Southwindsmarch2005

SOUTHWINDS News & Views for Southern Sailors Key West Race Week Cruise and Race in Paradise: Tortola Uninsured Boaters

March 2005 For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

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Local News For Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS March 2005

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ADVERTISER INDEX BY CATEGORY

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

SAILBOATS – NEW AND BROKERAGE Apex/Mayer Yacht Brokerage 19 Beneteau Sailboats Back Cover Boaters Exchange/Catalina Sailboats 47 Carson Yacht Sales/Beneteau Back Cover Cortez Yacht Brokerage 72 Eastern Yachts/Beneteau/Hunter/Catalina Back Cover Flying Scot Sailboats 73 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales 71,72 Hanse Sailboats 73 Hobie Cats/Saltwater Sports 69 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack 67 Hunter 12,13 JS9000 PHRF Racer 72 Massey Yacht Sales/Catalina//Hunter/Shannon/albin 11,17,23,24,IBC Masthead Yacht Sales/Catalina 5,75 Mayer Yacht Brokerage 19,57 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau Back Cover Performance Sail and Sport 44 Raider Sailboats 72 Sailboats Florida, Inc. 73 Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage 62,69 Saltwater Sports/Hobie 69 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats 70 Seafarers International Yacht Brokerage 58,73 Snug Harbor Yacht Brokerage/Hunter 41 St. Barts/Beneteau Back Cover Suncoast Inflatables/ West Florida 68 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg 67 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program 62 Windcraft, Trimarans and Catamarans, Sail or Power 34 GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHING Anne’s Anchors 27,74 Air Duck Hatch Windscoop 74 Bluewater Sailing Supply 63 Boaters Exchange, boats, gear, etc. Rockledge FL 47 Bo’sun Supplies/Hrdwre/Rigging www.bosunsupplies.com 28 Defender Industries, www.defender.com 74 E-Marine 74,75 Frigoboat 53 Garhauer Hardware 18 Glacier Bay Refrigeration 36 Hotwire/Fans & other products 74 Island Marine Products/Davits,motorlocks,etc.

22 JR Overseas/Moisture Meter 22 Leather Wheel 33 Masthead Enterprises 5,75 Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign 66 Noble Awards 15 Rparts Refrigeration, www.rparts.com 34 Sea, Air, Land, Technologies 53 SSMR 66 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg 67 West Marine IFC SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS, RIGGING SERVICES Altlantic Sail Traders 56 Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida 65 Cruising Direct/sails online by North 20 Dwyer Mast/spars, hardware, rigging 74 Masthead/Used Sails and Service 5,75 National Sail Supply, new&used online 40 North Sails 16 Nuclear Sails 10 Porpoise Used Sails 75 Quantum Sails and Services 3,33 Sailing Services, rigging supplies, etc.

49 Schurr Sails, Pensacola FL 59 SSMR 66 Sunrise Sails 65 Ullman Sails 25 West Marine 10,IFC CANVAS Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida 65 Quantum Sails and Services 3,33 6

March 2005

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

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SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS

FOR

SOUTHERN SAILORS

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From the Helm

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Letters

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Bubba Outwits Police

By Morgan Stinemetz

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Short Tacks

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Race and Cruise in Paradise

By Carol Bareuther

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Regatta Rockstars: Key West 2005, Presented by Nautica

By Rebecca Burg

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Calm Between the Storms

By Melanie Neale

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Boat Insurance: Uninsured and Underinsured

By C. Gary Moody

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Classifieds

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The Importance of Running Lights

By Jim Burkett

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

Race and cruise in paradise. Page 26. Photo by Dean Barnes.

Farr 40s sailing in Key West. Page 38. Photo by Capt. Bill Robinson.

COVER: Hot Flash, a Corsair 28R, races off Key West. Photo by Boatpix.com.

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

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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.southwindssailing.co e-mail: editor@southwindssailing.com Volume 13 Number 3 March 2005 Copyright 2005, Southwinds Media, Inc. Founded in 1993

Doran Cushing, Publisher 1993-2002

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

Production Heather Nicoll

Jody L. Alu Jim Burkett Steve Dublin Roy Laughlin Melanie Neale Morgan Stinemetz Jody L. Alu Rebecca Burg Roy Laughlin Melanie Neale Bill Spruance

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

Contributing Writers Carol Bareuther Julie Connerley Dave Ellis Walt McFarlane Art Perez Rick White Contributing Photographers Dean Barnes Boatpix.com William Marois George Regenauer Voyage of the Spray

Rebecca Burg Dick DeGrasse Kim Kaminski C. Gary Moody George Regenauer.

Lorrie Berry Kim Kaminski Walt McFarlane Capt. Bill Robinson Rick White

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: ARTICLES & PHOTOGRAPHY: SOUTHWINDS encourages readers, writers, photographers, cartoonists, jokers, magicians, philosophers and whoever else is out there, including sailors, to send in their material. Just make it about the water world and generally about sailing and about sailing in the South, the Bahamas or the Caribbean, or general sailing interest, or sailboats, or sailing in some faroff and far-out place.

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

Contact the editor with questions.

Subscriptions to SOUTHWINDS are available at $19.95/year, or $37/2 years for third class, and $24/year for first class. Checks and credit card numbers may be mailed with name and address to SOUTHWINDS Subscriptions, PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach FL, 34218-1175, or call (941) 795-8704.

Subscriptions are also available with a credit card through a secure server on our Web site, www.southwindssailing.com. SOUTHWINDS is distributed to over 500 locations throughout 10 Southern states. If you would like to distribute SOUTHWINDS at your location, please contact the editor.

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

FROM THE HELM Disappearing Public Marinas Spreads Beyond Florida

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he recently talked about (and written about in SOUTHWINDS) trend of slowly disappearing public marinas seems to be happening elsewhere outside Florida. I have suspected this, but just recently this suspicion was confirmed when I was told that Ashley Marina, (among others), in Charleston, SC, is being converted to dockominiums (a new, modern term, soon to be out in next year’s dictionaries, I am sure).

Having lived at Ashley Marina a few years ago for four months, I took this news sadly, as the marina was like living in a small town as compared to some marinas which are more like living in the big city. Many liveaboards, both transient and permanent, were scattered throughout the docks on various sail and powerboats. They were well-built floating docks, and the owners expanded on the number of slips while I was there. One of the older marinas in Charleston, it was successful and friendly. (We will have more on this trend in South Carolina in a future SOUTHWINDS article.)

These decisions to sell marinas, boatyards, and other marine-related businesses to the highest bidder are decisions that each of us might make because the sale could give us enough money to take us into a wealthy retirement in a tropical paradise—to some land where all the waterfront property is not being converted to condos.

I remember back several decades ago when many states faced this situation with rural land. Urban sprawl was caus-

ing farmers and ranchers to sell out as the value of their land went up so high that taxes increased so much they had to sell. States began giving owners of farm and ranch land a tax break if they fulfilled certain requirements. This was often done along with rezoning the property. This enabled many to hold onto their property and keep the land as farm or ranch land. Unfortunately, many of these properties were eventually sold as the value of the land itself went up so high, that owners could not resist selling, but at least they were not forced out because of taxes, and many lands stayed undeveloped, even still—especially if they were zoned differently.

Tax policy is one of the many tools that state and local governments could use to keep marina and boatyard land in its current use. Tax incentives are widely used to encourage certain policies without mandating uses. Zoning does the same but with a bit more of a mandate. I urge citizens and lawmakers to use these tools to give marinas and boatyards incentives to remain as they are.

These businesses do have certain unique requirements that other businesses don’t. If the business was a hardware store and they sold out to a condo, the store could just move inland and reopen. But one thing is for sure; marinas and most boatyards can’t move inland.

Steve Morrell Editor

WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED Stories and photographs wanted in the following areas: SAILING EXPERIENCES Stories and photos about experiences in places you’ve cruised, anchorages, marinas, or passages made throughout the Southern cruising waters, including the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

RACE REPORTING THE FLORIDA KEYS BAHAMAS THE POLITICS OF SAILING “Politics begins when two or more people get together.”

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

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

CHARTER STORIES Have an interesting charter story? In our Southern waters, or perhaps in the Bahamas, the Caribbean, or points beyond in some far-off and far-out exotic place?

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

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

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

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

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LETTERS

Continued from page 9

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

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

BOATS SAILING TOWARDS CUBA? Editor Have you heard of any sailboats that have been stopped while sailing toward Cuba since Bush’s new policy went into effect? I am planning to sail to Belize this summer, and I’m curious to see if that policy has actually been enforced.

Paul Larson Sarasota, FL Paul, I do not know, but perhaps one of our readers can answer that question. If someone out there has any information on this, please let us know.

Editor

REEDS ALMANAC As an avid and regular reader of Southwinds, I felt obligated to tell (perhaps remind?) you that not only does Reeds have an amazing amount of information with regard to tides, light lists, etc, but to me, as a navigator, has the best ephemeris (equivalent to the Nautical Almanac) on the market.

For those of your readers who are celestial navigators, the Reeds approach takes a little getting used to but is the fastest means of reducing a sight, other than using a computer, that I’ve found. Some of the issues of Reeds don’t include the ephemeris as part of that issue, but Reeds does include a post card to allow the buyer to obtain one at no charge.

I’ve also found that Bluewater Books has the ephemerises in stock and will sell them for a small price.

The tables are particularly useful in that they occupy so little space. We’re talking about 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 x 1/4 inch. The table is especially useful in reducing lunar sights, far easier that the method used in the standard almanac.

Thanks again for a great magazine. I pick mine up at the Pass Christian Yacht Club (est. 1849).

V N Tanner

DISAPPEARING MARINAS AND BOATYARDS I am working to get some sort of legislation passed to protect the boatyards, which also happen to be marinas here, from development pressures. We are trying to be as creative as possible in assuring the boatyard owners that they will not lose out by not selling and that they should be able to have a market for their properties as boatyards, not as condos. In your February issue, a study (p.49) was mentioned that had been done of the economic impact of boating in Florida. Do you know where I can get a copy of that study?

Of the four boatyards in Volusia County, one has been sold to a developer, one is under contract to a developer and two have developers pressuring them to sell. This is a somewhat urgent situation, since the last two could sell at any time, and this would leave boaters in our area with having to either go to St. Augustine or Cape Canaveral for yard See LETTERS continued on page 15 10

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LETTERS

Continued from page 10

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

work. One is 50 miles away and the other slightly farther. At best, this would be inconvenient, and at worst, it would be downright dangerous. There would be no emergency repairs possible in Volusia County. We might even lose our Coast Guard station if there is no place left to service their watercraft. I believe that most of the boaters would just take their boats elsewhere it this happens.

I would appreciate any assistance you could offer. I believe that this is actually a nationwide problem but is most serious here.

Eric West Daytona Beach Eric, I will try to find out what report that was and how to get ahold of it. Perhaps one of our readers knows of the study that analyzed the economic impact of waterways and boats in Florida. It was referred to in general in an article about North Carolina’s considering doing a similar study, but not referred to specifically.

SOUTHWINDS is trying to publicize the growing problem of conversion of waterfront properties to condominiums, and we will have more reports on this in the future. We are hoping other readers will report to us on what is happening in their regions. Any others who can help with this problem by contributing to Eric West’s efforts, please contact Southwinds.

Editor

DISAPPEARING WATERWAY ACCESS I really liked your editorial about access to the regions’ waterways (January issue).

I sailed all over Sarasota Bay as a kid in the ‘60s. I went from Optimist Prams, (the old 6th Street boat ramp is no longer there) to the Moth and then the Windmill at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron (SSS). Then I got married and for the next 36 years, sailing was non-existing except in my dreams.

I now live in Fort Myers. Last year I purchased an old Victoria 18 at SSS. Most boat ramps here will not handle the launch of an 18-footer with a 30-inch keel. That’s if you can even find a ramp! On weekends forget it; all filled up. And with the extra time needed to step a mast, etc, you will get yelled into the next county for taking up space at the ramp.

One ramp near me has power lines running right over the ramp area!

The city of Fort Myers has created a mooring field in the Caloosahatchee River between the old and new U.S. 41 bridges. Yeah, sure, 300 yards OUT in the river after you cross the ICW in a rowing inflatable?

At Fort Myers Beach, the city has spent several years trying to set up a public mooring field, right in the middle of Matanzas Pass. Have you ever seen the current in there at change of tide? You will need more than a 3hp kicker on a dinghy to get to your boat, and then forget sailing against that tide or wait till the tide turns just to get home. And there is not a boat ramp for miles.

One pretty good ramp for sailors is at the Sanibel Island end of the Sanibel Causeway. It will get you right out into great sailing water. The east end of the causeway boat ramp is usually very crowded and impossible to sail out of.

See LETTERS continued on page 16 Local News For Southern Sailors

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LETTERS

Continued from page 15

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

There is a very sailor-friendly ramp at the Coastal Marine Mart on Palm Beach Boulevard just east of I-75, also known as Manatee World. It’s okay if you can motor down the Little Orange River to get to the Big Caloosahatchee River for “some river sailing” in very narrow channels lined by spoil islands.

Downtown Fort Myers also has a ramp between the bridges. The river is a lot wider there, and the bridges have very high clearance. (They have to; they do NOT have a drawbridge!) Last year, right when I finally got the Lions Paw in shipshape for my first sail in 36 years, the ramp was being used as a launch for floating docks for a boat show! I had to maneuver around piles of floating docks and forklifts, and that was still in the parking lot!

YES, we need more boat ramps, not more soccer fields!

Paul Foreman Second-generation Sarasota native.

Paul, This news adds to the ever-increasing problem of loss of waterway access. Unfortunately, it appears that the public is noticing this after they see a new condominium going up. How many that we don’t know about are out there in the negotiation stage? If we were to continue with the same number of waterway access points, there would be a problem as the number of boaters increase. This as a result of more people entering boating plus the increasing number who move here to be on the water. Yet we have a worse problem of decreasing access in this worsening situation. A double whammy.

Trailerable sailboat access is even more distressing. A recent article in a local Manatee County newspaper discussed the problem that powerboaters have of getting their boats in the water, often because of other powerboaters taking so long. Add the time of raising a mast to the time of just putting a boat in the water and wait increases even more for those near the back of the line.

We boaters, power and sail, will have to rally together to get the access we need, oddly enough so that more can be out there on our oftentimes crowded waterways.

I fear the age-old problem of overpopulation is again rearing its head. Those who cried out about the problems of population explosion 30 and 40 years ago, labeled by many as doomsayers at the time, seem pretty smart right now.

Editor NAPLES CLOSES MOORING FIELDS As of January 20, 2005, no mariners are allowed to occupy the north or south mooring fields at Naples City Dock. I vacated my mooring there yesterday, Sunday, Jan. 23. I was given the courtesy of two days’ warning to leave the mooring field. The reason as stated on a letter posted on the dock box facing the dinghy dock read as follows: As of Jan. 20, no new boats will be allowed in the north or south mooring fields, by order of the Florida Environmental Protection Agency. All current boats must vacate the moorings no later than 12 noon, Monday, Jan. 24, 2005. Closed indefinitely.

These convenient moorings (12 total) were $10 dollars per night with a two-week limit, with the understanding that 16

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the same yacht cannot return within 90 days. The city dock’s transient slips are frequently full ($50 per night minimum).

If anyone knows more about this inconvenience, please enlighten the sailing public.

Jim Mcfall S/V Molly Pitcher Naples, FL Jim, Thanks for letting us know. I understand finding liveaboard dockspace (or a mooring spot) in Naples is getting more difficult— even if you are willing to pay for it. I have heard of dockominiums in the area selling for several hundred thousand dollars at certain marinas, and they are in demand. Yet everyone is buying them for investment, although the price one gets for renting them out to boaters can’t come close to paying for these prices. Is this another investment bubble waiting to burst?

Changes are happening in Florida real estate, off and on the water. I hope they are for the better, but what I see is dissappearing marinas, boatyards, mooring fields, waterway access, dockage and more. Only a few communities seem to be working on the problem, but I fear these problems are the tip of the iceberg and we are all in for lots of changes, many unwelcome, unless we do something about them.

Editor

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“Sir,” said Officer Henley, “someone driving your car has some charges pending against him, and we are trying to locate that person. If it was not you, then who was it?”

“I have this note from a guy I know saying that he had some trouble with the police when he was using my car,” I said as I handed Henley the note Bubba had scrawled.

He ooked at it and observed, “It’s not signed.”

“You know, I noticed that, too, Officer Henley,” I commented. “What is this all about?”

“The person who was using your car was stopped in Bradenton Beach on a random traffic stop. However, he chose to stop in a puddle that had formed after we had some rain. And then he failed to follow the instructions of the officer who stopped him,” Henley said.

“Are you talking about one of those really huge puddles you guys get out there,” I asked. Bradenton Beach is infamous for poor drainage. One regular puddle has to be a couple of acres big and looks like a small lake.

“The biggest.”

“Well, it wasn’t me. It may have been my car, but I was not in it.”

“Do you have a red baseball cap, one with a Peterbilt emblem on it?” asked Henley.

“No,” I replied, as the radio in Henley’s police car crackled into life with a lot of police code talk. Henley turned and walked toward the car, saying, “I have to go on a call right now, but I will be back.”

It took me 30 minutes to get to the Blue Moon Bar that morning. And as luck would have it, Bubba was already having a beer when I got there. Doobie was polishing glassware behind the counter in a tight ultra-suede outfit that had sort of a cowboy style to it. It deserved a second look. In fact, most of her leather outfits deserve a second look.

“Bubba, I just had a police officer come by my house.

Local News For Southern Sailors

He said that my car, while you had it, was involved in some incident in Bradenton Beach. What did you do?” I asked the sailor, who immediately signaled to Doobie to bring a couple of beers.

“Nothing,” replied Whartz.

“Then why are the cops looking for you and talking about you not following a police officer’s instructions?”

“They aren’t looking for me,” said Bubba with a snort of laughter as Doobie brought two glasses of beer. “They don’t know who I am.”

“What happened when you had my car?”

“It was early in the morning, and I was driving through Bradenton Beach, obeying the law,” Whartz began. “I picked up a police tail along the way. You know how they sometimes tail you real close just to see if you’ll run? That’s what the officer did. So I slowed down. He stayed right there, so I slowed down some more. We had gone about a half a mile at 15 miles an hour when he turned on his blue lights. I saw a great big puddle up ahead, and I just stopped your car in the middle of that puddle. The police officer stopped on the edge of the puddle. He was not going to put his cruiser into the water.”

“How far away was he?” I wanted to know.

“It was a large puddle,” said Whartz. “He was back there about 40 yards.”

“Then what happened?”

“Nothing. He used the PA system on his car to tell me to get out of my car and walk back to him. I figured that it was his idea to stop me, and so I just ignored him. I just sat there. He wasn’t going to get his feet and shoes wet slogging up to where I was on the off chance he could make a collar.

And I wasn’t going to help him by walking back to where See BUBBA continued on page 77

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Win a $1,200,000* “Sailboat of Your Dreams” or Choose $400,000 Cash Unfavorable changes in the world’s political climate forced Voyage of the Spray, Inc. to offer its sailboat for raffle.

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• $100,000 in secondary cash prizes will be awarded.

This is a benefit raffle for Voyage of the Spray, Inc., a nonprofit distance education organization. Raffle proceeds will support Voyage of the Spray’s distance education programs.

For more information visit: www.voyageofthespray.org, email us at vos@comcast.net, or call (978) 720-0021. The drawing is May 22. *Appraised replacement value.

The 71-foot ketch Spray. Courtesy Voyage of the Spray, Inc.

Northeast Florida Sailing School Wins Two Prestigious Awards Windward Sailing School of Amelia Island, FL, has been awarded two of the nation’s highest awards for sailing instruction. The American Sailing Association, based in Marina del Rey, CA, recently announced that Windward Sailing School is Outstanding School of the Year for 2004, Southeast Region. Windward’s Capt. Charley Weaver was named Outstanding Instructor of the Year for 2004.

Weaver, a retired Navy commander, owns and operates Windward Sailing School with his wife, Capt. Sandra Weaver. Since launching the business in 1997, the couple

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have been recognized for excellence in their field. Charley Weaver was named ASA Instructor of the Year in 2002 and 2003. The school has consistently ranked in the top five sailing schools nationwide prior to earning the prestigious first-place award this past year.

Ratings for all of Windward’s instructors were combined in the final tally for Outstanding School of the Year. In addition to Weaver, the school’s certified instructors include U. S. Coast Guard captains Jerry Miller, Montie Froehlich, Joe Smith, Bob Tomasetti, John Hodge and Flip Gallion. According to an ASA statement, “Awards recognize superior achievement in a number of critical categories including quality of materials, course objectives, organization, safety and student participation.”

More than 270 commercial sailing schools compete for ASA awards, which are based entirely on student evaluations. Upon completion of a sailing course, students are asked to submit an independent evaluation rating the school and instructors on eight factors. Critiques are sent directly to ASA headquarters where they are tabulated.

Windward won 2004 top honors among 56 Southeast regional schools, encompassing Virginia to Texas and all states in between. A mathematical formula allows schools to compete fairly regardless of size and enrollment.

Windward Sailing School offers instruction year-round

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from beginners’ basics to advanced levels, including certification for ASA instructors. The majority of classes are conducted on the water with hands-on training. Each year, Windward certifies approximately 200 students from across the United States in various levels of sailing skills. The Weavers also offer bareboat and captained charters, and team-building programs. For more information, call (904) 261-9125 or visit www.WindwardSailing.com.

Switlik Life Raft Safety Alert Switlik Parachute Company has announced a safety alert for life rafts equipped with inflation valve P/N S-2630 and, on some models manufactured since 1996. O-rings in the inflation valve may allow gas to escape from the cylinder under very limited circumstances.

During the summer of 2003, the units experienced hotter than normal temperatures of above 95º F. The units involved were then stored outside at temperatures below those experienced in over twenty years and approaching 0º F during the winter of 2004. These temperatures, however, were well within the operational high and low extremes to which the rafts have been tested and approved or certified.

Subsequent testing to these operational high and low extremes showed no leakage. The leakage occurred when the rafts were exposed to a sequence of high followed by

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low temperatures and very specific temperature ranges inside the extremes of published standards.

This phenomenon occurred with life rafts primarily in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Great Lakes regions where the cycle of these temperature extremes occurred. Of the life rafts equipped with Valve P/N S-2630, which experienced this combination of temperature extremes, a limited number may have experienced gas leakage.

THIS IS NOT OBVIOUS AND COULD CAUSE FALSE RELIANCE ON A LIFE RAFT THAT, IF NEEDED, WILL NOT INFLATE AND FUNCTION AS A LIFE SAVING DEVICE. To prevent a recurrence, a new piston assembly with O-Rings, which will function properly after being subjected to any sequence of temperatures and cycles within the approved temperature range, must be installed when your life raft is serviced.

Wherever your life raft is located and whatever temperatures it has experienced, Switlik will provide to you through our service stations, at no charge, the Piston and O-Ring replacement kit. We have issued our Service Bulletin #SIB-04106, which describes the corrective action to be taken by our authorized service stations. YOUR LIFE RAFT MUST BE SERVICED ONCE A YEAR. To determine if your life raft is affected, contact your local Switlik service station. For a list of service stations, go to www.switlik.com, or call (609) 587-3300.

