Southwinds June 2007

SOUTHWINDS News & Views for Southern Sailors

Hurricane Season 2007

June 2007 For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

Reinventing the wheel is one thing that makes Beneteau such an exceptional sailboat manufacturer.

For over a century, we’ve been leading the industry with innovations like our patented pivoting wheel on the Beneteau 323.You’ll also find many other features and options on the Beneteau 323, including a retractable keel that allows you to sail into the most shallow gunkholing spots. Experience the exceptional. Visit your nearest Beneteau dealer to view the new sailing yachts for 2007.

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS June 2007

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SOUTHWINDS

News & Views For Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS Media, Inc. P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, Florida 34218-1175 (941) 795-8704 (877) 372-7245 (941) 795-8705 Fax www.southwindsmagazine.com e-mail: editor@southwindsmagazine.com Volume 15 Number 6 June 2007 Copyright 2007, Southwinds Media, Inc. Founded in 1993

Doran Cushing, Publisher 11/1993-6/2002

Steve Morrell

Publisher/Editor 7/2002-Present editor@southwindsmagazine.com

(941) 795-8704

Debra Mann

Display Advertising debra@southwindsmagazine.com

(941) 625-5715

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

Steve Morrell

Classified Advertising editor@southwindsmagazine.com

(941) 795-8704

Regional Editors EAST FLORIDA mhw1@earthlink.net

Roy Laughlin Production Heather Nicoll

Proofreading Kathy Elliott

Letters from our readers Kimberley Collins Jabbo Gordon Dave Kyser Hone Scunook Mindy Strauley

Contributing Writers Rebecca Burg Tom Dunn Kim Kaminski Roy Laughlin Cliff Stephan Kent Trompeter

(321) 690-0137 Artwork Rebecca Burg angel@artoffshore.com

Jeff Butzer Dave Ellis Jim Liston Jennifer Rogers Morgan Stinemetz Wally Moran

Contributing Photographers/Art Rebecca Burg (& Artwork) Julie Connerley Jim Dietrich Gary Gray Capt. Bill Robinson Morgan Stinemetz Kent Trompeter Tim Wilkes Photography Gil Williams EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: ARTICLES & PHOTOGRAPHY: SOUTHWINDS encourages readers, writers, photographers, cartoonists, jokers, magicians, philosophers and whoever else is out there, including sailors, to send in their material. Just make it about the water world and generally about sailing and about sailing in the South, the Bahamas or the Caribbean, or general sailing interest, or sailboats, or sailing in some faroff and far-out place.

SOUTHWINDS welcomes contributions in writing and photography, stories about sailing, racing, cruising, maintenance and other technical articles and other sailing-related topics. Please submit all articles electronically by e-mail (mailed-in discs also accepted), and with photographs, if possible. We also accept photographs alone, for cover shots, racing, cruising and just funny entertaining shots. Please take them at a high resolution if digital, or scan at 300 dpi if photos, or mail them to us for scanning.

Contact the editor with questions.

Subscriptions to SOUTHWINDS are available at $24/year, and $30/year for first class. Checks and credit card numbers may be mailed with name and address to SOUTHWINDS Subscriptions, PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach FL, 34218-1175, or call (941) 795-8704. Subscriptions are also available with a credit card through a secure server on our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com. SOUTHWINDS is distributed to over 500 locations throughout 8 Southern states. If you would like to distribute SOUTHWINDS at your location, please contact the editor.

Read SOUTHWINDS on our Web site

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SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS

FOR

SOUTHERN SAILORS

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Gulfport, FL: Save This Town

By Steve Morrell

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Letters

15

Southern Regional Monthly Weather and Water Temperatures

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Bubba Drags His Anchor

By Morgan Stinemetz

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Short Tacks: Sailing News and Events Around the South

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Our Waterways: Boot Key Harbor changes, Gulfport Mooring Field, Anchoring in Melbourne

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Establishing a Plan and Preparing Your Boat for a Storm, Morrell Hurricane Predictions 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season opens. Photo by Steve

By Steve Morrell

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Morgan Invasion 2007

By Tom Dunn

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WiFi Going South

By Kent Trompeter

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Travels with Angel: Coastal hopping Southeast Florida: Lake Worth to Biscayne Bay

By Rebecca Burg

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Southern Racing: Southern Race Reports and Upcoming Races, Southern Regional Race Calendars

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A Bay of Fundy Sailor Meets Charley Morgan

By Caroline Norwood

Morrell. Page 36.

28-29 Marine Market Place 32-33 Regional Sailing Services Directory – Local boat services in your area.

57 Boat Brokerage Section 62 Classifieds 68 Alphabetical Index of Advertisers 69 Advertisers’ List by Category 69 Subscription Form

WiFi Going south. Photo by Kent Trompeter. Page 42

Cover: Sailing in the Corsair Trimaran Nationals.

Photo by Julie Connerley

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 Gulfport, FL – Save this Town

R

ecently, I’ve had the opportunity, to visit this ’Ol Florida-style waterfront community that I hope keeps its current flavor. Its downtown is a walkaround “village,” which has not yet become “Disneyized” with shops and restaurants that are all so very new and perfect. It’s still a very “real” community—the type that developers like to try to imitate. Gulfport is a combination of quiet neighborhoods, shops, restaurants, bars and small businesses originally created by dreamers who settled here years ago and built a dream. It is not a town of high-end luxury homes and condos.

What was created was what many of us have seen all over Florida from the Panhandle to the Keys—and it’s what we have sadly seen disappear.

More and more people wanted to live in this style. In their love for it, they destroyed it as the population grew.

But not yet in Gulfport. That flavor is still there.

But there is an enigma I see in this town. I am not sure where they want to go. I visited friends who live there who have worked hard in trying to make this waterfront town more open to boaters—as it once was—a community that will invite cruisers to come visit, either by staying at the marina, or anchoring offshore—or by staying at the proposed mooring field, which is the current battle being fought. Right now, cruisers wonder about visiting Gulfport, as it has a reputation of not

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wanting them.

What I don’t understand is why anyone would be opposed to their visiting. Cruisers, who are mainly sailors, would come here for only one reason: because they would love this community. It has everything that cruising sailors want: ’Ol Florida flavor, small restaurants, a walk-around town, modest homes, waterfront bars and shops, a nice beach, pier—and a citizenry just like them, people who like this style town. Businesses would thrive and love it when cruisers come to town.

I know the people in Gulfport want to improve the town, but I bet anything almost every one of them wants to keep this town’s current flavor and style. So it puzzles me. Why would they not want to invite a group of people just like them—honest, responsible people of modest means who like the quiet of sailing, who respect the waters more than almost anyone, who like a slow, quiet lifestyle that sailing brings? They will dinghy ashore (which means no cars, drunk driving or parking problems), spend money in shops, restaurants and bars, be friendly—and then go home without taking anything with them except pictures, souvenirs and memories.

It puzzled me, and I can only believe that people who oppose such visitors can only be against them for a couple of reasons. First, they don’t have a clue what cruisers are like. It’s obvious to me how this view developed.

For years, Gulfport experienced the very worst of boaters: those who are poor, live on derelict boats and don’t cruise because their boat is junk and can’t go anywhere. Because of its protected waters, location and a growing Florida population, many derelict liveaboards found Gulfport waters convenient. Gulfport saw them as representative of all boaters, and since many lived on old sailboats, all sailors became victims of this view. It’s called prejudice—judging the whole group by the actions of a few. It is pretty obvious to me that this is what is going on, as almost every sailor I ever met—who could cruise in his or her boat—is the exact opposite of the view held by some people in Gulfport.

The only other reason I can see as to why there would be people in Gulfport who would not want cruisers to visit the town appears obvious to me: Some people want Gulfport to become something different than what it is. There must be people who don’t want to keep this small community of privately owned businesses and modest homes. There must be people who would like to see Gulfport become what much of Florida is evolving to: waterfront luxury mansions, condominiums and franchised restaurants, bars and shops. Why? I am not sure, but many will get rich if it does.

Believe me: If they want to keep cruisers away, just let Gulfport become like that, and they will stay away on their own.

Steve Morrell, Editor

www.southwindsmagazine.com

LETTERS “Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one.”

H.L. Mencken In its continuing endeavor to share its press, SOUTHWINDS invites readers to write in with experiences & opinions.

E-mail your letters to editor@southwindsmagazine.com TO OUR READERS: We have received a lot of letters in recent months and have not been able to print them all. We are asking our readers to please keep your letters brief so that more of them can be printed, or please send money so that we can pay for a larger magazine

and print them all. Otherwise, we will have to edit them down.

We try to print our letters in the order that we receive them, but also strive to print letters on a diversity of topics, so some get printed sooner than others.

Editor

BEING CONCISE: “If I had had more time, I would have written you a shorter letter.”

Attributed to Pascal, T.S. Elliot, Mark Twain, Igor Google and others.

RIGGING COMPANY IN ST. PETERSBURG PROVIDES GOOD SERVICE I wanted to pass on that Steve Smith Rigging (SSMR) in St. Petersburg is an outstanding company that delivers unbeatable customer service. Steve and Jennifer Smith, as well as Andrew Cheney, are experts in the field of marine rigging and know how to take care of their customers. Let me tell you of my recent experience with them.

Last year, in February 2006, my boat dismasted and Steve Smith’s Rigging replaced my 1979 Cal 27’s standing and running rigging. They did a great job, dealt with the marine surveyor and gave me sincere and helpful advice as to what else I might consider doing to my boat.

Soon after the job was done, I noticed that the bathroom door would not shut properly. My neighbor at my marina—who also has a Cal 27 and does much of my boat’s maintenance—said that it was because of a “twisting” of the boat from improper rig tension, so he loosened some of the rigging. This solved the door problem.

A year later, in January 2007, I realized that I had a serious weather helm problem that I did not have before SSMR re-rigged my boat. After raking my mast as far forward as possible and thus eliminating some of the weather helm, I called Jennifer Smith at SSMR in March and advised her that my forestay is too long and asked that they make it right. She got back to me shortly and after inspecting my boat, she advised me that it was badly tuned and asked if I had readjusted any of the shrouds, so I told her the story about my bathroom door not being able to shut and my neighbor’s loosening of my shrouds. Jennifer advised me that this de-tuning of the boat was most likely the problem, and they would retune the boat for $80. Eighty dollars— now that is a GOOD DEAL. But, no, I stubbornly insisted that the problem See LETTERS continued on page 8

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

Clip-on Solar Powered Light Charges during the day and runs at night $24.50 (plus $6 shipping) • Stainless steel & weatherproof • Clips on 7/8 or 1” lifeline stanchion or swim ladder • Brite-white-lite for safe boarding • Improves boat security by offering a “Lived In” Look • LED lighting does not attract insects and lasts forever Life Safer Personal Retriever $129.00 (plus $7 shipping) The Personal Retriever is the only U.S. Coast Guard-approved, buoyant, rapid response, multi-use, water and ice rescue disk, with 100-foot reach.

The Personal Retriever outperforms all throwable water-rescue devices.

• Throws like a saucer with 100-foot line attached • Made of floating polyethylene foam, polypropylene base • 11.24 pounds buoyancy • Weighs 1.5 lbs • Deploys in 10 seconds or less BridgeNorth Boat Hook/Bailer 5-foot $46.00 (shipping $6.50) 8-foot bailer $56.00 (shipping $7.00) Boat hook, bailer, washer, squirt gun…and more The most versatile boat hook available.

Stick the end in water, pull the handle back and it is a bailer. Push it back in and it will wash your boat down or squirt your friends (50 feet easily). Many other uses including aerating fish buckets.

To order, call (941) 795-8704, or (877) 372-7245 with a credit card (or confirm to mail a check in), or e-mail store@southwindsmagazine.com.

To all items and books shipped to Florida locations, add applicable state and county sales tax. All items can also be picked up in Bradenton, Florida

TO ORDER CALL 877-372-7245 8

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LETTERS was a result of the forestay being too long, so we were in disagreement (she was very respectful, though). Jennifer then put Steve Smith on the phone, and he told me that when they re-rig, they use all manuals and materials available and precisely measure the boat’s replaced rigging to be sure that the boat is rigged properly. But I did not want to hear that, so he advised me to bring the boat to his rigging dock so they could check it out. I said this is not my fault, as I did not have weather helm issues before he rigged it. I made it very clear that I was not going to pay, and any work that they do will be for free. With great patience and respect, Mr. Smith told me that when I brought the boat in, they would inspect the rigging and determine exactly what the cause of the weather helm is. He said that after he corrected the weather helm problem, if it was determined to be SSMR’s fault it would certainly be free of charge, and if it was my fault, it would be up to me whether or not I should pay them. Thus, he was saying that, after 14 months, they will still warranty the problem and let me determine if I will pay them. One cannot ask for better customer service.

I took the boat to their rigging dock and they very graciously took me in, re-tuned the rigging and said that I should take it out into the harbor to see if the weather helm problem was corrected. Steve told me that Andrew would take the boat out with me, if I wanted, to check out the weather helm. Now Andrew is one of the best racing sailors around, so I was honored by this gesture, and we quickly determined that the weather helm had been corrected.

Andrew gave me several suggestions on how to make my boat sail better and faster, to boot.

I would like to ask that you print this in the next edition of SOUTHWINDS. if possible, as I want to let the sailing world see an example of great professionalism, expertise, and customer service.

Dan Fontaine Cal 2-27 Selina Dan I know Jennifer and Steve and have heard other good stories and it does not surprise me. Thanks for passing the word along.

Editor POLICE IN GULFPORT, FL, INSPECT THE SAME BOAT EVERY WEEKEND Even though the city of Gulfport is still considering the mooring field, local law enforcement are still questioning us sailors. Only now it’s in the form of safety checks. I belong to one of the local yacht clubs and am on the water and in the area every weekend and am still being checked. Don’t they realize that I care more about the waterways and patronize Gulfport, which helps provide their paychecks?

I’ll just keep the smile and a yes, sir. It is irritating, though, that they watch me so closely and yet turn their heads when others are destroying grass beds or throwing mini tidal waves that naturally rock my world.

Anyhow, just thought you’d like to know about the safety checks. I’m not going anywhere and I swear by SOUTHWINDS. Keep up the good work.

Name Withheld in Fear of Police Harassment Name I think the people who are in fear of something are the anti-boating See LETTERS continued on page 10 www.southwindsmagazine.com

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LETTERS citizens of Gulfport. I went to one of their town meetings and was amazed by the disregard for honesty exhibited by one of the council members in regards to a mooring field. (See “Letters” in the May issue.) This council member was either trying to mislead the public or she was just ignorant of what a mooring field was, using a Tampa Bay anchorage as an example of a mooring field. It was very discouraging.

Not very boater-friendly if the police keep inspecting your boat. That sounds like harassment to me, and if they keep inspecting, you have grounds for stopping them legally. Don’t forget: They cannot board your boat except to inspect something they can’t inspect by not boarding, which means a proper MSD setup.

The law is clear on this, and I would make sure they know this and not let them board except to do so and then tell them that is the condition and to get off the boat after doing so.

These police who keep inspecting are either rogue cops acting on their own or acting on orders from higher-ups on policy.

Editor MARCO ISLAND POLICE HARASSMENT; MAINE SSCA MEETING WELCOMES BOATERS I was flabbergasted by the letter from Jill and Leo Stanley on Sturdy Beggar about the police harassment at Marco Island on November 14. Jill and Leo asked very disturbing questions. Clearly, the power of the Marco Island municipal authorities comes from the barrel of a gun and the glint from their badges, not the law. Evidently, they believe they are above the law. Such fascist arrogance is never acceptable!

Kathy and I anchored at Factory Bay, Marco Island, on January 11 without incident, even though the police boat was roaming about. There were two other boats in Factory Bay, and five boats anchored in the north end of the bay, none of which were accosted that we could see. It’s possible the police finally read the Florida statute giving “full-time cruisers” the right to anchor outside a mooring field. Of course, we’ve always had the right to anchor under federal law, but it’s too much to ask for some municipal authorities to read federal law.

Another more pleasant subject. Loved your piece about the Seven Seas Cruising Association annual meeting in Melbourne. Your readers may wish to know Kathy and I host the annual SSCA Down East Gam at our home at Gilky Harbor, Islesboro, ME. This will be our 17th year. The gam this year will be held on August 3. Last year, we had 65 boats anchored in the all-weather harbor in front of our house. We’ll be home after June 1, so call us at (207) 734-6948 for details. Love to see any of your readers who plan to cruise Maine this summer. You don’t have to be a member of SSCA. Fair Winds, Dick and Kathy de Grasse s/y Endeavour, lying Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, FL. Dick, Isn’t it nice when you go somewhere to see the police roaming around keeping an eye on you? As if you were going to mug someone and they are there to protect that someone. They watch your every move, and if you have one light out or lit incorrectly, they are ready to pounce, not letting an infraction of the rules go for one second. Ah!! Such is the cruising life in Marco Island, FL, (and Gulfport, FL).

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LETTERS Do these people, these citizens who can see your boat from the land, think they own and control these waters as if they bought and own it. The state gave them use of these waters only if they share it with the rest of the country, as it belongs to all, not just those who own the waterfront property.

Give some people a police force, and they just can’t wait to use it.

Editor AUTOHELM ARTICLE HELPFUL SOUTHWINDS is getting better all the time with you at the helm. I really look forward to reading each issue. Your editorial positions on things like water cops on power trips, illegal anchoring laws in Florida communities, Cuba, etc., are very much like mine (and your sarcasm and wit is appropriate and appreciated). Keep up the great work!

I was rather astonished and delighted to see your “how to” piece on the Autohelm ST4000+ Wheel. Well done. Loved the pics and especially the one of your homemade tool. Like you, some years ago I did some fixes and modifications of mine, having found some aspects to be rather flimsy.

I’m not sure if I have a MK I or and MK II. How does one determine which it is? What year is yours?

If it’s a MKII, do you happen to recall how to perform the “user adjustment” of the cam?

Len Krauss Punta Gorda, FL Len, Thanks for the comments on the magazine. If I had enough advertising, I would greatly increase the coverage of the waterways issues of anchoring, cops, disappearing marinas and all that, as times are changing rapidly and not all for the best if the trends continue.

As for the Autohelm, mine came with the boat when I bought it in 2005, but I know it was installed in 1998 with the purchase of the boat new, so that is the year. If you have a MKII, I don’t know how it is adjusted but I would bet it is through the same access, which is that black round, soft plastic cover, which is kind of hidden. I bet you don’t need a special tool either, but I don’t know. If you have the MKI like mine it should be the same; just remove the soft plastic cover. I actually used the sharp point of an ice pick to pull it off, and it became obvious. To identify the model, I would suggest downloading the manual as I did. My owner’s manual didn’t say MKI, as I think it was just the first one. But I learned more when I downloaded the service manual, which you can get on that Web site in the article. I’ll be glad to e-mail it to you, if you like, as it has a diagram showing everything.

When I think about it, I believe the only time I ever heard anyone call it the Mk I or II was on a forum, and there is no distinction in the service manual. It just says ST 4000+, but it shows mine blown up. Maybe the forum people made it up. Hard to say until I find a diagram showing the two different ones.

Don’t hesitate to ask me for more help if needed. Call if need be.

