Southwindsmarch2009

SOUTHWINDS News & Views for Southern Sailors

Acura Key West Race Week Hunter 31 Boat Review The Delivery of Bellatrix

March 2009 For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS March 2009

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March 2009

SOUTHWINDS

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SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS

FOR

SOUTHERN SAILORS

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Editorial: Superbowl, Trimarans, the America’s Cup & Dinghies

By Steve Morrell

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Letters

15

Southern Regional Monthly Weather & Water Temperatures

16

Bubba Offers Stimulus Package

By Morgan Stinemetz

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Short Tacks: Sailing News and Events Around the South

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Our Waterways: The Trial: Dinghy Citation in Key West

38

US SAILING National Sailing Programs Symposium

By Jabbo Gordon

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Hunter 31 Boat Review

By Manuel Farinas

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Carolina Sailing: Western Carolina Sailing Club

By Dan Dickison

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Travels with Angel: Cruiser Interrupted, the Haul-Out

By Rebecca Burg

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The Delivery of Bellatrix — A Cruise Up Florida’s Southwest Coast

By Glenda Libby

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How the West Was Won: Acura Key West

By Rebecca Burg

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First-Timer Takes in Acura Key West

By Julie B. Connerley

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

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Sailing Rudderless in Venezuela

By Frank Davies

30-33 Marine Marketplace 67 71 76 77

Boat Brokerage Section Classifieds Alphabetical Index of Advertisers Advertisers’ List by Category

Acura Key West Race Week. Page 54. Photo by Capt.

Bill Robinson.

The delivery of Bellatrix. Page 50.

Photo by Glenda Libby.

COVER: Ngoni, a Mills 40 from Great Britain, sails in Acura Key West.

Photo by Capt. Bill Robinson.

Each issue of SOUTHWINDS (and back issues since 5/03) is available online at www.southwindsmagazine.com 6

March 2009

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FROM THE HELM

STEVE MORRELL,

EDITOR

What does the Superbowl, Trimarans, the America’s Cup and Dinghies Have in Common?

I

t was Superbowl Sunday—probably the most famous Sunday in America—when I walked outside to open up the St. Petersburg Times—BEFORE my morning cup of coffee. I went through the pile of newspaper ads (which make up most of the Sunday paper) and came upon the sports section. There it was—a photo so large it took up about half the entire page. I checked the date again and read the title again. It was the sports section and it did say Feb. 1. No mention of the Superbowl (I think it had its own dedicated section), just a HUGE photo of a sailboat—a trimaran. I flipped the section over to the back page. There it was; another large photo of this same trimaran. That’s right—on the cover—and the back cover—of the sports section of a major newspaper on Superbowl Sunday. When I purchased the magazine in 2002, the former owner, Doran Cushing, told me the local newspapers never write articles about any sport that does not involve a round ball (or kind of round).

Times have changed, or something has. Or maybe they just printed it large to take up space, since the only thing anyone was talking about was football. That’s it. There had to be a reason. Times haven’t changed that much.

So—what was this mystery boat and article? It was an article by Terry Tomalin (the Outdoors editor who has been giving boating more coverage in recent times) about the 90foot trimaran that Oracle’s Larry Ellison had built to challenge the next America’s Cup race. A trimaran in the America’s Cup? It was another multihull, a catamaran named Stars and Stripes (designed by an Italian named Morrelli, by the way, who could be a distant relative of mine, I suppose), which won the America’s Cup in 1988— campaigned and built by Dennis Connor. It was under some technicalities that allowed Connor to win the cup in a catamaran—technicalities that never arose again until today with Ellison’s new challenger. I won’t go into the court

details as I don’t really care (or understand), but I do like the excitement of a new challenger bringing a new element—a trimaran— into the America’s Cup mix. This boat is 90-feet long (100 LOA) with a 90-foot beam. Its mast is158 feet high.

The boat cost $10-million. They say its top speed is 40 knots.

This could spark my re-interest in the America’s Cup. But on to trimarans. It was just a month before this newspaper surprise that I became the owner of a trimaran, albeit much smaller—much, much smaller. It’s a Windrider 17 and I became the proud owner of a 2002 model in late December (SOUTHWINDS did a review on these boats in the February issue). It certainly is one of the smallest trimarans in the world, and to hear of a 90-footer makes me wonder what they would look like side-by-side. I could sail around it, but it couldn’t sail around me. Nevertheless, the Windrider is turning out to be a fun little boat to sail—a beach cat with three hulls. A beach tri?

Dinghies and “The Trial” I couldn’t move on without mentioning “The Trial”—an odyssey of happenings experienced by liveaboard sailor Harry Knickerbocker following the citation he received in Key West while dinghying around the island city. He gave me bits and pieces of it in miscellaneous e-mails he sent over the last few months. I asked him to write up an article about the entire experience, and when I read it, I was not only spellbound but also experienced a whole gamut of emotions while doing so; Anger, laughter, frustration, disbelief, belief, sadness, happiness—the list goes on. It immediately made me think of Franz Kafka’s famous novel, The Trial—a title I gave it along with some other ones that came to mind.

The article should be placed in the dictionary after the word “absurdity”.

You can read all about it in the “Our Waterways” section.

(305) 665-8316 Fax: (305) 665-0318 eMail: lightning@cofs.com (242) 367-3202 eMail: rudiecs@gmail.com 8

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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) 866-7597 Fax www.southwindsmagazine.com e-mail: editor@southwindsmagazine.com Volume 17 Number 3 March 2009 Copyright 2009, Southwinds Media, Inc. Founded in 1993

Doran Cushing, Publisher 11/1993-6/2002

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

Steve Morrell

(941) 795-8704

Assistant Editor Janet Verdeguer Advertising Janet@southwindsmagazine.com editor@southwindsmagazine.com

Janet Verdeguer Steve Morrell

(941) 870-3422 (941) 795-8704

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

Production Heather Nicoll

Proofreading Kathy Elliott

Artwork Rebecca Burg www.artoffshore.com

Printed by Sun Publications of Florida Robin Miller (863) 583-1202 ext 355 Contributing Writers Letters from our reader Dan Dickison Jabbo Gordon Roy Laughlin Morgan Stinemetz

Rebecca Burg Dave Ellis Kim Kaminski Glenda Libby

Frank Davies Manuel Farinas Harry Knickerbocker Hone Scunook

Contributing Photographers/Art Rebecca Burg (and Artwork) Dan Dickison Dave Ellis Shannon Hibberd Kim Kaminski Glenda Libby Katie Ouellette Keat Pruszinski Capt. Bill Robinson

Janine Connelly Manuel Farinas Roy Laughlin Scunook Photography Ed Sherman

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

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

Contact the editor with questions.

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

Read SOUTHWINDS on our Web site www.southwindsmagazine.com.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

March 2009

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Hunter 36

Hunter 38

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

H.L. Mencken

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

E-mail your letters to editor@southwindsmagazine.com

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BOATING TAXES AND FEES COULD FINANCE PUMP-OUTS I notice that when landowners complain about boaters, they usually complain that they are dumping waste overboard.

Putting aside that it doesn’t happen all that often and that even if every boater did it, it would be miniscule in comparison to the accidental spillage from municipal waste treatment plants—a problem maybe both boaters and landowners should work together to fix rather than argue about.

Tax dollars and fees from licenses, gasoline and diesel, boats and boating supplies, and from assessments on waterfront property could be used by the state and municipalities to build pump-out facilities. Every waterfront community would be required to have one every few miles of coastline, and if it had a restroom attached would even service boats that have no on-board facilities.

Maybe we could get the FWC to include this in their new set of rules to solve a problem rather than create new ones.

Paul Shoaps S/V Papillon, Tampa Paul, There are a lot of demands that everyone pump out their boats, but when you start looking for a pump-out, it is amazing how hard they are to find. I once looked into it in Manatee County, on the south side of Tampa Bay—an area with many boats—both sail and power, boatyards and marinas. The only one on the ICW was out of commission for a while, even though they had liveaboards at the marina. The other two were at marinas that are quite a ways off the ICW and a long ride to get to. A few years ago, someone started up a pump-out boat service in Pinellas County (St. Pete) and every municipality and marina he went to (except the municipal marina in St. Pete) fought him on where he could work and where he could dump his full tank. He finally gave up and quit. It was the opposite of what we need. They should have all given him every opportunity to thrive. He had huge demand from boaters—boaters on private docks in canals and at marinas.

This is no exception. Pump-outs are very difficult to find in many areas. Local boaters know about them, but they seem to be the only ones who do. How about a pump-out boat on call in every city and county?

Editor VISITING BOATERS SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMY As a Canadian tourist who just picked up the November issue, I can‘t imagine that the chambers of commerce in these Florida towns trying to keep me away can be very happy.

When I anchor in a friendly town, I buy groceries, use the Laundromat, go to restaurants, clothing stores, hardware stores, etc. All this money goes directly into the LOCAL economy. If I’m not welcome by boat, I’ll sure as heck not stop www.southwindsmagazine.com

there when I go through by car on another vacation, and obviously will tell folks who ask not to bother going there.

Jock Tulloch S/V Unleaded Jock, I always think it is a few who just don’t like boaters who complain the most. I doubt if the town merchants you support with your dollars don’t want you there.

Editor TOWN BOATER FEES I have just read your response to Bernie regarding the town boaters’ fees in Newburyport, MA, in the January 2009 edition. You stated, “Imagine the outrage if a town started charging a local car fee. Where will it all end?”

Assuming that this statement was not “tongue in cheek,” you are about 40 years too late. I moved to Florida in 2000 from the Chicago area, and we had town car fees since, at least, 1960. When we left Illinois, the Chicago fee was about $50, and the suburb that we lived in had a fee of about $25. I would be willing to bet that the fees are considerably more than that now.

Chuck Bentley Punta Gorda, FL Chuck, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I am from the West and I have never heard of such fees.

But the trend among many is targeted user fees—you pay for what you use and others don’t have to pay taxes that go to something they don’t use. The boating world is a big target of this movement.

There are some people out there who would like to charge a fee for everything, put a fence around every place and have a gatekeeper collecting at each entry. There are others who would take this all a step further and privatize, as an example, every park— putting a fence around them and have fees you pay as you enter.

To these people, all roads and waterways should be toll roads and nothing should be public or free. You would be charged to go ashore and wander the public streets. You’re using them, you should help pay for them. You could be charged for going down the ICW—a gate with a toll you must pay if you want to proceed.

Yes—where will it all end? There is a movement in Oregon to have a GPS in every car, and it tracks your miles and you pay a road tax based on the miles you drive. The people behind this movement are concerned about low mileage cars not paying their fair share of the road costs, even though those whose cars pollute more don’t really pay their fair share of the health costs their cars increase. Next, will we have boats with GPS units that track your boat mileage and you pay a fee based on miles covered as a way to pay for water use costs?

Editor

St. Petersburg Yacht Club Announces three great Tampa Bay & Gulf races All three races qualify for the new SPORC trophy (the St. Petersburg Ocean Racing Challenge) and are all Suncoast Boat of the Year races SPECIAL ONE TIME ENTRY FEE IF ENTERING BOTH MICHELOB CUP AND SUNCOAST RACE WEEK

Michelob Ultra Cup March 28 at the SPYC docks Sponsored by Great Bay Distributors/Anheuser Busch

Suncoast Race Week April 2-5 April 3 — SPYC to Bradenton YC April 4 — Bradenton to Treasure Island YC April 5 — Treasure Island to around Egmont Key For more info, go to the race week web site at http://scrw.home.att.net/

April 17 — 25th Silver Anniversary (formerly the Anchor Cup) at the SPYC Pass-a-Grille location Racing in the Gulf of Mexico See details and NOR for all races on the SPYC web site, www.spyc.org or call sailing secretary Phyllis Eades at (727) 822-3873 for entry forms

LETTER TO THE FWC I thought you might be interested in reading a copy of the comments which I sent (via e-mail) to the FWC concerning the new rules they are proposing.

Jack Findlater See LETTERS continued on page 12 News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

March 2009

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LETTERS Ladies and Gentlemen of the FWC Commission, I would like to voice some concerns about the new anchoring and mooring rules, which are now under revision. I am electing to deal with “topics” rather than try to deal with specific paragraph references, with which I am sure you all are well familiar.

Call Capt. Nana Bosma

qualified • experienced • excellent references

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ITEM 1. The proposed 500-foot rule under “unlawful anchoring” which, as I understand it, says that I may not anchor within 500 feet of a number of identified mooring, marina and launching facilities without leaving a person on board does not make sense to me. I see FWC is making a “safety” argument, but that seems to disappear when similar, but private facilities (e.g., yacht clubs, marinas), are not affected. How can it be safe in one instance and not the other?

More importantly, from my perspective, this rule has the following “unintended consequence” impact on “singlehanders” and cruising couples who might want to stop and go ashore for shopping or dinner. Now they must anchor farther away, increasing time in transit to and from their boats, and in many areas, there may not be 500 feet of spacing available to safely make such a stop. So, if my wife and I want to make a short stop and have lunch with friends ashore, we may not be able to do so because one of us will have to stay aboard. Do we have to pay marina fees to have dinner ashore? Is that the intent? How does a single person go to the grocery store without incurring marina fees? It seems to me we already have sufficient rules concerning “safe anchoring,” and this also seems to fly in the face of Florida Statute 327.60, which allows anchoring outside of marked mooring fields without a distance requirement and prohibits such restrictions as this one.

If I assume the intent is to keep vessels which are essentially in “wet storage,” that is to say, are going to be unattended for prolonged periods, from “blocking access” to public access facilities, then let’s put a time frame on being in these areas that still allows me to stop, go ashore and shop, eat and/or visit friends and return to my boat in a reasonable time frame, for example, 48 hours. Changing the proposed rule to read something like “can’t leave an anchored boat unattended (no one on board) for more than 48 hours within 500 feet of…” while still an unnecessary restriction in my view, makes a little more sense and will permit cruising couples and singles the opportunity to stop, shop and rest ashore, while they leave their boat reasonably close to other observed areas, for safety and security reasons.

ITEM 2. Your proposal permitting communities to limit anchoring to 30/90 days also seems to take away the rights granted by 327.60. We already have lots of laws concerning waste discharge and derelict vessel abandonment to answer any and all issues being raised by the “shoreside waterfront community.” If I want to go to the Keys, anchor off Plantation Key, day sail, fish, etc., while staying at anchor (and come into the marina weekly to pump out and buy fuel and ice), instead of paying full-time marina fees, why should the town be able to say I can’t stay longer than 30 days? If I am breaking a “dumping law,” allowing my boat to become a hazard or a derelict, or breaking any other law, then cite or arrest me. Simply “running me off as an undesirable” is not

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How an acceptable solution as far as I’m concerned.

Do you remember the “public outrage,” which arose when Daytona Beach proposed giving a “one way ticket out of town” to the homeless living there? What is the difference here? Essentially, you will be permitting, by law, the opportunity for a community to say, “After one month you have to leave, as long as you are not paying rent (in the form of marina fees).” Would you try to do that in Florida to anyone who was on shore and not paying rent (e.g., homeless) by passing a law that essentially says, “If you don’t pay rent (or marina fees), you have to leave town in 30 days, and you can only stay a total of 90 days a year.” You see, when it only affects an easy target, like boaters, (who actually do spend a lot of money on fuel and food), FWC wants to “run them out of town if they don’t pay rent,” but let such a requirement be equally applied to the land-based people not paying rent (e.g., the homeless) and the press would be all over the FWC like a cheap suit because it would be considered heartless. Is that because the homeless do not stay around the waterfront homes of the “rich and famous” with political friends? Please don’t let communities restrict the rights of navigation on the “navigable waters of the United States” and the state of Florida. Please delete this proposal.

ITEM 3. My last concern has to do with the registration requirements. Using a shoreside example again, we have “lots” of people here in Florida who we encourage to buy a condo and spend five to six months here when it is cold up North and then go “home” for the remainder of the year.

When they drive down here for their stay, they operate their car using their “home state” plates and we honor that registration because we want them to be here and spend money.

Using that same condo example, if I bring my boat and my car, will one have to be re-registered and not the other?

Why not extend that same consideration to those who come here only by boat for the same periods, either from other states or from other countries, for the same reasons?

Will the small amount of “registration money” gained outweigh the months of consumption revenue lost by having such visitors cut their visit short? AND, how will you “enforce (read measure) it.” Will FWC be setting up border crossing stations on the ICW and at every inlet? Will visitors be issued a FWC “water-borne visa” so we can keep track of the dates of the visit? Let’s keep the rules that say if you permanently move here, register here, but at the same time let’s not introduce legislation that will discourage visitors from coming to a state that is very dependent on tourism. Let’s honor valid, current out-of-state and out-of-country registrations until the owners permanently move to Florida or make Florida their “Home of Record” for taxes, voting, etc.

John W. Findlater, Jr. USCG Licensed 100T Master (retired)

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Jack, Thanks for sharing this with us as you make good points.

Many of the proposed FWC rules are indicative of how disconnected the FWC is from cruisers, especially sailors. I wonder how many of their members have ever cruised around, nevertheless ever sailed a boat. This 500-foot rule makes me wonder if they want to make it so difficult for cruisers that they will either not stop or will See LETTERS continued on page 14 News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

March 2009

13

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LETTERS go to a marina or mooring field. I believe that is their goal: to end all anchoring, except perhaps those out just for a day sail, unless in an established mooring field. I really don’t doubt this at all. If they make it tough enough, that’s what they’ll end up with. They are more concerned about policing than they are about cruisers’ rights.

After all, they are the police. Policing is what they do.

Why would I think this way? Anyone who would propose that you can’t leave your boat unattended unless you are anchored more than 500 feet is either ignorant of what cruisers deal with and ageold boating rights, or they want to make it so tough that people won’t stop. It could be both. What is the reasoning for a rule that you cannot leave a boat unattended for even a short period of time?

If it’s for safety, as you point out, it is a non-issue and not a real motive. People have been leaving boats unattended at anchor for about as long as anchors have been around—in perfect safety. It is just a ruse to control boaters more and more and eliminate any free anchoring overnight anywhere in this state. And if you are anchored, you can pretty much be guaranteed, they will come and question you and inspect you and make sure everything is exactly in order—without probable cause (a practice we have to stop).

“Will FWC be setting up border crossing stations on the ICW and at every inlet?” I hope not, but I bet there are many in the FWC who would like an FWC officer every few miles, if not every nautical mile, ready to inspect you and keep an eye on you, stop you wherever you are anchored and check you out. After all, they don’t need probable cause to stop you—they have free rein to inspect whoever whenever they want, and it appears that is what many are doing.

I am hoping they will direct all their efforts in proportion to where the accidents are and the real problems on the water. I wonder how many drownings there were in the last 10 years because a cruising tender didn’t have the proper whistle?

Of course, we also have local communities who want to stop cruisers anchoring in nearby waters by trying to make it a police matter. What was formerly a right, many want to now make a crime.

Editor

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

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

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EVENTS & NEWS

OF INTEREST TO

SOUTHERN SAILORS

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

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

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

I RACING EVENTS

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

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

EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING Monthly Boating Safety Courses 2009 Schedule in Fort Pierce, FL About Boating Safety—Boating Safety Course designed for the recreational boater, to encourage safety on the water.

This one-day boating course emphasizes safety on the water to enhance the boating experience and to increase

confidence on the water. The course is state of Florida approved for those 21 and under to obtain their FL state boaters License. Go to http://a0700508.uscgaux .info/ (click on Calendar) for class information and the next scheduled class. Classes are usually very full, call and reserve space on the preferred program date. $36 (+ $10 for each additional family member).

Courses are held from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Flotilla 58 Coast Guard Auxiliary Building 1400 Seaway Dr., Fort Pierce, FL. (772) 579-3395 Stephanie, or (772) 321-3041 Gary, or e-mail stephcgaux@hotmail.com.

Coast Guard Auxilliary Boating Courses, Jacksonville, FL Safe Boating Saturdays. March 14, April 25, May 30, June 27, September 12, October 3, November 14. 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost is $25 including materials. Captains Club, 13363 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville. Meets Florida legal requirements for boater education. Most insurance companies offer discounts to program graduates. Mike Christnacht. (904) 502-

2009 Spring Sailboat Show

FR

EE

ORLANDO, FL Saturday & Sunday, March 28-29 • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

CORRECTION

SOUTHWINDS printed the incorrect dates for the Dania Marine Flea Market in the February issue. The correct dates are March 19-22. For more information on the flea market, see “Other Events” in this section.

!

Over 70 boats — Sail and Power New & brokerage boats

Fantastic Boat Show Specials!

4503 N. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32804 (Corner of 441 & Lee Road)

Come and enjoy this FREE event!

Raffles, food & refreshments, music, exhibitors Demonstration sailboat rides available on select models For more info: www.LakeFairviewMarina.com (407) 295-0117

CERTIFIED TRAINING FACILITY

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www.southwindsmagazine.com

9154. Generally held once monthly on Saturdays. Go to www.uscgajaxbeach.com for the schedule.

Ongoing – Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs.

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

Boating Safety Courses, St. Petersburg, FL St. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron. Six-week Public Boating Course begins Monday, March, 16, 7-9 p.m.

Continues for an additional six weeks on Monday nights.

Includes safety information plus basic piloting; charts, course plotting, latitude/longitude and dead reckoning.

Satisfies Florida’s under age 21 boater requirements. Using GPS course—March 25, 7-9 p.m. St. Petersburg Sailing Center, 250 2nd Ave SE, Demens Landing, St. Petersburg.

(727) 867-3088. Other courses continuously offered. (727) 565-4453. www.boating-stpete.org.

Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary (Flotilla 11-1) Public Boating Programs About Boating Safely. March 21-22. Navigation Program (includes charting tools) – eight lessons. Class Days: April 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30.

For more information on upcoming education programs or to request a free vessel safety check call (727) 4698895 or visit www.a0701101.uscgaux.info. Click on Public Education Programs. America’s Boating Course and other courses regularly posted on the Web site.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS in Fiji. Bill Harris took this photo, showing his wife, Capt. JoAnne Harris, holding her copy of SOUTHWINDS magazine, on their recent Christmas trip to Fiji. JoAnne and Bill are from Nassau Bay, TX. North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC Ongoing adults sailing programs. Family Sailing. 2-6 people; 2-6 hours. Traditional skiffs or 30’ keelboat. $50-$240. www.ncmm-friends.org, maritime@ncmail.net, (252) 7287317.

Reservations/information: call The Friends’ office (252) 728-1638 Ruskin, FL, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 75 Offers Home Study Safe Boating Course The Ruskin flotilla each month offers a Boating Safety course in Ruskin, but has found that many boaters do not have the time to attend the courses, so they are now also

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offering a home study course at $30. Additional family members will be charged $10 each for testing and certificates. Tests will be held bimonthly.

Entry into the course will also allow participants to attend the classes. To apply, call (813) 677-2354.

All Women’s Sailing Seminars, Florida, March and April All Women Sailing On-the-Water Seminars. $145 includes the Sailing Wind Wheel. Clearwater: Saturday, March 21. Orlando: Saturday April 18 (Lake Sanford, Sat. 9-12 am class seminar, with on-the-water sessions available in the afternoon). Miami: Saturday, April 25. For more information, go to www.womensailing.com, or e-mail wsc@womensailing.com.

Cruising Seminars, West Marine Apollo Beach, FL, March 7 The West Marine store in Apollo Beach will host a full day of cruising seminars on March 7. 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Topics: Babying Your Baby: Keeping Your Diesel Engine Happy; Galley Bliss: Provisioning & Cooking; Power Boat Cruising; Cruising the West Coast of Florida; Family’s Circumnavigation and Preparing Your Boat for Cruising (with Pam Wall).

A free lunch with barbecue will be served. The store is located at 268 Apollo Beach Blvd., Apollo Beach, FL 33572.

For more information, call Allison or Julie at (813) 645-6144

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(941) 780-0700 innovms@verizon.net

Women Only Sailing Seminar, West Marine, Pensacola, March 10 West Marine will hold a roundtable session with some local women who have raced, cruised and circumnavigated. West Marine Store, 3500 Barrancas, Pensacola, FL. For more information, call Barbara Vandiver at (850) 572-5535 or e-mail bobbie@bshmarine.com.

Couples Sailing Seminar, March 13, St. Petersburg Two on a Boat—How to Keep it Afloat Seminar. A couples seminar and intro to sailing. Held at the new SmarterSail Charter location in St. Petersburg. For more information e-mail wsc@womensailing.com.

