Southwindsfebruary2005

SOUTHWINDS News & Views for Southern Sailors Georgetown, Bahamas A Novice Sailor Crews in the Race to Mexico Demystifying Maritime SSB

F e b ru a r y 2 0 0 5 For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

Murray Yacht Sales New Orleans, LA Mobile, AL Pensacola, FL (504) 283-2507 info@MurrayYachtSales.com

Carson Yacht Brokerage Regatta Pointe Marina 1065 Riverside Drive Palmetto, FL 34221 (941) 723-1825 (941) 729-8254 Fax

St. Barts Yachts Charleston, SC (843) 577-7377 Jacksonville, FL (904) 387-5047 sales@st-barts.com

Eastern Yachts West Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale, FL (561) 844-1100 (954) 828-9071 yachts3@attglobal.net

2

February 2005

SOUTHWINDS

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SINCE 1977

FLORIDA’S LARGEST HUNTER, CATALINA, MORGAN, CALIBER & ALBIN DEALERSHIP CATALINA • HUNTER • CALIBER • ALBIN

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Catalina 310, 320, 34, 350, 36, 387, 400, 42, 470 Hunter 306, 33, 36, 38, 41, 42CC, 44, 44DS, 456CC, 466 Caliber 35LRC, 40LRC, 47LCR Catalina-Morgan 440 Albin 26, 28, 31, 35, New 40 Shannon Sail & Power

Come see Massey at all three Miami Boat Show locations February 17-21.

FREE Miami Boat Show Tickets Available…

Call Massey for information.

Call for Miami Boat Show Specials

Trade-In

2005 Hunter 46LE – 3-Cabin interior, A/C, genset, in-mast furling w/electric winch, full electronics, and much, much more.

Price includes LE Package Savings of $20,415. $299,452 1997 Catalina 36 MKII – shoal draft, well equipped and lightly sailed. B&G electronics, air conditioning and much more.

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40 Island Packet ‘97 . . . $229,500 400 Catalina ‘01. . . . . . $189,900 65 Schooner steel ‘87. . . $329,900 40 Caliber ‘98 . . . . . . . $219,500 54 Endeavour ‘90 . . . . . $395,000 40 Caliber ‘96 . . . . . . . $244,500 52 Irwin ‘75 . . . . . . . . $175,000 400 Beneteau ‘97 . . . . . $124,900 50 Gulfstar ‘78. . . . . . . $115,000 35 ft. to 39 ft.

47 Catalina ‘00 . . . . . . $320,000 39 C & C ‘73 . . . . . . . . $53,900 466 Hunter ‘04 (warranty) . $225,000 38 Waquiez/Hood ‘79. . . . $89,700 46 Hunter ‘00 . . . . . . . $244,900 38 Morgan CC ‘97 . . . . . $125,000 46 Hunter ‘00 . . . . . . . $219,000 38 Hans Christian ‘83. . . $129,000 45 Morgan ‘91 . . . . . . . $179,000 380 Catalina ‘00. . . . . . $134,000 45 Hunter CC ‘97 . . . . . $198,000 380 Catalina ‘98. . . . . . $125,000 45 Gulfstar/Hirsh ‘85 . . . $119,000 38 Cabo Rico ‘90 . . . . . $149,900 40 ft. to 44 ft.

376 Hunter ‘97 . . . . . . $121,000 44 C & C ‘69 alum. . . . . $69,900 37 Jeanneau ‘96. . . . . . . $67,500 43 Shannon ‘98 . . . . . . $449,000 37 Hunter ‘97 . . . . . . . . $79,900 43 Roberts-Steel ‘91. . . . $169,500 37 Endeavour '78. . . . . . $44,900 43 Hunter ‘96 . . . . . . . $149,995 365 Pearson ‘76. . . . . . . $49,900 42 Westsail ‘76. . . . . . . $119,500 36 Pearson ‘87 CB . . . . . $82,900 42 Tayana ‘87 . . . . . . . $164,500 36 Jeanneau ‘99. . . . . . . $87,000 42 Pearson 424 ‘81 . . . . $94,500 36 Jeanneau ‘97. . . . . . . $89,000 42 Hunter CC ‘97 . . . . . $179,500 36 Catalina MKII ‘01 . . . $129,900 42 Hunter CC ‘92 . . . . . $141,900 36 Catalina Trade ‘97 . . . $94,500 42 Catalina ‘03 . . . . . . $205,000 36 Catalina ‘94 . . . . . . . $85,000 42 Catalina ‘01 . . . . . . $237,000 36 Catalina ‘90 . . . . . . . $69,000 42 Catalina ‘90 . . . . . . $128,500 352 Beneteau ‘98 . . . . . . $95,500 41 Bristol ‘84 . . . . . . . $159,000 35 Island Packet 350 ‘97 . $174,900 40 Jeanneau ‘03 . . . . . . $184,000 350 Catalina ‘03. . . . . . $154,500 40 Island Packet ‘98 . . . $239,000 MONOHULLS

30 ft. to 34 ft.

45 ft. to 65 ft.

Ft. Myers, FL 239-334-3674 TOLL-FREE 800-763-3157

34 34 34 34 34 34 33 32 32 31 30

Catalina ‘98 . . . . . . . $64,900 Catalina ‘94 . . . . . . . $68,000 Catalina ‘93 . . . . . . . $64,900 Catalina ‘86 . . . . . . . $44,900 Beneteau ‘86 . . . . . . $50,000 Beneteau ‘85 . . . . . . $39,900 Freedom ‘81 . . . . . . . $48,000 Island Packet 320 ‘98. $150,000 Beneteau 321 ‘97. . . . $69,900 Island Packet ‘86 . . . . $67,900 Baba ‘82 . . . . . . . . . $59,900 CATAMARANS

44 Dean Catamaran ‘99 . $285,000 37 Prout Snow Goose ‘84 . . $89,500 36 PDQ ‘90 . . . . . . . . $125,000 TRAWLERS/POWER

47 Nordhavn ‘03. . . . . $1,350,000 45 ChrisCraft Commander ‘72 . $99,000 39 Mainship Trawler ‘00 . $189,000

39 34 34 31 28 27

Mainship Trawler ‘98 . $165,000 Mainship Pilot ‘02 . . . $176,900 Mainship Trawler ‘82 . . $74,900 Bertram ‘80 . . . . . . $149,000 Carver Voyager ‘88 . . . $29,900 Regal ‘99. . . . . . . . . $49,900

3 Massey Florida Locations

St. Pete Palmetto Ft. Myers Brad Crabtree

Scott Pursell

Frank Hamilton

Al Halpern

St. Pete, FL 727-824-7262 • TOLL-FREE 877-552-0525

Bill Wiard

Christine Silvia

Al Pollak

David Cole

Dan Howland

Ben Fowke

Call Sheryl Boddy for Best Rate Yacht Finance Quotes and FREE Pre-Qualification

941-723-3991 www.masseyyacht.com • E-mail: yachtsales@masseyyacht.com

2

February 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindssailing.com

Local News For Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS February 2005

3

Hunter Factory Warranty

2004 Hunter 466 • $225,000

1997 Hunter 42 CC • $179,500

2000 Hunter 460 • $219,000

47 Catalina 2000 . . . . . . . . . .$320,000 466 Hunter 2004 (warranty). .$225,000 46 Hunter 2000 . . . . . . . . . . .$244,900 46 Hunter 2000 . . . . . . . . . . .$219,000 45 Morgan 1991 . . . . . . . . . . .$189,500 45 Hunter CC 1997 . . . . . . .$209,000 45 Hunter CC 1999 . . . . . . .$199,500 43 Shannon 1998 . . . . . . . . . .$449,000 43 Hunter 1996 . . . . . . . . . . .$164,500 42 Westsail 1976 . . . . . . . . . .$119,500 42 Hunter 1997 . . . . . . . . . . .$179,500 42 Hunter CC 1992 . . . . . . .$141,900 42 Catalina 2003 . . . . . . . . . .$205,000

42 Catalina 1990 . . . . . . . . . .$128,500 40 Island Packet 1998 . . . . . . .$239,000 400 Catalina 2001 . . . . . . . . . .$189,900 40 Beneteau 1997 . . .SOLD . . . . . .$124,900 38 Beneteau 2001 . . . . . . . . .$147,000 38 Catalina 2000 . . . . . . . . . .$134,000 38 Catalina 1999 . . . . . . . . . .$144,900 380 Catalina 1998 . . . . . . . . .$125,000 38 CC Morgan 1997 . . . . . . .$125,000 37 Jeanneau 1996 . . . . . . . . . . .$67,500 37 Hunter 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . .$79,900 36 Jeanneau 1999 . . . . . . . . . . .$87,000 36 Jeanneau 1997 . . . . . . . . . . .$89,000

36 Catalina MKII 2001 . . . . . .$129,900 36 Catalina MKII Trade 1997 . .$94,500 36 Catalina 1990 . . . . . . . . . . .$69,900 352 Beneteau 1998 . . . . . . . . .$95,500 35 Island Packet 350 1997 . . .$174,900 34 Hunter 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . .$97,500 34 Catalina 1997 . . . . .SOLD . . . . . .$65,900 34 Catalina 1986 . . . . . . . . . . .$47,900 34 Beneteau 1986 . . . . . . . . . .$50,000 34 Beneteau 1985 . . . . . . . . . .$39,900 33 Freedom 1981 . . . . . . . . . .$48,000 33 Caliber 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . .$79,900 32 Beneteau 321 1997 . . . . . . .$69,900

2003 Catalina 42 • $205,000

1997 Hunter 45 • $198,000

Trade In – Super Clean & Priced to Sell

1997 Catalina 36 MKII Trade-In • $94,500

FREE Miami Boat Show Tickets… Call for Info Ft. Myers, FL 239-334-3674 TOLL-FREE 800-763-3157

Call Sheryl Boddy for Best Rate Yacht Finance Quotes and FREE Pre-Qualification

941-723-3991

SINCE 1977

www.masseyyacht.com Ben Fowke

St. Pete, FL 727-824-7262 • TOLL-FREE 877-552-0525

E-mail: yachtsales@masseyyacht.com

Dan Howland

3 Massey Florida Locations Palmetto, FL 941-723-1610 • TOLL-FREE 800-375-0130

St. Pete Palmetto Ft. Myers Bill Wiard

Christine Silvia

Al Pollak

David Cole

Brad Crabtree

Scott Pursell

Frank Hamilton

Al Halpern

List your pre-owned Catalina, Hunter, Beneteau or Jeanneau yacht with Massey and get it SOLD FAST!

4

November 2004

SOUTHWINDS

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ADVERTISER INDEX BY CATEGORY

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FOR ALPHABETICAL LIST)

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SAILBOATS – NEW AND BROKERAGE Beneteau Sailboats Back Cover Boaters Exchange/Catalina Sailboats 53 C&C Yachts/Tartan 32 Cape Fear Yachts 26 Carson Yacht Sales/Beneteau Back Cover Cortez Yacht Brokerage 77 Eastern Yachts/Beneteau/Hunter/Catalina Back Cover Flying Scot Sailboats 76 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales 29,75,76 Hanse Sailboats 77 Hobie Cats/Saltwater Sports 73 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack 71 Hunter 24,25 JS9000 PHRF Racer 76 Massey Yacht Sales/Catalina//Hunter/Shannon/Albin 4,11,21,33,41,42,43,44,72,IBC Masthead Yacht Sales/Catalina 19,79 Mayer Yacht Brokerage 63 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau Back Cover Performance Sail and Sport 52 Raider Sailboats 77 Sailboats Florida, Inc. 77 Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage 66,70 Saltwater Sports/Hobie 73 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats 74 Seafarers International Yacht Brokerage 45,76 Snug Harbor Yacht Brokerage/Hunter 49 St. Barts/Beneteau Back Cover Suncoast Inflatables/ West Florida 67 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg 71 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program 66 Tartan/C&C Yachts 32 Windcraft, Trimarans and Catamarans, Sail or Power 14 GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHING Anne’s Anchors 35,79 Air Duck Hatch Windscoop 79 Bluewater Sailing Supply 15 Boaters Exchange, boats, gear, etc. Rockledge FL 53 Bo’sun Supplies/Hrdwre/Rigging www.bosunsupplies.com 16 Defender Industries, www.defender.com 78 E-Marine 79 Frigoboat 59 Garhauer Hardware 23 Glacier Bay Refrigeration 22 Hotwire/Fans & other products 79 Island Marine Products/Davits,motorlocks,etc.

27 JR Overseas/Moisture Meter 22 Leather Wheel 48 Masthead Enterprises 19,79 Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign 73 Rparts Refrigeration, www.rparts.com 39 Sea, Air, Land, Technologies 59 SSMR 72 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg 71 West Marine IFC Winch Buddy 37 SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS, RIGGING SERVICES Altlantic Sails 40 Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida 65 Charleston Spars 8 Cruising Direct/sails online by North 28 Dwyer Mast/spars, hardware, rigging 79 Masthead/Used Sails and Service 19,79 National Sail Supply, new&used online 35 North Sails 47 Nuclear Sails 15 Porpoise Used Sails 79 Quantum Sails and Services 3,48,65 Sailing Services, rigging supplies, etc.

57 Schurr Sails, Pensacola FL 64 SSMR 72 Sunrise Sails 65 Ullman Sails 8 US Spars 15 West Marine IFC CANVAS Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida 65 Quantum Sails and Services 3,48,65 6 February 2005 SOUTHWINDS

USED SAILING/BOATING SUPPLIES Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign, West Florida Scurvy Dog Marine/Used, Consign, Pensacola FL SAILING SCHOOLS Ocean-Pro Bluewater Instruction Sea School/Captain’s License St. Augustine Sailing School MARINE ENGINES AND ACCESSORIES America’s Generators Beta Marine Fleetside Marine Service RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke Yanmar RESORTS, MARINAS, RESTAURANTS, BOAT YARDS Bob and Annie’s Boatyard Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Marina El Cid Caribe Marina, Mexico Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage CHARTER COMPANIES Sailtime, Shared ownership MARINE SERVICES, SURVEYORS, INSURANCE, TOWING, BOAT LETTERING, ETC. Aqua Graphics/Boat Names/Tampa Bay or buy online Beachmaster Photography Boatpix Photography Coast Weather Services Manton Marine Surveying Mike Shea Maritime Legal Services Ocean-Pro Weather Routing Services MARINE ELECTRONICS Dockside Radio JR Overseas/Moisture Meter Memory Map Sea Tech/Navigation/Communication Weather Wave BOOKS/CHARTS/VIDEOS Bubba Stories Book Pocket Charts REGATTA ADVERTISEMENTS, BOAT SHOWS Charleston to Bermuda Race Gasparilla Regatta, Tampa Sailing Squadron Gulfstreamer Regatta Regata Del Sol Al Sol Sarasota Sailing Squadron Midwinters Regatta Sailing Services Directory West Florida Regional Sailing Services Directory Subscription Information Alphabetical Advertisers’ List

73 62 14 27 79 79 20 78 54 78 31 69 34 66,70 5 65 77 75 80 65 46 79 16 22 79 46,78 39 36 30 12 68 13 10 18

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SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS

FOR

SOUTHERN SAILORS

9

From the Helm

12

Letters

16

Bubba Spends Disturbing Night

By Morgan Stinemetz

19

Short Tacks

28

Strictly Sail Miami: A Preview

30

George Town (or Chicken Harbor), Bahamas. Part II

By Colin Ward

35

Never Been on a Sailboat? How About a Race to Mexico?

By Dody Nollman

38

Stretching the Comfort Zone: A Retired Couple Work their Way up to Longer Cruises

By Rich Critchlow

45

Demystifying Marine SSB

By Gary Jensen

49

Southeast Coast Sailing: Carolinas and Georgia: Upcoming Events and News, Race Calendar, Race Report

52

East Florida Sailing: Upcoming Events and News, Race Calendar, Race Report

55

Southeast Florida Sailing: Upcoming Events and News, Race Calendar, Race Report

59

Florida Keys Sailing: Upcoming Events and News, Race Calendar, Race Report

62

Northern Gulf Coast Sailing: Upcoming Events and News, Race Calendar, Race Report

65

West Florida Sailing: Upcoming Events and News, Race Calendar, Race Report

75

Classifieds

82

Katlynn

By Jim Burkett

48 65 80 6 6

Regional Sailing Services Directory West Florida Sailing Services Directory Alphabetical Index of Advertisers Advertisers’ List by Category Subscription Form

Georgetown, Bahamas. Photo by Colin Ward.

Page 30.

Crewing in the Regata del Sol al Sol. Page 35.

COVER: J24s approach the mark in the SE Regionals in St. Pete. Photo by Gary Hufford.

From the Carolinas to Cuba…from Atlanta to the Abacos…SOUTHWINDS Covers Southern Sailing Local News For Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

February 2005

7

SOUTHWINDS 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.southwindssailing.co e-mail: editor@southwindssailing.com Volume 13 Number 2 February 2005 Copyright 2005, Southwinds Media, Inc. Founded in 1993

Doran Cushing, Publisher 1993-2002

Publisher/Editor Steve Morrell editor@southwindssailing.com Advertising & Editors Steve Morrell Gary Hufford National/West Florida Advertising National/West Florida Advertising West Florida Regional Editor gary@southwindssailing.com editor@southwindssailing.com (727) 585-2814 (941) 795-8704 East Florida Roy Laughlin Florida Keys Regional Editor/Advertising Rebecca Burg mhw1@earthlink.net Regional Editor/Advertising angel@artoffshore.com (321) 690-0137 (305) 304-5118 The Southeast Coast: Carolinas and Georgia Southeast Florida Jody L. Alu Steve Morrell (954) 816-0130 Regional Editor/Advertising Regional Editor/Advertising editor@southwindssailing.com soflajo@earthlink.net (941) 795-8704 Art Perez SE Florida Racing Editor miamiyachtracing@bellsouth.net (305) 380-0106

Production Heather Nicoll

Jody L. Alu Rich Critchlow Roy Laughlin Lainie Pardey Colin Ward Jody L. Alu Gary Hufford Roy Laughlin George Regenauer Maridell Weaver

The Northern Gulf Coast: Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas Kim Kaminski Regional Editor/Advertising Kaminski_K@msn.com (850) 384-8941 Proofreading Kathy Elliott

Contributing Writers Rebecca Burg Gary Jensen Walt McFarlane George Regenauer

Jim Burkett Kim Kaminski Dody Nollman Morgan Stinemetz

Contributing Photographers Rich Critchlow Dan Driscoll Gary Jensen Kim Kaminski Walt McFarlane Alex Nollman Morgan Stinemetz Colin Ward

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.southwindssailing.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.

Read SOUTHWINDS on our Web site, www.southwindssailing.com.

8

February 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindssailing.com

FROM THE HELM Liveaboards

T

he word seems to scare many landlubbers. Many would like to see them banished—out of sight, out of mind.

To me liveaboards are mainly a great group of independently-minded people who love the sea, sailing, and the independence that comes along with life on the water.

Having been one myself at various times, I’ve gotten to know a few. For the many who live aboard at dock, I remember the times I would observe them tending another’s boat when they saw it was in trouble and the owner wasn’t around, which is the case with most boats. They would adjust the lines or a fender so the boat was safer in its slip because maybe the wind had picked up, or the lines broke or stretched. They were careful not to go onto a boat as they knew it was private territory—but would if a desperate fix was needed.

For those anchored out (or moored), they too acted similarly—respectful of others’ property, helping others when needed, or helping the boat if the owners weren’t around.

Most liveaboards would help a boat even if they didn’t like the owner, as if the boat needed help and it wasn’t the boat’s fault, as is often the case. The general belief is that boats have a soul, and perhaps that is why there is such respect for the beauty of them—especially the old beauties like the schooners and square-riggers. Any group of people who

believes these boats have souls can’t be all bad.

I swear some boats have more soul than some people.

Why there is such a belief among many landlubbers that they are a problem group is beyond me, but it is understandable as they don’t know them. Are there derelict people out there living on derelict boats? Absolutely—as in the rest of world, but I guarantee they are in smaller numbers, percentage-wise, than those who live on land.

In this issue, we have two articles on liveaboards being slowly pushed out and away, in Key West and in Fort Lauderdale. In Key West, it appears the government would like them out of its hair, as if they were a nuisance. They are people and they have rights and they are to be treated with respect as fellow human beings, but I see every day liveaboards being slowly pushed away, given fewer and fewer places to anchor, or moor, or dock, as though they are a blight on the landscape of life, as if some want to say to them, “Go get a real job, a real life, a real home—make some real money.”

In other words, we will push you away if you don’t live and look the way we think you should. We are the majority, and if need be, we will just raise prices on everything so high you will have to leave.

If that’s what happens, I would rather leave with them.

Steve Morrell Editor

WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED Stories and photographs wanted in the following areas: 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 THE FLORIDA KEYS BAHAMAS THE POLITICS OF SAILING “Politics begins when two or more people get together.”

Politics affect us all and particularly in the general world of boating and our waters. We have already heard about anchoring, liveaboards and other topics (like Cuba), but there is always more.

MAINTENANCE AND TECHNICAL ARTICLES INDIVIDUALS IN THE SAILING INDUSTRY HURRICANE STORIES Hurricanes are a part of owning a boat in the Southern waters, and we would like to hear how you and your boat might have been affected by a storm or how you prepare your boat for one. Send us letters or articles.

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?

CUBA THE CARIBBEAN Stories about the warm tropical waters farther south of us.

MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOS Photographs are always enjoyable, whether for their beauty, their humor, or for many other reasons, and we take them alone.

COVER PHOTOS SOUTHWINDS is always looking for nice cover shots, which are always paid for. They generally need to be a vertical shot, but we can sometimes crop horizontal photos for a nice cover picture. They need to be of a good resolution. If digital, they need to be taken at a very high resolution LETTERS TO THE EDITOR For those who are not as ambitious to write stories, we always want to hear about your experiences and opinions.

Contact editor@southwindssailing.com for more information and questions.

Local News For Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

February 2005

9

10

February 2005

SOUTHWINDS

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FREE Miami Boat Show Tickets… Call for info

Call for Miami Boat Show Specials

New 2005 ALBIN 35 Command Bridge

Call for Miami Boat Show Specials

Call for Miami Boat Show Specials

Call for Miami Boat Show Specials

Call for Miami Boat Show Specials

New Model

New 2005 HUNTER 38 Hull #108 in stock

New 2005 HUNTER 44DS Hull #182 in stock

New 2005 CATALINA 387 Hull #66 in stock

New 2005 CATALINA MORGAN 440 New Model – On Order

Buy now. Cruise Tomorrow. Save Thousands. New is Better.

• • • • • • • •

New yacht discounts-all trades considered New design, construction and performance New electronics, A/C and gensets New flat screen TVs and DVDs New yacht financing at lowest rates New yacht custom outfitting Full factory/dealer warranties and on site service Free yacht systems and handling orientation

The best part of purchasing a new yacht is that it’s NEW and really costs about the same as buying a late model pre-owned yacht.

This is prime time for Florida yachting and your new Catalina, Hunter, Albin or Shannon is ready to cruise away, right now! Call or come by and discover the dollars and sense of owning a new yacht.

New is better.

New Location Now Open!

St. Pete, FL 727-824-7262 • TOLL-FREE 877-552-0525

Ft. Myers, FL 239-334-3674 TOLL-FREE 800-763-3157

SINCE 1977

www.masseyyacht.com Bill Wiard

Christine Silvia

Al Pollak

David Cole

Palmetto, FL 941-723-1610 • TOLL-FREE 800-375-0130

Dan Howland

Ben Fowke

Call Sheryl Boddy for Best Rate Yacht Finance Quotes and FREE Pre-Qualification

941-723-3991 Brad Crabtree

Scott Pursell

Frank Hamilton

Al Halpern

Your Satisfaction is Our Measure of Success

3 Massey Florida Locations

St. Pete Palmetto Ft. Myers

LETTERS

Continued from page 9

“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 PURCHASE SCAMS CONTINUE I read in the January 2005 issue that you were interested in hearing how a classified scammer can scam using an alleged wire transfer.

