Southwindsoctober2006 by SOUTHWINDS Magazine

SOUTHWINDS News & Views for Southern Sailors

Crossing the Gulfstream Cruising with Courtesy Bahamas’ Family Island Regatta October 2006 For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

October 2006

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See us at Strictly Sail St. Pete, Nov. 2-5

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS October 2006

October 2006

SOUTHWINDS

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SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS

FOR

SOUTHERN SAILORS

From the Helm: Half-Backs By Steve Morrell

Letters

Southern Regional Monthly Weather and Water Temperatures

Bubba Loses Lunch On NYYC Cruise By Morgan Stinemetz

Strictly Sail St. Pete Boat Show Preview

Short Tacks: Sailing News and Events Around the South

Our Waterways: Misc. News and issues about our waterways around the South.

Hurricane Season 2006: Misc. News and hurricane tips and information.

Books to Read

Florida’s Other ICW By Scott Welty

Gulf Stream Crossings By Rebecca Burg

Cruising With Courtesy By Dave Cross

Bahamas’ Family Island Regatta By Betsy Morris

Evolving Structure of Beach Catamaran Racing in Florida

Racing Tips: Asymmetricals By Mike Kirk

Southern Racing: Southern Regional Racing Reports and Race Calendars

A Strange Tale From the Past By Morgan Stinemetz

Regional Sailing Services Directory - Local boat services in your area.

Alphabetical Index of Advertisers

Advertisers’ List by Category

Subscription Form

Bahamas’ Family Island Regatta. Photo by Betsy Morris. See page 45

Florida’s Other ICW. Photo by Scott Welty. See page 37

COVER: Morgan Stinemetz’s Ericson 27, Reefer. Photo by Bubba Whartz.

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

SOUTHWINDS

October 2006

FROM THE HELM

Half-Backs

thought a halfback was the guy in the backfield who could run, catch or block and get lots of glory. Not so, in this case. I learned a new definition recently while reading the September editorial, titled “the Opposite of Florida,” in Spinsheet, a well-puttogether free sailing rag out of Annapolis, MD. Turns out a “half-back,” a term now being made famous by The Economist, is someone who spends much of his life up North—particularly the Northeast—dreaming of escaping to warm and watery Florida. This “half-back” eventually gets his wish and moves south to the Sunshine State. Time moves on, and after experiencing the high property taxes, hurricanes, hurricane home insurance, traffic and—shuffleboard courts, this transplant from the North moves back. But he doesn’t move all the way back; he moves “half back.” Hence, the name. He moves, not all the way back to maybe New York or Boston, but just part way, that is,

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halfway—like to the Carolinas or Virginia, or, as the case may be for the Spinsheet editor—to the Annapolis and Cheasapeake area. So, it’s the “opposite of Florida,” although I would have guessed that state to be Colorado where it’s high, dry, cold and unpopulated, at least in eastern Colorado. (It’s also the most fit state and has the least number of smokers—also the opposite of Florida.) What David Gendell (the Spinsheet editor) is commenting on is that a lot of these people are moving to his area and becoming sailors or contributing to the sailing community. If that’s the case, then I say they owe us. Can we sum this all up by saying that Florida is now supplying Annapolis with sailors? Well, we, too, are benefiting. When I first came to Florida in 1979 and bought a sailboat, sailors—including liveaboards and cruisers—were treated with envy, kindness and respect. I first landed in Fort Lauderdale. It was then a major sailing mecca and jumping-off

point for points south. Today, it’s a haven for megayachts, and sailboats are rare. The Keys were cheap, and houses there and in Key West could be bought for under $100,000—waterfront. Today, after 30 years of Northerners migrating south and raising the property prices, jamming the roads, crowding the marinas and filling the condos, we have suffered from this swelling. If they all went halfway back, maybe the Ol’ Florida can come back to life, and it could then be the sleepy, watery and unknown haven for cruisers it once was. I would even settle for some quarterbacks, who maybe only go a quarter of the way—maybe to just Georgia or South Carolina. Fullbacks would be acceptable, too. Are the people in Annapolis sure this population increase is a good thing? If a lot of people are moving in, it’s not the opposite of Florida. Steve Morrell Editor

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News & Views For Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS Media, Inc. P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, Florida 34218-1175 (941) 795-8704 (877) 372-7245 (941) 795-8705 Fax www.southwindsmagazine.co e-mail: editor@southwindsmagazine.com Volume 14

Number 10 October 2006

Doran Cushing, Publisher 1993-2002

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

Steve Morrell

Advertising Go to www.southwindsmagazine.com for information about the magazine, distribution and advertising rates. Steve Morrell editor@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 795-8704 David Curry davidcurry@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 761-0048 Jerry Baily jerry@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 586-8638 Regional Editors EAST FLORIDA mhw1@earthlink.net

(321) 690-0137\

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA RACING miamiyachtracing@bellsouth.net

(305) 380-0106

Roy Laughlin Art Perez

Production Heather Nicoll

Proofreading Kathy Elliott

Letters from our readers Dave Cross Roy Laughlin Art Perez Hone Scunook

Contributing Writers Rebecca Burg Kim Kaminski Walt McFarlane Joleen Rasmussen Morgan Stinemetz

Artwork Rebecca Burg angel@artoffshore.com Julie Connerley Mike Kirk Betsy Morris Steve Romaine Scott Weltyr

Contributing Photographers/Art Rebecca Burg (& Artwork) Dave Cross Gary Hufford Gary Jensen Kim Kaminski Mike Kirk Roy Laughlin Bob Maher Ron Mitchellette Betsy Morris Mary Naylor Valerie Nieman John Nora Bubba Whartz Scott Welty EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: ARTICLES & PHOTOGRAPHY: SOUTHWINDS encourages readers, writers, photographers, cartoonists, jokers, magicians, philosophers and whoever else is out there, including sailors, to send in their material. Just make it about the water world and generally about sailing and about sailing in the South, the Bahamas or the Caribbean, or general sailing interest, or sailboats, or sailing in some faroff and far-out place. SOUTHWINDS welcomes contributions in writing and photography, stories about sailing, racing, cruising, maintenance and other technical articles and other sailing-related topics. Please submit all articles electronically by e-mail (mailed-in discs also accepted), and with photographs, if possible. We also accept photographs alone, for cover shots, racing, cruising and just funny entertaining shots. Please take them at a high resolution if digital, or scan at 300 dpi if photos, or mail them to us for scanning. Contact the editor with questions. Subscriptions to SOUTHWINDS are available at $19.95/year, or $37/2 years for third class, and $24/year for first class. Checks and credit card numbers may be mailed with name and address to SOUTHWINDS Subscriptions, PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach FL, 34218-1175, or call (941) 795-8704. Subscriptions are also available with a credit card through a secure server on our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com. SOUTHWINDS is distributed to over 500 locations throughout 10 Southern states. If you would like to distribute SOUTHWINDS at your location, please contact the editor.

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October 2006

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. BOAT COVER COMPANY BACKS UP ITS PRODUCT A couple of years ago, I purchased a boat cover from Taylor Made products for my 17-foot powerboat (I know it’s not a sailboat, but I go out and cover sailboat races with it). It was very well made and had a five-year warranty. After two years, there were stitching problems. I contacted the company and mailed them the cover. I expected to have to get a new one and perhaps pay a prorated price for it. I would even have been happy if they just re-stitched the old one. Instead, they mailed me a brand-new one. Not only that, it was better than the mid-quality one I had originally purchased. It was their highest-quality cover. There’s hope for mankind yet. Steve Morrell Editor, SOUTHWINDS Magazine WHY ARE WOMEN-ONLY RACES PROTESTED SO MUCH? As a veteran of Pensacola Beach Yacht Club’s only allfemale Race for the Roses (Roses Regatta) for the past 19 years, I have observed a continuing pattern of official and unofficial “protests,” which are both perplexing and aggravating. The regatta was envisioned as an opportunity to encourage women to spread their wings and challenge them to achieve new goals in a male-dominated sport. But, with protests filed year after year, one might think something is wrong with the concept. Racing itself is not flawed. Rules are updated frequently to ensure that competitors have a better understanding of those rules. However, most local races don’t involve protests. Rather it is when the race is part of a coveted series, or a Gulf Yachting Association sanctioned event, that competitors are more likely to sail aggressively and rules enforcement comes into play. At the same time, skippers usually handpick their crews for these “important races” (for lack of a better term). Women crewing these races are in the minority. Therefore, women, in general, may have less exposure to actual experience with rules on the racecourse. Few women own their own boats, so opportunities to actually skipper a boat for some Roses Regatta participants comes once a year – with a couple of practice races thrown in. The female skipper finds herself multi-tasking boat and crew responsibilities besides her normal onboard position duties. This can be daunting, perhaps even overwhelming if a storm stands a boat on its ear. Without much experience, focus and concentration can be compromised and conditions become ripe for a protest. Other veterans of the Roses Regatta have shared their dismay at the number of protests filed throughout the years, and each has her own opinion as to why it happens. One skipper remarked that it seems that the race committee somehow manages to make the Roses course more difficult than any ordinary race. Another wondered why, since the event always has protests, there aren’t more chase boats available to help 8

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with racecourse management. And that is a good point. The Race for the Roses attracts such a large spectator fleet that for the past few years, special rules regarding the spectator fleet and “outside assistance” have been written into the Notice of Race. Since so many come out to support the regatta, it should be easy to recruit extra support boats. While some skippers would welcome support boats at each mark to ensure proper mark

roundings, the premise of sailboat racing is that it is a gentleman’s sport. In fact, it is one of the few sports in the world that is self-policing. Taking a cue from Fort Walton Yacht Club, the idea of having a seminar once or twice a year to discuss all the protests and rules involved that occurred during the year would be beneficial to both novice and seasoned racers. Of course, nothing in life is guar-

anteed, and that includes the aggressive sailor who intentionally breaks a rule, hoping that the other competitors don’t know the rules. The upside is that with knowledge comes power. US SAILING’s Racing Rules Committee strives to provide a cure for rules infractions so that competitors may exonerate themselves while still on the race course and may, in fact, go on to win the race after all! There are always going to be winners and losers. It would just be nicer if there were fewer protesters. Julie Connerley Gulf Breeze, FL (Julie is a regular contributor to SOUTHWINDS. Her article on the recent Roses Regatta is in the August issue.) Julie, Thanks for the letter. I know you have been an active racer in your area. Not being an expert on race rules, I cannot help in answering your question, but perhaps others out there will. We invite their letters. Editor THE MAJORITY OF THE MINORITY (The minority being cruisers in today’s world) I just have to respond to Don’s letter to the editor in the June issue of Southwinds (about the minority of boaters who are bums spoiling it for the rest who are not): I wouldn’t like to think of our pride and joy as a “Gypsy bumboat,” but I suppose there may be some who do. No, we didn’t pay as much as, say, Donald Trump did for his yacht, and she’d look sort of out of place at some fancier marinas, but she’s ours and we live aboard, sometimes at anchor. Yes, she’s a 1960s model, but I was kinda proud of how well she’s been maintained. Oh, and we do carry Gerry jugs, red for gasoline, blue for potable water, and yellow for diesel; heaven forgive us. We also occasionally hang damp clothes on the lifelines, I have to admit. Sorry, no dogs, birds, or children on our boat. I was too afraid there may be some law against boaters having them (unlike land property owners). Unfortunately, we do have to work to add to the cruising kitty. I as a nurse taking care of sick people, some of whom, I think, live on land, and my See LETTERS continued on page 10

News & Views for Southern Sailors

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October 2006

LETTERS wife as a teacher nurturing the children of, yep, you got it…land-livers. That pretty much puts the kabosh on all the late night parties…I may have been tempted, but mostly all the other boaters I know are in bed at an hour past sundown. Don, I’m glad you were able to afford your several hundred thousand dollar piece of nirvana. And when you and your wife go cruising, I truly hope you’ll be able to anchor somewhere before like-minded and possibly snobbier folks pull rank and exclude you. “Jungle Jim” Joe Corey S/V Calcutta Somewhere in a neighborhood near you Joe, Don made good points and was correct, but the story is incomplete, and I hope I addressed the “rest of the story” in my response. The rest of the story includes what you say here, that most boaters who cruise around and love the life are really hard-working people who don’t party every night. Again, I will repeat my mantra that I use in response to all these criticisms from many of the prejudiced group of “land-livers” (can we create this as a new word?): Those who judge the majority by the actions of the few must share some of the guilt as they are not exactly acting nobly in their prejudice. They might be ignorant, but the old saying, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse,” must hold some origin back to the daily interactions among people. Let’s say, “Ignorance of the majority who really represent a group is no excuse.” Editor MORE ON THE MAJORITY OF THE MINORITY First, good job with the ICW name discussion—it has been kicked around long enough. You gave it the respect it deserves in your open format. Next, the biggest reason for sending this e-mail, is the incredible editorial answer to Don Nolen’s letter to the editor in the June issue. Wow. You were born to be a magazine editor and far outshine every single one of them for openness, honesty, integrity, and flag-waving/church-going/ Hippocratic-swearing/all-American patriotism that is not politically or monetarily motivated. (Excepting maybe Bob Bitchin, which puts you in great company!) It made me feel a little bad for Don, because he wrote a “nice” letter and although you weren’t specifically hard on him, your Jeffersonian response sort of buried his niceness. Makes me wanna carry a SOUTHWINDS wherever I go! Third, a little story (actually two): We left the marina for good on May 29 and have been floating around Tampa Bay since. As you know, living at anchor in various locations is very interesting in so many ways. Today, at 1414 hours, the Gulfport Police boat stops by Windigo at anchor just off the Gulfport Casino dock in Boca Ciega Bay. The officer asks Karin (who is sitting in the cockpit reading) how long we intend on staying. She (very non-committally) says, “A couple more days.” He then “informs” her that it would be okay, because there is a three-day limit to anchoring. Now—we lived at anchor just off the Gulfport Casino dock in Boca Ciega Bay for several months a couple years ago. There are SEVERAL boats anchored here right now that have been here continuously since then. So, she raises See LETTERS continued on page 12 10

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

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October 2006

LETTERS an eyebrow and inquires as to the basis of the quoted law and the status of all the vessels here. He replies, “The threeday limit applies only to ‘liveaboard boats.’ “ What the heck is a “liveaboard boat”? Good thing I live on an Islander. (Referring back to your Jeffersonian response: Is it “Constitutional” to have one set of rules for “liveaboards” and another for “absentee, careless owners of floating pieces of shit”? Next thing you know, we’ll have rules that will make some races subservient to others. I digress.) Another conversation overheard earlier this very day: Tanned, short-wearing, t-shirted, unshaved, long-haired dude on end of long concrete Gulfport fishing pier (yelling out onto water): “Maaaaaarrrrrrk. Maaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrk.” Mark, a multi-year liveaboard in Boca Ciega Bay aboard a 25-foot sailboat with no engine, a broken outboard and absolutely no sails, responds, “Hey, Theo.” Theo: “Where’s my boat, man?” Mark: “Right there,” pointing at the water just in front of his “home.” (This is the resting place of a 20-foot wooden powerboat that sank in storms associated with Alberto, over a week earlier.) Theo: “Has anybody been on it?” Mark: “Sure.” Theo: “I suppose they got the solar panels then.” Mark: “Yup.” Theo: “Did it break free?” Mark: “Nope. Sunk right there.” Theo: “Oh, well. That’s life.” (Shrugs shoulders with palms up. Turns and walks up pier. Vessel remains navigational hazard.) After hearing this exchange, I have come to the conclusion that “boats don’t cause anti-boating legislation; idiots with boats do.’’ Kevin Hughes S/V Windigo III, Boca Ciega Bay (for two more days…) Kevin, Well put. It is the minority who rule sometimes, at least in these anti-boater laws. Thanks for your comments on my struggling skills as an editor and defender of the Liberal (as the word was then used) ideals of Jefferson, among others. Don Nolen wrote a great letter, and his views really bring us all down to earth from our lofty ideals to tell us that we really must work to resolve these issues, not just orate about them. He is right as you are in your so aptly-put comment, “Boats don’t cause anti-boating legislation; idiots with boats do.” Unfortunately, the Gulfport pendulum of boaters’ rights has been swinging wildly in response to the derelict boats off their shores. City leaders responded recently with so much boater hatred that I thought they were going to pick up the whole community, land and all, and move it inland away from the water. Rename it “Landport.” They have now recently, through the actions of some boater-friendly and energetic citizens, begun to work at solving the problem at hand—these derelict boats—without turning their backs on boaters in general. We are still waiting to hear the outcome of their story, but it appears the community is progressing towards a more boater-friendly atmosphere. Editor

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

October 2006

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

October 2006

STRICTLY SAIL ST. PETERSBURG

ST. PETERSBURG

ALL SAILBOAT BOAT SHOW NOV. 2-5 Thurs.-Sat. – 10am-6 pm Sun. – 10 am-5 pm Spa Beach Park in the Vinoy Basin at the St. Pete Pier Downtown St. Petersburg, FL on the water TICKETS: (ages 15 & under are free) 1-day adult – Thurs/Fri – $10; Sat/Sun – $12 2-day adult – $20 DIRECTIONS: Spa Beach at the base of The St Pete Pier. The Pier is located at the end of Second Avenue N.E. From I-275, take Exit 23-A (Old 10) going east to Beach Drive. Turn south to Second Avenue N.E. for one block, at Bayshore Drive, directly in front of The Pier, turn right and follow south to discounted parking area, just opposite the Bayfront Center or follow the “BOAT SHOW PARKING” signs, take the FREE show shuttle to The Pier. Limited, paid parking is also available at the base of The Pier in two separate public parking lots. BOATS AND GEAR. Hundreds of exhibitors of gear and boats. Dozens of in-water and on-land boats to tour. NEW BOATS THIS YEAR: TRAWLERS. New this year will be an in-water trawler section with a variety of trawlers available for viewing. STRICTLY SAIL ST. PETERSBURG SEMINAR SCHEDULE Seminars on a variety of sailing topics are held continuously during the show. For more information and updated schedules and titles of these seminars go to www.strictlysail.com. OTHER EVENTS Discover Sailing. Free Sailboat Rides. Discover Sailing, a

national introduction-to-sailing program will be going on each day at the show to help non-sailors take their first sail. Show-goers can go on free, 30-minute sailing trips and collect free, learn-to-sail materials and names of sailing schools where they can further their education. Author’s Corner Tent. Come meet some of your favorite sailing authors. Pick up all of the most current sailing books! Kids Aboard. Free boatbuilding workshop for children ages 4 and older, teaches them to design and build their vessels. Parents can relax and visit the show while their kids are safe and having a good time, enjoying a fun, educational activity at the Kids Aboard Academic Boat Building Workshop. Visit www.kidsaboard.com for more information Jack Klang’s Chart Tent. Stop by the 9-by-12 foot navigation chart and learn new techniques about sailing, boat handling, safety, and cruising under sail. This chart blanket is littered with small boats, buoys, lighthouses and interesting nautical markings to help demonstrate real boating situations. $1000 Shopping Spree. Enter to win as you enter the show. West Marine will give away a $1,000 shopping spree to one lucky show-goer. Sign up at the main entrance for your chance at the prize. Latitudes & Attitudes Cruiser’s Bash. Sat. night 7 p.m. Everyone at the show Sat. evening is invited. MORE FREE SAILING OPPORTUNITIES: Watersports West will be offering the following free sailing opportunities at Spa Beach at the show. Lessons are free with paid admission to the show and available weather permitting. Learn to Kiteboard in a Day. Nov. 4-5. Free introduction to kiteboarding classes during the show: How to launch, land and maneuver a kiteboard. Using trainer kites, participants will learn to fly kites. Learn to Windsurf. Nov. 4-5. Windsurfing instructor and windsurfing simulator. Sign up for your lesson at Spa Beach during show hours. Learn to Sail the New O’pen Bic Sailboat for Youth. Instructions and sailing.

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Southeastern U.S. Air & Water Temperatures and Gulf Stream Currents – October 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 60º lo – 79º hi Gulfport, MS 60º lo – 79º hi Water Temperature – 74º

WEST FLORIDA St. Petersburg 70º lo – 83º hi Naples 68º lo – 87º hi Water Temperature St. Petersburg – 78º Naples – 81º

CAROLINAS AND GEORGIA Cape Hatteras, NC 60º lo – 73º hi Savannah, GA 56º lo – 78º hi Water Temperature Cape Hatteras, NC – 70º Savannah Beach, GA – 73º

EAST FLORIDA Daytona Beach - 65º lo – 83º hi Jacksonville Beach - 65º lo – 79º hi Water Temperature Daytona Beach – 78º Jacksonville Beach – 75º Gulfstream Current – 3.0 knots

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA Miami Beach – 75º lo – 83º hi Stuart – 70º lo – 85º hi Water Temperature Miami Beach – 81º Stuart – 78º Gulfstream Current – 2.2 knots

FLORIDA KEYS Key West 76º lo – 85º hi Water Temperature Key West – 82º

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

News & Views for Southern Sailors

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

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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, possibly later. Contact us if later. Racing Events: For racing schedules, news and events see the racing section.