Sailing to Bahamas Seminar, St. Augustine, FL, March 21 SouthEast Sailing & Yachts is putting on a seminar Saturday, March 21, at its location in St. Augustine, FL. The seminar is called Bahama Bound 2009 and is for cruisers planning on sailing to the Bahamas. Speakers are other seasoned cruisers who will share their knowledge of the Bahamas and getting there. Topics include routes, Gulf Stream crossing, boat preparation, provisioning, first aid, fishing, snorkeling, lots of favorite anchorages, places to go, and more.

Registration is $25 per couple and space is limited. Call, write, or e-mail for reservations. 400 Riberia Street, St Augustine, FL 32084. sally.sesy@yahoo.com. (904) 8245770,10-4. For more information, go to www.ses-y.com.

Boating Safety Class, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Englewood, FL, March 21 and 28 Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 87 is offering a two-day Boating Safety class at Lemon Bay Park in Englewood on March 21 and 28. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Small boat operation, trailering, boating laws, safety equipment, aids to navigation, rules of the road, etc. Completion will qualify the student to receive the Florida Boater Card. $25 for an individual and $20 for accompanying family member to cover the cost of materials.

For more information and to register, call Lee Waters at (941) 697-9435 Visit the flotilla web site at www.coastguardenglewood.com

Review Your Boat SOUTHWINDS is looking for boaters to review their own boat. We found readers like to read reviews by boat owners. If you like to write, we want your review. It can be long or short (the boat, that is), a racer, a cruiser, new or old, on a trailer or in the water. Photos essential. If it’s a liveaboard, tell us how that works out. Or—is it fast?

Have you made changes? What changes would you like? Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com for more specifics and specifications on photos needed.

Articles must be sent by e-mail or on disc. We pay for the reviews, too.

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Electrical Certification Jacksonville, FL, March 24-27.

American Boat and Yacht Council. www.abycinc.org. (410) 990-4460.

Radar Operation & Interpretation Course, Clearwater Yacht Club, March 28-29 What you will learn: Radar principles and operation, navigation and piloting with radar and collision avoidance. Plus: How to combine Radar with other Electronics. American Sailing Association Radar Endorsement (120) Available (via affiliated ASA School with additional testing fee).

Weekend course from 0900-1700, Saturday and Sunday, lunches included. Yacht Club: March 28-29. Call or email for additional dates. $295.00 per person (plus $50 for books and materials). Contact Captains Jeff Grossman or Jean Levine at (727) 644-7496, or e-mail info@antiguamarinesurvey.com. www.antiguamarinesurvey.com. Offered by Antigua Marine Survey & Consulting, Inc.

BOAT SHOWS Central Carolina Boat Show. Feb. 28-March 1. Greensboro Coliseum Complex, Greensboro, NC. Southeast Productions Inc., (336) 855-0208. www.ncboatshows.com 7th Savannah International Boat Show. March 6-8.

Savannah International Trade and Convention Center and the Westin Savannah Harbor. Friday, 12-7. Sat., 10-7. Sunday, 11-6. Adults $8. Kids 12 and under free. One of the most popular features of the show is the second annual shag contest, which takes place outdoors overlooking the Savannah River.

The contest features live music by the Swingin’ Medallions and is hosted by WTOC’s Sonny Dixon. The Savannah International Boat Show is the largest indoor and in-water boat show from North Carolina to north Florida.

For more information, go to www.SavannahInternationalBoatShow.com.

24th Annual Palm Beach Boat Show, March 26-29. Flagler Drive on the water in downtown West Palm Beach and also at the County Convention Center, Palm Beach, FL. (800) 9407642. www.showmanagement.com.

Lake Fairview 2009 Spring SailBoat Show, Orlando, FL. March 28-29. Lake Fairview Marina in Orlando is hosting their annual boat show. This is a free event with demo boat rides, raffles and refreshments. Representatives from Hunter Marine, Precision Boat Works, Com-Pac Yachts and Tohastu outboards will be available to answer questions.

Boat show specials. Free admission and free parking. Lake Fairview Marina, 4503 N Orange Blossom Trail, 10 minutes NE of downtown Orlando (corner of Lee Rd and OBT). Call (407) 295-0117, or visit www.LakeFairviewMarina.com for more information.

SARASOTA SAILFEST 2009 March 28-29, 2009 AN ALL-CLASS, ALL-AGES REGATTA FOR: • Sarasota Bay Boat of the Year event – All PHRF classes welcome • Optimist – Green, Red, White & Blue • Laser• Laser Radial • Laser 4.7 • 420 • Sunfish• E Scow • Flying Scot

On-line registration is available at www.sarasotaysp.com For more information, call 941-504-4236 or e-mail stuart_gilfillen@hotmail.com News & Views for Southern Sailors

f fun! o d n e k ee a full w r o f s u Join SOUTHWINDS

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Pensacola Boat Show, April 3-5. Pensacola Civic Center. (251) 478-7469. www.gulfcoastshows.com.

Jacksonville International Boat Show, April 17-19. Metropolitan Park and Marina.

(904) 759-2758. www.jaxboatshow.com

OTHER EVENTS

Beneteau Rendezvous, Treasure Island, Tampa Bay, March 6-8 Beneteau USA and Murray Yacht Sales is sponsoring the 2009 Beneteau Rendezvous at Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club, March 6-8. All Beneteau owners and their guests are invited to sail, power, or drive up/down to the TITYC for a fun-filled weekend.

The festivities will begin on Friday evening around the yacht club tiki bar for happy hour. Saturday will feature Beneteau owner-related activities and seminars as well as access to the club’s pool and tennis courts.

On Saturday night, owners and their guests are invited to attend a poolside barbecue banquet. Participants will have access to the dining room on Sunday morning for

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brunch before heading for homeport.

Call or e-mail Murray Yacht Sales, St. Petersburg, to RSVP for the rendezvous and for additional information. (727) 214-1590, or StPete@MurrayYachtSales.com

31st Annual Dania Marine Flea Market, Dania Jai Alai Fronton, Dania Beach, FL, March 19-22 This year, the world’s largest marine flea market returns to its origins and will be held at the parking lot of the Dania Jai Alai Fronton, Dania Beach, FL. Private individuals and corporate vendors sell marine equipment, coral encrusted antiques, used boats, fishing tackle, diving gear, marine artwork and other boating related items. Thursday- Saturday.

9-6 p.m. Sunday 9-4 p.m. Thursday $12. Friday, Saturday, Sunday $10. Children under 12 free. Free parking. Al Behrendt Enterprises, (954) 920-7877. www.daniamarinefleamarket.com.

JSI 13th Annual Nautical Flea Market, St. Petersburg, March 7 Spaces available for sellers. Shop for bargains, sell your old

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stuff or just browse. JSI parking lot at their NEW LOCATION at 2233 3rd Ave S., St. Petersburg. Call to reserve space at (727) 577-3220 or (800) 652-4914. bill@newjsi.com.

Second Annual Allied Boats Gam and Rendezvous, Tampa Bay, March 20-22 A gam of Allied boats is being planned for the weekend of March 20-22 in Tampa Bay, FL. All Allied sailboats are welcome, such as the ketch boats: Seawind I 30, Seawind II 32, Seabreeze 35, Princess/Contessa 36, Mistress 39, or the 42-foot S&S-designed yawl. If there are any of the more obscure Chance 30s or Luders 33s made by Allied in the area, feel free to join in the fun. This gam would include Allied successor, Wright Yacht boatbuilders, etc.

To add yourself to the e-mail contact list as details gel and plans are made, contact Ed Verner (a Seawind II owner hailing from Apollo Beach, FL) via e-mail at seawindii@yahoo.com with you and your vessel’s information. Details are still being sorted out, but ideas so far are for a two-day event to offer aerial photography, a rafting-up anchor session, a possible dinner, and/or flotilla.

Dawn Riley to Speak at Gulf Coast Sailing Club Southwest Florida Regatta, Naples, FL, March 28-29 Dawn Riley will be the keynote speaker for US SAILING’s Mount Gay Rum Speaker Series during the Gulf Coast Sailing Club (GCSC) 33rd Annual Southwest Florida Regatta. The Porsche Cup of Naples sailing competition scheduled for March 28-29 at Naples’ new Hamilton Harbor

Yacht Club (HHYC) will highlight the regatta.

Riley is featured as part of the US SAILING’s Mount Gay Rum Speaker Series, first created in 2005 as a grassroots, educational series delivering high quality seminars to cruising and racing sailors nationwide. The Series has proven to be very successful in its first three years with more than 6,000 sailors attending 46 events.

Riley’s sailing career includes four America’s Cups onboard (one win) and an additional role as CEO/GM in the last two (2000, 2007). She has sailed in two Roundthe-World Races as well as participated at almost every other level of sailing from college to match racing to iceboating.

There are a limited number of Riley dinner-keynote tickets, scheduled for Saturday, March 28, available for the public. For more information, go to www.GulfCoastSailingClub.org.

4th Annual Great Florida Gulf Coast Small Craft Festival, Cortez, FL, April 17-19

Come sail, row, or paddle your classic or traditional boat.

Race and/or “mess about,” sing sea shanties, chow down and pig out on fresh local seafood. There will also be a postfestival “gunk hole” trip around the Manatee River. This is a family affair and there will be children’s activities. Bring stuff to sell of a nautical flea market nature. There will be stuff to buy. The registration fee includes free on-site camping, an awards dinner, coffee and doughnuts, good times, great company and some live music. The campground will be open on April 14. Guest speaker is Capt. Tod Croteau of the National Park Historic American Building Survey For further information: Florida Gulf Coast Maritime Museum at Cortez. (941) 708-4935. www.FGCSCF.org.

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Gary Jobson to Speak at the Rudder Club, Jacksonville, FL, April 18 Gary Jobson will be the keynote speaker for US SAILING’s Mount Gay Rum Speaker Series following The Rudder Club of Jacksonville’s pre-registration for the Mug Race—the world’s longest river race.

Mug Race registration will be held on Saturday, April 18 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at The Rudder Club.

Afterwards, a Mount Gay Rum party will be held from 6:30 to 7:30, when Jobson will speak. The party will continue after his lecture.

Tickets for the Mount Gay Speaker Series and party are $20. Seating for the lecture is limited to the first 125 people.

For advance purchase of tickets, go to Regattanetwork at http://tinyurl.com/d9b3gw. Limited seating at the door will be available for $30, if room available.

For additional information, go to the club Web site at www.rudderclub.com. The Rudder Club is located at 8533 Malaga Ave., Orange Park, FL 32073. (904) 364-4094.

Fourth Annual Classic Boat Rally, South Carolina, April 23-30 The Classic Boat Rally is an organized sailing adventure

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up the Intracoastal Waterway from Savannah, GA to Charleston, SC, for boats of classic design ranging in overall length from 15 feet to 24 feet. Hosted by four yacht clubs.

For more information, and to participate, go to www.ClassicBoatRally.com .

25th Annual Interstate Mullet Toss and Gulf Coast’s Greatest Beach Party, April 24-26 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. (251) 980-5116. Great pictures on the Web site. You will want to go.

25th Annual Pompano Beach Seafood Festival, Pompano Beach, FL, April 24-29 Pompano Beach oceanfront. Annual festival held on the beach, featuring fresh local seafood prepared by area restaurants. Musical entertainment, arts and crafts and children’s

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play area. Located at the end of Atlantic Boulevard at the beach. More than 50 charities benefit from the proceeds of the Seafood Festival. Admission charged.

(954) 570-7785. www.pompanobeachseafoodfestival.com.

Level 1 US SAILING Instructor Course, Sarasota Sailing Squadron, April 25-26 and May 2-3 The Sarasota Sailing Squadron is hosting a US SAILING Level 1 (small boat) instructor course in Sarasota on two consecutive weekends, Apr. 25-26 and May 2-3. Jabbo Gordon, US SAILING certified instructor and instructor trainer, will teach the 40-hour course. He also holds an OPUV license from the Coast Guard.

Candidates must be 16 years old by the first day of class (no exceptions) and be a US SAILING member. Membership can be individual (not youth) or family, but US SAILING allows only one certification per family membership. In addition, interested persons need a NASBLA approved safe-boating certification and should have completed adult CPR and first aid certification.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

The course fee is $325, and an adult US Sailing membership cost is $60. A late fee for applications received one week prior to the course is $50. However, there is an early registration discount of $20 for payments received in the training office before March 28.

Registration can be accomplished by going online to US SAILING’S Web site www.ussailing.org and then going to training and instructor/coach certification. The course number is 328832. If there are any questions, contact Jabbo at (941) 468-1719 or gordonjb35@yahoo.com.

35th Annual Wooden Boat Show, South Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC, April 26-May 2 Workshops, demonstrations, races, and other educational programs will be held. Craftsmen will demonstrate traditional trades and skills at the museum. Go sailing on some of the museums traditional watercraft each afternoon. Over 50 boats displayed on land and in the water.

For information, go to www.ncmaritime.org/main/wbs2009.htm. (252) 728-7317.

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Wharram Rendezvous, Islamorada, Florida Keys, May 15-17 For more information e-mail Dan at floridawharramrendezvous@hotmail.com, or call (305) 664-0190.

NEWS

Morgan Invasion Planned for May in Tampa Bay The 24th Annual Morgan Invasion will be held in May at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club’s Pass-a-Grille location, according to Invasion planners. Difficulty with finding a workable site have postponed final plans, but planners are confident the rendezvous event will happen in May. Sailing will be in the Gulf from the Pass-a-Grille location.

Southwinds will publish the final schedule as becomes available. The Morgan Invasion Web site, www.morganinvasion.net, will also post news on the event.

Historic Pensacola Lighthouse Celebrates 150 years

By Kim Kaminski On January 1, 1859, the Pensacola Lighthouse began its operation as an aid to travelers in the Gulf of Mexico and into the bay and inland waterways of Pensacola. In Florida, there are 30 lighthouses (according to the Florida Lighthouse Association), and the Pensacola Lighthouse is considered one of the few that is still working and active.

Tours of the lighthouse are open to the public.

The lighthouse was built in 1857 and replaced the first lighthouse (1824) built by the United States on the Florida Gulf Coast and the second lighthouse built in Florida. What is unusual about the Pensacola Lighthouse is the fact that it still uses the original Fresnel lens. This lens is 10 feet in height and weighs approximately two tons. It is six feet in diameter and holds 344 glass prisms. The lens rotates over a

The Pensacola Lighthouse, located on the Pensacola Naval Air Station. Photo by Kim Kaminski.

1,000-watt bulb, which emits eight beams of light that can easily be seen over 27 miles away.

The lighthouse measures 150 feet from its base to the top of the tower and contains a spiral staircase that winds up inside the tower. It is known as the fourth tallest brick lighthouse tower in the nation. It sits on a 40-foot bluff,

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See Short Tacks events in SOUTHWINDS, and on our Web site, for classes in your area www.sailingwindwheel.com

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

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making the light 190 feet above sea level. There are 177 steps from the bottom of the staircase to the top of the lens tower. When the lighthouse first came into operation, the light was powered by a whale oil lamp that had to be lit each day. The lighthouse keeper had to climb the 177 steps up to the top of the tower to light the lamp and set the weights that helped to turn the lamp each evening. Every two hours the lamp oil needed to be refilled and then, each morning the climb up the staircase was repeated to extinguish the lamp in the early dawn hours. In 1965, the lighthouse was automated and is still operating to this date, flashing its white light every minute.

For more information visit www.pensapedia.com/wiki/Pensacola_Lighthouse.

King and Queen of Spain to Visit Pensacola in Honor of 450th Anniversary

By Kim Kaminski On August 15, 1559, a Spanish explorer named Don Tristan de Luna brought a colony expedition to the coastal shores of Pensacola Bay to establish the first European settlement in the New World. One month later, a hurricane slammed into the area where the colony was settled, destroying the majority of de Luna’s ships and supplies. After struggling for a few years, these explorers fled the area only to have others return again in 1698 to establish the first permanent settlement in northwest Florida.

Pensacola today is known as America’s first settlement.

On August 15, the city will be celebrating its 450th anniversary. Pensacola is also a location that marked the beginning of the Spanish footprint into Florida’s history. In honor of this occasion, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain will visit, on Feb.18-19, the northern Gulf Coast. During their visit, the sailors of the Pensacola community will be out on the waters of Pensacola Bay to welcome the king and queen. King Juan Carlos I, along with a few members of his family, have been avid sailors over the years and have been members of various Spanish Olympic sailing teams in a number of Olympic campaigns. His son, Prince Felipe, who

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has participated in the Soling Class at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 (finishing in sixth position) and his daughter, Princess Cristina—who participated in the Seoul, Korea, games in 1988, both enjoyed representing Spain in numerous national and international sailing championships. King Juan Carlos I is also a keen sailor. He sailed in the Dragon Class at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1972. Queen Sofia was a reserve sailor for the Greek Olympic team in Rome in 1960.

During their stay, the king and queen will hold a public address at the T.T. Wentworth Museum in downtown Pensacola. This museum is found across the street from the historic Plaza Ferdinand, the location where Spanish west Florida became part of the United States in 1821 when General Andrew Jackson accepted the land transfer from Spain.

U-Boat Yacht Management In 2008, Nana Bosma started a unique new service, U-Boat Yacht Management. The company offers comprehensive yacht management services to absentee, or present, yacht owners—power and sail—who need someone to manage their boat. Nana will manage a boat for general maintenance or oversee extensive work using experienced contractors and suppliers she knows. The company offers this service to those who keep their boat in the area, but live out of

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town—or for those who live in the area but do not have the time or expertise to manage the boat or the work done on it.

They will also prepare a boat for sale or oversee it during the hurricane season to keep it prepared for a storm. U-Boat will also prepare boats for overland transport or receive them if they need management on their arrival. Being a licensed captain, Nana will also deliver boats, or oversee having them delivered by experienced captains. In addition, the company also serves firms in the industry such as Hunter Marine, Inc. and Massey Yacht Sales & Services.

The company is based in Sarasota, FL, and serves southwest Florida and areas beyond. For more information on U-Boat Yacht Management, go to www.u-boat.us, or call (941) 306-7776.

Offshore Sailing School Contest Offers Free Sailing Lessons to Winners Offshore Sailing School, in celebration of its 45th year, announced a contest, in which all are eligible, entitled, “45 Reasons to Learn to Sail.” Contest winners can receive a number of prizes simply by submitting a list of 45 reasons why they should learn to sail.

The grand prize is one free tuition for a 3-Day learn to sail course or one free tuition for a Bareboat Cruising Preparation course at any Offshore Sailing School campus, subject to availability. Travel, accommodations and other

incidental expenses are not included. Day Sailing or Basic Keelboat certification (or equivalent training) is a prerequisite for the Bareboat Cruising Preparation course.

Second prize is two two-hour sailing lessons, and third prize is one two-hour sailing lesson—all at any Offshore Sailing School campus, subject to availability. Entries must be received via e-mail or postal mail by March 31, and winners will be judged and selected based on merit such as the quality, creativity and originality of the entry. The winners will be notified by phone, mail and/or e-mail.

No purchase is necessary to enter. Official contest rules, terms and conditions found at www.offshoresailing.com.

New Online Store Offers Hard-To-Find Original Boat Parts A new Web site, ReplacementBoatParts.com, provides a huge selection of hard-to-obtain OEM equipment through a simple-to-navigate online store.

Now boat owners can purchase the same quality component parts boatbuilders use. The Web site features products they wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else, from customized water and waste systems to interior and exterior LED, halogen and incandescent lighting.

The online store offers faucets, sprayers, transom showers, cup holders, hose fittings and adapters, as well as many other difficult-to-find accessories and hardware. The Web site also has a selection of bilge blowers, plastic and stainless steel vent grills, portlights, hatches, switches Articles Wanted About Southern Yacht Clubs, Sailing Associations and Youth Sailing Groups Southwinds magazine is looking for articles on individual yacht clubs, sailing associations and youth sailing groups throughout the Southern states (NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX (east Texas). Articles wanted are about a club’s history, facilities, major events and general information about the club. The clubs and associations must be well established and have been around for at least five years. Contact editor@Southwindsmagazine.com for information about article length, photo requirements and other questions.

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OUR WATERWAYS

The Trial* —Dinghy Citation in Key West Where Do Our Tax Dollars Go?

By Harry Knickerbocker The Citation: Stopped in Key West During a recent voyage to Key West, I was given a citation for the improper display of registration numbers on my dinghy. I received this citation late one morning while I was on my way to Key West Bight Marina. At the time, there was a powerboat race in progress, and the police had the harbor cordoned off. There was a lot of noise, and several hundred boats were anchored around the racecourse. I decided that hugging the east side of the channel was the easiest way to get to the marina. Unfortunately, as I motored by one of the Coast Guard docks, two FWC officers spotted my dinghy and waved me over.

I knew what was coming before their dog and pony show began. First they asked to see my “noisemaker.” I dutifully held up a life preserver with a fluorescent red whistle attached, and shook it at them. I wanted them to know I was fully prepared should my dinghy sink. I chose this color whistle because I figured that if it clogged up, I could always wave it around like a tiny red flag to attract attention.

Then they wanted to see my dinghy’s registration. After I hemmed and hawed for a few moments, I told them that my dinghy had not been registered...as yet, although I had plans of doing so in the near future. (I assumed that I had 30 days to take care of this.) They were unimpressed by my reply. They also seemed perplexed.

“Do these registration numbers go with this dinghy?”

The older officer asked.

I was going to say “kinda...sorta,” but instead I told him the truth: They were the same numbers that were on my sailboat, the mother vessel.

This answer made him roll his eyes.

“Why did you put these numbers on your dinghy?” he asked.

“Because I had difficulty getting my dinghy registered in Florida,” I explained, “and I needed some numbers for ID. So I borrowed them from my sailboat. And why not? I paid for them. They belong to me.”

Then I told him my sad, tedious story. I purchased this dinghy while I was anchored out in the lovely harbor at Beaufort, SC, from a guy that bought the dinghy new from West Marine, but never registered it—and so he never received a title. When I made the purchase, all I received to prove ownership was a bill of sale. I thought this would be sufficient, but I was wrong. Because the dinghy had no title, the state of Florida refused to register it unless I could produce an MSO (Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin), the original sales receipt and a notarized bill of sale. But none of this was possible. Just after we closed the deal, the man who sold me the dinghy climbed aboard his Island Packet, and headed for Maine. He left me holding the bag...so to speak.

*Not to be confused with The Trial by Franz Kafka. Not exactly, anyway. “The Court wants nothing from you. It receives you when you come, and it dismisses you when you go.”

— quote from The Trial.

Editor

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www.southwindsmagazine.com

In short, the state of Florida would not register the dinghy based on a bill of sale alone.

“All you have to do,” the older officer said, as if he were talking to a five-year-old, “is to have your dinghy’s ID numbers verified by a police officer. Then take your bill of sale to the DMV. It’s easy. I’ve been doing this for 25 years.”

When I disagreed with him, based on what I had been told at the DMV in Fernandina Beach, where I first tried to register the dinghy, the officer became irate.

“You’re not listening!” He shouted. His face turned red, and the veins on his forehead stood out.

“I am listening,” I replied, keeping my cool. “Don’t blame me because the state of Florida is making things difficult.”

Then the young officer (he was in training), told me that I was committing a misdemeanor violation. The way he said this gave me the creepy feeling that I had just stepped into deep doo-doo. I wanted to say, “But my dinghy is only eight-feet long. It’s such a small boat to be involved in such a large violation of the law.” Instead, I remained silent. Once the show starts, it has to run its course.

In this instance, I was told that I was being cited for the improper display of registration numbers. I was also told that I had 30 days to decide if I wanted to pay the fine or go to court. When I mentioned the possibility of pleading not guilty, the older officer once again became irate. “Ya, ya,” he said angrily, as if he had heard this line hundreds of times.

“Go on and go to court.”

“Maybe I will,” I said.

Then I was given the citation, along with the following choice: Either stop using the dinghy until it is legally registered with the state, or remove its outboard motor and row it around the harbor. My dinghy rows like a giant marshmallow, so I decided to park it.

It would be nice if the story ended here, but this is actually where the best part begins.

After I parked my dinghy, I found a fellow sailor who was about to head out to his boat. I asked him if he wouldn’t mind giving me a lift. My boat was on the way. He agreed. I climbed into my new friend’s dinghy, we untied the painter and began to exit the marina. Along the way I started telling him about my recent trouble with the FWC, when lo and behold, they suddenly motored back into view and headed our way. The older officer then waved us over.

