SOUTHWINDS News & Views for Southern Sailors Race Week in Abaco Diesel Electric The Lower Keys
September 2007 For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless
Reinventing the wheel is one thing that makes Beneteau such an exceptional sailboat manufacturer. For over a century, we’ve been leading the industry with innovations like our patented pivoting wheel on the Beneteau 323.You’ll also find many other features and options on the Beneteau 323, including a retractable keel that allows you to sail into the most shallow gunkholing spots. Experience the exceptional. Visit your nearest Beneteau dealer to view the new sailing yachts for 2007.
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News & Views for Southern Sailors
SOUTHWINDS September 2007
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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.com e-mail: editor@southwindsmagazine.com Volume 15 Number 9 September 2007 Copyright 2007, Southwinds Media, Inc. Founded in 1993
Doran Cushing, Publisher 11/1993-6/2002
Steve Morrell
Publisher/Editor 7/2002-Present editor@southwindsmagazine.com
(941) 795-8704
Steve Morrell
Advertising editor@southwindsmagazine.com
(941) 795-8704
Go to www.southwindsmagazine.com for information about the magazine, distribution and advertising rates. Regional Editors EAST FLORIDA mhw1@earthlink.net
Roy Laughlin Production Heather Nicoll
Letters from our readers Julie Connerley Kim Kaminski Hone Scunook Morgan Stinemetz
Proofreading Kathy Elliott Contributing Writers Rebecca Burg Rob Eberle Capt. David P. Kyser Kathryn Shea
(321) 690-0137 Artwork Rebecca Burg angel@artoffshore.com Capt. Ron Butler Dave Ellis Roy Laughlin Cliff Stephan
Contributing Photographers/Art Rebecca Burg (& Artwork) Julie Connerley Rob Eberle Dan Fontaine George Hero Kim Kaminski Capt. David P. Kyser Roy Laughlin Jim Stem Photography Cliff Stephan Morgan Stinemetz Judy Widger
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 $24/year, and $30/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 8 Southern states. If you would like to distribute SOUTHWINDS at your location, please contact the editor.
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SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS
FOR
SOUTHERN SAILORS
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Boater Licensing By Steve Morrell
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Letters
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Southern Regional Monthly Weather and Water Temperatures
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Bubba Hails the Coast Guard By Morgan Stinemetz
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Short Tacks: Sailing News and Events Around the South
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Boot Key Expands Shoreside Facilities By Cliff Stephan
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Our Waterways: News About Changes on and Access to Our Waterways
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Hurricane Season 2007 Section: Tips and News on Hurricane Protection for Your Boat
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Diesel Electric By Roy Laughlin
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The Clearwater Yacht Club By Mike Kirk
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Boat Review: Hunter 45DS By Roy Laughlin
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Tampa Sailing Squadron’s Sea Safety Expo By Kathryn Shea
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The Lanier Sailing Academy of Pensacola By Morgan Stinemetz
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Travels with Angel: Lower Keys By Rebecca Burg
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Safe Harbor Boys Home By Capt. David P. Kyser
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Abaco Race Week By Rebecca Burg
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Southern Racing: Southern Race Reports and Upcoming Races, Southern Regional Race Calendars
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Cruising With Credit Cards By Capt. Ron Butler
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Marine Market Place Regional Sailing Services Directory – Local boat services in your area.
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Boat Brokerage Section Classifieds Alphabetical Index of Advertisers Advertisers’ List by Category Subscription Form
The Lower Keys. Photo by Rebecca Burg.
Abaco Race Week. Photo by Rebecca Burg.
Cover: Abaco Race Week. Photo by Rebecca Burg.
From the Carolinas to Cuba…from Atlanta to the Abacos…SOUTHWINDS Covers Southern Sailing News & Views for Southern Sailors
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FROM THE HELM Boater Licensing
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he idea of boater licensing has been around for decades but has never gotten anywhere because of the possibility of revolution—or at least secession by all the coastal states. Licensing in the past was always put forth by those who believe we need it to increase boater safety, because they would link licenses to boater education. At least that’s what they say. Now we have been told there is a new reason for boater licensing: The threat of terrorism (or should I say, the fear of terrorism?.) Told by whom? By the Coast Guard, which is now part of Homeland Security. While before, boaters always saw the Coast Guard as the arm of the military whose main job was to help us, now their main job is to keep an eye on us, although they will tell you that it is to keep an eye on the bad guys—not us. All Coast Guard and DHS (Homeland Security) reasons break down to identifying boats and operators so that the Coast Guard—and marine patrol—can, as quickly as
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Steve Morrell, Editor possible, discern whether you are a good guy or a bad guy. And that comes down to one thing only: Do you look suspicious? When you are driving down the road, the police cannot stop you if you look suspicious and they cannot stop you to make sure you have a driver’s license. You must do something illegal, or your car must have a brake light out or something. But they cannot stop you if you look suspicious. That would be what they call a police state; when they can stop you in your car, walking down the street, in your home—or in your boat—for no reason except that you look suspicious. The Coast Guard wants the power to stop anyone they like and check them out for any reason they want. That is total security control and that is their ultimate reason behind boater licensing. It could not be anything else, even if they couch it in boater safety and give all these other reasons as to why we should have it. They will use boater safety to help promote it, when their real reason is security, and those whose real reason is boater safe-
ty will now start saying it will also help security and that’s another reason for it. And the various marine patrol groups will support licensing for both reasons. They are coming at us from all sides. Boater licensing wouldn’t stand a chance, and never did, without the fear of terrorism being used to make it more acceptable. It all comes down to the one thing: The government wants to be able to stop us when they want. It won’t be so bad on inland waters, but in coastal waters, boaters will be subject to being stopped just for looking suspicious. Licensing would give them another excuse. If you don’t want to be stopped, then don’t look suspicious. Women should wear bikinis and never wear scarves over their hair. Men should shave their beards and moustaches, cut their hair short, and look as much as possible like a white Anglo-Saxon. This should minimize your chances that the government will stop you while you are cruising coastal waters and say, “Your papers, please.”
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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 IT’S A TYPHOON I look forward every month to your priceless next issue! Today I picked up the August issue and read the article on pages 24-25 on the Classic Boat Rally. The far right picture on page 25 misidentifies an Alberg-designed Cape Dory Typhoon as an Alberg-designed Pearson Triton, and I am fairly certain that same misidentification applies to the picture on the left of that same page. My Typhoon was one of the most beloved of the boats I have owned. Alberg did a phenomenal job of designing a classic large boat in a small size. Cape Dory, as I remember, was the second to build that design and had the longest production run. Thanks for a great magazine. Jon Larson Chocowinity, NC In the August issue, you identify a boat
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with the class insignia Ty as a Pearson Triton. The first Pearson Triton I ever saw raced against us wooden boat sailors in the old Delta class. It was then the only fiberglass boat in the fleet. Within two years, the wooden racers were losing consistently to the glass boats, and within three or four years, the wooden boats were gone from the race course—a life-changing event. I may be wrong, but I don’t think the boat pictured is a Pearson Triton. Fairlie Brinkley Clearwater, FL Jon and Fairlie, I guess that’s two months in a row I misidentified a boat in Southwinds (last month it was a rig). I admit it—I was asleep again. Hopefully, that will be enough to last me many years of errors (but I know better than to believe that). And this time, I also knew better, as the photographer identified it as a Typhoon in the photo name.
Plus—I know what a Triton is. The sun was really in my eyes this time. Regardless, thanks for your interest, your kind comments and your help in making Southwinds more accurate. I promise to be more diligent in the future. I must have been thinking about a hurricane, not a typhoon. Editor DOCK PARTIES ARE ALIVE AND WELL IN GEORGIA I just read an article in Sailing magazine, written by Chris Caswell in its June ‘07 issue. The title of the article was, “Where have all the dock parties gone?” My response to the author in an editorial, which I hope it publishes, was: “Au contraire, Chris, dock parties are alive and well!” Chris’ basic tenet may be a true characterization of society’s trend toward individual isolationSee LETTERS continued on page 10
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LETTERS ism, but there are still bastions of the “Spirit of Comradeship” out there, and Dock A at the Holiday Marina on lovely Lake Lanier, Buford, GA, is proof-positive that, indeed, dock parties are alive and well. In fact, this is such a special dock that few skippers who dock their boats at this dock have much motivation to join a club, simply because of the spirit of the skippers and their crews, giving way to both friendly regattas and fabulous parties. We just finished an event on May 20 called the Meatball Regatta (see Southwinds, July ’07 issue, page 54), which included many of the skippers and their crews who adjourned to the party after the race to enjoy an absolutely fabulous Italian feast, hosted by Paula Moore and Fred Kempner from our dock. Earlier in the year, another dock skipper, Pete Wihnem, hosted a Super Bowl party at his home, where most of the guests were all from Dock A. Prior to that, this writer and his mate hosted what has become an annual event, the season-ending Holiday Regatta on December 15 last year. And in between these parties, other dock people, such as Don and Lee Curt and Mike Belle Isle, join in co-hosting such events as a dock “fish boil,” a “raft-up” and shore “pig roast,” in addition to many informal raft-ups and races. And best of all, hardly a weekend goes by when we don’t all just sit around on the dock and enjoy a libation or two and talk about our boats and our political persuasions. This dock even created a special fleet for racing, the Performance Cruising Racing Fleet (see Southwinds, November ’06 issue), that involves bigger boats and a pursuit start for skippers who like to race their cruisers in safer conditions and in a more friendly environment than many of the traditional more competitive race boats. We are 32 skippers strong with boats ranging from 30 to 44 feet, and there is a lengthy waiting list for other skippers to domicile their boats at our dock. Ron Mitchellette Buford, GA Ron, Thanks for letting us know about your successful dock group and the camaraderie you all enjoy. We’ll all be up there next weekend. What was the name of that magazine again? Editor IS THIS THE KIND OF MARINE PATROL WE WANT IN FLORIDA? I read with interest the letter about the Florida FWC in the July 2007 issue. It hit so close to home that I would like to share some of my experiences with the Florida FWC. First of all, let me say that I grew up in Charleston, SC, and still have a home there. In the 40-plus years that I boated in and around Charleston and Charleston Harbor, I was never stopped or asked to show anything onboard my boat by the Wildlife Department officers! When I retired and decided to take my boat to Florida, all that changed. I didn’t have any problems until I arrived in the Keys! In a one-year period here’s my experiences with the Florida FWC. My first experience was when I was anchored in Tarpon Basin and decided to lower the dinghy to go fishing for a while in the afternoon. The dinghy wasn’t in the water more See LETTERS continued on page 12 10
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LETTERS than 20 minutes before the FWC came roaring up with lights flashing wanting to see our life vests and our whistle. He didn’t ask for the registration or our fishing license or to check to see if we even had any fish, legal or otherwise. After he saw our life vests and the major life-saving device, our whistle, he said have a good day and left. The next encounter was when I anchored my sailboat on the bay side of Islamorada and again lowered my dinghy into the water and went through a cut to Holiday Isle on the ocean side. I spent about two hours there and was making my return trip back to my sailboat, when I passed the Florida FWC office on the right just past the bridge. There was no sign of anyone on the docks, and there were three FWC boats tied to the docks. Let me note here that there were many flats-fishing boats passing me coming and going. I was at idle speed. I had traveled about an eighth of a mile, when out of the blue there was a siren and blue light roaring down on me. He pulled up next to me and yelled in no uncertain terms to stop my boat. He wanted to see my life vests—and guess what else? My whistle! I showed him both and he just turned his boat around and went back to his dock. He also didn’t ask to see my registration or if I had any fish in my dinghy. The way I look at this, and the only way any sane person can look at this case, is that he was sitting inside the office building with motorboats going by on-plane right and left, but for some reason, when he saw me go by in my dinghy, he got up, went out, got into his $100,000-plus boat and ran me down to check on those two items! The next encounter was when I had my sailboat on a mooring ball in Boot Key Harbor. My friend and I took the dinghy to the dinghy dock to go out and eat supper. We got back to the dinghy dock at about 10:30 p.m. We got in the dinghy and proceeded to leave the city marina canal, and as soon as we got into the harbor itself, there on the right sitting there again in their $100,000-plus boat were not one, but TWO officers, who turned on their blue light and pulled us over. They at least didn’t turn on the siren. I had my running lights on, so they asked to see our life vests and our whistle, but they went into a little more detail and asked to see the registration for the dinghy. After seeing all of the above, they said, “Have a good night,” and went back to their ambush position to wait for another victim. While I’m at this point, I would like to ask the simple question of how does the state justify having that boat with two 225 hp engines running and paying two people overtime— or even regular time—to try and catch someone in their dinghy traveling, at most, a quarter mile, going back to their boat on a mooring ball to see if they have their life vests and life-saving whistle? So to summarize all this up (and this is just my experiences, plus there are many, many, many others that are the same) is that it seems to me that the Florida Fish and Wildlife officers are a lot more concerned about whether or not you have a whistle in your dinghy than if you have outof-season lobster, undersize fish, endangered wildlife, etc. Why do they concentrate on that whistle? One reason and one reason only: They hope that someone in their dinghy doesn’t know that a whistle is required, because that’s a $65 ticket! I would like to ask anyone out there reading this to answer this one question: How many lives have been lost in the past, say, 10 years, because they didn’t have a whistle aboard their dinghy? It doesn’t even pass the laugh test. 12
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It’s only there as a money-maker for the ticket-happy FWC. And the first words out of their mouths? We are just trying to educate the boaters. Give me a break. If they believe that, they are the only ones who do! If they want to educate the boating public, let them hold boating classes on a regular basis. The people they have out there harassing boaters could teach the class. And then they can’t seem to understand
why no one cares much for them. I and everyone that I know do not get a warm fuzzy feeling of joy when they see a FWC boat. No, instead we say, are they going to stop me and what for? They have a very, very long way to go in order to get their image back where it should be. I don’t think it will happen, because I don’t think they care what John Doe boater thinks. I was also witness to the Boot Key Harbor raid,
but there’s not enough room here for me to tell you what I think about that (Third World raid). Unlike the other letter writer, I’m not afraid or ashamed to sign my name to this. E. Vernon Roumillat Vernon, When I first read this, I was so astonished that I considered selling my boat— or at least moving it to another state and never boating in Florida waters again. I forgot you had to have a whistle, although I know there is one on my life vest. I forget about the fact that a whistle or sound signaling device is required—even when you just dinghy a few feet to shore. Thank God, you had a whistle. You could have been thrown in jail. Thankfully, the FWC was there to save you. I really wonder: Aren’t there any FWC officers out there who are pissed off that there are other FWC officers acting like this and giving them all a bad name? If there are, please step forward and criticize those who are doing this. Stop them. Where are their superiors? Do they support this policy? Is this what they want? Is this Florida policy? Is this the kind of world we want to live in? I recently read about all the FWC officers and Monroe County sheriffs who caught people taking too many and/or undersized lobster in the annual—infamous—pre-season lobster weekend in the Florida Keys, and how important it is that these laws be enforced. This is what the FWC should be concentrating on. More and more, I believe that making the FWC the marine patrol was a major mistake. Editor DOES THE FWC HAVE AUTHORITY TO INSPECT BOATS FOR MSDS? Your article (last winter) on the Marathon boardings brings back memories of the “Great Boot Key Potty Raid,” in the mid ’80s. We arrived in Boot Key on our first trip to the Keys a few days after the raid and found the local sailors literally in a state of shock. A large group of local and state authorities had “locked down” the harbor and searched all the boats. They had brought along the local Coast Guard chief, who had been co-opted into providing “federal cover” in an attempt to make the boardings legal. However, these authorities violated the laws of the United States, the laws of Florida, and See LETTERS continued on page 14
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LETTERS the U.S. Constitution. They even gave out tickets for LectraSan heads. At the time, the Keys were not a no-discharge zone. There were only a few in the whole country, and anyone with any knowledge of environmental law would have known it. First, federal law can and often does preempt state laws. In much of environmental law, it is not preemptive. State law can be more restrictive (though not less restrictive.) In the case of the Clean Water Act, PL 92-500 as subsequently amended, the MSD provisions, however, are totally preemptive. State may not impose (more restrictive) laws of its own in this area. This was a very deliberate decision by Congress. In 1984, House Public Works staff showed me a draft copy of a Coast Guard report, which stated that in many waters, MSDs were actually not required. To paraphrase the report: In marine (tidal) waters, and in large open freshwater bodies, if all of the boats were to discharge untreated wastes 24/365, the impact not only could not be meas-
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ured, it could not be detected. Boat wastes in many waters were truly a small diminished source. It was pointed out that this would not be true for smaller bodies in freshwater and non-tidal harbors, where local restriction would be required. Based on this, House and Senate staff had agreed to drop the MSD requirements in the reauthorization of the act. Two months later, they told me they had changed their minds. They had found that a number of states, primarily along the mid-Atlantic and Northeast coasts, already had their own laws ready to pass if the federal preemption were to be removed. They had decided to retain the MSD provisions for the sole purpose of continuing the federal preemption. They wanted to avoid a hodgepodge of regulations imposing different requirements from state to state. In the ’90s, the Clean Vessel Act made one very small exception to this preemption. It allowed true houseboats to be regulated by local authorities. This was intended to apply only
to permanently moored vessels, like houseboat row in Key West. However, Florida passed a law, rumored to have been written by the head of the then Florida Marine Patrol, which basically attempted to designate everything bigger than an Optimist pram as a houseboat. This blatant attempt to circumvent federal law was recognized, and the provision was removed about a year later. I have no idea what authority Officer DiPre is using to justify his inspection of MSDs, or to enforce federal law, but except for true houseboats, I question whether he has any. I would think Florida Vessels Code Section 327.56, as it relates to sanitation devices, is preempted by the CWA and would not provide such authority. I do not believe local officers have been given the authority to enforce this federal law. From what I was told by the people who wrote this provision, local authorities would have no part in enforcing MSD requirements; that would be left to the See LETTERS continued on page 16
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LETTERS Coast Guard. However, this is a question requiring a highly competent lawyer. Note that some marinas, clubs, and public harbors (moorings) may require you to allow an inspection if you wish to use the facilities. In such cases you are voluntarily (sort of) allowing the inspection. Various agencies have authority to board boats for certain limited regulatory purposes, but until the early ’80s they had no authority to search them further without either a warrant or “probable cause.” For example, the Coast Guard could board for a legal safety inspection, or MSD inspection, but without a warrant or probable cause, they could go no further. They could not look for anything except what was in plain sight during their inspection. Then a Supreme Court decision, I believe it was the VillamonteMarquese decision, gave certain federal officers the authority to search based on “reasonable suspicion.” This really imposes no limits at all, and it basically deprived boaters of any constitutional rights against unreasonable search. The court justified it on pragmatic grounds. However, this permission applied only to the actions of certain federal officers. It did not apply to state officers. This is why the local authorities brought the Coast Guard chief along at Marathon 20 some years ago. I cannot tell from the article if the state officers during the recent boardings conducted any such searches, but if they did, I would question their legality. Note that FVC Section 327.56 requires an invitation or probable cause for boarding for safety purposes unless the captain refuses to display an item. Officer DiPre is quoted comparing a boat to a car, and noting that if a car is driven without headlights, law enforcement may stop it. True, and the same would apply to a boat without proper navigation lights. Both are in plain sight. However, probable cause, I believe, would still be required to search the car for articles not in plain sight, and the same would be true for the boat, as far as state officers are concerned. (Ironically, with federal officers, you would have more constitutional protection in your car than on a boat.) Officer DiPre is also quoted as stating that a request for permission to board is just a courtesy that is not required. That statement may be a bit disingenuous. True, most state and federal officers are decent and courteous people, and that may be the sole reason for their requesting permission. However, this is also a well-known ploy to avoid the “technicalities” of search and seizure. When you give an officer permission to board and to look around, the officer no longer has to worry if the search is legal; you have surrendered your constitutional rights. Obviously, people should never attempt to impede, or fail to cooperate, with a federal, state, or local officer in any way, even if they believe his actions may not be legal. This does not mean they have to voice their agreement or give their consent to any request for permission to board or search. Only they can decide whether it is best to attempt to curry an officer’s favor by agreeing to his REQUEST and cooperating fully, but they should realize they may be surrendering constitutional rights. They always can reply something to the effect that, “This is my home, and I do not choose to invite you onboard, but of course, I will do nothing to impede you.” Talk to your lawyer for the best language. There seems to be steadily increasing harassment of boaters, yacht clubs, city docks and private marinas. This is apparently coming from a wide range of state agencies 16
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from the FWC to state environmental regulators. Boaters would not be paranoid to suspect that many environmental activists would like to see many of us off our boats, and our boats out of wilderness areas, and preferably off the water. They also would not be paranoid to suspect some of these activists are in state agencies. Name Withheld in Fear of Police Harassment Name, This is a whole new world of information. Does the FWC really have any rights to board for inspecting an MSD? Can any lawyers (or others) out there expand on this? Editor WHY WOULD BOATERS USE A MOORING FIELD INSTEAD OF ANCHORING OUTSIDE IT? In the July issue, Coleman Langshaw, marina director of the Fernandina Beach marina and mooring field, published a letter in response to a previous boater’s letter questioning the new marina and mooring field rates. I then asked Langshaw the following question about the mooring field: “I do have one question as I know a community in Tampa Bay (Gulfport) that is establishing a mooring field. Opponents ask why would boaters use a mooring field when they can just anchor outside it and not have to pay for a mooring ball. Can you help me answer that question?” Editor Sure. In addition to the obvious safety and convenience of a mooring versus anchoring, we include the showers, dinghy dock and the pump-out at no extra cost, so for $15 a day, it’s a pretty good deal. We never intended for the mooring field to be a profit center, but as a good (inexpensive) alternative to dockage that would still benefit the community with tourism dollars from our visitors. We also think that after the moorings, customers will see our town and our marina, and they might come back and stay dockside, or at the very least tell others about us. So—from a marketing perspective, it seems like a great value to us. Some will still anchor, but in a nasty blow at 3 a.m., I know where I would rather be. And in the morning, it is so much nicer just to let the mooring go, than to wrestle with hauling an anchor and cleaning the nasty mud off. But then again, I will be 50 next year, so my perspective may have changed from years ago. Coleman C. Langshaw, Marina Director City Of Fernandina Beach-Marina Department Coleman, Thanks for your help and good luck. I wish all waterfront communities in Florida could extend such a friendly invitation to boaters. I know when I stayed at the marina there in 2002, I was treated really well and enjoyed my time there. Editor
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Southeastern U.S. Air & Water Temperatures and Gulf Stream Currents – September 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 74º lo – 91º hi Gulfport, MS 74º lo – 91º hi Water Temperature – 85º
WEST FLORIDA St. Petersburg 76º lo – 88º hi Naples 73º lo – 90º hi Water Temperature St. Petersburg – 84º Naples – 86º
CAROLINAS AND GEORGIA Cape Hatteras, NC 69º lo – 81º hi Savannah, GA 67º lo – 86º hi Water Temperature Cape Hatteras, NC – 76º Savannah Beach, GA – 81º
EAST FLORIDA Daytona Beach - 72º lo – 89º hi Jacksonville Beach - 73º lo – 85º hi Water Temperature Daytona Beach – 82º Jacksonville Beach – 82º
SOUTHEAST FLORIDA Miami Beach – 76º lo – 89º hi Stuart – 74º lo – 89º hi Water Temperature Miami Beach – 83º Stuart – 81º Gulfstream Current – 2.5 knots
FLORIDA KEYS Key West 79º lo – 88º hi Water Temperature Key West – 86º
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.