Editor BOAT INSURANCE KEEPS GOING UP I’ve been reading the insurance articles with interest as I have just become a “victim” of all the hurricanes. No, not during the actual storms, as I took great care to prepare my 1984 40foot Endeavour for the wind events. It was later that I became See LETTERS continued on page 14 12

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LETTERS a victim. More than a year later. (I’m berthed in St. Pete.)

In 2001, my premium was $880. In 2005, it was $1,700.

In January, I received a bill for $3,600. I’ve never filed a claim—ever. To get insured this year, I had to have a new out-of-the-water survey. She’s now worth $35,000 more than when I bought her six years ago.

I started my Internet quest for a better rate. I sent in quote requests to every marine insurance company I could find on the Internet. Most would not give me a quote because my vessel was either too old, too long, or in Florida.

Here are the basic results of what coverage I could find.

• Charterlakes: $1950. $500 deductible, no windstorm coverage, and covered only within 25 nm of the coast. This was for an insured value of 80K. • BoatUS Marine Insurance: With wider area coverage, including windstorm—$3,450.

• Inamar/ACE: 5 percent deductible, $2,900, 3 percent deductible for $3,500, wide coverage w/windstorm.

• Great Lakes Reinsurance: Florida waters not to exceed 150 nm offshore, with windstorm, $2,400. 75K policy.

I’m presently underinsured as I was unprepared to pay double this year. Slip fees keep climbing as well. We are in a fairly well-protected marina, and with a little preparation everyone survived the hurricanes unscathed. My search for better insurance revealed that I am indeed one of the masses now paying for all the wonderful folks who “sold” their boats to the insurance company. I wonder what the ratio is of folks who did their best to minimize damage and still lost everything, to the folks who just didn’t care and let the insurance company buy another boat.

I fully support your position on insurance reform and penalizing the problematic boat owners. With the skyrocketing price of owning and operating a boat in Florida, I’m starting to seriously look towards Central America to keep my dream alive. My country is rapidly becoming too expensive to stay in and enjoy all it has to offer along the coast. As long as we keep handing over progressively more and more money, the rates for insurance, dockage, and fuel, will simply keep climbing.

Larry Annen s/v Abby Gale Larry, I don’t know what happened to the old policy, “If you have a good record with the insurance company, you get a better rate.” Maybe it died with the old policy, “If you prepare your boat for a storm, you will get lower rates.” Or maybe these policies never existed, but you are right: Those who “sold” their damaged boats to an insurance company made out, and many of those who prepared their boats got screwed. Something’s backwards. In Florida, if you have a home and a boat, you will be working much of your day toward paying for insurance.

Let’s hope no storms hit us this year. See my predictions for the storm season in the hurricane section this month.

Editor E-mail your letters to the Editor: editor@southwindsmagazine.com 14

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Southeastern U.S. Air & Water Temperatures and Gulf Stream Currents – June 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/

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

News & Views for Southern Sailors

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

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EVENTS & NEWS

OF INTEREST TO

SOUTHERN SAILORS

To have your news or event in this section, contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

Send us information by the 5th of the month preceding publication. Contact us if later.

Changes in Events Listed on SOUTHWINDS Web site Go to www.southwindsmagazine.com for changes and notices on upcoming events. Contact us to post event changes.

■ RACING EVENTS

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

■ UPCOMING SOUTHERN EVENTS Go to the SOUTHWINDS Web site for our list of youth sailing programs in the Southern coastal states, www.southwindsmagazine.com. The list was printed in the April 2006 issue.

EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING Ongoing – Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs.

St. Petersburg, FL Tuesday nights, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Satisfies the Florida boater safety education requirements. Eleven lessons, every Tuesday. Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs, 7:30-9:30 p.m., 1300 Beach Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. Lessons include: which boat for you, equipment, trailering, lines and knots, boat handling, signs, weather, rules, introduction to navigation, inland boating and radio. (727) 823-3753. Don’t wait until next summer to have your children qualify for a State of Florida boater safety ID, possibly lower your boaters insurance premium or just hone your safe boating skills.

Boating Safety Courses, St. Petersburg, FL St. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron. Six-week Public boating course begins every Monday. Includes safety information plus basic piloting; charts, course plotting, latitude/longitude and dead reckoning. Satisfies Florida’s under age 21 boater requirements. (727) 867-3088. Other courses continuosly offered. (727) 565-4453. www.boatingstpete.org.

Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary (Flotilla 111) Public Boating Programs GPS and Chart Reading. June 11,14. America’s Boating Course: July 14,15.

For more information on upcoming education programs or to request a free vessel safety check visit www.a0701101.uscgaux.info or call (727) 469-8895.

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 it is 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.

Jacksonville, FL, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla. Americas Boating Course. June 2, June 23, June 21. 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. $25.00, including books and materials. Meets Florida legal requirements for boater education, and most insurance companies offer discounts to program graduates. To register, or for more information, call Ray Bernier at (904) 422-1787.

North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC Ongoing adults sailing programs. Family sailing. 2-6 people; 2-6 hours. Traditional skiffs or 30’ keelboat. $50-$240. www.ncmm-friends.org, maritime@ncmail.net, (252) 7287317. Reservations/information: call The Friends’ office (252) 728-1638 US Sailing Race Management Seminar, Cortez, FL, June 9 See racing section, page 46.

Safe Boating Class, Manatee Sail and Power Squadron, June 9 The national award-winning Manatee Sail and Power Squadron will be conducting a one-day boat smart class on Saturday June 9. The class is open to all, and ownership of a boat is not required to attend. It will be an all-day class at the Tropic Isle Yacht Club in Palmetto, beginning at 8 a.m.

Lunch and snacks are provided.

The course covers navigating on local waters including a review of charts and navigation aids as well as rules of the road, emergency procedures, required equipment, boathandling techniques, normal and emergency radio communication procedures, etc. Completion of this course satisfies the Florida requirements for boat and personal watercraft operators under the age of 21 and may entitle boat owners

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to discounts on boat insurance.

To register, contact Carol Dearstyne at (941) 7271790. http://manatee-squadron.org.

OTHER EVENTS 2007 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins, June 1-November 30 See the SOUTHWINDS Hurricane section this issue and every issue throughout the hurricane season.

Also visit the Southwinds hurricane pages at www.southwindsmagazine.com for articles and links to weather Web sites, hurricane plans, tips on preparing your boat and more.

Great Biloxi Schooner Races, Biloxi, MS, June 2 Held in conjunction with the Blessing of the Fleet, Biloxi schooners will race. The Glenn L. Swetman will race the Mike Sekul. 11:00 a.m. Race begins at the new schooner pier on front beach west of the former Grand Biloxi. (228) 435-6320 19th Annual Ocean Watch Reef Sweep and Beach Cleanup, Broward County, FL, June 9 The Annual Reef Sweep and Beach Cleanup, sponsored by the Ocean Watch foundation, will be held on Saturday, June 9, 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 the Reef Sweep party, to be announced (see the Web site), to celebrate. (954) 467-1366. www.oceanwatch.org, or e-mail to info@oceanwatch.org.

Island Sun Splash. June 10-16, 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

23rd Annual Underwater Music Festival. July 14, Looe Key, Florida Keys Divers, snorkelers and swimmers enjoy a fun and quirky form of underwater entertainment. (305) 872-2411.

27th Hemingway Days Festival. July 19-27, 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. www.hemingwayday.net. (305) 296-2388.

Seventh Annual Summer Sailstice, Planet Earth, June 23-24 The Seventh Annual Summer Sailstice, a sailing celebration of the summer solstice, will be held June 23-24. 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 23-24 on the weekend closest to the summer solstice with more daylight than any other weekend of the year.

In 2006, sailors from across the Northern Hemisphere participated in this growing celebration of sailing. In addition to 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. 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.

Wild Horses in the Islands: Regatta Time in Abaco, July 3-11

By Rebecca Burg 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

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

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■ NEWS

Online Southeastern U. S. Bridge-Opening Directory

The Cheeseburgers in Paradise party that is the kick-off event for Regatta Time in Abaco. Photo by Capt. Bill Robinson.

zone. Tiny mom and pop shops greet sailors who visit Great Abaco Island and its many out-island cays. If your timing’s right, you might bump into the “bread lady” on Man-O-War Cay before she sells out of fresh baked cinnamon rolls. Here, a traffic jam consists of two golf carts meeting on a narrow side street. Enjoy the grand ocean view with a frosty Kalik beer at Nipper’s on Great Guana Cay or check out Cracker P’s on the little island of Lubber’s Quarters. The peppers for Cracker P’s homemade hot sauce are grown right outside.

Within the restaurant is a wall of fame and souvenir shop for the famous Bahamian sloop, Abaco Rage, and they seem to be running out of room for Rage’s many trophies and awards. You can trade your paperback books in the Jib Room at Marsh Harbour, try conch salad at a local festival, see the Bahamian Independence Day fireworks on July 10 and discover the parrots and wild horses on Great Abaco.

There’s so much to see and do.

During the races, sailboats canter along a bit like wild horses in the area’s prevailing 10-knot easterly breeze, and last year saw some firm winds near the regatta’s end. Racing divisions include PHRF w/spinnakers, the cruising boat “Mother Tub” with no spinnakers and a division for multihulls. Five or more like vessels entering the race will create their own class. Last year’s top regatta winners include Stuart Hebb’s Aerodyne 38, Thin Ice, and Tom Bell’s C&C 38, Whisper. Many sailors return year after year with their families, like Jim Miller and Sea Turtle, to enjoy a cruising vacation as well as the sociable regatta. You don’t have to enter all five races, and many cruisers come just to follow the action, crew on another vessel and be part of the festivities and social setting. The regatta’s quality competition attracts serious racers, and the action is close. Boats in each division are divided up according to their ratings, and the scoring system allows entrants a fair shot at stardom in every race.

To be a part of the adventure, visit www.rtia.net, or in the United States contact race committee Jon and Carol Ewing at (305) 665-8316 or lightning@cofs.com. An invaluable resource is Steve Dodge’s The Cruising Guide to Abaco, which offers a wealth of local info. Once you’re in Abaco, the daily local cruisers’ net is broadcast on VHF 68 at 8:15 a.m. and includes Bob Toler’s excellent weather reports.

Known as Barometer Bob, you can view his Web site at www.barometerbob.com.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

A comprehensive bridge directory is available online at the Salt Southeast Cruisers’ Net Web site at www.cruisersnet.net. The directory lists all the bridges in the Southeastern United States which cross the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Florida, Florida Keys, western Florida, northern Gulf (Gulf Intracoastal Waterway — GICW) and the Okeechobee waterways. Also covered are various bridges on the St. Johns River, and locks on the Okeechobee Waterway. Bridges are catalogued by state or through a bridge name search. There is even some interesting information when one goes to the link to Bahamas’ bridges.

The following information is available on each bridge.

• Bridge Name • Bridge Location • Type of Bridge (Fixed, Bascule, Swing, or Lift) • Vertical Clearance (closed vertical clearance if the bridge is of the non-fixed variety) • Opening times and restrictions (if any) • Special Comments A comprehensive bridge-opening schedule is difficult to find on the Internet—if one exists at all—and the Cruisers’ Net Web site is an excellent source. Many cruisers use cruising guides for bridge schedules, but schedules change regularly for miscellaneous reasons, and guides, printed annually, or less frequently, are not always current. The Cruisers Net directory, although not perfectly up-to-date, has input from cruisers when they hear or discover a change.

The directory can be found on the left menu at the Cruisers Net home page, www.cruisersnet.net, under

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“Bridge Directory.” The e-mail to update a bridge schedule is cruisingwriter@cruisersnet.net, or call (336) 584-1935.

Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Club Celebrates 35th Anniversary with Record Raft-up

Commodore Jack Dailey and Dave Coviello were on dinghy patrol maneuvering the boats into position. At 4 p.m. the groups were brought together, and the circle was formed.

The afternoon was full of celebrations including a dinghy conga line in the center of the circle.

Sixty-five boats enjoyed a picture-perfect Florida evening, with the eclipse of the moon in full view. As a reminder of why we love sailing in South Florida, we were awakened Sunday morning to glorious sunrise. The circle remained complete till mid-Sunday morning when club members started to bid each other a fond farewell. The picture is courtesy of the Goodyear blimp.

NOAA Celebrates 200-Year Anniversary – Marine Debris Web Site Formed

The Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Club Raft-up. Photo courtesy Goodyear Blimp.

Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Club celebrated the close of its 35th anniversary year with a record-setting 65-boat circle raft-up. This is the fourth year the club has celebrated its change of command with a “circle raft,” each year growing in numbers.

This year’s event was held March 4-5 on Lake Boca in Boca Raton, FL. On Friday evening, HISC boats began to position the anchor boats. Early Saturday morning, other club boats began arriving and one by one were added to the building raft. It was an all-day event directed by “The Raft Master”—outgoing Commodore Hal Steward. Boats were moved into position around the anchor boats, forming small groups. Incoming Commodore Tim Leonard, Past

By Kim Kaminski This year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will be celebrating its 200-year anniversary. It all began in 1807, when President Thomas Jefferson established the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey to provide nautical charts for the maritime community.

Eventually, this fledgling organization gave birth to the Weather Bureau (founded in 1870) and to the U.S. Commission on Fish and Fisheries (founded in 1871).

Individually these organizations provided the first physical science agency, the first atmospheric science agency and the first conservation agency.

For two centuries these organizations have compiled data used to help in understanding the earth’s oceans, shores, skies and environment. Through the years, the goals of these three agencies helped to guide them back towards the eventual merger into one agency under the Department of Commerce, known today as NOAA. For more information on the NOAA and the 200-year celebration, go to www.noaa.gov.

In response to receiving funds from Congress to survey areas affected by recent years’ damaging hurricanes, the NOAA has established a new Web site to display debris information. This Web site, the Marine Debris Program, will display not only marine debris but buoys, wrecks and other navigational obstructions that can be found in and along the Gulf Coast and southern shorelines of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. For more information and to view the maps showing the debris, go to www.gulfofmexico.marinedebris.noaa.gov.

CONTRIBUTE TO SOUTHWINDS WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED SOUTHWINDS is always looking for articles and photos on various subjects about sailing (cruising and racing), our Southern waters, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

For more information, go to our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com, and see the “Writers Guidelines” page, or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

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New Radio Show Highlights Boating in the Carolinas

From Soundings Trade Only Wilmington and greater southeastern North Carolina boaters now have their own radio program devoted exclusively to boating and the waterfront lifestyle. Boat Talk, which made its debut April 14, airs Saturday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. on The Big Talker FM, 93.7 and 106.3.

The program’s format is a combination of current boating news, listener call-in discussion and interviews with expert boating industry guests. Host Capt.

Doug Dickinson says the show covers “all things nautical” in the Carolinas and beyond, and all aspects of the boating industry and the boating lifestyle.

Dickinson has more than 25 years of professional boating experience, both sail and power. He holds a BSME degree from Western Michigan University, a USCG 100-ton master’s license and is an instructor for Sea School, a national captains’ training program for U.S. Coast Guard licensing.

Clearwater Receives $1.2-Million Federal Grant For Boat Slips From IBI News Clearwater has received a $1.2-million federal grant for the construction of downtown boat slips. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved the grant for Clearwater, the only Florida city to receive one. It was one of 32 cities that applied for $9.4-million in grant funds.

According to a story in the St. Petersburg Times, Clearwater plans to build 129 floating concrete boat slips, a promenade, boardwalk and fishing pier in its downtown area. Rental fees are expected to pay for much of the project and its operations.

“It’s a huge shot in the arm,” Mayor Frank Hibbard told the paper. “It says a lot about the quality of the project.”

The grant will be used to reduce the amount of money the city will borrow to finance the project. The city had planned to borrow $10.95-million but will reduce that amount. But the paper noted that the city will still use $1-million in property tax money earmarked for downtown

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improvements to fund the project. The money comes from taxes generated within the city’s redevelopment projects.

Clearwater had to prove at least $4-million of the project would benefit transient boaters. “These are folks who travel from marina to marina, or access the downtown by water,” Bill Morris, the city’s marine and aviation department director, told the paper.

Transient boaters would bring business to downtown restaurants and stores.

“This grant goes to show that there really is a lot of federal support for the boating industry and the importance of boating,” added Morris.

SOUTHWINDS Magazine Added to Boot Key Harbor Welcome Pack

Free issues of SOUTHWINDS magazine will now be issued out to new boats arriving at the anchorage and mooring field in Boot Key Harbor. When new boaters arrive to stay at Boot Key Harbor, whether long- or short-term, they receive a free canvas tote bag filled with miscellaneous newspapers, local guides, items and various advertisements. The tote bag is delivered by the Smorgasboat, a water taxi/delivery/tour electric boat serving the harbor area.

Starting June, SOUTHWINDS will be part of that welcoming gift.

Quirolo Presents State of the Reef Address at Reef Relief 20th Gala Annual Meeting in Key West, April 16: Polluted Water and Warmer Water Cause of Reef Problems The message at Reef Relief’s 20th annual membership meeting, held April 16, at Top of La Concha in Key West, was that the grassroots membership organization is alive and well, with a vibrant new board of directors who are poised to do more to protect coral reefs. Mayor Morgan McPherson and the city of Key West were honored for phasing out the sewer outfall that previously discharged just off Fort Zachary Taylor State Park on the ocean side of Key West.

Founder and Director of Marine Projects Craig Quirolo presented his “State of the Reef” report, which can be viewed online at www.reefrelief.org. “It is apparent that, with the exception of a land-based fungus that affects purple sea fans, each of the new coral diseases that we first observed at Key West-area coral reefs are caused by increased sea temperatures in combination with polluted water. Global warming provides ideal conditions for the growth of new and dangerous coral diseases at reefs where pollution has degraded water quality. Coral reefs in the Bahamas, just a few hundred miles away, have not experienced similar disease outbreaks because they have better water quality.”

Quirolo called upon sanctuary managers to disclose the truth about the current health of the reef and urged public officials to focus on improving water quality to reduce beach closures and protect the reefs. www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

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OUR WATERWAYS

Our Waterways Section SOUTHWINDS has created this section to inform our readers about changes in our waterways. We are all in the midst of great change—through the conversion of many boating properties to condominiums, restrictions on anchorages, and other economic forces at work.

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

We are looking for news and information on changes, land sales, anchorages, boaters’ rights, new marinas, anchoring rights, disappearing marinas, boatyards and boat ramps, environmental concerns and other related news. Contact Steve Morrell, editor@southwindsmagazine.com, or call (941) 795-8704.

Changes in Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, Florida Keys

By Cliff Stephan For various reasons—and because it has the best natural harbor any place in the Florida Keys—boaters are drawn to Boot Key Harbor in Marathon. Trips to Key West, the Bahamas, or just anywhere seem to invite one to stop at Marathon. Boasting the best sport fishing in Florida, Americans have lived and visited here since 1814.

My last visit was two years ago, in 2005. At the time,

there were 64 moorings in Boot Key Harbor, an overcrowded city marina dinghy dock, and Dockside, a traditional popular spot for boaters to come ashore, was going condo, closing its docks to cruisers’ dinghies. There was a great deal of turmoil in the harbor, as plans for increasing the number of moorings, and improvements to the city marina were well under way. Long-term denizens of the harbor were acting like squatters, leaving anchors tied to a life preserver, boat fender, surfboard/dinghy, or any other piece of debris which would float, to mark their territory while off cruising for months or even years.