What followed was the second act of the dog and pony

News & Views for Southern Sailors

show. It was very similar to the first act.

“Where is your noisemaker?” The older officer wanted to know. (You really have to wonder if this guy doesn’t get sick and tired of asking this same insipid question.) Then he told my friend that the noisemaker had to be easily accessible. He sounded as if he was quoting chapter and verse.

The reason he said this was because my new friend’s noisemaker was inside a mesh bag that had a corroded zipper that would not unzip. This made his noisemaker distinctly inaccessible. To save my new friend a $60 ticket, I reached into my pocket and produced a knife with a dull but still effective blade. A few moments later the noisemaker was free of its bag. My friend held it up so that it could be properly inspected and approved.

Meanwhile, the marina was filling up with large powerboats. They were idling by, completely oblivious of the presence of the FWC officers.

“I’ll bet those guys don’t have life preservers for everyone onboard,” I said to the older officer.

“Why did you say that?” he snapped, his voice suddenly rising. I could tell his blood pressure was going up once again, so I decided to remain silent.

“I want to know why you said that! What are you implying?”

“I’m just making an observation,” I said. Apparently, I’d hit a nerve.

“When we are done here, we’ll check out the other boats in the marina,” he said. “You can be sure of it.

Everyone is subject to the same laws, rich or poor, young or old, without exception.”

Right. After he calmed down he then issued my poor young friend a warning ticket for…“the improper display of registration numbers.” Apparently, the pony in this show only knew one trick.

SOUTHWINDS March 2009

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OUR WATERWAYS Same law? No exceptions? Rich or poor? Young or old?

I couldn’t help but wonder why they hadn’t given me a warning ticket?

Rather than ask the older officer this question, I let the matter drop. I didn’t want to make him angry again. I just assumed that in my case the numbers had been wrong, and even worse, the dinghy was unregistered, whereas, in my friend’s case, the numbers on his dinghy had merely faded until they could not be read. In any event, a few minutes later my official encounter with the FWC had come to an end.

The Registration Problem—Solved at Last Unfortunately, I cannot say the same of the legal system in Key West, or the DMV. The next day it took seven phone calls, including one to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to get my dinghy registered. When I called West Marine, a smart saleswoman told me that buying the dinghy from its owner made the dinghy a secondhand purchase, and it should be registered that way.

Previously, the DMV wanted me to register it as being brand-new. Using the second-hand approach did the trick.

The saleswoman saved the day...but just barely. At one point, I was talking on the phone with a woman at the DMV, and she seemed a bit confused about how I should proceed.

I asked if I might talk with her supervisor. “I am the supervisor,” she said. To clear things up, she finally had to call Tallahassee for directions. Her boss approved the second-

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hand approach.

In the end, I had to sign a notarized affidavit stating that the dinghy had never been used with a motor attached. I also had to give the DMV a pencil rubbing of the dinghy’s ID number; and finally, I had to present the bill of sale.

Obviously, what the FWC officer told me was incorrect.

Getting Legal Defense With the registration problem solved, a few days later I decided to pay the fine for my citation, and to get underway.

I was ready to put Key West behind me, but when I went to the clerk of court’s office, I discovered that a misdemeanor violation is not a mere citation, but is a criminal offense punishable by up to one year in the county jail. In the state of Florida, this means that you must appear in court and be arraigned, that is, enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Not to do so will make you a fugitive. Moreover, the clerk also told me to get a lawyer.

This last problem was solved by the public defender’s office. Once again the FWC officers were dead wrong. In fact, on the back of my citation was a small box they had marked with an X. This was next to a line that said: No court appearance is required with this citation.

When I pointed this out to the clerk of court, she suggested I go and see the state attorney...which I did immediately. All I wanted to do was pay the fine and get out of Key West.

At the state attorney’s office I was greeted by a sullen woman who was standing behind a bullet-proof window. I explained my problem and then held up my citation, my grubby forefinger pointed at the line that read: No court appearance required..

“I’ll have the prosecutor’s secretary come out and talk to you,” she said.

“This is over four numbers on an eight-foot boat,” I exclaimed. I was feeling somewhat incredulous. “How serious can this be? It’s not the Queen Mary. It’s only slightly larger than your bathtub.”

The woman had no sense of absurdity.

About 10 minutes later, another woman came into the waiting room and asked for me. The fact that she wasn’t smiling was a dead giveaway. “I can’t tell you anything at all because the facts of your case haven’t come in yet,” she said. “Not only that, but you shouldn’t be talking to anyone in this office. It could prejudice your case. This is the prosecutor’s office.”

“Then why did the clerk tell me to come over here?” I asked, trying not to sound angry. “And why do I have to go to court?” Then I raised the citation and pointed out the little box with the X; the one next to the line that said: No court appearance required. Pointing at the tiny X was becoming a habit.

The woman did not answer. She just turned and walked away. So much for negotiating. And so much for leaving Key West.

The next day, I bicycled over to the public defender’s office to get an attorney. Being a poor sailor gave me this right. At this office, I was told that the clerk of court would have to make sure that I qualified before an attorney would be assigned to my case. So I went back to the clerk of court’s office and filled out a form. They then told me that an attorney would be assigned to me, and at my arraignment, this attorney would be present to represent me. www.southwindsmagazine.com

The Big Day Arrives: In Court When the big day arrived, I dressed up and left my boat early. When I got to the courtroom, I walked over to a long desk occupied by attorneys from the public defender’s office, and introduced myself. I was mildly shocked when I discovered that nobody knew who I was. “Don’t worry about it,” one of them said. “Someone will take care of you.”

But I did worry. Not being a legal whiz I had no idea what was going on. So I sat down near the rear of the courtroom, stared at the wall, and practiced my Zen meditation. This kept me from twiddling my thumbs and feeling nervous. I began to wonder if it would be appropriate to show the judge my citation and the little X marked near the line that read: No court appearance required, But not having an attorney to represent me, I decided to hold off, and to play it by ear.

A few minutes later, the judge appeared. She did her best to explain the proceedings to everyone, and then names were called out, and people walked up to a podium to be arraigned. When my name was called, I walked forward, kept my hands in clear view, in accord with instructions that had been given earlier by a court officer, and then looked at the judge and smiled. She in turn smiled back.

This disarmed me. I expected to be taken into custody and sent directly to jail...do not pass go...and so forth. “Do you have an attorney?” she pleasantly asked.

“I was supposed to have one from the public defender’s office,” I said, looking about the room wistfully, “but nobody showed up.”

“Then I will assign you one right now,” she said, picking up a pen and a sheet of paper. “I will also give you a business card with your attorney’s name on it, and after you sign a waiver, you will be free to leave. Just make certain that you stay in touch with your attorney by telephone.”

I agreed, signed the waiver and then walked out of the courtroom a free man. The next day, after I talked with my attorney’s legal assistant, I set sail for St. Pete, and three weeks after that I finally got to talk with my attorney on the phone. She turned out to be a smart young woman who was very worried about losing her job because of the recession.

I tried to cheer her up, and, of course, I sympathized with her. She also told me that she was having a hard time understanding the charge against me. “This is ridiculous,” she said, searching for words. “I’ve never heard of anything like this. All this trouble for an eight-foot rubber boat? I’m going to ask the court to dismiss the charge. They’ve put you through enough.”

My hero.

And she did. And the court did. Two days later, she called to tell me everything was fine, and that it was all over. My case had been dropped. The news came as a great relief. After doing a little victory dance, I crumpled up my citation and threw it in the trash. The show was finally over.

Harry Knickerbocker lives on board Victory of Burnham, a twoton IOR boat designed by Ed Dubois in England in 1980. It was one of the first boats that had a carbon fiber hull.

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37

Open Bics (in the foreground) and Bugs were demonstrated at the symposium.

Photo by Janine Connelly.

This year’s National Sailing Programs Symposium emphasized the recent Olympic Games and the new Racing Rules of Sailing, as well as having the usual meaningful program of topics and awards.

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hree Olympians, including Laser Radial gold medalist Anna Tunnicliffe of Florida, highlighted US SAILING’s conference at San Diego on Jan. 711. Dean Brenner, chairman of the US Olympic Sailing Program, served as a moderator for a panel of Tunnicliffe, Graham Biehl and Chris Rast.

A day earlier, Betsy Allison, full-time coach of the US Disabled Sailing Team, gave an emotional talk about her experience with the Paralympics in China. A fivetime US SAILING Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, she has accompanied the U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team to games in 2000 and 2004.

Last year, when the annual symposium was held in St. Petersburg, the emphasis was on the America’s Cup, which had taken place in Spain only a few months before. Keynote speakers had included Ed Baird, Dawn Riley, and Gary Jobson, who had been very visible in America’s Cup action.

However, another new topic this year involved the new rules, and Dave Perry was there for a book-signing session before he conducted a rules seminar one evening. Earlier in the day, he had presented a program for youth coaches on teaching the rules.

Another key presentation came when Robbie Haines and Stan Honey talked about producing the movie Morning Light and sailing in the TransPac Race.

Of regional interest to that program was the fact that Chris Branning of Sarasota served as navigator on Morning Light.

info@flagshipsailing.com • www.flagshipsailing.com 38

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The project started out with 775 applications, but officials invited only 30 to the training site at Long Beach, CA, and only 15 “very bright and highly motivated” candidates went to the final stop in Hawaii.

The speakers explained that some four-letter words had to be edited out because it was a Disney film Also bringing fame to Sarasota was Stu Gilfillen, executive director of Sarasota’s Youth Sailing Program, who was recognized as the “outstanding director of a year-round program.”

Other annual national awards went to Bill Bahen, Hudson River Community Sailing in New York, outstanding director of a new program; Rob Crafa, State University of New York Maritime, outstanding director of a seasonal program; the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center, outstanding outreach and inclusion; Marcin Kunicki, Community Boating Inc., of Boston, outstanding program for disabled sailors; and Bob Cornwell and Mike Wills, Traverse Area Community Sailing of Traverse City, MI, outstanding leadership. Six other recipients, individuals and programs, were from California.

Charlie McKee did an awesome Moth demo. Photo by Janine Connelly.

Nearly 200 sailing program directors, instructors, school owners, industry experts and others of sail training. While admitting that she was from the from sailing-oriented groups gathered at the Bahia Resort Midwest, Palmer quickly explained that “there is water in Motel on Mission Bay, near downtown San Diego. the middle of Ohio.”

Scheduled topics ranged from how the economy will affect She directs the sailing programs at the USNA, “which is the sport to newsletters. like a learn-to-sail program on steroids.” Part of her proJoni Palmer of the U.S. Naval Academy led off the symgram not only teaches incoming midshipmen how to sail posium by presenting a slide show to demonstrate the faces but also instructs them how to teach the sailing.

Back to the Olympians’ presentation, Tunnicliffe discussed the competition she faced in the American trials against Clearwater’s Paige Railey. “I had to focus on beating Paige and had to keep telling myself that I can do this.

“We kept pushing each other and raising the bar. Every time I was tempted to relax and sit on the couch, I knew that Paige was out on the water, training,” Tunnicliffe added.

Tunnicliffe, who is the first United States female to win the gold in 20 years, said she has always believed in sailing for fun. Allison Jolly of St. Petersburg won the 470 gold in Seoul, Korea, in 1988.

“I grew up in England and ran track and cross country in high school, but during my senior year, I decided to go to college and sail and not run,” she said. “But if you sail to have fun, you’ll do well.”

Biehl, who was crew for Stu McNay in the 470 class, explained that he had a methodical training program and

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS March 2009

39

Robbie Haines, Stan Honey and Piet van Os signed Morning Light books for participants.

Photo by Janine Connelly.

Diane Wenzel and Scott Pittrof doing a powerboat demo. Photo by Katie Ouellette.

1998 Catalina 28 MK II The Catalina 28 MK II was Cruising World’s Boat of the Year Pocket Cruiser in 1996 3’8” draft wing keel Bottom Job, Jan. 09

$46,900 Excellent Condition with lots of amenities • Huge comfortable cockpit • 135 and 155 headsail in almost new condition • Line control whisker pole • Newly Rebuilt Roller furling w/new headstay • Dodger • Bimini • Canvas • Radar • Chartplotter • GPS • Knotmeter • Autopilot • VHF • Sleeps 6 • Head w/shower • Hot Water • Full galley • Like-new cushions down below and in cockpit • Anchor, lines, fenders and miscellaneous gear For more info & photos: www.southwindsmagazine.com/classifieds/catalina28.htm

Located Palmetto, FL, in Tampa Bay 941-795-8704 editor@southwindsmagazine.com 40

March 2009

SOUTHWINDS

was able to skip the last two races of the trials.

“There was a little bit of pressure going into the games because I didn’t know what to expect,” the native of San Diego said. “Then I got an OCS early in the regatta and that put even more pressure on me.

“One thing I learned is that having new sails for every race is not necessarily a good thing. It is better to use sails that are slightly used.

Rast, who had crewed in a 49er for Switzerland in the previous Olympics, praised the United States for its support of all the sailors. He and skipper Tim Wadlow also managed to win three races in one day, an unheard-of accomplishment in that caliber of competition.

“We practiced a lot and we took each race one race at a time,” he said. “We got clean starts and then we kept chipping away at those ahead of us.”

Brenner told how everyone wanted autographs. He tried to tell people that he was not famous or a competitor, but they still asked for his signature.

“I started signing different names, like Deter Jeter,” he admitted with a laugh. “But it was quite an honor to represent the United States.

“That became very apparent to me when I looked up in the stands when Anna was on the podium to accept her gold medal. There was a man who was obviously an American and he was crying his eyes out.”

Next year, the symposium will move to Houston, TX, and be held a month later—Feb. 3-7.

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News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS March 2009

41

BOAT REVIEW

1986 Hunter 31

By Manuel Farinas

SPECIFICATIONS LOA LWL Beam Draft Displacement

31’4” 26’3” 10’11” 4’ (shoal); 5’6” (deep) 9,900 lbs. (shoal); 9,700 lbs. (deep) Ballast 4,200 lbs. (shoal); 4,000 lbs. (deep) Mast Height 41’5”; from waterline 47’4” Headroom 6’3” Sail Area 458 sq. feet E (mainsail foot) 11’ J (fore triangle base) 12’ P (mainsail luff) 37’ 5” I (fore triangle ht) 42’

Starboard side of the Hunter 31 in its slip.

I

t has been several years since we gave up our sailing life for the sake of horses. Our daughter had wanted a horse for years, since age four. By the time she was 16, we had given up boats for her passion of riding and competing in hunter/jumpers.

With the kids grown up and on their own, we both had just retired from teaching and computers, and were thinking of the line from John Masefield’s Sea Fever, “I must go down to the seas again.” I had been dreaming of another sailboat for some time now, and with the wonders of the Internet, I

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was again searching for a vessel that fit our new lifestyle.

We had once built a Bruce Roberts 36 out of steel in our driveway, but that was 25 years ago, and neither one of us felt like going through another boatbuilding project at this stage of our lives.

Primary consideration was length of the boat, followed by the need for a shoal draft. Both these parameters had to fit a budget of not over $25,000. We had already decided to take a small vacation in late October and search up the Atlantic Seaboard for our dream boat. We live in the Tampa

www.southwindsmagazine.com

The owner seated at the chart table.

The settee on the starboard side. The Hunter 31 has a lot of wood down below, giving it a warm feel.

Bay area and had noticed several 30-footers at Yachtworld.com that seemed promising.

With maps in hand, we started planning our boat-finding vacation. A couple of good possibilities in the Brunswick, GA, area had us really excited about this trip.

Then reality set in. If we found our dream boat, what about a marina to dock it at? We knew it was expensive and diffi-

cult to find a berth in the South Florida area, where we lived prior to moving to Tampa.

In the end, this turned out to be a non-issue. Two great marinas near our house were able to accommodate us in the event we came back from our hunting trip with a new boat.

As luck would have it, at the third marina we stopped, Dunedin City Marina, our boat was securely tied to slip B63!

After placing our name in the long waiting list for slips, the harbormaster, Bill Frantz, wished us luck in our search. At that point, he asked about what size boat we were looking for. When we mentioned something around 30 feet, he told us that there was a 1986 Hunter 31 in slip B63 for sale, for $10,000!

You can imagine our surprise when we looked her over, and she looked to be in very good condition. It turns out that this boat was being used by its owner as “my cabin in the woods.” For this price, the boat has Adler-Barbour refrigeration, an automatic battery charger and myriads of other gadgets that eventually add to a considerable amount of money. The boat had not been used much due to the owner’s poor health, but he wanted to make sure his boat was sold to someone who would appreciate it.

Iemaya, as she is named, has turned out to be everything we were looking for—and then some! She sails beautifully

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43

The galley is to starboard as you go down below.

and is very easily handled by the two of us. The more we use our Hunter 31, the more fascinated I become with the efficient design of this sailboat.

Built by Hunter Marine Corporation in Alachua, FL, this model boat was produced from 1983 through 1987. Our own Iemaya was built in 1986. We purchased her in August of 2008, and so far she has exceeded our expectations.

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The port settee on the Hunter 31.

Accommodations As you enter the cabin, there is a U-shaped galley to starboard. This galley contains a sink with pressure hot and cold water and a two-burner Origo alcohol stove with oven.

There is an ice box with Adler-Barbour cold plate refrigeration. This ice box faces aft and is outboard of the galley sink.

The engine is found right under the companionway steps. It can be accessed easily by removing the front panel of the companionway steps. Under the cockpit, and to port, there is a double berth, which we now use as storage, since the cushions had to be eliminated due to the poor conditions they were in. At some time in the future, we may get new cushions and use this berth again.

Opposite the galley, on the port side we have a double locker. One-half is a hanging locker handy for foul weather gear, and the other half shelves. Adjacent to the locker, there is a very convenient navigation station. It is by necessity very compact but gets the job done. In our boat, this navigation station has a small section against the locker mentioned above that acts as a small wine storage area with room for six wine glasses and four wine bottles. Right under this wine storage area, there are two tubular compartments for storing charts rolled-up.

Forward of the galley, on the starboard side, we have a U-shaped dinette. I particularly like this arrangement because it leaves plenty of room to move forward to the head and the v-berth. It is also a great place to sit down and have a cup of coffee or just relax, plus the table is permanently set-up.

To the port side of this arrangement is a single settee, which opens up to a single berth. Both settee backrests have storage areas behind them, as well as ample storage under the seats, providing sufficient space to store our personal gear.

Continuing forward along the starboard side, there is a small head with shower. Our boat has a small fold-down wooden seat if you want to shower sitting down while holding the showerhead in your hand. The marine head is a manually operated Wilcox-Crittenden with a Y-valve for overboard discharge or discharge into the holding tank.

There is hot/cold pressure water in the head for showers www.southwindsmagazine.com

and for the small sink.

Immediately to port of the head, there is a hanging locker, which accommodates several pieces of clothing.

Continuing to the forward end of the boat, we finally come to the V-berth. There is some storage underneath, but not much since the holding tank occupies a major portion of this

News & Views for Southern Sailors

area. To port in the V-berth area we have a small locker with shelves for clothing.

Rigging The Hunter 31 is sloop-rigged. We have a 135 roller-furling headsail on a Hood Seafurl system. The mainsail has two sets of reef points, which we hope never to have to use! A Dutchman Sail Flaking system was installed by the previous owner. This system is helpful in maintaining the mainsail confined when lowering it. Halyards lead to the cockpit.

Hoisting is accomplished right from the cockpit, and since the headsail is roller-furling, we can spread all our canvas right from the cockpit and not have to walk to the bow of the boat or to the mast for the mainsail.

Motoring is accomplished with a Yanmar 2GM20F. The 18 hp in this small engine provides enough power to do up to 6 knots when motoring, and seems sufficient for the size and displacement of our boat.

Our boat came equipped with two anchors, one 22-lb CQR-type and one 18-lb Danforth-type. Both anchors came with 6 fathoms of 5/16-inch chain and 150 feet of ½-inch line. To the CQR-type anchor we attached 6 fathoms of ¼inch chain and left 4 fathoms of chain free and ready to be used in case of emergency. We feel that for the coastal cruising we plan on doing, 6 fathoms of the ¼-inch chain with the 150 feet of ½-inch line will be more than enough. The main anchor (CQR type) and its anchor rode is stored in the anchor locker in the forepeak of the boat. This is accessible from deck through a hatch on deck.

So far Iemaya has turned out to be everything we had been looking for in a small boat and then some. I particularly like how easy she is handled by the two of us. With a modified fin keel, Iemaya turns on a dime, much different from our previous boat that had a full keel and 4 feet 9 inches of draft.

With all the cleaning and fixing we wanted to do on Iemaya, the time is fast approaching when we will start taking small trips around our sailing area. This area is based around Clearwater, FL, where we have already spotted several good anchorages within a day’s sail from our homeport.

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CAROLINA RACING The Western Carolina Sailing Club. Photo by Keat Pruszinski.

Dan Marett, commodore of the Western Carolina Sailing Club.

Courtesy photo.

Western Carolina Sailing Club – the Sport’s Haven on Hartwell Lake, SC

By Dan Dickison

alfway from Atlanta to Charlotte along Interstate 85, the hilly landscape is broken by several stretches of glittering water – the twin branches of Hartwell Lake.

Adjust your perspective to the bird’s-eye (or Google Earth) view from, say, 15,000 feet, and this manmade waterway roughly resembles the Playboy insignia, with ears stretching north and westward. But by far the best view of Hartwell Lake is taken from the deck of a sailboat, preferably one hailing from the Western Carolina Sailing Club (WCSC).

That’s the perspective that will guarantee you the most fun.

Situated just outside the city of Anderson, SC, on the eastern side of the lake—at about the lower terminus of the bunny’s left ear—the WCSC overlooks the upper portions of this 56,000-acre expanse of water. With roughly 70 docking slips, a few dozen moorings, a couple of launching ramps and a uniquely shaped clubhouse situated on a small peninsula jutting into the lake, the club serves as the weekend home for some 250 members from around the region.

Just about any day of the year, if you drive down Westwind Way to the club and stroll around, you’re apt to run into one particular member, Dan Marett, the current commodore. A retired engineer who lives only five minutes down the road, Marett has been sailing on this lake for roughly 30 years, and he’s been involved in the club a little less than half that. As he talks about the WCSC, its members and activities, it’s clear he harbors a warm regard—a pride, even—for the institution.

“We have a lot of fun here,” says Marett of the club. “We race our boats year-round, or at least some of us do. There are people like me who will sail no matter how cold it gets.

If we have a race, I’ll be out there. I was told a long time ago that I would learn more about sailing by racing, so that keeps me going.”

As much as Marett likes racing his S2 27, Dream Weaver, it’s the outright camaraderie of the club’s membership that maintains his enthusiasm. “Everyone gets along really well here. We all help each other out. For example, you’ll often find that the more experienced sailors will ride along during

H

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races and help others out.”

The camaraderie that Marett mentions is underscored by the fact that the WCSC is an all-volunteer club, meaning there aren’t any employees—the members do all the work. In fact, explains the commodore, 10 hours of work per year is required of every member. “We all do a range of things, from trimming trees to assembling the docks to maintaining the clubhouse and looking after the irrigation. We not only put in those hours working, but every member is required to serve on the race committee for one event each year as well.”

One work project that gets a fair bit of attention at WCSC is maintaining the breakwater, because without it, the club couldn’t sustain its docks or moorings. The little cove that’s home to much of the WCSC fleet faces west— where a two-mile fetch of open water is often stirred to a froth by powerful winds that send good-sized waves romping toward the eastern shore.

The breakwater, which was designed years ago by a club member, is actually two large series of tires (which were donated by Michelin) strung tightly together and anchored to the lake bottom. Closed-cell foam in the top tires keeps the device afloat. According to Marett, when conditions out on the lake are rough—say, a two-foot chop and whitecaps—the water behind the breakwater will be just slightly rippled.

“When it’s really windy, you wouldn’t be able to use this area without the breakwater. We depend on it.”

Marett and his fellow WCSC members also depend on the Army Corps of Engineers, but in a different way.

Hartwell Lake, which was formed in 1957 when the Corps dammed this stretch of the Savannah River, has recently been experiencing low water levels. Not unlike many lakes in the Southeast, a general lack of rainfall coupled with the occasional drawdown by the Corps to generate electrical power has kept the water levels down.