Hurricane Cleanup of Canals in Southwest Florida Continues Forty-three miles of canals in unincorporated Lee County in southwest Florida have been cleaned up so far since Hurricane Charley passed through the area on August 13 of last year. Everything from roofs to trees was pulled out of the canals, but officials continue to ask residents and visitors to report any debris found which was missed by cleanup crews. Half of a nearby home’s roof landed in a canal on Pine Island and was not reported until recently.

One of the problems officials are facing is people not

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reporting debris in canals because they are convinced someone must have called it in or officials know about it and just haven’t gotten to it. With cleanup contractors still in the area, officials are asking everyone to report any debris before the crews leave.

A different situation exists in many of the region’s cities as some communities, like Fort Myers, have only recently begun cleanup, but those officials did a detailed survey of the debris and do not need residents to call them about debris they know needs to be cleaned up.

Other communities, like Fort Myers Beach, will not begin cleanup until spring.

Sanibel has completed its canal cleanup and will shortly begin cleanup of the Sanibel River.

To call in debris needing to be cleaned up in different communities: Unincorporated Lee County, 694-3334; Bonita Beach, 390-1000; Fort Myers Beach, 765-0202.

Hurricanes Clean Harmful Algae Off East Florida’s Coral Reefs Yet Damage Them in Other Ways Research divers from the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Fort Pierce recently documented that 2004’s hurricanes cleansed the coral reefs from North Miami to Fort Pierce of a harmful blue-green algae.

In recent years, reefs along Florida’s southeast coast have been overrun with the algae to the point that the coral reefs are overrun with seaweed. Many popular dive spots along the coast have been abandoned as dive destinations because of the invasive algae. Many dive operators agree that the reefs’ conditions worsen every year. The reefs have become covered and destroy much of the food that reef fish eat, diminishing the biological diversity of the reefs.

Scientists believe the benefits of the storms’ cleansing will be short-lived, and the algae will come back in full strength in coming years.

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Overall, the researchers agree that the storms had a negative impact on the coral reefs, killing marine life, tearing reefs apart, and covering some with sand.

Study Finds World’s Coral Reefs Decline in Numbers and Health The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network recently completed a study showing that coral reefs have continued to deteriorate and disappear. The group found that about one-fifth of the world’s reefs have been destroyed, and another half have been damaged. The damaged reefs could be saved through various efforts, including banning fishing in certain reefs, controlling pollution into the sea from polluted runoff waters from land and creating marine sanctuaries in certain areas.

It is estimated that 80-98 percent of the staghorn and elkhorn corals in the Caribbean have been lost, and there is currently a petition before the current administration to declare the species endangered. Actions taken by the United States and other countries as a result of such a declaration would greatly improve the chances for recovery of many of the world’s reefs.

Many reasons contribute to the reefs’ decline, but it is generally agreed that global warming is the number one cause. Global warming has contributed to warmer water temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations, but

Local News For Southern Sailors

coastal development, coral disease, over-fishing and pollution are also major factors.

The last study was completed in 2002, and it was then determined that 59 percent of the world’s reefs were threatened or destroyed. The recent study found a sharp rise, in this short, two-year span, to a 70 percent level.

There was some good news in the study as it was determined that many reefs have recovered from a “bleaching” that was a result of unusually warm waters in 1998. Most of those reefs are in the Indian Ocean, a part of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and in the Western Pacific near Palau.

For more information on the study and the group, go to www.gcrmn.org. For more information on the reefs in the Florida Keys, go to www.reefrelief.org.

Stone Crab Season Best in Years: Hurricanes Helped The last two seasons stone crabbers were disappointed in the harvest, but this year, for various reasons, the season has been very good. Lee County, in southwest Florida, has reported substantial increases, as have the crabbers in the Tampa Bay area.

Other factors are the movement of stone crabs. Some believe that the hurricanes churned up the waters bringing nutrients up from the bottom and enriching sea life, and perhaps contributing to more crabs moving and feeding.

There is not much information on what causes stone crabs to move around, but the more they move, the more likely they are to be trapped. Storms contribute to this movement, whether hurricanes or other storms like the ones that brought high winds in December. Crabbers find that, in general, crab harvests increase after storms.

Regardless of the reasons, restaurateurs and crabbers are happy.

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THE BAHAMAS

Racing In Paradise — A Chance To Race, Cruise & Just Cool Out

By Carol Bareuther Photos by Dean Barnes

W

hat do you do when some of your friends like to cruise, others to race and still others prefer to swim, snorkel or just sun? Go Racing in Paradise.

The idea, says Richard Wooldridge, who manages the Racing in Paradise (RIP) operation, which is based on the British Virgin Island of Tortola, “is to combine the concept of destination-style racing and relaxed live-aboard cruising in a one-week sailing vacation.”

The key to the August 2004-launched program is the use of IC-24, or Inter-Club 24s, for the racing segment.

The IC-24 is a refit of a J/24 originally conceived of and built by two St. Thomas sailors, Chris Rosenberg and Morgan Avery.

Wooldridge says: “Originally we had thought to charter identical bareboats. But there were potential problems with

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that idea, like availability, getting the right type of boat, customer complaints and the general difficulties inherent in the bareboat business that we couldn’t control. So, after sailing aboard an IC over on St. Thomas, we came back with the notion to build our own and use them,” Wooldridge explains.

The RIP team started doing so in early 2002. To date, it

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has acquired 10 hulls for conversion and completed eight conversions by year’s end. RIP owns half the boats while the other half are privately owned. The private owners have dually agreed to put their boats in charter and to make their IC24s available to the local KATS (Kids and the Sea) youth sail training program.

The RIP experience is best for a group of friends, a couple of families or members of a yacht club. The week begins when the group picks up its chartered bareboats. There are nearly a dozen bareboat charter companies on Tortola, so finding a boat to suit isn’t a problem. Ideally, the charters begin on a Saturday or Sunday to allow enough time to provision and take a short shakedown cruise.

On Monday, some in the group cruise the bareboats over to the first stop, which is the famed Treasure Island Norman Island. Others, enough for four to five sailors per boat, meet at Nanny Cay Hotel and Marina, RIP’s base. This is where the IC24s are chartered for four days of racing. The cost is $1500. The RIP team provides a dockside briefing, and then launches the group on a two-hour sail into the Sir Francis Drake Channel and on to Norman Island. During this sail, the RIP team members follow alongside in motor dinghies and call out tuning tips.

After lunch, either eaten aboard the bareboats or at the famous Willy T floating schooner that is now a restaurant and bar, the RIP team sets up short windward-leeward courses for a series of three to four 20-minute-or-less sprintstyle races. Even though the IC24s are more comfortable to sail than conventional J/24s, they are highly competitive, and racing is full of razor-sharp finishes.

Over the next three days, the RIP team leads the group to nearby destinations where there are stops for morning and afternoon racing. After Norman Island, the next destination is Cooper Island, where a small beach bar, restaurant and resort offers relaxation time for after racing. Then it’s on to North Sound Virgin Gorda, home of the Bitter End Yacht Club and some of the flattest, yet windiest sailing conditions in the BVI. Next, it’s off to Trellis Bay located northeast of Tortola where Pusser’s on Marina Cay is a natural call for Local News For Southern Sailors

grub and grog. Each evening, the RIP team plays video footage from the day’s competition so that sailors can reassess their tactics and strategies. Scores are cumulative, so there’s only room to improve.

The IC24s are back at Nanny Cay by Thursday afternoon. A big awards bash at the marina’s yachtie hangout, Peg Leg Landing, is the finale of the racing portion of the week.

After that, the group members have another day or two to enjoy cruising aboard their bareboats.

“The beauty of Racing in Paradise,” Wooldridge says, “is that you can do as much or as little racing as you want. At the same time, those who aren’t racing can enjoy cruising, swimming or beachcombing. It’s the best of both worlds.”

For more information, contact RIP at: Tel/Fax: (284) 494-6781, Cell: (284) 499-2468 or e-mail: info@racinginparadise.com.

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RACING

Regatta Rockstars Key West 2005, Presented by Nautica January 17-21

By Rebecca Burg

By

Farr 40s sailing close. Photo by Capt. Bill Robinson.

“W

elcome Yachters” read a sign on busy Roosevelt Boulevard. Meanwhile, a massive white tent appeared near the Historic Seaport while the local West Marine hastily imported extra employees. Key West’s red carpet was gradually unfurling to welcome nearly 3000 world-class sailors to the island. These wind-taming wizards ranged from America’s Cup superstars and Olympic medalists to hot campaign racers from around the globe.

Key West was surrounded by about 300 high-strung windpowered thoroughbreds shouldering their way into slips, huddling three deep in some areas, and clustering together

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on trailers near the ramps. Carrying huge sail bags and high tech gear, sailors scurried around the docks. Through the forest of masts in Key West Bight, colorful team flags could be seen fluttering in the wind. Passing tourists stopped and stared. Fasten your seatbelts everyone; this is going to be one heck of a week.

The restless rocking of a Transpac 52 at rest clearly conveyed the massive sailboat’s virility. Michael Brennan’s Sjambok, still salty and catching her breath from a recent race from Fort Lauderdale, was now getting ready for a new battle. Sitting cross-legged on Sjambok’s nonskid deck, navigator Mike Jones deftly crafted an eye splice in double braid as easily as someone tying a shoelace. “We’re prepared and we’re ready,” Mike said as he shared his thoughts on the action to come. He enjoyed Key West and has been involved in Race Week for over a decade. The TP52’s large crew also included BMW/Oracle stars John Kostecki and Gavin Brady. Averaging 14.1 knots, Sjambok had just smashed the Fort Lauderdale race’s record and was the winner overall.

TP52 rivals Esmeralda, Makoto Uematsu’s entry, and Roger Sturgeon’s Rosebud were waiting nearby to jump into the ring and scramble the status quo.

Another rival in the class and the largest racer, Tom Hill’s 75-foot red-hulled Titan 12 (pronounced Tee-tahn), was back this year to turn up the heat. Fenders squeaking, Titan impatiently tugged at the dock lines as crewmember Chris Gasiorek tended to her lofty rig. A serious racing vet www.southwindssailing.com

afternoon the winds eased to a more reasonable 18 knots, and a fine day of sailing began. Just before the first start in division two, J/109 evonne.com/2 lost her stick, but was quickly aided and no one was hurt. That appeared to be the most serious casualty for the day as racers faced off in the heavy conditions where things happen at lightning speeds.

Smaller boats, like the wild Melges 24 class, fought to maintain control of their spinnakers and minimize the broaches.

With a whopping crowd of almost five dozen boats, Day One: some of them inevitably Monday, January 17 bumped into each other in A newly arrived arctic highthe barely restrained chaos pressure system brought during the rounding of the clear skies and cold north upwind mark. Despite winds gusting to 37 knots. being T-boned, Bill’s Pegasus Racing was postponed.

575, with Olympic gold Even the tough local recipient Kevin Burnham shrimper fleet fled from the onboard, prevailed and rough Gulf seas and hid in took first place for the day. the lee of Key West.

Plowhorse deals with an unruly spinnaker.

The larger boats thrived in “Twenty is one thing, but Photo by Capt. Bill Robinson. the strong winds, their rigs 30 out of the north is a and lines emitting that otherworldly big-boat groaning whole new game,” said one concerned voice over the VHF. sound at each tack. Sjambok and Esmeralda sailed extremely The Mumm 30, Corsair 28 and PHRF-3 classes were canclose and set the stage as leaders with Esmeralda placing celed just for this first day. Those smaller, high performance mere seconds ahead. The majestic Titan appeared even largvessels were just too skittish for the conditions. By mid

and lifelong sailor, Chris and the rest of Titan’s superb crew would be working hard for quite a while. The Key West regatta was just one of the many stops in the racer’s itinerary as she made her way to Jamaica to divide and conquer in the Caribbean racing circuit. Titan and her heavyweight rivals were just a part of the PHRF-1 class. An eye-popping total of 21 one-design and PHRF classes will endeavor to kick each other’s sterns in nine races scheduled through the week.

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KEY WEST 2005 intrepid Blah Blah Blah had to square off with serious competition that included the fearless precision of racer Karen Mitchell. Her numerous awards included accolades in popular events ranging from the Rolex International Woman’s Keelboat Championships to the North American Challenge Cup. This week Karen took charge at the helm of Garie Blackwell’s Fort Lauderdale entry, J24 Menage a Quatre.

Local ace Scott “Lumpy” Davis and his J/30 Night Nurse would spend the entire week in heavy but friendly competition with Chris and Kara Busch’s ID35, Wild Thing. Photo by Capt. Bill Robinson.

er under sail and always seemed to be far ahead of the group. With her handicap rating, she needed a sizable jump on her persistent competitors.

Starting out with a reef, Titan placed fourth for the day, but her crew was ready to show those pesky Transpacs a thing or two the next day.

Day Two: Tuesday, January 18 Greeted by chilly mid-50 temps and 25-knot north winds, races were briefly postponed. All classes got to race, and the feisty weather was not unlike Monday’s. “We had one death roll!” said Daniel Johnson, who crewed the “wettest spot” on J24 Blah Blah Blah. “The crew Farr 40 Morning Glory, in the middle of the action, jumps to second place. Photo by Capt. Bill just didn’t move fast enough Robinson. that time.” A hometown favorite in the PHRF-8 class, Mark Milnes’ boat tamed the Maury’s J/30 Bump In The Night in the PHRF-7 class. “Oh, heavy air and beat the pants off the rest of the J24s in the we broke a few things,” said Night Nurse crew Mike group for two days in a row. It was a notable feat since the Bankester. “But we’re having a great time, and we’re glad to be out.” Mike frequently sails his own boat in local regattas.

Today, Night Nurse hasn’t caught up to the slippery Bump In The Night, but they’re having fun trying to change that. Greg Petrat’s elegant yet powerful Swan 48 Constellation won first place in the PHRF-6 on Monday. Today she placed in the middle of the gang, but her crew is enthusiastic. Wellknown and feared in local waters, Constellation has a number of awards under her belt and at times demonstrates an uncanny ability to pummel rivals without breaking a sweat.

Day Three:Wednesday, January 19 Day three is considered the day that racers make or break their ranks for the entire week. Clear, sunny skies and a sturdy 17-knot northeast wind jump-started the day. Titan set a fine example by gaining an edge on the tireless Transpacs by dramatically leaping upwards to second place 30

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www.southwindssailing.com

so far. Esmeralda still led the class with Sjambok in third. Osterberg’s 1D35 Midsummer, trailered all the way from Port Townsend, WA, is sailing in Key West race week for the first time. For being the new guy, Midsummer has skillfully earned first so far in this unique one-design class. In unbelievably close racing, Chris and Kara Busch’s Wild Thing tied with Midsummer but ended up second due to one less first placement during the week. There were still a few races to go and with such a close fight, the tables could turn at anytime.

Those hot Farr 40s, an intense class that always seemed to sail in a tight and choreographed cluster, were merciless. De Ridder’s Racing in the “Big Tent.” Wind at the flick of a switch. Photo by Rebecca Burg. high-scoring Mean Machine slipped a bit adjusting gear. It has been a long and physically challenging today in the lighter winds, but remained on top. Plattner’s week for boats and sailors alike. There were only a few Morning Glory claimed a close second. In this group, wins more races to go in the series, and crews still mustered the were often taken by less than a boat length. Speaking of energy to make the most of it. During the break and with an close racing, Jose Suarez Hoyos’s J/109 Mariah, earning first awesome display of controlled power, Marco Birch’s B/C58 today, and Bill Sweetser’s Rush were as close as Siamese Talisman veered off to investigate an unusual-looking press twins. The two were frequently seen side by side and would boat. Talisman smoothly and purposely slid a mere hair’s squeeze each other around the mark. Bill indicated that he length past the press boat’s stern while the onboard photogliked Key West’s variety show of sailing conditions and rapher excitedly clicked away with his camera. That an went on to beat Mariah the next day. The J/109s dogged impressively large wind-powered machine could move pursuit of the lead was riveting to observe. with such delicate precision is a tribute to the talent and coordinated skill of her crew.

Day Four: Thursday, January 20 Yes, sailors do cuss. By the second race, the wind The breeze started out gusting to 17 knots, which gradually decreased to a wispy three knots for a spell. Rustling light fell as the day progressed. Division two finished the first air spinnakers sagged into the lucid blue seas, and boats race while the winds were still reasonable. Waiting for race slowed to a tense crawl, drifting in the current. In division two, contenders rested and hove to or slowly paced behind two, the second race was officially shortened. The wishythe starting line. In those candid moments, crew members washy wind eventually perked up to a variable five knots. could be seen wearily sprawled on deck or repairing and

Local News For Southern Sailors

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KEY WEST 2005 The awkward conditions Day Five: Friday, January 21 had caused a stir in the Friday brought mild winds massive Melges 24 fleet. and one brief race, the ninth Giovanni’s Italian entry, Joe in the series for most classes.

Fly, has been battling After an excellent performPegasus 575 all week. While ance since race four, Titan still the wind still blew for the couldn’t topple Esmeralda’s first race, the little boats reign. Only a few points swarmed over the course in behind, the 75-foot powera flurry of crisp white sails house at least earned a comand salt spray. Shouted mendable position in second commands could be heard and clearly demonstrated a as sailors endeavored to potential to lead the pack harmonize the demanding next time around. In the symphony of multiple lines, extremely close contest clicking winches, sails and between the leading Melges crew. Joe Fly made some 24 boats, Joe Fly was pushed sweet music by jumping up back a few ranks as Pegasus one point over Pegasus. A 575 firmly planted her keel mere three points behind, in first place overall. The James Spithill’s USA 493 champ was hotly pursued was flaming and quickly

by USA 493 in second place, closing in on her rivals. while Neil Sullivan’s well Likely the youngest sailor coordinated M-Fatic placed in the regatta, 10-year-old third. In this fluid chess Mac Agnese, was cool as a game of almost five dozen cucumber onboard USA 493. one-design hot rods, survivThe future sailing star was ing within the top ranks is an accompanied by those superaccomplishment in itself. human double Olympic Our local barnstormer, medalists, Charlie and Blah Blah Blah, suffered in Jonathan McKee. the light winds and fell back One real firecracker on to place in the middle of the the course was Freudenberg group. In the T-10 class, and Hudgins’s Corsair 28R Chuck Simon and Bill trimaran, Condor. Like Mike Manilla’s J/109, Antaean. Photo by Boatpix.com Buckles’ Key West entry something out of Star Wars, Liquor Box dominated the Condor swooped in, guns blazing, and demolished the class fleet and won first overall. With solid gold performance with five bullets. Just behind roared Ken Winter’s Rocketeer through the week, the T-10 was untouchable. Swapping II and Robert Gleason’s Hot Flash. With abrupt, twitchy places with T-10 Full Bore during the series, Team movements, the hyper-responsive tris flung themselves FarrFromSober finally staked herself out in second place around the buoy and tamed the wind with those characterafter some talented and tricky sailing. 1D35 Wild Thing did istically stiff and roachy mains. Again this year, the spirited turn the tables on hot rival Midsummer by the end of the tris were given their own leeward buoy within division two. week, but the scores were exceptionally close.

This helped maintain order and avoid clashes with the 54 The final awards were presented to a packed tent. huge monohulls charging through the course. Past colliThose ubiquitous red Mount Gay Rum hats could be seen sions have demonstrated that interspecies fraternization everywhere, and the area buzzed with excitement as hunsimply doesn’t work. dreds of sailors recounted their adventures. As if these guys So far, George Gamble’s Pensacola, FL, entry, Pretty and gals didn’t get enough sailing, two toy RC sailboats Woman, maintained the PHRF-2 lead with five firsts under brought out the smiles as people tried their hand at racing her belt. The Beneteau 1st/47 was not only a courtly presthem in a small pool. Enthusiasm was high, and most ence at the dance, but she was devastatingly fast and wellsailors plan to return next year to participate once again in sailed. The ten-boat fleet could not even ruffle the invincible the prestigious Key West race and settle the score.

Pretty Woman’s sails. The forty boat J/105 fleet, with familHats off to this year’s sponsors: Nautica, Mount Gay iar faces such as Dead On Arrival and Zuni Bear, to name a Rum, B&G, Lewmar, Samson Rope Technologies and the few, consistently swapped ranks within the group. Thomas Florida Keys and Key West Tourist Development Council.

Coates’ Masquerade kept her bow above the crowd for the The official site is Key West’s Historic Seaport. Support most part. James Doane Jr.’s Naples, FL, entry, Flame, was from 29 industry partners also helped to make the regatta hotly gaining on Masquerade. Friday would tell all. Soon, possible. under a warm subtropical sun, weary sailors crowded back For a complete list of results, visit www.premiere-racinto the harbor and sought refreshment. ing.com.

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33

Calm Between the Storms

By Melanie Neale

Chez Nous at the docks in Fort Pierce.

I

t was September 2004, in the pocket of time between Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, and my body was on autopilot. I took the Orange Avenue exit off I-95, slowing my small Mazda to 20 miles-per-hour above the posted speed limit on the exit ramp. I didn’t think about what I was doing there. I was following some kind of gut instinct, the kind that people try to forget that they have.

The marinas around Fort Pierce had reportedly lost over 40 boats in Frances. People were without electricity and running water for weeks. Roofs had blown off houses and businesses. None of the gas stations had any fuel left.

The green road signs along I-95 were warped and twisted. I could read some of them. Most of them I couldn’t.

Hurricane Ivan was making its way toward the United States, having already swept over parts of the Caribbean. It was projected to hit Cuba, then take a slight turn west into

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the Gulf of Mexico, but the different models showed it making landfall anywhere between the Gulf Coast of Alabama and Miami. Miami was in the cone of error, which my friends and I had start- Stella on Chez Nous. ed calling “The Cone of Death” during Frances, due to the media hype on certain South Florida news stations.

I had taken the sails off my boat, a 1969 Columbia 28 ft named Short Story, for Frances, tied extra dock lines to pilings two slips away, hauled my dinghy out of the water and set it ashore, where it was promptly stolen after the storm. I had removed my computer, my Coast Guard license, a few unfinished writing projects, insurance papers, some photo albums, the one piece of nice jewelry that I owned, and my dog. I went to a friend’s apartment in Hollywood and waited for the storm to be over. Now Ivan was on the way, and I had decided to get out of South Florida. I repeated the hurricane preparation steps on my boat, and headed off to my sister’s house in St. Augustine.

It was on the way up that I decided to stop in Fort Pierce. I’d left Miami around noon, and by two I was trying to find my way to downtown Fort Pierce. I don’t believe in disaster tourism, and I felt guilty for being there. The people I passed stared straight ahead with blank, shocked faces.

I thought they looked as if they were waiting for nature to reverse itself somehow, for the winds to come back and blow their roofs back on, to fix their windows and unflood their houses.

I stopped across from the City Marina, not wanting to park too close. I wasn’t sure why—maybe because I didn’t want anybody to see me. This was about me, and I didn’t feel like running into my parents’ friends or friends of mine from my days in the sport fishing circuit. I unloaded Stella, my beagle, from her traveling crate in the backseat, and shuffled over to the marina.