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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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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. Changes in Events Listed on SOUTHWINDS Web site Go to www.southwindsmagazine.com for changes and notices on upcoming events. Contact us to post event changes.
■ RACING EVENTS For racing schedules, news and events see the racing section.
■ UPCOMING SOUTHERN EVENTS Go to the SOUTHWINDS Web site for our list of youth sailing programs in the Southern Coastal states, www.southwindsmagazine.com. The list was printed in the April 2006 issue.
EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING Ongoing – Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs. St. Petersburg, FL Tuesday nights, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Satisfies the Florida boater safety education requirements. Eleven lessons, every Tuesday. Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs, 7:30-9:30 p.m., 1300 Beach Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. Lessons include: which boat for you, equipment, trailering, lines and knots, boat handling, signs, weather, rules, introduction to 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, go to our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com, and see the “Writers Guidelines” page, or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com.
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navigation, inland boating and radio. (727) 8233753. 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 continuously offered. (727) 565-4453. www.boating-stpete.org. Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary (Flotilla 11-1) Public Boating Programs Basic Coastal Navigation Program (includes charting tools) – 8
US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Course, Venice, FL, Aug. 13-16 The Venice Youth Boating Association is hosting a US Sailing (small boat) instructor course at the Venice Yacht Club on Aug. 13-16. Jabbo Gordon, US Sailing-certified instructor trainer and U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain, will teach the 40-hour course. Interested persons (you must be over 16 years old) may register on-line through www.ussailing.org. The course number is 39697 and there is a discount for early registration. If there are any questions, please call Jabbo Gordon at (941) 468-1719. Contact editor@Southwindsmagazine.com for information about article length, photo requirements and other questions.
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lessons. Sept. 13-Oct. 8. America’s Boating Course. Oct. 13-14. For more information on upcoming education programs or to request a free vessel safety check, call (727) 469-8895 or visit www.a0701101.uscgaux.info. North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC Ongoing 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 Ruskin, FL, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 75 Offers Home Study Safe Boating Course The Ruskin flotilla each month offers a bboating 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 certificates. Tests will be held bimonthly. Entry into the course will also allow participants to attend the classes. To apply, call (813) 677-2354. Sailing Classes. Boca Ciega Yacht Club, Tampa Bay. Starting Sept. 12. Six Wednesday evening classes and five weekend sailing sessions. $250 per person or $400 per couple. Call (727) 321-7295 or go to www.sailbcyc.org. Marina corrosion certification. September 11-14. Jacksonville, FL. American Boat and Yacht Council. (410) 990-4460. www.abyc.org. Basic Marine Electric. October 10-12. Raleigh, NC. American boat and yacht Council. (410) 990-4460. www.abyc.org.
Tampa Boat Show. Sept. 7-9. Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL. NMMA. (954) 441-3228. www.tampaboatshow.com. Oct 25-29. Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Bahia Mar Yachting Center. Fort Lauderdale. Largest boat show in the world, covering six sites. Over 1,600 vessels with 160 Super yachts, marine supplies, accessories, electronics. Cost: adults $16, children 6-12 $5, under 6 free. Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Mon. 10 a.m.6 p.m. The show is open at $30 for a show preview to all on Thursday, Oct. 25. (954) 764-7642. www.showmanagement.com. Nov. 1-4. Strictly Sail St. Petersburg Boat Show and Trawler Show. The largest all sailboat show on the Gulf Coast with many boats presented on land (smaller boats) and in the water. Trawlers will be at the show for the second time this year, after a successful showing in 2006. Hundreds of exhibitors. The best and most beautiful venue of all the sailboat shows, being on Tampa Bay. Free sailboat rides. On the Vinoy basin on the causeway to The St. Petersburg Pier. www.strictlysail.com. Thurs.-Sat., 10-6, Sunday 10-5. $12, Thur.-Fri. $14, Sat.-Sun. 15 and under free with paid adult. Two-day weekend pass for $24. Additional events this year. www.strictlysail.com.
SEAFOOD FESTIVALS Oct 5-7. 21st Annual North Carolina Seafood Festival and Boat Show. Morehead City, NC. www.ncseafoodfestival.org.
BOAT SHOWS
Oct. 5-7. 29th Annual Destin Seafood Festival. Morgan Sports Center. $5 for the weekend. Children under 12 free. Destin, FL. http://www.destinseafoodfestival.org/admission.html.
Daytona Beach Boat Show. September 6-9. Daytona Beach Ocean Center, Daytona Beach. Marine Industries Association of Florida. www.DaytonaBeachboatshow.com.
Oct. 13-14. Beaufort Shrimp Festival. Shrimp cooked every way. Local restaurants offer their specialties. Beaufort, SC. www.sneadsferry.org/festival/scf_beaufort_shrimpfest.htm
News & Views for Southern Sailors
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Oct. 11-14. 36th Annual National Shrimp Festival. Gulfshores, Alabama, public beach. www.nationalshrimpfestival.com/ Oct. 19-20. Key West Goombay Festival. Bahamian culture is celebrated in the historic Bahama Village with a street fair and nonstop entertainment. contact: (305) 747-4544 http://www.visitkeywestonline.com/ Oct. 20-21. 38th Annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival. Parade, arts and crafts, lots of seafood. 9-5 pm. This major event features well over 200 arts and crafts exhibits, and great food in City Park. There will be live musical entertainment at several places around town during the days and nights, and a parade on Saturday morning. In addition on this weekend, there is an open house at the lighthouse on Seahorse Key,
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the big island 3 miles to the west of Cedar Key. Explore the light, look at the exhibits and wander this beautiful island. Shuttle boats are available at City Marina. Be sure to remember your camera and binoculars! www.cedarkey.org Oct. 27-28. 26th Annual John’s Pass Seafood Festival. Children’s area, live entertainment and fishing expo. The arts and craft show is designed with a nautical theme. A bounty of fresh seafood featuring our favorite Madeira Beach Grouper. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sat. and Sun. Johns Pass Village, Madeira Beach. www.johnspass.com/specialevents.cfm. Nov. 2-3. Florida Seafood Festival Apalachicola, FL. The state’s oldest maritime exhibit. The three-day event annually draws thousands of visitors to
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this scenic historic town at the mouth of the Apalachicola River. The festival features delicious seafood, arts and crafts exhibits, seafood related events and displays under the shady oaks of Apalachicola’s Battery Park. Some of the notable events include oyster eating, oyster shucking, a parade, a 5k Redfish Run and a Blessing of the Fleet. (888) 653-8011. www.floridaseafoodfestival.com
OTHER EVENTS Swap Meet and Marine Flea Market, Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Sept. 15 This is a swap meet for all sorts of goods with a lot of marine/boating items. Bring your own table. Barbecue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the swap meet and a “Docktail Party” following the meet at 7 p.m. Sarasota Sailing Squadron, 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring your own table. Contact Debbie May at (941) 749-7069 or jimdeb12 @aol.com. Rain or shine, unless a tropical storm or larger gets in the way, in which case the alternate date will be Nov. 3. The International Boatbuilders Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), Miami Beach, Oct. 10-12 This year’s conference will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and there is an extensive seminar series plan. The conference has traditionally presented speakers from the industry who present seminars on the most advanced manufacturing processes on all subjects related to boatbuilding, from business to technology. With 65 seminar sessions planned, this year’s program will cover a wide range of topics. The technical seminars are organized and presented by the American Boatbuilders & Repairers Association, the American Boat & Yacht Council, the National Marine Manufacturers Association and Professional Boatbuilder and
News & Views for Southern Sailors
WoodenBoat magazines. Along with the seminar series, there will be more than 800 exhibitors in four exhibit halls, along with an outdoor demonstration area where professional boatbuilders will be demonstrating the latest technology in the industry. For more information and to register—there is limited space available for exhibitors—contact Tina Sanderson at (802) 879-8324, or Anne Dunbar at (716) 662-4708. The Web site for the IBEX show is www.ibexshow.com. Placida Rotary Club Annual Nautical Flea Market. Oct. 20-21. Placida in SW Charlotte County. On the water on Gasparilla Sound at the Fishery Restaurant on CR 771. Flea market brings 85 vendors and boats on display. Hot food, cool drinks, German beer. Live Reggae Music. 9-6 Sat. and 9-5 Sun. $3, children under 12 free. http://placida rotary.net/. (941) 475-7937 for vendor space and info. 10th Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market, Oct. 20, Cortez, FL The 10th Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market will be held at the Seafood Shack Marina, 4110 127th Street West, Cortez, FL on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free to the public with lots of free parking. There is a $10 per space (equal to a car parking space) charge for sellers only. Bring your own table. Rain day will be the following Saturday, Oct. 27. Lots of used boat stuff, some new boat stuff too, buy or trade. You might even see some boat stuff you wouldn’t let your dog chew on. Guaranteed you will meet a lot of boaters (or interesting people) and have a good time. So dig out and dust off all that old boat stuff, and bring it on down (or you could just keep it until you can’t remember what it was ever going to be used for). Take the whole family (or leave the kids home to play some more video games) and join us. Come out and find a great deal or just look around and have a good time. For more information, call (941) 792-9100.
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Fifth Annual Florida West Coast SSCA Rendezvous, Punta Gorda, Oct. 20 The Seven Seas Cruising Association will hold its Fifth Annual West Coast Rendezvous in Punta Gorda, FL, on Saturday, October 20, at the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club. Both power and sail cruisers are welcome to come by land or sea (no airplane landing facilities at the yacht club). Although the rendezvous is on Saturday, there is a brief happy hour on Friday night. On Saturday, the rendezvous begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by seminars on communications and first aid afloat. A nautical flea market and vendor displays will be held during a two-hour lunch break. In the afternoon a seminar will be held on weather and weather communications. Pre-registration is required by Oct. 10. For more information and to register online, go to www.SSCA.org. You can also call Bruce and Marilyn Conklin at (954) 771-5662. Goldconk@yahoo.com. Seven Seas Cruising Association Annual Meeting in Melbourne, FL. Nov. 9-11 The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) will again host its annual convention and general meeting (formerly called a “gam”) at the Eau Gallie Convention Center in Melbourne, FL, Nov. 9-11. There will be a Friday night cocktail party and a nautical flea market the following morning in the parking lot at the center. There is also a vendors’ show and sale where businesses are offering their products and services. A barbecue is scheduled for Saturday evening at Wickham Park. On Sunday, there will be the annual meeting and awards ceremony. There is also an extensive number of seminars at the convention. The full list of seminars is available on the SSCA Web site. Some of the seminars to be presented are A Family Circumnavigates Aboard a Catamaran, Sailboat Docking and Sail Trim for Cruisers, and Accessing Weather Data at Sea. A total of 15 seminars are scheduled. For more information and for registration, go to the SSCA Web site, www.SSCA.org. Cruisers who come by boat
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generally moor off the meeting site. The Web site also has a list of local hotels and a map to the convention center. Catalina Rendezvous, Tampa Bay, FL, Nov. 9-12 Catalina Yachts is planning a Southern rendezvous for Nov. 9-12 at the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club in Tampa Bay. For many years, Catalina Yachts has held rendezvous at different locations around the country. The most famous is the rendezvous at the Isthmus on Catalina Island off the Southern California coast. Rendezvous are also held in Michigan and the Northeast, and there has been talk for many years of setting up a Southern rendezvous, particularly since the main Catalina factory is located in Largo in the Tampa Bay area. A Web site has been set up for rendezvous information and registration at http://tityc.com/catalina/index.html.
■ NEWS
Transportation Security Administration Rules to Allow CO2 Cylinders On Aug. 4, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) ruled to allow inflatable PFDs with CO2 cylinders to pass through security checkpoints. Although the TSA made this decision and screeners have been trained to allow these items to go through, it is still the choice of each airline whether to allow them on its airplanes. Currently, approximately half allow them and half don’t, so it is advised that travelers check with their airlines before traveling.
Florida Leads U.S. in Boating Accidents—FWC Report The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission released statistics showing Florida leading the nation in
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boating fatalities in 2006. Florida had 69 fatalities, followed by Texas with 49 and California with 44. The report showed that, in Florida, none of the victims were wearing life jackets, and all but eight were drownings. Florida was number two in the accident rate behind California. The FWC attributes Florida’s high rate to being a year-around boating state and holding the highest number of registered boaters. Monroe County (the Florida Keys) led the state, followed by Palm Beach and then Miami Dade. July was the most accident-prone month, and the most likely accident time was 4-6 p.m. The most common accident was a collision with a fixed object or another boat. Other statistics showed that most accidents occur on rivers and creeks, and most occur while cruising. Boats under 18 feet were most likely to be in an accident. The typical accident was in a privately-owned boat and the operator was a male, at least 22 years old and most likely 36-50 years old. The report did not show accidents per capita to compare to other states. The full report can be viewed online at www. MyFWC.com/law/boating.
News & Views for Southern Sailors
Gulfstream Sailing Club Celebrates 50 Years, Fort Lauderdale, Sept. 28-30 The Gulfstream Sailing Club, located in Fort Lauderdale, FL, holds the distinction of being the oldest club devoted strictly to sailing in Broward County. It celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, with a celebration weekend scheduled for Sept. 28-30. The club was founded in 1957 by a dedicated group of local sailors who wished to promote the sport and pleasure of sailing. They wanted to make sailing accessible to everyone regardless of income and, without a permanent clubhouse, they have met every month for 50 years. They have kept their annual membership dues affordable to the average weekend sailor, and they have never required boat ownership or even the ability to sail, as a requirement for membership. Over the past 50 years, Gulfstream Sailing Club has sponsored hundreds of ocean races, weekend races, cruising events and national and local regattas. They provide sailing classes for adults and kids, and many have gone on to become national and world-class champion sailors. All club events are organized through the volunteerism of its
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dedicated members. In addition, the Gulfstream members regularly participate and support sailing events and other boating organizations throughout the region. The 2007 members of Gulfstream Sailing Club wish to invite all of its past members to join them in their celebration of this special 50-year milestone. The events begin on Friday, Sept. 28, with a dinner dance. On Saturday, Sept. 29, there will be a club sailing event and raft-up and on Sunday, Sept. 30, a boat parade is planned ending at Sailors Point in Hollywood where a picnic and dedication ceremony will be held for the club’s new small-boat sailing facility, which was recently built by the city of Hollywood’s Parks and Recreation Division. For more information on the weekend of celebration events and how new and past members can participate, please contact Jacqui Bradley at (954) 463-3642.
Boat Show Held at Rebuilt Vinoy Docks in St. Petersburg The Vinoy docks in St. Petersburg, destroyed by the outer bands of Hurricane Dennis in July 2005, are being rebuilt. One of the three docks is completed, and a boat show was held at the dock in early August. When the docks were destroyed by wave action in the Vinoy Basin from tropicalstorm-force winds, organizers of the Strictly Sail Boat Show wondered if they would be repairable in time for the November boat show. The Vinoy management decided that the docks were not salvageable and made plans to rebuild with stronger and better docks. Two years later, the new docks are partially complete. Concrete fixed docks with new pilings have replaced the old floating docks. The other two docks should be completed sometime this fall, and boaters should be occupying the slips shortly afterwards. The Strictly Sail Boat Show was moved across the basin in 2005 to Spa Beach and will be held there this year. There are no plans for the all-sail boat show to return to the Vinoy, even though temporary pilings and docks have been built for the show over the last two years. Although there has been talk of permanent docks being built by the city of St.
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Petersburg for visiting boaters and for the show, nothing has moved forward.
Tour Boat in Charleston, SC, Runs Over Sailboat Racer On July 22, a 102-foot-long tour boat, the Spirit of Charleston, crossed an area of Charleston designated for racing and ran over a sailor on his 14foot Laser sailboat. A weekend regatta, the Charleston Open Regatta, was being held with about 40 small sailboats in an area of the bay that is reserved for sailboat racing. The tour boat ran right over the boat and broke it up, some of it being torn up by the tour boat’s propeller. The sailor jumped off his boat as quickly as he could as he saw the tour boat barreling down on him. The boat’s hull hit him, but he managed to stay clear of the propeller. The tour boat never stopped after hitting the sailboat, which popped up out of the water behind it, after running over it, nor did the boat hail anyone on the race course to see how the sailor was. Witnesses say that the tour boat went right through the middle of the race area, although there were about 40 boats racing. The Coast Guard is investigating the incident.
St. Petersburg Yacht Club and Pass-a-Grille Yacht Club Discuss Merger Two of the oldest yacht clubs in the Tampa Bay area, the Pass-a-Grille Yacht Club in St. Pete Beach and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, have recently been seriously considering a merger. Talk of a merger has been circulating among the two clubs’ members for many years, but recent financial
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problems that the Pass-a-Grille Yacht Club has experienced has made the merger more of a possibility. In July, members of the Pass-a-Grille Yacht Club voted to proceed with the merger negotiations. The St. Petersburg Yacht Club also recently decided to move forward. Both clubs already share a few members. The St. Petersburg Yacht Club is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the South, having been chartered in 1909. The club has a very financially sound standing and has over 2500 members. Its interest in acquiring the Pass-a-Grille Yacht Club lies in gaining beach and closer Gulf access. Members of the club opposed to the merger are concerned about taking on the Pass-a-Grille Yacht Club debt. The Pass-a-Grille Yacht Club was established in 1934 and currently has about 250 members. Its membership in recent years has suffered a considerable decline, and along with rising insurance costs and property taxes, the club is facing some financial problems. The club was planning to do an expansion recently, but a local business owner in St. Pete Beach brought a lawsuit to stop the expansion. Many members who oppose the merger, although a minority, are concerned about losing the club’s laid-back lifestyle, being a small club with modest facilities, plus they are located just blocks from the beach and have quick Gulf access.
Innovative Marine Services Moves to Bradenton Ted Weyhrauch, president of Innovative Marine Services, recently opened for business in the Tampa Bay area. He has more than 30 years’experience in the trade and has owned and operated Innovative since 1995 in New York. He has full yacht-rigging abilities from swaging and splicing to furling system repairs and replacement. The company is also FCC-licensed and NMEA- and Raymarine-certified for all electrical and electronic equipment installations. Ted says that what separates him from many other service companies is that besides working on boats, he also uses them in his spare time, such as transatlantic crossings, yacht racing and offshore fishing.
News & Views for Southern Sailors
Boat America Corp. Bought by Company Owned by Warren Buffett Boat America Corp., the company that supplies the towing and insurance services to BoatU.S., was purchased recently by National Indemnity, which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Corp., Warren Buffett’s company. Boat America Corp. was formed by BoatU.S. in 1966 to supply insurance and towing services. Boat America Corp. is an employee-owned company. The purchase by Buffett’s company does not include the purchase of the non-profit organization, BoatU.S. The purchase still awaits government approval.
Sanibel Bridge Completed Sailors crossing the Okeechobee Waterway (if they can find any water in it) and heading south or those leaving and entering Pine Island Sound from the south will be relieved to hear that the old opening bridge going over to Sanibel island is now permanently in the locked-up position, and the new bridge is now completed. Construction started on the new bridge in 2004 to ease evacuation of Sanibel and Captiva during hurricanes and to reduce traffic problems because of waits during bridge-openings. Many are hoping a new four-lane bridge without openings would ease congestion, while others believe that a new, better and faster access to the islands will only allow more traffic—a possibility supported by many of the islands’ businesses, although a $6 round-trip fee to cross the bridge will discourage many from using it.
Articles Wanted on Southern Yacht Clubs, Sailing Associations and Youth Sailing SOUTHWINDS magazine is looking for articles on individual yacht clubs, sailing associations and youth sailing groups throughout the Southern states (the eight Southern coastal states from North Carolina south all the way around the Gulf and into the Gulf through eastern Texas). The clubs and associations must be well established and have been around for at least a few years. It does not matter whether the organization has a fixed location or facility. The SOUTHWINDS editor reserves the right to make a judgment on how well established the organization is to qualify for an article, although we encourage everyone to contact us. Any article must be written by a member of the organization (except for the youth sailing organizations) and must include at least one photograph. Contact editor@Southwindsmagazine.com for information about article length, photo requirements and other questions. SOUTHWINDS
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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. 30
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■ 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.
■ 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. www.southwindsmagazine.com
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Southwinds Distributed throughout 8 Southern coastal states. editor@southwindsmagazine.com
■ 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 News & Views for Southern 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
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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. CONTACT editor@southwindsmagazine.com for more information and questions. SOUTHWINDS
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Boot Key Harbor Expanding Shoreside Facilities By Cliff Stephan Photo by Steve Morrell
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arathon City Marina, now with the largest mooring field in Florida, is increasing the shoreside services for both visiting cruisers and the harbor denizens, with plans to build a new bath and laundry facility. The bids recently came in for the new 1,846-square-foot project, and the city is expected to award the contract shortly. Earlier this summer, marina staff expected that the first cruisers of the season, who arrive in October, would experience the new bathhouse. Now—with luck—those who leave in March 2008 will have been among the first users of the new facilities. The project will take about 180 days and when completed, boaters will enjoy a new windowless laundry room with more washers and dryers (there never seemed to be enough dryers). There will be 12 individual shower rooms with toilets. Each will have an exterior door opening onto the fourfoot balcony, as will the two community restrooms, one for the men and one for women (four stalls each). The 87-by-20-foot single-story block building will be built to withstand 150 mph winds. It will be built on a platform two feet above the existing grade, have no windows, a four- to five-foot balcony along both sides and will include handicap showers. The structure will have the appearance of a true monument to hurricanes. Located about 100 feet north of the existing building, it will be squeezed between
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The new dinghy dock. Photo by Cliff Stephan.
the existing seawall walkway and the current parking curb stops, meaning no parking spaces will be lost, yet the drive lanes will get squeezed. The new building will allow—in the building currently housing these facilities—the relocation and expansion of the existing TV lounge areas into the old laundry space, creating areas for computer-users, an expanded exchange library and providing more space for community meetings. The marina office will still be located at the far southern end, in the same offices. The marina staff has been busy this summer painting and redecorating public areas of the old structure. Definite improvements of image and morale are occurring. On the waterside of things, the final pile for the canal dinghy docks was placed during the last week of July. Then the marina staff spent part of a day installing 50 feet of new floating dock. Two days later, they went out and changed everything. Instead of short fingers sticking across the canal, one 160-plus-foot-long finger dock splits the canal in two; one side for hard dinghies and the other for soft dinghies, giving soft dinghies double the cleats and dock space. In the process, space for another vessel up to 42 feet long was created. There are also plans for dinghy docks to be built south and west of the canal entrance, but there are rumors about state approvals delaying the process. The mooring rates may be going up soon, but the fee will include the dinghy dock usage and showers. This will be an additional hidden cost of the moorings. For anchored vessels, dinghy dock usage fees may include a weekly pump-out. Some wonder if the changes and improvements will be enough to keep up with the demands of the boating public. www.southwindsmagazine.com
News & Views for Southern Sailors
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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.