“We’ve been told that it’s down 18 feet now, but I suspect that it’s more like 21 feet this year. The problem for us is that it means that we have to pull boats off the docks www.southwindsmagazine.com

The docks at the sailing club. Photo by Ed Sherman.

because there is no longer sufficient depth there. We’ve had to remove 30 boats. The water is back up a little now, but this is always a concern for the club.”

In what seems to be typical of the club’s outlook, Marett says he and his fellow members have been making the best of this situation by using the low water levels as an opportunity to maintain the launching ramps and work on the hulls of those keelboats that have had to be pulled. “That’s the other challenge,” he explains. “We have to create things to keep our members interested in the club while the lake levels are down.”

Keeping the members interested is part of what accounts for a very active sailing schedule at the club.

Though the sailing season at WCSC officially begins in March, it really runs throughout the year with the larger regattas taking place from April through October when the annual Hospice Regatta is staged. “We had over 70 entries last year for that event,” explains Marett. He doesn’t mention it, but the club has raised over $150,000 through its Hospice Cup regattas in recent years.

The WCSC is home to both keelboats (the largest being an Olson 30) and centerboarders, and most of the local racing isn’t done under a one-design format, but in mixed fleets, so it’s not uncommon to see Lightnings trading tacks with Flying Scots, and MC Scows getting off the starting line

News & Views for Southern Sailors

alongside Lasers and Force 5s. That might seem strange to sailors elsewhere, but it’s par for the course on Hartwell Lake. In a locale where the wind blows 25 knots one day and then mere zephyrs the next on a regular basis, such a jumble of different boats in the same fleet somehow seems fitting.

Despite the preponderance of racing activity here, Marett is keen to emphasize that the club is a very social organization, and philanthropic as well. “We try to stay involved in the community,” he says. “For example, we’ve got a chili cook-off this weekend, and the entry fee is a donation of canned goods, which we’ll give to a charity.” The following weekend is a Valentine’s Day party, and shortly after that, the spring workdays ensue. Later this season, Marett and his club colleagues plan to introduce a couple of overnight cruises to WCSC’s active schedule. Making all these things happen might seem like a lot of work, but to Marett, it’s engaging, fun and exactly what the club should be doing. “Yeah, it’s a lot to do,” he says, “but we have an energetic group of people here, and that makes my job real easy.”

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TRAVELS WITH ANGEL

Cruiser Interrupted, the Haul-Out

By Rebecca Burg Author and artist Rebecca Burg next to her Bayfield 31, Angel, in the boatyard.

E

ventually, every boater must interrupt his or her cruising moment for a date with the boatyard. The occasion isn’t pleasant. First, one’s beloved vessel gets plucked out of her element by a couple of straps. I don’t think Angel, my 31-foot Bayfield, enjoys the ordeal. Exposed and vulnerable, Angel’s dignity always disappears as she’s scooped over dry land, her portly figure unceremoniously propped up by stands. Once powerful, lively and incessantly fidgety, she becomes helpless and still. Enhancing her comatose appearance, the anchor locker drain under her bowsprit will ooze a slimy strand of seawater. Angel’s ability to drool adds to my discomfiture.

Fellow single-hander Bill Robinson had Defiant hauled and placed next to Angel during one memorable visit to the yard. We shared our tools, an extension cord and a leaky water hose. We preferred doing our own work and had found a DIY boatyard in the tropics. Being on the stands isn’t easy for cruisers away from homeport and living aboard. Unable to operate our boat’s toilets or showers, we used the yard’s rustic facilities, which weren’t locked and were shared by wildlife. Our sea legs rebelled against climbing long ladders to the decks, and some item would inevitably be forgotten, requiring more thigh-burning trips.

Angel’s cabin became a jungle of tools, hoses, takeout food containers, dirty clothes, safety gear and painting supplies.

At night, creatures rummaged through the garbage and

scurried over our cabin tops. I knew this because of the tiny footprints left behind. Gangs of feral cats held midnight turf wars, and dawn’s early light was accompanied by the crowing of roosters, until they were chased off by yipping dogs.

“Nice puppy,” I said to a dog sniffing nearby. A fresh batch of epoxy was in a container near my feet. Oblivious to the “no unleashed pets” sign, the dog attempted his species’ obnoxious tactic of crotch sniffing. When I shied away, he casually lifted a leg and urinated on my epoxy. Bellowing, I threw a shoe. The rude dog yelped and scurried off. Bill found this extremely funny and between bouts of laughter, he requested the hose. Frustrated by the day’s direction, I plopped the hose in Bill’s palm, and a burst of water sprayed his shirt. “Hey! Why’d you squirt me for?” Bill said.

“Sorry, it just went off,” I explained, sincere. “The trigger’s touchy, you have to—” Before I finished, Bill squirted himself in the head. “Geez!” He blurted, “The handle sticks.”

Then, when he tried to spray Defiant, no water came out. “#@&*!” Bill muttered, flinging the hose on the ground in disgust. It bounced on its handle, and cold water geysered

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Rebecca’s cruising companions, Capt. Bill Robinson and his Morgan Out Island, Defiant.

into Bill’s face with enough force to push his hat backwards. “Son of a…,“ He kicked the hose and the water stopped. By now, I was the one who was laughing hysterically. Not amused, Bill stalked away, leaving a wet trail to the nearest pub. I followed. Sitting at the tiny bar, we settled down with draft beers. A TV caught Bill’s eye. Bill was so focused on the screen that he didn’t notice the bartender topping off his low beer level.

Consequently, when Bill grabbed the mug, he poured the unexpected excess down his shirt. Indignant, he sputtered, cussed and slouched over the bar in dripping resignation. “The universe just wants me to be wet,” he announced woefully.

There were other cruisers in the yard. “Why have a motor?” A long-haired man asked, spitting out the last word with theatrical contempt. Preparing to change out Angel’s cutlass bearing, I’d removed the prop and was wet sanding her shaft. Polishing the rigid, silvery protrusion seemed strangely erotic. The man’s query derailed my dirty train of thought. “Wha-? Motor?” I said. He snorted and asked, “That your boat, ain’t it? Why waste time with motors?” I rubbed my forehead, smearing it with grit. “Because Angel was born that way,” I said, piqued by his slanderous stance.

The man sniffed and regaled me with a wild tale of world circumnavigation in an engineless boat. Though the act of boating is the same whether it’s a brief cruise or a long-term trek, this guy was one of those pretentious, braggy types who implied that world-girdling was somehow more prestigious than any other maritime adventure. Perhaps he entertained this sad delusion out of a need to feel superior.

He sure behaved that way. “You don’t need motors,” he concluded. “They take less skill.”

He left without answering my questions. I’d tried to ask if he had any experience using engines and why he hated them so much. Due to lack of funds, I’d grown up with engineless sailboats, often single-handing a 24-foot pocket cruiser or a 16-foot trimaran—and skippering an unpowered racer. After working my way through college, I’d fallen in love with Angel, a cruiser with an inboard engine. After

News & Views for Southern Sailors

experiencing both sides of the issue, I was amazed by the difference. The alternative source of propulsion was just another helpful tool for getting the most out of boating. My travels became less limited. The man’s erroneous belief that powered boats “take less skill” is backwards. Even a child can quickly learn to sail a small, motor-free boat. Safely maneuvering a vessel under power and learning how to maintain her engine and its ancillary systems demands more experience and skill, not less. The next day, I installed Angel’s new cutlass bearing, hoping that the anti-motor man wouldn’t materialize and hiss in disapproval. Luckily for my diminishing sanity, he didn’t.

Near the end of our gritty, sweaty, fiberglass-itch stay in the yard, Bill and I struggled to keep our impatience at bay.

We blew off steam by behaving like adolescents. “Defiant looks like a giant guppy with fish lips,” I called over to Bill one afternoon. “Defiant’s fish lips are so huge, they have their own gravitational pull. See!” I threw a sponge at Bill.

He responded by commenting on Angel’s shape, using words like “ball” and “pregnant whale.” I couldn’t think of a clever response until I picked up the hose. “Say hello to my little friend,” I said with a funny accent. “Uh-oh!” Bill responded, ducking. We did manage to channel that punchy energy into helping each other roll on bottom paint.

Eventually, Angel and Defiant were returned to the sea.

Renewed, we were sane again. At least for two more years.

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The Delivery Of Bellatrix: A Cruise up Florida’s Southwest Coast

Bellatrix motoring up the canal to the boatyard in St. James City.

By Glenda Libby Meet Bellatrix. She’s a 1989 Pacific Seacraft 34-foot, cutter- rigged sailing vessel.

Purchased by my friend Arlen Bensen as his new liveaboard home, we delivered her from Marco Island to Apollo Beach over the holiday vacation. We left Dec. 25 and arrived at our destination on January 3.

DAY 1: Christmas Morning, 5 a.m.

Loaded with supplies, dinghy and dinghy motor we drove to Marco Island where Bellatrix was waiting, dancing in the water. We loaded up the gear and shoved off at 1:40 p.m. as rainstorms loomed nearby. But instead of rain, we received a few sprinkles followed by a miraculous rainbow, faint but growing brighter and brighter, one end pointing to Naples, our first destination. What an incredible omen with which to begin a sailing adventure!

As we motored up the ICW to Naples, a dolphin began playing along our starboard rail and when Arlen leaned over to say hello, it blew water through its blowhole and “slimed” Arlen. We laughed. Arlen leaned over the rail, and was, again, “slimed”...three times the little rascal christened him. I couldn’t resist and hung over the safety lines only to be doused myself four or five times. This mischievous dolphin was delighted to have playmates, and I know our laughter and joy simply “egged him on.”

We picked up a mooring ball at the Naples City Marina and spent a beautiful Christmas sunset watching the dolphins feed in the protected basin as families in surrounding homes and mariners on their boats came out to enjoy the show.

DAY 2: Motoring out of Naples on the ICW At 9:30 a.m., we spotted dolphins. I grabbed my camera and went to port, instantly surprised by a dolphin, which leapt vertically beside me, hanging in the air as if standing on his tail. We were eye to eye. I could have reached out and hugged him, and the sparkle of his eye and “smile” on his face is an impression that is burned to the depths of my soul.

We hit the Gulf waters in a 9-14 knot ESE breeze and sailed a broad reach for about 50 miles. The sun set in spectacular colors. Dusk passed and, with a new moon, the stars began popping brilliantly into the night sky. As we approached the beacons to lead us into Boca Grande Pass, we discovered the light on the depth gauge didn’t work and most of the inlet markers were not lighted either. As we cautiously advanced, a large catamaran closed in behind us and followed us through the channel markers. Using a handheld GPS (after learning the chart cartridge for the onboard navigation was missing), we finally slowed to port

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www.southwindsmagazine.com

We spotted many dolphins along the way.

of the catamaran, named Black Pearl, and told them to go ahead. They called back and said, “We were following you!” It was funny, but they moved ahead and, drawing less water, slowly gained speed and left us behind. Bellatrix has a 4’ 1” draft, and we were taking our time with the low tide once we got into Charlotte Harbor. After some intense moments, we finally found a place to drop our anchors near Useppa Island next to another boat just outside the ICW boundary.

DAY 3: Useppa Island We arose to discover our neighbors were our nighttime friends on Black Pearl. Weighing anchor around 1 p.m., we followed the ferry through the passage into Pelican Bay and dropped into my favorite anchorage. Cayo Costa State Park lies between Pelican Bay and the Gulf.

We inflated the dinghy to go ashore, and not surprisingly, the motor wouldn’t start, so we rowed to the dinghy beach for some great exercise. After we trekked our way across the little key, which offers campsites and very rustic cabins, we arrived at the seven-mile stretch of natural beach. Words cannot describe the beauty of Cayo Costa.

Arlen cast his lure into the water and began fishing as a family approached and began chatting about the day. Their two sons, mid-teens, had been fishing all afternoon with no luck. Just then, Arlen got a hit and began reeling in, only to lose the fish. The two young men immediately ran to the water’s edge and cast out their lines. Boom. Both hooked onto fish, and the fun began. With every cast they made, they hooked a fish.

Magical!

Their mom and dad headed to camp with fish in hand to start the fire for dinner, and as sunset neared, we sat quietly to experience our first “green flash.” It was AWESOME! DAY 4: Cayo Costa We awoke to sit in the cockpit with a cup of tea and chuckle at the “dinghy doggie service”...a dinghy motoring to several anchored boats, picking up dogs to go do their business on the little island east of Cayo Costa. It was great watching three excited dogs with paws hanging over the edge of the inflatable, tails wagging. They were running before they hit the beach and later were contentedly escorted back to their owners’ boats. Great idea for a business!

We packed up and rowed back to Cayo Costa for a relaxing afternoon and sunset. We fished the afternoon away and practiced throwing the cast net (an art in itself).

DAY 5: Boat Repair Time for business: The boat survey had reported there was excessive shaft movement at the cutlass bearing, and the surveyor mentioned the possibility of bad motor mounts.

Arlen had arranged for Bellatrix to be hauled to get the bearing replaced with a Yanmar dealer in Saint James City on Monday. It would only be accessible when the tide peaked at 4 p.m.

As we prepared to leave Pelican Bay, a lovely day sailer passed...it was time for us to go—the tide was rising.

We headed south in the ICW staying within the channel markers and enjoyed seeing the red sails of the day sailer News & Views for Southern Sailors

from Pelican Bay cutting across the shallow waters.

Ironically, after about 12 miles, he sailed into the same channel where we were headed, dropped his sails and motored into the small canal we had to take to get to the Yanmar dealership. The dealership is one mile up the canal and even with high tide, Bellatrix would indicate we had zero water below us. We were scraping mud to get to our destination.

But we made it, and the guys at York Road Marine are the greatest! They gently hauled her out, and it was a pleasure meeting them. One young man has circumnavigated with his father, and built his own 44-foot Cross trimaran— so we knew Bellatrix was in caring hands.

The yard owner arranged a place to stay at the Two Fish Inn, which is a fun, funky place reflecting the artsy flavor of Pine Island.

Day 6: Stayover We have some friends in nearby Fort Myers who live aboard a beautiful Krogen Manatee trawler named Velvet. That evening, we enjoyed a lovely dinner with them in downtown Fort Myers, and the next morning, Curt picked us up for an awesome breakfast at his favorite local place, The Oasis. On our drive back to York Road Marine, we had a SOUTHWINDS

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delightful tour of Matlacha, an artist colony on the causeway that offers a sensory-overload of delightful whimsical and fine art. A must visit for everyone!

New Year’s Eve at York Road Marine and the guys had Bellatrix in the water, engine running and ready to go. We bade farewell, cast off lines and headed down the canal while the tide peaked. Again, we bumped a few times, then the depth gauge rose and we were FREE! We anchored for the night off the shoreline of York Island, happy to be on the water again.

times that day. It is a song that flows deep to the heart.

They danced with Bellatrix, and they’d roll and look up at me while I snapped their photos. It was such a lovely, joyful day!

We passed Egmont Key into Tampa Bay around 1 p.m. As we passed under the Skyway Bridge, we were greeted by two inflatable Homeland Security boats.

One boat had someone pulled over. The other motored Glenda at the helm. alongside us until we were well clear of the bridge.

Farther up the bay, we saw an approaching boat that blew a DAY 7 The New Year long horn signal then Day seven found us weighing ploughed past us. It looked to anchor on a brisk breeze after be a large Homeland Security sunrise. I took the helm and vessel with rocket launchers. was thrilled to get the feel of The wake from that boat was this lovely sailboat in 9-14 impressive. A good 8-10 feet. I knots. Laying her on her rail, dashed below and just had flying all three sails, and racing enough time to pull the compowerboats up the ICW, I panionway hatch closed and know Bellatrix looked loveto hang on as the wake hit ly...as a sailing ship should. As Bellatrix. Thankfully, she we blew past Cabbage Key, crashed straight through it. powerboats and sailors in As dusk fell, we dropped dinghies motored over for sails to motor to the small lunch, waved and took photos. island across from the power Bellatrix is a dream boat, and I plant in Apollo Beach. We’ve hit 8.5 knots boat speed. been there several times and One of the more colorful artist areas in Matlacha We radioed Boca Grande know the anchorage. After on Pine Island.

Marina for a pump-out, fuel covering about 50 miles, we and water, but low tide prevented us from visiting there. were happy to settle in for the night.

We continued up the ICW to Gasparilla Marina in Placida The local commotion was a powerboater who had forwhere the people are always so wonderful. We then opted gotten to check the tides, so the family boat was aground. to continue up the ICW to Venice through waters we’ve About 11 p.m., a big off-shore fishing boat came and tried never cruised. It was quiet and absolutely beautiful. The to pull them to the water with no luck. In the morning, Sea Real Florida!

Tow was called in, and after the Sea Tow boat almost capThis stretch of “the Ditch” is about 18 miles long, and sized trying to pull them off the beach, it left them high people were biking, walking and fishing, sharing calls of and dry. I felt really sorry for the young couple. They had “Happy New Year.” We also had to request five bridge sent their children home with a boat the previous night so openings. As darkness fell, we arrived in Venice and strugI can only hope the high tide got them into deeper water gled to find a decent anchorage. After we were secured just Saturday night. outside the ICW, Arlen was able to connect to a neighbor’s WiFi and check e-mail, weather, etc. It was pretty funny!

Day 9: End of a Voyage Thanks, Neighbor!

And as they say, all’s well that ends well.

Bellatrix is now hauled out at Apollo Beach, ready for DAY 8: Tampa Bay bottom paint. God willing, she’ll be sailed regularly and We were up before dawn but motored in circles while I hung loved dearly! off the bow, freeing up a crab trap wrapped around our Bellatrix is named for the 22nd brightest star located on anchor. With dawn lighting the way, we eased out of the the left shoulder in the Orion constellation. It is Latin meanVenice inlet and sailed the Gulf as the sun rose. Spectacular ing “woman warrior.” How appropriate! sight! A lovely breeze and following sea rocked us gently up She will soon be known as “HOME, SWEET, HOME” the coastline 40 miles to Tampa Bay. and I wish my best friend and sailing partner Arlen the We were joined by a large pod of dolphin, and for the greatest of adventures! first time in my life, I heard them sing. They sang to us five And as Curt would say, “GO BELLATRIX”!

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SOUTHWINDS

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March 2009

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How the West Was Won: Acura Race Week 2009, Key West, Jan. 19-23

By Rebecca Burg Photos by Capt. Bill Robinson Cover: Ngoni, a Mills 40 from Great Britain.

A crewmember on Blah Blah Blah offers a sandwich to the photographer during a race.

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n January, competitive sailors from around the world convened in Key West for a most anticipated sailing event in the country.

Thirteen different classes of boats were spread in three neatly organized racing divisions. The usual variety of boats were there, new racing designs being put to the test, returning one-design fleets, and IRC and PHRF fleets. The STP 65, Rosebud, was the largest entry while two J/24s, Blah Blah Blah and Dimarian 21, were the smallest. The high-quality competition included sailing Olympians, professionals, a crown prince, amateurs and even a celebrity rocker from the band Duran Duran. Key West’s firm winter winds prevailed over the protected, turquoise waters, providing an excellent platform for a total of 10 races in the five-day series.

Race 1 on Monday was visited by an ominous sky that turned out to be a harmless, passing cloud line. It dumped brief, pouring rain and teased sailors with a 70-degree wind shift. After its passage, bright sun and a steady 12-14 knot breeze made the day. In the J/105 fleet, Damian Emery’s New York-based Eclipse called the right shifts and took first for Monday. New Key West entrants, but not new to racing, the great teams on Bee Bednar’s Stinger (TX) and Pat Eudy’s Big Booty (Charleston, SC) boldly threw themselves into a steep learning curve. After Wednesday, six races had been completed and Max Power, Gerrit Schulze’s New Jersey entry, led the fleet after accumulating three first finishes.

Tied in points for the lead, Eclipse settled in second due to Max Power’s take in line honors. Only one point behind

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Eclipse, Savasana secured the third slot midweek. Twentyyear Key West vet, Worth Harris and his team on Rum at Six (Beaufort, NC) were watched like a favorite race car, wherever they were on the track. During race 6, Rum at Six’s primary winch broke apart, and the competitive J/105 skidded off the track, unable to finish. The team was back in action the next day, seeing a speedy recovery and beating Max Power over the line in race 7.

“It was extremely competitive racing all week long,” said Michael Lague on the Savasana team. By week’s end, Savasana had their hands full in a suspenseful tacking duel with Max Power, while simultaneously trying to insert themselves between leading boat, Eclipse, and the buoys. Big Booty had also risen into the fray and was knocking back the fleet’s leaders. A new crew, the Booty team soon found their groove and notched two firsts and a second finish during the last two days of racing. With such sharp teamwork and performance, Pat Eudy’s Big Booty won Friday’s Acura Boat of the Day trophy. These trophies are only awarded to one boat in the entire regatta on a daily basis. With a regular swapping of top slots through the week, the J/105 fleet’s overall victor wasn’t known until the last leg of the last race.

At the finish line, Savasana slid through the gate a mere 200 yards ahead of Max Power. Savasana landed the title with Eclipse, after a consistent week of low points, in second. In third overall, only one point behind Eclipse was Max Power.

Making waves in the PHRF 1 class, the Sarasota-based XS tied in points with Primal Scream after Monday’s two races. XS, Douglas Fisher’s yellow-hulled Robertson 41, broke the tie with a bullet in race 2. In a fast mingle of close rivalry, the fleet’s remaining five boats all tied with 10 points each. In Tuesday’s brisk, shifty breezes, lead warhorse XS was severely injured during race 3 when a block blew out on a running backstay. Her carbon fiber mast fractured below the first set of spreaders, and the rig plunged into the water. Unhurt, the crew scrambled to stabilize the wounded racer. XS was down for the count.

Midweek in PHRFF 1, Steve Stollman’s C&C 115, Primal Scream (Key Biscayne, FL), was leading by a small cushion of points. Rick Wesslund’s Miami-based El Ocaso steadily gained ground each race until a bullet put them in second www.southwindsmagazine.com

J/80s right after the start.

slot after Wednesday’s race 6. Will Hanckel’s J/120, EmOcean (Charleston, SC), earned a first finish in race 7 after a slow early half of the week. Competitors, disappointed to have lost quality competition with Douglas Fisher’s XS, were amazed to see the yellow rocket reappear on Thursday, wild and eager to make up for lost time.

In race 8, XS was barreling toward the start and nosing uncomfortably close to Florida entry, Kali. Lynn Dell’s sleek, blue BH 36 flinched, turning away from uncertainty. Over early, XS had to make amends, losing some ground to her rivals. The XS team, unwilling to give up so easily, had pulled an all-nighter after Tuesday’s dismasting. They’d repaired the original spar, sleeving and patching the broken section with layers of carbon fiber. By Wednesday, the mast was stepped with the help of a very large, tall sailboat. The rip in the main was taped and Fisher’s team tested and tuned XS back into fighting trim. By the week’s end, XS was once again stomping the competition, taking two firsts and a second. Missing out on four races had set them back in points though, and XS landed fifth overall in the class. On Friday, Kali stood their ground, unwilling to be intimidated

by XS’s starting line rush. Struggling with gear issues early on, Wairere, Pete Hunter’s Thompson 30 from North Carolina, and Kali were increasingly competitive and tied in points on Thursday. By week’s end, Kali took third spot in class with Wairere in second. Overall class champion was Stollman’s Primal Scream.

As the third largest class, the J/80s had one of the most thrilling games going. 2008 Acura Key West champ, Rumor, had returned to defend its title. Rumor, owned by John Storck Jr. (Huntington, NY), includes son, John Storck III (at the helm) and daughter, Kaity, as crew. Key West vet and class president, Kristen Robinson’s Angry Chameleon returned along with Kicks, William Rose’s Texas-based entry.

Jammy Dodger was shipped all the way from Great Britain, and SWE 621 hailed from Sweden. Another Southerly entry included Joe Corriher’s Confederate Ram, helmed by Michael Brawley and based in Lake Norman, NC. Rumor set the trend early by posting three bullets in the first three races.

William Rose’s Kicks took first in race 4 with Jammy Dodger in close second. “Those guys on Rumor never give up anything,” Rose had noted, thrilled by the fine competition.

Rumor was equally as impressed, with Storck Jr. noting, “Kicks is a very well-sailed boat, and they’re pressing us hard.” On Thursday, Angry Chameleon, Jammy Dodger and Al Minella’s Relentless crowded into the void left when Kicks missed a wind shift. Working hard to recover, Kicks was stymied when their traveler car blew. The Texas rocket took the week’s ups and downs in stride, posting 2-1 line honors for Friday’s two races and placing second overall. Rumor once again took center stage for 2009. Perennial favorite, Angry Chameleon, took third overall in this remarkably challenging class.