Chez Nous, the 1979 Gulfstar Sailmaster 47 that I grew up living aboard, was supposed to be here somewhere. My parents put it up for sale in 1998, the same year that I moved ashore (a four-year between-boats phase for me), and they bought an even older Gulfstar motor sailer. The new owners had e-mailed my dad after Frances, telling him that Chez Nous (now Sea Fox) had been damaged in the storm and that they were waiting until the marina cleared the other damaged boats out of the way so they could move it into a yard for repairs. I hadn’t seen the boat since 1998. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see it now, but something had made me turn off at Orange Avenue and drive down to the water.

Stella and I made our way across the marina. The air was oppressive and sweet with dead fish. I felt the dust Local News For Southern Sailors

lodging behind my contact lenses, and my legs itched. Stella started coughing violently, bracing her paws on the dock. A small group of people from the tiki bar looked on with concern.

“It’s okay,” I said. “She’s asthmatic.” She wasn’t, but this was an easy explanation that seemed to work whenever her trachea collapsed in public.

There was yellow tape strung across the entrance to the dock office, and beyond the office more yellow tape blocked off the dock. I wondered whether they thought the tape would really be enough to keep boat owners away. I ducked under it and listened for an alarm or siren or somebody to yell at me and tell me that it was unsafe to proceed.

Right after Hurricane Andrew, we docked at Chub Cay in the Berry Islands. Andrew had passed over the Bahamas before it ripped into South Florida, doing as much or more damage to the unprotected islands as it did to Homestead.

At Chub, dogs and cats lay dead all over the marina, electrocuted from walking into puddles of water charged with electricity from the live wires that stuck out of the ground, sometimes as invisible as blades of grass. The marina had smelled worse than rotting fish. It had smelled like people’s dead pets. We stayed aboard Chez Nous, my parents assuring my sister and me that it would be just as easy for one of us to be electrocuted and killed as it had been for the rotting dogs and cats.

I thought about this as I stepped over a huge gap in the concrete dock and around a puddle, leading Stella on a short leash. Chez Nous was right on the other side of the dock, with her bow to the marina office. I couldn’t think of her as Sea Fox, for some reason. There was nothing wrong with the new name, and the new owners had lived aboard and treated her well, but a new name couldn’t erase the 19 years of history between this boat and me.

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CALM BETWEEN

THE

STORMS

plate, but the plate had been pulled straight through the Behind her, boats were piled on top of each other. A fiberglass, leaving a jagged hole almost a foot across. My large motoryacht, maybe 65-feet long, sat with her whaledad had installed the davits the second year we went like belly and one of her props on the neighboring dock. A south, to hold the Boston Whaler skiff that we later few of the floating docks had broken up, and wedges of replaced with an ugly-as-Hell but practical and tough aluconcrete filled the spaces between hulls as snug as if they minum dinghy. belonged there. The whole scene was like a puzzle, with Still, the damage wasn’t fiberglass and concrete and too bad. Every other boat twisted metal wrapped in the marina seemed to be intricately together. In the worse off. The boat right middle of the puzzle, Chez behind Chez Nous had a Nous held her proud bow smaller boat on top of it, over the dock. Her mast the bow pulpit of one was crooked because the rammed into the cabin whole boat had been windows of the other. The pushed sideways by a piece damage on Chez Nous was of dock, but she was the cosmetic. Nothing that most intact piece of fibercouldn’t be repaired. In a glass there. flutter of activity, my I braced myself, wonimagination conjured a dering what it feels like to plan in which I would buy be electrocuted, then the boat, dirt cheap, and reached for Chez Nous’ spend a few years fixing it stainless steel bow rail. I up, but reality set in just as couldn’t see any live quickly. I had about three wires, but you can never hundred dollars in the be sure. I figured if it was bank. Stella howled from my time to go, then I the bow, and I made my would have to accept my Short Story, Melanie’s current home in Miami. way back to her. fate. I hoped that, if I got Back in my car, on the way to St. Augustine, I called my electrocuted, somebody would rescue my dog. parents to tell them about the boat, and about how the damNothing happened. The rail was cold and smooth, but age wasn’t too bad. not charged. I tied Stella’s leash to it and stepped aboard, Ivan hit the Gulf shore of Alabama, bringing the whole over the anchor windlass and around the roller furling gear. ocean with him, and I drove home to Miami only to prepare I made my way back to the cockpit and checked to see for the next hurricane. Jeanne hit the Bahamas and then, whether the companionway hatch was locked. I knew that when everyone thought she was heading out to sea where going inside would be officially considered breaking and she would lose steam and die, she made an unprecedented entering, but I was ready to go to jail if necessary. It was loop, crossed back over her original path, and hit Fort Pierce locked. I rattled the padlock and looked around for a key, in the middle of the night. I slept through the storm in my but gave up when a sudden wave of guilt swept over me. friend’s apartment in Hollywood.

This wasn’t my boat. I had no right to be here. It was kind Chez Nous was one of the last boats to be pulled out of of pathetic, as if I was trying too hard to hang onto the the marina between Frances and Jeanne. She, along with past. I left the cockpit and went back to the stern, where several others, was towed out and anchored in the river the the worst of the damage was. The stern rail was twisted day before Jeanne hit. There wasn’t enough time to get her off, and the starboard davit had been ripped out of the to the boatyard. hull. It had been attached with bolts to a heavy backing In the morning after Jeanne hit, the only thing visible was a mast sticking out of the river, snapped in half. Chez Nous had sunk, her hull breaking in two as hurricane-force winds pounded against her. She had finally been given more than she could handle, although this seems unlikely when I really think about it. I don’t understand how a boat could live for 25 years, take one family thousands and thousands of miles, go through so much weather, and then sink as a result of a bad hurricane season. I must have somehow known that this would happen. Why else would I have stopped in Fort Pierce to see a boat that I hadn’t seen in over five years? I always thought that, since the boat was built the year I was born, we had some kind of spiritual connection. We must have, and I wonder what will happen to us now. Short Story and I are close, but we don’t have the same history. It’s up to us to build one.

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www.southwindssailing.com

INSURANCE

Boat Insurance: Uninsured & Underinsured Boater’s Coverage – What’s the difference?

By C. Gary Moody

I

n the event you or someone else on your boat is injured because of another boaters negligent operation of his or her boat or other watercraft, obtaining compensation for those injuries can be somewhat more problematic than if those injuries had occurred as the result of a vehicle collision. Most people are somewhat familiar with uninsured motorists coverage under their automobile insurance policy.

In Florida, all auto insurance carriers selling to Florida residents are required by law to offer uninsured motorists coverage, which each policyholder may elect to purchase as part of their policy, or, they may decline such coverage. If you do elect to purchase uninsured motorist coverage on your vehicle in Florida, your policy will automatically provide both uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage.

However, the Florida law that mandates both of these coverages on automobile insurance policies does not apply to boat insurance. Therefore, most, if not all, insurance companies insuring boats in Florida offer uninsured boaters coverage, but not underinsured boaters coverage. While the difference between uninsured and underinsured boaters coverage is somewhat confusing, this difference is important, and can be devastating to anyone injured on your boat. Also, keep in mind that both uninsured and/or underinsured motorists and boaters coverages apply only to bodily injuries, and not to property damage.

Uninsured motorists coverage came into existence because there are literally thousands of people driving around in vehicles without any bodily injury liability insurance covering them. If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured vehicle, and serious injuries are involved, there is no bodily injury insurance coverage to pay for injuries which are negligently caused. Of course, you can sue the negligent owner/operator, and potentially receive a substantial award of money damages from a jury, but virtually everyone understands that obtaining a jury verdict and actually getting paid the amount awarded are two completely different things. Without an insurance company standing behind the person who caused the injuries, there is little likelihood that you will ever receive the amount awarded by a jury.

Uninsured motorists coverage is designed to allow you to purchase, through your own insurance company, coverage to fill the gap between the amount of insurance carried by someone who might injure you, and the amount necessary to compensate you for your bodily injuries. In other words, you pay a premium to your own insurance company, and, in the event the other driver does not have bodily injury insurance coverage, your own company legally stands in for, or becomes, the insurance company for that uninsured owner or driver.

But, what happens if the other driver has bodily injury liability insurance, but that insurance is minimal, say only $10,000? If the negligent owner/operator has any amount of bodily injury liability insurance coverage, regardless of

Local News For Southern Sailors

how little, he or she is not uninsured. If the injuries are significant, and all the insurance the other driver carries is, say $10,000, how do you get paid for your damages in excess of that other driver’s insurance limits? The answer is underinsured motorists coverage. If your auto insurance policy has uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage limits of $300,000, then you can collect the $10,000 from the insurance company of the other driver, and up to an additional $300,000 from your own insurance company, depending upon the extent of your injuries. Of course, any liability defenses available to the other driver will be available to your own insurance company when handling your uninsured/underinsured motorists claim.

Uninsured vs Underinsured Coverage How is uninsured/underinsured boaters coverage different from uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage? Using the same general facts set forth in the automobile situation above described, the outcome can be significantly different if the injuries occur on your boat.

Let’s use the following facts to see how the outcome can be different. You and your spouse are out sailing or motoring along in your boat when a personal watercraft (or boat) owner/operator heads directly toward you with the intent of turning before a collision occurs. For whatever reason, the other operator fails to turn quickly enough and a collision occurs in which your spouse, while below decks for whatever reason, is very seriously injured, accumulating significant medical expenses that are not paid by insurance, and also suffering disabling injuries which cause him or her

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INSURANCE to be unable to continue working, resulting in a substantial loss of future income.

Aside from the obvious loss, you are somewhat relieved in that you assume the $300,000 uninsured boaters coverage that you carry on your boat will be sufficient to cover the loss regardless of the amount of bodily injury liability coverage carried by the owner of the watercraft that caused the collision. Had this been an automobile collision, you would be safe in your assumption—not so with your boat.

In the above boating situation, the financial outcome is dependent upon another factor, which is whether or not the other watercraft owner/operator does or does not have bodily injury liability insurance coverage which applies to your collision. If the other person has no liability insurance, then the insurance coverage available to cover your losses is your $300,000 uninsured boaters coverage. If, on the other hand, the other watercraft owner/operator has a bodily injury liability insurance policy providing $10,000 (or perhaps some sort of watercraft bodily injury liability rider on his or her homeowners insurance policy offering $1,000 in limits) then you can collect that $1,000 or $10,000 from the other person’s insurance company, but you will have no coverage whatsoever available to you under your uninsured boaters policy, because you were not injured by an uninsured boater, but by an underinsured boater, and, unfortunately, you have no coverage under your Florida boat insurance policy for such an event.

Can you imagine your feelings toward the agent who

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may have explained to you when you bought your insurance that “uninsured boaters coverage works the same as the uninsured motorists coverage on your car”?

While I have not seen a boat insurance policy issued in Florida that does not offer uninsured boaters coverage, I have yet to see one that offers underinsured boaters coverage. The reason for this lack of important coverage is subject to some speculation. Some of the reasons are, or might be, that while the law requires underinsured motorists coverage on motor vehicles, it does not require such coverage for boats, or, the number of situations where such coverage is needed is insignificant when compared to automobiles since the number of personal injury claims related to boats is minimal when compared to motor vehicles, or, what I truly believe to be the real reason, which is that most insurance agents selling, as well as most boaters purchasing, boat insurance do not understand that having uninsured boaters coverage does not mean that you also have underinsured boaters coverage.

In fact, I have yet to speak with an insurance agent selling boat insurance to Florida boat owners, and I have spoken with many about this very subject, who was aware that uninsured boaters coverage does not also include underinsured boaters coverage. In fact, most agents I speak with candidly admit that when discussing and describing uninsured boaters coverage to their customers, they tell their customers that the coverage works the same way as uninsured motorists coverage works with respect to their auto-

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mobiles. One policy that I have reviewed actually has a section in that policy which accurately explains underinsured boaters coverage, and states, “If you pay a premium for underinsured boaters coverage ....” Of course, the policy charges a premium for only uninsured boaters coverage.

When I called the company and asked if the underinsured boaters coverage described in the policy could actually be purchased from the company, the answer was no. While I have asked a number of insurers of Florida boats why their policy does not include underinsured boaters coverage, and have been given a number explanations, I have yet to receive a legitimate reason why such coverage is not provided.

What Boatowners Must Do to Get Coverage What is the solution to this problem? The legislature of Florida (as well as other states) could merely pass a law mandating the same statutory requirements governing uninsured/underinsured motorists insurance coverages also govern the sale of any boat insurance policy sold in Florida. But that process is slow, and legislators are busy people who have little time to spend on matters which only a very few citizens are concerned about.

If the foregoing is of concern to you, and I suggest that it should be, I have a couple of suggestions related to a more positive solution. First, read your policy and your coverage sheet to see if you have uninsured boaters coverage, and, if you do, whether or not your policy provides coverage for accidents caused by both uninsured and underinsured

Local News For Southern Sailors

boaters. If you don’t have uninsured boaters coverage, get it! If you do have uninsured boaters coverage and your policy also provides for underinsured boaters coverage, then you don’t have a problem. If you have uninsured boaters coverage, but don’t have underinsured boaters coverage, then it’s time for a serious talk with your agent. Ask your agent to find a company that offers both uninsured and underinsured boaters coverage. Don’t be surprised if your agent doesn’t initially understand the problem, as very few do until it is fully explained to them. If you are unable to explain the problem in a way your agent understands it, then perhaps giving your agent a copy of this article might help. Also don’t be surprised if your agent cannot find a company who offers underinsured boaters coverage. If your agent can’t place you with another company that offers underinsured coverage, then contact your existing insurance company directly and ask them to explain to you why such coverage is not provided as coverage under your boater’s policy.

If enough people ask their own insurance carrier about this issue, and demand that such coverage be offered as a condition of continuing to buy insurance from that company, it is likely that companies will begin to offer such coverage. Those companies offering such coverage will then have a competitive advantage over those who don’t, and the economics of such a situation will require more companies to offer the coverage in order to remain competitive within the boat insurance market. The solution to this problem lies in an informed boating community, one in which boat owners are aware of the problem and collectively demand a solution from the insurance providers who are competing for their dollars.

C. Gary Moody is a board-certified civil trial lawyer who has practiced personal injury law in Gainesville, FL, for over 33 years, and who also teaches automobile insurance adult education classes at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville.

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

SE Coast March Weather WATER TEMPERATURE Cape Hatteras, NC - 52° Savannah, GA - 59° AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Cape Hatteras, NC 46° lo - 60° hi Savannah, GA 47° lo - 71° hi For Real Time Southeast Coast Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/ Southeast.shtml

Upcoming Events & News MARCH 1 Charleston Ocean Racing Assoc. SC., CORA Executive Meeting, www.charlestonoceanracing.org.

1 ABC, US Power Squadron, Beaufort County Community College, Washington, NC. Bob Hatala, (252) 975-6807.

4-6 Savannah International Boat Show, Savannah International Trade and Convention Center, Savannah, GA. www.savannahinternationalboatshow.com.

5 Safety at Sea Seminar – Charleston Yacht Club. www.charlestonyachtclub.com.

5–6 US Sailing Judges Workshop at Atlanta Yacht Club. www.atlantayachtclub.org.

8 Basic Boating, US Power Squadron, UNC – at Wilmington, NC Harold Beatty, (910) 313-2744.

12 America’s Boating Course, USGC Auxiliary, Corps of Engineers Office, 1138 Hwy Spur 20, Cartersville, GA. Loren Emery, (404) 509-6601.

12 Basic Boating, US Power Squadron, Denver United Methodist Church, Denver, NC. Richard Todd, (704) 662-3647.

15 Boat Smart, US Power Squadron, NC Department of Transportation Auditorum, Raleigh, NC. Ed Deyo, (919) 467-6691.

17 Charleston Ocean Racing Assoc., Members Meeting. www.charlestonoceanracing.org

NORTH CAROLINA

Lake Lanier GEORGIA

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Wilmington

Charleston

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Savannah SOUTHEAST COAST

March Prevailing Winds See page 77 for Windrose legend

17-19 St. Patrick’s Day on the River, Savannah, GA. www.savannahnow.com/features/lookahead/index .shtml 25 GPS, USCG Auxiliary, Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC. 26 Full Moon Cruise – Augusta Sailing Club, www.augustasailingclub.

APRIL 1-4 South Carolina In-Water Boat Show, Bittlebank Park, Charleston, SC. www.scmarine.org/showsubsite.

2 Boat Smart, US Power Squadron, Denver United Methodist Church, Denver, NC. Richard Todd, (704) 662-3647.

4 Boat Smart, US Power Squadron, Progress Energy Media Center, Southport, NC. Larry Walch, (910) 278-9261.

5-6 Sail to Charleston, Long Bay Sailing Assoc., SC. www.longbaysailing.org 10 Learn to Sail, Barefoot Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. www.barefootsailing.org 9-10 Cruise to Bald Head, Cape Fear Yacht Club, NC. www.cfycnc.com 18 America’s Boating Course, USCG Auxiliary, Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC. 23 America’s Boating Course, USGC Auxiliary, Corps of Engineers Office, 1138 Hwy Spur 20, Cartersville, GA. Loren Emery, (404) 509-6601.

2005 Atlanta Boat Show: Bigger than Ever

By Ron Mitchellette

T

he 43rd annual Atlanta Boat Show took place Jan. 12-16 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. This was without doubt the largest show in the boat show’s history with 275 exhibitors and over 35,000 attendees covering all the space in Hall C of the Center.

One of the show stealers was a $750,000 houseboat with every amenity known to man on board. The show featured the introduction of a wide array of new 007-type speedboats and the largest exhibit ever for sailboats (11). Hunter

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SOUTHEAST COAST SAILING was there with six displays, including a 36-foot beauty, and Island Packet presented its 38-foot dreamboat. Catalina had a large display of most of its boats in the line, including many smaller sailboats for both racing and day sailing.

There was also row after row of accessory exhibitors. In addition, there were numerous seminars on boat safety, buying a boat, navigation and first aid. Many programs for children and contest rewards were also available.

The show is sponsored by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the world’s largest producer of boat shows, representing a $30-billion recreational boating industry. The greater Atlanta area represents about $4.5-billion of that. Georgia ranks 13 in registered boaters in the United States.

Sailboat Crew Rescued by U.S. Navy and Coast Guard off the North Carolina Coast

By Walt McFarlane

I

t was supposed to have been a pleasant sail to the Virgin Islands, but 255 miles off the coast of North Carolina the three-man crew of the 36-foot sloop Jean Marie ended up in a fight for their lives.

On January 15, only a couple of days after departing Morehead City, NC, unexpected trouble started. The wind increased and seas started to build; then the engine failed, along with it the bilge pump. As the weather became worse and as waves broke over the deck, it became apparent that more water was entering the boat than could be handextracted. The Jean Marie was in trouble.

On evaluating the situation, owner and skipper John Rae, 44, from Ottawa, Canada, placed a call for rescue using his satellite phone. At once, the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station at Elizabeth City, NC, dispatched a C-130. The U.S. Navy was also advised of the situation. However, before a fixed position could be established, communication was lost. The C-130 stayed airborne for six hours but failed to find the crippled sloop. The weather was deteriorating. It was reported that the ceiling was down to 500 feet with visibility less than a mile.

A second C-130 was launched. Shortly thereafter, contact was again made with the Jean Marie at which time Rae was able to give their position. With a fixed position it would be easer to locate the vessel, but it became apparent that there was another problem. The Jean Marie was dangerously close to being outside the operational range of the Coast Guard’s land-based H-60 Jayhawk helicopters.

Even as the situation seemed to become more problematic, the three men from Canada would have a change of luck. The U.S. Navy had a ship in the area. As soon as the position was known, the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, which was 155 miles north of the Jean Marie, changed course and headed toward the stranded sloop. The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) had SH-60 Seahawk helicopters with rescue swimmers on board from Helicopter Support Squadron 3 (known as the Tridents) based out of Jacksonville, FL. The second Coast Guard C-130 located the Jean Marie

Local News For Southern Sailors

floundering in strong winds and seas now running between 15 and 18 feet. As the C-130 circled overhead, an E-2C Hawkeye fixed-wing aircraft was launched from the deck of the Roosevelt. It would join up and relieve the Coast Guard’s C-130 once the Navy’s helicopters arrived.

It was dusk when the two helicopters departed the Roosevelt. On board each was a rescue swimmer. Petty Officer 2nd class Chris Burns, 21, was in the first and PO2 David Collins, 23, was in the second. These young men had trained for three years, but this was going to be their first actual rescue.

When the helicopters arrived on station, it was dark. In addition to the high winds and seas, it was now raining heavily. A direct lift from the Jean Marie would be impossible, for she was being pitched and rolled by the force of the storm. The men onboard would have to abandon ship in their life raft and move far enough away from the sloop so that the lift cables and rescue swimmers would not become entangled in the rigging.

In an orderly and calm fashion, Rae along with Corey Glynn, 41, and Peter Goodeve, 39, deployed the raft, entered, and moved into a position to be lifted from the fury of the Atlantic.

As the helicopters hovered above the stormy waves, the swimmers exited their aircraft one at a time, each in turn.

Once in the water it took all of their strength to swim to the raft. Once there, each of the men was secured to the lifting cable, and one at a time, were brought aboard. John Rae was the last man to exit the raft. The swimmers reported that all three of the men knew exactly what it was they had to do and they were prepared. They followed the directions given

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SOUTHEAST COAST SAILING

by Petty Officers Burns and Collins without hesitation.

Their calmness and preparation was one of the reasons the rescue went like a textbook exercise. The other was the training given by the Navy, and the professionalism of its air and rescue crews.

On returning to the Roosevelt, Rae, Glynn, and Goodeve were examined by the medical staff. There were only a few minor scrapes and bruises caused by the ordeal. They were now safe.

Due to the strength of the storm, the men spent two nights aboard the Roosevelt.

At last, a C-2 Greyhound, also call a COD (carrier onboard delivery) aircraft was catapulted off the Roosevelt and flew the crew of the Jean Marie to Norfolk, VA. During my research into this article, I spoke with Petty Officer John Miller, USCG Public Affairs, and Lt. Fred Kuebler, USN Public Affairs officer, aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt. They were both in agreement on one very critical point. This rescue was not an easy one. It could have turned out differently, but a lot of things came together to make it a highly successful one. First, you had the crew of the Jean Marie, who were prepared for the worst and reacted properly and calmly in the emergency. Then there were the quick and decisive actions taken by both the USCG and USN. This rescue was an excellent example of the communications, coordination, and the cooperation that exist between these two services. I for one (and I’m sure the crew of the Jean Marie) are glad you’re there.

What of the Jean Marie? When last seen she was fighting for her life, crewless, being tossed about by the fury of nature. Did she break up and slip beneath the waves, or is she now adrift in the vast realm of the Atlantic? No one seems to know for sure.

Community Rallies to Resume Construction of Tall Ship:

Charleston to Bermuda Race Attracts International Fleet: Race Entries Blossom with Wide Breadth of Racing Yachts up to 70 Feet

S

ailing enthusiasts from the British Virgin Islands to Virginia and Bermuda are ramping up for the Charleston to Bermuda Race (C2B). This biennial, bluewater adventure begins in the charming city of Charleston, SC, and ends 777 nautical miles to the east in the tropical splendor of Bermuda.