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North Carolina Acts on Waterfront and Public Access Concerns With dwindling public access and disappearing waterfront businesses, North Carolina acted recently to try to stop the trend in a state that is known for its multitude of waterways and coastal areas. The state set up the Waterfront Access Study Committee, representing boating and waterfront issues, to study the problem and make recommendations to the state legislature. The group came up with 27 recommendations, some of which require legislation, while others only require agency rule changes or appropriations increases by agencies. There is concern among many in the state for the urgency of the matter, because property values have skyrocketed recently and if action is not taken soon, many properties that are working waterfronts will be lost to developers forever.
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The purpose of the committee was to ensure existing working waterfronts and increase access, which has been dwindling in recent years. Recommendations included maintaining current tax values for working waterfronts to help minimize the financial pressure to sell to developers, use of zoning to protect and encourage waterfront uses, and providing grants to local communities to further these uses. The committee also recommended that the state review the legality of selling docks and dockominiums that are over coastal public trust submerged lands. Another recommendation was for the state to purchase development rights of property so that they can be used for public access, financially assisting working waterfronts and public access sites to comply with environmental regulations. One of the main committee recommendations was that the state general assembly continue to work on and pursue solutions for the working waterfronts and public access problems through continued studies for solutions to the problem. For the complete report, go to www.ncseagrants.org/waterfronts.
National Study Finds All States Share Same Waterfront Issues
Marco Island Anchoring Case Again Postponed On August 14, the court date that was set for the Marco Island anchoring case, the judge again was forced to postpone the trial. Just before the trial, the state attorney who was going to prosecute the case disclosed that the state did not have a contract with the city of Marco Island to prosecute cases for the city. The state said that they discovered a little known statute that states that a contract was necessary between the state and a city to prosecute a case on the city’s behalf. The state said they could find no signed contract with Marco Island and could not proceed. Marco island city attorneys stated that they would now assume prosecution of the case. The judge was not very happy about the postponement, but neither the city nor the state was prepared to proceed with the prosecution. The judge therefore had no choice but to postpone for a new trial date, which principals in the case expect to occur sometime in October.
A national study finds that all states are sharing the same problems with waterfront issues, mainly from pressure for development by rising property values. Photo by Steve Morrell.
A Maine and Hawaii Sea Grant national study about waterfront issues found that all the states faced the same problems on maintaining working waterfronts and public access. The group expected to find problems that were unique to different regions of the country, requiring their own different solutions, but the study found the same problems widespread. Throughout the country, there is a marked shortage— and decline—of marinas and slips, waterfront businesses, and recreational and commercial fishing waterfront access.
Marina Suggestions Wanted SOUTHWINDS is looking for suggestions for short- and long-range planning for future Southern marinas to improve them. In June, Southwinds was contacted by an individual who was asked to be on an advisory council for long range plans for marina/boating facilities in a Florida community. He asked us for ideas and suggestions. We have decided to expand on this—not only to pass the ideas on to him, but for general opinions from our readers on what they would like to see in any waterfront community. Send suggestions to editor@southwindsmagazine.com. We will print them in a future article and/or in “Letters to the Editor.” We will also post them on our Web site. News & Views for Southern Sailors
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OUR WATERWAYS All regions were affected by the migration of the population, many of them aging baby boomers, to coastal areas, and this move has brought about a substantial increase in demand and pricing of waterfront properties, for both residential and commercial purposes. Because the same problems were common to all regions of the country, the study stated that communities can learn from other communities by finding out how they solved their problems or are working to solve them. For the complete 25-page report, go to www.seagrant.umaine.edu.
Court Ruling Could Force Boats to Get Permits for Discharging into Waters A U.S. District Court ruling in September 2006, intended to hold the Environmental Protection Agency accountable for the regulation of ships’ ballast discharge into domestic waters, could drastically affect recreational boating. In 2006, a lawsuit was brought by an environmental group against the EPA to control ships’ water ballast discharge. Ships which come from foreign ports will often discharge their water ballast into lakes and rivers of the United States. This water ballast often carries an invasive exotic
species, and it is commonly dumped into U.S. waters. The most famous of these species—which has caused considerable problems in the Great Lakes—is the zebra mussel, which clogs intake valves in treatment plants. The mussel has spread rapidly over the years, and the Great Lakes states have been fighting the mussel vigorously but with little success. This is just one example of the water discharge problem from foreign ships dumping into U.S. waters. When the environmental group brought the lawsuit against the EPA., its intention was to control these ships’ ballast discharge. When the court made its ruling, it told the EPA that it has until September 30, 2008, to come up with a new set of rules to control discharge into waters. Since the court ruling covered all discharge from any vessel, recreational boaters could be subject to a requirement that they get a permit before they can dump anything into the waters, including discharge, such as engine exhaust cooling water or gray water from a boat’s sink. The EPA is working hard to try to come up with new regulations, and it says that its main problem is time. The agency has been given only about a year in a process that might normally take three to five years to complete. In the last 34 years, there has been an exemption for recreational boats for discharge, but this new ruling would affect all vessels. BoatU.S. is encouraging the passage of a House bill that would continue the exemption for recreational boats. BoatU.S. is encouraging boaters to contact their legislators to cosponsor the House bill. For more information on this issue, go to www.BoatU.S.com/gov. SOUTHWINDS urges boaters to push for this exemption for recreational boating. We also urge boaters to encourage our lawmakers to force ships to stop dumping water from foreign waters into U.S. waters, or demand the water be treated before it is dumped. This action is being urged in the Great Lakes where invasive species have had a large, devastating effect. The Great Lakes Boating Federation is urging all U.S. citizens to push for these controls. Go to its Web site for more information, www.GreatLakesBoatingFederation.org. — Editor Anchoring Warnings in Florida: Contact Us to Publicize Warnings Note from the Editor A new state law that went into effect on July 1, 2006, limiting communities’ power to limit anchoring restrictions to non-liveaboard cruisers. Recently, I have received several e-mails and calls from cruisers who received 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 www.southwindsmagazine.com 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.
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News & Views for Southern Sailors
SOUTHWINDS September 2007
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Hurricane Season 2007
Hurricane Miscellany Does Your Boat Fit in the Slip? One lesson learned from the Yachting Vacations charter company experience (see SOUTHWINDS, August 2005) was the slip size. Its employees generally have all the boats (about 17) lined up by length, the shortest ones at the beginning of the dock. But the slips are of different widths, so some wider boats end up in the narrower slips. A few of the boats had some damage because of this. Although they had moved some of the larger boats before the storm, they learned later that next time they will move more of them so the widest boats are in the widest slips. They also turned some of the boats around, so their sterns were backed in. This was because of some long bowsprits they saw as potentially hitting the docks. For some of the longer boats, they set out anchors into the waters beyond the slips. How About On the Hard? Many people I talk to think that having their boat on the hard will not save their boat and that statistics show this. Statistics only show the numbers of the boats destroyed or damaged in major hurricanes, but they don’t show the numbers of boats saved during the smaller category storm winds. Since a boat is more likely to be hit with the weaker tropical storm-force winds and lower category hurricane winds, then statistics easily would show that boats on the hard suffer less damage. No one keeps statistics for this, but there is a reason that most insurance companies will pay half the cost of having your boat hauled out during a storm. And if you don’t think you will have time to prepare your boat, get with a boatyard plan to have it hauled out, or just keep out of the water during the season, or the season’s worst months of August, September and October.
ing a hurricane is the best place to be—and that could be true—but can you really get it there in time and make it happen? Is it realistic in your time schedule? This is the problem. If you are convinced you can, then make sure you have a good plan. The best account that I learned from was of the experiences of Mick Gurley, owner of New Moon, his Pearson 35 that he charters out in Captiva, FL. Mick has extensive experience in preparing his boat and has the best plan I have so far seen. He used it in surviving Hurricane Charley in August 2004—and many other storms before that. This is well worth reading. It was printed in the September 2005 issue of SOUTHWINDS. All back issues of SOUTHWINDS since May 2003 can be read online at www.southwindsmagazine.com. Six Reasons Why Your Boat May Be Damaged Or Sunk This Hurricane Season From BoatU.S., www.boatus.com BoatU.S., the nation’s largest organization of recreational
At Anchor: The Best Place to Be? Many people believe that having their boat at anchor dur-
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boaters, recently wrapped up an industry-wide hurricane planning conference, and boaters are facing another challenging year of predicted increased hurricane activity, with potentially more frequent storms this summer and fall, and each with greater intensity. Based on 40 years of hurricane-related insurance claims files and speaking to countless boaters and marina operators about their hurricane plans, “We have learned that although it is difficult to prevent all damage from occurring, there are far more opportunities for hurricane damage to be lessened,” says Bob Adriance, director of the BoatU.S. Damage Avoidance Program. “We are talking about the difference between some gel coat scratches or a dinged rub rail, and the total destruction or sinking of a boat,” he added. Adriance says boaters can rise to the challenge but need to be reminded why they should spend time and effort to prepare their boats for a hurricane. Here are six potential reasons why some boats may not make it safely through the end of the 2007 hurricane season: 1) You Did Nothing. Year after year, some boaters fail to make a serious effort at hurricane preparation. Whether you are new to boating or have been on the water for years, doing nothing or making only a token effort will most certainly lead to a bad conclusion. If you are out of town during hurricane season, pay someone to prepare your boat if a storm comes. Many insurance policies provide coverage for professional evacuation or storm preparation. 2) The guy with the boat in the slip next to yours, or out in the mooring field, did little or nothing. There is nothing worse than seeing a poorly prepared boat break loose and take down a dozen others that were properly prepared. Boaters need to come together to help ensure their slip or mooring mates embrace hurricane planning. Ultimately, the success or failure of your own hurricane preparation efforts depend upon the steps taken by your slip mates as well as your marina or yacht club.
This is not a spaceship, but a trimaran.
4) You didn’t go to http://www.BoatUS.com/hurricanes, or www.southwindsmagazine.com, to brush up on your hurricane planning. You failed to take advantage of the free online hurricane preparation worksheet and storm planning information or didn’t use the Web site’s “spaghetti” models to track an approaching storm. C’mon. It’s free. You could have done it at any time of day or night. 5) Your boat or yacht club’s leadership didn’t go to http://www.BoatUS.com/hurricanes to review the best club hurricane planning guide ever, written by their peers at the Houston Yacht Club. HYC has developed the most comprehensive boat and yacht club storm planning guide – developed from years of storm-hardened experience – and it is completely free to download and discuss at your club’s monthly meeting. Finger-pointing after a storm won’t get your sunken boat back. 6) You waited until the last minute. Did you see the weather forecast on the evening news? Chances are so did everyone else, and if you‘ve waited to buy hurricane gear, such as extra dock lines, chafe protection, extra anchors and other gear, it will be long gone from the store shelves by the time you get there.
3) You didn’t talk to your marina about its hurricane plans. BoatU.S. has found that hurricane damage prevention requires a full partnership with your marina or boat club. If you have not already coordinated a hurricane plan with your marina manager, do it today. As in the day before tomorrow.
Send Us Your Hurricane Stories We are always looking for stories on your experiences, to learn those techniques that succeeded and those that didn’t, as we can learn from both. Ideas, tips and Web site links wanted, too. editor@southwindsmagazine.com. News & Views for Southern Sailors
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Is Diesel-Electric the Future of Power on Recreational Cruising Boats? By Roy Laughlin Photos courtesy Glacier Bay
A 35hp electric propulsion motor (rendering).
Propulsion is the most likely use of engine power on recreational boats. Traditionally, small- to medium-sized sailboats had the lowest horsepower engine necessary for auxiliary propulsion. That is changing now as gas and diesel engines are upsized to supply electricity for creature comforts in addition to propulsion. Plus, there are a lot more large sailboats being manufactured and sold that are 40 feet and larger, and many of these boats—even those in the 30-plus-foot range—now carry generators. Sophistication of the sailing public is as high as that of any segment of American society. Electrical power is indispensable on even a day sail—not only for instrumentation, but also for creature comforts including refrigeration, lighting, entertainment and often air-conditioning, especially in the Southern states. Air-conditioning is almost essential for at least five months out of the year in the South and for most of the summer along the Eastern Seaboard—especially if you plan to spend the night anchored out. Without a generator onboard, air-conditioning is pretty much out of the question.
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any sailors find that even under sail they run the engine a few hours each day just to recharge batteries for basic electrical needs; lights, fans, radios, navigation, refrigeration, etc. More and more, the engine is being run for electrical needs—and battery-charging for that end— than for boat propulsion. This use pattern creates a new paradox for fuel efficiency. If propulsion were the only output for an internal combustion engine on a sailboat, the traditional engine-drive shaft-propeller configuration with a small generator to recharge a starting battery is the most fuel-efficient configuration. When you start generating electricity more for energy use than for propulsion, then total fuel efficiency drops significantly. There’s a point where having a fuel-driven generator to drive an electric motor that propels the boat and to create electricity is the more efficient alternative over the traditional propulsion engine with an alternator.
The Diesel Electric System Put simply, a diesel engine runs a generator that produces DC electrical power. That power runs an electric propulsion engine plus all major electrical appliances onboard. The propulsion system consists of the motor, drive shaft and high-efficiency propeller. Efficiency of electric motors changes little with rotation speed and load, so no transformers and gear reduction assemblies—transmissions—are needed. DC appliances use high-efficiency, brushless electrical motors matched to the DC voltage of the generating system. An example of the efficiency advantage of a DC motor is evident in comparison of AC and DC air-conditioning. An alternating current air conditioner needs an induction starter, which is a high electrical load and has lower 40
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An installed system. A water tank is at top (aft), and the 35hp electric motor is below (forward of the tank with the drive shaft going under the fuel tank).
An installed 25kw generator.
efficiency. A DC motor has no such requirement. Diesel-electric systems are nothing new and have been around for decades. All submarines that are not nuclearpowered are diesel-electric, as is the QE2. They are almost the norm in boats over 100 feet, and there are even some large charter sailboats that have diesel-electric systems installed. The 300-foot four-masted barquentine, Legacy, run by Windjammer cruises, has three 945-hp diesels running three 800-amp generators that run three electric propulsion motors. The systems have been generally considered inefficient in boats less than 100 feet, but modern science has made them more and more efficient and workable on smaller boats. More recently introduced in the less than 100-foot range as a production boat is the Nordhaven 72, a 72-foot powerboat using a diesel-electric system. Many think diesel-electric is the future for smaller boats as technology solves more and more of the problems involved with the smaller systems. This is true for the generator side as well as for the battery side. There are basically two options being put out there today. One is where the generator must be running to power the boat’s electric propulsion motor. The other is a system where the dieselpowered generator charges large battery banks, and the electric propulsion motors run off the batteries, enabling the boat to quietly run through the water until the batteries go below a certain charging level, triggering the generator to start up and recharge them. Anyone who has ever been on a small battery-run powerboat knows the eerie and quiet feeling of silently moving through the water—for a boat without sails up, that is. In this system, when the boat is under sail, the props can be left in gear to rotate and will generate power and recharge the batteries—a drag on the vessel, but a savings in fuel for longer voyages. One thing that makes diesels more appropriate for the diesel-electric system is that diesels, unlike gasoline engines, work best when they are operated at a proper load and rpm range. When they are run too slow—a low rpm—or too fast—giving them an exceptionally high load—they are less efficient. Running a generator at a continuous speed and load is an ideal fit for the diesel—and one of the main reasons they are so commonly used for that purpose.
Catamarans and the Diesel-Electric System
News & Views for Southern Sailors
Today, the most common and best use of the diesel-electric system on smaller sailboats is for the large catamarans—at least those catamarans which are large enough to require one drive shaft in each hull. Traditionally, these larger cats—in the 30-foot-plus range—have had two diesel engines installed. The idea of having one diesel engine pro-
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pelling two separate In the eLeopard, the electric motors—and “system” included both getting the advantage the diesel-electric generof generating electricity ator and low weightfor other needs—is very high efficiency DC appealing and very effimotors in the propulsion cient. Plus—the designsystem, refrigeration, airer can locate the diesel conditioning and other weight with more verappliances. The Moorings satility. had advertised the In the past decade, eLeopard, and there was several technological noticeable interest among advances have made show attendees. modern, light, efficient Price is a significant diesel-electric systems selling issue for prospecsuitable for boats. First, tive buyers and early new neodymium-iron adopters. As a custom magnets have become installation of machines available from China, that generate and use the which is a global source electricity, there is no for this rare earth metal standard price for comthat forms small, light parison. Company engiand powerful magnets neers interviewed at the for efficient DC motors. show noted that dieselSecond, diesel engine electric’s price puts it a technology has advanced little bit higher at this significantly. Common point in the initial investrail-fuel injection, conment on the boat purcise water-jacket temchase, but there are later perature control to optibenefits, like increased mize diesel engine perfuel efficiency. They also formance and microsaid they expected that, processor-controlled adover time, diesel- electric The Ossa diesel electric system. justment of diesel enpropulsion will become a gine speed to match significant if not domigenerating loads all increase efficiency of electricity generanant system on recreational sail and powerboats. They (and tion at a system level. New, stronger alloys and engine their marketing information) note that the system is fuel-effidesigns are lighter. In combination, these advances have cient, reliable, and when maintenance is needed, it often reduced diesel and electrical system components by huninvolves a straightforward replacement of a component that dreds of pounds for a given horsepower capacity and made an owner could do. Because the motors are brushless, brush them feasible on cruising sailboats. replacement—one maintenance effort expected for typical Companies that offer diesel-electric generators include electric motors—does not occur. Ease of maintenance and fuel Glacier Bay, Fisher Panda, Northern Lights, Onan and economy over time gives diesel-electric power matched with Caterpillar. The first four offer diesel-electric generators in high efficiency electric propulsion and appliance motors an the 25kW category. Caterpillar joins the group for dieseleconomic parity not apparent in purchase price comparisons, electric generators in the 200kW range. Glacier Bay offers a according to Glacier Bay. 6kW generator, about the capacity characteristic of those Conversion to diesel-electric systems on recreational sold to supply power to homes after hurricanes. Most cruisboats is just beginning. Maine Cat has built and is currently ing boats use, at a minimum, a 25kW generator. Glacier offering an option of a diesel-electric system using a Glacier Bay’s OSSA Powerlite® line is a stand-out for its low weight. Bay system on its 41-footer. How far diesel-electric propulFor example, in the 25 kW category, its diesel-electric generasion systems will penetrate its market depends on a lot more tor’s specified weight is 546 pounds. Northern Lights (model than technical prowess and price. A vigorous resurgence of M864W) is 981 pounds. Those from Onan and Fisher Panda new boat purchases in the American recreational boating are significantly over 1000 pounds. market would be one significant prerequisite, along with a Glacier Bay’s OSSA Powerlite® line is made specificallittle luck and a huge shove from the invisible hand of capily for the recreational boat market. The Union City, CA, talism. Diesel-electric propulsion holds the promise of higher company made a concerted marketing effort at the 2007 fuel efficiency, less maintenance and a more sophisticated Miami Boat Show and had available a Robertson & Caine electricity-augmented onboard lifestyle for those willing to eLeopard Catamaran with its DC electrical system installed. take a leap of faith toward a new technology. 42 September 2007
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Clearwater Yacht Club By Dave Ellis
members soon turned their attention to raising families and cashing in on the boom days of Florida. The financial bust came to Florida early. The club lapsed into inactivity. Finally, on November 3, 1928, an old house was rented, and new enthusiastic members fixed it up. Card games, dances, fish and grits once a week were about the only social activity in the boom-busted community. By the end of the year, CYC had as a bank balance the princely sum of $1600. By 1932, the club had moved across Clearwater Bay to the beach, gaining a perpetual lease from the city for a plot of land. There were 68 members with dues of $10 a year.
The marina and patio at the Clearwater Yacht Club. Photo by JJudy Widger.
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learwater Yacht Club on Florida’s west coast had its beginning in 1911, when the small coastal town had sand streets and a single railroad line. Only an occasional automobile, owned by one of the wealthy winter visitors, made its way to the waterfront. However, within a couple of years, the 28 casual members lost interest. After World War I, a new group of younger folks reformed the club and had a flurry of sailing and powerboat activity. In 1923, speedboat racing ruled the waters, but
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SOUTHERN RACING
Clearwater Yacht Club youth sailing team. Photo by Judy Widger.
The first Snipe at the club was built in 1935 by Guy Roberts. Notable Snipe sailors from the club were Taver Bayly, Frank Levinson, Don Cochran Sr.—and Jr.—and Francis Seavy. The Snipe Midwinter Championship was first held March 1936 and has been an annual event to this day. Many old-timers remember the annual dinghy regatta held in the 1950s on Clearwater Bay. Often small boats would sail to the venue from St. Petersburg and Gulfport for the racing and sail home afterward. Other than Snipes, the classes were divided into under 150- and over 150square-feet of sail. There have been challenges over the years. Storms damaged property and boats several times. The city of Clearwater reclaimed the property in 1972, while new property purchase prices were soaring. Through it all, CYC members stuck it out. There has never been an “assessment” to members for any purchase or building project.
The Clearwater Yacht Club. Photo by Judy Widger.