UPCOMING SOUTHERN EVENTS EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING/ SUMMER CAMPS Ongoing – Boating Skills & Seamanship Programs. St. Petersburg, FL, Tuesday nights, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Satisfies the Florida boater safety education requirements. Eleven lessons, every Tuesday. Lessons include: which boat for you, equipment, trailering, lines and knots, boat handling, signs, weather, rules, introduction to navigation, inland boating and radio. (727) 823-3753 Boating Safety Courses, St. Petersburg, FL: St. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron. Six-week Public Boating Course begins every Monday. Includes safety information plus basic piloting; charts, course plotting, latitude/longitude and dead reckoning. Satisfies Florida’s under age 21 boater requirements. (727) 867-3088. Other courses continuosly offered. (727) 565-4453. www.boating-stpete.org. Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary (Flotilla 11-1) Public Boating Programs: Americas Boating Course (2 lessons): Oct. 14-15, evenings. Clearwater Sailing Center, 1001 Gulf

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Blvd., Sand Key (Clearwater). Open to adults and youths. Basic Coastal Navigation Program (includes charting tools) – seven lessons, begins Sept. 28. Evenings For more information on upcoming education programs or to request a free vessel safety check call (727) 469-8895 or visit http://a0701101.uscgaux.info/. Ruskin, FL, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 75 Offers Home Study Safe Boating Course. The Ruskin flotilla each month offers a Boating Safety course in Ruskin, but has found that many boaters do not have the time to attend the courses, so they are now also offering a home study course at $30. Additional family members will be charged $10 each for testing and certificates. Tests will be held bi-monthly. Entry into the course will also allow participants to attend the classes. To apply, call (813) 677-2354. North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC, www.ncmm-friends.org, maritime@ncmail.net, (252) 7287317. On-going adults sailing programs. Family Sailing. 2-6 people; 2-6 hours. Traditional skiffs or 30’ keelboat. $50$240. Reservations/information: call The Friends’ office (252) 728-1638 Legal Seminar for Marine Industry Professionals, Insurance Agents and Attorneys. Oct. 25. Exclusions, Defenses and False Pretenses. Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Resort and Marina, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Fort Lauderdale Mariners Club. Susan Rose. (654) 791-9601 Two-Day Basic Meteorology Course for the Recreational Boater SSCA. Nov. 18-19. A two-day Marine Weather

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October 2006

Forecasting Workshop sponsored by the Seven Seas Cruising Association together with the support of West Marine. The goal of the Workshop is to enable self-reliant mariners to determine the safest routes for offshore voyages. The curriculum includes: cause and effect of marine weather; surface weather patterns; ocean wave formation propagation and decay; OPC wind and weather charts; tropical cyclone basics and avoidance; OPC surface charts and 500-mb charts. The course instructor will be Lee Chesneau, of “Lee Chesneau’s Marine Weather,” who is a USCG-certified STCW basic and advanced meteorology instructor. Lee is also a former senior meteorologist for NOAA’s Ocean Prediction Center. He has taught many marine weather seminars for Safety-at-Sea and for SSCA. He is currently teaching professional mariners around the country, including MITAGS in Annapolis, MD, and the STAR Center in Dania, FL. Nov. 18-19. Saturday and Sunday. 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. RTM STAR Center, 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004. $250 per person for SSCA members, $300 for nonmembers (it’s cheaper to join!). The fee includes a workbook, lunch and snacks both days. For individualized attention, class size is limited, so register today! Go to www.ssca.org/eventind.htm to register on-line or e-mail office@ssca.org or call (954) 771-5660.

ing school supplies and books for children. There will also be an open forum hosted by a panel of cruisers. A nautical flea market and vendor displays will be held during a two-hour lunch break. Pre-registration is required by Oct. 10. For information and to register online, go to http://ssca.org/eventind.htm. You can also e-mail Bruce and Marilyn Conklin at Goldconk@yahoo.com. The annual SSCA Rendezvous will be held on Nov. 10-12 in Melbourne, FL. More information on that meeting can be found at www.ssca.org. (SOUTHWINDS will have information in the October issue.) Oct. 21-22. Placida Rotary Club Annual Nautical Flea Market. 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. , 9-5 Sun. $3, children under 12 free. (941) 475-7937 for vendor space and info. www.placidarotary.com/FleaMarket/2006/. 9th Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market, Oct. 28, Cortez, FL The 9th Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market will be held at the Seafood Shack Marina, 4110 127th Street West, Cortez,

Oct. 20-29. Key West Fantasy Fest. Over a week of fun with costumes, parades and parties. In its 28th year, Fantasy Fest is a major event that draws thousands of visitors. View last year’s glittering celebrations at www.fantasyfest.net, or kwfanfest@aol.com. (305) 296-1817. Fourth Annual Florida West Coast SSCA Rendezvous, Punta Gorda, Oct. 21. The Seven Seas Cruising Association will hold its fourth annual West Coast Rendezvous in Punta Gorda, FL, on Saturday October 21 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). There will be seminars on cruising the Caribbean, on-board emergency health care, Bahamas cruising information for the first-time cruiser, and gather-

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FL 34215 on Saturday, October 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free to the public with lots of free parking. There is a $10.00 per space (equal to a car parking space) charge for sellers only. Bring your own table. 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.

Seven Seas Cruising Association Annual Meeting in Melbourne, FL. Nov 10 - 12. By Roy Laughlin The Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) will again host its annual convention and general meeting (formerly called a “gam”), in the Eau Gallie section of Melbourne, FL, November 10-12. The association has held its meeting in Eau Gallie for several years and has a winning formula for

News & Views for Southern Sailors

The flea market at the annual SSCA convention. Photo by Gary Jensen.

it. This includes an extensive seminar schedule on Friday morning, a mariner’s flea market on Saturday morning and an annual meeting on Sunday morning. There will also be a vendor’s show and sale in the main hall of the convention center where businesses offer everything from books to electronics. A social/cocktail party is held at the meeting site on Friday, and a barbecue on Saturday evening will be a few miles away at Wickham Park. Best of all, the meeting site, the Eau Gallie Civic Center, is just across the road from the Indian River. A flotilla of cruisers moors off the meeting site for this long weekend just for cruisers. It’s such a great vista to see so many cruisers in one spot. Nancy Birmbaum of SSCA’s home office also notes, “I’m still putting together a fabulous list of raffle items. This year will include some ‘Big Ticket’ items like a Sailrite Sewing Machine and a $500 certificate towards a course from Blue Water Sailing School.” Last year, SSCA initiated a series of seminars on weather forecasting for mariners just after its annual meeting. This year, the weather course will be held in Fort Lauderdale the weekend after the annual meeting. This course is not part of the annual meeting and requires separate registration (see more information in this section above). Cruisers will find it a short cruise from Melbourne to Fort Lauderdale for the weather seminar. The SSCA web site includes a registration form for the

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annual meeting, a list of seminar topics and list of hotels and accommodations. The registration form can be found on the SSCA Web site at www.ssca.org on the home page under “SCCA Events & Calendar.” You can download a PDF file to register. Please note that there are cut-off dates listed on the registration form for signing up for some functions The seminar list is extensive. About the only topic they do not cover is cruising with furry pets. Here’s some good news for cruisers already planning to attend: The Pineapple Pier, which Hurricane Wilma notably trashed last year just a couple of weeks before the 2005 annual convention, is being replaced. If the weather gods cooperate this fall before the 2006 meeting, it is possible a new pier will be available to cruisers anchored in the Indian River. Nov. 30-Dec. 3. Pirates in Paradise. Key West. Various locations throughout Key West, (305) 296-9694. More than 100 improvisational actors and combative stuntmen in pirate garb conduct the annual “invasion” of the southernmost city by a flotilla of pirate ships. Entertainment includes swashbuckling and sea chanteys, pirate costume competition, parties, exhibitions, daily sailing trips, nautical excursions and seafaring adventures, films, a tall ships sea battle, arts and crafts, music, re-enactments and more. Admission: Most are free, various charges for excursions, theatrical and party events. www.piratesinparadise.com. BOAT SHOWS Tampa Boat Show. Oct 12-15. Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL. NMMA. (954) 441-3228. www.tampaboatshow.com. Oct 26-30. Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Bahia Mar Yachting Center. Ft. 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. 26. (954) 7647642. www.showmanagement.com.

Nov. 1-3. IBEX (International Boatbuilders Exhibition and Conference), Miami Beach Convention Center. National Marine Manufacturers Association. (312) 946-6262. www.ibexshow.com. Nov. 2-5. 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 first time this year. 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, Sun. 10-5. $10, Thur.Fri. $12, Sat.-Sun. 15 and under free with paid adult. Additional events this year. See more on page 16. Nov. 9-12. Fort Myers Boat Show. Harborside Convention Complex and City Yacht Basin, Fort Myers, FL. Offering display space for every type of boat and marine product, the show continues to grow in exhibit space, attendance and sales effectiveness. New and brokerage boats are displayed in-water at the Fort Myers City Yacht Basin. Both boats and accessory exhibits fill the Harborside Event Center and hundreds of smaller boats are backed into the surrounding streets and parking lots. The show sells out every year. Brokerage boats up to 30 feet will be at the City Yacht Basin. 10 am to 6 pm. Thursday thru Sat. Sun. 10-5pm. $9. Kids under 12 free. (954) 570-7785. www.swfmia.com. SEAFOOD FESTIVALS Sept. 30- Oct 6-8. 20th Annual North Carolina Seafood Festival and Boat Show. Morehead City, NC. www.ncseafoodfestival.org. Oct. 6-8. 28th Annual Destin Seafood Festival. Morgan Sports Center. $5 for the weekend. Children under 12 free. Destin, FL. http://www.destinseafoodfestival.org/admission.html. Oct. 7-8. Beaufort Shrimp Festival. Shrimp cooked every way. Local restaurants offer their specialties. Beaufort, SC. www.sneadsferry.org/festival/scf_beaufort_shrimpfest.htm Oct. 12-15. 35th Annual National Shrimp Festival. West Marine Free Seminars for October - Tampa Bay The following are of interest to sailors. West Marine has many other seminars on fishing. Contact stores for more information. South St. Petersburg Store 5001 34th St. South, St. Petersburg, FL (727) 867-5700, start time 6 p.m. 10/12 GPS 101 with Les Elkins 10/26 “Cruising Florida’s West Coast With Local Knowledge” with Capt. Jimmy Myers

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Gulfshores, Alabama, public beach. www.nationalshrimpfestival.com/ Oct. 20-21 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/ Nov. 3-4. Florida Seafood Festival. Apalachicola, FL. The state’s oldest maritime exhibit. The three-day event annually draws thousands of visitors to 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 Oct. 21-22. 37th 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, 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/specialevents.htm Oct. 28-29. 25th 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.

NEWS Boy Scouts Looking for Charter Boats and Captains Florida Sea Base, a high adventure camp serving the Boy Scouts of America, is looking for sailboats to run our next summer season beginning the end of May 2007 through the end of August 2007. The ideal boats will either be a Morgan 41 Out Island or the CSY 44 or something similar (5.5-foot draft or less). Weekly trips include training, fuel (diesel and propane), dockage at Sea Base (located in Islamorada) and Key West. All provisions are included, food, ice and necessary dry goods. With the Code of Federal Regulations for the Boy Scouts of America, we are permitted to carry eight passengers with a six-pack license. All vessels must pass the Coast Guard’s News & Views for Southern Sailors

uninspected/ inspected vessel check, be documented for “coast-wise trade” and carry $1,000,000 in liability insurance with Boy Scouts of America listed on the policy. You will be guaranteed 9 to 11 trips for the season (excluding acts of nature) at $2200 per trip. Charters usually consist of six youths (Boy Scouts) ranging in age from 14-20 and two adult leaders. You are in charge of your vessel but must run our charter program and schedule as described. Boats run in groups of four from Islamorada to Key West and back (80 miles each way). The captain will take the scouts fishing, sailing and snorkeling with four nights at anchor and one day and night in Key West. All gear/tackle and bait are provided at no additional charge. This is a fast-paced program so all boats and captains must be up for the demands. Being mechanically inclined is a major plus. If you have a boat and would like a contract captain to run her, we have several very qualified captains to put you in contact with. Contact Capt. Rich Beliveau at (305) 394-0365.

BoatU.S. Sets One-Million Member Goal On 40th Anniversary Halfway though its 40th anniversary as the nation’s largest organization of recreational boat owners, Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatU.S.), announced recently that it has set a goal of reaching one-million members by the end of its 45th anniversary. BoatU.S. membership now stands at 670,000. “Association growth over the past year has been nothing short of extraordinary,” says BoatU.S. Founder Richard Schwartz. BoatU.S. membership has grown by 10 percent over the past year, the fastest rate of annual growth since the association was launched in 1966. Schwartz attributed much of the growth to a strategic partnership BoatU.S. formed in 2003 with West Marine when the association sold its retail and catalog division to the Watsonville, CA-based marine equipment retailer. Under the terms of the agreement, West Marine customers can join BoatU.S. in any of West Marine’s stores. “Our successful strategic partnership with West Marine has doubled our annual membership growth rate, ultimately giving BoatU.S. a bigger voice and greater clout when dealing with government,” he added. As the nation’s leading advocate and service provider for recreational boaters. BoatU.S. remains an employeeowned organization headquartered in Alexandria, VA. It provides boating-related services such as insurance and onthe-water towing and remains the leader in public policy representation, consumer protection, boating safety and environmental advocacy. “One of the keys to our long-term success has been that we have single-mindedly kept the interests of our members and the nation’s recreational boat owners at the forefront, representing their interests before the federal government, fighting for their consumer rights, providing much-needed SOUTHWINDS

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services and taking center stage on national boating safety issues,” said Schwartz. “As we move toward 50 years of service and our golden anniversary 10 years from now, there is no shortage of issues that BoatU.S. will have to tackle including increasing limits on waterway access, post 9/11 security concerns, licensing of boaters and environmental threats to our waterways,” noted Schwartz. Go to www.BoatUS.com or call (800) 395-2628 for more information and to join.

Airlines CO2 Cylinder Policies Vary Although the Transportation Security Administration has revised its rules for carrying CO2 cartridges onboard airlines, it has left it up to the individual carriers to make the final decisions. US Sailing has checked with 10 of the major airlines to see current policies and the airlines that allow the cartridges, commonly used in life jackets, are American, Southwest, United, Delta, Continental, and American Eagle. Northwest had banned them, and US Airways/ America West has not set clear policies. The TSA rules state that (final decision up to carrier) one life jacket that has two cylinders installed and two spares is allowable.

It is still advised that all passengers check with the airlines to confirm as policies and rules change.

Customs Inspections on Boats Returning from the Bahamas After numerous complaints from boaters, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has expanded its hours and offices to handle the greater time taken for reentering the United States because of security measures. For a complete list of the hours and locations that boaters can report to, go to the BoatU.S. Web site, www.boatus.com/gov.

2005 Crew Overboard Symposium Report Online Last year, on Aug. 9-12, 2005, a crew overboard symposium was held on San Francisco Bay. There were 400 tests conducted by 115 volunteers, using 40 different types of rescue gear, of different rescue techniques. Tests were practiced on both sail and powerboats in both calm seas and in 35-knot conditions. Techniques were used in how best to contact and reach victims, how to bring them aboard and on both conscious and unconscious victims. The rescue symposium was sponsored by West Marine, BoatU.S., and the Modern Sailing Academy of Sausalito, CA with funds from various other sources. The final report on the findings is now available online at www.boatus.com/foundation. BUSINESS BRIEFS

Watersports West in Largo, FL, Becomes Dealer for the O’pen Bic Sailboat

Watersports West in Largo, FL, recently became the exclusive Tampa Bay area dealer for the new O’pen Bic sailboat. The fast, planing hull of the O’pen Bic gives a dynamic sailing experience of a true dinghy that heels. Being at the helm of this powerful machine gives you the same excitement 24

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normally experienced on a boat for adults. With its 60-foot open design, including a totally open self-draining stern, even capsizing is fun! Young sailors are fully independent on the water and will be proud to sail such a modern-looking and elegant boat, one that both sails and looks like the boat of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s champions. Watersports West is putting the boats on the water. For a free demo schedule call Steve Levine at (727) 517-7000. The boat will also be at the Watersports West booth at the St. Petersburg Strictly Sail boat show Nov. 2-5 where demo rides will be available right at the beaches at the show. Watersports West is a dealer for Windsurfing, surfing, and kite sailing and other water sports. Go on-line to www.Watersportswest.com to receive more information.

Sailors Wharf Opens Boat Storage Yard in St. Petersburg, FL The new boat storage yard for boats 30 feet to 65 feet is now open at Sailors Wharf Boatyard in St. Petersburg, FL. The storage yard has been set up to accommodate customers who want to store their yacht during hurricane season and also the seasonal boater who cannot justify the ever increas-

News & Views for Southern Sailors

ing cost of annual slip rental. They will haul your boat, store it in the new storage facility and launch the boat upon 48 hours notice (except weekends). The minimum storage rent is three months at $7.50 per foot per month plus tax. For more information, call (727) 823-1155. www.sailorswharf.com.

New Line-Holding Tool Helps Secure to Pilings One of the most difficult aspects of docking is getting a mooring line in place. Just when it seems as if the line is finally going to make it around the piling, it falls off the boat hook and drops to the water. This all too familiar and frustrating scenario for boaters has made securing boats more of a hassle and dangerous than it needs to be. The easy-to-use Dock A Reni line-holding tool eliminates these troubles, making the docking process smoother and safer. The innovative Dock A Reni securely holds a quick release loop on any boat pole. Boaters simply attach the tiny device to their boat pole with the integrated elastic Velcro. To use, the line is placed over the end of the boat hook and slid back under the Dock A Reni, holding the loop open. By pulling back on the pole, the line is released, leaving the boat secured. The docking aid is made from durable UV-resistant plastic. With its small, sleek design, the Dock A Reni can easily be left stored on the boat pole. Contact Shurhold at (800) 962-6241. info@shurhold.com. www.shurhold.com.

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OUR WATERWAYS

SOUTHWINDS “Our Waterways” Section SOUTHWINDS has created this section to inform our readers about changes in our waterways. We believe that Southerners are in the midst of a great change occurring on our waterways—through the conversion of many boating properties to condominiums, restrictions on anchorages once thought to be more open and now being more restricted and regulated, and other economic forces at work. This section will also concern itself with the environmental health of the waters we boat and swim in. 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 can afford to 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. Independent writers wanted on these subjects. Contact Steve Morrell, editor@southwindsmagazine.com, or call (877) 372-7245. We regularly receive many letters to the editor on these issues. See the “Letters” section for more opinions and information. Some letters will be published in this section if appropriate. In the coming months, we will be developing our Waterways pages on our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com. Visit those pages for links, information, articles and more.

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Cortez, Florida

Views Evolve About Mooring Fields and Anchorages in Gulfport, FL Frustrated by derelict boats anchored off the shores of the traditionally boater-friendly city of Gulfport in the Tampa Bay area, town residents and officials began to turn their backs in the last few years on all boaters who wanted to anchor off their shores and visit this picturesque community. Gulfport is almost like an oasis of small town life surrounded by the sprawling urban areas of Pinellas County, the largest one being St. Petersburg. At one point, before anti-boater anger became more intense, Gulfport was planning to establish a mooring field that boaters could use, both for storage and transients; then angry citizens and officials passed laws targeted at the derelict boaters and their tenants. Many of the derelict boats became navigation hazards, some of them half-sunk and difficult to see in the dark. Few were well kept up, and these became an eyesore. The city passed laws making it difficult to bring dinghies ashore and or to dock your boat at the pier. This was all done in hopes that these derelict boats would go away. But they didn’t. Although these laws and anger were targeted at these derelicts, other, responsible boaters got hit. Boaters in the region began to think of Gulfport as not wanting boaters as rumors spread of unfriendly boater policies enacted by the community. Boaters stayed away as the word got out. But times have changed and opinions have evolved as persistent local citizens, mainly boaters and town merchants, became involved and urged the town to use enforce-

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ment to rid the town’s waters of these unwanted boats and create a boater-friendly atmosphere that would urge visiting boaters to come to the city and spend money ashore. People on both sides of the issue began to talk to each other, listening to other views. Now plans for a mooring field, rejected in the previous angry debate about derelict boats, have come back and serious consideration is being given to them. In a recent public meeting where ideas and opinions were exchanged, citizens expressed support for the field, support for some liveaboards and support for moorings for both storage and transient use of the field. The group discussed establishing a harbor management plan, which would include overseeing possible taxi service in the field, shore facilities, pumpout services and a dinghy dock. Gulfport has a unique and beautiful location off the ICW in Pinellas County. It carries a small-town waterfront atmosphere, reminding many of “Old Florida.” Condominiums do not dominate the shoreline. If this boater-friendly trend continues, it could now become one of the premier places to visit by boaters in the region.

National Forum Slated In May 2007 To Address Water-Access Issues: Market Forces Squeezing Out Traditional Uses From BoatU.S./Sent on Behalf of Virginia Sea Grant Local government officials, coastal management planners, legal scholars and boating industry representatives will gather in Norfolk,VA, next May to explore solutions to the loss of water access that is hindering recreational boaters, commercial fishermen and water-dependent businesses around the nation’s coasts. Working Waterways & Waterfronts - A National Symposium on Water Access, is set for May 9 - 11, 2007 at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel under the auspices of the Virginia Sea Grant Program. The conference will bring together experts in many fields to delve into issues that surround the rapid conversion of working waterfronts—marinas, boat repair yards, fish piers and charter fishing docks— to other uses such as private residential developments and

News & Views for Southern Sailors

Where Can You Dump Type I Marine Sanitation Devices (Like Lectra-San)? Only six states (Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin) have all, or nearly all, of their waters designated as NoDischarge Zones (NDZs). This means that not even treated sewage (as from a Lectra/San, a Type I MSD) can be dumped into those waters, but NDZs exist in only certain portions of other states. Outside of NDZs, Type I MSDs can dump their treated waste into the waters legally and safely. NDZs in the Southern states are: Alabama: None. Florida: State waters within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Destin Harbor, City of Key West waters. Georgia: Hartwell Lake. Louisiana: None Mississippi: None. North Carolina: Broad Creek, Lake Keowee, Lake Murray, Lake Thurmond, and Lake Wylie. South Carolina: Hartwell Lake. Texas: 24 Freshwater bodies (no saltwater areas). (Other restrictions exist for certain freshwater bodies with low water access. See the laws on the below Web site to review those.) For a complete list of NDZs and information about them and marine sanitation devices, go to www.epa. gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/vsdnozone.html.

non-water-dependent businesses. Rising real estate taxes tied to “highest and best use” assessments and escalating property values fueled by the public’s desire to live by the water are driving the conversion. Water-dependent businesses, such as haul-out service yards, seafood handling facilities and boat builders, are losing access to the water as well. These losses compound the

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OUR WATERWAYS challenges that decision-makers at all levels of government face in trying to balance population growth, public services and economic development with the demand for public access to, and on, the water. “This conference is designed as a forum to educate decision-makers, management agency staff and waterdependent business owners to deal with these trends and to foster constructive dialogue about the nation’s changing waterfronts,” said Virginia Sea Grant economist, Thomas J. Murray, conference organizer and co-chairman. The conference is sponsored by the Sport Fishing & Boating Partnership Council, a federally chartered advisory body, the Coastal States Organization, the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BOATU.S.), the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the States Organization for Boating Access, and other Sea Grant organizations. Working Waterways & Waterfronts will examine local, state and national-level initiatives to address water-access challenges and support water-dependent industries. Academic research findings and viewpoints from industry specialists will also be featured with the aim of developing new approaches to providing and managing access to the water. Find updated conference information at www.wateraccess2007.com.