John H. Hofford and his wife, Susan Ford, are avid sailors, who recently purchased a Santa Cruz 70, which will debut at the C2B 2005 as Midnight Rider. The yacht has a rich pedigree, previously sailing under the names Silver Bullet and Renegade, and claiming two first-to-finish trophies in the Long Beach to Honolulu Transpac Race.

Ken Sawyer will bring his custom-built Seguin 52 to the start line, launched October 15, 2004, designed by Sparkman and Stevens and built by Lyman-Morse. It should be a spectacular sight on the water with its teak decking and carbon fiber helm. Teddy Turner will be at the helm of his Schock 40, which has competed in a variety of coastal events, such as Key West Race Week. Australian James Wilmot will compliment the fleet with his Swan 44, venturing from the yacht’s homeport in Road Town, BVI. Other dynamic entries include the first ever Bermuda racer, Richard Hartley, sailing his Hinckley B40 Mark III, and a total of three all-student crewed boats entered by the Ocean Sailing Academy.

The C2B has launched a new Web site to accommodate everything from entry forms, to schedule of events, latest news and an interactive forum for sailors to find crew positions and

Gigantic Tent Erected Over Spirit of South Carolina in Preparation for Construction

T

he Spirit of South Carolina tall ship received a new home in February as staff and dozens of local volunteers erected a massive industrial tent over the fledgling tall ship. This marks a monumental moment for the Spirit of South Carolina tall ship effort, as this tent is the first step in resuming construction on the ship, which has been suspended for more than one year while management underwent reorganization and sought funding for Phase II of construction.

Volunteers, whose support dates back to 2001, tirelessly worked through cold and rain for two days to prepare for the roof-raising. The hurricane-proof tent measures 110 feet long, 30 feet high, and 40 feet wide.

Some of the machinery required for erecting the tent included a scissor lift, boom lifts, and an 80-ton boom crane to hoist the trusses.

For more information, or to volunteer, go to The new metal frame work over the Spirit of South Carolina. Photo courtesy South Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation. www.scmaritime.org, or call (843) 814-3966.

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SOUTHEAST COAST SAILING skippers to find crew. www.charlestontobermuda.com.

The PRHF rating system will be used. All classes are scheduled to begin racing on Saturday, May 14, at 12 noon.

The Charleston Ocean Racing Association (CORA) will conduct the race management.

16-17 17 20 22

Race Calendar

23

These dates and events are subject to change without warning.

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

24 23-24

MARCH 5–6 South Atlantic High School Sailing (SAISA) – NP 6, Brunswick, GA. www.saisa.org 12 -13 Mid-Winters Cup – Augusta Sailing Club, GA. – PHRF Series. www.augustasailingclub 20 Lake Jordan Winter Series, Carolina Sailing Club, NC. www.carolinasailingclub.org.

19-20 South Atlantic High School Sailing (SAISA) – NP 8, Charlotte, NC. www.saisa.org 19-20 St. Patrick’s Regatta, Geechee Sailing Club, Thunderbolt, GA.. www.geecheesailingclub.org 25-27 Easter Regatta 2005 – Columbia Sailing Club, SC. www.columbiasailingclub.org 27 PHRF Series, Augusta Sailing Club, GA. www.augustasailingclub

27

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

5 Icicle Series Make-up, Outrigger Yacht Club, Lake Norman, NC. www.outriggeryachtclub.org.

6 Lake Jordan Winter Series, Carolina Sailing Club, NC. www.carolinasailingclub.org.

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

30 30

Thistle Districts, Open – One Design, Lake Lanier Sailing Club, GA. Nippert # 5, Southern Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. AISC Series I, # 2, Atlanta Inland Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. AISC Friday # 1, Atlanta Inland Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. Around Alone, Open Solo, Barefoot Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. Nippert # 6, Southern Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. MC Rebel Rouser, Open – One Design, Lake Lanier Sailing Club, GA. AISC Series I, # 3, Atlanta Inland Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. Nippert Make-up, Southern Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. C22 Irish Wake, Lake Lanier Sailing Club, GA.

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

2 PHRF Series Race # 1, Cape Fear Yacht Club, NC. 2 Spring Series # 1 and # 2, Outrigger Yacht Club, Lake Norman, NC. 2 Western Carolina Sailing Club, Open, Hartwell Lake, SC. One Design, PHRF,, 11-12 Race from Charleston to Little River Inlet, , Long Bay Sailing Assoc., SC. 16 Spring Series # 3 and # 4, Outrigger Yacht Club, Lake Norman, NC. 16 McIntosh Cup (css), PHRF, Cape Fear Yacht Club, NC. 16 Rocket Regatta, Cape Fear Yacht Club, NC. 16-17 D 12 District Lasers, Laser, Cape Fear Yacht Club, NC. 20 Wed. Night Series Race # 1, Outrigger Yacht Club, Lake Norman, NC. 23 Sailboat Parade, , Long Bay Sailing Assoc., Myrtle Beach, SC. 21-24 2005 Laser Nationals – Carolina Yacht Club, Wrightsville Beach, NC. 27 Wed. Night Series Race # 2, Outrigger Yacht Club, Lake Norman, NC. 29-5/1 Bald Head Island Regatta, Cape Fear Yacht Club, NC. 30 Harbortown Cup, PHRF, Yacht Club of Hilton Head Island, SC. 30-5/1 Pursuit of Sailing Regatta, Outrigger Yacht Club, Lake Norman, NC. 30-5/1 Flying Scot Great 48, Flying Scot, Lake Norman Yacht Club, NC. Charleston, SC, CORA (www.charlestonoceanracing.org) 2 Spring Harbor Race # 2 5 Cora Executive Meeting.1800.

6 Cora Executive Meeting.1800. TBA 7–10 Charleston Race Week, One Design, PHRF 21 Cora Executive Meeting.1830 23-24 Sheriff’s Cup. TBA

APRIL Lake Lanier, GA (www.larc.strictlysailing.com) 1-3 Dogwood Regatta, Open, Atlanta Inland Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. 9 Nippert # 4, Southern Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. 13 AISC Series I, # 1, Atlanta Inland Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. 16 Fair Winds # 1, Barefoot Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA. Local News For Southern Sailors

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EASTERN FLORIDA COAST

Jacksonville

Daytona

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

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Eastern March February Weather Melbourne

WATER TEMPERATURE Daytona Beach - 65° Jacksonville Beach - 61° GULFSTREAM CURRENT 2.5 knots AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Daytona Beach 54° lo - 76° hi Jacksonville Beach 53° lo - 70° hi For Real Time East Florida Coast Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/ Florida.shtml

Upcoming Events & News CORRECTION: In our January issue, on a photo on page 53, we incorrectly identified the docks at the Indian River Club as the Indian River Colony Club docks.

March Prevailing Winds See page 77 for Windrose legend

6th Annual Northeast Florida Nautical Flea Market, Jacksonville, FL

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aturday, April 30 through Sunday, May 01, Various Times. Beach Marine on Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach.

Come meet Blackbeard’s crew while you shop for a boat load (100 booths) of everything nautical. It`s all here new and used; fishing, boating, water sports, diving, jewelry, clothing, furniture and much more. Contact Karen or Bill Just (904) 992-9555, or (904) 704-2058

Indian River Yacht Club “Sail A Small Boat Day” Is A Great Success!

Sail a Small Boat Day at Whitley Marina. Photo by Roy Laughlin.

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ver 100 people attended the recent Indian River Yacht Club “Sail A Small Boat Day” event at Whitley Bay Marina. This family-friendly event, which occurred on Saturday, January 22, presented an excellent opportunity for sailors of all ages to test-drive a range of sailboats from five manufacturers: Catalina, Hunter, Precision, Walker Bay, and Com-Pac. “The Indian River is quite possibly the best place to sail on the planet,” says Jerry Butz, co-owner of Boaters Exchange, the Catalina dealer in Rockledge. “Our location

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EASTERN FLORIDA COAST in central Florida is unmatched for protected waters, easy access, and consistent breezes. And sailing on a small boat is a great way to spend the day with the family!”

Thanks to the participating dealers who brought boats: Boaters Exchange, Rockledge; Performance Sail and Sport, Melbourne; Lake Fairview Marina, Orlando.

Special thanks to IRYC for sponsoring the event, and members from IRYC, Melbourne Yacht Club, and Titusville Sailing Club for helping out as captains and crowd control.

The next Sail A Small Boat Day is scheduled for Saturday, March 19, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Whitley Bay Marina.

Selling the Dream: Waterway Access for Sale to the Highest Bidder

By Roy Laughlin

Whitley Bay Marina. A portion of this marina’s piers were built with local government funds to guarantee public access.

The marina’s new owners want to convert the marina to an equity membership marina. Photo by Roy Laughlin.

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ermits for public marinas “are like rare and endangered species, except they do not appear to reproduce at all” is how Jerry Sansom, executive director of the Florida Inland Navigation District, characterizes conversion of public marinas to private marinas for members only. Public outcry over conversion of Cocoa’s Whitley Bay Marina, formerly a public marina built substantially with the city’s redevelopment agency’s funding, to a private, members-only equity marina is the poster child for loss of public access to Florida’s waters. That is about the simplest way to explain what is happening. Details of this story, cloaked in shell corporations, buried in marina permit applications and financial contracts, remain far from clear. The outcome and its benefit to the public seeking access to public waters is completely unpredictable.

Whitley Bay Marina, Cocoa’s “public marina,” started as a modest pier built in the early 1970s in Joe and Diane Whitley’s boatyard in downtown Cocoa. In the ensuing 25 years, it grew to a full-service marina. It formed one of three public marinas in or within half a mile of downtown Cocoa.

After it was damaged severely in 1999 by Hurricane Irene, Florida’s DEP could not issue the necessary repair permits as it proceeded through a lawsuit against the state initiated by the Save the Manatee Club of Maitland. After multiple years of fruitless attempts to obtain necessary permits to return to marina operation, economic circumstances forced the Whitley family to sell its waterfront boatyard with its unrepaired marina to Towne Realty, a Wisconsin-based condominium developer active in Brevard County.

Similar site purchases by other condo developers changed the other two marinas in the Cocoa area to private marinas. Local boaters feared they would lose all local access to the Indian River and Intracoastal Waterway.

Waterfront access to Cocoa’s historic downtown area was a key component of the old town’s character. Cocoa Community Redevelopment Agency’s applications for a public marina near the city’s riverside park have been rejected numerous times because of manatee protection requirements and the need to dredge portions of the available space for the marina. When Towne Realty purchased the Whitley boatyard, the loss was a critical one to the redevelopment agency’s long-term plans. In 2001, 60 percent of Cocoa’s voters answered “yes” to a referendum question asking if the city should have a public access marina.

Towne Realty spun off affiliated corporations to build the Whitley Bay Condominiums on the shore site, and created a second corporation, Whitley Bay Marina, to develop and manage the marina lease and site. Encouraged and supported by the high positive response to the referendum, Cocoa, through its redevelopment agency, entered into a partnership with Towne Realty to build a marina on the former Whitley Marina site. The city provided $1.2-million that included money to build an 800-foot boardwalk along the shore, a concrete breakwater, the backbone of the marina’s pier structure and a pier perpendicular to shore, along with a maintenance commitment “in perpetuity.” All these structures are open to the general public. In addition, the city brought significant support to the partnership with Towne Realty, perhaps enabling it to get the public marina permits that had eluded the Whitleys. The marina was finished and open for boats in 2004. It was not damaged by fall 2003’s hurricanes. Towne Realty does not guarantee unit owners in Whitley Bay Condominiums berths in the marina in front of the condominiums under DEP-imposed rules

Writers & Reporters Needed Southwinds is planning to increase coverage in Northeast Florida and is looking for someone to send us stories, news, events and racing information and reports from Northeast Florida in the region from around Daytona north to the Georgia border.

Contact editor@southwindssailing.com.

Local News For Southern Sailors

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EASTERN FLORIDA COAST governing public access marinas. Unit owners, however, Cabinet deny Whitley Bay Marina’s request for conversion have as good a chance as anyone to obtain an annual slip to a membership marina and lease extension. In the rarest lease, and at very favorable rates compared to the usual alignment of stars among political constellations, Sandra private marinas. Initially, this arrangement seemed to be Clinger of the Save the Manatee Club, sided with many of the brave new world of public - private cooperation to prothe club’s adversaries on prior issues and supported the vide public access for sailors and boaters. request to deny the permit application. Paraphrasing her The happy marriage between the city of Cocoa and written submission to the Cabinet representatives, she said Towne Realty came to an end in September 2004, when the that the state marina lease fee structure encourages privatidevelopment company sold the marina portion of the zation of existing public marinas and “dis-incentivizes” Whitley Bay development to Dream Harbors LLC, a Naples continued operation of existing and creation of new ones.

(FL)-based marina development company. Membership On Thursday morning, management of the Whitley costs are based on its Naples facility, now listed in the 5-6 Bay Marina hosted an onsite tour and fact-finding meeting figure range, depending on size. These memberships last for state officials at the marina in Cocoa. Company officials the duration of the marina’s lease. In order to justify exordid their best to put a positive spin on their plans for conbitant prices, Dream Harbors LLC successfully negotiates version. John Swanson, marina manager, began his presenextended leases from the state for some of its other facilitation, noting that Whitley Bay Marina’s business plan was ties, notably in Naples. The to acquire run-down marinas, state allows transfer of marina fix them up, convert them to leases, but the terms of the a yacht club, offering leased present Whitley Bay Marina boat slips in an equity memexpressly forbid long term or bership arrangement to the equity lease arrangements public. (Other documents because it is leased as a public indicated that membership access marina. In the case of costs are in the range of Whitley Bay Marina, the com$50,000 to $170,000, dependpany will have to receive a ing on slip size.) They noted new lease. It asked for a 20that general public dockage year extension to give a total would be available whenever lease period of 25 years. The slip owners vacated their typical lease period is five Whitley Bay Marina. Photo by Roy Laughlin. space. Listeners, standing on years, although according to new mahogany dock plankScott Woolam, Director of Florida DEP’s Bureau of Public ing, listening to these statements, were left to wonder how Land Administration, leases may be granted for longer a brand-new marina could be considered “run-down.” A terms under extenuating circumstances. backdrop of several dozen boats moored off Cocoa’s waterEffects of impending conversion were dramatic, even front attested poorly to the ability of the company’s manthough no leases have been sold yet. Few local boat owners agement plan to sufficiently provide marina berths to the from Cocoa’s working class and small-business-owner public and recently moved out of the formerly public community could afford $50,000 - $180,000 for a slip lease. marina. In a further, apparently counterproductive Dozens of boats moored off the Cocoa waterfront attest to attempt to appear benevolent, they assured attendees the effect of ownership change on the local sailing and that although marina management could install secuboating public. And they are not limited to boat owners. As rity gates to close off the public boardwalk afterof the first week of February, 18 units in the Whitley Bay hours, they had no intention to do so. Just minutes Condominium were on the market, but since December not into an initial question-and-answer period, someone a single closing has occurred, according to John Wood, a asked company management to comment on a lawsuit Whitley Bay Condominium resident and Realtor. While served on the city at 5 p.m. the previous day, coincidfew if any owners are selling because of the marina’s ing with the end of the public meeting. The lawsuit change in ownership, uncertainty and controversy regardasks the court to find the city in breach of contract for ing the marina keep prospective buyers at an arm’s length. failing to support the new management’s request for Shop owners in Cocoa Village fear that an infectious, bad lease changes. Whitley Bay Marina LLC contends that image may affect them as well. Donna Kettner, a local shop the city is contractually obliged, through the partnerowner, commented in a Feb. 3 public meeting that the mariship agreement originally made with Towne Realty, to na is “a gateway to my store” and pleaded with represensupport the new application or be in breach. In many tatives of Florida’s Cabinet officers to keep it public. respects, Whitley Bay Marina’s management and spokesIn December 2004, State Rep. Bob Allen (R, Merritt people consistently acted as their own worst enemy during Island) asked the state Cabinet to reserve authority to make this site visit. the lease decision, taking it from the DEP staff. The Cabinet On Friday morning, April 4, Cabinet staff members met agreed to hear the issue at its Feb. 19 meeting. In preparain Tallahassee to review the facts obtained from the meettion for that meeting, staff representatives attended two ing. The group prepared a position paper, ending with five days of meetings on Feb. 2 - 3 in Cocoa. Bob Allen hosted possible options Cabinet members might approve. They the Feb 2 public meeting in which Mayor Michael Blake, range from giving Whitley Bay Marina management what mayor of Cocoa, and other Cocoa officials, Chairman Ron they request to the fifth and recommended one: Pritchard, Brevard County Commission and Brevard “Grant two, new 10-year leases (1) retaining the special County’s state congressional delegation presented letters or lease condition of public availability on a ‘first-come, made statements from their respective groups urging the first served’ basis, as defined in section 13-23.003(23), 46

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www.southwindssailing.com

EASTERN FLORIDA COAST FAC; and (2) with the addition of a special lease condition that limits slip rental terms to no longer than one year with no automatic renewal rights or conditions.”

The Cabinet will meet on Feb. 19 to make its decision. If the Cabinet decides in favor of Whitley Bay Marina’s management, it will signal the “commoditization” of marina leases that can be bought and sold. It will mark an aboutface to the principle of “first come, first served” that has been the foundation of public land leasing policy in Florida.

The Cabinet’s likely decision is far from clear. The present governor has acted decisively at odds with court decisions (Schiavo case) and public referendum decisions (High Speed Rail Initiative and Class Size Reduction Initiative). None of those efforts will affect as many citizens as this one will.

Race Calendar Central Florida Yacht Club Holds Clemens Cup

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he Central Florida Yacht Club is proud to announce the return of the Clemens Cup. The CFYC invites all sailors to the return of the Clemens Cup to be sailed on Lake Harris the weekend of March 19-20. For full details and more information, go to www.cfyc.com.

New Offshore Race to Begin between Georgia and Florida

12 19 19-20

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

Orange Peel Regatta

APRIL – CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA 2-3 Mount Dora Open Regatta. 15 classes. www.mountdorayachtclub.com. Contact www.rlzarmes@aol.com.

3 Spring River Race Series #3. East Coast Sailing Association. Melbourne Yacht Club.

4.

Spring Women’s Series #4. East Coast Sailing Association. Melbourne Yacht Club 4 Small Boat Sunday Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club 3-4 Mt. Dora Regatta. Lake Monroe Sailing Association. Sanford 9 Spring Rum Race #5. Melbourne Yacht Club 10 Winter/Spring #4. Indian River Yacht Club. Cocoa 10 Manatee Cove Marina Race. Manatee Cove Marina (Patrick Air Force Base) 16 - 18 Catalina 22 Southeast Regional Regatta. Indian River Yacht Club. Cocoa 16 - 17 Club Races. Lake Eustis Yacht Club. Lake Eustis.

16 - 18 East Coast Sailing Association “Ocean Adventure Cruise” Fort Pierce to Port Canaveral and return (but see www.sail-race.com/schedule/april.htm for contact information and final course and schedules.)

17 Spring series 1,2,3. Lake Monroe Sailing Association. Sanford 23 Spring Rum Race # 6. Melbourne Yacht Club.

23 Mug Race Pre-registration Party. Rudder Club.

Jacksonville. (Mug Race will be May 1) 23 - 25 Spring Regatta – Big Boat Weekend. Melbourne Yacht Club 25 Titusville Yacht Club Spring Series # 5. Titusville Yacht Club.

30 - May 1 Club Races. Lake Eustis Yacht Club. Lake Eustis.

See EASTERN FLORIDA SAILING continued on page 76

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he North Florida Cruising Club of Jacksonville has created a new 100-mile offshore race that will go from St. Marys, GA, to St. Augustine, FL. Called the First Coast Offshore Challenge, it will be a four-day event running from April 20-23. For more information, contact Don Gilbert at gilbdc@695online.com, or call him at (904) 591-0999. Or go to www.nfccsail.com.

MARCH – CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA 5 River City Regatta (one design). Rudder Club, Jacksonville 6 River City Regatta (one design and cruisers). Rudder Club, Jacksonville 5-6 Trans-Monroe Regatta. Lake Monroe Sailing Association. (407) 719-6642 5 First Saturday. Indian River Catamaran Association.

Sebastian Inlet 6 Winter Series #5. Indian River Yacht Club.

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

27 Spring Rum Race. 2:00 pm. Melbourne Yacht Club.

MARCH – NORTHEAST FLORIDA 5 One-Design. Rudder Club. www.rudderclub.com River City Regatta 6 River City Regatta Spring Series #3. Rudder Club.

Local News For Southern Sailors

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SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SAILING Upcoming Events Calendar News for Sailors Southeastern Florida March Weather Racing Calendar WATER TEMPERATURE Race Report

Miami - 75 Stuart - 70° GULFSTREAM CURRENT 2.8 knots AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Miami Beach - 66° lo - 75° hi Stuart - 60° lo - 78° hi For Real Time East Florida Coast Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/ Florida.shtml

Upcoming Events & News Broward Waterway Cleanup, March 12

By Jody L. Alu

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he 28th annual MIASF (Marine Industries Association of South Florida) Waterway Cleanup will take place March 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 30 designated cleanup sites in Broward County from Lighthouse Point in the north, to Hallandale in the south, and west to Plantation. (954) 5242733 or http://www.waterwaycleanup.org/. The Trash Bash follows immediately from 2 – 5 p.m. at Snyder Park in Fort Lauderdale with food and refreshments for all who participate.

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

27th Annual Dania Marine Flea Market, March 31-April 3

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he 27th annual Dania marine flea market, thought to be the largest marine flea market in the world, will be held April 15-18. It is held at the Dania Jai Alai Fronton in Dania, just south of Fort Lauderdale. Free parking. Entry $12 Thursday, $10 Friday, Saturday, Sunday. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (till 4 p.m. Sunday). Under 12 free. 900 vendors offer various marine goods, including fishing, boating, diving, used boats and more, along with food and beverages. www.thedaniamarinefleamarket.com.

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West Palm Beach

March Prevailing Winds See page 77 for Windrose legend

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Fort Lauderdale Miami

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Input Requested on Broward County ICW Bridge Opening Schedule

By Jody L. Alu

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he Coast Guard has begun a temporary deviation from the normal operating schedule of the Broward County bridges across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. This allows for the testing of an operating schedule that meets the needs of both increased vehicle and vessel traffic throughout the county, and if it should be proposed as a permanent change.

The testing began December 1 and runs through February 28. Bridges open twice an hour.

On the hour and half hour are Atlantic Boulevard (mile 1056.0), Commercial Boulevard (mile 1059.0), E. Sunrise Boulevard (mile 1062.6), SE 17th Street causeway, (mile 1065.9), Dania Beach Boulevard (mile 1069.4), and Hollywood Boulevard (mile 1072.2).

On the quarter and three-quarter hour are NE 14th Street (mile 1055.0), Oakland Park Boulevard (mile 1060.5), E. Las Olas Boulevard (mile 1064.0), Sheridan Street (mile 1070.5), Hallandale Beach Boulevard (mile 1074.0).

Mail correspondence to Commander (obr), Seventh Coast Guard District, 909 SE 1st Ave, Room 432, Miami, FL 33131. Include your name and address and docket number CGD07-04-136. Comments must be mailed in an unbound format no larger than 8.5 x 11 inches and reach the Coast Guard by March 15.