A friend of mine was recently approached by such a scam. He was selling a small catamaran and, as the typical M.O. goes, was contacted by someone who needed to ship the boat. After much conversation and finally passing on the account information to the scammer, the scammer claimed to have transferred by wire $3,000 to my friend’s account.

A day later, the scammer called back saying that his bank had made a huge error and added an extra “0” to the total, meaning that they had transferred $30,000 instead!

Of course, he urgently wanted the additional money to be returned. My friend contacted his bank and asked if there had been a “wire transfer” to his account for $30,000. The bank personnel confirmed the wire transfer deposit amount. My friend, who had also been pretty confident about a “wire transfer,” contacted authorities and later found that the $30,000 did not come from a wire transfer. It turned out that the bank person could not actually determine how the $30,000 arrived in my friend’s account without digging deeper into the transaction. As most of us probably would, she had assumed that my friend knew what he was talking about when he asked about the “wire transfer” and had only confirmed the amount. If the bank personnel had dug a little deeper, she would have found that the $30,000 originated from a phony check that appeared to be from a major insurance company.

The frightening aspect of this is that the check was physically brought to the bank in Key Largo, FL, and deposited by a stranger who claimed it was an insurance settlement. Now that’s sneaky and chillingly elaborate!

Regards, Jake Kohl Greenville, SC Jake, It sounds like the bank screwed up here in not checking out the source. Better keep an eye on them. Of course, just be cautious and realize that if it’s too good to be true, then it probably isn’t true.

I am confident that wire transfers and giving out information to have money transferred to your account is safe, as others cannot just go in and transfer money out with just this information.

Your bank account number is also not enough information to steal from it. Otherwise, all these checks I have been writing, in the thousands, would get me in trouble, as they all have account numbers on them. Once, when the bank asked for my ID when I wanted to make a deposit (that’s right—a deposit), I told them I would show it to them, but I was giving them permission to allow anyone at anytime to deposit money to my account. The teller laughed, but no one has done so yet.

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SATELLITE PHONE SERVICE NEEDED FOR MEXICO AND BELIZE I am currently docked in St. Petersburg, FL. I have a Wavetalk sat phone but have had it turned off for two years.

I am looking for a sat phone service company in the area to check out the phone and get me hooked up with a service provider.

I would also consider renting another phone for the three months I will be out on a cruise to Mexico and Belize.

I have heard that Globalstar had questionable coverage and roaming charges. Do you know this to be true?

Can you refer me to a local electronic guru? Or someone who knows about Wavetalk service?

Thanks.

Bob Glennon Bob, Steve from SOUTHWINDS asked if I could help answer your question.

What you have heard about Globalstar service off the coast of Mexico and Belize is correct. Coverage is spotty, and their billing/roaming policies are confusing at best. Globalstar has posted its service charges and monthly programs on its Web site, so you might want to go there for the latest up-to-date billing info. If you sign up for an annual program on Globalstar, be sure you understand any early contract cancellation fees involved.

There are several companies listed on the Web that rent Iridium sat phones. Just do a “Google Search” to find them. I’ve not rented from any of these companies so am not in a position to recommend a specific vendor.

Hope this helps, Gary DockSide Radio Gary Jensen owns and operates DockSide Radio (www.docksideradio.com) and specializes in Sailmail & Winlink e-mail systems. Gary and his wife Peggy lived aboard their Hans Christian 38T for three years, cruising the West Coast of the U.S, Mexico, and the Sea of Cortez. They now live in Punta Gorda, FL, and Gary can be reached at (941) 661-4498 or by e-mail at pactor3@docksideradio.com.

Any others who can help us with information on service for Wavetalk, please contact the SOUTHWINDS editor. editor@southwindssailing.com

HURRICANE ADVICE FROM BRUCE VAN SANT In the SOUTHWINDS November issue, page 24, Kevin Hughes writes in his excellent piece how Hurricane Charley hit his boat moored in the Peace River. I have swiveled to several anchors deployed tandemly as he did and can recommend it highly. Kevin has good pictures, and I look forward to his next article.

Excepting Kevin’s article in Southwinds—a notable See LETTERS continued on page 14 Local News For Southern Sailors

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LETTERS

Continued from page 13

Web site: southwindssailing.com editor@southwindssailing.com PO Box 1175,Holmes Beach FL 34218 Fax: (941) 795-8705

exception—I mostly read anecdotal “proofs” of hurricane techniques. In other words, it seems that one should best employ the methods used by any writer who survived the storm undamaged.

In 1989, dear friends Noah and Bill left their boat Eva Marie anchored in Ensenada Honda in Culebra, Puerto Rico, to fly home to Louisiana for a few days. Category 5 Hurricane Hugo, gusting over 200 knots and, with embedded tornadoes, swept through and totaled 400 boats. In the aftermath, Noah flew down to find Eva Marie bobbing happily at anchor without a mark on her, the only boat afloat for nearly a mile.

Should we then prepare for a hurricane by simply dropping a single hook and walking away? I’ve even seen a couple of articles recommending running away from a hurricane at sea, as though a sailboat can do 30 knots.

Inexperienced sailors may take disastrous advice from such anecdotes.

I have extensive experience with hurricanes from my 50 years of sailing — especially the last 25 years cruising in the Caribbean. I’ve found three rules that work always: (1) RUN EARLY to your pre-planned burrow, (2) LASH ONTO UNMOVABLE FRIENDLY OBJECTS with lots of buffering and chafing gear, and (3) SPLAY ALL ANCHORS into whatever water to which you remain exposed. Mangroves work best, but I’ve sprung boats into oversized concrete berths with lots of nylon and heavy chain with good effect, too.

These rules have a myriad of variants, none of which includes holding with anchors only or remaining underway.

In the same issue, page 78, a paragraph by Yachting Vacations tells that they saved their fleet of 15 boats at the docks at Burnt Store Marina despite a hell of an in-and-out surge. They did a good job, and I wish they would put the details of how they moored the boats in the next Southwinds.

Bruce Van Sant www.LuperonCruising.com (Bruce Van Sant is the author of A Gentleman’s Guide to Passages South and Tricks of the Trade) Bruce, Thanks for your informative advice. We are planning to do more articles on people’s experiences with hurricanes and are still looking for more contributions by others who had success and failure during the recent 2004 hurricane season in Florida. We are planning to print an article in a future Southwinds about the successful techniques employed by Yachting Vacations to save their boats.

Editor

BOATOWNERS WHO DON’T PREPARE FOR HURRICANES I went through the hurricanes in the anchorage at Fort Myers Beach (Matanzas Pass). I stayed aboard my 1973 Gulfstar 44 ketch and had no damage to my boat. I was amazed at some of the things done by other boat owners, both at anchor and in marinas: 1 Many left roller-furling jibs up; about one-fourth of them were torn to shreds by Charley. The owners are 14

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lucky the rigging didn’t come down.

2 Many left biminis, satellite dishes and exposed solar panels up. All of those came through okay.

3 Some boats at anchor stayed rafted together with another boat, as they usually were. All of them had major fiberglass damage.

4 Some owners complained of semi-abandoned boats anchored near their boats but then didn’t raise anchor and move to a safer, emptier spot. A couple of them had damage because of it.

5 Many people stayed on just two normal-sized anchors, even though they had time to buy more anchors and chain. Most got away with it. One large old powerboat dragged into the docks even before the height of Charley and was totally destroyed.

Bill Dietrich S/V Magnolia Bill, I have had others tell me personally, and seen it myself, of boatowners who, even though they lived nearby, did nothing to protect their boats and prepare them for the storms. Except for those who might have good reason to have done nothing (protecting home and family frequently are a higher priority), most have faith that their insurance company will take care of it. If you read Mike Shea’s articles in the November and December issues about making a claim, one can see that it is not so simple sometimes to collect.

I know of one boat that was left at a dock with no extra precautions taken for one of the storms, even though the owner lived nearby. I went to the marina on the day of the storm (we did not get a direct hit, but only tropical storm winds) and saw the boat was getting pretty torn up; the roller furling headsail was blowing in shreds, and there was some severe damage to the side of the boat hitting the dock. The liveaboards (you know—that group so often given a bad name for being “liveaboards”) at the marina— on their own initiative—were helping to secure the boat for the absentee owner. The boat still suffered serious damage.

Another storm came through a few weeks later and, again, the owner took no precautions, and the boat was destroyed even further. Rumor has it that the insurance company paid for the damage. The boat, at the time, was up for sale, too.

I am sure that it is this sort of action, or, should I say, inaction, that helps insurance rates to rise for the rest of us.

Yet, what about just acting responsibly, regardless of the insurance?

Editor

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the Beach Boys.

“What happened?”

“First of all, just after we got under way, she beat me up.

She hit me with a high-heeled shoe,” Whartz began. “I don’t know what set her off. I said something about ‘landlubber’ and she apparently thought I said something about ‘blubber.’ She just attacked me. She chased me around the boat until I couldn’t run anymore, because I was too tired. Then she told me that if I would have—how would you say? —a physical encounter with her she would not sue me for $10million.”

“Bubba, you don’t have $10-million.”

“I know that, but this was a dream, a bad dream,” Whartz assured me. “When I turned her down, she sang a song, and then she went below for a nap and fell out of bed, slightly injuring herself. Then her publicist showed up to tell the press that her falling out of bed was my fault entirely and that her attorney had announced that she would sue me for $20-million.

“I had been cut up some from when she hit me with her high-heeled shoe, so her publicist called a doctor for me.

The doctor was Jack Kevorkian. He rummaged around in Liza Minelli’s purse and got out about 100 coal-black pills and said that if I would take them, I would not hurt anymore. I looked at the label on the bottle, and it said that they were carbon fiber pills and would cause constipation.”

“This is a pretty disjointed dream,” I commented.

“It wasn’t when I dreamed it. Everything fit together perfectly,” Bubba responded petulantly.

Local News For Southern Sailors

“What happened next?”

“I took the black pills and got constipated. Then Liza Minelli put on a pair of red tights, put her high heels back on, and started to jump up and down on my stomach. She was drinking straight vodka from a colostomy bag while she was doing this. I was screaming in pain, and she was telling me that this was the only way to ease the constipation.”

“How long did the dream go on?”

“I don’t know, but it seemed like hours. I was yelling for her to stop jumping on my stomach when a squall came up, and Right Guard heeled over on its side. I was able to get away from Ms. Minelli then. I let out the mainsheet and got the boat back upright. That’s when she started kissing me.

Her mouth was so big that it covered my mouth and my nose and I couldn’t get any air. I was suffocating. And that is when I woke up. Turns out that I had gotten my pillow over my face and had been trying to get air through the pillow. It was awful,” explained Whartz, small beads of sweat, refracting the day’s light like tiny diamonds on his forehead.

“Why do you think that Liza Minelli invaded your dream?” I asked Bubba.

“I don’t know, but I sure could use a beer. Going down to the Blue Moon Bar anytime soon?” he replied.

“Going right now. I’ll drive and I’ll buy the beer,” I declared.

“I am feeling better already,” said Bubba.

Sometimes, being able to provide immediate relief to a tortured mind is a blessing in its own right. Go with what you have.

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NOTICE OF RACE

2005 Sarasota One Design Midwinters Friday, Saturday & Sunday, March 18-20, 2005 First Race & Tune-up Friday, March 18, 2005 (see schedule) Host and Organizing Authority: The Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Sarasota, Florida Rules: The regatta will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing 2001-2004.

Fees: Midwinter registration is $60.00 if postmarked by March 4, 2005. The registration fee after March 4, 2005 is $80.00. Bare Bones Registration (no t-shirt, no dinner) is $45.00 and $65 after March 4.

Eligibility and Entry: Anticipated classes of 5 or more are: Daysailer, E Scow, Flying Scot, SR 21, Albacore, International Canoe, Precision 185, Bongo, Buccaneer and other classes that may apply to race with a minimum of 5 boats participating. Regular Registration fee includes Dinner for two Saturday night, a shrimp feed, continental breakfast Saturday & Sunday morning, Tshirt, beer, soda, & trophies. Extra dinners $7.00 each, T-shirts $12.00.

Scoring: RRS Appendix A2 low point system. One race will constitute a regatta.

Schedule: Friday, March 18, 2005 Registration: 0930-1100 hrs Skippers’ Meeting: Daysailer, Albacore, Bongo, Buccaneer: 1100 hrs.

Warning Signal for first race of the Regatta for: Daysailer, Albacore & Bongo, Buccaneer: 1200 hrs Skippers’ Meeting for Tune-up Race for all other classes: 1200 hrs Tune-up for all other classes, Warning Signal: 1300 hrs 1700-1900 hrs: Free Beer & Soda Saturday, March 19, 2005 Registration: 0845 - 1000 hrs Continental Breakfast Skipper’s Meeting: 1000 hrs.

Warning Signal for First Race of the day for all classes: 1130 hrs Peel & Eat Shrimp: After racing. Dinner to follow. Free Beer/Soda Sunday, March 20, 2005 Continental Breakfast First race of the day: 1000 hrs. (No race to start after 1330 hrs.) Awards to follow.

Questions/Inquiries - Jim Barr (941) 366-1972 e-mail: jbarr3620@aol.com Directions & Accommodations, see Web: sarasotasailingsquad.com Mail check payable to the SSS and registration form to: Sarasota Sailing Squadron, P.O. Box 1927, Sarasota, FL 34230 Skipper: ________________________________________ Phone: __________________________ Crew: ___________________________________________________________________________ Skipper’s Address: ________________________________________________________________ City: _______________________________________________ State: ___________ Zip: ________ Class: _______________________ Sail Number: ____________________ Fee Paid: ___________ 18

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Young Bahamian Sailors get 19 Optimists FROM ISAF BY ROBERT WILKES

In a deal finalized on Christmas Eve the Bahamas Sailing Association has ordered 19 Optimists to help establish a National Sailing School.

For some months the B.S.A. has been seeking low-cost second-hand Optimists to open the sport of sailing to “juniors in the Bahamas who previously could not participate in a sailing program due to economic reasons.” John Lawrence, secretary of the B.S.A. wrote.

U.S. builders McLaughlin searched hard and came up with an offer of charter boats to be used at the Orange Bowl Regatta in Miami last month. But the price was still rather higher than the funds available. An appeal to IODA for help under its “6 for 5” scheme secured a “further 17 percent reduction” and the order was placed.

Lawrence continued: “This is a very worthy program and we hope that it will have substantial growth over the next few years. Having said that, we are now at the first step, and we can only afford a few boats and therefore request the ‘6 for 5’ assistance. We feel that once we get the program started, we will be able to grow from there as we will have something tangible with our sailing program.

“We want to ultimately introduce the optis on a largescale basis to the local school system.”

Local News For Southern Sailors

Just two years ago the Royal Nassau S.C. wrote to IODA: “We have missed a complete generation of developing sailors at our sailing club. We now have a group of members who are willing to get this thing going again.”.

Fleets have since been introduced at the R.N.S.C. and the Nassau Yacht Club, and the initiative of the B.S.A. will open up the sport still further.

Seven Seas Cruising Association Announces the Presentation of Service Award to Lin and Larry Pardey FROM PARADISE CAY PUBLICATIONS The Seven Seas Cruising Association announced the presentation of the Seven Seas Service Award to Lin and Larry Pardey at its 2004 cruising gam at Melbourne, FL. Lin and Larry recently celebrated 37 years of voyaging on board their two boats, 24’4” Seraffyn and 29’6” Taleisin, by sailing from the Atlantic Northeast Coast, south around Cape Horn, and onward to Victoria, Canada.

During those 37 years they have written 10 books and presented over 300 seminars in 10 different countries to encourage young and young-at-heart sailors that ocean voyaging is affordable and doable. Tom Linskey, 470 champion sailor, author, and senior editor at Sail magazine, called

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the Pardeys, “the enablers.” Others have debated their view that when it comes to offshore voyaging, simpler is better.

But no one has questioned that their sailing exploits have encouraged innumerable people to get out and dip their stem in the big waters.

Though Lin and Larry are contemplating future voyages on their self-built Taleisin, which is currently in Victoria, British Columbia, they were unable to attend the November presentation because of a new boat in their lives.

Late in October they flew to their home base in New Zealand to take possession of Thelma, a 37- foot racing yacht, built and designed in 1895 by C. and W. Bailey in Auckland, New Zealand. They intend to return Thelma to her original glory. “We hope to have her out racing with the other classics by the end of the southern summer,” Larry commented. “She’ll still need another winter’s work to bring her to the condition she deserves. But that might take a few years, as we are going to try to avoid true winter by rejoining Taleisin for the northern summer months.”

Lin adds, “We’ve read that each of us is allotted a limited number of summers. If our plan works, we might just be able to double that number from now on out.”

The Seven Seas Cruising Association, with an international membership of 5000 families, promotes the enjoy-

ment of cruising while “leaving a clean wake.” The service award is presented only periodically, to commend those who have performed special services to the sailing and cruising community.

For more information, call Paradise Cay Publications at (800) 736-4509, or e-mail info@paracay.com.

Recently Formed Florida Beneteau Owners Group to Meet Beneteau sailboat owners are cordially invited to attend and participate in the first annual Club Beneteau of Florida statewide Beneteau Rendezvous. This inaugural statewide rendezvous will be held this year at Marina Del Mar in Key Largo, FL and is scheduled for the weekend of March 18-20.

Beneteau USA representatives, dealer support, special guest speakers and seminars, in addition to the fun, sun and games will make this a memorable and not to be missed statewide Beneteau Rendezvous. Door prizes, hats, burgees, T-shirts, etc…

Parties and/or meetings will be held under a Tiki Hut, and there is a restaurant and bar that overlooks the marina.

Activities abound in the Key Largo area; scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, small boat rentals, a glass-bottom boat, casino cruise, parasailing, you name it, it’s there…. Of course, the famous laid back “Keys” atmosphere is always there, too!

Schedule of events: Friday evening: welcome cocktail party and hors d’oeuvres, then dinner. Saturday morning: breakfast, guest speakers, seminars.

Saturday afternoon: lunch, fun, games, activities, mini private boat show with dealer boats. Saturday evening: party and dinner, presentations. Sunday morning check out; sail out or stay for as long as you like.

For more information or any questions, contact Jeffrey Schwartz, commodore of Club Beneteau of Florida at js2@adelphia.net or Beneteau sailboat owners gather at the first meeting last year of the newly- (305) 495-2300. formed Club Beneteau of Florida. Photo by Jeffrey Schwartz.

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Nationwide Service Launched on Cell Phones to Automatically Call Severe Weather Warnings WeatherWave, Inc. has launched a national service for boaters in all U.S. coastal waters and the Great Lakes that provides severe weather warnings via computer-generated voice calls to cell phones. It also provides toll-free access to current conditions, forecasts and alarms for any marine zone, marine buoy or U.S. city – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – all delivered as voice responses.

Within seconds of the release of National Weather Service (NWS) alerts, WeatherWave subscribers receive cell phone calls notifying them of the alerts. Subscribers also can access marine and land weather information, whenever and wherever they want. For example, while boating, subscribers can call an 800 number to learn what weather is approaching their boating area. Furthermore, subscribers taking trips in coastal waters can call to learn about destination weather ahead and can use the “follow me” feature to have the alerting service track weather conditions during each leg of their trip.

“By providing specific, relevant weather information with pinpoint precision, this service greatly broadens weather awareness, improves boating safety and reduces boating casualties,” said WeatherWave President Sande Smith, who founded the company in 2003 with Mark Ross, with whom he previously has worked in the business of electronic, satellite and TV news delivery.

WeatherWave’s outbound component provides severe weather alert calls for marine zones and cities profiled by the subscriber. Up to 50 NWS alert categories can be delivered. Alerts are delivered as computer-generated voice calls, which are initiated within 10 seconds of alert issuance by the NWS. If unanswered, the calls go into the subscriber’s voice mail.

The inbound component provides 800-number access to forecasts, advisories and alerts for all U.S. marine zones; current conditions for all U.S. NOAA buoys, and current conditions, forecasts, advisories and alerts for all U.S. cities.

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As with the outbound alerts, accessed information is delivered as computer-generated voice responses. Subscribers can access marine zone and buoy information by keying in three-digit numerical codes assigned by WeatherWave.

They can access city information by entering ZIP codes.

As an added benefit, WeatherWave also includes Homeland Security alerts, which are particularly useful for boaters who journey to non-U.S. destinations, such as Canada. If the terror alert level changes during such trips, boaters must detour to a U.S. customs office to return to the United States.

For more Information, visit www.weatherwave.com.

Deepest Coral Reef in the United States Discovered Off the Florida Keys The largest coral reef in the United States was discovered recently about 50 miles west of the Dry Tortugas in the Florida Keys. The reef, 200-300 feet deep, is approximately 20 miles long and three miles wide.

It was discovered in 1999 by a research team from the University of South Florida when a bucket was dropped to the bottom in the area to get samples of the sea floor. When colorful coral and algae came up in the sample, researchers were surprised, and after four years of further exploration and sampling, it was determined that they had discovered a major coral reef.

Named Pulley Ridge, the reef is a product of a drowned barrier island off Florida’s west coast and is about 180 miles west of Cape Sable.

Originally discovered as a “bump” on the sea floor, researchers returned after finding the bump to see what it was. Money was needed for further research, and since funds were limited, a couple of years passed before they were able to determine what they had found. They eventually got funding to send an ROV (remotely operated vehicle) down to inspect it and were all shocked by the final determination.

Videos from the ROV showed brightly colored corals that usually did not live at such depths. The area was also alive with other sea life, including many different species of fish.

The reef is pretty much flat because at those depths

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Local News For Southern Sailors

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coral grows laterally to create a flat reef instead of vertically as in the Florida Keys where the water is shallower and corals reach upwards to the light. What surprised researchers was how healthy coral was growing at this depth in such low light conditions.

The former Florida barrier island went underwater as waters rose about 13,000 years ago at the end of the last glacial period.

It will be decided in the coming months whether or not to restrict fishing in the area in order to preserve the reef’s present condition. Findings of the researchers will be published next year in the Journal of Marine Biology.

BoatU.S. Life Jacket Loaner Program Welcomes New Marinas, Boat Clubs, Other Locations Now through February 21, the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is looking for new locations to become lending sites for its free Life Jacket Loaner Program. The program loans out children’s life jackets—from readily accessible sites such as marinas, boat clubs and other waterfront businesses— to boaters who have a temporary need for a kid’s life jacket for the day or weekend.

There is no cost to become a loaner site.

Presently, over 328 clubs and businesses participate as Life Jacket Loaner Program sites, which have loaned out life jackets over 50,000 times since the program began in 1997. The loaner life jackets come in kits of 12 jackets in a protective container, signage and easy-touse sign-out sheets to track usage. Three sizes are included for kids up to 90 pounds.

Ruth Wood, president of the BoatU.S. Foundation said, “Each year, we are excited to see this program grow. It means we are successfully educating boaters about the importance of life jackets and saving lives.”

To download an application to become a Life Jacket Loaner Program site, or for more information on the laws in your state, please visit www.BoatUS.com/Foundation/LJLP .

Local News For Southern Sailors

Applications that have been approved will be announced in spring 2005.

West Marine Announces $200 Summer Sailstice Gift Certificates for February Through June 2005 For the Fifth Annual Summer Sailstice, West Marine has doubled its prize offering from $500 for each of the past two years to $1,000 for 2005. The $1,000 will be awarded by random drawing in five $200 increments to sailors signed up for this year’s Summer Sailstice. One $200 gift certificate will be awarded each month from February through June, offering those signed up early five chances to win. Of course, due to fewer sailors in “the pool,” early sign-ups will have an even better chance of winning!

The random nature of winning is to help you celebrate your “random act of sailing” on Summer Sailstice anywhere in the world. West Marine has sought out ways to support the millions of you who just sail “for the fun of it.”

“We know at any given time lots of sailors are hoisting their sails to head out on the nearest body of water with friends and family,” said Randy Repass, founder and chairman of West Marine. “Like many of our associates at West Marine, we know a large percentage of sailors don’t race but simply have their own way of enjoying the sailing lifestyle. We applaud anyone who gets on the water, and Summer Sailstice is a terrific way to support and celebrate the thousands of ways people enjoy the world of sailing.”

