel@artoffshore.com

Rebecca Burg Dave Ellis Kim Kaminski Ron Mitchellette Morgan Stinemetz

Contributing Photographers/Art Rebecca Burg (and Artwork) Fairlie Brinkley Joy Dunigan Gary Gray Gary Hufford Kim Kaminski Roy Laughlin South Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation 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, the Bahamas or the Caribbean, or general sailing interest, or sailboats, or sailing in some faroff and far-out place. SOUTHWINDS welcomes contributions in writing and photography, stories about sailing, racing, cruising, maintenance and other technical articles and other sailing-related topics. Please submit all articles electronically by e-mail (mailed-in discs also accepted), and with photographs, if possible. We also accept photographs alone, for cover shots, racing, cruising and just funny entertaining shots. Please take them at a high resolution if digital, or scan at 300 dpi if photos, or mail them to us for scanning. Contact the editor with questions. Subscriptions to SOUTHWINDS are available at $19.95/year, or $37/2 years for third class, and $24/year for first class. Checks and credit card numbers may be mailed with name and address to SOUTHWINDS Subscriptions, PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach FL, 34218-1175, or call (941) 795-8704. Subscriptions are also available with a credit card through a secure server on our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com. SOUTHWINDS is distributed to over 500 locations throughout 10 Southern states. If you would like to distribute SOUTHWINDS at your location, please contact the editor.

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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. E-mail your letters to editor@southwindsmagazine.com “A STRANGE TALE FROM THE PAST” I read with interest Morgan Stinemetz’s “A Strange Tale from the Past” in the October 2006 issue and could feel the pain that Bob Hite experienced in first having to sell his vessel and then learning of her demise at the hands of an

KINDLES MEMORIES irresponsible broker. Getting out on the water has been a “way-of-life” for my bride and me for 20 years. Each time we’ve sold one of our boats, it is as if we were losing such an intimate part of our lives. Memories of all the good

times, mementos from cruises and albums of photos served to remind us of the blessings we were privileged to enjoy. The last line of his story rings so true right now as we are probably selling our last “pride and joy” as the costs of boating continue to soar. We are approaching the sale of “our lady” with sadness, as she has taken us to so many places, so comfortably and safely. Cruising has introduced us to a large group of very special friends. So, I say well done to Morgan for capturing the essence of having to say goodbye to a special friend. Winston Fowler Aboard WinSue Winston, Thanks for your thoughtful words. It was a sad way to end a boat ownership. Editor ANOTHER MARINA BITES THE DUST NEWS FLASH! Buzzards Roost Marina on the Stono River just outside of Charleston, SC, has been sold and will be turned into condos and very expensive slips. Yet another nail in the coffin of the live-aboard lifestyle. It has been purchased by a development company out of Washington, D.C. They have hired a local hatchet man to do the dirty work of evicting the long-time residents. A local group, the Bohemian Boat Club @ Buzzards Roost, has formed a resistance committee and is exploring its options. Buzzards Roost was an ideal location. It is situated on the Stono River where the beautiful new Maybank Hiway Bridge crosses the Stono. There was everything a cruiser could want. Showers, laundry, pool, cable TV and a computer hot spot. What really made it special was a bar and restaurant called the Noisy Oyster. It was about 15 minutes outside of historic Charleston. All this for about eight dollars a foot. Eviction notices are being passed out. There are demands for insurance, which some boats can’t get. Another See LETTERS continued on page 10

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January 2007

LETTERS sad chapter in the end of the live-aboard lifestyle. Capt. Flash Charleston, SC Capt. Flash, Sorry to hear that. I know that marina, and it holds one of my best memories. It was my goodbye to Charleston and a lot of great friends I met there while on my boat for four months. My first night out heading south was at Buzzard’s Roost, and several friends drove over for one last evening of revelry to say goodbye. It is truly an ’ol style spot of the highest order, especially with the Noisy Oyster on the grounds. It is hard to believe that anything put there as a replacement can be an improvement. No big hotel, condos, resort—the fanciest and most modern and most expensive place man could build could ever be an improvement over the Buzzard’s Roost. What has mankind done? Editor COMMENTS ON FRUSTRATED CANADIAN BOATER WHO EXPERIENCED CONFUSING SECURITY PROCEDURES I believe you have one of the best sailing publications in print. However, I really take exception to the comments made by Fred Guptill, in the “Letters” section of the November issue. Mr. Guptill, a guest, had the freedom to come to the United States, stay for almost a year, certainly enjoyed the freedom of movement and was free to do whatever his heart desired. There was a requirement, and admittedly, he was not always “reporting” as he was required to do. So he had the FREEDOM to leave and he has. Now he has the same feeling as he had in China and Cuba—and the feeling that he has been raped. Needless to say, Mr. Guptill should take his boat and comments and stay out of the United States. Your “political” reply, I believe, does not have a place in a sailing magazine. Your comment, “We have cut taxes,” bothers me. You can always pay more, but I, personally, do not have any interest in a tax increase just so GUESTS of the United.States can have an easy transit. Also, your six-year comment is a subliminal political message. It is your publication and you have the freedom to write whatever you like, and I have the freedom to disagree. That process does not take place in a banana republic. Raymond Flynn Raymond, Thank for you comments. You have made some comments here that will make me think more deeply about future political comments in the magazine, as it is a borderline subject, plus you did it with politeness and tact, which goes a long way with me. Thanks for that. I was a political science major in college, though, and can’t resist sometimes. Plus I have this definition of politics: Politics begins when two or more people get together. Hard to keep it out of the magazine, but you are right. There are some things that don’t fit in a sailing magazine, but there are some gray areas in that transition which cross that line. I don’t agree with you on Mr. Guptill’s experience though. From his letter he did exhibit a fair amount of patience and tried to follow all the rules. Your comments are almost like, “If he doesn’t like it, he doesn’t have to come here and he can leave.” I believe See LETTERS continued on page 13 10

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LETTERS he is a guest in our country, and we both have duties as guest and host. He should try to live by our system, and we should be good hosts and be polite to him. He appears to have tried, but we failed him on our side. Previously, people coming here legally have been treated with a fairly efficient system that was polite, consistent and smooth. Foreigners visiting always felt welcome. That has fallen by the wayside. Yes, we have a new security system that needs development, but I think we are doing it on the cheap, just as we maintain our waterways now on the cheap, when, with this country’s wealth, we can do it right, as we did it right for many years—most of my life anyway (and I ain’t young anymore). To do all this while running a serious deficit means we are even farther from getting these essentials done right, like how we treat legal guests with good intentions, and how we maintain our waterways. I don’t think it needs to be easy for guests, but it should be consistent and polite. Otherwise, we shouldn’t be calling them guests, but something else. And then we shouldn’t call ourselves hosts, but something else. All the times I traveled in Europe, I was treated great as a guest, even in Mexico and other parts of Latin America. We should at least be treating our visitors like that. Besides, every foreign guest brings in money, which is good for the trade deficit, and good will, hopefully. I think Guptill started with good will when he came into the United States and left without it. My two cents worth anyway. Yes. You are right: I pushed the envelope about what is appropriate for a sailing magazine, but I don’t think I tore that envelope open. Maybe I’ll start a blog. Please see “Short Tacks” in this issue for information from a Coast Guard Auxiliary member who sent in the government list of check-in points and procedures for visiting boaters that Mr. Guptill could not get at the time of his visit. Editor CUBA REGATTA PARTICIPANTS FROM 2003 AGAIN BEING PROSECUTED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT Just when you thought it was safe to go racing again, and Bam! I am sure you remember the Conch Republic Cup Regatta of May 2003. The regatta included the racers’ bringing humanitarian aid to fellow Cuban sailors. Race organizers Peter Goldsmith and Michele Geslin of Key West were arrested (shortly after the race) and charged with some ridiculous charges like running a travel agency without a license. Several of the race participants were called to testify in their trial, and all were given immunity. The final outcome of their trial was a dismissal by the judge hearing the case because the government failed to present a solid case against them. Flash forward three years and guess what? The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry, and Security have notified not only Peter and Michele but all of the boat captains that participated that they are to be charged with EXPORTING their vessels, and acting with knowledge of such offense. I guess Cuba is the only country where you need an export license just to bring your boat there regardless of the fact you take it back home when you leave. Just exactly how is that exporting? I know I wasn’t totally awake in all my high school classes, but it seems to me when you export something, it stays where you exported it to. Just wanted to let you and your readers know how well See LETTERS continued on page 14 News & Views for Southern Sailors

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January 2007

SOUTHWINDS MARINE STORE UNIQUE BOATING GEAR For more information and photos of these items, go to www.southwindsmagazine.com and to the Marine Store page. All items usually ship within 24-48 hours, FedEx ground. See product reviews on these items on page 18.

Clip-on Solar Powered Light Charges during the day and runs at night $24.50 (plus $6 shipping) • Stainless Steel & Weatherproof • Clips on 7/8 or 1” Lifeline Stanchion or Swim Ladder • Brite-White-Lite for Safe Boarding • Improves Boat Security by Offering a “Lived In” Look • LED Lighting Does Not Attract Insects and lasts forever Life Safer Personal Retriever $129.00 (plus $7 shipping) The Personal Retriever is the only U.S. Coast Guard approved, buoyant, rapid response, multi-use, water and ice rescue disk, with 100-foot reach. The Personal Retriever out performs all throwable water-rescue devices. • Throws like a saucer with 100-foot line attached • Made of floating Polyethylene Foam, polypropylene base • 11.24 pounds buoyancy • Weighs 1.5 lbs • Deploys in 10 seconds or less BridgeNorth Boat Hook/Bailer 5-foot $46.00 (shipping $6.50) 8-foot bailer $56.00 (shipping $7.00) Boat hook, bailer, washer, squirt gun…and more The most versatile boat hook available. Stick the end in water, pull the handle back and it is a bailer. Push it back in and it will wash your boat down or squirt your friends (50 feet easily). Many other uses including aerating fish buckets.

LETTERS our government is working for them. We all had to respond by the first week of December. I am sure we will have a lot more to tell you about this atrocity before it is concluded. Any constructive suggestions that you or your readers have would be appreciated. Wayne LaFleur S/V Eka saileka@comcast.net Wayne, Thank you for letting us know of this ridiculous waste of American time and money. I heard from others that they were being persecuted, er… prosecuted for being in the 2003 regatta. If you recall, the charges were dropped—or at least a deal was made with Michele and Peter that they could not discuss—the Friday before the 2004 presidential election that elected the current administration that is behind this illegal and unethical prosecution. Is it a surprise that this new prosecution is happening right after another election? Not to me. Interesting that the law—based on the Trading With the Enemy Act—was used to pursue the case against Michele and Peter and was never fully tested in the Cuba case, probably because they know it doesn’t hold any water. So now their new tack is they think you were exporting your sailboats? What bull! I printed in the December issue that government agents recently said they would use all the “government resources” to prosecute those who illegally go to Cuba. Where are their priorities? Haven’t they anything better to do? I repeat what I have said many times in past issues: The U.S. government—or any government—has no right to prosecute citizens for visiting other countries. If they consider Cuba an enemy, then declare war on it. These prosecuters are doing what the government does when they step beyond their rights and are motivated by some bizarre ideology: They are punishing you without a trial—through intimidation, indictment and harassment. If that isn’t illegal and immoral, what is? These prosecuters—and all those who are directing them from higher up on the ladder— should be prosecuted. Have these people no shame? Persecution is the correct word to use here. It is defined as the act of persecuting people who have different beliefs from those doing the persecuting. Pretty obvious in this case. And sad. Editor

To order, call (941) 795-8704, or (877) 372-7245 with a credit card (or confirm to mail a check in), or e-mail store@southwindsmagazine.com. To all items and books shipped to Florida locations, add applicable state and county sales tax. All items can also be picked up in Bradenton, Florida

TO ORDER CALL 877-372-7245 14

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E-mail your letters to the Editor: editor@southwindsmagazine.com www.southwindsmagazine.com

Southeastern U.S. Air & Water Temperatures and Gulf Stream Currents – January Weather Web Sites: Carolinas & Georgia www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Southeast.shtml Florida East Coast www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtml Florida West Coast & Keys http://comps.marine.usf.edu Northern Gulf Coast www.csc.noaa.gov/coos/

NORTHERN GULF COAST Pensacola, FL 43º lo – 61º hi Gulfport, MS 43º lo – 61º hi Water Temperature –58º

WEST FLORIDA St. Petersburg 54º lo – 69º hi Naples 53º lo – 75º hi Water Temperature St. Petersburg – 62º Naples – 66º

CAROLINAS AND GEORGIA Cape Hatteras, NC 40º lo – 53º hi Savannah, GA 38º lo – 60º hi Water Temperature Cape Hatteras, NC – 49º

EAST FLORIDA Daytona Beach - 47º lo – 70º hi Jacksonville Beach - 46º lo – 63º hi Water Temperature Daytona Beach – 61º Jacksonville Beach – 57º Gulfstream Current – 2.3 knots

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA Miami Beach – 63º lo – 73º hi Stuart – 55º lo – 74º hi Water Temperature Miami Beach – 71º Stuart – 67º Gulfstream Current – 2.4 knots

FLORIDA KEYS Key West 65º lo – 79º hi Water Temperature Key West –69º

WIND ROSES: Each wind rose shows the strength and direction of the prevailing winds in the area and month. These have been recorded over a long period of time. In general, the lengths of the arrows indicate how often the winds came from that direction. The longer the arrow, the more often the winds came from that direction. When the arrow is too long to be printed in a practical manner, a number is indicated.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

The number in the center of the circle shows the percentage of the time that the winds were calm. The lengths of the arrows plus the calms number in the center add up to 100 percent. The number of feathers on the arrow indicates the strength of the wind on the Beaufort scale (one feather is Force 1, etc.). Wind Roses are taken from Pilot Charts.

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January 2007

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

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January 2007

SOUTHWINDS PRODUCT REVIEWS Recently SOUTHWINDS started offering products to sell. At the St. Petersburg Strictly Boat Show, I found some unique products and I liked them so much, I decided I would start selling them (see page 14). They are reviewed here.

The BridgeNorth Bailer: Unique Boat Hook Boat hooks are essential onboard a boat, but most of the time they sit there waiting to be used. Now someone has come up with one that does a lot more— and it is strongly built. Dip the end in the water, pull the handle back and you have a loaded gun full of water. Pushing the handle back in creates a powerful stream of water. Cleans your anchor, your deck or whatever else you like. Get the bird crap off. When your friends get too close sailing by, you’ve got a great squirt gun that fires 50 feet easy. As a bailer, you can pump out your dinghy, your bilge or whatever else needs water removed. You can walk around with the water and pump it elsewhere. Comes five-feet and eight-feet long—extended lengths. Five-footer is great for the dinghy. Not only that, it locks in place and can be used as a boat hook.

5-footer $46

8-footer $56

Available in the SOUTHWINDS Marine Store, Page 14 or at www.southwindsmagazine.com.

January 2007

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The Personal Retriever

If your boat is over 16 feet, you are required to have ready a throwable lifesaving device in case someone falls overboard. There are many types out there and they all have advantages. But the best one for throwing a distance is this one, the Personal Retriever. It is shaped like a Frisbee, but is a Coast Guardapproved Type V PFD. It comes with 100 feet of line. I couldn’t throw it that far, but nothing I have ever seen can be thrown even near this far. The line wraps around a spool on the underside. You unwrap five coils from the device, secure the end to an object or yourself and throw. It flies beautifully and easily. Retrieval and rethrow is minutes. Time for training to become an expert: One try. The Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, lifeguards, boaters and first-response teams around the country are carrying and using the device. Just don’t let your dog play with it.

$129

www.life\safer.com

Available in the SOUTHWINDS Marine Store, Page 14 or at www.southwindsmagazine.com.

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EVENTS & NEWS

OF INTEREST TO

SOUTHERN SAILORS

To have your news or event in this section, contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com. Send us information by the 5th of the month preceding publication. Contact us if later.

LED Lights Warning! LED Lights for Navigation Lights Can Put Out the Wrong Color if not Chosen Correctly Paul L. Marcuzzo of Fourwinds Enterprises, a company that sells wind generators and LED lights to boaters, recently noted that some boaters have mistakenly been buying LED lights to install behind their green-colored lens navigation light. White LED lights behind a green lens will appear as a blue light. The LED light itself must be green if it is behind a green lens to put out a green light.