Travis McGee No Longer Welcomed in South Florida

By Melanie Neale

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outh Florida used to be a place defined by its character, which was defined, in turn, by the people who lived here. These folks were fictional and real. Mystery writer John D. MacDonald’s character, Travis McGee (maybe you www.southwindssailing.com

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST

Maule Lake Marina. Photo by Melanie Neale.

remember the name from a Buffett song), paved the way for a lot of new things. He was one of the first serial characters to appear in a series of mystery novels, and he was one of South Florida’s first famous (though fictional) liveaboards.

I’m not saying that things were better in the days of Travis McGee. But they were definitely different. South Florida is quickly becoming a place where, if you want to live here, you have to fit in, and “fitting in” means not living aboard a boat.

Jody L. Alu wrote about the liveaboard problem in Fort Lauderdale in the February issue of Southwinds. The people who are being asked to leave Isle of Venice and Hendricks Isle have two choices: They can move off their boats or they can go somewhere else. As those of us who have chosen to live this lifestyle know, moving onto land is simply not an option. Now, moving to Miami is not an option either.

I’ve lived aboard Short Story, my 1969 Columbia 28, for three years now, at Maule Lake Marina in North Miami Beach. I take good care of my boat, clean up after my dog, pay all my bills on time, and teach at a local university where I’m working on a graduate degree. However, I’m still in danger of being evicted. Not to push a point that’s already been made, but my neighbors are good, regular, hardworking people. One is a Coast Guard pilot, the folks who live across from me are law enforcement officers, a guy down the dock flies a rescue helicopter. We aren’t “boat bums,” even though we like to drink a few Captain and Cokes after we get off work.

The marina is a perfect hurricane hole. Maule Lake sits about a quarter of a mile inland from the ICW, just north of Bakers Haulover. It’s hidden from the Waterway by a row of older condos, and connected with a narrow canal that you’d miss if you didn’t know what you were looking for. Inside, there is an anchorage with what my father describes as “first class mud” (good holding, in other words). The marina is on the west side of the lake, right up against US 1. I couldn’t believe how great the location was when I first moved here. It’s close to Publix, the Aventura Mall, West Marine, Boat Owner’s Warehouse, the beach, some good restaurants, Starbucks, you name it.

Unfortunately, the great location is what’s driving the liveaboards away. North Miami Beach and Aventura are sprouting new condominium developments about as quickly as my boat sprouts barnacles when I let the bottom go for Local News For Southern Sailors

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SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST a month or two.

We also have our fair share of drama. On December 4, a cargo plane crashed into the lake right in front of the marina. It was a Convair 340-70, on its way from the Opa-Locka airport to Nassau. The helicopter pilot who lives here was one of the first on the scene, taking a dinghy out and helping to get the pilot and copilot off the sinking plane. The local news stations kept repeating one thing: “Thankfully, the plane avoided hitting any of the apartments and condos that surround Maule Lake.” We were all just glad it missed the marina. It put us on the news for about a day, until something bigger and better came along.

Last July, the old owners of the marina sold the property to Boca Developers. This is the same company that recently bought the Riviera Beach Marina and is preparing to build condos and an exclusive (translation: not affordable to people with normal paychecks) marina. They are also building a complex called Biscayne Landing, which is on U.S. 1 just south of Maule Lake Marina. Biscayne Landing’s ad campaign features billboards of a larger-than-life supermodel, with the words, “Hot enough to live on the beach, cool enough to live at Biscayne Landing.” What the ad doesn’t say is that the 4,500 unit complex is being built on an old Superfund site.

The mayor of North Miami Beach said, in the August 9 edition of the South Florida Business Journal, of Maule Lake, “There is a dilapidated gas station and a dilapidated marina blocking the view.” The solution to this problem seems to be to build two 24-story towers, 234 units each, starting at around $500,000 per unit. Excuse me if this is a stupid question, but which blocks the view more: a row of masts or two 24-story condominiums?

Right now, I’m living in a construction zone. The boatyard, which was one of the only affordable yards in South Florida, was torn down a few months ago. A sales office is being built in the parking lot right next to A-Dock, in what used to be the local dog-walking-and-chatting-with-yourneighbors place. People who have lived here for twenty or more years have already left, including a long-time liveaboard who lost his job when the boatyard was torn down.

The new managers have been vague about how much longer we all have. When the marina was sold, there were rumors of people having to leave sometime this winter. But now the owners are buying time, keeping us here as long as we can provide a little bit of revenue while the construction begins. Most of the liveaboards have month-to-month leases, so there’s no telling how much of a warning we’ll get.

Imagine someone telling you, “You’re going to have to pick up your house and move sometime soon, but we won’t tell you when.”

I’ve looked for slips in Fort Lauderdale and I’ve looked south of here. All the Miami city marinas, like the one at Dinner Key, doubled their rates last winter. The ones nearby who still allow liveaboards, like the Hollywood City Marina, have 50+ boat waiting lists. So the question remains, where do we go from here?

This problem isn’t exclusive to South Florida. The same thing is happening as far north as Jacksonville, as far south as Key West. And it’s not just happening to the rare boater who hangs his dirty underwear out on the shrouds to dry or dumps her garbage overboard. One or two of these is all it takes to ruin the lives of the rest of us, who are just regular people who want to have the option of sailing off when things get too bad in the “real world.”

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Rumor has it that Travis McGee moved his houseboat, The Busted Flush, over to the west coast of Florida. If I thought I had any chance of finding him, I’d sail over there, too. I think we’d hit it off.

Racing Calendar

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

MARCH 5 Gulfstream Regatta. GSC – Succesor to the Stoli Cup, this year the regatta celebrates the 14th year of its existence.

6-11 Bacardi Cup Stars. CRYC – The 78th annual six day regatta brings out the best sailors from around the globe.

10-13 Miami Race Week – Ocean Racing. Premier Racing – The new name for was originally known as SORC. Ocean portion of the regatta for Farr 40, Mum. PHRF1 11-13 Miami Race Week – Bay Racing. Premier Racing – One-design and PHRF2 class of this classic event takes place on the Bay side.

11-13. Don Q Rum Keg Snipe Regatta. CGSC – The 39th annual three-day S.C.I.R.A. sanctioned event.

15-16 Lightning Midwinters. CRYC – The 47th annual two-day regatta for Lightnings 18-23. Miami to Nassau – Nassua Race Week. MYC & NYC – First portion of the race regatta consists of the Miami – Nassau segment. Afterwards, the second portion takes place in and around Nassau.

19-20 Coral Cup. CGSC – The 11th annual two-day regatta for women sailors.

25-27 Annual SE Dinghy Championship. KBYC – Optimist, Lasers, Radials, Bytes & Vanguard 420s.

The 36th annual two-day regatta is the successor to the first national Optimist Dinghy Regatta in 1969.

APRIL 2-3 20th District Star Championship. CRYC. Two-day event with the top Star sailors of North America.

16 BBYC Sunburn Regatta. BBYRA OD#4Sat. BBYC. The 69th annual regatta held for One-Design classes.

17 BBYC Sunburn Regatta. BBYRA PHRF#4. BBYC. The 69th annual regatta held for PHRF/J24 fleets.

23 Miami to Key Largo. MYC. The 50th annual race open to all classes over 14 feet, including PHRF, ARC, Laser, Westphal, Hobie 16, Hobie 20, Nacra 6.0, Tornado, ACAT and MASF. Starting in Miami and finishing at Jewfish Creek, Key Largo. The proceeds from this regatta go to the MYC Youth Sailing Foundation, which promotes youth sailing from beginning through advance racing levels.

30 Rick White’s Hogsbreath Race to Key West. MYC. Legend. – Yacht Clubs & Organizations BBYC: Biscayne Bay Yacht Club BBYRA: Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association CGSC; Coconut Grove Sailing Club CRYC; Coral Reef Yacht Club GSC : Gulfstream Club www.southwindssailing.com

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST MYC; Miami Yacht Club USSA: United States Sailing Association NYC: Nassau Yacht Club

Major Sponsors Announced For Gulfstream Sailing Club 14th Annual Regatta

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he Gulfstream Sailing Club announces the support of several major sponsors for its 14th Annual Regatta, to be held in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on March 5.

Kalik Beer committed to the event, which will include ocean races off the Fort Lauderdale shoreline.

Races will be held Saturday March 5 in the various classes: PHRF, ARC, IRC, One Design, Family Cruising (Gunkhole) and Multihull. Visitor dockage available. Call (954) 764-3975.

After-race festivities and awards presentation will be held at the Swimming Hall of Fame on Saturday evening, March 5, with food, music, dancing and raffles from many local businesses. For more info: www.gulfstreamsailingclub.org.

The Gulfstream Sailing Club was established in 1957.

With over 250 active members, it is the most active sailing club in Broward County, FL. The club meets on the second Tuesday of the month at Shooters restaurant on the ICW in Fort Lauderdale. For membership information, call (954) 583 3783.

Acura Miami Race Week 2005 Preview— SORC Renaissance Ready to Deliver, March 10-13

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ig boats and sporty one-designs: Floridians, Canadians, and Californians; Swan 45s, Transpac 52s and Etchells.

They’ll all be in South Beach when Acura Miami Race Week 2005 kicks off.

Entries have already topped 130, more than doubling last year’s 59-boat SORC fleet. Following a short hiatus, the returning Mumm 30, Melges 24 and Etchells classes will deliver top-tier one-design racing to Miami.

J/105s set a Key West record with 40 boats on the line, and in Miami their numbers will be impressive with as many as 20 of these popular boats doubling their 2004 turnout.

Racing on the ocean venue will feature four one-design classes (Transpac 52, Farr 40, J/105 and Mumm 30), and as many as four PHRF handicap classes on two separate divisions.

Back by popular demand is racing on Biscayne Bay with four classes: Melges 24, Etchells, J/24 and a small-boat PHRF class (100-140 handicappers).

The event, founded over 60 years ago, was previously known as the SORC. The founding yacht clubs discontinued their management of the event and reached an agreement with Key West event organizer Premiere Racing to produce a new event that will continue the tradition of great racing in this popular South Florida venue.

The Miami Beach Marina is the official site, hosting the two ocean courses, while the new Shake-A-Leg sailing facility in Coconut Grove will be the host site for racing on the

Local News For Southern Sailors

bay. The Avalon and South Seas hotels are the official hotels.

Supporting sponsor Mount Gay Rum is the official rum.

For more information, go to www.PremiereRacing.com, or www.AcuraMiamiRaceWeek.com.

Race Report 2004 BBYRA Annual Trophy Presentation, Miami, Jan. 8

By Art Perez

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he Miami Yacht Club served as host to the 2004 BBYRA Annual Trophy presentation. Located on beautiful Key Biscayne, the host club presented this year’s winners with beautiful hand crafted trophies for the top five finishers of each class. The ceremony took place under a star covered sky at the club’s outdoor facilities.

Some new and some old faces were present to pick up their trophies. Special mention goes out to Gonzalo Diaz, Sr. for another magnificent year. Gonzalo once again dominated in the Snipe class, placing first for the year. If that wasn’t enough, Gonzalo, who also races in the J/24 fleet, placed second overall in the class. The “old man” doesn’t know the meaning of slowing down.

Over the years the Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association (BBYRA) has done a magnificent job organizing sailboat racing for the local sailing community. The boards of directors and the countless volunteers from the member yacht clubs have worked arduously to make it possible.

The 2004 winners were as follows: PHRF1; 1st Pl – Triptease/Rubin-Shellow; 2nd Pl – Sazerac/Gordon Ettie; 3rd Pl – Group Therapy/Tom Seghi; PHRF2; 1st Pl – Blackbird/Pat Cacace; 2nd Pl – Hot Air III/David Berg; 3rd Pl – Mistral/Craig Setzer; PHRF3; 1st Pl - Mild to Wild/Russ Horn; 2nd Pl – Touchstone/Jaime Topp; 3rd Pl – Stoked/Steven Stallman; PHRF4; 1st Pl – Three Gimps/Karen Mitchell2nd Pl – Leprechaun/Edward Asmus; 3rd Pl – Hot Streak/Jack King; J24; 1st Pl – Gotta Go/Peter Benziger; 2nd Pl – J Tripper/Mike Castleberry; 3rd Pl – I’ll o/Gonzalo Diaz Sr; ARF; 1st Pl – Blew BaYou/Kerry Gruson ; 2nd Pl – Finesse/Bill Beavers; 3rd Pl – Freebird/Kenneth Ellis; Etchells; 1st Pl – Pipe Line/Tom Piper; 2nd Pl – Leading Edge/Jeffrey Dever; 3rd Pl – Victory/Buddy Cribb; Flying Scots; 1st Pl – Slime/Nick Martens; 2nd Pl – Being There/Vladimir Stroleny; 3rd Pl – Enigma/Bud Price; Lightnings; 1st Pl – Mach II/Bill Muak; 2nd Pl – 14684/Bill Johns; 3rd Pl – idespread Panic/Stephan Horowitz; Snipes; 1st Pl – Danilu/Augie Dias; 2nd Pl – Argie/Ernesto Rodriguez; 3rd Pl – Por Una abeza/Gonzo Diaz Sr,Westphals1st Pl – Shadow/Ray Hoffman2nd Pl – Moon/David Crawford

BBYRA #1, Miami, Jan. 9

By Art Perez

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ith New Year’s celebrations just barely over, South Florida’s PHRF fleet was eagerly gearing up for the start of the racing season. Judging by the high turnout, it seemed that everyone was in the spirit of racing and anxious to leave the year-end festivities behind. A little too much enthusiasm at the start in the PHRF 1 and PHRF 2 fleet led to a couple of collisions. The damage on Hot Air (PHRF2) was serious enough to force the crew to retire, putting a premature end to an otherwise glorious day. South Florida weather lived up to its reputation with an 8 – 10SOUTHWINDS

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SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST knot breeze out of the NE with temps in the low 70s.

Picture-perfect for an afternoon of racing.

An invigorated J/24 class led in the number of participants with a total of 11 boats. The J/24s have seen resurgence in the last couple of years, transforming it into one of the more competitive fleets on the bay, which shows what can be accomplished with good leadership from the fleet captains. The same can be said for the PHRF 1 fleet, which just keeps on adding boats to its class.

When the afternoon was over, everyone headed to the host club for the trophy presentations and exchange of the usual race chatter. Trophies were handed out to the winners.

Results: PHRF1; 1 – Triptease/Rubin-Shellow; 2 – Breeze/Valeri Safiullin; 3rd Pl – Thin Ice/Stuart Hebb; PHRF2; 1– Goombay/David Kurtz; 2– Blackbird/Pat Cacace; 3 – Mistral/Craig Setzer; PHRF3; 1- Mild to Wild/Russ Horn; 2– Avenger/Win Cooper-Richard Mosca; 3 – Touchstone/Jaime Topp; PHRF4; 1- Sailing for Life/Karen Mitchell; 2– St Clair/Richard Hall; 3 – Special Warfare/Stuart Sorg; J24; 1– 1682; 2– Gotta Go/Peter Benziger; 3 – 3696; ARF; 1– Blew BaYou/Kerry Gruson; 2– Freebird/Kenneth Ellis; 3 – Finesse/Bill Beavers.

BBYRA #1, Miami, Jan. 15, Feb.12

By Art Perez

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he One-Design fleet showed little interest in starting the New Year, with most fleets either not showing up for the start or fielding enough entries to make it a race. The new J/22 class was disappointing, with only one boat showing up for the start. The Snipes ended up having the regatta to themselves with a total of seven boats crossing the starting line, but by the end of the afternoon three boats from the fleet opted to call it a day before the end of the regatta. A very disappointing day.

The second race of the season showed some improvement with a total of three classes with enough boats and determination to finish the race. The Snipes, as usual, were among those present, led by veteran racer Gonzalo Diaz, Sr., whose enthusiasm has not waned over the years. The Etchells and Flying Scots rounded out the fleet. It should be mentioned that the Etchell fleet has been actively racing in the Jaguar Series, still in progress, which takes away from their participating in the BBYRA Series during the month of January and February

BBYRA OD Jan. 15 Results:Snipe; 1 – 30288; 2 – 8653; 3– 29992; BBYRA O.D. Feb. 12 Results:Etchells; 1– Victory/Buddy Cribbs; 2– Victory/Eamonn Delisser; 3– USA 1094/Sharon Bivans; Flying Scots; 1– Enigma/Bud Price; 2– Slime/Nick Martens; 3– Margaritaville/Larry Whipple; Snipe; 1– 16606; 2– Por Una Cabeza/Gonzo Diaz, Sr; 3– 30236/Kennith Voss;

Caretta Surfs to a Second in the 30th Annual Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race

By Steve Dublin, Master s/v Caretta

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aretta is a seven-year-old Catalina 380 we’ve owned for about three years. We bought Caretta to use primarily for weekend day sails and summer cruises in the Bahamas.

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Caretta sailing in the Lauderdale to Key West Race. Photo by Bill Spruance

But as they say; “He goes among the fever stricken.....”

After a few too many rum and cokes while celebrating a good finish in the “Mother Tub” fleet at Abaco Race Week, we decided to enter Caretta in the next Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race. The sailing instructions for the 30th Annual Key West race required all boats to stay offshore of the reefs that separate Hawke Channel from the Keys. Too many racers had foundered on these reefs at night while trying to duck into the channel to avoid the Gulf Stream current. So the trick is to sail fast, all night, close to the reefs, without coming to a sudden stop. The PHRF people didn’t do us any favors. Our rating was 126 seconds per mile. The competition in Class D included a Beneteau 38.5 named E Ticket with the same 126 rating. E ticket weighs about 6000 pounds less than Caretta and had won first in fleet during a previous Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race. Other competitors in Class D included a Swan 40, to which we had to give three seconds per mile, a Beneteau Oceanis 46 that had to give us only three seconds per mile, a Hunter Legend 37.5, also rated at 126, and a couple of new C&Cs with a 108 handicap.

The weather briefing at the skippers meeting was given by a well-known Miami meteorologist. He predicted 15 to 20 knots out of the ESE with the winds veering as the race progressed. Seas were supposed to be about six feet. He was off on both accounts.

We had only five crew on board. One of our potential crew had gotten sick two days before the start and had begged off. Our youngest shipmate was a 42-year-old Aussie named Stu, who proved to be an excellent downwind helmsman. Our oldest shipmate, Joe, had just turned 68. All onboard owned their own boats and were experienced sailors if not racers.

The race committee set up a generous starting line for our 1:15 p.m. port tack start off Port Everglades. We made a decent start and went low (towards shore) searching for a current counter to the Gulf Stream. We never found one.

The first leg to Fowey Rocks varied between a close reach and a one-tack beat. The wind had built to 20 knots apparent, and Caretta was in her element. She was “carrying the mail” under full main and her new 155 percent genoa. We made Fowey Rocks in less than four hours and were leadSee SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST SAILING continued on page 77 www.southwindssailing.com

F LORIDA KEYS SAILING Key Largo Cape Sable

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

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2 Marathon Dry Tortugas Key West

Florida Keys March Weather AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Key West 69° lo - 79° hi GULF WATER TEMPERATURES Key West 75° For Real Time eastern Gulf weather, winds and marine forecasts, go to: http://comps.marine.usf.edu

Upcoming Events & News Every Saturday Open House at the Key West Sailing Club. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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

Nautical flea market, boat show, vendors and family fun.

(305) 743-5417

March Prevailing Winds See page 77 for Windrose legend

dinghy. It’s fortunate for long-term transient cruisers that the city of Marathon has nearly got it right as far as moorings, dinghy dockage, pump-out service and anchoring are concerned. They have extensive plans for the harbor and dockage, which favor transient cruisers; other harbors can learn a lot from Marathon. It will take several years to place all the moorings and build out the shoreside facilities. As it stands now, the city of Marathon has 64 moorings in place on city bottom and 166 more waiting to be set once the lease with the state of Florida is finalized. There were10 boats on the mooring waiting list in early December (2004). The anchoring area will be in the southwest corner of the har-

March 31 Lobster Season Ends.

April 22-May 1 Key West. Conch Republic Independence Celebration. A fun and funky variety of events commemorating the Conch Republicm which includes a recreation of a naval sea battle in the harbor. Boats that don’t mind getting involved in a serious food fight or being blasted by powerful water cannons are invited to sign up for the battle. (305) 296-0213 The Key West Sailing Club recently adopted a Victoria 18.

Now they have two of these charming little keelboat sloops for club members to enjoy. The Victoria was rescued from a lonely backyard exile while undergoing fossilization under piles of leaves, mud and wild things growing up her mast.

Boot Key Harbor Revisited

By Dick de Grasse

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arbors are changing fast in South Florida. Some are being effectively closed to transient cruisers. Like most transient liveaboard cruisers, our biggest fear is entering a favorite harbor, after being away for a year or more, and finding no place to anchor, skyrocketing, unaffordable mooring and docking prices, impossible regulations and unhelpful and arrogant staff.

Boot Key Harbor is the best harbor in the Florida Keys and one of our favorites. Several other South Florida harbors are making it difficult, expensive and potentially illegal for boaters seeking a place to moor or anchor and land their Local News For Southern Sailors

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FLORIDA KEYS SAILING bor; small but not an unreasonable dinghy ride from the city dinghy dock. The anchoring area can accommodate approximately 30 boats. No one knows what the mix of anchoring and moorings should be to serve the fleet. So long as the flat-rate price for a mooring remains at $10/day and $150/month (plus $4/day and $60/month for the dinghy dock), many transient cruisers will choose to pick up a mooring.

The marina management seems to be very interested in serving cruisers. At present, there are 22 liveaboards on 64 moorings and more than 100 boats at anchor with room for more. Eighty to 85 percent of the boats in the harbor Boot Key Harbor’s main office are sailboats.

Photo by Steve Morrell.

The city of Marathon has long-term operational finances in mind and is good at obtaining grants. Besides city funding, they have several grants from the state and federal government. One for the two pump-out boats and the other a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service dedicated to preserving public access and serving transient cruisers. Marathon is planning to use the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service money to expand the dinghy dock. The city of Marathon has an effective monopoly on Boot Key Harbor. There are no checks and balances to help cruisers other than city fairness. Knowing the tendency for monopolies, both public and private, to disregard fairness to customers and raise prices whenever they have an excuse, the best news for cruisers is that the moorings and dinghy dock can support themselves with current fees.

My concern is that in the attempt by the city to “break even” financially with the city marina mooring field and dinghy dock, prices will be raised to the point where cruisers cannot afford to be in Boot Key Harbor. I was told by Boot Key Harbormaster Harry DeLashmutt that revenues from the moorings and dinghy dock will pay for operation, inspection, maintenance, and replacement. According to DeLashmutt, much of the Marina operating costs will be allocated to the inland waters operations and not to the mooring, dinghy dock operation.

The marina has a contract with the nearby Monroe County Sheriff’s Department whereby the sheriff polices the harbor and surrounding inshore waters and assists in mooring field management. It keeps a record of boats on moorings in an effort to prevent the moorings from being used as “long term” storage. Long term storage is defined by the city as a boat left unattended and unused on a mooring for longer than a month. Because cruisers are unwelcome in some other South Florida harbors, where arrogant local authorities read more into local ordinances than actually exist on paper, I carefully read the six-page, 48-clause dockage licensee agreement required to be signed by cruisers picking up a mooring in Boot Key Harbor. Clearly, the agreement is a standard “out of the legal form book” dockage agreement applicable to marina docks and slips everywhere and does not apply to boats on moorings. For example, the requirement for cruisers to have $300,000 liability insurance does not apply to moored boats. For centuries, international maritime law has stated that boats in the harbor are liable up to the “value of their vessel and cargo.”

