Southwindsjune2006

SOUTHWINDS News & Views for Southern Sailors Hurricane Season 2006 Regata del Sol al Sol The Great Loop

by Catamaran

June 2006 For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS June 2006

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SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS 6

FOR

SOUTHERN SAILORS

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From the Helm: Pumpout Service Goes Under

By Steve Morrell Letters

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Southern Regional Monthly Weather & Water Temperatures

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Bubba Torches the Competition

By Morgan Stinemetz

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Short Tacks: Sailing News and Events Around the South

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Our Waterways: Another Marina Goes Under.

Objections to Onboard Treatment Systems.

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Hurricane Season 2006. Why Prepare Your Boat for a Storm?

By Steve Morrell

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The Great Circle Loop by Catamaran, Part I

By John Kelly

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Morgan Invasion 2006

By Tom Dunn

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PHRF Racing Tips: The Start

By Dave Ellis

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38th Regata del Sol al Sol 2006

By Stephen Evans

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Racing Pages: News & Events, Southern Regional Racing Reports & Race Calendars

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Race of the Lemmings

By Steve Morrell

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Regional Sailing Services Directory Local boat services in your area.

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Alphabetical Index of Advertisers

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Advertisers’ List by Category

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Subscription Form COVER Start of the 38th Annual Regata del Sol al Sol. Photo by Gary Hufford. www.beachmaster.smugmug.com.

Preparing for a storm. Photo by Steve Morrell. Page 32.

The Great Circle Loop. Photo by John Kelly. Page 36.

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

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FROM THE HELM

By Steve Morrell

Pumpout Boat Goes Under No matter how you read this, it is not good.

Last December, David Bergen contacted me about advertising his new business, a privately run pump-out boat in the Tampa Bay area. Both the boat and the business had the same name, The PumpOut Boat. Last week (early May), he called me and said he was going to shut the business down.

I have talked to David several times in the last five months about his business. In the beginning, he told me how many calls he was getting and how quickly word of his business was spreading in Pinellas County (St. Petersburg).

Boaters he approached in marinas wanted him to come by every month and pump out their holding tanks. One charter company had five boats they wanted pumped out regularly.

He was getting an interest from boaters at marinas, yacht clubs, private docks and cruisers passing through the area. He went down to Manatee County and found interest there. He had dreams of expanding throughout the region.

And he had barely scratched the surface of promoting his business.

Then he started getting opposition. One large marina in Pinellas County where he found tremendous interest by both management and boat owners first told him he was welcome, but management asked for more liability insurance. He came back with it, but for some reason they changed their minds. He couldn’t work there. There were other independent contractors working on boats at this marina. He didn’t understand. This particular marina had pump-out service, but you had to move your boat to a dock to use it, unlike many marinas that have their own pumpout boat or pump-out access at each slip—not requiring the boat to move. His boat would fill a major need, but he was told: NO WAY. He went to the city of Gulfport where he found some interest, but the city wouldn’t let him work at the city marina.

He also ran into problems of where to pump out his holding tank. The municipal marina in St. Petersburg welcomed

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him to pump out boats there and allowed him to empty his holding tank at their pump-out station. But at other marinas he was not allowed to, like at the big marina mentioned above. He began to run into resistance everywhere he turned.

David was doing this as a second business, on weekends and when he could get away during the week. He took his dog with him and enjoyed being on the water and meeting other boaters. David came from the San Francisco Bay area where there are several pump-out boats that successfully operate as private businesses. These businesses are allowed to use the pump-out stations at private and government locations to empty their tanks after servicing boat owners. David figured this business would be in great demand here and be very successful. He bought himself a boat and outfitted it with equipment to operate efficiently.

(There are companies in the United States who sell equipment, even entire outfitted boats for pumping out.)

David did not meet one boat owner who did not want his services operating in the area, but he did meet resistance from some local governments and marinas. Our governments, local, county and state, should be putting advertisements in local and national newspapers for pump-out companies to come to this area and offer services. They should be actively encouraging a business like David’s.

Government officials and all marinas and yacht clubs should come together and encourage everyone to promote and support pump-out services to keep our waters clean.

The St. Petersburg municipal marina welcomed David, but does the city know that his business was not allowed in other marinas in the city limits? These marinas should be helping him not hindering him. What are they thinking?

I have a feeling that the public does not know the resistance that government officials and marinas put up to put David Bergen’s pump-out boat out of business.

I am encouraging boat owners to ask their marinas and local governments to support private pump-out companies to operate freely in our waters. Ask the marina manager, your local government officials, write to local newspapers—let’s get the word out and encourage a private pumpout service.

David’s boat is now sitting parked on a trailer on land, ready to go. He could still bring it back into service—it we don’t wait too long.

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News & Views For Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS Media, Inc. P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, Florida 34218-1175 (941) 795-8704 (877) 372-7245 (941) 795-8705 Fax www.southwindsmagazine.co e-mail: editor@southwindsmagazine.com Volume 14 Number 5 June 2006 Copyright 2006, Southwinds Media, Inc. Founded in 1993

Doran Cushing, Publisher 1993-2002

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

Steve Morrell

Lisa Hoogerwerf Knapp Barbara Pierce

Associate Editors southwindsnews@aol.com cruzcrossroads@yahoo.com

Advertising Go to www.southwindsmagazine.com for information about the magazine, distribution and advertising rates.

Steve Morrell editor@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 795-8704 David Curry davidcurry@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 761-0048 Regional Editors CAROLINAS AND GEORGIA waltmcfarlane@aol.com

Walt McFarlane

EAST FLORIDA mhw1@earthlink.net

Roy Laughlin

(912) 429-4197 (321) 690-0137

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA Lisa Hoogerwerf Knapp southwindsnews@aol.com Art Perez

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA RACING miamiyachtracing@bellsouth.net

Production Heather Nicoll

Proofreading Kathy Elliott

(305) 380-0106

Artwork Rebecca Burg angel@artoffshore.com

Contributing Writers Letters from our readers Rebecca Burg Julie Connerley Gene DeNisio Tom Dunn Dave Ellis Jabbo Gordon Charles Husick Gary Jensen Kim Kaminski John Kelly Roy Laughlin Walt McFarlane R. J. Mitchellette Steve Morrell Melanie Neale Art Perez Mike Savino Hone Scunook Capt. Steve Stevens Morgan Stinemetz Dave Thinel Rick White Contributing Photographers/Art Rebecca Burg Michael Carter Tom Dunn Larry Ford Gary Hufford Charles Husick Pete Jernigan Kim Kaminski John Kelly Roy Laughlin Steve Morrell Melanie Neale Dave Thinel Rick White 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.

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LETTERS “Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one.” H.L. Mencken In its continuing endeavor to share its press, SOUTHWINDS invites readers to write in with experiences & opinions.

INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY OR INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY? I can’t resist commenting on your discussion of “intracoastal” versus “intercoastal.” In my previous life as an English teacher, I acquired, as you obviously have, an interest in words and their meaning. I, too, also spent some time doing a Google search on the correct form for the ICW. I think you have it a little wrong. As you explain, “interstate” means between “states” and “intrastate” means within a “state.”

By analogy, “intercoastal” would mean between “coasts,” and “intracoastal” would mean within a “coast.” In effect, the ICW can be seen as an alternative waterway to the Atlantic coast, limited in its definition to that one relationship.

To be “intercoastal” the term would have to reference two coasts. By my lights, then, the Okeechobee canal could be described as an intrastate, intercoastal, waterway.

As I reread what I just wrote, I realize anew why people hate English teachers. Thanks for your patience.

Don de Fano INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY OR INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY? Thanks for a great magazine. In the May ’06 issue, your editorial states the reasons for naming the ICW the Intracoastal Waterway. I believe you “missed the boat” when you made the

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PRINTING OUR LETTERS We have been swamped with letters in recent months and don’t have the space to print them all, and sometimes we print some more recent letters first to maintain a variety of topics. If you have sent a letter recently, please hold on. If we find it acceptable, we will get to it. analogy with the highway system.

In my view, the term “intracoastal’’ implies inside, within the coasts. My analogy follows the college sports. We play intramural sports within the school, but we participate in intercollegiate events between schools.

The Intracoastal Waterway is a waterway inside the coast so boat traffic does not have to go out to open ocean to navigate up and down the coast. Since the Okeechobee canal connects the Atlantic Coast and Gulf Coast waterways, perhaps it should be named the Intercoastal Waterway.

Luis Delgado Titusville, FL Don and Luis, I, too, saw the imperfection of my thinking, but it really does get semantical, which is why I ended it all with: “Because that is its official name.” But you are both right. I only have a problem with the word coast(al) as it is not like a state where you can be inside it. A coast is a line, almost onedimensional, although you can be “on” a coast. If it is between coasts, then is the

Pacific coast the other one? I hope not, as this is stretching it. Intracoastal seems to signify one coast, and intercoastal seems to imply more than one coast. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway implies one coast.

Your suggestion, Luis, that the Okeechobee canal should be called an intercoastal waterway makes sense to me, since it runs between two coasts.

I think maybe someone wasn’t sure what they were thinking when they named it, or perhaps the semantics have evolved.

I think this is only the beginning of this discussion.

Editor MORE “SAFE” ANCHORAGES NEEDED DURING HURRICANES I read with interest the insightful article, “Winds Of Change - Proposed Legislation May Protect Florida Marinas and Boat Owners During Hurricanes,” about marinas by Lisa Knapp in the February issue of Southwinds. Like many such situations, there are many sides to the story. As a boater, I have seen public and private marinas pull all of the excess cash out of their operations with little meaningful reinvestment. Pilings are left to rot, moorings are not properly tended to, dockside bumpers not replaced, just to name a few things.

I have also witnessed the continSee LETTERS continued on page 13

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LETTERS ued closure of small marinas, which were hurricane “safe” areas such as the Miami River, where condo development has dramatically eroded the number of holes one could use to put one’s boat. Equally, many wealthy homeowners are becoming more proactive in petitioning local governments, unilaterally closing off leads to limit the ability of boaters to anchor their boats in safe areas as these boats “spoil” the view from their multimillion-dollar homes. For much of this past season’s storms, I was able to get my boat over to the Coral Gables Waterway, and with the erosion of alternative areas, it is getting increasingly difficult to find a proper place for my boat when the time comes to move it. If you don’t get a spot within a day of the “cone of probability” being broadcast, you may well be out of luck.

With respect to local governments, the new waterfront development plan for the Miami/Coconut Grove area will only serve to limit anchorages and drive up the cost of boating so that only the rich can afford to enjoy the sport in anything larger than an eight-foot pram.

What is needed are abundant safe anchorages, marinas that have made the proper investments in their docks and moorings and, yes, I agree, more responsible boaters. My fear is that Mr. Needleman’s solution will only serve to allow marinas to force people out into unsafe areas or charge high fees for staying at a dock or mooring rather than looking at the overall picture and trying to achieve an omnibus solution.

Thanks for your article and to Lisa, keep up the good reporting.

Roger S. King Florida Roger, I am concerned about the boater/marina relationship. I blame the marinas in some respects and the boatowners in others. Kicking them out is not an answer, as, you are right, there are fewer and fewer places to go. Besides, people don’t have time to move their boats. They are home, protecting their homes and/or their families.

I believe, though, marinas should make it part of their agreement that sailors must secure and prepare their boats properly to minimize the damage that unprepped boats can cause. It is bordering on criminal to leave a sailboat at a dock during a storm with a headsail on, and a marina should be allowed to some way demand that sailors remove all canvas, particularly headsails, during storms. There is no one thing greater I can think of that requires the least amount of work for the greatest amount of return in protecting your boat and your dock during a storm, yet during these last two seasons, I have witnessed hundreds of boats whose owners left their headsails up, apparently not caring about what could happen.

We need to protect these marinas, as they are disappearing for other reasons regularly, money being the main reason. And these owners who leave their headsails up and whose boats get damaged because of this negligenc cause the rates to go up for us all. I surely don’t know of any insurance policy that gets lowered if you take your headsail off during a storm, as it is difficult to enforce or verify. So the rates go up across the board due to others’ negligence.

What we must do to keep all our rates from going through the roof is help ourselves and others to make it easier to protect our boats during these storms. Every out-of-town boatowner should have no canvas/sails up during the hurricane season. Dock lines should be secured and doubled as a regular habit during this time.

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LETTERS We must establish habits and procedures that are already in place or those that are easily put in place for one simple reason: These storms are too fast to prepare boats at the last minute.

Editor CHARLESTON RACE WEEK COVERAGE INCOMPLETE I just picked up the May issue and read Steve Steven’s article about Charleston Race Week and was disappointed to find that, except for a blurb about Defiance, a B32 out of California with Dave Ullman aboard, the article paid recognition to every division which competed except PHRF B—the most competitive PHRF class of racers at the regatta, and the class that the PHRF boat of the week was chosen from. Otherwise, there was not one other word about this division.

You might find it newsworthy that the first- and second-place winners were Florida boats (Primal Scream and Shameless). They triumphed over some tough PHRF sailors in a class which included KWRW (Key West Race Week) winner Temptress and Miami Race Week winner Defiance.

Regards, Wm. Roy Harden, skipper Shameless – J/33 Roy, My apologies that we could not cover that part of the race week. I notified Steve about your comments, and he gave me a list of other parts of the regatta he did not write about and just said he had to draw the line somewhere and not cover everything. Maybe, in the future, we will give more room to Southern boaters like yourself.

All in all, I consider he did a great job of covering the regatta in the 1200-word limit I gave him. Hopefully, we can do better in the future, but much is dependent on advertising each month, as that sets the size of the magazine.

I wish we could, but we just don’t have space to cover everything.

Sounds like you did well in the division on Shameless.

Congratulations.

Editor ARE THE FEW GIVING SAILORS A BAD NAME? Having been on both sides of this issue, I couldn’t help but offer a few comments from a different perspective. My wife and I lived aboard on both sail and power for three years while cruising around looking for a place to call home. We noticed that the majority of anchored boaters were of a type you would like to get to know but, like everything else in life, there are a few who delight in thumbing their collective noses at those who own the land adjacent to their chosen anchorage. You know the type: They are the proud owners of a Gypsy bumboat, which features 10 to 12 “Gerry cans” of varying colors and utility, laundry (?) hanging from every horizontal surface at least three times a week, parties until all hours of the night with a decibel level higher than the cumulative IQ of the owners. On those days when the owners work “to add to the cruising kitty,” they leave the dog, parrot and three small children to amaze and amuse themselves, making whatever noise they can.

Are we all guilty of this kind of behavior? No, but these are the folks who ruin it for everyone else. These are also the folks who write the letters claiming the right to anchor wherever and whenever they choose and are not at all shy about pumping overboard for a couple of months because a holding tank is too expensive to install in the “Leaky Tiki.”

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Now put yourself on the other side of the equation. You have found your nirvana and plunked down several hundred thousand dollars for a land base, and Jungle Jim decides to park his 1961 30-foot whatever in front of your house for the winter season. Want to bet which side of the argument you are going to be on then?

While my bride of 45 years and I still spend several weeks at anchor every year, we try to make sure we are

good neighbors and try not to infringe on the rights of the property owners.

They do have them, you know.

Don Nolen M/V Brigadoon Punta Gorda, FL Don, I understand what you are saying about the few making a bad image for all the others. I know those types of boaters, but—believe me—they are not the ones who write letters about anchoring rights, because they prob-

ably don’t know how to write. I just about never get letters from people who are just living on their boats and going nowhere.

Those letters are generally from people who cruise around a lot, and from my days living at the docks, most of them, if not all, were people that worked for a living and saved their money to be able to go somewhere and cruise around and then come back, work some more and do it again.

Don’t mix them up with people that never leave the dock and are barely squeaking by and not being good neighbors.

But I will defend the rights of those people to live. We all make the world go around, and I can’t totally condemn even the lowest liveaboard bums. Might not like them, but they are there and have some rights. Unfortunately, human nature has prejudice so segments of society see these people and judge the rest of the sailors as the same. But I don’t want to have to tiptoe around this prejudiced group and make sure everyone acts perfectly. I fault those who carry the prejudice, too. We sailors don’t have to be a perfect group. We’re imperfect humans and those who judge us by the actions of the bums aren’t exactly acting nobly. We gotta defend ourselves.

One of the biggest pollution problems we have in Florida is runoff from lawn and garden chemical fertilizers from waterfront homeowners into our waters—along the coast, in the canals and the inland waters.

When these people complain about a boat anchoring out nearby and they are suspicious that the boat is dumping in their backyard waters that they pollute regularly with chemicals, who do they think they are?

Thankfully, we aren’t all like them.

I know we must watch our image, but what about these other people who are prejudiced against us as a group? Is it just because they have money and power that we feel intimidated? They have no more rights than others. This country is more like a cooperative, where no matter how many shares you own, you still only get one vote.

It is not like a corporation, where the more shares you own, the more votes you get, although it’s the latter which seems to run this country. The four people living in the million-dollar home on the waterfront have four votes, and the four people in the grungy, barely floating, old wood boat with ragged sails have four votes. And which of these two groups is really polluting more?

We can understand how these landowners feel, but we don’t have to kiss their…feet.

Editor See LETTERS continued on page 16

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LETTERS

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ARE BOATERS A SAFE TARGET? In reading the illegal ordinance passed by the City of Miami Beach, they cite boaters as having a: “…deleterious effect upon the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City in that they potentially serve as a source for pollution and contamination through discharge of human waste as well as garbage, refuse, debris, oil and other obnoxious products; constitute aesthetic pollution, being unsightly and interfering with views and enjoyment by the public of the beautiful vistas of Biscayne Bay.” I would like to address each issue.

“Being unsightly and interfering with views and enjoyment by the public of the beautiful vistas of Biscayne Bay.” High-rise condos line the beach; that interferes with views of everybody. Miami is nothing more than a pile of concrete and steel. Retired people from other parts of the country purchase condos. They set up house and look out the window to see a boat that may cost more than their condo, and say, “Look, John, a boat is in our water, blocking the view.”

“They potentially serve as a source for pollution and contamination through discharge of human waste as well as garbage, refuse, debris, oil and other obnoxious products; constitute aesthetic pollution…”

It’s a fact that landowners fertilize lawns and gardens along the waterfront. These products contain heavy metals and other pollutants. Unlike sewage, they NEVER go away.

Also pest control pollutes and for the same reasons. One good rain and it runs off into the waters of South Florida.

I have personally run the ICW and the canals of South Florida where there are no anchored boats, and the garbage, refuse, debris, and oil are everywhere. The people along the ICW are pigs.

All the arguments are unfounded and are nothing more than words. As for the safety of the landowners: Well, when was the last time a cruising family did a home invasion? I bet never. It’s also been said that boats anchor 20 feet off the shore. This is unreal because a cruising boat owner would never put his boat in that type of danger. It’s just too close to shore, even if the water was deep enough.

I know what I just said means nothing, and I’m sure it has all been written before and nothing will change. These little town officials think votes, not people. As for the police: Well, it’s easier to climb all over two old retired sailors than to go after the real bad guys. After all, the bad guys fight back and have guns. Oh, yes—and that anchored boat is a safe target.

Charles O’Connor Charles, Amen.

Editor

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Southeastern U.S. Air & Water Temperatures and Gulf Stream Currents – June 2006 Weather Web Sites: Carolinas & Georgia www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Southeast.shtml Florida East Coast www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtml Florida West Coast & Keys http://comps.marine.usf.edu Northern Gulf Coast www.csc.noaa.gov/coos/

NORTHERN GULF COAST Pensacola, FL 72º lo – 89º hi Gulfport, MS 72º lo – 89º hi Water Temperature – 84º

WEST FLORIDA St. Petersburg 74º lo – 89º hi Naples 72º lo – 90º hi Water Temperature St. Petersburg – 84º Naples – 85º

CAROLINAS AND GEORGIA Cape Hatteras, NC 69º lo – 81º hi Savannah, GA 68º lo – 90º hi Water Temperature Cape Hatteras, NC – 73º Savannah Beach, GA – 80º

EAST FLORIDA Daytona Beach – 71º lo – 89º hi Jacksonville Beach – 72º lo – 87º hi Water Temperature Daytona Beach – 80º Jacksonville Beach – 81º Gulfstream Current – 3.5 knots

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA Miami Beach – 77º lo – 86º hi Stuart – 73º lo – 88ºhi Water Temperature Miami Beach – 85º Stuart – 79º Gulfstream Current – 2.7 knots

FLORIDA KEYS Key West 79º lo – 88º hi Water Temperature Key West – 85º Gulfstream Current – 1.5 knots

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

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

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SHORT TACKS Events and News of Interest to Southern Sailors To have your news or event in this section, contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

Send us information by the 5th of the month, possibly later. Contact us if later.