Today Clearwater Yacht Club’s 450 members enjoy a prime location just inside the soaring bridge over Clearwater Pass, close to the Gulf of Mexico. The clubhouse with Tiki Bar and pool is about to undergo a refurbishment. The docks are new and well designed. The management and staff are skilled and attentive. Yes, the club has other activities such as golf, RVers, powerboat cruises, book club, fishing fans and dancing lessons. Sailing continues to be the foremost activity, however, with high- profile events such as the Laser and Snipe Midwinters. Several PHRF keelboat regattas are sponsored by the club. The Clearwater Classic and the annual Key West Rendezvous are enjoyed by sailors throughout the Tampa Bay area. The Sunfish Masters Worlds were staged by CYC at the Sailing Center, as are numerous small-boat events. Race committee prowess is well-known, with a team of certified and trained members running races at the club and branching out to help other clubs’ racing. The Bow Chasers and Gulls ladies groups are indispensable to club activities. CYC has long championed and supported the Clearwater Community Sailing Center across the bridge on Sand Key. That remarkable facility is perfect for staging dinghy and Opti regattas and is open to CYC members. As one of the original 13 members of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs, reciprocity is enjoyed by members with 38 other clubs in Florida. A successful junior program using Optimist dinghies and club Sunfish continues to introduce new sailors to the sport. Coach Kurt Taulbee is a top Laser sailor and experienced instructor. Other sailors who call Clearwater Yacht Club home are USA Olympic Team contestants Paige Railey in the Laser Radial, Zach Railey in the Finn, Brad Funk in the Laser and Emily Billing on the US SAILING Elite Youth team. As a cruising or racing destination, Clearwater Yacht Club continues to shine brightly on Florida’s Suncoast. For the Fall race schedule of the Clearwater Yacht Club, see their ad on page 6.
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The Hunter 45 DS — a Modern Design for Comfortable Cruising By Roy Laughlin Photos courtesy Hunter Marine
Photo by Roy Laughlin
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LOA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44’ 10” LWL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42’ 1” Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14’ 6” Shoal Draft Model . . . . . . . . . . .5’ Deep Draft Model . . . . . . . . .6’ 6” Displacement . . . . . . . . .23,000 lb Standard Rig Mast Height . .57’ 4” In-Mast Furling Height . . . .60’ 8”
he debut of the Hunter 45 DS marks an advance in Hunter Marine’s sailboat design that includes thoughtful choices in performance and comfort. A careful comparison of its specifications with those of similar monohulls shows that none of its specs are extreme. The boat package, however, according to Glen Henderson, chief of engineering at Hunter Marine, is an attempt to build a “low power” sailboat for either bluewater voyaging or coastal cruising, even if that cruising is from one end of a marina slip to the other. The term “low power” is a purposely used one. The sail area, largely determined by the mast height, is modest compared to the standout sailboats in this class. The lowered mast height is to facilitate the experience of coastal cruisers, particularly passage under bridges. Designers made adjustments in hull form, including keel shape and a “reflexed” shape in the aft half to reduce drag. Whether in light air or under auxiliary power, the 45DS is notably responsive in speed and handling in light air or under auxiliary power. Hunter engineers have spent a great deal of effort making the sailing experience pleasant for the crew, which is often just one or two people. More modest sail sizes are easier to handle for that reason alone. The 45DS tested off St. Augustine in August had electric winches. In the test sail, 48
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Sail Area: Standard Rig . . . . . . . . .962 sq ft Furling Rig . . . . . . .925 sq ft Furl w/vertical battens .975 sq ft Fuel Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . .51 gal Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140 gal 54 HP Yanmar diesel
no winch handle ever appeared on deck. Lines from the furling jib and main lead aft, on the top of the cabin, to the cockpit. A stainless arch over the helm is primarily a mounting platform for the mainsail traveler track. Positioning the traveler, its control lines and sheets keep the cockpit clean and movement in it easy. Arch placement further allows mounting the traveler and mainsheet at the end of the boom. That requires less force to operate it (another “low power” qualifying feature). As an additional advantage, when the sailboat tacks and the wind fills the mainsail, the dilution of force on the arch largely prevented the usual “tack shudder” throughout the boat. The arch also holds a canvas for shading, either a T-top or Bimini. The cockpit is most notable for its twin helms. The skipper can comfortably see from a seated position on any tack. The need to stand to see over the cabin, and then crouch to see under the head sail is absent. Hunter designers have put as much effort into finessing the interior as they have on deck. The DS in the name refers to deck salon, a designation that certainly fits the open and bright interior. The central salon includes a wellequipped galley on the port and a nav station on the starboard side just inside the hatch. A dining table and bench that converts to a berth is on the port side in front of the galley. www.southwindsmagazine.com
A settee on the starboard side converts to a berth if needed. The woodwork inside is primarily cherry with maple accents. As John Peterson, director of marketing, noted, “Customers compare a boat’s interior to home, so we’ve taken that into account in our designs.” That includes Corian countertops, recessed lighting, airconditioning, a combination wall-mounted microwave oven and coffeemaker in the galley. There can be the usual array of home entertainment components scaled to the area of the boat’s interior. The designs are comfortable but don’t completely sacrifice a “yachty” feel. The sailboat’s interior still has handholds, side rails on the countertops and shelves, and locking cabinetry to prevent content spillage in rough seas. The cabin has six-foot-plus head room throughout. The forward stateroom has a head in the bow “V.” This improves buoyancy but also allows a double berth on the port side and a vanity and locker on the starboard side of the stateroom. The aft stateroom has a centrally located queen-sized berth with access on both sides. The cockpit well is directly over this berth, so there’s not six-foot clearance over the berth. There is around its perimeter, however. The 45DS’s designer gave the 45DS either a deep-keel
News & Views for Southern Sailors
rudder or shoal-draft option to accommodate any sailing effort. An option is not such a big deal. However, the rudder and keel ballast are interchangeable after the boat is finished. If owners wanted to sail, for example, the ICW for a couple of years before heading to Europe, they could initially install the shoal-draft keel and rudder and then replace them with the bluewater versions before the big trip. The conversion is not a weekend DIY project, however—the work should be done by a qualified boatyard. The 45DS is not a revolutionary design. It is a large step forward in a sequence that includes a contemporary design and adoption of improved hardware that Hunter Marine began over a decade ago. In this case, the 44DS includes a host of desirable design elements from the Hunter 43DS. These include light, open interiors, selection of rig components and designs to make the sailing effort convenient and physically easy, and boat sizes that take into account depths of coastal cruising waters and the existence of bridges over most cruising waters. The selection of “technology” for sailhandling, navigation and living amenities is appropriate for the needs and expectations of any reasonable sailor and the family. It’s a sailboat for the sailing experience sailors look forward to and then remember. For further information, including a complete list of specifications, please see www.huntermarine.com. The Hunter 45DS will be shown at the Newport, RI, boat show (September), the Annapolis show (October) and the Miami Boat Show (February, 2008).
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Safety at Sea Exposition Tampa Sailing Squadron, Aug. 4 By Kathryn Shea Photos by Jim Stem Photography
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n Saturday, Aug. 4, the U.S. Coast Guard celebrated its 217th birthday, Officer Snook clowns around with expo and the Tampa organizer Mike Farley. Sailing Squadron in Apollo Beach, FL, marked the anniversary with its Safety At Sea Exposition. The event, open to the public, was a cooperative effort supported by public agencies and numerous local businesses that focus on boating safety. Though there have been recent criticisms nationally that the Guard’s emphasis on safety has weakened to focus on anti-terrorism
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missions, it was apparent in Apollo Beach that the Guard is deeply committed to safety at sea. The daylong exposition featured safety demonstrations, boat tours and hot dogs for the crowd. On hand to share information and answer questions from the public were various divisions of the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol, Hillsborough Fire and Rescue, and the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission. Other participants included West Marine, Solution One Maritime, LLC, and the Eckerd College Search and Rescue Team. The exposition was the brainchild of retired Coast Guard Capt. Mike Farley, a member of the Tampa Sailing
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on donations and some budgSquadron, who said several et help from Eckerd, answers members had asked him an average of five calls each about putting on a demonweek free of charge. stration of safety equipAnother highlight of the ment and principles. “We expo was an appearance by put on a similar exhibition Officer Snook, the unofficial in St. Petersburg a couple mascot of the Coast Guard’s of years ago, and this environmental education and seemed like the right occamarine conservation outreach. sion to do it here,” said Exhibition visitors listen to Julie Stocksdale of West Marine talk on Officer Snook was the brainFarley. The occasion, of Preparations for Offshore Cruising. child of a Sarasota area course, was the Guard’s teenager back in 1994. Jennifer annual celebration of the Seven and her mother came day in 1790 when an early up with the cartoon character, U.S. Congress, on the urgcomic books, and activities to ing of founding father teach kids about the imporAlexander Hamilton, passtance of marine conservation. ed a bill funding construcAccording to Farley, who tion of 10 boats to constioversaw Coast Guard adoptute a “Revenue Marine” tion of the program as comfor enforcement of the manding officer of the Tampa young nation’s new tariff Marine Safety Office, Officer laws. Snook now helps the Guard Visitors lined up to provide school-age youngview one of the modern Sea Scout Wes Shaw demonstrates the Mustang all-weather flotation suit used by the Coast Guard. sters an entry into environCoast Guard patrol boats mental consciousness. used daily to patrol the 10 Tampa Bay area Homeland Julie Stocksdale of West Marine gave well attended preSecurity zones. This cutter, equipped with machine gun and sentations in the seminars, Offshore Cruising Preparations armed crew, is ready to handle all Coast Guard duties, from and Heavy Weather Sailing. In addition to the demonstrathe search and rescue operations so familiar to the general tion of personal flotation devices by Sea Scouts from Ship public to newer federal responsibilities interdicting drug traf185 of Apollo Beach, Yusri Jadallah of Solution One fic, to enforce federal law and to guard against terrorist Maritime displayed an impressive array of inflatable life threats. Another Coast Guard exhibit showcased a damage rafts. Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue personnel control simulator that demonstrates various common leaks supervised several kids as they used the big hoses to shoot that boaters may experience, so that participants can learn flame-retardant foam in the harbor basin, and after a short and practice remedial measures. talk from Farley on the appropriate choice and use of fire The Coast Guard also wants to enlist the boating public extinguishers (“Get low, stay low, and shoot at the bottom in America’s Waterway Watch (AWW), a program combinof the flame”) members of the crowd practiced using variing the efforts of the active Guard, the Reserve and the ous sized extinguishers to put out carefully set diesel blazes. Auxiliary. The AWW initiative is a nationwide program A couple of little known services of the Hillsborough similar to the successful Neighborhood Watch that asks County Environmental Protection Commission were feacommunity members to report suspicious activities to local tured at the expo. Fishermen were happy to get brochures law enforcement agencies. AWW seeks participation of listing the artificial reefs that dot Tampa Bay, happily handthose who live, work or play around the nation’s waterfront ed out by EPC scientist Glenn Lockwood. The county’s reef areas to note suspicious activities and alert the Coast Guard. program, designed to increase habitat diversity in bay The civilian component of the Coast Guard, represented waters, is now over 20 years old. For those who missed the by Flotilla 75 from Ruskin, was also out in force. While the expo, Lockwood suggests checking out the reef coordinates Auxiliary supports the active Guard with mainline responsiat epcinfo@epchc.org. There was help for businesses, too. bilities, including patrols of Homeland Security zones, its priPollution Prevention Coordinator Gerry Javier was on hand mary mission remains the promotion of safety on the water. to explain the EPC’s Pollution Prevention “P2” program, a Public Affairs Officer Ray Stewart reminded visitors that non-regulatory service offered to give businesses free guidAmerica’s Boating Course will be offered at the South Shore ance on eliminating or minimizing their hazardous waste at Regional Library on Sept. 15, and that the Basic Coastal the source. He stressed that P2 works with local businesses; Navigation Course will be held there on November 17. it is not a law enforcement agency. A less familiar search and rescue operator was showAt day’s end, the Tampa Sailing Squadron reported cased at the expo. Members of the Eckerd College Search serving around 30 breakfasts and over 150 lunches to those and Rescue (EC-SAR) Team were on hand to acquaint the attending the expo. “Hopefully, everybody got something public with their services. This team, made up of students out of it; we appreciated all the agencies and businesses that in Eckerd’s Waterfront Program, man a 24/7 rescue operawere out here. It’s nice to know that when we call on them, tion out of St. Petersburg that responds to emergency calls they’re ready to respond,” Farley noted. And will he from Longboat Key to John’s Pass and throughout Tampa attempt such a venture in the future? “Count on it.” Bay. These young people note that their service, dependent News & Views for Southern Sailors
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Lanier Sailing Academy in Pensacola
office, an older couple was getting a desk lecture from one of the instructors. Struchen believes that his students need to know how to walk before they try to run, and that includes discussions of what makes a sailboat go, what makes a sailboat stop and what keeps a sailboat upright. He said that the dynamics of sailing are just simple physics but that putting the package together By Morgan Stinemetz requires a nimble mind and incipient curiosity. While some sailing schools have ohn Struchen, 53, is living the life come down in favor of one teaching he wants in Pensacola, at the regimen over another, Struchen said western limits of Florida’s that Lanier has found that teaching Panhandle. He and his wife Kathy both the American Sailing are the owners of the Lanier Sailing Association’s (ASA) syllabus and Academy in Pensacola. Lanier that of US Sailing allows his stuSailing Academy also has branches dents to put heavier emphasis in Atlanta, South Carolina and where their preferences lie. John Struchen. Photo by Morgan Stinemetz. Alabama. “The US Sailing program has a litStruchen’s life can be hectic tle more depth and is geared more because teaching sailing is a totally hands-on business. As toward racing than the American Sailing Association prohe sat for this interview, the direction we were heading in gram is; ASA is more about cruising,” Struchen commented. was short-circuited countless times by incoming telephone Once trained and certified, sailors with the necessary calls, questions from employees, questions from students skills can sail as far east as Apalachicola or as far west as and day-trippers. If Struchen had been a fuse box, he would New Orleans. I asked if they could sail down to the Dry have looked like the finale of a July Fourth fireworks disTortugas, a voyage which would be rather epic from a play. He handles it, though, because he has 10 years of pracPensacola Bay start. Struchen said it might be possible but tice, and also because he comes from Minneapolis. unlikely; his boats are not allowed to be sailed after dark. People from Minnesota are capable of being what he Insurance requirements mandate that all cruising boats— called “Minnesota Nice.” It’s typical of residents of that they have several in the 35-foot range—have the hook down state, this ability to be self-effacing and pleasant under difwhen the sun goes down. The caveat is not unusual in the ficult circumstances. sailboat chartering business because it keeps people from The day I was at Lanier, three guys whose yachting hurting themselves and the boats in conditions where visiattire could have been obtained at a feed store were in one bility is poor. 22-foot training boat, ready to go out for a lesson. The boat I asked him what he considered to be the biggest chalnext to it—about the same size—had a young man from lenge to successfully teaching sailing. “Everyone learns difHawaii about to go out for a solo sail. He had enough expeferently and, as an instructor, you need to find the key that rience to be entrusted with a boat on his own. Back at the opens up that area of knowledge to each student. Teaching is, in part, being both a tutor and psychologist. The biggest problem is that people overthink it too much,” he said. “Our students do well at the initial level and they do well at the next level, too,” Struchen continued. He added that some schools are in such a big hurry to get the student “qualified” on a big boat, which the company can then charter out at several hundred dollars a day, that they skimp on the basics. “When you have muscle memory, you are good to go.” He said with conviction that when he signs off on a student, he is positive that student has the physical skills to sail the boat and the mental discipline to captain the boat as well. “When the wind gets up, things come at you a whole lot faster, and you slow down your environment with less sail and astute judgment,” he added. Works for me.
J
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www.southwindsmagazine.com
Keys Cable Mystery Unraveling By Steve Morrell
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n July, we published an article by Morgan Stinemetz about a mystery cable near the Snake Creek Bridge in the Florida Keys—the only point that one can cross the Keys without going under a bridge—very important for sailboats with tall masts over 65 feet. A cable is on the charts as: “OVHD PWR CAB.” No height or type is listed—nor does it indicate which side of the bridge it is on. SOUTHWINDS received numerous calls and e-mails on the cable. We cannot print them all here, just a few choice ones. One writer asked how a cable could be placed without a permit. Another wrote that the easiest and fastest way to find out whom the cable belongs to is to just cut it (he was not suggesting that action). He also suggested telling local bureaucrats that no permit was taken out—causing a chain reaction of furor. Another wrote that he checked out the latest electronic charts and found the following in their legends: “ ‘Overhead power cables run parallel to U.S. Highway No. 1. All clearances are greater than those of the charted fixed bridges.’ Not much help when you’re dealing with a bascule bridge, is it?” Isn’t that the truth? Bill Sauers wrote the most extensive letter about the cable. I first heard from Bill in late June. Sauers owns Luv Cats, a 53-foot Fountain Pajot Marqueses sailing catamaran. (We received several e-mails and calls from catamarans with tall masts.) Here is an edited version of what he wrote: “My first use of the Snake Creek shortcut to Florida Bay was when we were en route to the west coast of Florida in May 2001. As I was going through the bridge, I saw the overhead cables. I yelled a request to the bridge-tender for the cable height. I was committed— because the tide had started its flow into Snake Creek. There was a long silence. I engaged the autopilot and backed away from all metal objects as a voice transmitted, ‘It looks like you’ll clear okay.’ I did clear it, but my heart was pounding. “I called the Coast Guard station and Florida Power and Light who both referred me to the NOAA charts. Next encounter occurred in April 2003. We arrived at Plantation Key Marina, and I still had no height figures for the cables, but I did know my mast’s exact clearance: 78 feet. I walked my dog Isabella to the bridge to investigate the cables. Well—there was a new TV and telephone cable. The problem was that the telephone cable had been lowered approximately four feet, and the TV cable was about two feet lower than the telephone cable, both increasing the hazard for tall vessels, and still no warning
News & Views for Southern Sailors
Is the Keys Cable Mystery solved?
to mariners, and no heights. I measured the TV cable and got a height of 78.25 feet at high tide, or 79.25 feet, plus or minus, at low tide. We made the crossing through the bridge at dead low tide and cleared the TV cable. “Our return trip from the Bahamas was just as uneventful. I told the bridge-tender on duty that there was at least 75 feet of clearance for tall ships, and advised the USCG the same. A third trip was April 2005, and this exit through Snake Creek and the bridge was about five inches into high tide and my VHF antenna bent, clearing the TV cable. Our return was an uneventful crossing through Snake Creek. “The latest trip through Snake Creek channel, bridge, and the TV cable, was in May 2007. We missed dead low tide by one hour, and the VHF antenna bent under the TV cable. On our return trip through Snake Creek, we were carrying only 40 gallons of diesel and near-empty water tanks. Our raked mast flipped the TV cable without any damage.” Cable Now Being Officially Recognized In August, Morgan Stinemetz was contacted by the Coast Guard—unofficially—who told him that the cable has been identified as a TV cable and was put up without getting a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers, and that it will eventually be surveyed and identified and the information posted in the Notice to Mariners. Considering all the calls and e-mails that Southwinds received, it is a strange coincidence that the cable was finally given some attention by the Coast Guard after our July issue came out—a long time after Bill Sauers first encountered it in May 2001. Personally, I think no attention was given to the cable because everyone was home watching TV. The original article on the cable is available online at www.southwindsmagazine.com in the July 2007 issue, page 42. SOUTHWINDS
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TRAVELS WITH ANGEL
The Lower Keys & Key West By Rebecca Burg
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ompanion cruisers Angel and Defiant were island-hopping through the laid-back paradise of the lower Florida Keys. This world of water, sun, coconut palms and rumrunners made us forget what day it was. And we didn’t care. Small town charm greeted us at Big Pine Key, home of the National Key Deer Wildlife Refuge. Offshore, the Looe Key reef treats snorkelers and divers to a symphony of living color. The nearby Bahia Honda State Park, mile marker 37, offers a white sand beach that’s been rated the second most beautiful in the nation. Boaters can anchor
Old Town, Key West.
nearby and explore the park’s nature trails. In a brisk winter’s wind, we sailed along Hawk Channel toward Key West, mile marker 0. This is the last piece of civilization before jumping to the uninhabited Marquesas and the Dry Tortugas just west of the Keys’ chain. Near Key West’s busy harbor, a strong current and a fading breeze was on the nose, so I started Angel’s diesel. Responding to one of those unexplainable intuitive pulls, I peeked behind the engine cover and noticed a slow ooze of seawater beyond the seal on the raw water pump. Not a fatal problem, yet, Angel could still creep into the anchorage. As always, the harbor was buzzing with boats of all kinds. An antique schooner, deep sea fishermen, kayaks, parasail tour boats, and a large Coast Guard cutter composed the moment’s activity. Bill took Defiant past the famed Mallory Dock, where the daily Sunset Celebration has been taking place for about three decades now. Farther in the harbor, I noticed a collection of surveillance cameras and a rotating radar unit trained on the water and anchorages. That creepy 54
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assembly wasn’t there last year! Apparently, innocent citizens are now being spied on offshore as much as we are on shore. In a fleeting moment of rebellious impudence, I struggled to refrain from making a face, or worse, at the nearest camera. We boaters must be reasonably behaved if we want to be welcomed to various ports. Arriving boats can check into one of Key West’s marinas, pay for a mooring on Fleming Key’s east side or anchor on Fleming Key’s west side. Boats can also anchor around the uninhabited Wisteria Island, but care must be taken when maneuvering around the derelict boats. Some of these immobile hulks are occupied. Cruisers usually have no respect for those who live aboard sailboats and never go sailing (and never plan to). This puzzle is a form of affordable housing in the land of costly real estate. Though no human being should be homeless, the practice of using something like a sailboat for cheap housing and never moving it has been nothing but detrimental to legitimate boaters. To anchor, a good set is needed for the silt and grass bottom, which is the consistency of pudding in spots. Angel dragged in 20-knot winds the first time she attempted to grab ahold of the sea floor with a single 22-pound delta and chain. Two anchors on a single rode is an old trick that has not failed here, excluding hurricanes, and is worth the hassle of assembly. Finally settled, I attacked Angel’s drippy innards and changed the old pump for a new spare. Even though the unit was gear-driven from inside the engine, it was easier to change the oil and remove the whole pump than to ferret out its ancient seal. Resting nearby, Bill unveiled his Sailrite sewing machine and restitched a seam on Defiant’s headsail. After our boats were healthy again, we played tourist. For a fee, there’s the dinghy dock in the bight in front of Turtle Kraals restaurant. Lock the dinghy and motor. The Historic Seaport and boardwalk is a mustsee, but it’s easy to get waylaid by the attractive restaurants, bars and shops along the route. A few blocks west is Old Town’s Duval Street and its party zone of shops, pubs, cafes and galleries. A plethora of downtown museums—I counted 13 at the time—educate and entertain. Steeped in culture, Key West is always celebrating something. Fantasy Fest, Hemingway, Goombay, art fairs, live theatre, Race Week, elaborate holiday parades, music festivals, historic re-creations, and that’s just a small sample. Within walking distance from the bight, there’s a coin laundry, a library, grocers, Key West Marine Hardware, Ace Hardware and a West Marine. I found free WiFi at Waterfront Market, where you can eat lunch and sit upstairs with your laptop by the juice bar. Buses and taxis can take people up to New Town, Key West’s eastern half, where there’s a Boater’s World, large grocers, airport, car rentals and more. For a modestly-sized two-mile by four-mile island, the activity is astounding. “That construction worker leered at me,” I complained www.southwindsmagazine.com
to Bill as we walked along Roosevelt Boulevard. “What’s new about that?” He said, shrugging. “But—but it was a woman!” I said. “What’s new about that?” Bill repeated, “It’s Key West.” A day later, an islander friend named Stella helped organize a Thanksgiving Day picnic for people who were away from their families for the holidays. By day, Stella’s in her humble “laundry lady” guise, but she’s tough as she is graceful and has been involved in things like marine construction, marine salvage and has lived in exotic, faraway locales. When she talked, we listened. “I made the mistake of falling asleep on the bench in the aviary,” Stella was saying after we asked about the time she raised tame birds. “When I woke up a few hours later, the birds had been roosting on me. I was covered in poop!” In the sunny outdoors, we had dinner with a group that included a manic-depressive, an amputee, bikers and a menagerie of loudly honking ibis, two cats and a semi-tame raccoon. Not a meat-eater, I secretly gave the animals my portion of turkey. Big mistake. The wildlife surrounded our tables, ibis greedily rustling around our ankles while one of the cats hissed and jumped on the platter of ham. By afternoon’s end, the manic-depressive was weeping, the raccoon had wrapped its clammy paws around my finger and I needed a stiff drink. “Only in Key West,” Bill said with a grin as we hastily departed for the comfort of our cruisers.