Most boats are worth much more than the cost of damage to 54

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the city mooring or a dinghy dock. As for damage to other than city property, particularly other boats in the harbor, maritime law also recognizes that the harbormaster has the authority to prevent a boat from leaving the harbor until damage restitution is made. There are other provisions in the Boot Key Harbor agreement that should be changed as management of the harbor evolves. At least the agreement is much fairer to cruisers than a year ago. Cruisers don‘t have to leave the mooring in a named storm. It is reasonable to expect cruisers to prepare their boats before a blow, but at least they can stay on the mooring. and building for boaters.

The mooring field tackle is the best I’ve seen in Florida. The 10foot screw-in anchor is screwed into the coral harbor bottom, grouted in place and shackled with 1-inch hardware to the above-the-bottom “storm soft” bungee pennant. The moorings are tested at 23,430 pounds pull. The moorings are designed to handle up to 50-foot boats, which exert a pull of 7,500 pounds under 64-knot (71 mph) winds and 16,000 pounds under winds of 100 knots (115 mph). The Boot Key Harbor mooring tackle should be adequate under storm conditions particularly if boaters put down supplemental anchors. The city inspects the tackle every three months using a diver with an underwater camera. Since pull tests show that mooring tackle loses 35 percent of its strength after only a couple of years underwater, the city plans on replacing the nylon above-the-bottom pennant and hardware every two years. Knowing that city mooring field liability will ultimately be tested during a named storm, Marathon has made a sample mooring and mooring pull test engineering reports available for all boaters to see.

The two pump-out boats work well. Weekly pump-outs are free with a mooring and $5 if you are at anchor. Last February, the pump-out boats recorded 16,826 gallons of sewage pumped from boats. That’s sewage that didn’t end up in the harbor. Even the local private marinas are installing pump-out equipment at their slips. The harbormaster agreed that nearby fuel dock pump-outs just don’t do the job; pump-out boats do. Initially, the city had a clause in the mooring license agreement, which allowed the marina staff to come aboard and seal the head seacock. They took the clause out of the agreement because it was impossible to implement and enforce as boats moved in and out of the harbor, plus the anaerobic pump-out system now in place is cruiser-friendly and works well. As a further check, something is suspicious if you live on your boat and have nothing to pump out after a week on a mooring or at anchor.

As an example of the peace that has settled over Boot Key Harbor, cruisers hold a popular cruisers net daily at 9 a.m. on VHF channel 68, and two “smorgasboats” serve boats in the harbor with everything from morning newspapers to lunch soup.

SOUTHWINDS has published a number of letters and articles on the subject of anchoring rights and the fact that anchoring space is disappearing fast - particularly in South Florida. Local authorities repeatedly display the fact that they know little or nothing about boats, maritime law, civil rights and cruising. Cruisers have very few advocates and www.southwindssailing.com

FLORIDA KEYS SAILING know delving into legal matters such as anchoring and public access to harbors is an endless and very expensive swamp, so most sailors just move on to where they are welcome. Local boaters and transient cruisers have little choice but to throw themselves on the mercy of authorities controlling the harbors. At least local boaters can voice their concerns at harbor committee meetings. All cruisers ask is to be treated fairly, and so far the city of Marathon has been fair.

Except for the Marathon Key Marine Association, there is still lack of strong advocacy by local businesses for reasonable harbor management. Apparently, the Marathon Chamber of Commerce has little interest in the harbor management even though cruisers spend a lot of money with local businesses. These are critical times for cruisers; each and every South Florida harbor is going through a harbor management evolution. In the meantime, cruisers will enter previously friendly harbors in hopes of being welcomed and treated fairly. The boating jury is still out in several South Florida harbors. So far the city of Marathon is at least growing in the right direction.

Dick de Grasse is a long-time cruiser, professional engineer, commodore in the Seven Seas Cruising Association and writer.

He is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and holds a USCG masters license for auxiliary sail.

in Miami for the high wind and big seas Orange Bowl Regatta and demonstrated for the locals how the big guys handle the strong winds. Jeff Serrie took 1-1-1 in the three races. Second was Dave McMullen with 2-3-2, sailing a Laser.

Third was Craig Beaver with 3-4-4, sailing a Laser. Fourth was Dave Oatway with 4-5-5, sailing a Laser. Fifth was Commodore Tom Theisen with 9-2-3, sailing a Laser. Sixth was Nancy Curran and Myra Morton with 5-6-6, sailing a Victoria.

Seventh was Michael Beaver with 6-7-9, sailing a Laser.

Dinghy racing continues formally once a month in the winter and informally every Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.

For more information, call (305) 292-5993.

Local Sailors Do Well in North American Championship Races, Key Largo, Jan. 15-16

By Rick White

Racing Calendar Key West March. 6 Key West Sailing Club. Larry Hills race.

March. 13 Key West Sailing Club’s Laser Regatta.

March. 27 Schooner Wharf Wrecker’s Race series #3, 1:00 p.m.

Captain’s meeting 7 p.m. March 26, at Schooner Wharf. www.schoonerwharf.com April 24 Schooner Wharf Wrecker’s Race series #4, 1:00 pm.

Captain’s meeting 7:00 p.m., April 23, at Schooner Wharf. www.schoonerwharf.com.

Upper Keys Sailing Club www.upperkeyssailingclub.com.

March 1-4 Force 5 Regatta March 6 Oceanside Regatta March 12 One-Design Regatta, St. Patrick’s Day Party March 19-20 Glander Cup April 2 One Design Regatta April 9 President’s Cup April 23 Miami-Key Largo Race

Race Report First Wrecker’s Cup Race, Jan. 30

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ey West’s first Wrecker’s Cup Race was held January 30 after a week’s delay. Forty-two sailing vessels from 16foot daysailers to long schooners, like the elegant MalabarX, fluffed their sails and tried to look their best in the light wind competition.

Key West Sailing Club Dinghy Races, Jan. 15

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inter monthly dinghy races were held Jan. 15 and dominated by Jeff Serrie, sailing a Laser. Jeff had been

Local News For Southern Sailors

This boat is caught in the act of a “pitchpole,” which is capsizing or tripping over the bow. Photo by Rick White.

T

he NAMSA (North American Multihull Sailing Assn.)

North American Championships were held on Blackwater Sound at Gilberts Resort Jan. 15-16, with over 60 boats from around the country competing for the top spots in nine different classes of catamarans.

Key Largo locals Dave White and Leah Soares were leading the Nacra 6.0 class most of the weekend, but on Sunday the winds picked up too much for this lightweight pair. They ended up in a tie for first place. Jim Barrett and Bob Crum, also from Key Largo, took third spot in the same class.

Mike Phillips of Homestead was leading the Open Class, but the boat dismasted in the heavy winds on Sunday. Nonetheless Phillip’s scores were good enough to still hang on for second place overall.

A cold front blew through on Friday night leaving the sailors with moderate winds of 15 mph on Saturday. Then on Sunday they experienced gusty, cold winds of over 25 mph, tumbling over a number of boats.

The regatta was sponsored by Catamaran Sailor magazine of Key Largo, GOTOBUTTON BM 1, www.onlinemarinestore.com, Calvert Sails of Islamorada, Rick White’s Sailing Seminars, and West Marine.

Next year’s event is scheduled in January over the Martin Luther King weekend. For information: Rick White, PO Box 2060, Key Largo, FL 33037, (305) 451-3287, rick@catsailor.com.

For more photos and race coverage go to www.catsailor.com and www.floridamultihullsaillor.com.

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NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING

LOUSIANA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TEXAS

Pensacola

Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas

Upcoming Events & News Mississippi Coast Boat, Sport & Camper Show, March 4-6.

Selection of new boats, campers and related products on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Mississippi Coast Coliseum, 2350 Beach Blvd, Biloxi. (251) 478-7469.

April 15-17. Pensacola Boat Show. Pensacola Civic Center.

Pensacola, FL. www.gulfcoastshows.com/pensacola2.htm.

The River Reef’s Annual Crawfish Cook-Off, April (TBD).

Live entertainment, plenty of crawfish and drinks. Will’s River Dock, Jordan River & Highway 603, Waveland. (228) 467-7333.

21st Annual Interstate Mullet Toss and Gulf Coast’s Greatest Beach Party, April 22-24. (251) 980-5116.

Individuals on the beach throwing a mullet from a circle in Alabama to the state line in Florida to benefit the Alabama Sheriffs Boys’ and Girls’ Ranch and the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Escambia. www.florabama.com

FLORIDA

NORTHERN GULF

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2

Northern Gulf March Weather

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

Mobile

Gulfport New Orleans

WATER TEMPERATURE - 63° AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Pensacola, FL 52° lo - 70° hi Gulfport, MS 52° lo - 70° hi For Northern Gulf Weather go to: www.csc.noaa.gov/coos/

March Prevailing Winds See page 77 for Windrose legend

Pass Christian, MS, Blessing Of The Fleet, April 24 Traditional blessing of the shrimp fleet prior to opening to ask blessings on the upcoming season and for the safety of the fishermen. Pass East Harbor, Market St. and Hwy 90, 1 p.m. (228) 452-2252.

Great Biloxi Schooner Races Apr 30. Held in conjunction with the Blessing of the Fleet, Biloxi Schooners, the Glenn L. Swetman and the Mike Sekul, will race. The race will begin and end in front of the Biloxi Yacht Club. (228) 435-6320.

Biloxi Shrimp Festival and Blessing Of The Fleet Apr 30May 1. Food, festivities, Mass, crowning of King, selection of Queen on Saturday. Sunday dropping of the wreath in honor of deceased fishermen. Parade begins at 2 p.m., and boats are blessed by the Bishop. Biloxi Small Craft Harbor, Beach Blvd, Biloxi. (228) 435-5578.

Dock Repairs to Begin at Bayou Grande Marina

By Kim Kaminski

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ommanding Officer John Pruitt of Naval Air Station Pensacola announced recently the plans the Navy has in place regarding the reconstruction of the Bayou Grande sailing facility located on the Pensacola Naval Air Station.

Construction of the marina’s docking facilities will begin sometime in April. Rebuilding the 215-slip docking facility should take anywhere from four to six months.

Hurricane Ivan wiped out the majority of the area’s docks and other facilities used by the Navy Yacht Club, active duty military personnel, retirees and Department of Defense employees as well as other community organizations. Currently, the marina is operating on a limited basis.

For more information on the status of the Bayou Grande facility call (850) 452-4152 or check the Navy Yacht Club Web site at www.navypnsyc.org

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www.southwindssailing.com

NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING

Dock Inspections Procedure and Requirements along the Gulf Coast

By Kim Kaminski

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kay…so you experienced the “excitement” of a hurricane. Your docks were destroyed and now you are in the midst of repair and replacement. What’s next on your agenda? Don’t forget to have your new docks inspected.

The Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Environmental Protection Service representatives will become a frequent visitor to your project during your journey toward completion.

If you were lucky enough to be able to obtain equipment, materials and laborers to rebuild your dock during the Emergency Declaration Order time period for your local area, your journey will be one of few obstacles (as long as you build your dock back to its original size and length with your pilings adjusted to five feet above the mean water line and half-inch spacing between dock boards). However, if you have not started your dock rebuilding processes, you may need to readjust your efforts as the Emergency Declaration Order was scheduled to expire on January 15.

After that point, all dock reconstruction must go through the same permitting application process necessary for “new” construction.

Permits, inspections, fees and schedule deadlines will be some of the items you will need to begin dealing with as you begin the rebuilding process. Not only do the Corps of

Local News For Southern Sailors

Engineers and the Department of Environmental Protection Service representatives need to inspect your progress and make sure you meet all of the necessary restrictions and requirements, but if your dock utilizes a fueling station or a pump-out station, the U.S. Coast Guard will also need to inspect your docking facility before giving final approval for the new mooring area to be utilized.

If your docking area initially was set up for fuel or pump-out functions, the U.S. Coast Guard will have your information on file. However, if a fueling station or pumpout station is a new addition to your dock area, you will need to put in an application for usage and inspection through the Marine Safety Office in Mobile, Alabama. The Marine Safety Office covers a large jurisdiction area between Long Beach, MS and Panama City, FL, as well as water areas extending into the Gulf of Mexico. For more information, please contact the U. S. Coast Guard Web site at www.uscg.mil/d8/mso/mobile or call the 24-hour telephone contact number at (251) 441-5121.

Mentor to Sailing Community Sails Final Race

By Julie B. Connerley

T

imothy Ignatius Murray, 66, one of the Gulf coast sailing community’s longtime mentors, passed away January 2 following complications from heart surgery.

Born in Washington, D.C., Murray had lived in New Orleans for the past 42 years. After decades of sailing for sport, he turned that passion into a profession.

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NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING In September 1974, he purchased the former Walet Yacht Sales in New Orleans, LA, and began Murray Yacht Sales. His reputation for integrity, combined with a genuine love of sailing, helped the business grow.

Customer service has always been the focus of the family-owned business now run by his son, Stanton Murray, and MYS now boasts offices Tim Murray at the helm, win- in New Orleans, Mobile, ning the Southern Yacht Club AL, and Pensacola, FL. Old Timer’s Regatta aboard When Tim retired Lorelei in October, 2003. from the business 15 Courtesy Photo. years ago, he continued his love for the sport with the creation of a monthly magazine he called Mid Gulf Sailing. He also published the Briar Patch Stock Market Newsletter, whose faithful readers enjoyed success with Tim’s wise investment choices.

After Tim’s passing, Stanton Murray received over 130 condolence e-mails from boat dealers, customers, racing competitors and friends his father had met on the water during his boating career.

Many shared fond memories of a man universally described as a true gentleman. “Murray Yacht Sales’ contributions to the Gulf Coast sailing community are a fitting legacy for Mr. Murray,” wrote Jeff Abney.

Pat Noonan bought her first sailboat from Tim Murray in 1976. “It was a 12-foot Nassau dinghy,” she said. “That was the year I graduated from nursing school, and the boat was the first thing I bought with my new salary.”

Captain Hal Pierce, Navy port coordinator of Mobile said, “He was a great credit to the sport, to boating in general and a friend to many of us along the coast over the years. He cannot be replaced.”

Dr. Roger Moraski of Pensacola, and his wife, Betsy, first met Tim about 10 years ago at a boat show in Birmingham. “We had dinner together and talked about how to form a yacht club,” Dr. Moraski said.

“His advice helped me with the founding of the Stillwaters Yacht Club on Lake Martin in Alabama. In 1998 your father sailed to Isla Mujeres, Mexico, aboard our boat,

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Majestic. Those were the fun days.”

The Moraskis last saw Tim and his wife, Eileen Burk Murray, at the Gulf Yachting Association’s Lipton Cup in Gulfport, MS, last September.

In 2002, Tim wrote an article for the New Orleans Yacht Club entitled “How to Keep Moving.” In it he said, “The first rule of boat speed is to keep it fun. Fun is fast, fun makes it easy to get crew, and life is too short to do it any other way.”

Tim sailed his last race aboard his Nonsuch 22, Largo, the day before checking into the hospital for surgery. His final race is over. Now, he will always have fair winds and following seas.

Boat Christening – The Blessing of Maxine

By Kim Kaminski

T

he christening of a ship is a very ancient custom. It was common practice to dedicate a new boat to the protection of the gods, prior to its adventures out on the water.

Many ships bore the image of one of the gods, and the wine poured over its bow represented the libation poured in connection to sacrifices to that god. Throughout the centuries when Christianity became more influential in the lives of sailors, the ceremony evolved into a ritual similar to a baptism. It was often performed by a member of the clergy prior to the boat’s first cruise, and the wine used during the ceremony eventually was changed to champagne… the first wine of choice.

www.southwindssailing.com

NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING 5 5 5 5-9 12-13 11-12 12 12-13 18-20 19 19 19 19 19-20

The champagne bottle has been broken, the blessings are complete and the new adventures begin for the newly-christened boat Maxine. Photo by Kim Kaminski.

The Pensacola Yacht Club upheld tradition and custom by celebrating the blessing of its new support boat Maxine.

During Hurricane Ivan, the original Maxine, a service powerboat that was utilized for several years at many functions for the yacht club, was lost. This loss was tremendous since the boat was named in honor of one of the most loved members of the Pensacola Yacht Club—Maxine Sansom, who had spent numerous hours supporting the club and its members—and now this memorial was gone. Maxine was THE race committee boat in the area and was used on numerous occasions for race management, boat parades, and assistance in the organization of raft-ups among other various functions. It was a great casualty for the yacht club community when the boat was damaged and destroyed by the storm. Efforts to replace the boat took some of the yacht club members on a journey to Texas where the new boat was purchased and brought back to its new home port in Florida.

On a bright, sunny and cool January day, plans were set in motion to christen the new boat for the club. Reverend Neil Kaminski, vicar of St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Navarre, FL, performed the blessing.

As the guests enjoyed the excitement of the traditional rituals, the officials from the Pensacola Yacht Club toasted the old boat and welcomed the new ship with ceremony and blessings by breaking a bottle of champagne over her bow.

These traditions help us to remember that the waves of the sea are mighty and beyond measure in their power….may we be blessed with a boat that brings us safely back to a calm harbor and home in peace.

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Two Against the Lake. Tammany Yacht Club, Slidell, LA www.tammanyyachtclub.org Winter Race #6. St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, Panama City, FL www.stabyc.com Leukemia Cup. New Orleans and Southern Yacht Clubs, New Orleans, LA Star Western Hemisphere Spring Champs.

Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA Leukemia Cup. New Orleans & Southern Yacht Clubs, New Orleans, LA www.noyc.org, www.southernyachtclub.org Leukemia Cup. Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile, AL www.bucyc.com Melges 24 Gulf Coast Championship. Jackson Yacht Club, Jackson, MS www.jacksonyachtclub.com Allegro Star, Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile, AL A-Cat/F16 HP Gulf Coast Champs. Gulfport, FL Rites of Spring. Maxine Regatta Race #2. Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, Pensacola Beach, FL www.pensacolabeach-yc.org Spring Fling. Jackson Yacht Club, Jackson, MS Spring #1. St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, Panama City , FL Dogwood Regatta. Fairhope Yacht Club, Fairhope, AL www.fairhopeyachtclub.com Mandevielle Race. Corinthian Sailing Association, New Orleans Yacht Club, Pensacola Yacht Club and Southern Yacht Club. New Orleans, LA www.corinthians.org Maxine Regatta Race #3. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL www.pensacolayachtclub.org

APRIL 2005 1-3 GORC (Gulf Ocean Racing Circuit). Biloxi Yacht Club, Biloxi, MS 1-2 Lake Pontchartrain Women’s Sailing Association (LPWSA) Match Race and Seminar, New Orleans, LA 2 Great Circle Regatta. Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile AL 2 Spring #2. St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, Panama City, FL 9 New Orleans Opening. New Orleans Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA 9 Ragtop Regatta. Lake Forest Yacht Club, Spanish Fort, AL

Race Calendar Club Racing Starting in April, every Thursday evening. Thursday Night Sunfish Sailing. Navy Yacht Club’s Bayou Grande Marina, Pensacola, FL, from 5-7 p.m. (850) 452-4152 MARCH 2005 5

Maxine Regatta.Race #1. Navy Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL www.navypnsyc.org

Local News For Southern Sailors

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NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING 9

Flying Scot Tune-up and Clinic. Fort Walton Yacht Club, Fort Walton Beach, FL 9-10 Gulf Star Liptons, Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile, AL 9-10 Commodores Cup Race #1 and #2, Navy Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL 9-10 Pat Gillard Capdeville Flying Scot Race.

Jackson Yacht, Club, Jackson, MS 10 SYC Opening /Spring #1. Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA 10 Hobie Midwinters East. Ocean Springs Yacht Club, Ocean Springs, MS 16 Jourdan River Classic. Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St. Louis, MS 16-17 Dauphin Island Warm-up. Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile, AL 16-17 Fleur De Lis. Corinthian Sailing Association, Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans Yacht Club, South Shore Yacht Club.

New Orleans, LA 16-17 2004 Lorillard Kent / Spring # 3. St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, Panama City, FL 16-17 Sunfish Regionals, Fort Walton Beach Yacht Club.

Fort Walton Beach, FL 17 “Hooray…WE are Back on the Water Again” Raft-up at Pirates Cove, Josephine, AL sponsored by the Navy Yacht Club 23 Bayou Lacomb. Corinthian Sailing Association, New Orleans, LA 23 V15 Jazz Fest. Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA 23 24 Dauphin Island Race. Fairhope Yacht Club, Mobile Yacht Club. Mobile, AL 23-24 Jourdan River Classic (One-Design/Multihulls), Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St. Louis, MS 24 Spring #2 & #3. Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA 23-28 Corsair National Championships and Rendezvous 2005, Pensacola Yacht Club. Corsair Trimaran Owners Association (CTOA). Expected classes: Corsair 24, F 27, NA Corsair 28R, NA Corsair 28, NA Corsair 31/F 31, F25C, and Open. www.corsairmarine.com/5ClassAssns.htm.

30 Spring #4. St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, Panama City, FL 30 J22 Spring #1. Southern Yacht Club. New Orleans, LA 30-May 1 Stephen C. Smith Regatta. Apalachee Bay Yacht Club, Tallahassee, FL 30-May 1 GYA Opening Day Regatta. Lake Arthur Yacht Club, Lake Arthur, LA www.geocities.com/lakearthuryc/

Midge Tandy and Pegasus 575: Boat of the Week, Key West Race Week 2005

By Kim Kaminski

M

idge Tandy is a slight-frame woman with long dark hair and a bright, infectious smile. She is a local sailor, who enjoys the fun and frivolity of the sailing opportunities provided by the various yacht club communities located here along the Northern Gulf Coast region. On occasion, a rare opportunity will arise and offer Midge a chance to sail on some new horizons far from her home port. This year’s Key West Race Week offered her one of these rare chances to set sail in unfamiliar territory.

Midge received a phone call from Philippe Kahn of France and owner of the Pegasus racing team. A friend of Midge’s had recommended her to Philippe as a possible replacement crewmember. When one of his regular team members was unable to attend, Midge received the call, offering her a spot on Philippe’s team Pegasus 575, which would be competing in the Melges 24 class during this year’s Key West race event. Midge gladly accepted the invite to sail, 60

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and was soon flown down to Key West where she was provided crew gear and a place to stay as the Pegasus team prepared for the week of intense racing. The Division 3, Melges 24 class was quite extensive as 58 boats were registered to compete.

Overall, close to 300 boats from 36 states and 14 countries were scheduled to sail in nine races during this prestigious contest.

As the week began, racing luminaries from Olympic medalists, America’s Cup competitors to Volvo Ocean Racers were on the scene preparing their boats for the stiff competition. San Diego’s Bill Hardesty took the helm for the Pegasus 575 team on behalf of Philippe Kahn, who was racing his Farr 40 in the Division 1 class. Other members of the Pegasus 575 racing team were Kevin Burnham, the Olympic gold medalist and Rolex Yachtsman of the Year, along with Freddy Loof, the Olympic bronze medalist, Star World Champion and multiple-times Finn World Champion, and Mark Ivy, the four-time All-American College Sailor of the Year. Midge had found herself as a crewmember in the midst of some of sailing’s all-star teammates.