In recent years, Marathon has become not a place name, but a city. Incorporated in 1999, the community started right in on making improvements, changing a crowded harbor into a pleasurable place to visit or live on a vessel. Now, in May 2007, there are 211 moorings for vessels less than 45 feet long overall and 15 for vessels up to 60 feet.

The mooring field started with the county buying four acres of land with bay bottom ownership and hundreds of feet of dock and slip space, for a little over $1-million. This provided public access to the waters of Boot Key Harbor and the location for the city marina. A trial of 25 moorings in 2001 proved so successful that less than two years later another 39 were placed. This year, another 161 have been installed, to make Boot Key Harbor the largest transient and liveaboard mooring field in Florida, perhaps in the United States. An area far from the city marina, 150 feet east of the Boot Key Harbor Bridge and extending west to Marker 18 on the south side of the channel, has been left for those who insist on dropping a hook. This will be the only place

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Melbourne Resists Florida Anchoring Law for Cruisers

By Wally Moran

The mooring field in Boot Key Harbor.

boaters are allowed to anchor inside Boot Key Harbor. No wet storage of vessels is tolerated on the moorings.

What this means for boaters coming to the keys is some of the freedom to anchor is gone. In its place is the freedom from derelict vessels, boats dragging anchors at all hours of the day or night and anchors tied to a life preserver, boat fender, surfboard/dinghy, or any other piece of debris which will float to mark some phantom boater’s territory.

With these freedoms come costs and additional services of the staff and facilities at the city marina. Sadly, expansion of the shoreside facilities has not kept pace with the expansion in the harbor. The moorings are there, the dinghy dock has grown and improved, but the laundry, showers, toilets, lounge, workrooms and lockers remain in short supply. Of course, plans are on the boards for expanding these with an additional building.

While changes are happening, Marathon today is still the same as yesterday, and tomorrow it will be the same as today.

The constant sunshine and strong east winds will always be here. Still, the keys are a jeweled necklace of Florida, and protecting their natural beauty is the ultimate goal.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

Melbourne’s motto is “the Harbor Town,” yet Melbourne has been enforcing a 72-hour anchoring ordinance, despite state legislation forbidding them to do this against non-liveaboards.

I became involved in late April when the local marine officer requested I move, having been anchored over 72 hours in the Eau Gallie Yacht Basin. I am clearly a cruiser, not a liveaboard: I’m Canadian and my boat flies the Maple Leaf. The officer, who was both pleasant and professional, advised me the officers only act on complaints, and there were other areas a boat could anchor without interference. I myself had seen two sailboats anchored near the city pier for a week; one with someone aboard, the other anchored and left.

Later that afternoon, I found myself next to Melbourne mayor Harry Goode in a waterfront pub. I took the opporSee WATERWAYS continued on page 32

Anchoring Warnings in Florida: Contact Us to Publicize Warnings Note from the Editor: A new state law that went into effect on July 1 limiting communities’ power to limit anchoring restrictions to non-liveaboard cruisers.

Recently, I have received several e-mails and calls from cruisers who received warnings from local law enforcement officials in Marco Island, Miami Beach, and Gulfport. In some cases, the officers have been polite and in others, they have not been. Cruisers can contact the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) lawyers who will send a letter to these communities telling them about the state law. (Go to www.southwindsmagazine.com for a copy of this letter and contact information—or call us at (877) 372-7245). This law has not yet been tested in courts and perhaps someone will, but we at least need to have the letters sent to every community that ignores this law.

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why one could anchor in some areas but not others.

I contacted Deputy Chief of Police Mimbs, then City Attorney Paul Gougelman. It was apparent Mimbs had spoken with Gougelman about our conversation. Gougelman said he thought the ordinance was not in compliance with state law, that he intended to inform the city council and would recommend changes, plus

advise police not to enforce it in the interim. He said, though, that Assistant Attorney Suzanne Crockett was researching the issue, and his comments were subject to her findings.

The following day I spoke with Crockett. Crockett stated the ordinance complied with state law: “We do not regulate non-liveaboard vessels,” and the definition of “liveaboard www.southwindsmagazine.com

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vessel” was “a question of fact.” She became evasive when asked if a vessel anchored in Melbourne would receive a citation after 72 hours at anchor. She also refused to directly answer whether a person anchored for 72 hours would receive a ticket and be forced to prove in court he or she is not a liveaboard. She further said one could re-anchor, not mentioning the bylaw states 72 hours in any 30-day News & Views for Southern Sailors

period, thus explicitly advising boaters to violate the ordinance.

Incredibly, part of her reasoning hinged on the issue that holding tanks needed to be emptied after 72 hours, and a vessel would be obligated to move by then. When informed most cruising boats had much more capacity, she expressed disbelief.

When told the city was violating state statutes 327.40 and 327.41 regard-

ing signage, Crockett stated there was no need for signage as they had no “regulated” areas. She was again evasive when asked how they could enforce the 72-hour rule in a non-regulated area, stating there was no need for signage or a regulated area since they didn’t enforce against “non-liveaboard vessels.” The clear subtext of her statements was that boaters would be forced to prove non-liveaboard staSOUTHWINDS

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OUR WATERWAYS tus in court.

I called Gougelman again. He now stated their ordinance “…has language that verbatim tracks the [Florida] statute” and effectively agreed with Crockett. I informed him of Crockett’s evasiveness. In response, he said ticketing would be left to the officer and that an officer would need “probable cause” to issue a ticket and find the “violator” was a liveaboard and not engaged in navigation. He concluded the ordinance was “not real easy to enforce.”

Nonetheless, I was not told that people anchoring over 72 hours would not be ticketed and forced to prove their non-liveaboard or navigation status.

City police officials have assured me each instance would be looked at based on “the specific circumstances,” and the police would not allow political considerations to affect enforcement.

Bottom line? That will depend on the unwritten policy city officials put into effect. If they decide they don’t want anchoring, they’ll force cruisers into court to prove they aren’t liveaboards.

Using the “liveaboard” test, as Crockett appears to be proposing, is a way for Melbourne to sneak past the clear intent of 327.60. A lot of concerned people, boaters and

politicians, put a lot of effort into resolving the anchoring problem and many, this writer included, believe that Melbourne is trying to get around the state law.

Mayor Goode—although at first formally refusing— has agreed to a second interview, stating that he is not “against boaters.” City Attorney Gougelman is now making inquiries into the issue with NMMA and Florida state officials, including Rep. Mitch Needleman, Bill 327.60 sponsor.

A local sailor recently told me that he has decided that if the issue is not soon resolved, he will force a court challenge, as was done at Marco Island, by violating the anchoring ordinance.

Gulfport, FL, Approves Mooring Field

By Steve Morrell On April 26, with a 3-2 vote, the Gulfport City Council voted to start work on the mooring field and to have city management begin the permitting process, which is expected to take several months. At the meeting, many spoke in favor and many spoke against the mooring field. Although

The city mooring field in Marathon, which, after several successful years, has expanded from 64 to 211 moorings. Photo by Steve Morrell.

Mayor Mike Yakes voted against it, he later stated, as reported in the local newspaper, the Gabber, that if he had had the swing vote, he would have voted for the field, and that he wanted his against vote to be representative of how close he thought the city populace actually felt about the field. He said that the issue was the closest he had seen since he had been mayor.

The following week, I was asked by supporters of the field, Al and Cindy Davis, to attend a meeting to address concerns that the mayor had about my comments in a previous editorial (January 2007 issue) where I had labeled Gulfport as anti-boater. The mayor told Al and Cindy that he did not understand why I would make such a claim. In the meeting, attended by the mayor and about a dozen other local citizens, I told the mayor that I knew of a sailing association which had cruised and anchored in Gulfport 34

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waters recently, and when its members approached and began to anchor, the local police came out and watched their every move, saying nothing. I told the mayor that was like me driving into town and having the police follow me into a parking lot and park there, staring at me as I parked my car and got out. I told the mayor that as long as such an attitude exists, the town will never have a boater-friendly reputation.

The mayor also made comments that he felt the mooring field was a done deal, and that a referendum was not needed for the city to move forward on it after the permitting process was completed. He made this statement as others in the community who were against the field held the view that a referendum would still be appropriate for the project to be approved.

The city has been discussing a mooring field for several years, with several plans being offered during that time. The last plan was the product of several plans that have evolved into the current one. The plan can be viewed online at www.ci.gulfport.fl.us. From that page, click on Special Documents, then Documents and Publications and then go to the Harbor Management Plan.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

Fort Myers Beach Mooring Field Invites Boaters From Jeff Butzer Member of the Fort Myers Beach Anchorage Advisory Committee The service provider for the town of Fort Myers Beach municipal anchorage/mooring field is Matanzas Inn. Their number is (239) 463-9258. The anchorage currently does not take reservations, but we’re working on that. Presently, being late April, the anchorage is running around 55 percent occupancy for the 70 mooring balls, so there is plenty of room.

The Town operates a pump-out boat for anchorage patrons.

Matanzas Inn handles most everything else, including distributing discount coupons for their restaurant and lounge. Matanzas Inn is located on the island side of the bridge that spans the ICW at Matanzas Pass.

There is a make-shift, temporary dinghy dock in the form of a pontoon boat that has most of the railings removed. The “dinkpondock” as it is affectionately known, is not great. It is usually full, and patrons have been known to raft their dinghies from time to time. A new dinghy dock is being built with grant funds and will be completed by this coming fall. The anchorage, as a stopover or as a destination, has unique amenities for patrons of the anchorage.

There are many restaurants and bars within easy walking distance.

The beach features seven miles of white, hardpacked, powdered sugartype sand—really beautiful and really accessible for anchorage patrons.

All in all, it is a huge value for about $13/night.

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Hurricane Season 2007

Establishing a Plan and Preparing Your Boat for a Storm

By Steve Morrell The following article is basically as it appeared in last year’s June issue kicking off the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season.

This year, I am printing that same article with changes and improvements. I still believe that this is the best plan and thought process that the average boat owner should put in his head and use to successfully protect his boat. Along with the article in last year’s July issue (available on our Web site) on making the time to prepare your boat, this practical plan is the best I have found.

This plan is for the boat owner who keeps his boat in the water at a dock, which is the greatest number of sailboats out there subject to damage resulting in significant financial loss.

I also attended the BoatUS Marina Preparation Hurricane Symposium this year and learned a lot more about saving boats and marinas.

A well-secured boat with a “spider web” of lines should hold this Catalina 30 in place. Notice docklines running across the boat at the stern, to the opposite side, acting like spring lines. This mainsail and cover were wrapped in a “cocoon’ of lines. Also notice fenders on each side of the boat, on the starboard side nearest the closest piling and several located on the dock side. Photo by Gary Gray.

Boat Insurance Increases The biggest change that I have found in the last two years affecting boat owners is the cost of boat insurance. For many, it has become completely unavailable or very expensive—sometimes three to four times what they were paying before the 2004 season.

Much of this increased cost is because boaters didn’t prepare their boats at all, or not enough, and insurance companies paid out a lot of money. Some boaters took advantage of their insurance and used it to get rid of their boat or get a new sail or Bimini. Some of the fault lies with the insurance companies, which didn’t plan out their losses correctly over many years. Many who suffered the greatest are those who prepared their boats the most, and the insurance companies didn’t care, dropping them because they were simply a statistic. A change must come about in the insurance industry as many just got out of boat ownership because of higher rates.

Number One Priority: Get Yourself, Your Home and Your Family Prepared First In retrospect, I look at this as the number one roadblock to not preparing your boat. If you do not have these things in your life ready and prepared for a storm, then your boat will be sacrificed when you run out of time. Clearly, it is less important when it comes down to it. Of course, this does not apply to those people whose boat is their home.

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 editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

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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: 1. You must have a plan.

2. 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 and these ideas can be used). 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.

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.

What You Must Do Since 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 and 2005 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

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.

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.

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

News & Views for Southern Sailors

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AHAMAS SEASON 2007 HBURRICANE 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 what to do or (6) didn’t Even these small fenders saved this boat’s hull. This is not damage but dirt and debris on the hull.

Photo by Steve Morrell have time to do anything.

A Simple Storm Preparation Plan Carried Out is Far Better than a Complex One Not Carried Out 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 tropical storm winds than anything stronger. It is easy and takes little time to prepare for these conditions.

If you create too big of a plan that takes a lot of time, you might not ever carry it out, thinking you’ll never have enough time. So work on a simple plan and on priorities. If you know you won’t ever have the time, then maybe you should keep the boat constantly ready all season, or maybe for just that part of the season you are most likely to get hit: Remove the sails and canvas, double your dock lines, add spring lines, add some chafe protection, add fenders. It’s now ready for a lot of storm conditions. If it’s going to be worse, then maybe you will have time to beef up the preparations a little bit.

Practice the plan at the beginning of the season. Have everything ready to be installed quickly. Use a check list.

When the time comes, you might be more concerned about you, your family and your house than preparing your boat, so create a plan you know you will have time to carry out. You could save your boat and thousands of dollars.

Preparing for Tropical Storm Winds or a Category 1 Hurricane is Easy This might even be true for a Category 2, or even a Category 3 storm, but there are so many other factors involved with these stronger storms that it is hard to say. Storm surge is a 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, under38

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water obstacles, other boats and then, of course, flying objects. You can’t do much about the last item, but you can about the others.

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.

Reduce Windage Boats have an advantage over houses because they can move around and deflect the wind, taking some of the shock by absorbing some of the energy with moving about.

Although this movement has its advantages, we want to minimize it so the boat doesn’t meet a fixed object, like a dock.

So the first thing that must be done is to remove all the sails and canvas. No matter what, remove the roller furling headsail. If it becomes unraveled, it has lots of windage and leverage up high for really shaking a boat around. Get rid of it.

Make sure you secure the top roller furling mechanism that comes down when lowering the roller-furled headsail.

It needs to be secured with line and/or bungee cord to something fixed, like a stanchion. Secure the halyard tightly somewhere, too.

Next, remove the canvas; dodgers, biminis, etc. Remove the canvas frames (carry a cordless drill. It turns a 20-minute job into a 5-minute job). Practice once so you won’t run into any unforeseen frozen screws.

In lighter winds, some people will keep the mainsail on the boom. They will then wrap a line real tightly around the sail cover—so tightly that a woven “cocoon” is created. If you have in-the-mast roller furling, you might want to remove the mainsail, as it is still weight aloft, besides the added windage from the clew that slightly sticks out.

Make sure any loose objects on deck, like anchors, are www.southwindsmagazine.com

counterclockwise in our region, then the storm’s right front quadrant will be pushing water toward the front of the storm’s path and pulling it away from the path on its left front quadrant. It will be greater forward as the storm’s forward movement will also add to the piling up of water. How the storm hits will determine whether the storm is going to be creating a higher than normal tide as it pushes the water in or a lower tide as it pulls it out. If you anticipate higher, then raise your lines higher on the pilings. If lower, then put them lower.

If you are expecting a lot of storm surge, you might have to run spring lines across the boat, crisscrossing the dock lines at the stern and bow, essentially making them longer, acting more as spring lines.

If you are preparing for just tropical Six lines are attached to this single bow cleat. Photo by Steve Morrell. storm-force winds, surge is generally expected to be less than four feet and 45 feet for a Category 1. Remember, though, a strong tropical storm coming at high tide can do stowed, (same with gear below—secure as if at sea). more damage than a weak Category 1 hurricane hitting at low tide.

Beef Up the Dock Lines Since you are most likely to be hit with only tropical You need to double up all your dock lines, plus add a few storm or Category 1 winds, you can probably be there to more as you think necessary. If you really need a fast plan, watch the boat, and adjusting lines during a storm can be have the lines doubled all the time during the storm season. important. If you have to adjust lines, make them adjustable If your slip has stand-alone pilings, it is a good idea to at at the dock, not on the boat. For those lines that go to a least have your second line already secured to that piling, stand-alone piling, make them adjustable from the boat. ready to grab with a boat hook. Have all your lines ready How you secure your lines to a piling that is attached and tested for length (and marked at the securing point) to the dock can be crucial. The best way is to go around the and convenient at the beginning of the season, even piling twice, then make two half hitches to the line. The labeled—which line goes where. Have them cut for a conline will always be free for adjustment, regardless of the venient length. Store them separately. strain on it.

Make sure you know how you are going to double up your lines. Many boat cleats are not big enough to have two Chafe lines attached. You might have to slip one through the eye Lack of any chafe protection created no problems for of the cleat and another secured as normal. Use other Yachting Vacations, the charter company in Punta Gorda objects to secure to: mast, winches, sliding cleats on sail that was hit by Charley, a Category 4 storm (see Southwinds, tracks, etc. Some people describe a well-secured boat as August, 2005). being in a “spider web” of lines.

But chafe was a major cause of damage from Hurricane Make all your lines tighter as they will stretch.

Frances, another Category 4 storm. Why the difference?

Charley was a small, very fast storm. Frances was a Add Spring Lines for Storm Surge slow, very big storm. Chafe is going to destroy a boat Spring lines do two things. They help hold the boat in place and/or lines over a period of time. Hurricane force winds like any dock line, but, with fixed docks, they are the only frequently will hit an area for about four to six hours. way to hold the boat in place as the tide goes up and down.

These winds persisted for up to 18 hours during Frances.

The longer they are, the more surge they can handle.

Chafe won.

In a sense, all dock lines are spring lines, as they all will During Charley, hurricane force winds hit Yachting allow some up-and-down movement from the tides, but Vacations for about two-and-a-half hours. Chafe did not they are called spring lines when they are long, and they are matter. considered those running parallel to the boat’s length.

In preparing your boat for the most likely conditions, Running them both directions, fore and aft, is even better. A tropical-storm winds or Category 1 winds, chafe will not be 30-foot spring line will allow only five inches of lateral a major factor. It is always advised to have chafe protection, movement (have five inches of slack) with the tide going up but make sure you have it depending on the size and speed or down as much as five feet—a 10-foot range! of the storm. Unless you have all the time in the world, it is Storm surge is the water being blown by the wind and low on the priority list for the weaker storms. piling up in a certain direction. Since hurricanes rotate News & Views for Southern Sailors

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HURRICANE SEASON 2007 Morrell Hurricane Predictions for Boaters for 2007 I think the National Weather Service does great in predicting a tropical storm’s path. We just have to get the public to understand what the “cone” is. I have little faith in the forecasters’ ability to predict the number of storms each season, as there isn’t enough information to base those predictions on, but maybe they will get better Below are my predictions for boaters. You can use these predictions every year for the rest of your life.

Winds From 39 to 73 mph, up to 4 feet of surge (Tropical Storm) High probability: from a direct hit or from the outer bands of a stronger storm. Easy to prepare your boat for.

Winds From 74 to 95 mph, 4-5 feet of surge (Category 1) Good probability: from a direct hit or from the outer edges of a stronger storm. Easy to prepare your boat for.

Winds From 96 to 110 mph, 6-8 feet of surge (Category 2) Reasonable chance: from a direct hit or from the outer edges of a stronger storm. Easy to prepare your boat for.

Winds From 111 to 130 mph, 9-12 feet of surge (Category 3) Small chance: from a direct hit or from the outer edges of a stronger storm. Easy, but even more preparation work required. You will likely suffer some damage, but you can minimize it enough that you can take your boat sailing after you put the sails back on.