Pineapple Pier in Melbourne, FL, Rebuilding The hurricane-damaged Pineapple Pier in Melbourne is being demolished during August 2006. This is the first step toward rebuilding this landmark. Rebuilding is slated to begin in October. SOUTHWINDS published a story describing how important this pier was for transient cruisers on the ICW because it offers them convenient access to downtown Eau Gallie. It was, for example, the landing for the annual Gam held by Seven Seas Association in Eau Gallie each fall. Absence of hurricanes along the Space Coast this fall will make the desired schedule a lot more likely.

Abandoned Boat Removal to Begin in Brevard County, FL Brevard County, backed by the provisions of House Bill 7175, reported in August’s issue, is beginning a bidding process that eventually will result in removal of abandoned boats from the Indian River Lagoon system. The Brevard Natural Resources Management Department will borrow money from the solid waste disposal impact fees for the removal process to begin. The department is applying to FEMA and to the state for money to repay the loan. The request for bids is being written in August. It may take several months before contractors are on the water removing boats, but the path to that goal is clearly marked at this point. Boat removal is just a matter of time.

Palm Beach County Waterfront Business Woes Exemplify the Heart of a Statewide Problem While Palm Beach County government recently supported a tax deferral plan for waterfront businesses that stay open to the public, these same businesses are joining together to fight recent tax increases. Waterfront businesses in the county formed the Save the Working Waterfront in Palm Beach County Committee to challenge the way waterfront taxes are assessed. Recent tax increases have increased so drastically that many are seeing possible closures and sales of their properties. The group reported that taxes for commercial slips open to the public in the county were $1.38- million in 2004. Those taxes jumped $914,000 the following year and this year, they increased to $4.37-million. One business, Murrelle’s Marine in Lantana, reported a tax increase of $120,000, going from $60,000 last year to $180,000 this year. Other businesses reported similar increases, prompting many to talk of closing, selling to developers and/or cutting back on employees. The main challenge is to what many consider the very core of the problem of the disappearing waterfront businesses in the South, especially in Florida: How taxes are appraised. The business group wants their taxes appraised based on the value of their businesses and not by what they are worth if potentially developed. The county tax appraiser counters this position by saying that state law demands that taxes be appraised on property values. The group’s immediate goal is to challenge their cur30

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OUR WATERWAYS rent tax appraisals. In August, the county commissioners expressed support to look into allowing tax deferrals for waterfront businesses as long as they maintain the property in the same use and stay open to the public. This would only affect county taxes, which is only about 20 percent of a property’s tax bill, the biggest chunk being state taxes, although city, school and other miscellaneous taxes make up part of the remaining 80 percent.

2006 Atlantic Intracoastal Waterways Association (AIWA) Annual Conference The annual waterway meeting for AIWA members and guests will take place on November 15-16 in Wilmington, NC. Rooms have been blocked in the association’s name at the Blockade Runner Resort in Wilmington. Go to www.blockade-runner.com for more information and reservations. For more information on the AIWA and the conference, go to www.atlintracoastal.org.

ICW Funding Still Inadequate as Congress Continues to Underfund Maintenance Although states, local communities, the marine industry, businesses and public organizations continue to urge congress to provide more funding to maintain the Intracoastal Waterway, funding still is coming up short. While the industry estimates that $40-million is needed to bring the ICW up to its mandated standards, the current administration is calling for only $8.8-million. The waterway was originally authorized by Congress to have a maintained depth of 10-12 feet, but shoaling has reduced depths in some areas to eight feet. One of the major complaints from states is that the federal government continues to gauge the economic use of the

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waterway based on commercial tonnage, ignoring today’s economic impact from recreational use. The state where the ICW is suffering the worst is Georgia, which has received no funding in several years. The Army Corps of Engineers has listed 27 problem areas, some of which have depths as low as 2.5 feet at low water, yet zero funds are earmarked for the ICW in that state. Florida spends its own funds to help maintain the waterway. The state estimates that $10-million is needed and will make up the difference over the $2.3-million that they are hoping to get. Florida estimates that the ICW generates about $18-million a year and 203,000 annual jobs for the state. Congress is expected to pass funding for the coming year in October. Links for Our Waterways Issues Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway issues. www.atlintracoastal.org. BoatUS Foundation. Great source of information and links on miscellaneous issues. www.boatus.org. Florida Inland Navigation District, a taxing district for management and maintenance of the AICW in Florida. www.aicw.org. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. www.gicaonline.com. Marine Industries Association of Florida with links to local associations. www.boatflorida.org. Marine Industries Association of South Florida. www.miasf.org. National Waterways Conference promotes, educates and lobbies on behalf of all of the nation’s inland waterways. www.waterways.org. Ocean Conservancy dedicated to the protection of the oceans. www.oceanconservancy.org. Reef Relief. A non-profit group which is dedicated to preserving the reefs, based in Key West. www.reefrelief.org. Gulfbase.org. A research database for Gulf of Mexico Research. www.gulfbase.org. Surfrider Foundation. www.surfrider.org. A grassroots, nonprofit, environmental organization that works to protect our oceans, waves, and beaches. Clean Water Fund. www.cleanwaterfund.org. Organization that monitors and works at keeping our waters clean. Produced a 2005 report on sewage overflows in the state of Florida.

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HURRICANE SEASON 2006 The October Hurricane Season: Last of the Big Three September is the height of the hurricane season, but statistics show that the big three months for the Atlantic season are August, September and October, and hopefully we will get through this month without any major storms. Many storms that form in the eastern Atlantic in October seem to take a more southerly route and head into the western Caribbean, where some come ashore in Central America and some move north into the Gulf. Many storms are also born in the western Caribbean in October and move north and sometimes northeast. Some storms move into the Pacific from here, and others meander over land and back north. The most intense storm ever recorded for an Atlantic hurricane was Wilma, which was born as a tropical storm off the Yucatan Peninsula on October 17, 2005. It moved northeast, impacting South Florida and the Keys before disappearing into the Atlantic. On October 22, 1998, Hurricane Mitch also formed in the western Caribbean where it dropped record rainfall in Honduras and Nicaragua. The storm built up to a Category 5 and meandered over the Central American mainland before it eventually re-formed in the Gulf and then moved on to Florida on November 5, making landfall in Naples, but it was only a tropical storm by that time. It was Hurricane Mitch that caused the loss of the Fantome, the four-masted sailing ship of Windjammer cruises. The crew, after dropping off passengers in Belize, tried to save the ship—and themselves—by sailing south towards Roatan, off the coast of Honduras. They were aiming for the lee side of Roatan as Mitch struck the region, but the storm seemed to anticipate their every move and constantly moved to where they headed. The story of the Fantome is sadly, but well-told in Jim Carrier’s book, The Ship and the Storm – the Loss of the Fantome. Another destructive October storm was Hurricane Iris that formed in the eastern Caribbean and headed westward, coming ashore at Belize on October 9, 2001, as a Category 4. Iris was responsible for the destruction of the dive ship Wave Dancer, which was seeking refuge from the storm in Belize. The boat flipped over with a full crew and passengers aboard. Many of them died, and that tragic story was told in the book, No Safe Harbor (see book reviews in this section). We continue to ask our readers to send us your stories and

experiences. Some might not get published until next season, but they will all eventually go on our Web site hurricane pages.

“No Safe Harbor’’ by Joe Burnworth Book on Hurricane Tragedy Exemplifies Ignorance About Hurricanes By Steve Morrell A book review about a liveaboard dive boat in Southwinds? It is about boating, and it is about a sport that I—a former dive instructor—and many other sailors love. The book tells the story of a liveaboard dive ship that was hit by Hurricane Iris in October 2001 in Belize. Well-written and researched by the author who witnessed the tragedy, this book kept me on the edge of my chair till the end. The subtitle is “The Tragedy of the Dive Ship Wave Dancer” and knowing that the story would end in tragedy gave the book an ominous feeling as I progressed through it, and I have chosen to mention it here because of one simple bit of knowledge I learned from it: How ignorant people are about hurricanes. I can understand how someone living far away from areas affected by hurricanes can know little about them— how strong they can be, how unpredictable, how destructive—but I was surprised to learn in this book that a group of dive club members and a liveaboard dive boat company 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: editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

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October 2006

HURRICANE SEASON 2006

Seven lines are secured to this one cleat.

Hurricane Tips Storm Tip: Securing Several Lines to One Cleat and Your Boat It seems all the cleats are too small when you start preparing your boat for a storm, often trying to secure three, four or even more lines to one cleat. You can gain extra space by having the first line pass through the eye of the cleat and around the horns. You can then more easily secure two more lines to most cleats on top of that. Learn the proper way to secure a line to a cleat, as many people put too many unnecessary twists and locks on the lines, making it more difficult to secure several lines to it. You can sometimes find room to add an extra line by just tying an eye in the end of the line just big enough to go around the two horns. Put this line on after the one that passes through the eye and around the horns. This might give you extra room to still lock two more lines on top of the first two. Don’t forget that there is a limit to how many lines a cleat can hold, and you might have to secure extra lines to winches or the mast. But many lines also distribute the strength around to the boat, dock cleats and pilings, lessening the demands on any one point. Got a tip to help others? Send them on to editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

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could know so little. A group of divers from Richmond, VA, knowing little about hurricanes is perhaps understandable, but the ignorance of the dive boat company is puzzling. One thing I have learned—after spending 14 years living in Florida—is that most people don’t pay attention to hurricanes until they have been hit hard. Witness Hurricane Andrew. Many of the survivors said they would never again stick around if a major hurricane threatened. Some were mentally scarred for life. Florida’s hurricane preparations were nothing before Andrew. Now they are the best. But it was over 10 years later that complacency struck again in Punta Gorda, FL, when Charley hit and few had evacuated—thinking the storm was going right by them. The state was more prepared than the people. Of course, we all know what happened with Katrina. I guarantee that most residents in New Orleans who had lived through and experienced Charley or Andrew left New Orleans before Katrina hit. Complacency and the idea that you will never get hit are the real problems facing evacuation plans. In No Safe Harbor, I was shocked to think that people would venture into the Caribbean during hurricane season without being aware that a storm could change their plans. And to go to the western Caribbean in October is even worse. The dive boat company should have known better and should have had definite plans for even a possible hit. There is enough knowledge today about storms to get out of their way in time. Anyone who plans a trip during hurricane season should make sure a charter company, dive boat company or resort has a plan. The book takes the reader from the early plans by the dive club for the trip through their successful dives in Belize, then on to the crew’s plans to evade the storm and the final moments of the tragedy. Unfortunately, those who perished on the Wave Dancer paid the price for the storm plans I am sure the dive boat company now has in place.

BoatU.S. Hurricane Guide: “Preparing Boats & Marinas for Hurricanes” by the BoatU.S. Marine Insurance Damage Avoidance Program The BoatU.S. Marine Insur-ance Damage Avoidance Program has regularly put out reports and studies on damage avoidance, many of which are published in their quarterly maga-

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zine Seaworthy (available at $10/year from www.boatus.com). The group recently came out with its pamphlet on hurricane protection creating a concise report on hurricane preparations. At 12 pages, it is long enough to provide valuable information and short enough to absorb without lengthy reading. The guide is for both sail and powerboats. The hurricane preparation guide first discusses how to create a plan and what to expect from a storm in surge, wind, waves, rainfall and tornadoes—and when to take action. It then goes on to the various methods to secure your boat in different places: ashore, at a dock, at a mooring, at anchor, in a hurricane hole, on a trailer, on davits and lifts, and in storage racks. The guide also has a section discussing chafe, reducing windage, cleats and chocks, lines, fenders and more. There is also a worksheet that one can copy or tear out to help guide one through the list of things to do in your boat preparation. Also included is a discussion on preparing marinas and marina plans before the storm and an article on what to do after the storm if your boat is damaged. The guide is available at the BoatU.S. Web site for hurricanes, www.boatus.com/hurricanes.

Letter From BoatU.S.: Hurricane Tie-Downs First, I would like to applaud your ongoing efforts to educate your readers on the best ways to prepare a boat for a hurricane. It’s a complex topic, and all too often it’s ignored until after hurricane season. I’d like to comment on the SOUTHWINDS article (“Storing Your Boat on Land”) in the August 2006 issue. The writer says his boat survived Hurricane Isabel in 2003 at Port Annapolis Marina in Annapolis, MD, with no tie-downs. He notes that none of the boats at Port Annapolis had tie-downs and none fell over. The author concludes that, while he prefers them, “The

News & Views for Southern Sailors

jury’s out on whether tie-downs work or not.” Hurricane Isabel was actually a tropical storm by the time it reached Annapolis. Damage in the area was almost always the result of surge and not the wind. In a bona-fide hurricane, tie-downs have proven to be very effective. Using screw anchors, as noted in the article, offer some help, depending on the type of soil and depth of the anchors. The best tie-downs, however, are secured to eyebolts set in concrete pavement. All of the boats at Sebastian River Marina in Florida survived Hurricane Jeanne’s 125 mph winds using this technique. Not a one was damaged. During the same hurricane, boats at the nearby Hinckley yard in Stuart, FL, were secured to concrete deadweight anchors, similar to the type used for moorings. I think only three or four of the marina’s 178 boats were damaged. I recently talked to the manager at Marina Puerto del Rey in Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Georges destroyed many of their boats stored ashore in 1999, the marina installed two long strips of poured concrete. Boats are now positioned parallel to the strips and then secured with galvanized wire to eyebolts set in the concrete. The technique is relatively inexpensive and workable at almost any marina with a storage area. I hope it doesn’t take too many more storms for the benefits of tie-downs and concrete to become apparent to more marina and boat owners. It works. Bob Adriance Editor, Seaworthy A BoatU.S. Marine Insurance publication Bob, I too have heard of those successes and believe that dry-land storage with tie-downs for sailboats can be extremely effective in saving boats under very strong storms. Few studies have been done on this, and it would be beneficial for someone to do one. Perhaps BoatU.S. would like to pursue such a study. We are asking any of our readers who have experience with tie-downs to send us their stories so we can share this information with BoatU.S. and others. Steve Morrell Editor SOUTHWINDS Web Site Hurricane Pages Visit the SOUTHWINDS hurricane pages at www.southwindsmagazine.com for stories and articles on how to save your boat during a storm, tips, links to other Web sites, great weather links for hurricanes and more. This Web site is becoming the best save-you

SOUTHWINDS October 2006

BOOKS TO READ Fix It and Sail By Brian Gilbert McGraw Hill. 2006

This is a story by a guy who did it. After living on a Catalina 27 for four years, he knew what small boats were like. Trying to get back to owning a sailboat, he knew what he could afford was a small trailerable sailboat. So he bought a Venture 22— pretty run down—and rebuilt it. Gilbert goes into pretty good detail in discussing all aspects of this rebuild, which makes it pretty useful for any small boat. This boat is hardly just about a Venture 22. This book covers all the bases. There is even a section on restoring a boat trailer. In fact, I would say this book could be used as an introduction to working on boats in general because Gilbert gives the reader a good, concise, but thorough discussion on structural repairs, installing ports, using sealants, repairs, galvanic corrosion, rigging, outboard motors, electronics and electrical, paints, epoxy, fiberglassing…the list goes on. The real advantage is he fits it into 200 pages, which means the boat builder/restorer won’t get bogged down in pages of specs and details, as he gives you just enough information. This book is like a reference.

Radar for Mariners By David Burch McGraw Hill. 2005

If you know nothing about radar, this book is a great help. The book is basically in two parts—and this is its saving grace. The first part, covering about 90 pages, is an introduction and discussion of radar so the user can get going without getting lost in details. It covers what is called the “basics of function, operation and application needed to get underway.” The second part goes into more details and expands on what is covered in the second

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part with some independent information. In part one, there are chapters on how radar works, tuning and interpreting, radar piloting and navigation and collision avoidance. All of this is in simple enough language that the beginner can understand and use radar without getting bogged down in details. Part two gets into more detail, including installation. In the installation section, for example, the book discusses different mounting options for boats, such as which is best for a sailboat, on a separate fixed mount off the stern or on a mast? Part two also discusses false echoes, interference and advanced piloting and navigation using radar, going into detail to better interpret what your radar is trying to tell you. A companion CD comes with the book, so the reader doesn’t have to be on his boat with the radar on and cruising about to see what the screen has to offer.

Cruising Guide to the Florida Keys By Morgan Stinemetz and Claiborne Young 2nd edition. 2006. Pelican Publishing

This is the second edition of the guide that Stinemetz and Young first came out with in 2002. There are a lot of guides to the Keys, but none that gives you the extra information this one does with a little history here and there and information on out-of-the way places to visit—plus some interesting anecdotal stories. Although a great guide via the water, this guide would even be useful for those traveling by car. The authors have also attempted to give the cruiser a historical perspective on the Keys as he travels through them. For example, when one gets near Indian Key, the reader can learn about the unique history of this small key, learning that it was originally colonized in the 1830s by a Key West wrecker named Jacob Housman. Housman eventually set up a small town on the key with 55 residents. There was even a bowling alley—small, mind you, but there. The key’s history goes on to tell of how it met its final end as a community. This is typical of many of the interesting stories and historical facts that one will find in this guide. The authors also did extensive research of the oftenconfusing waterways that dot the Keys, hoping to help the boater find his way through the myriad of changes that he can run into as he tries to reach a well-hidden marina. Some channels change from red-right returning to green on your right as other channels intersect. The authors have tried to help the boater navigate through these difficult spots where one can easily be confused. It is, in the end, a guide for boaters to marinas, but with all the other reviews of restaurants, food and lodging, it goes beyond being just that. There is also a section on a survey of marina damage the authors did after Hurricane Wilma hit in October 2005. www.southwindsmagazine.com

The Other ICW: Florida’s West Coast By Scott Welty

Scott Welty and Sue Budde sold their house and cars and left Chicago in June 2005 aboard their 1978 Catalina 30, Enee Marie. Since then, they have negotiated the Great Lakes, Welland Canal, Erie Canal, Hudson River, Long Island Sound, Jersey Shore, Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic ICW, Florida’s Hawk Channel, Florida’s western shore, and the Gulf Coast Intracoastal Waterway. Along the way (in Long Island), they bought their current boat, a center cockpit 1984 Endeavour 40, also named Enee Marie. They travel with their reluctant crew, Gracie the cat. You can track their adventures at www.scottsuesailaway.blogspot.com.

ue to a variety of circumstances, we find ourselves shoving off from Clearwater Beach, FL, on July 1, 2005, for points south. We had originally made a run from Key West to Clearwater in two largish jumps; Key West to Marco Island and then Marco Island to Clearwater. Now that we are heading south, we decide to take the inside route for much of the trip to Fort Myers Beach. While summer is not the best weather window for Florida’s west coast (little wind and thunderstorms most afternoons) the weather makes an inside run desirable. With an early start you can arrive at the next anchorage before the afternoon storms. With the light summer winds, you are going to be motor-sailing at best on the ocean side so you may as well motor in flat water. Also, on the outside there are a few navigable entryways from the Gulf. They are Longboat Pass, Venice, Port Charlotte, and San Carlos Bay. On the inside, you find the usual well-marked waterway as on the Atlantic ICW with some fine anchorages to explore. We did not go inside from Clearwater, however, but went outside as far as Egmont Key. We should have kept going to Longboat Key. Egmont Key stands in the mouth of huge Tampa Bay. There is a lighthouse, and the island is mostly a bird sanctuary. While it would provide protection from a west wind, it provides little protection from the more normal easterlies. But it was nice and calm when we arrived, so we put the hook down and decided to stay the night. When the wind picked up during the night, we were in for a long spell of hobbyhorsing and not much sleeping.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

LONGBOAT KEY ANCHORAGE The next morning we made the short run outside to Longboat Key. This could have been done the previous day as mentioned. Longboat Pass is well marked and leads to a drawbridge that opens on signal. When you first pass through the bridge, you can actually see the anchorage off to starboard, but you can’t go there! There is a huge sandbar that comes out and blocks travel to the south from the bridge. There is an island, Jewfish Key, directly east of the pass, and you have to follow the buoys around to the north, enter the ICW, and then turn south along the eastern shore

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of that island. At R40 you can turn to the west and enter the anchorage. And a fine anchorage it is, too! Good holding, lots of dolphins, and two restaurants that are about a 200-yard dinghy ride away. Additionally, if you follow the Long Beach shoreline to the southeast you will come to a gap that begins Bishop’s Bayou. Follow this back to the northwest through pretty The restaurant on Cabbage Key houses and mangroves until you come to a concrete wall with cleats in it. Tie up here and you can walk to a very nice little grocery store and liquor store. If you take your dinghy the other way from the anchorage, toward the bridge you come to the large sandy shoal that prevented you from entering this way. On the weekend, you’ll find maybe a hundred shallow draft boats here with barbecues going, dogs splashing in the ankledeep water and kids searching for sand dollars. We stayed three nights at this anchorage and then got on the buoy trail that leads back to the ICW and straight to Sarasota Bay. Once in the bay, there is plenty of water, and we hoisted sails and sailed all the way to the Ringling Causeway Bridge, which is now 65 feet high. After the bridge, you can turn to the east after R10 and enter the large anchorage area. This anchorage gives you a very pretty night view of downtown Sarasota. A short dinghy ride to O’Leary’s Sailing School and from there you can walk into downtown Sarasota. SARASOTA TO VENICE From Sarasota you follow the ICW markers south into little Sarasota Bay all the way to Venice. There is a small anchorage area in Venice, but more than one sailor had told us horror stories of being hassled by the local sheriff, another example of Florida’s schizophrenic attitude toward cruising sailboats. They love our money but don’t really want our boats there at all! So we took a slip at the Crow’s Nest Marina, which is right on the Venice Inlet. Boats in marinas are less likely to be hassled than boats at anchor. The Crows Nest is a nice little marina with laundry, Internet, a restaurant, and free loaner bikes for the mile or so ride into downtown Venice. But we’re cheap! One night in a marina and we are off the next day. The ICW from Venice takes you around the airport through a man-made canal, which then empties into Lemon Bay. Just after the drawbridge near Englewood there “might” be an anchorage just off to the southwest. The anchorage is plenty deep at 8-10 feet, but there is a five-foot shoal to find your way through to get to it. It is not marked, 38