For the past four years, numerous sailors have won prizes from West Marine and many other well-known marine suppliers. Summer Sailstice appreciates West Marine’s continued support for this, the fifth annual Summer Sailstice holiday just for sailors. Starting early February, you can sign up for Summer Sailstice, June 18-19, and your chances to win a $200 gift certificate from West Marine at www.summersailstice.com.

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Miami Boat Show February 17-21

T

he 21st Strictly Sail Miami boat show is part of the greater Miami International Boat Show and is held at the Miamarina in downtown Miami. It runs from Thursday, February 17, through Monday, February 21. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and admission to the show gives admission to other locations of the Miami show.

Among the many multihulls and monohulls present, the show also includes the largest selection of catamarans of any boat show.

Some of the boats present at the show include the following: The Eleuthera 60 from Fountaine Pajot is an amazing, large, catamaran. Others making their first appearance in the U.S. are the FastCat 50 cat from African Yachts and the Broadblue 42 from Broadblue Catamarans, the UK’s leading catamaran manufacturer, which recently opened a

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US office. The Broadblue 42 offers safe and comfortable offshore sailing whilst bringing security and luxury into the coastal environment. The monohull queen of the show is a 62-foot beauty from Oyster Marine, Ltd. Also present will be the 57-foot Bounty/Tioga ketch, Elsie, designed by L. Francis Herreshoff, arguably America`s most famous and respected naval architect.

The Kids Aboard Boat Building Workshop (a free program) will allow parents to leave their children from ages 4 and older in the care of a program where the kids learn the basics of boatbuilding. This program is available from Thursday through Monday.

The Discover Sailing program will offer introductory sails on Biscayne Bay. Free daily seminars on sailing will be held.

www.southwindssailing.com

Tickets can be bought online at www.strictlysail.com.

Tickets on Thursday, February 17, VIP Day, are $25. Cost of tickets Feb. 17-21, Friday through Tuesday, are $15, $4 for children 6-12, and children 5 and under get in free. Adult, two-day passes are available for $24, good for any two days Friday-Monday. All tickets include entry to all locations of the Miami International Boat Show.

DIRECTIONS From the North: I-95 South to exit 395/Miami Beach East, exit at Biscayne Blvd. Turn right; follow Biscayne to Port Blvd. (NE 5th Street). Turn left; follow right hand lane into the Bayside Garage.

From the South: I-95 North. Exit at Biscayne Blvd. Stay in left-hand lane until the stop sign at Biscayne. Turn left on NE 3rd Street. Follow the left side of the road into the Bayside Garage.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17 10:45-11:45 David Martin 1:15-2:15 2:30-3:30

Richard Minser Phillip Berman

3:45-4:45

Kevin Alston

5:00-6:00

Cheryl Barr

Sail Racing Software and Technology Liferaft Deployment Finding the Right Catamaran For You Electric Propulsion – The Coming Revolution The Down East Circle Route

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18 10:45-11:45 Corinne Kanter 1:15-2:15 2:30-3:30 3:45-4:45 5:00-6:00

Making the Most of Your Galley Pat Henry Women’s Solo Odyssey Around the World Barbara Theisen Kids On Board – Cruising as a Family Pam Wall A Family Sails Around the World Maggie Fenton Top Ten Reasons Women Should Own Boats

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19 10:45-11:45 Bob Williams 1:15 - 2:15 Warren Miller 2:30 - 3:30 Marti Brown 3:45 - 4:45 Pat Henry 5:00 - 6:00 Mike Harker

Designing an Energy Management System Electronics and Electrical Systems Hurricanes Women’s Solo Odyssey Around the World 24,000 Miles in 22 Months

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20 10:45-11:45 Lee Chesneau 1:15-2:15 Pat Henry 2:30-3:30 3:45-4:45 5:00-6:00

Women’s Solo Odyssey Around the World Industry Experts A Panel on Energy David Tether Marine Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Industry Experts Charter Panel

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21 10:45-11:45 Charles Kanter 1:15-2:15 Phillip Berman 2:30-3:30 Dale Schneider 3:45-4:45 TBD 5:00 - 6:00 TBD Local News For Southern Sailors

Choosing Catamarans Finding the Right Catamaran For You Multihull Construction TBD TBD SOUTHWINDS

February 2005

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THE BAHAMAS George Town (or Chicken Harbor), Bahamas — Part II

Where to Stay & What to Do

By Colin Ward The anchorage in Kidd Cove, George Town.

Anchorages Now that you are in Elizabeth Harbor, where should you anchor? The answer to that question depends somewhat on the weather and the size and draft of your boat. Stocking and Elizabeth islands run from southeast to northwest and provide good shelter from prevailing winds from north through east-southeast. Many boats anchor in the lee of those islands and do not move even when the wind clocks full circle during a frontal passage. Those anchorages are known as Hamburger Beach, Volleyball Beach and Sand Dollar Beach. The holding is good if you get your anchor down in a sandy patch, but watch out for grassy spots that will cause your anchor to pop loose at the worst possible time. These three anchorages are deep enough for practically any private vessel with depths of 10 to 20 feet.

Stocking Island is also blessed with an inlet called Gaviota Bay or Hole 1, which leads to anchorages known as Holes 2 and 3. Boats crowd into these holes for all-around protection but end up very close together. It is possible to

rent a mooring in Holes 2 or 3 for short-term or long-term storage of your boat. A six-foot draft can be taken into Hole 2 on a high tide. Holes 2 and 3 are considered to be hurricane holes, and Hole 1 offers good protection as well.

It is also possible to anchor close to town either in or near Kidd Cove. Depths are limited, and it is tough to find a good spot for a six-foot draft in town. Shoal draft monohulls and catamarans can tuck in well and be comfortable until the wind pipes up from the east or southeast. The same comments apply to the marina known as Exuma Docking Services.

Townside anchorages are good in south through west winds, and Kidd Cove is protected in northwesterlies, often the wind direction when a frontal squall line comes visiting.

The other significant anchorage in Elizabeth Harbor is known as Redshanks. It is more difficult to access and has limited room for deep-draft boats. However, it offers excellent protection from all directions and is a good spot for a frontal passage. Use the route described on the Explorer Charts, and pilot your boat around any dark patches indicating shallow reefs on the way across the harbor. Once inside Redshanks, note that the first spot is suitable for deep drafts, but it is unlikely that you could get more than five feet into the anchorages beyond.

This would be a good time to mention that there are private interests that are trying to ban anchoring in certain areas of the Bahamas. This would be a disaster for cruisers, and we should do all we can to prevent it. One of the areas targeted is the Redshanks anchorage, which is protected in part by Crab Cay, recently under development by nonBahamian owners.

There are other small anchorages in the Harbor, and you will be able to find them on your own once you have arrived in George Town and become familiar with the Harbor.

Getting Started You have arrived and your hook is set securely, so what next? A visit to town is probably high on your list if you need food, phones, or fuel. So jump in the dinghy and head for the dinghy dock in Lake Victoria. The entrance to Lake Victoria is under a tiny bridge from Kidd Cove. The bridge will admit dinghies and powerboats up to about 25 feet long but no more. Overhead clearance is about 8 feet as is 30

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the width of the opening.

The Beach and the Ocean The dinghy dock is providBeach lovers will find that ed by the grocery store the ocean beach on Stocking known as Exuma Market, Island is one of the most which is the cruiser’s friend. beautiful, uncrowded beachExuma Market has a good es anywhere. It is easily selection of supplies and accessed from the harbor by also receives mail for cruisdinghying to the small ers and provides services beach in Hole 1 and walklike copying and faxes as ing over the hill to the ocean well as support for the The author (second from right) and the Coral Heads at the variety side. There will be a few Cruising Regatta. surfers enjoying the rollers show.

From Exuma Market it coming in and a few beach is an easy walk to most of the other businesses mentioned walkers, but otherwise it is usually deserted. above. When Mandalay arrives in George Town, we treat For beachgoers who prefer no tan lines, an unofficial area ourselves to breakfast at the Town Café next to the Shell stanorth of the Hamburger Beach anchorage is often used to tion or lunch at the Two Turtles. We drop the laundry off at eliminate those pesky lines. It is around the point north of Exuma Cleaners and visit the Batelco office to buy phone Hamburger Beach and is thus secluded from anchored boats. cards and call home. For restaurant lovers, note that the Snorkeling, spear fishing and ocean fishing are all Two Turtles specializes in sandwiches and service accessible from Elizabeth Harbor. There are even some geared toward cruisers from North America while most beautiful reefs for snorkeling right in the harbor. On calm other restaurants specialize in “plate lunches” in the days, spear fishermen dinghy through the cuts to the ocean Bahamian style. side to find lobsters and good-sized fish. Trolling in Exuma Once you have taken care of pressing matters in Sound will often produce large dolphin fish and occasionaltown, I would recommend heading to Volleyball Beach in ly wahoo or tuna. the early afternoon. You will find fellow cruisers enjoying a beer or sandwich at Chat ‘n Chill (a beach bar) and playing The Cruising Regatta volleyball. It is a great place to get acquainted with new or For many, the annual George Town Cruising Regatta is the old friends and to get a little exercise. There are also picnic highlight of the winter season. The regatta will be in its tables in the shade where cruisers enjoy crafts and games 25th year in March. Featured are two sailboat races. One like dominoes and bridge. Occasionally, a singer or musiis an in-harbor buoy race, and the other is a 19-mile ocean cian will put on a concert at Volleyball Beach. Well-known race around the islands. Last year, two classes for monosinger/cruiser Eileen Quinn (aboard Little Gidding) is a reghulls and one for catamarans provided exciting racing on ular, and newcomers Robert Hailey (Elan) and Les both days.

Gatechair (Yankee) both performed in 2004.

In addition to the racing activities, regatta week

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THE BAHAMAS includes a host of other activities.

Opening night is an entertaining evening with contests, music and dancing. The annual softball game between cruisers and Bahamians is always exciting. Volleyball tournaments, and contests for sand sculptures, coconut harvesting, scavenger hunting, etc., provide something for Millenium Falcon in third place in the harbor race. everyone. There is a small boat race day for kayaks and sailboats as well Many cruisers have left the area by the time the regatta gets as a children’s activity day. The final event each year is a under way, but for those who can stay, it is a treat to watch variety show that takes place on an outdoor stage in the skillfully sailed sloops race very seriously for cash prizes.

George Town featuring acts by cruisers and local Bahamians from throughout the islands come to Bahamians.

George Town to race, party and, yes, to wager a little on the The regatta is financed largely by the sale of T-shirts. outcome of the races. A-Class sloops are wooden sailing A design contest is held to select the design for the followvessels about thirty feet long with huge sails, large crews ing year. This year the regatta contributed $2500 to the and human ballast. They are noted for being a little unstaExuma Foundation, which will use the funds to make ble and occasionally tip over and sink during the race. worthwhile improvements to Great Exuma. Additionally, Fortunately, they are usually retrieved with minimal dama contribution was made to a soup kitchen that feeds lowage to boat or crew. income local residents.

The Family Island Regatta In late April each year, the Family Island Regatta takes place. This event is a 50-year-old tradition for Bahamians who race their A-class sloops with tremendous enthusiasm.

George Town as a Destination Well, you can see that George Town has a lot to offer, but what if you want a break from all the fun and activity?

Some cruisers use Elizabeth Harbor as a base for their winter season and sail off to other destinations for a few days or weeks, returning to George Town when they need propane or fax machines. It is a pleasant day sail to Conception Island, one of the most beautiful uninhabited islands in the Bahamas. Another short sail will take you to Rum Cay, which offers good spear fishing and snorkeling. Some prefer to sail from George Town to Long Island for the slower pace there. From Thompson’s Bay, Long Island, it is just a day sail to the northernmost of the Jumentos where good fishing and few inhabitants will satisfy your need to get away from it all. If the weather begins to look unsettled, it is only one or two days back to the safety of Elizabeth Harbor again.

What You Will Need The article in the February, 2004 (available online), issue of Southwinds addresses what you will need in the Bahamas including George Town, but in particular, you will need a good dinghy. It is not uncommon to travel across Elizabeth Harbor in windy conditions with the seas in the middle of the harbor easily reaching two to three feet. When you enter Lake Victoria, it can be very rough when the wind opposes the current. I have seen cruisers rowing small hard dinghies in these conditions but I believe it is dangerous and do not recommend it. If you cannot swing a larger dinghy, you will need to move your shoal draft sailboat close to your destination and use the dinghy for the last hundred yards or so.

Chicken Harbor Chicken out on going south? Choose George Town for your winter cruise? It doesn’t matter because nobody will criticize you for being in George Town. It is a great place and many consider it a better destination than the more southerly Caribbean islands. Come on down!

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SOUTHWINDS

November 2004

55

REGATA DEL SOL

Never Been on a Sailboat?

How About a Race to Mexico?

A Regata del Sol al Sol committee member who has never sailed before decides to join the 456-mile race from St. Petersburg, FL, to Mexico.

By Dody Nollman

S

tart by agreeing to was all it took, the moon help a friend with a coming up, the stars, a work project by sitting breeze and the captivatat a registration table ing ambiance of it all. I for the Regata del Sol al had to have more. Little Sol race from St. did I realize how that Petersburg to Isla evening would change Mujeres, Mexico, in the my life over the course spring of 2003. It didn’t of the next few months. matter that neither of A couple of outings on you have stepped foot a catamaran and I was on a sailboat before. We ready for Mexico! Who were just helping out was the crazy one, me for for the event. going, or my skipper, Next, make friends Mike Noble, for being with a few of the combrave enough to take me mittee members at the on his Morgan Out table, and before you Islander, Nobility? We both know it, they’ve asked were crazy. That’s what you to be on the commade it so much fun! mittee next year for the I had no fear of sail36th Regata del Sol al The crew on board Nobility before leaving St. Pete ing, or safety. Mike Sol in April 2004. Never Noble had phenomenal sailed? No problem, they say. Don’t know the bow from the sailing experience. I had no concerns there. The rest of the stern? No problem. All you need is the desire to help and committee and I had become fast friends, and with Mike have fun!

Boom (known for his attention to details and perfection) in Being a recent empty nester with both the kids in colcharge of communications and safety, I was extremely confilege, I had the time and desire to have some fun and try dent all safety issues for the race were taken into considerasomething new. tion. Float plans were filed with the Coast Guard. All boats The first venture was for cocktails and a fabulous were required to check in daily with race committee memmoonrise with a friend on a 40-foot Beneteau anchored in bers located in Mexico and St. Petersburg. This way the comthe basin, a truly enjoyable and memorable evening. That mittees on both ends accounted for everyone, and the infor-

Local News For Southern Sailors

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February 2005

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REGATA DEL SOL mation was posted on our Web site for friends and family to watch our progress. The Mexican navy would be looking out for us when we got close to Mexico. Boats had the option of having inspections in St. Petersburg by the Auxiliary Coast Guard. The sailing instructions required compliance with the ORC regulations.

There was even a life raft demonstration in the pool at St. Petersburg Yacht Club before we departed.

Race Day Arrives Race day was here. We had partied with all the skippers of the 25 boats leaving with us and my many new friends from the Regata del Sol al Sol committee and the International Federation of Disabled Sailors committee (I Dody at the helm. Photo by Dan Driscoll. volunteered on that committee Having attended several seminars on weather and also) to see me off and give me last minute advice, borcommunication at sea, we were ready. Our crew, consisting rowed gear and lots of hugs and travel gifts (essentials like of four guys and myself, were all friends, though some had plastic wine glasses!) never met each other before. We were as ready as we would ever be. Mike Noble was ready to race; Dan had made all the meals and frozen them; we had the volleyballs for the games in Mexico. Skip was in charge of navigation and I, of course, had way too many clothes! We left The Pier in downtown St. Petersburg amid VIP boats bidding us safe voyage, and we were on our way.

Or so we thought. You know how the wind is (or isn’t) early in the morning by The Pier! Approximately three hours later, after anchoring, having had numerous cell phone conversations with friends and fellow racers, we finally got enough wind to set sail for Isla Mujeres.

The weather was fabulous the first two days. The first sunrise brought a myriad of colors and two boats, Mi Vida Loca and Floridian (two other racers….friends, but now arch rivals) on the horizon, a reminder we were not alone in this vast expanse of blue. An image so vivid, it touched your soul, and you knew this was never be manmade.

Sunbathing on the bow, pods of dolphin dancing around our boat at night with the phosphorescence lighting up the night, dinner under the stars, and the fresh tuna for appetizers (we had to fish, of course!)…what more could you ask for.

Entering the Gulf Stream was not as calm. The “Disney cruise” was over! A squall brought rain, wind, waves and lots of “rockin’ ‘n rollin’.” But with three good drivers on board, no sleep and lots of coffee, we finally made it through.

Arriving in Isla Mujeres Arriving in Mexico was definitely the best. An hour outside of arriving, we radioed in that we were close to finishing.

Our chairman at the time, George Crook, was already in Mexico and on the radio to welcome us.

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Nobility crew on the beach in Isla Mujeres. From left to right: Skip Bogert, Dan Driscoll, Dody Nollmann, Mike Noble (owner/skipper), Danny Driscoll. Photo by Maridell Weaver.

After navigating the length of the island—all the flashing lights seemed to be the same—we finally found the finish line. An escort boat arrived to guide us into the docks.

It seemed to take forever, but we finally tied up, found our hotel rooms, cleaned up and went out to celebrate!

The celebration and parties on the island went on for nine days: basketball tournaments, volleyball tournaments, dinners with Mexican VIPs, snorkeling at Isla Contoy, dancing at the local night spots with our commodore, the huge Amigos Regatta with all the island kids and, of course, our trophy banquets. The neatest thing was going to the docks or walking around town and knowing people everywhere.

You have so many friends when you do a race this big and spend the days exploring and just having fun. Of course, there were the “swing” bars on the beach where we’d meet and take in happy hours on swings around the bar before dinner. The local food was delicious. It was hard to decide where to eat next.

We were thrilled with second place in our division and third overall in True Cruising. Though where did we lose those NINE minutes that kept us from first? Was it the start when we had to avoid a boat in our way? Was it the first tuna we caught, or the second? Or maybe it was the time they tried to teach me to drive! What were all those terms they were using? Maybe it was the fact we couldn’t find the right mark at the end of the race. We will never know, but we still have fun trying to figure it out and reliving the memories.

earned a permanent spot on a J/24. I will learn to sail yet!

A huge and warm “thank you” to Mike Noble for taking the chance to give me the adventure of my life, to all of my crew who took such good care of me, the Regata del Sol committee and all those who supported and encouraged me. You have created a junkie.

The 37th Regata del Sol al Sol is organized and the boats are signing up (yes, I’m on the committee again!) and I was honored to be asked to crew for a very prestigious boat, Mike Boom’s Mi Vida Loca. Funny, that’s the first sailboat I had ever been on. It won’t be anchored in the basin this time though….come join us in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. It’s an experience of a lifetime you don’t want to miss. The Regata del Sol al Sol committee will have the parties ready for you. Visit the Web site to see how to join the race, www.regatadelsolalsol.org.

Nobility Receives a Trophy If second wasn’t enough, Nobility was awarded the Friendship Trophy, which actually is a tribute to all the wonderful sailors we met there; we couldn’t help but be friendly and have fun.

The 36th Regata del Sol al Sol was an awesome gift for me. Truly the best thing I have ever done. The friends I have made are the greatest. I learned so much, yet so little….I have a long way to go, and I look forward to the journey of learning to sail. I have since spent the summer going to the Twilight Series, put on by the St. Petersburg Sailing Association, and sitting on as many rails as I could, begging anyone I could find to take me with them. Then I finally Local News For Southern Sailors

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Stretching the Comfort Zone: A Retired Couple Work their Way up to Longer Cruises

By Rich Critchlow we noted a poster in the e all have areas of marina clubhouse announcactivities, including ing a group cruise to, you sailing, wherein we are guessed it, the Dry Tortugas comfortable, and areas and Key West. We attended wherein we are plainly the meetings and signed up. uncomfortable or fearful.

We told other friends on our Some people may be comdock and they signed up. In fortable sailing in 20-knot all, 10 boats were to make winds, but not 30 knots. the trip.

Others may be comfortable We felt we could do it in 30 knots, but not 50 knots. on our own, but there is Others may be comfortable safety and more fun in in a 30-foot boat, but fearful numbers. of operating a 50-footer or a Various contingency sailfish. plans were discussed, but For my wife Roseanne we agreed we would leave and I, our comfort zone was on April 24. If the weather sailing trips wherein we permitted, we would head could reach our destination The anchorage in the Dry Tortugas.

180 degrees south directly or destinations by a series of to the Dry Tortugas from Egmont Key at day sails. The typical day sails could be up the entrance to Tampa Bay. If the weather to 60 or 70 miles, and we could leave at or was questionable, we could stay put or just before dawn. The anchor was set before day-hop down the coast to Venice or dark. We had sailed at night, coming into Charlotte Harbor. After a few days at the our home marina after dark, but we had Dry Tortugas, we would head east to Key never sailed overnight. Such was our mindWest and then home. set as we set our goal to sail to the Dry The original plan was to leave Egmont Tortugas, 65 miles west of Key West, FL. As Key at midnight on Sunday the 26th, thus the man said, “It is not the end of the earth, giving the poor “still working” blokes the but you can see the end of the earth from Rich and Roseanne Critchlow. weekend to do final preps. there.”

As fortune would have it, the sailing weather forecast Our sailing vessel is a 1998 Catalina 400. Our home base off the west coast of Florida was great for Saturday and for the winter months is the municipal marina in St. Sunday of the departure week but questionable for Monday Petersburg, FL. I retired (after 38 years as an engineer) in the and Tuesday. Therefore, we and one other boat of retired fall of 2003, thus setting the stage´ for some adventures. sailors left Egmont Key Friday at midnight for the estimatI have been sailing for about 30 years. My wife has been ed 36-hour sail (180 miles) to the Dry Tortugas. This other on the water for half that time. We sailed Lake Ontario for boat was Cobia, a 48-foot ketch captained by Hal Johnson about eight years with regular crossings to Canada (60 and crewed by his wife, Carmen. miles). This we still do in the summers. For the last five Our Catalina 400, Agape’, has tankage for about 85 galyears, we have been sailing the west coast of Florida from St. lons of usable water and 42 gallons of diesel fuel. To this we Petersburg to Marco Island. add a water bladder tank of 11 gallons and 11 gallons of We have no blue water aspirations. However, we have diesel in jerry cans. been gradually upgrading Agape (our 40-foot Catalina) for We traveled the 12 miles from St. Pete to Egmont Key on longer range coastal cruising. The upgrades include a secFriday afternoon and anchored about 5:30 pm. After a hot ond larger alternator, water and fuel bladders, autopilot, meal (our last for many hours) we tried unsuccessfully to radar, and chart plotter. sleep. We did, however, get some rest.

The complexion of our planned trip to the Dry Tortugas Just before midnight, both vessels weighed anchor and and Key West changed dramatically in January 2004 when

W

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headed out the Southwest Channel past Egmont Key into the Gulf of Mexico. The prediction was for 10 to 15 knots of wind out of the southeast. We experienced 17- to 23-knot winds out of the south, southeast. Our rhumb line was 180 degrees; we managed 187 degrees at 6.5 to 7 knots under full main and partial jib.

All the experts say to set a watch schedule and stick to it. This did not feel right for us. We Agapé. set the general guidelines that the captain would take the watch from midnight until 4:00 a.m. or until the first mate, Roseanne, woke up, whichever came first. The captain would try to sleep (in the cockpit) until dawn. The first mate would sleep during the day as she wished with the captain hitting the hay after dinner. Our third crewmember was Charley, the autopilot.

Charley would stand watch as needed.

We maintained radio and visual contact with Cobia throughout the entire trip south. The standard procedure at night was to maintain the chart plotter on at all times, turn the radar from standby to “on” every 20 to 30 minutes and at the same time, scan the horizon with the night vision scope. We found that we could spot fishing trawlers, etc., 45 minutes earlier with the night vision than with the radar or plain eyes. Appropriate entries were made in the log.