News & Views for Southern Sailors
The dinghy dock n front of the Turtle Kraals restaurant.
“That’s the same thing Neil heard when a seabird was attacking his nipple,” I said. “Huh?” Bill raised a brow, dubious. I explained the time when our Key West sailing friend, Neil, had rescued an injured seabird. Covered in a towel, the bird was cradled in Neil’s loose tank top with one arm while the other arm steered his bicycle on the way to the bird rescue center. The bird’s head got loose and it started pecking at Neil’s nearest anatomical feature. A tour group witnessed the strange sight of Neil shouting in pain and wobbling down the street on a bike with a seabird in his shirt, jabbing at his nipple. One guy in the group shouts, “Is that what they mean when they say, only in Key West?” Retaining his wit, Neil shouts back, “Yes!” Yes, indeed. When a cruiser pays this funky island a visit, it’s only a matter of time before that common saying proves to be true.
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Our Chance to Make a Difference By Capt. David P. Kyser
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fter a recent regatta, I was fortunate enough to find out more about our host location, Safe Harbor Boys Home, in Jacksonville, FL. I was moved by the good works done by this family-run program. Having been in the boat business in Jacksonville for about 20 years myself, I knew it was there, but did not fully grasp the importance of its program until I took the time to visit again. Safe Harbor Boys Home (SHBH) is a program founded by Dr. Doug Smith in 1984, helping troubled young boys. It receives no government funds and exists solely on donations and sponsorships. SHBH takes in boys 15 to 17 years old. Boys may be referred there via a pastor, relatives, judiciary action, etc. Some boys are there because they’ve lost one or both parents. The purpose of SHBH is to ensure these boys become responsible and mature young men through vocational, spiritual and educational training. It’s waterbased training where the boys live aboard boats, learning seamanship skills along with all the other training. The boys must pass a swim test as a condition of admission. All boys must enroll in the SHBH Academy, a home-schooled curriculum to earn either a high school degree or a GED. Examples of on-campus maritime training are knots, welding, engine repair, boat repair, carpentry and canvas repair. In addition, the boys will learn “lifestyle competence”
items, such as job-seeking skills, resume writing, appropriate dress, driver’s education, and banking. They also must graduate from Dr. Robbie Smith’s FHA Club (Future Husbands of America) learning housekeeping, nutrition, shopping, and cooking skills. On a beautiful day, I went down to the idyllic on-thewater campus and met with Karen Hensel, the director, and was also lucky enough to spend a few brief moments with Doug and Robbie Smith, the program founders and married team that are the glue that hold the place together. Karen explained to me that “we isolate the boys from unstable family or community situations and give them an opportunity to break the pattern of behavior they were trapped in and immerse themselves in behavior that will facilitate discipline, good decision-making, good citizenship, communication skills and responsibility.” Boys must maintain academic success in order to have opportunities at extracurricular activities that may include on- and off-campus activities, such as scuba certification, fishing, sailing and—as I’ve recently witnessed—racing in the NFCC FCOC Regatta. (See SOUTHWINDS June ’07, page 52.) Mrs. Hensel explained to me that responsibilities for one’s actions are an essential item—and that’s reinforced daily. Privileges are earned when teamwork, responsibility for one’s self and toward others,
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and communication are increasingly demonstrated. Here’s the way the boys see it: “Do well, get a better boat.” Gee, that’s what motivates me, too. After talking to Karen, I was able to look around the campus and see the marina and boats, and then it was lunchtime! I was invited to lunch with the boys and found this to be a truly wonderful experience. The large communal hall and table area are so nautical they make you want to yell “aaargh” like a pirate (bad piratical influences aside). The boys take turns at mess and scullery duty. I was able to talk with all the boys and found them to be a truly polite and respectful group of lads. The average stay at SHBH is 18 to 24 months. Many boys are not happy when they first arrive and are sometimes considered a flight risk. It’s human nature to resist change, after all. The boys wear colored shirts to indicate their level in the program. Levels are determined by measuring 13 character qualities. Some of the boys have ankle monitors on, either because it was court-mandated or because the directors make it happen. Either way, the boys have an opportunity through growth and excellence to lose the ankle monitor, gain privileges, reside in bigger and better vessels, and ultimately, leave SHBH. Doug tells me the program has a 95 to 98 percent success rate, depending on the year. Success is defined as being in college or having a job, not receiving public assistance, and no drugs or drinking after one year from leaving SHBH. Approximately 35 percent of the boys wind up going into the military, and there is a reasonable success rate in the remaining boys going on to college or finding employment in the vocation they trained in at Safe Harbor. There are hundreds of boys on a waiting list to get into this program. This is truly a program that works and is worthy of our attention. How We as Sailors can Help 1) SHBH at this time has an average annual operating budget of over $500,000. 2) They always have shortages of certain supplies, especially toilet paper, paper towels, Deep Woods Off bug spray, and any kind of canned food. News & Views for Southern Sailors
3) The program needs more vessels donated, which will wind up “for sale” to create operating funds, and ideally, a few more large vessels to be used as staff housing and additional boys homes. Ask for Alexandra at SHBH regarding donations and sales. Tax write-offs are available in accordance with Florida Law. 4) Currently, there are 15 boys in the program, limited by state requirements to have on-site full-time “house parents” or facilitators. SHBH can ramp up to 30 boys in the program if it can add an additional set of house parents. This is a unique opportunity for the right set of cruisers. How would you like a free year of dockage and three meals a day? Free! Safe Harbor will allow the right couple, after a background check and personal interview, to live aboard their own vessel dockside at Safe Harbor, including meals, water, and electricity. It is a volunteer job, so ideally the right couple will be retired, and willing to be involved as house parents, educators, disciplinarians, and essentially, surrogate parents. Dr. Smith says it must be a one-year commitment at a minimum. Please go to the Web site at http://boyshome.com/ to contact Safe Harbor or to find out more information on any of these items. Note From the Author Fellow sailors, these boys are learning through boating and sailing, things we love, how to become young men and not be burdens on the system. In the 1999 National Report of Juvenile Offenders and Victims, it states the cost to society of allowing one youth to leave high school for a life of crime and possibly drug abuse is $1.7- to $2.3-million! Here’s our chance to make a difference. SOUTHWINDS binds us sailors together, racers and cruisers, as a community. Let’s help Safe Harbor ramp up to 30 boys and try to help them meet their needs in the coming years. “God cares about the one; if we can make a difference in one life, then we’re successful,” said Dr. Smith, the program director and founder. Thanks to Doug and Robbie and all the staff and volunteers at Safe Harbor, they’re much more successful than one at a time. SOUTHWINDS
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A Fine Week for a Party: 32nd Regatta Time in Abaco, Bahamas, July 3-11 By Rebecca Burg
I
t was a fine day for a party. A sea of gray dinghies covered one end of the beach and animated clusters of people, most of them holding pink cups, gathered on the other end. Beyond the white sand, lush trees shaded party-goers as they lined up for cheeseburgers and margarita refreshments. Jimmy Buffett tunes wafted through the tropical air. The social mood was perfect as old cruising friends were reunited and new ones were established. Once again, Stranded Naked’s famed Cheeseburger in Paradise party on Fiddle Cay kicked off an exquisite week of Regatta Time racing and parties. Sailboats of all kinds, from serious racers to serious cruisers, are invited to play. Boats are divided into different classes according to their ratings. If at least five one-designers show up, they’ll get their own class. Each of the five races in the series takes place at a different location in the Abaco Sea. The race days are spread out in an eight-day tour, full of sponsored parties and visits to exotic out-islands. Boats that don’t race can still follow the crowd for the event’s irresistible Old and new designs compete.
social rewards. “Bring ‘er down, go fast!” a voice was heard on Buena Vida as she slyly induced Balamena into a tack. These two RTIA class rivals typically finished within minutes of each other. Buena, David Roarte and Hamilton Foster’s Sabre 36 from South Carolina, has made quite an impression for her first Abaco Regatta. A killer on the field, Buena’s crew worked like professionals. The Bahamian-based Balamena, a Hunter 35, is a Regatta Time veteran who’s intimately familiar with the race track. A home town advantage helped to keep Balamena just out of reach, for now. A category of its own, the Georgia-based Corsair 28, Bad Boys, was grouped in the RTIA class this year. Bob Harkrider’s tri-hulled predator earned three bullets in five races. Jep, a pro captain from Newport, RI, crewed aboard Bad Boys. “We liked it so much that we’re coming next year with our own boat,” Jep says. He and his wife own a 31-foot racing trimaran. 58
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Fifteen- to 18-knot winds in the Guana Cay race, July 6, kept the lighter contestants on their toes. “The prop does cavitate at 7.2 knots,” Roy Hutcheson noted as he urged his crewman, John, to sail faster. Roy’s Precision 28, Blown Away, had a double reef in the main and was still sailing like a rocket. For the fourth of July race at Green Turtle, Blown had won first place in the cruiser’s D-class, about six minutes ahead of second-placer Innocent Age, an O’Day 35. Sailed by Ben Brown and family, Innocent promptly adjusted to the competition and earned first place in both the Hopetown and Marsh Harbour races. Behind the fleet, Erinsong headed toward the wrong mark and had a slow start to boot. However, the other guys were heading for the wrong mark as well. Erinsong, Ron Hucke’s Hunter 35 did an about-face, found her stride and conquered the Dclass to take first in today’s Guana race. “I had a blast!” said crewmember Rich Morpurgo, who’s traveled the Bahamas, but was participating in his first Abaco Regatta. Running Free took second that day, Osprey was third and Blown Away slid into fourth. The Man-O-War race, July 7, saw gusty winds in the 15to 20-knot range. The start was briefly delayed to allow Balamena, with a failed engine, to limp to the lineup. Not crippled for long, she reverted back into a force to reckon with as soon as her sails popped out. “They still ran over us,” Buena Vida team member, Marisa Meyers, observed after they finished one slot under Balamena. An active sailor and boat owner from Charleston, Meyers is pleased with her first, but not last, Abaco Regatta. Buena’s hot crew also included tactician Ken King, an Abaco veteran. Aside from battling with Balamena, the team had quite a time in the unusual, but exciting interspecies combat with trimaran Bad Boys. “One time, we were trying to nudge Bad Boys off course and pull in front, but they tightened sail and just surged ahead,” says King. “They already knew that trick!” Bad Boys took first for the day. In the D-class, Bill Powell’s Pearson 36 ketch, Running Free, prospered in the stiff winds and rose from yesterday’s second place to take first place at Man-O-War. Bill’s son and daughter, Teresa Powell, and her friends were crewing. Fearless racing and expert boathanding gave Running Free, a solidly-built bluewater classic, that invaluable edge around the buoys. Innocent Age took second, with Tom Holland’s Morgan 38, Osprey, in third. Jon Holtzworth’s Freedom 40, Toi et Moi, had the pleasure of beating the normally swift Blown Away. The PHRF-B class saw a suspenseNews & Views for Southern Sailors
ful beginning. The bluehulled Beneteau, Sponge Cake, owned by Clyde Rodgers of Daytona Beach, had her hands full. At the start signal, the tight flock surged over the gate. Just then, a turning block at the base of Sponge Cake’s mast self-destructed. Block broken and rigid boom vang bent, the cruiser was nudged toward the committee boat by the crowd. The quick-thinking crew made repairs while Sponge Cake spun away from the start in a dizzying circle. Using her momentum, she quickly recovered and dogged the class’s top rival, Susimi, Michael Carrington’s Sweden 36. “We played catch up all day long,” said Rodgers. His team finished in second, just minutes behind Susimi. By July 9th’s Hopetown Race, the 28-foot wooden Bahamian workboat, Abaco Rage, had found her groove. In the PHRF-B class, Rage took first place, just minutes over Les Cheneaux, David Snyder’s Hunter 44. Needing about 18 people for crew, Rage frequently snagged some of the regatta’s spectators. Pat Aguillard, from sailing cruiser Island Dream, crewed on the workboat for most of the week. “It’s so different than a normal boat,” Pat says. “For one thing, the mast is flexing like a fishing rod!” Rage’s 65-foot mast is a solid length of wood. Acting as live ballast, much of the crew dangles over the water on the windward side by sitting on one of three narrow, wooden boards called pries. “I love it!” said Connie Meadows, who was following the regatta in her boat, Pixie Dust, and jumped at the chance to crew with Rage. “I had no idea what to expect. It was incredible,” Connie adds. Luckily, she’s a nurse and sprang into action when a crewman cut his finger during one race. Cruiser Jack Morgan, a paramedic who was crewing on Rage, also lent a hand. “That Catalina 25 sailed wonderfully,” observed Hutcheson on Blown Away. “They kicked our rears!” That Catalina, Robert Fritz’s light blue Sinderella, earned second place at Hopetown in the D-class, finishing a mere six seconds over Osprey and just 18 seconds (corrected time) ahead of Blown Away. Untouchable, the Innocent Age team breezed into D-class first place with a five-minute margin. A Ft. Lauderdale-based adventurer who has lived in the Bahamas for a time, Toni Lugger crewed aboard Devante’s Dream and Buena Vita during the week. Toni has done wild things like trek through the Amazon, climb Mt. Everest and explored remote areas of Africa, and she rated Regatta Time in her top list of adventures. Today, Lugger helped Devante’s Dream, Eric Langley’s Jenneau 40, grab the best start in the SOUTHWINDS
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cruiser’s C-class. Stan the week. Hoping for Sunderland, a regatta second, Buena Vida vet since 1991, caplost precious time tained Devante’s. As around the downwind they slid across the gate, mark with a clothing “that little green boat” issue. Sheet loose, her shouldered them toward collapsed spinnaker the committee boat. To streamed toward the avoid the crunch, sky while the jib simulSunderland had to take taneously tried to pile the Jenneau into an into the sea. It was a unscheduled nosedive. mad dash to unsnag the “That was awesome!” snags. After a short Jack, a Devante’s crewstruggle, Buena Vida A family with their regatta award. man, exclaimed. “It unruffled her skirts and doesn’t get better than rocketed after Balamena, this.” The challenge who’d gained enough from good competition lead to take second added an extra level of place for the day. In the excitement to the race. multihull class, John That little green boat Sexton’s 31-foot triwas none other than maran, Splash, faithfully Bahamian-based Louise, sailed today’s course Chris Thompson’s claswithout her rivals. sic beauty queen who Splash, sailed by a famiwon every race she ly, earned four bullets entered. On the two and numerous prizes days that were Louisethrough the week. Closfree, Todd Smith expertest rival, Fine Line, ly slid Grand Cru into a earned first in the class first place at Guana Cay, for the Guana Cay race. and Robert Ford’s Last Cruised by Steve and Mangas took the CAnne Walsh, the 44-foot class’s top prize at catamaran, Fine Line, The Cheeseburger in Paradise party. Green Turtle. Matt had joined the fun McCoy’s Kairos, a C&C, while in the middle of a enjoyed a skillfully earned second today. Crew member cruising adventure. Tom Dwyer noted how smoothly the Kairos team, a family, Skylark, Ron Polin’s Morgan 45 from North Palm Beach, had operated. “It was such a quiet boat, you could hear a had to be the oldest vessel in the regatta. In perfect shape, no pin drop,” Tom noted. Elsewhere in the class, there were one could tell that the elegant lady was 40 years of age. For some raised voices. “The starts were intense, lots of yelling,” two days, Skylark raced against her modern cousins in the observed Justin Langseth. He and his wife, Tatiana, had PHRF-B class, often with a collection of photo boats orbiting sailed their Jenneau 42, also named Tatiana, into C-class secaround her. According to her owner, Skylark’s name has sexy ond place for the Man-O-War race. connotations. For a bit of nautical history, when the old square On July 11, the Marsh Harbour race, the fleets enjoyed riggers came to shore, a seaman would occasionally return to one last dance for the prize. In the cruiser’s C-class, Cloud the ship with a pretty girl. For privacy, they’d sneak into the Dancer, Tenacious and Grand Cru were sailing so closely at rigging and take cover in the folds of the huge sails. This times that they appeared to be clumped together with super extracurricular activity in the rigging was called a “skylark.” glue. “We had a lot of fun chasing those guys,” noted The final awards party at Snappas in Marsh Harbour wasn’t Georgia Garrett of Cloud Dancer, a classy Island Packet 42. In easy to leave, but sailors were heartened by the thought of PHRF-B, Annie’s Revision was racing her seventh regatta. repeating the festivities at next year’s Abaco Regatta. Special Annie and Richard O’Neil’s Beneteau 36 saw week-long thanks to Jon and Carol Ewing and their committee boat, Great friendly rivalry with Susimi. The two boats looked forward Scott, and Commodores Dave and Kathy Ralph, and to their yearly racing reunion in Abaco and became friends Coordinator Ruth Saunders. Sponsors and hosts include that way. “We’re always very close, Annie says of Susimi’s Stranded Naked, Bobb Henderson, Bristol Wines and Spirits, racetrack moves. “The most fun you can have with a sailGary McDonald, Mt. Gay Rum, Burns House Ltd., Grabbers at boat is the Abaco Regatta.” Like the majority of entrants, Guana, Nippers Bar & Grill, Bahamas Wholesale Agencies, Annie’s Revision is pure cruiser, and Abaco is the only time Arizona Ice Tea, Kalik Beer, Tupps/Sapodilly’s Restaurant, they race. Susimi was always a step ahead, but Annie’s was Snappas Restaurant, Abaco Tourist Office, Treasure Cay thrilled to earn second-place awards in both the Green Resort, H.G. Christie, Continental Connection, Roberts Turtle and Marsh Harbour races for the B-class. Marine and Annabelle Croos. In the RTIA class, Bad Boys earned their third bullet of www.rtia.net 60
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SOUTHERN RACING ■ NEWS
Regata del Sol al Sol 2008 Continues to Fill Up As of August 13, only 11 of the 50 slots for the 40th anniversary Regata del Sol al Sol were left.. Regatta organizers believe that at this rate, ALL slots will be filled shortly and it will be a record number. For regatta information, go to the event Web site at www.regatadelsolalsol.org or http:// www.mexicorace.com. There are convenient online entry forms, printable entry forms, and even online hotel reservation forms! Photos from the 2007 Regata del Sol al Sol are posted on the site for viewing, plus there are a few new movies for the public to get the “feel” of the event. You can also contact the event organizers, Mike Boom at mike.boom@verizon.net, or Larry Wissing at lw@ipsc.cc.
■ UPCOMING MAJOR SOUTHERN RACING EVENTS
Sarasota Sailing Squadron Labor Day Regatta, Sarasota, FL, Aug. 31- Sept. 2 This is one of the largest and oldest regattas in West Florida, being the 61st annual regatta. The regatta has everything from cruising boats racing PHRF to Opti fleets. Free docking and camping at the Squadron. For more information, go to www.sarasotasailingsquad.com.
SOUTHWINDS offers inexpensive regatta ad rates to all non-profit organizations and ad building is included. If we are building the ad new we would like to be notified by the first of the month preceding publication (later is possible but contact us to find out). Contact editor@ southwindsmagazine.com or call (941) 795-8704.
News & Views for Southern Sailors
42nd Annual Summerset Regatta, Naples, FL, Sept. 1-2 This is the southwest Florida racing community’s premiere annual sailing competition, celebrating the end of summer, although it is the first race of the racing season, which is fall winter and spring. The race is sponsored by the Caloosahatchee Marching and Chowder Society, and each year most of the sailing racers in the area participate in the regatta. Many local cruisers also cruise to Naples for the shoreside festivities of the regatta. For more information, go to www.cmcs-sail.org.
8th Annual Special Olympics Sailing Regatta, Lake Lanier, GA, Sept. 7-9 Area skippers are invited to participate in the annual open Sailing Regatta, benefiting Special Olympics Georgia on Lake Lanier Sept. 7-9. Races will be Saturday and Sunday. There is a donation-based entrance fee, and the skipper who raises the most money wins a prize, which will be announced Saturday night. Awards ceremony is on Sunday after racing. If you’re interested in sponsoring a skipper, e-mail Rachel Provow at Rachel.provow@specialolympicsga.org. You can also call her at (770) 414-9390, ext. 107. For information, visit www.SpecialOlympicsGA.org.
17th Annual Juana Good Time Regatta, Navarre Beach, Florida Panhandle, Sept. 7-9 This regatta is held at, and sponsored by, Juana’s Pagodas— a thatch-roofed volleyball beach bar just south of the Navarre Beach Bridge on the Florida Panhandle. Racing on Santa Rosa Sound, the regatta usually has about 50 boats participating including cruising catamarans, beach cats and windsurfers. Many boaters travel from as far as Louisiana and Mississippi to attend. The regatta is held each year on the first weekend after Labor Day. For more information, go to www.juanaspagodas.com, and click on Regatta News—or any of the regatta links.
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SOUTHERN RACING Bradenton Yacht Club Fall Kickoff Regatta, Bradenton, FL, Sept. 21-23 The 25th Annual Fall Kickoff Regatta, the “kickoff” event for the Tampa Bay/Sarasota Bay area winter racing season, will be held at the Bradenton Yacht Club on Sept. 21-23. The regatta comprises two days of racing in Tampa Bay, north of the Manatee River inlet. Four classes, spinnaker, non-spinnaker, true cruising, and multihull, will make up the threerace regatta. Free dockage is available at the yacht club. In previous years, upwards of 70 boats have participated in the regatta, most of which raft up at the Bradenton Yacht Club bulkhead on the Manatee River. Deeper draft boats can usually find dockage available at Snead Island Boat Works down the street from the club. Partying for the event begins on Friday night as boats begin to gather at the club, and continues after the racing on Saturday afternoon and then again on Sunday. For more information, and to register online, go to www.bradenton-yacht-club.org, or call (941) 723-6560. For dock reservations, call (941) 722-5936, ext. 212 or the dockmaster cell at (941) 374-2310.
