Southwindsmay2004

SOUTHWINDS News & Views for Southern Sailors

Cal 2-27 Boat Review Watermakers for Small Cruisers Conch Republic Cup Cancelled: Interview with Peter Goldsmith

May 2004 For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

Announcing the

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1000

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West Marine

Raiatea Waterproof 7 x 50 Center-Focus Binoculars

Stainless-Steel Rigging Knife Model 3705613 Reg. 19.99

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Limited to stock on hand. Not good with any other offer.

Offer valid only with coupon April 29th through May 31st.

Limited to stock on hand. Not good with any other offer.

BUOYS & CHAPMAN’S

Test Sail a New Hunter April 29-May 9 and Get a FREE Gift Card!

Up to a $200 Value!* *Come in and make an appointment to test sail a Hunter Sailboat and you will receive a complimentary West Marine Gift Certificate valued up to $200. Card amount varies according to Hunter model. See your participating Hunter dealer for details.

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Chapman Piloting & Seamanship, 64th Edition

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Type IV Ring Buoys

Model 5247564 Reg. 39.95

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Limited to stock on hand. Not good with any other offer.

DECK CHAIRS & BIKES

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Dahon

Mariner 20 Highback

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Limited to stock on hand. Not good with any other offer.

Model 2287902 Reg. 349.99 Offer valid only with coupon April 29th through May 31st.

Limited to stock on hand. Not good with any other offer.

MARINE GRILLS

17999 West Marine

Pro Grill Model 3815420

FREE BBQ CLEANING KIT WITH PURCHASE! A $29.99 Value!

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Offer valid with purchase of West Marine Pro Grill (Model 3815420). Limited to stock on hand.

See store for details.

Offer valid only with coupon April 29th through May 31st.

Limited to stock on hand. Not good with any other offer.

Mounts and propane bottle sold separately.

386-462-3077 • 800-771-5556 www.huntermarine.com

Oops! We’re only human and occasionally make mistakes.

Product descriptions, typographic, price, or photographic mistakes are unintentional and subject to correction.

MORE THAN 280 STORES • 1-800-BOATING • westmarine.com HURRY! PRICES GOOD APRIL 29TH THROUGH MAY 31ST, 2004

2

April 2004

SOUTHWINDS

Selection varies by store.

www.southwindssailing.com

See the Boats Share the knowledge Stay for the Fun! May 21 - 23 • Regatta Pointe Marina Palmetto, Florida • Admission is Free! All boat owners and boating enthusiasts are invited

• Fun-filled parties, cookouts, refreshments and live entertainment

• Free anchorage, transient slips available at additional cost

• 8 Free seminars

• Up to 60 new and pre-owned sail and powerboats on display from 30-45 ft.

• Tropica Marine electronics display

• Free launch service provided

by Duffy Electric Boats

• Special purchase incentives for new Catalina, Hunter or Mainship yachts

• Free demo cruises – Catalina, Hunter and Mainship (reservations required) • Gifts and drawings for big prizes

• Free "How to Prepare your Boat for Sale" package • $500 West Marine door prize

Don’t miss out! Chart a course to Regatta Pointe to share the fun and camaraderie of other owners and cruising yachtsmen. Catalina, Hunter and Mainship owners who pre-register receive a quality canvas bag filled with valuable gifts and prizes! Call your nearest Massey Yacht Sales & Service dealership for details.

TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU ON FLORIDA’S WEST COAST – IN THE HEART OF AMERICA’S FINEST CRUISING AREA.

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

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

www.masseyyacht.com • E-mail:

Sponsored by:

The Cruisers Lifestyle

Gloria Rector Vessel Documentation, Inc.

yachtsales@masseyyacht.com

SAVE $20,000

LD O S 2003 Catalina 42 • Clearance $188,000 46 Beneteau 2000 . . . . . . . . .$279,500 46 Beneteau 1997 . . . . . . . . .$199,000 45 Morgan 1995 . . . . SOLD . . . . . .$229,900 45 Morgan 1991 . . . . . . . . . .$195,000 45 Hunter 1999 . . . . . . . . . .$229,000 44 Morgan 1990 . . . . . . . . . .$169,900 43 Hunter 1997 . . . . . . . . . .$169,500 42 Beneteau 1983 . . . . . . . . . .$72,000 42 Hunter CC 1997 . . . . . . .$189,500 42 Hunter 1996 . . . . . . . . . .$184,000 42 Hunter 1992 . . . . SOLD . . . . . .$144,900 42 Catalina 2003 New . SOLD . . . . . .$188,000 42-2 Catalina 2001 . . . . . . . .$189,500 411 Beneteau 2001 . . . . . . . .$174,000 41 Morgan Classic 1989 . . . .$119,900

2001 Beneteau 411 • $174,000 40-2 Jeanneau 2001 . . . . . . . .$175,500 40 Hunter 1992 . . . . SOLD . . . . . .$115,000 40 Catalina 1996 . . . . . . . . . .$134,900 40 CC Beneteau 1997 . SOLD . . . . . .$120,000 40 CC Beneteau 1997 . SOLD . . . . . .$134,500 40 Beneteau 1997 . . . . . . . . .$134,500 38 Beneteau 2001 . . . . . . . . .$147,000 38 Hunter 2000 . . . . . . . . . .$115,000 38 Catalina 2000 . . . . . . . . . .$139,000 38 Catalina 1981 . . . . . . . . . . .$40,000 38 Morgan 1979 . . . . . . . . . . .$59,900 38 CC Morgan 1997 . . . . . . .$135,000 37 Jeanneau 1996 . . . . . . . . . .$69,900 37 Hunter 1997 . . . . . . . . . . .$82,000 37 Beneteau 1986 . . . . . . . . . .$61,900

1993 Hunter 405 • $119,000 36 Catalina 1999 . . . . . . . . . .$115,000 36 Catalina 1994 . . . . . . . . . . .$85,000 36 Catalina 1994 . . . . . . . . . .$66,200 36 Jeanneau 1997 . . . . . . . . . .$92,500 35 Beneteau 1996 . . . . . . . . . .$77,500 34 Hunter 2001 . . . . . . . . . . .$97,500 34 Catalina 1994 . . . . . . . . . . .$74,500 33 Hunter 1995 . . . . . . . . . . .$64,500 320 Catalina 1996 . . . . . . . . . .$75,000 320 Catalina 1995 . . . . . . . . . .$65,000 320 Catalina 1999 . . . . . . . . . .$97,500 310 Catalina 2003 . . . . . . . . . .$91,000 31 Catalina 2001 . . . . . SOLD . . . . . .$88,900 30 Hunter 1988 . . . . . . . . . . .$36,000 290 Hunter 2000 . . . . . . . . . .$59,900

LD O S

LD O S

1989 Catalina 30 • $34,950

1994 Catalina 36 • $79,900

1995 Morgan 45 • $229,900

All listings are Massey centrals

SINCE 1977

www.masseyyacht.com

May 21-23, 2004 • Regatta Pointe Marina Call for details

Call for your FREE “How to Prepare your Yacht for Sale” package.