Winds From 131 to 155 mph, 13-18 feet of surge (Category 4)—or above 155 mph, 18 feet and up surge (Category 5) Very small chance: from a direct hit or category 4 winds from the outer edges of a category 5 storm. This will take a lot more prep work, but possible to survive with not too much damage if you are prepared and get lucky at the same time. If you don’t prepare and get lucky, it will be as if you didn’t get lucky, so prepare and hope for luck. If it’s a strong storm and lots of surge and you take everything off the boat you can, you will have that stuff, like sails and canvas and miscellaneous gear, for your next boat.

Fenders An old axiom holds true about fenders: You can’t have too many. Fenders can save your boat if the slip is too small, the lines stretch, the storm surge is great, the wave action is excessive, or it can save you from a mistake you made. They are a “cushion” and a margin for error that can be the last saving item. Boat repairs on a hull or rubrail are like a dent in your car; very expensive to repair for even the smallest dent. Watching one boat sloshing around in its slip as it bounces against the dock with its fenders next to another boat that is hitting the dock without them is a picture worth a thousand lessons. They are well worth the investment.

Secure the Boom I once had my topping lift break during a category 1 hurricane and the boom fell and smashed the compass—the only damage the boat suffered. Now I lower the boom down to where it is just above the cabin top at the cockpit and double up the topping lift using the main halyard, then I secure the boom with lines port and starboard to the two headsail sheet winches to minimize movement and chafe (which caused my topping lift to break that time). If there is a big storm coming, I will consider removing the boom and sticking it down below, padded and braced for movement.

In Summary: A Simple Plan Below is a summary of a simple plan for the weaker storms.

For stronger storms, just take these plans to a higher level with more of everything. This plan will also be simple 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.

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

2. Remove the roller furling headsail.

3. Remove canvas, maybe the frames.

4. Remove the mainsail. Wrap it with line if a light storm is expected.

5. Double up all lines, add spring lines and extra lines as needed.

6. Have chafe protection on lines.

7. Have lots of fenders.

8. Make sure all gear on deck and below is stowed.

9. If you can, be there during the storm to adjust your lines. You will also learn a lot on what is working and what is not. Observe other boats, too, and encourage neighbors to prepare their boats, so they don’t destroy yours.

The Most Important Part: The complex, better plan is worthless if it isn’t carried out. The simple, inferior plan is superior if it is. Make it so easy and fast to do that you do it.

Next Month: “Making the Time to Prepare Your Boat—an Essential Part of any Plan.” Taken mainly from last year’s July issue article and available on our Web site.

In the coming months during the hurricane season, Southwinds will be publishing articles and information about preparing your boat for a storm. Send us your stories and tips.

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22nd Annual Morgan Invasion, Davis Island Yacht Club, Tampa, FL, April 20-22

By Tom Dunn

T

he 22nd Annual Morgan Invasion and Rendezvous was held again this year at the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, FL. Participation increased for a second year with 55 Charley Morgan-built or -designed sailboats enjoying strong winds on race day. Traditionally held at the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club, the Morgan Invasion has been at Davis Island Yacht Club the past two years while Treasure Island builds its new clubhouse. Nearing completion, Treasure Island’s new clubhouse will be ground zero for next year’s Morgan Invasion on April 19, 2008.

“Pete Moller and his team at Davis Island did a Charley Morgan, TITYC Dockmaster Les Lathrop and Morgan 22 Class winners Bob and Kathy Willard. Photo by Gil Williams. fantastic job over the past two years, and we can’t again around the tiki bar and talked about the day. Near the thank them enough” said Charley Morgan. “Now we are end of the race, a cell opened up in the middle of the course looking forward to seeing everyone gathered back at and took winds to about 25 knots, and sailors chatted about Treasure Island, like years past.” the challenge that presented. Others spoke about good The three-day Invasion started on Friday, April 20, starts, bad starts and missed starts! After dinner was served with boats arriving at DIYC. Les Lathrop, TITYC dockmasto 155 attendees, Race Chairman Pete Moller took over and ter, assumed control of the marina and got everyone announced results as Charley greeted each crewmember tucked, rafted and ready for Friday evening. Like most with a “job well done.” years, attendees are primarily from Florida, but there were The Charles Hunt Jr. Navigators Award for the boat boats “registered” from Georgia and Michigan. The attenthat corrects out most over its nearest class competitor went dees to travel the farthest to make the Invasion were Cathy to Bob Willard aboard Flash, his Morgan 22. Bob and his and Bill Osborne, who own a Morgan Classic 41 in British crew also won the class.

Columbia. The boat is being overhauled for an upcoming DIYC sailors topped both PHRF divisions with Phil two-year cruise and could not make the trip.

Waller taking PHRF A on his Classic 41, Long Gone, and As the sun started to set on Hillsborough Bay, Charley Stevie “Rochester” Leonardo taking both PHRF B and gathered the sailors for his traditional “Friday Night Chat.”

PHRF Overall on his Heritage West Indies 36, Seabiscuit.

He shared a tidbit that he only recently remembered after In the first of a few repeat winners, Jack Towne, aboard finding an old newspaper article about his early sailing True Blue, won the Steve Pardee Memorial Trophy for being days in Tampa; Charley was commodore of the Davis the first Morgan 24 to finish.

Island Junior Yacht Club (the precursor to the current In the 38 Classic vs. Brewer/Morgan 38 Shootout, DIYC) in 1948! “I remember getting together with a few multi-time champion Pete Moller and his crew aboard buddies, and we’d grab a dinghy on the beach, rig it and Rolling Thunder finally relinquished hold of the Shootout just sail all over that bay” recounted Morgan, “and you Award, as Eric Swanson and Tom Holland’s’ Morgan 382, know when you get two sailboats together, there’s a race.”

Osprey, got the lead at the first weather mark and never Saturday, race day, came around, and sailors knew looked back. early that there would be weather. The breeze was ENE at Other class winners included the under 40-foot Out 8-10 and would grow later in the day. Dockmaster Les Island winner, and repeating again was Andre Balash Lathrop got boats moving and out on the course ready for aboard Gypsy Queen. The Morgan 27s were represented well the first start at 1300. PHRF boats started first and followed by class winner Woody Fraser onboard Thunder. a 14-mile “star” course that traversed back and forth across The evening was topped off when DIYC Commodore Hillsborough Bay. They were followed by the Morgan 38 Tom Dunn presented Charley Morgan with an honorary class, a combined Morgan 22/24 class and then the Out membership to the Davis Island Yacht Club. Citing Charley’s Islands went down bay on a reaching course. The first boat lifelong passion for sailing, his early efforts in forming the to finish was Bill Wilhelm’s OI 41, Manana, from Tallahassee Davis Island Junior Yacht Club, as well as his efforts in countin just under two hours. Last across the line was Lonny less regattas, Dunn said, “Welcome home, Charley.”

Baker’s 45-foot Morgan sloop, Sea of Tranquility.

See the story “Bay of Fundy Sailor Meets Charley Morgan”page 70.

Once the racers were in and settled, they gathered

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WiFi Going South – A Cruiser’s Companion

By Kent Trompeter

The particular ISP was “OII,” he anchor is down and and as I was to discover, it had set, a cool beverage is in the entire area in and around your hand and a sight for Marsh Harbor covered with sore eyes magically appears WiFi. You signed up once and on the PC screen, “One or as long as you could get a sigmore wireless connections are nal from “OII,” you could get in range.” Without leaving the connected. The area was not boat, we can check e-mail, without competition, as Cocheck weather and—if we CoTels (Cocoanut Telegraph) have a good connection—we also provided service, but it can even “phone home.” was not as widespread as On the other hand, if that “OII.” We had service with magical message doesn’t “OII” from Bakers Bay to appear, we climb into the Little Harbour with few if any dinghy and go ashore looking service outages. for the ubiquitous “Internet As we continued south Cafe.” through the Abacos and I do not profess to be the Exumas, WiFi was a hit-andexpert on WiFi or on the best miss proposition. We found spot for WiFi in the Caribbean.

WiFi at Sampson Cay, and at I can only provide informaWarderick Wells, WiFi was tion on the experiences we’ve available, but you had to go to had on Southern Mist II in our the Exuma Park office and sit travels from the west coast of on the porch in order to use it, Florida to Trinidad. but it was a great view! The Once we left the United WiFi users linking up in Georgetown. further we sailed down the States and tossed the cell Exuma chain, the fewer instances of WiFi were found. phones happily into the Gulf Stream, communication boiled Finally Georgetown! Georgetown would have WiFi. After down to the VHF, SSB and the Internet. Our first stop was all, they have a couple of regattas every year, and hundreds West End, Bahamas, where they were still re-building after of boats show up. Nope, no WiFi. Not at Hamburger Beach, the hurricanes of 2005 pretty well decimated almost everynot at Volleyball Beach—not even anchored in the little cove thing on the tip of the island. WiFi was not available and in town.

Internet connection was not available at the docks. We had After Georgetown it was Long Island, Rum Cay to go ashore and use the computer in the marina office, or and then Mayaguez. WiFi was available at Rum Cay we could use the Internet connection in the customs office. providing you sat outside at the picnic bench along Our next stop was Green Turtle Cay where we were with a thousand swarming mosquitos…we didn’t anchored in White Sound. We had WiFi available at anchor, need to check e-mail that bad. provided by the Green Turtle Club, and at the time, it was Leaving the Bahamas in our rearview mirror, our next free of charge. We next found ourselves anchored at Bakers stop was the Turks and Caicos. Like most other cruisers, our Bay, and I could look ashore and see the WiFi antennae. The first stop was Sapodilla Bay, and it does not have WiFi. It signal was excellent and it was easy to sign up and sign on.

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doesn’t even have an Internet cafe. Needing some work done on the boat, we sailed west to Caicos Shipyard and Marine. WiFi was available but didn’t work the entire two weeks we were at the Caicos Shipyard.

Luperon, Dominican Republic—finally we are back in the world of vegetation, the smell of the earth and, of course, dirty water. Alas, no WiFi in Luperon. You can connect at Captain Steve’s Place or the Verizon office, but that’s it. So much for civilization. Moving along the coast of the DR we didn’t find WiFi at any town or village from Luperon to Samana.

Arriving in Boqueron, Puerto Rico, we fired up the computer expecting to see WiFi. After all, we were back in the United States…kinda. Sorry!

If you want Internet access, you can walk up the street to Shelley’s Travel Agency and you can connect using her route—if it’s working. The next location that had any kind of Internet was the Cruisers Galley in Salinas, and it was WiFi inside the cafe. The upside was that Internet access was free if you ate a meal and the food was GREAT! You find WiFi at the most unusual places, like anchored off Vieques, PR. A strong signal and the service is free from “Viequeseast.”

The table lists all of the anchorages and islands where we did and did not have WiFi access, and how I rated the service. Needless to say, we did not stay at all of the anchorages in all of the islands so your experience may be different than ours.

In summary, the best WiFi service we found has to be OII in Marsh Harbor, Bahamas. The service was always excellent, the signal always strong, and if you had a problem, customer service was without peer. More and more, we

News & Views for Southern Sailors

are finding free Internet access. It draws cruisers to that particular port and/or anchorage; keeps us there so we can do all that “stuff” that we want to do, and as long as we are anchored in that port, we are spending money—a smart move on the part of the Internet service providers.

We found the service in Trinidad to be less than adequate. Although numerous businesses provide WiFi service, the signal in the anchorage is marginal at best. I would think the Trinidadians could do better, and with just a minor investment in equipment, the signals would rival those found in the Bahamas.

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TRAVELS WITH ANGEL

Coastal Hopping, Southeast Florida Part II

Lake Worth to Biscayne Bay Rebecca Burg The southeast Florida coastal journey continues from last month…

A

fter stopping in Lake Worth, singlehanded companion cruisers Angel and Defiant slipped into the Atlantic and headed south. The Palm Beaches were still asleep. It was Sunday morning before dawn, and we were the only boats moving in the dusky, serene moment. Angel’s three sails were embraced by a humid 10-knot breeze as she sashayed over a rolling Atlantic swell.

Nearby, Defiant also had all three sails up as her ketch rig eagerly reached for air. To reduce the Gulf Stream’s counter-productive effects, we hugged the coast at a depth of about five fathoms. The stream can be felt close to shore along southeastern Florida.

Tiller pilot engaged, Angel helmed while I scattered a few crumbs of food on her bowsprit. Growing up in a culture that had been slow to relinquish its deep-rooted tradi- Defiant sailing south along Florida’s southeast coast. tions and beliefs to modern society, I couldn’t help myself. My native fishermen ancestors To this day, in the West Indies, mariners feel that a boat believed that a vessel has a spirit and is alive in some way. must have her own spirit to be successful and safe.

After being raised on boats, I believed such a thing. The gesSometimes an animal is sacrificed for that cause. In parts of ture of feeding Angel was part of a long-established practice Scotland, fishermen sprinkle new vessels with whisky, barto show respect and acknowledgement to the vessel’s spirit. ley and bread. Ages ago, the Vikings tied slaves in the path Along with sensible seamanship and preventative mainteof a new ship before it was launched. Crushed by the ship nance, I clung to my family’s superstitions. Angel is my as it slid into the sea, the hapless slaves supposedly translover, an active partner in the adventure of life, as opposed ferred their souls into the vessel. Blood and gore soon gave to being a mere object that’s casually used as transportation. way to symbolic red wine and then to the American’s Surely I wouldn’t bond so deeply with something that wasChampagne christenings of today. Also, boats around the n’t endowed with a soul, life or some kind of inexplicable world are traditionally referred to as “she,” and in some energy of its own. countries, as “he,” instead of “it.” While cruising, I’d freAt least I wasn’t alone. quently notice other skippers talking to their boats or offering Neptune, or the boat herself, a share of rum. Maritime traditions run strong.

After a hot sunrise, Florida’s inlets soon resembled beehives with frenetic swarms of vessels randomly buzzing in and out. The tranquility was shattered. Adding to the growing clamor, Defiant and Angel turned on their diesels and motorsailed to maintain reasonable speed in the mild conditions. “Are those guys following you?” Bill radioed. “Uhoh!” I blurted, startled by the parade of boats closely trailing Angel. I hadn’t heard them sneaking behind me. Fumbling about, I put my clothes on, and, peep show over, the nosy little vessels meandered away. Soon, we passed Boynton Inlet with its low, fixed bridge. Sailboats could not enter here. Next was Boca Raton Inlet and Hillsboro Inlet, and both have opening bridges for sailboats to access the ICW. 44 June 2007

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It’s always wise to note the nearest safe harbors along one’s planned route should the weather turn.

By mid afternoon, we approached Fort Lauderdale, and it was the most chaotic channel we’d passed so far. Overhead, a blimp continuously circled in the sky, and its slow, rotund shape was a stark contrast to the visual cacophony of angular high rises and tower cranes that dominated the coast. Dodging the incessant boat wakes, we plodded onward. Miami’s haze-enshrouded bulk rose over the horizon. Defiant rooted along Miami Beach for bikini sightings while I stayed on the rhumb, too lazy to divert course until a Jet Ski dumped its lone jockey in Angel’s path. I swerved in a sail-flapping panic. The rider splashed after his drifting craft. Once the man was safely reattached to his Jet Ski, I hurried onwards and caught up to Defiant.

At Miami’s bustling Government Cut, we waited like cars at an intersection for two cruise Angel approaches Miami. ships to steam out to sea. The sun fell behind from the sense-stunning din of a city. Angel led the way into Virginia Key. In the deepening twilight, I dashed toward the the straight, deep and wide Key Biscayne channel, her spotflashing light at the shared entrance to the Key Biscayne and light finding each day mark. We also found something else.

Cape Florida channels. I’m always overwhelmed by the “You see that?” Bill radioed. A spidery shape leaped into the confusion of urban artificiality but will feel at ease when spotlight’s narrow beam. “There,” I said. Standing on long sailing in wild, natural places. legs, a triangular structure emerged from the shadows.

Finally relaxing, I inhaled the fresh briny air wafting “Stiltsville!” Bill exclaimed. Along the channel’s edges were from Biscayne Bay’s tidal flats. This serene place was free the funky remains of several fishing and vacation cottages, which were built on stilts over the water. Known as Stiltsville, the buildings were presently abandoned.

Wandering into Biscayne Bay, we anchored out of the way of mosquitoes and the night fishermen’s travel routes.

Defiant and Angel were finally at rest after a 68-nautical mile run from Lake Worth. Alone in the darkness, we could see Key Biscayne and the Cape Florida lighthouse on the island’s southern tip. The oldest light in Florida, it first guided ships in 1825. Key Biscayne offers anchorages, a marina, dinghy access (northern end), the ultra-sheltered No Name Harbor (for a fee), restaurants, provisions, entertainment, fishing and over 400 acres of the scenic Bill Baggs State Recreation area. From there, a short bus ride brings one to Virginia Key and then to Miami. Biscayne Bay itself is lined with places to see and things to do. A cruiser in a tourist’s mood can spend lots of time here.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

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SOUTHERN RACING â– UPCOMING MAJOR SOUTHERN RACING EVENTS AND NEWS

One Design Crew Training, Davis Island Yacht Club, June 2, 8, 16 The One Design Crew Training (ODCT) course will be held June 2, 9, 16 at DIYC, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The training is a hands-on learning experience where you learn to race the boat from setup, through spinnaker, starts and windward/leeward races. Not a learn-to-sail course. Three part course, not three separate courses.

For more information, you can also go to the SOUTHWINDS home page, www.southwindsmagazine.com.

Call me at (813) 760-0177 or e-mail me at kpurton@tampabay.rr.com to get an application. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. King Purton

US Sailing Race Management Seminar, Cortez, FL, June 9 The Basic Race Management Seminar is scheduled for Saturday June 9, 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., at the Florida Maritime Museum, 4415 119th Street West, Cortez. The advanced registration fee of $30 ($40 on the day) includes US Sailing materials, continental breakfast, two breaks, lunch and exam for US Sailing members. Non-US Sailing members

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wishing to take the final exam must contact Peter Robinson before June 1.

This seminar will be a valuable learning experience for all racers, race committee volunteers and wannabes. Passing the test is required for anyone wishing to become or remain a US Sailing certified club race officer. Passing is not required of anyone else, but the exam fee is bundled in the price, so if you are a US Sailing member (and we all should be), you might as well take the test. US Sailing is controlling the registration for this seminar. Attendance is limited to 30 students, by the size of the room.

To register, go to www.ussailing.org, then to Race Administration, then Race Management, then Race Officer Certification Programs and Seminars, then Race Management Seminars. On that page, scroll down to June 9, and click on this listing in order to register. US Sailing Registration Web Page.

For additional information call Peter (941) 951-6323.

Gulfport to Pensacola Race, June 15-16

By Kim Kaminski The annual 100-mile Gulfport to Pensacola race will be held

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on June 15-16 (Father’s Day weekend). It is sponsored by both the Gulfport Yacht Club in Gulfport, MS, and the Pensacola Yacht Club in Pensacola, FL. Participants’ registration forms must be filed by midnight, June 8, along with a $65 fee ($60 for US Sailing members). Skippers’ meeting will be held at the Gulfport Yacht Club at 6:30 p.m. on June 14. For more information, go to www.gya.org.