■ RACING EVENTS For racing schedules, news and events see the racing section.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

■ UPCOMING SOUTHERN EVENTS EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING/SUMMER CAMPS Ongoing – Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs. St. Petersburg, FL Tuesday nights, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. CONTRIBUTE TO SOUTHWINDS WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED SOUTHWINDS is always looking for articles and photos on various subjects about sailing (cruising and racing), our Southern waters, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. For more information, see page 6, or go to our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com, or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

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January 2007

Satisfies the Florida boater safety education requirements. Eleven lessons, every Tuesday. Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs, are presented by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 72 each Tuesday night, 7:30-9:30pm, 1300 Beach Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. Lessons include: which boat for you, equipment, trailering, lines and knots, boat handling, signs, weather, rules, introduction to navigation, inland boating and radio. (727) 823-3753. Don’t wait until next summer to have your children qualify for a state of Florida boater safety ID, possibly lower your Boaters Insurance premium or just hone your safe boating skills. Boating Safety Courses, St. Petersburg, FL St. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron. Six-week public boating course begins every Monday. Includes safety information plus basic piloting; charts, course plotting, latitude/longitude and dead reckoning. Satisfies Florida’s under age 21 boater requirements. (727) 867-3088. Other courses continuosly offered. (727) 565-4453. www.boating-stpete.org. Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary (Flotilla 11-1) Public Boating Programs Americas Boating Course (2 lessons on a weekend). Jan. 67. Americas Boating Course (3 evening lessons): Jan. 6-7. GPS and Chart Reading: Feb. 12-15. Clearwater Sailing Center, 1001 Gulf Blvd., Sand Key (Clearwater). Open to adults and youths. Seven lessons. Evenings For more information on upcoming education programs or to request a free vessel safety check, call (727) 4698895 or visit www.a0701101.uscgaux.info. Ruskin, FL, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 75 Offers Home Study Safe Boating Course The Ruskin flotilla each month offers a boating safety course in Ruskin, but has found that many boaters do not have the time to attend the courses, so they are now also offering a home study course at $30. Additional family members will be charged $10 each for testing and certifi-

January 2007

SOUTHWINDS

cates. Tests will be held bi-monthly. Entry into the course will also allow participants to attend the classes. To apply, call (813) 677-2354. North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC On going adults sailing programs. Family sailing. 2-6 people; 2-6 hours. Traditional skiffs or 30’ keelboat. $50-$240. www.ncmm-friends.org, maritime@ ncmail.net, (252) 728-7317. Reservations/information: call The Friends’ office (252) 728-1638 Two Popular Sailing Symposiums to be Held in New Orleans, January 17-21. See “Racing” Section, page 48 for more. International Marina and Boatyard Conference, Tampa, FL, Jan. 28-31 Organizers of the 2007 International Marina and Boatyard Conference (IMBC), to be held Jan. 28-31 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, FL, say early registration numbers are triple those reported last year. Throughout the three-day conference, nearly 600 attendees from throughout the world can choose from a dozen seminars, roundtable discussions and panels. The show floor remains open throughout the conference. The conference is run jointly by the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) and the American Boat Builders and Repairers Association. The show is the only show specifically for marina owners, managers and staff, as well as boat repairers. Seminars, roundtable discussions, and talks will highlight the show. Attendees will hear from experts on several topics including, “Healthcare Options and Opportunities,” “Marina Retrofit, Redesign and Construction,” boating access and contract legality. The show floor, which remains open for the duration of the conference, will feature a variety of products, some of which are new. For more information and to register, call (401) 252–9544, or click on the logo at the AMI Web site: www.MarinaAssociation.org. The conference agenda is listed on the Web site.

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January 2007

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US SAILING Judge Training and Certification Program. New Orleans, LA. February 24-25. See “Racing” section,”page 48 for more.

■ BOAT SHOWS Houston International Boat, Sport and Travel Show. Jan. 5-14 Houston, TX. www.houstonboatshows.com. Reliant Center. (713) 552-1055 New Orleans Boat Show. Jan. 10-14 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Halls G, H, I, J. 900 Convention Center Blvd. New Orleans, LA. (504) 780-1818. www.neworleansboatshow.com. Austin Boat Show. Jan. 11-14 Austin Convention Center. Bring the whole family to the largest boating event of the year featuring over 200 vendors and boat dealers. Thursday and Friday, 12 pm-9 pm. Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $8 for adults, seniors over 65 and children 10 and under are $4. Children 6 and under are free. Visit www.austinboatshow.com for more information. Atlanta Boat Show. Jan 10-14 Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA. NMMA. (954) 441-3228. www.atalantaboatshow.com. 33rd Annual Stuart Boat Show. Jan. 12-14 Stuart, FL. www.miatc.com/boatshows.htm. Charlotte County Boat Show, Jan. 25-28 Charlotte County Fairgrounds, Port Charlotte, FL. (954) 570-7785. www.fortmyersboatshow.com/charlotte_show.htm. San Antonio Boat Show. January 25-28. At the Alamodome. Bring the whole family to the largest boating event of the year featuring over 150 vendors and boat dealers. Thursday and Friday, 12 p.m.-9p.m. Friday, 12 p.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $8 for adults, seniors over 65 and children 10 and under are $4. Children 6 and under are free. Visit www.sanantonioboatshow.com for more information.

Miamarina in downtown Miami. It runs from Thursday, Feb. 15, through Monday, Feb. 19. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and admission to the show gives admission to other locations of the Miami show. Among the many multihulls and monohulls present, the show also includes the largest selection of catamarans of any boat show. Programs include Kids Aboard Boat Building Workshop (free), free sailing trips through Discover Sailing, and free daily seminars. Tickets can be bought online at www.miamiboatshow.com. Tickets on Thursday (10 a.m.-6 p.m.), Feb. 15, Premier Day, are $28. Cost of tickets Feb. 1619, Friday through Monday (10 a.m.-6 p.m.), are $15, free for children 12 and under (with adult). Youth tickets $6, ages 13-15. Adult two-day (Feb 16-19) passes are available for $26. All tickets include entry to all locations of the Miami International Boat Show.

■ OTHER EVENTS

Key West Race Week, Jan. 15-19 The biggest sailboat regatta in North America. For a preview of the regatta, see the ”Racing” section, page 48.

■ NEWS

Cuba Regatta Participants From 2003 Again Being Prosecuted by the U.S. Government SOUTHWINDS recently received a letter from one of the captains who was in the Conch Republic Cup Regatta from Key West to Cuba in June 2003 (see “Letters” in this issue) and who wrote that he received a letter from the Department of Commerce that it will be charging him and the other cap-

Charleston Boat Show. Jan. 26-28 Charleston Convention Center, Charleston, SC. (843) 3648491.www.marinesource.com/Boat_Shows/ charleston_boat_show.cfm. Strictly Sail Miami Boat Show. Feb. 15-19 The Strictly Sail Miami boat show is part of the greater Miami International Boat Show and is held at the News & Views for Southern Sailors

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January 2007

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tains who participated in the regatta with 15 CFR 764.2(a), exporting a vessel and 15 CFR 764.2(e), acting with knowledge of violation. For those who do not remember or do not know, in June of 2003, the Third Annual Conch Republic Cup, organized by Peter Goldsmith and Michele Geslin of Key West, raced to Cuba under government licensing that at first was considered legal by participants and government officials. At a party the night before the start, Department of Commerce officials announced that the regatta was acting legally. But the following morning, U.S. Coast Guard representatives came to the departure point and took photos of all the boats. Upon returning to the United States, government agents on Coast Guard boats boarded the race boats and confiscated papers, GPS units, cruising guides, gifts from Cubans, cameras, film and other miscellaneous items. They showed and left copies of warrants allowing them to do this. Boat owners never received a list of seized property. (The article about the regatta and dealings with the U.S. government—written by race organizer Peter Goldsmith—can be viewed in the “Back Issues” pages on the Southwinds Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com in the July 2003 issue.) Later, Peter Goldsmith and Michele Geslin were indicted under the Trading With the Enemy Act. They went through over a year of harassment and investigations before the government dropped the charges against them. The financial and personal cost to them was devastating. The trial date was set for the week after the 2004 presidential elections. Charges were dropped on the Friday before the election under an agreement where Peter and Michele were not allowed to discuss the deal made with the government. The Trading With the Enemy Act, although used by the federal government through indictments and many times as a threat, has never been tested, as charges under the law in regards to traveling to Cuba have always been dropped before the cases were allowed to go to court—after months of investigations and harassment by the government of the individuals indicted.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

The current impending charges against the captains of the boats that were in the regatta are under a different law accusing the boaters of illegally exporting their boats to Cuba, even though they all sailed them back. Last month, SOUTHWINDS reported that the U.S. government had recently reiterated, in referring to people who are considering or who have recently traveled to or traded with Cuba, that they would use “all the resources” of the federal government to enforce commerce laws. The letter writer in the “Letters” section has left his e-mail in a call for help from readers.

Low Water Level in Lake Okeechobee Causing Damage (From a letter received from Kimberly Grant)

I wanted to get some information to you about the Okeechobee Waterway. In anticipation of hurricanes (which fortunately didn’t materialize) the water level is lower than normal. As a result, many boats have been getting damaged. A close look at chart 11428 shows that the magenta line is quite close to the south side of the channel, and this is critical to follow when the water level is so low. Despite the appearance of a wide channel, the actual dredged channel is much narrower. While this should be followed for the whole route, the problem seems particularly bad around MM 73. The yard where we store our boat is located about 15 miles west of this, and apparently over a dozen boats have made unexpected stops there to repair damage in the past few months. One couple I met, with years of boating experience, was on their brand-new 40-plus Sea Ray and, as a result of their collision with rocks, they lost both props, their shafts and their transmissions exploded into pieces. Their towing bill was $6400. If you could put a mention of this, it might help a few boats make it safely through.

SOUTHWINDS

January 2007

temporary docking areas for day use of boaters visiting shops and restaurants. There is a new dinghy dock for use of boats, which anchor in the harbor and wish to use our facilities such as the pool, laundry, etc. ValvTect marine grade gas and diesel is available at the fuel dock. Fishermen’s Village and Yacht Basin in Punta Gorda, FL. The marina is on the right and These fuels are specially formulated to the transient day visitors’ docks are at the end of the village pier on the left. enhance engine performance, prevent bacteria growth, and improve fuel stability. The fuel dock has a wastewater holding tank pump-out facility. Also for Fishermen’s Village Yacht Basin in sale at the dock are engine oils, frozen bait, ice, soft drinks Punta Gorda Reopens Nov. 30 and snacks, plus the new ships store sells general boating merchandise and a line of boating wearing apparel. Fishermen’s Village and Yacht Basin closed on May 30, The address is: Fishermen’s Village Yacht Basin, 1200 W. 2003, due to structural problems on the 25-year-old docks. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda, FL 33950. The harbormaster is In addition, the water depth in the basin was shallow due Jim Branch, and he can be contacted at (941) 575-3000. to years of silt deposits, and it could no longer handle There is an excellent Web site on the village and the deep-draft vessels. Permitting (state and federal) took two marina at www.fishville.com. years, which is not unusual, since Fishermen’s Village is located in Charlotte Harbor, a Florida “Special Aquatic Site” and an EPA-designated “National Estuary.” Construction (dredging) actually began on January 30, 2006. Hurricane Regata del Sol al Sol, St. Petersburg Charley did its share of damage in August 2004. The cost of to Mexico Regatta, Announces New the entire project, including engineering, is in the millions of dollars. The construction consisted of dredging to the orig2007 Features inal depth when the basin was created (ranging from -7.5 The 39th Annual Regata del Sol al Sol, hosted by the St. feet to -3.0 feet at mean low water). Material in excess of Petersburg Yacht Club, is again getting a large number of 20,000 cubic yards was dredged. entrees this year. New changes announced recently were the A second aspect of the project was the demolition of new tracking units that will be placed on each boat at no the old docks and replacing them with prefabricated extra cost—they will be included in the entry fees. The units cement structures. A third aspect was the construction of this year are also totally automatic and require no user a new fuel dock, relocated parallel to the shore in the west interface for reporting, adding an additional safety feature. basin. Associated with this was the installation of two The units track the race position of each boat, and viewers new underground fuel tanks, each 12,000 gallons (one gas can see the location of the boats online as they cross the Gulf and one diesel). to Mexico. The tracking units will be supplied by a compaThe final aspect of reconstruction was the replacement ny that supplied them for the 73 boats that raced in the of pilings, dock boxes, trash boxes, cleats, fire mains, electriChicago-Mackinac race last July. Deposits will be required, cal pedestals, potable water stands, and safety ladders. The but they are 100 percent refundable if the units are returned restroom/shower/laundry facility and the marina undamaged after the race. office/ships store were all upgraded as they were severely Reduced entry fees for the race are available to all who damaged by Hurricane Charley. sign up by March 15. To register using the online form and The yacht basin has a total of 111 permanent slips, of for more information, go to the regatta Web site at which 97 are available for public use, and approximately 31 www.regatadelsolalsol.org. Festivities for the regatta start on Thursday, April 26, with registration, seminars and a pre-race party at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. All sailors are invited. The race begins the following day on April 27 off the St. Petersburg Pier. Boats are all expected to be in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, by May 1. The first regatta event on the island is on Wednesday, May 2, with a beach party, mayor’s reception and street dance and party. The following day is the rum and Coke party and traditional basketball game. On Friday, the last event day, is the alwaysfun Amigos regatta, which takes local kids sailing on the regatta boats. That is followed by the awards dinner. The race organizers are always looking for additional sponsors. To sponsor, go to the Web site, or contact race organizers Mike Boom at mike.boom@verizon.net, or Larry Wissing at lw@ipsc.cc. 26

January 2007

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Changes in Bahamian Fishing/ Lobstering Laws SOUTHWINDS received an e-mail from Maribel Penichet, onboard Paper Moon, about reading in a Bahamian newspaper, the Nassau Guardian, of the following new laws governing fishing and the taking of lobster in the Bahamas. The new laws will go into effect in early 2007, and the Bahamian government says they will have little effect on tourists, because tourists are generally accustomed to fishing under regulations limiting their takings. Visitors to the islands will no longer be allowed to keep six crayfish (lobster to the layman) per person, but the limit will now be six crayfish per boat. There will also be a new limit on demersal fish—grouper, snapper, etc.—which will now have a limit of 20 pounds per boat, where previously the limit was 20 pounds per person. A ban on catching conch will also be in effect for visitors. Pelagic species—dolphins, kingfish, wahoo, tuna—will also have the limit reduced from six per person to six per boat. There will also be a new requirement that all fish be kept with their head and tail intact for inspection and identification by authorities later. This is while the fish is on the

News & Views for Southern Sailors

boat or being transported by air. Exceptions for these rules will be made for fishing tournaments. Rules will be posted around the islands at marinas and other locations frequented by visitors. Comments were also made by the government about continued enforcement of illegal poaching by foreign vessels, stating that one boat took 35,000 pounds of seafood in one five-day trip.

West Wind Sails Joins Ullman Sales Group Ullman Sails International announced recently that West Wind Sails in Mandeville, LA, (a New Orleans suburb) has joined the Ullman Sails group. Owners Julie and Dave Bolyard recently celebrated West Wind’s 25th anniversary with their prominent full-service Gulf Coast sail loft enjoying a clientele that includes offshore and one-design champions, world cruisers, and local recreational sailors. The staff includes their son David and other journeymen sailmakers with years of experience. Ullman Sails-Gulf Coast contact information can be found in the “Loft Locator” section of the Ullman Sails Web site at www.ullmansails.com.

SOUTHWINDS

January 2007

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SOUTHWINDS January 2007

OUR WATERWAYS Our Waterways Section SOUTHWINDS has created this section to inform our readers about changes in our waterways. We are all in the midst of great change—through the conversion of many boating properties to condominiums, restrictions on anchorages, and other economic forces at work. Our coastal waters and our waterways belong to all of us, and all of us have a right to use them. These waters are not just for those who live on the water, and it is up to us boaters and lovers of these waters to protect that right. We hope that by helping to inform you of these changes, we will contribute to doing just that. We are looking for news and information on changes, land sales, anchorages, boaters’ rights, new marinas, anchoring rights, disappearing marinas, boatyards and boat ramps, environmental concerns and other related news. Contact Steve Morrell, editor@southwindsmagazine. com, or call (941) 795-8704

January 2007

SOUTHWINDS

OLD FLORIDA OR

NEW FLORIDA?

Florida Cruisers Get Anchoring Warnings: Contact Us to Publicize Warnings Note from the Editor

n the right is a letter we received from a group of cruisers who received a warning about anchoring restrictions in Marco Island. In the November issue, we published information about a new state law that went into effect on July 1 limiting communities’ power to limit anchoring restrictions to non-liveaboard cruisers. Go to the SOUTHWINDS Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com for this information). Since we published that information, I have received several e-mails and telephone calls telling me about cruisers getting warnings from local law enforcement officials in Marco Island, Miami Beach, and Gulfport. In some cases, the officers have been polite and in others, they have not been. Cruisers can contact the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) lawyers who will send a letter to these communities telling them about the state law. Go to our Web site for a copy of this letter and contact information—or call us at (877) 372-7245. This law has not yet been tested in courts and perhaps someone will, but we at least need to have the letters sent to every community that ignores this law. Steve Morrell

www.southwindsmagazine.com

Are cruisers becoming unwelcome in Florida’s anchorages? St. Petersburg (above) still welcomes them, but many Florida cities are telling them to leave.