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and without “local knowledge,” we decided to press on for a little anchorage off Haze Point about another five miles down. You can turn to the left around Haze Point and enter a circular anchorage area about 300 yards across, surrounded by nice private homes. It is very well protected from all sides, but the holding is very soupy so we dropped two anchors. Good thing probably, because we got a lot of wind and rain the night we were there. It is a short hop then to enter Gasparilla Sound, which in turn opens up to huge Charlotte Harbor. Following the buoys, Gasparilla Island will be on your right. As you approach R2, you can turn toward the island. There are buoys marking the entrance into the little town of Boca Grande. They say you can get in there and anchor, but we stayed out and anchored just off this marked channel. The water inside is pretty thin, and we saw one sailboat go in and get stuck. The marina at Boca Grande is being rebuilt (should re-open in September 2006), but you can tie up your dinghy there anyway. It is a short walk into the little town of Boca Grande. Some shops, a bar, and bicycle and golf cart rentals are there. We, of course, are here (and everywhere on this trip) during the off-season so many things are closed up until late fall/winter. Continuing south across the mouth of Charlotte Harbor, you can once again pick up the buoys until you are between Useppa Island and Cabbage Key. Turn left at R60 and anchor just off Useppa Island. Useppa Island is a private club sort of deal, and you can’t go ashore there. Cabbage Key, however, used to be an old fishing outpost. There is a restaurant, small marina, and rental cottages. The story goes that the old fishermen would want to guarantee that they would get a beer when they returned from fishing so they would sign their name on a dollar bill and stick it to the barroom wall. Since then, this has become a tradition, and they estimate that the walls now have over $50,000 taped to them several layers deep. There is a short nature trail on the island that you can follow and a water tank that you can walk to the top of and see a very nice panorama of some undeveloped Florida waterfront. Yes—there still is some left! This anchorage provided the best bird-watching of the trip. As the tide went down and the mud flats were exposed, we saw blue and green heron, osprey, ibis, yellowcrowned night heron (our favorite!) and the gaudy roseate spoonbill. You don’t see these back in Chicago! Another 25-mile-or-so run takes you into Fort Myers. You first have to negotiate the “miserable mile”—a straight www.southwindsmagazine.com

The dinghy dock in Fort Myers Beach.

stretch that cuts across San Carlos Bay to the east with swift crosscurrents when the tide is running. You have to keep an eye on the buoys behind you to make sure you are still in the channel as it is quite shallow on the outside. You next meet up with the Okeechobee Waterway, which goes up the Caloosahatchee River and ultimately into Lake Okeechobee and on to Florida’s east coast. We turned right and south at this point to follow the waterway under the Sanibel Bridge (a new 65-foot bridge is under construction). From there we headed south to Fort Myers Beach, passing under the Mantanzas Pass Bridge into a large mooring field between Estero Island and San Carlos Island. We initially thought we might pass all the way through the mooring field and join some other sailboats that were at anchor. There is obviously a way into this anchorage but not the way we were going! When we got about half a foot of water under our keel, we backed up and called in for a mooring ball! The mooring balls are operated by Salty Sam’s Marina. They are just about brand-new, and the people at the marina are very friendly. The balls are $13 a night or $260 for a month. For that you get free water and use of showers on shore and free dinghy dockage. There is a fun restaurant on site, Parrot Key Caribbean Grill. If you take your dinghy across to Estero Island and down a little canal there is a “dinghy” dock at the end. Well, if you call a couple of troughs cut out of the mangroves a dinghy dock. But it’s worth it, because now you are right by the Topps grocery store, a liquor store and one block from the public library with Internet access. The best deal on the island is the trolley, which runs up and down Estero Island from Bonita Beach on the south all the way across the Mantanzas Bridge to the Sumerlin Mall to the north. Price? Twenty-five cents! Runs on the hour. So here we are. We didn’t really plan to be on Florida’s west coast for hurricane season, but we think we could do a lot worse than being in this mooring field. We plan to haunt this area through the fall and then head out once again around December 1 for the Bahamas and the windward passage to the islands. We’re glad we took the opportunity to check out west Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway. News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS October 2006

Gulf Stream Crossings By Rebecca Burg

“We hit something,” Terry said, smacking one hand into the other. “Bang!” Terry goes on to describe a recent Gulf Stream crossing with her husband, Captain Ron, and pet poodle, Ocean, on their 36-foot Gulfstream trawler, Silk Purse IV.

very year, thousands of boats cross the Gulf Stream between Florida and the Bahamas. A well-worn trail, it’s an easy hop when the weather is right. However, when the wind picks up and shifts against the current or squalls start rearing their cloudy heads, a Gulf Stream crossing can be dangerous. Boaters may also encounter fast-moving freighters, unlit vessels at night or unseen obstacles floating in the water. Silk Purse had encountered the latter. It was early summer when the trawler had left the north end of Key Biscayne, near Miami, FL, and headed toward Bimini, Bahamas. It was 4 a.m. Experienced cruisers, they’d waited for a good weather window and faced less than three-foot seas. In the dim gray light of dawn, Silk Purse hit something. The trawler shuddered as she glanced off a submerged obstacle. Quick-thinking, Ron threw the engine into neutral while Terry scurried forward. Pushed into motion by Silk Purse, a large tree bobbed upright, then began tumbling end over end. The trawler fell away. Wide-eyed, Terry watched as the tree’s massive, knarled root ball careened over Silk Purse’s bow. Just missing the boat’s rail, the sodden tree vanished back into the inky water. Undamaged, the lucky trawler was able to continue her journey. With no further surpises, they arrived in Bimini by lunchtime after a 47-nautical-mile crossing. Waiting for good weather, the number of boats in Fort Lauderdale, FL, grew. By Easter weekend, the window opened. Escape, a Hunter 290 sloop, bounced and rocked her way through a crazed crowd of weekend warriors, fishing vessels and fellow Bahamas-bound cruisers. It was only 2:30 a.m. Cruising couple Tom and Babette brought Escape into calmer seas after skirting a long line of waiting cruise ships. The conditions were so calm that the sailboat motored to West End, Bahamas. “I would’ve liked a little wind,” Tom admits, but he was glad to finally resume their trip and appreciated its uneventful nature. “The roughest part of the whole thing was getting through the crowds at Fort Lauderdale!” Babette said. With a 70-nautical-mile hop, 40

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an early start and fair skies ahead, Escape traveled at a fuelconservative pace and reached West End near 3:30 p.m. Their travel time was 13 hours. Dennis, a long-time sailboat owner, had recently bought Island Dream, a trawler. He says he was still thinking like a sailor on his most recent Gulf Stream crossing this June. With wife Sharon and crewmember Bob, Dennis took Island Dream out of Jupiter, FL, at 5:00 p.m. for an overnight crossing to West End. With years of sailing experience, it was a routine trip for Dennis. However, he was still getting used to his new power vessel’s different handling characteristics. The weather forecast showed nothing alarming. Yet, midway in the trip, a rapidly developing low-pressure area formed over Island Dream. In the dark of the night, squalls whipped the waves into a dangerous jumble. Easterly winds gusted to 50 mph, and the growing seas were estimated to be near 12 to 14 feet. About 30 nautical miles offshore, the trawler struggled to make headway. “At that time, we were only traveling half a knot,” Bob says. Forward progress became extremely difficult, and Dennis turned around to make a quick downwind slide to safety. Back in Florida, Island Dream waited for better weather to resume her travels, this time by day, and arrived at West End after covering 60 nautical miles in an easy 10 hours. Dick and Carol Simmons have been crossing the stream every year since 1964 in both power and sailing vessels. Currently, they cruise in Gusto!!!, an Island Packet 44, and they recall their most memorable experience. It was early fall in the mid-’90s, and they left Port Lucaya, Bahamas, for www.southwindsmagazine.com

an 80-nautical-mile crossing to Boca Raton, FL. It was an overnight trip with a favorable forecast. There was no wind; the seas were flat. After a short time, the wind slowly began to build, and the sailboat rushed along on a broad reach. Dick and Carol became alarmed when the winds continued to increase to 20 knots—then to 30 and beyond. The seas became so steep that a nearby freighter completely disappeared from view whenever it fell into a wave’s trough. “That was the scariest,” Dick said, Defiant motoring in the middle of the Gulf Stream on a calm day. also noting that bad weather at night always seems intensified. “It’s hard to see uneconomical ride. Daytime or night crossings are a matter what’s coming at you,” he says. After a long, difficult sail, of personal choice and level of experience. Slower vessels the couple made it to Boca Raton after daybreak. Despite will usually plan crossings overnight so they can arrive in that one incident and the many years making crossings, the Bahamas with lots of daylight to spare, enabling them to Dick and Carol have had few negative experiences due to see shallow water and unlighted channels. It’s a matter of careful weather watching and sensible planning. careful planning, plotting and weather watching. Boats coming from the Gulf of Mexico will usually be traveling up the Keys before making the jump to the Bahamas. Two single-handed sailboats traveling from this direction, Defiant and Angel, were sailing together for safety and company. On their most recent crossing in spring, they left a far southerly anchorage in Key Largo, near Rock Harbor, at 6:45 a.m. with a favorable forecast of southeast winds. The expected winds never materialized, and both sailboats motored 77 nautical miles to Bimini, Bahamas. Both boats saw 1- to 2-foot seas. Lacking any resistance from wind or wave, they used the stream’s current to increase their motoring speed. Reaching Bimini at 5:30 p.m., travel time was almost 11 hours. Angel’s average motoring speed is normally 5 knots, yet her progress, speed over ground, increased to speeds of up to 8.9 knots in the middle of the Gulf Stream where its current flows the strongest. Calm weather windows are perfect for the cruising trawler while sailboaters hope for breezes of up to 15 knots. As expected, sailors prefer to sail across the stream, but those with reliable engines were not hesitant to take advantage of any good weather window, including calms. Seasoned cruisers say they will avoid leaving if the winds are over 15 knots. Of course, as Gusto!!! and Island Dream had experienced, unexpected weather can catch a vessel in the open. Though merely coincidence, both of these vessels had been traveling at night, when changing skies and oncoming weather is less visible. Also, boaters will avoid crossing the Gulf Stream when the winds have any component of north in them. Naturally, northerly winds go against the stream’s current as it flows from the south, and this builds steep and dangerous seas. The most common jump-off points to the Bahamas, (usually to West End or Bimini), are between Key Largo and West Palm Beach, FL. Anything farther north and a vessel is forced to travel against the current, an uncomfortable and News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS October 2006

CRUISING

Courteous Cruising By Dave Cross

Photo by Dave Cross

“We’ve been cruising for three months now, and we haven’t connected with any other cruisers,” the skipper behind me was saying. “We thought it would be easy to make friends out here.”

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udy and I had just returned to Grenada from Tobago, and were at Roger’s barbecue on Hog Island. I introduced myself to skipper, receiving an invitation to skipper’s boat for drinks and chatter. When we accepted, the happy skipper jumped in his dinghy, roaring off to get the boat ready. Judy and I were dismayed when he zig-zagged through the anchored yachts, sending masts waving like

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Kansas wheat. As we slowly followed, squeezing between the anchor line of the boat behind and skipper’s stern, we cringed: On the swim platform was a roaring portable generator, accompanying the Rolling Stones blasting from the stereo. We knew why the skipper and his wife had trouble connecting with anyone. His dinghy etiquette, anchoring practices, music and electricity generation created an impression on his fellow cruisers...a very bad impression. While they were enjoying the freedom of the cruising lifestyle, they were annoying everyone around them. Cruising is about freedom. But, freedom isn’t anarchy. There are limits to personal freedom when people are close enough that the actions of one affects others. And, when cruisers are anchored together, they are definitely close enough to affect each other! Wind generators can sometimes be noisy. Photo by Dave Cross.

Four activities generated the most complaints among cruisers we surveyed: ANCHORING Anchoring, specifically anchoring too close, was number one. And when boats anchor near each other, with different scopes or type of rode, wind and tide changes can bring relative distances between boats down to the “too close” range very quickly. The herd instinct can needlessly create situations where boats are anchoring too close. Twice on our voyage, in the ICW, and at Conception Island in the Bahamas, in anchorages open for several hundred yards in all directions, a boat pulled directly upwind of us, dropped the hook, and pulled back until they were right on top of us. GENERATING ELECTRICITY Generation of electricity is next. Most cruisers are now big fans of stuff; refrigeration, watermakers, laptops, etc. All these toys take electricity that must be generated. The generation of all those watts can be anything from unnoticeable to extremely rude, such as: • Diesel engines (generator or main engine): Most installed engines create minimal external noise when running. But they are not silent. When run on a quiet evening, they are annoying. • Wind generators: Some wind generators are extremely noisy, howling in even moderate winds. And since one of the benefits of wind generation is the ability to generate power 24/7, these rude little machines are rude 24/7. • Portable generators: These can be the most irritating, obnoxious, and rude devices out there. Listening to one or more of these little beasts drone on and on is horrible, totally ruining the peace of any anchorage. Remember the Conception Island anchoring incident? Well, after anchoring right on top of us, our new neighbor put a generator on his rear swim platform, and started the damn thing. Then, incredibly, he yelled to his wife (so she could hear him over the noise), “Let’s go for a walk on the beach so we don’t have to listen to this racket!” And they hopped in their dinghy, giving us cheery waves as they roared past! News & Views for Southern Sailors

DINGHIES Dinghy usage is next. Along with passing unnecessarily close to anchored boats, many cruisers don’t seem to recognize the power of the wakes their little boats create. It is common to see a dinghy on plane back off to half throttle, then plow along, bow in the air, creating a wake that would make a rude sport-fisher proud, rocking dinner off all its neighbors’ tables. The other common dinghy issue cruisers face is short painters. More cruising boats mean more dinghies needing to tie up. And that requires long painters, including locking systems. It is not unusual to find a dinghy tied with a long painter, hanging from its four-foot cable, securely locked to the float’s cleat. EXCESSIVE EVENING NOISE Finally, everyone knows how easily sound travels over water, and most cruisers maintain the quiet peace of their anchorage. But when rude boaters forget, or ignore, the physics of sound propagation, the result is anger and frustration, ruining the evening for a lot of folks. Too many boaters think everyone in the anchorage deserves the honor of listening to their choice of music, or playing audience to their loud laughter and shouts.

What Do We Do About It? How can we all enjoy the freedoms we are searching for out there as anchorages get more crowded? The answer is Cruising Courtesy. We have to give each other the right to enjoy cruising in our own way—not behaving in such a way that our actions diminish the cruising experience for others. Being courteous will allow more cruisers to enjoy more places. Here are proven ways to avoid the discourteous behaviors listed above: ANCHORING The amount of room each boat needs around it for the crew to feel comfortable, allowing worry- free sleeping, and minimizing noise intrusion, is somewhat subjective. But, two SOUTHWINDS October 2006

CRUISING simple rules will work in almost all situations. • Anchor as far from all other anchored yachts as practical. In crowded anchorages, too close is really very close. In a gathering of experienced skippers, boats may be as little as two boat lengths apart. But they will stay evenly spaced, as far apart as possible. Squeezing into a non-existent hole, just because you have a dog that needs to hit the head, a putt-putt dinghy, or just because you want to, doesn’t cut it. If you can’t give each boat around you the same room everyone else has, you just need to go somewhere else. • Use the same scope and rode as those anchored before you. In crowded anchorages, using too much scope, or using rope and chain when everyone else is on all chain, creates serious issues. Experienced cruisers are very comfortable on four- or five-to-one scopes, with everyone on all chain, when it gets a little snug. But, just one rude boat can spoil everything. Off St. Augustine, FL,one night the skipper of a very large old ketch rolled in, rounded up over the deepest part of the harbor, and plopped down 250 feet of chain (10-toone scope). He then warned all of us to watch out for his boat, because it sailed badly around the anchor, and he needed lots of scope to stay put. He was right, and three boats had to move because of his rudeness. Remember: you have no constitutional right to anchor in any particular spot. In fact, you are obligated to anchor in such a manner as to not endanger or impede any other anchored vessel. If you anchor near another already-anchored boat, and through swinging or dragging a collision occurs, you are at fault. GENERATING ELECTRICITY Surprisingly, at least to some people, you also do not have a constitutional right to generate electricity. So, if you do need to generate some current to sustain the lifestyle you chose, it should be done so that it does not impact any other cruiser in any way. There should be no way possible for any one around to even know you are making watts. Of course, solar panels are the least obtrusive generation system, but many wind generators are virtually silent. And most main engines and installed generators are muffled enough to fit the requirements, at least during daylight hours. But what if you have a howling wind generator, a screaming portable generator or your main engine roars like a D8 Cat? The only way to silence a wind generator that howls is to replace it. If you refuse to do that, the only option is to anchor downwind and away from everyone else. Sounds like a real sacrifice, but please remember, you are the one that chose an obnoxious method of generating electricity. No one else should have to sacrifice their enjoyment for your cold beer. Taming the noise from a portable generator is simple. Build an open-top, collapsible box, made from soundabsorption panels, to surround and support your generator. Set the unit on the floor of your cockpit. Almost all of the sound will be muffled or reflected upward, where no one is anchored. Only a reasonable hum should be audible inside your boat. Remember, you are the only one getting benefit out of that hum...only you should have to listen to it. A screaming main engine may just be a matter of run44 October 2006

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Be considerate of others who will tie up at a crowded dinghy dock. Photo by Steve Morrell

ning it too fast. With alternators, it is not necessary to run high rpms to generate electricity. Use your voltmeter to find when your unit starts putting out over 14 volts, and run the engine at that rpm. It will be as quiet as possible, and may use less fuel. If you are still making too much noise, you will need to go anchor with the loud wind generator fleet. DINGHIES Dinghy courtesy is quite simple and requires no special skills or equipment. First, unless you are visiting a boat, always stay as far away from all anchored boats as possible. There is no excuse for cutting close. Next, dinghies make almost no wake at putt-putt speeds and huge wakes at half throttle. The difference between putt-putting and half throttle, bow in the air, surf-creating speed is around one knot. That’s a small price to pay for smiles and waves. As for the painter, just make sure you always tie up long (at least 1.5 times dinghy length), and make sure your locking system is as long as your painter. EXCESSIVE EVENING NOISE This one is easiest to do, and hardest to get some people to accept. Remember, the odds that any other cruiser would rather hear your choice of music (or loud laughter, rude jokes, drunken giggles, whatever) than their own music, laughter, etc., are zero. And keep an eye on the time. It is a sure sign of being a newbie, or charterer, when you stay up every night partying and wake up late and bleary-eyed each morning.

Think about it Courtesy is not hard. And, when you really do need to cut loose, go find a deserted anchorage. Then spend the day acting any way you want, because you will be exercising your own rights, not infringing on the rights of others. Be courteous as you motor around an anchorage on your dinghy. Photo by Steve Morrell.

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Sails reefed in the Family Island Regatta.

Family Island Regatta – Bahamas By Betsy Morris

he National Family Island Regatta is to the Bahamas as the World Series is to the United States. It is held in George Town, Exumas, in April each year, but the planning, scheming, second-guessing, and boat tuning begin much earlier. Some would say it begins in Mangrove Bush, Long Island, at the innovative Knowles boatyard. Others would claim that the boys at Man-O-War Cay in Abaco have the touch, or that the folks at Barraterre, Great Exuma, bring their special attention to detail, or that the focus of Staniel Cay’s Brooks Miller, captain of Tidal Wave, is the spark. The old timers, many of whom were the founding fathers of the regatta in 1954, look to the oldest boats for inspiration, Lady Muriel, Tidal Wave, Good News, Running Tide, and others. All these sloops are built in the Bahamas, framed and planked in wood (faired with fiberglass and fillers). The dinghy classes (no jibs) are up to 17 feet in length, the B Class is 21 feet, and the A Class is 28 feet. All are either remodeled fishing boats or descendents thereof, with their cuddies removed, designed with the traditional grace and beauty of the hull and rig foremost in mind; raked bows and sterns, strong sweep of sheer, “wineglass” curvature to the transom, with tillers passing through an aperture, and no winches or “modern” instruments. Their booms are always longer than the length of the boat itself, and many of the 28-footers have 60-foot masts, laminated of Sitka spruce—no spreaders allowed. Depending on wind conditions, they often carry a ton or more of lead ballast, as well as up to 14 sailors, whose weight, hiked out on pries, attempts to balance the gargantuan spread of canvas aloft. The regatta is three days long, preceded by one day of special races for the Commodore Emeritus, Governor General, and Prime Minister cups. Before those races come the National Junior Championships, sailed in the dinghy classes. This year, seventeen-year old Nioshe Rolle from Staniel Cay won—the first girl to take the championship. Prior to those events is a frantic week of readiness. George Town is spruced up; dozens of food and drink shacks are built of plywood, painted, electrified, with full bars and kitchens installed; and the racers begin to arrive.