2007 ’Round The Island Multihull Race, Fort Walton Yacht Club, June 15-17 This annual event, hosted by the Fort Walton Yacht Club, began in 1980, and has featured a virtual Hall of Fame, with national and world-class competitors. These include Carlton Tucker, Randy Smyth, Brian Lambert and Hans Geissler.

This year’s race continues the tradition of challenging competitors to test their skill and endurance with the 100mile circumnavigation of Santa Rosa Island. For information and registration call (850) 243-7102 or visit www.fwyc.org.

Reggae Regatta hosted by Lake Lanier Sailing Club, June 16-17 Lake Lanier Sailing Club will be hosting the 2007 Reggae Regatta on June 16-17 on Lake Lanier, located near Flowery Branch, GA, approximately one hour northeast of Atlanta.

The weekend will be filled with fun-filled, competitive sailboat racing along with live Reggae music and a Caribbeanthemed dinner on Saturday evening and steel drum music prior to the trophy presentation on Sunday afternoon.

Racing is open to all sailboats. Featured classes will include multiple PHRF divisions, Portsmouth, Multihulls and One-Design starts for any class with five or more boats pre-registered by June 9th. A separate Cruising class will be included this year as well.

For more information, NOR and schedules, go to www.LLSC.com.

2007 Offshore Challenge Cup Regatta, Pensacola Yacht Club, June 21-24 The 2007 Gulf Yachting Association (GYA) Offshore Challenge Cup Regatta will be held June 21-24 at the Pensacola Yacht Club. All yacht clubs which are members in the GYA are invited. Each club may enter no less than three and no more than four boats in four classes. The skipper, the helmsman and at least half the crew (including the skipper and helmsman) must be current members of the one yacht club they represent.

Traditionally, the regatta is held at the Gulfport Yacht Club, but due to effects still lingering from Hurricane Katrina, the event was moved to the Pensacola Yacht Club.

For more information, go to www.pensacolayachtclub.org or contact Fleet Captain Chip MacMillan at (850) 934-5377 or e-mail cnjmacmillan@hotmail.com.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

Junior Olympic Sailing Festival, Pensacola Yacht Club, July 6-8

By Kim Kaminski The Pensacola Yacht Club will host the USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival Independence Day Regatta on July 6-8.

The Junior Olympics participants will learn techniques and skills taught by Tom Coleman (one of the best Opti coaches in the country) and then follow-up hands-on practical application sailing in competitive races.

Various skill-level classes will be available for the youth sailors including: Optimist Red, White, and Blue classes, Optimist Green (with a three-day clinic), Laser, Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, and Club 420.

Youth sailors will enjoy a practice day filled with clinics and fun races beginning on Friday, July 6, with competitive racing on Saturday and Sunday. The awards ceremony will be held Sunday after racing at the yacht club.

For more information, go to www.pensacolayachtclub.org, or contact Linda Thompson, regatta chair at Linda.thompson@mchsi.com.

Ladies Sailing Trilogy – Fast Women, Bikini and Race for the Roses Regattas, July 14-August 4

By Kim Kaminski The Trilogy Trophy is awarded to the best team of the following three women’s regattas.

The initial race in the Ladies Trilogy, the Fast Women Regatta, will be held on July 14 at the Point Yacht Club in Josephine, AL. www.pointyachtclub.org.

The second race, the Bikini Regatta, will be held on July 28 at the Navy Yacht Club of Pensacola. This year marks the 27th anniversary of the Bikini regatta, which also has the honor of being the first ladies sailing event in the area. www.navypnsyc.org.

The final race in the Trilogy Series, the Race for the Roses, will be held on August 4 and hosted by the Pensacola Beach Yacht Club. This will be the 20th anniversary of this special all-female regatta. The overall winner in the Women’s Trilogy will be determined at this race. www.pensacolabeach-yc.org.

■ RACE REPORTS

54th Mt. Dora Annual Regatta, Mt. Dora Yacht Club, Mt. Dora, FL, March 31 – April 1

By Jabbo Gordon The numbers were down for the 54th annual Mount Dora Regatta this year, but officials still called it a success—especially with Catalina 22 sailors using the event as the finale to their mid-winters series.

Mike Brown of Fort Pierce took three firsts, a fourth and a fifth to win the 12-boat Catalina 22 competition with 12 SOUTHWINDS

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SOUTHERN RACING points. Randy Pawlowski of Lake Monroe placed second with 18 points.

Some 63 boats, one from as far away as Maine, sailed on Lake Dora with moderate easterly breezes on March 31April 1. Ben Mohney of Venice not only won the Red, White and Blue Optimist division but grabbed the Commodore’s Trophy as the youngest winning skipper.

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

Mount Dora Yacht Club Sunfish Competition

By Mindy Strauley The weather was great for this regatta with 80-degree sunshine and winds ranging from 5-12 all weekend. I won’t even endeavor to guess the wind direction as my wind dial pointed (until it actually spun off its cradle) in each direction at some point during our time on the water. This is lake sailing at its finest.

The Sunfish sailed out to the farthest course, giving the race committee ample room to set a course. And, quite unexpectedly, they used all the room they had. Each race was a three-lap (yes, three laps!) windward-leewards. By Saturday night, everyone was too exhausted to even set out for investigating a new downtown watering hole. To our amazement, the races were quite long. Even James Liebl (the youngest sailor out there) commented, “Wow, those courses were long!”

In preparation for next year, we will have to do some conditioning to withstand what the MDYC race committee has planned for us.

It was obvious that the Mt. Dora YC members have invested some time in studying race management, as their race committee did an excellent job setting the courses throughout the weekend. I encourage all to check out this regatta next year (first weekend in April).

tics and strategy.

Saturday’s racing was good because of the wind, and Sunday’s racing on the course that had Lasers, Sunfish, 420s and Laser 4.7s on it saw incredibly close finishes, particularly in the 420 class and the Laser class. In one race, five Lasers were overlapped when they crossed the finish line, and in the 420 class, two port tack boats were neck and neck just yards from the line, and a starboard tack boat, which had rights of way, cut them off and took the finish first. The boats were so close that it didn’t so much look like a finish as much as it looked like an impending wreck of tremendous proportions.

The young sailors who were in the midst of all that confusion managed near misses with the aplomb of NASCAR drivers at Daytona. They have experience that transcends their years.

Standouts in the regatta included Joe Blouin of Tampa, who dominated the Sunfish class by a very respectable margin after two days of racing and six races. Andrew Loss and Brian Firth, both from Sarasota, who sailed as a seamless team in the 6-boat 420 class, were second in class after Saturday, but they posted three bullets in the first three races on Sunday and bagged the class big time.

Dalton Tebo of Sarasota had the Laser Radial class until the very last race when he finished fourth to Christopher Taylor’s first. Taylor took the class by a single point.

Fourth Annual Jabbo Gordon Regatta, Englewood, FL, April 7

By Jabbo Gordon

Results, top ten (place, name, home): 1. James Liebl, Titusville; 2. Dan Norton, Devils Lake YC; 3. Ron McHenry, Pymatuning Sail Club; 4. Paul Strauley, Casselberry; 5. Fred Hutchinson, Edison Sailing Center; 6. Mindy Strauley, Casselberry; 7. Tony Elliiott, Gulfstream Sail Club; 8. Chris Gates, Melbourne YC; 9. Curt Harding, Boothbay Hbr. YC; 10. Steve Winkler, N. Fla. Cruising Club.

Sailfest, Sarasota Youth Sailing Program, April 5-6

By Morgan Stinemetz By any standard of measure, the 139 boats competing at the Sarasota Youth Sailing Program Sailfest were winners for a number of valid reasons, including but not limited to superior organization, sailing breezes that were sufficient all the time—if a slight bit limp for a while on Sunday—good food and varied entertainment. The weekend was all about sailboat racing, and there was enough for all hands.

Boats in four fleets raced on four courses in Sarasota Bay, where the winds on Saturday hit about 18 knots, and the tops on Sunday was about 12 with some serious droops in wind speed that didn’t last very long. Just long enough for a number of sailors to have to break out light-wind tac48

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Sailing on a windy day in the Jabbo Gordon Regatta. Photo by Jim Dietrich.

Venice Youth Boating Association officials were concerned that holding the fourth annual Jabbo Gordon Regatta on April 7—the day before Easter—would not attract many sailors, but a record number of entries turned out.

There were 74 registrants, breaking the former mark of 73. However, moderate to fresh northerly winds caused some capsizes and damage, and there were not as many boats sailing on Lemon Bay, off Indian Mount Park, in the afternoon as there had been in the morning.

Most of the winners hailed from Sarasota, including Will www.southwindsmagazine.com

Stocke in the 420 class, Sam Armington in the Optimist Green Fleet and Viktor Wettergren in the Laser Radial group. Molly McKinney, who lives in Sarasota but sails for the host Venice Youth Boating Association, won the 17-boat Red, White and Blue Optimist division, largest of the regatta.

Reid Hutchinson of Fort Myers edged his brother Fred in a tie-breaker to collect top prize in the 15-boat Sunfish competition, which was open to adult skippers.

Gulf Hunter Sailing Association 15th Annual Hunter Cup, Gulfport, FL, April 14

By Jennifer Rogers The Gulf Hunter Sailing Association held its 15th annual Hunter Cup Regatta and Rendezvous at the Boca Ciega Yacht Club in Gulfport, FL. Two races were held on a 3.6-mile course in lower Boca Ciega Bay. There were three classes: PHRF Spinnaker, PHRF Non-Spinnaker and Cruising. Pegasus (Richard Cox and crew) won the PHRF Non-Spinnaker group in his 37 Hunter Legend. The PHRF Non-Spinnaker group was represented by the SailTime Hunter 36 fleet flying asymmetrical cruising chutes, and was won by Syros (Ed Kalin and crew). Cruising class was won by Tranquility, a Hunter 31 skippered by David Bye and son. Breezy conditions made for great racing.

The post-race festivities featured live music and dancing, kegs of beer, barbecue chicken dinner, the awards ceremony and a raffle of great prizes from our regatta sponsors.

The Gulf Hunter Sailing Association was formed in late 1991 as a conduit for camaraderie between owners of Hunter brand sailboats, although the Hunter Cup Regatta— and the club itself—is open to all sailors. Based in the Tampa Bay area, this organization boasts a membership of 75-plus boats.

A list of regatta sponsors and a link to some great regatta photos can be found at www.sailghsa.com/ghsaevents.htm.

Melbourne Yacht Club Spring Regatta, Melbourne, FL, April 14-15

By Roy Laughlin

Lasers approaching the mark in the Melbourne Yacht Club Spring Regatta. Photo by Roy Laughlin.

racing Half Ass. Jim Henry on Mouse 3 and Gregg Kowalski on Slot Machine were second and third, respectively, in this class. In the Non-Spinnaker class, Jerry Ross scored top honors on Sleighride. Second and third places went to Del Weise, Chasing Rainbows, and Dale LeVey, Moving Party. Catalina 22 sailors formed the third class among the big boat sailors.

Tom Harris finished first on Racers Edge. Jerry Butz scored second on Sold Out. And in third place, it was Tom Saam on Babalou.

The small-boat races were held the following weekend, April 21-22. Thirty-eight teams entered. Classes included a beach catamaran class, Flying Scots, Raiders, Day Sailors, Lasers and Sunfish. Saturday was the windy day for this event, but winds, though challenging, were manageable.

For most of the sailors, it was adrenaline and exhilaration race after race.

In the Multihull class, Carla Schiefer and Mark Herendeen scored first-place honors. Dave Andrews was second and Chuck Harnden and Brian Karr finished third.

In the Flying Scot class, Fred Strammer, Jeff Linton and Mark Taylor were first through third, respectively. The Raider class is a high-tech small boat that always puts on a good show on the water. John Drawe finished in first place with a string of first finishes, and a single third-place finish.

John MacNeill was second and Bruce Subut was third.

The Day Sailor class consisted of three teams sailing O’Day 17s. Dede Plessner, Chris Kelly and Michael Barille

The Melbourne Yacht Club’s Spring Regatta has acquired the reputation for most wind of any spring sailing event in central Florida. That reputation held again this year. The event, which spans two weekends, enjoyed winds in excess of 15 knots for several of the races. The regatta spans two weekends: Large boats, over 22 feet, race on the first weekend and smaller craft the following weekend.

The large-boat regatta was held April 14-15. It was extremely windy. At least three boats experienced a blowdown or near blow-down in challenging winds. This was unexpected since the race was in the Indian River, a relatively benign venue under high wind conditions. No serious damage occurred, though, and the races were finished successfully. Twenty-two teams entered the big-boat regatta, and formed three classes. There were two races during the weekend. In the Spinnaker class, Dave Noble finished first, News & Views for Southern Sailors

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SOUTHERN RACING were first through third, respectively.

The Laser class was the second largest with eight boats entered. Dick Tillman finished in first place with 12 points.

Half of his scores were first-place finishes. Dave Ellis was in second place and Mike Taylor in third.

Sunfish sailors, with 11 teams, were the largest class in the small boat regatta. James Liebl scored a solid and impressive first-place standing with a string of first-place finishes. Steve Clendenin in second place and Tony Elliott in third rounded out the trophy standings. In this case, both had a score of 18 points for the six races, and a tie-breaking formula established the standings.

For complete participation and scoring information, go to www.sail-race.com.

Z Sails’ Waldeck And Chris Zaleski Win J/24 National Championship in Jacksonville, April 18-21

By Kimberley A. Collins

on Friday and Saturday.

The Florida Yacht Club was honored to host the nationals on the St. Johns River, and regatta organizers wish to thank the 34 boats and 200 competitors from around the country for participating as well as Bank of America, Coastal Construction Products, Layline, Quantum Sail Design and Coral Reef Sailing Apparel for their support of the event.

The J/24 fleet based at FYC competes each Wednesday night during the summer, and fleet members are looking forward to many of the J/24s that competed this weekend to return for the annual Kings Day One-Design Challenge at the club in November.

For more information about the race results and the regatta, please visit www.j24nationals.com.

Race photographer was Tim Wilkes, and photos are available at www.timwilkes.com.

Shark’s Tooth Cup, Venice Sailing Squadron and Venice Yacht Club, April 21

By Jim Liston

Sailing in the J/24 Nationals. Photo by Tim Wilkes Photography. www.timwilkes.com.

The Florida Yacht Club in Jacksonville hosted 200 sailors on 34 boats April 18-21 for the 2007 J/24 U.S. National Championships. The club’s local fleet entered eight boats in the competition, with Jacksonville’s Peter Bream finishing fourth overall and St. Augustine’s Dan Borrer taking fifth.

Connecticut sailors Waldek and Chris Zaleski easily won the championship trophy, 20 points ahead of Maryland’s Mark Hillman. Third place for the regatta went to Doug Clark, also from Connecticut. Competitors agreed that the hospitality and sailing conditions at FYC were second to none, putting Jacksonville on the map for competitive sailing.

Following Saturday’s final race, National Champion Waldek Zaleski said, “This weekend we discovered likely the best kept secret in sailing, a beautiful club with a fiveminute commute from the harbor to the race course and ideal conditions. We are proud to be the 2007 J/24 national champions and proud to have won the title at the Florida Yacht Club in Jacksonville.”

Conditions were ideal for sailboat racing for the threeday competition, with light winds on Thursday, but strong 50

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The Gulf of Mexico outside the Venice Inlet was the location of the fourth annual Shark’s Tooth Cup, a Sarasota Bay Yachting Association BOTY event. Fourteen boats in spinnaker, non-spinnaker and cruising classes sailed three races that began at 10:30 a.m. and finished around 4:30 p.m. The weather was mostly sunny with minimal wave conditions.

The winds began at 11 knots from the east and later shifted to the ENE briefly dropping to three knots, then picking back up to12 knots and then 16 knots for the third race— super spinnaker action for the Spinnaker class sailing a windward/leeward course.

Leading the Spinnaker class was Dean Cleall, sailing Little Mac, an Elliott 770. In the Non-Spinnaker class, Greg Knighton sailing Misty, a Ranger 33, notched three firsts.

Rudy Reinecke, sailing OHH Zone, a Beneteau FC, had three seconds, and Doug Dearden sailing In Tune, an Impulse 26, had three thirds. John Lynch, sailing Summertime, a C&C 36, was first in the Cruising class, followed by Chan Sweetser, sailing Seahawk, a Catalina 350. Steve Schwark, sailing Maggimae, a Pearson 33, was third.

The Venice Yacht Club tiki bar was the venue for the after-race beverages, dinner, awards, a DVD of the race, and a view of Cat’s Meow towing in Little Mac, who suffered broken gudgeons and rudder.

Corsair Trimaran Nationals 2007, Pensacola, FL, April 22-27 (see cover photo)

By Kim Kaminski

Amateur sailors as well as professionals converged on the waters of Pensacola Bay for this year’s Corsair Trimaran National Championship. Regatta Chairman Bert Rice set up a special educational opportunity for all participants by inviting Olympic and World Class sailor Randy Smythe to www.southwindsmagazine.com

instruct the competitors during the two days prior to the championship with his “Speeed Seminars” (one seminar in a classroom setting, one on the water) that are geared toward sail trim, hoists and tactics. This hands-on training offered a great chance for the contestants to better their efforts during this year’s event.

Thirty boats in four classes and over 100 sailors took to the waters surrounding Pensacola over a six-day period beginning April 22. Partly cloudy skies with a 6- to 10-knot southeasterly breeze welcomed the sailors on their first day where PRO Fairlie Brinkley provided three separate windward/leeward races to get the party started.

A long-distance offshore racecourse sending sailors out through the Pensacola Pass to the #1 sea buoy and back to the inland waters of the bay was scheduled for the second day. Light winds and heavy currents provided some interesting challenges during this 18-mile course.

Day three competition was delayed by a severe weather system that promised lightning, hail and the possibility of tornadoes. Eventually, the racing was canceled, giving the participants a day off to re-energize.

Day four offered an interesting mix of wind conditions.

The day started out with northwesterly winds at 6 to 10 knots during the first two races. Then came an unexpected change in wind direction and strength out of the southwest at 18 to 20 knots for the last two races. During the third and fourth races, with the approach of strong winds from the south, competitors were battered about the racecourse

News & Views for Southern Sailors

where even the best sailors had difficulties with their spinnaker hoists, making the last day of the regatta one of the most challenging.

Last year’s National Champion Don Wigston finished first in his Open Class division but ended up in second place overall behind this year’s 2007 National Winner, Randy Smythe, who captured the Ian Farrier National Championship Trophy on his F25 C trimaran named YO. Randy and his crew finished with an impressive eight-point total – with six first-place finishes, one second place, and a fifth on the final race. Each competitor was allowed one throw-out race, leaving Randy with eight points total.

During the last race, Randy’s team experienced spinnaker trouble including the infamous hourglass (twisted spinnaker) during the rough seas and strong winds, but they quickly recovered and sailed on to victory.

Bob Hodges from the Pontchartrain Yacht Club on his Sprint 750 earned the award for the top finish by an amateur competitor finishing in a respectable fifth place overall.