Racing Events For racing schedules, news and events see the racing section.

Boating Safety Courses, St. Petersburg, FL: St Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron. Six-week Public Boating Course begins every Monday. Includes safety information plus basic piloting; charts, course plotting, latitude/longitude and dead reckoning. Call (727) 867-3088. www.boating-stpete.org.

Satisfies Florida’s under age 21 boater requirements.

EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING/SUMMER CAMPS

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 14-4, Jacksonville, FL. One-day Americas Boating Course. Saturdays: June 17, July 22, August 12, Sept 16. Captains Club, 13363 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville FL. Meets Florida state boaters card requirements. Contact John Davis at (904) 821-9692.

Ongoing – Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs. St. Petersburg, FL, Tuesday nights, 7:30-9:30 p.m., 1300 Beach Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 72. Satisfies the Florida boater safety education requirements. Eleven lessons, every Tuesday. Lessons include: which boat for you, equipment, trailering, lines and knots, boat handling, signs, weather, rules, introduction to navigation, inland boating and radio. (727) 823-3753

Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary (Flotilla 11-1) Public Boating Programs: GPS and Chart Reading: June 12 and 15. Americas Boating Course (2 lessons): July 15-16. Clearwater Sailing Center, 1001 Gulf Blvd., Sand Key (Clearwater). Open to adults and youths.

For more information on upcoming education programs or to request a free vessel safety check, call (727) 4698895 or visit http://a0701101.uscgaux.info/.

UPCOMING SOUTHERN EVENTS

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Ruskin , FL, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 75 Offers Home Study Safe Boating Course The Ruskin flotilla each month offers a Boating Safety course in Ruskin, but has found that many boaters do not have the time to attend the courses, so they are now also offering a home study course at $30. Additional family members will be charged $10 each for testing and certificates. Tests will be held bi-monthly. Entry into the course will also allow participants to attend the classes. To apply, call (813) 677-2354.

North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC, www.ncmm-friends.org, maritime@ncmail.net, (252) 7287317. On-going adults sailing programs. Family Sailing. 2-6 people; 2-6 hours. Traditional skiffs or 30” keelboat. $50-$240. Reservations/information: call The Friends’ office (252) 728-1638 Standards Accreditation, scheduled training, courses and seminars. June 21-23. Charleston, SC. American Boat & Yacht Council. (410) 956-2737. www.abycinc.org.

Train the Trainer scheduled training, courses and seminars. June 26-29. Charleston, SC. American Boat & Yacht Council. (410) 956-2737. www.abycinc.org.

Marine Systems Certification, Tampa, FL. July 1114. American Boat & Yacht Council. (410) 956-1050. www.abycinc.org.

Project Marine Discovery Sea Camp, Ocean Springs, MS. June 5-July 28 Five-day sessions for ages 5-14. Field trips include trips to

News & Views for Southern Sailors

Ship and Deer Islands depending on students’ ages. 8-11 a.m. or 1-4 p.m. ages 5-6, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. ages 6-14. J L Scott Marine Education Center and Aquarium, 703 E Beach Dr, Ocean Springs, MS. Call or e-mail scott.aquarium@usm.edu. (228) 818-8890 Orange Beach Sail Camp for Kids, Orange Beach, FL Orange Beach Waterfront Park. $75 for Orange Beach residents, $100 for non-residents. Ages 8-14. Morning session for beginning sailors at 9:00 a.m.-12:00 a.m. Afternoon session for intermediate and advanced sailors at 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Applications are available at Orange Beach City Hall, Orange Beach Recreation Center or online.

(251) 981-6039. www.obparksandrec.com. Sail Camp Weeks (only those still available are listed): July 17-21; July 24-28; July 31-August 4.

Participation fee includes hands-on sailing instruction, classroom instruction, knot tying, daily snack and drink, a camp T-shirt, an award certificate and sailing manual.

Sea-N-Sail Adventure Camp, June 5-July 28. Seven one-week sessions offered to children ages 6-13.

Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, 115 1st St, Biloxi, MS. (228) 435-6320.

Seven one-week sessions offered to children ages 6-13. Curriculum includes sailing aboard the famous Biloxi Schooners, cast netting, fishing, swimming, model boat forms, building, storytelling by American Indian Greyhawk, basket weaving, constructing a maritime mosaic art piece and field trips to the Barrier Islands, Fun Factory and a shrimping tour on the Sailfish. All counselors are CPR and first aid certified. For more information, go to www.maritimemuseum.org.

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OTHER EVENTS

Fiesta Days Celebration and Boat Parade, June 2-11, Pensacola, FL The 57th Annual Fiesta of Five Flags celebration starts with a light-hearted reenactment of the surrender of the city to

Spanish explorer Don Tristan DeLuna, who first landed in Pensacola in 1559. Immediately following is an evening of outdoor musical entertainment. Free. www.fiestaoffiveflags.org or (850) 433-6512.

Great Biloxi Schooner Races, Biloxi, MS, June 10 Held in conjunction with the Blessing of the Fleet, Biloxi Schooners the Glenn L. Swetman will race the Mike Sekul. 11:00 am. Race begins at the new schooner pier on front beach west of the former Grand Biloxi. (228) 435-6320

18th Annual Ocean Watch Foundation Reef Sweep and Beach Cleanup, Southeast Florida, June 10 The Annual Reef Sweep and Beach Cleanup sponsored by the Ocean Watch foundation will be held on Saturday, June 10 at various beaches and piers located between Deerfield Beach and Hollywood, FL. Charter dive boats are available for reef dives that morning.

Over 6200 volunteers participate.

The cleanup is followed by a party at 5 p.m., location to be announced, to celebrate. (954) 467-1366. www.oceanwatch.org.

Sixth Annual Summer Sailstice, Planet Earth, June 17-18 The Sixth Annual Summer Sailstice, a sailing celebration of the Summer Solstice, will be held June 17-18. There is no specific location of the Summer Sailstice except that it occurs on the planet Earth, in this solar system, where sailors can spend the day—or two days—sailing as a tribute to the solstice, which—astronomically—occurs on June 21.

The Summer Sailstice sailing holiday allows all sailors to sail locally and celebrate globally with other members of their club, class, fleet or family while connecting with thousands of sailors worldwide. This year’s Summer Sailstice celebration takes place on June 17-18 on the weekend closest to the summer solstice with more daylight than any other weekend of the year.

In 2005, sailors from 48 states and 12 countries in the Northern Hemisphere participated in this growing celebration of sailing, with all but North Dakota and West Virginia represented. In addition to 22

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creating a global connection between sailors on the longest sailing days of the year, an added bonus for signing up as a participant in Summer Sailstice is the chance to win prizes supplied from many of the world’s top sailing businesses.

This year’s prizes include a one-week charter in the BVI from the Moorings, a new Hunter Xcite sailboat, several $200 gift certificates from West Marine, a one-week Fast Track to Cruising course from Offshore Sailing, a Hobie kayak and over 200 other prizes from Summer Sailstice sponsors.

Sign-up for all participants is free on the Summer Sailstice Web site, www.SummerSailstice.com, where sailors can also post their sailing plans, create and host a Summer Sailstice party or event and find crew for their boats.

Summer Sailstice was founded in 2001. It is a global holiday celebrating sailing annually on the summer solstice.

The goal of Summer Sailstice is to encourage all sailors and sailing organizations in the Northern Hemisphere to participate by sailing and celebrating wherever they are on the longest sailing day of the year.

Island Sun Splash. June 12-16, Key Largo.

Presented by the Upper Keys Association of Dive and Snorkel Operators. This adventure for the whole family includes scuba classes, snorkeling and dives on the shipwreck trail. (305) 852-1655.

Pepsi Americas’ Sail 2006: Tall Ships Come to North Carolina, June 30-July 5 At the end of June, Pepsi America’s Sail 2006, a maritime festival featuring some of the world’s most majestic tall ships, will be held in Beaufort and Morehead City, N.C. The Meka II, a 54-foot tall ship—a half-scale replica of a 17th century pirate brigantine captained by Sinbad—is one of seven tall ships that have already committed to participate.

Formal invitations have been extended to dozens of ships around the world, and event organizers have received strong interest from many ships. The event expects to attract 15-20 tall ships. www.pepsiamericassail.com

22nd Annual Underwater Music Festival July 8, Looe Key, Big Pine Key. Divers, snorkelers and swimmers enjoy a fun and quirky form of underwater entertainment. (305) 872-2411.

Hemingway Days Festival. July 18-23, Key West The island of Key West celebrates the legendary author’s work and life with literary readings, theater, short story contest, exhibits and more. (305) 296-2388.

Wild Horses in the Islands: Regatta Time in Abaco, July 3-11 The skippers and crews who participate in the annual Regatta Time in Abaco see an exciting series of races.

However, the event is much more than your usual run around the buoys, and sailors return every year for the irresistible Bahamian culture. While the regatta is a highlight, rest days in between each race allow crews to immerse themselves in Abaco’s exotic and laid-back tropical ambiance. Family-friendly parties punctuate each day, and the fun starts with Bobb Henderson’s immense “Cheeseburger in Paradise” picnic on a sparkling whitesand beach.

The local charm will sweep you into a different time zone. Tiny mom and pop shops greet sailors who visit Great Abaco Island and its many out-island cays. If your timing’s

News & Views for Southern Sailors

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right, you might bump into Ewing at (305) 665-8316 or the “bread lady” on Man-Olightning@cofs.com.

War Cay before she sells out An invaluable resource is of fresh baked cinnamon rolls.

Steve Dodge’s The Cruising Here, a traffic jam consists of Guide to Abaco, which offers a two golf carts meeting on a wealth of local info. Once narrow side street. Enjoy the you’re in Abaco, the daily local grand ocean view with a cruisers’ net is broadcast on frosty Kalik beer at Nipper’s VHF 68 at 8:15 a.m. and on Great Guana Cay or check includes Bob Toler’s excellent out Cracker P’s on the little weather reports. Known as island of Lubber’s Quarters.

Barometer Bob, you can view The peppers for Cracker P’s his Web site at www.baromehomemade hot sauce are The Cheeseburgers in Paradise party that is the kick-off event for terbob.com. grown right outside. Within Regatta Time in Abaco. Photo by Capt. Bill Robinson. the restaurant is a wall of fame and souvenir shop for the famous Bahamian sloop, NEWS Abaco Rage, and they seem to be running out of room for Rage’s many trophies and awards. You can trade your FCC Drags Anchor on No-Code paperback books in the Jib Room at Marsh Harbour, try Ham Licenses conch salad at a local festival, see the Bahamian Independence Day fireworks on July 10 and discover the

By Gary Jensen parrots and wild horses on Great Abaco. There’s so much to The latest word from the American Amateur Radio League see and do.

(ARRL) is that the FCC is moving forward at glacial speed During the races, sailboats canter along a bit like wild horstoward eliminating Element 1, the five-word-per-minute es in the area’s prevailing 10-knot easterly breeze, and last Morse code requirement for the General Class amateur radio year saw some firm winds near the regatta’s end. Racing license. In July of last year, the FCC got the cruising commudivisions include PHRF w/spinnakers, the cruising boat nity excited by issuing a Notice of Proposed Rule Making “Mother Tub” with no spinnakers and a division for multi(NPRM) soliciting comments from the general public to WT hulls. Five or more like vessels entering the race will create Docket 05-235, the official written proposal to eliminate the their own class. Last year’s top regatta winners include Morse code requirement from General Class and lower amaStuart Hebb’s Aerodyne 38, Thin Ice, and Tom Bell’s C&C 38, teur radio licenses. According to the ARRL, more than 3800 Whisper. Many sailors return year after year with their famicomments have been received to date, and even though the lies, like Jim Miller and Sea Turtle, to enjoy a cruising vacation cutoff date for public comment was back on October 31, 2005, as well as the sociable regatta. You don’t have to enter all five comments continue to come in. The public is obviously interraces, and many cruisers come just to follow the action, crew ested in this issue, but still the FCC has not acted. on another vessel and be part of the festivities and social setWhat’s the holdup? Old business—really old busiting. The regatta’s quality competition attracts serious racers, ness—that’s what. The ARRL reports that the FCC wants to and the action is close. Boats in each division are divided up act on the Phone Band Expansion/Omnibus NPRM before according to their ratings, and the scoring system allows acting on the Morse code issue. What’s that you ask? It’s a entrants a fair shot at stardom in every race. two-year-old proposal that combines 19 petitions for ruleTo be a part of the adventure, visit www.rtia.net, or in making, one of which dates back to 2001. Released to the the United States contact race committee Jon and Carol

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public in April 2004 and closed for public comment on June 30, 2004, the FCC has yet to settle this proposal.

When will the Morse code requirement be dropped?

Unless you’re into turning blue, don’t hold your breath waiting. Dropping the Morse code requirement is a real proposal with an official number, and it really will happen. The FCC bureaucracy moves painfully slowly, but it does move, and eventually it will get around to acting on WT Docket 05-235. When it does, the Morse code requirement will be gone, just like yesterday’s bilge water. When this will happen is anybody’s guess, but with a little luck, it will be later this year. Stay tuned…

Gary Jensen owns DockSide Radio (www.docksideradio.com), specializing in SSB-based e-mail (Sailmail, WinLink), and Pactor-III modem sales and support. Gary and his wife Peggy sailed and cruised on their Hans Christian 38 for 10 years. They now live in Punta Gorda,FL, and can be reached at ( 941) 661-4498, misc@docksideradio.com, and by SSB on the Cruiseheimers Net.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

New Island Created by Hurricane Wilma in the Keys

By Rebecca Burg Capt. Bill Robinson enjoys a beer at the enjoy-a-brewski sign on Bruce Key, the new island created

by Hurricane Wilma in the Keys.

Photo by Rebecca Burg.

“Hey mister,” the slim little boy held up something that resembled a bumpy, sand-coated dinner roll. “What is this?”

“A sea urchin skeleton,” Bill responded.

“Cool!” The boy said, scurrying down the beach with his new treasure. Bill and I returned our attentions to the homemade wooden sign post. Bruce Key, it read. Just underneath that, another sign mirthfully joked, Enjoy Your Brewski. Just six months ago, this thin, L-shaped island did not exist. In late October 2005, Hurricane Wilma’s chaotic passage so casually carved the new key into being. Now, on a hot and sunny spring weekend, the glittering whitesand getaway was full of activity. Families brought picnic lunches while children splashed in the island’s shallow bay, and the men clustered together in groups, drinking cold beer. Pelicans bobbed in the lazy ocean swell, and schools of silvery fish spiraled away from the giggling, swimming youngsters. The surrounding water’s electric turquoise shades reminded me of the Caribbean.

Located on the north side of the well-known anchorage of Boca Grande Key (on the west side of the Lakes Passage beyond Key West), the new island was discovered by locals after Hurricane Wilma’s eye wall had altered the landscape. Bruce Key used to be nothing but a submerged and grassy flat. Now, local boaters and visiting cruisers have one more unique place to explore along the Florida Keys.

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OUR WATERWAYS SOUTHWINDS “Our Waterways” Section SOUTHWINDS has created this section to inform our readers about changes in our waterways. We believe that Southerners are in the midst of a great change occurring on our waterways—through the conversion of many boating properties to condominiums, restrictions on anchorages once thought to be more open and now being more restricted and regulated, and other economic forces at work. This section will also concern itself with the environmental health of the waters we boat and swim in.

The waterways belong to all of us, and all of us have a right to use them. The waterways are not just for those who can afford to live on the water, and it is up to us boaters and lovers of these waters to protect that right. We hope that by helping to inform you of these changes, we will contribute to doing just that.

We are looking for news and information on changes, land sales, anchorages, boaters’ rights, new marinas, anchoring rights, disappearing marinas, boatyards and boat ramps, environmental concerns and other related news.

Independent writers wanted on these subjects. Contact Steve Morrell, editor@southwindsmagazine.com, or call (877) 372-7245.

Loggerhead Club & Marina: Another One Gone

By Melanie Neale

“If you have not removed your vessel, vehicle and personal property by April 8, 2006, we have the right to cause your vessel to be moved and to be moored, berthed or stored in your name and you shall be responsible for all fees, costs and charges incurred in connection therewith. Under those specific terms the Company has chosen to terminate your Lease and Service Agreement ‘for no stated reason’ as noted ...in your lease.”

This is part of a letter that was mailed to approximately 85 boats at the North Miami Beach Loggerhead Club & Marina on March 8. By Saturday, March 11, people were walking around the marina in a daze. The marina has been scheduled to be torn down and rebuilt into a luxury resort that will coexist with Marina Grande, a condominium development, although nobody knew up to this point when, exactly, the tearing-down would start.

For years, the marina was simply called Maule Lake Marina. It was one of the few marinas in South Florida that allowed liveaboards, provided great hurricane protection, and had reasonable rates. In the summer of 2004, Boca Developers, a development firm out of Deerfield Beach, FL, purchased the property, including the 100-slip marina, a working boatyard, and Tuna’s, a busy waterfront restaurant. Loggerhead, owned by Seven Kings Holding

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Company out of Jupiter, FL, bought the marina from Boca, shut down the boatyard, but allowed the liveaboards to stay. Loggerhead now owns nine marinas from Vero Beach to Miami. And the Loggerhead policy is to not allow liveaboards, even though this was overlooked for more than a year at Maule Lake.

Things seemed to be going relatively smoothly for the Loggerhead tenants. Some members of the North Miami Beach City Council circulated a petition against an ordinance that would rezone the area to allow for the construction, and for a while it looked as if the construction of Marina Grande, owned by Boca Developers, would be halted. The real estate bubble in South Florida was rumored to be slowing down. The sales office that Boca had set up in a single-wide trailer on the marina’s premises was deserted, and new boats were showing up on a regular basis. The facilities were a little run-down, with only one out of the three washing machines working, regularly clogged drains in the showers and a lock on the women’s bathroom that didn’t work, but most of the tenants were willing to put up with a few inconveniences for such a good deal on dockage.

What this means is that the already scarce market for dockage in South Florida just got even scarcer, with 85 boats scrambling to get a slip at any marina that can take them by April 8. Anchoring out is just too uncertain for most people, especially those that are based in South Florida and have jobs ashore.

The marina allowed new boats to sign yearly leases right up to the last minute. Martha and Preston Shields, aboard the sportfishing boat Wild Blue, came all the way down from Virginia to live at the marina. They first visited the marina in January and signed their lease at the end of February. On March 8, the marina issued lease termination letters to everyone. They came down so Preston could work for Freedom Boats, a boat rental club based out of Loggerhead. “I feel like we were just getting to know everyone here,” Martha said. “This marina had such a good feeling to it, and we were really looking forward to staying here.”

Teresa Ellenburg, who has lived at the marina on and off for five years, said, “I’m just trying not to think about it.

If I do, I’ll cry.” She and her boyfriend, Rick Kellogg, who live aboard the 39-foot trawler Pirate Life, are moving to Key www.southwindsmagazine.com

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OUR WATERWAYS

Loggerhead Marina, formerly known as the Maule Lake Marina, will be torn down and a luxury resort built in its place. Photo by Melanie Neale

Largo. Rick works in Kendall, so his commute will be about the same.

Some are taking the closing of the marina as a kick into cruising gear. Mike and Brenda Buckley, who live aboard an Island Packet named Scarlett, have been at the marina for over a year. They recently spent five months away from the boat to aid in hurricane cleanup outside of New Orleans and in central Florida. They had just gotten back home and started cleaning and painting and varnishing when they received their notice. “Well, I didn’t buy a boat so that I could stay in one place,” Mike said. “I’m going cruising.”

They plan to head to the Bahamas in a few weeks.