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

Brad Crabtree

Scott Pursell

Frank Hamilton

Dan Howland

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

Edward Massey

Bill Wiard

Mary Beth Singh

Al Pollak

Anne Corey

ADVERTISER INDEX BY CATEGORY

(See page 69 for alphabetical list) MARINE ENGINES

SAILBOATS - NEW AND BROKERAGE

Beneteau Sailboats Back Cover Compac Boats East 6 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales 63 Windcraft, Trimarans and Catamarans, Sail or Power 12 Boaters Exchange/Catalina Sailboats 18,64 Carson Yacht Sales/Beneteau Back Cover Eastern Yacht Sales/Beneteau Back Cover Flying Scot Sailboats 66 Hunter Sailboats 10,11 Massey Yacht Sales/Catalina/Jeanneau/Hunter/Mainship 3,9,18,22,43,53,IBC Masthead Yacht Sales/Catalina 7,68 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau Back Cover Raider Sailboats 65 Sailor’s Wharf Yacht Brokerage 55 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats 62 Snug Harbor Boats/Compac/Elliot 6 St. Barts/Beneteau Back Cover Suncoast Inflatables/ West Florida 60 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg 53 Tampa Sailing Squadron donated boats 62 Weathermark Sailing/Catalina/Vanguard/Hobie 19

Beta Marine Fleetside Marine Service RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke

GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES

Dockside Radio JR Overseas/Moisture Meter Sea Tech/Navigation/Communication

Air Duck Hatch Windscoop Bluewater Sailing Supply, www.bluewaterss.com/ Boaters Exchange, boats, gear, etc. Rockledge FL BoatUS Bo’sun Supplies/Hrdwre/Rigging www.bosunsupplies.com Defender Industries, www.defender.com Fujinon Binoculars Garhauer Hardware/www.garhauermarine.com Glacier Bay Refrigeration/ www.glacierbay.com SSMR/Hood Hotwire/Fans & other products Island Marine Products/Davits,motorlocks,etc.

JR Overseas/Moisture Meter Martek Dinghy Davits Masthead Ent. www.mastheadsailinggear.com Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign Rparts Refrigeration, www.rparts.com Sailor’s Soap Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg West Marine

SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS, RIGGING SERVICES Altlantic Sails Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida Nuclear Sails BoatUS Cruising Direct/sails online by North Dwyer Mast/spars, hardware, rigging Forespar Hood/SSMR Masthead/Used Sails and Service National Sail Supply, new&used online Nuclear Sails North Sails Porpoise Sailing Services Sail Exchange/www.sailexchange.com Schurr Sails, Pensacola FL SSMR/Hood UK Sails, www.uksailmakers.com Ullman Sails/West Florida West Marine

CANVAS

Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida Shadetree Sailcovers and More

USED SAILING/BOATING SUPPLIES Don’s Salvage, Clearwater FL Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign, West Florida Scurvy Dog Marine/Used, Consign, Pensacola FL

SAILING SCHOOLS

Flagship Sailing Sea School/Captain’s License www.seaschool.com St. Augustine Sailing School

4

May 2004

SOUTHWINDS

24 58 18,64 13 23 67 19 17 33 54 67 31 28 67 7,68 56 27 31,34,41 53 15,IFC

27 57 14 56 37 67 64 54 7,68 34 14 14 68 36 16 54 7 17 IFC 57 19 68

24 67 12

RESORTS, MARINAS, RESTAURANTS, BOAT YARDS Bob and Annie’s Boatyard Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Marina Pasadena Marina, St. Petersburg Sailor’s Wharf Boat Yard

20 59 61 59

CHARTER COMPANIES Flagship Sailing Sailtime, Time-Share ownership

54 64

MARINE SERVICES, SURVEYORS, INSURANCE, TOWING, BOAT LETTERING, ETC. Aqua Graphics/Boat Names/Tampa Bay or buy online Beachmaster Photography Coast Weather Services Davis Maritime Surveying First Patriot Inc, Insurance Agency, Paul Phaneuf

MARINE ELECTRONICS

57 65 68 56 25 33 28 40

BOOKS

Bubba Stories Book Great Outdoors Publishing Gunkholer’s Cruising Guide/West Florida

16 55 55

REGATTA ADVERTISEMENTS, BOAT SHOWS Corinthian Regatta, Bradenton YC Sarasota Youth Sailing Program summer camp South Carolina Maritime Festival Regional Sailing Services Directory Sailing Services Directory West Florida Subscription Information Alphabetical Advertisers’ List

52 52 17 29 57 This Page 69

SUBSCRIBE TO SOUTHWINDS $24/YEAR $45/2 YEARS (1ST CLASS) $12/YEAR $23/2 YEARS (3RD CLASS) (941) 795-8704 • www.southwindssailing.com P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175 New — Subscribe On-line on our Web site — a secure site — using your credit card: www.southwindssailing.com

Name _________________________________________ Address ________________________________________ City/St./ZIP ____________________________________ ENCLOSED $ ________ Check ___ Money Order ___

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SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

8

From the Helm

12

Letters

20

Bubba Examines Modern Life

By Morgan Stinemetz

23

Boatek: Watermakers for Small Cruisers

By Stephen Sommer

24

Boat Review: Cal2-27

By Jack Thomas

26

Meeting my Guru: Bruce Van Sant

By Michael Beattie

28

Things You Thought You Knew

By Dave Ellis

29

Tropical Pipeline: Rolex Regatta, Heineken Regatta, Dark and Stormy Anegada Regatta

34

Southern Sailing and Race Report from the Carolinas to Texas

46

Florida Keys Sailing: Regional News & Calendar on Racing and Sailing the Keys and Interview with Peter Goldsmith of the Conch Republic Cup

50

West Florida Sailing: Regional News, Calendar & Race Report

63

Classifieds

70

The Fun of Chartering: When a Quarter is Worth More than Twenty-five Cents

By Joe Cloidt

29

Regional Sailing Services Directory

57

West Florida Sailing Services Directory

69

Alphabetical Index of Advertisers

4

Advertisers’ List by Category

4

Subscription Form

8

Calendar Photo Contest

Caribbean Regattas. Dean Barnes photo. Page 30

Cover: Charleston Race Week. Jim Kransberger photo.

Charleston Race Week. Photo by Jim Kransberger. Page 36

From the Carolinas to Cuba…from Atlanta to the Abacos…SOUTHWINDS Covers Southern Sailing NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

5

SOUTHWINDS

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS Southwinds Media, Inc. P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, Florida 34218-1175 (941) 795-8704 (877) 372-7245 (941) 795-8705 Fax www.southwindssailing.com e-mail: editor@southwindssailing.com

VOLUME 12

NUMBER 5

MAY 2004

Copyright 2004, Southwinds Media, Inc. Publisher/Editor Steve Morrell editor@southwindssailing.com Founder Doran Cushing Advertisers & Editors Steve Morrell The Southeast Coast: National and West Florida Advertising Carolinas and Georgia West Florida Regional Editor Rona Garm editor@southwindssailing.com Regional Editor (941) 795-8704 rgarm@ec.rr.com (910) 395-0189 Gary Hufford National and West Florida Advertising The Northern Gulf Coast: gary@southwindssailing.com Florida Panhandle, Alabama, (727) 585-2814 Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas Kim Kaminski Florida Keys Regional Editor Rebecca Burg Kaminski_K@msn.com Regional Editor (850) 384-8941 angel@artoffshore.com (305) 304-5118 Production Heather Nicoll Proofreading Kathy Elliott Carol Bareuther Dave Ellis Mike Kirk Arturo Perez Jack Thomas

Contributing Writers Rebecca Burg Rona Garm Jim Kransberger Stephen Sommer

Joe Cloidt Kim Kaminski Mike McNulty Morgan Stinemetz

Contributing Photographers Dean Barnes Gary Hufford Kim Kaminski Mike Kirk Jim Kransberger Fritz Mueller Tim Wright ________________________________________________________________ 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 far-off 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 $12/year, or $20/2 years for third class, and $24/year for first class. Checks and credit card numbers may be mailed with name and address to SOUTHWINDS Subscriptions, PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach FL, 34218-1175, or call (941) 795-8704. Subscriptions are also available with a credit card through a secure server on our Web site, www.southwindssailing.com.

SOUTHWINDS is distributed to over 500 locations throughout 10 Southern states. If you would like to distribute SOUTHWINDS at your location, please contact the editor.