23rd Dunedin Cup and Kiwanis Regatta, Dunedin, FL, Sept. 27-29 Spinnaker, non-spinnaker, cruising, prams, Sunfish, beach cats, offshore cats, Ensigns, Sailability and kayaks all con-
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verge for a great water weekend on the Gulf Of Mexico hosted by the Dunedin Boat Club and Kiwanis of Dunedin, FL. Events include the Dunedin Regatta Ball on Sept. 27, skipper’s meeting on Sept. 28 with racing on Sept. 29. Other events are: seafood fest, kid’s touch-a-boat and art tent, wooden boat show, kayak demos and awards party. For information, contact Rod Collman at rcollman@collman-karsky.com. The event Web site is at www.dunedincup.org.
Upcoming Melbourne Yacht Club Fall Regattas, September through November Melbourne Yacht Club is celebrating its 60th year this fall with its newly renovated clubhouse—finished just in time for its fall regatta lineup. On Sept. 29-30, it starts the ball rolling with the 29th annual Mermaid Regatta for women sailors. PHRF boats race Saturday, and Sunfish race on Sunday. The Melbourne Yacht Club Fall Regatta Race Week starts off with dinghy racing from Ballard Park on Oct. 20-21. Expected classes are Sunfish, Laser, Flying Scot, Monohull and Multihull Portsmouth. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, the club is hosting a North-U seminar on tactics and sail trim. The seminar will be open to all area sailors. Bigboat racing starts Friday night Oct. 26, with the Rebel Rally reverse handicap race. On Oct. 27-28 racing begins for PHRF
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classes along with Catalina 22s and Melges 24s. On Nov. 17-18, MYC hosts its Annual “No Frills” Sunfish Regatta. Visit www.sail-race.com for full information on all of these events. Fleet Captain John Fox can be reached at john@teamfoxy.com, or call (772) 581-9401.
Cortez Yacht Club Inaugurates Cortez Cup, Cortez, FL, Oct. 6 Cortez Yacht Club will host its inaugural Cortez Cup, a Sarasota Bay Yachting Association Boat of the Year Race for WFPHRF-rated boats on Saturday, Oct. 6, from the Seafood Shack Marina and Grill in Cortez, FL, located on the ICW between Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay, near Longboat Pass. This event will fill an open date on the SBYA BOTY race calendar that historically was held by the Crow’s Nest Restaurant in Venice. Preliminary plans include a skippers meeting on Friday evening, Oct. 5, Gulf of Mexico races on Saturday for any division of boats with at least three entries registered by September 27, followed by an awards ceremony. Details will be posted on the Web sites of Cortez Yacht Club, www.cortezyachtclub.com, and SBYA, www.sarasotabayyachting.org, or call Cortez Yacht Club Fleet Captain, Laura Ritter (941) 780-3547. cortezyachtclub@verizon.net.
Tampa Sailing Squadron Rumgatta, Apollo Beach, FL, Oct. 6-7 Tampa Sailing Squadron will be holding its 18th Annual Rumgatta—its Jamaican rum regatta—on Oct. 6-7. This event is one of the oldest events in Tampa Bay and one of the Squadron’s largest annual regattas. Generally, there are at least 30-40 entries each year and the after-race Rumgatta party is well attended. This year there will be a pre-Rumgatta Portsmouth race the weekend before on Sept. 29. The Rumgatta will start with a skippers meeting and pre-race party on Friday, Oct. 5, followed by racing and an after-race party and awards dinner on Saturday. On Sunday is the Women’s Rumgatta Regatta. For NOR and registration, go to www.tampa sailing.org. Call Race Fleet Captain Susan Bishop at (813) 956-1642, or e-mail to tssregatta@gmail.com.
53rd Annual Columbus Day Regatta, Biscayne Bay, FL, Oct. 6-7 The 53rd annual Columbus Day Regatta will take place during the weekend of Oct. 6-7 on Biscayne Bay. Attendance is expected to draw over 200 racing and cruising sailboats from around South Florida. As usual, the course layout consists of a combination of government marks and buoys scattered throughout Biscayne Bay, testing the navigation skills of the competitors. Contenders will compete for first- through fifth-place trophies in all classes as well as eight Perpetual Trophy awards. The Coral Reef Yacht Club will once again host the award ceremonies on Saturday, Oct. 13. Raffle prizes will be given away at the awards ceremony. Organizers are looking for donations for raffle prizes. News & Views for Southern Sailors
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SOUTHERN RACING To sponsor, donate raffle prizes or for more information, go the event’s Web site at www.columbusday regatta.net.
WFORC, Pensacola Yacht Club, Oct. 12-14—Celebrating 33 Years By Julie Connerley The West Florida Ocean Racing Circuit (WFORC) began in 1975 during an era when one long distance race, one medium distance race and three around-the-buoy short races was the preferred format for international off-shore regattas. WFORC followed suit. In the years since, the format changed, as did the revolving venue. By 1983, the Gulf Yachting Association decided that the Pensacola Yacht Club would become the permanent home of the WFORC. As participation declined, additional changes were needed. The 1986 WFORC regatta chair, Hunter Riddle, proposed making the long race a single overnight 73-mile event from Fairhope to Pensacola. That series attracted 33 boats representing eight GYA member clubs. A Melges 24 class was added beginning in 1999. Then in 2001, the regatta eliminated offshore races entirely. It is now sailed over a single three-day period. Last year, 38 boats representing 10 GYA yacht clubs participated, with John Guy of St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club in Panama City winning his sixth
WFORC championship. WFORC will be held Oct. 12 through 14. Early registration should be postmarked no later than Oct. 2. For more information, visit www.pensacolayachtclub.org, or contact WFORC Regatta Chair Betsy Moraski at topgunu20@aol.com.
St. Petersburg Yacht Club Inaugurates The Leukemia Cup & Fall Bay Race, Oct. 12-14 The St. Petersburg Yacht Club and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society joined forces to create the Leukemia Cup & Fall Bay Race. In 2006, the traditional one-day Fall Bay Race became a two-day race. This year, the name The Leukemia Cup has been added, and it will be called The Leukemia Cup & Fall Bay Race, being a fundraiser in combination with the Fall Bay Race. On Saturday, scoring will be both PHRF and Leukemia Cup scoring for the same race. The race on Saturday will have the same course(s) set up as have been done in the past, and the Fall Bay race will continue on Sunday. Sunday’s race will be only PHRF scoring, and the PHRF scores for both days will determine the Fall Bay Race winners. The real twist for this year is the expanded opportunity to win some great prizes and to help with a great cause if you wish to do so. There is a combined dinner Saturday night for all, with many activities planned. Aside from winning great prizes, you will know that you are helping save lives. Sponsors along with the St. Petersburg Yacht Club are Sailing World, West Marine, Mount Gay Rum, and North Sails. Registration for all will be on Friday between 1500 and 1700, Oct. 12, with a skippers meeting at 1700. For registration and more information, contact St. Petersburg Yacht Club sailing secretary Phyllis Eades at (727) 822-3873 or email to sailingsecretary@spyc.org. You can also go to www.spyc.org for the NOR and more information.
Suncoast Multihull Rendezvous with Stiletto Nationals: Oct. 19, 20, 21 The Sarasota Sailing Squadron is hosting the first Suncoast Multihull Rendezvous with Stiletto Nationals, which will take place at the Squadron in Sarasota, FL, on Oct. 19, 20, and 21. This event is open to all multihulls and will be governed by US SAILING rules. For the Stiletto Nationals, the racing event will start on Friday the 19th, while races for the rest of the fleet start on Saturday the 20th. The awards ceremony will take place on Sunday at the end of the last race day. Courses will be on Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, weather dependent. Dockage, launch facilities, and camping accommodations are available (and complimentary) at the Squadron. For more information, contact Nana Bosma at nanab@umich.edu or (734) 320-9636. Go to www.sarasotasailingsquad.com for the Sarasota Sailing Squadron Web site. 64
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■ RACE REPORTS
“What a Difference a Year Makes” Junior Olympic Festival Delivers its Promise, Pensacola Yacht Club, July 6-8 By Julie B. Connerley During July, Pensacola Yacht Club hosted US SAILING’s USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival for youth 8 to 21. PYC’s sailing festival/Independence Day regatta attracted 61 competitors whose numbers will be added to the 4,000 expected to have participated by the close of the last JO festival, the Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta, in Miami, Dec. 27-30. For 2007, 23 festivals are sanctioned nationwide at yacht clubs and community sailing organizations with the common purpose of encouraging young sailors to enjoy sailing and to develop their skills. The events are coordinated by US SAILING and sponsored by West Marine, Gill and Active.com. At PYC, the JO Sailing Festival did just that for one enthusiastic sailor named Harrison Prochaska. This marks the fourth year PYC has hosted this event. Last year, Harrison, then 15, participated for the first time. He entered the Laser class and finished last. His parents, Eric and Jeanette Prochaska, are longtime big-boat sailors, and
News & Views for Southern Sailors
Harrison Prochaska, winner of the Laser class in the Junior Olympic Sailing Festival. Last year, Prochaska finished last. Photo by Julie Connerley.
although they wanted him to enjoy sailing, they didn’t want to force him. No problem. Harrison wanted to improve and began practicing at Pensacola Yacht Club during its Wednesday night races using club boats. “When we realized he really liked the Laser and was serious about it,” began Jeanette, “we looked at the race schedules of nearby yacht clubs and started ferrying him to area regat-
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SOUTHERN RACING tas.” By December, Harrison had his own Laser radial. In March 2007, Harry, as his mom sometimes calls him, turned 16 and received his driver’s license—just in time for Pensacola Beach Yacht Club’s Sunday Laser series, March Madness. He was ecstatic about more opportunities to hone his skills (and perhaps about the ability to drive to the club with his own boat). When PYC’s JO Festival began, Harrison had a year’s worth of racing experience, and it showed. The first day’s forecasted winds of 10 knots increased to gusts of 23, but he was prepared and didn’t capsize like others in the 17-boat Laser fleet. “I had one bad race Saturday, but knew we had one throw-out, so it all hinged on me doing well on the last race on Sunday,” Harrison said. After two days and seven races, he aced the last race and took fleet honors. “Now, I really am excited about attending the Orange Bowl Regatta in December,” Harrison continued. “I hear they expect 89 Lasers to compete.” Wow! What a difference a year makes!
Sixth Annual Harkers Island Regatta, Harkers Island, NC, July 28-29 By Rob Eberle
end of the spectrum, the youngest solo sailor to complete the race was 15-year-old Alexandra Eberle of New Bern, NC, who finished respectably in 11th place. Many participants likened the race to a triathlon obstacle course where you sail, paddle and pull your boat. An unusual feature of the race is that sailors can elect which direction they circle around the island after crossing the starting line. As in previous years, racers traveling in different directions vied for line honors at the finish. Zak Mathews of New Bern took the lead early and led the fleet through the marshes and under the drawbridge. His lead was eclipsed by Paul Welles of Oriental, NC, while tacking around the western end of the island, and then Mathews and Welles sailed high off course in a two-boat dogfight on the final reach to the finish. This left the door open for Odell and second-place finisher Nick Mathews of New Bern to sail a more direct course and sneak inside for a photo finish, with Odell and Nick Mathews overlapping as they crossed the line. Welles and Zak Mathews finished very shortly behind. Awards consisted of fresh lump crabmeat for the top three finishers. Back on shore, racers and friends shared their stories over a surf-and-turf dinner party hosted by Harkers Island residents George and Wendy Evans and MOBYC (My Own Bloody Yacht Club) complete with a video replay of the race and live music. Sunday brought light winds for the second day of the regatta and short-course racing around the buoys. After three races, Rob Eberle of New Bern held back Walt Suter of Savannah, GA, for first place. The organizers of this regatta wish to thank corporate sponsors Triton Yacht Sales, Vanguard Sailboats, Eberle Marine Surveys, Prospective Technologies, Inc., and Beaufort’s Friends of the Museum for their generous donations. Contact Rob Eberle at eberlemarine@suddenlink.net for information on next year’s regatta and other local Sunfish racing events, all of which are open to the public.
Windmill Nationals, Edenton, NC, July 16-18 By Dave Ellis
Sunfish sailing in the Harkers Island Regatta. Photo by Rob Eberle.
The sixth annual Around Harkers Island Sunfish Race was held July 28-29 in a light but steady southerly breeze. With a record total of 27 boats, local North Carolina sailors were joined by seasoned racers from New York to Florida in what has become a popular East Coast event. This 10-mile race requires a unique combination of skills as sailors must circumnavigate Harkers Island through open water, paddle under a narrow drawbridge and traverse shallow marsh waters, sometimes by pulling their boats. Veteran Morehead City, NC, sailor, Ted Odell, took line honors for the second time in six years. Odell, still sharp and race-savvy at 84 years old said, “This proves you can sail and win in a Sunfish from age eight to 84.” On the other 66
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Ethan and Trudy Bixby of St. Petersburg sailed to a clear victory at the Windmill class Nationals on Albemarle Sound, Edenton, NC, July 16-18. Most of Bixby’s sailing is on a high performance 505 or somewhere in the world as professional crew on big boats, such as Roy Disney’s Pywacket. But the sailmaker enjoys sailing with wife Trudy on the small, low-tech Windmill. It was not a walkover, as Larry Christian of New Hampshire, with crew Jen Lancaster of Newport Harbor, CA, won two of the eight races and was second in most of the others. Third place was 2005 and 2006 title holder Dave Ellis of St. Pete with crew, young Nora Schaugnessy of Maine. Lakeland, FL, sailors Dan Fontaine and Kevin Calkins were the heaviest crew at the event, tipping the scales at well over 400 pounds combined. On the first day of sailing, they sailed the boat under the waves and had to be towed to shore with the hull and air tanks full. An evening of repairs and tweaking of the rig resulted in stellar finishes www.southwindsmagazine.com
The class has had resurgence, with fleets coast to coast. Low cost is one factor in popularity, but the sailing characteristics are fondly remembered by all who have sailed the Windmill.
10th Annual Fast Women Regatta, Point Yacht Club, Josephine, AL, July 14 By Kim Kaminski
Windmill Nationals in North Carolina. Photo by Dan Fontaine.
the last two days, giving them a sixth-place finish in the nationals. Calkins is off to graduate school, so Fontaine is looking for a lightweight crew. The Windmill was designed by the late Clark Mills of Clearwater. It was to have been the next step up for kids too large for the Optimist Pram, which he had previously designed. But the boat was a bit too tipsy for young teenagers. Their parents really liked the boat, however, relegating the kids to crew.
News & Views for Southern Sailors
On July 14, the Point Yacht Club hosted the 10th Annual Fast Women Regatta on Perdido Bay. Over the past 10 years, the number of competitors has fluctuated from race to race, but this year, a record number of boats, 17, entered the competition in five spinnaker classes (all five boats competing with only female crew aboard) and 12 non-spinnaker class boats (with six boats racing with all female crew). To encourage a large number of participants to enter the race series, the Point Yacht Club organizers decided it would be best to establish their ladies regatta rules just like the Navy Yacht Club’s Bikini Regatta rule, which allows only a female skipper on the helm at all times and at least 50 percent of her crew must be female. To add an extra incentive, the Point Yacht Club also offers a “Virgin Skipper” Award to a female skipper who takes the helm for the first time in a regatta. This year, winds were light at the scheduled start, (2 to 3 knots), and after an hour delay, the breeze only picked up
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SOUTHERN RACING ticipants in the Women’s Trilogy Series. Elaine has won the event three different times on three different boats, and each time keeps the crew coming back for more winning opportunities. The first-place trophy in the Non-Spinnaker fleet went to June Lovell aboard Clewless. Not only did June have the highest handicap on the race course, but she also had the best finish time in both the Non-Spinnaker and Spinnaker fleets.
27th Annual Bikini Regatta, Navy Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL, July 28 By Kim Kaminski Lisa Williams and her all-female crew on Harmony not only won second place in the Non-Spinnaker class but captured the Perpetual Trophy for the Best Finish by an All-Female Team at the 10th Annual Fast Women Regatta. Photo by Kim Kaminski.
to 4.5 knots. The decision was made to go ahead and start the race. An Olympic course (triangle, windward/leeward/windward) was established sending the Spinnaker fleet on its way as the first class to begin the race. The NonSpinnaker class followed the course five minutes later with better winds of 5 to 7 knots. A lonely thunderhead slowly appeared on the horizon as the ladies drifted around the race course. As the Spinnaker fleet began its windward leg following the triangle course, the breeze began to fill in (10 to 12 knots), but despite the better wind conditions, the race was shortened at the windward mark. Small craft warnings were starting to be announced on the weather radio, because as the day progressed, the thunderhead that was on the horizon had blossomed into a savage storm. As the ladies finished the race and set sail back to the docks, the winds increased in strength along with lightning and torrential rain. One team of lady sailors from the Non-Spinnaker fleet was hit from behind with a massive wind gust of 20-plus knots, which ripped their canvas Bimini top and knocked their boat on its side. The race committee boat quickly came to their aid and helped to tow the vessel back to shore. Everyone arrived safely and was eagerly awaiting the trophy presentation. Among the 17 contestants, two boats competed with “virgin skippers,” Reverie and Indy J with virgin skipper Melanie Klaas aboard Reverie earning this year’s title and perpetual trophy. The perpetual trophy for the best finish by an all-female team went to Lisa Williams and her crew aboard Harmony in the Non-Spinnaker class. First place in the Spinnaker fleet was earned by Elaine Boos and her all-female crew aboard her new boat, Siren. The “Siren Sisters” crew from New Orleans, LA, has endured many adventures over the past four years as par68
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The Navy Yacht Club of Pensacola has the distinction of being known as one of the first yacht clubs in the Florida Gulf Coast area to offer women a chance to compete in a PHRF racing competition mandating that a female skipper be at the helm. Twenty-seven years ago, Lloyd Stagg and his wife Beverly introduced this unique idea to the Navy Yacht Club. The idea was to encourage these women to take the helm and compete in a race. To emphasize the female aspect of the event, they decided to name the race the Bikini Regatta and added the requirement that 50 percent of the crew must also be female. Throughout the years, other local yacht clubs have taken this concept and have added their own ladies
Sailing in the Bikini Regatta in Pensacola, FL. Photo by George Hero.
regattas. The Bikini Regatta is the second race in the Women’s Trilogy Sailing Series that was established in 2001. On Saturday, July 28, lady sailors entered a total of 17 boats; seven Spinnaker class boats (with all six boats entered with an all-female crew) and 10 Non-Spinnaker class boats (with five boats entered with an all-female crew). Navy Yacht Club Fleet Captain Maryanne Hayes and her race committee team set up a double windward/leeward course of eight miles for the Spinnaker class and a triangle course of 8.7 miles for the Non-Spinnaker class. The skies were clear and the winds were strong at 14 to 16 knots out of the southwest. These conditions gave the lady athwww.southwindsmagazine.com
letes a challenging course as well as the race committee mark set boat, which had to re-position the windward mark as the winds rotated farther to the west throughout the day. Despite these challenges and all of the hard work for the crews, the entire fleet had a great day of sailing. Regatta Co-Chairs Barbara Russell and Terri Farris had the land-based operations well in hand as the racers returned to shore by providing food, drinks, memorabilia and novelty trophies (a canvas wine and cheese tote with the embroidered logo emblem of the Bikini Regatta sewn on to the front of the tote). Ted Cann and his Regatta Support Team added to the flavor of the race event by offering a delightful fruit drink known as the “Bikini Bliss” to all guests. The trophy presentation recognized Linda Thompson and her all-female crew aboard Trip2Nite who not only captured first place in the Spinnaker fleet but also earned the First Place Best Finish for an All-Female Team. Julie Denton and her mixed crew aboard Atlantic Union won the firstplace trophy in the Non-Spinnaker class A and Julie Connerley and her mixed crew aboard Coquina captured the first-place trophy in Non-Spinnaker class B.
■ REGIONAL RACING CALENDARS 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 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.