Melanie S. Neale is a freelance writer and lives aboard her sailboat, a 1969 Columbia 28 named Short Story, in Dania, FL. She lived at Maule Lake Marina for four years. She is a USCG Master’s Licensed Captain and also works at Bluewater Books & Charts in Fort Lauderdale.

Boater Survey Under Way in Brevard County, FL

By Roy Laughlin The Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department and Department of Natural Resources have contracted with the

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Sea Grant program at the University of Florida to conduct a users’ survey in the Indian River Lagoon. The goal is to obtain information from boaters and anglers about how often they use the lagoon, where they go, and in general, how they enjoyed (or didn’t enjoy) the experience.

Adequate sampling is crucial to obtain useful survey results. Sampling will occur through questionnaires mailed to three groups of users: 1. Boat owners with their craft in marinas. Survey staffers have been busy in March collecting boat registration numbers in marinas.

2. Waterfront property owners. County agencies will provide this information to the survey and will then mail questionnaires to owners 3. Boat ramp users. Survey staffers have already begun collecting vehicle license tags at selected boat ramps.

Public records will give them contact information for mailing questionnaires.

If you encounter someone writing down either boat or car license numbers, it is probably not a nefarious scheme.

The sampling program will continue throughout a 12month period, until spring 2007. While there are many examples of filed and forgotten citizen surveys, this effort is unlikely to be one of them. County agency officials are solidly behind this effort and are closely monitoring its progress and preliminary results. Sailors who respond to this survey

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will likely have few other opportunities of similar significance to affect local policies on waterway access and use.

Web pages describing the program and a sample survey form is now available at: http://brevard.ifas.ufl.edu/marine. Follow the “Boating and Waterways” link, then go to the “Boating Characterization Study.” The “Boating and Waterways” page is also a source of information for other components of Brevard County’s emerging marine management plan.

Overcoming Objections to Onboard Waste Treatment Systems

By Charles Husick In recent editions of SOUTHWINDS (March and April ’06) we discussed the current state of affairs with regard to the safe, environmentally sound disposal of waste from navigating vessels and the technology used in two of the flow-through MSDs (Lectra/San and Groco Thermopure 2 onboard waste treatment systems) that are particularly effective in protecting our waters. As we have pointed out, equipment is already available—and in use in tens of thousands of vessels—that provides a safe, sanitary, environmentally protective solution to the waste disposal challenge faced by all sailors.

Our discussion now moves on to a review of some of the concerns that have been voiced by persons who may not be fully conversant with the technology already in use, or who may have reasons to restrict the use of onboard treatment systems, regardless of their proven capability and worth. Our goal is to both respond to their concerns and to enlist their assistance in efforts to eliminate the restrictions that presently limit the use of technology in service to the aquatic environment.

Dee Von Quirolo, of Reef Relief in Key West, in expressing the opposition of the Reef Relief organization in her testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on May 1, 2002, presented specific objections to the content of H.R 3673, a bill that proposed to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act relating to marine sanitation devices. She stated, “I am here today to urge you to abandon this bill, which would allow the discharge of nutrient-laden treated sewage into No Discharge Zones.

The ocean is not a toilet, and No Discharge Zones are critically needed to provide extra protection for congested harbors and fragile marine environments, such as coral reefs, that are highly sensitive to nutrients that are not removed

News & Views for Southern Sailors

The LectraSan onboard treatment system. Is treated waste for the system clean enough to dump in some areas that are now No Discharge Zones? Photo by Charles Husick.

from even the most advanced marine sanitation devices.”

(Her complete remarks can be found at; http://www.house.gov/transportation/water/0501002/quirolo.html.)

To their credit, Reef Relief did not claim that the MSD technology we proposed would fail to eliminate bacteria and viruses. (Extensive laboratory tests have proven the ability of the systems to deal effectively and reliably with these issues.) However, in our opinion, the facts do not support Von Quirolo’s testimony and her concerns that the discharge of nutrients from an MSD would harm corals.

Humans are not herbivores. Our diet does not lead to the presence of significant amounts of nutrients in our waste.

The following is taken from “Science in the Public Interest Technical Paper No. 2’’: “Of the 2.5 pounds of excreta that humans produce per day, 2 pounds is urine and 1/2 pound is feces. Water makes up 75% of feces and 94% of urine. The rest is: FECES

URINE

Carbon - 40-50% Nitrogen - 5-7% Calcium - 4-5% Phosphorus - 3-5% Potassium - 2-5%

Carbon - 11-17% Nitrogen - 15-19% Calcium - 4-6% Phosphorus - 2-5% Potassium - 3-5%”

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OUR WATERWAY When you reduce the above numbers to grams per flush, you wind up with about 2 grams of nitrogen and 0.8 gram of phosphorus. Nitrogen is the most critical of the two nutrients. Dr. Brian Lapointe, director of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Piece, FL, a recognized authority on the effect of nutrients on corals (and quoted in the Reef Relief testimony), has established the nutrient level that can harm coral at 0.014 parts per million (ppm) for nitrogen and 0.007 ppm for organophosphates.

Flow-though treatment systems discharge about one gallon of thoroughly treated (<10 coliform / 100 ml) waste per use. The effluent is immediately and massively diluted into the tidal water in which the boat is floating, reducing the nutrient content of water that might reach the coral to levels far below that established as possibly harmful. In fact, virtually all of the studies by Lapointe (whom Reef Relief relies on for much of the data they quote) cite groundwater runoff and inadequate sewage treatment as the overwhelming sources of the nutrients affecting the Florida Reef National Marine Sanctuary. (Note: The many-thousandsquare mile Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary No Treatment Zone was established on the sole basis of alleged harm from nutrients from navigating vessels, even though there was no evidence provided to support the allegation.)

When dealing with environmental issues, good science and good sense require that each challenge to the environment be evaluated on the basis of its relative contribution to the total situation. An evaluation of the impact of nutrient discharge from a flow-through MSD provides an interesting comparison. It would require a total of 3200 boats to contribute the amount of nitrogen delivered to the sea from the use of 10 bags of 10-10-10 fertilizer on a lawn or golf course.

A total of 7500 boats would be required to equal the amount of phosphorus from the same amount of fertilizer. It seems reasonable, therefore, to address the real source of whatever problem may exist on the reefs rather than the erroneous assumption that nutrients discharged from navigating vessels might cause a problem.

The fact is that navigating boats equipped with flowthrough MSDs cannot pose a significant threat to the health of our coral reefs. We hope very sincerely that Reef Relief and other interested groups will work with us in the application of the best available technology for the benefit of the tidal waters and coral reefs of the Southeast, the Gulf of Mexico and all other U.S. tidal waters.

Ed McKiernan, president of Dometic Corporation’s Marine Systems Division, manufacturer of SeaLand toilets and holding tanks, is a persistent and vocal critic of the use of flow-through MSDs. His most recent (untrue) claims and a point-by-point factual response can be found online at the Raritan Engineering Web site (www.raritaneng.com) by entering the search term “white paper” (no pun intended) in the search box and then selecting Raritan Engineering News, environmental news, opposing point of view. In my opinion McKiernan’s statements are intended to protect his commercial interest in selling the products his company produces, a worthy effort, provided all statements made in opposition to alternate products or systems are entirely truthful.

The facts demonstrate that it is overwhelmingly better to use technology to eliminate problems that might be caused 30

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from generation of sewage on boats at the source. I hope that you will become convinced that biologically sound onboard waste treatment (regardless of the specific technology used) is preferable to the present nonworking situation of No Treatment Zones. If you are, our next step is to formulate a plan to change the status quo, to not only allow the use of Coast Guardapproved advanced technology MSDs (those that can demonstrate their ability to satisfactorily eliminate bacterial hazards) but to actively encourage the installation and widespread use of the equipment.

Those of us who know and value our waters need to work together to educate everyone interested in the health of our tidal waters. We need to tell the Pumpout, No Discharge Zones, and onboard treatment systems can all members of yacht clubs, boating and sailing clubs, work together. Photo by Steve Morrell.

June 2002 (www.boatus.com/gov). Useful links can be members of the Power Squadrons, the Coast Guard found under the heading Issue Briefings, especially MSD Auxiliary and most important, members of environmental Upgrade Legislation. My statement before the committee interest groups the facts. We need to contact our representacan be found at www.house.gov/transportation/water/05tives in Tallahassee and the governor and tell them what the 01-02/husick.html facts are, that the technology needed to protect our waters is If you agree (or if you disagree) with our position that readily available, that just as we are not willing to live with there is a better way to ensure that we have the cleanest posthe auto exhaust emission standards of 1976, we are not sible waters than the present regulatory regime of No willing to be restricted to using only the waste treatment Treatment Zones allow, we need to hear from you and your methods that were available in 1976. organizations. These are our waters. The regulatory agenTo probe further into the facts, you may wish to review cies are supposed to be working on our behalf and are, more of the testimony given before the subcommittee on 4 according to a recent presidential State of the Union address supposed to be using technology to solve problems. We will succeed only when we win the support of all interested parties, sailors, members of environmental communities, local and state governments and eventually the federal government. The time to begin is past. Now we have to play catchup. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get with the program!

Links for Our Waterways Issues Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway issues. www.atlintracoastal.org BoatUS Foundation. Great source of information and links on miscellaneous issues. www.boatus.org Florida Inland Navigation District, a taxing district for management and maintenance of the AICW in Florida. www.aicw.org Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. www.gicaonline.com Marine Industries Association of Florida with links to local associations. www.boatflorida.org Marine Industries Association of South Florida. www.miasf.org National Waterways Conference promotes, educates and lobbies on behalf of all the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inland waterways. www.waterways.org Ocean Conservancy dedicated to the protection of oceans. www.oceanconservancy.org Reef Relief. A non-profit group is dedicated to preserving the reefs, based in Key West. www.reefrelief.org Gulfbase.org. A research database for Gulf of Mexico Research. www.gulfbase.org News & Views for Southern Sailors

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HURRICANE SEASON 2006

Why Prepare Your Boat for a Tropical Storm?

By Steve Morrell

S

ince the ’70s, hurricanes have been few and far between, and many people have become complacent about them, thinking, “Why worry?” Then along came 2004, followed by the 2005 season. Thousands of boats throughout Florida and the northern Gulf coast states were damaged, many destroyed.

Now, I wonder if the pendulum has swung the other way—only because I talk to people who think if the storm is big enough there is nothing you can do to save your boat.

That could be true, but it’s not. After the 2004 season, I started investigating what boat owners can do to save their boats. I put out inquiries for stories of success and failure and every chance I got, I asked people what they did and did it work. I went out and observed boats at docks during storms and saw what worked and didn’t.

What I learned was that you can save your boat. Yes, if the storm is big enough, even all the preparations might not save it. But in doing nothing, you can pretty much be assured that your boat will be damaged, or even destroyed.

To maximize the chances of your boat surviving a storm, it is really quite simple what you must do: You must have a plan.

You must carry it out.

The main purpose of this article is to get boat owners to do something, and I will help show the minimum you can do for the maximum gain. Because of space constraints, we are only going to talk about boats at docks, concentrating on fixed docks, since that is the majority of cases (although floating dock preparation is very similar). We will have more on other situations, like anchoring, in future issues.

We will keep this article simple for a good reason: So you will use it.

Won’t My Boat Get Destroyed in a Large Hurricane No Matter How I Prepare it?

To a certain extent this is true, but we must learn how to prepare our boats to defend against the storms we are most likely to get hit with.

What are you most likely to get hit with? That’s easy.

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The owner of this boat did nothing to prepare it. This is a good example of what can happen to a headsail that is left up. This was in barely tropical storm-force winds that were many miles away from a stronger hurricane center. The damage on the starboard side where the boat rubbed against the dock was extreme, possibly totaling the boat. Neighbors at this marina added extra lines after the storm arrived, minimizing a lot of the damage. Photo by Steve Morrell.

You are most likely to get hit with just tropical storm-force winds. Let’s see why.

Most tropical storms are the weak ones. In 2005, 27 tropical storms developed. Fifteen became hurricanes, and seven of these were Category 1s. Twelve never went beyond the tropical storm level. It is easy to prepare your boat for a tropical storm or a Category 1 hurricane. In 2005, that would mean that for 19 of the 27 storms, you can easily prepare for them.

But there is one greater factor many forget: The chances of you (or your boat) getting hit by tropical storm winds is increased greatly because you are also likely to get hit by the outer edges of a hurricane passing nearby. In all tropical storms, the winds get weaker as you get farther from their center. Category 1 hurricane winds are above 73 mph.

Tropical storm winds are from 39 to 73 mph and will not be far from the center of the storm. In larger storms, these winds can be a long distance from the center and will cover a large area. Tropical storm winds extended 230 miles from the center of Hurricane Katrina. That is a tremendous area.

For those of you who think these tropical storm-force winds will do no damage, look again There were thousands of unprepared boats damaged from just the outer edges of storms, because (except in emergencies) the boat owner (1) didn’t care (2) didn’t think he was going to get hit by the brunt of the storm (4) didn’t have a plan (5) didn’t know SOUTHWINDS Hurricane Web Site Visit the hurricane page on our Web site for the best weather links, boat preparation information and links, and past hurricane articles in SOUTHWINDS. www.southwindsmagazine.com www.southwindsmagazine.com

what to do or (6) didn’t have time to do anything.

A Simple Storm Preparation Plan Carried Out is Far Better than a Complex One Not Carried Out

Preparing a boat for a storm is common sense, but there are just a few basic principles: Reduce windage, beef up your dock lines, use spring lines to prepare for a storm surge, use chafe protection and put out fenders. Keep the boat in its slip. That’s it. Simple and easy. Actually, getting your boat ready is the easy part. The hard part is making sure you carry out your plan.

Create a simple plan. If people believe that there is nothing they can do because a big storm will just destroy their boat anyway, they will probably do nothing. We have just proven how you are more likely to get hit by A well-secured boat with a “spider web” of lines should hold this Catalina 30 tropical storm winds than in place. Notice docklines running across the boat at the stern, to the oppo- Reduce Windage anything stronger. It is site side, acting like spring lines. This mainsail and cover were wrapped in a Boats have an advantage easy and takes little time “cocoon” of lines. Also notice fenders on each side of the boat, on the star- over houses because they to prepare for these con- board side nearest the closest piling and several located on the dock side. can move around and Photo by Gary Gray. deflect the wind, taking ditions. some of the shock by absorbing some of the energy with If you create too big of a plan that takes a lot of time, moving about. Although this movement has its advantages, you might not ever carry it out, thinking you’ll never have we want to minimize it so the boat doesn’t meet a fixed enough time. So work on a simple plan and on priorities. If object, like a dock. So the first thing that must be done is to you know you won’t ever have the time, then maybe you remove all the sails and canvas. No matter what, remove the should keep the boat constantly ready all season, or maybe roller furling headsail. If it becomes unraveled, it has lots of for just that part of the season you are most likely to get hit: windage and leverage up high for really shaking a boat Remove the sails and canvas, double your dock lines, add around. Get rid of it. spring lines, add some chafe protection, add fenders. It’s Make sure you secure the top roller furling mechanism now ready for a lot of storm conditions. If it’s going to be that comes down when lowering the roller-furled headsail. worse, then maybe you will have time to beef up the prepaIt needs to be secured with line and/or bungee cord to rations a little bit. something fixed, like a stanchion. Secure the halyard tightPractice the plan at the beginning of the season. Have ly somewhere, too. everything ready to be installed quickly. Use a check list.

Next, remove the canvas; dodgers, biminis, etc. Remove When the time comes, you might be more concerned the canvas frames (Carry a cordless drill. It turns a 20about you, your family and your house than preparing your minute job into a 5-minute job.. Practice once so you won’t boat, so create a plan you know you will have time to carry run into any unforeseen frozen screws. out. You could save your boat and thousands of dollars.

In lighter winds, some people will keep the mainsail on Preparing for Tropical Storm Winds or a Category 1 the boom. They will then wrap a line real tightly around the Hurricane is Easy sail cover—so tightly that a woven “cocoon” is created. If This might even be true for a Category 2, or even a Category you have in-the-mast roller furling, you might want to 3 storm, but there are so many other factors involved with remove the mainsail, as it is still weight aloft, besides the these stronger storms that it is hard to say. Storm surge is a added windage from the clew that slightly sticks out. huge variable, and its intensity depends on the time the storm arrives. But in preparing for the smaller storms, it is easy.

Many people seem to forget that sailboats are designed to take some pretty rough sea conditions—both in waves and wind. The problem is when foreign objects get involved, objects like pilings, docks, seawalls, land, underwater obstacles, other boats and then, of course, flying objects. You can’t do much about the last item, but you can about the others.

Send Us Your Hurricane Stories We are always looking for stories on your experiences, to learn those techniques that succeeded and those that didn’t, as we can learn from both. Ideas, tips and Web site links wanted, too. editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

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SOUTHWINDS

June 2006

33

HURRICANE SEASON 2006 Make sure any loose objects on deck, like anchors, are stowed, (same with gear below— secure as if at sea).

30-foot spring line will allow only five inches of lateral movement (have five inches of slack) with the tide going up or down as much as five feet—a 10Beef Up the Dock Lines foot range!

You need to double up all Storm surge is the your dock lines, plus add water being blown by the a few more as you think wind and piling up in a necessary. If you really certain direction. Since need a fast plan, have the hurricanes rotate counterlines doubled all the time clockwise in our region, during the storm season. then the storm’s right If your slip has standfront quadrant will be alone pilings, it is a good pushing water toward the idea to at least have your front of the storm’s path second line already and pulling it away from secured to that piling, the path on its left front ready to grab with a boat Even these small fenders saved this boat’s hull. This is not damage but dirt quadrant. It will be hook. Have all your lines and debris on the hull. Photo by Steve Morrell. greater forward as the ready and tested for storm’s forward movelength (and marked at the securing point) and convenient at ment will also add to the piling up of water. How the storm the beginning of the season, even labeled—which line goes hits will determine whether the storm is going to be creatwhere. Have them cut for a convenient length. Store them ing a higher than normal tide as it pushes the water in or a separately. lower tide as it pulls it out. If you anticipate higher, then Make sure you know how you are going to double up raise your lines higher on the pilings. If lower, then put your lines. Many boat cleats are not big enough to have two them lower. lines attached. You might have to slip one through the eye If you are expecting a lot of storm surge, you might have of the cleat and another secured as normal. Use other to run spring lines across the boat, crisscrossing the dock objects to secure to: mast, winches, sliding cleats on sail lines at the stern and bow, essentially making them longer, tracks, etc. Some people describe a well-secured boat as acting more as spring lines. being in a “spider web” of lines.

If you are preparing for just tropical storm-force winds, Make all your lines tighter as they will stretch. surge is generally expected to be less than four feet and 4-5 feet for a Category 1. Remember, though, a strong tropical Add Spring Lines for Storm Surge storm coming at high tide can do more damage than a weak Spring lines do two things. They help hold the boat in place Category 1 hurricane hitting at low tide. like any dock line, but, with fixed docks, they are the only Since you are most likely to be hit with only tropical way to hold the boat in place as the tide goes up and down. storm or Category 1 winds, you can probably be there to The longer they are, the more surge they can handle. watch the boat, and adjusting lines during a storm can be In a sense, all dock lines are spring lines, as they all will important. If you have to adjust lines, make them adjustable allow some up-and-down movement from the tides, but at the dock, not on the boat. For those lines that go to a they are called spring lines when they are long, and they are stand-alone piling, make them adjustable from the boat. considered those running parallel to the boat’s length.

How you secure your lines to a piling that is attached Running them both directions, fore and aft, is even better. A to the dock can be crucial. The best way is to go around the piling twice, then make two half hitches to the line. The line will always be free for adjustment, regardless of the strain on it.

Chafe Lack of any chafe protection created no problems for Yachting Vacations, the charter company in Punta Gorda that was hit by Charley, a Category 4 storm (see Southwinds, August, 2005). But chafe was a major cause of damage from Hurricane Frances, another Category 4 storm. Why the difference?

Charley was a small, very fast storm. Frances was a slow, very big storm. Chafe is going to destroy a boat and/or lines over a period of time. Hurricane force winds frequently will hit an area for about four to six hours.

These winds persisted for up to 18 hours during Frances.

Chafe won.

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During Charley, hurricane force winds hit Yachting Vacations for about two-and-a-half hours.

Chafe did not matter.