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The Exuma and Long Island racers come on or are towed behind the local fishing boats. Most other boats are wedged onto the mailboat. The scheming and second-guessing begin as these racers are off-loaded by a crane. Everyone on the dock yells instructions, and gestures fly from those whose boats are already launched. In the midst of all this preparation and racing activity, fans arrive from Nassau, Eleuthera, Crooked Island, Acklins, Long Island, Rum Cay, Bimini, Cat Island, Abacos, all the Exuma Cays, and even the Turks and Caicos in support of their favorite boats. Life in George Town is altered for a week: The library closes and AA meetings are suspended, although the reluctant kids still trudge to school; and cruisers from all over the world dot enormous Elizabeth Harbour, loathe to leave until the last boat rounds the last mark on the last day of the regatta. My husband and I planned our spring of 2006 to be in George Town aboard our 39-foot Gulfstar, Salsa, for the

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October 2006

another, and they’re regatta. We sailed from “checkin” to windsouthern Florida in ward. early March and took If there’s a jibe at some long tacks the windward mark, through the inky Gulf one boat’s boom might Stream and turquoise sweep someone off Bahamian banks to another boat. The visit favorite anchorheavy pry boards are ages at Frazer’s Hog, shifted, the huge sail Little San Salvador, Cat let out, and they’re Island, Long Island “beddin’’ for the leeand Little Exuma, ward mark. If a man depending on the religoes overboard, the able Explorers’ Chart skipper is required to Books. George Town is a go back for him. If a destination for many boat falls short of a cruisers. At the height mark and misses it, of its “season,” the Hiked out on Eudeva. two points are auto“cruisers’ regatta,” there matically subtracted from his can be 400 visiting boats in the score. The first boat to finish is harbor. That’s a few too many awarded as many points as for us, and we staged ourboats that finish. If 14 boats selves in the wide sandy chanstart, but only eight finish, the nels of Long Island’s remote winner gets eight points— Dollar Harbor, diving for unless the skipper missed a conch and exploring the mark! empty little cays before headIt’s a downwind finish, ing northwest for a slightly and those boats cross like quieter George Town. It had freight trains at full throttle. been 10 years since our last No one polices the huge specvisit. Most things seemed the tator fleet, bobbing and weavsame with the addition of an ing in inflatable dinghies, cigextra volleyball court or two arette boats from Nassau on Stocking Island and sever(with men and women al Internet cafes in town. dressed and coifed in the latInflatables still criss-crossed est flamboyant fashion), the harbor, their occupants Whalers, and cruising boats. standing in prevailing George We followed some races in Town style. The VHF crackled our dinghy and others aboard with invitations, announceNew Moon, a friend’s trawler. ments, and inquiries. It’s a vilWe nearly got cut in half on lage within a village—the one occasion when a celebratcruisers and Bahamians intering winning skipper let go the dependent and friendly. tiller in wild abandon, seeing Bahamian sailboat races our terrified expressions at are unusual in many ways, the last possible moment. the most bizarre being the Also on New Moon was our start. All boats anchor along Bahamian friend, Harry the line with sails down. Harding, past owner of the Picture a Le Mans start at an old champion from Salt Pond, automobile racetrack. The Long Island, Running Tide. scene is serene with sloops or Like every Bahamian in sailing dinghies gently bobGeorge Town, Harry knows bing in the clear water. At the every boat and every skipstarting siren, the bowman Running Tide, one of the older boats in the regatta. per’s strength and weakness. takes up the anchor (on a long When Running Tide missed a windward mark, Harry rode) as fast as he can, giving the boat forward momentum. moaned, “She might as well just check for home.” All boats must retrieve their anchors. As the enormous When the last race was over, the focus turned to the mainsail is raised, the helmsman drops the bow and— food and drink shacks on land. We adjourned for a cold sometimes before the anchor is aweigh—she’s away. It’s Kalik beer and a hot sheep tongue souse. The Royal pandemonium! All boats, except the boat in the first posiBahamian Police marching band put on an elegant show tion, must start on starboard tack, but that’s a committee for the governor general of the Bahamas and all the rest rule, not a law of nature. Boats are on starboard tack, port of us. The music, the dancing, the celebrating, and the tack, or in irons; skippers yell at their crew, crew yell at second-guessing went on all night. opponents; someone gets clean air, then another, then 46 October 2006

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS October 2006

BEACH CAT RACING

Evolving Structure of Beach Catamaran Racing in Florida By Roy Laughlin

obie Alter did not develop his first Hobie Cats with racing in mind. But the drag-racer performance of these small planing-hulls enthused a racing contingent as soon as two beach cat sailors left the same beach. By the 1980s, Hobie Cat weekend regattas routinely hosted 300 catamarans. The Hobie Cat brand became synonymous with all beach cats, but Prindle, Supercat and later Performance Catamaran’s NACRA line were also conspicuously present. Each manufacturer played a significant if not dominant role in establishing class rules and sponsoring regattas for owners of its products. The Hobie Cat racing organization became so large that the Hobie Cat Company, while retaining significant sponsorship, established a separate membership organization presently known as the North American Hobie Class Association (NAHCA). (The Hobie Class Association is international; only the North American subgroup is important to this story.) This quasi-independent membership group was built on the local “Hobie Fleets.” These in turn were organized into divisions. Florida’s Hobie Division 8 was one of the largest and most active divisions with at least a dozen active local fleets. Prindle catamaran races had a similar, although smaller membership racing group, but they are now defunct. The divisions of these membership groups coordinated scheduling, established regatta rules and procedures, often obtained financial sponsorship, and offered annual awards for sailing skill and sportsmanship. Local fleets did a whole lot more during the years than sponsor races, but preparing for and conducting regattas were, for these groups, the most complex and financially demanding efforts. Many young adults at the time brought business education and job-derived skills to this effort and left with exceptionally valuable and unique career experience. During the 1970s, when beach cat racing was epidemic among young adults, efforts of division and fleet officers were instrumental in the success of beach cat racing. All things pass, and so did the fortunes of beach cat 48 October 2006

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makers and sailors. By 1990, local fleets were anemic for lack of new members. As beach cat sales declined, the manufacturers failed, merged with competitors or moved to new markets, entirely leaving regatta efforts to the local fleets. For the minor boat brands, even the local fleets vanished as membership eroded. The NAHCA, independent of the company, survives and remains a significant force in regatta sponsorship nationwide. But in Florida its fortunes were badly battered by some unique circumstances. The most avid racers moved away from Hobie Cats to high tech brands, most of which are presently built by Performance Catamaran. Local fleets remained responsible during the early 1990s for regattas on Florida’s Hobie Division 8 calendar. As former Hobie Cat sailors moved to non-Hobie catamarans, local fleets faced the loss of both their participation in organizing a regatta and the financial benefit of their registration fees. In response, nearly all local fleets, by 1995, sponsored open regattas, following Hobie-sanctioned rules in order to maintain the broadest participation. NAHCA rules had always limited participation to sailors on Hobie brand products, but at least temporarily turned a blind eye to the open regatta model. When it became predominant in Florida in particular, the national officials, after a long and painful debate, decided to enforce the rule. According to Clark Keysor, a long-time Division 8 associate (as member and division officer), Hobie Division 8 is “still alive and functioning, just not very active.” During this turmoil, local fleets didn’t miss a beat. They became “catamaran associations,” often incorporating elements of the Hobie Fleet number designation to indicate continuity. For example, Brevard County’s Fleet 45 Space Coast Catamaran Association. Some fleets even retain their NAHCA association, but their regattas are not sanctioned Hobie Class Racing Association regattas. The open regatta, welcoming sailors on any beach catamaran, is the dominant model now for beach cat regatta organizers. Nature abhors a vacuum, and the demise of Division 8 left a big one. Regatta organizers needed a way to quickly coordinate scheduling, issue NORs and conduct other public regatta business as division officers had done. The Internet came to the rescue—in a most unexpected way. The Web site, www.1design.net, founded and operated by Brian Karr in Rockledge in 2000, was an existing forum for a group of former Division 8 sailors interested in one-design catamaran racing. These sailors, active in local fleets, began using 1design.net’s forum to disseminate news, solicit opinions and request assistance for newly independent local regattas. Within two years, this modest Internet site became the de facto central node in a self-organizing beach cat regatta network. It is as effective as any top-down organization. Users pay no dues and have only the obligation to register for posting privileges on the forums. Spam and obnoxious inappropriate postings necessitated registration requirements for posters. Anyone can read posts and other information on the site. The North American Multihull Sailor www.southwindsmagazine.com

Association (NAMSA), which sponsors the Trade Winds Regatta, is another organization with a Florida focus, but the local fleets have found independence and use of 1design.net to be a good way to operate. (Information about NAMSA is available on www.catsailor.com.) Florida remains one of the most active areas for beach cat regattas, with at least one scheduled each month throughout the year. When Division 8 affiliation ended for the local fleets conducting all these regattas, so did a statewide acknowledgment mechanism for exemplary sailing skills and sportsmanship. Brian Karr took 1design.net’s success to Harken Yacht Hardware and requested the company’s sponsorship for two annual trophies. One is for performance in designated distance races and the other for triangle races. The “designated” races are those conducted by local fleets, often the same ones that were Division 8 “point races.” This strategy is an attempt to build participation for the local catamaran associations’ events and to spread qualifying events geographically across Florida to allow convenient participation by sailors. Brian Karr is primarily responsible for the Harken Race Series’ rules as the benevolent cyber dictator. But proposals for rules or rule changes are posted on 1design.net by Brian, or race participants and discussed thoroughly before a decision is made. So far, open discussion leading to individual decision has worked very effectively. Think of the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain and you have a good idea how Brian operates in principle. Information about

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the races and rules for the 2006 Harken Series is available on www.1design.net. In its 35 years of existence, the beach cat sailing scene has shifted like the beach sands themselves. In Florida, the impending changes have at times seemed catastrophic. In a uniquely American way, a cyberspace-enabled egalitarianism has kept the sport thriving by legitimizing new leadership with new ideas. This has been very healthy for this sailing niche. Will this strategy work as well for other sailing efforts? Probably, if the right people are involved and the timing is right. Writer’s note: I want to be sure I leave the correct impression from comments in this article. NAHCA Division 8 made uncounted essential contributions to beach catamaran sailing in Florida when it was most active. Many of its officers and members are now active in the efforts that replaced it. External circumstances that required a new organizing effort were larger and more complex than the resources the division had at its disposal to mitigate. Nothing in my story is intended as criticism of NAHCA Division 8 or its leadership. The same intention not to criticize the Hobie Cat Company exists. The company and especially its local dealers continue to generously contribute door prizes and other essential assistance to local regattas. Hobie Cat sailors, especially Hobie Cat 16 sailors, are avid supporters of and participants in the new open regattas. Routinely, Hobie 16 classes are the largest or second largest single class in Florida catamaran regattas. My intention here is to describe an evolutionary, not revolutionary process, that continues to uniquely shape Florida’s catamaran events.

SOUTHWINDS October 2006

RACING TIPS

Asymmetrical Gymnastics, Part I By Mike Kirk

(Part 1 describes asymmetrical spinnaker hoist techniques and downwind strategy. Part 2 will cover gybing and 3 methods of dousing)

he popularity of J/boats has done a lot to establish asymmetrical spinnaker rigs. Like all sail trimming, some serious training and practice is necessary to “get it right.” Compared with the downwind poled chute of traditional boats, the asymmetric chute needs less muscle but more attention to technique. The old need for the “gorilla on the bow” is morphed into more of a skill for knitting and knotting sheets and lines. If you think of the asymmetric chute as a BIG genoa then it is easier to visualize what is going on—sometimes! After a fortunate experience sailing and tuning a J/120 with an ex-

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America’s Cup tactician, the need for documentation of roles and duties for education of the next crew became apparent. (Good America’s Cup crews document all their actions playbook style for further training, thereby helping crew changes while preserving the learning). Here is a distillation of several seasons’ learning on an Antrim 27, a J/80 and a J/120, which will be applicable to many asymmetrical race boats. The asymmetric chute is typically flown from a bow sprit (pole), which slides out of the bow downwind and is retrieved into the boat for upwind sailing. In addition to all the usual lines for tuning a sloop, there are five chute con-

trol lines, all led back to the cockpit: the halyard, attached to the head of the chute; the tack line, run from the tack through the end of the pole, two sheets both of which are tied to the clew; and finally, a pole outhaul. (The tack line serves as the pole retrieval force). The stresses on the mast may dictate multiple shrouds, diamonds and even runners, but the advent of carbon masts has thankfully reduced much of these “chute grabbers.” Their presence, however, may dictate your choice of hoist method to allow a smooth hoist. Typical crew roles for a J/120 are: helmsman. You need only one (!); mainsheet trimmer, also tactician; cockpit

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clew to tack to test for any twist in the chute. The chaos of the bunched material all around the crew’s feet is not important as long as all tapes are run. Starting with the foot, stuff the bulk of the material into the spinnaker bag leaving the three corners attached to the hook. Lastly lay clew and tack out of each end of the bag and leave the head hanging out of the middle for attaching later to control lines. Velcro fasteners are the only way to go for the closing fixture on the bag.

winch men, two tireless types; mast man, tall and big; foredeck, can tie a bowline in 1.8 seconds; spinnaker trimmer, never takes his eyes off the ball; sewer, optional. Total seven or eight crew. On smaller boats, mast and deck can be combined and cockpit reduced to one for a total of four or five crew. PACKING THE CHUTE It’s a mess and far too big for one person to wrestle into some kind of order. Rig a hook as high as possible inside the cabin to provide a Rumb Squall, an Antrim 27, under small asymmetric point of reference. Hook launched from bag on the foredeck. Photo by Mike Kirk the head of the chute to the fixed point. Two crew members simultaneously “run the tively the clew and tack corners are tapes.” Taking the red- and green-col- reached. Fix the tack and clew gromored edges of the spinnaker, feed the mets on the hook with the head. For leaches though the hands until respec- insurance run the foot of the chute from

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RAISING THE CHUTE The moment of truth is nearing, and the foredeck crew are about to test their knot-tying prowess. There are three positions for the hoist: from the bag on the side deck, from the companionway or from the fore-hatch. The bag-on-the-side-deck

spinnaker,

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BEACH CAT RACING approach is more suited to the traditional bigboat downwind style. It requires the chute be repacked after every douse and then dragged up the side deck for attachment to the four control lines. It’s a lot of work and unnecessary. The only upside might be to avoid fouling the shrouds/diamonds in the hoist. Hoisting from the companionway works for the J/80 due to its smaller size and crew. The increased danger of fouling shrouds can be helped by judicial placement of bungee chords across critical catch points. The bag does not need to be repacked. Running the tapes is good insurance but not absolutely necessary if the race course is very small and crew is required on the rail. It’s a racing risk trade-off. The forward hatch hoist seems to work best for the J/120 — plenty of foredeck for two or three crew to douse the chute and easy for the foredeck man to do his control line knotting, leaning down the hatch as the boat approaches the windward mark. The bag is not repacked. Since the sheets may stay tied after dousing, the sewer man inside the V-berth can reasonably Raising an asymmetrical spinnaker on a Melges 32. Photo by Gary Hufford. “run the tapes” one at a time after the head has been disconnected. are smart) a lot of things happen in short, sequenced During the upwind leg, the preferred side to hoist is order—you hope. worked out by the helm and tactician. This determines the run of the sheets around the forestay. • The foredeck man ties the sheets to the clew for the choApproaching the windward mark (on starboard if you sen hoist side. Assuming a starboard hoist, this will be best done early on a port tack to give the man good access to the hatch. • The head is clipped on and the headboard laid on the foredeck, trapped by the foredeck hatch. Check that the halyard is free up above and not wrapped around a shroud. • The pole is extended and cleated, but check class rules as this cannot be done until the two-boat-length circle in some classes to limit the danger of the pole skewering some unsuspecting port tacker! • The tack is hauled out by the starboard cockpit man (he can see it ‘cos that’s the side the boat builder put the pole) to within about one foot of the pole end, the foredeck man helping it past the push pit railing. In a high wind the same deck man must control the now exposed spinnaker foot as it can fill prematurely, turning your foredeck into chaos just as you want to execute step 5. • Helmsman bears away onto starboard reach and calls for hoist. The mast man becomes a madman flailing great bites of halyard at the mast. Simultaneously starboard cockpit man tails the halyard through a deck clutch, ensuring that the hauled halyard is secure. (On smaller boats a mast cleat works but can slip in the heat of hauling the last few feet.) • So the tack is secure and the chute is up but so is the jib. Who has the sheet which is about to become loaded with huge forces as the chute fills with a bang? During the hoist your chute trimmer put two or three wraps of the (port) working sheet around a spinnaker winch and is ready on the windward (starboard) side deck to trim the kite. The starboard cockpit man has grabbed a winch handle, ready to secure the loaded winch and assist in trimming the chute while….. • The port cockpit man rolls in the jib, and you are off on a downwind sleigh ride, the cockpit crew sharing the spin52 October 2006

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naker winching. At this point your only thought will be: “And how do we get the beast down?” But duty calls and it’s time to sail the darn boat! DOWNWIND TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGY: An asymmetrical chute performs best on a broad reach. Remember: It’s a big genoa, so velocity made good (VMG) downwind is king! Speed at an oblique angle is no good if your gybe angle is not getting you to the mark. In upwind sailing there is a mythical groove to find, but downwind there is more of a rhythm of waves, wind, course and speed. Bear off in the puffs/headers and come up in the lulls to maintain speed. Try to surf diagonally down the big waves, as speed increases sheet in mainsail and chute. Have a crew member look aft for puffs and big waves. In steady winds, bear up for speed, then ease down as far as the spinnaker curl will allow, then bear up again. The trimmer should constantly be easing the sheet out to maintain a healthy curl in the leach. As the sail stalls, trimmer and winch man haul in the sheet to refill the chute. Remember: “If in doubt—let it out.” If the course becomes a tight reach, crank down the tack to the pole to help tighten the luff. In lighter winds on a broad reach, float the spinnaker out from the mast by releasing the head about one foot and the tack to two feet. If the course demands a downwind line, try to wing-

News & Views for Southern Sailors

on-wing the chute and mainsail. Remember: It’s a big genoa! To do this, carefully steer downwind and gybe the mainsail over, leaving the spinnaker exposed to the maximum downwind force, no longer giving any slot effect. Again VMG is king, and this slower mode of sailing may well get you to the mark sooner. But watch the top of the mainsail: A preventer is recommended to control the death roll effect, where small rolls of the boat become magnified until a Chinese gybe starts at the top of the main with dramatic effects! Inevitably, one day you will experience every crew’s spinnaker nightmare—the hourglass wrap. The causes of this are probably twofold. First, a twist in the spinnaker caused by a messy douse and/or not running the tapes, where parts of the chute actually get inside out while in the boat. More depressing is when the helmsman is slow to gybe, particularly in the last part of the turn, and the spinnaker blows through the wrong side of the forestay. While not always recoverable, the object is to get the head of the sail to spin and unwind the twist. One fairly successful technique is to release about three feet of the halyard suddenly while every free crew member pulls down on the windward leach. But control the release of the three feet, or the whole thing will be in the water—also known as “shrimping.” If all else fails, drop the darn thing, kiss three or four places goodbye, but save the spinnaker! In Part II: The excitement of gybing and the Mexican douse.

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RACING SOUTHERN RACING

Charleston’s own David Loring, who won the Sunfish world championship regatta in 1995. Loring, who is also MAJOR RACES, NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS serving as chairman of the event’s organizing committee, says he is looking forward to the competition. “I’m very excited about this. From my perspective as an event organPaige Railey Wins Gold Medal at the izer, it’s such a great thing for Charleston to have a true Good Luck Beijing 2006 Qingdao world championship here on our home waters. We’ve got competitors from 14 different counInternational Regatta tries coming, including New Competition at the first of two Zealand. As a sailboat racer, it’s scheduled pre-Olympic regattas finexciting for me to know that the ished in August in Qingdao, China, level of competition is going to be with the top ten athletes in each class tremendous; that’s what I’m most sailing the final medal race, which keen about.” counted for double points. According to Loring, there are Three athletes from Clearwater about 30 entrants who are good Yacht Club had been selected by US enough to win this regatta. That Sailing to compete in this regatta. should be great news for three other Paige Railey took the gold medal in Charlestonian racers who will be Laser Radials, Brad Funk finished joining him on the water, including 23rd in Lasers and Zach Railey sixth Ryan Hamm and Kenny Krawcheck. in the Finn class. All three of these Lasers racing in Qingdao, China. Courtesy Photo. Both Hamm and Krawcheck qualisailors are campaigning hard for the fied for this championship event by way of their success in opportunity to represent the United States at the Beijing previous Sunfish regattas. Another Charleston racer, Peter Games in 2008, and each finished as the top U.S.A. athlete Rupp, recently received an invitation to compete as a wild in their class. card entrant. Paige’s gold medal was won with a very convincing 17The event starts on October 1, and races will begin point lead over Jo Aleh of New Zealand. Penny Clark of Monday, October 2. For additional information go to Great Britain was just two points behind Jo for the bronze www.sunfishworlds-2006.com. (800) 443-9441 ext. 3284 or medal. (843) 224-9482. This regatta was a test event designed to be as close as possible to the 2008 Beijing Games Olympic regatta. Each 52nd Annual West Marine qualified country was permitted two entries for each class of boat, whereas at the Olympics only one entry per counColumbus Day Regatta, Oct. 7-8, try is permitted. The Chinese government has done an Biscayne Bay, FL amazing job of transforming a derelict dock area of Qingdao into the site of the 2008 Olympic regatta, and this event The 52nd annual Columbus Day Regatta will take place served as its first test. There are many photographs of the during the weekend of Oct. 7-8 on Biscayne Bay. athletes and facilities on the official regatta Web site at Attendance is expected to draw over 200 racing and www.2006qdregatta.com. 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 Steep Competition Anticipated for the navigation skills of the competitors. Sunfish World Championships, Contenders will compete for first through fifth place trophies in all classes as well as eight Perpetual Trophy Charleston, NC, Oct. 1-6 awards. The Coral Reef Yacht Club will once again host the Charleston, NC, will become even more active in early award ceremonies on Saturday, Oct. 14. Raffle prizes will be October when the 2006 Charleston Harbor Resort and given away at the awards ceremony. Organizers are looking Marina Sunfish World Championships take place on Oct. 1-6. for donations for raffle prizes. Eduardo Cordero, a top competitor and sailing coach To sponsor, donate raffle prizes or for more information, from Venezuela leads the list of sailing luminaries who have go to www.columbusdayregatta.net, the event web site. registered to compete in Charleston. Cordero has won eight Sunfish world championship titles, and with those creden30th Isotope Nationals, Lake tials he’ll be very tough to beat. Despite his weighty resume, Cordero should have his hands full contending with many Waccamaw, NC, Aug. 26-27 other stalwarts from the Sunfish class, including Malcolm By Joleen Rasmussen Smith of Bermuda, a three-time world champion, and Bahamian Donnie Martinborough, a perennial favorite. In Sixteen skippers arrived for the 30th Isotope Nationals, all, there will be 13 former world champions competing, Aug. 26-27, on Lake Waccamaw, NC. Of those 16, three had including New Yorker Paul-Jon Patin, who won the event in participated in the first nationals in 1977. Three others were 1922 and has since finished no worse than third five times. arriving for their very first time. The forecast was promising, Firmly encamped on the list of top-notch competitors is 6-8 knots, ideal Isotope sailing weather. Boats started to arrive 54

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and set up Friday afternoon.