A year earlier a sailboat and a tug had collided at night in this area. The tug had radar, but no one was monitoring the unit, and there was no dedicated person on watch. The sailboat had its radio turned off.

We had a close encounter with a shrimp trawler, but everyone did it right. Both Cobia and Agape’ had radar and visual contact with the trawler. There didn’t appear to be an issue until the last few minutes when the trawler changed speed and course. At this point the captain of the trawler contacted both sailboats and we arranged passage.

Local News For Southern Sailors

Due to the 17-20 knot winds and being close-hauled, the first night was tiring, tense, and a little boring. We decided early on that night sailing was not going to be our favorite. We enjoy seeing the sky, clouds, and the sea. The stars are great but cannot compare with the day attractions. We also are more comfortable handling the wind and waves when we can see what is going to hit us.

Furthermore, our bodies are real attached to the idea of sleeping on schedule when it is dark.

By the next day, both Roseanne and I were tired. We were taking turns getting one to two hours of semi sleep. We would sleep as long as we could; on the trip to the Dry Tortugas we never had to wake the other.

On the second night, we also saw trawlers, but none came close.

At 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, we motored into the harbor next to Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas and dropped anchor. It had taken 32 hours—four hours less than the estimate.

Other than our being tired, the trip was good. The rest of the fleet arrived Tuesday on schedule.

After a good night’s sleep, we really did enjoy the Dry Tortugas. The atmosphere is Caribbean. Fort Jefferson is interesting as a scenic wonder and as a marvel of the challenges mankind can overcome when the mind is set to a task.

Spending time with the other members of the fleet was a marvelous treat. With the exception of Cobia, we had only met the other crews at the planning meetings.

We had intended to spend a few days at the Dry Tortugas then sail east 65 miles to Key West with a possible stop at Marquesas Key on the way. However, for five days the wind blew out of the east at 15 to 20 knots with a night of 25 plus winds. The weather forecast was for more of the same for the next few days. One boat had to be back in St.

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Pete, and two other boats, including us, were getting nervous.

So on Friday, four boats headed north. Two to Boca Grande and two to Naples.

We left at noon on Friday, sailed overnight, and arrived in Naples about 10 a.m. The sail Friday was very pleasant as the winds were 15 knots out of the east. We maintained seven knots easily. After dark, one of the boats, Blue Claw, diverted to stand by a trawler that was taking on Cobia. water. The Coast Guard brought pumps so disaster was averted.

Shortly before midnight, Roseanne woke me. There was frequent lightning on the northeast horizon. Storms had not been in the forecast.

Getting weather forecasts in the Tortugas is possible but problematic. At 65 miles from Key West, VHF reception is spotty. I had spent as long as an hour getting a complete report. The signal would come and fade. Thus, I would get part but not all of the forecast each time the signal would strengthen. It seemed always to strengthen when the station was identifying itself or giving local observations. It figures.

The lightning was persistent, but no thunder could be heard. Our radar at 16 miles indicated nothing. One of the other boats had better radar and indicated that they saw nothing at 48 miles. We were closer to Naples by this time so the VHF reception was better. The weather station was forecasting heavy thunderstorms from Fort Myers north to St. Pete. This meant we were 50 miles south of the thunderstorms. We felt better. The light show was still awe-inspiring and sobering.

In the wee hours of the morning, the wind picked up.

We were again close- hauled and going into five- to six-foot seas. Going below to visit the head was a real chore. We kept the light in the cabin off to protect our night vision so it was “hold onto all handholds” the entire time below.

We had also made sandwiches for the trip as we knew working in the galley was not possible. “Charley,” the autopi-

lot, stood a long watch this night.

The ride was uncomfortable and sleep difficult, but there was never any concern for our safety or the safety of the boat. This night was doable but not fun. We were stretching our comfort zone.

During the heavy weather we noted a contact on the radar and with the night vision. This contact ran parallel to our course at our speed and about two miles off our starboard beam. We learned later it was the fourth boat in our group, the second boat heading for Naples. We had had no contact with this boat since the Dry Tortugas.

In Naples, we took a slip at the city pier for one night and a mooring ball for three. Taking a slip allowed us to wash the salt off the boat and fill the water tank.

We enjoyed the three days at Naples, and then headed for Useppa Island at Boca Grande. The next night we went in at Venice to stay at Higal Park. Higal Park is a Sarasota County park with a launch ramp and 150-foot pier. We have never had a problem getting a spot at the pier when we arrived before 3:00 p.m. This day, however, we arrived at 1:30 p.m. to find the pier quite full. We managed to get in at the shore end on the pier. The tide was mid-tide. At low tide our 5’ 9” draft was squarely on the bottom and our water line fully exposed.

The full pier? There were three boats from our fleet that had arrived at 1:15 p.m.! Later, a fifth boat from the fleet arrived and was able to raft off. Three of the boats were traveling together, but we found it interesting that five boats, half of the fleet, arrived at this somewhat obscure pier on the same afternoon.

The next day, it was off early on the high tide for St. Pete. We had traveled some 500 miles, sailed for three nights, two of them with significant wind and waves.

We had significantly stretched our comfort zone in sailing, 32 hours with two overnights. Sailing overnight is not our first love. However, we will do it to get to a destination.

We had exposed ourselves to possible rough weather. We had traveled farther afield and stretched into the realm of less than definite weather forecasts. We had stretched the range of our boat and crew.

All performed well, the boat, the first mate, Charley and the captain.

Where next? At least Key West, Marathon and back to the Dry Tortugas, east to west this time. Then Miami and the Bahamas? We’ll see.

Rich and Roseanne spend their winters living on Agapé, their 40-foot Catalina 400, and cruising the Gulf Coast of Florida.

When it gets hot in Florida, they retreat to their O’Day 30 sailboat in upstate New York and cruise Lake Ontario. Rich has written and published several articles on sailing, living aboard and marine technical subjects. Rich is a retired engineer/statistician.

Roseanne is a semi-retired bereavement counselor.

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www.southwindssailing.com

COMMUNICATION

Demystifying Maritime SSB

By Gary Jensen

H

as trying to figure out how to use your new $3000 plus maritime single sideband (SSB) radio system left you tired and frustrated? Does trying to understand channel groups, duplex, simplex, and frequencies leave you dazed and confused? If so, read on as we take the KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) approach to SSB operation.

Finding Your Way Maritime SSB radios come with a myriad of frequencies programmed into them. The popular Icom M-700 series and M-802 radios contain more than 1100 memory locations referred to as radio channels or just plain channels. The key to figuring out what’s programmed into each of these radio channels is the channel guide, a map of memory locations included with your radio. The channel guide shows the receive frequency, transmit frequency, and communications mode programmed into each and every memory location within the radio. Without this road map you’re lost.1 The channel guide that comes with these Icom radios is a threepage foldout document printed on card stock; a total of six pages of channel groupings, ITU duplex and simplex channels, and frequencies.

To the cruiser new to SSB, the sheer size of this list can be overwhelming. With more than a thousand choices, how do you decide which radio channel to use, when to use it, and how to select it? Like so many other things in life, the answers lay in simplification, hence the KISS method to understanding SSB.

Icom M-700 Series/M-802 Icom radios have two large knobs on the front. The lefthand knob is the channel group selection knob, and the righthand knob is the channel selection knob, used to select a channel (really a memory location) within a selected channel group. For Icom users, once you select the user programmable channel group with the channel group selector knob (the large left-hand knob on the front of the radio), you never have to touch it again. From this time on, you will select channels and frequencies using the large right-hand channel selection knob.

Yikes, you say. What about all those other channel groups like 401 to 427, 6-1 to 6-9, 1601 to 1656, etc? From a cruiser’s viewpoint, you can ignore them. Any channel or frequency included in one of these groups used by cruisers is either already programmed into the user programmable channel group, or can be programmed into it.

Not all Channels are Channels What’s that you say? So when is a channel not a channel?

As it turns out, there are two types of channels. There are radio channels that are actually memory locations within the radio itself, and there are communications channels, world-

KISSing your SSB Most cruisers are not interested in becoming commercial radio operators or hobbyists. Cruisers want to spend their time doing boating things, not make their SSB the focus of their life. The KISS approach (Keep it Simple Stupid) to SSB operation meets this need.

The key to mastering your SSB is to distill the needed information into as few understandable bite-size pieces as possible, understand this information, and then apply it to your situation. The vast majority of SSB radios sold and used on cruising boats are the Icom M-700 series, or the Icom M-802. Because of Icom’s market dominance, this discussion focuses on the organization and operation of Icom SSB radios. However, the overall concepts apply to SSB operation in general.

The first step in the KISS approach to SSB operation is to understand and remember three important facts: 1 All maritime SSB voice communications must be in the USB2 mode.

2 Cruisers use the simplex3 channels and frequencies for communications 99.9 percent of the time.

3 Seldom if ever do cruisers need to use an ITU duplex4 channel.

4 Because of items 1-3 above, all the channels and frequencies you will use are contained in the user programmable channel group.

Local News For Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

February 2005

45

COMMUNICATION wide channel designators assigned to a specific frequency.

Table 1 lists the Simplex Maritime SSB channels and the frequencies assigned to each channel designator.

Radio Channels Instruction manuals for maritime SSB radios frequently use the word channel and the words user-programmable channel group to refer to memory locations within the radio, while cruisers and the rest of the world use the word “channel” to refer to a specific communication channel designator. The Icom M-802 has 160 userprogrammable channels/memory locations (numbered CH 1 to CH-160), and the Icom 700 series of radios have 150 memory locations/radio channels.

Communication Channels Like maritime VHF channels, maritime SSB frequencies are labeled with internationally agreed upon channel designators. SSB simplex channel designators carry labels like CH-4A, CH 8A, CH 12C, etc. As with the maritime VHF, there is a frequency associated with each channel designator; e.g., the frequency for VHF CH-16 is 156.8 MHz; however, for VHF we don’t concern ourselves with the assigned frequency. We simply turn the dial to the desired channel and go about our business.

Maritime SSB radios work almost the same way, except for a few wrinkles. To find CH 8A on an SSB, you must first refer to the printed channel guide to identify the memory location where the settings for CH 8A are stored. Cruisers using Icom radios will find this information in the user-programmable channel group section of the channel guide. Once you know the radio channel/memory location where channel 8A is stored, select that location with either the xhannel Selection knob or by keying in the desired radio channel with the keypad.

Channels or Frequencies Unlike the maritime VHF band where all frequencies are assigned a channel number, not all maritime SSB frequencies have a channel designator assigned to them. In addition to the maritime simplex frequencies listed in Table 1, an additional twenty frequencies in the 4 MHz5 band and twenty-nine frequencies in the 8 MHz band have been set aside for mariners to use on a secondary shared basis6 with other fixed services. Table 2 lists each of these shared frequencies.

Table 2

Note: These are shared with “fixed” stations. If the frequency is occupied, we must choose another frequency.

Channel numbers are not assigned to these frequencies. They are referred to by the frequency itself, e.g., “...meet you on 8122...”

Source: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/high_frequency/rtc hansi.htm

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The frequencies between 4000 KHz (4 MHz) and 4060 kHz (4.06 MHz) and 8101 KHz and 8191 KHz have been divided up into 3 KHz wide channels. In the 8 MHz band, the first frequency mariners are authorized to use is 8101 KHz. The next authorized frequency is 3 KHz higher, 8104 KHz (8101 KHz + 3 Khz), the next is 8107 KHz, and so on up to and including 8191 KHz. There are however, several frequencies within this pattern on which marine use is prohibited. The prohibited frequencies are 4006 KHz, 8113 KHz, and 8128 KHz. These additional frequencies are not preprogrammed into most marine radios. They are, however, quite popular with cruisers, and SSB nets like the Cruisheimers Net (8152/8146/8164 KHz) conduct their sessions on them7.

Therefore, you will want to program some of the more frequently used frequencies like 8116, 8119, 8122, etc., into your radio.

Channel Numbers for These Frequencies The shared maritime SSB frequencies are referenced differently from the maritime SSB simplex channels and frequencies in Table 1. Because the shared frequencies are not primarily for maritime use, channel numbers have not been assigned to them. In place of channel numbers, these frequencies are referred to by the actual frequency itself, e.g., 8122 KHz is referred to as 8122, not CH 8G or some other unofficial channel number. This reference system may seem a bit alien at first, but it doesn’t take long to become accustomed to it.

5 6

7

Channel 1212. Coast station transmit frequency (ship receive frequency) is 13.110 MHz, ship transmit (coast station receive frequency) 12.263 MHz. 1 MHz = 1000 KHz Secondary shared basis means that mariners have secondary rights to use these frequencies. Primary rights are held by land-based services. A properly licensed maritime station may use any one of these authorized frequencies if it is unoccupied. If, on the other hand, a mariner wants to use a frequency and it’s already in use, he must choose another frequency.

Jensen, Gary. “Marine Radio Nets, What they are, How to Use Them” Southwinds , November 2003, pages 46-48.

Gary Jensen owns and operates DockSide Radio, specializing in Sailmail/WinLink, and Pactor-III modem sales and support.

Gary and his wife Peggy lived aboard their Hans Christian 38T for three years while cruising the West Coast of the U.S, Mexico, and the Sea of Cortez. They now live in Punta Gorda, FL. Gary can be reached at (941) 661-4498, by e-mail at misc@docksideradio.com, and occasionally by SSB on the Cruisheimers Net.

Summary Now it’s time for you new SSB operators to pick up your microphones. Tune your radio to the user-programmable channel group, select a simplex channel or frequency, and join the crowd. See you on the Cruisheimers Net. 1

2 3

4

If you can’t locate the channel guide that came with your radio, you can either order a replacement from your radio manufacturer, or create a new one. To create a new channel guide, record on an Excel spreadsheet or paper the radio channel number, receive frequency, transmit frequency, and communications mode (USB, LSB, AM) for each memory location.

USB – Upper sideband (LSB - Lower sideband, AM –Amplitude Modulation) Simplex Transmit and receive frequencies are the same, e.g., Ch 12C transmit frequency is 12.359 MHz and the receive frequency is 12.359 MHz. Duplex The transmit and receive frequencies are different, e.g., coast station WLO in New Orleans uses ITU Duplex

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MARINE SURVEYORS John Kelly Serving the Carolinas Masthead Used Sails………..(800) 783-6953 NAMS Certified Marine Surveyor. 100-ton www.mastheadsailinggear.com ocean master & offshore catamaran owner www.yachtsurveyor.com.........(910) 392-5054 Largest Inventory in the South (727) 327-5361

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ADVERTISE YOUR SAILING SERVICES IN OUR NEW DIRECTORY. CONTACT: Steve Morrell editor@southwindssailing.com (941) 795-8704 See the sample ads in the directory above for prices. See page 76 for cost of 2" boxed-in ads and larger (display classifieds)

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SOUTHEAST COAST SAILING Carolinas & Georgia Upcoming Events Calendar News for Sailors Racing Calendar Race Report

SE Coast February Weather WATER TEMPERATURE Cape Hatteras, NC - 46° Savannah, GA - 53° AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Cape Hatteras, NC 41° lo - 54° hi Savannah, GA 41° lo - 64° hi For Real Time Southeast Coast Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/ Southeast.shtml

NEWS North Carolina Marine Groups Call for Waterways Study

S

everal industry and other state and marine organizations in North Carolina are looking for funding to do a study on the economic impact of waterways as growth occurs in the state.

It is known that about a half a billion dollars in boats and boating supplies are sold each year in the state, but it is unknown what the impact is of boat manufacture, repair, sales, services and related boating tourism.

The groups have cited a waterways study in Florida that assessed the economic impact of boats and then estimated the influence of waterways on property values and what the cost would be for failing to maintain the waterways for boaters and others that use them. The Florida study found there would be a significant economic loss if the waterways were not maintained.

North Carolina has over 3,500 marine businesses, over 20,000 employees and approximately 350,000 voting boat owners, yet it is unknown what the economic impact is from the state’s waterways.

NORTH CAROLINA

Lake Lanier GEORGIA

SOUTH CAROLINA

Wilmington

Charleston

Beaufort

1

Savannah SOUTHEAST COAST

February Prevailing Winds See page 81 for Windrose legend

Well-known racers such as Teddy Turner, Brad Van Liew, Hank Hofford, Pierre Manigault and more will participate. For those who would like to crew, go to the event Web site.

The event is hosted by the Charleston Maritime Center and the Bermuda Yacht Club, Hamilton, Bermuda. The Charleston Ocean Racing Association is assisting in the event.

For more information, contact Katy Durant at the race office at (843)722-1030, or Meaghan Van Liew at the media office at (843) 856-0392. More information is also available online at www.charlestontobermuda.com.

Charleston to Bermuda Race Gears up for 2005 Race

T

he Charleston to Bermuda Race, also known as C2B, is a 777 nm race that begins in Charleston, SC, and finishes in Bermuda. The race is devoted to providing fun for all participants and is based on a unique, ultra-inclusive format.

Bring your Open-50, Swan 45, Cal 40, Santa Cruz 70, or your Cheoy Lee 31. Every seaworthy boat 31 feet and longer is welcome.

The event offers individual fleets for classes entering five or more boats, as well as fleet trophies, and limited free docking space in Charleston.

The race starts on Saturday afternoon on May 14 in Charleston Harbor. The captain’s bon voyage party and other festivities begin May 12. It runs in conjunction with the Charleston Maritime Festival, May 12-15.

Local News For Southern Sailors

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SOUTHEAST COAST SAILING

Race Calendar These dates and events are subject to change without warning.

Please refer to each sailing club’s Web site for more accurate details.

FEBRUARY Go to www.sayra-sailing.org for more informaton on the following races and clubs.

4-6 South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association (SAYRA) annual meeting. www.sayra-sailing.org. Host Carolina Yacht Club. www.carolinayachtclub.org.

Wrightsville Beach, NC. 21 Wrightsville Beach Ocean Racing Assoc. (WBORA) Kickoff Meeting Seapath.

21 Lake Murray Yacht Racing Assoc. series begins. www.columbiasailingclub.org, Lake Murray, SC Charleston, SC, CORA schedule (www.charlestonoceanracing.org) 1 CORA Executive Meeting 13 Frostbite # 3 17 CORA member meeting 26 Frostbite # 4 Lake Lanier, GA (www.larc.strictlysailing.com) 5 Icebreaker #4, SSC, 6 LARC Winter #3, LARC, LARC Series – AISC, BFSC, LLSC, SSC, UYC 6 Laser Frostbite, LLSC, Open – One Design 12 Hot Ruddered Bum, UYC, Open Regatta UYC 13 Laser Frostbite, LLSC, Open – One Design 13 Icebreaker #5, SSC, 19 LARC Winter #4, LARC, LARC Series – AISC, BFSC, LLSC, SSC, UYC; BFSC Winter Gale #1 20 Laser Frostbite, LLSC, Open – One Design 20 Icebreaker #6, SSC, 26 Icebreaker Make Up, SSC, 27 Winter Gale #2, BFSC, 27 Laser Frostbite, LLSC, Open – One Design MARCH Go to www.sayra-sailing.org for more informaton on the following races and clubs.

5-6 12-13

Area D 2005 US Sailing Judges’ Seminar. Atlanta YC Keelboat Midwinter. One Design Keelboat. Lake Norman YC 12,13 Deep South Regatta. Lightnings. Southern YC 19,20 Y-Flyer Mid-winter. Y-Flyer. Lake Norman YC 25-27 Easter Regatta. J24. Lake Norman YC 25,26 Easter Escow Regatta. Escows, Mcscows. Lake Norman YC 26 Sailfest. PHRF. Yacht Club of Hilton Head Island Charleston, SC, CORA schedule (www.charlestonoceanracing.org) 1 CORA EXEC MTG 6 Frostbite # 5 17 CORA MEMBER MTG 19 Spring Ocean Race # 1 Lake Lanier, GA (www.larc.strictlysailing.com) 5 LARC Winter #5. LARC 5 Laser Southerns. LLSC 6 Laser Southerns. LLSC 6 Nippert #1.SSC 12 Nippert #2/SSC Chili C/O. SSC 12 Atlanta Cup (J22, J24, M24). LLSC 13 Atlanta Cup (J22, J24, M24). LLSC 19 Commissioning. LLSC 19 Nippert #3. SSC 20 Commissioning. LLSC 20 Winter Gale #4. BFSC 50

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SOUTHWINDS

Large crane in a cypress tree in the Brickyard area of Lake Marion.

New Years at Lake Marion, Santee, South Carolina

By Walt McFarlane

A

s most couples, Jan and I had been invited to a New Year’s Party. However, as the end of the year approached, we decided that instead of ringing in the New Year as usual, this year just the two of us would end the old and begin the new aboard our sailboat Sea-Renity.

I had been looking at Lake Marion near Santee, SC, for some time. The lake was named after General Francis Marion, the Revolutionary War hero also known as the Swamp Fox and was created in the late 1930s-early ’40s when the Santee Dam was constructed. This lake is very large, consisting of nearly 450 miles of shoreline, and is rated as one of the top five freshwater fishing lakes in the world. It is very easy to locate.

Interstate 95 crosses over it just a few miles north of its intersection with Interstate 26.

What I had become curious about was the apparent lack of sailing activity there. Not once during my research on sailing clubs or cruising locations in the area had I come across any reference of Lake Marion. So it was in part becauseof this curiosity that Jan and I said what the heck, we’ll add a little adventure, so off we went to see what was there.

The Sea-Renity is a MacGregor 26X motor sailer. One of the main reasons we bought this model was because of its ease to trailer to almost any location and that it has a very shallow draft (only 9 inches without ballast and center board up). Sea-Renity handles very well under sail, and has a 40 hp Yamaha outboard for motoring. There was no real concern that we would not be able to launch unless the lake was completely dry; nonetheless we did contact a local marina. I was advised that the lake’s water level was down a few feet but that it would not affect boating.

After an hour-and-a-half drive, we turned off I-95 onto South Carolina Highway 6 and made our way to Mills Creek Marina and Campground. The Marina is located in a sheltered cove and is owned and operated by the Anderson family (Richard, Diane, Doug, and Matt). It is known as a place that is off the beaten path for fun, food, fishing, and recreation. www.southwindssailing.com

SOUTHEAST COAST SAILING sitting back relaxing, enjoying the occasional fireworks going off and the best company we could have, each other. It was the best New Year’s Eve I can ever remember having.

The old year was now gone, the new just beginning. We had slept well and awoke to a beautiful morning. The weather had called for temperatures in the low to middle 70s with very light wind. As I stuck my head out of the companionway, a flight of geese were streaking across the sky above the misty lake. I called for Jan to come up and take a look.

After breakfast, we decided to pull anchor and head out. There was no wind.

Our plan became one of not rigging the sails unless the wind started to pick up. I cranked the outboard and moved out into the chanWalt sitting on the Brickyard area beach, Sea-Renity anchored offshore. nel. The day markers are quite visible, well marked, and abundant. There would be no problem following them. We motored along the channel for six It is charming, and the people very helpful and friendly. There miles. There were a number of areas where the old timbers stood is gas on the pier, boat slips, a convenience store, as well as a visible. A few bass and pontoon boats were spotted close to them. bar and grill. They do not have a waste flush-out system, No large power or sailboats of any size were seen. dock-side power, water or transient showers. The launching At day marker 64 a beach was seen on the southern edge of ramp was adequate, and there was plenty of room for us to set the lake. The way looked clear. There were a few cypress tree the mast and rig Sea-Renity. The launch fee was $2 and groves nearby, but the approach seemed wide open. Checking overnight parking for my truck and trailer $5. Not bad prices the map it listed this area as the Brickyard. The map also indicatat all. ed no major obstructions other than the water depth became shalI was also able to purchase a map (produced by lower. We turned the Sea-Renity from her westerly course in the Kingfisher) of the lake. The map has a lot of detail about marichannel southward toward the beach. nas, services, fishing, and the channel markers. It also has latJan took over the helm and throttled back as I moved foritude and longitude lines, which I’m not convinced are truly ward to the bow to keep a lookout and to ready the anchor. The accurate, and there are some depth contour lines but mostly beach was approximately three-quarters of a mile from the chanthe depths are indicated by shades of blue. There are also timnel. Jan kept Sea-renity straight on course with a slow, steady ber hazard markers. You will want to always keep those in speed. It looked clear, but after all the warnings we had received, mind. we didn’t want to take any chances, so nice and easy became the In one of the slips I spotted a Catalina 22. Well, at least name of the game. We were about to find out if the MacGregor there is one other sailor here, I thought. No matter, Sea-Renity could float in less than a foot of water. At about 200 feet from the was drawing a lot of attention. We were told that she was beach I could see the bottom sand. Jan placed the engine into neuquite a large boat to be putting into the lake. The information tral. The approach became a crawl; the forward motion came to a we were getting was that there are not many large boats on stop at which time I dropped the anchor into a foot and a half of Lake Marion and very few sailboats. We were told that the water. Unreal! We can put Sea-Renity right up on the beach! lake was full of submerged trees, which had not been cut Even though the air temperature was now in the middle 70s, down at the time the lake had been created. Some they said the water was cold. I stepped off the side of Sea-Renity into about are exposed and can be seen, but most are just under the surmid calf deep water. I picked up the anchor and reset it closer to face, standing there ready to rip the bottom out of your boat. the beach. I returned to the boat to get Gracie, our six-month-old This was not sounding good. We were advised to stay within puppy. Where we go, she goes. I think Gracie was glad to be back the channel markers for safety until we hit the lake’s most on dry land. Soon afterwards Jan waded ashore, bringing the western end. There the water is really deep. camera, drinks, and a towel.