In preparing your boat for the most likely conditions, tropical storm winds or Category 1 winds, chafe will not be a major factor. It is always advised to have chafe protection, but make sure you have it depending on the size and speed of the storm. Unless you have all the time in the world, it is low on the priority list for the weaker storms.

enough to minimize the time to carry it out, instead of the perfect plan, which might not ever get executed because there will never be enough time for it. The main idea for speed and execution of the plan is no surprises, so practice everything at least once.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS June 2006

• Write the plan down in priorities and have a checklist.

• Remove the roller furling headsail.

• Remove canvas, maybe the frames.

• Remove the mainsail.

Wrap it with line if a Six lines are attached to this single bow cleat. Photo by Steve Morrell.

Fenders light storm is expected.

An old axiom holds true about fenders: You can’t have too • Double up all lines, add spring lines and extra lines as many. Fenders can save your boat if the slip is too small, the needed. lines stretch, the storm surge is great, the wave action is exces• Have chafe protection on lines. sive, or it can save you from a mistake you made. They are a • Have lots of fenders. “cushion” and a margin for error that can be the last saving • Make sure all gear on deck and below is stowed. item. Boat repairs on a hull or rubrail are like a dent in your If you can, be there during the storm to adjust your car; very expensive to repair for even the smallest dent. lines. You will also learn a lot on what is working and what Watching one boat sloshing around in its slip as it bounces is not. Observe other boats, too, and encourage neighbors to against the dock with its fenders next to another boat that is prepare their boats, so they don’t destroy yours. hitting the dock without them is a picture worth a thousand The Most Important Part: The complex, better plan is lessons. They are well worth the investment. worthless if it isn’t carried out. The simple, inferior plan is In Summary: A Simple Plan superior if it is. Make it so easy and fast to do that you do it.

Below is a summary of a simple plan for the weaker storms.

For stronger storms, just take these plans to a higher level In the coming months during the hurricane season, SOUTHWINDS with more of everything. This plan will also be simple will be publishing articles and information about preparing your boat for a storm. Send us your stories and tips.

35

CRUISING

The Great Circle Loop via Catamaran, Part I

By John Kelly

We left the Kellys finishing up the fitting-out of their new unrigged catamaran Cataline (SOUTHWINDS, April 2005) in preparation for a 5000-mile jaunt along the Great Circle Loop of America.

Cataline underway.

NC. I was rushing and getting restless and irritable. Most of the boat’s systems were installed but untested. Her waterline was now three inches lower due to unrealistic loading for a sixmonth trip.

Finally, on June 22, at o h - d a r k - t h i r t y, I hacked away our dock lines and headed up the East Coast for New York City. This portion (about 600 statute miles) took us three weeks with stops in Annapolis, MD,

T

he Great Circle Loop of America is a counterclockwise, 5000- to 6000-mile cruising loop of America.

Basically it’s a waterway cruise up the East Coast, across southern portions of eastern Canada, down Lake Michigan into the inland rivers of America’s heartland, out across the Florida Panhandle, down the west coast of Florida and back up the east coast.

One can enter the loop anywhere and—weather depending—at any time. There are some height and depth restrictions, and the trip can take anywhere from 4 to 12 months, depending on many factors. There are on average 200-300 boats cruising the Loop at any one time.

I have wanted to do this trip for some time. It’s challenging, historical, and relatively mild. My wife, on the other hand, likes to go offshore, cross oceans and get the crap beat out of us! In retrospect, this cruise has been the best ever and lived up to all my expectations. My wife admittedly feels the same.

We’ve been behind schedule ever since we ordered our boat from its South African builder. We left her unrigged as we would be motoring, and the mast was not necessary, especially with all the bridges we would be passing under. We wanted to be northbound by June 1. It was mid-June and we were still tied to the dock at our home port in Wilmington,

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Cape May, NJ, and the Big Apple.

During our previous cruises, we had run the Delaware Bay and New Jersey coast several times, always with “issues,” i.e., foul weather. This time, however, the weather gods were happy, and with a favorable “tailwind” (we were motoring) we ran the 115-mile coast to Sandy Hook in one 14-hour jaunt.

After depositing great quantities of greenbacks to the state and inhabitants of New York City (you think it’s expensive to rent a transient slip in Florida—try NewYork City), we continued up the scenic Hudson River for the northbound, 125-mile trip to Troy, NY. The Hudson River’s scenery gets more spectacular the farther north you go, and the saltwater barnacles on your hull slowly die a happy death.

Around Troy, the Great Circle Loop splits: One can continue north to the Lake Champlain area or hang a left and enter the Erie Canal system, which we did. By now, we were “seasoned,” having worked out most of the bugs of our new boat. The next challenge was entering the lock systems—the first of 145 or so we would face in the next five months.

Cataline has twin engines so there are no more excuses during docking. She tracks like an arrow, stops on a dime and can turn in her own length. Locking-through is basically a docking maneuver requiring lots of fenders! The reason www.southwindsmagazine.com

small towns to explore, and is that the walls of the locks are breathtaking scenery of granslimy with unforgiving conite, forests and water. crete—sometimes in ill repair Navigation gets challenging with pieces missing—and the here; so much to see and so turbulence inside the lock can many rocks! be interesting.

During one episode, trying Instead of using expensive to find the cruiser Holy Grail, I fenders (that orange kind got back into an uncharted made of thick rubber used by place. I should have known the commercial fishing folks), better and promptly found not we used Wal-Mart beach balls the Holy Grail but a submerged that I put into mesh laundry ledge, rock and/or tree and bags. They look funny, but bent both props. Dumb!

Jill manning the lines inside the lock. they work and cost one-fourth The North Channel (top of the price!

One of two hydraulic lift locks on the waterway.

Lake Huron) connects GeorgThis one is at Kichner, Ontario.

The Erie Canal westbound ian Bay to the top of Lake winds its way along the botMichigan. Here we said goodtom of Lake Erie toward bye to Canada and headed Buffalo, but we jumped off toward the Straits of Mackinac. into the Oswego canal, which At the top of Michigan, we brought us to the southeast had completed less than half end of Lake Ontario. our trip but had experienced Here you make the jump the most pristine and everacross to Clayton, NY, (home changing landscape in North of the antique boat museum) America. Cataline handled and the start of the Thousand well, consumed about one galIslands area of upper New lon an hour (with TWO enYork and Canada—truly prisgines) and gave us close to tine and spectacular. You also seven knots. enter Canada (just before Unrigged she looks a bit Kingston) and a new country’s hokey, but for this trip with cruising areas. very low bridge clearances, she We coastal-cruised along was perfect. the northern shore of Lake It was now time to finalOntario and entered the Trently swing Cataline south for the Severn Waterway system, a 1650-mile trip to Mobile, AL. 240-mile stretch of rivers, lakes On the remaining legs we and canals, which eventually would cruise down and across enters Georgian Bay. The Trent-Severn system has a depth Lake Michigan through Chicago, down the Illinois, restriction (five feet), but Cataline only draws 2 1/2 feet – no Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee, Tombigbee and problem.

Mobile rivers to the Florida Panhandle and down Florida’s This winding waterway with its numerous locks is southwest coast. quite remarkable. There is no commercial traffic, but it’s chock-full of Canadian and American weekenders playing Follow Cataline’s next legs where the Kellys meet new challenges touch tag in and around the locks. It is great sport to watch along the inland rivers of the United States and coasts of Florida. a rented houseboat with single outboard full of partying (and inexperienced) Canadians maneuvering inside the Subscribe to SOUTHWINDS locks. It’s a real thrill if one of those guys gets sideways and $19.95/year $37/2 Years 3rd Class you are inside with him!! $24/year $45/2 Years 1st Class This waterway also houses two unique locks – a huge hydraulic lock (the highest lift in the world at 65 feet) at (941) 795-8704 • www.southwindsmagazine.com P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175 Peterborough, Ontario, and a railway lock at a place called Subscribe on line: www.southwindsmagazine.com Big Chute. The hydraulic lock is like two bathtubs hooked Name ______________________________________________ together. One tub goes up as the other goes down. One helluva ride.

Address ____________________________________________ The railway lock is actually a big cage into which you City/St./ZIP _________________________________________ motor. It picks you up and spills the water out as it traversENCLOSED $ ________ Check ___ Money Order ___ es a spit of rocky land. On you go into the other side of the Visa/MC #_________________________________________ lake; the cage fills up and off you go. Pretty slick!

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21st Annual Morgan Invasion at Davis Island Yacht Club, Tampa, FL, April 21-23 The crew of Rolling Thunder, a Morgan 38, owned by Pete and Cheryl Moller. Rolling Thunder has been to all 21 Morgan Invasions. Photo by Pete Jernigan.

T

he 21st Annual Morgan Invasion and Rendezvous was held in April at the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, FL. Forty-seven Charley Morgan-built or designed sailboats enjoyed brisk winds during the first

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By Tom Dunn

Invasion held away from the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club. Charley Morgan hosted close to 200 sailors over three days of scheduled events. “This was a wonderful event, and we all can’t wait for the next Rendezvous”

www.southwindsmagazine.com

Peter Fouché (third from left), sailing on Another Road, a Morgan Heritage West Indies Maureen Morgan (on the left) and Sully Lowe sloop, receives the award for PHRF A class winner. Second from left is Charley Morgan. prepare for the firing of the cannon. Photo by Tom Dunn.

Photo by Tom Dunn.

said Charley Morgan.

Traditionally held over the past 20 years at TITYC, the Morgan Invasion was moved to DIYC this year as construction of a new clubhouse at Treasure Island made hosting the event difficult. The Morgan Invasion will be held next year at Davis Island as construction continues. Next year’s Invasion will be on the weekend of April 21, 2007, according to Morgan Invasion Chairman Pete Moller.

The Invasion started Friday, April 21, as acting DIYC Dockmaster Les Lathrop welcomed arriving Morgan owners. Most boats sailed in from the greater Tampa/St. Pete area with the longest distance sailed by Dave and Janice Carl on their Morgan Out Island 33, Dragon, coming in from Pensacola, FL. Charley Morgan hosted the Friday night festivities by holding a “Fireside Chat” near the DIYC tiki bar, recounting stories about his early days sailing on Hillsborough Bay. Owners and crew also enjoyed dinner, drinks and calypso music.

Saturday was race day, and crew members were awakened by the traditional firing of the cannon by Dockmaster Les Lathrop. Winds were brisk, generally out of the west and steady at about 17 knots. The 11-mile course traversed back and forth across the bay. The first of six classes started at 1300, and the first boat to finish, Bill Senske’s Nelson Merek 45, Hallelujah, finished at 1440. The last boat to finish was Dragon. The poor girl was tired after that trip from Pensacola!

Post-race activities were held around the DIYC tiki bar.

Close to 200 sailors and supporters gathered to enjoy dinner and entertainment provided by Clint and Osborne. After dinner, Charley greeted the gathering and announced the winners for the many traditional Morgan Invasion awards.

The Charles Hunt Jr. Navigators Award for the boat that corrected out over its nearest competitor went to Junab Ali and Sleeper, his Out Island 41. Sleeper also took home the Lon Van Dorston Trophy for being the first Out Island to finish the race.

The Steve Pardee Memorial Trophy for the first Morgan 24 to finish the race went to Jack MacTowne and his M24, True Blue.

The Pete Moller Award, given out each year to the first Morgan 38 to finish, went to Pete Moller and the crew of Rolling Thunder. Pete also won the Sally Morgan Trophy, given out as the perennial participation award. Rolling Thunder has been to all 21 Morgan Invasions!

Other class winners included the Under 40-Foot Out Island winner going to Andre Balash and Gypsy Queen. The Morgan 22 Trophy for first-place finish among the 22s went to Bob Willard and Flash. The Morgan 27 winner went to Irish Mist, and the Morgan 30 Award went to Allen Davidson aboard Jackal.

Next year’s Morgan Invasion is back at Davis Island on April 21 before returning to Treasure Island in 2008. For final results and information on the Invasion, visit www.MorganInvasion.Net.

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June 2006

39

Secrets to Successful Starboard Docking

By Captain Steve Stevens

I

t was beginning to shape up as one of those typical Tampa Bay days. The sun was drying the decks of the thousands of boats all across the area, while I was enjoying a lunch at one of my favorite waterfront restaurants.

While the bay area is a great place to sail, there are only a few waterfront restaurants where docking privileges exist.

So, these places fill up pretty quickly. In fact, on that particular day, the only space left at the docks was an end tie where a boat would have to accomplish a docking on its starboard side. And I’ve found space like that is usually always empty and available at waterfront watering holes, yacht clubs, and marinas.

I took my last bite of the blackened grouper sandwich I had ordered and looked across the deck of the restaurant toward its docks. A new, 36-foot cruising sloop with a beautiful deep-green hull was approaching, looking for a parking spot. This should prove interesting, I thought, as I took a swallow of slightly sweetened iced tea.

The boat had a crew of three, with one standing at the bow holding a bow line and another kneeling at the stern holding a stern line. I assumed that the owner of this rather lovely yacht was skippering.

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Both dock lines were short, about 10 feet or so. Two medium fenders were placed close together at the beam on each side of the boat, probably where the owner had them when the boat was berthed in her home slip. He noticed the available space on the end tie and began an almost parallel approach to it.

A slight breeze was coming across the end tie. As the boat got into position and nearer the dock, the skipper placed his engine in neutral, and the wind found the freeboard and pushed the boat sideways to port about five or six feet from the dock’s edge—a little too far to jump, the crew correctly decided.

Since another sloop was docked at the forward part of the end tie (backed in, port-side tie-up), the skipper placed the engine in reverse, backing out into the fairway. So much for attempt number one.

“You’re going to have to come at it at an angle,” I heard one of the crew say to the skipper. So began the second attempt at docking the sloop.

The skipper positioned the boat at a 45-degree approach angle to the edge of the dock. By now there were quite a few of us on deck watching. It was apparent that the skipper had too much power on, probably thinking that he was compensating for the wind that had affected his first approach.

As the bow approached the edge of the dock, the bow crew shouted, “You’re coming in too fast. Too fast.” The skipper immediately dropped the engine into reverse, giving the throttle a short burst. This caused the bow to swing rapidly into the dock, the stern pivoting the opposite way, and a rather loud “k-thunk.” A customer at a table behind me cried, “Ouch!” repressing a giggle. The deep-green hull now had a sizable white racing stripe.

The angry skipper backed the boat out into the fairway again, swung her around and proceeded back out into the channel. What a shame, I thought, as I reached for my check.

It’s such a perfect day for lunching out here. Wonder if he has a good gel coat guy? www.southwindsmagazine.com

Docking a Boat to Starboard Difficult for Many Docking a boat starboard side to an end tie proves to be the most difficult close-quarters maneuver for the majority of intermediate and even advanced sailors.

Most have been taught— either by a professional instructor or their yacht brokers—how to bring their boats in and out of their home slips. And it’s usually pretty simple and straightforward.

Position the centerline of the boat onto the centerline of the slip. Continue forward. And once in the slip, drop the engine into reverse, giving the throttle a short burst to stop the boat’s forward motion from making contact with the dock box.

Fenders, which are most commonly positioned at the beam of the boat, help to keep the boat centered in the slip as the dock lines are secured. However, a starboard-side docking is trickier because most sailboats have a right-turning propeller, which makes the boat back to port when in reverse, swinging the bow to starboard.

And since, when the boat is traveling in reverse, its pivot point moves to the rear, the bow of most boats will pivot twice the distance of the stern—the cause of that “kthunk” at the restaurant docks.

Approach the dock at a 30-35-degree angle, aiming slightly forward of a cleat to secure to.

The bow of the boat should very closely approach the edge of the dock before the skipper begins turning the wheel to port. Crew can then jump onto the dock (or hand a line to someone on the dock) who then secures it to the dock cleat.

With the wheel turned toward port, the skipper continues to power the vessel. The beam spring line will tighten, bringing the stern and bow nicely parallel and into the dock.

Basic Steps Needed for Starboard Docking There are a few basic steps that will allow the skipper to successfully accomplish a starboard-side docking maneuver in most conditions.

First, rig the starboard side with at least four fenders. One should be at the bow, two down the beam and one at the stern. In addition to the bow and stern lines, a long beam spring line should be rigged. I always use a spring line that is at least two-thirds of the length of the boat. The bow crew will manage this beam spring line, while the stern crew attends to the stern line.

The skipper should approach the dock at about a 30- to 35-degree angle to the edge, aiming slightly forward of the cleat where he will want the stern line secured. As in any close-quarter maneuvering, the boat should be movNews & Views for Southern Sailors

ing as slowly as possible.

The bow of the boat should very closely approach the edge of the dock before the skipper begins turning. The secret is not to “chicken out” before the bow is almost on top of the dock.

Having that extra fender at the bow will help to create some additional confidence in the skipper to continue to close in on the dock.

As the turn is started, the bow crew can then easily get off the boat, take the beam spring line toward the stern and secure it to the cleat where the stern line will be attached. This beam spring line will control the forward motion of the boat.

By turning the wheel slightly toward port and continuing to power the vessel, the skipper will see the

beam spring line tighten and be able to bring the stern and bow nicely parallel and into the dock. Bow and stern lines can then be secured and the beam spring converted to an aft bow spring line for the final tie-up.

So, the next time you are out on the water, find a long, empty end tie and practice this maneuver with your crew.

Then take your boat for a sail over to a popular waterfront dining spot.

You won’t have any problems with the starboard side maneuver, and if I’m lunching on the deck, I’ll be sure to applaud at your effortless success. And if you are feeling especially generous, you can pick up my tab with the money you have just saved on the gel coat repair.

See you out there.

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PHRF RACE TIPS

The Art of the Start

By Dave Ellis

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he start of a sailboat race has been deemed one of the most tense moments in sport. Is there a way to make that moment in time in our PHRF racing game less complicated, tense, and scary? Let’s break the procedure down to a decent start to our race.

It is important to know that the most important part of the start is what your situation is a minute or two after that “GO” signal. Being right at the line at the start is nice. But there are more important factors.

Suppose you think that there is going to be more wind or less adverse current on the right side of the course, or a wind shift from the right later in the upwind beat. So start on the right side of the starting line. Duh. It would be better to start a few seconds, or be a few boat lengths late at the race committee boat with the ability to tack as soon as you clear the anchor line than to be at the gun but with a boat on your windward quarter so you cannot tack to the favored right side.

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Conversely, if you think that going to the left side of the windward leg is better, start near the pin end of the line. It is more essential to be on the starting line at the gun if you want to continue on starboard tack.

The very pin end of the line may be crowded. You may not be the only genius who thinks going to the left side is best. Usually, it is best to start at a position a few boat lengths away from that perfect pin spot. Of course, if you see that you have nobody down there with a few seconds to the gun, reach off and head for it.

The goal is to start when the boat is going faster than upwind speed. Yes, if you can close reach to the line and then harden up at the gun, you will actually be going faster at that time than anybody close-hauled and a lot faster than the boats luffing to the line.

Okay, you say. Just how do I do that? On our PHRF starting lines it is rare to have the stacks of boats as at a J/24 event. Most race officers give enough room for all boats, and there are always late starters. Many boats will start at the RC boat end no matter what so they don’t have to worry about being over-early.

So know the habits of your local fleet. After doing RC work for a decade for the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, I noticed that most boats started about the same way every time. Do your homework. Often there are areas of the line, like one-third down from the RC boat, that aren’t filled until the last few seconds by those who got to the RC boat a little early and reached down. If you approach on a close reach a little toward the pin, from there you may find clear sailing.

Actually, not anymore if everybody reads this!

Get yourself in a place on the line where you won’t be rolled by a bigger or faster PHRF boat and not be able to tack away. I once was sailing a Santana 21 and got rolled by the 12-meter Newsboy at a start. We sat adrift for seemingly www.southwindsmagazine.com

minutes until the wind came back. Of course, if you are the big boat in the fleet, start with the slowest boats, not next to your nearest rival.

Much has been written about finding the “favored” end of a starting line. That is overrated. Seldom does a decent race committee start a race with a highly skewed line. The fastest way to check, though, is to sail to just outside of the pin and shoot head to wind. Make sure the genny is loose and make that masthead fly point right at the stem. Then have a crew member tell you whether the bow is headed more toward the pin or toward the RC boat. The end of the line that the bow is angled more toward is the end closer to the windward mark. Chances are there won’t be much difference. Also, that very well may not be the “favored end” for your plans.