For a firsthand perspective, read excerpts from the New to the Nationals this year: account by regatta winner • Glenn Howell, Raleigh, Glenn Howell: NC. Glenn has owned his It is just real hard to finish Isotope for three years and consistently in this fleet made uses it to practice fine-tunup of veterans and past ing his racing techniques. national champs. Make one Glenn also races an F-31 mistake and they will bury but finds that Isotope really you. Six of the 14 competitors gives him a chance to feel have won the nationals the effect of every adjust- The Isotope Nationals on Lake Waccamaw, NC. Photo by before, and two others have ment and wind shift, and Valerie Nieman. won the coveted Governor’s with an active fleet in the Raleigh area, Glenn can count Cup in the last two years. You are on a roller coaster of ups on having 8-10 boats on the line. and downs, and you are constantly digging out. Frank • Matthew Harroll, Middlesex, NC. Matthew owns the Meldau (#100) invented the boat in the early ’60s, and if you boat with his father, Tommy. They race the boat along think an old fart can’t sail the heck out of an Isotope, you are with other family members and neighbors on three other sorely mistaken. He wears a Lawrence of Arabia type white catamarans on the Buckhorn Reservoir. Matthew is on hat so you can’t miss him breathing down your neck. We the NC State Sailing Team. crossed tacks in the fifth race four times, twice by inches. As • Patrick Duke, Holly Springs, NC. Patrick purchased his long as we are naming folks, Eric Rasmussen (#42), winner of boat last year in partnership with his boss as a chance to sail the 2004 and 2005 nationals, had two firsts and a second for an a catamaran with his boys, Corbin (age 8) and JJ (age 5). intimidating total of 4 points going into the final two races on day two. The next closest competitor (#92) had 11 points, with Other interesting facts from the weekend: Alastair McEwan a close 12 points • Alan Wolf’s #007 sustained a major hole in the third race on Saturday, but with the aid of duct tape, Alan won the Race #5: I squeeze out a few boats barging at the pin on port. Sly fox that he is, Frank Meldau, moving suddenly first race on Sunday, to finish fifth overall in the into my field of vision from the left, is trying to squeeze in, Nationals.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

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October 2006

RACING too, and he doesn’t see me. LEEWARD BOAT….LEEWARD BOAT!! I give way slightly but there is no contact as Frank luffs up to windward. Rounding the windward mark, “head in the boat,” quickly easing main and jib, adjusting barber-hauler, raising centerboard, easing outhaul….but darn, if Frank hasn’t slipped inside sailing deeper and going just about as fast. Focus…focus…focus, need room to jibe onto port without fouling him. Okay, go. I pop the boom around as Frank hollers. STARBOARD BOAT! HOLD YOUR COURSE, FRANK! I’m afraid to look at my sails because I’m staring at the Isotope coming down on me fast. He missed my stern by a few inches. Gentleman that he is, he did hold his course and did not try to manufacture a foul by turning into me. That’s when I noticed my jib was poorly trimmed…focus. We crossed again on the windward leg with 92 just ahead on starboard headed for the finish line. Frank finished second in race 6, and Eric finished fourth. 92 finally won a race! And in the end, with Eric finishing fourth, it was enough to clinch the 2006 nationals trophy.

Sarasota Sailing Squadron Labor Day Regatta, Sept. 2-3 By Morgan Stinemetz With more than 230 competitors on hand for racing, the two-day Labor Day Regatta at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron had a little bit of everything for nearly everybody.

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Optimists at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron Labor Day Regatta. Photo by John Nora.

Saturday’s winds were light and steady. Sunday’s winds were lighter still and with a splatter of rain showers in evidence. The 60th annual Labor Day Regatta was a success by any measure. In the Opti-combined red, blue and white fleet, 56 boats, Michael Zonneberg, a Team FOR member—FOR stands for Florida Oceanic Racing—pulled his irons out of the fire on Sunday when, in the only race run, he got a firstplace finish. Zonnenberg, from Tampa, posted the bullet to go with the 1-6-8 he had notched on Saturday. With not enough races run to allow a throwout, Zonnenberg had 16 points. Tied for second in the red, blue and white fleets were

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Jasper Curry sailing his Optimist in the Sarasota Sailing Squadron’s Labor Day Regatta. Photo by John Nora

Michael Booker from St. Petersburg (4-10-1-4) and Michael Popp (2-4-11-2). Booker and Popp were also Team FOR members. In the Opti green fleet, 85 boats, the top spot went to Jake Freedman of Naples Community Sailing Club, who raced in six races, and five of his best counted toward his win. His line score was 2-1-1-4-(6)-1. Jake Waddell of Palm Beach had an identical score, 9 points, but finished second in class because of a tiebreaker—Freeman had more firstplace wins than he did. Third went to Ian Pinsholster of Naples Community Sailing Club with 24 points and a line score of 4-5-4-6-5-(20). Boats racing under PHRF handicapping rules sailed a 7mile course on Sarasota Bay on Sunday while struggling with light airs and winds that were as shifty as a pickpocket at an amusement park. The race committee served up a reverse handicap race for the PHRF contestants. In the PHRF true cruising class, 4 boats, Morgan Stinemetz of Palmetto won his race on Sunday. Combined with a previous win on Saturday, Stinemetz had two bullets, but he also had a serious mental failure in Saturday’s first race. He and his crew sailed the wrong course. Stinemetz had five points dumped on him for the mistake. He finished with seven points, but that was good enough for a class win. Steve Schwark of Sarasota, sailing a Pearson 33, Maggiemae, had first place in hand, but then did not finish the last race, so he ended up with eight points. Marc Fortune, sailing a Watkins 27, was third in what amounted to a four-boat class. In the PHRF spinnaker class, Doug Fisher’s big, yellow killer, XS, posted three bullets to win easily. In second was Comet, Randy St. James’ Melges 24 with three second-place finishes. St. James is from Sarasota. Third in class went to Bob Armstrong of Bradenton, whose J/29, Mischief had three third-place finishes. PHRF non-spinnaker went to Greg Knighton’s Misty, a Ranger 33. Knighton had three first-place finishes. In Tune, Doug Deardon’s Impulse 26, was second, and Rudy Reinecke’s Ohh Zone, a Beneteau FC 12, was third. In the SR Max 21 class, 4 boats, it was Sarasota’s Charlie Clifton in first with a line score of 2-3-1. In second came Tim Miller’s Elixir with a line score of 3-1-3. Third was taken by Bill Johnsen with 4-2-3. One Up, Bill Fisher’s Stiletto 27, was the sole multihull, so Fisher was a shoe-in for first. Or last. Take your pick. The full-rigged Laser class was won by Fred Strammer News & Views for Southern Sailors

of Nokomis. David Hernandez of Fort Myers came in second, and Jeff Olson of Sarasota was third. The Laser Radial class, 44 boats, was won by Emily Billing of the Clearwater Yacht Club. Sam Blouin of Tampa was second. Ian Holtzworth of St. Petersburg came in third. In the Laser 4.7 class, it was Cam Hall in first, Jason Kuebel in second and Katrina Salk in third. Salk is also a 2006 co-winner of the Sears Cup, US SAILING’s youth triple-handed championship. The Flying Scot class, 8 boats, saw Michael Roberts of Tampa in first after six races and one throwout. In second came Fred Strammer, Jr. of Nokomis. Ron Pletsch of Sarasota latched onto third. The 420 non-spinnaker class, 3 boats, was taken by Andrew Bilan and Matt Cowles with five straight bullets. Second went to Amy Hodges. Matthew Buchanan was third. The 420 spinnaker class went to Tommy Fink of Crystal River; second was earned by Trey Lehan of Tampa and Andrew Jones of Sarasota was third. The Sunfish class, 20 boats, was all Paul Strauley. Mindy Strauley placed second and Tony Eliot came in third.

Sailing in the Traditional Summerset Regatta, Fort Myers Beach, FL, Sept. 2-3 By Steve Romaine

Steve Romaine (holding the boat) and crew who won the True Cruising A class award. Photo by Mary Naylor.

Forty-three boats raced in the Caloosahatchee Marching and Chowder Society’s (CMCS) 41st Annual Labor Day regatta titled Summerset. Sailors of southwest Florida have gathered for 41 consecutive years to celebrate the end of summer by participating in the area’s premiere sailing event. This year’s skippers and their crews competed in seven classes, from eight sailing clubs hailing from Punta Gorda to Marco Island. Eight CMCS boats just cruised to Naples as well. The regatta consisted of two races. The first was the 22nautical-mile West Marine Coastal Race Saturday, starting at Fort Myers Beach with a nice westerly breeze, followed by rainsqualls with winds reaching up in the 30-knot range before the boats finished near Gordon’s Pass in Naples. Sunday, was originally scheduled for two races but was reduced to one 5-nautical-mile race as severe weather hampered the race committee’s effort to proceed as planned. Activities coordinated by CMCS Vice Commodore and Regatta Chairman Forrest Banks and his committee were SOUTHWINDS

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RACING Rick Lancaster, FMSC, Morgan 28; 3. Island Time, Joe Barrett, GCSC, Catalina 320; CMCS Class: 1. Gopher Baroque, Gerry Pim, CMCS, Pearson 35; 2. Ariel, Gordon Coffman, CMCS, Pearson 33; 3. Sea Puppy, Mel Rudd, CMCS, Santana 30.

Bay-Waveland Defends Title of Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge By Julie B. Connerley

The Summerset Regatta. Photo by Mary Naylor.

thoroughly enjoyed by all. That included the skipper meetings and after race socials with beverages and plenty of food. West Marine’s contribution was significant with numerous door prizes. Other sponsors included Olsen Marine (donating a haul-out), Offshore Sailing School (donating a sailing course for two people) and numerous nautical supply vendors contributing. A portion of the proceeds of Summerset ’06 will be contributed to youth sailing programs in southwest Florida. Highlights of the racing included Tom Bragan on Bahama Hunter, a Farrier 33, winning his first Summerset in the Multihull class. Peter Sulick in Rocket Board, a Hobie Magic 25, was victorious for the second year in a row in Sportboat class, and Dan Kendricks on his Farr 395, Tippecanoe, from Marco Island won in the Spinnaker class. Essence, skippered by Paul Macdill and Lauri Li, sailed by Arnie Pfalz, both of the Fort Myers Sailing Club won in Non-spinnaker and True Cruising B respectively. The CMCS class winner was Gerry Pim in Gopher Baroque, a Pearson 35. Steve Romaine and his crew from the Southwest Florida Boat of the Year crew on board Air Supply (not entered), sailed Rex Goods’ Sabre 402, Jabu, to victory in True Cruising A class. Awards were presented at the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club dinner to the top three finishers in the coastal race and overall winner by CMCS Rear Commodore of Racing Tom Gore. Results (For complete results, go www.cmcs-sail.org): Multihull: 1. Bahama Hunter, Tom Bragan, PGSC, Farrier 33; 2. Passion III, Net Christensen, CMCS, TRT200CR; 3. Rapture, John Kremski, CMCS, Corsair 28R; Sport Class: 1. Rocketboard, Peter Sullick, NYC, Hobie Magic 25; 2. Judy, Tom Gore CMCS, Henderson 30; 3. Silver, Sam Johnson/Bob McElwain, GCSC, Melges 24; Spinnaker Class: 1. Tippecanoe, Dan Kendrick, SAMI, Farr 395; 2. Midnite Rider, Forrest Banks, CMCS, Tartan 4100; 3. Maria, Joe Bonness GCSC Soverel 33; Non-Spinnaker Class: 1. Essence, Paul McDill, FMSC, Pearson 35; 2. Fair Trade, Joe Martinez, FMSC, Catalina 27; 3. Sand Dollar, Dave Naumann CMCS, C&C 27; True Cruising A Class: 1. Jabu, Steve Romaine CMCS, Sabre 402; 2. Chase the Clouds, Bob Duff, CMCS, Catalina MKII 42; 3. Margareta, Alan Mitchell CMCS, Hunter 42; True Cruising B Class: 1. Lauri Li, Arnie Pfalz, FMSC, Pearson 35; 2. Valkalele, 58 October 2006

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As they have for more than 85 years, sailors from the Gulf Yachting Association sent teams to compete in the annual Labor Day weekend interclub Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge. This year’s regatta was held at Bay-Waveland Yacht Club in Bay St. Louis, MS. Named after self-made millionaire Sir Thomas Lipton, founder of the Lipton Tea Company, the trophy is one of many bequeathed to yacht clubs by him to be “of service in encouraging and stimulating a love for the glorious sport of yacht racing…” In August 1919, Southern Yacht Club’s then secretarytreasurer, William H. Parham, petitioned this particular trophy. He had become friends with Lipton when Lipton had

Winners of the Lipton Cup. Photo by Bob Maher.

resided in New Orleans (and worked driving a streetcar), before returning to his native Scotland where he amassed a fortune. In 1898, Lipton indulged one of his sporting passions by issuing a challenge to the New York Yacht Club for the America’s Cup. In all, he made five unsuccessful attempts to win the cup back for Britain, but his love of sailing has been passed down to new generations of sailors, thanks to his generosity. The inaugural series, held in October 1920, was sailed in the SYC’s new Fish Class sloops. Pensacola Yacht Club won the series. For the 50th anniversary of the Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge, the Fish Class was retired and replaced by the 19-foot Flying Scot with spinnaker as the interclub competition boat. Only once since 1920 has the Lipton Cup been cancelled—and that was last year. Competition rules provide that the winning club shall host the next year’s event. In 2004, Bay-Waveland won the competition against 23 other GYA clubs. B-WYC had rolled out the red carpet for 2005’s event when Hurricane Katrina www.southwindsmagazine.com

slammed the Gulf Coast just a week before the regatta, destroying several yacht clubs along the Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida coasts. B-WYC was devastated, but not its spirit. By January 2006, the membership had coordinated efforts for temporary buildings. And plans were again made to host the annual Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge. Nineteen other GYA teams rallied under the tents set up beside the temporary yacht club September 2-4. From Houston, Texas, to Birmingham, Alabama, Panama City, Florida, and points in between, clubs sent teams for the four-race series. The weather was beautiful for the series although the landscape still bore the scars of Katrina. “If you were looking south at the water and saw all the boats, it was just like the good ol’ days. Just don’t look north at the shoreline,” said Lipton Challenge regatta chair, Judy Reeves of B-WYC. Class rules include a minimum weight of 425 pounds, and individuals can skipper only one race, crew only two. So most clubs have extra people attending the regatta, and with the long weekend, some clubs encourage making the event a family affair. Pensacola Yacht Club brought four of their Junior Lipton Team members along this year. Dominic Johnson, Dodge Rees, and Drew Werner skippered races. Junior Lipton Team member Douglas Bray crewed one race. “Because weight limits are a minimum of 425 pounds, having youngsters with experience on the Flying Scot helps the team overall,” explained John Matthews, PYC’s Lipton Team Captain. PYC took an 11th, 14th, 21st, and 14th, giving them a total of 61 points for 15th place overall. However, involving junior level sailors at the adult event was well-intentioned, providing both a confidence builder, and strengthening the foundation for the junior sailing program in general. After all, they are the future of sailing. Defending champions, Bay-Waveland, which first won a Lipton Cup in 1963, handily won the 2006 series with two firsts, a fifth and a second place in their last race. Their total of 9 points was one less than second-place overall winner Buccaneer Yacht Club, which had two firsts, a fifth and a third. Since no yacht club can host the event two years in a row, Buccaneer will host 2007’s challenge. Southern Yacht Club, which hosted the first Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge, has won it a record 18 times, including its last victory in 1994. SYC came in third overall this year with 14 points. For a complete listing of results, visit Bay-Waveland’s Web site at www.bwyc.org.

The St. Augustine Summer Sizzler: Same Fun in a New Venue, Sept. 2-3 By Roy Laughlin Catamaran sailors used to the Summer Sizzler as an ocean catamaran regatta were in for a surprise this year. Fleet 111, working with Jacksonville’s Rudder Club and its Labor Day Regatta, combined the two and held both in the St. Johns River near the club’s facility. Hot sands gave way to pine needles carpeting the shaded ground. But the fun was the News & Views for Southern Sailors

The Summer Sizzler. Photo by Roy Laughlin. same and the races a bit more challenging to those unfamiliar with effects of currents on a racecourse. The race committee organized three catamaran classes: open, Hobie 16s and Formula 18s. In addition, a fleet of Flying Scots, primarily Rudder Club members, composed a fourth start. The wind was light, less than 10 knots from the SW most of the day. It rained all around the race area during the afternoon, but not on the racecourse on Saturday and Sunday. The effects of current in the St. Johns River were apparently a novelty for many of the cat sailors. It affected the intended tracks for both starts and mark roundings until the teams learned from experience. Because the tide is a significant component of the current, the current’s strength waxed, then waned during Saturday’s races. Current, along with keen competition, seemed to have the most influence on standings of the F/18 fleet. No team dominated the scoring. Olli and Kelli Jason scored first place in this class with a string of first- and second-place finishes. John McDonald and Tina Pastoor duked it out with Evan and Steve Miller for second and third places overall. In the final tally, McDonald and Pastoor prevailed with 11 points for second place, and the Millers were in third with 13 points. The Hobie 16 class was the largest one, as is typical of these summer regattas. Mike Burley earned first with a string of bullets and a total score of four. Robert Murph, one of the regatta organizers, came in second with a score of seven. Steve Caron came in third with 11 points. The Rudder Club has a multihull contingent that uses the club’s Hobie 16s. A group of younger sailors from the club raced with this class and made a good showing. In the open class, Chris Cordes, racing an A-class cat, won handily with four points following first-place finishes in all races. Rick and Terri Loewen followed in second place with seven points. Robert Uschold (aka Gilligan) and Joni Berman finished third with 14 points, racing his signature yellow Prindle 18-2, the SS Minnow. In the Flying Scots, Dave Strickland finished first with a score of four, all first-place finishes. The second- and thirdplace finishes were won in a competitive contest among several crews. When it was all over and the spray settled, Donna Mohe was in second place with nine points and John Hirsch was third with 10 points. The Summer Sizzler was a successful regatta again this year. Whether the change in venue will continue remains up in the air. Jacksonville’s sponsored catamaran fleet, Hobie Fleet 111, had little choice this year. Hurricane Ophelia eroded the beaches so badly last year, access to the usual site on St. Augustine Beach remains too limited to conveniently SOUTHWINDS

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RACING/REGIONAL RACING hold the regatta in the ocean. In addition, the fleet lost a couple of key members when they moved to new jobs out of state. They were unable to find replacements in time for the regatta this year. The advantage for participants is that the Rudder Club has established facilities and an unsurpassed reputation for hospitality. If the Summer Sizzler remains at the Rudder Club, both multi and monohull sailors can look forward to a great time and a reasonable cost in future regattas. More photos are available at www.floridamultihullsailor.com.

Special Olympics of Georgia Regatta, Lake Lanier, GA, Sept. 8-10 By Ron Mitchellette The 36th anniversary of the Special Olympics of Georgia (SOGA) was celebrated on beautiful Lake Lanier over the weekend of September 8-10. This event was, once again, a smashing success with outstanding performances by the participating skippers, sponsors and donors. The total funds raised reached a record $36,000 with contributions from the skippers, who raised $25,000 ($250/boat to participate), sponsors who raised $11,000 and raffle tickets that raised $2300. The host sailing club, Southern Sailing, won first prize for the most money raised again this year following last year’s similar performance. Other clubs that participated were the Barefoot Sailing Club, Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Atlantic Inland Sailing Club and the University Yacht Club, all of which competed for the top prize in total funds raised. The sponsors this year were Optelian, Rooms To Go, Corrugated Gear, Bad House Tears and GB&T, in conjunction with the lake’s marina sponsors, including Holiday, Aqualand, Sunrise, Bald Ridge, Gainsville, Lan-Mar and Lanier Harbor Another record was set with 46 boats racing in five different fleets, including the ever-popular and growing Cruising fleet. The weather was great with mild temperatures in the 80s, but the wind was nearly non-existent at perhaps 3 knots with some gusts of 5 to 7 knots and building toward the end of the race. This event included the usual PHRF-rated fleets in Spin and Non-Spin classes but it also included a Performance Cruiser racing fleet that raced on Saturday only, while the more traditional racers raced on both Saturday and Sunday. The aprés-race party on Saturday night was terrific and the food superb. For complete results, go to www.specialolympicsga.org and/or www.southernsailing.com. The special Olympics of Georgia (SOGA) has 23,956 athletes participating in 23 Olympic- type sports, including over 500 games, meets and tournaments all held in communities throughout Georgia. Five statewide events are held annually and culminate in World Summer and Winter Games every two years. Stay tuned to this page in the next few months as September and October on Lake Lanier promises to be an event-filled regatta countdown to the end of the season. This reporter will be reporting on the BFSC Dorton Cup to be held on the weekend of Sept. 16-17 and the big Barefoot/Sea Dog Open to be held on Oct. 6-9. This particu60

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lar regatta is a very competitive race and usually includes more participating boats than any other event on the lake.

REGIONAL RACING Reports, News And Race 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.

RACE CALENDAR OCTOBER Charleston Ocean Racing Associ., www.charlestonoceanracing.org 1-7 Sunfish Worlds 21-22 Alice Cup 29 Witches Brew Lake Lanier, GA. www.lakeniersailing.com 6 - 8 BFSC Open Regatta, Barefoot Sailing Club 28-29 Halloween Regatta, Lake Lanier Sailing Club Long Bay Sailing Association www.longbaysailing.org 7 & 21 Fall Series 1 & 2, Little River Inlet, SC. Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org 7 Neuse Solo – PHRF, Ensign, J24, SJ21, Etchells – ODC, Oriental, NC. 14-15 Pamlico Cup Hospice Regatta / ICRC – PSC, Bath, NC 14-15 Jacklass Regatta – Laser – MCBC, Merriman, NC. 21-22 Ensign Invitational Regatta – Ensign – ODC, Oriental, NC. 28 Halloween/Winter Series – PHRF – NYRA, New Bern, NC. South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association, www.sayra-sailing.com 6-8 Sea Dog Barefoot Open – Open – Blackbeard Sailing Club, New Bern, NC. 7 Around Parris Island-Sunfish. Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club. Beaufort, SC 7-8 High School Regatta – 420 – Lake Norman Yacht Club, Mooresville, NC. 7-8 Pursuit of the Cure Regatta – PHRF – Outrigger Yacht Club, Huntersville, NC. www.southwindsmagazine.com

7-8 13-15 14-15 14-15 14-15 14-15 21-22 21-22 25-29 28 28 28-29 28-29 28-29

Octoberfest Regatta – Open – Geechee Sailing Club, Thunderbolt, GA. Halloween Regatta – Open – Augusta Sailing Club, Augusta, GA. Highlander Pipe Regatta – Highlander – Lake Norman Yacht Club, Mooresville, NC. Lightning Atlanta Cup – Lightning – Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Flowery Branch, GA. Old Salty Regatta – Thistles – Lake Norman Yacht Club, Mooresville, NC. Atlanta Classic Sailboard Championship – Open – Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Flowery Branch, GA. Hospice of the Upstate – Open – Western Carolina Sailing Club, Anderson, SC. D12 Laser SC Championship. Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club, Beaufort, SC MC Nationals – MCs – Lake Norman Yacht Club, Mooresville, NC. Spook Regatta – Pursuit – Lake Townsend Yacht Club, Greensboro, NC. Stede Bonnet – PHRF – Cape Fear Yacht Club, Southport, NC. Carolina Ocean Challenge – PHRF, J105, Harbor 20 – South Carolina Yacht Club, Hilton Head Island, SC. Holloween Regatta – Snipes – Atlanta Yacht Club, Acworth, GA. Turkey Shoot – Open – Keowee Sailing Club, North Seneca, SC.