Good Girl led the shakeup in the PHRF 2 class. Robert Armstrong’s U.S. Virgin Island-based J/100, Good Girl, is a News & Views for Southern Sailors

sister J/100 to last year’s victor, Bad Girl. The difference between the sister ships is that Good Girl was customized at birth with Armstrong’s racing preferences, such as the placement of sail controls and where lines are run. The fleet’s Southern entries, Blueprint and Too Sweet!, had their hands full. Blueprint, Jay Hood’s Beneteau 36.7 from North Carolina, was chartered by Race Week vets who’d lost their own vessels to hurricane damage. Fred Goldman’s Floridabased J/109, Too Sweet!, saw some tight action with the fleet’s only other J/109, RUSH. Midweek, in race 5, Too Sweet! beat Bill Sweetser’s Annapolis-based RUSH, the class’s second-place leader. From the start, Good Girl dominated the fleet, but on Tuesday, USA 1 and Good Girl passed too closely, putting USA 1’s boom into Girl’s ballooning spinnaker. The chute’s fragile fabric shredded. Wind literally taken out of her sails, Girl was passed by RUSH and Man-O-

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Two J/80s round a mark. Rumor is on the left and Kicks is on the right.

War. Carrying a spare, Good Girl pinned it on, quickly catching up to her rivals and generating plenty of surprised looks. On Thursday, Blueprint and Too Sweet! tied in points and ranked mid-fleet. In the top slot all week, Good Girl took home the silver with eight bullets in a row out of 10 races.

Blueprint took fourth slot with Too Sweet! in sixth.

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The PHRF 3 class was graced with just one Southern-based boat, Richard Gress’ Oday 40, Mother Ocean (Sarasota, FL). As one of the fleet’s larger boats with offshore leanings, Mother Ocean wasn’t the usual buoy racer. Still, Gress’ team was highly competitive against their skinny rivals. For race 5, Ocean posted a second and beat the lead boat, Tangent. Tangent, Gerry Taylor’s Cape Fear 38 (Annapolis), had cracked off four bullets from races 1 through 4 until Mother Ocean and L’Outrage broke the streak.

L’Outrage, Bruce Gardner’s Annapolisbased Beneteau 10M, took firsts in races 5 and 6, and remained on the heels of class victor, Tangent. Midweek, Mother Ocean rose to third rank in class and saw some podium time under the awards tent. Ira Perry’s J/29, Seefest (Padanaram, MA), made the most out of the lighter winds on Thursday and Friday, putting the pressure on the heavier Mother Ocean. It was a close contest between these two all week, and they regularly swapped their finishes by one point in six of the races. By week’s end, Seefest snagged third from Mother Ocean by a mere half of a point. Tangent won first overall with L’Outrage six points behind in second.

The PHRF 4 class was studded with Southern stars.

Through the week, the fleet saw an intriquing subplot involving two dueling S2 9.1s. The two J/24s in the class also enjoyed some match racing early in the week. Mark Milnes’ Key West-based J/24, Blah Blah Blah, a Race Week vet since its inception, stayed ahead of Eric Gotwalt’s Georgia- based J/24, Dimarian 21. Midweek, Dimarian 21 dropped out due to mechanical issues.

Phillip Davis and his slippery B-25, Lobo Rojo (Texas), found their groove midweek, unseating the third ranking Blah Blah Blah. Often glued together tack for tack and unpredictably trading top rank though the week, the S2 9.1s, Elysium and Lightning Rod, dominated the class with their friendly rivalry. “It was absolutely intense,” said David Eames of the Florida-based Lightning Rod. His team was racing their first Key West, and they had never competed against Elysium, John Nevin’s Milford, CT., entry. After Monday’s two races, the S2 9.1s had amazed each other, the sister ships separated by a mere .8 of a second with Lightning Rod on top. During the starting sequence on Tuesday’s race 3, Lightning Rod’s starboard primary winch blew. With catlike reflexes, crewman Jerry DeRay grabbed the winch body before it splashed into the water. The team used a snatch block and re-routed the line, and Lightning Rod went on to win race 3. By week’s end, Elysium emerged the class victor with three points over Lightning Rod. Lobo Rojo took third slot just a point above Caribbean Soul II. The largest class, Melges 24, was kept on its toes by reigning world champion, UKA UKA Racing, the Italian entry by Lorenzo Bressani. Throughout the week, John Kolius and his KO Sailing team (La Porte, TX) snagged two third-place finishes. The well-sailed KO Sailing finished overall in the fleet’s top quarter in the eighth slot. UKA UKA Racing landed first overall. The Swan 42 class included four entries from Rhode Island, Long Echo from Southampton, www.southwindsmagazine.com

Farr 40s

UK, and Jon Halbert’s Texas-based Vitesse. With strong, consistent crew work and clean starts, Vitesse maintained a row of low points all week. Halbert’s team claimed class victory just two points ahead of second-place winner, Arethusa (Newport, RI). Defending Melges 32 Champ, Jeff Ecklund’s Star (Fort Lauderdale, FL), fought to hold their title. In a fast-paced fleet of 20 entrants, Star pulled four bullets in the week’s first half. The Melges 32s mixed it up race by race, the lead being passed around with regularity. Ecklund’s Star beat Joe Woods’ Great Britain entry, Red, by a margin of seven points. The IRC 1 class included Duran Duran rockstar, Simon Le Bon, who was crewing on his friend’s TP52, Rio (Great Britain).

Named after one of Le Bon’s hit songs, Rio took third overall in the class. HRH the Crown Prince Fredrik of Denmark returned with his entry, Nanoq, in the 12-boat Farr 40 class. The Italian entry, Mascalzone Latino, was class victor overall. The hot rods in the IRC 2 class included the Miami-based Santa Cruz One, Tim Kernan’s Santa Cruz 37, and Hot Ticket, James Hightower’s

News & Views for Southern Sailors

new King 40 from Texas. Also in the mix is 20-year vet, Gold Digger, James Bishop’s venerable turquoise J/44 from Rhode Island. The three new racing designs, two King 40s and a Mills 40, all took the top three slots.

Official blog, scores and more news at: www.premiereracing.com

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First-Timer Takes in Acura Key West

By Julie B. Connerley the PHRF appeals comhave witnessed more mittee, was the ship’s than two decades of moderator for guests. national regattas held Bingman was as in Pensacola. However, good as any Superbowl Acura Key West 2009 commentator, giving was my introduction to non-sailors a play-byGrand Prix racing. play account of what A circus-sized tent, could happen around the “big top,” was the marks, including ground zero. A six-footthe sometimes strong long bulletin board listlanguage, loud sounds ed the race committee’s as winches strained and 180 members. They chutes popped and even even posted instructhe occasional protest tions for the “care and flag. It all happened just feeding of race marks.”

From left, Kali skipper Bob Patroni is joined by crewmembers Dave Dunbar as if on cue.

Daily video recaps, and Rick Zern as they accept third in series in their PHRF class at Acura Key On the final day lively seminars, sponsor West, presented by Nautica. Photo by Shannon Hibberd. of racing, that famous recognitions, Lewmar bohemian Key West lifestyle made an appearance in the winch-grinding competitions, unlimited Mount Gay Rum, form of a very affable, Cool Hand Luke blue-eyed individual and of course, daily trophy awards kept competitors occunamed Captain Al. pied throughout five days of extremely competitive racing.

Overhearing my conversation about needing a photo The event produced its own daily 27-page newspaper. boat, Capt. Al volunteered to take another woman and me In addition to title sponsor Acura, 36 additional indusfrom the media aboard his 1973 custom-built wooden 65try sponsors supported the 22nd annual event, many with foot schooner out to our course! His cost? A tuna fish sandon-site kiosks. But perhaps the most visited sponsor was wich and green Gatorade.

West Marine, whose store is located directly across the street Captain Al isn’t a conch, but having lived in Key West from the big top. for the past 23 years, making his living first as a charter boat Every morning, dozens of sailors would stop in for a captain for snorkeling trips to the reefs before eco-tourism complimentary continental breakfast provided by that day’s became a buzz word, he is, to me, the epitome of what Key sponsor, pick up the comprehensive current forecast for the West used to be. We invited another young woman from day, and perhaps items they needed for their boats. When it Pensacola to join us and off we went. comes to racing, whether it’s club racing or international The trip aboard the Reef Chief was as unique as Captain competition, those of us who love the sport and who comAl was. His floating home has an exclusive décor, including pete and cover the sport will brave cloudy skies and chilly a rather worn Western saddle behind the ship’s wheel. waters to be there where the action is.

These days, Captain Al doesn’t take tourists out. “The reefs Unfortunately, media boats were scarce. In fact, just one are dying,” he says, “and the tourists are wanting somewas available to accommodate the entire media corps. thing different now.” Now he spends his time and talents Interestingly, a regatta of this scope relies on volunteers to writing successful screenplays. supply boats.

And what about the Pensacola boat? Kali, a BashfordNevertheless, I did manage to get on the press boat Howison 36 skippered by Bob Patroni, was just purchased Monday and found myself gazing into those beautiful azure last fall. “The crew has only been sailing her three months,” waters, angling for shots of whom? His Royal Highness Prince explained Patroni.

Frederik of Denmark, skippering his Farr 40 Nanoq. Of whom?

But their efforts paid off. In the most competitive PHRF Simon Le Bon, lead singer of Duran Duran. He crewed aboard class, they took two third-place daily trophies and a third in Rio, a TP 52 belonging to good friend Charles Dunstone. the series.

My mission, though, was to cover the PHRF fleet, Crewmembers included Denny Blume, Kim Connerley, which had the only sailors representing Pensacola. With LeAyn Dunbar, David Johnson, Doug Kessler, Andrew three separate racecourses for the 155 competitors, the press McMillan, Dave Oerting, Margo Partain, and Rick Zern. boat never left Division 1’s course.

Mike Beard and Lee Hargrove were shore crew and helped Thursday was my next chance to get on the water. A wherever possible. gracious invitation from Capt. Robert James of the official For a first-timer, I would rate Acura Key West, presentAcura Key West VIP race-viewing tall ship, the 125-ft Liberty ed by Nautica, first class. I’d do it again, but I will be sure Clipper, was eagerly accepted. Completed in 1983, the steel to bring my cowgirl hat next time! For complete race results, vessel is a majestic replica of a 19th-century clipper ship. visit www.premiere-racing.com Race committee member Bruce Bingman, who served on

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www.southwindsmagazine.com

SOUTHERN RACING UPCOMING MAJOR REGATTAS

St. Petersburg Yacht Club Starts New Series: The St. Petersburg Ocean Racing Challenge (SPORC) The St. Petersburg Yacht Club recently announced a perpetual trophy for PHRF boats that race club events throughout the year.

SPORC will give the winner of their class for a particular race one point. At year’s end, all points will be added, and the highest value of points determines the winner. The award will be given out at the annual SPYC Yachting Recognition Awards meeting.

The rules will be posted before this year’s first qualifying race—the Michelob Ultra Cup on March 28. Other venues that apply are: Suncoast Race Week, April 4; Twilight Friday Night Series, April 17; Crown Cars Regatta, April 18; Regata del Sol al Sol, April 24; the Fall Bay Race, fall 2009; and the Distance Classic, fall 2009.

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

Finn North American Masters, Fairhope Yacht Club, AL, March 4-7

By Kim Kaminski This regatta is sponsored by the NA Finn Class Association, Gulf Coast Finn chapter.

To be eligible, a sailor must have reached the age of 40

by Dec. 31, 2009. Eight races are scheduled over the fourday period with two races each day. Trophies will be awarded to the top five finishers overall. Divisions are Master (40-49), Grand Master (50-59), Grand Grand Master (60-69) and Legend (70+). A trophy will also be given to the top vintage boat.

For more information, contact Cathy Cromartie (rear commodore) at race&regatta@fairhopeyachtclub.com

Maxine Sansom Series 2009, March 2009

By Kim Kaminski Every March, a three-race series is held in Pensacola Bay that honors a woman who was a vital member of Pensacola racing. Maxine Sansom was held in high regard among the sporting community and was always seen on the race committee boats compiling race statistics.

The Maxine Sansom Series was created to honor Maxine. Three different races are held at one of the area yacht clubs but combine for an overall trophy. The first race is held at the Navy Yacht Club in conjunction with its first race of the season, the Commodore’s Cup Race, to be held March 7. The second race, on March 14, will be held at the Pensacola Beach Yacht Club in conjunction with its Rites of Spring Regatta, and the final race of the series will be held on March 21 at the Pensacola Yacht Club (which was Maxine’s home club).

News & Views for Southern Sailors

Participants can race in one race, two out of three races or in all three races. However, the overall trophy goes to a participant of all three races.

At this year’s Sailors Award Banquet at the Pensacola Yacht Club, Maxine’s son, Doug Sansom earned the “Yachtsman of the Year” award. Doug is an experienced one-design sailor in the Flying Scot and Fish Class sailboats and in PHRF racing.

For more information, go to www.pensacolayachtclub.org

16th Annual Conquistador Cup, Charlotte Harbor, March 7-8 The 16th annual Conquistador Cup will be held on Charlotte Harbor March 7-8. Historically the largest regatta in southwest Florida, this event’s organizing authority is the Punta Gorda Sailing Club in cooperation with the Royal Order of Ponce de Leon Conquistadors.

The regatta begins with registration and free beer on Friday evening, March 6, at Harpoon Harry’s Restaurant, at Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda.

On Sunday, all registered boats will join together for the 16th running of the reverse start Conquistador’s Cup. The winner is awarded the coveted Ponce de Leon Conquistador Helmet and gets his boat pictured on next year’s regatta T-shirt.

The official NOR and entry forms are on the Punta Gorda Sailing Club Web site at www.pgscweb.com.

2009 Acura Miami Grand Prix, March 5-8 This regatta will carry on the winter regatta excitement that recently concluded in Key West. IRC, Farr 40 and Melges 32 classes have a good mix of recent Acura Key West 2009 champions and participants along with boats that will be adding new flavor to the competition in Miami.

IRC classes will split into a big boat IRC 1 class consisting of TP52s, and IRC 2 with the “40-footers,” including John Cooper’s Mills 43 Cool Breeze (Cane Hill, MO) launched in December and Jim Bishop’s venerable J/44 Gold Digger (Jamestown, RI).

The Melges 32 class made its Miami debut in 2006 with six boats. 2008 Acura Miami Grand Prix champion, Michael Illbruck’s Pinta (Munich, GER), will defend against a field of no less than 12 boats, the majority of which are fresh from Key West’s proving grounds. Jeff Ecklund’s Star (Fort Lauderdale, FL) won class honors and Acura Boat of the Week in January. Melges 32s were recognized as the class with the closest, most competitive racing.

All four classes are in the hunt for the Acura Grand Prix awards, which will be presented to the boats with the lowest combined cumulative points for Acura Key West and the Acura Miami Grand Prix in their respective classes. This year the Melges 32 Gold Cup results are included in that class’s scores. Perpetual awards are in the offing to the Farr 40, Melges 32 classes and IRC classes.

Four race days with as many as 10 races are scheduled.

The first entry deadline is February 6. Event details, entries and past results are available at www.Premiere-Racing.com.

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SOUTHERN RACING 2009 Lightning Class Southern Circuit Gears Up— First Regatta March 14-15

Sarasota Youth Sailing Program Sailfest Regatta, Sarasota Sailing Squadron, March 28-29

For nearly 40 years, the annual Lightning Southern Circuit has been sending a fleet of 50 or so boats on a combination road rally and regatta that includes stops at Savannah, GA, and Miami, before finishing with an additional couple of dozen of the 19-foot-long sloops in St. Petersburg, FL. The series kicks off at the annual Deep South Regatta, held March 14-15 at the Savannah YC. On March 17-18, the Lightning Midwinter Regatta will be hosted at the Coral Reef YC in Miami. The 62nd Lightning Winter Championship in St. Petersburg will take place on March 20-22. Competitors from South America, Europe, and North America will be on hand, as well as former and current world champions and Olympic sailors.

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

For the first time ever, the Sailfest will be a part of the Sarasota Bay Yachting Association (SBYA) Boat of the Year series. One-design classes will be spread out over Saturday and Sunday. Racing for all PHRF boats will be held on Saturday, being consistent with all other SBYA events.

One-Design fleets include Laser 4.7, Laser Radial, Laser Standard, Optimist RWB, Optimist Green, Sunfish, Club 420, and Flying Scot. Any other fleet with five or more competitors is welcome with prior notice.

All money raised will go to benefit the Sarasota Youth Sailing Program. For information, go to www.sarasotaysp. com, or contact Stuart Gilfillen at (941) 504-4236 or e-mail stuart_gilfillen@hotmail.com.

Jabbo Gordon Invitational Regatta, Venice, FL, March 21 Venice Youth Boating Association and the Englewood Sailing Association will host this annual regatta on Lemon Bay. A skippers’ meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. The one-day regatta will feature Optimists, Lasers, Sunfish, 420s, Walker Bays and a Portsmouth division. Adults as well as youth are invited to race a trapezoid course. For more information, go to www.veniceyouthboating.com or e-mail Jabbo Gordon at veniceyouthboating@verizon.net.

Michelob Ultra Cup, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, March 28 Racing in the Gulf, this race is a Suncoast Boat of the Year race and will meet at the St. Pete Yacht Club docks. This race is also a qualifier for the yacht club’s new SPORC award, the St. Petersburg Ocean Racing Challenge. Go to www.spyc.org for more information.

33rd Southwest Florida Regatta, Melges 24 Regatta and the Porsche Cup of Naples, Naples, FL, March 28-29 Held by the Gulf Coast Sailing Club, the regatta will begin on Friday, March 27, and conclude on March 29 with a party afterwards. The Porsche Cup of Naples will highlight the regatta and will be held at the new Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club in Naples.

The Melges 24 Regatta will also be a part of this regatta.

It will be one of six regattas in the southeast circuit of the US Melges 24 Class Association, southeast district.

The regatta will also feature Dawn Riley speaking at the Mount Gay Rum Speaker Series. See “Short Tacks” section this issue for more information.

For more information and to register for the regatta, go to www.gulfcoastsailingclub.org, or call (239) 263-7254.

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Trans-Monroe Regatta, Lake Monroe, Sanford, FL, March 28-29 The Lake Monroe Sailing Association will be hosting the 21st annual Trans-Monroe Regatta on March 28-29 on Lake Monroe. There will be an around-the-lake race on Saturday and buoy races on Sunday. For more informaton, go to www.fla.lmsa.org.

2009 First Coast Offshore Challenge, Jacksonville, FL, to Georgia and Return, April 1-4 The North Florida Cruising Club and the Saint Augustine Yacht Club are coordinating this regatta that is also a fundraising event. Proceeds and donations go to the Safe Harbor Boys Home in Jacksonville, FL. This regatta races from the start near Jacksonville, FL—at Mayport—south to St. Augustine, on April 1. After an overnight stop there, the race continues on April 2-3 on the second leg of the race to St. Mary’s, GA. The following day, April 4, the race heads back to Mayport. An after-race awards party will be held at the Safe Harbor Boys Home & Marina.

Are you already going to Charleston Race Week (April 16-19)? Then consider joining this regatta on the way. Free dockage is available at Safe Harbor Boys Home Marina before, during and after the regatta. All ports and parties are deep-water accessible for larger vessels. A travel lift is available (free!) for yachts coming or leaving by trailer. Stash the boat at Safe Harbor until you leave for home or Charleston!

For more information on the regatta and registration, go to www.fcoc2009.com.

Suncoast Race Week, Tampa Bay, April 2-5 A longstanding tradition among regattas in Tampa Bay, this three-day regatta consists of races to different yacht clubs. It is a Suncoast Boat of the Year event and a qualifier for the St. Petersburg Ocean Racing Challenge (SPORC). www.southwindsmagazine.com

The first race is from the St. Pete YC to the Bradenton YC on Friday, April 3. Boats stay in Bradenton and most can find space at the yacht club or at nearby Snead Island Boatworks (for deeper draft vessels). On Saturday, boats race to the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club. On Sunday, the race is from Treasure Island around Egmont Key. Go to the regatta web site at http://scrw.home.att.net/ for more information.

2009 Fort Lauderdale to Charleston Race, April 8 This 408-nautical mile race up the Gulf Stream marks the rebirth of a race that originated in 1968 and ran for 10 years.

The race will start just outside of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and finish just outside of Charleston Harbor.

The race is also an official leg of the 2009 US-IRC Gulf Stream Series where IRC boats earn points for placement in an overall chase to be the series champion. The race schedule is coordinated with Charleston Race Week scheduled for the week following.

The race is organized by SORC and sponsored by the Storm Trysail Club, starting host Lauderdale Yacht Club and finishing host Carolina Yacht Club.

For more information, NOR posting and online race

News & Views for Southern Sailors

entry, go to the official race Web site, www.fortlauderdalecharlestonrace.org.

Rolex Women’s Match Race, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, April 9-12 Raced on Tampa Bay in Sonar class keelboats. For more information about Rolex Women’s Match, visit the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Web site, www.spyc.org, and the Rolex Women’s Match Web site, www.rolexwomensmatch.org.

Crown Cars Regatta (Formerly the Anchor Cup), St. Pete Yacht Club Pass-a-Grille, April 17 The Anchor Cup, a one-day event and one of the oldest Gulf races in the area, has been renamed the Crown Cars Regatta.

It will be held at the Pass-a-Grille location of the St. Pete Yacht Club and racing will be in the Gulf. This regatta is part of the new SPORC (St. Petersburg Ocean Racing Challenge) and is also being used as a tune-up regatta for the Regata del Sol al Sol (Mexico Race) on April 24.

For more information, go to the St. Pete Yacht Club Web site, www.spyc.org.

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SOUTHERN RACING Miami to Key Largo Race, Miami Yacht Club Youth Sailing Foundation, April 18 First held in 1956, the annual Miami to Key Largo Race has grown from 33 entrants to as many as over 200 participants.

Everyone starts at once, just south of the Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami and proceeds 43 nautical miles through Biscayne National Park to the Jewfish Creek area of Key Largo. The new 65-foot permanent bridge will provide future finishers with easy access to the resorts and parties at the end. Race boats include both monohulls and multihulls in various classes. Proceeds go to the Miami Yacht Club Youth Sailing Foundation, a non-profit corporation that supports youth education and safety in the sport of sailing.

Racers range from teens to sailors in their 90s, and all enjoy the camaraderie of such a large event with so many different sailors and sailing. For more information, go to www.miamiyachtclub.net.

41st Annual Regata del Sol al Sol, St. Petersburg to Mexico, April 24 This annual race from downtown St. Petersburg to Isla Mujeres off the coast of Yucatan, Mexico will start on April 24. The race is 456 miles and a week of events kick-off the regatta before the St. Pete departure. Another week of events marks the arrival in Mexico including the annual Regata de los Amigos, sailboat rides on the racing boats that take local kids sailing in the island’s waters.

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

RACE REPORTS

Golden Conch Regatta, Platinum Point YC, Punta Gorda, FL, Jan. 10-11

By Tom Fleming, Fleet Captain Platinum Point Yacht Club (PPYC) celebrated its 26th Anniversary of the Golden Conch Regatta (CHBOTY) at the Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda, FL, on Jan. 10-11. This was a two-day sailing event of three races with sailors coming from Venice to Marco Island.

Thirty-five sailboats participated, representing five sailing classes of PHRF-rated boats: Spinnaker, Non-Spinnaker A, Non-Spinnaker B, True Cruising A, and True Cruising B. The weather was perfect for competitive sailing with beautiful sunny skies, temperatures in the 70s, and winds ranging from 5-14 knots.

Saturday’s races started off with a light breeze, 5.3 knots, and increased to 8 knots, requiring one course change. Sunday’s race started with SW winds of 6 knots and increased to 14 knots from the west. This required a course change in direction and distance.

Racing was very competitive. After two races, five boats were tied for second place in the Spinnaker class. The last day’s race with 14 knots proved to be the challenge all competitors enjoyed, seeking a solid second-place finish.

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Results (First place finishers. For complete results, go to www.ppycbsm.com): Spinnaker: Bama Slammer, Bob Knowles (S2/7.9); Non-Spinnaker A: Fancy Free, Jerry Poquette (Soveral 39); Non-Spinnaker B: Morgan, Bill Curtis (Morgan 24); True Cruising A: Bravo, Pete Rehm (Tartan 34); True Cruising B: Mariah, David Erdmann (Catalina 27).