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

6

May 2004

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindssailing.com

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

7

FROM THE HELM THERE IS ONLY ONE SOUTHWINDS

W

e have had a few people inquire, upon hearing about the new regional sections (like the West Florida Sailing section added last month), whether there will be different issues for each region. No, there will not be. There will be only one issue of the magazine, and each issue will have sections covering all the regions. Although costs would prohibit the printing of different regional issues, we also believe that readers like to read about what is going on in different sailing areas of the South. Those in the Carolinas might find interesting news about what is happening in the Florida Keys (particularly in the winter!). We received some positive interest with the start of our West Florida section in April, and we are looking forward to the same interest as we add different regions in the coming months. We invite our readers to give us their opinions and suggestions.

New Florida Keys Regional Section This month we added the Florida Keys regional section.

Rebecca Burg, who has written several articles for the magazine over the last year, will be our regional editor in the area.

Rebecca lives on her own sailboat (see Southwinds, December 2003, “Resins, Glues and Goos for Fiberglass Sailboats”) in the waters of Key West and also sails a Windrider trimaran (see Southwinds boat review by her of the Windrider in the September 2003 issue). She is also active in the sailing and racing community of Key West. Besides being an excellent writer, she is also an accomplished artist, and one can see her art at her Web site, www.artoffshore.com.

Conch Republic Cup Race to Key West Canceled Unfortunately, because of harassment and intimidation of American sailors by representatives of the U.S. government in last year’s Conch Republic Cup, the cup was canceled this year. It appears that sailors who went on the trip to Cuba are still being harrassed by the government for going somewhere outside of the jurisdiction of the United States on their own time and with their own money, even though they jumped through all the hoops they were told to jump through by government officials. As many of us know, the law forbidding American citizens to freely travel to Cuba would never be upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court-if a case ever got that far, which the current administration will not allow to happen.

Unfortunately, the threat of prosecution can be equal to punishment-a tool often used by prosecutors to control the actions of citizens. They could drop the case right now and those sailors who rightfully sailed to Cuba last year would feel as if they suffered punishment for their actions.

In this issue, in the Florida Keys section, we have printed an interview conducted by Rebecca Burg with Peter Goldsmith, who was the organizer of past Conch Republic Cups.

It is an excellent interview, and I invite all to read it and consider what the implications are of the government’s actions.

Editor

PHOTO CONTEST SOUTHWINDS 2005 CALENDAR Enter SOUTHWINDS Magazine photo contest for our 2005 calendar. 12 photos chosen. Credit will be given to each photographer on the calendar along with a SOUTHWINDS subscription, and five calendars.

• All photos must have at least one sailboat in them and the photo must be taken in the Southern U.S., Bahamas, or Caribbean and can be racing, cruising, at anchor, or motoring.

• Maximum 5 entry photos per person. Only one photo chosen from any one person.

• Photos will be judged on composition, clarity, and lighting.

• Photos preferred to be in color and must be horizontal.

Entries must be received by October 15, 2004. Mail all entries with name, address, phone number, e-mail (if available), photo description, where and when taken. Please protect your photos in transit. Send entries to: SOUTHWINDS Magazine 2005 Calendar Photo Contest PO Box 1175 Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175 Call (941) 795-8704 or e-mail editor@southwindssailing.com with any questions.

CONTEST RULES: SOUTHWINDS will retain rights of the photo for the calendar and any advertising associated with it or use of the photo for advertising future calendars. After receiving the photo, SOUTHWINDS will mail a copyright release to the photographer, which must be signed and received by SOUTHWINDS by the deadline entry date. SOUTHWINDS also retains the rights to cancel this contest if deemed necessary to do so by the Publisher. All photos become the property (with the limited rights mentioned above) of SOUTHWINDS. Discs are not returnable. Other restrictions apply.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: 35mm (or larger format) photos – Original photo only. No slides please. Digital photos: 300 dpi minimum at 9 x 12 inches. Mailed in on disc, and not returnable. Digital photos will have to be of very high resolution to be printed this size, and the average non-professional digital camera will not be able to take a photo of this resolution. Please submit all photos on disc with one version in high resolution and one in low resolution.

8 May 2004 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindssailing.com

Call for Special New Yacht Discounts

New 2004 HUNTER 41 – Hull #120 in stock

Call for Special New Yacht Discounts

Call for Special New Yacht Discounts

Call for Special New Yacht Discounts

Call for Special New Yacht Discounts

LD SO

LD SO New HUNTER 33 – On Order

New HUNTER 36 – Hull #116 in stock

New HUNTER 386 – Hull #817 in stock

New HUNTER 44DS – On Order

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

• • • • • • • • •

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

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

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

New is better.

SINCE 1977

www.masseyyacht.com

May 21-23, 2004 • Regatta Pointe Marina – Call for details Palmetto, FL 941-723-1610 • TOLL-FREE 800-375-0130

Brad Crabtree

Scott Pursell

Frank Hamilton

Dan Howland

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

Edward Massey

Bill Wiard

Mary Beth Singh

Al Pollak

Anne Corey

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.

SCAMS ON PURCHASING YOUR BOAT EXPOSED Last month we published a letter from a reader who was receiving emails from overseas inquiring about his boat for sale listed in classifieds.

The inquiry said that they would send a certified check to the seller and needed an address for mailing, or, if a bank transfer, then the bank, routing number, and account number. Although I have had people tell me that giving out bank account numbers and routing numbers is not a safe practice, they are on all checks that are written, and I am under the impression that there is no danger in doing so, (although I won’t be publishing them on the front page of the local newspaper).

At SOUTHWINDS, I have also received several similar e-mails, except they are just inquiring about a boat. They don’t even mention which boat. Nevertheless, we received the following letter from Bruce Sobut with the Web addresses of articles concerning this problem. It appears it is quite prevalent throughout the country: Editor, Sounds a lot like the one below. http://kyw.com/consumer/local_story_058160044.html http://www.cobracountry.com/cashiers-check-scam.html http://www.oag.state.tx.us/newspubs/opeds/2004 02blues. shtml) Bruce Sobut Gulf Coast Raider Dealer, Largo, FL Bruce, Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I have published an excerpt from what I considered to be the most concise explanation among the articles you sent to us. I am sure, though, that sailors, who are aware, intelligent, savvy, quick-of-mind, and of superior intellect, would never fall for such a dastardly and devious scheme. Of course, since most of them are always looking for a bigger boat, they could be blinded by someone who would buy their boat at a higher price than they would ever expect. Therefore, we ask all to heed this warning and read the following carefully (taken from the Web site of the Texas attorney general, http:/ /www.oag.state.tx.us/newspubs/opeds/200402blues.shtml): “The Attorney General’s Office wants to alert you to a new variation of this fraud, where the criminal uses counterfeit cashier’s checks to defraud consumers and banks. In this fraud, a person selling a relatively expensive item over the Internet is approached by an individual, usually from a foreign country, who wants to buy the item and pay with a cashier’s check. The buyer sends a cashier’s check in an amount far exceeding the agreed-upon price. The buyer then instructs the seller to deposit the original check and wire the difference. The victim deposits the check in a personal bank account, withdraws the cash and wires it to the buyer. The seller is then notified by the bank that he or she has passed a counterfeit check and is liable for the overage.

What makes this plot work is that most people place great confidence in cashier’s checks. Cashier’s checks are generally considered much safer than personal checks, since they are issued by financial institutions that have already verified the existence of sufficient funds.

Personal checks can “bounce” when there are insufficient funds in the check writer’s account; cashier’s checks do not bounce. The counterfeits are generally of excellent quality.”

For the complete story we suggest our readers visit this Web site and others.