Cape Coral Cruisers Get Warning About Anchoring in Marco Island (The following letter was sent to several recipients, including the NMMA and SOUTHWINDS.)

n November 14, six vessels (five sail, one power) from the Cape Coral Sailing Club anchored in Factory Bay, Marco Island, FL. Approximately one hour after all vessels were anchored, a Marco Island police/fire vessel entered the anchorage to inform all of us that the city council of Marco Island had passed an ordinance that all anchored boats must submit to a “safety inspection,” head inspection and produce a driver’s license for all persons aboard the vessel. The police/fire official stated that a homeowner living near the anchorage had lobbied the city council for seven years and finally prevailed. We were informed that we would be boarded every 24 hours that we remained in the anchorage. We questioned the need for a “safety inspection” every 24 hours as we would remain anchored for several days. The response was the city had given permission for us to be boarded as frequently as the police/fire water officials deemed necessary but at least every 24 hours. The gentleman did express that the department did not necessarily support this action, but that they now had no choice but to enforce the ordinance. This would have meant that all cruisers had to be aboard their vessels at this same time each day. If we were ashore spending money in their city, they could board our vessels without our being present. Obviously, many of us moved our vessels rather than submit to this harassment. I phoned the Marco River Marina and spoke with the dockmaster, who stated that he was not aware of this ordinance. He was under the impression that the only restriction was the old three-day anchoring rule. I informed him of our visit from the city police/fire boat. I told the dockmaster that all six boats had planned to stay for three nights and spend money at the marina ship store, fuel dock, and dinghy tie-up. We also planned to buy items at Ace Hardware and have meals in at least two local restaurants. He responded with significant concern and said that he felt this was simply harassment. I suggested that he bring this concern up at his next Chamber of Commerce

News & Views for Southern Sailors

meeting, and he stated that he would do that as well as contacting “the right people” in the city. The questions that we have about this “safety inspection” and surrender of our drivers’ licenses are: 1. Is this legal? What gives a municipal worker the right to board us? 2. If a safety issue was identified, what would the city employee be able to do? Under whose authority? 3. Is it legal for the municipality to run a background check on boaters who have done nothing but anchor their vessels? We figured that conservatively speaking our group would have spent upwards of $1,000 for fuel, supplies, food, etc. Please advise us as to what, if anything, we should do to follow up with this problem of harassment at Marco Island, FL. Jill and Leo Stanley Sturdy Beggar Cape Coral, FL

SOUTHWINDS

January 2007

OUR WATERWAYS

Dockominiums Part II, Advantages and Disadvantages and Some Legal Issues Buyers Should Know By Roy Laughlin Keys—where bottomlands may not be owned by the state. Special provisions for leasing or owning bottomland then apply.)

The State Bottomland Lease Buyers considering a dockominium marina slip purchase should know that the usual term of a bottomland lease for a marina is five years with the opportunity for renewal. When developers of the Whitley Bay Marina in Cocoa, FL, in Brevard County (now named Cocoa Village Marina), announced plans to offer equity ownership, they requested a 25-year lease from the state. They Will your local marina be converted to dockominiums? What would that mean? received the extension, and that decision resulted in rule changes as presently defined in Florida Statutes 18-21. Provisions for an hether or not a marina dockominium is on leased extended lease, a condition that is most appealing to dockostate land is the single most significant distinction minium marina buyers, must pass the following criteria in a a buyer should make when considering a dockostate review: minium slip purchase. This is a distinction that applies specifically to a wet slip, the type of berths preferred by sail1) “Any application for term greater than 10 years must boat owners. be reviewed by the Attorney General’s Office to deterA dockominium marina can exist in several ways. One mine whether it should be considered by the Board of is in a man-made basin dug from “uplands” adjacent to a Trustees under heightened public concern.” waterway. The slip can be owned outright just like dry 2) “The applicant demonstrates that an extended term property because it is not part of Florida’s submerged lands. is necessary to satisfy unique operational constraints.” This type of ownership can be different in each case, and the 3) “Extended term leases must be authorized by the potential buyer is well-advised to investigate closely the Board of Trustees (Governor and Cabinet).” terms of the agreement, heeding the advice of a lawyer and an accountant. The cabinet’s decision on Whitley Bay suggests that offering Another more common case exists when a dockominiequity ownership sufficiently demonstrates a “unique operum marina is built on leased state lands. In this case, the ational constraint,” to justify the cabinet’s permissive decidockominium slip is essentially a sublease with, in Florida’s sion, even in the face of overwhelming public concern. case, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), What is not clear in the decision and new rules is whether establishing the fundamental conditions for the lease. an extended lease initially will enable an easy extended (There are exceptions in a few areas of Florida—such as near renewal, something that additionally enhances equity ownSt. Augustine, in Pensacola Bay and in specific areas of the ership by conferring stability and predictability. Florida’s lease fee requirements should also be One Dockominium Owner’s Experience reviewed by potential buyers. The lease fee is adjusted Mike Huff at the Conch House Marina in St. Augustine annually by the state and is payable at the beginning of the gave an example of how dockominium ownership has lease term. More significantly, the state assesses a six perworked out for one owner: “He lives aboard in his slip cent fee on income derived from the slip. Florida’s definifor six months, and cruises for the other six months. tion is broad: “Income shall be the gross receipts derived He’s never had to write a check for his monthly payfrom the rental, lease, sublease, license or other transaction ment—the income he gets from renting it for six involving tenancy of wet slips.” According to Doug Fry and months covers him year around.” Alice Heathcock with the DEP in Tallahassee, “other trans-

January 2007

SOUTHWINDS

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Muncipal marinas like the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina will probably never become dockominiums. Or will they?

actions” include sale of the equity ownership plan. This is essentially saying that sales taxes apply to financial transactions of these slips, including sale of the equity ownership plan. (The fee structure is more complex than discussed here so that a potential buyer should read all portions of FS 18-21, or have a lawyer or accountant provide additional advice as desired.) Note also that property taxes will also likely be assessed for dockominium slips. Furthermore, annual increases may not be capped, depending on the property classification. If the dockominium complex is classified as commercial, as is Cocoa Village Marina, the increases can be huge. If the slip cost $80,000, ad valorem taxes in Brevard County will be over $1000 per year. State policies on submerged land leases place fundamental boundaries on the terms of a dockominium marina lease. The next most important issue to a buyer will be the specific terms of the purchase from the developer or slip owner. As mentioned above, both condominium law and contract law may apply to the contract’s provisions. One specific case is often termed, “equity ownership.” In this case, fee payment to a marina development company entitles a boat owner to use of a designated slip for the duration of the marina’s lease from the state. If the owner leaves the slip vacant, the marina management company will rent it and divide the rental with the slip “owner.” Whitley Bay Marina offers an equity membership plan that will last for 25 years, the duration of the recently negotiated lease of the site from the state. According to Tony James, with Brevard County’s property appraiser’s office, this property is classified for tax purposes as commercial, not “condominium,” as one might suspect the shared ownership plan to imply.

Are Dockominiums Assets or Investments? Equity ownership plans tout dual benefits: convenience/ certainty of dockage and investment opportunity. Some buyers will be primarily interested in obtaining a suitable berth for a boat without the worry of a short-term lease that expires. The other heavily marketed ownership category is the investor. In the recent past, marina slips in residential condominium complexes have risen with the general rise in property values. In some cases, values have quadrupled or more in a bit more than a decade. It remains to be seen if the value of dockominium slips will continue to rise in the face of a cooling market. For the boat owner intending to use the slip, convenience and continuity are significant advantages justifying a dockominium marina slip purchase. The cost of ownership, however, will be, at a minimum, a function of Florida’s annual lease cost. The price will increase each year. It is based on an average of the consumer price index from the preceding five years and will not increase more than 10 perNews & Views for Southern Sailors

cent in any single year (Florida Statutes 18-21). The sale contract will likely set criteria for changes in the management fees. Diversity of these contracts makes generalizations impossible. A perusal of ads suggests that most new dockominium marinas will charge $200 and up for management or association fees. The following calculation may put a $200 per month fee into perspective. After the hurricanes in 2004, many riverfront property owners in Brevard County rebuilt docks that were suitable for sailboats. Suitability consisted of sufficient length to reach six-foot depths and other structural requirements for tying off a 30-foot sailboat. A typical construction price was approximately $30,000. Most docks typically last 15 years before a storm tears them apart sufficiently to require replacement. Amortized over 180 months (15 years), or 240 months (20 years), the monthly cost of the dock is $167 and $120, respectively. This simple calculation makes the unreasonable assumption that no other maintenance costs will occur in 15 to 20 years, but these estimates are useful as a basis for comparison. Note that a waterfront property owner does not pay lease fees to the state. So, while the lower end of the fees listed are higher than a simple calculation of private dock ownership by waterfront property ownership, it is consistent with the additional costs incurred. According to Dave Huff of the Conch House Resort in St. Augustine, equity boat slip ownership is a good deal if you want to keep a boat in the water. “It’s getting harder and harder to find a boat slip…[a boater] should secure something now.” It is far more difficult to predict that dockominium marina slips purchased in 2006 will appreciate as significantly in the coming decade as they have in the past one. Like property in general, dockominiums have been appreciating in price greatly in the past few years of Florida’s runaway real estate boom. Two examples are the Conch House Marina Resort in St. Augustine, FL. This marina sold its first

SOUTHWINDS

January 2007

OUR WATERWAYS The Isla del Sol Marina in St. Petersburg—still a public marina where slips are available for rent if you join a club.

slip about 12 years ago for $15,000 for a 40-foot boat. Last year’s sale prices have reached $120,000 or about $3,000 per foot. That marina is now asking over $5,000 per foot for a slip, and they are selling at that price. According to Mike Huff, marina manager at the Conch House Marina, the market may be fully priced. Another marina in St. Augustine is offering equity ownership at over $7,000 per foot, and those slips seem to be selling slowly if at all. The proposed Sebastian River Yacht Club and Marina on the Indian River in southern Brevard County lists on its Internet sites a rate of $3500 per foot for boats from 26 to 62 feet. The most expensive slip is for up to a 48-foot catamaran at $262,000 or $5250 per foot. These prices illustrate that market values are strongly influenced by the local conditions and that scarcity is a dominant factor influencing fundamental value. It appears the high appreciation enjoyed by earlier buyers at the Conch House Marina Resort may not be repeated in the new millennium’s softening market. In order to improve the investment potential of equity slip ownership, some marina developers have a policy of renting a slip on a first-come, first-serve basis while the slip’s owner leaves it vacant. The owner shares in the slip rental proceeds. A buyer considering a slip purchase as an investment should realize that in most cases, the buyer is the lowest level of a monetary food chain. The state (if the property is on submerged lands) and the management company will take their share first, and contractual agreements may give the owner very little bargaining ability. Dramatic increases in business property insurance costs and taxes are a red-hot-button issue in Florida now, and the solution is still not evident. At least in the next few years, an investor would be wise not to expect any net rental income from a slip, and probably not even enough to pay annual expenses. This is a dramatic change in the dozen years since equity marina slip ownership started to become commonly available. A buyer should consult an accountant and a lawyer before buying one as an investment to obtain an opinion about the potential of the slip to meet investment goals. Dockominium leases and agreements are relatively new in the overall scheme of things. Even though the concept has been around for decades, it is only in the past 10 years or so that they have grown substantially as an alternative to the traditional marina. As with many new concepts, one can expect changes and evolution in how these ownership plans will be structured in the coming years.

Do Dockominiums Hurt or Enhance Public Access to Waterways? Promoters hail dockominiums as the solution to vanishing availability of slips. Clearly, the costs involved put the regular wage-earner out to sea in terms of participation in own34

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ership or investment opportunities. The price per square foot of a marina slip is perhaps three times that of typical residential construction. Lenders do offer loans for slip purchase but typically require a 20 percent down payment, a substantial net worth, and cash flow in order to qualify. Critics say the conversion of existing marinas to expensive dockominiums is no different in its effect on public access to waterways than is the conversion of a marina to a residential condominium dock. Dockominium marina developers consistently maintain that their buyers are the boating public, too. They also point out that they offer vacant slips for public rental for periods ranging from overnight to several months. Dave Huff of the Conch House comments that as far as a visiting boater is concerned, staying in an equity ownership marina is little different from staying in a traditional marina. The marina management personnel collect money for the rental, maintain the facilities and provide any desired services such as holding tank pump-outs, refueling and docking assistance. They say dockominium conversion is conserving to some extent available slips for non-waterfront property owners. This is different from the situation where a developer buys a public access marina, builds condominiums associated with it and then makes those slips only available to the condominium owners—keeping out the general public. One of the main advantages—and perhaps one of the main causes of marinas converting to dockominiums (or being built as)—is the assurance that the marina owner (now a manager) will no longer be totally financially responsible for damage to marinas from tropical storms. The marina owner will no longer have to concern himself with where the money will come from to rebuild, repair or replace docks or how much slip fees will increase to cover these costs, as the dockominium owners will share these expenses. A reasonable interpretation of both arguments is that scarcity of public slips of any kind is driving up prices, and those prices are excluding the public based on disposable income. Boat slip numbers in any category have not increased in proportion to overall population growth. The rising price of equity slip ownership is not a force that is making public access more expensive. The rising cost of these slips is a function of the increasing costs imposed by poor growth management decisions in rapidly expanding waterfront communities. Dockominiums do provide stable availability of boat-berthing for that segment of the boating public that wishes to and is able to afford the cost. For those who can’t afford it, more affordable and abundant options need to be developed. Perhaps mooring fields are one of those alternatives, but it will be a few more years before a significant number will be available in central Florida. In the short-term, perhaps a decade, dockominiums will likely be an increasingly popular way to assure waterway access for those who can still afford boating as a lifestyle. www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS January 2007

tep inside the nine-foot privacy fence that surrounds the Spirit of South Carolina at Ansonborough Field, and you’ll be astounded at the level of activity occurring around this historic tall ship on any given day. From morning ’til evening, the sawdust-strewn shipyard is literally humming with woodworkers, shipwrights, and systems specialists, all plying their trades in a collaborative effort to bring this traditional 140-foot sailing vessel to life. ”We’ve made a lot of progress recently,” explained Brad Van Liew, executive director of the South Carolina Maritime Foundation, the organization responsible for building this ship, “and now we’re at the stage where many things are happening concurrently, and they’re happening quickly, too.” According to Van Liew, some 12 to 20 workers are onsite each day. Among them are three caulking specialists who were imported expressly to finish the seams between the planks on the Spirit’s hull. Like most of the construction

on this traditional ship, the caulking process is taking place just as it would have on a wooden ship 150 years ago. Caulking traditionally involves stuffing each seam with a combination of yarn and oakum, using an inverted wedge or caulking iron and a broad mallet. It’s a very gradual process, easily identified by the rhythmic falls of the mallets. If all goes according to plan on the Spirit, the material filling up the seams will ultimately be nearly as hard as the planks around it. Capt. Tony Arrow, who will be the vessel’s master when the Spirit is launched next spring, is overseeing the construction. According to Capt. Arrow, these caulkers—Joe Chetwynd of Pembroke, MA, Donald Taube of Wilmington, NC, and Chris Nelson from Westport, CT—are among a handful of shipbuilders in the country who really excel at this specific task. “Not only are these three very proficient at this work,” he says, “they’re quick as well.”

Work on the Spirit of South Carolina at All Time High

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In the coming weeks, Van Liew affirms that the activity at the Spirit of this particular bit of outSouth Carolina shipyard will sourcing will definitely pay continue apace. The shipfor itself. “The people we’re wrights will finish the deck using to caulk the ship have houses, the caulking, and saved us 600 skilled shipthe carvings. After that, wright hours.” they’ll concentrate on the Other aspects of the electrical systems, the vesship’s construction are sel’s galley, and the rigging. moving along at a similarly The shipyard is open to the impressive pace. Arrow is public on Saturday and happy to report that the The Spirit of South Carolina. Sunday from 12:00 noon to first of the vessel’s two 5:00 p.m. massive Cummins diesel The Spirit of South engines has been installed, Carolina will be a dynamic thanks to a generous donaplatform for experiential tion from the company. The education. Dedicated to the teak decking of the ship is youth and educators of the complete. Additionally, all Palmetto State, this 140-foot of the watertight bulkclassic sailing vessel will heads—the “walls” that teach individuals to care for separate one section of the themselves, their shipmates ship from another—are also and their environment. The complete. And all of the core curriculum will focus lead for the keel and the on math and science, with interior ballast is in place. possible extensions into “At the moment,” humanities and history. explains Arrow, “we’ve got The bowsprit. Voyages will range from people working on the intedockside visits, to sails rangrior cabinetry, the decking, the second engine installation and ing in length from one day to multi-week programs. other support systems, and the rudder and the carvings.” Professional development opportunities will be offered to Mark Bayne and his Sea Island Boatworks crew have also educators. Learn more about the Spirit and the South painted the upper portion of the hull (called the topsides) Carolina Maritime Foundation at www.scmaritime.org. with a coat of white primer. “So,” Arrow says, “not only is the This article and photos are courtesy of the South Carolina Spirit beginning to look more like a ship on the outside, but Maritime Foundation. she’s really becoming one on the inside as well.”