2009 Keelboat Regatta, Davis Island Yacht Club, Jan. 17

By Bobby Crawford The 2009 Keelboat Regatta was held January 17 at Davis Island Yacht Club. A near-record fleet of 45 boats shared upper Tampa Bay with the Opti National Team training practice, also held at Davis Island YC over the weekend.

A cold morning gave way to a beautiful and sunny 65degree afternoon with an 8-10 knot shifting breeze from the north. A distance race for Racer/Cruisers and Non-Spin had an 11:30 gun, followed by three windward/leeward races each for Spin A and B, Melges 24, J/24, and Flying Scots.

Results: Spin A: 1st No Limit-Gable/Hobbs, 2nd Mad Cow²German/Ruark, 3rd Mariah-Suarez-Hoyos: Spin B: 1st Pirate-Lorick, 2nd Delirium-Sea Scouts, 3rd Jabberwocky-Sea Scouts: Melges 24: 1st Wicked Witch-Blouin, 2nd Firewater-Haynie, 3rd Rogue: J/24: 1st Long Shot-Paulson, 2nd Road Kill-Fouche, 3rd Mischief-Coger: Racer/Cruiser: 1st Team Effort-Turton, 2nd Cool Change-Zonnenberg, 3rd WingItDoyle: Flying Scot: 1st Jim Egan, 2nd Jeff Linton, 3rd John Domagala

Local Keys Sailors Do Well in Tradewinds Midwinter Open Catamaran National Championships, Islamorada, FL, Jan. 17-18

By Rick White The Tradewinds Midwinter Open Catamaran National Championships were hosted by Founders Park Watersports at Founders Park in Islamorada over the Martin Luther King weekend. Nearly 60 high-speed, high-tech multihulls sped around the triangular courses on the Bay side of the Islands.

The weather was very cooperative despite some nasty forecasts. While the days were cool, there were good 15 m.p.h winds on Saturday and winds close to 10 on Sunday.

As usual, it was perfect Florida Keys sailing.

There were seven different classes of boats participating. In the Hobie Wave class (the second largest fleet involved) local Key Largo sailor, Leah White, took the victory with the best score after seven races. Husband Dave White took third place, only a point behind the second-place finisher from Ruskin, FL. Leah continues her winning ways, having just won the Wave Nationals in early December.

In the Open Handicap class, Kelly Davis of Key Largo sailed a Hobie 17 and won that class. This was a good showing for the Florida Keys sailors.

Sponsoring the regatta was Catamaran Sailor magazine, OnLineMarineStore.com, SailingSeminars.com, Calvert Sails and Zhik Sailing Apparel.

The event is held annually over the Martin Luther King holiday in January each year. www.southwindsmagazine.com

505 Midwinters and A-Cat Winter Regatta, Fort Desoto Park, St. Petersburg, Feb. 6-8

By Dave Ellis The south beach of pristine Fort Desoto Park, an island south of St. Petersburg, was filled with 29 505s and 21 ACats from throughout the country. The site is enough to draw visitors. The racing in open waters was a bonus. Since there is no yacht club involved and no facilities other than the beach restrooms with showers and the handy park bench on the beach, a woman’s club on nearby Pass-a-Grille island was used for evening social events. Coaches were conscripted for extra race committee boats. Principal Race Officer Dave Ellis ran windward/leewards with rabbit starts for the 505, line starts for A-Cats.

Three days of racing began with 12 to 15 knots with strong current running upwind. A few boats had breakdowns and others spent time horizontal. The rest of the races were in lighter air with current moving upwind.

Miami’s Augie Diaz with crew Tommy Fink were fast and smart to top the 505 Midwinters, while Ben Hall, Randy Smythe, Bob Hodges, Woody Cope and Brett Moss had a battle at the front of the A-Cat fleet with Hall winning.

Classic Moth Midwinters, Gulfport Yacht Club, FL, Jan. 31-Feb. 1

the builder is set free. Some of the hulls were left over Europe Dinghies, a fitting end for them, as they were based on a French Moth design in the first place. The fastest hulls were fashioned from twisted light plywood with a deep V forward, rounded aft. An “older design” division sailed together with the more radical shapes.

The Gulfport Yacht Club race committee team had their hands full with the course. On Saturday, every race had a course change, the wind starting out northerly, backing to southerly and then veering back to the north, all in four hours.

Sunday was a little more stable with 30-degree shifts from the west. The 2007 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Jeff Linton of St. Petersburg kept his unbeaten Moth streak alive, but it was not easy this time. For results, go to www.mothboat.com.

I REGIONAL RACING CALENDARS Regattas and Club Racing— Open to Everyone Wanting to Race For the races listed here, no individual club membership is required, although a regional PHRF rating, or membership in US SAILING or other sailing association is often required.

To list an event, contact to editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

Send in the name of the event, date, location, contact info, possibly a short description. Do not just send a link to this information.

Since race schedules and venues change, contact the sponsoring organization to confirm.

By Dave Ellis

MARCH Charleston Ocean Racing Association. www.charlestonoceanracing.org 7 Community Sailing Fest 14 Spring Harbor Race 21 Spring Ocean Race Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org No races scheduled in March. See Web site for local club races Lake Lanier. Lake Lanier Sailing Club (LLSC) www.llsc.com See Web site for weekly local club races 7-8 Laser Southerns. LLSC 14-15 Atlanta Cup. LLSC. J/24, M24.

21-22 USODA Team Event. LLSC 27-29 Dogwood Regatta. Atlanta Inland Sailing Club (AISC)

Moth Midwinters at the Gulport Yacht Club. Photo by Dave Ellis.

Fourteen Classic Moths from seven states flitted to lower Boca Ciega Bay, Gulfport, FL, for a weekend of racing. Yes, a few went swimming around their really tippy craft.

Classic Moths are 11-feet long, 75-pounds minimum weight and have a set sail plan. Other than that, the imagination of News & Views for Southern Sailors

South Atlantic Yacht Racing Assoc. www.sayra-sailing.com 7-8 Y-Flyer Midwinters 14-15 Deep South Regatta. Savannah YC. Lightning Southern Circuit.

14-15 SAYRA 420 Regatta. Lake Norman YC. 21-22 Keelboat Midwinters. Lake Norman YC 28-29 Tommy Whitesides Regatta. Carolina SC. Catamarans & PHRF www.longbaysailing.com See Web site for local club races 22 First Race of Spring Series SOUTHWINDS

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SOUTHERN RACING APRIL Charleston Ocean Racing Association. www.charlestonoceanracing.org Local races every other Saturday on 2/10 and 3/1 4 Cooper River Bridge Run 4-16 Charleston Race Week 25 Spring Harbor Race Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org Got to Web site for calendar Lake Lanier. Lake Lanier Sailing Club (LLSC) www.llsc.com See web site for local club races 4 Around Alone. Barefoot SC 5 Commodore’s Cup University YC 8 AISC Kick-off. Atlanta Inland SC 25 Masters. Southern SC 25-26 Rebel Rouser. Lake Lanier SC South Atlantic Yacht Racing Assoc. www.sayra-sailing.com 4-5 Laser District 12 Champ #1, Laser - all rigs, BYSC 4-5 Spring Board Regatta, dinghies, WCSC 10-12 Easter Regatta NOR, Reg, J24, CSC-SC 10-12 Easter Scow Regatta, E Scow, MC Scow, M-17, CYC-SC 18-19 SAYRA Sunfish/Laser Regatta, Sunfish, Laser, LNYC 18-19 Laser District 12 Champ #2, Laser - all rigs, LNYC 23-26,29 Classic Boat Rally, Classic PHRF, SYS, SCYC, BYSC, CYC-SC 25-26 Lightning SE District Championship, Lightning, CSC-SC 25-26 Sailfest, Open, LMSC 25 Harbourtown Cup, PHRF, YCHHI 29 Classic Boat Rally, Classic PHRF, CYC-SC

21

DuPont Cup Regatta. & Spring Series #3. Eppingham Forest Yacht Club 21 Spring Race #1. East Coast Sailing Association 21 Club Race, Winter Series 7-8-9. Lake Monroe Sailing Association 28 Distance Race. Port Canaveral Yacht Club 28 Women’s Spring Race #3. East Coast Sailing Association 28-29 Trans-Monroe Regatta. Lake Monroe Sailing Association APRIL 1,8,15,29 Spring Wednesday Race #4,5,6,7. Indian River YC 1-4 First Coast Offshore Challenge. North Florida Cruising Club 4,11,18 Spring Sailing Class #2,3,4. Halifax SA 5 Big Boy’s Race. Halifax SA 5 Commodore Cup Race #1. Halifax River YC 5 Sunday Afternoon Racing. Florida YC 5 Small Boat Sunday. Melbourne YC 4-5 Annual Regatta. Mount Dora YC 10,24 Spring Rum Race #5,6. Melbourne YC 11 Spring Race #2. East Coast SA 11-12 Trans-Monroe Regatta. Lake Monroe SA 18 Blue Max Race, Spring Series #4. North Florida CC 18-19 Club Races. Lake Eustis Sailing Club 18-19 Spring Small Boat Regatta. Melbourne YC 17-19 Lipton Cup. Smyrna YC 25-26 Spring Big Boat Regatta. Melbourne YC MAY 2 Mug Race. Rudder Club 2-3 Cinco de Mayo Regatta. Port Canaveral YC

www.longbaysailing.com See Web site for local club races

MARCH 1,13,27 Spring Rum Race #2,#3,#4. Melbourne Yacht Club 7 Full Moon Sail and Overnight on the River. Lake Monroe Sailing Association 7 Space Coast 45 Indian River Run. Space Coast Catamaran Association 8 Tequila Race. Lake Monroe Sailing Association 8,22 Small Boat Sunday. Melbourne Yacht Club 7-8 River City Regatta & Spring Series #2. Rudder Club 11,18,25 Spring Wednesday Race #1,#2,#3. Indian River Yacht Club 11,18,25 Rum Race. Lake Monroe Sailing Association 12 Zenda U M16/17 and C Scow Tune Up Clinic. Lake Eustis Sailing Club 13-15 4th Annual Melges 17 Midwinter National Championship Regatta. Lake Eustis Sailing Club 13-15 10th Annual C Scow Midwinter National Championship Regatta. Lake Eustis Sailing Club 13 - 15 1st Annual M 16 Scow National Midwinter Championship Regatta 14-15 Catalina 22 Region 3 Championships. Rudder Club 17 - 18 Zenda U MC Scow Clinic. Lake Eustis Sailing Club 19 Adult Sailing Class, Session 1 begins. Melbourne Yacht Club 19-21 37th Annual MC Scow Midwinter National Championship Regatta. Lake Eustis Sailing Club.

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Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.net Go to the Web site for local club races BBYC Biscayne Bay YC BBYRA Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.net CGSC Coconut Grove Sailing Club. www.cgsc.org CRYC Coral Reef YC. www.coralreefyachtclub.org.

KBYC Key Biscayne YC. www.kbyc.org.

MYC Miami YC. www.miamiyachtclub.net.

MARCH 27-1 Jaguar Mid-Winter’s Etchells. BBYC 5-8 Miami Grand Prix Race Week. Premiere Racing 7 J/24 BBSeries Spring1. Flat Earth 8-13 Bacardi Cup. Stars.

13-14 Race to Bimini. KBYC 13-14 SAL Midwinters. SAL/FlatEarth 13-15 Don Q Snipe Regatta. CGSC 17-18 Lightning Southern Circuit. CRYC 20-22 Etchells Coral Reef Cup. CRYC 21 Coral Cup. CGSC 28 BBYRA. PHRF #4. KBYC 29 BBYRA. One-Design #4. BBYC 27-April 1 Jaguar Midwinters Etchells. BBYC APRIL 10-11 40th Annual SE Dinghy.KBYC 11 FULL MOON REGATTA 11 J/24 BB Series Spring2. FlatEarth 16 Miami-Key Largo Skipper’s Mtg 18 Miami Key Largo Race. MYC www.southwindsmagazine.com

18-19 Opti FL State Championship. CRYC 25 BBYC Sunburn Regatta BBYRA PHRF #5 26 BBYC Sunburn Regatta BBYRA OD #5

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

Dinner and drinks afterward.

Upper Keys Sailing Club (UKSC). www.upperkeyssailingclub.com. Go to the Web site for regular club racing open to all.

MARCH 1 Commodore Regatta. Bayside.

5-7 Force Five Midwinters.

7 Race to Rodriquez. Bayside to Oceanside.

APRIL 1 Mystery Mark Race 5 TIB Regatta 12 Annual Racers meeting 26 Hank Gartner Youth Sailing Championship

West Florida Race Calendar (and Inland Lakes) SOUTHWINDS Annual Online West Florida Race Calendar Posted Sept. 1 Southwinds magazine posts the annual race schedule/calendar (9/1/08 — 8/31/09) on its Web site for all racing in the central west Florida area from just north of Tampa Bay south to Marco Island. The calendar includes all scheduled races of the West Florida PHRF organization (www.westfloridaphrf.org), plus club races in the area and any others that boaters in the area would like to post. The Boat of the Year races are listed for all the areas of the West Florida PHRF organization.

The race calendar can be accessed through the racing pages link at www.southwindsmagazine.com. It is also the race calendar link at the West Florida PHRF organization (www.westfloridaphrf.org) and many other sailing associations and yacht clubs in the area.

Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com to list your race, make corrections, or changes. Sorry, but we cannot list every single weekly club race.

Club Racing Boca Ciega YC. Gulfport. Every Sunday following the third Friday of each month. Skipper’s meeting at 10am, PHRF racing, spin and non-spin. (727) 423.6002 or www.sailbcyc.org. OneNews & Views for Southern Sailors

design, dinghy racing every Tuesday at 5:30 pm. March through September (727) 458-7274. Guests welcome for all races.

Bradenton YC. Races November thru March. Sunday races at 1:30 p.m. PHRF racing on Manatee River. For info, call Susan Tibbits at (941) 723-6560.

Clearwater Community Sailing Center. The center holds regular weekend club races. For dates and more information, go to www.clearwatercommunitysailing.org.

Dunedin Boat Club. Monthly club racing. For more information, contact saraherb@aol.com.

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.

Punta Gorda Sailing Club. Charlotte Harbor. Fall Series Sunday afternoon racing begins Sept. 9 through Nov. 18. www.pgscweb.com.

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

Venice Sailing Squadron. Saturdays. First Saturday of each month, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet. www.venice-sailing-squadron.org BOAT OF THE YEAR RACES (BOTY) — LEGEND Below are areas from Tampa Bay going south to greater Fort Myers area (Southwest Florida). For a list of the BOTY races for each area, go to the West Florida online race calendar at www.southwindsmagazine.com/westfloridaracecalendar.html.

Suncoast Boat of the Year Races (SuncoastBOTY) This is the Tampa Bay Area.

Sarasota Bay Boat of the Year Races (SBBOTY) Sarasota Bay Motley Fleet Boat of the Year Races (MBOTY) Charlotte Harbor Boat of the Year Races (CHBOTY) Southwest Florida Boat of the Year Races (SWFBOTY) Fort Myers/Marco Island area Caloosahatchee Boat of the Year Races (CBOTY) Ft. Myers/Cape Coral area MARCH 1-6 St. Petersburg YC. Thistle Midwinters 5 Davis Island YC. Thursday evening races begin, All classes registration 6-8 Davis Island YC. Melges-24 Suncoast Championship 7-8 St. Petersburg YC. Allison Jolly Girls Regatta, Opti and Laser 7-8 Punta Gorda SC Conquistador Cup (SWFBOTY) (CHBOTY) (CBOTY) 8 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Motley Fleet Race. (MBOTY) 8-10 Clearwater YC. Snipe Midwinters 13-15 Davis Island YC. Fireball & Friends. Fireball, Windmill Midwinters, Interlake, Flying Scot, 110, Hampton One design, Sunfish Masters 13-15 Dunedin Boat Club. Ensign Midwinters (Tentative) 13-15 Lake Eustis SC. C-Scow, M-17, M-16 Regatta 14 St. Pete Sailing Assoc. Rich Gahn Memorial, PHRF 14 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Pot O Gold, PHRF 14 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society Shrimp Festival Race. (CBOTY) 15-16 Lake Eustis SC. Melges 17 & C Scow Midwinters 19-21 Lake Eustis SC. MC Scow Midwinters 19-22 Clearwater YC. Sunfish Midwinters 20-22 St. Petersburg YC. Lightning Midwinters 20-22 Davis Island YC. Flying Scot Warm-up 20-22 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. One-Design Midwinters 21-22 Marco Island YC. Spring Regatta .(SWFBOTY) TBD Lake Monroe Sailing Association. Trans-Monroe Regatta, 21 Venice Youth Boating Assoc. Jabbo Gordon Invitational.

Sunfish, Optimists, Lasers, 420s, Portsmouth 22 Cortez YC. Diane Parker Memorial “Lady at the Helm” Regatta SOUTHWINDS

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SOUTHERN RACING 22 24-27 28 28 28 28-29 28-29

Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Motley Fleet Race. (MBOTY) St. Petersburg YC. Flying Scot Midwinters Treasure Island Tennis and YC (VERIFY) Michelob Ultra Cup, PHRF. (SuncoastBOTY-S,NS,RC,C) Davis Island YC. J/24 Pot-O-Gold Regatta Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society.

Santweenie Race Gulf Coast SC. Southwest Florida GCSC Regatta, PHRF (SWFBOTY) (CBOTY) Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Sailfest. Sarasota Youth Sailing Program PHRF. (SBBOTY)

APRIL 3-5 SPYC to Bradenton YC to TITYC. Suncoast Raceweek, PHRF. (SuncoastBOTY-S,NS,RC,C) 4-5 Mount Dora Yacht Club. Annual Mount Dora Regatta, All dinghies 4-5 Gulf Coast SC. GCSC Regatta 4-5 Clearwater YC. Clark Mills Youth Regatta 10 Treasure Island Tennis and YC. Suncoast Raceweek awards 10-12 St. Petersburg YC. Rolex Match Racing, Women’s Invitational, Sonars 11 Jabbo Gordon Invitational Sunfish Regatta. gordonjb35@yahoo.com.

11 St. Pete Sailing Assoc. PHRF 12 Cortez YC. Easter Egg Regatta 17-18 Treasure Island Tennis and YC. Morgan Invasion (All boats Morgan) 17-19 Davis Island YC. Carl Cramer Wood Boat event 18 Venice Yacht Club. Venice Sailing Squadron. Shark Tooth, PHRF. (SBBOTY) 18-19 Sailing Association of Marco Island. Bud Light Regatta, PHRF (SWFBOTY) 18-19 Gulfport Yacht Club. Spring Multihull Regatta, A-Cat, Formula 16, et. al.

18 St. Petersburg YC @ Pass-a-Grille. Crown Cup, PHRF. (SuncoastBOTY-S,NS,RC,C) 19 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Motley Fleet Race. (MBOTY) 21 Clearwater YC. FWSA Rainbow Regatta 24 St. Petersburg YC. Regata del Sol al Sol, to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. (SuncoastBOTY-RC,C) 24 St. Petersburg YC. Twilight Racing begins 25-26 Naples Sailing & YC. Messmer Cup, PHRF (SWFBOTY) 25-26 Tampa Sailing Squadron. 21st Annual Sea Scout Regatta

For northern Gulf coast race calendars and more information, go the Gulf Yachting Association Web site, at www.gya.org.

PLEASE note the dates listed for various events may have been re-scheduled or changed due to damages from Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Check the yacht club or event websites for any updates or cancellations.

LEGEND BucYC Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile, AL BYC Biloxi Yacht Club, Biloxi, MS BWYC Bay Waveland YC, Bay St. Louis, MS FWYC Fort Walton Yacht Club, Ft. Walton Beach, FL FYC Fairhope YC Fairhope, AL GORC Gulf Ocean Racing Circuit, Biloxi, MS 66

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GYC JYC LPRC MYC NOYC NYCP PelYC PontYC PYC PBYC SPYC SYC StABYC TYC

Gulfport Yacht Club, Gulfport, MS Jackson Yacht Club, Jackson, MS Lake Pontchartrain Racing Circuit, New Orleans, LA Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile,AL New Orleans YC, LA Navy Yacht Club of Pensacola, Pensacola, FL Pelican Yacht Club, New Roads, LA (Baton Rouge) Pontchartrain Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA Pensacola YC, FL Pensacola Beach YC, FL St. Petersburg Yacht Club, St. Petersburg, FL Southern YC, New Orleans, LA St. Andrews Bay YC, Panama City FL Lake Tammany YC, New Orleans, LA

MARCH 1 Mardi Gras, NOYC 1 Zevon Cup, FWYC 4-7 Finn North American Masters, FYC 7,14,21 Maxine #1,#2,#3/Commodore’s Cup #1, NYCP 7 Winter Series Race #6 Final, StABYC 7 Mardi Gras, NOYC 8 Zevon Cup Final, FWYC 8-10 Mardi Gras, NOYC 12 US Sunfish Team Racing, StABYC 13-15 Sunfish Midwinters, StABYC 14 Two Against the Lake, TYC 14 Leukemia Cup, BucYC 14 Spring Fling, JYC 14 Southern Nichols Cup Team Race, SYC 21-22 Performance Cat Midwinters, Key Sailing 21 Leukemia Cup, PontYC 21 Spring Series #1, StABYC 21 Peerson Regatta, FWYC 25 Wednesday Night Fun Series, FWYC 27-29 GORC, BYC/MYC 28 Leukemia Cup, SYC/NOYC 28 Dogwood Regatta, FYC 28 Jane England, JYC 28-29 Spring into Liquid Regatta, FWYC APRIL 3-5 4 4 4 11 11 11 11-12 18 18 18 18-19 18-19 18-19 19 19 19-23 25 25 25 25-26 25-26 25-26 25-26 25-26 25-26 26

GORC Caldwell Cup, BSC Wet & Cool, FYC Spring Series #2, StABYC Two Against the Lake, TYC BWYC Opening, BWYC Commodore’s Cup #2, NYCP Mobile Bay Youth Championships (Opti,420,Laser,Sunfish), BucYC Spring Series #3, StABYC NOYC Opening Preemie Cup, PBYC Pat Gilliland Regatta, JYC Thistle District Championships,BYC Thistle District Champinships, BSC SYC Opening Dauphin Island Warm-up, MYC Corsair Nationals, PYC Jourdan River, BWYC Dauphin Island Race, MYC Cruising Couples #1, PYC S.C. Smith Regatta, ABYC V15 Jass Fest Regatta, SYC Laser District 14, GYC MS Finn Championship, GYC Alfonso / Sutter, GYC Opti Spring Fling, FWYC Dauphin Island Return, MYC

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Largest Selection of Sailboats &Trawlers in Florida

www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

72’ Taswell Cutter, 1996, Bill Dixon design, 4 staterooms, Dual Helms, Bow thruster, Awlgrip in ’07, New A/C ’07, Prof.Captain maintained, $1,395,000, Call Bob @ 239-877-4094

48’ Golden Wave Ketch, 1988, Solid Bluewater 47’ Vagabond Ketch, 1979, New spars, rigging cruiser, original owner, sleeps 8, $149,000 and sails in ‘03. Bluewater ready, $119,000, Call Call Roy S. @ 305-775-8907 Roy S. @ 305-775-8907

45’ Hunter Legend, 1987, New A/C, Full electronics, Wind Generator, solar panels, $93,900, Call Rick @ 727-422-8229

43’ Endeavour Center Cockpit Ketch, 1980, Roomy live-aboard cruiser with seakindly sailing performance, Autopilot, Priced right at only $60,000, Call Tom @ 904-377-9446

42’ Cheoy Lee Clipper, 1970, Topsides, deck and cockpit Awlgriped in 2005, Teak decks removed, $85,000, Call Joe @ 941-224-9661

42’ Whitby Ketch,1985 (Sistership photo) Custom Hard top over cockpit, 62hp Volvo, 3 solar panels, 2 wind generators, New A/C $99,000. Call Leo @ 941-504-6754

39’ Corbin ketch, 1983, Fresh Awlgripe, Great Equipment, The nicest on the market! $115,000, Call Harry @ 941-400-7942

37’ Hunter Legend, 1988, New electronics, New Rig, New roller furling, $49,000, Call Leo @ 941504-6754

37’ Endeavour B Plan 1979, 5kw Genset, Repainted hull, New interior, Good Electronics, $44,900, Call Bill @ 727-421-4848

36’ CS Merlin, 1989, Rare Shoal draft model, Full batten main, Autopilot, Windlass, Quality boat! $64,900, Call Tom @ 904-377-9446

35’ Wildcat Catamaran, 2003, Solar panels, New Upholstery, New Electronics, $149,900, Call Tom @ 904-37-9446

MONOHULL SAILBOATS

MONOHULL SAILBOATS 72’ Taswell 64’ Durbeck Ketch 55’ Tayana 54’ Gulfstar 52’ Derecktor Motorsailor 50’ Gulfstar 48’ Golden Wave Ketch 48’ Dekker Ketch 48’ Wellington 47’ Gulfstar Sailmaster 47’ Vagabond Ketch 47’ Vagabond Ketch 46’ Cal 46’ Antigua 45’ Hunter Legend 45’ Hunter Legend 44’Camper Nicholson 44’ Beneteau 44’ Freedom 43’ Endeavour 43’ Beneteau Idylle 43’ Slocum Cutter 42’ Custom Cutter 42’ Whitby Centercockpit 42’ Hunter Passage 42’ Tayana 42’ Tayana 42’ Tayana 42’ Cheoy Lee Clipper 42’ Beneteau 42’ Bruce Roberts Center Cockpit 41’ Hans Christen 40’ Hunter 40’ Bayfield Ketch 39’ Horizon Cutter 39’ Pearson Yawl 39’ Allied Mistress MKIII Ketch

1996 1980 1988 1986 1966 1976 1987 1971 1991 1979 1982 1979 1974 1987 1987 1987 1978 1986 1982 1980 1986 1986 1990 1985 1995 1988 1988 1980 1970 2002 1985 1985 1997 1987 1982 1974 1975

$1,395,000 Mexico $ 95,000 Tampa $299,000 St. Petersburg $289,000 Boston $350,000 St. Petersburg $ 99,700 Bradenton $149,000 Punta Gorda $169,000 St. Augustine $125,000 Fernandina Beach $154,900 Madeira Beach $209,900 Ft. Pierce $139,900 St. Petersburg $145,900 West Palm Beach $134,500 Ft Lauderdale $ 93,900 Ft. Lauderdale $124,900 Crystal River $ 74,900 Ft. Lauderdale $119,000 Palm Coast $ 88,900 Ft. Lauderdale $ 60,000 Titusville $ 84,900 Melbourne $159,900 Ft. Lauderdale $119,000 Ft. Lauderdale $ 99,000 Punta Gorda $ 94,900 Ft. Lauderdale $194,900 Bradenton $179,000 Pueto Rico $ 79,900 Ft. Lauderdale $ 95,000 Bokeelia $163,900 Ft. Lauderdale $269,000 Ft. Lauderdale $179,900 St. Augustine $124,900 Ft. Lauderdale $113,900 Ft. Lauderdale $ 44,900 Dunedin $ 54,900 Panama City $ 35,900 Palmetto

Bob Roy S. Roy S. Bob Roy TJ Roy S. Tom Tom Roy S. Jeff Roy S Bob Jeff Jeff Rick Jeff Tom Jeff Tom Tom Jeff Jeff Leo Jeff Roy S. Roy Jeff Joe Jeff Jeff Tom Jeff Jeff Rick Tom Roy S.