Editor See LETTERS continued on page 14 12

May 2004

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindssailing.com

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SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

13

LETTERS Continued from page 13 editor@southwindssailing.com Web site: southwindssailing.com PO Box 1175,Holmes Beach FL 34218 Fax: (941) 795-8705

READER LIKES BOOT KEY HARBOR LETTER I would like to commend her (referring to Sara Smith’s letter in the February issue of SOUTHWINDS about changes at Boot Key Harbor) letter. It was well-organized and very thorough on the subject. Our forefathers designed a judicial system to seek justice, but unfortunately, our judicial system has evolved to seeking interpretation of the law rather than justice. A game of semantics. There are too many ill-informed alleged experts who spread bad information that only encourages injustice. It was refreshing to see how navigation and anchoring were meant to be interpreted. Thanks for printing her letter.

Vic Bushnell Vic, I agree, it was a good letter, and I think there is more than meets the eye on this subject. On a note slightly related I, too, want to see harbors cleaned up and derelicts hazardous to navigation taken care off (maybe turned into a fish haven), but I also still yearn for a world of derelict vessels here and there, which give us solemn reminders of dreams lost or boats crashed, jogging our memories of the realities of life—both for ridiculous reasons and reasons that have no reason, as the world does not need a world that is so pure. A derelict vessel here and there is good for the psyche, regardless of what the people who want everything cleaned and perfect say. We all remember, almost more than most things, the derelict boat, half sunk in the bushes close to shore. There is a distant poetry there.

And I fear those who would place that derelict vessel intentionally in a picture-perfect spot like a manicured landscape trying to imitate nature. Adventureland here we come! How much are the rides?

Editor

THE WEATHER GODS SMILED: THE GREEN FLASH Editor, In company with Morgan Stinemetz, I want to reassure the world that the Green Flash does really happen. I’ve seen it several times, most recently 35 miles east of Bimini. We were on the way to Chub Cay and knew we wouldn’t make it before dark, so we stopped and anchored.

Ten knots of breeze out of the East made the cockpit perfect to watch a sunset.

My good friend Peter wanted to believe but found it tough.

The weather gods smiled that evening and we saw one. He is now a firm believer.

I’ve heard that watching through binoculars increases the chances but haven’t had any luck with that.

I’ve done the world of nonbelievers a large favor—I named my boat Green Flash.

Keep me in the loop on this subject, please.

I enjoy SOUTHWINDS very much.

Jim Gordon Green Flash, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Jim, Thanks for the letter and great boat name. I hope you and your boat see many more in the years to come.

Editor Editor, Bob Doyle’s article, “Trawler or Sailboat?” gives a rather bleak view of trawler chartering that differed dramatically from my own experience. More years ago than I want to recall (okay – See LETTERS continued on page 16 14

May 2004

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15

LETTERS Continued from page 14 editor@southwindssailing.com Web site: southwindssailing.com PO Box 1175,Holmes Beach FL 34218 Fax: (941) 795-8705

the 10-year-old is now 30), we chartered a Grand Banks 36 from a Sarasota operation. Actually, we reserved a 32, but when it came in from its previous charter, its prop looked like a tulip after a heavy grounding, and in deep chagrin, the owner of the company asked if we’d “accept” a twin-screw 36 instead. That was the promising start of a totally positive experience. In contrast to Mr. Doyle’s experience, everything on the vessel, named Sunrise, worked. Everything. Our checkout lasted about an hour, and then we were off after loading our gear and stowing our dinghy on the swim platform. Our destination was the Shark River south of Chokoloskee.

On our transit south, we encountered a rapidly advancing front in Pine Island Sound and after sloggin’ past Fort Myers Beach, decided on Plan B—a slow transit across the Okeechobee Waterway. We had a ball anchoring in quiet waterway coves, fishing, collecting fossil shells from the dredged spoil banks, etc., etc. And on our return, we ate lunch at Cabbage Key and shelled on Cayo Costa Island. On our last day, we anchored in Little Sarasota Bay to turn to and clean ship.

Last summer, upon retirement, I made the same sort of decision Mr. Doyle apparently has made, selling the best sailboat I ever owned, a RobRoy 23 canoe yawl designed by Ted Brewer and built by Ron Johnson, to buy a 34-foot Chesapeake deadrise cruiser in Maryland. After a voyage of some 1,500 miles from St. Michaels, MD, to Nokomis, FL, I wonder only that I didn’t make that decision years earlier, but then age and an increasing pharmaceutical regimen forced my hand.

My sailing now is done on an 18-foot sharpie cat-ketch designed and built by Bob Pitt of Bradenton that I trail behind my pickup. I’ve already “circumnavigated” Seahorse Key five miles offshore Cedar Key. One more point: My deadrise is a single-screw vessel with a full-length keel, but draws only 2 feet and swings a left-hand 14x9 prop. In backing, her slight twist to the right is easily counteracted with the helm, and in truth, she handles almost as easily as a twin-screw vessel. Like Mr. Doyle, I once contemplated adding a bow thruster, but after last summer’s experience, which included encountering 5-knot currents from 9-foot tides, I have decided it’s not needed (and I sure don’t need its drag).

I would encourage Mr. Doyle to try again. I think he had a bum steer on his trawler charter. And I plan my next charter to be the Inland Passage in British Columbia. Meanwhile, I’m having too much fun with Juniper, my deadrise.

Allan Horton Nokomis Allan, Thanks for your input. It sounds like you have found the best of both worlds—a little sailing and a means to cruise that suits you. I do know that overall Mr. Doyle was pleased with his venture into the world of trawlers and went on to purchase one and is shortly planning an escape in his new boat in the Great Circle route. (We might even hear from him sometime.) I think his experience of things not See LETTERS continued on page 18 16

May 2004

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindssailing.com

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

17

LETTERS Continued from page 16 editor@southwindssailing.com Web site: southwindssailing.com PO Box 1175,Holmes Beach FL 34218 Fax: (941) 795-8705

working could happen with sail or power, as it is well-known that charter boats can be kept up poorly and make chartering a real pain, or the charter company can be a good one and maintain their boats well. Then there’s the fact that they are boats, and they all require constant attention; otherwise, they quickly descend into disrepair.

Editor

FOUL WEATHER GEAR MANUFACTURER LIVES UP TO ITS WARRANTY Editor, Some time back, for reasons unknown, the zipper on the Gill Coastal foul weather gear jacket that I have had for several years stopped working. I messed around with it some on my own and found out that the third tooth from the bottom had several cracks in it. I am not sure how they got there. I could have lurched against something stronger than the zipper on my boat.

I got a return authorization from the Gill NA rep in my area, Ron Frisosky, and sent the jacket back for repairs. Gill’s gear, Frisosky e-mailed me, was guaranteed for life. Two weeks later, I had not heard anything from Gill and I called them. The regular customer service lady was on vacation, I found out, and her stand-in wasn’t exactly certain what had happened to the jacket.

Well, it turns out that Gill had replaced the entire jacket, and while I was wondering what had happened, the replacement was sitting at my front door. Unbeknownst to me— and to the nice Gill lady—it had been delivered by UPS that very day. For Gill to stand behind their products with this kind of service is heartening. No after-sale hassles make their product that much more valuable.

Morgan Stinemetz Bradenton, Florida Morgan, Good to hear that manufacturers are standing behind their products—the warranty will bring them back every time. I had a similar experience a few years back when I was moving my boat south from North Carolina. The boat had been in charter, and for some reason the charter company had left (even though I requested they not do so) my fairly new Tasco binoculars on board. After departing North Carolina, heading south down the ICW, I picked up the binoculars to find that the lens inside was broken. I was pretty upset, and even though I contacted the charter company to tell them, they ignored me.