Glenn Howell finished first in his class division (C-31) on his trimaran Adios! and finished in fourth overall. Steven Marsh wrapped up the class division for the C28-R fleet on his boat Dealer’s Choice, earning him a first in class and third overall. Rounding off the top six competitors finishes is this year’s Key West Amateur Sailor Award winner, Cliff Farrah from the Fort Walton Yacht Club on his C28 R, Strategy 3.

For additional information and photographs, go to www.GulfSailing.com.

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SOUTHERN RACING US Sailing’s Alter Cup Regatta, Melbourne Yacht Club, Melbourne, FL, April 24-28

By Roy Laughlin

Matt and Gina McDonald sailing in the Alter Cup. Photo by Roy Laughlin.

Florida is the home of the nation’s newest jock rock stars of beach cat racing: John Casey and John Williams, both Florida boys, earned a commanding first place in US Sailing’s Alter Cup Regatta. They finished first in every race in the series during the event’s four days. John Lovell, an Olympic medalist, and his wife, Katy Pilley-Lovell (New Orleans, LA), finished second with a solid score of second places in each of their competitions. John and Tiffany Tomko, Canyon Lake, TX, took home the third-place medals.

Beach cat races with windy conditions are drag races.

The 2007 Alter Cup regatta enjoyed four days of exemplary wind at 10-20 knots. Only on Saturday, the regatta’s final day, did a stalled front end nearly three weeks of continuous wind. There was no shortage of adrenaline-pumping experiences for the races, and even watching the races was exhilarating. A few teams consistently placed in A fleet, but for the rest it was a roller coaster series of poor finishes that put the teams in B fleet, followed by great ones that restored fortunes and let them back into A fleet. Raw talent is only one ingredient of success. A lot of luck helps, too. The early third-place team snagged a mark line in a couple of the events. The few seconds of delay made all the difference in the scores by the end of the four days of racing.

The format of the Alter Cup is unique. There are 10 catamarans in each race. This year, the catamaran was the Blade F16, supplied by Vectorworks, a boatbuilding company in Titusville, just a few miles from the race site. Only 20 teams compete. Those teams are selected either by nomination, through a series of national qualifying regattas, or by application from interested teams. A series consists of a pair of races involving all the teams, with a group of 10 designated as either A or B. The catamarans are prepared and maintained by a shore team, not by the racers and are rigged exactly the same. Racers are assigned randomly to a boat for each race. They may never sail the same boat twice.

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up in the designated A team, and it is from this group that the ranking winners are determined. What makes this scoring system interesting for the teams is that a poor finish can put a team in B fleet, and finishing in the top three of B fleet cats restores status to A fleet. The entire goal of this scoring system is to select the most capable sailors based on performance, and to minimize the influence of familiarity with the boat or ability to obtain and use gear that gives an advantage.

The Melbourne Yacht Club joined US Sailing in hosting the 2007 Alter Cup, which was raced in the Indian River.

Jake Kohl served as US Sailing’s U.S. Multihull Championship chairman and John Fox of MYC served as the regatta chair. This was just about as smoothly run as any regatta this writer has reported.

Florida has always had its share of champions in national events. John Casey has established himself and his teammates as some of the brightest sailing stars in the current generation of both distance and buoy racing events.

The reflected glow is illuminating Florida’s beach cat sailing talent and events. Right now, the beach cat scene in Florida is cool. Real cool.

For photos, go to www.floridamultihullsailor.com.

First Coast Offshore Challenge, North Florida Cruising Club, Jacksonville, FL, April 25-28

By Dave Kyser, NFCC The third annual First Coast Offshore Challenge (FCOC) was held April 25-28. Approximately 36 boats completed each of the three ocean races over the four-day event, typified by favorable winds and fantastic parties. The First Coast Offshore Challenge is an offshore regatta totaling over 100 nautical miles of racing. The first leg is from Jacksonville south to St. Augustine; the second leg is from St. Augustine to St. Marys, GA, and the third and final leg is from St. Marys back to Jacksonville.

The FCOC was created in 2004 by the North Florida Cruising Club, an at-large club in Jacksonville, FL, that also holds two other ocean races. The regatta was created in the hopes of increasing interest in ocean racing, and also to raise money for a fantastic local charity, Safe Harbor Boys Home, a Jacksonville-based home for troubled youth. This year’s regatta was a resounding success on both points.

Yachts participating in this year’s Offshore Challenge came from as far as Charleston, SC, Georgia, Daytona Beach, Amelia Island, St. Augustine, and of course, local racers from Jacksonville and Orange Park. Proceeds of the regatta and profits from corporate sponsorships were donated to Safe Harbor Boys Home.

Regatta Chairman Guy Anderson re-iterated to me the importance of their choice of Safe Harbor: “Safe Harbor Boys Home was an obvious choice as our charity because it does a terrific job of taking kids who’ve gotten in trouble and setting them on the right path. These kids have an opportunity to turn their lives around in a positive setting.

It removes them from the pattern of behavior they were trapped in. Also, it’s unique because they use boating skills and boating maintenance training to teach kids the values that will help them in life. They receive no federal or state funds so this event will provide them with valuable supwww.southwindsmagazine.com

port, and one can see why we felt the obvious connection.”

Not only was Safe Harbor a great choice for the cause, but a great location to hold a regatta. As the name implies, it’s a Safe Harbor for the boys, and for boats. Safe Harbor is located behind Blount Island on the St. Johns River, and is tucked away nicely behind some very active shipping and cargo terminals. It’s only a few miles in from Mayport, the gateway to Jacksonville, FL. The ample dockage, deepwater access, and great shoreside facilities made it perfect for this event.

The regatta kicked off Tuesday night, April 24, with a skipper’s meeting and party at Safe Harbor. After the race committee conducted its meeting, we had a weather briefing from local surfer-boy made good, TV meteorologist Tim Deegan. Tim gave a detailed “guess” on what the conditions would be over the four days of racing, and, in his defense, he was pretty close. On Wednesday morning, April 25, the first race started just outside the Mayport inlet. Winds were SSE at 5-10 knots early. We locals knew this was a good thing, as the near-shore sea breeze would surely build and accelerate this soon. It did, going 12-15 knots out of the SE, enabling many of the yachts racing to spend most of their time on the port beat trying to stay up the rhumb line to St. Augustine. The party that night at the St. Augustine Yacht Club was wonderful. St. Augustine Yacht Club was able to show off its beautiful new clubhouse to many of the racers, plus good food, free beer, and a blues band that was fantastic. Thursday’s race, on April 26, was a reverse-PHRF start, which meant the cruisers started first, at around 1700, with the quicker spinnaker yachts starting more toward 2000. The overnight race to St. Marys was expected to be fun as the weather forecast was for southwest winds. Deegan was right again, as the winds stayed mostly south to southwest, and were from 12-15 knots, at times filling in to 20-22 knots solid. Sleigh ride! This was a terrific sail, most of the fleet arriving at the finish in St. Marys around 0300 on Friday morning, and naps were in order!

The party that evening in St. Marys was perfect, as the participants feasted on low-country boil, and free Grande Cerveza! The last leg on Saturday was more typical of our area, with a light offshore blowing early in the morning and many of the fleet expecting a sea breeze to push early, as we didn’t believe Deegan’s predictions of westerly winds coming through that day. But, Bravo Zulu to Tim, after a light period, the westerly persisted and pushed through the sea breeze trying to form. So with a westerly breeze of 10-12 knots, the fleet reached straight up the rhumb line in relatively calm water to the finish in Mayport. The fleet retired back to Safe Harbor for an awards dinner, free beer, and a very enjoyable party.

Please consider moving your yacht and join this great event for a good cause next year. For detailed race results, go to www.sailjax.com/ and click on FCOC Results.

29th Annual Regata del Sol al Sol, St. Petersburg to Mexico, April 27

By Dave Ellis The 39th edition of the race from St. Petersburg to Yucatan Peninsula’s Isla Mujeres was a light air, mostly smooth-seas adventure for the 456-mile journey.

Homeland Security pre-qualified those boats and crew News & Views for Southern Sailors

who elected to do so before leaving the country, so that with the proper reference number a phone call from any U.S. port cleared them for customs on returning.

The St. Petersburg Power Squadron did a courtesy inspection on many boats, as vessels were required to be suitable for ocean voyaging.

With the wind on the nose from the St. Petersburg waterfront, the fleet was led under power to outside of the Skyway Bridge for the start. It was tight out Southwest Pass and into the Gulf where the promising early breeze proved to be fleeting. It was going to be a long race.

Fred Bickley on last year’s winner Mango Latitudes reported on the single sideband radio that they had a “mutiny” aboard. It seems that among the crew was son Freddie and his bride-to-be’s wedding gown. The wedding was to be on the Mexican island, and the groom and dress really had to be there. So they elected to motor until the breeze picked up halfway across. They made it to the church on time.

First to finish was the longest and lowest-rated boat of the fleet, Robert Walker’s Macgregor 72 Enigma, hailing from Key West. As soon as the wind would allow, the crew sailed south of the rhumb line, passing discreetly away from the western Cuba coastline. Their handicap rating, however, dropped them in the standings.

Finishing a little over two hours later, Renegade, Tom Slade’s Santa Cruz 52 from Ponte Vedra, FL, saved her time to win the Spinnaker class. Her course mirrored Enigma’s, but not as far south, cutting a few miles on the distance.

The Non-Spinnaker winner, Max Smith of Ormond Beach, FL, on his Lafitte 44, Twilight, sailed as close to the rhumb line as possible. They recorded the event’s best finish time after handicaps were applied, making Twilight the overall winner of the regatta. Twilight was beached and badly damaged in Hurricane Frances in 2003 and sat for many months before being salvaged. Like Phoenix rising from the ashes, Twilight was rehabilitated, and Smith began again to campaign her in regional sailboat races. Smith, 76, who hails from the Halifax River Yacht Club, has made sailing headlines since the mid-1970s, competing in a succession of grueling, long-distance races criss-crossing the Atlantic Ocean, around the world, and in the Pacific Ocean.

He often sailed alone or with a single crewmember, logging more than 100,000 sea miles since taking up the sport of amateur ocean sailing in his mid-40s. ¨I had a great crew,¨ Smith said, when accepting the awards at the trophy presentation dinner.

The True Cruising fleet was divided into three divisions.

Mi Vida Loca, the Beneteau 40 sailed by Mike Boom, one of the race organizers, finished well ahead of the TC-A fleet TC-B was led by Ted Riley of St. Petersburg on the Pearson 424, Bel Esprit II, taking a conservative course.

TC-C winner was Mike Noble of Madeira Beach, FL, on Nobility, his Morgan Out-Island 41. His track across the Gulf looks as if he may have had an ample supply of grog aboard. The final approach was from off the far western tip of Cuba where the cruise ships turn south. The strong Yucatan current swept them up to the finish. His corrected time was second in the fleet.

In the Multihull class, Otis Tavlin’s Condor 40, Thunderbird, had a rudder problem. Bob Webster’s Catana 52, Minnow, towed him all the way across the Gulf, making SOUTHWINDS

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SOUTHERN RACING it in time for the parties. That left Rick Short of St. Petersburg’s Vitamin Sea, a Voyage 43, the winner.

The event’s tradition of doing something for the inhabitants of this idyllic island continues. This year, Larry Wissing and Mike Boom instigated a boat poster coloring contest among the island’s 600 elementary school students. The winner’s crayon creation was reproduced on the back of the official T-shirt. Nearly all of the three elementary schools’ students were given rides around the island, some spilling over to a larger local craft. Many local adults remember with fondness their ride when they were mere pequenos.

For many boats, the delivery back to their home ports was very rough and windy. The end of that wet and lumpy sail was made much more enjoyable by the excellent cooperation of the officials when re-entering the states Twenty boats are already registered for the 40th edition of the Mexico race. Entries will be limited to 50, the harbor’s capacity.

Tampa Sailing Squadron’s Commodore’s Cup, May 5

Twelve sailboats in five divisions competed on a 15.4 nautical mile course in the Tampa Sailing Squadron’s Commodore’s Cup Regatta. The predicted five-knot drifter was true for the morning, but wind strength increased quickly throughout the day.

First place in Spinnaker A Division went to Ed Peters, aboard Tigress, an Abbott 33. Sea Explorers Ship 185 took second place in Jabberwocky, a J/22, and Ed Plotz, aboard Slippery When Wet, a Hunter 28, finished in third place.

In Spinnaker B, Gene DiNisio’s Shrew, a Creekmore 23, beat Darin O’Neal’s Lagniappe, a Catalina 22.

Flying jib and main, Jon Martini’s Pure Magic, a Pearson Flyer 30, came in first, followed by Kent Bailey in Pilgrim, a Pearson 30, and Joy Ride, Susan Bishop and Shari Callahan’s Ranger 23.

Bob Bettinger’s White Cap, a C&C 28, won first place in the True Cruising division.

In the Mother Lode division for non-rated boats, Amore Gatto, a Gemini 30 catamaran owned by Bill Schumacher, beat Synchronicity, Luanne McGinnis’s Tartan 30. The Mother Lode division is unique to TSS, encouraging inexperienced racers to compete.

June 9th, TSS and the St. Pete Sailing Association host the TransBay Regatta. For info, go to www.tampasailing.org.

Sarasota Bay Cup, Bird Key Yacht Club, May 12

By Morgan Stinemetz With four different venues of sailboat racing operating at the same time on Saturday, May 12, Sarasota Bay was alive with boats, and the Gulf of Mexico played host to two classes on its own—multihulls and the racer/cruiser class. There were six multihulls racing and nine PHRF-designated racer/cruisers, the latter being bigger boats that need longer courses.

There were 42 PHRF boats in Sarasota Bay in six classes in a reverse handicap affair, wherein the slowest rated boats started first. The winds were on the light side when 54

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the first boat started at 1 p.m., and they stayed that way all afternoon, with a few ups and downs of not much more than a knot. The first leg was to weather, followed by a short run and then a port tack fetch up to Marker #15 in the middle of Sarasota Bay. As the fleet condensed over the course during the course of the afternoon, mark roundings got to be a lot more critical with several boats from different classes rounding together. The going was very tight.

Youth sailors fleshed out the racing boats on two small courses near the Sarasota Sailing Squadron on City Island.

The bigger boat total was 57 boats, and the smaller boats sailed by youth—Lasers and Green Fleet Optis—fleshed out the total number of boats to more than 80.

Of the six classes racing in the bay, two were spinnaker classes, two were non-spinnaker classes and two were true cruising classes.

Greg Knighton, last year’s overall regatta winner, sailed his Ranger 33, Misty, to a another first-place finish in NonSpinnaker B. Second in class went to Flash, a Morgan 22 that’s always tough on a race course. The boat is sailed by Bob and Cathy Willard of Palmetto. Third went to Larry Melat’s San Juan 24, Saridan, which is sailed out of the Bayshore Gardens Yacht Club in Bradenton.

In Non-Spinnaker A, the winning boat was Sarasota resident Doug Deardon’s Impulse 26, In Tune. Second went to Rudy Reinecke, also of Sarasota. He was sailing a Beneteau First Class, Ohh Zone. Third place was taken by Relentless, a Beneteau 32, sailed by Larry Willis of Tampa.

Of the two True Cruising classes, the winner of the class—although misnamed Cruiser Light—went to John Lynch’s C&C 36, Summertime. Second went to Bob Johnson’s Shearwater, a C&C 38. Johnson is from Sarasota.

Third place went to George Minnig of the Bird Key Yacht Club who sailed a Morgan 41 to success.

The lighter of the two true Cruising classes, called for this regatta Cruiser Heavy, was won by Morgan Stinemetz’s Reefer, an Ericson 27. Stinemetz, from Palmetto, said he had superior crew work from Kathy Bush, Dalton Tebo and Bob Dockery all day. Reefer was the first true cruising boat to finish out of 17 racing. Six minutes elapsed before another true cruising boat finished. In second place in class was Wiley Coyote, Roger Horton’s Tartan 27-2 that came up from Fort Myers to race. Maggiemae, Steve Schwark’s Pearson 33 from Sarasota, pulled down third in class.

The Multihull class with six boats was taken by Peter Wormwood in Deuce Coupe, a Stiletto 27. Wormwood hails from Palmetto. Second went to a Sarasota cat, Merlin, Bob Buzzelli’s Gulfstream 39. And Bill Fisher of Bradenton was third in One Up, a modified Stiletto 30.

Relativity, Hal Palmers’ Beneteau 53 from St. Pete, knocked down first in the Racer/Cruiser class. Kevin Fouche’s Heritage West Indies 36, Another Road, was second.

Fouche is from Tampa. Third in class went to Frank Hanna’s Prime Plus that lives up in the Florida Panhandle when it’s not racing in these parts. The boat is a Beneteau 440.

Ray Mannix’s Semper Fi, a J29 out of Clearwater, was first in Spinnaker A. Jim Liston’s Cat’s Meow, a J105 from Venice, was second. Third went to race organizer Richard Gress in Mother Ocean, an O’Day 40.

In the final class, Spinnaker B, Dave Flechsig from Punta Gorda sailed his S-2 7.9, Rooster Tail, to first. Second went to Grant Dumas from St. Pete whose Ranger 33, www.southwindsmagazine.com

Lacerta, proved up to the task. In third came Blammo, Rich Muro’s Evelyn 26 from Sarasota.

The regatta, part of the Sarasota Bay Yachting Association’s BOTY series, was in its second year this year, and it is arguably the premier race in the Sarasota area for several reasons that seem to matter; the entry fee is reasonable and an excellent dollar value, the race committee work is pretty much flawless, the salsa band that has played for both years has been great fun, the trophies are attractive and the post-race buffet has been first- rate.

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

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

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

JUNE Charleston Ocean Racing Association. www.charlestonoceanracing.org 2 Femme Fatale Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org 9-10 Clark Cup 23-24 Laser Masters 23 Indian Island to Ocracoke 30 Oriental Cup Lake Lanier. www.lakelaniersailing.com 3 LLSC Junior Week 10 SSC Couples Day Race 15-17 LLSC Reggae Open Regatta 27 Awards Party 30 Firecracker Cup – Closed South Atlantic Yacht Racing Assoc. www.sayra-sailing.com 2–3 Mayor’s Cup Regatta. Open. One Design. LTYC. 2–3 D12 Lasers – Savannah.Lasers. SSC. 2–3 SAYRA Single-handed Quarterfinals Lasers. SSC. 2–3 Bare What You Dare. Catamarans. KSC. News & Views for Southern Sailors

9–10 Hobcaw Regatta. Open. HYC. 9–10 US Sailing Men’s Champ Quarters. TBA. LLSC. 9–10 US Sailing Triple– Double– Single-handed Junior Champ Quarters. Flying Scot– Club 420– Laser. LNYC. 14-17 C Scow Nationals. C Scow. ASC. 16–17 James Island Regatta. Open. JIYC. 16–17 Governor’s Cup. Open. CSC-NC. 16–17 Reggae Regatta. Open. LLSC. 23–24 Lowcountry Regatta. Open. BYSC. 23–24 NC Laser Masters. Laser. ODC. 23–24 E Scow Nationals. E Scow. CYC-SC. 30-Jul-1 Independence Day Open. Open. LNYC. www.longbaysailing.com 1 Gov Cup Capt. Meet 2 NC/SC Offshore Gov Cup. 16 Race to Charleston from Little River Inlet.