38’ Catalina 380 38’William Baylock Custom Cutter 37’ Gulfstar Sloop 37’ Endeavour B Plan 37’ Tartan 36’ CS 36 Merlin 36’ Bayfield 36’ CS 36T 36’ Catalina MK II 35’ Catalina 350 35’ Young Sun Cutter 34’ B & J Cutter 34’ Tartan 32’ Beneteau 32.1 31’ Southern Cross 31’ Bombay Pilothouse 31’ Hunter 28’ Shannon 28’ Pearson 24’ Pacific Seacraft 24’ Pacific Seacraft

1997 1982 1977 1979 1982 1989 1988 1982 1995 2003 1984 1967 1985 1997 1985 1978 1998 1978 1986 1986 1989

$124,900 $ 46,000 $ 54,900 $ 44,900 $ 69,000 $ 69,900 $ 99,000 $ 77,900 $ 82,900 $139,000 $ 79,900 $ 16,000 $ 52,500 $ 59,900 $ 35,900 $ 19,000 $ 48,900 $ 47,000 $ 27,500 $ 49,685 $ 59,900

Punt Gorda Port Charlotte Bellaire Gulfport Ft. Lauderdale St. Augustine St. Petersburg St. Augustine Ft. Lauderdale Palm Coast Punta Gorda St. Petersburg Ft. Myers Deerfield Beach Madeira Beach Palmetto St. Petersburg St. Augustine Safety Harbor Sanibel Orange Park

MULTI-HULLS 65’ Brooks/Custom Power Cat. 60’ Custom Catamaran 55’ Lagoon Catamaran 51’Jeantot/Priviledge Catamaran 50’ Prout Catamaran 48’ Nautitech Catamaran 44’ St. Francis Catamaran 43’ Lagoon Power Catamaran 39’ Fountaine Pajot Fidji Cat. 35’ Charter Cat, Wildcat 30’ Woods Windsong Catamaran 28’ Telestar Trimaran

1998 1999 1991 1994 1980 1998 1994 2005 1990 2003 1989 2007

$495,000 Bradenton Beach $577,900 Tarpon Springs $475,000 Ft. Lauderdale $530,000 Florida $249,900 Ft. Pierce $459,000 Punta Gorda $269,000 Savanna, GA $395,000 Georgetown, MD $179,000 Palau, South Pacific $149,900 Ft. Lauderdale $ 29,900 Bahamas $ 79,000 MD

Edwards Yacht Sales Quality Listings, Professional Brokers

Bob Cook • Naples • 239-877-4094 Rick Hoving • St. Petersburg • 727-422-8229 Leo Thibault • Punta Gorda • 941-504-6754 Joe Weber • Bradenton • 941-224-9661

TJ Johnson • Palmetto • 941-741-5875

Harry Schell • Sarasota • 941-400-7942

News & Views for Southern Sailors

FAX 727-725-1611 •

Joe Bill Bob Tom Bill Rick Bob Rick Rick Jeff Tom Rick

BOAT LOANS FROM 5.75%

Roy Edwards • Clearwater • 727-725-1600 Tom Morton • St. Augustine • 904-377-9446 Bill Mellon • St. Petersburg • 727-421-4848 Roy Stringfellow • Tierra Verde • 305-775-8907

www.EdwardsYachtSales.com • 727-725-1600 •

Leo Leo Roy S. Bill Joe Tom Roy S. Tom Jeff Tom Leo TJ Joe Jeff Roy S. TJ Bill Tom Rick TJ Tom

Yachts@EdwardsYachtSales.com SOUTHWINDS

March 2009

67

ANTIGUA MARINE SURVEY & CONSULTING, INC Specializing in sailboats 16’ to 60’ and up.

rch 28-29 Course, Ma n o ti a er p for info.

Radar O our Web site to o G y. a B Tampa

Our sea time is on boats like yours.

Pre-purchase, Valuation and Insurance Surveys Pre-purchase and Bluewater Consulting USCG Masters Jean Levine S.A. & Jeff Grossman

727-644-7496 info@antiguamarinesurvey.com www.antiguamarinesurvey.com

YACHT BROKERS Advertise in the SOUTHWINDS Brokerage Section at special rates: $110 QUARTER PAGE $200 HALF PAGE $325 FULL PAGE (12-month rates, black and white ads – add 20% for color)

Special pricing for classified ads for brokers

Update Your Ads Monthly

Dealer for the Gemini 105 Mc Catamaran

The most cost effective way to reach southern boaters

See the Gemini 105 Mc Demonstrators in Stuart and Naples, FL New 2009 Gemini 105 Mc Limited Time Winter Special Call for Special Pricing We offer brokerage services focused on cruising yachts Featured Brokerage Boat: 2008 Gemini 105 Mc – Asking $179,900 Fully equipped for cruising!

WE NEED GOOD LISTINGS

Fairwinds Yachts MAIN OFFICE

2423 SE Dixie Hwy., Stuart, FL 34996 • 772-223-1109 • info@fwyachts.com

CONTACT

Naples • 239-269-7440 • leiding@fwyachts.com

editor@southwindsmagazine.com or call at (941) 795-8704

www.yachtworld.com/fairwindsyachts 68

March 2009

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

Your Authorized Dealer for SELECTED LISTINGS Eagle PH 53 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sale Pending Marine Trader 44 SD 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . .$129,000 (P) Hatteras 43 DC 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$129,000 (S) Island Pilot 39 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$299,999 (S) Mainship Pilot 34 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$99,999 (S) Lien Hwa Seahorse 32 1986 . . . . . . . . . . .$59,900 (N) Boston Whaler O26 1998 . . . . . . . . . . . . .$29,000 (S) Holby Pilot 19 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$24,900 (N) Irwin 52 1981 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$135,000 (S) Morgan OI 51 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$133,900 (S) Phinn Custom Schooner 1989 . . . . . . . . .$167,000 (P) Beneteau 49 ‘07 & ’08 (2 cabin & 3 cabin) Call for Special Beneteau 46 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Call for Special Sea Master 46 1982 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$175,000 (P) Beneteau O440 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$139,000 (N) Beneteau 43 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Call for Special Morgan Classic 41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$77,000 (N) J/Boats J 130 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$225,000 (N) Beneteau 40 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Call for Special Beneteau First 40.7 ‘02 & ‘02…Starting at $150,000 (S) Passport 40 1985 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$119,000 (N) Beneteau 361 ‘00 & ‘01………Starting at .$99,000 Farr 36 Custom 2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$115,000 (N) Gulfstar 36 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$30,000 (N) Beneteau 34 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .In Stock Hunter 340 ‘99 & ‘01……… Starting at $57,500 (S) Tartan 34-2 1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$59,000 (P) Beneteau O331 2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$79,000 (N) J/Boats J 100 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sale Pending Beneteau 323 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$85,000 (S) Hunter 320 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$58,000 (S) Pearson 323 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$30,500 (P) Beneteau 31 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .In Stock (S) Beneteau 311 ‘00 & ‘01………Starting at $65,000 (P) Catalina 30 ‘88 & ‘90……..… Starting at $29,000 (N) Nonsuch 30 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$56,500 (S) Alerion Express 28 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sale Pending Alerion Express 28 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$84,900 (N) Catalina 28 1991 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$29,900 (S) Beneteau FC 7.5 ‘06 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$39,900 (N))

We have In & OUT of the Water Slips AVAILABLE for our Listings!

www.MurrayYachtSales.com News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

March 2009 69

CLASSIFIED ADS Ads Starting at 3 Months for $25 FREE ADS - All privately owned gear for sale up to $200 per item • Text only ad : $15 for three months, 30 words. $25/40 words. $35/60 words.

• $30 for 30-word ad with horizontal photo. $40/40 words. $50/ 60 words.

• These prices do not apply to ads for business services and products. Call for pricing.

• Add $15 if vertical photo. Boats and item wanted ads included.

• Add $10 to place the ad early on our Web site. Otherwise, all ads go up on the 1st of the month of publication. No refunds.

• Ads prepaid by credit card, check, or Internet.

• $10 to make changes (except for price, email, phone numbers, mistakes) in text.

• The last month your ad runs will be in parentheses, e.g., (4/09) is April 2009.

• Ad must be received by 6th of the month, sometimes later. Call to see if later or go online for our monthly deadline schedule.

• E-mail ads and photos (as jpeg). If mailed, add $5 for typing or photo scan charge.

MARCH SPECIAL* Ad & Photo for 3 MO/$30 Text Only Ad at $15/3 MO (up to 30 words) FREE ADS All privately owned gear for sale up to $200 per item *(ad must be placed no later than 3/31 – you must mention this offer) DISPLAY ADS: Starting At $38/month. (941) 795-8704.

Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

BROKERS: Photo and text ads only apply to this offer. $5

to change your ad first 3 months. After 3 months: $20 a month for a new ad or $15 to pick up old ad. Price changes and mistake changes free. Credit card must be on file if not a monthly display advertiser.

TO PLACE AN AD: 1. On the Internet, go to www.southwinds magazine.com/classifieds. Paypal: Put your ad in the “Message to Seller” area that will come at the end when you process the payment, or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

Photo must be e-mailed.

2. E-mail, Phone, Credit Card. E-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com with text in email (or Word document). Call with credit card number (941) 795-8704.

3. Mail your ad in. PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218. Check or credit card number (with name, expiration, address). Enclose a SASE if photo wanted back.

We advise you to list the boat type first followed by the length. For example: Catalina 30. Your boat is more likely to be found by Internet search engines in this format.

Boats Wanted Boats & Dinghies Powerboats Boat Gear & Supplies

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

Businesses for Sale/Rent Engine For Sale Help Wanted

WANTED: Cape Dory 22 or Typhoon Senior with trailer. (228) 324-6504.

BOATS & DINGHIES

_________________________________________

Lodging for Sailors Sails & Canvas Slips for Sale or Rent Too Late to Classify Hobie Adventure Island. 2007 16’ x 9’4” folding trimaran kayak sailboat. R/F mainsail, Fiberglass dagger board, folding rudder, mirage drive system, adjustable padded seat.

Fast, excellent condition. $2200 or $2800, with trailer. (561) 439-7664. West Palm Beach, FL. (4/09)

HELP WANTED

_________________________________________ SAILING CLUB MANAGER Sarasota Sailing Squadron Seeks a new Club Manager. Full time employment. Benefits Package is included. For more info go to: http://tinyurl.com/8fl3nz.

BOATS WANTED

_________________________________________ Sunfish and Sunfish Rigs Wanted. TSS Youth Sailing, Inc., Tampa Youth Sailing, an organization to which donations are tax deductible, is in great need of sailing rigs for Sunfish sailboats. If you have a Sunfish rig (mast, sail and spars.) which you are not using, please consider a gift to us. Go to www.tssyouthsailing.org and click on Contact Us. News & Views for Southern Sailors

Catalina 28 MKII. 1998. Excellent condition.

Dodger, Bimini. Huge cockpit and comfortable. Low hours on original diesel. Radar, GPS, Chartplotter, VHF, Autopilot, VHF. Anchors, line, Gear. Cushions excellent down below and in cockpit. Rebuilt roller furling.

Whisker pole. 135 and 155 headsails (both like new). New Bottom job, Jan. 2009. $46,900. Located Palmetto, FL, in Tampa Bay. (941) 795-8704. Craig100@tampabay.rr.com.

For more details and photos, go to www.southwindsmagazine.com/classifieds/ca talina28.htm Precision 15: 1997, $3,200. St. Petersburg, FL. Centerboard. Well maintained. Includes main sail cover, motor bracket, and trailer.

2006 2hp/4stroke long shaft Honda, $750.

Call 727-515-0576.

MacGregor 1998 26X, 50 HP Honda 4-stroke OB. Unique water ballast system. Less than 1 foot draft when board is up. 7’ 10” beam and comes with a trailer. Enclosed head, aft sleeping cabin, galley, and dinette. CDI roller furling jib. VHF radio. Stereo with cockpit speakers.

Wheel steering, cockpit cushions and more. $13,500. Cortez Yacht Sales (941) 792-9100.

1978 S2 26. New standing rigging. Fresh bottom paint/hull - August 2008. Good Sails.

Johnson 9.9 OB. Tiller Pilot, GPS, Depth, 4-foot draft. Must Sell. Over $5000 invested. Make offer. (941) 737-4034. (4/09)

$50 – 3 mo. Ad & Photo 941-795-8704 SOUTHWINDS

March 2009 71

CLASSIFIED ADS 1980 Chrysler T-27 sailboat racer/cruiser design by Charlie Morgan.

Race Ready– 1979 MORC 1st Place Title. 2006 New Dodger, Batteries, Charger. 2008 New Port Windows, New Lifelines.

Asking $8779 OBO (727) 2796968. www.ahoystrangecharm.com. (5/09)

Island Packet 27 Sloop. $43,900. St. Petersburg. This popular IP-27 is a very roomy, comfortable and seaworthy pocket yacht with a larger interior than most 30 footers. Lightly used with very low engine hours— a must see vessel! Call Stew at (727) 4150350, or Jacek at (727) 560-0901. www.sciyachtsalesinternational.com.

Tanzer 28, 1973. Flush deck, well-maintained by owner since 1980. Totally refurbished with new Vetus Diesel, Fully equipped for Cruising.

Price $16,900 O.B.O. Tel: (239) 823-6372 Email: HermanVA3QX@gmail.com. (7/09)

28’ Corsair F-28R Trimaran ‘97. ‘07 Carbon sails, ‘07 - 9.8 OB, overhauled trailer. Turn-key condition. $69,900. Palmetto, FL. Write for particulars to fmp28r@yahoo.com. (941) 538-8540. (5/09a)

Catalina 30 sailboat, 1989, 3’10” draft, tall rig, new bottom paint and running gear, Engel refrigeration. Sails in excellent condition. Diesel rebuilt Oct ’08. 10 amp solar, 8.5 Achilles and 3.5 Nissan, $22,000. Cruise Ready. South Florida. (305) 509-2834. (5/09)

Subscribe to SOUTHWINDS $24/year • 3rd Class $30/year • 1st Class Subscribe on our secure Web site www.southwindsmagazine.com 72

March 2009

SOUTHWINDS

1987 Catalina 30 with Universal diesel, Harken RF, lazy jacks, Bruce and Danforth, Lemar STs, Bimini, Data Marine instruments, Grill, GPS, VHF, Stereo, TV, front door refrig, alcohol stove, swim ladder, marine air and more. A great boat at a fantastic offer. $21,000. www.Cortezyachts.com. (941) 792-9100

WHARRAM TIKI 30 CATAMARAN FOR SALE Brand-New — Professionally Built Go to www.tiki30.blogspot.com to view an online journal documenting the step-bystep building of this boat. Built by Boatsmith, Inc., Jupiter, FL www.boatsmithFL.com. (561)744-0855

Catalina 28 MKII. 1998. Excellent condition.

Dodger, Bimini. Huge cockpit and comfortable. Low hours on original diesel. Radar, GPS, Chartplotter, VHF, Autopilot, VHF. Anchors, line, Gear. Cushions excellent down below and in cockpit. Rebuilt roller furling. Whisker pole. 135 and 155 headsails (both like new).

New Bottom job, Jan. 2009. $46,900.

Located Palmetto, FL, in Tampa Bay. (941) 795-8704. Craig100@tampabay.rr.com. For more details and photos, go to www.southwindsmagazine.com/classifieds/catalina28.htm

82 Pearson 30 Flyer. Competitive PHRF racer.

Mylar and Dacron sails. 3 spinnakers, 3 jibs, 2 mains, Raymarine speed, depth, wind. BMW diesel. Hauled ’08. Faired and Coated ’04. New mainsheet traveler. New jib track & blocks.

Folding prop. $13,500. (813) 641-2755. (4/09)

1989 Hunter 30 sloop. Asking $29,900, well equipped & maintained, shoal draft, reverse cycle A/C, comfortable accommodations, good performance, spare genoa. Stew (727) 415-0350. (727) 560-0901. www.sciyachtsalesinternational.com.

2” DISPLAY ADS STARTING $38/MO

30’ Bodega Sloop. Semi-custom bluewater cruiser. 5 foot draft. Beautiful teak interior, opening ports, navigation station, Yanmar diesel, refrigerator, propane stove, oven, wind generator, solar panel, wind vane, autopilot, large sail inventory, dinghy. Extensive storage.

Sleeps four. $25,000. 321-567-4139. (5/09)

32’ Watkins 1983 Ideal for cruising or liveaboard, well maintained. Hybrid refrigeration, 27HP Yanmar, A/C, autopilots, GPS, High output alternator. Pictures and list of equipment: www.kollmann-marine.com/Loreli.htm or call (954) 583-7215. (5/09a)

www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS 1978 Endeavor 32. new Bimini, hatch/sail cover, all new interior, cushions and bedding.

Top shape. 20 HP Yanmar, new bottom ‘07, 10’ Avon. Needs electronics update. Located Pensacola. $19,500 OBO. (850) 232-8599. (3/09)

1975 C&C 33. New Standing and running rigging, racing & cruising/delivery sails.

Good race record. Epoxy barrier coat bottom.

AM/FM CD and speed/depth. Asking $17,900 Call Mike at (727) 510-4167 or (727) 796-4260. (4/09a)

2004 Catalina 34 MK II, loaded and ready.

This boat is equipped for the discriminating sailor for pure pleasure or the competitor for pure enjoyment. Everything you need in a boat. Two complete sets of sails, one to cruise, another to race. Everything is like new. $127,500. www.Cortezyachts.com for listing or call (941) 792-9100.

1968 Classic Morgan 34’ In process of refurbishing for past 2 years. Full Lead Keel added complete with CAD designs. New wiring. New Simrad electronics still in the box. Auto Pilot System and Radar (electronics cost 9K). Owner deceased. Widow wants out at $10,000 or BO. Located in St. Augustine.

(727) 505-4247. (5/09a)

1995 Hunter 35.5 loaded, Yanmar diesel, low hrs, Roller Furling 150% and 130, 2 mains, Dutchman, two GPSs, SSB radio, VHF, Auto Pilot, solar, like new dodger, Bimini, dinghy w/OB and crane, boom vang, new running rigging, manual windlass, full galley, head w/shower, Marine air. Must see. Asking $65,000. www.cortezyachts.com. (941) 792-9100.

1984 Hans Christian 38 Cutter w/ Yanmar diesel, full keel double-ended, blue water cruiser known for its sea-keeping ability and sturdy construction. Owners completed Caribbean cruise and now offer you this unique opportunity. This is a chance of a lifetime to purchase a proven well-equipped and maintained sailing vessel just waiting to go again. Reduced to $79,000 for quick sale www.cortezyachts.com.

(941) 792-9100

1988 Catalina 36. New canvas, davits, bottom paint. VHF, Auto pilot etc. With dinghy and motor. Well maintained. Refitted in 2002. (321) 460-0473. (4/09)

Gozzard 36, 1987. Excellent Condition.

Brand New Sails. Partial Awlgrip. New Bottom Paint. Radar, SS Radio, B&G instruments.

Bimini/Dodger, hard windshield. Hard Dinghy and Motor. Davits. Bob (314) 487-4543, $99,000 rgruener@earthlink.net. (5/09)

40’ Searunner Trimaran. Absolutely solid and complete with all you’ll need. Only $69,000.

OBO. Just get on board and sail the dream. All pics and full details. http://Searunner.multiply.com E-mail to davenaudrey2@yahoo.co.uk. (813) 312-1029.

Cruising Cuba, December-February. (5/09)

Jeanneau 37. 1978. Very fast center cockpit cruiser/racer. Lots of room below. Excellent offshore sailing vessel. Hawk’s Flight is a proven design. Built in France. Fast and safe passage making or very comfortable liveaboard. She is sound, large inventory of spare parts and recent improvements. Priced to sell, owner very motivated.Stew (727) 415-0350 (727) 560-0901. www.sciyachtsalesinternational.com

See Classified Information on page 71 News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

March 2009 73

CLASSIFIED ADS

1997 Catalina 40, Cruise ready, AC, 4K Generator, 10” color Garmin GPS, ST6000 AutoPilot, watermaker, TV/DVD/CD/Stereo, 10’ Zodiac w/9.9 4-stroke Yamaha, Davits, and much more. Longboat Key Moorings. $149,900. (407) 810-5621 (3/09a)

TransWorld CT 41. 1979. Proven full-keel blue water cruiser. Perkins 4-108 diesel. 46’ LOA with bowsprit. Ketch-rigged Center Cockpit with walk thru to aft cabin.

Complete Awlgrip paint. Custom stainless steel rails and davits. 10’ 6” Caribe RIB with 15hp OB. Full galley. Beautiful teak interior with lots of storage. Maxwell electric windlass. Much more. New sails and rigging. As is — asking $69,000. North Carolina. www.Cortezyachts.com (941) 792-9100

Whale Gusher metal manual bilge pump, new $85; new Danforth 12lb. hi-tensile anchor $50; new Bowmar white aluminum opening port lite w/screen !7”x7”, $100; new fuel injectors for Perkins $100. Call 954560-3919.

(5/09) _________________________________________ 1980 CSY 44 (walk over) full set main cabin cushions with floral pattern Sunbrella upholstery. $200.00 954-525-3279. (5/09) _________________________________________ 3 anchors with chain and Rode. $35 to $75.