After arriving in Charleston, SC, where I was to stay for a couple of months, I found the Tasco Web site and discovered that if I mailed the binoculars to the repair facility (with $10 for return postage), they would look at them and let me know the costs to repair. I did so and I included a note mentioning to not automatically mail them back at the current address as I would be heading south and was unsure if I would get them. A few weeks later, I received a phone call.

The first thing they told me was that the binoculars had to be replaced. My mind raced through the costs of doing so—then they told me that they would replace them for free, but there was one problem.

They did not have that model in stock locally, and since they knew I was moving along, they were sending me the model one grade higher in value, which they did have in stock!

You can bet that Tasco will be high on my list in the future.

Editor 18

May 2004

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindssailing.com

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

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SOUTHWINDS

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NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

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May 2004

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BOATEK

By Stephen Sommer

SOLUTIONS TO ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, AIR-CONDITIONING, REFRIGERATION AND OTHER YACHT SYSTEMS

Watermakers for Small Cruising Boats Steve, are watermakers a practical option for those of us with 30-foot cruising boats? Your article on “shoestring air-conditioning” for small boats makes me wonder whether we can have watermakers, too.

O

nce again, the answer is YES, if you want. Just like the air-conditioning, it’s a bit of a force-fit on a small boat, especially if you believe in the KISS principle. A watermaker fits more easily in a large boat that has a genset that runs a lot.

There are a number of very different alternatives that all use the same basic technology: reverse osmosis. Each one requires a high-pressure saltwater pump to force water molecules through a membrane that will not allow salt to pass through.

Because of the high pressure and the fact that you need to pump about four times as much saltwater as you actually desalinate, this is a power-intensive process. All that extra water is required to flush the removed salt out of the membranes. In round numbers, it takes about 60 watt-hours (5 amp-hours) to make a gallon of water, unless special means are used to recover power from the flush water. Strangely enough, this kind of energy recovery is only found on the largest and smallest capacity systems. The mid-size systems are the most power hungry.

A FEW GENERAL RULES OF THUMB: Match your production rate over the period that you have power available for watermaking, on a daily basis. For example: If your power source is the main engine, which you run two hours per day, and you use 50 gallons per day, then a 25 gallonper-hour watermaker (600 gallons per day, GPD) would be a good choice. A bigger watermaker would cost more, be harder to install and would not last any longer! Watermakers are more often harmed by disuse than by heavy use. Plan on making water every day; it’s best for the longevity of the watermaker.

Re-evaluate your consumption. An ordinary cruiser may get by with a couple of gallons per day per person, but once you have a watermaker, you won’t be ordinary. Expect to take freshwater showers often. Plan on rinsing fishing and diving gear and maybe even decks with freshwater. You could become very popular among “ordinary” cruisers. A couple of jugs of freshly made water that hasn’t been marinating in old water tanks for weeks can be your contribution to a nice meal on a buddy’s boat. Plan on 20 gallons of water per person per day.

work for you. Otherwise, continue on to the next two options.

Belt-coupled, Engine Drive: These systems range from 400 gallons per day, GPD, to 1200 GPD. A magnetic clutch and Vbelt, like those found on automotive air-conditioner compressors, is used to drive a high-pressure piston pump from your main engine. Large capacity systems make sense in this configuration because there is a lot of power available, and you’d like to get your watermaking done as quickly as your batterycharging.

Small Capacity, Energy Recovery: I have only recently starting recommending these systems because the technology is new. They use clever techniques to harvest power from the super-salty brine discharge water, to drastically reduce the power required. These systems draw so little power that it is practical to run them from batteries, wind power or solar power.

They are the lowest capacity systems, but that’s okay because you can run them many hours per day. Unfortunately, low capacity does not mean low cost. The energy recovery devices are the most expensive components, so you might get five gallons per hour from a system that costs the same as a 50-gallonper-hour conventional system. That’s not as bad as it sounds; just run it ten times as many hours. A word of caution: The energy recovery devices are complex, expensive and relatively unproven. The makers of these systems realize this, and some offer lifetime warranties on the energy recovery device. Don’t buy one without such an assurance and make sure that it’s in writing and that the company has been in business long enough to make it likely that they will be around when you need help.

Stephen Sommer is a degreed electrical engineer with extensive experience in electrical, mechanical, refrigeration and air-conditioning systems and holds a USCG Masters license. He consults in all areas of yacht systems, which include all the equipment on board yachts beyond a basic hull and motor or sails.

Have a systems problem or question? Ask Stephen Sommer.

Email: boatek@southwindssailing.com.

SOME COMMONLY AVAILABLE CONFIGURATIONS: Conventional AC Power Drive: This is essentially the only configuration found on modern yachts with gensets. AC power from the genset is used to drive two pumps: a fractional horsepower feed water pump that forces the water through a series of conventional pre-filters, and a multi-horsepower pump that drives a high pressure piston, diaphragm or vane pump, which does the real work of driving water through a semi-permeable membrane that will not allow salt to pass.

Hybrid, AC/Battery Conventional: Just like with air-conditioning, it is possible to run the smallest of the conventional watermakers (about 400 GPD) on power from a large enginedriven alternator, via a large inverter. If you happen to get a great deal on a small watermaker and already have a very large alternator and a large modified-sine-wave inverter, this could NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

23

BOAT REVIEW

Cal 2-27: Comfort & Competence on a Budget An owner’s review by Jack Thomas

F

or solo sailors, couples and small families who need sixfoot headroom on a budget, the Cal 2-27 is hard to beat.

Actually, it beats easily.

Reaching isn’t difficult either.

So much for corny puns. I’ve owned three of these craft because I haven’t found this combination of characteristics in comparable boats, even at 30 feet.

The interior is comfortable and attractive. A lot of boats claim to have six-foot headroom, but the Cal actually delivers it, even in the forward cabin – Photo courtesy Latitiude 38. thanks to space provided by the raised design of the forward hatch. The fact that there is a true forward cabin in this size late 1970s design is remarkable in itself, especially considering that it maintains a handsome profile. A hinged door provides privacy for the v-berth, toilet, sink, wet locker and some storage.

One disadvantage: If someone in the main cabin needs the head in the wee hours, he or she may disturb anyone sleeping forward. A curtain can offer visual privacy, but the other senses may be, shall we say, awakened. Still, over the 15 years I’ve owned these Cals, that has never happened.

The main cabin features a settee/berth on each side. On the port side, some versions allow the back of the berth to pop out and lay adjacent to the settee, forming a small double bed; some do not. On the starboard side, sleeping requires placing one’s feet through a bulkhead opening. That’s okay for small children but not ideal for adults, although many of my friends have managed to deal with it.

Some 2-27s have teak bulkheads; others are covered with

24

May 2004

SOUTHWINDS

white Formica. Some have opening ports; some do not.

Engines vary, too. I’ve had the gasoline-powered Universal Atomic 4, whose 30 hp is more than adequate, and my current 11 hp Universal diesel, which favors economy. Some 2-27s rely on outboard power.

The galley extends across the width of the aft main cabin. This provides good counter space but can be awkward if there is companionway traffic during meal preparation. An ice box, single sink and two-burner alcohol stove are standard in most boats.

A few I’ve seen do not include the starboard side “L” turn of cabinetry needed to accommodate a stove, but the benefit is a longer version of that short starboard settee.

The dining table handily folds against the bulkhead when under-way. When down, it allows chart work in a half-size configuration or room for four when fully opened. The fully open position prohibits easy access to the head and forward cabin, however.

Storage is somewhat limited in the cabin but better outside, where two cockpit lockers offer generous room.

The cockpit itself seems fairly large, but actual seating room under way is limited by the tiller. Up to three people on board works well, but four or more means someone usually retires to the side decks, which are wider than (for example) a Catalina 27, or the cabin top or forward deck. That works fine in mild conditions but not so fine when the wind is up.