30 Summer Race. Little River Inlet JULY Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org 7-8 Cherry Pt HYC HYC Regatta 7 Pamlico PSC SOLO Race 19-23 Rhode Island. Beneteau 36.7 North Americans 21-22 Belhaven PSC Pirates on the Pungo 28 New Bern NYRA Parrothead 28-29 Harkers Island MOBYC. Harkers Island Regatta (Sunfish) South Atlantic Yacht Racing Assoc. www.sayra-sailing.com 7-8 Firecracker Regatta Laser, Sunfish, Opti, 420 SYC 7-8 US Sailing Match Racing Quarters TBA LLSC 14-15 Edenton Bay Challenge OD, DPN CSC-NC 21-22 Charleston Yacht Club Open ChYC 28-29 Carolina Yacht Club Open CYC-SC 28 Jolly Jordan Regatta Opti CSC-NC

JUNE 1,15,29 Summer Rum Races. Melbourne Yacht Club 2 Howl at the Moon. Halifax Sailing Association 2-3 32nd Annual Regatta. Titusville Sailing Center. www.sailtitusville.org.

2-3 Jetty Park Ocean Regatta. Port Canaveral.

(Beach cat regatta) 6,13,20,27 Wed Nite Races. Indian River Yacht Club 9 Jessie Ball Regatta. Epping Forest Yacht Club 16 New Moon Merriment. Halifax Sailing Association 16 Mermaid Regatta. Port Canaveral Yacht Club.

23-24 Summer Sizzler. Daytona Beach (beach cat regatta) 23 St. Johns Regatta. Florida Yacht Club (rescheduled from Apr 14) 24 Commodore Cup make up–if necessary. Halifax River Yacht Club 29 Howl at the Moon. Halifax Sailing Association JULY 7-8 14-15 27 27 28 28

Firecracker Regatta. Port Canaveral Yacht Club Cruise to Cocoa Village. East Coast Sailing Assoc–Cruising Howl at the Moon. Halifax Sailing Association Fall Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club Moonlight Regatta. Rudder Club River Challenge Regatta. East Coast Sailing Assoc–Racing

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SOUTHERN RACING Venice Sailing Squadron. Saturdays. First Saturday of each month, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet. www.venice-sailing-squadron.org

JUNE 9 Bombay-Sapphire Regatta - Coconut Grove Sailing Club. www.cgsc.org 30 Full MOON Regatta. Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.net JULY 2 GTYC Great Turtle Race 4-14 Regatta Time in the Abacos 28 Full MOON Regatta. www.bbyra.net

JUNE 2 St. Petersburg YC. Darlene Clark Women’s Regatta 5 St. Petersburg YC. Master Calendar Meeting 9 St. Petersburg Sailing Association/Tampa Sailing Squadron.

Transbay Race, PHRF JULY 1,8,15,22 Commodore’s Cup. Cortez Yacht Club. www.cortezyachtclub.com 4 Tampa Bay Catamaran Sailors. Race for Liberty

Wednesday Evening Fun Races PYC. Every Wednesday of the Month, April thru October Fort Walton Yacht Club. April thru October Key West Sailing Club. Every Saturday – Open House at the Key West Sailing Club. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (305) 292-5993. www.keywestsailingclub.org. Sailboat Lane off Palm Avenue in Key West. Come by the club to sail. Non-members and members welcome. Wednesday night racing has begun for the summer season. Skippers meet at the clubhouse by 5:00 p.m. and boats start racing at 6:00 p.m. in the seaplane basin near the mooring field.

Dinner and drinks afterward.

Upper Keys Sailing Club. www.upperkeyssailingclub.com.

Regular club racing open to all.

The 0nline West Florida Race Calendar, which goes from Sept.1, 2006, thru August 31, 2007, is available on the SOUTHWINDS Web site with hyperlinks to sponsoring clubs. It covers racing in West Florida from Marco Island in southwest Florida north, up to and including Clearwater. www.southwindsmagazine.com. Accessed on the racing pages from the home page.

Club Racing Bradenton YC. Winter Races starting in October until April. Races at 1:30 p.m. Thursday evening races at 6:30 pm start in April (check this). PHRF racing on Manatee River. For info call Larry Lecuyer, (941) 729-5401.

Edison Sailing Center, Fort Myers. Sunfish and dinghy racing once a month, year-round john@johnkremski.com Port Charlotte. Third Saturday of month, year-round. pbgvtrax@aol.com.

Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Friday evening races start in April. www.sarasotasailingsquad.com.

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JUNE 2 School’s Out Regatta (one-design)– PontYC, New Orleans, LA 2-3 Candler Regatta (Capdevielle). SABYC, Panama City, FL 2-3 Women’s PHRF. SYC, New Orleans, LA 2-3 Fleur de Lis. SYC, New Orleans, LA 2-3 TYC Charter Day. TYC, Mandeville, LA 9 Mobile Bay Marathon. FYC, Fairhope, AL 9-10 Leukemia Cup Regatta (one design). HYC, Houston, TX 9-10 Area D Quarter Finals. MYC, Mobile, AL 9-10 Rhodes 19 Regionals. FYC, Fairhope, AL 9-10 New Orleans to Gulfport. NOYC, New Orleans, LA 9-10 Billy Bowlegs Regatta. FWYC, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 14-17 Sunfish North Americans. FYC, Fairhope, AL 15-17 Round the Island Regatta(multihull)–FWYC, Ft. Walton Bch, FL 15-16 Gulfport to Pensacola Race. PYC, Pensacola, FL 16-17 GYA 420. BWYC, Bay St. Louis, MS 22-24 GYA Challenge Cup. PYC, Pensacola, FL 22-29 US Youth Championship. SYC, New Orleans, LA 23 We Found the Bay Regatta. POINTYC, Josephine, AL 30 Ft. Walton Yacht Club. Night Race #1–FWYC, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 30 Patriot’s Day Regatta. PBYC, Pensacola, Beach, FL 30 Single-Handed Regatta. FYC, Fairhope, AL 30-1 Island Hop (multihull). OSYC, Ocean Springs, MS JULY 5-12 Ida Lewis Regatta – Pontchartrain Yacht Club, Mandeville, LA 6-8 GORC – Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile, AL 6-8 Junior Olympic Festival (one design) – Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL 7-8 Meigs Regatta (Capdevielle) – Fort Walton Yacht Club, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 14 Bastille Day Regatta – Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA 14 Fast Women Regatta – Point Yacht Club, Josephine, AL 14-15 USSA Adams – Semi Finals – Jackson Yacht Club, Jackson, MS 14-15 Summer Regatta (Capdevielle) – Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile, AL 21-22 Junior Lipton Regatta (Capdevielle) 28 Bikini Regatta – Navy Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL 28-29 Weatherly Regatta (Capdevielle) – Gulfport Yacht Club, Gulfport, MS 28-29 Birthday Regatta (one design) – Pass Christian Yacht Club, Pass Christian, MS

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SAILING INSTRUCTORS WANTED Americas #1 Sailing School is taking applications for immediate employment at our Florida locations. If you have a passion for teaching sailing. Please contact us at 239985-7539 or doug@offshoresailing.com for more details.

TOO LATE TO CLASSIFY

_________________________________________ See this section at the end of classifieds for ads that came in too late to place in their appropriate section. Contact us if you have a last minute ad to place—we still might have time in this section.

BOATS & GEAR FOR FREE

BOATS & DINGHIES _________________________________________ Windsurfing Boards and Gear for Sale. 3 Boards, 5 sails, 3 masts, 2 booms and all gear and harness for several setups, etc. Bic 273 (4 years old and like new), Hi Tech 8’11” (good condition), Custom Hi-per Tech board (good condition), 2 new sails (barely used), 3 older sails. $1100/ BO. (941) 795-8704. Bradenton. _________________________________________ Molds to build original Optimist Pram, not IOD. Ellie’s Sailing Shop. St. Petersburg. (727) 442-3281.

(6/07) _________________________________________

Bauer 10. Sprit-rigged. Tan Bark sail. 7’ oars and hardware. Galvanized trailer does not go into water. Yacht finish. Everything as new. $2900.

Siesta Key, FL, (941) 349-3102. (8/07) _________________________________________ BRAND-NEW 10’2 Aquastar sport dinghy, NEVER put in water, 4Pc plywood floor, inflatable keel, two seats, carry bag, Cost $1,800 yours for $900 (239) 370-2403. (8/07) _________________________________________ Port-a-Boat folding boat. 12 Ft. $400 OBO (727) 585-2814. Largo, FL. (6/07)

Dinghy 10’ RIB 310. West Marine. 4 years old, very good condition. Storage bag needs repair. Nissan 8 Hp. 4-stroke outboard. Like new, less than 10 hours use. 2 years old. $1200 each, or both for $1995 FIRM. Lou (305) 394-0901. (7/07)

_________________________________________ SOUTHWINDS is starting this section for people who have boats they want to get rid of, whether on land or in the water. List your boat for free with up to 50 words and a horizontal photo. Editor reserves the right to not list or discontinue any boat or gear he chooses.

“Boats wanted” listings only by approval of editor. Ads will run for three months and then canceled if not renewed. Contact us by the 2nd Saturday of the month preceding to renew or for new ads. Boats must be in the Southern coastal states. No businesses. _________________________________________ Boom off a C&C 29. Measures 10’3” long by 3.5” high. Free but pick-up only in West Palm Beach, FL. (561) 655-9555. (6/07) 62

June 2007

SOUTHWINDS

16’ Precision 165 Sailboat. This 2004 Sailboat is in Perfect condition. Includes 4stroke Yamaha 2.5 HP Outboard. Boat is built in Palmetto, FL. See Web site for all details and retail price, www.precisionboatworks.com.

This boat lists new for $10,995. I’m asking $9000 including motor. This boat can be seen at Regatta Pointe Marina, 1005 Riverside Drive, Palmetto, FL. Talk to the Harbormaster (941) 729-6021. (8/07)

ADVERTISE YOUR BOAT $25 for up to 30 words for 3 months www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS Mold to build traditional-shaped 18’ canoe.

Very sturdy split mold. Boats were built under the name Clearwater Canoe. Ellie’s Sailing Shop. St. Petersburg. (727) 442-3281. (6/07)

Cape Dory 28. 1977, $14,900, good condition, New Mainsail, Solid cruiser, 9000# displacement, 3500# ballast, wheel steering.

(941) 747-2823. Located Bradenton, FL. Go to www.signaldelta.com/cd_28.htm (6/07)

1985 Catalina 27 Tall rig with Universal diesel, 4’ draft. wheel steering, Hood furling, head w/shower, Bimini, autopilot, VHF, GPS, depth,galley, cockpit table, sleeps 5. reduce for quick sale $12,900 (941) 792-9100

28’ S-2 Sloop 1979. Yanmar diesel, 4’6” Draft, Wheel steering, Auto Pilot and Tri -Data Autohelm instrument New 2002, 12V Refrigerator, Good sail inventory, Quality construction and Proven design. Asking $23,000.

For more info, call (727) 560-0901. (7/07)

30’ Pearson, Racer/Cruiser Sloop, 1976 Red, Excellent cond., 2 mains, 3 jibs, 3 spinnakers, spinnaker pole. Tiller, marine radio, stove, new pot, sleeps 6, $11,900. Madeira Beach, FL terrycshan@aol.com. (727) 581-4708 or (727) 244-4708. Motivated Seller. (8/07)

19’ Seaward Fox Catboat 1998. 5HP Merc and elect. trolling motor. Carbon fiber rotating mast. Fully battened main – 2 sets reef pts.

Lazy jacks, Bimini, current safety sticker, portapotty, bilge pump. Full-fitted canvas cover.

Wing keel. 10” draft. In water. Asking $7,000.

OBO. (941) 387-8786. (7/07) 1968 Westerly Cirrus 22’. Stout little cruiser.

Yanmar 2005, Navik self-steering vane, standing headroom (6’), enclosed head. Lying in NE Florida. Ready to go. Excellent condition. $12,500.

(228) 324-6504. (6/07) _________________________________________ 1984 O’DAY 26. 4-stroke 9.9 Mercury outboard w/electric start. New stays, rigging, group 31 battery, forward hatch, motor mount and solar panel. VHF marine radio, headsail furler, anchor, cruising spinnaker (in a shoot), extra sails and much more. Dockside A/C with outlets in galley and head.$7,500 Lake Keowee, SC, Contact Phil (828) 2300928 or (828) 645-9259 or philnix@charter.net. (8/07) _________________________________________ 1979 Pearson 26 One-Design. Over $7000 invested in ‘06. New performance mainsail and 155 Genoa. Epoxy barrier coat. Harken self-tailing winches. Excellent condition. $7800 (850) 271-8550 williamssignserv@bellsouth.net. (7/07)

Mainecat 30 sailing catamaran. Launched 1999, fast cruiser, well-equipped, exceptional condition. Details and photos at: www.toucanme.com. Ready to sail away. $120K (941) 313-0999). (7/07)

San Juan 28. 1980. FWC Yanmar. 700 Hrs., 4’ 6” draft, 4 sails included, all as new, Shore full batten main w/150 Genoa. 3 ground tackle, windlass, electronics, tiller autopilot, inflatable w/OB, no hurricane damage, sail away condition. $9500. For fax and info, call (586) 4680424, or (586) 405-2261. (6/07) Viper 830. 28 ft. sprint sailboat with trailer, carbon mast, motor, instr, new sails, excel condition, plus extras, $39,500, located in Fort Walton Beach, FL. Call Mike (850) 2440001 or (850) 243-1804. (6/07)

2” DISPLAY ADS STARTING AT $38 A MONTH News & Views for Southern Sailors

1979 O’Day 30 Shoal draft w/retractable centerboard. Many brand-new big ticket items. Professionally restored bottom and above waterline paint job. Great for first time owner or O’Day enthusiast. Asking $19,000 (954) 784-6677 drewsiegle@hotmail.com (7/07)

30’ Stellar. 1986. Center Cockpit. Diesel, Great Coastal Cruiser, Autopilot, Depth/ Speed. Roller furling. 3 new batteries, new Dodger/Bimini, Dinghy with 8hp. Much more, must see. $24,600. Bradenton, FL. (941) 761-1161. (6/07) SOUTHWINDS

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CLASSIFIED ADS

31’ Catalina 310, 2004. Just taken in trade on new Catalina.

In-Mast Furling, Air Conditioning, Autopilot, ST-60 wind/speeddepth, VHF w/Ram Mic, Custom Bimini/windshield, Microwave, Nice condition $89,900 Massey Yacht Sales. (727) 824-7262 St Petersburg, or (941) 723-1610 Palmetto, FL.

33’ Tartan Sloop 1980. Universal diesel 24 hp, 990 hrs, owner of 15 years has done constant upgrading, full electronics w/radar, AC-Heat, Roller furling main and headsail, a beauty in and out. Asking $37,500. St Augustine, FL. (toll free) (866) 610-1703. www.sayachtsales.com.

(8/07)

1981 Cape Dory Cutter 30. Well equipped cruising boat. Surveyed 2000 at $39K. Tough boat, no damages in Katrina. Volvo Diesel.

New head and sailcovers in 2005. $26,000.

John (228) 343-9546. (7/07)

31’ Island Packet 1985. 27 hp Yanmar, 500 hrs, bimini w/windshield 2006, dinghy, outboard, AC, 2002 Roller Furling Genoa, 2002 main. Asking $44,500. St Augustine, FL (toll free) (866) 610-1703. www.sayachtsales.com. (8/07)

AIRES 32 CUTTER. Single-hand remote autopilot mast-rigged. Blue water full keel.

Main cabin pullout double berth, too.

Excellent fresh water history care. 900-hour Westerbeke 33. $67,000. (800) 324-7214.

(8/07)

32 Gulf Pilothouse, complete refit: all new 2005- standing running rigging, performance sails, wiring, circuit breakers panel, water heater, holding/macerator, fuel tanks, 12v/110 standing fridge-freezer, propane cooktop, infared broiling, 3 batteries, autocharger, 17000 btu heat/air, Bimini. $39,500. sailsetc@ilnk.com (904) 810-1966. (7/07) 64 June 2007

SOUTHWINDS

Morgan O.I. 33. Full keel, only 3’ 11” draft.

Yanmar 38hp diesel w/only 950 hrs. The Out Island series by Charlie Morgan is well known for their exceptional interior volume. The shallow draft makes it an excellent choice for cruising the Keys and Bahamas. Loaded with new equipment and upgrades including: Auto-pilot, color chartplotter GPS, electric windlass, wind generator, propane stove, refrigerator, marine air conditioning, dinghy with new OB, flat screen TV, stereo and more.

Owner has new boat ordered. Here is a chance to get a great boat for a great price.

Asking $30,000, but let’s hear your offer.

Cortez Yacht Sales (941) 792-9100.

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. $54,900. www.cortezyachts.com.

(941) 792-9100

1971 Chesapeake 36 Wood Ketch. $13,500.

Very Solid unique beauty. North red sails 1999. self-tailing winches. Volvo 36hp diesel.

Spare engine parts. Dock $375/month Clearwater. georgetheleo@hotmail.com.

(813) 391-0470.

Gozzard 36, 1987 Paradise had refit in ’06 at Gozzard factory which included partial Awlgrip, new sails. Also, the bottom and the exterior wood stripped and redid ’06. Bob (314) 487-4543, rgruener@earthlink.net. $139,000 (8/07)

35 Fuji/Alden Ketch 1974. $45,000. Totally refitted with all top gear 2005. Yanmar 4HJ2.

Ultraleather, new rigging and canvas, full electronics, 305 Nissan OB, beautiful classic.

Clearwater. (813) 391-0470. (8/07) Sail/Live aboard your own boat in the Bahamas. Beneteau Oceanis 351 (1997), UK registered, marina based in Bahamas, fully equipped and positioned to cruise Bahamas, U.S. East Coast or Caribbean; includes new upholstery, inflatable w/3.3 Mercury, sails, running rigging, air conditioning unit, and full safety and live-aboard equipment. $78,000 For full spec e-mail Colin@colin37.orangehome.co.uk. (7/07)

2” Display Ads Starting at $38/month editor@southwindsmagazine.com 941-795-8704

See Classified Information on page 62

www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS

1980 Irwin 37 Center Cockpit. Full Batten Mainsail. Roller Furl Headsail. Raymarine Radar Chartplotter. Depthsounder. Autopilot.

Boston Whaler Dinghy & 15hp Motor. New Canvas. New 22000 BTU Heat/Air. $49,500.

Call Gene Clark. (843) 812-9606. e-mail svvaruna@hotmail.com. (6/07)

1979 Bristol 40 Yawl. 40 HP Perkins Diesel, Harken Roller Furling, Main, Mizzen, 100% Jib, 140% Genoa, Epoxy bottom, cockpit table, propane stove, windlass, CQR anchor w/ 150’ chain, Fortress anchor, classic sailing yacht. Asking only $59,000. Call Major Carter at ( 941) 792-9100 or go to www.cortezyachts.com . (6/07)

C & C 42 Landfall Cutter 1977. St. Petersburg Municipal Marina Slip Available. Two cabins, Rod rigging, Perkins 4-108, 12V Refrigerator, Bimini & Dodger, VHF. Auto pilot, Depth, Speed, Needs little TLC. Asking $51,900. For more info call (727) 560-0901 (7/07)

1974 Cheoy Lee 40’, Midship Ketch fiberglass, 2 cabins with 2 heads/shwrs. Upgrades include Perkins 50 HP DSL, Furono Radar, Hyd/Sat AutoPilot, Dory Dinghy, Sails, etc.