Sailing on the Melges 24 was a unique experience for Midge. She had learned to sail on bigger PHRF class boats and usually found herself sitting on the rail, working midship or on the foredeck. However, her position on team Pegasus had her back in the cockpit assisting with the traveler and hiking out for weight placement (even her 100 pounds of weight made a difference). Strong winds and uneasy seas made the first days of racing quite a challenge even for the most talented and seasoned sailors. During the first Melges race under excessive wind conditions, the Pegasus team was T-boned by one of the race competitors, who had lost control of his spinnaker. However, Pegasus 575 managed to keep its focus and sailed on to a first-place finish, one of many throughout the week for this team. The competition was extremely close during the five days of racing with crowded starting lines, near-misses at the mark roundings and tight finish line placements. However, the Pegasus team flew through the racing field as this talented group was able to tame the competition with the golden bridle of victory by winning the Boat of the Week for the most competitive class and becoming the Melges 24 Class Champion.

For Midge Tandy, the experience was filled with numerous moments of intensity and enlightenment. “One of the most memorable moments I have… would definitely be the chance I was given of working with Philippe Kahn. His family-oriented values and his perspective of sailing in general is something I will always remember.

The team—where no one person should shine above the rest—is the most important feature of the race…it is all a group effort. You could have all the money in the world, but according to his outlook you must look at your team with respect, respect for one Midge Tandy, one of the team team member as well as the entire members of Pegasus 575, the team. His philosophy also carries over Melges 24 Class Champion and to his family and how he raises his Boat of the Week at 2005 Key children. It was a very wonderful West Race Week. Courtesy photo. experience.” www.southwindssailing.com

NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING

Road To Victory Sweet For Pretty Woman At Key West

By Julie B. Connerley

A

In anticipation of January fter retiring from the 2005’s Key West race week, Navy, George Gamble, Gamble planned a ramped-up 47, began a software company racing schedule in the fall of specializing in socialized 2004. Unfortunately, Hurricane medicine. His business took Ivan dashed those plans. Due him overseas frequently. to extensive damage done to It was in 2001, while boats and marinas, the GYA’s attending the London Boat West Florida Ocean Racing Show, Gamble took the big Circuit was cancelled, as well step toward realizing his lifeas several area regattas. long dream of sailing across Fortunately for Gamble, his the ocean. He saw a Beneteau decision to moor his boat in First 47.7 and fell in love with its beautiful lines and quality The crew of Pretty Woman relaxes between race starts during Ingram’s Bayou near Perdido Bay saved her from the wrath craftsmanship. “She was pret- Key West 2005. Photo by Lorrie Berry. of Ivan. Pretty Woman was ty,” he recalled. He bought her secured with three 125-pound and she became his Pretty plow anchors, 600 feet of Woman. For the next several chain, and 1200 feet of line. months, Gamble and his sons, “When we got there after Dan and Matt, cruised around the hurricane,” said crewGreat Britain and the member, Lorrie Berry, “she Mediterranean. looked perfect — except for Gamble did make that mounds of pine needles that voyage across the ocean – parthe wind blew onto her decks.” ticipating in the 2001 Atlantic Between 70 to 80 percent Rally for Cruisers (ARC). of the Pensacola area’s sailing Conceived as a friendly race for cruising yachts to make the The winning crew of Pretty Woman, with skipper George vessels suffered damage.

Atlantic crossing both safer Gamble, seventh from left with white cap. Photo by Lorrie Berry. Many were totaled. In addition, all of the area’s marinas and more enjoyable, this suffered damage. Without a slip to keep her in, Pretty Woman annual transatlantic rally starts each November and has was kept on a mooring at Deer Point near Gulf Breeze. become the most popular way to cross the Atlantic. ARC is With no races on the immediate horizon, and Key West the largest transoceanic sailing event in the world, with 2005 just around the corner, crewmembers had to be ferried more than 150 yachts competing in the 2700 nautical mile to Pretty Woman by powerboat just to get in some practice. passage. It begins in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (off the Fellow sailor Mark Taylor’s boat, Patriot, was one of the coast of Spain) and ends at Rodney Bay in St. Lucia, one of storm’s casualties. Therefore, he graciously offered to assist the most beautiful islands in the Lesser Antilles. Pretty Gamble in ferrying the Beneteau to Key West. Crew memWoman finished 22 out of 240 boats. “It was 14 1/2 days of bers and support personnel arrived in time to get two full perfect sailing weather,” said Gamble. days of practice in before the start of the grueling weekTwo years ago, Gamble announced his next goal would long series. be to sail Key West 2005, presented by Nautica. Part of that Another part of Gamble’s strategy for his first Key West strategy was to modify his cruising vessel to that of the series was the purchase of a Brookes and Gatehouse Remote Beneteau First 47.7’s racing model to make it more competVision. B&G was one of the official sponsors of Key West 2005, itive. However, Gamble wasn’t convinced that making stanpresented by Nautica. Gamble arranged for representatives of dard rigging changes indicated for the racing model would B&G to provide some hands-on training for one of sailing’s improve her performance and therein lies part of the secret newest innovations – a wireless link to a boat’s instruments to his recent successes. Rick Zern of Zern Rigging, (also a and autopilot. Pretty Woman’s crew jokingly referred to the Beneteau salesman with Murray Yacht Sales in Pensacola), palm-sized instrument as “the hockey puck.” But it was no is an accomplished veteran sailor. He worked with Gamble joke how helpful the device was for checking wind speed, to design a rigging configuration that was halfway between direction, depth or heading from anywhere on the boat. cruiser and racer specifications.

Gamble was skipper, with Zern handling the helm.

Next, Hunter Riddle, owner of Schurr Sails, also a vetRiddle and Gamble worked together on tactics. eran-winning racer, designed and produced customized Crew and support team members included Lorrie sails for the modified design.

Berry, Denny Blume, Tammy Elrite, Ryan Elrite, Matt Last year, Gamble’s boat won the Gulf Yachting Gamble, Joe Godard, Sheila Jackson, J.P. Knoll, Mary Association’s (GYA) offshore Gulf Ocean Racing Circuit, hosted by the Biloxi Yacht Club. That same year, Pretty See NORTHERN GULFCOAST SAILING continued on page 70 Woman placed second overall in the Gulfport to Pensacola race.

Local News For Southern Sailors

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WEST FLORIDA COAST Cedar Key

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

West Florida March Weather AVERAGE TEMPERATURES St. Petersburg 60° lo - 75° hi Naples 58° lo - 79° hi GULF WATER TEMPERATURES St. Petersburg 68° Naples 71° For Real Time eastern Gulf weather, winds and marine forecasts, go to: http://comps.marine.usf.edu

St. Petersburg Tampa

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March Prevailing Winds See page 77 for Windrose legend

Fort Myers Naples

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Cape Sable Key West

Upcoming Events & News Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs. Ongoing. Each Tuesday night, 7:30-9:30 p.m., 1300 Beach Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 72.

Completion satisfies the State of Florida boater safety education requirements. The continuous rotating program has 11 lessons. One lesson is presented each Tuesday night.

Lessons include: Which Boat For You, Equipment, Trailering, Lines and Knots, Boat Handling, Signs, Weather, Rules, Introduction to Navigation, Inland Boating and Radio. (727) 823-3753 Fort Myers Spring Boat Show. March 10-13. Lee Civic Center. (954) 570-7785. www.swfmia.com.

Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival and Parade. March 12-13.

Lynn Hall Memorial Park Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet. Lots of shrimp and other foods. Entertainment. (239) 463-6986.

Sail Easy Windsurfing Clinic. March 12-14. North Beach Windsurfing School. Tampa Bay. Improve skills at all levels—designed for those people who need some fundamentals or would like to learn new skills, like water starts, harness, tacks and jibes. Fundamentals like sail balance, sheeting in with your body weight, weight transfer can greatly assist you in making windsurfing easier. The participation is limited to six people so everyone receives quality one-on-one instruction. Three-day clinic. Contact Britt Viehman for fees and other information. www.nbwindsurfing.com. (727) 656-6569

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West Marine Free Seminars: Saint Petersburg, 119 1st Ave. N. March 7, 14. GPS seminar. US Power Squadron, $ 15.00 fee, reservations required, Bill Elbach.

March 16, great loop trip. Bob and Judy Hall, world cruisers.

US Sailing Level 1 (Small Boat) Instructor Courses. March 17-20 (four days) at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center. May 14-15 and May 21-22 (two consecutive weekends) at Sarasota Sailing Squadron. “K” Bradley and Jabbo Gordon. The 40-hour course costs $300, but there is a $20 discount for early registration. The discount deadlines are Feb. 17 and Apr. 14, respectively. US Sailing membership is required, and the minimum age is 16. To register and read a rundown on the course, go to www.ussailing.org and follow the yellow brick road through training. The course numbers are 19823 for Clearwater and 19526 for Sarasota.

If you have any questions or know anyone who would be interested in taking either course, please call “K” at (727) 784-0420 or Jabbo at (941) 351-5845.

Safe Boating Course. March 21—May 2. Mondays 7-9 p.m.

The St. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron. Sailing Center on Demens Landing, St. Petersburg. The course covers all safety topics plus aids to navigation, charts and basic piloting.

For information and pre-registration call (727) 565-4453.

Nominal charge for text, chart and course materials. Meets Florida’s mandatory education requirement for vessel operators under age 21. Jesse Marsano. Jmarsan1@tampabay.rr.com.

www.southwindssailing.com

TMESYS employees who went through the Team Building Program at CCSC. Photo by George Regenauer.

Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-1, Clearwater, offers Public Boat Programs: Boating and Sailing fundamentals — using a GPS, chart reading and navigation. GPS and chart reading program, March 28 and 30. The $80 fee includes books, charts and plotting tools.

Boating Skills and Seamanship Course, April 7 - May 2 — Covers boat handling and safety, navigation rules, trailering a boat, using a VHS radio, and understanding aids to navigation. The $40 fee includes all course materials. Clearwater Sailing Center, 1001 Gulf Blvd., Sand Key, Clearwater. It is open to adults and youths.

In addition, Flotilla 11-1 has trained personnel who can perform a free vessel safety inspection of your boat. For more information on upcoming education programs, or to request a free vessel safety check call (727) 469-8895 or visit www.uscgaux.org/~0701101/ PublicEducationPrograms.htm April 23 – 4th Annual Lars Bergstrom Float Your Boat.

A competition of owner-built model sailboats. Sarasota Youth Sailing Program. For details; www.sarasotaysp.com or call (941) 504 4236.

Local News For Southern Sailors

Sailing Basics used as Corporate Team Building Tool at CCSC

By George Regenauer

C

learwater Community Sailing Center is host to a unique Corporate Team Building Program that teaches the

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING basics of sailing to corporate individuals who must work as a team to accomplish the sailing of a vessel. The concept is rather easy and straightforward, but the actual execution of the exercise proves to be more difficult than you would think. The ideal group size is at least 10 participants. The larger group is divided into small teams consisting of 2-4 persons. Each team is isolated from the others and instructed on a single phase of sailboat operation. Helmsmen learn to use the tiller and rudder control, another will learn rigging, yet another will learn points of sail and sail trim, etc.

When each team has a good grasp on what is required for its specialty, one member is taken from each team to form a crew. Then the inexperienced crew must combine their individually acquired skills in a cooperative manner to effectively sail the boat.

The newly formed crews are not set adrift to fend for themselves. A certified instructor is also onboard to ensure the safe operation of the exercise and maintain continuity of purpose. A safety boat is also on station to assist if needed.

The sailing exercise is conducted in the protected waters of the ICW just east of Sand Key and away from any heavy powerboat traffic in the channel.

Unlike other popular Team Builders that hit or miss the mark and usually end up with one self-proclaimed leader, everyone involved in the sailing exercise must work together and share their knowledge of what to do and when to do it in order to make the boat successfully sail. This is a unique and fun way to build a team of individuals to achieve a common goal, in this case, learning the skills to make the boat sail efficiently.

The latest corporate group to meet the Team Building challenge hailed from TMESYS Retail Pharmaceutical

Program of Tampa on February 2nd. Participants from their Dallas, Chicago and other area offices were also in attendance. After the crew strategy meetings, five teams consisting of two persons each, filled the three-hour session with competitive sailing against each other. Feedback from the crews indicated that everyone enjoyed the event and most had never been close to a sailboat, much less attempted to sail one. Good job TMESYS! Director Al Humphers, Instructor Patricia Regenauer, staff, volunteers and board members of CCSC are working diligently to implement new programs and revitalize older ones at the sailing center, providing many diverse opportunities to the sailing community in the Clearwater area. The Corporate Team Builder Program has become a popular and educational venue for groups desiring an adventurous and competitive team-building project. Further interest in the sport of sailing by Team Builder participants is more than a possibility and would be an added bonus to the program’s overall success.

“The Clearwater Community Sailing Team Challenge is designed to foster the development of effective teams.”

For more information on the Corporate Team Building program and other sailing opportunities at CCSC, contact the sailing center Tuesday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at (727) 517-7776 or visit their Web site at www.clearwatercommunitysailing.org.

Racing Racing Calendar For the legend, addresses, and contacts for the sponsoring sailing association of the races listed below, go to the 2004-2005 West Florida Race Calendar and Yacht Club Directory at Southwinds’ Web site, www.southwindssailing.com. Contact editor@southwindssailing.com to receive a hard copy.

Leukemia Cup Regatta, Predicted Log Race, Golf Tournament and Tennis Match April 8-10

T

he Punta Gorda Sailing Club and the Isles Yacht Club will again conduct the Leukemia Cup Regatta and auction on April 8-10 for the benefit of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The Leukemia Cup Regatta is a sailboat race open to spinnaker, non-spinnaker, cruising class, monohull, multihull and small boats. It is one of the biggest races in southwest Florida and is part of the Boat of the Year competition for West Florida.

This year, a predicted log race for powerboats, a tennis match and golf tournament, have been added. The money generated from the events goes to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for research and assistance to victims of these diseases.

The dinner and auction are April 10 at Isles Yacht Club.

For more Information and registration, go to www.pgscweb.com, or call Michael Savino, publicity chairman, at (941)505-2063.

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www.southwindssailing.com

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

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

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(727) 327-2628

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

ADVERTISE YOUR SAILING SERVICES IN OUR WEST FLORIDA SAILING DIRECTORY. CONTACT: Steve Morrell

Local News For Southern Sailors

editor@southwindssailing.com

(941) 795-8704

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING

Ocala Sailing Club Hosts Inaugural Harpoon 5.2 National Regatta, April 8

O

cala Sailing Club and Fleet 1 are pleased to announce the Inaugural Harpoon 5.2 National and Open Portsmouth Class Regatta. For more information and registration, go to www.tmcentral.net/bwharpoon.

Changes in 2004-5 Race Calendar & Yacht Club Directory (For changes contact editor@southwindssailing.com.

Changes will also be posted on the calendar on the Web site also. www.southwindssailing.com) Race Calendar Changes • The Suncoast PHRF Boat of the Year (BOTY) Series as printed has been confirmed to be correct.

• 110 midwinters originally scheduled at TSS, Feb. 26-27 have been rescheduled for Mar 4-6 at DIYC. • The races and regattas listed here are open to those who want to sail. No club membership is required, although a West Florida PHRF rating is most likely required.

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

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

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

Spring Regatta.

SWFPHRF BOTY series LESC MC Scow Clinic LESC MC Scow Midwinters SPYC Lightning Midwinter Championship DBC Ensign Class Midwinter Championship GYC A-Class and F16HP Catamaran Regatta TITYC Michelob Cup, Suncoast WFPHRF BOTY Racing in the Gulf SSS One-Design Regatta Dinghies and small keelboats TBCS St. Patty’s Day Regatta SPYC Disabled/Open Midwinters Sonar, 2.4 Meter, Martin 16 BYC Bradenton to SPYC and return SBPHRF BOTY series CortezYC Annual Easter Egg Fun Race Last Day of lobster season MIYC

APRIL 05 2 BYC 2 SPSA 2 SSS 2 2-3 2-3 2-3 3 7-10

‘Round Egmont Race Windship Race, PHRF Sarasota Bay Cup SBPHRF BOTY Reverse Handicap TSS Sea Scout Regatta MDYC 52nd Annual Mt. Dora Regatta All-class on the lake GCSC Southwest Florida Charity Regatta SWFPHRF, BOTY series TBCS Macho Man Catamaran Distance Regatta DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME Move Clocks Forward SPYC Rolex Women’s Match Race Invitational, in Sonars

MARCH 05 4-6 DIYC 4-6 SSS 5 SPSA 5 5-6 5-6 5-6 5-6 5-6 6 6-8 9-10 10-12 11-13 12-13

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110 Midwinters (rescheduled from TSS Feb. 26-27) Sunfish US Masters Championship Rich Gahn Memorial Race.

TBYRA BOTY SSS Pot of Gold Race DIYC Fireball Midwinters SPYC Optimist Dinghy Team Racing PGSC Conquistador Cup. SWFPHRF & CHPHRF BOTY series ECKERD Eckerd Intersectional USFSC USF Women’s Intersectional Regatta SPSA TBYRA Women’s CYC Snipe Midwinter Championship LESC C-Scow Clinic SSS Sunfish Midwinter Championship LESC C-Scow Nationals DIYC One-Design and MORC Regatta PHRF One-Designs and Midget Ocean Racing J/24 Fleet 86 Championship

March 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindssailing.com

WEST FLORIDA SAILING 8-10

9-10 9-10 9-10 15 16 16 16 16-17 22 23 23 23-24 23-24 29-30

SUNCOAST RACEWEEK, Suncoast WFPHRF BOTY Friday- SPYC to DIYC; Saturday- DIYC to BYC Sunday- Buoy racing west of Skyway Bridge SAMI Bud Lite Regatta – SWFPHRF BOTY series GCSC/IYC Leukemia Volvo Cup Regatta CHPHRF BOTY series TBCS Spring Fever Catamaran Regatta Suncoast Race week Awards at TITYC BYC All-BYC Championship SSS Hula Cup SBPHRF BOTY series FOMA Frolic, large multihulls, off Clearwater DIYC Spring Regatta J/24, PHRF, TBYRA BOTY, & Women’s racing SSS Friday Night Feeder Race to Venice – from Sarasota New Pass, Reverse handicap SBPHRF BOTY PAGYC Anchor Cup – Suncoast WFPHRF BOTY Racing in the Gulf VYC Venice SS Invitational Regatta SBPHRF BOTY NSYC Messmer Cup SWFPHRF, BOTY series DIYC Star Class District Championship SPYC Regata del Sol al Sol Race to Mexico, Offshore boats over 30’

Double check these start dates 30-May 1 SSS Youth Sailing Program Sailfest Regatta Opti, Radial, Club 420 30-May 1 TSS Brownell Commodore’s Cup PHRF & Women’s racing

Local News For Southern Sailors

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

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

Bradenton YC. Sunday afternoons. PHRF racing on Manatee River. For info call Larry Lecuyer, (941) 729-5401.

Thursday evening races at 630 p.m. begin March 31.

Venice Sailing Squadron. Saturdays. First Saturday of each month, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet. www.venice-sailing-squadron.org Edison Sailing Center, Fort Myers. Sunfish and dinghy racing once a month, year-round john@johnkremski.com Port Charlotte. Third Saturday of month, year-round. pbgvtrax@aol.com

Race Report Multi-Class Regatta, St. Petersburg

By Dave Ellis

F

our classes of sailing craft having long histories in the Tampa Bay area met for a midwinter regatta for the three-day weekend. The wind blew and the waves were impressive on Tampa Bay off The St. Petersburg Pier Friday

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WEST FLORIDA SAILand Saturday.

The score card looked grim on the first day, as many boats had breakdowns and sailors, many of whom were from colder climes, had not sailed their boats for a while and were not ready for the conditions. One mast on a Snipe broke when the boat capsized and the mast stuck in the mud. A Windmill mast bent impressively, but got the boat back to the dock. Several Moths spent significant time upside down on Saturday. Paul Hemker of New Paris, OH, had a hole punched in his Flying Dutchman for the second time in four years at this event.

Sunday’s winds were back to Tampa Bay light with few waves.

Often different boats were ahead at the finish from those in the windy races.

The Windmill class was born in the Tampa Bay area over 50 years ago, a brainstorm of Clearwater’s Skipper Dave Stage of Tallahassee sails his Flying Dutchman in the Multi-Class Regatta.

Clark Mills. He would have been Photo by William Marois. proud to see 14 ‘Mills on the race course from seven states. Ethan and Blackwood and Patty Mueller of Milwaukee. St. Trudy Bixby won all of the races except the last one, their Petersburg’s Chris and Antoinette Klotz were second with throw-out, when they didn’t have to finish to win the regatDavid and Amy Mendelblatt third. Snipes have been raced ta. Others were quick to point out that they were not leadin this area since the early 1940s. ing when they decided not to finish, nor were they ahead in The Flying Dutchman had seven of these high-tech the aborted last race attempt. boats on the line. Tim Sayles of Warrington, PA, with crew Second was Roy Sherman, sailing with nephew Geoffrey.

Pavel Ruzicka, won all the races on the first day and hung They were sailing the boat of Geoffrey’s dad, Ed Sherman, on for a close win over national champ Lin Robson of St. who unexpectedly died recently after a short illness.

Petersburg, sailing with regular crew Eric Booth on the weekThird in Windmills was Stuart Proctor of Edenton, NC, end and with Andy Cheney on Friday. Third was Caryl with crew Farah Hall.

Barrett from Duluth, GA, with husband Bruce crewing.

The Snipe class, with 18 boats, was led by Mike

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING Classic Moths were the originator of this event some years ago. A record 13 boats braved the conditions Saturday and enjoyed Sunday for their two-day schedule. These 11foot craft are of many different shapes and philosophy of design, all using the same sail plan. Jeff Linton won the class with a perfect score of firsts. Linton may have won sailing a brick, such is his sailing skill. In second and third were Mark Saunders and his younger brother Craig from Virginia.

At Saturday evening’s banquet, St. Petersburg Yacht Club Commodore Ron Krippendorf and Dave Ellis reminisced to the crowd about the history of these four classes in the area. Each had raced all of them longer ago than they wanted to admit.

505 Midwinters

By Dave Ellis

O

lympic, All-American and pro sailors vied for the 505 class Midwinters title on Boca Ciega Bay and on the Gulf of Mexico February 11-13. One point separated the top three boats after 12 long races. The final results stand.

However, the race committee observed two overlap situations at the nearby leeward mark where apparently the outside boat forgot that the big spinnaker in its normal position counts as part of the boat. No room was given. A one-point difference would have made the second-place boat the winner.

The high-tech, demanding 505-class boats tested the skill of the talented sailors Friday, as the breeze ranged from 17 to 22 knots. Four races were held in the bay off Gulfport, each race almost four miles long. Numerous capsizes occurred, especially under their large spinnakers on the offwind legs.