I’ve found the Cal 2-27 to be an excellent sailing vessel. It is forgiving, agile, not tender, and points well. Others have said

www.southwindssailing.com

SPECIFICATIONS: LOA 26’7” LWL 22’1” Beam 9’3” Draft 4’3” Displacement 6700 lbs.

Ballast 3100 lbs.

Sail Area 374 sq. ft.

they’ve heard it is fast, a reputation that may result from the truly legendary performance of another Bill Lapworth fin keel design—the Cal 40. My personal assessment is that the 2-27 is about average in speed among its peers, and the PHRF ratings I experienced in Northern California river sailing bear this out: 198-200 with spinnaker, 210-213 without.

The cockpit layout works well for single-handing. Primary winches and the main sheet are easily reached from the helm. Many owners have chosen to lead halyards aft over the cabin top.

Any vessel design is a compromise, so of course, there are shortcomings. The companionway hatch is not a proper sea hatch. If enough water washed over the deck in a storm, it could slide out of its track.

Also, according to a newsletter for California owners, there were some dismastings in the 1980s. These seem to have been remedied by upgrading the standard rigging one size. Even that, however, does not overcome the lack of a forward-leaning shroud to keep the mast from falling aft if the forestay is severed.

Anyone venturing far offshore also would be well advised to increase the diameter of the cockpit drain holes, hoses and through-hull fittings that allow cockpit water to exit.

I’ve experienced considerable weather helm during windy conditions, but most of it can be relieved by easing the mainsail sheet.

The 2-27s I’ve owned all experienced mild blistering below the waterline. While this can be aggravating, the blisters

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

on mine have been small and easily filled. I have neither experienced nor heard of delamination in the hull.

This Cal’s hull is molded around the keel, so there is little worry about losing that critical appendage in adverse conditions. There are no keel bolts to rust. A surprisingly deep bilge aft is another aspect of this configuration.

Figuring out model designations for this size Cal can be a challenge.

The first Cal 27, built in the early ’70s, was a lighter sloop with little headroom until the pop-top went up. The doghouse Cal 2-27, subject of this article, reportedly began production in 1974, but sometime around 1979 the name for the doghouse version reverted to Cal 27. Production of that boat reportedly ceased in 1980 in conjunction with Cal introducing the 2-27 Mark III, a lighter doghouse sloop with less headroom and more draft than the original 2-27. This article is about the original 2-27 that was later called the 27.

Prices I’ve observed recently in Florida have ranged from $7,500 to $15,000, depending on equipment and condition.

Overall, the Cal 2-27 offers excellent capabilities for day sailing, short-to-moderate cruises, and club racing.

Jack Thomas is a Punta Gorda sailor and writer who lived in California for 24 years. He is in his second season of boating on Charlotte Harbor.

SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

25

INVERVIEW

Meeting My Guru: Bruce Van Sant

By Michael Beattie

I

had never heard of Bruce Van Sant when I bought my first boat in 1985 in Santa Cruz, CA. The world of sailing as I knew it was inhabited by a breed of supermen, accompanied when cruising, by superwomen, who laughed at danger and overcame impossible odds with cheerful grins and mechanical dexterity that helped to increase my inbuilt sense of inferiority.

At night as the wind howled through the small craft harbor, and the winter surge pounded the floating dock, I sat up in bed, avoiding the condensational drips from the hatch, reading with ever-increasing apprehension about the exploits of the Smeeton family, pitchpoling off the coast of Chile and repairing Tzu Hang with tar, feathers and stiff upper lips. Hal Roth, another of that breed, pranged his boat at Cape Horn, and he moved ashore with all the aplomb of a native Fuegian, then directed the repair of his boat in a manner that would have received grunted approval from Horatio Hornblower himself. (Patrick O’Brian was toiling in obscurity in those days.)

My first encounter with Van Sant was in the pages of a slim volume of cruising instructions called A Gentleman’s Guide to Passages South. I stumbled across a copy in a bookstore in Sausalito during a summer cruise. The blue, spiral-bound second edition of his guide is safe in my garage in Santa Cruz to this day, and the advice contained within those pages transformed my cruising life a dozen years ago.

Van Sant’s book offered sailing directions for island-hopping from Florida to the Caribbean against prevailing easterly winds. The book included chapters on dealing with customs, mechanics, experienced cruisers, and above all weather.

He described himself as a Leisure Sailor, a man not afraid to use the engine, who wanted to be safely at anchor before sunset and was unwilling to beat into winds and seas that would make the ride uncomfortable. He was nobody’s idea of a sailing purist, but his book changed the way I sailed, even in California, where coastal winds howl out of the northwest all summer long. The Gentleman’s Guide gave me written permission to anchor by day and motor by night when traveling north up California’s rugged coast.

In 1989 I trailered my home, a Flicka 20, from California to Texas and sailed from there to Tampa Bay. During a voyage from my new home in St. Petersburg to the Bahamas I used his advice to plow south through the islands, and by golly, the advice really worked! Learning to wait for a weather window is definitely the toughest lesson to learn, but his ideas on culture clashes and how to cope with foreign customs (habits and officials both) came easily to me. I read and re-read the book, studied the weather advice and took to heart the diagram that divided wind direction into the Beaufort scale. A beat in Force One or Two, round to a run in Force Five to Six were the rules of leisure sailing. No more murdering myself to weather; what a relief!

I went back to California, found a wife, sold the Flicka and bought a Gemini 105 catamaran, which Layne and I decided to sail to the warm, surf-free waters of the Caribbean

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SOUTHWINDS

Sea. I bought the sixth edition of Van Sant’s book, gave it to her and explained that’s how I cruise. She learned the lesson the first time we tried to sail north against California’s prevailing winds. We remained true to the Leisure Sailor concept all the way to Key West, where we arrived in 2000.

Layne and I anchored Miki G recently in Georgetown, the cruising capital of the Exumas, and one afternoon we were sitting in the dinghy hanging off the gunwales of a steel, junkrigged boat crewed by a young couple as starry-eyed and dreamy as I had been twenty years ago. Chris and Kim lived the simple life aboard Ginger, taking a year to sail slowly (Chris hated using the diesel) between islands where Kim could watch birds to her heart’s content. We, on our 34-foot Gemini catamaran with lots of fuel and the will to use it, a propane fridgefreezer and hot running water felt quite middle-aged and decadent in their company.

Over Chris’ shoulder I saw a trawler pull into the anchorage, and the more I looked, the more I understood that my destiny was coming full circle.

“Is that Bruce Van Sant’s new boat?” I asked as casually as I could. Chris squinted a second.

“Yeah,” he said. “We met him a while back, and that looks like his boat.”

“You’ve met him?” I asked with a tremble in my voice.

“Yeah,” he replied with the off-hand brevity that had been charming in previous conversations and was quite annoying in this one. He paused. I waited. “He’s okay,” Chris wanted to get back to discussing my new mast-climbing contraption.

“Gotta go,” I said, and we dinghied over to the trawler anchored off Crab Cay. “You must be Bruce Van Sant,” I said in the manner of Stanley meeting Livingston in Africa. “I wanted to thank you for giving me permission to be a Leisure Sailor,” I babbled, hoping he was less fierce than he looked.

His face broke into a smile: “People usually come up to tell me what a rotten job I’ve done in the guidebook,” he said. His voice sounded like someone brought up in the Northeast; educated, self-confident and with the lightest of nasal twangs. He was definitely an American, and that solved one nagging question I had nurtured these many years.

My guru sat on the side deck of his Shucker 440 trawler, and we sat in our dinghy, and we talked and talked and talked.

Somehow, I don’t remember the sequence, we got to talking politics, and we disagreed fiercely, but I was going to stand my ground even if it was Bruce Van Sant himself! We talked about America, and my guru lamented the changes wrought by the ’60s, the loss of classical music on the airwaves and the degeneration of the quality of life brought about by his children’s generation.