Tampa Bay/Ruskin $49,000 (269) 449-1295.

(7/07)

43’ Beneteau 1986. Two cabin lay-out, original owner, K/CB (5’6” - 8’6”), Perkins 4-108, Two AC units, reverse cycle, LONG list of sail inventory. Proven Winner! Great racer/cruiser.

Asking $85,900. For more info, call (727) 560-0901. (7/07)

Bayfield 40 Hull # 34 full keel 5’ draft, cutter ketch designed by H.T.Gozzard built in 1984.

Exceptional condition with lots of new gear.

Harken roller furling on all sails. Marine air, WS, WD, depth, VHF w/remote, SSB, cd/radio, autopilot, chartplotter, radar, dinghy, life raft $99,000 Call Major Carter or visit www.Cortezyachts.com (941) 792-9100

1987 Gulfstar CSY 50’. 2006 NEW 75 hp Yanmar. Phasar 7kw generator, a/c, 3 stateroom layout, spacious decks and comfortable center cockpit, aft swim platform. Well-maintained throughout. $139,000. (727) 2593489. (7/07)

Searunner 37 Phaedrus. New main, water maker, solar, Yanmar 2GM, new rigging & lifelines LPU paint, new bunks & galley cushions. Much more. Just back from western Caribbean $54,999. captpondo@yahoo.com.

(985) 966 3504. (7/07) _________________________________________ Hunter 37 Cherubini Cutter. Shoal draft.

Good sails, spinnaker w/chute scoop and pole, Bimini, autopilot, davits, Yanmar diesel, recent bottom paint. $36,000. (251) 4767786. (6/07)

2005 Hunter 38. Call for huge savings on this leftover stock! This boat is incredibly wellequipped. The price includes full commissioning. Call Eastern Yachts at (561) 844-1100 (7/07)

POWERBOATS

2001 Beneteau Oceanis 381.

Air Conditioning, Autopilot ST6000, Speed and Depth, Ray Chart 425 plotter, New Bimini, Electric windlass, New Bottom paint. Only $128k. Call Eastern Yachts at (561) 844-1100.

Advertise in the Southwinds Classifieds.

Viewed by thousands on our Web site. $25 for up to 30 words for 3 months editor@southwindsmagazine.com

941-795-8704 News & Views for Southern Sailors

_________________________________________

2005 Beneteau 423. 54 hp Yanmar with only 185 hours, Air Conditioning, Fisher Panda Generator only 30 hours, Raymarine 6001 type 2 Autopilot, Raymarine C80 plotter, Bimini with 3 piece windshield. Only $219,400. Call Eastern Yachts at (561) 844-1100. $50 – 3 mo. Ad & Photo 941-795-8704

2005 Albin 26 The boat of your dreams awaits. Never been in the water. LOADED. Volvo power. Volvo DP. Call for more information to Eastern Yachts at (561) 844-1100 (7/07) SOUTHWINDS

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CLASSIFIED ADS Sailboat Cruising Bargains. Six-man life raft.

B.F. Goodrich. $700. Sailboat self-steering system. $650. Ten-gallon hot water heater. $150.

Dyers Dinghy Sail rig with rudder and dagger board. $750. (800) 324-7214. (8/07) _________________________________________

2005 Albin 31. AC, 370 HP Engine. Must Go!.

Call for more information at (561) 844-1100 (7/07)

BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES

_________________________________________ Westerbeke Marine Gas Generator. 4.5 KW, 60 hz, like NEW—only 49 hours on generator. $2100 or Best Offer. Ron, cellphone: (843) 902-5442, or (843) 492-4148. Located South Carolina, Myrtle Beach area. (8/07)

EPIRB For Sale: ACR Satellite 406 Category II/Class 2 EPIRB. Excellent condition, never deployed. Passes self-test. Requires battery replacement. Call Pat at (304) 466-0235 or email patnpath@verizon.net. $250. (8/07) _________________________________________ Used Boat Gear for Sale. CQR 25 & 45#, Bruce 16 & 66#, Hookah by Airline, 55# Folding Fisherman anchor, Para-tech 15 w/Rode, Edson Rack & Pinion steering w/wheel, New awning w/side curtains.

Nautical Trader, 110 E. Colonia Lane, Nokomis, FL. Shop online at www.nauticaltrader.net.

(941) 488-0766. _________________________________________ 36 ft. mast. Dwyer 625, 2 Harken winches, Single spreader, 12 ft boom. new 2002. $1000; Florida. (321) 536-7007. (8/07) _________________________________________ 85 LB Anchor. Danforth High Tensile.

Unused, still in shipping crate. Only $399.

(407) 967-2009. (6/07)

BOAT REGISTRATION _________________________________________ EASIEST, FASTEST MONTANA BOAT REGISTRATION Pay no sales tax-no attorney necessary. $$ Save Thousands on boat registration $$. 12 years experience – REGISTRATION IN 5 DAYS! (877) 913-5100 www.mtvehicles.com. (10/07)

CREW AVAILABLE/WANTED

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

DOGS FOR SALE

_________________________________________ British Water Dogs. Puppies for sale.

Schipperke breed. Loves boats and swimming. Two females, one male left in litter.

Small dog. High energy, loyal, great personality, playful, long life span. Lovable dog. Tampa Bay. (727) 239-1049. (7/07)

ENGINES FOR SALE

_________________________________________ Two 25hp Lombardini 903 Marine Diesel Engines. Good condition, 3200 hours, with control panels, exhaust, mufflers, engine beds and manuals. If needed, spare parts available from Orlando. $2000 each or $3000 pair. Call Bob (786)325-6719. (6/07) _________________________________________ Yanmar 1GM diesel. Completely rebuilt: all gauges, control panel, single lever speed/shift controls, coupler, shaft, prop, shaft log, motor mounts, fuel tank $2800. (727) 804-4508.

(727) 734-1703 (6-07)

HELP WANTED

_________________________________________ SAILING INSTRUCTORS WANTED Americas #1 Sailing School is taking applications for immediate employment at our Florida locations. If you have a passion for teaching sailing. Please contact us at 239-9857539 or doug@offshoresailing.com for more details. _________________________________________ Attorney Wanted to help establish cruiser/ boater/liveaboard organization that will promote boaters’ rights, solicit donations, etc., with Web site and forum. Legal advice needed pro bono. Editor@southwindsmagazine.com. _________________________________________ Massey Yacht Sales Mobile Broker Do you prefer to sell yachts from your home office? If you do and you are a proven, successful yacht sales professional, we have positions open for Florida west and east coast. Take advantage of the Massey sales and marketing support, sales management and administration while working from your home selling brokerage sail and power boats. Call Frank Hamilton (941) 723-1610 for interview appointment and position details. _________________________________________ Writers, Reporters, Articles, Photos Wanted.

SOUTHWINDS is looking for articles on boating, racing, sailing in the Southern waters, the Caribbean and the Bahamas, and other articles on the following subjects: marinas, anchorages, mooring fields, disappearing marinas/boatyards, marinas/boatyards sold for condos, anchoring rights, sailing human interest stories, boat reviews, charter stories, waste disposal—and more. Photos wanted, plus we want cover photos (pay $65) of both race and non-race subjects, but about sailing. Cover photos must be very high resolution and vertical format. _________________________________________ Writers and Ideas Wanted on Waterways Issues. SOUTHWINDS is looking for writers, acting as independent subcontractors to research and write articles on subjects discussed in the Our Waterways section. Must be familiar with boating, good at research, have computer skills, high-speed Internet access and work for little pay. Most important, must have a passion for the subject and want to bring about change and improvement of boaters rights, waterways access, and disappearing marinas and boatyards— with lots of ideas and energy to help bring about improvements through various means.

We would also like to get an organization going to promote these interests if you can help. Writers, photographers, cartoonists, jokers, magicians, philosophers and others of questionable professions may apply. Send info to: editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

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www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS LODGING FOR SAILORS

_________________________________________

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

R EAL ESTATE FOR SALE OR RENT _________________________________________

SLIPS FOR RENT/SALE

_________________________________________ Wet Slips Available - Port Canaveral Yacht Club has 30’ to 60’ wet slips available with direct Atlantic Ocean access. Contact (321) 784-2292 for details (www.pcyc-fl.org/).

(6/07)

GULF SHORES, AL - Gated waterfront condo on ICW, view of Mobile Bay. Boat slip.

First level, end unit, 3br/2ba furnished with wraparound deck, covered 2 car parking.

Elevator, 2 pools, 2 tennis courts, clubhouse w/party room, weight room, hot tub. LEASE OR PURCHASE. $1,500 mo or $475,000.

(251) 968-6265. (6/07)

BROKERS & BOAT OWNERS BOATS FOR SALE ADVERTISING CLASSIFIEDS ADS TEXT & PHOTO $50 FOR 3 MONTHS DELRAY BEACH’S BEST KEPT SECRET. PELICAN HARBOR. Quiet, beauty directly on the wide Intracoastal Waterway! Yacht club, marina, tennis and breathtaking views of the water in this lovely home. Best offer! Call Zon (561) 620-1007 or Vickie (561) 7501981. (6/07) New construction luxurious 3/2.5 marina condo overlooking the Indian River (Intracoastal Waterway) in Melbourne, FL. Indoor parking, pool, short walk to historic downtown Melbourne. Contact Craig Howell (407) 864-2590. (6/07)

Advertise Your Home Starting at

$25/3 months 941-795-8704 editor@southwindsmagazine.com News & Views for Southern Sailors

Prices for 3 months of advertising: • $50 for 30-word ad & horizontal photo ($65 for vertical photo)* • Power or Sail • New or used • No monthly changes (unless phone numbers, e-mails or prices) • Change your ad/boat for sale monthly at a total cost of $20 a month for ad and photo • 3-month minimum • Text-only ads – $25 • Small charge for more than 30 words • All ads go on the Internet on 1st of month or place it today for $10 • Brokers: monthly credit card billing on file unless a regular display advertiser

Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 795-8704 *Ads and photos must be e-mailed. $5 extra charges for photo scanning or typing in ads over the phone or ads mailed in.

SOUTHWINDS

June 2007 67

ALPHABETICAL INDEX

OF

ADVERTISERS

Adventure Cruising & Sailing School . . . . . . .28 American Marine & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . .11,27 Annapolis Performance Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Aqua Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Atlantic Sail Traders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Banks Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Beachmaster Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Beneteau Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Beta Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Boaters Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12,27 Bo’sun Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Capt. Jimmy Hendon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Catalina Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,27 Coral Reef Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Cortez Yacht Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Cruising Direct Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Defender Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Dockside Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Doyle Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Dunedin City Youth Sailing Camp . . . . . . . . .25 Dunbar Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,27 Dwyer mast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Eastern Yachts/Beneteau . . . . . . . . .11,27,57,BC Edwards Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 E-marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29,66 Flying Scot Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Full Sail Yacht Delvieries/Capt. . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Garhauer Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Glacier Bay Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

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TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN SOUTHWINDS! SOUTHWINDS provides these lists as a courtesy and asks our readers to support our advertisers. The lists includes all display advertising.

Global-Weather Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . .59,62,63 Gulf Island Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Hotwire/Fans & other products . . . . . . . . . .28 Hurricane Hoops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Innovative Marine Services . . . . . . . . . . . .28,33 Island Yachting Centre/Greg Knighton . . . . .61 J/Boats - Murray Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . .60,IBC JSI - New JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Kevane Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Leather Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Lex-Sea Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Lighthouse Builders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Massey Yacht Sales . . . . . .IFC,10,14,11,27, IBC Masthead Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,57,67 Mastmate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . .60,BC National Sail Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Nautical Trader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 New JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 North Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,67 Patricia Knoll Realtor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Porpoise Used Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Quantum Sarasota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke . . . . . . .45 Regatta Pointe Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Regatta Time in Abaco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Rparts Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Sailing Florida Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Sailors Wharf boatyard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Sailtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Salty John Marine Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Sarasota Youth Summer Camp . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Scuba Clean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Schurr Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Scurvy Dog Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Sea School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Sea Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24,66 Shadetree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Southwinds Store Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 St. Augustine Sailing School . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 St. Barts/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Suncoast Inflatables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Sunrise Sailing Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29,33 Tackle Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program . . . .49 Turner Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,27 UK Halsey Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Ullman sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28,29,67 Watersports West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 West Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Weston Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Yachting Vacations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

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CATEGORY

TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN SOUTHWINDS! SOUTHWINDS provides these lists as a courtesy and asks our readers to support our advertisers. The lists includes all display advertising.

SAILBOATS – NEW AND BROKERAGE American Marine & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,27 Beneteau Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Boaters Exchange/Catalina Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Catalina Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,27 Cortez Yacht Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Dunbar Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,27 Eastern Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,27,57,BC Edwards Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Flying Scot Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59,62,63 Gulf Island Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Island Yachting Centre/Gregg Knighton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Massey Yacht Sales/Catalina//Hunter/Albin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,27 Masthead Yacht Sales/Catalina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,57,67 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60,BC Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 St. Barts/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Suncoast Inflatables/ West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Turner Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,27 Watersports West/Windsurfing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHING Annapolis Performance Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Boaters Exchange, boats, gear, etc. Rockledge FL . . . . . . . . . . .12,27 Bo’sun Supplies/Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Coral Reef Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Defender Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 E-Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29,66 Garhauer Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Hotwire/Fans & other products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Hurricane Hoops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 JSI - New JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Kevane Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Leather Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Masthead Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,57,67 Mastmate Mast Climber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 NEW JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Rparts Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Salty John Marine Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Shadetree Awning Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Southwinds Store Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, Precision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 West Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Watersports West/wet suits, etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS, RIGGING SERVICES Atlantic Sail Traders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida . . . . . . . . . . .33 Cruising Direct/sails online by North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Dwyer Mast/spars, hardware, rigging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Innovative Marine Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28,33 JSI - New JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Masthead/Used Sails and Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,57,67 National Sail Supply, new&used online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 NEW JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 North Sails, new and used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14,67 Porpoise Used Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Quantum Sails and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Schurr Sails, Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Sunrise Sailing Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29,33 UK Halsey Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Ullman Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28,29,67 CANVAS Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida . . . . . . . . . . .33 News & Views for Southern Sailors

JSI - New JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Quantum Sails and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 USED SAILING/BOATING SUPPLIES Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign, West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Scurvy Dog Marine/Used, Consign, Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 SAILING SCHOOLS/DELIVERIES/CAPTAINS Adventure Cruising and Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Capt. Jimmy Hendon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Dunedin City Youth Sailing Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Full Sail Sailing Deliveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Sailing Florida Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Sarasota Youth Summer Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Sea School/Captain’s License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 St. Augustine Sailing School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 MARINE ENGINES AND ACCESSORIES Beta Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 REAL ESTATE Pat Knoll, Sunstate Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 RESORTS, MARINAS, RESTAURANTS, BOAT YARDS Regatta Pointe Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Sailors Wharf Boatyard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 FRACTIONAL SAILING/CHARTER COMPANIES Lex-Sea Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Sailtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Yachting Vacations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 MARINE SERVICES, SURVEYORS, INSURANCE, TOWING, BOAT LETTERING, ETC. Aqua Graphics/Boat Names/Tampa Bay or buy online . . . . . . . . . .32 Beachmaster Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 MARINE ELECTRONICS Dockside Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Sea Tech/Navigation/Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24,66 BOOKS/CHARTS/VIDEOS Global Weather Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Southwinds Cruising Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 REGATTA ADVERTISEMENTS, BOAT SHOWS Regatta Time in Abaco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Alphabetical Advertisers’ List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Marine Marketplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28,29 Regional Sailing Services Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32,33 Subscription Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Southwinds Store Cruising Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Southwinds Store Gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

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SOUTHWINDS

June 2007

69

Bay of Fundy Sailor Meets Charley Morgan

By Caroline Norwood

The little notice appeared in the Madeira Beach Things to Do flyer in early February: “A Charley Morgan Presentation: at the Treasure Island Tennis & Yacht Club main dining room at 7 p.m.

The 1970 12 meter America’s Cup Challenge featuring Charley’s Heritage challenge for the cup. Open to all interested.”

W

hy was I interested in hearing Charley Morgan talk about yachts? My experience in yachting consists of zipping north on the St. John’s River near Jacksonville in a 14-foot Old Town (Maine) lapstrake sailboat. As I recall, I usually forgot that the prevailing southeast winds would make for a long, slow slog back to the dock at Goodby’s Lake Marina near Mandarin. Twice my father had to rescue me with an outboard skiff because I was so late returning home. This was in the ’50s when manatees were still abundant in the river and would occasionally bump our becalmed boat.

But I was a teenager then. My adult yachting experiences have been in Nova Scotia in a 22-foot O’Day with my husband. For many years, we inched across the Bay of Fundy in the fog with only compass, chart, dividers and slide rule for navigational aids. We got lost. We fetched up on rocks. We went sideways through narrow channels with the eight-knot current propelling us to calmer waters. It was always a big adventure in that boat. All of my yachting experiences have been in small, slow sailboats—usually in thick fog.

Back in Florida for a week in the sun, I decided to attend an evening with a famous designer of BIG, FAST yachts. I’d heard of Morgan Yachts— even in Nova Scotia. I wanted to learn more about this great sailor and designer.

There was a sizable crowd already enjoying conversations when I arrived before 7 p.m. at the Treasure Island club. Many people

70 June 2007

SOUTHWINDS

were gathered around Charley, as everyone called him. He had a handshake and friendly greeting for all who approached. On a table to his left were three large wooden tank test models. I learned they were models for the Morgan yachts Paper Tiger, Heritage and Rage. These models attracted much attention both prior to and after Charley’s slide presentation.

Charley was introduced as a “sailing icon and yacht builder who has devoted his life to the sailing world.” He began his talk by reminding us that the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan is docked at Mystic Seaport, CT. He wondered if his connection with that vessel had anything to do with his lifelong devotion to sailing. He said his early desire for speed came from watching a film that came with a Buddy Black movie projector he received as a young boy. He said the movie had to do with airplanes, and that also started his great love of planes.

“That one film captivated me,”

Charley exclaimed.

Charley presented a slide show and commented on his history with sailing. He spoke of Olin Stevens and sailing with him in 1962 on the Columbia. He spoke of the construction of Heritage. He used the word captivated again when he spoke of Heritage’s natural finish. He said he used western red cedar, African mahogany and Sitka spruce in the construction but was quick to point out the Sitka spruce came from fallen trees—already downed by Nature. He told of the 54,000-pound keel in Heritage. “The largest keel ever laid in Florida,” he added. He gave a running commentary about each picture in the slide show. I was especially interested in seeing photos of the launching of Heritage when one of the supporting cranes had hit the yacht, causing some damage and delaying the launching.

It was interesting to see the great affection so many of those present held for this man. Their keen interest in his talk and his pictures was evident. I asked him if I could take his picture. “Why sure you can,” he smiled.

Later, I went to the computer to learn more about this “sailing icon” and the 1970s America’s Cup race. I decided that Cup race and Charley Morgan’s world is light years apart from my O’Day trips on the Bay of Fundy. And I won’t even comment on the Old Town day sailer in the St. John’s River. But I’m very glad I met Charley Morgan and had a chance to learn about his yachts.

See the article on the 2007 Morgan Rendezvous on page 41.

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