After launching, we went under power out to the main What a way to start off a new year! We explored the beach for channel to just look around. In the distance we spotted some a while, looking at animal tracks, collecting small pieces of driftof the timber we had been warned about. It was starting to get wood and shells. I was amazed when I spotted what appeared to dark and hazy. Our next discovery was that the channel markbe a bald eagle fly overhead. I’ve seen hundreds in Alaska, but I ers were not lighted. It would be easy in darkness or fog to never expected to see one in South Carolina. Large white cranes wander outside the channel and end up being impaled. That also dotted the cypress groves not far from us. We stayed for a was not the way I wished to finish 2004. Jan and I decided to while just taking it all in, but before we knew it, it was time to pull turn around and make for the safety of Mill Creek Cove. anchor and head back.

We dropped anchor and settled in for the evening. There I pushed Sea-Renity back into deeper water and climbed was only five hours left in 2004, so we prepared dinner, kicked aboard. As we were returning to Mill Creek Landing, Jan spotted back in the cockpit and spent some time talking and reflecting water foul feeding. She pointed it out to me and commented that on the past year, and the year to come. A lot had happened, I retired, we had moved from Alaska to Georgia, and we had See SOUTHEAST COAST SAILING continued on page 74 bought Sea-Renity. Here it was New Year’s Eve, and we were Local News For Southern Sailors

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EASTERN FLORIDA COAST

Jacksonville

Daytona

Upcoming Events Calendar News for Sailors Regional Sailing & Cruising Racing Calendar Race Report

Eastern Florida February Weather WATER TEMPERATURE Daytona Beach - 59° Jacksonville Beach - 56° GULFSTREAM CURRENT 2.5 knots AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Daytona Beach 49° lo - 71° hi Jacksonville Beach 48° lo - 65° hi For Real Time East Florida Coast Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/ Florida.shtml

UPCOMING EVENTS & NEWS Port Canaveral Locks Closed Jan. 10 - March 17

N

avigation locks between the Banana River – Barge Canal and Port Canaveral will be closed for repair and upgrade between Jan. 10 and March 17. During this time, sailors may enter the Atlantic from the Intracoastal Waterway either through Ponce Inlet at New Smyrna Beach or Fort Pierce Inlet. Sebastian Inlet is a possible entry point

1

Melbourne

February Prevailing Winds See page 81 for Windrose legend

south of Cape Canaveral. Bridge height, however, may exclude many cruising class sailboats because it is about 36 feet, depending on tide height and wave activity.

Port Canaveral Dredging Completed

D

uring the fall, dredging at Port Canaveral occurred in several phases. The initial phase was to remove sediment from the ocean entry channel to depths required by ships. Subsequently, the U.S. Navy and the port authority contracted for smaller dredging jobs in berths and inside port areas. These were completed in December 2004. Water depths were not a risk for recreational craft, but the presence of dredges adds complexity to traversing the port for all vessels. Dredging is now complete. (But note that Canaveral Locks will still be closed for maintenance unrelated to the dredging projects.)

Performance Sail and Sport Now Offering Quantum Sails

P

erformance Sail and Sport in Melbourne is now offering Quantum Sails which will be handled through Quantum Sails Sarasota. Performance Sail and Sport is a full service, small boat, sailing center offering new and consignment boats, new gear, boat rentals, layaks, storage, sail and canvas repair, lessons and more. For information call (321) 253-3737.

Titusville Marina Park : Hangin’ In There

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ll Florida goverments face pressure to privatize public property for redevelopment. Some of the fiercest pressure successfully resisted occurred in Titusville, FL. Both condominium developers and private boatyards have SOUTHWINDS is looking for someone to send us stories, news, events and racing information and reports from Northeast Florida.

Contact editor@southwindssailing.com

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www.southwindssailing.com

EASTERN FLORIDA COAST

South of Garden Avenue, a condo-associated marina dominates the view. Photo by Roy Laughlin.

approached the city with proposals to convert publicly owned waterfront to private ownership. Players in this drama include the voters, who in 2000 passed a recreational facility bond issue, among other projects, to improve the boat ramps and increase parking adjacent to them on Titusville’s waterfront. The referendum included specific appropriations to build Little League fields at one end of Marina Park adjacent to a private boatyard that wanted to expand into the park. In that contest, bats trumped boats.

Both the city and county decided to follow the expressed will of the voters and use the funds to keep the property public and modify the park and marina as originally approved by the supporters of the bond issue.

Now, Nelson’s Marina, a private marina that shares about a third of the basin that includes the Titusville city marina and boat ramps, is under contract to be sold to a real estate company. The company filed plans with Titusville to build condominiums on the upland property adjacent to the boat slips. The development company has not provided definitive information regarding its plans for the in-water marina, however. Many, including the city’s redevelopment agency, fear it will not remain a public facility, and that would significantly reduce waterfront boat storage. In response, the redevelopment agency considered a plan to convert part of the ball field area to dry boat storage. Again, bats trumped boats. Both the city council and the development agency concluded that the voters sent a clear message in favor of placing Little League fields in Marina Park through bond referendum approval. The city and its redevelopment agency are now seeking a plan to have private interests adjacent to the parks provide public boat storage.

Some readers may feel this story illustrates only more loss of convenient and affordable waterway access for boaters. In fact, for Brevard County, it is one of a few success stories of preserving boater access. Both Little League and boaters have their desired use of public property. All of this part of Titusville’s original public waterfront remains public in face of considerable effort to privatize during the past five years.

to the Safe Harbor Boys’ Home, a Jacksonville-based home for troubled youngsters that uses boating skills and maintenance training to teach kids values that will help them in life.

For more information and to sign-up for the event, contact Race Director Don Gilbert at gilbdc@695online.com, or call him at (904) 591-0999. Race Chairman Bob McClemens can also be contacted at (904) 230-2840. The entry form can also be downloaded on the Web site at www.nfccsail.com.

Race Calendar FEBRUARY – CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA 4-6 National Wayfarer Regatta. Lake Eustis Yacht Club 4-6 Flying Scott Regatta, Lake Eustis Yacht Club 5 First Saturday, Indian River Catamaran Association Sebastian Inlet 5 Frostbite Series #3, Rudder Club, Jacksonville 6 Small Boat Racing, 1 p.m. Melbourne Yacht Club 12-13 Hagar the Horrible Regatta, (Saturday: Distance Race; Sunday, fun regatta), mKelly Park, Merritt Island, Fleet 45 Space Coast Cats 12-13 Cruise to West Coast, Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club 12 Race 1 East Coast Sailing Association 13 Winter Series # 3, Indian River Yacht Club, Cocoa 13 Spring Rum Race, 2 p.m. Melbourne Yacht Club 19-20 35th Annual George Washington Birthday Regatta 20 Spring Series # 2, Titusville Sailing Club 20 Small Boat Racing, 1:00 p.m., Melbourne Yacht Club 26 Frostbite Series # 4, Rudder Club. Jacksonville 26 Winter Series # 4, Indian River Yacht Club, Cocoa 27 Spring Women’s Series #2, East Coast Racing Assoc 27 Spring Rum Race, 2:00 p.m., Melbourne Yacht Club 28 Winter Series 4,5,6, Lake Monroe Sailing Association, Sanford

RACING New Offshore Race to Begin between Georgia and Florida

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he North Florida Cruising Club of Jacksonville has created a new 100-mile offshore race that will go from St. Marys, GA, to St. Augustine, FL. Called the First Coast Offshore Challenge, it will be a four-day event running from April 20-23. It will be a three-leg event with a party and trophy presentation at the end of each leg. The organizers are expecting at least 100 sailors to compete in the event. Profits will go

Local News For Southern Sailors

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EASTERN FLORIDA COAST MARCH – CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA 5 River City Regatta (one design), Rudder Club, Jacksonville 6 River City Regatta (one design & Cruisers), Rudder Club, Jacksonville 5-6 Trans-Monroe Regatta. Lake Monroe Sailing Assoc.

5 First Saturday, Indian River Catamaran Association, Sebastian Inlet 6 Winter Series #5, Indian River Yacht Club.

6 Small Boat Racing, 1:00 p.m. Melbourne Yacht Club 9 - 10 Zenda U C Scow Clinic, Lake Eustis Yacht Club 11-12 C Scow Midwinter National Regatta, Lake Eustis YC 13 Spring Series #3, Titusville Sailing Club 13 Spring Rum Race, Melbourne Yacht Club 15 - 16 Zenda U MC Scow Clinic, Lake Eustis Yacht Club 17 - 19 MC Scow Midwinter National Regatta. Lake Eustis YC 19 Spring RR #2, East Coast Sailing Association 20 Winter Series 7,8,9, Lake Monroe Sailing Assoc. Sanford 20 Spring Women’s #3, East Coast Racing Association FEBRUARY – CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA 20 Small Boat Racingm 1:00 p.m. Melbourne Yacht Club 26 Winter Series #6m Indian River Yacht Club.

27 Spring Rum Racem 2:00 p.m. Melbourne Yacht Club FEBRUARY – NORTHEAST FLORIDA 5-6 One-Design Epping Forest YC, www.efyc.com, Inter Scholastic 420 5 One Design. Rudder Club, www.rudderclub.com, Frostbite Series #3 12 St. John’s Regatta Spring Series #1 Florida YC. www.floridayachtclub.org 19 Spring River Race Spring Series #2, North Florida Cruising Club, www.nfccsail.com 26 One Design. Rudder Club, www.rudderclub.com Frostbite Series #4 MARCH – NORTHEAST FLORIDA 5 One-Design, Rudder Club. www.rudderclub.com

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River City Regatta River City Regatta Spring Series #3, Rudder Club www.rudderclub.com One Design & PHRF DuPont Cup Regatta Spring Series #4 Epping Forest YC. www.efyc.com One-Design. Navy Jax YC www.njyc.org, Charlie Strathman Memorial Regatta One-Design, Florida YC. www.floridayachtclub.org.

Orange Peel Regatta

RACE REPORT West Coast Scot Fleet Invades Chilly Jax, Rudder Club, Dec. 4-5

By Lainie Pardey, Sarasota Sailing Squadron

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he Rudder Club of Jacksonville hosted the third regatta in the Florida State Flying Scot Championship Series on Dec. 4-5 in the guise of their annual Gator Bowl regatta.

Thanks to the organizers and committee volunteers for a great job in trying conditions.

Their lovely little club is still recovering visibly from damage incurred by Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Most of the members’ energies are focused on re-building their pier, of which almost nothing but the pilings was left after the two hurricanes chewed it up. However, the clubhouse is still cozy and welcoming, especially that nice warm fireplace, and the gourmet beef stew created by fleet member Donna Mohr that fed us all Saturday night and Sunday after racing was stupendous. Charlie and Nancy Fowler, our intrepid district coordinators from Miami, supplied traditional mimosas on Sunday morning to set the mellow tone for the racing that the Flying Scot fleet is renowned for.

As we launched our fleet of 17 Scots, by far the largest fleet in attendance for the event, it was decidedly cool and hazy. Winds were light on Saturday, topping out at about six knots, shifting through over 80 degrees at times. Positions changed dramatically in the course of each race. We also rediscovered the joys of sailing in current, as the water does move along that stretch of the beautiful St. John’s River.

Sunday was cooler than Saturday, with sailors showing up in winter hats and foulies. There was less wind with even more shifts on Sunday, making life more difficult for our intrepid race committee. But we did get to divest ourselves of all that clothing as the sun warmed us up. This IS Florida, after all!

The two Freds, Strammer Jr. and Sr., sailed a consistent regatta to lead the west coast contingent to the top five placings. Marshall and Lainie Pardey, sailing by far the oldest boat in the fleet (#400 built in 1962) scraped out a second in a tiebreaker with Ron Pletsch and Stick McCord. Bob Lieb and Chuck Tanner also won a tiebreaker for fourth over Mike Douglas with son Alex as crew. The Strammers are from Venice but sail their Scot out of the Sarasota Sailing Squadron as do the Pardeys, Pletsch and Lieb/Tanner. Mike and Alex Douglas sail out of Davis Island Yacht Club.

Results (place, boat name or number, helm, total points.): 1, American Dream, Fred Strammer, 5; 2, Patchwork Princess, Marshall Pardey, 8; 3, Sidewalk Express, Ronald Pletsch, 8; 4, Pain Management, Bob Lieb, 16; 5, Stealth, Mike Douglas, 16; 6, 3635, Dave Strickland, 23; 7, Two Bears, Charlie Fowler, 26; 8, Sam Mariah, Daren Hoffman, 32; 9, Margaritaville, Larry Whipple, 37; 10, 5502, Donna Mohr, 38; 11, Blue Nose, George Picco, 39; 12, 5104, Mike Sherlock, 46; 13, Animal House, Don Midgett, 51; 14, Scot’s Scot, Relle Lyman, 51; 15, Gundy, Warren Keene, 62; 16, Celtic Mist, Chuck Smith, 73; 17, 3550, Chuck Youngerman, 82.

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SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SAILING Upcoming Events Calendar News for Sailors Southeastern Florida February Weather Racing Calendar WATER TEMPERATURE Miami - 73 Race Report Stuart - 55° GULFSTREAM CURRENT 2.5 knots AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Miami Beach - 63° lo - 73° hi Stuart - 55° lo - 75° hi For Real Time East Florida Coast Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/ Florida.shtml

UPCOMING EVENTS & NEWS Hillsboro Lighthouse Tours. Feb. 5. The Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society has been granted permission by the Coast Guard to conduct tours of the historic Hillsboro Lighthouse 2-4 times a year. (954) 942-2102 info@hillsborolighthouse.org. Admission: Restrictions apply.

Mardi Gras Fiesta Tropicale. Feb. 4-6, downtown Hollywood, Federal Highway and Hollywood Boulevard (954) 926-3377 or (954) 921-3400. www.fiestatropicale.com.

Thirty-six hours of live music on three stages in Young Circle Park with New Orleans-style music and food festival. Free.

Miami Boat Show and Strictly Sail Miami. Feb. 17-21.

Strictly Sail is at the Miamarina at Bayside in Miami. www.strictlysail.com.

MARCH Carnaval Miami, March 8. For two weeks, the city of Miami transforms itself into the city of Carnaval. Held annually, dates to be announced, throughout the greater Miami area.

(305) 644-8888. www.carnavalmiami.com. Admission: Many events free; tickets for Noche de Carnaval (March 5) $8-25 through Ticketmaster.

Palm Beach Boat Show March 17-20. Intracoastal Waterway and convention center. www.showmanagement.com.

27th Annual Dania Marine Flea Market. March 31-April 3, Dania Jai Alai Fronton, (954) 920-7877, (800) 275-2260 Fax: (954) -925-1033. dmfm@albehrendt.com. Over 900 vendor spaces, free parking, food courts. Friday amd Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission Thursday — $12, Friday, Saturday, Sunday — $10 Children under 12 free.

Hurricane Havoc on the Intracoastal

By Jody L. Alu

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on’t be surprised if you’re cruising the Intracoastal near Vero Beach and notice all those folks with their interest focused on the channel floor. The Florida Inland Navigation District has been given $3-million by the federal government Local News For Southern Sailors

February Prevailing Winds See page 81 for Windrose legend

West Palm Beach

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Fort Lauderdale Miami

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for a study of changes in the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway caused from the 2004 hurricane season. About $50,000 has been earmarked for the study, with the remainder going to dredge any areas where silt or sand build-ups occurred.

It’s been reported that noticeable amounts of silt have been swept out of the waterway, increasing the depths of the channel up to six feet in some areas in Vero Beach. The Jupiter and St. Lucie inlets plus a few further north have also been studied. The Sebastian and Ft. Pierce inlets have not been included. The director of the navigation district, David Roach, has asked area boaters to contact him with any visible contour changes or other dramatic alterations they’ve noticed since the hurricanes.

The agency can be contacted at (561) 627-3386 or by email at flnavdist@aicw.org. The results of the study are expected in a few weeks.

Sailing Singles Mingle

By Jody L. Alu

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id you Yahoo? Has LoveCompass left you going in circles? eHarmony found you singing the blues? Now there’s an easy and fun way to meet your mate. Shake-a-Leg Miami, which operates in conjunction with the City of Miami Parks and Recreation, offers adult singles the opportunity to meet other singles while they learn to sail together.

Learn basic sailing Saturdays in January — 8, 15, 22, 29 — from 9:30 a.m. till 1:30 p.m. The class cost is $200 for the month and includes boat dynamics and handling, basic safe-boating skills, reading the weather and environment, and tacking, jibing and sail trimming.

Intermediate sailing classes continue in February — 5, 12, 19, and 26 — from 9:30 a.m. till 1:30 p.m. and include advance sail trim, anchoring, navigation, day and night sailing, preparing for emergencies, and introduction to racing.

The February program costs $150. At $300, the organization offers a $50 savings if singles sign up for both classes.

A certified training center for US Sailing, Shake-A-Leg Miami, Inc. was created in 1990 and is open to the public.

Providing a universally accessible water sports facility for education and recreation, its emphasis is on persons with disabilities, youth, and families.

The singles classes will be held at 2600 South Bayshore Drive in Coconut Grove. For information or to register for classes, call (305) 858-5550 or www.shakealegmiami.org.

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SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST race of the BBYRA Series #1 regattas for PHRF & ARC classes. Start time 1130 hrs. Open to all boats with a PHRF certificate. www.miamiyachtclub.net

Sailing for Life

By Jody L. Alu

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e know that Shaq (does he need a last name?) was the Grand Marshal of Fort Lauderdale’s 2004 Winterfest Boat Parade. Popular aquatic artist Carey Chen served as commodore. The Flying Wallendas performed balancing feats aboard the Swap Shop Circus barge. Several Florida Marlins players and, of course, Karen Mitchell all appeared in this year’s Seminole Hard Rock Casino’s Rock ‘N Roll Fantasea extravaganza.

You did recognize all those names, right? If you said yes to all but Karen, you need to rewind to our August issue.

Karen is a competitive sailor from Deerfield Beach. Her Winterfest entry – SailingForLife.

Karen Mitchell is a quadriplegic. She broke her neck in a diving accident at age 19. In 1994 she discovered sailing.

In 2001 it helped her battle bladder cancer as she continued competing between treatments. Karen’s drive comes from inside. Her training came from Shake-a-Leg Miami.

Her goal is to participate in the 2008 Paralympics in China. To compete at this level, Karen and her team, “Sailing for Life – A Survivor’s Dream,” will need to raise half a million dollars. Karen is a remarkable woman with a remarkable story. Please go to www.SailingForLife.org to find out what you can do to help Karen reach it.

RACING Racing Calendar To have your race, regatta, or club races listed, please contact editor@southwindssailing.com by the 10th of the month. Races listed should be open to anyone.

FEBRUARY 2-5 Etchells Mid Winters – Jaguar Cup Series. BBYC. www.expage.com/BiscayneBay Third and final part of the Annual Jaguar Cup Series.

4-11 Pineapple Cup. LYC. www.lwyc.org 5-6 Commodore Rasco Snipe Regatta. CGSC. www.cgsc.org 12 BBYRA One Design #2. BBYC – Second race of the BBYRA Series #1 regattas for one-design registered classes. Start time 1130 hrs. www.expage.com/BiscayneBay 13 BBYRA PHRF #2. CGSC – Second race of the BBYRA Series #1 regattas. For registered PHRF & ARC classes. Start time 1130 hrs. www.cgsc.org 12 - 13 Masters Regatta – Stars. CRYC Annual regatta brings the best in Star Class. www.coralreefyachtclub.org 19 Nielsen, Virgin & Hughes Cup Womens Regatta.

CRYC. www.coralreefyachtclub.org 23 - 26 J22 Mid Winters. Shake-A-Leg. www.bbyra.net 26 BBYRA One Design #3. MYC Annual Regatta.

Third race of the BBYRA Series #1 regattas. Start time 1130 hrs. Open to all one-design boats. www.miamiyachtclub.net 27 BBYRA PHRF #3. MYC Annual Regatta. – Third 56

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Acura Miami Race Week March 10-13

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remier Racing, which runs the annual week of racing in Key West—North America’s top sailboat racing event— is this March bringing Acura Miami Race Week 2005, the rebirth of the SORC. There will be four days of ocean racing with two divisions, and three day of Biscayne Bay racing in one division. www.Premiere-Racing.com.

Gulfstream Sailing Club To Hold 14th Annual Regatta March 5

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he Gulfstream Sailing Club will hold its 14th Annual Regatta in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on March 5. The Marine Industries Association of South Florida will sponsor the Regatta.

The annual event draws sailboat racers and other sail enthusiasts from all over South Florida. The event will include ocean races off the Fort Lauderdale shoreline and will kick off with a skippers meeting on March 4 at 1830 hrs at the Swimming Hall of Fame. Races will be held Saturday March 5 in the following classes: PHRF, ARC, IRC, One Design, Cruising (Gunkhole) and Multi-hull.

Entry fee is $75 per boat with discounts to US Sailing members. Dockage is available for out-of-town participants on a first come, first serve basis. The after-race festivities and award presentation will be held at the Swimming Hall of Fame on Saturday evening, March 5, with food, music, dancing and raffles. Please visit www.gulfstreamregatta.org for all details and registration.

The Gulfstream Sailing Club was established in 1957 and with its current membership of over 250 active members is the most active sailing club in Broward County, FL. The club, which meets the second Tuesday of the month at Shooters Restaurant on the ICW in Fort Lauderdale, has the following fleets: Ocean Racing, Cruising, Sunfish, Youth and Adult Learn to Sail, as well as a very active social calendar.

Additional membership information can be obtained by contacting the membership committee at (954) 583-3783.

The Gulfstream Sailing Club Web site can be visited at www.GulfstreamSailingClub.org.

RACE REPORT 2005 Orange Bowl Regatta, Dec. 27-30, Biscayne Bay, FL

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aige Railey discarded a third-place finish and kept eight firsts and a second to score a four-point win over Kyle Rogachenko in the 112-boat Laser Radial class at the Orange Bowl at the Coral Reef YC in Miami.

Oliver Riihiluoma from Bermuda was the top Opti in a www.southwindssailing.com

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST 210-boat class. Arantza Gumucio from Santiago, Chile, took second place – one point ahead of Sean Moynahan. Adam Roberts and Marla Menninger from San Diego YC won the 95-boat 420 class, and the California YC’s Christopher Wenner scored an impressive 10-point win in the 43-boat Laser class.