Incidentally, it does not matter if the windward mark is off to one side a bit and not directly upwind. As long as you have to make at least one tack to get there, this should not influence where you start on the line.

A crew member counting down the seconds is helpful.

If your skipper is habitually late, cheat on him. Tell him or her when the one-minute flag and gun occurs and then hesitate for a few seconds before starting your countdown every few seconds. By the “GO” of your spoken countdown you will have perhaps five to 10 seconds before the real start, and your timid skipper will be closer to the line.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

Uh, it works the other way around for aggressive guys who are habitually early and have to stop at the line.

One way to take the pucker factor out of a start is to practice hitting the line before the starting sequence. Have a one-minute countdown and see how long it takes to get there. How far away are you at 20 seconds? Ten seconds?

Then try it at the pin end.

An easy way to tell where the starting line is when you are not at an end is to sail to the right of the stern of the RC boat and sit there. While luffing on starboard tack, take a hand-bearing compass reading from a crew’s position to the pin. From anywhere on the line the crew can tell you when you are getting close to that number. In big fleets, we often do the same at the pin end, in case you can’t see the pin for the numerous boats. You often can see the flag on the RC boat in those conditions.

Have you noticed that there is a quick sorting-out of boats soon after the start, and then everything settles down?

Experienced skippers and crew have the sails set correctly and the steering settled at the start. They concentrate more on their sailing for that minute after the start than at any other time on the racecourse.

If you get a great start at the gun going really fast, chances are you will do well. But if you don’t, remember, it is only the start. Find a lane of clear air and go from there.

That’s the game.

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RACING

38th Annual Regata del Sol al Sol 2006

By Stephen Evans Photos Courtesy Mike Boom

Amigos load up on Aventura, an Island Packet 44, for the Regata de los Amigos at the docks on Isla Mujeres.

The waters of Isla Mujeres.

T

time just before 9:00 a.m. on April 28. A downwind start, with winds from the northeast, had boats setting spinnakers right away as the fleet headed west toward the Skyway Bridge and the Southwest Channel. With spinnaker up, we found ourselves advancing on the Non-Spin fleet, which started five minutes earlier. After a few wind shifts and four drop-pole spinnaker jibes, we sailed out into the Gulf of Mexico.

The first few hours in the Gulf went well with the spinnaker flying beautifully. Speed increased to 10 knots, then 11. At 12 knots we were getting pretty excited. We are thinking of a fast downwind course all the way to Mexico. Then BANG! A big gust of wind forces us to round up. The helmsperson overcorrects, causing the spinnaker to blow out. A quick crew response and we retrieve the totally destroyed 1000 square foot sail. Next we roll out our 150 genny and continue at a much slower speed. It is quite disheartening to watch the rest of the Spinnaker fleet pull ahead. The captain has to sit down to reassess a new strategy. A bit of humor is attempted with the comment, “Perhaps this could be a blessing. We have another newer spinnaker, and the race has just begun.”

Suddenly we hear, “MAY DAY, MAY DAY. MAY DAY. Sailboat taking on water and winds gusting to thirty knots.”

That’s the kind of radio message that gets your atten-

wenty-six boats raced in the 38th Annual Regata Del Sol al Sol from St. Petersburg, FL, to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. This year, the True Cruising class, with 14 boats in three classes, outnumbered the other classes, with five in the Spinnaker class and six in the Non-Spinnaker class. The racing is always eventful each year, but the real goal of the regatta is to promote goodwill and aid to our amigos in Isla Mujeres. The byproduct is the fun and the challenge of an offshore sailboat race.

This year was perhaps a little more significant because of Hurricane Wilma—the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic region—which was born and grew just off the Yucatan Peninsula. Isla Mujeres did remarkably well surviving its wrath. They were prepared, and the island and its people survived the storm.

I was on Steve Fredrick’s Ocean Angel, in the Spinnaker class, with five other crew members. We practiced for this race for months. Steve had prepared his boat, a Beneteau First 42, to perfection. This French-built boat became famous after one of them won the ill-fated 1979 Fast Net race. Not all boats survived that race, and sailors died, showing the hazards of offshore racing and the value of being prepared. Our crew practiced on several occasions doing nighttime reefing, sail changes, and man overboard drills Ten-knot winds and blue skies greeted us all at the start

June’s cover photo is of the race start in St. Petersburg on April 28. Photo by Gary Hufford 44

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www.southwindsmagazine.com

tion. We couldn’t hear which boat was requesting Coast Guard assistance, but we did hear its position to be about 30 miles east of us. Our prudent captain called for a first reef in the main. Sure enough, thirty minutes later the wind picked up substantially. By the time it was totally dark, we were overpowered and needed to change headsails—no easy task as our 150 genny is very heavy and stiff. We are unable to bag the sail in the rough seas, so three crewmembers struggle to drag the wet sail down below and lay it on the cabin floor. So much for the orderly cabin.

The wind and seas continued to increase. It was dark,

Finally, at 10:05 a.m., we crossed the finish line. The committee boat, a Mexican navy ship, fired off a gun to mark our finish after 73 hours and 7 minutes of serious sailing. Our crew celebrated with a beer, the first of the voyage.

Our navigator dumps his first beer on the head of our captain—an appropriate christening. Was he surprised! A navy runabout escorts us through the reef and into the ancient port. What a thrill to pull Ocean Angel up to the customs dock. Our hosts greet us with fireworks and a bag full of extra cold, very tasty beer. Clearing customs goes quickly, and we then began to enjoy the hospitality of this friendly

Mango Latitudes sails with spinnaker in the Regata de los Amigos.

The awards banquet.

so you couldn’t see the sea state, but you could hear the wind howl and feel the spray. After a long night of hand steering, the morning sunrise revealed the full fury of the raging seas. There were gusts to 40 knots and 20-foot following seas. At times, it looked like a big breaking wave might engulf us, but the well-balanced Beneteau sliced effortlessly through the stormy seas. It took a great deal of strength to steer and keep the boat racing efficiently. The companionway and all hatches had to remain closed to keep the cabin dry. In the cabin it was nice and quiet, but so hot that resting or sleep was difficult when off watch.

Not all crewmembers were physically able to steer efficiently, so we could not keep our watch schedule. Lack of sleep was causing fatigue, and instead of our planned hot meals, we ate only cheese and turkey sandwiches. After surviving such thrilling sailing conditions, the crew had bonded into a team with the common cause to sail efficiently to Isla Mujeres and the finish line.

On Sunday, day three, we sailed southwest of Cuba with our 150 genny, as the wind moderated to a mere 15 knots. At 1:00 a.m., early Monday morning, we reached our southern waypoint, jibed the boat and headed west to the finish line.

Just before 5:00 a.m., we heard the radio transmission that Aventura, an Island Packet 44, crossed the finish line, bolstering our reserve to quickly make the finish line. With sunrise shortly after, morale and sailing skills improved.

island paradise.

Skyrockets mark the arrival of the slower competing sailboats as they come in during the day. It’s fun to walk the docks to greet the crews, each with an interesting story of their trip across the Gulf.

Mi Vida Loca, an Oceanic 40 CC Beneteau, captained by Mike Boom, regatta chairman, got knocked down. Not the result of high wind velocity but she just fell off the steep side of a big wave. She rolled over till the mast was in the water. But everything was okay, as all was well secured.

Even the computer was attached. With nobody hurt, it is

News & Views for Southern Sailors

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RACING proof the captain was well prepared.

Scott Collins and crew on Severance, a Tartan 34, were sailing along at a good pace, when, as the wind increased, they heard the sound of a shroud parting. Luckily a few strands remained to hold the mast upright. His solution was to ascend the mast, rig a dock line to the first spreader and cautiously continue sailing. It certainly takes courage to accomplish such a feat in storm conditions.

The awards table.

The sportsman award went to La Gitana, an Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Day 37. What a sight to see the crew members arrive late Tuesday, after 114 hours and 27 minutes, their mainsail totally destroyed with a few shards of Dacron still flying from the masthead! A helicopter flew out to check on their safety. They refused assistance and finally reached the finish line sailing with just their jib.

Post-race festivities are the good part of the story. The fleet carried 18 boxes of medical supplies for donation. Dr. Mitch Massie, representing the Bradenton Yacht Club, sailing on Reflection, an Island Packet 42, transported an ultrasound machine, which was donated to the hospital. He also generously gave treats and T-shirts to many of the

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island children.

On Mango Latitudes, an Irwin 68 in True Cruising A, it only took Capt. Fred Bickley and crew 59 hours and 4 minutes to be first to cross the finish line. On his deck he transported a much-needed generator to donate to the island.

Perhaps the best goodwill projected was on Friday, when the island kids were welcomed. The pre-race water fight was enjoyed by all. You should hear the gleeful cheers of the children as our sleek Beneteau passes the committee boat with a full sail and pleasant heel.

We handed out cokes and candy.

Our Manatee county commissioner, Joe McClash, showed his usual great insight as he and his wife gave out school supplies and toothbrushes to the well-behaved children.

The final event was the awards banquet, when the captains received their awards after a tasty sit-down dinner.

Dressed up for the event, the women were looking especially good.

The Regatta del Sol al Sol is more than a fun sailboat race. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the rewards of sharing, meeting new friends, and improving our sailing skills.

www.southwindsmagazine.com

UPCOMING MAJOR SOUTHERN SAILING EVENTS, NEWS AND RACE REPORTS Regatta Time in Abaco, Bahamas. July 3-11. See the preregatta write up in the “Short Tacks” section, pages 20-25.

One-Design Crew Training, Davis Island, Tampa Bay, FL, June 3, 10 and 17 One-Design Crew Training will be held Saturday, June 3, 10, and 17 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.. This course is designed for those sailors who wish to increase their knowledge and desire to be skippers. Your previous background is of little importance as we will expose you to all the necessary skills to crew on one-design boats. You will learn how to use the hoists to launch dry-sailed J/24s, as well as how to hank on sails. You will get hands-on experience on trimming jibs, genoas, mains, and spinnakers. You will be taught to tack, jibe, start, and observe the Rules of Racing.

This course is open to the public and is aimed at those crew members who sail in our Thursday night series. The cost is a $100 tax-deductible contribution to the Davis Island Youth Sailing Foundation. Class size is limited to the first 30 who apply. For applications, contact King Purton at (813) 760-0177.

Fred Strammer Wins Florida District Championship

By Dave Thinel For the third consecutive year and at the ripe old age of 17, Fred Stammer, sailing American Dream #5520, has won the Flying Scot Florida District Championship. Sailing with his dad as crew, the duo of Fred and Fred prevailed with convincing victories in four of the six regattas. Consistency seems to be the secret. Whether the breeze is light or heavy, big waves or lake conditions, he always seems to be out front. Maybe the only exception to that was at the Flying Scot Midwinters (March 2006, St. Petersburg YC) where he was second to Marc and Marcus Eagan in a 50-boat field. All the time spent competing in Lasers, 420s, and Optis has really paid off. Congratulations, Fred!

The championship consisted of six weekend regattas with the four best results counting for the final score. The season began October 2, 2005, in Miami and continued with stops in Sarasota, Jacksonville, Eustis, Tampa and finally Melbourne on April 23, 2006. Despite the challenges from hurricanes, rising gas prices and a shortage of used Scots in Florida, the season was a big success. This is a real credit to the leadership from Charlie Fowler, the Florida District governor who has been involved with the class since 1972.

Charlie and Nancy sail #5126, Two Bears Boat, and seem to be in the middle of the action most of the time. Attendance was strong with an average of 20 boats per regatta, up one from last season. Overall, 56 boats attended at least one regatta compared to 48 last year. On the flip side, only eight boats attended four or more regattas, down from 10. The “snowbird effect” continued again this year with an average of only 13 boats attending the first and last races (October and April) since many regulars are up North at those times.

Speaking of snowbirds, Darlene and Ray Miller (#3668, Amazed) joined the Tampa fleet this year and attended all six News & Views for Southern Sailors

Fred and Fred receiving their Flying Scot Florida District Championship award. Photo courtesy Dave Thinel.

regattas and finished 10th. Way to go!

During the last year or two, used boats have been in short supply, especially those priced below about $6,000.

Thankfully, we had several motivated folks, including Jeff Linton (#4925), Mark Taylor (#4321, Blast-Off) and Andy Hayward (#4318 Chimichonga), who traveled to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio to purchase used boats and bring them back to Florida. We have likely missed some new members along the way and currently have a list of interested parties in need of a boat. However, we are spoiled by having one of the best new boatbuilders (and parts suppliers) in the business in Harry Carpenter, owner of Flying Scot Inc. Several district members took delivery of shiny new boats, which now number over 5700 and counting.

The members of the Florida District are truly fortunate to be able to sail year round and compete for a state championship. The sailors are as diverse as they can be, from folks in their 80s to kids in their teens. We have serious competitors, casual couples and dads with their sons and daughters. We rarely have protests; in fact, we did not have any last year or this year. Most important, we have a group that enjoys “the scene” both on the water and in the clubhouse.

Full results can be found by visiting the Florida District Web site, www.fssa.com/fldist/.

Bird Key Yacht Club Does Sailboat Racing Proud, Sarasota Bay Cup, May 13

By Morgan Stinemetz The Sarasota Bay Cup, held May 13 on the bay in 10-15 knots of northwesterly sea breeze, was one of those “if you build it, they will come” kind of sailboat races. In its first try, the Bird Key Yacht Club put together a regatta of such total richness that it set the all-time high-water mark for sailing events in the Sarasota Bay area. Fifty-nine boats of varying sizes and descriptions raced in seven classes in the 12-miler, a Sarasota Bay Yachting Association boat-of-the-year event.

A couple of hours before the race, the wind on the bay was patchy and weak, fitful as a baby with colic, but by the 1 p.m. start the wind had filled in, and all the oily, slick, noSOUTHWINDS

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RACING

Rick Gress, in the lead here on Mother Ocean, went on to take first in the Spinnaker division in the Sarasota Bay Cup. Photo courtesy Larry Ford, Bird Key Yacht Club.

wind spots had disappeared to be replaced by white caps that signaled marvelous sailing.

Fifty-nine PHRF boats in one place at one time for one race was a stunning affirmation of all the hard work put in by the people at the Bird Key Yacht Club. A couple of days after the race, Charlie Clifton who was on Maggie, a Marshall 22 cat boat that was unassailable in its lead in the True Cruising Light class, observed: “That was the most PHRF boats I have seen on the bay in decades, and the second beat, with the all the boats stretched out, going for Marker 15 (in the middle of the bay), was just beautiful.”

Indeed it was—the stuff from which great pictures come. The race was a reverse handicap event—also known as a pursuit race—and precise sailing instructions, good race committee work and a terrific course gave the racers all the points of sail they needed to make certain they had used (or misused) all their skills.

The race was the reason for the accumulation of all the sailboats, of course. But additional treats awaited the competitors back at the Bird Key Yacht Club. Miller was one of the sponsors, so keg beer slaked accumulated thirsts. While the sailors were arriving, so was a five-piece salsa band that played for dancing. On top of that, Race Chairman Richard Gress had materialized some dance instructors to help those challenged by Latino dancing get a few of the steps down.

Some got the message and acquired the muscle memory.

Others never did and probably never will, but it didn’t really matter; the beat was as infectious as poison ivy.

The dinner was advance-advertised as a seafood buffet, but it might be better called a seafood feast. Obviously, food is a subjective matter. So, speaking subjectively, I can say without fear of contradiction that the presentation was a knockout and the quality of the offerings diverse and fit for kings.

I talked to BKYC club manager Rob Edwards about how he and the chefs came up with such a lovely dinner. “I talked with some people at other clubs, and one guy said, ‘They’re just sailors; give them hamburgers and hot dogs.’

But we could do a lot better than that and I thought we should,” Edwards told me.

Among the offerings at dinner were prawns so big they looked like lobster tails, raw oysters on the half shell, 48

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smoked salmon sliced thin, fried grouper that was cooked to perfection—flaky and moist, and roast beef that was as tasty as roast beef ever gets. No other sailing regatta in my recollection has put such effort and displayed so much quality in the dining end of a day’s sailing. It put a cap on the day’s fun as real as the crown jewels of England. And I haven’t even touched on the desserts.

The awards ceremony went off without a hitch. The aforementioned Rich Gress did the emcee duties, kept the chit-chat to a minimum and awarded Kevlar duffles from Quantum Sails to the skipper who had come the farthest distance, from Tallahassee, and the skipper who submitted the earliest entry, among others. “I tried to incorporate every good thing for all the regattas I have been in,” Gress told me. He succeeded beyond measure.

Certainly there were standouts. Cindy and Charlie Clifton won the True Cruising Light class in Maggie, a cat boat, by a whopping 48 seconds per mile over the secondplace boat in their class. The second-place boat in their class belonged to me, and I suffered a brain meltdown and headed for the finish line when there were still three more legs to sail. We finally got that straightened out and went back and rounded the mark that we missed, but by this time we were back with the dogs and the cats and had no idea of where we stood. It turned out that my misdeed had just put us farther behind Maggie, but we got rolled by a Pearson 33 in our class on the next-to-last leg. Stalwart crew member Norm Hale was steering at that time, and on the last leg he screwed down his resolve tight as a submarine hatch and got the time back, taking the favored pin end of the finish line and beating the Pearson by 10 seconds. There are times in one’s life when you give all credit to superior judgment.

This is one.

The overall winner of the Sarasota Bay Cup was Greg Knighton, who sailed his more-than-30-years-old Ranger, Misty, to a convincing win in the Non-Spinnaker class.

Knighton sits now in the catbird seat as far as the Sarasota Bay Racing Association’s boat of the year in the NonSpinnaker class is concerned.

Everyone who raced in this year’s Sarasota Bay Cup turned out to be a winner, because the race was everything—and then some—of what a sailboat regatta could be and should be. In a galaxy of millions, this was the star whose brightness eclipsed all others, and the Bird Key Yacht Club and all the volunteers who made this sailing day one for the ages did themselves proud.

From this sailor, thanks.

REGIONAL RACING Reports, News And Race Calendars

Regattas and Club Racing— Open to Everyone Wanting to Race The races listed here are open to those who want to sail. No individual club membership is required, although a regional PHRF rating, or membership in US SAILING or membership in a regional sailing association is often required. (If individual club membership is required, please contact us and we will not list their races in the future.)

For publishing of your event, questions and informawww.southwindsmagazine.com

tion, send us your race schedule by the 5th of the month to editor@southwindsmagazine.com. Send in the name of the event, date, location, contacts (Web site, e-mail and/or phone), and, if you want a short description. Do not just send a link in to this information.

Since race schedules and venues change, contact the sponsoring organization to confirm. For changes to be published, contact the editor. Changes can be put on our Web site, if possible.

King Neptune in the Celtic Crossing Festival on Lake Lanier. Photo

by Michael Carter.

Celtic Crossing Festival, May 6, Lake Lanier, GA

By R.J. Mitchellette On May 6, the Atlanta Celtic Festival Society and the Barefoot Sailing Club held one of the best reenactments of the pirate days and a real Celtic Crossing. Twenty boats participated in this first festival of what promises to become an annual event, honoring people of the seven Celtic Nations who crossed the oceans to come to America in search of a new and better life.

The festival began with the boats passing in review for the judging of their decorations, representing the theme of the event, followed by a blessing of the fleet by the Celtic Patron Saints.

Then a seven-leg cruise around marks strategically positioned on Lake Lanier commenced with Dave Payne’s cutter-rigged Tayana dressed as a pirate ship in hot pursuit of its next prize (victim). Many a skipper and his/her crew were dowsed with water from water guns,, and in one case the skipper (this reporter) attempted a boarding of the pirate ship, which was aborted when his crew was gunned down by the pirate ship’s water cannons. It was pretty hectic out there with 20 boats, crisscrossing each other, trying to be the first across the finish line while avoiding being captured or sunk by the enemy, just like in the old days.

The contest winners were George Olive in his Cheoy Lee for the best decorated boat with an actual fire-breathing dragon mounted on the bow of his boat, Bill Gray in his Endevour 33 for the best choreography, Scott Dixon for the most poetic theatre in his Columbia 26 and Lance Jones, the event’s organizer, for original thought in his Catalina 22.