NOVEMBER Charleston Ocean Racing Association, www.charlestonoceanracing.org 11 Big Boat Regatta, Charleston Yacht Club, Charleston SC. 18 Double Handed Race, Charleston SC. Lake Lanier, GA. www.lakeniersailing.com 18 University Yacht Club Lanier Cup - Invitational, Atlanta, GA Long Bay Sailing Association www.longbaysailing.org 4, & 18 Fall Series 3, 4, & 5 Little River Inlet, SC. Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org 3 – 5 Etchells Fall Blast – Etchells – ODC, Oriental, NC. 11 Winter Series – PHRF, NYRA boty – NYRA, New Bern, NC. 18 Turkey Trot – SJ21 – New Bern, NC. South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association, www.sayra-sailing.com 4 – 5 SAYRA PHRF Championships – J22, J24 – Charleston, SC. 4 – 5 Flying Scot Fall 48 – Flying Scott – Lake Norman Yacht Club, Mooresville, NC 4 – 5 Midlands Regatta – Open – Columbia Sailing Club, Columbia, SC. 4 – 5 Bloody Mary Thistle Regatta – Thistles – Western Carolina Sailing Club, Anderson, SC. 11 – 12 Carolina Keel Boat & One Design Regatta – 20’ & up One Design – LNYC, Mooresville, NC.

7 7 14 14-15 14-15 20 21 22 21-22 21-22 27-29 28-29 28-29

First Saturday at Sebastian Inlet. Indian River Catamaran Association Small Boat Race. Smyrna Yacht Club. Navy Day Regatta, Fall Series #2. Navy Jax Yacht Club One Design & J-24 District Regatta. Florida Yacht Club Club Races. Lake Eustis Sailing Club Fall Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club Fall River Race & Fall Series #3. North Florida Cruising Club Women On Water Regatta. Rudder Club Fall Regatta, Small Boat Races. Melbourne Yacht Club Florida Inland Lake Championship. Lake Eustis Sailing Club (Opti, Laser, Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, Club 420 for sailors 8 - 18) Fall Regatta, Big Boat Races. Melbourne Yacht Club Hiram’s Haul. Performance Sail (Beach Cat Distance Race) Club Races. Lake Eustis Sailing Club

NOVEMBER – Central and NE Florida 3 Howl at the Moon. Halifax Sailing Center. Daytona 3-5 Melbourne Cruise. Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club. 4 First Saturday Sailing at Sebastian Inlet. Indian River Catamaran Association. 4 Halloween Regatta. Florida Yacht Club, Jacksonville 9-12 ECSA GAM. Eau Gallie. 11 Turkey Trot Regatta. 11 Kings Day Regatta. Epping Forest Yacht Club, Jacksonville 11-12 13th Annual SER MC Scow Championship Regatta. Lake Eustis Sailing Club. 11-12 East Lake Toho Regatta. Lake Monroe Sailing Association. Sanford 11 Fall Women’s Race #5 ECSA-women’s 18 Club Race. Lake Monroe Sailing Association. Sanford. 18 New Moon Merriment (fun regatta). Halifax Sailing Center. Daytona 18-19 Pinedavilla Cruise. ECSA-Cruising 18-19 Club Race. Lake Eustis Sailing Club. 26 Winter Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club

RACE CALENDAR

RACE CALENDAR OCTOBER– Central and NE Florida 1 Small Boat Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club 4,11 Wednesday Evening Fall Series. Indian River Yacht Club 7 Fall Series Race #2. East Coast Sailing Association–Racing 7,21 Fall Series #3. Rudder Club News & Views for Southern Sailors

OCTOBER 1 CGSC Annual Regatta. BBYRA PHRF #10. CGSC. PHRF regatta for registered classes. 7-8 Columbus Day Regatta. Columbus Day Cruising Regatta Committee. The 52nd Annual two-day, cruising boat bay race held in Biscayne Bay. www.columbusdayregatta.net. 14 Columbus Day Regatta Award Party. At the Coral Reef Yacht Club 14-15 CGSC Annual Regatta. BBYRA OD #9. CGSC. One Design regatta for registered classes. 21-22 Fall Harvest Regatta. BBYRA MYC. MYC. Annual two-day regatta open to all one-design and multi-hull class. 22-26 Snipe Western Hemisphere 28 MYC’s Conch Cup. MYC. Annual multi-hull regatta starting off Hobie beach in Biscayne Bay, proceeding around Key Biscayne and finishing at MYC. 29 J/24 2 Halloween Regatta. Flat Earth Racing SOUTHWINDS

October 2006

RACING Legend BBYRA Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.net BBYC Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. www.bbyra.net CGSC Coconut Grove Sailing Club. www.cgsc.org MYC Miami Yacht Club. www.miamiyachtclub.net.

RACING 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. Nonmembers 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.

RACING 30th Annual Crow’s Nest Regatta, Venice, FL, Sept. 30, Oct. 4 and 7 The 30th Annual Crow’s Nest Regatta is scheduled for Sept. 30, Oct. 4 and Oct 7. The regatta is composed of three events. On Saturday, Sept. 30, the Venice Youth Boating Association (VYBA) will race IODs and Portsmouth Division on Venice’s Roberts Bay. On Wednesday Oct. 4, the Venice Women’s Sailing Squadron (VWSS), a.k.a. “The Bitter Ends,” will race Pram and Sunfish on Roberts Bay. The regatta’s main events will be on Saturday, Oct. 7 and will be on courses in the Gulf off the Venice Jetties. There will be three races for West Florida PHRF classes: spinnaker, non spinnaker, true cruising, and multihull. There will also be a race for those “once-a-year racers” to enjoy the fun of the day. (This race will be handicapped by the race committee.) The 62

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regatta is also a participating event in the Sarasota Bay Boat of the Year series. The Crow’s Nest Regatta is a charity event for the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, which benefits Venice youth activities. Free overnight dockage is available for race entrants. For entry information, contact Brad LaRoche, Crow’s Nest dockmaster, at (941) 484-7661. West Florida Race Calendar The 0nline West Florida Race Calendar which goes from Sept.1, 2006 thru August 31, 2007 is available on the SOUTHWINDS Web site with hyperlinks to sponsoring clubs. It covers racing in West Florida from Marco Island in southwest Florida north, up to and including Clearwater. www.southwindsmagazine.com. Accessed on the racing pages from the home page. Club Racing Bradenton YC. Evening Races Daylight Savings time of year. Races at 6:30 p.m. PHRF racing on Manatee River. For info call Larry Lecuyer, (941) 729-5401. Edison Sailing Center, Fort Myers. Sunfish and dinghy racing once a month, year-round. john@johnkremski.com Port Charlotte. Third Saturday of month, year-round. pbgvtrax@aol.com Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Friday Series PHRF / multihull. Every friday through to Sept. 15. 6:30 p.m. start. Motley Sunday Cruisers Pursuit Race. Free pursuit race every Sunday, 12 a.m. skippers briefing, BBQ after the race. www.sarasotasailingsquad.com. Venice Sailing Squadron. Saturdays. First Saturday of each month, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet. www.venice-sailing-squadron.org OCTOBER 1 Tampa Sailing Squadron. Women’s Fall Regatta, PHRF. 4 Crows Nest Regatta. Venice Women’s Sailing Saquadron. Pram & Sunfish in Robert Bay 7 Dunedin Boat Club, Dunedin Cup Race, PHRF, Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. Dunedin Causeway. Dinghies, Cats, Ensigns, Sea Pearls, Sunfish, Prams, PHRF. Contact Rod Collman (727) 734-3749 7 St. Petersburg Sailing Association, Race #2,3. PHRF 7 Venice Sailing Squadron. Venice Yacht Club. Crows Nest Regatta. Main event, PHRF.(SBBOTY) NOR 7-8 Clearwater YC. Clearwater Championship. Optimist, Laser, Radial, 4.7, C420. 7-9 Columbus Day Regatta, Miami. www.columbusdayregatta.net/2006. 13-14 Naples YC. Boca Offshore Regatta, PHRF. (SWFBOTY) NOR on home page. 13-15 St. Petersburg YC. Distance Classic PHRF to Venice.(SBOTY) NOR 14-15 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. South Seas/ Kayusa Cup, PHRF 14-15 Edison Sailing Center. River Romp Regatta. Dinghies 19-22 St. Petersburg YC. Rolex Osprey Cup Women’s match racing invitational, Sonars. NOR 20 Naples YC. Offshore Regatta, PHRF. (SWFBOTY) NOR on home page. 21-22 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Sunfish Women’s Regatta 21-22 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. Florida Inland Lake Championship Regatta. Laser, Optimist, Club 420 21-22 Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. Cedar Key Cat Regatta, Beach Cats. Confirm this date www.southwindsmagazine.com

21-22 Davis Island YC. Classic to Clearwater, PHRF. (SBOTY) 28 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Great Pumpkin Regatta. 28-29 Clearwater Yacht Club. Clearwater Challenge Regatta, PHRF. (SBOTY) NOR 28-29 Davis Island YC. Sunfish Regional Championship. 29 Daylight Savings Time ends, and Standard Time begins 29 Cortez YC. Halloween Race PHRF in the Bay. Call 941-7929100 to confirm. 30 Clearwater Yacht Club. Single-hand/double hand Clearwater to Egmont, PHRF. NOVEMBER 2-5 Strictly Sail Boat Show &Trawler Show, Vinoy Basin, St. Petersburg, 2006 4 Venice Sailing Squadron. Venice Yacht Club. Buoy Race, PHRF 4 St. Petersburg Sailing Assoc. Commodore’s Cup, PHRF. 4 Sarasota Yacht Club. Invitational Regatta. PHRF. (SBBOTY) 4-5 Gulfport Yacht Club. Alter Cup Area D South Qualifier, Catamarans 4-5 Venice Sailing & Yacht Club. Commodore’s Cup, PHRF 5 St. Petersburg Sailing Assoc. Women’s Fall Race 11-12 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. MC Scow Championship. NOR 11-12 Davis Island YC. Egmont Key Race, PHRF. 11-12 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Flying Scot Regatta. 17-19 St. Petersburg YC. Snipe Florida States. NOR 18 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Drumstick Regatta. 18-19 Clearwater Community Sailing Center. Carlisle Classic in the gulf and on the bay. 18-19 Marco Island YC Fall Regatta Buoy Races PHRF, (SWFBOTY). 18-19 St. Petersburg YC. Fall Bay Race PHRF. (SBOTY) NOR 23 Thanksgiving. 24 Davis Island YC. Old Shoe Race. 25-26 Davis Island YC. Thanksgiving All Class Regatta. 30-Dec 3 St. Petersburg YC. America’s Disabled Open Regatta

Each contestant will compete for the coveted Dr. Lindsay Riddle Trophy, a special award given to the winning boat in the most competitive class. Class awards will also be given to first, second, and third-place finishers in class and series. Entry forms are available along with additional information at the Pensacola Yacht Club Web site, www.pensacolayachtclub.org

RACE CALENDAR Wednesday Evening Fun Races – Pensacola Yacht Club – 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the Month - April thru October Fort Walton Yacht Club – April thru October OCTOBER 2006 7 7-8 7-8 13-15 14 14-15 21 21 21 21 22 28-29 28

West Florida Ocean Racing Circuit (WFORC), Pensacola Yacht Club, Oct. 12 By Kim Kaminski This year marks the 32nd Anniversary of the West Florida Ocean Racing Circuit (WFORC) Regatta hosted by the Pensacola Yacht Club. For the 2006 competition the racing fleet will be made up of monohull PHRF Spinnaker class boats as well as separate Melges 24 and 32 classes. Starting on Thursday, October 12, competitors will be able to check in during the skipper’s briefing, which will be held at the Pensacola Yacht Club for the PHRF and Melges 32 classes. (Skipper’s briefing for the Melges 24 class will be held the following day.) Racing will begin on Friday, October 13, on Pensacola Bay, ending with an awards party sponsored by Mount Gay Rum and the GYA Offshore Council. For the PHRF Fleet and the Melges 32 class, six races are scheduled with five races planned for the Melges 24 class. News & Views for Southern Sailors

Commodore’s Regatta. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL GYA Multihull. Ocean Springs Yacht Club, Ocean Springs, MS Hospitality Regatta. Jackson Yacht Club, Jackson, MS WFORC. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL Gumbo Regatta. Lake Arthur Yacht Club, Lake Arthur, LA Fish Class Worlds. Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile, AL Schreck Regatta (Capdevielle). Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL Fish Class Regatta. Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile, AL Charity Regatta. Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, Pensacola Beach, FL New Orleans Closing Regatta. New Orleans Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA Southern Yacht Club Closing Regatta. Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA LPRC (Lake Pontchartrain Racing Circuit). New Orleans Yacht Club, Southern Yacht Club, Tammany Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA Anniversary Broken Triangle Regatta. Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile, AL

NOVEMBER 4 PYC Championship Race #4. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL 4 Monk Smith Regatta. Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St. Louis, MS 4 Mississippi State Optimist Championship. Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St. Louis, MS 4-5 LPRC (Lake Pontchartrain Racing Circuit). New Orleans Yacht Club, Southern Yacht Club, Tammany Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA 11 Double-Handed Regatta. Fairhope Yacht Club, Fairhope, AL 11 Rondinella Regatta. Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St. Louis, MS 11 Cruising Raft-Up. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL 11-12 Jubilee Regatta GYA Individual Flying Scot Championship. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL 12,19 Fall #1,#2. Corinthian Sailing Association. New Orleans, LA 18 Cruising Couples Regatta. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL 18 J-Fest. New Orleans Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA 18 FSSA Cajun Country Championship. Lake Arthur Yacht Club, Lake Arthur, LA 19 Turkey Regatta. Jackson Yacht Club, Jackson, MS 25-26 USODA MidWinters. Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA SOUTHWINDS

October 2006

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ADVERTISE IN THIS SERVICES DIRECTORY STARTING AT $8/ MON. EDITOR@SOUTHWINDSMAGAZINE.COM OR CALL (941) 795-8704 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. 64

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■ 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

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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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CLASSIFIED ADS CLASSIFIED ADS — 3 Months for $25 Place your ad early on the Internet for $10 • Classified ads with text only for boats are $25 for a three-month ad for up to 30 words. $50 for ad with horizontal photo ($65 if vertical photo). Check or Credit cards accepted. Must be for sale by owner – no business ads. Boats wanted ads included. • Free ads for boats under $500 (sail and dinghies only), all gear under $500, and windsurfing equipment. For sale by owner ads only. • All other ads (including business ads) are $20 a month for up to 20 words, add $5 a month for each additional 10 words. $10 a month for a horizontal photo. Frequency discounts available. Contact editor. • All ads go on the SOUTHWINDS Web site. For a one-time $10 fee, we will place your ad on the Internet before going to press on the next issue. • No Refunds • The last month your ad runs will be in parentheses, e.g., (10/06) is October 2006.

• Ad must be received by the 10th of the month. TO PLACE AN AD: 1. On the Internet www.southwindsmagazine.com This applies only to the $25 and $50 ads above with and without photo. Pay with Paypal and put your ad in the subject line. If a photo, then e-mail to editor@southwindsmagazine.com as a separate jpeg attachment. 2. Via E-mail and Credit Card. E-mail your ad to editor@southwindsmagazine.com. Text can be put in the e-mail. Send photos as a separate jpeg attachment to the e-mail. Pay by mail (see below) or credit card. You can call us with a credit card number. Give us the credit card number, expiration, billing address and name on card. Call (941) 795-8704. 3. Mail your ad in. Mail to SOUTHWINDS, PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175. Send a check or credit card number with information as listed in #2

BOATS & DINGHIES

Hard Dink for sale. $375. 8.5’ overall, Oars. Wood trim, black rub rail. 2.2 Honda fourstroke available for xtra $. Bruce/SPB, FL. (404) 277-0358. (12/06) _________________________________________

Bauer 10 Sailboat. Fiberglass with the centerboard. Fully equipped with trailer. Both New. Cost $4315. Sell both for $2850 or boat only for $2500. (941) 966-3507. (12/06)

Dinghy Package Yankee Boatworks 9’3” fiberglass with cover $950, Kato heavy duty davits $850, Solarex 42W solar panels on pivot base $500, all for $2000.00 OBO. photo available (321) 431-4380. (12/06)

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Caribe 10X RIB, 2001, 10’ Inflatable dinghy, Fiberglass V hard bottom, Yamaha 15hp, Anchor, New trailer, Great tender or small runabout, $2,985 Rick (813) 376-8040. (10/06)

above. Mail the photo in (35mm best). If you want the photo back, enclose a SASE. Add $5 for a typing charge. 4. Telephone or fax your ad in. Call (941) 7958704 and give us your ad over the phone. There is an additional $5 typing charge. If you have a photo, you can mail it in. We can take your credit card number, or you can mail a check. Fax: (941) 795-8705.

DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS Advertise your business in a display ad in the classifieds section. 1” 2” 2” 3” 3”

$25/month $38/month $44/month $57/month $66/month

. . . .12-month minimum . . . . . . . . . . . .12 months . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 months . . . . . . . . . . . .12 months . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 months

Tanzer 22CB. Main, Genoa, Jib, Spinnaker, 9.9HP Electric Suzuki, Compass, Speed, Depth, Ice Box, Porta Potti, Boom Awning, Screens, VHF Antenna/cable. Sleeps four. Great Weekend Cruiser, Racer. More. $4000. (239) 542 3753. (10/06) Catalina 27, 1984, Tall rig, 4’ draft, 15 hp Universal diesel just serviced, Harken roller furling, Edson wheel steering, depth, speed, pressure water, stove, ice box, anchor, Lewmar ST winches, 110 shore power, air conditioner, battery charger. $12,900. OBO for quick sale. www.cortezyachts.com or call (941) 792-9100

1971 O’Day Rhodes 19 Sailboat, 3’3” Keel, Johnson Sailmaster-6, Tohatsu3.5hp Outboard(s), Includes 10 ft. Zodiac, Battery, Sails, New Bottom Paint, Electrical, many Accessories, Good Condition. $4800 OBO. www.RedMcKenna.com. (813) 8318585. (10/06) 1986 Seaward 22, shoal draft, new rigging, upholstery, paint, 2003 Suzuki 4-stroke 6HP motor, VHF, depth finder, AM-FM radio, solar panel, open ports, trailer. $6,500. rf2tilly1@earthlink.net. Call Ralph (352) 2830836. (11/06)

October 2006

SOUTHWINDS

PaceShip 23, Roller Furling, Spinnaker & Pole, DC refrigeration, Marine Head, Depth meter, 9.9 Yamaha 4-stroke electric, Battery Charger, 2 batteries, Grill, Bimini, Dodger, Alcohol stove, Cockpit Cushions, 5 winches, $3500 OBO (727) 534-3425.(11/06)

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

CLASSIFIED ADS 28-foot Morgan Out Island 1974. Cruise ready, Autohelm, two GPSs, depth finder, radio, compass, Yanmar diesel, sleeps six, 3foot draft, docked at Shell Pt, FL. Selling for health reasons. $9000/best offer. (850) 5399044. (11/06) _________________________________________ Viper 830 28 ft Sprint sailboat with trailer, carbon mast, motor, instruments, new sails, plus extras $39,500. Located in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. call Mike at (850) 243-1804, e-mail Mike at pam.guthrie@cox.net. (11/06)

Catalina 30 1991 MK II Ultimate Cruiser, Std rig, wing keel, full bimini/dodger, new spinnaker, 3.5kw Genset, A/C, Electric fridge, watermaker, icemaker, microwave, inverter, 2 battery chargers, Link 2000, Raymarine SL 70 Radar, 425 Chartplotter, Tri-data, 4000ST Autopilot with remote, Garmin 128 GPS, Loran, JVC CD/Stereo, 8.6’ dink with Nissan 2.5OB, $49,900. Niceville, Florida (850) 6992717. (11/06) 1981 Cape Dory Cutter 30. Well-equipped cruising boat. Surveyed 2002 at $35K. Tough boat, no damages in Katrina. Volvo Diesel. New head and sailcovers in 2005. $32,000. John (228) 343-9546. (11/06)

30’ Pearson, Racer/Cruiser Sloop, 1976, red, Excellent cond., 2 mains, 3 jibs, 3 spinnakers, spinnaker pole. Tiller, marine radio, stove, new pot, sleeps 6, $12,900. Madeira Beach, FL terrycshan@aol.com. (727) 581-4708 or (727) 244-4708. (11/06)

1985 Bayfield 32C Cutter full keel cruiser, with 18HP Yanmar diesel and only 3’ 9” draft. Edson wheel steering. Datamarine depth and speed. 25# CQR anchor with chain and rode. Bow sprit. Dorade vents. Isomat spars. 8 winches. Excellent sails. S/S stove and oven. Ice box. Sleeps five. Classic H.T. Gozzard design. Only $19,900. Major Carter. www.CortezYachts.com (941) 792-9100

Fountaine Pajot Tobago 35 Catamaran. 1996. Ready to cruise. Many extras. Solar panels, new fridge, windlass, twin Yanmar 18s, dinghy with Merc 6 (4-stroke). $135,000. Joan or Steve. (954) 321-1603. (10/06)

33’ Glander Tavana 1985 center board mast head sloop. Newly painted bottom, hull, topsides and non-skid. New rub rail, teak hatches. New jib sail. 30 HP Vetus diesel. Great Florida and Bahamas boat, draws 3’ board up. A no-nonsense boat offered below market at $10,000/best offer. Needs TLC. Call Major Carter (941) 792-9100.

33’ Endeavour Sloop. 1984. draft 4’6”, Profurl headsail, auto pilot, refrig-AC/DC, H/C press water, VHF, GPS, solar, sailing dinghy, 4hp OB, 22hp Yanmar diesel, new bottom paint. (772) 335-0180. $36,000.’ jackstuff@bellsouth.net. (11/06) Irwin 33 (1974) Extremely well-maintained cruiser ready to go! Improvements include AC, autopilot, new rigging, new upholstery much more. $13,600. Call (321) 662-4085 details at: www.zedpm.com/~74irwin33

31’ Sloop. New 20 hp Universal, New Sails, Autopilot, Depth/knotmeter/distance, windspeed, Loran, Bimini. Cold molded. Slip in St. Petersburg, FL, included. Well-maintained. www.angelfire.com/fl5/boatforsalefl. Must sell! (813) 230-5751. (11/06) 32’ Westsail (1977) Perkins 4-107 diesel, Aires vane, Harken roller furling, S-L windlass, 35CQR, 33 Bruce, cold plate refrigeration, air conditioning, Garmin chartplotter. Dodger & Bimini. Exceptional condition, little used. $55,000/OBO. Call (954) 560-3919. (11/06) News & Views for Southern Sailors

1993 Gemini 3400 catamaran. 14’ beam. 18” board up. 5’ board down. In Sarasota. Cruise ready, Air, solar, davits, contact Alan (970) 690-3758 or alanm@frii.com for inventory list. Asking $65,000.