Macy Nelson was caught by the boom on a jibe and ended up getting stitches on his face. At one point the race committee was surprised to hear a voice ask, “May I come aboard?” seemingly from under the boat. It was Nelson’s crew, who had swum to the middle of the bay to watch the racing while his skipper was at the hospital.

Just before the event, Jesse Falsone of Annapolis found that his skipper was not going to make it to Florida. St. Petersburg sailmaker Ethan Bixby called local Olympic sailor Mark Mendelblatt. Due to previous plans it was arranged that Mark sail Friday and his older brother David sail the other two days. With no prior experience in the boat,

Local News For Southern Sailors

it was thought that it would be just a fun time for them.

Friday, however, Mark Mendelblatt had their boat in the lead after a day of heavy air. Bixby was a close second.

Saturday the fleet sailed out in the Gulf off the Don Caesar Resort, again with four long races in 8–12 knots of breeze. Dave Mendelblatt held the lead at the end of the day with Bixby three points back.

Sunday a final four races were held in breezes starting at 12 and diminishing in the last race to under four knots at times. The top two boats stayed close together, vying for position. It all came down to the last race. A small wind line occurred to the south. Mendelblatt was closer to it and put a boat between him and Bixby to take the championship by one point.

Third, actually tied with Bixby/Boothe on points, losing the tie-breaker, was Tim Collins and Drew Butner of Massachusetts.

Fourth was Kyrisa Pohl sailing with class Webmaster Ali Meller as crew. St. Petersburg sailors Lin Robson and Serge Jorgensen were fifth.

This is the first major sailing regatta staged at Isla Del Sol Yacht Club. Dockmaster Paul Warren paved the way for these sailors to enjoy the beach and facilities. Sailors from as far away as Colorado praised the venue. “I think this is the best 505 event we have ever had here,” said Bixby.

St. Petersburg’s Mike Walbolt was the brave driver of the small powerboat, setting marks and being the rabbitstart guard boat. Principal Race Officer Dave Ellis enjoyed running the event from the Grand Banks trawler of Wayne Beardsley of Charlotte Harbor.

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NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING continued from page 61 Kruszewski, Sandy Miller, Andrew Moraski, Ben Myers, Paul Robbins, Bud Schumann, Terry Swift, and Helen Turier. Most hail from the Pensacola Bay area.

Some fine-tuning of the rigging and two days of practice in howling winds before the start of the series paid off.

“We actually won the series on Saturday and Sunday,” smiled Zern. “Everything that was going to break did so during practice.”

Key West 2005 was the first time crewmember Andrew Moraski had participated. Moraski, 17, may have been ragged about his age, but not his abilities. “I was backup foredeck,” he said. “The ratings were a lot tighter and the series was more physically grueling than I expected, but I’m ready for next year!”

By the time the regatta began, the crew knew what to expect on the water. The team of Pretty Woman won their class handily. After one throw-out race, they earned five first-place finishes, a second, a fourth and a fifth.

Early in the week, the post-race conversations in the party tents inferred that Pretty Woman was just having “beginner’s luck.” By the end of the week, people wanted to know more about the boat and crew who won their class.

Pretty Woman is now in Miami, getting a new bottom.

“Afterwards,” said Gamble, “she will be ‘put out to pasture’ in beautiful Rodney Bay, St. Lucia.”

Nevertheless, Gamble isn’t resting. He has a Farr One Design 36 on order. It should arrive by August. No doubt, he will set another goal as he sets sail on a new adventure.

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C L A S S I F I E D

A D S

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

Capt C.T., St. Petersburg, FL

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. Photos not accompanied by S.A.S.E. will not be returned. Photocopies of photos will not work. Email photos as an attachment or send actual photo.

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

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

10. All other ads are $20 a month for up to 20 words, add $5 a month for each additional 10 words. $10 a month for a horizontal photo.

Frequency discounts available. Contact editor.

11. No refunds.

Now pay on-line at our Web site www.southwindssailing.com editor@southwindssailing.com

SOUTHWINDS PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175 (941)795-8704 • (941) 795-8705 fax

All ads go on the Internet, and your Web site or e-mail address in the ad will be linked by clicking on it.

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

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

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

Fully equipped and race ready. Trailer. $2100.

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

22ft 1984 S-2. Dacron Main, jib Genoa, Spinnaker. Honda 8HP 4-stroke with less than 12 hours on motor. Sleeps 4. 420-pound dagger board – 16” up, 5’ down. (941) 729-1442. $9500. frugalmacdougal@aol.com. (5/05) Melges 24, 1994. Just Awlgripped/like new.

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

DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS

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

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

12 6 3 1

$19 $22 $25 $29

MINIMUM INCHES

TOTAL COST

2" 2" 2" 2"

$38 $44 $50 $58

Ranger 26 1974 Fast racer/cruiser, new interior, new head, new cushions, Mylar 150, Kevlar 100, like new Dacron main, 6hp Evinrude, Steal for $3,900! E-mail kramermjk@aol.com or call 305-247-2155. (5/05) 1977 Kells Outrider 27'7". Whatever sailing you want to do she can do. Liveaboard. $0 Down Owner Financing or cash. $12,000 Financed or $9,000 Cash. (757) 831-5336.

For more info: www.kellsyacht.com (4/05)

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

Inboard engine. Topsides repainted 2003.

Interior upgrades. Auto pilot, VHF, depthfinder, GPS and more. Overall first place Daytona to Charleston Race. Good heavy weather racer/cruiser. South Carolina. $18,900. (843) 884-1729. (5/05)

30’ Iroquois Catamaran, totally renewed, full cruise equipment, low hour 9.9 Yamaha, custom bimini & cushions, new Adler/Barbour fridge, new tramp ($32,000) (239) 283-9155 or (208) 867-3825. Photos at www.cantanchorus.org. e-mail: sr@cantanchorus.org.

(5/05)

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

1981 Rodgers 24. Racer/Daysailor. Needs TLC, but ready to sail. Nice 2000 4hp Johnson OB. Main, Jib, spinnaker. New Rigging. Dry sailed. $2500/best offer. (941) 380-1529.

(941) 766-7942.(5/05) J/24, early model, with trailer. Trailer in very good condition. Complete boat, needs work.

Hull and keel sound. Mast good. Needs boom and rigging. Best Offer. New Orleans (504) 947-3937. (5/05) 1966 Pearson Ariel 26, 8,000 bucks and groceries takes you to the Bahamas - my trip cut short by 3rd degree burn. Includes brand-new Apprentice Shop Grand Banks dory.

Wylie39@frontiernet.net (4/05) Local News For Southern Sailors

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C L A S S I F I E D

A D S

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

30’ CATALINA 1987 Shoal draft, 5 sails. Very well-maintained. Has all the goodies. Boat is trophy winner and cruise-ready. $34,900 239-434-5615 or email: windseek@swfla.rr.com. (5/05)

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

Like new sails, roller furling, stove, micro, refrig. Autopilot. Steve (941) 224-6521 or captnSE@netzero.com. (4/05) Henderson SR33, Hot Flash, reoutfitted in 2002. Electrical lift keel, vara rudder, carbon boom & spinnaker pole. Tapedrive sails, aluminum 3-axle trailer. Former Key West Race winner. Very competetive. $49,500. (904) 382-8253, (904) 829-9224. (5/05)

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

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

Pearson Flyer 30, rebuilt BMW diesel 2004, VG Shore/UK MJ and 7 others,recent Martec, epoxy bottom, new halyards/upgraded hardware, needs some electronics, 6200#, 5’9” draft, 11’ beam, sleeps 4, great storage. $10,500 OBO. Moving, must sell. Russ (904) 321-4196. butterflyai@earthlink.net. (5/05)

SEE CLASSIFIED INFO ON PAGE 71 72

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C L A S S I F I E D

A D S

H.T.Gozzard built in 1984 Exceptional condition with lots of new gear. Harken Roller furling on all sails. Marine Air, WS, WD, Depth,VHF w/remote, SSB, CD/Radio, Autopilot, Chartplotter, Radar, Dinghy, Life Raft $114,000 Call Major Carter or visit www.Cortezyachts.com (4/05) 50’ Airex foam fiber sandwiched-construction trimaran. Details, log onto www.sailnet.com, ID# 12820. Veteran bluewater sailor. “100,000 miles” Located in SW Florida. $52,000. (530) 295-7434, or e-mail randk@dweb.com. (5/05)

BOAT SLIPS FOR RENT Slip for rent: Accomodates up to 50 ft. LOA and 7 ft draft.Island Estates Clearwater. No liveaboards. (727) 204-6063. (5/05)

BOOKS & CHARTS Ocean Routing – Jenifer Clark’s Gulf Stream Boat Routing/Ocean Charts by the “best in the business.” (301) 952-0930, fax (301) 574-0289 or www.erols.com/gulfstrm

BUSINESS/INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES 35’ GARDEN KETCH, 1965-Japan, riveted wood, Yanmar 30,monel tanks,Doyle tanbark fullbatten sails,6 Trojan Batteries, Bose, Lewmars, Force 10, RIB & 8 hp OB, HW, fridge, New standing, running rigging, bimini, cutlass, carpet, Great cruiser.$31,000 firm. georgetheleo@hotmail.com. Clearwater, (813) 391-0470. (5/05)

1982 C&C 37 Loaded Cruiser Racer, Passion, asking 59K. Make offer located in Pass Christian, MS. (504) 858-4017 jwilsail@att.net (5/05) 1970 38ft Morgan Sloop, main, three headsails, plus spinnaker, 5 inches insulation in icebox; roller furling, new transmission. $29,900. details at home.nc.rr.com/islanddreaming located Minnesott Beach, NC (919) 467-669. (3/05)

Individual Seeks to Invest in Marine Business/Opportunity. Investor with up to $50,000 seeks opportunity to invest toward the purchase of a marine-related business, as an active part-time partner or full owner in new or established business; Just about anything related to the water. Must be near the coast in Florida. E-mail particulars to craig100@tampabay.rr.com.

Florida West Coast. 4500 sq. ft. well-established & recognized used marine equipment store. Over 2700 consignors. Fully computerized. Excellent location. Turnkey.

Active Web site. Owners ready to cruise. www.nauticaltrader.com. (941) 244-0766.

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

Construction/Real Estate investment Highly-experienced, honest, licensed, responsible and reliable contractor seeks investor/partner in new construction/remodeling in west Florida. Perhaps a spec house or purchase to remodel. Contractor is experienced in custom homes of all sizes, including very high-end homes. Only interested in doing interesting and enjoyable projects.

(941) 795-8711 FREE – New Hunter 33 or 36. SailTime will pay mortgage and all expenses for 5 years – you put 20% down and own 100%. Call 1866-Sailtime.

DISPLAY CLASSIFIED ADS STARTING AT $34/MONTH Local News For Southern Sailors

1988 45’ 6” LOA Bayfield 40, Hull # 34 Full keel 5’ draft, cutter ketch designed by

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

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C L A S S I F I E D CREW AVAILABLE/WANTED

A D S

MARINE ENGINES

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

HELP WANTED Massey Yacht Sales Opportunities-Massey is accepting resumes and interview appointments for yacht sales positions in both their sail and power divisions. Dealership locations are in St. Petersburg at the Harborage Marina, Palmetto at Regatta Pointe Marina and Ft. Myers at Centennial Harbour Marina. Massey offers its sales team an extensive range of yacht sales tools as well as expansive advertising, marketing and boat show attendance.

We are the largest Southeast US dealer for Catalina, Hunter, Caliber and Shannon sailing yachts and the exclusive Florida West Coast dealer for Albin and Shannon power yachts.

Massey is an industry leader in brokerage yacht sales with continued rapid growth, in both sail and power. Applicants must be self motivated, successful yacht sales professionals. A thorough knowledge of either the sail or power industry and substantial computer skills are essential. Fax resume to the attention of Frank Hamilton at 941-729-7520 or call 941-723-1610 for interview information.

MISCELLANEOUS BOAT GEAR NEW & USED 60-pound CQR Plow Anchor. Good Condition. $450. (941) 953-6240 (4/05)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Want a 2" CLASSIFIED AD! It’s easier than you think!

Go on-line to www.southwindssailing.com 74

March 2005

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C L A S S I F I E D 42” Leather-covered Destroyer wheel. 1” shaft. New $755. Yours for $350. (813) 9323720. (3/05)

A D S SAILING INSTRUCTION

AC/DC Reefer, 22# Bruce Anchor, Anchor Ball, Sospenders, Magma Grills, Mariner 9.9 Mercury Long Shaft 7.5 HP, Folding Bikes, Windsurfers, Metzeler Sailing Rig, Windscoop, Drogues, Lifesling, Type I Life Jackets w/strobe. Nautical Trader. (941) 488-0766. www.nauticaltrader.net

SAILS & CANVAS

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

Looks great. Folds and fits on your boat or inside your car. More info: www.tiralousa.com FOR SALE, Danforth 55 LB breakapart, solid stainless anchor. $150.00. Lewmar locking winch handle. $25.00. (727) 543-1250 Clearwater. (3/05) Custom made trailer originally suited for a Snipe 16.5 Ft sail boat. Regular car tires and shock absorbers. White. Works perfect including lights. (305) 588-0084 or antonio1bejarano@aol.com. Miami. $ 200 (5/05)

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

NAVIGATION SOFTWARE

SERVICES FOR SAILORS

SEE CLASSIFIED INFO ON PAGE 71 Local News For Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

March 2005

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CLASSIFIED ADS

INDEX

OF

ADVERTISERS

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SERVICES FOR SAILORS

WINDSURFING GEAR Windsurfer, large beginner board & smaller board, adjustable clamp on boom, two piece carbon mast, sail, Thule rack. Everything you need including written instructions. $300 OBO. (727) 345-6179.

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

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LIGHTS continued from page 78 the deck gun as it remained leveled at us the entire time.

The scolding over, the captain announced, “You will be escorted back to the marina for your own safety.” It was not put as a question, and we were not about to protest. We limped alongside the patrol boat until we saw the marina and turned into its mouth. Having reached our destination, the Coast Guard boat went full bore, raising its bow completely out of the water and was instantly gone back into the darkness. I could only hear the decreasing roar of its engines as it sped back towards the drawbridge.

I arrived home two hours after our last guest had left, hoping, with a full cooler of fish and the story of my encounter, I would receive some small level of sympathy and forgiveness. It just wasn’t going to happen. For the next three weeks, my diet consisted strictly of fish. “You caught them, you eat them!” Twenty-nine years later, I am certain my wife has still never forgiven me and reflects back on this incident whenever I utter the words, “I promise I won’t be late.”

EASTERN FLORIDA SAILING continued from page 47 April – Northeast Florida 2 WSS #1 NJYC Wave Regatta. Navy Jax YC www.njyc.org 9 One Design NJYC Wendal Davis Memorial Regatta. Navy Jax YC www.njyc.org 9 Blue Max Race Spring Series #5 NFCC. North Florida Cruising Club. www.nfccsail.com 9-10 Snipe District 4 Championships. Florida Yacht Club. Jacksonville. Hal Gilreath (904) 338-4988. www.thefloridayachtclub.org. www.snipeus.org.

20-23 First Coast Ocean Series Offshore Trophy NFCC Offshore Series Races #1, #2, #3. www.nfccsail.com 30 Work Day Burn-it. Rudder Club. Jacksonville. www.rudderclub.com 76

March 2005

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SOUTHEAST FLORIDA COAST SAILING continued from page 52 ing our class boat for boat.

As night fell, the wind and seas continued to build.

Fortunately, our course turned more westerly, and the winds didn’t veer. By 9 p.m. we were beam reaching in 25- to 30-knot winds and 6- to 8-foot seas. The knot meter never read less than 7.5 and was often hovering in the 8.5- to 9-knot range. It was pitch black. You could occasionally make out the bobbing stern lights from the class C boats ahead and the flashing red lights marking the reefs. Most of the Hawke Channel reefs have unlit yellow buoys around their perimeters. You couldn’t see them at night. Each time we sped by a reef, I prayed that our chartplotter was as accurate as the manufacturer claimed it was. By 11 p.m. we had sustained winds of 30 knots and were surfing down 8-foot seas. Sailing a boat under these pitch-black conditions is a lot like flying a small plane under instruments. I was constantly glancing at the wind direction indicator, knotmeter, depthfinder, compass and chartplotter. The main difference is in a plane you ultimately trust your instruments.

On a boat you ultimately trust the feel of the helm.

At midnight, we tucked a reef in the main, led the jib sheets outboard, and roller furled the genny to about 135 percent. I went below to get some rest. When I got below, I saw that the head had overflowed. After cleaning it up, I laid down on the starboard settee in the main salon. The boat was pounding and shaking. I was cold, tired and nauseous from cleaning the head. I remember thinking: I’m 62 years old. I’ve had one heart attack.

What the hell am I doing racing my boat to Key West?

Then I made a mental note to add a lee cloth to this berth before the next long distance race.

Around 3 a.m., as the wind went abaft the beam, E Ticket finally surfed by us. But by now we realized that we were going to finish six or seven hours earlier than we had dared to hope. The adrenalin was pumping. So we shook out the reefs, and Caretta took us for a sleigh ride hitting 11 knots as we surfed down the (estimated) 8-to 10-foot seas. It was still pitch black. I remember one of our crew saying; “It’s a good thing we can’t see anything out there, or it would scare the hell out of us.”

The final leg of the race leads up the Key West ship channel. I guess that’s so the spectators on land can see the finish. We jibed at the sea buoy with E Ticket, about a minute ahead. The rest of the Class D boats, and even some of the Class C boats, were safely tucked behind.

Now we were close reaching, and Caretta started to gain. We almost caught E Ticket, but she crossed the finish line 18 seconds ahead of us. We had match-raced for 160 miles at an average speed of 7.9 knots.

Caretta finished second in Class D and seventh in fleet. Needless to say, the Class A boats broke all the previous line-honor records for this race. We had pushed our seven-year-old C-380 as hard as we could in sustained winds of 30 knots. Nothing broke. The helm gave us a full body workout, but we never felt the boat was in danger of broaching.

The Lauderdale Yacht Club does an excellent job conducting this race. With the finish in Key West and Mount Gay Rum as a prime sponsor, you can guess what the post race festivities were like. Will I do it again next year? Well, we’ll see.

Local News For Southern Sailors

BUBBA continued from page 19 he was, even though I had no shoes on. What we had was a Mexican standoff.”

“How long were you there?”

“I think about 90 minutes,” said Bubba. “I fell asleep for a while, but it wasn’t for long. It was early in the morning, and I knew this guy wasn’t going to wake anyone else up to come down and raise hell with me for stopping in a big puddle. I just outlasted him. Obviously, he got another call, because he eventually left. That’s when I pulled out and went on my way, down to Longboat Key.” “Then you didn’t do anything wrong?”

“Not one thing,” Bubba confirmed. “All I did was pick an inconvenient place for a police officer to question me. I think that showed good judgment.”

I excused myself and went outside to call the Bradenton Beach Police on my cell phone. I asked for officer Henley and was patched through. “This is Morgan Stinemetz, Officer Henley,” I said. “I have found the guy you are looking for.”

“Great,” said Henley. “Where does he live?”

“He lives on a sloop,” I answered.

“What’s a sloop?” asked Henley.

I knew right then that Bubba Whartz had skated. He was home entirely free. I went back inside and bought another round. Bubba may make mistakes from time to time, but he makes some great moves, too. You have to appreciate the dichotomy.

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March 2005

77

The Importance of Running Lights

By Jim Burkett

M

y wife and I had just returned from our honeymoon, having spent a week relaxing oceanside, drinking margaritas and trying our best to tan, not burn, when the inner urge to get back on the water became too overwhelming. She, on the other hand, was ready to begin life as a woman with new-found freedoms, planning social events and generally moving us into the world of goals, responsibilities and civilized behavior.

Within a few days of being home, I could no longer shake the need and picked up the phone. As the weekend approached, I realized that I had failed to tell her that I had called a buddy, and we were set to go sailing that Saturday. This would become my first lesson in understanding the rules of “husbandry.” With a quick look of disapproval, I learned that she had scheduled a small surprise get-together with a few friends at our home that same day. Attempting a compromise, I swore that I would only be gone for a few hours and would be back in plenty of time to shave, shower, dress and help her set up.

Jonathan was an odd sort, a spitting image of what you would think of when someone mentioned the words, “New England salt.” His beard was consistently unkempt. He walked with a severe limp, played the banjo when he became bored and always lost complete focus and attention whenever a good-looking woman walked by. However, he was a longtime friend, and I trusted his sailing skills without question. As a continuing guest aboard his boat, I would only ask if he had “checked everything” before we set out for the day.

He usually just grunted, and I had learned to take this as a primitive “yes,” as we had to date never encountered any problems.

As the outboard engine pushed us past the last mooring, we raised the mainsail and were quickly racing along the coast toward open water.

The sky was a beautiful blue and

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crystal clear, giving testimony to the reason why there are so many sailors per square mile in Florida. With the stiff breeze, we decided to just “chase the sun” and slid farther out past our previous excursions. At any time, we figured we could turn around and catch it back in. After a couple hours, we decided to drop sails, open a few beers and enjoy a little fishing. With almost every cast, we seemed to land one bigger than the last and soon had two coolers full. In our gluttony, we threw the remaining beer into the galley to make room for more of our prized catch. For the first time I finally looked at my watch.

Time to get in, now!

Without much organization, we stowed our gear, kicked in the motor and reversed our direction. As I gunned the throttle, Jonathan once again raised the mainsail. We watched and waited. With the breeze gone, it was quickly evident that we would make better time using the engine to get home. At a top speed of two and a half knots, I tried figuring out what our arrival time might be. The glare of the sun had begun to fade, and I knew it would soon be dark.

With the coastline finally in view, we decided to head under the John’s Pass drawbridge, cut across the Intracoastal and save some precious www.southwindssailing.com

time. Half a mile out, the sun finally dipped below the horizon, and Jonathan went below to switch on the running lights. “See ‘em?,” he shouted. I strained my neck to see farther over the deck, thinking my view might be blocked. Nothing. After throwing the toggle several times and thumping the panel with the side of his closed fist, he came topside, grabbed the air horn and headed forward.

As we approached the bridge in full darkness, the tender blasted a warning, and my friend returned one in reply. The bridge raised, and we slowly crept under, watching for other boats and objects that might be struck due to poor visibility or their inability to see us. I could hear the bridge panels closing behind me and turned around to watch as they finally slammed shut together. Night became instant daylight and I spun around, shielding my eyes from the intensity of the fluorescent lights illuminating our small boat. I could barely understand a voice coming over a speaker but instantly froze as I heard the words, “United States Coast Guard.”

With a very small movement of my hand, I was able to block some of the light, seeing the guardsman pointing automatic rifles at our chests, .45 calibers strapped to their sides as backup. In between them was another guardsman training a large deck gun on our waterline. All concerns of just being late for dinner vanished. After establishing ownership of the boat, we each handed over drivers’ licenses, produced registration documents, answered all questions with a great deal of respect and finally convinced the captain that we were not illegals or smugglers. With the rifles lowered, I sat dazed and just listened as we were sternly reprimanded for not having working running lights. I quietly cursed my stupidity in not checking them myself. Fear began to overweigh logic and I began shaking, watching See LIGHTS continued on page 76