Results (Place, skipper, total point) Complete results: www.coralreefyachtclub.com/OB04R/2004obresultsoverall.htm

Laser: 1. Christopher Wenner, 18; 2. Christopher Enger, 28; 3. Matt Sterett, 43; Laser radial: 1. Paige Railey, 10; 2. Kyle Rogachenko, 14; 3. Mitch Hall, 22; Laser 4.7: 1. Gabriel Ramos, 17; 2. Adrian Hernandez, 19; 3. Jorge Hernandez, 21; Club 420: 1. Adam Roberts & Marla Menninger, 15; 2. Brian Kamilar & Simon Sanders, 19; 3. Charlie Buckingham & Chase Ayres, 35; Optimist fleet overall: 1. Oliver Riihiluoma, 20; 2. Arantza Gumucio, 26; 3. Sean Moynahan, 27; Optimist green fleet: 1. Michael Coles, 16; 2. Kelsey Durham, 17; 3.

Cameron Russell, 31.

Head ‘em Up & Move ‘em Out: Liveaboard Dockage Slowly Disappears in Fort Lauderdale

By Jody L. Alu

A dozen unrecoverable liveaboard docks on a Fort Lauderdale canal. Photo by Jody Alu.

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his big beautiful blue expanse of water that covers twothirds of the earth’s surface doesn’t seem to be big enough for the dirt dwellers and the water rats here in Fort Lauderdale to get along on. The flight of the baby-boomers into South Florida has been going on for some time now with flourishing construction a sure sign of this population explosion. And as the private homes and individual apartment buildings come crumbling down, the loss of liveaboard dock space disappears, too.

Properties on the Isles that sold for $400,000 just five years ago are now being sold for three and four times that as speculators and private owners alike are cashing in on their investments or getting out due to huge tax increases on even unimproved property. The lavish condominiums that are being built in their stead also have docks – which buyers may purchase after they purchase their unit. No longer will living aboard be allowed on the boats docked there. Yet the majority of these docks now sit empty. What a waste of space! What a waste of revenue!

Are they attempting to rid the city of the unproductive free-spirited liveaboards? Let’s see, unproductive…my husband is a 20+ year veteran of local law enforcement and still on the job. My neighbor manages a title office. Another neighbor worked for the aviation industry for 20+ years

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SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST before recently retiring; dent of the area he knew both Another is a dental hygienist, types of properties were good another a legal secretary, a investments. Now, that coming retired investment banker, a from an investor…hmm, kind computer programmer, a DEA of makes you wonder what agent, two IRS employees with their management was thinkover 40 years between them… ing when they started this camand the list could go on till the paign to drive us out since they magazine runs out of space. will still be having transients Free-spirited…oh yeah, as all of Docked megayachts, liveaboards, work and pleasure boats allow living in the units. Boat owners those same unproductive good navigation of a Fort Lauderdale canal. Photo by Jody Alu. at least own their homes. I only workers get up at say 5 a.m. or work second or third shifts, know of one sailboat that is rented out - and that is to the or drive 60+ miles round-trip for work (which can calculate son of the owners who live aboard their other sailboat. to a couple of hours each way on our freeways)…not much And that brings me to the newest dilemma we are now about free-spirited when you punch a clock on time over facing. Actually, Joe and I are facing it personally. Seems to and over again. Just like everything else, the times they are us it’s just another way to rid Fort Lauderdale of livea-changing. Gone are the days when many liveaboards had aboards. For years those living aboard have peacefully questionable incomes and too much time on their hands. coexisted on the canals with the homeowners on the isle And as the dock rents just keep going up from property opposite our boats. This winter, for reasons which are spectaxes and other fees the city imposes and the landlords pass ulative but still not clear, the city has elected to institute on…the liveaboards just keep paying. Too bad the city doesselective enforcement on our canal. The property owners on n’t recognize this. our isle have been cited for renting out slips to boats that are So this city now has many docks that are sitting vacant. in violation of a city code. One other time many years ago Why couldn’t these be rented out by the property owners who this issue was broached, but the city said it was frivolous would charge the equivalent in rent to pay any fees and taxes and would not pursue it. What has made them change their the city requires of one renting their abode, whether it is on minds? I hope you stay tuned, and I can let you in on all the land or water? The city has always accused the boaters of not facts next issue – wherever I might be writing them from. paying their share in taxes – so what taxes do apartment It’s hard to imagine losing your home when you actually dwellers pay that we don’t? That has always been one arguown it. But that’s what it will feel like if a hundred or more ment that not only doesn’t make sense, it’s totally absurd. of us have to move away from this isle come spring. So we Hendricks Isle and Isle of Venice are the two islands are like turtles, carrying our homes on our backs. which have allowed liveaboards for a quarter of a century.

Airy homes and tropical apartment buildings once lined the streets of these lovely atolls. They now look like war zones as the wrecking ball knocks out two and three buildings at a time, the bulldozers plow down the lush vegetation, and the backhoes rip out decorative pools and patios. Some properties are rebuilt immediately with cavernous buildings and little openings you sometimes are lucky enough to glimpse someone rushing into. There are no courtyards and swimming pools at these monstrosities for the buyers to enjoy and visit oe Charles, the owner and CEO of marine electronics with each other at, since that would deprive the builders of the manufacturer Charles Industries, is planning to build a precious space just one more unit could be built in. $4-million boatyard in Stuart, FL. It will be targeting boats But many of the buildings do not get built as soon as in the 30-50-foot range and will have dry storage for up to the original structures have been razed. Chain-link fences as 300 boats. He is currently seeking county approval. tall as a man surround properties which have become overThe yard will be called the River Forest Yachting Center grown and a haven for trash. Not only is there no longer and will be off the St. Lucie Canal, connected to the canal by revenue from the boaters at these docks, there is also no reva 700-foot-long channel. enue from the tenants since there is nothing for a tenant to It will also promote itself as a hurricane shelter for rent. What a waste of revenue for everybody! boats, especially since last year’s two hurricanes destroyed I have recently come across an apartment complex conmany marinas in the region. Boaters will be able to pay to verting to a co-op on one of the Isles which currently still reserve a dry slip they can move their boat to when threathave liveaboard docks. They have pumpouts and all the ened by a hurricane. permits required by the city to allow boat residences.

There will also be a 45,000-square-foot air-conditioned However, they are bringing this to an abrupt end. Purchase building for storage of large boats and smaller buildings for of a single bedroom co-op for over a quarter of a million smaller boats and maintenance. dollars(!) entitles you to the right to also purchase a boat Charles was tired of keeping his 56-foot Neptunus dock (for $100,000+) but again, not for living aboard. They Express behind his house in Jupiter, so he and his wife decidtold me they will be eliminating the pumpouts soon. I also ed to look for property and build a marina, so they could keep spoke with someone who bought one of these co-ops solely their boat under cover, protected from the elements. for investment purposes – he will use it strictly as a rental Last spring, Charles donated a 20-foot Catalina unit. He told me he was considering buying a dock with the Freedom Independence sailboat to Shake-A-Leg Miami, a same intent…until I informed him of what management non-profit organization that provides recreational and eduhad told me. He said that would have been the only reason cational activities for the disabled. he would have bought a dock because as a longtime resi-

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Charles Industries CEO to Build Boatyard

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FLORIDA KEYS SAILING

F LORIDA KEYS SAILING Key Largo Cape Sable

Upcoming Events Calendar News for Sailors Regional Sailing & Cuising Racing Calendar Race Report

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2 Marathon Dry Tortugas Key West

Florida Keys February Weather AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Key West 66° lo - 76° hi GULF WATER TEMPERATURES Key West 70° For Real Time eastern Gulf weather, winds and marine forecasts, go to: http://comps.marine.usf.edu

February Prevailing Winds See page 81 for Windrose legend

UPCOMING EVENTS & NEWS RACING CALENDAR Every Saturday – Open House at the Key West Sailing Club. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

FEBRUARY 17-21. Miami Boat Show and Strictly Sail Miami.

Strictly Sail is at the Miamarina at Bayside in Miami. www.strictlysail.com.

26-27 Islamorada. Upper Keys Rotary Gigantic Nautical Flea Market. Food, boating and divingrelated deals. Founder’s Park mile marker #87.

(305) 452-3802

KEY WEST FEBRUARY 6 Key West Sailing Club Smith Shoal Race. Call (305) 292-5993 for more info (Key West Sailing club’s Wednesday Night Series has ended).

11 KWSC Big Boat Smith Shoals Race to the Gulf and back. (305) 292-5993

MARCH 5 Key West. Historic Seaport Music Festival. Food and musical entertainment in the salty backdrop of the old seaport overlooking the harbor. (305) 296-7182 19 Marathon. 23rd Annual Seafood Festival.

Nautical flea market, boat show, vendors and family fun. (305) 743-5417 31 Lobster Season Ends.

The Upper Keys Sailing Club, mile marker 99.5, began its Mark Sorsensen Youth Sailing Program in early December.

This thoughtful program was created to give lower-income youngsters a chance to take part in the club’s sailing activities. To ensure the program’s longevity, donations are accepted and very much appreciated. If you would like to make a contribution to this exciting new program, please contact Jim Signor at (305) 394-4449 or youth@jimsignor.com. www.upperkeyssailingclub.com.

Crusiers Should Watch for Submerged Wrecks in Key West Waters

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ruisers traveling to Key West must tread the anchorage/mooring areas with caution. A handful of partially submerged wrecks is sprinkled throughout the area and cannot be seen at night.

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FLORIDA KEYS SAILING 17 27

Schooner Wharf Wrecker’s Race series #2 at 1 p.m. Captain’s meeting 7 p.m. Feb. 26, at Schooner Wharf. www.schoonerwharf.com.

Schooner Wharf Wrecker’s Race series #3 at 1:00 p.m. Captain’s meeting 7 p.m. March 26, at Schooner Wharf. www.schoonerwharf.com

Upper Keys Sailing Club. www.upperkeyssailingclub.com.

FEBRUARY 6 Oceanside Regatta 12 Commodore’s Regatta PHRF 13 Commodore’s Regatta One Design 26 Mystery Mark Regatta MARCH 1-4 Force 5 Regatta 6 Oceanside Regatta 12 One-Design Regatta, St. Patrick’s Day Party 19-20 Glander Cup

RACE REPORT RACE CORRECTION In last month’s race report on the Steeplechase race that took place in Key Largo, we reported that Lars Guck won the race. Lars was first to finish. Winners on corrected time were David Weir and Bill Roberts.

Key West Sailing Club Holiday Regatta Rumble, Dec. 5

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he sailboats strutted behind the buoys, flexing their sails and sizing each other up while impatiently pawing at the water. In an awkward moment, they were caught off guard by an early start. Drawn to the committee boat’s red signal flag, the racers suddenly wheeled about and charged like bulls. Caught farther away from the starting line, a few confused stragglers hastily scrambled into action. The Holiday Regatta was on. Warm sun, bumpy seas and a brisk 15-knot easterly wind inspired a good turn-out of sails.

Faster than a speeding bullet and probably able to leap over tall buildings as well, Creighton’s big trimaran A-Train was unstoppable. While A-Train’s crew was thrilled to be sailing, they missed the challenges of close competition in the multihull category. Lenny’s crafty cat Conch Pearl, along with Carlos and his Stiletto Da Funk, had both started the race much too late. Da Funk had just experienced an enviably fun time surfing westward for 35 miles, complete with porpoise escorts, to get to the regatta. The monohulls threw their own party. Hoping to catch up to the notorious Class Act, Golden Omen searched up her sleeve for a new trick and flew the chute on the last leg, placing herself in the spinnaker category.

Eu-Bett, manned with top class sailors, pushed her cruiserly anatomy for an impressive chase behind Golden Omen.

In the cruising category, Felicity had immediately staked herself out in the lead. Well-dressed for the occasion, owner David and family were all wearing festive red Santa suits. Moonspinner focused on closing the gap with Felicity and pounced on an opportunity in the downwind run.

While Moonspinner rearranged the pecking order, Phil’s GiGi was bounding up the course like a wet, wild equine.

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GiGi was happy to at least avoid being dead last by playing keep-away with Angel. Somewhere in the middle, the usually single-handed Defiant had handy crewmember Wim Daniels to help give the Morgan O/I a competitive edge.

For a time, Defiant chased after and flirted with another Morgan O/I which just happened to be sailing through the racecourse. Must be a Morgan thing. Also usually singlehanded, Angel and I enjoyed John Alexander’s company. An astute mariner, he could trim two unruly headsails at the same time and was a great sport about being onboard a noncompetitive, slow dancing oldster with a hull the color of a banana. Angel merrily ambled over the finish long after everyone had cleared the stage.

The after-race party saw a satisfied crowd of weary sailors eager to splice the main brace and share a potluck dinner. With a shy grin, Lenny ducked behind the crowd as everyone sang Happy Birthday to him and passed around cake. Meanwhile, Felicity’s youngest crewmembers playfully tied each other in nautical knots, and the race winners were announced.

Results: Multihull: 1. A-Train C. Smith, 2. Conch Pearl L. Carey, DF. Da Funk C. Rojas. Spinnaker: 1. Class Act J. Smittle, 2. Golden Omen E. Gully, 3. EuBett M. Milnes. Cruising: 1. Moonspinner M. Bankester, 2. Felicity D. McMullen, 3. Defiant B. Robinson, 4. GiGi P. Cole, 5. Angel R. Burg

REGIONAL SAILING & CRUISING Cruisers Beware!

One City’s Prejudice and Cruelty Toward Liveaboards Human Family” crowed Key West Mayor Jimmy “One Weekley’s feel-good proclamation. The proclamation

goes on to describe how the city of Key West respects everyone’s differences, is neighborly and has that live-and-let-live attitude. It’s great propaganda for the unsuspecting tourist.

Too bad that in realty it’s not really true. As the saying goes, one’s actions speak louder than words, and Key West’s actions against human beings who live aboard their boats have been loud indeed. In a world that’s hopefully growing more accepting of diversity and personal lifestyle choices, the city of Key West has stepped backwards instead. For those who take long-term cruises within the Keys or drop anchor and rest there between cruises, this is a big deal.

Lately, in Key West’s city meetings, officials voice their desire to eliminate liveaboards. This unproductive, unsavory mindset has been haunting local and visiting boaters for years.

Dec. 15, 2000. A memo to the port directer discusses the plan for Key West’s seaplane basin mooring field. The memo talks of avoiding violence when evicting the area’s anchored boats. The memo concluded with the statement “...and no boat will be closer to commissioner McCoy than Rat Key. I don’t know if we can pull this off, but we will give it a hell of a try!!” Commissioner Merili McCoy lives on the waterfront overlooking the area discussed in the memo. It can be interpreted that wealthy folks on shore do not want their lofty views of the seascape interrupted by boaters. The livewww.southwindssailing.com

FLORIDA KEYS SAILING aboard boaters in the area, who are far less wealthy and voting rights. Yes, you’ve read this correctly. A group of influential, are soon evicted. Do rich people like the law-abiding ordinary American citizens were expelled from McCoys have more civil rights than poor people? It seems the democratic process. They received notices that they now that Key West thinks so. do not meet “residency requirements” and can’t vote in city July 9, 2003. Again, wandering cruisers and liveelections. (They can still vote in federal/county elections.) aboards anchored in the seaplane basin are evicted.

One surprised boater, who’s been voting in the city for over Assistant City Manager John Jones fronts the effort. A few a decade, wrote a letter to the city clerk requesting help in of the evicted people find themselves homeless after losing restoring his voting rights. Nothing happened. their vessels and a safe place to anchor. The city shows no The timing of this move by the city raised many eyeconcern about that particular side effect. Local boaters brows and made Key West into a circus-like laughingstock respond to the insensitive treatment by forming a Mariner’s to the rest of the country. With city elections just a few Rights Committee. weeks away, liveaboards have conveniently been rendered In mid-August, 2003, John Jones published an article in politically powerless and voiceless. Despite this new devela few local papers that triggered a number of angry letters opment, the city still charges these same folks high fees for and complaints from outraged citizens. Among other dinghy dockage and moorings. Even the homeless people things, the article bluntly accuses boaters of damaging sea on the streets of Key West have voting rights. A few brave grass. Jones paints a confusing picture of local boaters by boaters got together, made signs and stood near city hall in saying things like “...a clear way to visualize the problem is a quiet protest. “We Lost Our Voting Rights” was the basic if any one permessage. City son is allowed Manager Julio to anchor or Avael tells the moor in the protesting area, every other boaters that they citizen in the need a permit country has the to do what they same right. If are doing. With this was allowbehavior most ed, hundreds unbecoming of of boats could a city manager, be rafted togetAvael threatens her as you see a petite female in Asian counprotester with tries, and damphysical vioage to the envilence in front of r o n m e n t two unnerved would be horwitnesses. All rendous.” she did was While this left question Avael me scratching about how it’s my head in Liveaboard boaters protest at city hall in Key West. possible to rebewilderment, quire a permit one thing about this disturbing article was clear. Jones goes to exercise one’s Constitutional First Amendment right. on to say, “Boats and boaters of all types will have to be limApparently, he didn’t like to be challenged like that. In the ited.” He says you’ll need “expensive limited permits,” and real world, nobody has power of censorship over the “All boats will have to tie up to a limited number of certiConstitution of the United States, not even Avael. fied moorings for a heavy fee.” Avid boaters cringed after After that, for a time, the city of Key West focused on reading that little ditty. Heavy fee? Expensive limited permore important issues such as schools, affordable housing mits? Apparently, the city of Key West has this urgent need and the homeless situation. Many local liveaboards are the to extract as much money as possible from the boating comworking poor and their presence isn’t noticed much. With munity while stripping its freedoms. Soon, only the rich the bare minimum of possessions, they take up little space will be able to afford to have permission to be on the water. and do not have much impact on the island. They do conPlaying the environmental card, like the sea grass issue, is tribute to the community with their various full-time jobs the most used tactic to sway public opinion in the quest and pay sales and income tax like everyone else. In Key for heavy-handed control over boaters and profiting West, any sort of service is becoming rare as many working from them. class people can’t afford to live there. Soon, there will be no The newly formed Mariner’s Rights Committee begins one to wait on the many tourists and the few wealthy who can a drive encouraging liveaboards to register to vote. A city afford living in Key West. The city exacerbates the situation by election is just months away in November 2003. Boaters its strange treatment toward the liveaboard workforce. want to vote for a new mayoral candidate who will show more concern for their interests and rights. Local liveJune 2004. The city again begins a campaign against boaters aboards just want to be left alone. In September 2003, two and liveaboards. By strategic use of strong negative words, city officials, one of them John Jones, attend a publicly open articles in local papers refer to liveaboards as “squatters” Mariner’s Rights meeting. The officials learned about the who are “illegally anchored.” It’s harder to manipulate publiveaboards’ active voter registration drive. It’s very true lic opinion of something or to step on a person’s civil liberthat in tiny Key West, just a handful of votes can make a difties if more truthful words are used such as human beings ference. Shortly thereafter, all liveaboards at anchor and in See FLORIDA KEYS SAILING continued on page 81 the mooring field are stripped of their previously enjoyed Local News For Southern Sailors

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NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING

LOUSIANA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TEXAS

Gulfport New Orleans

Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas

Pensacola

FLORIDA

NORTHERN GULF

1

2

Northern Gulf February Weather

Upcoming Events Calendar News for Sailors Regional Sailing & Cruising Racing Calendar Race Report

Mobile

WATER TEMPERATURE - 58° AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Pensacola, FL 45° lo - 64° hi Gulfport, MS 45° lo - 64° hi For Northern Gulf Weather go to: www.csc.noaa.gov/coos/

February Prevailing Winds See page 81 for Windrose legend

UPCOMING EVENTS & NEWS US Sailing Advanced Race Management Seminar, Birmingham Boat Show.

Fort Walton Beach, Feb. 26-27 Feb. 2-6. Jefferson Civic Center, Birmingham, AL. www.birminghamboatshow.com.

By Kim Kaminski

New Orleans Boat Show.

Feb 16-20. Lousiana Superdome. Enjoy water sports, contests, food and prizes. Wed.-Fri. 5-10 p.m. Sat. 11-10 p.m.

Sun 11-6 p.m. Adults $8. 6-12 $3. 5 and under free. Discover Boating, Seminars, Try Scuba Tour. www.neworleansboatshow.com.

T

Mobile Boat Show.

Feb. 17-20. Mobile Convention Center, Mobile, AL. www.gulfcoastshows.com/mobile2.htm.

Mount Gay Rum Speaker Series. F Feb. 19. Racing Rules 2005-8 with Dave Perry. Co-sponsored

by US Sailing. Houston Yacht Club. bybaldridge@aol.com.

Bob Dean (left) and Joy Kaminski (right) discuss the damages caused by Hurricane Ivan at the Pensacola Yacht Club. Dredging, re-sinking of pilings and construction of the dock slips are some of the activities that will be going on in several locations. Photo by Kim Kaminski 62

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he Fort Walton Yacht Club will be hosting an Advanced Race Management Seminar and test February 26-27 at its clubhouse facility at 180 Ferry Road N.E. in Fort Walton Beach, FL, beginning at 8:00 a.m. This seminar is designed for people who have some race committee experience; however, newcomers are also welcome.

Race committee objectives, competition formats, notice of race, sailing instructions, race committee jobs, equipment and race day preparations are just some of the items to be covered during this training opportunity. The principal instructor for the seminar is Jim Tichenor, a US Sailing national race officer and senior judge. Jim is also the chairman of the US Sailing Race Management Committee.

The workshop fee is $65, which includes continental breakfasts, lunches and all workshop materials. At the seminar you will need your own copy of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), and you will be supplied with a copy of the latest version of the Join the Race Committee Team. The seminar study questions re available on the US Sailing Web site www.ussailing.org/racemgt/Race_Officer_Prog/Documen ts/RMStudy-ADV.pdf Please bring completed study questions to the seminar. For further information contact John Morrow at rushj29@bellsouth.net or (850) 872-1242.

Biloxi Boat & RV Show March 4-6, Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, MS www.gulfcoastshows.com/biloxi2.htm www.southwindssailing.com

NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING

USS Oriskany to Become an Artificial Reef off Pensacola in June

By Kim Kaminski

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he “Mighty O,” otherwise known as the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany, is scheduled to become the largest ship to be intentionally sunk as an artificial barrier reef off the coast of the United States. This 888-foot navy vessel was commissioned into service in 1950 and was the first aircraft carrier to sail around Cape Horn.

During her years of service during the Korean and Vietnam wars, the “Mighty O” was an instrumental asset to our military troops. After 26 years of duty, the Oriskany was decommissioned in 1976. She was sold for scrap in 1995, but the contractor defaulted, and the Navy took possession once again of the “Mighty O.” Over the following years the Oriskany awaited her fate. In 2003, the decision was made to The USS Oriskany, also known as the “Mighty O.” Photo by Kim place the carrier in a new program that recycles Kaminski old ships by sinking the vessels to create artificial reefs off the U.S. coast. For the past year, the Oriskany has by four tugboats to the Port of Pensacola where the vessel been in the media spotlight as several coastal communities will undergo its final preparations before being sunk in June from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia and Florida of 2005. placed their bids for the ship. In the end Pensacola, FL, won Once the final measures have been completed, the the prized vessel, and plans were put into action to begin “Mighty O” will be taken to its final resting place 25 miles the procedure of creating the artificial reef. offshore of the Pensacola coastline. Documentary filmmakThe process began at a facility in Corpus Christi, TX, ers, fishermen and divers from around the world have where the vessel was cleaned and stripped of any environshown great interest in exploring the newest nautical attracmental contaminants. On December 15, the ship was towed tion. The vessel will lie at a depth of 212 feet with the top of

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NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING its superstructure within 60 feet of the surface.

It will be an emotional farewell for the sailors who called the “Mighty O” home during their military ventures at sea, and the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola Naval Air Station will recognize these veterans of the USS Oriskany with a special ceremony the night before the sinking. Other projects involving the USS Oriskany will include televising the sinking of the vessel, as well as plans for future projects such as fishing tournaments, diving expeditions and even a long-distance sailboat race out to the “Mighty O” and back again.

The USS Oriskany will become a haven for plant and marine life and will continue to serve as a valuable asset here along the Gulf Coast.

Dock Status – Gulf Coast Region

By Kim Kaminski

I

t has been four months since Hurricane Ivan crashed into the northern Gulf Coast region. The storm affected areas stretching from Mobile, AL, eastward towards Fort Walton Beach, FL, with severe damage to areas that lie directly in between the two coastal communities.