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS January 2007

TRAVELS WITH ANGEL

The Real World: Angel Cays, on the Eastern Shore of Great Abaco Island, Bahamas By Rebecca Burg

nseen insects buzzed in the trees. Beyond, the corner of a blue house could be seen. It looked abandoned and I wondered why the lonely building was on a speck of an islet in a remote and almost inaccessible tropical wilderness. It was spooky. “Let’s check it out,” Bill insisted, already climbing the moss-dampened walkway. This morning, I’d just anchored Angel alongside Defiant in the Angel Cays, a wild stretch along the lower eastern shore of Great Abaco Island. Comprising several large cays and hundreds of minute islands intertwined with creeks and shallow bays, the area is a natural paradise. As we poked along in a dinghy safari, old-growth tropical flora and exotic wildlife had our heads swiveling in all directions. Some 60 species of wild orchids are native to the Bahamas, and glimpses of these delicate blooms could be seen along with a wild variety of tropical trees, bush, a lone cactus and thick moss drooping over jagged limestone ledges. Some native Bahamians still practice “bush medicine,” an ancient craft of healing the body with natural remedies. Surely there were plenty of remedies here. While land abounded with life, the shallow bays were teeming

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SOUTHWINDS

with starfish, crab, turtles, fish, sponges and soft corals. Twittering finches, butterflies and dragonflies flitted above, and a horsefly tried to get a taste of Bill’s unsuspecting leg. The rare few signs of humanity are the enigmatic bits of abandoned gear left here in 1971 by the Owens-Illinois lumber-gathering operation on the mainland. A derelict barge with a red barn-like sawmill sits canted in the shallows, its roof collapsed inward. The remnants of docks, rusted storage tanks and a dirt road are found on Snake Cay in this remote series of islands. Visiting cruising boats can slip into the channel south of Snake Cay and anchor in the soft bottom of a basin behind Deep Sea Cay in 6 to 12 feet of water. Tidal currents squeeze through the channel’s mouth at a brisk pace, but once inside, it is a protected hideout from frisky weather. A blue hole in this channel offers good fishing and snorkeling. Boats can also anchor anywhere on the outside, and Snake Cay offers a lee on either side of its Lshaped end, depending on the wind direction. “I’m not swimming over that!” Bill said, squinting at the blue hole’s mysterious depths as we drifted over it in the dinghy. Here was a strange portal to a labyrinth of sub-

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Part of the Angel Cays from the air. Snake Cay’s L-shaped end can be seen. Photo courtesy LeBoutillier.

the real world. Boaters share the same idea, whether it’s a terranean caves that opened somewhere into the Atlantic sunny daysail or a long cruise to a new shore. Odd, then, Ocean far to our east. Many Bahamians believe that some of that non-boaters often accuse us of trying to escape from their blue holes are bottomless, and local lore tells of a creareality. That stubby perspective surmises that the man-made ture—half shark and half octopus—that dwells in the cave’s realm of TV, mortgages, ringing phones, 9-5 workdays and entrance. The ancients referred to blue holes as the “navels computers, which has existed for less than 200 years, is the to the earth.” Bottomless earth-sized bellybuttons haunted said reality. Thus, that same perspective implies that the by shark monsters? I decided not to snorkel over this blue boater’s world of sea, sand, wind, tides and sun, which has hole either. existed for millions of years, is not reality or is an illusion. After losing ourselves in nearly three nautical miles of Of course, the boater knows the truth and embraces it. Both steamy wilderness, I had to go to the bathroom. Bill spotted worlds, modern man-made society and the natural realm, a small dock on a small islet. Assuming that it was from the have a reason for being and experiencing the realities of abandoned lumber operation, we pulled up and cautiously both can enrich our lives. Balance is the key. Too much of stepped ashore. After I dashed into the bushes, one or the other and we’re missing a part Bill found some weathered concrete of life. steps. The walkway rose up a hill and Bill and I left the lone house on led to a house that was mostly hidthe hill and returned to our waiting den by tall coconut palms, creeping sailboats. As the summer breeze vines and thick brush. Of course, faded in the night’s pale edge, we Bill just had to investigate. I relucmotored a few miles east and into the tantly followed, wondering if anymiddle of the Abaco Sea. Defiant one was home. “The door’s open,” anchored in only 14 feet while Angel Bill declared, boldly stepping inside. pulled alongside for a raft-up. We were The small structure was devoid of the only human presence around. The furniture and the screened windows stark, indigo hush of darkness far were open. It appeared that all work from the busy confines of man toyed on the house had come to an abrupt with our senses. One begins to notice halt a long time ago. A broken things that were before given little cement bag lay on the cracked tile regard. High squeaks of a few harmfloor, the spilled grey powder hardless bats chasing insects could be heard. ened by tropical humidity. Rusted The calm weather allowed the bugs to ventools and peeling paint cans were ture out this far. Rock-still on a flat, black sea, scattered in one corner. “You it was as if our boats were suspended in could’ve used the head right here,” space under a glittering symphony of Bill said, wiggling the flush handle stars. The difficult-to-imagine vastness of on a pink toilet in an unfinished bathThe jungle hideout. our own galaxy, its center visible as the room. No water came out. “Well, Drawing by Rebecca Burg. Milky Way, blazed across the heavens. Out at maybe not,” he concluded. sea, the stars are almost bright enough to read by, and Lost in thought, I wondered about the curious jungle streaking meteor sightings are surprisingly frequent. The hideout and why it was left unfinished. It can be reached world and beyond, made small by man’s technology, only in good weather by a shallow and winding passage becomes great and mysterious again. through the water. Here, on an isolated islet, there were no Refreshed after our immersion in the real world for a modern conduits for electricity, water or phone service. The while, we sail on with the sunrise. Leaving the Angel Cays, largest town in the area, Marsh Harbour, was a 14-nauticalAngel heads toward the fast-paced bustle of civilization for mile boat ride away. This hidden house in the wilds surely a completely different, but nearly as real, adventure. was someone’s dream of a getaway to the real world. Yes, News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS January 2007

BOAT REVIEW

Gemini 105:

A Good Coastal Cruiser that has Evolved Over Time By Capt. Ron

with the boat, although I his boat may be unique in have never owned one. the history of boatbuildThe boat is not fast ing: a boat that has slowly despite claims to the contrary. and steadily evolved over time The Edel 35 catamaran (I as owners suggested improveowned one) sails much faster ments and the builder/designer than the Gemini, and the Edel incorporated those ideas that is not particularly fast as catahe considered worthwhile. That’s marans go. But the Gemini is what you have in the newer a cruiser. Is it fast compared model Geminis: Essentially, it’s a to your average everyday 34boat designed by committee. foot cruising monohull? That Originally, the boat was a depends on conditions. Going 30-foot cruising catamaran, and to weather, a well-sailed and it has now evolved into a 34well-designed 34-foot monofoot cruising catamaran with an hull probably carries the day. expressed emphasis on cruisReaching, though, is a differer—not that these boats aren’t ent story. Gemini 105s will raced, as they are. It’s just not get up there around 12 knots intended to be a racer. It’s in perfect reaching condidesigned as a cruiser, and the tions, and sailing at 8 to 9 boat does measure up very well knots is not uncommon. as a cruiser. The Gemini 105Mc under sail. Unfortunately, there are In my opinion, the Gemini Photo courtesy Performance Cruising. sea conditions that will pound 105 makes a fine near-coastal your Gemini relentlessly, and the noise of a wave slamcruiser. Some would disagree and point to trans-Atlantic ming the bridge deck is unnerving. It probably doesn’t do crossings as proof that the boat has big-ocean capability. the boat any good either. Slamming is a feature of any Many boats of all sizes and shapes have crossed oceans, but catamaran where bridge deck clearance has been sacrithat does not make a boat everyman’s ocean-crossing cruisficed on the altar of interior headroom. Even the larger er. I would also be the last to argue that near coastal condicruising cats, such as the Lagoons or Moorings cats, suffer tions are more benign than ocean-crossing conditions. from this malady. They’re not. But, at least in near coastal waters, when conditions get bad, you can duck back inside, seeking protectThe Gemini Rig ed waters. The rig and sailing systems are fine, if a little light, and the Why isn’t the Gemini an ocean-crossing design? It’s deck layout works okay, but be careful negotiating the nartoo small, number one. It can’t carry enough stuff, number row side decks. I’m also not a fan of the optional Gemini two, and it’s too lightly built to be a safe haven in a severe system for managing a cruising spinnaker or “screecher.” ocean storm. That large curved traveler track is just not far enough forI still think it’s a fine cruiser, provided you can pick ward to be optimal. A better arrangement is the folding your weather and not venture too far offshore for too long. bipod bowsprit that extends about six feet forward and yet The shallow draft centerboards and kick-up rudders allow folds back against the furled headsail for docking. Several navigating shallow anchorages—a plus for a coastal cruiser friends have this custom-made system, and it works very navigating an unmarked inlet to a secluded lagoon. Also, well without cluttering up the foredeck. the Gemini can fit into most marina slips, being a moneysaver over beamier catamarans. Liveability I’ve been on a number of Geminis and sailed (even The foredeck makes a great sunning platform, and at least raced) with friends on theirs. I did a delivery trip on a new one Gemini I’ve seen has a set of custom cushions for the boat from the factory in Annapolis to Florida, and I’ve foredeck that snap on, making a giant lounge. Interior cruised the Bahamas alongside one, so I’m pretty familiar 40

January 2007

SOUTHWINDS

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davits. Best seat in the house. accommodations are as good as they get Interior fit and finish is much better in this size boat. Again, compare the in the 105 models than in previous verGemini 105 to your typical 34-foot monosions. It’s light and airy, even if a bit of a hull and you will find that the Gemini “Clorox bottle”—better than the old can accommodate three couples in sepadark and dreary wood. rate staterooms. Yes, the after-cabin Water and fuel tankage is adequate berths are a bit crowded if you’re a big for the short-term cruise, although water person but workable for a weekend—or tankage could be a bit light for a family even a week or two. For a family of Mom, of four for more than a few days. Dad and two kids…each gets a private room. Where’s that on your 34-foot The Engine and the Mechanics monohull? on the Gemini The forward berth is big enough for The little Westerbeke diesel engine in the large people, although there is an inside newer boats is just about right. Fuel conposition and an outside position. That is, sumption is light, but the “agricultural” the outside position (to starboard) can get final drive unit seems to require more in and out without disturbing the inside than a little maintenance. Changing the sleeper. So if one of you has to get up in lower unit fluid is a challenge, and the the night to check the head or the anchor manual hydraulic jack for lifting the unit or whatever, put that person in the outclear of the water seems a bit silly. If you side position; otherwise, the inside pertake the trouble to make a hydraulic sysson will be climbing over to get out. tem for trim and tilt, why not make it The galley-down arrangement is as electric with a thumb-button control just efficient as it can be, given the cook needs like any ordinary old Evinrude? The big to stand and have access to stove, fridge prop is a plus though, and since the and food storage. Some couples cruising drive steers with the rudders, the Geminis have converted the starboard aft maneuverability problem that existed in berth to a pantry where most bulk food low speeds that was an issue in older items are stowed. Geminis has been eliminated. Cruising The propane fridge works well, too, speeds under power are in the range of although fuel consumption can be an 6.5 to 7 knots. issue, and the front opening means that The layout on the Gemini 105Mc. The helm position gets some commost of the cold is lost with each opening. Specifications Gemini 105Mc plaints on older boats, but I found the I’d prefer a larger top-loader for most LOA 33’ 6 “ 105 to be as good as any. It is sheltered cruising requirements. I would find the LWL 31’ 9 “ from the sun and rain and at least faces cold-food storage a bit small for extended Beam 14’ forward. I found visibility to be good, cruises—beyond a couple of weeks anyDisplacement 9,600 lbs and the helmsman can reach the conway. Our friends report that when cruisSail Area - Main 340 sq ft trols even when perched alongside the ing, a propane tank will need a refill Sail Area - Genoa 350 sq ft hardtop for docking maneuvers. The every couple of weeks. I’m also not crazy Sail Area - Screecher 490 sq ft optional helm seat is great, especially about having an open flame in the cabin Draft - Board Up 18” when doing an extended motor down no matter how small it might be, but I’m Draft - Board Down 5’ 6 “ the ICW. not aware of any problems with the sysThe instrumentation and electronics tem, and these fridges have been stanpackage on my friend’s new boat is dard in Gemini for many years. excellent. It’s all interfaced and integrated Raymarine stuff The dinette arrangement will work for four or even and very well done. That comment could be extended to the more for dinner, and the galley/dinette arrangement doesentire electrical system on the new boats. I especially like n’t leave the cook out of the cocktail hour. The head layout, the inverter/charger arrangement. One drawback to be on the port side, and the ingenious arrangement of valves, noted, though, is that the batteries are located in a position holding tank, pump-outs, etc., seems to work well. With the that makes servicing difficult. If it were my boat, I’d order newer diesel boats, hot-water storage heaters are a much Gel or AGM batteries to avoid the servicing issue. better solution than the older gas “demand” system. All in all, the Gemini is a good boat. If your cruising The boats boast very adequate storage both below goals are relatively coastal, with maybe a venture to the decks and on deck for the normal cruising gear although Bahamas somewhere down the road, then this is a very some planning will be needed to take advantage of the good choice. It fulfills the mission of weekend cruiser for a sometimes awkward shape of interior cubbyholes. A pair of family and offers the possibility of longer cruises for a lot davits on the stern is a reasonable solution to dinghy storless money than the next size up in catamarans. age, provided you have a light dinghy. A bridge could also For more information on Geminis, go to www.geminicatamabe constructed across the back for solar panels. rans.com. Be sure to order the sling seat that rigs between the News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS January 2007

Seven Seas Cruising Association Annual Meeting By Roy Laughlin

Above: The SSCA annual meeting dinghy dock. Left: SSCA members’ anchored boats.

The Seven Seas Cruising Association, Inc. (SSCA) supports cruisers who are, according to conventional wisdom, spending years at the helm of a sailboat plying warm seas on the way from one tropical paradise to another.

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nce each year, SSCA members gather in Melbourne, FL, for their annual meeting (previously called the Gam) and at least temporarily operate in a completely different mode. This year, the meeting was Nov. 10-12 and over 400 pre-registered, and perhaps as many as 200 more registered on-site. They bring a lot of joie de vivre to the meeting, so there’s no shortage of camaraderie, as well as quieter times with old friends whose wakes again cross for a few days. The other half of the event, the unique half, provides sailors with contacts, tools and knowledge to make the cruising lifestyle dream a reality. A vendor exposition fills the entry hall every year. About 50 vendors and retail outfits offer everything from books to safety gear for cruisers. You could find the same items at a boat show, but you might spend the whole day looking. Here, it is all together, and the relaxed atmosphere permits extensive conversation with the vendor to aid the buying/use decision. The convention’s main draw, however, is the featured speakers and roundtable discussions. There were more than a dozen seminars spread throughout the three-day event. They included such topics as “Medical and Surgical Emergencies at Sea” by Dr. Laura Sudarskyto, and “Troubleshooting Electronics Aboard–or, When It Breaks, It’s Not Hopeless,” by Joe Jelinski. Other topics included experiences sailing regional seas, basic navigation and several topics focusing on family life aboard the cruising boat while maintaining effective contact with the folks back home. Notably, the schedule of speakers is designed to offer something to cruisers who are preparing for their first extended cruise as well as to those who have been away a long time and know what they’d like to learn before the next leg of a journey. At least two book companies were in the vendor hall, which is a notable proportion for what is a focused and comparatively modest exposition (compared with a boat show). Between the seminars and vendors, cruisers obtain more information in two days than they might be able to access in months of trips to the local library. The annual meeting is also the time each year that the organization elects its leadership and sets goals for the coming year. Kathleen Watt was elected for a second term as president, and Steven Leeds is the incoming 2006-7 vice president. These two, working with the board of directors, developed an ambitious list of goals for the next year. According to Kathleen Watt, reaching these goals will “prowww.southwindsmagazine.com

vide more value to SSCA membership.” These goals include: • Increasing the membership • Upgrading the SSCA Web site • Services for new cruisers to help them plan and prepare • Electronic information to cruisers • Establishing the SSCA Foundation • Discount program for SSCA members at participating marine retail stores

Web site.) The SSCA Foundation initially has two prime missions: First, to provide assistance to cruisers who have lost their vessels in hurricanes or tsunamis. Second, the foundation will provide education for cruisers in nautical subjects and safety. Third, its programs will work to increase environmental awareness. However much the vision of carefree cruising prevails, the usual and mundane responsibilities of daily life ride with cruisers as well. The SSCA’s plan is to expand and improve its already successful workshops to help cruisers achieve their dreams safely with the camaraderie of fellow cruisers, while maintaining ties with family and community back home.

The electronic information service is perhaps the most ambitious component of the effort to serve cruisers (www. ssca.org). SSCA plans to develop and maintain an information database on ports worldwide. Users can query it, and The flea market at the SSCA meeting it will be kept up-to-date by feedback is always a favorite. from SSCA members to include entry requirements, costs, navigation information and any other essential information a cruiser might need to ease into a SSCA Workshop Focus to Change in 2007 cruising destination. The SSCA’s goal is to make this the most By Roy Laughlin extensive service available. It will be available on the Web, (www.ssca.org), and via sideband radio. (By the time you In 2007, SSCA workshops will expand to include some read this, this feature should be available on the SSCA new topics. Instructors and topics include: Lee Chesneau: “Basic Marine Weather Forecasting” Nigel Calder: “Coastal and Offshore Cruising” Julie Teetsov, Ph.D.: “What to Do When Your Electronics Fail”

During 2005-6, Lee Chesneau was the workshop pioneer with his meteorology for mariners course. Additional workshops, like Chesneau’s, will be held around the country in Maryland, South Florida, Seattle and Southern California. According to SSCA President Kathleen Watt, workshop scheduling will no longer be set up to coordinate with boat shows and other events to try to lower participants’ expenses. The instructors will be presenting each course independently. For a complete schedule, please see the SSCA Web site Events and Calendar page at http://ssca.org/eventind.htm.