The overall best of everything award went to Tim Fulmer in his Pearson 26.

The après Celtic Crossing party was a smashing success, as Celtic drinks were generously poured by the sponsor, Castle Brands. Irish food was provided by Mechan’s Alehouse in Vinnings, GA, and traditional Irish music was News & Views for Southern Sailors

provided by Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann group, along with singing by Lori O’Brien.

The Celtic community in Georgia requested the state declare May 6-14 as Georgia Celtic Week in honor of the founding colonists, who migrated from the seven Celtic nations, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, Manx, Breton and Galatian, to settle in the state of Georgia and play a major role in the early colonization of the state.

For more information, go to www.barefootsailing.org.

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RACING SOUTHEAST COAST RACE CALENDAR JUNE Charleston Ocean Racing Association, www.charlestonoceanracing.org 4 Femme Fatale 17-18 James Island Regatta 30 Cape Fear Challenge Lake Lanier, GA. www.lakeniersailing.com 4-9 Junior Week, Lake Lanier Sailing Club 17-18 Reggae Regatta, Open, Lake Lanier Sailing Club Long Bay Sailing Association www.longbaysailing.org 3-4 NC/SC Offshore Governors Cup, PHRF, North Myrtle Beach,SC. 9-12 NC/SC Governors Cup, Little River Inlet, North Myrtle Beach,SC. Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org 3 Oriental Cup, PHRF, Oriental, NC. South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association, www.sayrasailing.com 3-4 Mayors Cup Regatta, Open, One Design, Lake Townsend Yacht Club, Greenville, NC. 3-4 Adams Quarterfinals, J24, Columbia Sailing Club-SC, Columbia, SC. 3-4 O’Day Quarterfinals, Laser, Savannah Sailing Center, Savannah, GA. 3-4 D12 Laser Championships, Laser, Savannah Sailing Center, Savannah, GA. 3-4 Pursuit of Sailing Regatta, PHRF, Outrigger Yacht Club, Lake Norman, NC. 3-4 Lighting District Champs, Lightnings, Carolina Yacht Club-NC, Wrightsville Beach, NC. 10-11 Hobcaw Regatta, Open, Hobcaw Yacht Club, Mt. Pleasant, SC. 10-11 Bottoms-up, Thistles, Lake Murray Sailing Club, Columbia, SC. 17-18 Bemis, Smythe Quarterfinals, 420, Laser, Charleston Community Sailing, Inc. Charleston, SC. 17-18 NC Governor’s Cup, Open, Carolina Sailing Club-NC, Raleigh, NC. 19-23 Y-Flyer Nationals, Carolina Yacht Club-SC, Charleston, SC. 20-25 San Juan 21 North Americans, San Juan 21, Lake Murray Sailing Club, Columbia, SC. 24-25 Lowcountry Regatta, Open, Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, Beaufort, SC. July Long Bay Sailing Association www.longbaysailing.org 21-23 Rocket Regatta, Cape Fear,SC. 29 Wooden Boat Race, South Port, SC Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org 8-9 Handcock Regatta, PHRF-NYRA boty, Cherry Point, NC. 15-16 J-24 Weekend Regatta, J-24, Oriental, NC. 29 Parrot Head Regatta, PHRF, New Bern, NC. South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association, www.sayra-sailing.com 1 Commodores Regatta, PHRF, Cape Fear Yacht Club, Southport, SC. 1-2 Independence Day Regatta, Open, Lake Norman Yacht Club, Mooresville, NC. 7 SAYRA Youth Championship, Laser, Sunfish, Optis, 420, Savannah Yacht Club, Savannah, GA. 8-9 Firecracker Regatta, Laser, Sunfish, Optis, 420, Savannah Yacht Club, Savannah, GA. 8-9 Sears, Bemis & Smythe Semifinals, Lasers, 420, J22, College of Charleston, Mt. Pleasent, SC. 15-16 Beaufort Water Festival, Open, Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, Beaufort, SC. 15-16 Charleston Yacht Club, Open, Charleston, SC. 22-23 Hobcaw Yacht Club, Open, Mt. Pleasant, SC. 29 Jolly Jordan, Optis, Carolina Sailing Club, Raleigh, NC. 29-30 Carolina Yacht Club, Open, Charleston, SC. 50

June 2006

SOUTHWINDS

EAST FLORIDA RACE CALENDAR

Melbourne Yacht Club Reschedules Club Races

By Roy Laughlin Melbourne Yacht Club has rescheduled its popular Friday evening Rum Race and its small boat racing on Sundays.

Melbourne Yacht Club officials announced these schedule changes after the May issue went to press. Southwinds apologizes for any problems our readers experienced as a result.

We believe schedule information in this issue is correct. We recommend you always contact the club to confirm schedules, as changes are frequently made.

JUNE June – Central East Florida 3-4 Spring Regatta. Titusville Sailing Center.

3 Mermaid Regatta. Port Canaveral Yacht Club.

3-4 Jetty Park Ocean Regatta. Port Canaveral. Space Coast Catamaran Association.

4 Small Boat Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club.

7,14,21,28 Wed Evening Summer Series. Indian River Yacht Club.

9 Summer Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club.

10,17,24 Summer Buoy Race #1, #2,#3. East Coast Sailing Association.

11 Commodore Cup Race 4. Smyrna Yacht Club.

17-18 Daytona Summer Sizzler. Daytona Beach. Fleet 80.

23 Summer Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club.

25 Spring #5. Indian River Yacht Club.

26 Make-up Race 4. Smyrna Yacht Club.

June – Northeast Florida. www.sailjax.com 3,17,24 Summer Series #2, #3, #4. Rudder Club 10 Series Race. Epping Forest Yacht Club.

JULY July– Central East Florida 1-2 Eau Gallie Cruise. East Coast Sailing Association–Cruising.

1-2 Firecracker Regatta. Port Canaveral Yacht Club.

2,9,23,30 Small Boat Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club.

3-11 Regatta Time in Abaco.

3,12,19,26 Wed Evening Summer Series, Indian River Yacht Club.

14,28 Summer Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club.

23 Fall Women’s #1. East Coast Sailing Association–Racing.

29 River Challenge. East Coast Sailing Association–Racing.

July – Northeast Florida. www.sailjax.com 8 Moonlight Regatta. Rudder Club 15-16 1st Annual St. Johns Optimist Green Fleet Dinghy Regatta. The Florida Yacht Club www.southwindsmagazine.com

Bourke helming Man-O-War (Tripp 33). Sharon managed to place first in two out of the three races beating out local favorite, Goombay (J/27). The Coral Cup requires a woman helmsperson. While members of the opposite sex are permitted to be part of the crew, they usually are relegated as working hands, much to the delight of the women.

Results: 1st Pl – Man-O-War/Sharon Bourke; 2nd Pl – Goombay/Anita Hansen; 3rd Pl – BlewBaYou/Kerry Gruson.

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA RACE CALENDAR

BBYRA #5 Sunburn Regatta, Miami, April 29-30

By Art Perez This year’s BBYC Sunburn Regatta turned out to be a bust for the one-design portion of the event. Scheduled over a two-day period, the regatta saw only a total of three boats show up for the start of the one-design race. The cause of this unfortunate turn of events was the product of a strong cold front that passed through the day before, leaving behind winds in the 25- to 30-knot range and gusting. The smaller one-design boats wisely decided not to go out in this kind of weather leaving it to the Etchell fleet to duke it out among themselves. But even that fleet had second thoughts because only two out of the three boats that showed up actually raced. After the first race, the RC decided that was enough and sent everyone home to dry out.

When Sunday morning rolled around, the winds were still quite strong, but more manageable for the larger boats in the PHRF fleet. PHRF 1 and 2 had their usual strong turnout, making up the bulk of the fleet. The RC did a great job of getting everyone off the line on time, and to make sure that all got their money’s worth, they ran three races instead of the usual two.

With only three J/24s making up the fleet, the battle between I’ll Go and Joe Cool took center stage, with I’ll Go winning two of the three races, losing the last race by only two seconds.

In the big boat events, Chris Woosley, aboard Mostly Harmless in PHRF 1, took top honors in his class, out-dueling Pipe Dream XIV, which settled for second place. In PHRF 2, Cai Svendsen, helming Cara Luna, left everyone in his wake with three first-place finishes. Cai’s lifetime of racing gave him the leading edge over the rest of the fleet.

Results: Etchell; 1st Pl – Scott Piper; 2nd Pl – Jeff Nehms: Sunday Results: PHRF1; 1st Pl – Mostly Harmless/Chris Woosely; 2nd Pl – Pipe Dream XIV/Tom & Scott Piper; 3rd Pl – Sazerac/Gordon Ettie; PHRF2; 1st Pl – Caraluna/Cai Svendsen; 2nd Pl – Jammin/ Russ & Vicky Horn; 3rd Pl – Blackbird/Pat Cacace; PHRF3; 1st Pl – Sailing for Life/Karen Mitchell; PHRF4; 1st Pl – Deadline/Gerry Marston; 2nd Pl – Maiden/Lea Hume; 3rd Pl – Special Warfare/Stuart Sorg; J24; 1st Pl – I’ll Go/Gonzalo Diaz Sr.; 2nd Pl – Joe Cool/Lionel Baugh; 3rd Pl – Hot Water/Randy Lenz; Melges 24; 1rd Pl – TBD/Dave Helmick; 1st Pl – Group Therapy/Tom Seghi; 3nd Pl – Huzzah!!!/George Coggeshall

36th C-Gull Cup, Miami, May 6

JUNE 3

Key Biscayne Yacht Club Annual Regatta - BBYRA PHRF#7. KBYC –Race #7 of the BBYRA Annual Series, Open to all boats with PHRF certificates.

Key Biscayne Yacht Club Annual Regatta - BBYRA OD#7. KBYC - Race #7 of the BBYRA Annual Series, Open to all One Design class boats recognized by BBYRA. Cindy’s Full Moon Regatta. Cindy Saunders BBYRA. Open to all boats who like to sail under the stars.

J/24 summer 2. Flat Earth Racing – J24 one design racing. Must be registered with Flat Earth Racing.

BBYRA OD #1 – Rescheduled from January. MYC. Make-up race rescheduled from January.

BBYRA PHRF#8. CRYC – Race #8 of the BBYRA annual series for PHRF registered boats.

BBYRA OD #8. CRYC – Race #8 of the BBYRA annual series for One Design.

4 10 10 11 17 24 JULY 4-14

Regatta Time in the Abacos. See ad page 21, and “Short Tacks” section for more info.

15 J/24 Summer 3. Flat Earth Racing – J/24 one design racing. Must be registered with Flat Earth Racing.

Note: There are no BBYRA scheduled races during the summer break, July and August.

Legend for Above Yacht Clubs and Organizations BBYRA Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.net BBYC Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. www.bbyra.net CGSC Coconut Grove Sailing Club. www.cgsc.org CRYC Coral Reef Yacht Club. www.coralreefyachtclub.org KBYC Key Biscayne Yacht Club. www.kbyc.org.

MYC Miami Yacht Club. www.miamiyachtclub.net.

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The winner of this year’s 36th Annual C-Gull Cup, designed to promote women’s racing, was won by Sharon

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RACING Panhandle, Mark Murray and Mark Herendeen.

The race is sponsored by the Hogsbreath Saloon of Key West, Calvert Sails in Islamorada, Catamaran Sailor magazine and www.OnlineMarineStore.com. Special thanks go to the Upper Keys Sailing Club for hosting the start of the race.

For complete results, go to www.catsailor.com.

2006 Wreckers Cup Series Finale, Key West KEY WEST RACE REPORT

South Florida Sailors Win Hogsbreath-Keys 100 Race, Keys Sailor Takes Third, April 29-30

By Rick White

Brian Lambert of Fort Walton Beach and Jamie Livingstone of Miami finished just out of the trophies in fourth place in the Hogsbreath Race. Photo by Rick White.

Miami area sailors took first and third places in the Annual Hogsbreath-Keys 100 Race, on April 29-30, a 100-mile trek in heavy winds and seas from Key Largo to Key West for highspeed catamaran sailboats. The first-place boat finished the 100 miles in just over five hours, averaging nearly 20 mph.

Eleven catamarans started on the bay side of Key Largo in Buttonwood Sound with very windy conditions, between 20 and 25 knots. The course ran down the Intracoastal Waterway to the Channel Five Bridge, where the fleet sailed to the Atlantic Side of the islands. They stopped in Marathon on the first leg and completed the journey to Key West on the following day, finishing at Smathers Beach in Key West.

Three boats had to withdraw from the windy conditions on the first day with breakdowns in equipment. One sailor was separated from his disabled boat and could have easily been lost at sea. But another competitor picked up the sailor and brought him back to his boat. A fisherman came to their rescue and pulled the crippled boat to shore.

Team Tybee Island, sailed by John Casey and Kenny Pierce of Miami, won both legs with pretty good-sized leads. Tavernier sailor Steve Lohmayer sailed on Team Castrol with Miamian Jay Sonenklar and took third place overall. Second spot went to a team from the Florida 52

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SOUTHWINDS

By Rebecca Burg Undaunted by a small craft advisory, the third race of the series began on Sunday, March 26. Motivated by some 20 knots of north winds, 30 sailboats crashed over foaming seas with rolling waves in an offshore drag race to Sand Key Light.

The lean, mean visage of a large trimaran rocketed from the bouncing pack of sails and gained so much ground that she beat the race committee to the finish line. You’d never think that a sailboat could generate such a large rooster tail.

The trimaran, Lucid, was sailed by Donny Hall and earned first overall. Robert Graham and his multihull, Oralee, took third behind the big cat, Caribbean Spirit. Heeling far over in the wind and showing her curvy bottom, Mike Bankester’s Irwin 31, Moonspinner, pounced into second in the hardwon category of monohull-over-30 feet. Mike was passed by first-place taker Constellation, Greg Petrat’s slippery Swan. Chris Harlan’s Passing Wind found herself in the middle of the fleet, but still having fun. Harlan’s long-time friend and crewmember, Tom Reynolds, flew all the way from Indianapolis to join the wild and windy fun. “It’s fantastic. We really do have a good time,” says Passing Wind crewman Dick Odgers.

On April 30, race four began in about 15-knot winds under the area’s typical sunny skies. A friendly new face, San Dino’s Grace, set a new standard for the monohull-over30 class. The 54-foot Hylas, helmed by Dave Hutchinson, slid over the finish like a silent dancer. Unfortunately, Grace’s quick and elegant stride on and off the crowded stage was missed by the committee boat, and during the awards ceremony, first place was given to Greg with Constellation. Graciously, Greg gave the San Dino’s Grace crew her rightful prize, and a correction was made. After a review of the race video, Mike’s Moonspinner finished in the top three, but had also been missed in the crowd. Sean’s Capitiana and Bill’s Defiant were shoulder to shoulder for the entire race, with Capitiana slipping out ahead at the final moment. Schooners Mistress and Liberty Clipper vied for a class first in a rather aristocratic, sail-flexing fight for dominance. Mistress took first in the third race while Liberty regained the prize for the last race.

“We put the FUN back in DYSFUNCTIONAL” reads the crew T-shirts of the J/24 Thin Ice. Matt and Ivy’s J/24 remains at the top despite the best efforts of Colin’s J/24, Harley, and Evalena’s elegant Freya. John Smittle was back in action with Class Act. Mark Fox’s antique wooden vessel, Clay Basket, was a poised and elegant winner in the classic division.

For complete results, go to www.schoonerwharf.com (“special events” page). www.southwindsmagazine.com

Sam Chapin Regatta, April 29-30, Key West

By Rebecca Burg Saturday’s winds gusting to 30 mph and Sunday’s firm 15to 20-mph winds didn’t chase away this tough crowd of Lasers and small boats. Overall, 18 vessels joined the event and battled for top honors in the 2nd Annual Sam Chapin Regatta. Some boats literally dropped out and were dunked in the gusts. The spray was flying as first place was earned

by James Cook and Bud Case. Jeff Serrie and Walt Matthews sailed into second while third was won by Tom Theisen and Jack Worth. Wet and windblown, the crowd enjoyed an after-race grill-out, party and a raffle of valuable prizes.

KEYS RACE CALENDAR Key West Sailing Club. Every Saturday – Open House at the Key West Sailing Club. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (305) 292-5993. www.keywestsailingclub.org. Sailboat Lane off Palm Avenue in Key West. Come by the club to sail. Non-members and members welcome. Wednesday night racing has begun for the summer season. Skippers meet at the clubhouse by 5:00 p.m. and boats start racing at 6:00 p.m. in the seaplane basin near the mooring field. Dinner and drinks afterward.

Upper Keys Sailing Club. www.upperkeyssailingclub.com.

straight. As I was busy with my own boat problems at the time, I was not aware of the sinking or of the rescue, and relied on second-hand information for the original article.

I would like to tell everyone of the first-rate seamanship displayed by the captain, James Myers, and crew of the racing sailboat, Renegade. With high winds blowing and the sea state rising and confused due to both the wind and the number of boats in the area. Capt. Myers was able to maneuver his boat into position to pick up two of the three crewmen who were still able to swim to Renegade, While attempting this rescue, Renegade suffered some damage herself, but kept on going.

The third crewman was at this point too tired to swim over to Renegade and clung to the mast of Naboo, a Santana 20, which was still sticking above the surface of the water. Capt. Myers made another pass upwind of the stricken Naboo and dropped off their ship’s life ring, so that it floated down to the tired crewman. Once the crewman had the ring, he was able to let go of the mast, float free of the sunken boat and give Capt.

Myers and his crew a chance to pick him up without the running his boat into the mast sticking out of the water. Renegade is a type of boat that doesn’t have much of a stern, about eight inches is all it has, but the about-to-be-rescued crewman was at this point too exhausted to even climb aboard this small distance and required the assistance of two of Renegade’s crew to get aboard.

During the rescue, another boat also dropped out of the race to offer its assistance, and that was Bill the Cat with David Taylor and crew.

The crew of Naboo all made it home safely and that is due in very large part to the seamanship of the captains and crews who came to their rescue. To all who helped in the rescue, I say, “Well Done.”

Jabbo Gordon Invitational Regatta, Englewood, FL, April 22

By Jabbo Gordon

One-Design Crew Training, Davis Island, Tampa Bay, FL, June 3, 10 and 17. See beginning of race section, page 47, for more information.

West Florida PHRF Annual Meeting. June 24. Sarasota Yacht Club. Discussion of classes, calendar, rules and organization. Presentation of Boat of the Year awards for West Florida regions. Open to all members and those interested in West Florida racing. For more information, contact Jay Tyson, WFPHRF president at jtyson@timbar.com.

RACE REPORT

Update on the Sinking of the Sailing Vessel Naboo at the Gasparilla Regatta on Tampa Bay, Feb. 11

By Gene DeNisio In the March issue, I mentioned that several boats spotted the sinking boat, and they picked up its crew, which was taken to the committee boat. I would like to set the record News & Views for Southern Sailors

Fred Hutchinson of Fort Myers won all six races to win the 10boat Sunfish class in the third annual Jabbo Gordon Invitational Regatta on Lemon Bay in Englewood on April 22.

Sarasota’s Abby Featherstone captured three races, took a third and finished fourth twice to grab the 20-boat Red, White and Blue Optimist division, which was the largest of the five-class regatta that attracted 54 skippers from as far away as Eustis, FL.

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RACING Liam McCarthy of Naples skippered his International Optimist to four firsts, a third and a fifth in the 11-boat Green fleet, which is for first year competitors.

Mike Dowd of Sarasota’s Youth Sailing Program sailed his Laser Radial to five firsts and a second to take the Portsmouth division, which had eight boats. Max Famiglietti and Chelsea Carlson, also of Sarasota, also had five firsts and a second to win the five-boat 420 class.

The regatta featured three races in the mornng and three in the afternoon over a trapezoid course off Indian Mound Park. Sailors were treated to moderate winds, which shifted from southerly to southwesterly during the day.

Proceeds from the event go to the Lou Gehrig’s Disease Association of Southwest Florida. Sarasota’s John Jorgensen, president of the association, which serves victims and their families from Tampa to Naples, presented trophies along with LGDA board member Rich Brooks.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, attacks the neurons that control voluntary muscles. It has no cure yet.