SEPTEMBER Charleston Ocean Racing Association. www.charlestonoceanracing.org Club Racing every other Sunday. 7 Georgetown Challenge 8 Ocean Race II 15,29 Fall Harbor Races 1 p.m. 22 Leukemia Cup Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org News & Views for Southern Sailors
1-2 15-16 15-16 22 29-30
New Bern FHYC Oar Regatta New Bern BSC Blackbeard Regatta Oriental ODC J-24 District 8 Championship Oriental NYRA NYRA Women’s Regatta Bath PSC Pamlico Hospice Cup/ICRC
Lake Lanier. www.lakelaniersailing.com 1-2 LLSC. Vernon Pickering Commodores Cup 3 LLSC Junior Commodores Cup 5,12 AISC Summer 2 - #9,10 7-9 SSC. Special Olympics Open Regatta 8-9 LLSC. Thistle Old Goat Regatta 15-16 BFSC Dorton Cup - Closed 15-16 LLSC. Battle of Atlanta Snipe Regatta 19 AISC Awards Party 22-23 LLSC. C-22 Gone with the Wind Regatta 22-23 PHRF Open Championships 26 LLSC Wednesday Fall #1 29 SSC Bill Sears #1 29-30 LLSC Opti Event 30 Aux Fleet Party (Be There Or Be Square!) South Atlantic Yacht Racing Assoc. www.sayra-sailing.com 3 SAYRA Youth Challenge. Juniors. LNYC 1-2 Labor Day Regatta. Open. LNYC 3 SIOD Worlds. SIOD. JIYC 8-9 Cat Fest. Catamarans. LNYC 8-9 Old Goat. Thistles. LLSC 15-16 Leukemia Cup/Wassaw Cup. PHRF, Open. SYC 15-16 Battle of Atlanta. Snipe. LLSC www.longbaysailing.com 7-8, 8-22 Regular Club Racing in Little River Inlet: OCTOBER Charleston Ocean Racing Association. www.charlestonoceanracing.org Club racing Wednesday evenings 6 p.m. Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org 6 Oriental. ODC. Neuse Solo Race 13,14 Merrimon. MCBC. Jackass Regatta 20 Oriental. ODC. Greens Creek Regatta 27 New Bern. NYRA. Halloween /Winter Race Lake Lanier. www.lakelaniersailing.com 6-7 Lightning Atlanta Cup. LLSC 10 Wednesday Fall#3. LLSC 13 Bill Sears #2. SSC 13-14 Laser Ga. State Championships LLSC 14 Fall Squall #1, #2. BFSC 17 Wednesday Fall #4. LLSC 20 Fall #1 (Bfsc Hosts)/Bfsc Fall Squall #3. LARC 20-21 Sailboard Regatta – Atlanta Fall Classic. LLSC 21 Bill Sears #3, #4. SSC 24 Wednesday Fall #5. LLSC 27-28 Halloween Open Regatta. LLSC South Atlantic Yacht Racing Assoc. www.sayra-sailing.com 6–7 SAISA 420 Regatta 420 LNYC 6 Around Paris Island Sunfish BYSC 6–7 Atlanta Cup Lightnings LLSC 13–14 Halloween Regatta Open ASC 13–14 Highlander Pipe Regatta Highlander LNYC 13–14 Georgia State Championship Laser LLSC 20–21 Calibogee Cup Open YCHHI 20–21 SC State Laser Championship Lasers BYSC 20–21 Nothing Finer MC Scows LNYC 20–21 Pipers Highlanders LNYC 20–21 Hospice of the Upstate PHRF WCSC 27–28 Carolina Ocean Challenge PHRF– J105– Harbor 20 SCYC 27–28 Turkey Shoot Open KSC SOUTHWINDS
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SOUTHERN RACING 27–28 Halloween Open LLSC www.longbaysailing.com 20 Summer Race. Little River Inlet 26-29 Stede Bonnett. TBA. Southport
SEPTEMBER 1 St. Augustine Race (offshore Mayport to St. Augustine) North Florida Cruising Club 1-3 Labor Day Regatta (monohulls) & Fleet 111 Catamaran Association. Rudder Club 1-2 Labor Day Series. Lake Eustis Yacht Club. 1-2 Steak & Lobster Regatta. Port Canaveral Yacht Club 5,12,19 Wed Nite Race. Indian River Yacht Club 7 Fall Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club 9 Small Boat Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club 9 Commodore Cup Race make up #3. Halifax River Yacht Club 9 Offshore Race. Ft. Pierce Yacht Club 15-16 Club Races. Lake Eustis Yacht Club 15 New Moon Merriment. Halifax River Yacht Club & 50th Anniversary Event. Halifax Sailing Association 15 J/24 Fleet 55 Boat of the Year. Florida Yacht Club 15 Fall Race #2. East Coast Sailing Association–Racing 16 Make up Commodore Cup Race #7. Halifax River Yacht Club 16 Fall Women’s Race #3 East Coast Sailing Association – Women 15-16 Wildcat Regatta (Catamaran Race) Fleet 80 & Lake Eustis Yacht Club. 19 Wed Nite Race. Indian River Yacht Club 21 Fall Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club 22 Fall Series #1. Rudder Club 22-23 8th Annual Wildcat Multihull Regatta. Lake Eustis Yacht Club 22-23 Titusville–Dixie Crossroads Cruise. East Coast Sailing Association – Cruising 18 Howl at the Moon. Halifax Sailing Association 29 NewName Regatta–Fall Series #2. Florida Yacht Club. 29-30 Mermaid Regatta. Melbourne Yacht Club 29-30 Jetty Park Ocean Regatta, Port Canaveral Jetty Park. Fleet 45 Space Coast Catamaran Association. (Rescheduled from June date). OCTOBER 3 Wed Nite Race. Indian River Yacht Club 5 Fall Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club 6 NFWSN–Women’s Regatta. North Florida Cruising Club 6 Fall Series #2. Rudder Club 6 Fall Race #3. East Coast Sailing Association–Racing 7 Fall Race #4. Indian River Yacht Club 10 Wed Nite Race. Indian River Yacht Club 13 Navy Day Regatta &Fall Series #3. Navy Jax Yacht Club 13-14 J-24 District 10 Championship. Florida Yacht Club 13-14 Boy Scout Island Cruise. East Coast Sailing Association – Cruising 17 Wed Nite Race. Indian River Yacht Club 19 Fall Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club 20 Fastest in the Forest Regatta. Epping Forest Yacht Club 20 Santa Fe Regatta. Gulf Atlantic Yacht Club 20-21 Florida Inland lake Championship. (Youth regatta for sailors 8 - 18). Lake Eustis Yacht Club 20-21 Fall Boat Regatta–Small Boats. Melbourne Yacht Club 21 Off Shore Race. Ft. Pierce Yacht Club. 24 Wed Nite Race. Indian River Yacht Club 70
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Howl at the Moon. Halifax Sailing Association Fall Series #3. Rudder Club Fall River Race & Fall Series #4. North Florida Cruising Club J-24 Fleet 55 Boat of the Year Race 2. Florida Yacht Club Fall Boat Regatta–Big Boats. Melbourne Yacht Club WoW Regatta – Fall Series #3 & Halloween Party. Rudder Club
Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.net SEPTEMBER 1-2 J/24 Match Racing. Flat Earth 9 J/24 #9. Flat Earth 15 BBYRA PHRF #9. MYC 22-23 FL State Snipe Juniors. CGSC 29 BBYRA OD#9. CRYC OCTOBER 6-7 Columbus Day Regatta 13 Columbus Day Awards 14 CGSC Annual Regatta - BBYRA PHRF#10 20-21 CGSC Annual Regatta - BBYRA OD#10 27 Conch Cup - MYC 27 J/24 #10 - Flat Earth Society. BBYRA Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.net CGSC Coconut Grove Sailing Club. www.cgsc.org CRYC Coral Reef Yacht Club. www.coralreefyachtclub.org. MYC Miami Yacht Club. www.miamiyachtclub.net.
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 summer 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. Regular club racing open to all. SEPTEMBER 1-2 Labor Day Regatta. Portsmouth, PHRF. Bay side. 15 Fall Series #1. Portsmouth. Bay side. 22-23 Harvest Regatta. Portsmouth. Bay side. 29-30 Nonsuch One Design. Bay side. OCTOBER 6 LUKI Regatta - Portsmouth - bay side. 6-7 Columbus Day Regatta - PHRF - Biscayne Bay. 7 UKSC Columbus Day PHRF - bay side. 13-14 Black Betsy Regatta - PHRF - bay side. 20 Fall Series #2 - Portsmouth - bay side. 21 Oceanside Championship #3 - PHRF - ocean side. 27 Halloween All-comers - bay side. www.southwindsmagazine.com
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SOUTHWINDS Annual Online West Florida Race Calendar Posted Sept. 1
As it has for the past four years, SOUTHWINDS magazine has posted the annual race schedule/calendar (9/1/07 — 8/31/08) on its Web site for all racing in the central west Florida area from just north of Tampa Bay south to Marco Island. The calendar includes all scheduled races of the West Florida PHRF organization (www.westfloridaphrf.org), plus club races in the area and any others that boaters in the area would like to post. Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com to list your race. All yacht clubs that are part of the West Florida PHRF will already be included, although regular local club races must be sent to us separately. We do not have space to list all the club race dates, but we will list any club race that is regularly scheduled (for example: every Thursday evening at 6 p.m.) plus the contact to enter the race. We do not list races that are not open to the general public and that are limited to club members only. (We list club races that require a club membership or US Sailing membership.) We will list any other races, even if not sanctioned by a PHRF organization. Contact the editor with those races. We ask that you not just send us a link (we will not accept them), but send the following information: The regatta/race name, type of racing (PHRF, one-design and type boat, or ?), race location, dates, sponsoring organization (club, sailing association, etc.), email and/or phone contact and Web site (if applicable). The race calendar can be accessed through the racing pages link at www.southwindsmagazine.com. It is also the race calendar link at the West Florida PHRF organization (www.westfloridaphrf.org) and many other sailing associations and yacht clubs in the area. Limited banner advertising is available on the race calendar page at very low monthly rates. Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com or call (941) 795-8704. Club Racing Bradenton YC. Winter Races starting in October until April. Races at 1:30 p.m. Thursday evening races at 6:30 pm start in April through Daylight Savings Time. PHRF racing on Manatee River. For info call Larry Lecuyer, (941) 729-5401. Dunedin Boat Club. Monthly club racing. For more information, contact saraherb@aol.com. 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. Punta Gorda Sailing Club. Charlotte Harbor. Fall Series Sunday afternoon racing begins Sept. 9 through Nov. 18. www.pgscweb.com. Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Friday evening races start in April. www.sarasotasailingsquad.com. Venice Sailing Squadron. Saturdays. First Saturday of each month, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet. www.venicesailing-squadron.org SEPTEMBER 1-2 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. Summerset, PHRF 1-2 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Labor Day Regatta, All classes 2 Tampa Bay Catamaran Sailors. Union Regatta, Dunedin Causeway 8 St. Pete Sailing Association. Race #1&2, PHRF News & Views for Southern Sailors
Davis Island YC. J/24 Season Opener Treasure Island T & YC. Fall #1, PHRF Gulf Coast Sailing Club, SAMI. Ladies Day Regatta, PHRF St. Petersburg YC. Bruce Watters Regatta. Optimist Green Fleet 15 Davis Island YC. Keelboat regatta, PHRF 15-16 Treasure Island T & YC. Neubauer Optimist Dinghy Regatta 16 Davis Island YC. Dore Drake Regatta Women’s PHRF 21-23 Bradenton YC. Kickoff Regatta, PHRF 22-23 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. Wildcat Regatta, Catamarans 29 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. Festival of the Islands, PHRF 29 Treasure Island T & YC. Fall #2, PHRF 29 Dunedin Boat Club. Dunedin Cup and Kiwanis Regatta, All classes. OCTOBER 6 Treasure Island T & YC. Fall #3, PHRF 6 Cortez YC. A Bay Race, PHRF (SBBOTY) 6 Tampa Sailing Squadron. Rumgatta Regatta, PHRF 7 Tampa Sailing Squadron. Rumgatta Women’s Regatta, PHRF 7 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Hula Cup, includes Sunfish Women’s States 13 St. Petersburg YC. Leukemia Cup, PHRF (Concurrent with Fall Bay) 13-14 St. Petersburg YC. Fall Bay Race, PHRF 13-14 Punta Gorda SC. Charity Regatta, One Design & Portsmouth 13-14 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Soc. Kayusa Cup Race/Cruise, PHRF See WEST FLORIDA/NORTHERN GULF COAST continued on page 84
BROKERS & BOAT OWNERS BOATS FOR SALE ADVERTISING CLASSIFIEDS ADS TEXT & PHOTO $50 FOR 3 MONTHS Prices for 3 months of advertising: • $50 for 30-word ad & horizontal photo ($65 for vertical photo)* • Power or Sail • New or used • No monthly changes (unless phone numbers, e-mails or prices) • Change your ad/boat for sale monthly at a total cost of $20 a month for ad and photo • 3-month minimum • Text-only ads – $25 • Small charge for more than 30 words • All ads go on the Internet on 1st of month or place it today for $10 • Brokers: monthly credit card billing on file unless a regular display advertiser (or prepay by check)
Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 795-8704 *Ads and photos must be e-mailed. $5 extra charges for photo scanning or typing in ads over the phone or ads mailed in. SOUTHWINDS
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CLASSIFIED ADS Ads Starting at 3 Months for $25 Place them on the Internet now for $10! Open to all Brokers, Businesses and Boat Owners • $25 for three months, 30 words. $40 for 40 words. $50 for 60 words. • $50 for 30-word ad with horizontal photo. $65 with vertical photo. • Add $15 if vertical photo. Boats and item wanted ads included. • Add $5 to place on the Internet on 1st of month of publication. Add $10 to place ad early. No refunds. • Ads prepaid by credit card, check, or Internet. • $10 to make changes (except for price, email, phone numbers, mistakes) in text. • The last month your ad runs will be in parentheses, e.g., (10/07) is October 2007. • Ad must be received by the 2nd Friday of
each month. Contact us if later to possibly get in the “Too Late to Classify” section. • E-mail ads and photos (as jpeg). If mailed, add $5 for typing or photo scan charge. DISPLAY ADS: Starting At $38/month. (941) 795-8704. Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com. BROKERS: Photo and text ads only apply to this offer. $5 to change your ad first 3 months. After 3 months: $20 a month for a new ad or $15 to pick up old ad. Price changes and mistake changes free. Credit card must be on file if not a monthly display advertiser.
TO PLACE AN AD 1. On the Internet, go to www.southwindsmagazine.com/classifieds. Paypal: Put your ad in the “Message to Seller” area that will come at the end when you process the payment, or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com. Photo must be e-mailed. 2. E-mail, Phone, Credit Card. E-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com with text in email (or Word document). Call with credit card number (941) 795-8704. 3. Mail your ad in. PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218. Check or credit card number (with name, expiration, address). Enclose a SASE if photo wanted back.
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BOATS & DINGHIES _________________________________________ Port-a-Boat folding boat. 12 Ft. $400 OBO (727) 585-2814. Largo, FL. (9/07)
2006 Compac Eclipse. 20’ 10” LOA. R/F Genoa, spinnaker, quiet rig system, Bimini, sail cover, Porta-a-Potty, stove, sink, four births, galvanized trailer, etc. stored inside, asnew condition. $22,000. (561) 439-7664. West Palm Beach. (10/07)
TOO LATE TO CLASSIFY
See this section at the end of classifieds for ads that came in too late to place in their appropriate section. Contact us if you have a last-minute ad to place—we still might have time in this section.
BOATS & GEAR FOR FREE
_________________________________________ SOUTHWINDS is starting this section for people who have boats they want to get rid of, whether on land or in the water. List your boat for free with up to 50 words and a horizontal photo. Editor reserves the right to not list or discontinue any boat or gear he chooses. “Boats wanted” listings only by approval of editor. Ads will run for three months and then be canceled if not renewed. Contact us by the 2nd Saturday of the month preceding to renew or for new ads. Boats must be in the Southern coastal states. No businesses. Boom off a C&C 29. Measures 10’3” long by 3.5” high. Free but pick up only in West Palm Beach, FL. (561) 655-9555. (9/07) 2” Display Ads Starting at $38/mo. editor@southwindsmagazine.com 941-795-8704
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16’ Precision 165 Sailboat. This 2004 Sailboat is in perfect condition. Includes 4stroke Yamaha 2.5 HP Outboard. Boat is built in Palmetto, FL. See Web site for all details and retail price, www.precisionboatworks.com. This boat lists new for $10,995. I’m asking $9000 including motor. This boat can be seen at Regatta Pointe Marina, 1005 Riverside Drive, Palmetto, FL. Talk to the Harbormaster (941) 729-6021. (11/07)
1975 Catalina 22. Ready to sail. Retrofit summer (2006). Too much new to list in ad. E-mail for brochure. hytedin@hotmail.com. Trailer, new Tohatsu 6hp., warranty. (850) 443-7451. $5000 firm (9/07)
Mold to build traditional-shaped 18’ canoe. Very sturdy split mold. Boats were built under the name Clearwater Canoe. Ellie’s Sailing Shop. Clearwater. (727) 442-3281. (9/07)
$50 – 3 mo. Ad & Photo 941-795-8704 www.southwindsmagazine.com
CLASSIFIED ADS 22’ 1968 Westerly Cirrus. Stout little cruiser. Yanmar 2005, Navik self-steering vane, standing headroom (6’), enclosed head. Lying in NE Florida. Ready to go. Excellent condition. $12,500. (228) 324-6504. (9/07)
27 Watkins 1982. Fully equipped, clean, safe, solid shallow draft cruiser. Full galley, dinette, ice box, stove. Head w/shower. Sleeps 5. Recent refit. Rebuilt Yanmar diesel. New bottom. Roller furling. Wheel. Bimini. Extra sails. Slip available. Asking $ 14900. Randy: (727) 323-5300. (11/07)
1987 Catalina 30. Beautiful condition. Fresh Imron hull. New SS Bimini, canvas, lifelines, and 7K A/C. Recent upgrades include autopilot, GPS mapper, wind and depth, and cold plate refrigeration. Avon 10.2 RIB w/15hp Yamaha and trailer. $34,000. Biloxi, MS. (228) 669-0092. (10/07) _________________________________________ 30’ Newport 1973. Diesel. Good working condition. Upgrade. Documented and registered. Ready to cruise to Bahamas. Extra sails. Best boat for this price. $9,950 OBO. Located at Dania. (305) 331-3317. (10/07)
1983 Cape Dory 25D. Yanmar Diesel. Bristol condition. Totally refurbished 2006. New running/standing rigging. Awlgrip. New Furler. New sails. New upholstery, batteries, solar panels, head, stove. $21,900. (941) 9206247. carsail1260@yahoo.com. (10/07)
Southern Cross 28 cutter with Westerbeke diesel, Pro furl, Autohelm, radar, mapping GPS, and much more. Excellent condition. Located in Pensacola, FL. Asking $35,000. (850) 501-2532. (9/07) 31’ Catalina 310, 2004. Just taken in trade on new Catalina. In-mast furling, air conditioning, Autopilot, ST-60 wind/speeddepth, VHF w/Ram Mic, custom Bimini/windshield, microwave, nice condition $89,900 Massey Yacht Sales. (727) 824-7262 St Petersburg, or (941) 723-1610 Palmetto, FL.
1976 Tartan 27, $9000, 3’ draft to 6’ w/centerboard, New bottom, hull paint. Atomic 4. Very good condition. New head, holding tank, 130 genoa with Pro-furl. Fairhope, AL. (251) 747-2013. (9/07)
28’ S-2 Sloop 1979. Yanmar diesel, 4’6” draft, wheel steering, auto pilot and Tri-Data Autohelm instrument new 2002, 12V refrigerator, good sail inventory, quality construction and proven design. Asking $23,000. For more info, call (727) 560-0901. 32 Gulf Pilothouse, complete refit: all new 2005- standing running rigging, performance sails, wiring, circuit breakers panel, water heater, holding/macerator, fuel tanks, 12v/110 standing fridge-freezer, propane cooktop, infared broiling, 3 batteries, autocharger, 17000 btu heat/air, Bimini. $39,500. sailsetc@aug.com (904) 810-1966. (10/07)
1985 Catalina 27 Tall rig with Universal diesel, 4’ draft. wheel steering, Hood furling, head w/shower, Bimini, autopilot, VHF, GPS, depth, galley, cockpit table, sleeps 5. Reduced for quick sale $12,900 (941) 792-9100
Southwinds Classifieds. Distributed throughout 8 Southern coastal states. $25 for up to 30 words for 3 months editor@southwindsmagazine.com
941-795-8704 News & Views for Southern Sailors
San Juan 28. 1980. FWC Yanmar. 700 Hrs., 4’ 6” draft, 4 sails included, all as new, Shore full batten main w/150 Genoa. 3 ground tackle, windlass, electronics, tiller autopilot, inflatable w/OB, no hurricane damage, sail away condition. $9500. For fax and info, call (586) 4687461, or (586) 405-2261. Located in Ft. Lauderdale. (9/07)
1983 S2 9.1 Racer/Cruiser. 3 headsails, spinnaker, GPS,VHS, depth sounder, extra sheets, gas stove, ice box, enclosed head w/shower, teak table. Asking $13,950. (941) 729-5401. (9/07) SOUTHWINDS
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CLASSIFIED ADS
Morgan O.I. 33. Full keel, only 3’ 11” draft. Yanmar 38hp diesel w/only 950 hrs. The Out Island series by Charlie Morgan is well known for their exceptional interior volume. The shallow draft make it an excellent choice for cruising the Keys and Bahamas. Loaded with new equipment and upgrades including: Autopilot, color chartplotter GPS, electric windlass, wind generator, propane stove, refrigerator, marine air conditioning, dinghy with new OB, flat screen TV, stereo and more. Owner has new boat ordered. Here is a chance to get a great boat for a great price. Located Marathon. Asking $27,500, but let’s hear your offer. Cortez Yacht Sales (941) 792-9100.
33’ Cape Dory 330 Cutter 1986, Universal diesel 28 hp, 2002 electronics, roller furling jib and staysail, liferaft ‘04, dinghy and 9 hp Nissan, bimini and dodger ‘05, A/C, extensive inventory and upgrades $62,500. St. Augustine, FL. (866) 610-1703 www.sayachtsales.com
36’ Morgan Out Island Sloop 1974, Perkins 50 hp, 2003 electronics, upgraded sails and 2003 standing /running rigging, Generator, custom drive platform, lots of ugrading,ready to cruise, $39,900. St. Augustine, FL, (toll free) (866) 610-1703. www.sayachtsales.com. (9/07) Searunner 37 Phaedrus. New main, water maker, solar, Yanmar 2GM, new rigging & lifelines LPU paint, new bunks & galley cushions. Much more. Just back from western Caribbean $49,999. captpondo@yahoo.com. (985) 966-3504. (10/07)
Caliber 35’ 1994. Original owner, very nicely maintained, all records, must see to appreciate. Asking $99,900. Open to offers. Contact SCI Yacht Sales at (727) 823-7400, or Jacek at (727) 560-0901. (10/07)
33’ Pearson Sloop 1987, 18 hp Yanmar w/ 522 hrs., complete engine service 1-07, maxed out w/ cruising gear, owner is anxious and will trade for 40’-47’ sailboat. $54,500. St. Augustine, FL, (toll free) (866) 610-1703. www.sayachtsales.com.
1980 C&C Landfall 38. Legendary speed, comfort, quality. 5 sails, radar, GPS, AP, wind, depth, speed/log. new equip: RF dinghy with davits, Bimini, stove. Slip available. 2-boat owner. $57k OBO (727) 709-3375. (9/07)
35 Fuji/Alden Ketch 1974. $45,000. Totally refitted with all top gear 2005. Yanmar 4HJ2. Ultraleather, new rigging and canvas, full electronics, 3.5 Nissan OB, beautiful classic. Clearwater. (813) 391-0470. (9/07)
33’ Tartan Sloop 1980. Shoal Draft. Universal diesel 24 hp, 990 hrs, owner of 15 years has done constant upgrading, full electronics w/radar, AC-heat, roller furling main & headsail, a beauty in and out. Asking $33,000. St Augustine, FL. (toll free) (866) 610-1703. Will trade for 40’+ sailboat. www.sayachtsales.com.
2001 Beneteau Oceanis 381. Air conditioning, Autopilot ST6000, speed and depth, Ray Chart 425 plotter, new Bimini, electric windlass, new bottom paint. Only $128k. Call Eastern Yachts at (561) 844-1100
39’ Fair Weather Mariner Sloop 1986, Robert Perry design, 42 hp Mercedes diesel, sleeps 6, Great headroom and extra long berths, tremendous storage, high quality in and out, Burmese teak tongue and groove, a must see, asking $126,900 St Augustine, FL. (Toll free) (866) 610-1703 www.sayachtsales.com. (11/07) 80 September 2007
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CLASSIFIED ADS POWERBOATS
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Privilege 39 1988 Cat. 4 cabin, 2 head. Yanmar 27hp. Major refit 2005. New UK sails, AC/heat, Onan genset 6.5kw, Autohelm 7000, new interior, Corian counters, teak sole, Bimini/dodger $174,900. (321) 917-5863. palexy@cfl.rr.com. (10/07)
42’ Tayana Centercockpit 1989, Yanmar Diesel w/482 original hours, Northern Lights 5kw generator w/281 hrs. Dodger, dinghy, electric windlass, Radar. In our yard in St Augustine, FL. $119,000. (866) 610-1703 www.sayachtsales.com
1979 Bristol 40 Yawl. 40 HP Perkins Diesel, Harken Roller Furling, Main, Mizzen, 100% Jib, 140% Genoa, Epoxy bottom, cockpit table, propane stove, windlass, CQR anchor w/ 150’ chain, Fortress anchor, classic sailing yacht. Asking only $59,000. Call Major Carter at ( 941) 792-9100 or go to www.cortezyachts.com
42’ Whitby Center cockpit ketch 1978, Ford Lehman diesel, original owners. Must sell now $59,000. St. Augustine, FL, (toll free) (866) 610-1703. www.sayachtsales.com.