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SOUTHWINDS January 2007

What is Florida Sea Grant? Florida Sea Grant is, in its own words, a “partnership program among the Florida Board of Education, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Florida citizens, industries and governments” (from the Sea Grant Web site). Florida Sea Grant is one of 32 nationwide Sea Grant programs created by federal legislation to promote coastal research, education and more. Its mission is “to enhance the practical use and conservation of coastal and marine resources to create a sustainable economy and environment. In a few words, it is ‘Science Serving Florida’s Coast.’ ”

Sea Grant’s Anchorage Inventory: Cruising Southwest Florida Web Site Gives Anchorage Maps and Information By Steve Morrell (Information and maps in this article were taken from the Sea Grant Web site listed here.)

f you’re cruising southwest Florida with computer access and want some great information on anchorages, Florida Sea Grant has a Web site that is an inventory of anchorages from Manatee County at the south end of the Tampa Bay Skyway Bridge to Marco Island about 120 miles south. The Web site, called “Anchorage Inventory,” lists 47 anchorages with maps and information. The url is http://flseagrant.ifas.ufl.edu/ anchorage/anchorage_inventory.php. The Anchorage Inventory gives the best definition and history of this database: “The Anchorage Inventory provides online maps and information for popular southwest Florida anchorages. It is the result of a five-year program to identify where and by what means anchorage management is required in southwest Florida. To help boaters make informed choices when selecting an anchorage, information is presented on local government ordinances, recreational characteristics, shoreside amenities, anchorage uses and sizes, and impor-

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tant safety factors. “This Web site provides resident and transient boaters with an easy-to-use selection guide to anchorages in southwest Florida. The information is based on local knowledge provided by numerous boating organizations and on a Florida Sea Grant research project involving several hundred volunteer boaters. “All of these anchorages were selected to accommodate vessels with a draft of 5 feet or greater (many can accommodate a draft of 6 feet or more), except for three with an approach channel depth of 4 feet (Yacht Club Colony, Power Plant Slough, and Point Blanco #2). The average distance between anchorages on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is 4.85 miles, but be forewarned: Depending on the particular stretch of waterway, weather conditions,

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and crowding, it may be necessary to travel a much farther distance to reach appropriate and available shelter.” To use this resource, the Web site gives you three options on the home page for gathering information on an anchorage (photos and chartlets available on these pages are in high enough resolution for printing): 1. You can click on “Search for Name,” which brings up the anchorage list, or you can type the name of an anchorage in, or you can click on a map of southwest Florida, which takes you to a larger map on another page with icons representing all the anchorages. On that map, you can hold your cursor over the anchor icon, which brings up the anchorage name. You can click on it and it will then take you to that anchorage’s page. Since the anchorage page for each location is the main information source of the Web site, we will discuss this feature in depth below. 2. The second option for anchorage information offered on the home page is searching by location and/or features. You can choose a county or a city, and it will take you to a page listing the anchorages in that area. From there go to each anchorage’s page. You can also do a search for an anchorage based on various amenities that you desire in an anchorage, like the sections “Storm Protection,” “Tranquility,” “Public Access,” “Holding,” etc. When you choose one of these, it will take you to a page with a list of anchorages that has that particular amenity, and then you can go to each anchorage’s page from there.

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3. In the third option, you can compare the features of all the anchorages in a comparative table. For example, one of your choices of comparison might be “Size and Restrictions.” That pulls up a table that lists all the anchorages and rates them as small, medium or large. Another column will say whether or not the anchorage has local restrictions, and another column says whether it is an aquatic preserve or not. Another comparison table one can pull up might be for “More Important Criteria.” When you go to this page, the comparisons are for “Storm Protection” (good, fair or poor), “Bottom Holding” (good, fair, or poor), “Scenic Beauty” (good, fair or poor), “Tranquility” (good, fair or poor) and “Overall Rating” (low, medium, high). From these pages you can also go to the Web page for each anchorage. This third option will also take you to pages telling you about the tides, local restrictions in each community and chart updates. When you go to the “Local Restrictions” page, there is also a section on the “Southwest Florida Regional Harbor Board Standards for Anchorage,” which is anchoring guidelines for such things as anchoring over sea grass or anchoring in areas which impede access to docks and other recommendations. The Main Course: The Anchorage’s Web Page This is the first option offered (#1 above), (although you can reach all the anchorage pages through the other two options) and you have two choices: You can just type in an anchorage name and go straight to its page, choosing the

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“Search for Name” option if you don’t know the name. The latter search will take you to a tabled list of names, showing their city and county location. Then you can click on the name to take you to that anchorage’s page. If you don’t want to just type an anchorage name in, the home page has a map of southwest Florida with anchor icons showing over 40 anchorages. Clicking on this map takes you to a blown-up version of the map. Each anchorage has an anchor icon. Passing your cursor over it will bring up its name, and clicking on the icon will take you to that anchorage’s Web page. An anchorage’s Web page is the core product that this whole anchorage Web site offers with extensive information and graphics on each spot. A good example of a typical anchorage’s Web page is the Longboat Pass/Long-beach anchorage. They are listed as two separate anchorages, but because the two spots are right next to each other, they are listed together. The page uses the same map for both of them with different descriptions and information for each as you choose one or the other. A map appears showing an aerial photo with graphics indicating the anchoring locations. Here is the list of the related The map of southwest amenities for the Longboat Florida showing the anchorPass/Longbeach anchorage: ages and their icons. Site ratings Storm protection: poor Bottom holding: good Scenic beauty: fair Tranquility: poor Overall site rating: medium

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Recreational characteristics Activities: NA Facilities: NA Qualities: NA Overall site rating: high

The aerial photo of the Longboat Pass/Longbeach anchorage.

Shoreside profile Natural: no Public access: no Commercial access: yes 100% private: no

High Use or “Popular” Low use (i.e., “undiscovered”): no Small craft and water sports: yes Anchoring: no Size: small

The Longboat Pass/Longbeach chartlet and information • Minimum approach • Depth: 9 ft. • Depth in anchorage: 9-13 ft. • Lat 27° 26.3’ N • Lon 82° 40.8’ W (use Chart 11425 for navigation) The Web also offers the option of downloading the chartlet

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as a PDF or as an EPS, plus it offers the option of downloading a “photographic map,” which is really a combination of the photo of the land and a graphic drawing of the bottom characteristics (see map). The Web page ends with a general description with some valuable information, telling the reader how to reach the anchorage, shoals to keep an eye out for on approaching it, bottom holding, recommendations for anchoring, like other boats, type of bottom, swing room, etc. The description also describes facilities and characteristics of the land, including nearby dinghy excursions, shopping centers and stores and other attractions. Last but not least is a wind quadrant protection graphic, showing what kind of shelter the anchorage will provide from a particular wind direction.

The Longboat Pass/Longbeach photographic map showing bottom depth at channel center (color-coded on the Web site.)

The wind protection quadrant for the Longboat Pass/Longbeach anchorage showing wind protection from winds coming from the northwest.

WARNING! Use of the Anchorage Inventory is dated material. The Web site copyrights the site as 1998-2000, and boaters should keep in mind that the information available is dated (gathered over five years preceding 1998), and that shifting bottoms and other changes can make anchorages and their approaches quite different from what is listed on the Web site. This is always true, and boaters should always be aware as they enter and approach different cruising areas. Hurricanes in the last two years have also caused bottoms to shift in many locales, and there are a lot of new uncharted changes. Local community anchoring restrictions are also quite different today since this Web site was created—something that has become very common in many of Florida’s waterfront communities. At the end of each list of community restrictions, the Web site has the city attorney listed with name, phone number and address. I checked out several of these, and the attorney listed is still the same one today, but I did not check them all. It would be wise for all boaters to find out what they can about current local anchoring restrictions before anchoring in an area, although a new Florida law restricts local communities’ ability to impose anchoring limitations on non-liveaboard boaters. (See SOUTHWINDS’, November 2006 or the “Our Waterways” section on the SOUTHWINDS’ Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com for more information on this law.) This law, though, has not yet been tested. Perhaps, you can test it. To do so, read the information in the above-referenced SOUTHWINDS publications. Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com or call (941) 795-8704. News & Views for Southern Sailors

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RACING ■ SOUTHERN RACING ■ NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS Racing and Sailing News and Articles Wanted Southwinds is looking for race reports and sailing/cruising/racing news in the southern states, particularly in the Florida Keys, Carolinas and Georgia. Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

It’s Showtime! Key West Race Week Sneak Preview – Acura Key West 2007, January 15-19 By Rebecca Burg

In the fantasy-like island of Key West almost anything goes. Recently, an islander named Bob dressed up like a hurricane and was forced to walk the plank on a pirate schooner. Last

Regata del Sol al Sol, St. Petersburg to Mexico Regatta, Announces New 2007 Features

For more information, go to “Short Tacks News” on pages 19-27.

Gulf Yachting Association Winter Meeting and Events, Mobile AL, Jan. 6-7 This year the GYA Winter Meeting will be held on January 6-7 in Mobile, AL, at Race committee boats during Key West Race. Photo by Steve Morrell. the Holiday Inn in Mobile, AL. Preceding the meeting, there will be a US SAILING New Year’s Eve, a drag queen was lowered in a giant, glitbasic race management seminar on Friday, Jan. 5. tery high-heel shoe on the countdown to midnight. As the Registration is required. Jim Tichenor, HYC, US SAILING saying goes, “Only in Key West...” national certified senior race officer/certified senior judge Now, another only-in-Key-West event takes place. Race and Walter Chamberlain, BWYC, certified senior judge, will Week comes into town with superstar sailors and high-tech be the instructors. This course will be the beginning of the boats for the hottest competition around. It’s a wild party in process for certification as a club race officer and a step up the southernmost city’s blue backyard as nearly 300 sailthe ladder to become a US SAILING certified race manageboats and thousands of sailors vie for top titles in five days ment officer. US SAILING member fee $30, non-US SAILof suspenseful racing. Some motorboat owners might think ING member $60. Includes lunch. Contact John Morrow at that sailboats are slow and dainty creatures, but they rushj29@bellsouth.net. haven’t seen Acura Race Week. The guts and raw windDick Rose, international certified judge, will present a driven power displayed here is anything but dainty. rules seminar on Saturday, Jan. 6, with all proceeds going to While it’s more fun to participate, watching the rivalry the GYA Foundation to help junior and college sailing prois just as impressive. At the main tent by the waterfront’s grams in the area. There is a charge of $30 per person for the Historic Seaport, you can obtain a pass to participate in racing rules seminar. Dick Rose has asked his fee be donatnightly after-race parties. Videos of each day’s action, weared to the GYA Foundation. ables for sale and a sailor’s favorite refreshments add to the The GYA Foundation will need items for its fourth fun. Famed sailing talents also participate in discussion annual silent auction at the winter meeting on Jan. 6. panels where anyone interested can attend to catch valuable Contact Jane Eshleman, GYA foundation treasurer at skynew ideas. A daily news report printed throughout the goddess51@bellsouth.net, with a list of any silent auction week will have a schedule of events and for sailors’ families donations. and friends back home, an Internet video with reports from The annual GYA awards banquet will be held on broadcaster Gary Jobson will be running (www.premiereSaturday, January 6, at 7:00 p.m. The cost of the dinner racing.com). The sailors are the leading stars in this world(sliced roast sirloin of beef, au jus) will be $25 including tip class show, while supporting the event is a solid-gold cast of and gratuity. To make reservation contact janetmillerfamiliar names. Acura, Nautica watches, Mount Gay Rum, schmidt@msn.com . B&G Electronics, Everglades Boats, Lewmar, New England The tentative GYA winter meeting schedule is posted Ropes, SLAM and Sperry Top-Sider. Dozens of industry on the GYA Web site, www.gya.org. partners and behind-the-scenes volunteers are also valuable 48

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players in Race Week’s grand production. A sneak peek at the sign-up sheet shows a promising list of competitors from around the globe. Just to name a few of our nearby Southern talents, Charles Buckner’s 1D48, Blue, from Hunts Point, TX, and Steven Stollman’s C&C 115, Primal Scream, from Key Biscayne, will be there. Steve Rhyne’s J/109, Mojo, from Texas, is back this year. The exciting and new-ish Melges 32 fleet returns with double—maybe triple—the number of boats. Jeff Ecklund’s Fort Lauderdale entry, Star, returns with Harry Melges calling tactics. The Corsair 28R class shows a solid number of entrants, and these speed demons will be racing for their national championship title as well as for Key West honors. Not in the show last year, Peter Katcha’s Corsair 28R, Relentless, from St. Petersburg, FL, is welcomed onto the stage. New names in the J/80 group include Texas entries Black River Racing, Kicks and Le Cluster. As usual, the Melges 24 class looks to be as intense as usual with several dozen slippery hulls from around the globe contesting for top honors. Breaking news includes the appearance of an exciting high-tech design, the NYYC Swan 42, which will compete in the IRC group this year. It will likely have its own onedesign class down the road. Makoto Uematsu’s Esmeralda has reincarnated as an NYYC 42 (hull #2) and promises to turn the racing suspense up a notch or two. Also new this year is a PHRF National Championship. A significant part of the race, PHRF boats make up about 30-percent of the show. Testing predatory instincts for the first time in Key West is the hot new J/92S, the Columbia 30, Annapolis 30, Beneteau 10R and the GP42. Just one of the many entrants turning heads in the “big boat” class will be the immense spinnaker of Stephan Reith’s 81-foot German powerhouse, BonBon. Weather this winter shows a cool and windy trend, and the sunshine always wins out in Key West. Prevailing 10- to 15-knot easterly breezes regularly give way to cold fronts that pass over the Keys with a blast of strong northwest to northerly winds in the 20-knot range. On shore, people still wear shorts, but it always feels cooler on the water. The snappy subtropical winter weather is just part of the hand that the racing sailors will be dealt. The challenges are many, and every moment in a race a great number of cards are played: teamwork, winds, current, sea state, gear, starting position, etc. If the hand is played right, victory can be had in the island where almost anything goes. The stage is set and the stars are warming up. Get ready, it’s showtime!

organizers, will kick off the events on Wednesday, Jan. 17, and run through Sunday, Jan. 21. The One-Design Symposium, created for one-design class organizers, will take place Jan. 20-21 at the same hotel, the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center. The joint location for the two symposiums enables participants to attend seminars from both symposiums at a discounted rate. Registration for the NSPS includes entry into the ODSS. Registration for the NSPS is $150 through Dec.15 and $175 after Dec. 15. (US SAILING members receive $25 off). Participants of the ODSS who arrive in New Orleans on Jan. 19 or 20 can attend any Saturday seminars of the NSPS at the ODSS rate. Registration for the ODSS is $105 through December, $130 after that date. (US SAILING members receive $25 off). First created in 1983 and held annually since, US SAILING’s National Sailing Programs Symposium has, over the years, brought together thousands of sailing program organizers. Presented by Vanguard Sailboats, this symposium is an outstanding event for any sailing program organizer, with numerous educational seminars and workshops on the agenda. The purpose of this annual symposium is for participants to network with other organizers and to share ideas on what it takes to run a successful sailing program. For information, visit www.ussailing.org/training/nsps/2007/index.htm. Created for sailors and one-design classes who would like to learn more about one-design sailing, US SAILING first organized the One-Design Symposium in 2004. The

Two Popular Sailing Symposiums to be Held in New Orleans, Jan. 17-21 US SAILING has announced that its two popular symposiums, the National Sailing Programs Symposium (NSPS) and the One-Design Sailing Symposium (ODSS), will be held together over a five-day period in New Orleans, LA, Jan. 17-21. The National Sailing Programs Symposium, presented by Vanguard Sailboats and geared toward sailing program News & Views for Southern Sailors

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RACING event has been a success from the beginning. With over 200 active sailboat classes in the United States, topics at the symposium cover the full spectrum from the nuts and bolts of building a fleet to the intricacies of keeping a successful class running smoothly. For information, visit www.ussailing.org/odcc/2007ODSShomepage.htm.

The Chris Papandreas Memorial Award By Fairlie Brinkley

Gasparilla Regatta in Tampa, FL, Continues After More Than 30 Years On Feb. 10-11, the Tampa Sailing Squadron will again host one of the oldest and biggest regattas in Tampa Bay, the annual Gasparilla Regatta. The regatta was first held in the early ’70s for cruising boats. That first year, about 60 boats raced under the St. Pete Sailing Association handicap rating system. Many boats anchored in the harbor, and a bum-boat service brought them ashore for dinner. It was the beginning of a long-running Tampa Bay tradition. The tradition of Gasparilla continues today with the Lexus Gasparilla Regatta. This year’s schedule starts on Friday evening with registration and an old-fashioned barbecue with hamburgers and hot dogs. The skippers meeting will follow at 1930 on Friday. Saturday morning will begin with a continental breakfast. The start of the race will be at 1100 on Saturday, Feb.10. PHRF classes racing will be Spinnaker, Non Spinnaker and True Cruising. Five or more entries will constitute a class. Possible classes include J/105, J/24, J/22, and Catalina 22. The post-race party, awards, northern Italian dinner and live music will follow. The women’s regatta will follow on Sunday. This year’s sponsors are Lexus of Tampa Bay, West Marine, Banks Sails and Publix supermarkets. For entry form and additional information, go to www.tampasailing.org/racing.htm, or contact the regatta chairman at (813) 416-6298 or the Tampa Sailing Squadron clubhouse at (813) 645-8377.