“Wow!” Layne said as we buzzed back to the boat. “He was quite worked up, wasn’t he? That was pretty surprising.”

I wondered if we would get invited back again and spent the evening agonizing about our heated discussion.

Next day Van Sant came by in his RIB inflatable and inwww.southwindssailing.com

ing the decks under way a vited us around for drinks. dangerous proposition.

“I’m on my way to the post Long-term exposure to sunoffice,” he said. “Got stuck waitlight hasn’t helped, and Van ing for a package. Bet you didn’t Sant needs to be able to expect me to get caught like that, travel in the shade, which eh! You can write all the books should be a warning for all you want, and you still manage of us cruising the tropics. to screw up.” Leisure Sailors are A friend of Van Sant’s never in a hurry and choose to came by, and we listened to get their mail sent only to places them talk about the good old where they can afford to spend days, the crazy dinghy races plenty of time to receive it. He now sanitized by the sheer powered up and buzzed off; I numbers of participants, the couldn’t wait for it to be time practical jokes played on each for afternoon drinks on Tidak other among a small select Apa (a Malayu phrase progroup of Bahamas cruisers nounced “Tee-dak Ap-a”). who discovered the islands “So what would you like long before mass travel by to drink?” Van Sant asked. boat and charter.

Layne went for rum and coke, Kim and Chris were there but I had gin and tonic, of in the cabin, and they talked course. Van Sant’s inflexible at some great length with the rule for Leisure Sailors is to guru about routes south; Kim be relaxing by late afternoon wanted to see the flamingo as the light goes bad, secure colonies in the southern Bahain a comfortable anchorage mas, and I watched the man with a “sundowner gin and outline routes and tactics just tonic” in hand. as he had written in his book “An actual sundowner g that I had first read, so many and t, with the guru on his years ago. It was magic. boat in a Georgetown anchorVan Sant’s book, A Gentlem And then to top the an’s Guide to Passages Sou age,” I thought to myself. “It th. evening off, he signed my latreally doesn’t get much betest copy of his guide, and his ter than this.” Layne says, and this is unconfirmed, I spent the message was so poignant it makes me gladder than ever that entire evening with an idiotic grin on my face and a bottomless we met, and I stood up to him, and he accepted me as worglass of gin in my hand. thy of his friendship.

We talked boats, of course, and there was genuine sad“God bless,” he wrote, “and go on and on and on…” And ness in Van Sant’s decision to sell his sailboat Jalan Jalan (pronow I have my own private and personal piece of advice from nounced “joll-on, joll-on”) and switch to a trawler. Certainly the man who single-handedly brought more pleasure and rehis “new” boat is comfortable, economical and very practical assurance to my sailing life than any other writer. with wind generators and solar panels to make it electrically self-sufficient, and wide overhangs to shade the large side Michael and Layne sailed from California to Key West, where they windows. But the switch from sail to power was a reluctant live aboard and work to rebuild the cruising kitty. decision forced by ill health, a form of vertigo that made walk-

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

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Things You Thought You Knew…

By Dave Ellis

In the words of the old song, “It ain’t necessarily so.”

In sailing, just as in any endeavor, some things that we just know are always true, turn out to be not necessarily so.

“Red right returning” We have been carefully taught that when going from a large body of water to a smaller bay, leave the red marks to starboard.

You will be in trouble in most other countries of the world and often on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Apparently during the early part of the American Revolution, the good folks of Boston put the black buoy marking the north side of the harbor entrance on the opposite, south side.

They told the Revolutionary ships’ captains, of course. The British lost a few ships until they caught the ruse. To be cantankerous, perhaps, the buoys have been switched in this country since.

Check those charts when sailing abroad.

The ICW dictates that the red buoys and daymarks are always on the mainland side of the channel. It follows that sometimes the channel happens to be nearing a larger body of water.

But in the ICW the inland-red rule continues.

There was a towing company boat that for a while stationed near a red daymark in a channel from the Gulf of Mexico into Tampa Bay awaiting skippers leaving the red to the right and hitting the very shallow water north of the mark on that ICW channel.

“Anchor rode scope should be 7:1 for overnight” Okay, some will say 5:1 for all chain rode.

However, there is much more involved than taking a look at the depth meter on your instrument panel or noting the depth on the chart.

Suppose you anchor in 10 feet of water. On the chart that is the depth at rather low tide. Sometime during the night the water level may be quite a bit deeper as the tide rises.

Your boat may be anywhere from 2 to 6 feet or more above the water. That counts, too.

During the night a wake from a passing large vessel, or if the wind picks up and causes wave action, the top of the wave makes your bow rise. That counts, too.

So instead of 50- to 70-feet of rode played out, you very well should have twice that to make sure you are still in the same place in the morning.

Recently on a teaching trip in the Keys our Hunter 466 dragged anchor in little Newfound Harbor. We did everything by the book. We needed much more than the theoretical amount

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of rode for the poor holding ground and big wind.

“Head into the wind and stop the boat before dropping the anchor” Usually motoring into the wind, stopping the boat, dropping the anchor and then backing down is the way to drop the hook.

In coastal areas, however, and on lakes near the outflow of rivers, the current often is a much stronger force than the wind.

If there are other boats already moored or anchored in the area, take a look at the way they are hanging. Find a boat similar to yours. Then approach from that direction.

Stopping the boat and taking bearings on nearby land can show the drift, be it from wind or current. It would be less than optimal to be dead stopped judging by the water around the bow while ready to drop the anchor, only to find that the ground that you want the anchor to grab is moving due to current.

Oh, and when anchoring in tidal areas, remember that it very well may be pulling you in the opposite direction later in your stay. A prudent sailor makes a circle around where he wants to put the anchor, making sure that it is safe in all directions before dropping the hook.

“My boat draws four feet” That’s what the specs say when you bought it. You may be surprised if you actually measure the depth to find that it is more or less than you thought. Seldom does a cruising vessel sit on its designed waterline.

There are other surprises. A displacement boat at speed settles down in the water a surprising amount. Going slower may get you across. When powered up when not heeling, such as on a run, you may drag bottom.

A winged-keel boat designed to run aground in shallower water actually GAINS draft when heeling. That appendage angles down when the keel is at an angle. The keel acts as an effective kedge anchor when you do manage to experience the inevitable grounding.

“In a ‘man overboard’ situation, it is better to use the sails than the engine” A story has long been going around sailing schools that a study was done that showed a greater percentage of successful rescues were done under sail than when the engine was turned on and sails lowered. Much checking into the supposed source seems to have debunked the study. Apparently it is one of those urban legends put to sea.

In the Sydney-Hobart race that had so many crew go overboard and all rescued safely under very difficult circumstances, everyone was picked up under power, some with sails all doused and some while still dousing.

We still teach the Quick Stop and Quick Turn methods of picking up MOB. But in the real world, I would also turn on the auxiliary engine if I could do so without losing sight of the victim. Just keep those lines out of the prop.

It is by challenging what you thought you knew that new techniques, gadgets and methods are developed. Keep questioning. www.southwindssailing.com

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NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

Gary Hufford gary@southwindssailing.com (727) 585-2814

The Southeast Coast: Carolinas and Georgia Rona Garm rgarm@ec.rr.com (910) 395-0189

The Northern Gulf Coast: Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas Kim Kaminski Kaminski_K@msn.com (850) 384-8941 SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

29

TROPICAL PIPELINE

TEXAS SAILORS REVEL IN KEEN CARIBBEAN COMPETITION AT THE INTERNATIONAL ROLEX REGATTA, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS MARCH 26-28

By Carol Bareuther Photos by Dean Barnes Cruising the British and U.S. Virgin Islands for four months is idyllic. Yet, Charleston, SC, native, David Leuschen, wanted to add a little racing excitement to his Caribbean sailing holiday. So he asked Joe “JT” Taylor, a key crewmember, who had raced aboard Moviestar/Suzuki/Red Bull.