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
41’ Morgan Out Island 1972. Repower 52 hp Westerbeke, NEW mast (Selden in-mast furling), new running and standing rigging, new chain plates, new lifelines, new mainsail, new Adler Barbour refrigerator, Heart invertor, electric windlass, etc.! Completely refurbished interior. Must sell. Asking $57,500 (239) 6992833. (11/07)
News & Views for Southern Sailors
43’ Beneteau 1986. Two cabin lay-out, original owner, K/CB (5’6” - 8’6”), Perkins 4-108, Two AC units, reverse cycle, LONG list of sail inventory. Proven Winner! Great racer/cruiser. Asking $82,900. For more info, call (727) 560-0901.
2005 Albin 26 TE. Seeking an owner enjoying evening sunsets by the water. This 26 likes weekending in Bahamas and looking good in the process. Great galley, she can cook and has a great head. Powered by Volvo diesel!!! 88.5k. (561) 844-1100.
2005 Albin 31 TE. Twin Yanmar 370 turbos wolf in sheep’s clothing!!! 53k less than replacement!!! New warranties apply. Options package worth 18k. Never titled. Most powerful 31 on market. Call today and let’s talk dream boats. (561) 844-1100.
43’ Californian Cockpit Motoryacht/ Trawler 1985, T/ Cat 210 diesels, very economical to run, 8 kw Westerbeke generator w/ 784 hrs., Marine Air AC/Heat, Custom aluminum Hardtop with new enclosure, roomy double stateroom, double head, no teak decks, aluminum fuel tank, $89,000 Will consider sailboat in partial trade. St Augustine,FL. (866) 610-1703. www.sayachtsales.com
47’ Beneteau Sloop 2006, 72 hp Yanmar, Boat like new, 2 stateroom- 2 head model, Cruise Air A/C-Heat, Full canvas enclosure, 2007 Rib, 15 hp Yamaha 4-stroke, Water maker, Life Raft, Full Electronics, Cruise ready, Must be sold, $259,000 St Augustine, FL. (866) 610-1703. www.sayachtsales.com 47 Crowther Catamaran Project. Main structure near completion. Very fair hulls. Details @ http://home.tampabay.rr.com/2muchfun/. Located in Palmetto, FL. Looking to get $40k. Call David at 813-645-0670. (9/07)
Schucker 440 Trawler. Bruce Van Sant’s trawlerized Tidak Apa. Spend summer safely moored in Luperón. Fit out with Bruce’s help. Asking $70,000. Get complete information and photos at www.LuperonCruising.com. (809) 821-8239. (10/07) SOUTHWINDS
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CLASSIFIED ADS BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES _________________________________________ 36 ft. mast. Dwyer 625, 2 Harken winches, Single spreader, 12-ft boom. New in 2002. $1000; Florida. (321) 536-7007. (9/07)
Used Boat Gear for Sale. CQR 25 & 45#, Bruce 16 & 66#, Hookah by Airline, 55# Folding Fisherman anchor, Para-tech 15 w/Rode, Edson Rack & Pinion steering w/wheel, new awning w/side curtains. Nautical Trader, 110 E. Colonia Lane, Nokomis, FL. Shop online at www.nauticaltrader.net. (941) 488-0766.
BOAT REGISTRATION
_________________________________________ EASIEST, FASTEST MONTANA BOAT REGISTRATION Pay no sales tax-no attorney necessary. $$ Save Thousands on boat registration $$. 12 years experience – REGISTRATION IN 5 DAYS! (877) 913-5100 www.mtvehicles.com. (10/07)
BUSINESS FOR SALE/ INVESTMENT _________________________________________ Stainless Steel Cleats. 316 SS Made in USA. NO offshore junk. One pair of 10” cleats for $32, (includes shipping in Florida). One Pair of 8” cleats for $24 (includes shipping in Florida). (239) 209-6171. wilcompton@earthlink.net. (11/07)
CABIN HOT? ODORS? WHOLE-BOAT VENTILATOR drives out heat, cooking, head and mildew odors. Five-minute air changes w/16,000 cubic ft of fresh air moving through your cabin every hour. Lightweight portable unit easily attaches and detaches from your existing hatch at your convenience. No boat modifications required. Made in USA. SUMMER SPECIAL - $199.95 – SAVE $60 Please see our video at – www.FreshBreezVenitlator.com. (11/07) Honda 15 hp Outboard. New 2001, short shaft, manual start, new prop, excellent condition, paid $2600, sacrafice $115 0/OBO. Also FOLLOW ME TV—watch satellite TV on the hook, cost $950, sell $350/OBO. Cape Coral, FL. (239) 699-2833. (11/07) _________________________________________ Commercial sewing machines. For sale Phaff 545, lg bob, str stch/walk ft, rev. w/new table & motor $1,095. Adler 267GK, lg bob, str stch/walk ft, rev. w/table & stand $1,095. Consew 226, rev. str stch/walk ft, w/table & stand $999. Phaff 230 Zigzag $395. Tampa Bay Area. Call (941) 721-4471. _________________________________________ Hobie 18 Mast for Sale. (We think it is a Hobie 18). Measures 26 feet. Top 7 feet is carbon. Serial # 38272 Coleman Co. $60. Near Sarasota, FL. (941) 966-4737.
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Marine canvas and mobile sailboat rigging business for sale in Port Charlotte, FL. Established 14 years. $30,000. (941) 6274399. Pbgvtrax@comcast.net. (11/07) _________________________________________ 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. Also dealing with architectural soft product. Respond to LOFT220@hotmail.com. _________________________________________ Marine Business for Sale. Used marine supplies business for sale. The Nautical Trader in Florida is for sale. Buy, consign, sell quality used boat stuff. Steady growth for over 12 years. Profitable, turn key, unique, fun business. www.nautical trader.net. Opportunity like this is very rare. Call today or e-mail Joe at (941) 488-0766, or Joe@nauticaltrader.net.
CREW AVAILABLE/WANTED
_________________________________________ Visit SOUTHWINDS boat and crew listing service at southwindsmagazine.com
DONATE YOUR BOAT
_________________________________________ Donate your boat to the Safe Harbor Boys Home, Jacksonville, Fl. Setting young lives on a true path. Please consider donating your working vessel. http://boyshome.com/ or call (904) 757-7918, e-mailharbor@boyshome.co
HELP WANTED
_________________________________________ ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR WANTED SOUTHWINDS is looking for a sales director to run sales program. Great sales percentage. For more info (requirements & job description), go to www.southwindsmagazine.com/adrep info.html. Yacht Broker Wanted. Growing company, with years of experience, in Tampa Bay looking for a team player. Great company support. Call (727) 823-7400, or Yacek at (727) 560-0901. _________________________________________ www.southwindsmagazine.com
CLASSIFIED ADS Office Manager Fort Lauderdale Sailing Organization. Seven Seas Cruising Association, a non-profit serving 9000+ cruisers worldwide, seeks mature, exp. person to run our busy 3-person home base. Job involves supporting Board of Directors, managing budget and accounting, directing staff and volunteers, and event planning. Job description and application at www.ssca.org. Email resume to membership@ssca.org. (12/07) _________________________________________ 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 (941) 7231610 for interview appointment and position details. _________________________________________ 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.
LODGING FOR SAILORS
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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
News & Views for Southern Sailors
R EAL ESTATE FOR SALE OR RENT _________________________________________
“SAILBOAT WATER” DUPLEX. Redington Shores in Pinellas Co., Tampa Bay. Just off the Intracoastal Waterway. Dock with 2 slips to accommodate two 40’ boats. $525,000. Bob Sackett (727) 527-7373 Hofacker & Associates, Inc., Realtors. (10/07)
Waterfront Condo for Sale with deeded dock. Clearwater Bay close to high bridge inlet. Pool, Tennis Courts, and other amenities. 2 Bed, 2 Bath. 1530 sq. ft. Martha Vasquez. Century 21. (727) 462-2500. mvasquez@c21sunshine.com. (10/07) New construction luxurious 3/2.5 marina condo overlooking the Indian River (Intracoastal Waterway) in Melbourne, FL. Indoor parking, pool, short walk to historic downtown Melbourne. Contact Craig Howell (407) 864-2590. (7/07)
TOO LATE TO CLASSFY
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SAILS & CANVAS
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40’ deep-water slip situated in prestigious Harbortown Marina on the Intracoastal Waterway, Jacksonville, FL. Access to ocean nearby. Water, insurance, dock carts, etc. included in $145/mo fee. $120,000. Call Katherine (904) 422-8262.
ADVERTISE YOUR BOAT $25 for up to 30 words for 3 months SOUTHWINDS
September 2007 83
WEST FLORIDA/NORTHERN GULF COAST continued from page 71 18-21 St. Petersburg YC. Rolex Osprey Cup, Women’s Match Racing. Sonars 19-20 Naples Yacht Club. Offshore Distance Regatta, PHRF (SWFBOTY) 20-21 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Multihull Invitational & Stiletto Champs 20 St. Petersburg Sailing Association. PHRF 20-21 Edison Sailing Center. River Romp, Junior Olympic Festival, One Designs 20-21 Davis Island YC. J/24 Toberfest 20-21 Lake Eustis SC. Florida Inland Lake Champs, Sailors ages 8-18 24-28 St. Petersburg YC. Distance Classic to Fantasy Fest/Key West, PHRF 26-27 Davis Island YC. Classic to Clearwater. PHRF 27 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Great Pumpkin Regatta, PHRF 27-28 Clearwater YC. Sunfish Regional Regatta
Wednesday Evening Fun Races PYC. Every Wednesday of the Month, April thru October Fort Walton Yacht Club. April thru October SEPTEMBER 1-3 Lipton Cup (Capdevielle). Buccaneer Yacht Club 8 Commodore’s Cup Race #5. Navy Yacht Club
ALPHABETICAL INDEX
OF
ADVERTISERS
Adventure Cruising & Sailing School . . . . .45 American Marine & Supply . . . . . . . . . .9,55 Annapolis Performance Sailing . . . . . . . . . .50 Antigua Surveying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Aqua Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Atlantic Sail Traders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Banks Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Beachmaster Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Beneteau Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Beta Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Boaters Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,55 Bo’sun Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 BradentOn YC Kick Off Regatta . . . . . . . . .63 Bubba Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Capt. Jimmy Hendon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Capt. Josie Sailing School . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Catalina Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,55 Century 21 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Clearwater Yacht Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Compete-At Regatta Management . . . . . .61 Coral Reef Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Cortez Cup Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Cortez Flea Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Cortez Yacht Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Cruising Direct Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Defender Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Dockside Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26,56 Doyle Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Dunbar Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Dwyer mast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Eastern Yachts/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . .9,74,BC Edwards Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76,77 E-marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45,82 Flying Scot Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Full Sail Yacht Delvieries/Capt. . . . . . . . . . .44 Garhauer Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 84
September 2007
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Great Lake Regatta. Corinthian Sailing Association, New Orleans Yacht Club and South Shore Yacht Club 8-9 Back to School Regatta (Capdevielle). Pontchartrain Yacht Club 15 Lost Bay Regatta. Point Yacht Club 15 Single Hand against the Lake. Tammany Yacht Club 15-16 Opti LA State Championships (youth)Southern Yacht Club 21-23 Houston NOOD (one design). Houston Yacht Club 22 Oil Rig Race. Pensacola Beach Yacht Club 22 Middle Bay Light Regatta. Buccaneer Yacht Club 22-23 Coco Seaman Regatta. Southern Yacht Club 22 Race Week 420 (Capdevielle/youth). Long Beach Yacht Club 29 PYC Championship #3. Pensacola Yacht Club 29-30 Wadewitz Regatta (Capdevielle)(PHRF). Fairhope Yacht Club OCTOBER 6 Commodore’s Cup Race # 6 - Navy YC, 6 Hospitality Regatta (one design) - Jackson YC, MS 6 Shearwater Regatta (one design) - Ocean Springs YC, MS 6-7 GYA Multihull - Ocean Springs YC, Ocean Springs, MS 12-14 WFORC (West Florida Ocean Racing Circuit) - Pensacola YC, 13-14 Fish Class Worlds - Buccaneer YC, Mobile, AL 13-14 Performance Nationals - Key Sailing, Pensacola Beach, FL 14 Pink Ribbon Regatta - Lake Pontchartrain Women’s Sailing Association, New Orleans, LA 20 Closing Regatta - New Orleans YC, New Orleans, LA 20 Gumbo Regatta (one design) - Lake Arthur YC, LA 21 Schreck Regatta (Capdevielle) - Pensacola YC, 27 Halloween Regatta - Pensacola Beach YC, 27 LPRC (Lake Pontchartrain Racing Circuit), New Orleans, LA 27 Anniversary Regatta - Mobile YC, AL 27 Cat Caper Bluewater Bay Sailing Club. Niceville, FL 27-28 GYA Fish Class Regatta - Buccaneer YC, Mobile, AL
TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN SOUTHWINDS! SOUTHWINDS provides these lists as a courtesy and asks our readers to support our advertisers. The lists includes all display advertising.
Glacier Bay Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Global-Weather Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Gulf Island Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,55 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Hotwire/Fans & other products . . . . . . . .44 Hurricane Hoops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Innovative Marine Services . . . . . . . . . .31,45 Island Yachting Centre/Greg Knighton . . .73 J/Boats - Murray Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . .75,BC JR Overseas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Laurie Kimball Realtor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Leather Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Lex-Sea Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Lighthouse Builders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45,82 Martha Vasquez Realtor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Massey Yacht Sales . . . . . . . .IFC,9,10,41,IBC Masthead Enterprises . . . . . . . . . .4,55,72,83 Mastmate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Melbourne YC Fall Regattas . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . .BC National Sail Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Nautical Trader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 North Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,83 Palm Beach Sailing Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Porpoise Used Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Premiere Racing Key West Regatta . . . . . . .11 Quantum Sarasota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke . . . . .16 Regatta Pointe Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Rparts Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Sailing Florida Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Sailors Wharf boatyard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Sailrite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Sailtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Salty John Marine Products . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Sarasota Invitational Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program . . . . . . . .21 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Schurr Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Scurvy Dog Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Sea School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Sea Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22,82 Shadetree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Snug Harbor Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Solar Lite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 St. Augustine Sailing School . . . . . . . . . . .45 St. Barts/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC St. Pete YC Leukemia Cup & Fall Bay Race 62 Strictly Sail Boat Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Suncoast Inflatables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Suncoast Multihull Rendezvous . . . . . . . . . .3 Sunrise Sailing Services . . . . . . . . . . . . .31,44 Tackle Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Tampa Sailing Squadron Rumgatta . . . . . . .3 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program . .23 Tideminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 TowBoatUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Turner Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 UK Halsey Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Ullman sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44,45,83 Watersports West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 West Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Weston Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 WFORC Pensacola YC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Winchmate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Wyvern Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Yachting Vacations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
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ADVERTISERS INDEX
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CATEGORY
TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN SOUTHWINDS! SOUTHWINDS provides these lists as a courtesy and asks our readers to support our advertisers. The lists includes all display advertising.
SAILBOATS – NEW AND BROKERAGE American Marine & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,55 Beneteau Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Boaters Exchange/Catalina Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,55 Catalina Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,55 Cortez Yacht Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Dunbar Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Eastern Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Edwards Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76,77 Flying Scot Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Gulf Island Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,55 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Island Yachting Centre/Gregg Knighton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 Massey Yacht Sales/Catalina//Hunter/Albin . . . . . . . . .IFC,9,10,41,IBC Masthead Yacht Sales/Catalina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,55,72,83 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75,BC Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Snug Harbor Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 St. Barts/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Suncoast Inflatables/ West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Turner Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Watersports West/Windsurfing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHING Annapolis Performance Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Boaters Exchange, boats, gear, etc. Rockledge FL . . . . . . . . . . . .16.55 Bo’sun Supplies/Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Coral Reef Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Defender Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 E-Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45.82 Garhauer Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Hotwire/Fans & other products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Hurricane Hoops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 JR Overseas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Leather Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Masthead Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,55,72,83 Mastmate Mast Climber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Rparts Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Salty John Marine Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Shadetree Awning Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Solar Lite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, Precision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Tideminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Watersports West/wet suits, etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 West Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Winchmate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS, RIGGING SERVICES Atlantic Sail Traders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida . . . . . . . . . . .31 Cruising Direct/sails online by North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Dwyer Mast/spars, hardware, rigging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 Innovative Marine Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31,45 Masthead/Used Sails and Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,55,72,83 National Sail Supply, new&used online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 North Sails, new and used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,83 Porpoise Used Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Quantum Sails and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Schurr Sails, Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Snug Harbor Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Sunrise Sailing Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31,44 UK Halsey Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Ullman Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44,45,83 CANVAS Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida . . . . . . . . . . .31 Quantum Sails and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Used Sailing/Boating Supplies Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign, West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Scurvy Dog Marine/Used, Consign, Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Sailing Schools/Deliveries/Captains Adventure Cruising and Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Capt. Jimmy Hendon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 News & Views for Southern Sailors
Capt. Josie Sailing School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Full Sail Sailing Deliveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Sailing Florida Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Sea School/Captain’s License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 St. Augustine Sailing School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Wyvern Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 MARINE ENGINES AND ACCESSORIES Beta Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 REAL ESTATE Martha Vasquez, Century 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 RESORTS, MARINAS, RESTAURANTS, BOAT YARDS Regatta Pointe Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Sailors Wharf Boatyard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 FRACTIONAL SAILING/CHARTER COMPANIES Lex-Sea Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Sailtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Yachting Vacations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 MARINE SERVICES, SURVEYORS, INSURANCE, TOWING, BOAT LETTERING, ETC. Antigua Surveying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Aqua Graphics/Boat Names/Tampa Bay or buy online . . . . . . . . . . .30 Beachmaster Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 TowBoatUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 MARINE ELECTRONICS Dockside Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26,56 Sea Tech/Navigation/Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22,82 BOOKS/CHARTS/VIDEOS Bubba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Global Weather Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Southwinds Cruising Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 YACHT CLUBS Palm Beach Sailing Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 REGATTA ADVERTISEMENTS, BOAT SHOWS WFORC Pensacola YC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Bradenton YC Kick Off Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Clearwater Yacht Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Cortez Cup Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Premiere Racing Key West Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Sarasota Invitational Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 St. Pete YC Leukemia Cup & Fall Bay Race . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Strictly Sail Boat Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Suncoast Multihull Rendezvous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Tampa Sailing Squadron Rumgatta Alphabetical Advertisers’ List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Marine Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44-45 Regional Sailing Services Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30-31 Subscription Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85 Southwinds Store Cruising Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
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SOUTHWINDS
September 2007
85
Cruising with Credit Cards By Capt. Ron Butler
A
few years ago, I either lost my wallet or was pickpocketed in Nassau, Bahamas. That wallet was never recovered, and our financial loss was limited to the $200 cash in the wallet. Of course, I also lost four credit cards, my driver’s license, fishing license, personal photos, radio operator’s permit, Social Security card, and other assorted stuff. Replacing all those cards was a chore but more of a phone-calling hassle than anything. By the time we returned to the United States several months later, most of the items had been replaced and were waiting for us in the mail. We were lucky in that, apparently, whoever found or stole the wallet only cared about the cash and did not use the credit cards or the other information in the wallet. I can only hope that whoever found my wallet really needed the money and put it to good use. We were also able to limit our financial loss by the following steps. 1. We discovered the loss right away. We had just stepped off a bus when I discovered my wallet was gone. We had recently paid for lunch, so we knew it wasn’t long gone. 2. We immediately used Carole’s debit card to get as much cash as we could from the nearest ATM ($500) since we didn’t know if we would be able to use it once we reported my card lost. 3. She carries duplicate credit cards so we had her cards as a reference for the customer service phone numbers of the various card services. 4. One of our cards carries loss protection, and when we called them, they contacted all of our other credit card accounts and shut down the cards and accounts. The problem with that is now all of her credit cards were also cancelled. 5. Our debit card company (Wachovia) was able to cancel my card without canceling Carole’s. Nice feature. Turns out that when we called, they could see our $500 withdrawal that day and questioned it…pretty amazing given Bahamas telecom services.
passwords and PINS in a separate place. I use an Excel Spreadsheet on my PC that is password-protected to save the dozens of log-ins, PINS and passwords that we have. 2. Carry only one credit/debit card with you and minimal cash…leave the rest hidden away on the boat. 3. Keep your bill-paying system separate from your sources of funds. By this, I mean, do not automatically replenish your checking account from a retirement fund or other funding source. If they’re connected, and you have “overdraft’ protection,” your funds could be wiped out before you discover the loss. 4. Do NOT pay your credit cards automatically from your checking account. If your cards get stolen and used, the card company may get paid before you discover the loss. We pay them by using the electronic banking feature. Periodically, we pay for an Internet connection and pay the credit card bills manually using the bank’s “Bill Pay” system. We also electronically transfer cash into checking from our Fidelity account. We only keep, at most, a couple of month’s expenses in the checking account with a couple of thousand in an overdraft savings account just in case we’re late doing the banking. If someone were to “break into” our checking account, that’s the most they could get.
Lessons Learned
5. Do set up fixed routine expenses for automatic payment from your checking account. By this I mean, insurance, utilities, services, slip rent, condo fees… stuff like that, where you know what the amounts will be in advance (or approximately so). With our Wachovia account we can set up automatic debits for things like the electric bill or even our lawn service. It saves time paying bills even when you’re not out cruising. We’re down to only a couple of bills that we like to review before we pay them … mainly credit card statements. Likewise, most of our bills are now sent to us electronically. Usually, we get an e-mail notice, and then we log onto our account on the billing company’s Web site to see the latest statement.
1. Keep your credit/debit card contact numbers and account numbers someplace where you can find them quickly… Blackberry, cell phone, PDA, or computer? Keep
6. Keep your wallet in a pocket with a Velcro or buttondown flap.
We reported it, also that day, to the Bahamian Police and our marina, in case the wallet turned up. One credit card company sent us a new card by FedEx overnight to the marina. All of the services we called that day including Wachovia, AT&T, MasterCard, Visa, and others were very cooperative and sympathetic. We really appreciated their customer service ethic.
86 September 2007
SOUTHWINDS
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