US SAILING Judge Training and Certification Program. Judges Workshop and Exam, Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA. Feb. 24-25 Sponsored by Area D, the GYA and the Southern Yacht Club. It is designed for those who have been or want to become US SAILING-certified judges. The topics covered include: Standards and Practices, Regatta Operations, Conduct of a Protest Hearing, Redress and Other Procedures. The principal instructor for the seminar is US SAILING Senior Judge Jim Tichenor. The workshop fee ($50/US SAILING member and $75/non-member) includes: continental breakfast, morning and afternoon breaks, lunches, dinner Saturday evening and all workshop materials. Advance registration is required on the US SAILING Web site at www.ussailing.org/judges/workshops/index.asp and the number of participants is limited to 30. The deadline for advance registration is Feb. 12, 2007. 50

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Chris Papandreas was an avid, competitive sailboat racer in the Florida West Coast PHRF spinnaker Chris Papandreas. division. As co-owner of Photo by Fairlie Brinkley. Desperado, a Beneteau 10meter sailboat, she won the Windjammers Bikini Cup numerous times and was consistently in the top five boats in the West Florida PHRF Boat of the Year series. In 2005, the Clearwater Yacht Club awarded Chris the Yachtsperson of the Year Award. Chris was devoted to learning as much as she could about sailboat racing and lived for regattas, her personal favorite being the Clearwater to Key West race. She died in October 2005 after a 10-year battle with cancer. The Chris Papandreas Memorial Award is a perpetual award, which will be presented annually to a female sailor of any age from the Tampa Bay area who exemplifies the same enthusiasm, dedication, mental strength and sense of adventure in the sport of competitive sailboat racing as Chris demonstrated. The award will be given in Chris’ honor by the Tampa Bay Odd Lot Ladies Investment Club and the Clearwater Yacht Club, in both of which she was an active member. Entries will be accepted by Clearwater Yacht Club’s Yachting Committee through the end of the racing season. To nominate someone for the award, contact Tom Brucini at (727) 447-6000.

Beth Pennington Retires From West Florida PHRF After six years of loyal service to the PHRF racing community on the west coast of Florida, Beth Pennington is retiring as West Florida PHRF administrator. Beth and her husband George plan to enjoy their retirement by traveling and continuing their active involvement in one-design and PHRF race management. The new office administrator for West Florida PHRF will be David Billing of Clearwater. Check the WFPHRF Web site at www.westfloridaphrf.org for the new contact information.

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RACE REPORTS

Championship Of Champions, Little Rock, AR, Oct. 26-29 By Dave Ellis US SAILING’s annual Championship of Champions pits twenty national sailing champs together in one type of boat. This year the event was at Grande Maumelle Sailing Club near Little Rock, AR, in Y-Flyers. www.southwindsmagazine.com

Three days of racing produced all conditions, from very light to 20 knots and more in gusts. Thirteen races were staged, none of them longer than 25 minutes in length, so a good start was essential. While the boats were borrowed from owners, there was neither a “dog” boat nor one that was significantly faster. It took a little before-race homework to figure out various rigging preferences as skippers changed boats each heat. There were no slouches in the group. All were champs of a class. Some skippers were more accustomed to crowded starts and close roundings, and some were keelboat skippers or catamaran sailors. A few had pro sailors as crew, and others used sailors from the local club. Among sailors from the southeast, Paul Abdullah of Jacksonville, FL, representing the Interlake class, is also a top sailor in the J/24 and Thistle. He was usually among the top group and finished fourth overall. Dave Ellis of St. Petersburg, the Windmill champ, could not buy a good start but had excellent upwind speed to finish seventh. He led the geriatric sector of the regatta. Will Hanckel of Charleston representing the Y-Flyer, probably learned a few things about his own class, as he finished ninth. Bill Mauk of Miami, a well-known Etchells sailor, jumped in the scow and placed 11th. Ed Spengeman from Louisville, KY, representing the 210, placed 13th. The event was particularly well-organized and staged by local sailors, with the aid of their Flying Scot fleet.

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Results can be viewed at www.ussailing.org/championships/CofC/cofcwinners.htm.

From 1851 to 2006: First British/American Sailing Race Reproduced in Naples Sailing and Yacht Club’s Commodore’s Cup, Naples, FL, Nov. 4-5 In the mid 1800s, the New York Yacht Club accepted an invitation and raced in a regatta at the Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition in London. The 53-mile race that started at Cowes, England, went over a course which rounded the Isle of Wight. It created the tradition which we now recognize as the America’s Cup. The Naples Sailing & Yacht Club offered its own rendition of this 145-year tradition by hosting the Commodore’s Cup Sailing Regatta on Nov. 4-5. NSYC’s commodore, Ben Bethell, came to this historical occasion with proper parentage as he was born one mile from the Irish Sea in Cheshire, England. His father, uncle and brother all served on ships at sea. During the race, Commodore and Mrs. Bethell were aboard the 19th century replica, Lady Stirling. Skippered by Ben Davis, this 80-foot gaff-rigged schooner added an additional visual reminder of the race that began it all. “Sixteen boats participated in this year’s Commodore’s

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RACING Cup,” offered Jerry Watkins, NSYC’s sailing fleet captain. “It was another exciting race, as men maneuvered their yachts around fixed obstacles while wind and waves pushed, propelled and resisted their motion simultaneously.” Results (place, boat, skipper ): Class A– Spinnaker A Fleet: 1, Tippecanoe, Dan Kendrick; 2, Maria, Maria Bonness; Class B – Spinnaker B Fleet: 1, Toad Hall, William Harris; 2, Children At Play, Graefe/Hamilton; Class C – Sportboat Fleet: 1, Rocketboard, Peter Sulick; 2, Gone Mad, Dave Plonski; Class D – Non Spinnaker Fleet: 1, Air Supply, Steve Romaine; 2, Bentley, Tom Horner; Class E – True Cruising Fleet: 1, Island Time, Joe Barrett; 2, Brigadoon, Doug Cohn.

Chris Larson Wins The Highly Contested Melges 24 U.S. National Championship, Jacksonville, FL, Nov. 16-18 By Joy Dunigan Chris Larson (Annapolis, MD)—at the helm for Scott Holmgren (Edmond, OK) on Rosebud—is the 2006 Melges 24 U.S. National Champion. Larson, a famed sailor in his own right, has sailed at the level of the Volvo Ocean Race, the Congressional Cup, the Louis Vuitton Cup and multiple world championships too many to name, yet now can add Melges 24 National Champion to his great list of accomplishments. In addition to Larson and owner Holmgren, Chuck Norris, a recent J/24 North American and World

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Champion, and Andrew Estcourt were also aboard. In second place overall was another young talent from Quantum Sails, Scott Nixon (Annapolis, MD). Nixon was at the helm for David Ford from Newport, RI, who actually attempted to tag-team the championship with two Melges 24s — Lightwave Micro and Lightwave Nano. Assisting Nixon as tactician was none other than Mark Ivey. Mid-deck and forward was Ford, Bell Canty and Brian Smith. In third was John Pollard, a true Melges 24 veteran from Torquay, UK. The Melges 24 class is one of few one-design classes granted with ISAF status. It is this international recognition and categorization and a great boat design from Reichel Pugh that bring high-profile notables to the starting line with every major championship. Others competing in Jacksonville were: three-time Melges 24 U.S. National Champion and Olympic Silver medallist Morgan Reeser who was at the helm for Geoffery Pierini on Gazoo; 2006 M24 North American Champion Brian Porter on Full Throttle, with Andy Burdick from Melges Performance Sailboats calling tactics; double Melges 24 World Ranking Champion Jamie Lea at the helm for Stuart Simpson on Team Barbarians; and Collegiate Sailing Champion Bora Gulari at the helm for Chuck Holzman on Flyer 2. The class is known for being a magnet for the professional type, but it is also quite successful at drawing a league of Corinthian competitors and actually has a division/method for recognizing these so called “weekend warriors.” This division is usually as competitive if not more

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competitive than the overalls. Former USMCA Southeast District Governor Doug Kessler from Marietta, GA, who was at the helm for Justin Chambers on LayLine II, won the Corinthian division. Marc Hollerbach on Fu from Grosse Pointe, MI, was second, and Othmar Mueller Von Blumencron on Gannett placed third. The 2006 Melges 24 U.S. Nationals, Racing in the Melges 24 National Championship. Photo by USMCA/JOY Advertising. sponsored by Latis™ Yachting Solutions, Ginson at the helm for Eamonn O’Nolan on Bateauneuf won LayLine, Melges Performance Sailboats and Quantum Sails race 6; Nixon won race 7; and Gulari won race 8. was conducted at the Florida Yacht Club in Jacksonville, FL. Weather during the regatta brought a major mix of racTraditionally, this weekend is the same as the famous King’s ing conditions. Thursday was heavy air with wind velocities Day Regatta, and the M24s are always out in full force—on exceeding 25 knots, and both Friday and Saturday had the course and at the bar. It has become such a great event winds that barely reached 5-8 knots. There was never a dull that a number of international competitors—some traveling moment on the course—regardless of conditions—and there well over 3,000 miles—have added this to their racing were some surprising results and others as expected. All-inschedules, and use it as a ramp-up to Key West Race Week all, a great time was had by everyone. about two months later. This year, five international teams Two individuals that deserve more recognition than can were on hand, with third-place overall finisher Pollard leadpossibly be given are Pat Lambert, regatta chair, and Rick ing the charge. The hospitality is wonderful and the race Preston, the PRO. Both of these gentleman have repeatedly committee, one of the finest in the country, pulled out the for the last 14 years gone above and beyond the call of duty red carpet and served up a three-day championship that for the Melges 24 fleet. At the awards dinner, both were lived up to everyone’s expectations. For three days, 46 introduced and awarded with tokens of appreciation from teams participated, going head-to-head for the title. Nine the U.S. Melges 24 Class Association. The Florida Yacht Club races were scheduled and completed. Brian Porter on Full was also recognized and presented with a half-hull from Throttle won race 1 and 3; Larson won race 2 and 9; Pollard Noble Awards for their unwavering support to the Melges won race 4; new-boat owner John Downing won race 5; John

Mark Smith and Jeff Zern round the windward mark in the Area D Qualifiers. Photo by Roy Laughlin. News & Views for Southern Sailors

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RACING 24 class over the years. Full race reports, results (overalls and Corinthian) and competitor contributions can be found at the official Web site of the U.S. Melges 24 Class Association at www.usmelges24.com.

Cruising Couples Regatta, Pensacola Yacht Club, Nov. 18 By Kim Kaminski On Nov. 18, a group of fun-loving sailing friends and couples joined together to initiate the Cruising Couples Race created by Fleet Captain John Matthews at the Pensacola Yacht Club. He designed the race as an opportunity to attract couples that normally participate in cruising or raftup events. The contest was set up as a double-handed race with only one skipper and one crew, and no one else was permitted to be on the boat. Two class divisions were created for the race, espoused and non-espoused, and it would only be sailed non-spinnaker. The couples must be “duly espoused” to qualify for the espoused class, and any two people, related or nonrelated for the non-espoused class. No age limit was set for the race, but in order to be eligible for the special award trophy (Oldest Couple to Finish and Youngest Couple to Finish based on total combined ages), proof of ages were required. Another special requirement for all participants included modifications of the PHRF handicaps to help ensure a

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more even playing field. Each boat in the different classes whose skipper and crew had successfully competed in any prior race or regatta would have its handicap modified by a three-second penalty, plus—if participants had “placed” in any prior race or regatta, their handicap would again be modified with an additional three-second penalty. No protests were permitted. The turnout for this new contest was 19 boats. Race Chairman Betsy Moraski displayed special class flags that were designed for this unique race. The Espoused Class flag displayed a simple gold band in the center of a white flag. The Non-Espoused Class flag was similar in design with a red slash mark across the gold band. The weather conditions were ideal with sunny skies, warm temperatures and light breezes. The 10-mile course sent the couples on a steeplechase around Pensacola Bay. During the day, winds increased to a moderate breeze of nine knots, finishing the day’s competition with plenty of sailing fun and camaraderie. Special awards were given to the sailors in each class. Trophies were given for the slowest boat (last to finish, uncorrected time) and the first boat to finish in each class carrying or towing a dinghy, outboard motor, grill on the rail, bimini and dodger (corrected time). There was a trophy for the first husband-wife boat to finish (corrected time), the first oldest couple to finish and the first youngest couple to finish. The race was deemed a great success, and the Cruising Couples of the Gulf Coast are looking forward to next year’s opportunity to cruise with their friends and comrades.

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Results: Espoused Class: 1, Sirocco, Rick Zern/Lee Newkirk, 1:48:52; 2, Rum Aground, Dave/Leann Dunbar, 1:50:57; 3, The Reach Around, Jeff/Ellen Hunt, 1:55:28; 4, Coquina, Kim/Julie Connerley, 2:00:00; 5, Dream Maker, Tom/Sheryl Elliott, 2:00:23; 6, Loafer’s Glory, Larry/Ann-Marie Bowyer, 2:01:20; 7, Recess, Jim/Linda Oyler, 2:01:37; 8, Avalon, The Knights, 2:04:24; 9, Ptarmigan, The Stichwehs, 2:10:29; 10, Island Time, Ron/Innes Richards, 2:11:24; NonEspoused Class:1, Chubasco, Tim Dunton/Susan McKinnon, 1:47:30; 2, Polish Navy, Dan Owczarczak/Kim Kaminski, 1:50:32; 3, Jan, George Black/crew, 1:59:58; 4, The Return of Tirhalle, Dave Oerting/Julie Danton, 2:00:51; 5, Hilly, Dan Damm/Father, 2:07:28; 6, Caribbean Soul Too, Bob Kriegal/crew, 2:10:14; 7, Passion, John Myran/crew, 2:13:44; 8, Alegria, Tim Burr/crew, 2:16:18; 9, De Adelaar, John Matthews/Son, 3:05:31. Special Awards: First to Finish, Fully Loaded / Espoused, Loafer’s Glory, Larry Bowyer; First to Finish, Fully Loaded / Non-Espoused, Return of Tirhalle, Dave Oerting; First Husband / Wife to Finish, Rum Aground, Dave/Leann Dunbar; Oldest Couple to Finish (129 years), Dan Domm & Father; Youngest Couple to Finish (70 years), The Dunbars (Dave and Leann); Slowest Boat/Last to Finish, De Adelaar, John Matthews and Son.

and with the weather conditions still ideal, most fleets participated in another five races. Overall, the 2006 Davis Island Yacht Club Thanksgiving Regatta offered competitors ideal weather, great racing, and fun opportunities for competition and friendship. First place winners were (class followed by name): Laser (full rig)-Marks; Laser Radial-Billing; Laser 4.7-Hall; SunfishSims; 420-Horowitz; Lightning-Linton; Portsmouth-Crump; Flying Scot-Clement; Opti Red-Michael Popp; Opti BlueCourtney Lehan; Opti White-Luke Muller; and Opti Green-Marcos Darcy. For full results, go to www.diyc.org. In addition, Gary Hufford also captured the regatta on camera. For pictures of the event, go to the photos page at the Southwinds Web site at www.southwindsmagazine.com.

2006 Davis Island Yacht Club Thanksgiving Regatta, Nov. 25-26, Tampa, FL

Keys Sailors Shine in Hobie Wave Nationals, Key Largo, Dec. 1-3

By Kat Malone

The 9th Annual Hobie Wave Nationals was held at the Upper Keys Sailing Club in Key Largo on Dec. 1-3 on Buttonwood Sound in Key Largo. Hogsbreath Beer and Saloon of Key West, Catamaran Sailor magazine and www.OnLineMarineStore.com sponsored the event. It was hosted by the Upper Keys Sailing Club at MM99.5 bayside, which was headquarters for all onshore activities. The event included the Open, Women, Youth and Master Championships in the fastest growing class of sailboats in the United States. In the past, the regatta has attracted as many as 65 boats of which 23 of the skippers have won at least a national title or better in other classes. The Wave is only about 13 feet in length, has one sail and is roto-mold-built of nearly indestructible material. The design is extremely simple to rig and sail, and it is very inexpensive, which makes the boat great for juniors, masters and women Regatta winds averaged over 15 knots. Out of a fleet of 25 boats, local Keys sailors Dave White and Leah White finished in fourth and fifth place. Leah White also won first place for the Women’s division. Miami sailor Kenny Pierce started off with some bad scores but came on strong in the last two days to capture second place. Pierce is also the reigning US Sailing Multihull Champion and winner of the Alter Cup. The competition was awesome as eleven of the sailors had won national or world championship titles and showed up to battle it out in the Wave Class. Other local sailors were in the hunt as well. Barb Short, who runs the sailing center at Founders Park in Islamorada, took 12th and fourth in the Women’s division. Husband Chip Short finished in 16th place. Marylou Chambers was 21st and Paul Keever was 23rd. The race officials were able to get in 18 races during the three-day event. Principal Race Officer Rick White said, “We were really lucky the cold front stalled out and did not make it here during the weekend.” The weather did stay perfect, with temperatures in the low 80s, winds of 18 to 20 mph and flat seas—perfect sailing conditions. There is a very active class that races the Wave at the Upper Keys Sailing Club twice a week. For more information, contact Barb Short at (305) 434-8984.

Lasers line up for the start at the DIYC Thanksgiving Regatta. Photo by Gary Hufford. www.beachmaster.smugmug.com.