Recovery efforts have been non-stop, and debris removal is close to 75 percent complete. Many boat owners have received insurance claims on their boats and anxiously plan to repair or replace their vessels. However, there is still one big hurricane damage hurdle yet to overcome… the replacement of area dock facilities. The numerous docks and storage facilities along the coastal areas that were damaged during the storm have yet to be replaced. Clean-up efforts

Progress is being made up and down the Pensacola shorelines following clean-up from Hurricane Ivan. This picture was taken 3 1/2 months after the storm.

Photo by Kim Kaminski. have removed the damaged boats and dock materials that cluttered the area, clearing the way for the construction to begin. And yet, the construction of these new facilities has been slow. The demand for labor, permits, materials and equipment is substantial. Some area facilities have been placed on a construction waiting list and will be looking at close to a one-year waiting period.

The Pensacola Yacht Club is one of the first facilities to begin dock reconstruction, and the members hope to have their docking facilities completed and available within the next month. Some area marina facilities like the Pitt Slip Marina were able to salvage minimal docking areas, which allowed a few of the Ivan survivors a place to secure their boat. All in all, progress is being made!

With the approach of springtime and warmer weather, boating activities will begin to return to the area waterways, and the dock reconstruction will become more noticeable up and down the various coastal communities. New docking facilities will become available just in time for the numerous boat shows and boating events that area sailors eagerly look forward to here along the Gulf Coast.

Hurricane Ivan may slow things down a bit, but he won’t bring us down.

Race Calendar FEBRUARY 2005 12 Sunfish Super Bowl – Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St. Louis, MS 13 CSA Winter #3 – Corinthian Sailing Association – New Orleans, LA 13 Winter 3 & 4 – Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile, AL 19 Winter 5 – Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile, AL See NORTHERN GULFCOAST SAILING continued on page 81 64

February 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindssailing.com

West Florida Sailing Services Directory From Cedar Key to Cape Sable Sailing Services Directory starts as low as $8 a month.

Call (941) 795-8704 or e-mail editor@southwindssailing.com BOAT LETTERING – GRAPHICS

RIGGING SERVICES C SSMR. Inc. 727-823-4800 Complete Rigging Services On-Site Swaging & Splicing Commisssioning Services At Harborage Hi & Dry Dock • Crane Service Fax 727-823-3270 St. Petersburg

SAILBOAT SERVICES AND REPAIRS

Masthead Used Sails………..(800) 783-6953 www.mastheadsailinggear.com Largest Inventory in the South (727) 327-5361 SARASOTA PORPOISE SAILING SERVICES • New and Used Sails • Buy • Sell • Trade • Furling Packages • Discount Sunbrella (941) 758-2822 www.porpoisesailing.com

ELLIE’S SAILING SHOP Clearwater Lifelines, rigging, hardware, repairs Serving small boat sailors Since 1958 Sunfish Boats and Parts...........(727) 442-3281

SAILMAKING, REPAIRING & CLEANING THE SIGN FACTORY FLORIDA BOAT GRAPHICS Screen Printing • T-shirts • Hats (941) 792-4830......thesignfactory2@juno.com

CANVAS & CUSHION SERVICES Banks Sails Tampa See ad in Sailmaking Scuba Clean Yacht Service See ad in Underwater Services

SAILING INSTRUCTION/SCHOOLS

MARINE SURVEYING

Adventure Cruising & Sailing School A sailing school for Women and Couples • ASA • West Florida and Chesapeake www.acss.bz............................(727) 204-8850 FLAGSHIP SAILING/TAMPA BAY AREA ASA Sailing Instruction – Basic thru Advanced Instructor Certification • Sailing Club Bareboat & Captained Charters www.flagshipsailing.com.......(727) 942-8958 YACHTING VACATIONS SW FLORIDA Live-aboard/non-live-aboard ASA instruction www.yachtingvacations.com (800) 447-0080

UNDERWATER SERVICES

Towne Yacht Surveys Member ABYC, SAMS John M. Towne, AMS Jim Towne (813) 645-4896 townesurvey@gbronline.com Local News For Southern Sailors

ADVANCED SAILS (727) 896-7245 Quality Cruising Sails & Service Closest Sailmaker to St. Petersburg Marinas Keith Donaldson......................(727) 896-7245 Scuba Clean Yacht Service See ad in Underwater Services

Scuba Clean Yacht Service • Underwater Services • Canvas Shop • Sail Cleaning & Repair • Detailing • Mechanical • Electrical • Electronics Serving Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota, Pasco & Manatee Counties.

(727) 327-2628 SOUTHWINDS

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WEST FLORIDA COAST Cedar Key

Upcoming Events Calendar News for Sailors Regional Sailing & Cruising Racing Calendar Race Report

West Florida February Weather St. Petersburg

AVERAGE TEMPERATURES St. Petersburg 55° lo - 71° hi Naples 54° lo - 76° hi GULF WATER TEMPERATURES St. Petersburg 64° Naples 66° For Real Time eastern Gulf weather, winds and marine forecasts, go to: http://comps.marine.usf.edu

Tampa

1

February Prevailing Winds See page 81 for Windrose legend

Fort Myers Naples

2

Cape Sable Key West

UPCOMING EVENTS & NEWS

Safety Harbor Seafood Festival — March 2-3. www.cityofsafetyharbor.com.

Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs. Each Tuesday night, 7:30-9:30 p.m., 1300 Beach Dr. SE, St. Petersburg.

Presented by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 72. Call (727) 823-3753 for information on this and other Safe Boating programs. Completion satisfies the state of Florida boater safety education requirements. The continuous rotating program has 11 lessons. One lesson is presented each Tuesday night. Lessons include: Which Boat For You, Equipment, Trailering, Lines and Knots, Boat Handling, Signs, Weather, Rules, Introduction to Navigation, Inland Boating and Radio.

Florida Cruising with Claiborne Young. March 3. 12 p.m.

Sarasota Power Squadron, 2814 Hyde Park, Sarasota.

Claiborne Young’s cruising guides have helped boaters in eastern and western Florida, coastal South Carolina, Georgia, and the northern Gulf Coast to ply the waters in those areas, along with detailed and pertinent information about what boaters can expect to find in those areas. He combines local history and folklore with in-depth information about navigation and anchorages along with information about marinas and restaurants. For additional information, contact Joyce Fisher, (941) 756-9255.

Central Florida Boat Show. Feb. 10-13. Orange County Convention Center. Orlando. (407) 298-1167. www.boatshowsflorida.com.

Fort Myers Spring Boat Show. March 10-13. Lee Civic Center. (954) 570-7785. www.swfmia.com.

Miami Boat Show and Strictly Sail Miami. Feb. 17-21.

Strictly Sail is at the Miamarina at Bayside in Miami. www.strictlysail.com.

Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival and Parade. March 1213. Lynn Hall Memorial Park Blessing of the shrimp fleet. Lots of shrimp and other foods. Entertainment. (239) 463-6986.

Sunfish Racing Clinic. Feb. 19-20. Carol McDowell has organized a two-day Sunfish racing clinic taught by Eduardo Cordero (multi-time world champion winner) in Sarasota on Feb. 19-20. It will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. on Sunday. Lunches provided. Contact Carol for fees and reservations as space is limited.

Sailorinparadise@aol.com

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Sail Easy Windsurfing Clinic. March 12-14. North Beach Windsurfing School. Tampa Bay. Improve skills at all levels—designed for those people who need some fundamentals or would like to learn new skills, like water starts, harness, tacks and jibes. Fundamentals like sail balance, sheeting in with your body weight, weight transfer can greatly assist you in making windsurfing easier. The participation

www.southwindssailing.com

WEST FLORIDA SAILING is limited to six people so everyone receives quality one-onone instruction. Three-day clinic. Contact Britt Viehman for fees and other information. www.nbwindsurfing.com. (727) 656-6569 US Sailing Level 1 (Small Boat) Instructor Courses. March 17-20 (four days) at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center. May 14-15 and May 21-22 (two consecutive weekends) at Sarasota Sailing Squadron. “K” Bradley and Jabbo Gordon. The 40-hour course costs $300, but there is a $20 discount for early registration. The discount deadlines are Feb. 17 and Apr. 14, respectively. US Sailing membership is required, and the minimum age is 16. To register and read a rundown on the course, go to www.ussailing.org and follow the yellow brick road through training. The course numbers are 19823 for Clearwater and 19526 for Sarasota.

If you have any questions or know anyone who would be interested in taking either course, please call “K” at (727) 784-0420 or Jabbo at (941) 3515845.

Maritime Museum at Cortez. Currently the museum is located in the Cortez Community Center, but will eventually be housed in the 1912 Cortez schoolhouse, which is being restored.

The Museum director is Roger Allen. Bob Pitt was recently named the museum’s education and volunteer coordinator. When the old Fogarty boatworks building was donated to the town of Cortez in 1993, Bob Pitt was asked to go through the shop to put together an inventory of the items found and organize the tools and machinery that had been left in place since the closing of the boatworks in 1944.

Bob has been involved in boatbuilding most of his life and comes from a Florida family that has been involved with boats and the sea for some time. He is a well-known rigger

March 20 — First Day of Spring

Florida Gulf Coast Maritime Museum at Cortez gets Under Way The 1912 Cortez schoolhouse, which will eventually house the Florida Gulf Coast Maritime Museum in Cortez.

L

ast year local government and civic organizations worked together to establish the Florida Gulf Coast

Local News For Southern Sailors

for sailboats in the Tampa Bay area.

The mission statement of the museum states that it “is a

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING partnership of Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Courts, Florida Institute of Salt Water Heritage, and the Cortez Village Historical Society. Its mission is to gather, preserve and interpret Florida Gulf Coast Maritime Heritage, with special emphasis on the historic fishing village of Cortez as a traditional maritime community within the greater context of Florida’s Maritime history, maritime history in general, and the natural world.”

The museum will collect photos, tools, watercraft, instruments, models, art, and other historical materials relative to the marine industry. There will also be a library that will collect books, logs, plans, photos and other archival material relevant to local maritime history. There will also be hands-on workshops on skills, plus classes, field programs, interpretive programs, exhibitions and publications. There will be an emphasis on Florida fishing and the maritime history of Cortez.

For more information, call Roger Allen at (941) 708-4935.

Manatee County Considers Free Public Dock Space for Boaters

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he Manatee Chamber of Commerce is working on establishing free public dock space in Bradenton and Palmetto. Currently there is no public dock space for boaters to use in the county so that they can go ashore and visit downtown areas. The Chamber of Commerce is working at joining up with the two waterfront cities to build docks along the river to enable boaters to visit local restaurants, shops, and other events. They are hoping this will help revitalize both communities’ downtown areas.

The city of Stuart, FL, built public dock space on their waterfront two years ago, and the project was so successful that they are expanding it. Grants helped pay for those docks, and the Manatee Chamber is considering that as a possible source of funding.

The docks would be free and accommodate 15-20 slips.

Last summer, the Chamber formed a task force to study the idea and hope to move forward with the project in 2005.

RACING Racing Calendar For the legend, addresses, and contacts for the sponsoring sailing association of the races listed below, go to the 20042005 West Florida Race Calendar and Yacht Club Directory at SOUTHWINDS’ Web site, www.southwindssailing.com.

Contact editor@southwindssailing.com to receive a hard copy.

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www.southwindssailing.com

WEST FLORIDA SAILING Changes in the 2004-5 Race Calendar and Yacht Club Directory (For changes contact editor@southwindssailing.com.

Changes will also be posted on the calendar on the Web site also. www.southwindssailing.com)

5–6 5–9 11 – 13 11 – 13

Race Calendar Changes

12 12 – 13

In January we had the Gasparilla Regatta at Tampa Sailing Squadron listed on two dates. It is incorrectly listed on Feb. 5.

The correct date is Feb 12-13, as listed in the calendar below.

The Suncoast PHRF Boat of the Year (BOTY) Series as printed has been confirmed to be correct.

12 – 13

The races and regattas listed here are open to those who want to sail. No club membership is required, although a West Florida PHRF rating is most likely required.

13 14 – 16 14 – 16 17 – 20 17 – 21

To have your race, regatta, or club races listed, please contact editor@southwindssailing.com by the 5th of the month (call if later).

Races listed should be open to anyone. Since races are sometimes canceled, postponed or locations changed, it is advisable to contact the organization beforehand.

FEBRUARY 4–5 LESC National Wayfarer Regatta 5 DIYC/SPYC Meet In The Middle Race, J-24 5 BYC Around Egmont North or South.

PHRF Reverse Handicap.

SBPHRF BOTY

Local News For Southern Sailors

19 – 20 19 – 20 19 – 20 19 – 20 23 – 27 24 – 27 26

Flying Scot Regatta International Optimist Dinghy Clinic SPYC Valentine’s Day Regatta and SE Team Race. Optimist Dinghy, 420 Venue TBD 505 Midwinter Championship. www.int505.org SBYA/SSS Cherry Pie Race TSS/TBYRA Gasparilla, women’s PHRF. BYRA BOTY USFSC Mendelblatt Team Race Invitational @ USF CortezYC Annual St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Race SPYC Sonar Midwinter Championship DIYC J-29 Midwinter Regatta SPYC SAILING WORLD NOOD. (National Offshore One Design).

Keelboats 20 – 30 feet Strictly Sail Miami Boat Show, Miamarina. www.sailamerica.com CYC Laser Master Midwinters LESC George Washington Birthday Regatta. All-class, dinghies, cats, windsurfers TBCS President’s Day Regatta CMCS Edison Gulf Regatta. SWFPHRF BOTY series DIYC J-24 Midwinters CYC Laser Midwinters East BYC River Run. PHRF to Twin Dolphins and back LESC SPYC

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING 26 – 27 TSS 110 Class Midwinter Regatta 26 – 27 USFSC Old South Regatta @ U of Florida 27 – March 5 SPYC Thistle Midwinters MARCH 05 4–6 SSS 5 SPSA 5 5–6 5–6 5–6 5–6 5–6 6 6–8 9 – 10 10 – 12 11 – 13 12 – 13

12 – 13 15 – 16 17 – 19 17 – 20 18 – 20 18 – 20 19 19 – 20 19 – 20 24 – 27 26 – 27 27 31

Sunfish US Masters Championship Rich Gahn Memorial Race.

TBYRA BOTY SSS Pot of Gold Race DIYC Fireball Midwinters SPYC Optimist Dinghy Team Racing PGSC Conquistador Cup. SWFPHRF & CHPHRF BOTY series ECKERD Eckerd Intersectional USFSC USF Women’s Intersectional SPSA Regatta. TBYRA Women’s CYC Snipe Midwinter Championship LESC C-Scow Clinic SSS Sunfish Midwinter Championship LESC C-Scow Nationals DIYC One Design and MORC Regatta PHRF One Designs and Midget Ocean Racing J/24 Fleet 86 Championship MIYC Spring Regatta SWFPHRF BOTY series LESC MC Scow Clinic LESC MC Scow Midwinters SPYC Lightning Midwinter Championship DBC Ensign Class Midwinter Championship GYC A- Class and F16HP Catamaran Regatta TITYC Michelob Cup Suncoast WFPHRF BOTY, Racing in the Gulf SSS One-Design Regatta Dinghies and small keelboats TBCS St. Patty’s Day Regatta SPYC Disabled/Open Midwinters Sonar, 2.4 Meter, Martin 16 BYC Bradenton to SPYC and return.

SBPHRF BOTY series CortezYC Annual Easter Egg Fun Race Last Day of lobster season

Club Racing—Open to Everyone Wanting to Race The races listed here are open to those who want to sail.

Please send us your race schedule for publishing to editor@southwindssailing.com.

Bradenton YC. Sunday afternoons. PHRF racing on

Manatee River. For info call Larry Lecuyer, (941) 729-5401 Venice Sailing Squadron. Saturdays. First Saturday of each month, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet. www.venice-sailing-squadron.org 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

RACING NEWS Final Schedule Set for 37th Annual Regata del Sol al Sol

T

his Year the schedule has been compacted to a shorter time period so more people can attend more events. For more information, go to the Web site, www.regatadelsolalso.com, or Mike Boom, e-mail: mike.boom@verizon.net, or Larry Wissing, e-mail: Lwissing1@cs.com.

Deadline for Entries without additional $100 penalty — March 28, Monday.

Absolute Entry Deadline; No entries will be accepted after this date — April 14, Thursday.

April 28, Thursday 0900 - 1700 Seminars and Presentations 1300 - 1700 Registration SPYC 1700 - 1730 Skippers meeting 1800 Party April 29, Friday 0830 Warning for first start in vicinity of St. Petersburg Municipal Pier.

May 2 - 3, Monday & Tuesday — Boats Arriving at Isla Mujeres May 4, Wednesday 1200 Skipper’s Cup at Casa de las Rocas 1200 Crew Beach Party at Buhos Restaurant at Maria del Mar 1900 Reception by the Mayor of Isla Mujeres in the City Hall; Entertainment by city at Main Square.

May 5, Thursday (Cinco de Mayo) 0800 Skipper’s Meeting for Regata Amigo’s, Buhos Restaurant at Maria del Mar 1030 Start of Regata de los Amigos 1900 Basketball Game May 6, Friday Awards

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING dinner, “Taste of the Island,” for Regata del Sol al Sol and Regata de los Amigos Race. Time to be announced.

May 7, Saturday Farewell to commodores, skippers and guests.

2004 Finalists for Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards Announced — West Florida Sailors Paige Railey and Ed Baird Make the List

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he final list of nominees—nine women and 13 men— who will be considered for the 2004 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards was announced in December by US Sailing.

ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ed Baird from St. Petersburg and U.S. Jr. Women’s Singlehanded Champion Paige Railey from Clearwater, both made the list.

The nominees will be reviewed by a panel of noted sailing journalists, who together will discuss the merits of each nominee and vote by secret ballot. The winners will be announced in January and honored during a luncheon at the

Local News For Southern Sailors

New York Yacht Club in New York City, on February 25, where they will be presented with Rolex timepieces. Former “multi-time” winners of these awards include Ed Adams, Betsy Alison, Dave Curtis, Dennis Conner, Courtenay Dey, JJ Isler, John Kostecki, Ken Read and Ted Turner.

For additional information on the accomplishments of each nominee, go to www.ussailing.org/awards/role

RACE REPORT Day Sailers begin Winter Race Season at Clearwater Community Sailing Center

By George Regenauer

D

ay Sailer owners at CCSC began their organized racing events on January 8. A windward/leeward course was set by an energetic but novice volunteer race committee.

Setting aside a few minor course adjustment problems, the three-race event, according to most participants, was fun and challenging.

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING Day Sailors race at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center.

Photo by George Regenauer.

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING Sunny skies, 81-degree temperatures and 10-knot winds from the southeast provided a picture-perfect day for racing. Turns around the weather mark offered an array of color when the spinnakers opened in the downwind leg.

Captains on the first, second and third place boats were Stew Smith, Mark Rother and Dave Kelly, respectively. The competition was serious, fast paced and close. Less than three minutes separated the trio after the totals were tabulated for all three races.

Club races are scheduled twice a month during the winter season, and more participants with Day Sailor class boats are welcome to join in the race events. Non CCSC members are encouraged to join in on the fun and racing action. CCSC wants to expand their racing program and generate more interest in the sport. Additional race classes would be added to race day events if enough interested sailing enthusiasts wanted to enter their Lasers, Sunfish, Jys, etc. in a fun, competitive atmosphere.

For more information on CCSC’s racing program and other opportunities, visit their website at www.clearwatercommunitysailing.org or call the center on Sand Key Tuesday through Sunday at (727) 517-7776.

BUSINESS BRIEFS Fourwinds Enterprises Assumes Everfair’s Fourwinds Wind Generator Production, Sales, and Service

F

or 22 years Everfair Enterprises has been producing one of the best and well-known wind generators on the market for cruising sailors. Renowned for providing alternative energy solutions with the finest products, Everfair has one of the best reputations in the industry. Fourwinds Enterprises of Punta Gorda, FL, has taken over the manufacturing and support of these high quality generators.

Fourwinds Enterprises, with President Paul Marcuzzo at the helm, plans to continue the same high-quality products and services. His strong technical background and over 20 years of customer support experience will insure a smooth transition with the new company. He has been involved with marine electronics and boating for over 30 years. Mr. Marcuzzo is quoted as saying, “I am very excited about our products, and I am looking forward to adding additional products and services for the cruising community and other customers of alternative energy.”

Mr. Marcuzzo learned electronics in the U.S. Navy and has a B.S. in engineering with a minor in electrical engineering. His professional experience includes customer support manager in the Northeastern United States for a computer manufacturer, technical support manager for a major software company providing support worldwide, and most recently his own marine electronics services company.

When not at work, Paul and his family are on their 41-foot Lagoon catamaran Speranza cruising the Gulf Coast of Florida.

Fourwinds Enterprises will continue to manufacture and improve the Fourwinds II and Red Baron brushless wind generators. Support, service, and reconditioning are offered for both current and past models. They continually seek new and more efficient alternative energy products to provide complete solutions for cruisers worldwide and homes in remote locations. (941) 575-4404. (941) 575-4080. www.fourwinds-ii.com

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SOUTHEAST COAST SAILING continued from page 51 was where the fish are. In her early teens she had spent many hours deep sea fishing with her father in Florida.

Upon returning to Mill Creek Landing we met Paul Youmans, the owner of the Catalina 22. Paul and his wife have a camping lot at Mill Creek and had come down to check out Sea-Renity after being told that a large sailboat had just pulled in. He really liked the room we had inside and the fact that we could get into such shallow water. Paul was super. He not only helped us load Sea-Renity back onto the trailer but also assisted in securing the rigging. Paul told me that there is only about a half a dozen sailing craft on Lake Marion, the largest being a 30-foot Catalina, which is at the far west side of the lake. He was beside himself to find someone putting in a sailboat. He hopes we will return. We assured him we would, but the next time, we would like to have at least a week or so to really explore a greater part of the lake.

Our only regret about our little New Year adventure was that there was no wind. Paul has assured me that most times there is.

All I will say for now is that caution should be used when sailing this lake, but from what I did see, and from what I have been told, it is doable in smaller shallow-draft craft. We are looking forward to returning and discovering more.

KATLYNN continued from page 82 know that you’re the first crewmember that’s been aboard Katlynn since my wife passed away four years ago.”

I listened on in silence. “I sometimes think she loved this old boat more than me. When she died, I had it hauled out and dry docked for a couple of years. Decided to sell her, so she’s been refitted with some new sails, halyards, brass trimmings and bronze turnbuckles. Couple of other things,too,that I could afford.”

I wanted to ask how you could let go of a part of your life like that, but the words wouldn’t surface. “This is my last sail with her. The new owner is taking delivery in Louisiana That’s where I’m headed now.” His eyes gave away his heartache, and I could see the tears begin to form.

He turned and reached into an old sail bag and produced a tattered old book with a faded red ribbon wrapped and tied securely around it.

“This was my wife’s diary. She has all of her father’s and her adventures aboard this boat written in it. There are stories in here…” His voice broke and I waited. “I’ve spent days of my life reading and re-reading every word of every page. This boat was my wife, and this is the hardest thing I have ever done.”

We sat in silence for a while, listening to the wind through the sails, taking in the warmth of the sun and smelling the salt air. I watched as the skipper sat lost in a cherished time gone by. Katlynn sailed on as if guided by her own free spirit. Seeing my destination shortly ahead, I finally broke the silence asking if the picture on the mast was indeed his wife. “There’s one on the starboard side, too.

She loved the wind in her face. I made sure it always blew in that direction.”

Louisiana man, take care of Katlynn. She’s more loved than you’ll ever know.

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“In August, you began running an advertisement to sell my diesel engine in your classifieds section. I am pleased to advise you that I have a buyer as a result of the advertisement. Please discontinue it. FYI, I have also had inquiries from West Africa and France as a result of the Internet ad you made available. I’m MAJOR impressed!! Thank you very much.”

Capt C.T., St. Petersburg, FL

CLASSIFIED ADS — 3 MONTHS FOR $25 1. Classified ads for boats are $25 for a threemonth ad for up to 30 words. Check or Credit cards accepted.