Results (Trophy winners and their scores): Portsmouth: (1) Mike Dowd, Sarasota, 7. (2) Will Stocke, Sarasota, 13. (3) Samuel Dolby, Englewood, 21. (4) Glenda Libby, Eustis, 22. 420s: (1) Max Famiglietti and Chelsea Carlson, Sarasota, 7. (2) Jackie Sims and Molly McKinney, Venice, 11. Sunfish: (1) Fred Hutchinson, Fort Myers, 6. (2) Kevin Pierce, Fort Myers, 16. (3) Damien Lin, Fort Myers, 18. (4) Mike Mierswa, Sarasota, 24. Optimist Red-White-Blue: (1) Abby Featherstone, Sarasota, 14. (2) Christopher Stocke, Sarasota, 32. (3) Jasper Curry, Sarasota, 37. (4) Matt Dowd, Sarasota, 40. (5) Ian Nora, Sarasota, 46. Optimist Green: (1) Liam McCarthy, Naples, 12. (2) Seth Hart, Venice, 14. (3) Ben Mohney , Venice, 16. (4) Andrea Schmidt, St. Petersburg, 28. (5) Carmela Zabala, Naples, 33.

Leukemia Cup Regatta, Charlotte Harbor, FL, April 22-23

By Mike Savino The 2006 Leukemia Cup Regatta, a Charlotte Harbor Boat of the Year event, was conducted on Charlotte Harbor by the Isles Yacht Club and the Punta Gorda Sailing Club. The first day of the two-day, three-race event was in a brisk southerly breeze on Saturday, April 22. The Spinnaker and Tri-Hull boats used a windward/leeward course, and the NonSpinnaker and Cruising fleets used a triangle course.

The second day had no wind at start time, causing the start to be postponed for an hour and 20 minutes. Finally a southwesterly breeze of five knots kicked in, and the race was able to start. The overall winner of the Leukemia Cup was Rooster Tail, a S-2, 7.9-meter boat in the Spinnaker fleet skippered by David Flechsig of the Punta Gorda Sailing Club. The rest of the crew was Paul Alessandroni, John House, Scott Endicott, Kande Blubaugh and Fred Hannon.

The real winner of the Leukemia Cup Regatta was the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which was the beneficiary of over $90,000 raised from the generous sponsors of this event.

Results: Spinnaker Fleet; 1st Rooster Tail, S-2, 7.9, David Flechsig; 2nd Crime Scene, S-2, 7.9, Peter New; 3rd Bama Slammer, S-2, 7.9, Bob Knowles; Non-Spinnaker Fleet; 1st Fancy Free, Soverel 39, Jerry Poquette; 2nd Frisbee, Able Poitn, Bill McClean; 3rd Learning To Fly, J-32, George Buckingham; Cruising Fleet; 1st Oui Oui, Swan 40, Don Levy; 2nd La Boheme, Irwin 38, Ron Scalzo; 3rd Desert Fox II, Hunter 340, Roger Rommel; Multi-Hull; 1st Bahama Hunter, Farrier F-33, Tom Bragaw.

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WEST FLORIDA RACE CALENDAR On-line West Florida Race Calendar Go to editor@southwindsmagazine.com to view the annual on-line race calendar on the Southwinds Web Site with links to clubs and information and changes to schedules. To have your race listed, or changes in your race schedule, e-mail the information to the editor, Steve Morrell, at editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

The West Florida list of yacht clubs and sailing organizations is also on line.

Club Racing Bradenton YC. Evening Races Daylight Savings time of year. Races at 6:30 p.m. PHRF racing on Manatee River. For info call Larry Lecuyer, (941) 729-5401.

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 Boat of the Year Races (BOTY): Southwest Boat of the Year (SWBOTY), Charlotte Harbor Boat of the Year (CHBOTY), Sarasota (SBOTY), Suncoast Boat of the Year (SBOTY) West Florida PHRF Annual Meeting. June 24 Sarasota Yacht Club Discussion of classes, calendar, rules and organization.

Presentation of Boat of the Year awards for West Florida regions. Open to all members and those interested in West Florida racing. For more information, contact Jay Tyson, WFPHRF president at jtyson@timbar.com.

JUNE 3 3-4 4 6 10 10 17 17-18 24 25 JULY 4 4 8 22

St. Petersburg YC. Darlene Clark Bikini Cup. Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. Jetty Park Ocean Regatta, Catamarans.

Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. Ladies Day Race, PHRF. St. Petersburg YC. Calendar organizing meeting for Tampa Bay area clubs.

Cortez Yacht Club Commodore’s Cup Series (CYCCC).

Race #2. Cortez YC. Tampa Bay Yacht Racing Assoc. Trans-Bay Race, PHRF Dunedin Boat Club. Larkin Regatta, PHRF in the Gulf off Clearwater Pass Summer Sailstice. Worldwide celebration of sail Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society.

Sunworshipper’s Race, PHRF. Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. 45 x 45 Catamaran Distance Race Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Firecracker Race.

Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. Race For Liberty, Catamarans.

Cortez Yacht Club Commodore’s Cup Series (CYCCC).

Race #3. Cortez YC. Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society.

Firecracker Night Race, PHRF.

www.southwindsmagazine.com

2006 Challenge Cup, Pensacola, FL, June 23-25

By Kim Kaminski The 2006 GYA (Gulf Yachting Association) Challenge Cup Regatta will be held over a three-day period on June 23-25 at the Pensacola Yacht Club. This annual competition invites all yacht clubs which are current general members in the GYA. Each club may enter no less than three and no more than four boats in the different classes, which include: Class A handicap rating of 15 to 72, Class B handicap rating of 75 to 111, Class C handicap rating of 114 to 150 and Class D handicap rating of 153 to 213.

In addition, the skipper, the helmsman and at least half the crew must be current members of the yacht club they represent.

On Thursday, June 22, a race briefing will be held at the Pensacola Yacht Club. Traditionally, this competition has been held at the Gulfport Yacht Club in Gulfport, MS, but due to Hurricane Katrina, the event was moved to Pensacola.

The regatta will have seven races, and no races can be thrown out in final scoring. A yacht club’s points for a race will be the sum of the scores of the best three boats of that club in the race, lowest total points winning. The winning four-boat entry yacht club will be awarded the Spring Hill College Gulf Yachting Association Offshore Challenge Cup Trophy. The yacht club with the lowest point total among the three-boat entry teams will be awarded the Mobile Yacht Club Trophy. The G.S. Buddy Friedrichs Trophy will be given to the boat that places first in the A fleet.

For more information, go to www.pensacolayachtclub.org, or contact Fleet Captain John Matthews at (850) 492-4802.

Race Changes: Pensacola Bay Offshore Race (formerly the Gulfport to Pensacola Race), June 30-July 1

By Kim Kaminski Every June, sailors of the Gulf coast look forward to the exciting 100-mile coastal race from Gulfport, MS, to Pensacola, FL. This year, even months after Hurricane Katrina, race organizers were still uncertain as to whether this much anticipated and well-attended event would even be held.

Coastal water debris clean-up is still under way (even after 10 months of debris removal has been executed). Several thousand tons of materials have been removed from the News & Views for Southern Sailors

coastal waters of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama with even more submerged debris still needing to be removed.

Because of this clean-up status and because the small boat harbor of Gulfport, MS, (starting location for the race) was still inaccessible to boaters, organizers considered canceling this year’s event. Instead, they decided to change the format to continue the event. The decision was made to hold a long distance off-shore race from Pensacola (traditionally the finish line) out to a gas-oil rig approximately 50 miles to the south of Pensacola Bay, then to proceed west to the Perdido Bay Sea Buoy and back to the Pensacola Yacht Club entrance channel marker as a racecourse for all Spinnaker class boats entered into the competition. NonSpinnaker participants will sail a different course heading out of Pensacola Bay, then proceeding to the east toward the Destin Sea Buoy and back to the Pensacola Yacht Club entrance channel marker.

Through this creative racecourse, an alternate competition has been offered to the Gulf Coast community sailor. It is the hopes of the race organizers that this alternate opportunity will be a challenging and fun contest. Registration and information for the race can be found at www.pensacolayachtclub.org LOCAL RACE REPORT

MacDonald and Thomas Win 29th Annual Performance Midwinters East, Pensacola Beach, March 25-26

By Julie B. Connerley Some multihullers just can’t get enough, or maybe it’s just that “nothing drives like a rental,” as one competitor said during the 29th annual Performance Midwinters East held on Pensacola Beach, March 25-26. Eleven teams used the same Nacra 20s sailed in the Hobie Alter Cup just two days before. Three others raced Nacra F-17s.

For other sailors, like the Teets family of Dublin, OH, the competition, hosted by Key Sailing on Pensacola Beach, is part of the family’s vacation and has been for the past 18 years. Mike Teets, 42, and his son Austin, 13, were the only father-son team. Austin was also the youngest competitor.

Consistently finishing in the top three places in all nine races (electing to throw out one fourth-place finish) was John MacDonald, 37, of Gulf Breeze, FL, and his crew, Tony Thomas, 30, of Pensacola. MacDonald has 25 years experience, Thomas 12. “We’ve been sailing together for about two months,” smiled MacDonald after accepting the firstplace overall trophy.

Jake Kohl and crewmember David Mosley came in second with 22 points. Kohl, of Greenville, SC, is a member of Team Seacats, a catamaran sailboat racing team focused on racing events all over North America. He served as vicechair for the 20th annual U.S. Multihull Championship.

Kohl assumes chair duties for the 2007 competition being held in Melbourne, FL. Third place went to Pensacola sailors Mark Smith and Bubba Barberi with a total of 31 points.

See NORTHERN GULFCOAST RACING CALENDAR on page 60 SOUTHWINDS

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

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REGIONAL SAILING

Sailing Services Directory starts as low as $10 a month.

BOAT LETTERING

YOGA SAILING CHARTERS (305) 989-7181 Enjoy a Magical week of Yoga & Adventure Sailing in the Bahamas or Belize Oct. 05 or Jan & May 06 www.dutchlove.com

CAPTAIN SERVICES CAPT. KEVIN MURPHY . . . . .(340) 277-1026 USCG Licensed Master, Deliveries, Instruction murfdesurf@hotmail.com TOPSAIL SERVICES Deliveries • Consulting Power • Sail USCG Licensed Master • Unlimited Tonnage Don Charland (910) 279-6315 doncharland@aol.com

CANVAS & CUSHION SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS DOCKSIDE RADIO www.docksideradio.com Pactor II/III Modem Sales & Support; FCC Marine Radio License filing; SailMail WinLink Installation & Training . . . . .(941) 661-4498

CUSTOM BOAT SERVICES & REPAIRS

SCUBA CLEAN See ad in Underwater Services

CHARTERS MAHINA LA SAILING . . . . . .(941) 713-8000 MacGregor 65 * Two hours to two weeks South Tampa Bay Area in Cortez Daily Sunset Cruises or Sail to the Keys www.floridasailingtrips.com

Northern Gulf Coast Race Calendar JUNE 3-4 Ladies PHRF Championship – Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA 3 Ladies Fleur De Lis – CSA, Lake Pontchartrain. Women’s Sailing Association, NOYC, SYC 3 Mobile Bay Marathon - FYC 3 Cancer Society Regatta (Amanda Werner Trophy). PYC 3 School’s Out Regatta (one design).

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ELLIE’S SAILING SHOP . . . . . . . . . .Clearwater Lifelines, rigging, hardware, repairs Serving small boat sailors Since 1958 Sunfish Boats and Parts . . . . .(727) 442-3281 ________________________________________ GLASTECH YACHTS . . . . . . .(727) 544-5512 Full Service Marine Yard & Mobile Service Power & Sail • Serving West Florida www.glastech34trawler.com ________________________________________ Industrial Marine Supply . . . . . . . .Tampa Bay Gas/Diesel Repair & Maintenance Certified Electrical & Plumbing Underwater work . . . . . .(775) 771-8515 cell

PONTYC Chandler Regatta (Capdevielle).

SABYC 3-4 Ladies PHRF Championship. SYC 3-4. Ladies Fleur de Lis - CSA, LPWSA, SYC, NOYC 3-4 Mobile Bay Marathon. MYC 10 Commodore’s Cup #3. NYC 10 Race to the Coast. SYC 10-11 Billy Bowlegs Regatta. FWYC 22-25 GYA Challenge Cup. PYC 24-25 GYA 420. NOYC 3-4

FISHING GUIDES FL KEYS BACKCOUNTRY TRIPS With Pro Guide Capt. “BR” Exploring, Sportfishing, Birding (305) 304-2258 www.keywestsportfish.com

MARINE DIESEL SERVICE INLAND MARINE DIESEL . . . . . . . . . .Atlanta Service/Parts for all makes of diesel auxiliary New Engine Sales–Universal, Beta, Yanmar, and Westerbeke . . . . . . . . ..(404) 513-4414

MARINE SURVEYING TAYLOR MARINE SURVEYING & CONSULTING, LLC Specializing in Sailing Vessels (813) 625-0448 www.taylormarinesurveying.com

Advertise your services here

1" boxed-in ads for $240 a year RIGGING SERVICES 24 Glorious Fourth. LFYC 24 We Found the Bay Regatta. PYC 30 PYC Championship #2. PYC 30-July 1 Pensacola Bay Offshore Race. PYC JULY 1-2 1-3 8-9 8 8

Horn Island Hop (one design/ multihull). OSYC U.S. Junior Olympic Festival. PYC Meigs Regatta (Capdevielle). FWYC Around the Lake. CSA Commodore’s Regatta. (Sunfish). www.southwindsmagazine.com

SERVICES DIRECTORY Call (941) 795-8704 or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com

ADVERTISE

IN THE SERVICE DIRECTORY

YACHTING VACATIONS Punta Gorda, FL Sailboat Charters 22’-48’ ASA instruction Live-aboard/non-live-aboard www.yachtingvacations.com (800) 447-0080

MASTHEAD USED SAIL . . . .(800) 783-6953 www.mastheadsailinggear.com Largest Inventory in the South (727) 327-5361

PORPOISE SAILING SERVICES – Sarasota

Starting at $96 a year

*New/Used Sails * New Custom Sails Roller Furling Systems & Packages

editor@southwindsmagazine.com

(800) 507-0119 www.porpoisesailing.com

(941) 795-8704 SEA TIME SAILING SCHOOL . . . . .Miami, FL Offshore trips/Sailing courses www.seatimesailing.com . . . .(954) 636-9726

RIGGING SERVICES

Bay Rigging TAMPA’S MOBILE RIGGING SERVICE Yacht Rigging • Furlers • Lifelines

Cell (727) 215-0704 www.bayrigging.com

SAILMAKING, REPAIRING & CLEANING ADVANCED SAILS . . . . . . . . .(727) 896-7245 Quality Cruising Sails & Service Closest Sailmaker to St. Petersburg Marinas Keith Donaldson . . . . . . . . . .(727) 896-7245

SSMR. INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .727-823-4800 Complete Rigging Services On-Site Crane, Splicing & Swaging Commissioning Services On Salt Creek at Salt Creek Boat Works Fax 727-823-3270 . . . . . . . . . .St. Petersburg

Scuba Clean Yacht Service See ad in Underwater Services

UNDERWATER SERVICES

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

SAILING INSTRUCTION ADVENTURE CRUISING & SAILING SCHOOL A sailing school for Women and Couples • ASA • West Florida and Chesapeake www.acss.bz . . . . . . . . . . . . .(727) 204-8850

8 8 8 8 15-16 15 15 15 22-23 22-23

NYC Patriot’s Day Regatta. PBYC Single-Handed Regatta. FYC Race for the Case. GYC Rhodes 19 Nationals. FYC Summer Regatta (Capdevielle). MYC Fast Women Regatta. PYC Bastille Day Regatta. NOYC Night Race #2. FWBYC Weatherly Regatta (Capdevielle).

GYC U. S. Junior Women’s Single-

News & Views for Southern Sailors

(727) 327-2628 C’S CANVAS AND SAIL REPAIR See ad in Canvas & Cushion Services

22,29 22 29-30 29 29

Handed Regatta, Leiter Cup. Houston Yacht Club Summer #1, #2. CSA Bikini Regatta. NYC Junior Lipton Cup. SYC Race for the Roses. PBYC Cruising / Raft-up. PYC

Wednesday Evening Fun Races Pensacola Yacht Club. 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the Month - April- October Fort Walton Yacht Club. April thru October SOUTHWINDS

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CLASSIFIED ADS CLASSIFIED ADS — 3 Months for $25 Place your ad early on the Internet for $10 • Classified ads with text only for boats are $25 for a three-month ad for up to 30 words. $50 for ad with horizontal photo ($65 if vertical photo). Check or Credit cards accepted. Must be for sale by owner – no business ads. Boats wanted ads included.

• Free ads for boats under $500 (sail and dinghies only), all gear under $500, and windsurfing equipment. For sale by owner ads only.

• All other ads (including business ads) are $20 a month for up to 20 words, add $5 a month for each additional 10 words. $10 a month for a horizontal photo. Frequency discounts available.

Contact editor.

• All ads go on the SOUTHWINDS Web site. For a one-time $10 fee, we will place your ad on the Internet before going to press on the next issue.

• No Refunds • The last month your ad runs will be in parentheses, e.g., (10/06) is October 2006.

BOATS WANTED ___________________________ J/24 Trailer. Single or dual axle. Needing some repairs okay. Call (904) 264-7957 (6/06)

___________________________

Trailer wanted for Catalina 28. editor@southwindsmagazine.com

BOATS & DINGHIES ___________________________ Life Raft. Viking 4 person. Offshore ResuYou Pro (automatic self-righting, double inflatable floor, inflatable boarding ramp), in valise.

Purchased new 11/04, never used. $2250 OBO. E-mail: tisontag@earthlink.net or call (727) 367-4647. (6/06)

___________________________

Inflatable Dinghy for sale. 8’ 8” Plastimo P270K. Solid Wood floor. PVC. Oars. Never Used in Perfect Condition. $850/Best Offer.

Bradenton, FL. (941) 795-8704.

Craig100@tampabay.rr.com.

• Ad must be received by the 10th of the month.

TO PLACE AN AD: 1. On the Internet www.southwindsmagazine.com This applies only to the $25 and $50 ads above with and without photo. Pay with Paypal and put your ad in the subject line. If a photo, then e-mail to editor@southwindsmagazine.com as a separate jpeg attachment.

2. Via E-mail and Credit Card. E-mail your ad to editor@southwindsmagazine.com. Text can be put in the e-mail. Send photos as a separate jpeg attachment to the e-mail. Pay by mail (see below) or credit card. You can call us with a credit card number. Give us the credit card number, expiration, billing address and name on card. Call (941) 795-8704.

3. Mail your ad in. Mail to SOUTHWINDS, PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175. Send a check or credit card number with information as listed in #2

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 ADS

12 6 3 1

COST PER INCH

MINIMUM INCHES

TOTAL COST

$19 $22 $25 $29

2" 2" 2" 2"

$38 $44 $50 $58

1975 Hunter 30, shoal draft, diesel, cruiseequipped, great liveaboard, electronics, pilot, full batten main, boat in good condition, located Bay St. Louis, MS. Slip available, two jibs, lots of gear, $8500, (228) 342-6277. bluestarsail@yahoo.com (6/06)

___________________________

1982 30 ft. Olson. Performance racing sloop.

Race with the best for a fraction of the cost.

Good sail inventory. $6500. Jack Scragg (239) 482-8370. Fort Myers Beach. (6/06)

___________________________

27’ ERICSON. Carefully maintained, fast, sturdy, many upgrades & extras, roller furling genoa, autopilot and remote, A/C, Bimini, inboard runs great, sailaway, 1 mo. free slip!

Reduced! $9,400 offers. Call (727) 364-6710.

(7/06)

Catalina 30, 1990 Std Rig, Wing Keel, 2001 Westerbeke 26 HP 525 Hours, two 155 Jibs, 2 Mains, Spinnaker, Profurl, A/C, Refrigeration, Propane Stove, Hot Pressure water, Full Canvas covers, Auto Pilot, Full electronics, Beautifully Maintained. Call for Specifications $47,500 (239) 768-9205. (8/06) 62

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SOUTHWINDS

above. Mail the photo in (35mm best). If you want the photo back, enclose a SASE. Add $5 for a typing charge.