A cacophony of centerboards and dinghies descended on Davis Island Yacht Club on November 25-26 for the annual Thanksgiving Regatta. With weather willing and welcoming, 146 competitors hit the water bright and early on Saturday morning to begin two days of lively one-design and Portsmouth racing. With four race circles, nine classes—Opti Green, Opti Red, White, and Blue, Laser and Sunfish, and Lighting, Flying Scot, and Portsmouth—competed in what was reportedly, “ideal conditions: warm water, good wind, and lots of sunshine.” On Saturday, all courses held an average of five races with some fleets actually getting more than five races completed. Smiles and the sweet sound of kids having fun filtered through the air on both Opti courses. However, the competition was fierce with the Green, Red, White, and Blue fleets displaying the I-flag at starts. Yet, all in all, the racing on all courses went smoothly, thanks to the efficient and effective race committees. On Saturday evening, the competitors, support crew, and spectators enjoyed the hospitality of the host club with a taco bar buffet. Following the traditional giveaway of items, the skippers and crew departed for their tents, hotels, and homes. On Sunday, November 26, racing continued, News & Views for Southern Sailors

By Rick White

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January 2007

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America’s Disabled/Open Regatta, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, Dec. 1-3 By Dave Ellis

St. Petersburg Yacht Club has become a favorite place to sail for disabled sailors. The St. Pete Sailing Center is accessible to wheelchairs both on shore and at the docks. The America’s regatta invites the three Paralympic boats that will be used in China at the 2008 games to race, including a select group of able56

January 2007

SOUTHWINDS

bodied sailors as competitors. The intent is to “raise the bar” of disabled sailing, inviting top open sailors to mix it up. This year, it became apparent that the Paralympic sailors have evened the playing field. All three classes were won by sailors who qualify for the Paralympic Games. Rick Doerr of New Jersey admits

that he started sailing near the back of the fleet not that many seasons ago. He is a keen observer of the sport and carefully watched skilled able-bodied sailors such as Colin Park. Once he gained self-confidence, he started racing in open events, usually using one able-bodied crew for spinnaker work. www.southwindsmagazine.com

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In this event, the Sonar did not use the spinnaker. Doerr, along with crew Tim Angle and Bryan Tabler, were the clear winners. Second was Canadian sailor Ken Kelly with Don Terlison and Marc Shawrick crewing. The new boat was the Bethwaite-designed Skud-18, sort of like a high performance dinghy with a long, weighted keel. These boats are overpowered upwind in less than 10 knots of wind, putting a preNews & Views for Southern Sailors

mium on boat handling. Canada’s David Cook and Brenda Hopkin counted all first places, with John McRoberts and Stacy Louitt, also of Canada, in second. The diminutive 2.4-Meter was the largest class with 13 boats. Bruce Millar of Canada won by one point over Stellen Berlin of Sweden. This is remarkable since Berlin is the world champ of the class and not disabled. He was sailing a borrowed boat and

was caught on the wrong side of a big right wind shift in one race. Paul Tingly, also of Canada, was third. There were more coaches for the Canadian team than some classes had competitors. Except Doerr in the Sonar, the Canadians had speed and smarts on the fleet. Results can be viewed at www. spyc.org/club/scripts/section/section.asp?GRP=5564&NS=REGP. SOUTHWINDS

January 2007

REGIONAL RACE CALENDARS 2nd Annual Holiday Invitational Regatta, Lake Lanier, GA, Dec. 2 By R. J. Mitchellette Once again, the scene could have been viewed as a specific class fleet in any ocean race anywhere on this planet, yet it was just the big cruiser racing fleet, known as the Performance Cruising Racing Fleet (PCRF) on beautiful Lake Lanier in Georgia. The day was beautiful with clear blue skies and temps in the 60s. Unfortunately, 3-mph winds did little to help the big boats through a shortened 6-mile course. Nine boats with 28 sailors raced, including a 44-foot Morgan, skippered by Pete Winham, who took second place and a 31-foot Hunter, skippered by Fred Kempner, who took third place—even with a storm sail instead of a conventional Genoa due to the latter being blown out in a race the week before. First place went to skipper George Westinghouse, who beat the second-place skipper by 30 minutes and the rest of us by too much in his made-for-light-wind Cal 9.2. The real test was the entry of new skippers to the fleet: Tony McWhorter sailed his brand-new 42-foot Beneteau, and Robert and Sylvia Chassner were in their new 33-foot Hunter, both of whom finished. The photos were taken by Bill Youngblood, who skippered his 34-foot Catalina. Missing due to previous commitments were our pals and very experienced skippers, Bernard D’Andria, who owns a new 42-foot Catalina and Jim Eigel, who skippers a new 35-foot Catalina, or the fleet would have been even more awesome. Nevertheless, watching nine big cruisers cross the start line about two minutes apart was breathtaking to say the least. It was a true test of the skippers’ and their crews’ sailing skills to move the boats between the 1- to 2-knot speeds allowed by the wind gods, which is the reason why the course time was about three hours. However, all the boats did finish and joined the race organizer, this reporter, and his mate Joyce for an après-Christmas race party at their home on the lake. The general consensus of the fleet skippers and their mates and crew was an unquestionable “Hoorah” for the continuation of this event for years to come, especially since it marks the end of the season regattas, as it was held on Saturday, December 2. “Get Out There!”

■ REGIONAL RACING CALENDARS

phone), and, if you want a short description. Do not just send a link in to this information. Since race schedules and venues change, contact the sponsoring organization to confirm. For changes to be published, contact the editor. Changes can be put on our Web site, if possible.

RACE CALENDAR JANUARY 2007 Long Bay Sailing Association www.longbaysailing.org 1 Hangover Regatta, Little River Inlet, SC. Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org 1 Fred Latham Regatta, SJ21, New Bern, NC. 13,27 Winter Series, PHRF – NYRA boty, New Bern, NC.

RACE CALENDAR JANUARY Central and NE Florida 1 New Year’s Day Fun Regatta. Titusville Sailing Club 1 Hangover Regatta. (Small boats). Melbourne Yacht Club 1 Hangover Regatta. Rudder Club 6 First Saturday at Sebastian Inlet. Indian River Catamaran Assocociation 6-7,20-21 Club Races. Lake Eustis Sailing Club 7,21 Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club 27 Women’s Race. ECSA-Women’s. Melbourne Yacht Club FEBRUARY 3 First Saturday at Sebastian Inlet. Indian River Catamaran Association 2-4 Eighth annual National Wayfarer Regatta. Lake Eustis Sailing Club 10-11,24-25 Club Races. Lake Eustis Sailing Club 18 St. Johns Regatta. Florida Yacht Club 17-18 37th Annual George Washington Birthday Regatta. Lake Eustis Sailing Club.

Regattas and Club Racing—Open to Everyone Wanting to Race The races listed here are open to those who want to sail. No individual club membership is required, although a regional PHRF rating, or membership in US SAILING or membership in a regional sailing association is often required. (If individual club membership is required, please contact us and we will not list their races in the future.) For publishing of your event, questions and information, send us your race schedule by the 5th of the month to editor@southwindsmagazine.com. Send in the name of the event, date, location, contacts (Web site, e-mail and/or 58

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SOUTHWINDS

RACE CALENDAR JANUARY 5 BBYRA Annual Registration MYC. 6-7 Stars Bob Levin Memorial. CRYC – The 17th annual two-day regatta for Star class. 6-7 Etchells Sid Doren Memorial. BBYC – The 7th annual two day regatta. One of four events of the Jaguar Cup Series. www.southwindsmagazine.com

J/24 - #1. Flat Earth – First race of the J24 One Design series. 10-12 Ft Lauderdale to Key West. LYC – Feeder race for the Key West Race Week. 12-14 Alex Cavigilia Bluewater Classic. Shake-A-Leg & Flat Earth 13 BBYRA OD#1. MYC – First race of the Series for one design fleet. 14 BBYRA PHRF #1. CGSC – First race of the Series for PHRF class boats. 14-16 470 NA-USSC. 15-19 Key West Race Week – Premiere Racing. The 20th Edition of KWRW of day races held off Key West. 18-21 2.4 Midwinters. Flat Earth 20-21 Star’s Biscayne Trophy. CRYC – Annual two day race for Star class. 22-27 Olympic Class Regatta. 27-28 Etchells FSA Championship. BBYC – The 14th annual two day regatta for Etchells. Third of four events in the Jaguar Cup series. FEBRUARY 2-5 Women NA Keelboat Championship. US Sailing Center. 2-5 49er NA Championship. US Sailing Center. 3-4 Commodoro Rasco Snipe Regatta. CGSC – The 38th annual two-day Snipe regatta. 10 BBYRA One Design #2. BBYC - Second race of Series 1 for One-Design boats. 10-11 Star Masters Regatta. CRYC – The 23rd annual two-day regatta for Stars. 10 74rd Annual Miami to Nassau Race Week. 1-13 KBYC Sonar Midwinters. 16 Pineapple Cup – Montego Bay Race. 17 J/24 Spring 2 Regatta. Flat Earth Racing. 24 Miami Yacht Club Annual Regatta/BBYRA One Design #3. 24 MYC - Third race of Series 1 for One-Design boats. 25 Miami Yacht Racing Annual Regatta/BBYRA PHRF #3. 25 MYC - Third race of Series 1 for One-Design boats. LEGEND BBYRA Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.net BBYC Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. www.bbyra.net CGSC Coconut Grove Sailing Club. www.cgsc.org CRYC Coral Reef Yacht Club MYC Miami Yacht Club. www.miamiyachtclub.net.

RACE CALENDAR (Since Rebecca Burg took off for the good life and is cruising around, Southwinds is looking for someone to send us articles on sailing in the Keys; Racing, cruising, waterways and anchoring articles, etc. editor@southwindsmagazine.com) Key West Sailing Club. Every Saturday – Open House at the Key West Sailing Club. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (305) 292-5993. www.keywestsailingclub.org. Sailboat Lane off Palm Avenue in Key West. Come by the club to sail. Non-members and members welcome. Wednesday night racing has begun for the season. Skippers meet at the clubhouse by 5:00 p.m. and boats start racing at 6:00 p.m. in the seaplane basin near the mooring field. Dinner and drinks afterward. Upper Keys Sailing Club. www.upperkeyssailingclub.com.

RACE CALENDAR West Florida Race Calendar The 0nline West Florida Race Calendar ,which goes from Sept.1, 2006 thruough August 31, 2007, is available on the SOUTHWINDS Web site with hyperlinks to sponsoring clubs. It covers racing in west Florida from Marco Island in southwest Florida north, up to and including Clearwater. www.southwinds magazine.com. Accessed on the racing pages from the home page. Club Racing Bradenton YC. Winter Races starting in October until Daylight Savings starts. Races at 1:30 p.m. PHRF racing on Manatee River. For info call Larry Lecuyer, (941) 729-5401. Edison Sailing Center, Fort. Myers. Sunfish and dinghy racing once a month, year-round john@johnkremski.com Port Charlotte. Third Saturday of month, year-round. pbgvtrax@aol.com Venice Sailing Squadron. First Saturday of each month, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet. www.venice-sailing-squadron.org JANUARY 1 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Hangover Race. 1 Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. Hangover Race, Dunedin Causeway, Catamarans. 6 Venice Sailing Squadron. Venice Yacht Club. Buoy Race, PHRF 6-7 Davis Island YC. Commodore’s Cup, PHRF. (SBOTY) 6-7 Platinum Point YC. Golden Conch Regatta, PHRF. (CHBOTY) 9 St. Petersburg Sailing Association. Races #6 and #7. PHRF 13 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Snowbird Regatta. (SBBOTY) 14 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. Winter Races, PHRF 15-19Key West Race Week. www.premiere-racing.com. 20-21St. Petersburg YC. Junior SE Team Racing. Optimists. 26-28St. Petersburg YC. Multi-class Invitational. (Windmill moved to DIYC March 2-4), Snipe, Moth, Jet 14, Flying Dutchman, Martin 16, 2.4 Meter, Ultimate 20, SR Max, with 6 boats registered in advance. 27-28Port of Tampa. Gasparilla Invasion. Booze, bikinis, bodacious behavior FEBRUARY 2-4 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. National Wayfarer Regatta. 3 St. Petersburg Sailing Association. Races #8 and #9. PHRF 3 Venice Sailing Squadron. Venice Yacht Club. Buoy Race, PHRF 3 Sarasota Bay Yachting Association/Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Cherry Pie Regatta. (SBBOTY) 3-4 St. Petersburg Sailing Center. High School South Points Regatta. 3-4 Gulfport YC. Classic Moth Midwinters rkoch57450@aol.com. Updated 11/27/2006 9 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. Edison Gulf, PHRF. (SWFBOTY) 9-11 505 Midwinter Championship. Fort Desoto Park East Beach. ethan@sales.northsails.com. 10 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Cherry Pie Regatta. (SBBOTY) 10-11 St. Petersburg YC. Valentine’s Day Regatta, Juniors. 10-11 Tampa Sailing Squadron. Gasparilla Regatta, PHRF. 10-11 Port Charlotte. Valentines Massacre, Sunfish, Rick Pantall, (941) 627-0826. pbgvtrax@comcast.net 12-14Davis Island YC. J/29 Midwinters. See RACE CALENDARS on page 68

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

January 2007

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

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January 2007

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January 2007 63

CLASSIFIED ADS CLASSIFIED ADS — 3 Months for $25 Place your ad early on the Internet for $10 • Classified ads with text only for boats are $25 for a three-month ad for up to 30 words. $50 for ad with horizontal photo ($65 if vertical photo). Check or Credit cards accepted. Must be for sale by owner – no business ads. Boats wanted ads included. • $15 for 3 months for gear and boats under $500. Add $15 for a photo for 3 months. Up to 30 words. Free ads for gear under $100 (Up to 30 words. One ad per customer.) • All other ads (including business ads) are $20 a month for up to 20 words, add $5 a month for each additional 10 words. $10 a month for a horizontal photo. Frequency discounts available. Contact editor. • All ads go on the SOUTHWINDS Web site. For a one-time $10 fee, we will place your ad on the Internet before going to press on the next issue. • No Refunds • The last month your ad runs will be in parentheses, e.g., (10/06) is January 2007.

WANTED CARTOONIST/ARTIST WANTED. Gary Larson style, to develop new character. Similar style of drawing and sense of humor as Larson. Low pay for small business developing. But you could get famous. Need a few drawings created. editor@southwindsmagazine.com. 941-795-8704

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Advertise your business in a display ad in the classifieds section. 1” $25/month . . . . . . . .12-month minimum (paid in advance) 2” $38/month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 months 2” $44/month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 months 2” $50/month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 months 3” $57/month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 months 3” $66/month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 months 3” $75/month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 months

1981 Compac 16, w/trailer, new wheels/tires, spare & jack. New running rigging, plexiglass hatch cover, vent, & tiller handle. Compass, anchor, chain, line, life jackets & horn. Owners manual. Call (954) 629-1074. (3/07) _________________________________________ Catalina 22 1983. Ready to Sail, Great Conditon, New Bottom, Keel & Standing Rigging ‘05, Well-equipped, w/Trailer, 9.9 Johnson $4500 obo (954) 920-4945 for info and pics. (3/07)

_________________________________________ Windsurfing Boards and Gear for Sale. 3 Boards, 5 sails, three masts, two booms and all gear and harness for several setups, etc. Bic 273 (4 years old and like new), Hi Tech 8’11” (good condition), Custom Hi-per Tech board (good condition), two new sails (barely used), 3 older sails. $1900/ BO. (941) 795-8704. Bradenton. _________________________________________ Dinghy Package Yankee Boatworks 9’3” fiberglass with cover $650, Kato heavy duty davits $550, all for $1000 OBO. photo available (321) 431-4380. (3/07) _________________________________________

1971 O’Day Rhodes 19 Sailboat, 3’3” keel, battery, sails, new bottom paint, new cushions, cockpit Sunbrella cover, electrical, 2anchors, many accessories, Very good condition, restored. $1500 OBO. (813) 831-8585. www.RedMcKenna.com. (1/07)

Nonsuch 30 1984 Ultra Excellent condition. Recent upgrades include rebuilt Westerbeke 33. North sail. Extensive refit in 2005. Currently in Florida Keys. Bahamas cruiseready. $69,900. (305) 849-1929. (1/07)

3-foot Racing Sailboat. Radio-controlled. Like new, never used. $195. (941) 493-2085. (1/07) _________________________________________ 9’ Fiberglass Dinghy. Livingston double hulled dinghy with towing harness. Very stable. Fits foredeck of 32’ sailboat. $500. Ken (252) 514-2609. (1/07) _________________________________________

Catalina 30, 1988 Tall rig, wing keel, draft 3’10”. New full canvas, new fridge, genoa, battery charger, auto pilot, windless. Too many upgrades to list. Must see. $34,900. (352) 597-4912. (2/07)

Zodiac Dinghy, 10 ft., 2001, good condition. $800/OBO. (813) 831-8585. (1/07) _________________________________________ Bauer 10 Sailboat. Fiberglass with the centerboard. Fully equipped with trailer. Both New. Cost $4315. Sell both for $2850 or boat only for $2500. (941) 966-3507. (1/07)

ADVERTISE YOUR BOAT

Starting at $25 for 3 months 64

January 2007

SOUTHWINDS

J29 Hull # 225 MHOB. For Sale. Fat Bottom Girl. All new rigging and running gear. Professionally fared bottom and keel, new interlux white epoxy bottom. One-year-old racing #1, .60 Quantum spinnaker, #3 and racing main. Also, heavy #1, 2 mains and .75 spinnaker. Boat has had a refit in the last couple years, great condition. Two spinnaker poles, (one carbon fiber), – much more. Trailer included. $26,500. Please contact mogress@aol.com. (941) 376-9929. Rick. (1/07)

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CLASSIFIED ADS

Catalina 30 1991 MK II Ultimate Cruiser Std rig, wing keel, full bimini/dodger, new spinnaker, 3.5kw Genset, A/C, Electric fridge, watermaker, icemaker, microwave, inverter, 2 battery chargers, Link 2000, Raymarine SL 70 Radar, 425 Chartplotter, Tri-data, 4000ST Autopilot with remote, Garmin 128 GPS, Loran, JVC CD/Stereo, 8.6’ dink with Nissan 2.5OB, $49,900. Niceville, FL (850) 6992717. (2/07) Hunter 30 1980 Sail Yanmar 18hp diesel, sleeps 6, very clean, GPS, VHS, AM/FM, 4 ft. modified wing keel, PDFs, bottom paint oneyear old, need to sell, “moving.” (941) 6976995. (2/07)