2. Add $25 for a horizontal photo (vertical photos $5 a month more), ($50 for a three-month ad for boat with photo).

3. Free ads for boats under $500 (sail and dinghys only), all gear under $500, and windsurfing equipment. Add $10 a month for a horizontal photo.

4. Boats and gear must be for sale by the owner to qualify for the above. No businesses.(see #10) 5. E-mail ads to editor@southwindssailing.com

(including photos). Then mail a check or call with credit card. Add $5 typing charge for ads mailed in or faxed in (including free ads).

6. You can also go online and pay by Paypal and type the ad into the message area or e-mail it separately to editor. Photo must be sent separately.

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8. Ads (and renewing ads) must be received by the 10th of the month.

9. The last month your ad runs will be in parentheses, e.g., (10/04) is October, 2004.

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SOUTHWINDS will only be responsible financially for mistakes for a one issue period. Please check your ad. Let us know any mistakes by the 10th of the month.

BOATS & DINGHIES Wanted 30-foot Gemini, Catalac, or similar catamaran. (239) 728- 9813. (3/05)

BOATS & DINGHIES Force 5, two sails, new rudder, asking $499 obo. Please call (786) 208-2193 or e-mail is ddava002@fiu.edu (2/05)

DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS

Advertise your business in a display ad in the classifieds section. Sold by the column inch. 2 inch minimum.

(3 column inches is 1/8 page) MONTHLY COST ADS PER INCH

12 6 3 1

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Snipe, 15’ 1989 Phoenix. Great shape/ garage stored. 2 sets of sails (newer North).

Fully equipped and race ready. Trailer. $2100.

(727) 596-2809. (3/05)

1966 Pearson Ariel 26, 8,000 bucks and groceries takes you to the Bahamas - my trip cut short by 3rd degree burn. Includes brand-new Apprentice Shop Grand Banks dory.

Wylie39@frontiernet.net

1990 Hunter 27' walk-through transom, wheel, 10 hp diesel, autohelm, roller furling, drifter sail, new bimini & sail cover, solar generator, 3' 6" wing bulb keel, dinghy. $19,900 (352) 5967192.l abet@tampabay.rr.com (2/05)

22ft 1984 S-2. Dacron Main, VIB Genoa, Spinnaker. Honda 8HP 4-stroke with less than 12 hours on motor. Sleeps 4. 420-pound dagger board – 16” up, 5’ down. (941) 7291442. $9500. frugalmacdougal@aol.com.

Ideal 18 (1996) keelboat in pristine condition; dry - sailed winters, garaged summers.

Spinnaker equipped. Fast, stable racer or day sailer. Trailer suitable for ramp or crane launching. $8,500. (941) 639-9672, fgdarrell@comcast.net (2/05)

Local News For Southern Sailors

Melges 24, 1994. Just Awlgripped/like new.

Two sets of sails (newer North). Yamaha outboard. Fully equipped and race ready. Custom trailer. $21,000. (727) 596-2809. (3/05)

1977 Kells Outrider 27'7". Whatever sailing you want to do she can do. Liveaboard. $0 Down Owner Financing or cash. $12,000 Financed or $9,000 Cash. (757) 831-5336.

For more info: www.kellsyacht.com

1974 Northstar 1000, 30’, two mains, four headsails, spinnaker, bristol condition.

Inboard engine. Topsides repainted 2003.

Interior upgrades. Auto pilot, VHF, depthfinder, GPS and more. Overall first place Daytona to Charleston Race. Good heavy weather racer/cruiser. South Carolina. $18,900. (843) 884-1729. (2/05) SOUTHWINDS February 2005 75

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1979 J/30 racer/cruiser, freshwater since new, 9 sails, Yanmar, feathering prop, Harken roller furler, full interior, sleep 6, VHF, full instruments, more. BEST OFFER NOW! Bob ph. (704) 895-5317, cell (630) 248-8096 or rconrad99@mindspring.com (2/05)

1981 Erickson 30. Well Kept. Sails Great. 4’ draft, new bottom paint 10/04, refrigeration, solar panels, autopilot, full sunshade, dinghy, dock available, much more. $19,995 Consider trade 26’ travel trailer or 5th wheel. Hernando Beach, Fl, (352) 232-0453, e-mail augustine@peoplepc.com. (3/05)

1978 Baba 30. Most sturdy and elegant of 30’ blue-water cruisers. Superior quality throughout. Single-handers package, 27 hp Yanmar, Schaefer roller furlings, Autohelm 4000, much more. $48,000. (239)-560-6078 or lyttraveler@yahoo.com (2/05)

1996 Cheetah 30 sport boat. 87 PHRF. Carbon lift keel and bow pole. 3 spinakers. 2 mains, 2 jibs. 15+ knots on reach. KVH, Knotmeter, depthmeter. Trailer. $26,500.

(904) 880-6503. (2/05)

1977 Erickson 31’ (Independence 31’) Refurbished 2001, new 22hp freshwater cooled diesel Kubota, Bimini, main & 2 furling jibs, 2 danforths, 25lb plow, canvas covers.

Much more. $32,000. (239) 652-5804. (2/05)

1989 O’Day 322, 4’2" draft, AC, roller furling, Yanmar, cruise spinnaker, wind gen, H20 maker, dinghy & OB, cruise ready, turn key, $48,900. (727) 514-5700. For complete info. www.captainbobdaly.com (2/05) 32’ Westsail (1977) Perkins 4-107 diesel, Aires vane, Harken rollerfurling, S-L windlass, 35CQR, 33Bruce, coldplate refrigeration, air conditioning, Garmin chartplotter, dodger & Bimini. Exceptional condition, little used. $60,000. Call (954) 560-3919. (2/05)

1981 Herreshoff 31’ Cat ketch. Bellatrix is hull #1 of this cold-molded classic. She is a lovingly cared for 2 owner boat. Major refit in 2002 included new keel/skeg bolts, floors, custom fully battened sails and interior cushions. $29,900 Call (727) 647-7972. (3/05) Prout 31 catamaran, 1980, lots of new gear including; autopilot, mapping GPS, running rigging, paint, bimini, refrigeration, solar panels, batteries, ground tackle, etc. Newer Honda 15. $39,500. (541) 980-8242, sandpiper@pocketmail.com. Marathon. (3/05)

1976 Buccaneer 32’ Center Cockpit. Gill Garden design. Florida Cruiser with 48” draft.

Like new sails, roller furling, stove, micro, refrig. Autopilot. Steve (941) 224-6521 or captnSE@netzero.com.

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FREE-New Hunter 33 or 36. SailTime will pay mortgage and all expenses for 5 years – you put 20% down–own 100%.1-866-Sailtime.

33 Endeavour Sloop, Yanmar diesel, roller furling jib, autohelm, VHF, GPS, sailing dinghy and 3hp engine. Solar battery charger. $42,500. Jack (772) 335-0180. (3/05)

Peterson 34' Mark II Tall Version, ’82 by Island Yachts, One of the finest racer-cruiser designs ever produced. Wheel, cushions, roller-furling system, high/ low boom position and complete sail inventory (>10 bags) for cruising and club racing with this very fast, well-kept yacht.

Electronics update ’03. Phone (504) 734-7331 or e-mail biosyntpi@msn.com,35K (2/05)

1980 Union Cutter 36 World Cruiser just completed 3 yr. documented keel-up renovation and 1000 mile sea trial. The best material and craftsmanship throughout. All new stainless standing rigging, electronics, plumbing and custom everything. 45' LOA, 12 ton, full keel, double-ended cruiser equipped with all new toys. Beautiful inside and out. Brokers welcome. Laying Key West. Over $200K invested. Sacrifice at $129k. E-mail: mtnhackr@aol.com (702) 275-8752. (2/05)

1970 38ft Morgan Sloop, main, three headsails, plus spinnaker, 5 inches insulation in icebox; roller furling, new transmission. $29,900. details at home.nc.rr.com/islanddreaming located Minnesott Beach, NC (919) 467-669. (3/05)

1976 CT41 Cutter-rigged ketch. Come to Louisiana to see La Mouette, beautiful, seaworthy double-handed cruiser. Many improvements. Offered by liveaboard owners of 20 years. $79,500. (985) 781-5625 Details www.ct41ketchforsale.com. (3/05)1988

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 $114,000 Call Major Carter or visit www.Cortezyachts.com (2/05) 50’ Airex foam fiber trimaran. See at Bob and Annies, Jan 10-14, Pine Island, FL, or call (530) 647-2757 prior to 12/28/2004 or email randk@d-web.com. Will return from Bahamas 4/18/05. For details log onto www.

Sailnet.com, ID #12820, $62,000. (2/05)

1989 Irwin 38’, fabulous boat, incredible value, 44hp turbo Yanmar, North Sail main, bottom ‘04, MaxProp, inflatable with OB, much more. $69,000. Will consider trades.

Located SW Florida. Can deliver. (413) 2812749 (2/05) DISPLAY CLASSIFIED ADS STARTING AT $34/MONTH Local News For Southern Sailors

SEE CLASSIFIED INFO ON PAGE 75 SOUTHWINDS

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C L A S S I F I E D HELP WANTED Nautical 60' Ketch, 1982, Bristol condition maintained by professional skipper (refit yearly), 4 cabin layout plus crew, large family or charter, 125 hp desiel, A/C, Sat phone, $250,000 www.yachtsoutherncomfort.com scomfort@islands.vi Capt Mike (2/05)

BOATS TO CHARTER Florida Keys. 42-foot Catamaran. Captain and Cook. Three double cabins for guests. All inclusive from $2500 per week. (815) 5194007. (2/05)

BOOKS & CHARTS 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

BUSINESS/INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES Construction/Real Estate investment Highlyexperienced, honest, licensed, responsible and reliable contractor seeks investor/partner in new construction/remodeling in west Florida. Perhaps a spec house or purchase to remodel. Contractor is experienced in custom homes of all sizes, including very high-end homes. Only interested in doing interesting and enjoyable projects. (941) 795-8711 FREE – New Hunter 33 or 36. SailTime will pay mortgage and all expenses for 5 years – you put 20% down and own 100% . Call 1866-Sailtime.

A D S MISCELLANEOUS BOAT GEAR NEW & USED\

Massey Yacht Sales has an immediate opening for a Service Department Secretary.

Qualifications include sailboat & powerboat knowledge, organized, computer knowledge, good customer relation skills and attention to detail. Contact Alice or Jim at (941) 723-1610.

SOUTHWINDS is looking for someone to help part time/spare time in running the magazine in all phases. Must be good at writing, grammar, etc. (and please don’t proof this ad).

Must also be comfortable with selling, able to do bookkeeping, computer literate, have (or can get) high-speed Internet access (like DSL), good on the Internet, and other misc. tasks.

You can learn the business here, but experience helpful. Must live in West Florida (living near Bradenton a plus), but almost all work can be done on a computer from home. Fouryear degree required. Must be extremely reliable and responsible and communicate well and easy to get along with, like me. editor@southwindssailing.com.

Yacht Salesperson Wanted. Massey Yacht Sales has sales positions available for professional, successful yacht salespersons for the new Fort Myers dealership location. Massey is one of Florida’s largest dealers for the sale and outfitting of Catalina, Hunter, Caliber and Mainship yachts plus sells a wide range of preowned sail and power yachts. Sales candidates need to be computer literate, self-motivated with a good knowledge of the sail and power industry. Massey offers the best marketing and sales support system with a large lead base for the right candidate. Call Edward Massey for interview appointment. (941) 7231610. (1/05)

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

Looks great. Folds and fits on your boat or inside your car. More info: www.tiralousa.com 60-pound CQR Plow Anchor.

Condition. $450. (941) 953-6240

Good

FOR SALE, Danforth 55 LB breakapart, solid stainless anchor. $150.00. Lewmar locking winch handle. $25.00. (727) 543-1250 Clearwater. (3/05) Nissan 18 hp. outboard. 25” shaft, electric start, remote, 6 amps charging, 100 lbs.

Great kicker for a fast multihull. $450. (561) 278-2570. (2/05)

Advertising Sales Reps wanted in the South for SOUTHWINDS magazine. Must be a good communicator, have a computer, and some experience in selling to call on national advertisers and advertisers in your area. All areas of the South. Part time by commission. To call on national advertisers, you can live almost anywhere for this job. (941) 7958704 or editor@southwindssailing.com .

MARINE ENGINES

Sailtime.com is looking for base operators on the Florida coast. This may suit existing marine business owners who wish to add an additional income stream. Sailtime is a unique business model that requires minimal capital and no staff. Tel. (813) 817-0104 or jtwomey@sailtime.com

CREW AVAILABLE/WANTED Visit SOUTHWINDS “NEW” boat and crew listing service at southwindssailing.com

DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS STARTING AT $34/MONTH

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C L A S S I F I E D 42” Leather-covered Destroyer wheel. 1” shaft. New $755. Yours for $350. (813) 9323720. (3/05) AC/DC Reefer, 22# Bruce Anchor, Anchor Ball, Sospenders, Magma Grills, Mariner 9.9 Mercury Long Shaft 7.5 HP, Folding Bikes, Windsurfers, Metzeler Sailing Rig, Windscoop, Drogues, Lifesling, Type I Life Jackets w/strobe. Nautical Trader. (941) 488-0766. www.nauticaltrader.net

A D S

Honda BF100-ELA, 1984, longshaft, Auxilliary, very low hours, alernator with output for charging batteries. $1000/OBO. 27’ Bayliner Buccaneer hull/deck/rig. Excellent condition/no blisters. No interior. Misc. Gear available. $1500.OBO. (850) 442-6510.

(2/05)

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

NAVIGATION SOFTWARE

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SAILING INSTRUCTION

SAILS & CANVAS

TOWNHOUSES FOR SAIL Townhouse for sale in Durango, Colorado.

Two Bedroom, two bath, with garage, fireplace, deck. In town in woodsy setting. $ 189,900. A great townhouse in one of the greatest places on the planet. (941) 7958711. smorrell1@tampabay.rr.com.

SERVICES FOR SAILORS WINDSURFING GEAR Wanted: Used Prodigy (standard or race), other boards, miscellaneous windsurfing equipment. Steve (941) 795-8704, editor@southwindssailing.com

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Air Duck 79 America’s Generators 79 Anne’s Anchors 35,79 Aqua Graphics 65 Atlantic Sails 40 Banks Sails 65 Beachmaster Photography 77 Beneteau Sailboats BC Beta Marine 20 Bluewater Sailing Supply 15 Boaters Exchange 53 Boatpix.com 75 Bob and Annie’s Boatyard 31 Bo’sun Supplies 16 Bubba Book 36 C&C Yachts 32 Cape Fear Yachts 26 Carson/Beneteau BC Charleston Spars 8 Charleston to Bermuda Race 12 Coast Weather Routing Services 80 Cortez Yacht Brokerage 77 Crow’s Nest Restaurant/Marina Regatta 69 Cruising Direct Sails 28 Defend Cuba Sailors 20 Defender Industries 78 Dockside Radio 16 Dwyer mast 79 Eastern Yachts 17 El Cid Caribe Marina, Mexico 34 E-marine 79 Fleetside Marine Service 78 Flying Scot Sailboats 76 Frigoboat 59 Garhauer Hardware 23 Gasparilla Regatta, Tampa Sailing Squadron 68 Glacier Bay Refrigeration 22 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales 29,75,76 Gulfstream Sailing Club Regatta 13 Hanse Sailboats 77 Hobie Cats/Saltwater Sports 73 Hotwire/Fans and other products 79 Hunter 24,25 Island Marine Products 27 JR Overseas/Moisture Meter 22 JS9000 PHRF Racer 76 Leather Wheel 48 Manton Marine Surveying 65 Massey Yacht Sales 4,11,21,33,41,42,43,44,72,IBC Masthead Enterprises 19,79 Memory Map 79 MG Mayer Yacht Brokerage 63 Mike Shea Maritime Legal Services 46 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau BC National Sail Supply 35 Nautical Trader 73 North Sails 47 Nuclear Sails 15 Ocean-Pro Bluewater Instruction 14 Ocean-Pro Weather Routing Services 79 Performance Sail and Sport 52 Pocket Charts 30 Porpoise Used Sails 79 Quantum Sarasota 3,48,65 Raider Sailboats 77 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke 54 Regata Del Sol Al Sol 10 Rparts Refrigeration 39 Sailboats Florida, Inc. 77 Sailing Services 57 Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage 66,70 Sailtime 5 Saltwater Sports/ Hobie Cats 73 Sarasota Sailing Squadron Midwinters Regatta 18 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program 74 Schurr Sails 64 Scurvy Dog Marine 62 Sea School 27 Sea Tech 46,78 Sea, Air, Land Technolgies 59 Seafarers International Brokerage 45,76 Snug Harbor Yacht Brokerage/Hunter 49 SSMR 72 St. Augustine Sailing School 79 St. Barts/Beneteau BC Suncoast Inflatables 67 Sunrise Sails 65 Tackle Shack 71 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program 66 Tartan Yachts 32 Ullman sails 8 US Spars 15 Weather Wave 39 West Marine 28,IFC Winch Buddy 37 Windcraft Catamarans 14 Yanmar Diesel 78

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NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING continued from page 64 26 – 27

Mardi Gras Regatta – New Orleans Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA MARCH 2005 5 Two Against the Lake – Tammany Yacht Club, Slidell, LA 5 Leukemia Cup – New Orleans and Southern Yacht clubs, New Orleans, LA 11 -12 Leukemia Cup – Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile, AL 12 – 13 Leukemia Cup – New Orleans & Southern Yacht clubs, New Orleans, LA 12 Dogwood Regatta – Fairhope Yacht Club, Fairhope, AL 18 – 20 A-Cat/F16 HP Gulf Coast Champs – Gulfport, FL 19 – 20 Mandevielle Race – Corinthian Sailing Association, New Orleans Yacht Club, Pensacola Yacht Club and Southern Yacht Club – New Orleans, LA

Phaedra Heads to Key West Race Week

By Kim Kaminski

FLORIDA KEYS SAILING continued from page 61

Bob Patroni (at the helm) and his crew on his Evelyn 32 Phaedra prior to a race before Hurricane Ivan came to shore.

Thanks to a monumental repair effort on his boat following the hurricane, Bob will be able to race in the Key West Race Week and defend his 2004 first place title. Photo by Kim Kaminski.

H

urricane Ivan was a nasty storm. One of the casualties from Hurricane Ivan was a beautiful aquamarine-colored Evelyn 32 sailboat named Phaedra owned by Bob Patroni. Over the years, Bob won several first-place titles in sailboat races throughout the South, including a first-place win in last year’s Key West race week.

Phaedra was severely damaged in the hurricane, and thanks to Bob’s effort as a contractor, laborer and determined sailor, he will be attending this year’s Key West event to defend his title in the Evelyn 32 class. Area businesses also contributed to his efforts, such as Steve Stack and Stack Marine, Clyde Patroni at Dolphin Systems, Keith and Chip at the Pensacola Ship Yard, Rick Zern and Zern Rigging, George Gamble at MDS, Int., Neil McMillan at Pensacola Wood Treatment in Atlanta, West Marine, Schurr Sails and, of course, Bob’s diligent sailboat crew.

Thanks to everyone’s hard work Phaedra will take to the waters again and prove that we are a resilient group no matter what Mother Nature throws our way.

Local News For Southern Sailors

and anchored boats. As usual, Assistant City Manager John Jones bluntly accuses boaters of “hurting seagrass” and dumping sewage, yet provides no real scientific evidence.

(During the last mass vessel check, all but one boat, with a head under construction, met legal requirements and used various local pump-out services.) The city threatened to “...get rid of squatters,” and evict all anchored vessels in the seaplane basin. Again, there will be more people driven into homelessness.

Turned off, many cruisers now bypass the once-charming island of Key West and spend their money in friendlier waters. Local liveaboards have nowhere to go. For now, they continue to work within the community as a productively diverse collection of business owners, waiters, waitresses, cooks, cashiers, charter captains, divers, electricians, musicians, artists and, yes, there’s even a locksmith. A number are retired veterans who just want to peacefully enjoy local waters after a lifetime of hard work. These folks want what everyone does, the normal human pursuit and right to life, liberty and happiness. Meanwhile, Jimmy Weekley’s meaningless “One Human Family” slogan can be seen everywhere in Key West, selectively embracing some people while mocking others.

Under the freedom of information act and the Florida Sunshine Law, the Mariner’s Rights Committee collected the research materials used in this article. The individual put in charge of organizing and writing this article requested to remain anonymous due to fear of harassment and threats by certain authorities.

SOUTHWINDS

February 2005

81

Katlynn

By Jim Burkett

O

range, red and yellow streaks of sunlight reflected off the walls as I wrestled with the idea to get out of bed. Eyes closed, I lay listening to the waves pound the beachhead, resonating the sound of the oceans’ heartbeat through the beach house windows. Finally giving in, I placed both feet firmly on the floor, reached over and patted my wife to get up. Hearing only muffled resistance, I knew I had a good hour to spend by myself.

Having taken care of the essentials, I eased out the back door, put on my running shoes and started down the beach for an early jog.

The silhouette in front caught my eye. As I approached closer, I could see her auburn hair pushing to one side from the light breeze blowing in.

The long shadow on the sand outlined her figure, the top of her bathing suit folded in her left hand. Looking down the beach, I watched as her bottom rocked gently with the flow of the tide. She was stunning. I quickened my pace for a closer look.

Running past the stunned girl, I hit the surf lifting my knees as high as I could get them, then swam out until I could no longer reach the bottom.

Stopping within 20 feet, I noted the single figure watching my approach with a cautioned stare. On the transom, the name Katie Ann or possibly Katrina, was barely visible. I called up to ask what she was.

“You know anything about boats?” came the reply. “A little, I can tell she’s a cutter, maybe 30 to 35 feet, double-headsail masthead, probably built around late ‘50s, early ‘60s.” A smile broke across his face, a ladder was produced and an invite was given to come aboard. As my eyes reached deck level, I heard, “She’s a Hendel, built in 1961.”

“Getting ready to run her up the

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coast a couple miles, then back, want to come?” Umm. The wife I thought, better not. “Sure!” I said. I moved over the light-colored mahogany floor timbers to the cabin roof, began unlatching the main sail covering and crept toward the mast port side. Several inches above the gooseneck, underneath the finish, I saw a picture of a beautiful woman staring back at me.

With main and jib up, we started on a close-hauled course, watching the sun rise higher out of the east. The conversation returned back to the boat, and I began to learn of her history. She was designed by Gerd Hendel and built by the Bigelow brothers.

Originally purchased by his wife’s father, he had named her Majestic, and she had been the family’s getaway, cruising from Maine up through Nova Scotia and Canada during the summer months, down the East Coast during winter.

Sometimes her father and the boat would disappear for months. Since her dad worked for the government, she had her beliefs that somehow it was all related, but he would never confirm her suspicions or talk about his trips. When he was home, they would sail together, plotting out the next pas-

sage as soon as they returned. He was very proud of his daughter, Katlynn, and had taught her to sail single-handed by the time she was eleven.

Peering into the companionway, I could see the main saloon, several berths and caught the craftsmanship of the varnished joinerwork as I turned to listen again. His wife had spent more time on boats than land and loved to sail. When they married, she brought him into it kicking and screaming. Over time he had learned to like it, but never as much as she did. When her father passed away, he left the boat to her as part of the estate. With a wind shift, we began to pick up some speed as we eased the sails out and started a beam reach course downwind.

Off to the starboard side we could see a C&C fast approaching with the full intent of racing. With a two-man crew, we knew we were no match, but we would challenge as long as we could. The C&C continued on line to our starboard and was closing the gap faster than I wanted them to. We would hold our own for a little while at least.

Suddenly, with a smooth calculated tack, they cut across our stern, close enough for us to read the logos on their shirts, grabbed our wind and watched as our sails began to luff. It was at that moment we realized they hadn’t wanted to race, but simply get a closer look. After exchanging some details, they pulled away and we tacked around to begin the journey back home.

Asking me to take over the helm, the skipper went below and soon returned with a couple of shot glasses and a bottle of rum. “I want you to See KATLYNN continued on page 74 www.southwindssailing.com