(813) 641-2755. (4/09)

POWERBOATS

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

Exceptional condition with lots of new gear.

Harken roller furling on all sails. Marine air, WS, WD, depth, VHF w/remote, SSB, cd/radio, autopilot, chartplotter, radar, dinghy, life raft. $109,500 Call Major Carter or visit www.Cortezyachts.com.(941) 792-910

CORTEZ YACHT SALES SAIL

410 Hunter 1999 . . . . . . . . . . . .$124,500 41’ Transworld 1979 . . . . . . . . . . .$69,000 40’ Bayfield 1984 . . . . . . . . . . . .$109,500 39’ Corbin PH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$100,000 38’ Hans Christian 1985 . . . . . . . .$79,000 35’ Hunter 35.5 1995 . . . . . . . . . .$65,000 34’ Nassau 1983 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$24,900 34’ Catalina 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . .$127,500 30’ Catalina1987 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$21,000 26’ Macgregor 1998 26X . . . . . . .$13,500

1979 Albin 33 Trawler. Traditional with no teak decks. 120hp Lehman diesel with excellent range. Navigate from either the fly bridge or below out of the elements. 16000 BTU Marine Air, fwd cabin with head, aft cabin w/head. Galley up with main salon. Swim platform. Recent bottom paint. $27,500 wwwcortezyachts.com. (941) 792-9100

POWER

33’ Albin Trawler 1979 . . . . . . . .$29,500 30’ Silverton 1989 . . . . . . . . . . .$18,000 30’ Island Hopper, Diesel 2004 . .$85,000 28’ Sheffield Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . .$24,900 WE HAVE BUYERS — LISTINGS WANTED —

(941) 792-9100 visit www.cortezyachts.com CORTEZ YACHT SALES

ADVERTISE YOUR BOAT $25 for up to 30 words for 3 months 74

March 2009

SOUTHWINDS

1986 Young Sun Sunrise 40’. $74,900 Port Charlotte, FL. Great condition. Absolutely beautiful interior. 2008 Bottom Job. All the amenities. Burns less than 2 gallons per hour.

Full details at www.whiteakeryachtsales.com.

(941) 776-0616. (3/09)

BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES

_________________________________________ Cockpit cushions. $150. Four cushions made of closed cell foam from a C&C 29. Includes helmsman’s hump. Excellent. Inflatable boat fenders 8.5”x27”, new in package. Two for $50. Made by Seasense, white premium vinyl.

WPB, FL. (561) 655-9555. (4/09) www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS 50 Amp Power Cord 50’ long—as New $350.

Raritan PHII, Manual Head rebuilt, replaced with electric model—$95. Baby Blake Head— make me an offer. Dinghy 8’ Achilles, old but no leaks, wood floor and seat—$250. Yanmar 3.5 two stroke outboard, not used since rebuild by Yanmar dealer—$300. Bruce 20 KG anchor—trade for #23 Fortress or HT Danforth. Miscellaneous sails, sea anchor, and marine gear. Andy (954) 533-2030. (5/09)

FREE ADS Free ads in boat gear for all gear under $200 per item. Privately owned items only.

Editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

(941-795-8704) Dinghy Davits. $299. Edson. Heavy duty.

Cast aluminum.

Excellent condition.

Bradenton, FL. (941) 792-9100. (5/09) _________________________________________ Mainsail and Mast. 19’ 6” mast. Shortened off 18’ Catalina. Complete with Spreaders, lights, etc. Mainsail: 16’ luff. 8’ 4” foot.

Powerhead. 1 reef point. Will separate. $150 each or OBO. (352) 728-0098. (2/09) _________________________________________ Used Boat Gear for Sale. CQR 25 & 45#, Bruce 16 & 66#, Hookah by Airline, 55# Folding Fisherman anchor, Para-tech 15 w/Rode, Edson rack & pinion steering w/ wheel, new awning w/side curtains. Nautical Trader, 110 E. Colonia Lane, Nokomis, FL. Shop online at www.nauticaltrader.net. (941) 488-0766.

DONATE YOUR BOAT _________________________________________ Donate your boat to the Safe Harbor Boys Home, Jacksonville, Fl. Setting young lives on a true path. Please consider donating your working vessel. http://boyshome.com/ or call (904) 757-7918, e-mail harbor@boyshome.com.

ENGINE FOR SALE _________________________________________ Universal Atomic 4 For Sale. This engine runs and comes complete with good gearbox and wet exhaust. Good compression. Mounts 12 by 16 O/C. Call Gary Smith Cell (321) 6740886 or e-mail Fivespeed05@cfl.rr.com $900 OBO. (3/09)

HELP WANTED _________________________________________ SAILING CLUB MANAGER Sarasota Sailing Squadron Seeks Club Manager. Full time employment. Benefits Package Included. More Information at: http://tinyurl.com/8fl3nz. _________________________________________ Yacht Broker Wanted. Fort Lauderdale Area. Edwards Yacht Sales is looking for a broker to work out of his area/home office.

(727) 507-8222.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

EDWARDS YACHT SALES is expanding again!

We’ve had a record yr. & are ready to expand in selected locations. Experience preferred but will train the right person. We need brokers for the East Coast, Panhandle, Ft. Lauderdale & Keys, aggressive advertising, group health care plan, bonus plan. www.EdwardsYacht Sales.com, contact Roy Edwards, 727-5078222.

Yachts@EdwardsYachtSales.com _________________________________________ Yacht Broker Wanted. Lots of Work. Growing company, with years of experience, in Tampa Bay looking for a team player. Great company support. Call (727) 823-7400, or Jacek at (727) 560-0901. _________________________________________ Sailing Instructors/Branch Managers. Offshore Sailing School is seeking skilled sailors with strong teaching experience, performance and cruising boat sailing experience, US SAILING certification (or skills to pass exam). USCG license required, or experience to obtain appropriate level. Manager applicants must have organization & management skills. Email resume to Doug Sparks at doug@offshoresailing.com, fax (239) 454-9201 visit www.offshoresailing.com/employment.

(4/09a) _________________________________________ Massey Yacht Sales Mobile Broker Do you prefer to sell yachts from your home office? If you do and you are a proven, successful yacht sales professional, we have positions open for Florida west and east coast. Take advantage of the Massey sales and marketing support, sales management and administration while working from your home selling brokerage sail and powerboats. Call Frank Hamilton (941) 723-1610 for interview appointment and position details.

SAILS & CANVAS

________________________________________

SLIPS FOR SALE OR RENT

________________________________________ DOCK SPACE off SARASOTA BAY!! Slips start at $117 a Month on 6-Month Lease.

Sheltered Marina accommodates up to 28’ sail or power boats. Boat ramp. Utilities included. Call Office: (941) 755-1912. (3/09)

TO LATE TO CLASSIFY

LODGING FOR SAILORS

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

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

BROKERS: Advertise Your Boats for Sale.

Text & Photo Ads: $50 for 3-months.

Text only ads: $25 for 3 months

Catalina 42. 1989. Wing keel, shallow draft.

2003 Yanmar engine, 2001 mast in new rigging, new Mermaid A/C, water maker, generator, new bottom paint, dinghy, new Main, new Bimini, in-mast furling, radar. $75,000.

(941) 224-6521. Bradenton.

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March 2009 75

RUDDERLESS continued from page 78 pool was formed by a circle of boulders with an opening of about 40 feet toward the sea and a small beach in an area protected from the waves. It was getting dark and their objective of riding a wave through this opening was not going to be easy. As they approached and could finally see the opening, they both realized that they were not going to make it. Turning the 420 about, they headed back out and focused on plan B—a rocky “beach” a few miles down the coast.

Meanwhile back at the marina, Malcolm and Frank’s lady friends, Cindy and Ruth, were becoming very concerned. As more and more time passed, they realized there was a serious problem developing and decided to take action. With the help of Alberto from the club’s staff, they contacted the Coast Guard and soon set off down the coastal road. At short intervals, Alberto would get them to stop the car and peer out to sea. It was a dark night (fortunately, in this

ALPHABETICAL INDEX

OF

ADVERTISERS

Advanced Sails ...........................................32 All Women’s Wailing Connection ...............27 AlpenGlow .................................................53 Annapolis Performance Sailing ...................57 Antigua Surveying......................................68 Aqua Graphics ...........................................30 Atlantic Sail Traders ....................................28 Bacon Sails .................................................32 Bay Point Marina........................................14 Bay Rigging................................................32 Beneteau Sailboats.....................................BC Beta Marine ...............................................48 Bimini Bay Sailboat Rentals.........................53 Bluewater sailing school .............................25 Boat Peeling.com .......................................30 Boaters’ Exchange......................................47 BoatNames.net ..........................................30 Boatsmith...................................................28 BoatUS Insurance .......................................22 BoatUS Towing ..........................................43 Boca Ciega YC ...........................................29 Bo’sun Supplies ..........................................49 Bottom Cleaning........................................30 Capt. & First Mate Yacht Delivery ..............30 Capt. Marti Brown .....................................30 Catalina 28 for sale ....................................40 Catalina Yachts....................................IFC, 47 Clearwater Municipal Marina .....................34 Coral Reef Sailing .......................................61 Cortez Yacht Brokerage ..............................73 Couples Sailing School ...............................27 CPT Autopilot ............................................73 Cruising Solutions ......................................53 Dancing With the Wind Video....................32 David McKie Surveyor ................................37 Defender Industries ......................................9 Dockside Radio ..........................................49 Doyle/Ploch Sails........................................33 Dunbar Sales.............................................IFC Dwyer mast................................................73 Eastern Yachts/Beneteau ......................IFC,BC 76

March 2009

SOUTHWINDS

case, not also a stormy one) and Alberto had to assure Ruth that he would be able to see the sails. As they rounded a curve, they suddenly came upon a long, long line of parked cars—all eyes looking out at the sailboat heading straight for the rocky beach that no one ever used.

After their failure to land at the Lido, Malcolm and Frank continued their sail down the coast. A Coast Guard boat roared by, paying them no attention. They later surmised that the Coast Guard was looking for a capsized boat and assumed that they were just out for a night cruise. At 2100 hours, they identified the beach and headed in. Concerned about depth and not sure just how rough the rocky landing would be, Malcolm and Frank donned their life jackets and abandoned ship about 30 yards from shore. The 420 continued on by itself and was gently deposited on smooth rocks, while Malcolm and Frank’s floundering landing was not

nearly so graceful.

Once they clambered ashore and it was evident they were no worse for wear, they were greeted with cheers.

Frank immediately rushed over to Ruth and Cindy, assuring them all was well and explaining what had happened. Malcolm, however, had other priorities. He was carefully examining the condition of his boat and making arrangements to have it returned to the marina. The stalwart 420 survived to sail again, but Malcolm was soon looking for a new lady friend.

P.S. Years later, Ruth and Frank were living in an apartment looking out over the golf course and club when after two weeks of heavy rainfall the mountains came sliding down. At least 15,000 lost their lives that day; roads were destroyed and many homes buried. Their escape to the islands 70 miles offshore makes another interesting story. Unfortunately, it was in a stinkpot.

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

Edwards Yacht Sales ...................................67 E-Marine ....................................................31 Fairwinds Boat Repairs ...............................32 Fairwinds Yacht Sales .................................68 First Patriot Insurance.................................26 Flagship Sailing ..........................................38 Florida Sailing and Cruising School ............27 Flying Scot Sailboats ..................................73 Garhauer Hardware....................................41 Harborage Marina......................................17 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack ............................24 Hotwire/Fans & other products .................31 Hunter ......................................................IBC Innovative Marine Services ....................20,32 International Sailing School........................27 Island Detail ...............................................30 J/Boats - Murray Yacht Sales .................69,BC Kathleen D Charter ....................................30 Knighton Sails ............................................33 Lake Fairview Marina Boat Show ................18 Leather Wheel ............................................31 Mack Sails ..................................................39 Massey Yacht Sales ...........................IFC,5,70 Masthead Enterprises ..................31,33,47,68 Mastlight ...................................................53 Mastmate ..................................................31 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau................69,BC National Sail Supply ...................................42 North Sails ..........................................37, 55 North Sails Direct.......................................37 North Sails Outlet ......................................73 Online Marine............................................56 Porpoise Used Sails.....................................33 Profurl ........................................................13 Quality Marine ...........................................18 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke...........45 Regatta Pointe Marina..................................4 Regatta Time in Abaco .................................8 Rigging Only..............................................32 Rparts Refrigeration....................................42 Rudder Club.................................................7 Sail Technologies........................................33

Sailfest .......................................................21 Sailing Florida Charters ..............................31 Sailing Florida Sailing School......................31 Sailmonster.com.........................................34 Sailors Wharf boatyard ...............................26 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program..................21 Schurr Sails ................................................54 Scuba Clean...............................................30 Scurvy Dog Marine ....................................35 Sea Hagg ...................................................30 Sea School .................................................35 Sea Tech ....................................................73 Sea Worthy Goods .....................................31 Shadetree...................................................12 SmarterSail Charter & School................15,27 Snug Harbor Boats & Co. ..........................47 Snug Harbor Boatyard................................37 SouthEast Sailing & Yachts .........................10 SSMR ......................................................9,32 St. Augustine Sailing Enterprises.................27 St. Barts/Beneteau .....................................BC St. Pete YC Regattas...................................11 Stowmate ..................................................43 Suncoast Inflatables....................................23 Sunrise Sails, Plus .......................................33 Tackle Shack...............................................24 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program ....39 Tideminders ...............................................29 Toyota........................................................19 Trans Marine Pro ........................................53 Turner Marine ...........................................IFD U-Boat Yacht Management ........................12 Ullman sails...........................................30,33 U-Sail of Central Florida .............................27 Wag Bags...................................................36 Waterborn..................................................48 West Marine.................................................3 Winchmate ................................................31 Windpath Fractional Sailing........................27 Womanship................................................53 Yachting Vacations .....................................50 www.southwindsmagazine.com

ADVERTISERS INDEX

BY

CATEGORY

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

SAILBOATS – NEW AND BROKERAGE BENETEAU...........................................................................................BC BOATERS EXCHANGES/CATALINA........................................................47 BOATSMITH/WHARRAM CATAMARANS ...............................................28 CATALINA 28 FOR SALE .......................................................................40 CATALINA YACHTS ........................................................................IFC,47 CORTEZ YACHT BROKERAGE ...............................................................73 DUNBAR SALES...................................................................................IFC EASTERN YACHTS................................................................................BC EDWARDS YACHT SALES......................................................................67 FAIRWINDS YACHT SALES ....................................................................68 FLYING SCOT SAILBOATS ....................................................................73 HOBIE CATS/TACKLE SHACK................................................................24 MASSEY YACHT SALES/CATALINA/HUNTER/EASTERN/MARINER .IFC,5,70 MASTHEAD YACHT SALES/CATALINA....................................31,33,47,68 MURRAY YACHT SALES/BENETEAU .................................................69,BC SNUG HARBOR BOATS & CO. .............................................................47 SOUTHEAST SAILING & YACHTS .........................................................10 ST. BARTS/BENETEAU ..........................................................................BC SUNCOAST INFLATABLES/ WEST FLORIDA...........................................23 TACKLE SHACK/HOBIE/SUNFISH, ST. PETERSBURG ..............................24 TAMPA SAILING SQUADRON YOUTH PROGRAM.................................39 TURNER MARINE ................................................................................IFC GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHING ANNAPOLIS PERFORMANCE SAILING..................................................57 BOATPEELING.COM ............................................................................30 BO’SUN SUPPLIES/HARDWARE ............................................................49 CORAL REEF SAILING...........................................................................61 CPT AUTOPILOT ..................................................................................73 CRUISING SOLUTIONS ........................................................................53 DANCING WITH THE WIND VIDEO .....................................................32 DEFENDER INDUSTRIES .........................................................................9 E-MARINE ............................................................................................31 GARHAUER HARDWARE .......................................................................41 HOTWIRE/FANS & OTHER PRODUCTS ...............................................31 LEATHER WHEEL ..................................................................................31 MASTHEAD ENTERPRISES .....................................................31,33,47,68 MASTLIGHT LEDS ................................................................................53 MASTMATE MAST CLIMBER ................................................................31 ONLINE MARINE .................................................................................56 PROFURL .............................................................................................13 RPARTS REFRIGERATION ......................................................................42 SEA HAGG ...........................................................................................30 SEAWORTHY GOODS ..........................................................................31 SHADETREE AWNING SYSTEMS ...........................................................12 SSMR.....................................................................................................9 STOWMATE .........................................................................................43 TACKLE SHACK/HOBIE/SUNFISH, PRECISION ......................................24 TIDEMINDERS......................................................................................29 WAG BAGS ..........................................................................................36 WEST MARINE .......................................................................................3 WINCHMATE .......................................................................................31 SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS, RIGGING SERVICES ADVANCED SAILS ................................................................................32 ATLANTIC SAIL TRADERS .....................................................................28 BACON SAILS ......................................................................................32 BAY RIGGING ......................................................................................32 DOYLE PLOCH.....................................................................................33 DWYER MAST/SPARS, HARDWARE, RIGGING .......................................73 INNOVATIVE MARINE SERVICES......................................................20,32 KNIGHTON SAILS ................................................................................33 MACK SAILS ........................................................................................39 MASTHEAD/USED SAILS AND SERVICE ..........................................47, 68 NATIONAL SAIL SUPPLY, NEW&USED ONLINE ....................................42 NORTH SAILS DIRECT/SAILS ONLINE BY NORTH ..........................37, 55 NORTH SAILS, NEW AND USED ..........................................................73 PORPOISE USED SAILS.........................................................................33 SCHURR SAILS, PENSACOLA FL ...........................................................54 SSMR................................................................................................9,32 SUNRISE SAILS, PLUS ..........................................................................33 TRANS MARINE PRO............................................................................53 ULLMAN SAILS ...............................................................................30,33 SAIL TECHNOLOGIES ..........................................................................33 RIGGING ONLY ..................................................................................32 CANVAS KNIGHTON SAILS ................................................................................33 SHADETREE AWNING SYSTEMS ...........................................................12 USED SAILING/BOATING SUPPLIES SCURVY DOG MARINE/USED, CONSIGN, PENSACOLA FL...................35 SAILING SCHOOLS/DELIVERIES/CAPTAINS ALL WOMENS SAILING CONNECTION ...............................................27 BLUEWATER SAILING SCHOOL .......................................................25,27 BOCA CIEGA YC ..................................................................................29 CAPT. & FIRST MATE YACHT DELIVERY ................................................30 COUPLES SAILING ...............................................................................27 FLAGSHIP SAILING..........................................................................27,38 FLORIDA SAILING & CRUISING SCHOOL ............................................27

News & Views for Southern Sailors

INTERNATIONAL SAILING SCHOOL.....................................................27 QUALITY MARINE CAPTAIN INSTRUCTION..........................................18 SAILING FLORIDA CHARTERS...............................................................31 SEA SCHOOL/CAPTAIN’S LICENSE ......................................................35 SMARTERSAIL CHARTER & SCHOOL...............................................15,27 ST. AUGUSTINE SAILING ENTERPRISES ................................................27 U-SAIL OF CENTRAL FLORIDA..............................................................27 WOMANSHIP ......................................................................................53 MARINE ENGINES AND ACCESSORIES BETA MARINE ......................................................................................48 RB GROVE/UNIVERSAL AND WESTERBEKE ...........................................45 MARINAS, MOORING FIELDS, BOAT YARDS BAY POINT MARINA ............................................................................14 CLEARWATER MUNICIPAL MARINA......................................................34 HARBORAGE MARINA..........................................................................17 REGATTA POINTE MARINA ....................................................................4 SAILORS WHARF BOATYARD ................................................................26 SNUG HARBOR BOATYARD..................................................................37 SNUG HARBOR BOATYARD..................................................................54 FRACTIONAL SAILING/CHARTER COMPANIES BIMINI BAY SAILBOAT RENTALS...........................................................53 FLAGSHIP SAILING...............................................................................27 KATHLEEN D CHARTERS ......................................................................30 SAILING FLORIDA CHARTERS...............................................................31 SMARTERSAIL CHARTER ................................................................15, 27 WINDPATH FRACTIONAL SAILING .......................................................27 YACHTING VACATIONS .......................................................................50 MARINE SERVICES, SURVEYORS, INSURANCE, TOWING, BOAT LETTERING, ETC. FIRST PATRIOT INSURANCE .................................................................26 ANTIGUA SURVEYING..........................................................................68 AQUA GRAPHICS .................................................................................30 BOATNAMES.NET ................................................................................30 BOATUS INSURANCE ...........................................................................22 DAVID MCKIE SURVEYOR ....................................................................33 FAIRWINDS BOAT REPAIRS/SALES ........................................................32 INNOVATIVE MARINE SERVICES...........................................................20 BOTTOM CLEANING ...........................................................................30 BOAT PEELING ....................................................................................30 ISLAND DETAIL ...................................................................................30 SAILMONSTER.COM WEB SITE ............................................................34 SCUBA CLEAN YACHT SERVICES ..........................................................30 MARINE ELECTRONICS DOCKSIDE RADIO ...............................................................................49 SEA TECH/NAVIGATION/COMMUNICATION.......................................73 YACHT MANAGEMENT U-BOAT YACHT MANAGEMENT ..........................................................12 CAR DEALERS TOYOTA ..............................................................................................19 SAILING WEB SITES, VIDEOS, BOOKS SSB RADIO BOOKS ..............................................................................30 BOATNAMES.NET ................................................................................30 DANCING WITH THE WIND VIDEO .....................................................32 SAILMONSTER.COM WEB SITE ............................................................34 REGATTA ADVERTISEMENTS, BOAT SHOW ST. PETE YC REGATTAS.........................................................................11 LAKE FAIRVIEW MARINA BOAT SHOW .................................................18 REGATTA TIME IN ABACO .....................................................................8 SAILFEST, SARASOTA YSP .....................................................................21

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SOUTHWINDS

March 2009 77

Sailing Rudderless in Venezuela

By Frank Davies

T

he Golf and Yacht Club is located on a relatively narrow stretch of land along Venezuela’s Caribbean coast that lies between mountains that rise to more than 7,000 feet and the sea.

There is a small natural inlet and estuary formed by a spit of land and one of the many streams that run down the mountainside. In colonial times, this was used by the Spaniards as a port and careenage. The Spanish viceroy built his home on a promontory a short way up the mountain to take advantage of prevailing trade winds from the northeast and to limit exposure to malaria mosquitoes that thrived in the flat marshlands below. His home is now the club’s main building, and the estuary has been dredged for the marina and a protected anchorage.

For many miles east and west of the club, the coast is rugged and in some cases, the mountains virtually come right down to the sea.

Where there is flat land, it has been formed over the years by periodic torrential rains (twice in the last 60 years) that last for more than a week causing catastrophic

78 March 2009

SOUTHWINDS

mud slides made more dangerous by immense boulders that are pulled down along with the mud.

This was the setting for a late afternoon sail on which Malcolm had invited Frank to accompany him in his 420. They departed around 1600 hours and tacked out of the inlet into prevailing winds of 20 to 25 knots and four- to sixfoot seas. The skies were clear and the temperature warm but not unpleasant. When they were two to three miles offshore, they enjoyed a leisurely sail up and down the coast. There were no other sailboats around, although marlin fishermen were returning from the bank farther out.

Around 1700 hours, they decided to head back. As they tacked, a sharp cracking sound grabbed their attention, and they saw a piece of wood floating away from the stern. It was, without a doubt, their rudder that had sheared off at the metal clamp that joined it to the tiller.

Frantic efforts to retrieve it were quickly followed by waving and shouting to draw their plight to the attention of some fishing

yachts—all to no avail. They would have to drift with the wind and current, which hopefully would bring them ashore several miles to the west late that night, or worse—carry them out to sea.

Luckily, Malcolm had considerable sailing experience, and in a short time—though to Frank it was an eternity—recalled that a boat with two sails could navigate without a rudder. One can’t go into the wind, but it is possible to reach up to nearly 90 degrees from its direction. This is achieved by holding the mainsail in one position and continually hauling in and releasing the jib. Changing the position of the mainsail changes the boat’s direction. To their delight, the sailors soon found that this was not just theory.

The next step was finding a place where they could get ashore with as little damage as possible to themselves or the boat. The club marina, situated upwind, was out of the question. But the Lido, a club with a manmade saltwater pool, might be the answer. This See RUDDERLESS continued on page 76 www.southwindsmagazine.com