30’ Pearson, Racer/Cruiser Sloop, 1976 Red, Excellent cond., 2 mains, 3 jibs, 3 spinnakers, spinnaker pole. Tiller, marine radio, stove, new pot, sleeps 6, $12,900. Madeira Beach, FL terrycshan@aol.com. (727) 581-4708 or (727) 244-4708. (2/07) 1981 Cape Dory Cutter 30 Well-equipped cruising boat. Surveyed 2002 at $35K. Tough boat, no damages in Katrina. Volvo Diesel. New head and sailcovers in 2005. $32,000. John (228) 343-9546. (2/07)

Columbia 31. 1966. 3-foot draft. Atomic 4 inboard. 150 jib. Harken Roller furling. Lewmar 2-speed winches. Much restoration of interior and exterior. Many Extras. 10-foot dinghy – Must See! (727) 938-5453. (1/07)

350 Island Packet 1998. Original Owner, Bahamas-ready, 4kw gen, 8gal/hr watermaker, roller furling, autopilot, electronics, radar, ac/heat, refrig., full canvas, davits, EPIRB, more custom upgrades, reduced to $168,000. (727) 392-3162. (3/07)

32’ Westsail (1977) Perkins 4-107 diesel, Aires vane, Harken roller furling, S-L windlass, 35CQR, 33 Bruce, cold plate refrigeration, air conditioning, Garmin chartplotter. Dodger & Bimini. Exceptional condition, little used. $55,000/OBO. Call (954) 560-3919. (2/07)

Rodgers 33, 1981 2’8” draft, Great Florida/Bahamas boat, bimini, tiller w/auto-pilot, 2GM Yanmar, new interior, propane stove, pressure water, 16K A/C, microwave, stereo, VHF, $27,000, (941) 722-3126. (2/07) Hunter 33, 1980. 4-foot draft sloop. Dinghy with OB, Yanmar 2QM15. Many upgrades, Autopilot, GPS, 10-amp autocharger. New bottom Paint. Good condition. New headsail. $17,000. Cape Coral. (239) 834-9004. (3/07) _________________________________________ 1985 Hunter 34 Sacrifice. $26k. New sails, bottom paint September ‘05. Located at Lake Martin, Dadeville, AL. Great condition. Photos and inventory list available. nddavis@charter.net. (1/07)

1995 Hunter 35.5 Only 615 hrs on Yanmar 27. New canvas, Navico autopilot, ST 60 depth, ST 60 speed, Furuno GPS, SGC SSB radio, Apelco VHF, dinghy w/OB engine, roller furling, full batten main w/dutchman, solar panel, S&L windlass, holding plate refrigeration, SS propane stove, 12000 BTU marine air, TV, stereo. Ready to sail with performance and pleasure. $59,900. www.cortezyachts.com. (941) 792-9100 Gozzard 36, 1987 Paradise had refit in ’06 at Gozzard factory which included partial Awlgrip, new sails. Also, the bottom and the exterior wood stripped and redid ’06. Bob (314) 487-4543, rgruener@earthlink.net. _________________________________________ 37’ Irwin 1976 Brand new Mainsail/cover, refrig., VHF, stereo. New central AC. 6 batteries/cables/switch/charger. 14 ports. Solar panel, Water pump/heater, etc. $89,000. (305) 240-0303. Key West, FL. (2/07)

SEE CLASSIFIED INFO ON PAGE 64 News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

January 2007

CLASSIFIED ADS 8’ Sailing Dinghy “Trinka.” Perfect condition, all factory options, like new sails. Cost $4,000 new, sacrifice $1,125. (352) 597-4912. (2/07) _________________________________________ Mainsails Wanted for Catalina 28, MK II, but MKI might work. Tall rig. (941) 795-8704. editor@southwindsmagazine.com. _________________________________________ TransWorld CT 41,1979 Proven full-keel blue water cruiser. Perkins 4-108 diesel. 46’ LOA with bowsprit. Ketch-rigged Center Cockpit with walk thru to aft cabin. Complete Awlgrip paint 2002. Custom stainless steel rails and davits. 10’ 6” Caribe RIB with 15hp OB. Full galley. Beautiful teak interior with lots of storage. Maxwell electric windlass. Much more. Asking $99,000. (941) 792-9100 www.cortezyachts.com

Used Boat Gear for Sale Paratech 15 & 18— both with line and chain, stainless propane stoves, 10’ Dyer sailing dinghy, 8’ Walker Bay Sailing Dinghy with Inflatable Tube, Offshore life vests, 6-man coastal life raft, 36’, 26’, 30’ masts & booms, some with rigging. Nautical Trader, 110 E. Colonia Lane, Nokomis, FL, (941) 488-0766. Shop online at www.nauticaltrader.net. _________________________________________

Roll-Up Dinghy 8.4 Ft West Marine Sportboat, Grey. $125 Bonita Springs. (239) 281-5051. (2/07) _________________________________________ Outboard Motors for Sale Johnson Sailmaster 6 hp, overhauled recently, $750/OBO. Tohatsu-3.5hp 2001. $300. (813) 831-8585. (1/07) _________________________________________ Zodiac Dinghy 10 ft., 2001, good condition. $800/OBO. (1/07) _________________________________________ Old Divers Helmet Copper and brass. No dents, excellent shape. Only $495. (941) 4932085. (1/07)

85 LB Anchor. Danforth High Tensile. Unused, still in shipping crate. Only $450. (407) 967-2009. (2/07) _________________________________________ Backstay Adjuster Wheel type, 13.5 to 19.5 inch adjustment, 1/2” pins, $125. Bonita Springs (239) 281-5051. (2/07) _________________________________________ Aluminum Whisker Pole Adjustable from 10 to 18 feet, 2-3/8 inch dia. Latching ends. $125 Bonita Springs. (239) 281-5051. (2/07) _________________________________________

Bayfield 40 Hull # 34 full keel 5’ draft, cutter ketch designed by H.T.Gozzard built in 1984. Exceptional condition with lots of new gear. Harken roller furling on all sails. Marine air, WS, WD, depth, VHF w/remote, SSB, cd/radio, autopilot, chartplotter, Radar, dinghy, life raft $109,000 Call Major Carter or visit www.Cortezyachts.com (941) 792-9100

Beneteau 473 $350,000. Canadian registered located on Grand Bahama. Extensive customization, latest equipment, well-maintained vessel, equipped for long distance cruising. Generator, dinghy, outboard. Excellent condition. Showboat original. Seaswan@cogeco.ca. (1/07)

BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES

_________________________________________ Martec folding prop 18x14x1-1/4 shaft $125. 22 lb. Danforth $35. Sealab SSB 7 crystals $25. Plastic holding tank “V” 24 gal. $20. Plastic water tank 36 gal. $20. Located Melbourne, FL. Take it all for $175! (321) 431-4380. (3/07) _________________________________________ Two Montague folding, full-size bicycles; perfect for cruising. Like new, with many extras, including soft carrying cases. “A bicycle that folds, not a folding bicycle.” $350 each. (941)743-7156 or (941)504-3302. (1/07’) _________________________________________ 66 January 2007 SOUTHWINDS

Boat classifieds start at $25/3mo. www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS BOAT REGISTRATION _________________________________________ EASIEST, FASTEST MONTANA BOAT REGISTRATION Pay No Sales Tax - No Attorney Necessary. $$ Save Thousands on Boat registration $$. 12 yrs experience-REGISTRATION IN 5 DAYS! 877.913.5100 www.mtvehicles.com. (1/07)

BUSINESSES FOR SALE/ INVESTMENTS _________________________________________ FOR SALE: Florida East Coast Sail Loft Established 10 years. Well-equipped, extensive inventory and client list. Walking distance to several marinas. New sail design, construction and repairs. Custom canvas work, exterior/ interior, and cushions. Strong used sail inventory. Respond to LOFT220@hotmail.com. (1/07)

CHARTS & BOOKS

_________________________________________ 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

CREW AVAILABLE/WANTED

_________________________________________

SAILMAKER St. Petersburg Industrial Sewing Machine and Hand sewing experience for new sails and repairs. Must be capable of lifting 40 lbs. Benefits available for full-time work. Must have valid FL Drivers license. EOE. Contact: Peter O. (727) 471-2040, Doyle Ploch Sailmakers. _________________________________________ Articles and Race Reports in the Carolinas & Georgia. editor@southwindsmagazine.com. _________________________________________ Writers, Reporters, Articles, Photos Wanted. SOUTHWINDS is looking for articles on boating, racing, sailing in the Southern waters, the Caribbean and the Bahamas, and other articles on the following subjects: marinas, anchorages, mooring fields, disappearing marinas/boatyards, marinas/boatyards sold for condos, anchoring rights, sailing human interest stories, boat reviews, charter stories, waste disposal— and more. Photos wanted, plus we want cover photos (pay $65) of both race and non-race subjects, but about sailing. Cover photos must be very high resolution and vertical format. Writers and Ideas Wanted on Waterways Issues. SOUTHWINDS is looking for writers, acting as independent subcontractors to research and write articles on subjects discussed in the Our Waterways section. Must be familiar with boating, good at research, have computer skills, high-speed Internet access and work for little pay. Most important, must have a passion for the subject and want to bring about change and improvement of boaters rights, waterways access, and disappearing marinas and boatyards—with lots of ideas and energy to help bring about improvements through various means. We would also like to get an organization going to promote these interests if you can help. Writers, photographers, cartoonists, jokers, magicians, philosophers and others of questionable professions may apply. Send info to: editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

Visit SOUTHWINDS “NEW” boat and crew listing service at southwindsmagazine.com

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE OR RENT

_________________________________________

HELP WANTED

GULF SHORES, AL - Gated waterfront condo on ICW, view of Mobile Bay. Boat slip. First level, end unit, 3br/2ba furnished with wraparound deck, covered 2 car parking. Elevator, 2 pools, 2 tennis courts, clubhouse w/party room, weight room, hot tub. LEASE OR PURCHASE. $1,500 mo or $515,000. (251) 968-6265. (2/07) Waterfront Home for Rent with Deepwater Slip. 2 bedroom 1 bath, with office. Central AC, Gulf Harbors, New Port Richey. Remodeled, excellent condition, new carpet and paint. $1150/month. 1 year lease. (352) 795-9276. (1/07)

Waterfront Homes For Sale. Madeira Beach, FL. Easy Gulf access via John’s Pass. Protected DEEP water. 100-ft new seawall. Wide open views. 3/2 and 2/2 available. (727) 744-2957 kfryfla@verizon.net. (1/07) Office/Shop Space for rent. Marine related preferred. Phone/Internet included. Flexible size space. Short term or month to month ok. JSI 3000 Gandy Blvd, St. Pete (727) 5773220. (1/07)

_________________________________________ Looking for Marine Parts Counter Person. Experience with marine industry beneficial. Full time with great insurance benefits and paid holidays. Parts dept. Not computerized. Snead island Boat Works – Attn: Gary (941) 722-2400. (2/07) _________________________________________ Massey Yacht Sales Mobile Broker Do you prefer to sell yachts from your home office? If you do and you are a proven, successful yacht sales professional, we have positions open for Florida west and east coast. Take advantage of the Massey sales and marketing support, sales management and administration while working from your home selling brokerage sail and power boats. Call Frank Hamilton at (941) 723-1610 for interview appointment and position details. _________________________________________ Sailboat Captain wanted and Crew wanted for exciting boat charter company located in South Florida. 5 star luxury resort. Captain: 100 ton, sail aux. $70,000 - $100,000. Crew: $30,000 - $50,000. For interview, please call (561) 368-3566 or Fax or E-mail Resume to (561) 368-0267 or kkeller@airandsea.com. (1/07) _________________________________________ News & Views for Southern Sailors

LODGING FOR SAILORS

_________________________________________

Deepwater Boat Slip Included! 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2-car garage townhome. Mariners Pass, St. Petersburg, FL. $299k. Loads of updates. Call Bob Sackett, Realtor (727) 5277373 ext. 112. (1/07)

ADVERTISE YOUR HOME Starting at $25 for 3 months

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) 896-2287 www.poncedeleon hotel.com

SEE CLASSIFIED INFO ON PG 64 SOUTHWINDS

January 2007 67

CLASSIFIED ADS SAILING INSTRUCTION

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SAILS & CANVAS

_________________________________________ Racing Spinnaker. Neil Pryde Tri-radial Spinnaker. Nearly new. No patches or stains. Approximate dimensions: Foot 32’4”, Leech 55’8”, Luff 64’. White, medium blue and light blue. $1800 or best offer. (813) 695-8737. (1/07)

ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF ADVERTISERS TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN SOUTHWINDS! SOUTHWINDS provides this list as a courtesy and asks our readers to support our advertisers. This list includes all display advertising. AMERICAN MARINE & SUPPLY . . . . . . . . . . .21,27 ANNAPOLIS PERFORMANCE SAILING . . . . . . . .51 AQUA GRAPHICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 ATLANTIC SAIL TRADERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 BANKS SAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 BEACHMASTER PHOTOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 BENETEAU SAILBOATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC BETA MARINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 BOATERS EXCHANGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27,44 BO’SUN SUPPLIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 CAPT. JIMMY HENDON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 CATALINA YACHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21,27 CLEARWATER YC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 CORAL REEF SAILING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 CORTEZ YACHT BROKERAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 CROW’S NEST RESTAURANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 CRUISING DIRECT SAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 DEFENDER INDUSTRIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 DOCKSIDE RADIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 DUNBAR SALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 DWYER MAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 EASTERN YACHTS/BENETEAU . . . . . . . . .21,63,BC EDWARDS YACHT SALES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 E-MARINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 FLYING SCOT SAILBOATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 FOREX, FOREIGN EXCHANGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 FULL SAIL YACHT DELVIERIES/CAPT. . . . . . . . . . .29 GARHAUER HARDWARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 GASPARILLA REGATTA, TAMPA SS . . . . . . . . . . . .53 GLACIER BAY REFRIGERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 GULF COAST YACHT SALES . . . . . . . . . . .60,64,65 GULF ISLAND SAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 HOBIE CATS/TACKLE SHACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 HOTWIRE/FANS & OTHER PRODUCTS . . . . . . .29 HURRICANE HOOPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 J/BOATS - MURRAY YACHT SALES . . . . . . . . . . .BC JR OVERSEAS/MOISTURE METER . . . . . . . . . . . .33 JSI - NEW JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 LAURIE KIMBALL REALTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 LEATHER WHEEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 LEX-SEA CHARTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 MASSEY YACHT SALES . . . . . . . . .7,10,21,IFC, IBC MASTHEAD ENTERPRISES . . . . . . . . . . .4,27,60,68

MASTMATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 MURRAY YACHT SALES/BENETEAU . . . . . . . .61,BC NATIONAL SAIL SUPPLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 NAUTICAL TRADER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 NEW JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 NOBLE AWARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 NORTH SAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,68 OFFSHORE SAILING SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 PATRICIA KNOLL REALTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 PORPOISE USED SAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 QUANTUM SARASOTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 RB GROVE/UNIVERSAL AND WESTERBEKE . . . . .45 REGATTA DEL SOL AL SOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 REGATTA POINTE MARINA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 RPARTS REFRIGERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 SAILAMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 SAILORS WHARF BOATYARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 SAILRITE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 SAILTIME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 SALTY JOHN MARINE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . .28 SARASOTA YOUTH SAILING PROGRAM DONATED BOATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 SCHURR SAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 SCURVY DOG MARINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 SEA SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 SEA TECH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31,66 SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 ST. AUGUSTINE SAILING SCHOOL . . . . . . . . . . .68 ST. BARTS/BENETEAU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC SUNCOAST INFLATABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 SUNRISE SAILING SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 SUNSAIL FLORIDA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 SUNSET REALTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 TACKLE SHACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 TAMPA SAILING SQUADRON YOUTH PROGRAM 26 TURNER MARINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 UK HALSEY SAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 ULLMAN SAILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28,29 WATERSPORTS WEST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 WEATHERMARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 WINDPATH FRACTIONAL SAILING . . . . . . . . . . .46 YACHTING VACATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

RACING CALENDARS continued from page 59 16-18 15-19 17-18 17-18

St. Petersburg YC. Sailing World NOODs. (National Offshore One Design). Strictly Sail Miami Boat Show, Miamarina. www.sailamerica.com. Clearwater Yacht Club. Laser Master Midwinters. Lake Eustis Sailing Club. George Washington Birthday Regatta. All-class, dinghies, Cats, Windsurfers. 19-21 Davis Island YC. Pan Am Trials, Sunfish 22-25 Davis Island YC. J/24 Midwinters. 25-Mar 2 St. Petersburg YC. Thistle Midwinters.

RACING CALENDAR JANUARY 6-7 GYA Winter Meeting, Mobile, AL 13 Frostbite Regatta. Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, Pensacola Beach, FL 19-21 US SAILING Symposiums. New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, LA 20 Food World Senior Bowl Regatta. Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile, AL 27 SuperBowl Regatta. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL FEBRUARY 10 Valentine Regatta, Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, Pensacola Beach, FL 16-18 NOODs, St. Petersburg, FL 17 Mardi Gras Regatta, Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL 68

January 2007

SOUTHWINDS

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ADVERTISERS INDEX