4. Telephone or fax your ad in. Call (941) 795-8704 and give us your ad over the phone. There is an additional $5 typing charge. If you have a photo, you can mail it in. We can take your credit card number, or you can mail a check. Fax: (941) 795-8705.

5. Do a combination of the above. E-mail, call in or send the ad text in via Paypal on our Web site. Email the photo directly to the editor. If you don’t have a scanner, mail the photo to us separately. Call the editor at (941) 795-8704 with any questions.

6. We will pick up your ad. Send the editor a check for air flight, car rental, hotel, travel, eating and entertainment expenses, and he will come to your location and pick up the ad. Any ads to be picked up on tropical islands or other resort destinations will be free.

ADVERTISE YOUR BOAT Starting at $25 for 3 months

31’ Catalina 310 2000 – Furling Mast, A/C, Bimini, Windshield, Chart Plotter, Radar, Auto Pilot, Inverter, AGM Lifeline Batteries 10/05, Balmar Alternator, Davits, Electric Windlass, Exceptional Boat! $77,500. Massey Yacht Sales Ft. Myers – (239) 334-3674, Palmetto – (941) 723-1610, St. Pete – (727) 824-7262. (8/06)

www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS

32’ HUNTER 320 2001. Freshwater, ICW, loaded w/extras, In-mast furling main, autopilot, 80-watt solar panel, bimini, dodger, stereo system, companionway teak doors. $69,500/ obo. Luka, MS, (731)394-1897, belew@pneumaticsystems.com. (8/06)

33’ Glander Tavana 1985 center board mast head sloop. Newly painted bottom, hull, topsides and non-skid. New rub rail, teak hatches. New jib sail. 30 HP Vetus diesel. Great Florida and Bahamas boat, draws 3’ board up.

A no- nonsense boat offered below market at $12,900/best offer. Needs TLC. Call Major Carter (941) 792-9100.

32’ Anastasia Double-ended Cutter, main, jib and staysail, Yanmar 3 cylinder diesel, hull perfect, house needs completion and minor repairs, No storm damage, Pensacola, $10,000 OBO, Photos on request Satoritom@aol.com. (7/06).

ALL CLASSIFIEDS ON WEB SITE: www.southwindsmagazine.com News & Views for Southern Sailors

1973 S&S DEB 33 centerboard sloop. 3’7” 6’3” draft, diesel, tiller autopilot, good sails, Bimini, dodger, VHF, depth, roller furling, AC, 8’ dinghy w/OB. $20,000 OBO. (941) 918-9310 (941) 320-7505. (8/06)

1977 Trident Warrior 35. Well-maintained and equipped for offshore. Call for Details.

(850) 866-4490. $46,500 OBO.

1994 Hunter 35.5 Yanmar 27 HP recently serviced with 780 hours, NEW stereo w/remote control, NEW refrigeration, NEW Isenglass in dodger, NEW Batteries (3), NEW Bottomsider cockpit cushions, NEW AC thermostat, NEW electric windlass w/remote switch in cockpit, MarineAire AC, 16,000 BTU, recently serviced, Davits, inflatable and 2-hp Honda 2-stroke recently serviced.

Massey Yacht Sales & Service (727) 8247262.

1970 Ericson 35 MKll - Bruce King classic design hull #164. Universal 30 HP diesel, Wheel steering w/ emergency tiller, All lines lead aft, Newer sails; 130% UK Kevlar, 170% dacron genoa, & fully battened main w/ reefing system. Lazy jack system, Harken dual sheet traveller, Harken roller reef, dodger w/ dodger, bimini & full canvas cockpit enclosure incl screens. updated interior cushions, 150’ chain w/3 anchors, electric windlass, AM/FM/CD stereo w/cockpit speakers & power amp, Marine Radio, Auto Pilot 4000, Many upgrades incl. opening port lights throughout, newer AC & DC throughout.

Documented. Great sailing boat w/ lots of nice gear. Partial trade for smaller trailerable boat considered. $19,000. (727) 363-4000.

(7/06)

1995 Hunter 35.5 Only 615 hrs on Yanmar 27. New canvas, Navico autopilot, ST 60 depth, ST 60 speed, Furuno GPS, SGC SSB radio, Apelco VHF, dinghy w/OB engine, roller furling, full batten main w/dutchman, solar panel, S&L windlass, holding plate refrigeration, SS propane stove, 12000 BTU marine air, TV, stereo. Ready to sail with performance and pleasure. $69,900. www.cortezyachts.com.

(941) 792-9100

DISPLAY CLASSIFIED ADS STARTING AT $38/MONTH SOUTHWINDS

June 2006 63

CLASSIFIED ADS Columbia 40 1966 centerboard diesel sloop.

This classic Maine yacht needs elbow grease on the bright work. First $21,000 firm. Lying Fort Myers. (239) 454-6404. (8/06)

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Cheoy Lee Offshore 40 yawl, 1978, with St. Pete Municipal Marina slip available. New mainsail, headliner, dodger/bimini. Low engine hours. Many upgrades. $64,000 E-mail jimsboat@juno.com. (6/06) Catalina 36, 1984. Full racing/cruising upgrades, Tall mast, 5’10” draft, rigid boom vang, upgraded flat travel, AC, self-tailing two-speed winches, good condition, new headsail, roller furling, cockpit shower, 3 GPS units, 2 VHFs, bimini and dodger, 4 batteries, all lines lead to cockpit. $48,900. Autohelm 4000. (941) 795-4646. Tampa Bay. mtimillertime@yahoo.com. For pictures and more info, go to www.catalinaowners.com and do a search for this boat in classifieds. (7/06)

Two Montague folding, full-size bicycles; perfect for cruising. Like new, with many extras, including soft carrying cases. “A bicycle that folds, not a folding bicycle.” $350 each.

(941)743-7156 or (941)504-3302. (8/06)

___________________________

CQR 25 Anchor for sale-No Rust. $75.00.

Pompano Beach (954) 558-1360. (8/06)

___________________________

Wanted. Used Aluminum Boom Lightning. (904) 794-0937. (7/06)

for

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Gimballed stove, 3 burner with oven, propane. Winches, misc. hardware, & gear, Perkins diesel with clutch, (228) 342-6277 bluestarsail@yahoo.com. Located Bay St. Louis, MS. (6/06)

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1984 LANCER 45 CC Sloop with 85 HP Perkins, 3 staterooms, 2 heads, walkthru to aft cabin w/ centerline bed. Marine air. Roller furling main and jib. Depth and wind instruments at the helm. CPT autopilot, Furuno CRT radar, GPS, VHF, stereo CD, TV, full galley, electric windlass, dodger, 11’ Alliance RIB w/OB. www.cortezyachts.com. A great liveaboard or cruiser. $79,900 (941) 792-9100

Tohatsu 18 hp long shaft model. Recently tuned. Propped for maximum thrust at low operating rpms. Dependable. Ideal for 27-foot sailboat. Capable of 6 knots to weather in snotty seas. Tilt mechanism recently reconditioned and now smooth as butter. Sexy paint job with flames on cowl. Silver cowl and blue shaft.

Offers. (941) 722-9022. (6/06)

___________________________

Boat Diesel Engine.Volvo Penta 3000. 27 hp.

Two cylinder. Total hours 3338. Includes many new parts. Instruction manual. Parts list.

Running condition. $2500 negotiable. Best Offer. Ask Mark at (772) 283-1947 from 8 a.m - 4 p.m. (7/06)

IRWIN 37’ cruise equipped, AutoPilot, diesel, center cockpit, watermaker, GPS’s, VHF/HF radios, solar panels, Wind-Gen. Dinghy & OB Spares, complete, working, everything you need, needs TLC $29,900 (305) 731-3911. joegreno@hotmail.com. (8/06) 38’ Lagoon Catamaran. 2002. Excellent condition. One of the best on the market for the money. Very well-equipped. Lots of new and updated equipment. $295,000. Call Bob, owner, at (507) 951-1625, or call Yachting Vacations (800) 447-0080. Burnt Store Marina, Punta Gorda, FL. (7/06)

BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES ___________________________

___________________________

Anchor CQR plow. 25 lb. Never used. $200.

St. Pete. (727) 344-2092. till 7 p.m. (7/06) 45’ 6” LOA Bayfield 40, Hull # 34 full keel 5’ draft, cutter ketch designed by H.T.Gozzard built in 1984. Exceptional condition with lots of new gear. Harken roller furling on all sails.

Marine air, WS, WD, depth, VHF w/remote, SSB, cd/radio, autopilot, chartplotter, Radar, dinghy, life raft $114,000 Call Major Carter or visit www.Cortezyachts.com

SEE CLASSIFIED INFO ON PAGE 62 64

June 2006

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS Yanmar 10hp 1GM10 Diesel. Excellent Condition. All gauges and controls. Tank, prop and shaft, extra filters and parts. $1600. (727) 804-4508.

Used Boat Gear For Sale - Force & Magma Grills, Folding Bikes, Windscoops, Drogues, Lifesling, Type 1 Life Jackets w/strobe, Blocks, Turnbuckles, Anchors, Line & Chain. Nautical Trader (941) 488-0766. www.nauticaltrader.net. (7/06)

News & Views for Southern Sailors

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CLASSIFIED ADS 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 ___________________________ Licensed contractor with experience in highend residential work, both new and remodeling, seeks to qualify a builder as an active, advising, part-time, non-working partner. I am a very responsible, honest experienced builder with excellent qualifications seeking the same to work on projects in residential work. Only very quality-oriented and responsible builders /carpenters need contact me who are in the Manatee/Sarasota counties area. I also am only interested in enjoyable, interesting work — not the rat race.

Craig100@tampabay.rr.com.

Edwards Yacht Sales is expanding! Yacht brokers needed to sell sailboats on either coast. Will train! Excellent commissions, group health insurance, bonus plan. Contact Roy Edwards at (727) 725-1600, www.EdwardsYachtSales.com

___________________________

Writers, Reporters, Articles, Photos Wanted.

SOUTHWINDS is looking for articles on boating, racing, sailing in the Southern waters in all regions, the Caribbean and the Bahamas. We are also looking for other articles on the following subjects: marinas, anchorages, mooring fields, disappearing marinas and boatyards, marinas and boatyards sold for condos, anchoring rights, sailing human interest stories, boat reviews, charter stories, waste disposal— and more. Photos are wanted on all these subjects, plus we want cover photos (pay $65 for cover photos) of both race and non-race subjects, but about sailing. Cover photos must be very high resolution and vertical format.

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

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

___________________________

HELP WANTED ___________________________ Articles and race reports in the Carolinas and Georgia. editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

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HOMES FOR SALE OR RENT ___________________________

___________________________

Service Dept. Rigger. Massey Yacht Sales is accepting applications and resumes for sail and/or powerboat riggers/outfitters. Many employee benefits including paid holidays, paid vacations, health insurance, workmen’s comp insurance, performance bonuses, and good hourly salary. Must be hardworking, honest, have own tools and be a team player. Excellent service department support and organization. Call Alice Winter, ext. 10, service dept. mgr. at (941) 7231949, or fax resume to (941) 729-7520.

___________________________

CREW AVAILABLE/WANTED ___________________________

Murray Yacht Sales is adding professional yacht brokers and customer service personnel to its successful team. Immediate needs include: yacht broker in St. Petersburg office, yacht sales experience required; Rigger/Service Tech in New Orleans office. E-mail résumé to info@MurrayYachtSales.com.

Writers and Ideas Wanted on Waterways Issues. SOUTHWINDS is looking for writers, acting as independent subcontractors to research and write articles on subjects discussed in the “Our Waterways” section. Must be familiar with boating, good at research, have computer skills, high-speed Internet access and work for little pay. Most important, you must have an interest and passion for the subject and want to bring about change and improvement of boaters rights, waterways access, and disappearing marinas and boatyards—and have lots of ideas and energy to help bring about improvements through various means (that are, of course, legal and principled). You may choose your subject within these parameters. We would also like to get an organization going to promote these interests if you can help. Writers, photographers, cartoonists, jokers, magicians, philosophers and others of questionable professions may apply. Send info to: editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

___________________________

For Sale - Shows Like A Model - 3BR, 2 full baths, 2-car garage with enclosed Florida room, patio and vaulted ceilings. Built late 2003 on premium lot. Surrounded by mature palms, sprinkler system, well and ground lighting. Upgrades galore. Appliances stay. Generator and hurricane-ready. Located in private community in Edgewater, Florida. Close to beaches, ICW and parks. $284,900. Call (386) 846-9185 for details. All offers entertained. (8/06)

Sailboat Lover’s Dream Home!!! Open Tampa Bay view, deep sailboat water. 6’ at low tide, boat dock, 2200 sq ft, 3 br, 2.5 bath home, fireplace, bonus room, 2 minutes to I-275 and downtown St. Petersburg. Asking $695,000, 3620 Beach Drive SE, St. Petersburg, FL 33705. (727) 5151423 or jasonamir@hotmail.com. (6/06)

Marine Parts Counter Person Wanted.

Experience with marine industry beneficial.

Full time with benefits. Snead Island Boat Works (941) 722-2400. Palmetto, FL. (5/06)

___________________________

Massey Yacht Sales Positions-Sail and/or power yacht sales positions available in the Massey St. Petersburg and Palmetto dealership offices. Best marina dealership locations, excellent sales, marketing and service dept. support. We are new yacht dealers for Catalina, Hunter, Albin, True North, Nordic Tugs, plus offer a large inventory of brokerage sail and powerboats. Applicants must be computer literate, have successful yacht sales history, good knowledge of yachts and builders, be a team player, motivated and hard working. Best yacht sales income potential on Florida west coast. Call Massey general sales manager Frank Hamilton at (941) 723-1610 or fax resume to (941) 729-7520.

___________________________

Sarasota, FL Waterfront Townhouse w/Deep water boat slip For Rent. 3br/3ba, 3 floors, 2 fireplaces, gated, pool, tennis. Protected boat slip accommodates up to 70-foot Boat. Direct access to Gulf. Walk to restaurants and shopping. For info call (561) 213-2390. (6/06)

See Classified Info on pg 6 2 www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS INSURANCE _________________________

SAILING VIDEOS ___________________________

LODGING FOR SAILORS ___________________________

SAILING INSTRUCTION ___________________________

SAILS & CANVAS __________________________

Ponce de Leon Hotel Historic downtown hotel at the bay, across from St. Petersburg YC. 95 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 550-9300 FAX (727) 896-2287 www.poncedeleon hotel.com

MARINE ART ___________________________

ALL CLASSIFIED ADS DISPLAYED ON WEB SITE www.southwindsmagazine.com

2" DISPLAY ADS starting at $38 941-795-8704 editor@southwindsmagazine.com News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

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67

CLASSIFIED ADS

T__________________________ ROPHIES/AWARDS HALFHULLS

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

Subscribe to SOUTHWINDS $19.95/year • $37/2 Years • 3rd Class $24/year • $45/2 Years • 1st Class Subscribe on our secure Web site www.southwindsmagazine.com

INDEX

OF

ADVERTISERS

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LEMMINGS continued from page 70 As we headed toward the finish, our conversation centered around our error, and as we looked back, we noticed other boats rounding the same wrong mark, although we also noticed several that were rounding the correct mark.

Drinking beer and laughing, we knew this would be a real conversation piece around the tiki bar back at the yacht club. Thankfully, we weren’t the only ones who made this mistake, and the fact that the well-known racer was among our group was even more comforting.

We predicted correctly that it was 68

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the conversation to be part of, and the more beer we consumed, the funnier it got. We were all practicing the art of laughing at ourselves and didn’t mind when those from the other boats, who rounded the correct mark, laughed along with us.

But there was one question that dawned on me as we all joked about our error: Why didn’t any of us on those three boats—upon realizing our mistake—immediately change direction and head toward the correct mark, shaving a few minutes off our times?

Why did we instead continue to round

the wrong mark?

By the way, we took first place in True Cruising. And our captain did have the right heading to the correct mark.

Strangely, none of us brought the binoculars out as we approached the wrong mark.

Others in the class rounded the same wrong mark, and another boat, although it rounded the correct mark, went the other way around the island, but it was a bad decision.

I believe all the boats in the Spinnaker class rounded the correct mark. Of course, none of this really happened. www.southwindsmagazine.com

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June 2006

69

Race of the Lemmings

By Steve Morrell

F

rom space, a sailboat race might appear like a group of small animals moving across the surface in the same direction, and when they all turn around the same point to head off in another direction, it might appear they are just moving along together like a herd, but actually, they are rounding a mark.

Recently, I was crew in a 20plus-mile race in a far off galaxy.

Fortunately, no one knows this place, so it can’t be verified that these events actually happened. To make it easy, we will use Earth terms, e.g., north, south, PHRF, etc.

The start of the race was inside a very large bay bordering on an open sea. Along the western border of the bay was a long, narrow island.

The boats were to sail west a few miles from the start, come up to the first marker on the east, bay side of the island and then go around a series of marks that surrounded the island.

They would then return to the first mark and then on to the finish. At the first mark, you had the choice to go clockwise or counterclockwise around the island. Fourteen boats raced in three classes; Spinnaker, Non-spinnaker and True Cruising.

With 15-plus knots of wind, clear skies, warm weather and warm water, conditions were about as good as you get for sailing, especially for this length race. The race had a pursuit (reverse handicap) start—at 10 a.m.—where the PHRF rating determines when you cross the start line, the highest rated boats crossing first.

I was one of a crew of three on a 30-foot sloop in the True Cruising class. With a high rating, we were second to start. It was a beautiful day, and we three were truly enjoying this sail. Because of the wind and wave directions, we made the choice to go around the island clockwise.

As the morning progressed, winds picked up, and we were moving along at a comfortable 7 to 8 knots in 17-18 knots of wind. We turned left at the first mark and headed south toward the second mark, which was southwest of the island. After round-

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ing the second mark, we headed north, sailing on a broad reach, still making a comfortable 7 to 8 knots.

Other boats were catching up with us from the rear, which we expected. The faster Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker boats started behind us and should, by all rights, slowly catch up. There was one True Cruising boat in front of us that we were catching up to.

Our GPS and charts told us where the next mark was. I was at the

helm, and the captain gave me a heading, which I endeavored to maintain. We could not yet see the mark in the far distance quite yet, but as we approached it, we noticed the other boat in front of us was not going to the same place we were, but heading to what appeared to be a mark farther to the right (east). I asked the captain to double-check our heading, which he did, and he confirmed we were on course. We then noticed the other boat right behind us also heading toward the same, more eastward mark, and I again asked the captain to check on it.

He still felt we were doing well, but we three began to wonder about these

other boats. After all, we all make mistakes. Could we be wrong?

As we continued along, all of a sudden the boat in front of us turned a bit to the left, its course crossing our path. This confused us. Then we noticed the boat right behind us did the same thing. I again asked the captain to double-check everything. (It would be important to note that the boat behind us was captained by a very well-known local racer, and we couldn’t imagine him not going to the right mark.) After a bit of time, when we watched these boats more steadily head to the left and toward a mark over in that direction, we decided perhaps something was amiss and also veered to the left.

At this point, we three boats were all aiming at the same mark, and it amazed us that, here we were, just over halfway around a 20-mile course, and it looked as if we were all going to round this mark at the same exact time!

We were going to have to give room to the boat we had caught up with to make the rounding (taking it to starboard), and the boat that had now caught up with us was going to have to give us room, also.

As we approached this mark, we noticed (with the naked eye), at perhaps a couple hundred feet away, that the number on this mark indicated it was not the mark that we were supposed to be rounding, but the one about a mile and a half to the west of it.

We were so close to the other boats that we were all yelling and joking with each other that it was the wrong mark. We were doing probably 6 knots, so we came up to this mark very quickly. We continued to round it, being careful to give the boat on the inside the room it needed, plus we had to jibe as we made the rounding. We also kept an eye on the boat to the outside, as it gave us the room we needed. We all made the rounding and were now on an easterly course, heading, actually, to the next mark, which was the one we were really supposed to round. We all passed it on the correct side.

See LEMMINGS continued on page 68 www.southwindsmagazine.com