DISPLAY CLASSIFIED ADS STARTING AT $38/MONTH

SOUTHWINDS

October 2006 71

CLASSIFIED ADS

1995 Hunter 35.5 Only 615 hrs on Yanmar 27. New canvas, Navico autopilot, ST 60 depth, ST 60 speed, Furuno GPS, SGC SSB radio, Apelco VHF, dinghy w/OB engine, roller furling, full batten main w/dutchman, solar panel, S&L windlass, holding plate refrigeration, SS propane stove, 12000 BTU marine air, TV, stereo. Ready to sail with performance and pleasure. $63,900. www.cortezyachts.com. (941) 792-9100.

Rodgers 33, 1981, 2’ 8” draft, Great Florida/Bahamas boat, bimini, tiller w/auto-pilot, 2GM Yanmar, new interior, propane stove, pressure water, 16K A/C, microwave, stereo, VHF, $27,000, (941) 722-3126. (11/06)

Manta 42 Catamaran, 2000. Immaculate, ocean outfitted. SSB/modem, watermaker, solar panels, wind generator, genset, AC, RIB dinghy and 9hpOB, sea anchor, liferaft, EPIRB, much more. Ask $318K. (941) 505-5053. amchateau@comcast.net. (12/06)

1978 Jeanneau 38’ Gin Fizz with Perkins 4108 diesel - less than 100 hours SMOH This popular center cockpit with aft cabin is a cruiser’s choice. 2 blade Maxi prop and new shaft. Bimini and dodger. Main sail, jib, genoa and spinnaker. Horizon depth, wind speed and direction. Roller furling needs work or replace. Manual windlass. Bruce anchor w/20’ chain and 300’ rode. Pressure hot and cold water. Microwave built in. Adlar Barbor refrigeration. Head w/shower. VHF radio, Aplelco GPS. Stereo. Best buy on the market. Owner anxious, taking offers, try $26,900. Must sell! www.CortezYachts.com 941-792-9100 38’ Lagoon Catamaran. 2002. Excellent condition. One of the best on the market for the money. Very well-equipped. Lots of new and updated equipment. Reduced to $279,000. Call Bob, owner, at (507) 951-1625. Burnt Store Marina, Punta Gorda, FL. (10/06) _________________________________________ Morgan Out-Island 41’ 1981 Ketch. NEW Perkins 65HP engine/transmission. Fully equipped for cruising – just back after five year cruise. Heavier cruising boat, 27,000 lb, large interior, 13’10” beam, shallow draft 4’5”. $84,900, John (772) 453-4069, johnausen@yahoo.com, Fort Pierce FL. (11/06)

CLASSIFIEDS ON www.southwindsmagazine.com 72

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SOUTHWINDS

BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES

_________________________________________ RADAR SCANNER WANTED. Raytheon 2D 18” Radome 2KW. Or one compatible with the HSB Series Pathfinder Radar. Must be operational. I have an intact plastic housing and mounting bracket for mast. Would also like new wiring, but not necessary. (941) 7958704. editor@southwindsmagazine.com. _________________________________________ Sails Wanted for Catalina 28. MK II, but MKI might work. Tall rig. (941) 795-8704. editor@southwindsmagazine.com. _________________________________________ WANTED – Whisker Pole, Telescoping, line control, or adjustable, 8-14 ft. or 10-18 ft. West Florida, Tampa Bay area. (941) 7958704. editor@southwindsmagazine.com. _________________________________________ Hard Dink for sale. $375. 8.5’ overall, Oars. Wood trim, black rub rail. 2.2 Honda fourstroke available for xtra $. Bruce/SPB, FL. (404) 277-0358. (12/06) _________________________________________ Dinghy Package Yankee Boatworks 9’3” fiberglass with cover $950, Kato heavy duty davits $850, Solarex 42W solar panels on pivot base $500, all for $2000 OBO. photo available (321) 431-4380. (12/06)

45’ 6” LOA 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 $99,000 Call Major Carter or visit www.Cortezyachts.com www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS Martec folding prop 18x14x1-1/4 shaft $125. 22 lb. danforth $35. Yaesu all band reciever $25. Sealab SSB 7 crystals $25. Plastic holding tank “V” 24 gal. $20. Plastic water tank 36 gal.$20. Located Melbourne, FL. Take it all for $175! (321) 431-4380. (12/06) _________________________________________ Two Montague folding, full-size bicycles; perfect for cruising. Like new, with many extras, including soft carrying cases. “A bicycle that folds, not a folding bicycle.” $350 each. (941)743-7156 or (941)504-3302. (10/06) _________________________________________

WIND GENERATOR, FOUR-WINDS (NEW) with 9’ pole mount, air-brake, swivel base. $1,200 OBO (includes shipping). (813) 5459218. (10/06) _________________________________________ Complete standing rig for a 20’ Irwin MiniTon, includes 28’ mast with boom, step, stays, preventer, traveller, main, jib, spinnaker, fiberglass centerboard, rudder, SS bow pulpit, stanchions, hatch cover, & 2 Lewmar winches. $900 for all, or call for prices. (727) 896-1939. (11/06)

2- 8000# boat lift straps, 14’ long, D ring ends, used once. $100 for both. (281) 3241416. (10/06) _________________________________________ Rigging cable. 7 x 19. Stainless Steel. Nonmagnetic. 7/16” diameter. 600 ft for $1200. (904) 794-0937. (10/06) _________________________________________ 3-Bladed Feathering Prop,$1,000. Like new. Used on 36 Catalina, less than 200 hours. Sarasota, FL. (941) 766-0008. ask for Bob H. (11/06)

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

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

October 2006

CLASSIFIED ADS BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES

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CHARTS & BOOKS

_________________________________________ Discount NOAA, NGA, Maptech nautical charts and software. NOAA chart sale $15.50 each! Visit authorized chart agent www.DiscountNautical.com. (11/06) _________________________________________ Ocean Routing – Jenifer Clark’s Gulf Stream Boat Routing/Ocean Charts by the “best in the business.” (301) 952-0930, fax (301) 5740289 or www.erols.com/gulfstrm

CREW AVAILABLE/WANTED

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

DELIVERY SERVICES

_________________________________________ DELIVERIES. ICW, Coastal, Caribbean & Gulf, Sail or Power, by USCG Licensed Captain with 30 years professional experience Including two transAtlantic deliveries. (443) 243-4925 or www.marylandsailing.com (8/06)

HELP WANTED

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BUSINESSES FOR SALE/ INVESTMENTS _________________________________________ FOR SALE: Florida East Coast Sail Loft. Established 10 years. Well-equipped, extensive inventory and client list. Walking distance to several marinas. New sail design, construction and repairs. Custom canvas work, exterior/interior, and cushions. Strong used sail inventory. Respond to LOFT220@hotmail.com. (9/06) _________________________________________ Licensed contractor in Florida with experience in high-end residential work and light commercial, both new and remodeling, seeks to qualify a builder/company. I am a very responsible, honest, experienced builder with excellent qualifications seeking a company needing my advice and experience in the contracting business. Only very quality-oriented and responsible people need contact me who are in the Tampa Bay area. Craig100@tampabay.rr.com.

SEE CLASSIFIED INFO ON PG 6 2 74

October 2006

SOUTHWINDS

Sailing Deputy Director Wanted. The Downtown Sailing Center of Baltimore, MD, seeking Deputy Director: twelve month, salaried position responsible for adult/junior education, outreach programs, supervises waterfront operations. Reports to Executive Director while supervising the facility manager and staff of 20+ seasonal instructors. Sailing instruction experience required, college degree desirable, and experience at similar (40-boat) facility. Resumes to jerry@downtownsailing.org. No phone calls. (10/06. _________________________________________ SAILMAKER St. Petersburg. Industrial Sewing Machine and Hand sewing experience for new sails and repairs. Must be capable of lifting 40 lbs. Benefits available for full-time work. Must have valid FL Drivers license. EOE. Contact: Peter O. (727) 471-2040, Doyle Ploch Sailmakers. _________________________________________ Articles and race reports in the Carolinas and Georgia. editor@southwindsmagazine.com. _________________________________________ Sailing Instructor/Administrator wanted. Venice Youth Boating Association, in Venice, FL, is looking for Administrator/Head Instructor to oversee our junior sailing program. Must be US SAILING level 1 certified. Call (941) 966-4851 or e-mail veniceyouthboating@verizon.net. (10/06) _________________________________________ Writers, Reporters, Articles, Photos Wanted. SOUTHWINDS is looking for articles on boating, racing, sailing in the Southern waters in all regions, the Caribbean and the Bahamas. We are also looking for other articles on the following subjects: marinas, anchorages, mooring fields, disappearing marinas and boatyards,

marinas and boatyards sold for condos, anchoring rights, sailing human interest stories, boat reviews, charter stories, waste disposal— and more. Photos are wanted on all these subjects, plus we want cover photos (pay $65 for cover photos) 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, you must have an interest and 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 (that are, of course, legal and principled). You may choose your subject within these parameters. 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. _________________________________________ Massey Yacht Sales Positions-Sail and/or power yacht sales positions available in the Massey St. Petersburg and Palmetto dealership offices. Best marina dealership locations, excellent sales, marketing and service dept. support. We are new yacht dealers for Catalina, Hunter, Albin, True North, Nordic Tugs, plus offer a large inventory of brokerage sail and powerboats. Applicants must be computer literate, have successful yacht sales history, good knowledge of yachts and builders, be a team player, motivated and hard working. Best yacht sales income potential on Florida west coast. Call Massey general sales manager Frank Hamilton at (941) 723-1610 or fax resume to (941) 729-7520. _________________________________________ Murray Yacht Sales is adding professional yacht brokers and customer service personnel to its successful team. Immediate needs include: yacht broker in St. Petersburg office, yacht sales experience required; Rigger/Service Tech in New Orleans office. E-mail résumé to info@MurrayYachtSales.com. _________________________________________ Service Dept. Rigger. Massey Yacht Sales is accepting applications and resumes for sail and/or powerboat riggers/outfitters. Many employee benefits including paid holidays, paid vacations, health insurance, workmen’s comp insurance, performance bonuses, and good hourly salary. Must be hardworking, honest, have own tools and be a team player. Excellent service department support and organization. Call Alice Winter, ext. 10, service dept. mgr. at (941) 7231949, or fax resume to (941) 729-7520.

$50 for 3 months for Ad & Photo 941-795-8704 www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS REAL ESTATE FOR SALE OR RENT

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Waterfront Lot for Sale with deeded, deepwater dock on Little Gasparilla Island, Charlotte Harbor, FL. Power and water included. Walk on the beach and watch the sunset on a private island. By owner (305) 613-8425. (12/06)

South Brevard, Florida Townhouse. Intracoastal Waterway. Deep water. Dockage available. No bridges. 2/2.5. New roof and AC. Pool. Tennis. Built 1974. Association fees $236 including water. $249,900. macwriter@gmail.com. (9/06)

LODGING FOR SAILORS

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SAILS & CANVAS

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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

SAILING VIDEOS

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Sarasota, FL Waterfront Townhouse w/Deep water boat slip for rent. 3br/3ba, 3 floors, 2 fireplaces, gated, pool, tennis. Protected boat slip accommodates up to 70-foot boat. Direct access to Gulf. Walk to restaurants and shopping. For info call (561) 213-2390. (12/06) Perfect 2 bedroom Waterfront Townhouse For Sale. Ultra-furnished—even has HDTV. Very close to Fort Myers Beach. 16-foot boat dock at front door—seconds to the Gulf. $489,000. (239) 565-2277 or (239) 454-1817. (10/06)

SAILING INSTRUCTION

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INSURANCE

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CLASSIFIED BOAT ADS START AT $25 FOR 3 MO (941) 795-8704

All Classifieds displayed on our secure web site

www.southwindsmagazine.com News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

October 2006 75

CLASSIFIED ADS

SAILS & CANVAS

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TROPHIES/AWARDS HALF HULLS _________________________________________

INDEX

ADVERTISERS

TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN SOUTHWINDS! SOUTHWINDS provides this list as a courtesy and asks our readers to support our advertisers. This list includes all display advertising. Air Duck American Marine & Supply Annapolis Performance Sailing Aqua Graphics Atlantic Sail Traders Banks Sails Beachmaster Photography Beneteau Sailboats Beta Marine Bluewater Bay Yachts Bluewater Sailing Supply Boaters Exchange Bob and Annie’s Boatyard Bo’sun Supplies Catalina Yachts Clearwater Yacht Club Regattas Colligo Engineering Cortez Flea Market Cortez Yacht Brokerage Crow’s Nest Restaurant Cruising Direct Sails Defender Industries Dockside Radio Dunbar Sales Dwyer mast Eastern Yachts/Beneteau Edwards Yacht Sales E-marine First Patriot Health Insurance Flying Scot Sailboats Garhauer Hardware Glacier Bay Refrigeration Gulf Coast Yacht Sales Gulf Island Sails Higgins, Smythe & Hood Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack Hotwire/Fans & other products Hurricane Hoops J/Boats - Murray Yacht Sales JR Overseas/Moisture Meter JSI - New JSI Kevane Sails Lake Fairview Marina, Precision Latts & Atts TV Laurie Kimball Realtor Leather Wheel Lex-Sea Charters Life Captions Video

73 11,42 50 64 34 65 73 BC 16 18 19 41,42 32 28 11,42 55 34 27 71 20 21 7,73 29 11 73 11,66,BC 69 73 75 71 39 37 67 11,42 67 49 74 33 21 21 6 76 19 75 10 64 72 45

Lippincott Marine Canvas 7 Massey Yacht Sales 11,30, 39, IFC, IBC Masthead Enterprises 4,10,42,75 Mastmate 22 Melbourne Yacht Club 53 Mike Chan Boat Repair 8 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau 68,BC National Sail Supply 28 Nautical Trader 29 New JSI 6 Noble Awards 76 North Sails 4,75 Patricia Knoll Realtor 15 Pinnacle Fractional Sailing 25 Porpoise Used Sails 75 Precision Yachts 19 Quantum Sarasota 3 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke 12 Regatta Pointe Marina 26 Rparts Refrigeration 33 Sailing Services 4 Sailors Wharf boatyard 15 Sailrite 24 Sarasota YC Regatta 56 Sarasota Youth Program donated boats 66 Schurr Sails 27 Scurvy Dog Marine 35 Sea School 35 Sea Tech 36,73 Snug Harbor Boats, Precision 19 SSMR 8 St. Augustine Sailing School 75 St. Barts/Beneteau BC St. Petersburg Strictly Sail 13 St. Petersburg YC Regattas 51 Strictly Sailing.com 72 Suncoast Inflatables 17 Sunrise Sailing Services 65,74 Sunstate Realty 15 Tackle Shack 49 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program 20 Turner Marine 11 UK Halsey Sails 9 Ullman sails 52 Watersports West 73 Weathermark 42 Windpath Fractional Sailing 14 Zarcor 72

STRANGE TALE Continued from page 78

WINDSURFING GEAR

__________________________________________ Wanted: Used Prodigy (standard or race), other boards, miscellaneous windsurfing equipment. Steve (941) 795-8704, editor@southwindsmagazine.comw

October 2006

SOUTHWINDS

on the boat because he didn’t own it. Hite did. Burgess would not identify the people on board the boat to me. Burgess would not confirm that he gave the telephone number of Bob Hite’s insurance company to the salvor, but Randall said he had. Eventually, Bob Hite’s insurance paid off. Not to Burgess, of course, but to Hite, the boat’s owner. Burgess was never prosecuted for taking another man’s boat without his permission and irresponsibly wrecking it. Hite’s insurance company may have looked into suing Burgess for the loss,

but as far as Hite knows it never brought a civil action. In Hite’s home today are several oil paintings of the boat. The flagpole in his back yard was once Kinship’s mizzenmast. The sidelights are part of his living room decor. Maybe, as busy as he is, Bob Hite stops to reflect on what Kinship meant to him when the sailing was all beam reaches, the drinks frosty cold and the food as good as it ever gets. Kinship may be gone forever, ruined by another man’s gross negligence, but good memories last a lifetime. www.southwindsmagazine.com

ADVERTISER INDEX BY CATEGORY TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN SOUTHWINDS! SOUTHWINDS provides this list as a courtesy and asks our readers to support our advertisers. This list includes all display advertising. SAILBOATS – NEW AND BROKERAGE American Marine & Supply 11,42 Beneteau Sailboats BC Bluewater Bay Yachts 18,19 Boaters Exchange/Catalina Sailboats 41,42 Catalina Yachts 11,42 Cortez Yacht Brokerage 71 Dunbar Sales 11 Eastern Yachts 11,66,BC Edwards Yacht Sales 69 Flying Scot Sailboats 71 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales 67 Gulf Island Sails 11,42 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack 49 Higgins, Smythe & Hood 67 Lake Fairview Marina, Precision 19 Massey Yacht Sales/Catalina//Hunter/Albin 11,30, 39, IFC, IBC Masthead Yacht Sales/Catalina 4,10,42,75 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau 68,BC Regatta Pointe Marina 26 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats 66 Snug Harbor Boats, Precision 19 St. Barts/Beneteau BC StrictlySailing.com 72 Suncoast Inflatables/ West Florida 17 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg 49 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program 20 Turner Marine 11 Weathermark 42 Watersports West/Windsurfing 73 GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHING Air Duck Hatch Windscoop 73 Annapolis Performance Sailing 50 Bluewater Bay Yachts 18,19 Boaters Exchange, boats, gear, etc. Rockledge FL 41,42 Bo’sun Supplies/Hardware 28 Colligo Engineering 34 Defender Industries 7,73 E-Marine 73 Garhauer Hardware 39 Hotwire/Fans & other products 74 Hurricane Hoops 33 JR Overseas/Moisture Meter 21 JSI - New JSI 6 Leather Wheel 64 Masthead Enterprises 4,10,42,75 Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign 29 NEW JSI 6 Rparts Refrigeration 33 SSMR 8 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, Precision 49 Watersports West/wet suits, etc 73 SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS, RIGGING SERVICES Atlantic Sail Traders 34 Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida 65 Cruising Direct/sails online by North 21,75 Dwyer Mast/spars, hardware, rigging 73 JSI - New JSI 6 Masthead/Used Sails and Service 4,10,42,75 National Sail Supply, new&used online 28 NEW JSI 6 North Sails, new and used 4,75 Porpoise Used Sails 75 Quantum Sails and Services 3 Sailing Services 4 Schurr Sails, Pensacola FL 27 SSMR 8 Sunrise Sailing Services 65,74 UK Halsey Sails 9 Ullman Sails 52 News & Views for Southern Sailors

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October 2006

A Strange Tale from the Past By Morgan Stinemetz

ob Hite, the news anchor at News Channel Eight in Tampa, came to Florida in 1977 from Philadelphia. One of the reasons had to do with weather. Hite had just finished doing a “live shot” by an expressway as sleet and snow made traffic nightmarish. He was back at the studio thawing out when a call came in from Joe Manion, the news director at Channel Eight. Would Hite like to come to Tampa and anchor the news there? He would. He did. And he brought with him his cedar-overoak Crocker 44-foot ketch, Kinship, his pride, his passion. He settled in Apollo Beach, his boat at a dock behind his house. The fact that he was able to sail when it pleased him was not lost on a family friend, who wrote Hite a letter that said, “I envy you your future as well as your present with the Kinship in your (back) yard and 12 months of sailing every year. Where did I go wrong?” The letter was signed: Walter Cronkite. By 1991 Hite’s life had become so full of professional responsibilities that he decided to close the window Kinship had occupied. He put the boat up for sale and, after trying to sell it himself with no success, listed it with Sarasota yacht broker Mike Burgess. Kinship was brought to Sarasota where Burgess fell in love with the boat himself. He wanted to buy it, but he didn’t have the money to do it outright. On the night of January 19, 1992, a Sunday, Mike Burgess took Kinship and five other people out Big Sarasota Pass on a trip to the Dry Tortugas. It was an awful night to begin a voyage. The winds were blowing 20-25 knots from the northwest. Waves in Big Pass were four

feet. Burgess, who died in 1995, was not an experienced mariner. An experienced mariner would not have attempted to leave on a 180-mile trip in the dark and in bad weather. It is possible that leaving after dark held a particular cachet for Burgess for other reasons. The boat he was taking to the Dry Tortugas didn’t belong to him. He knew that. It belonged to Hite, and Hite had no knowledge of Burgess’ trip. Burgess had not gone far when he grounded Kinship well inshore of the Big Pass sea buoy. The boat drew six feet. Once it was stuck, the wind and the waves pushed it higher on the sand bar. By the time commercial help voluntarily went to Kinship’s aid, easily 90 minutes after the boat had grounded because Burgess had tried to get help from other sources, Kinship was going nowhere.

Danny McMakin, who was working for Offshore Marine Towing back then, said, “When I got there, it was five minutes past 10. The boat was heavily on the bar, leaning to starboard, with waves breaking over the boat. I tried to pull the boat off with my 22-foot Aquasport. I couldn’t even budge it.” The Coast Guard had been called by McMakin with a “Mayday” and had dispatched a boat. However, when another boat from Offshore Marine Towing arrived to take the six people off the boat, the Coast Guard cancelled its response. The Coast Guard is not required to respond to save property from destruction. With McMakin watching, Kinship sank. It took two weeks for Offshore Marine Towing to cut the boat apart and put it, piece by beautifully crafted piece, into a Dumpster. The salvors started with the fuel tanks to prevent any fuel spills. Kinship, Hite’s dream, was gone. He had seen her for the last time from the beach at Siesta Key. The boat, he said, “…was hundreds of feet out of the channel.” I interviewed Burgess about the incident in March of 1992. He was less than forthcoming. “We are obviously involved in insurance procedures and all that,” he said. “I really don’t need any speculation.” That’s all he would say. But Burgess identified himself to the salvors as the owner of the boat, Ken Randall of Offshore Marine Towing said. He assured Randall, at the wreck site, that his insurance company would take care of any expenses. The trouble was that Burgess didn’t have any insurance See STRANGE TALE continued on page 76

Have an interesting story? That’s funny, sad, a tear-jerker, a learning experience, heartwarming—or just a good story? Send to editor@southwindsmagazine.com. 78 October 2006

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