Leuschen’s J/125 Raincloud, class winner in the 2004 Acura SORC, and J/145, Raincloud Sr., which had sailed in events like Block Island Race Week and Key West Race Week, to choose a regatta and assemble a racing crew.

“I had met Ruth Miller while at the J/80 Worlds in Fort Worth last October. She told me all about the Rolex,” Taylor says. Taylor crewed for North Sail’s Texas sales director, Jay Lutz, aboard the winning J/80. Miller was there officiating as a judge on the International Jury. Miller is also the director of the International Rolex Regatta.

“David wanted to sail just one Caribbean regatta, so I chose Rolex,” Taylor explains.

In addition to what sounded like a fun event, the logistics were ideal. “After Block Island last year, we got Raincloud Sr. to Newport and transported her to St. Thomas on Dockwise Yacht Transport,” Taylor explained.

For crew, Taylor, a native of Kemah, TX, tapped Lutz and nine other sailors from the Galveston Bay area. Dave Musgrove, who hails from the Houston Yacht Club and sailed in the most recent America’s Cup trials for the Aloha Syndicate’s Abracadabra 2000, was also aboard as crew.

Like Galveston Bay, said Taylor, wind conditions during this year’s Rolex Regatta ranged from dead calm to blustery, with lightning quick wind shifts coming from north and south throughout the three-day event. Caribbean competition also proved keen.

“Normally we’re not in the same class as Titan and Equation. It was a struggle to keep up with the bigger boats, but we sailed as hard as we could,” Taylor said.

In the Spinnaker Racing Big Boat Class, it was Tom Hill’s Puerto Rican entry, Titan XIII, a 2003-launched Reichel/Pugh 75, that easily led the class. “We owe the other boats time, but even so we were pretty far ahead most of the time,” said Peter Holmberg, St. Thomas Yacht Club’s commodore, a past Olympic medallist and America’s Cup veteran, who sailed aboard Titan XIII for Rolex.

Just before the awards ceremony, where Hill and the eight other class winners were awarded with commemorative Rolex 30

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Submariners, Hill added: “Our success came by way of lots of little things that came together correctly. We have a fairly experienced crew, and it takes good crew work to keep it going fast all the time. We hit 20 to 21 knots on the first day.”

Though Raincloud chased the honey pot of a golden win, akin to the boat’s namesake scene in Winnie the Pooh, the boat ended sixth in the class. Yet, it was just five points behind Equation, the Andrews 68 skippered by Rolex veteran, Bill Alcott, from St. Clair Shores, MI. Ninety-one boats with skippers hailing from the Caribbean, U.S. mainland and Europe competed in the event, which featured courses ranging from straight windward-leewards to a 16-mile inter-island passage that led into eight-foot swells rolling in from the Atlantic.

One of the many highlights of this year’s Rolex Regatta came in the Spinnaker Racer/Cruiser 1 Class. Team Atlantic, a Farr 65 chartered by Bill Dockser of Bethesda, MD, won the class, and it proved a personal victory for Dockser, who for the last year has been undergoing chemotherapy for prostate cancer. With the help of Sailing World editor, Tony Bessinger, Dockser brought down an all-star crew as well as family and friends to compete. “I had an incredible time,” said Dockser, who has never raced in the Caribbean before but had dreamed of it. “I got to live the dream and accomplish the dream. Four out of four line-honor wins and four wins on corrected time...I am very excited.”

Another highlight came in the IC24 class. The IC or Inter-Club 24 is a redesign of a J/24 innovated by St. Thomas’ Chris Rosenberg and boatbuilder Morgan Avery. The IC24s made their debut with six boats on the line for the 2001 Rolex Regatta. Fourteen IC24s competed this year.

St. Thomas’ Chris Curreri, sailing aboard his Brand New Second Hand, won the class in a keenly contested battle that ended in a match race between himself and Seahawk, a British Virgin Islands entry co-skippered by brothers Michael and Robert Hirst, to win the class.

“I grew up sailing against Robby Hirst and some of the others here in the fleet, and I was always the light one, and www.southwindssailing.com

they blew me away,” said Curreri, adding that Hirst is an Olympian and national champion. “Today in the last race, I flashed back to my childhood and thought, ‘It’s heavy air, a long beat and we’re really light. I’ll never hold them off.‘ ” The opposite proved true, however, and Curreri took the gun, only a quarter of a boat length ahead of the Hirsts.

Reflecting on the win, the 28-year-old noted that he’d crewed in every Rolex since he was eight years old, but never had finished Titan, Tom Hill’s R/P75, makes the mark during uncharacteristic weather in St. Thomas, USVI waters. aboard a winning boat.

Adding an interesting twist to Brand New Second Hand’s vicof 23 monohulls and catamarans. Captains and crews were tory was the fact that Curreri had only last week launched focused on the three-day party event coinciding with BVI the boat, having built it himself using J/24 hull #5 and addCommonwealth Day, March 8. Winds abated to 28 knots for ing the Melges 24-like deck that makes this hybrid class the two class starts with boats less than 40 feet getting off first unique if not unusual. into a healthy 4-6-foot chop.

Finally, in the beach cat class, it came as no surprise that The West End Yacht Club’s creative course has boats startPuerto Rico’s 2004 Olympic Tornado team of Enrique ing the 20-mile upwind leg on Saturday from Harbor View Figueroa and crew Jorge Fernandez aboard Movistar/Suzuki/ Restaurant, Fat Hogs Bay. Race instructions require taking all Red Bull won its final race to clinch the four-race series. the “doggie bits” to port as a turning mark leaving Virgin For Taylor, and the crew aboard Raincloud, winning Gorda to starboard. This leaves boats with a 12-mile starboard wasn’t everything. “We really liked the laidbackness and beat to the welcome site of the Soares family fishing boat markfriendliness here. The sailing was wonderful, and we all had ing the finish off the channel entrance to Anegada, with the a really good time.” promise of a great party on the beach.

Sunday as always was a lay- and play- day organized by Neptune’s Treasure Restaurant for kite flying, sandcastle 7TH ANNUAL DARK AND STORMY ANEGADA building, horseshoes, dominoes and not a little drinking of REGATTA, BVIS, MARCH 8 the race’s namesake beverage—rum and ginger beer—

By Mike Kirk “aaaargh, ‘tis Dark and Stormy.”

Late “Christmas winds” had been blowing 35 knots for a The return race on Monday followed a pursuit race forweek before the now infamous 7th Annual Dark and Stormy mat. With a PHRF spread of about 280, this resulted in boats Anegada Regatta. This did not depress the near-record entry starting over two hours apart for the 28-mile fast reach back

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

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TROPICAL PIPELINE to Soper’s Hole. With Tortola to port and Sandy Cay as the turning mark, charter boats moored peacefully behind the Cay found themselves in a grandstand position to watch the fleet of racing boats struggle to douse spinnakers, dodge the reef and avoid giving anything to leeward, as they wove through the moored traffic.

As designed, the pursuit format had most boats “pursuing” each other closely up the last-mile beat to an exciting spectator finish off the Jolly Roger bar.

The weekend finale at the Jolly Roger ended with all 23 entries receiving donated prizes and thanks from the Soares for another great event. The traditional holiday weekend power cuts waited until Monday’s party time (much to the relief of the race officer, who had to do last year’s Friday registration by flashlight). During the gloom, rumors abounded that Bob Bitchin from the competition (Attitudes and Platitudes or something) had been sighted—and Southwinds, where were you?—how about sponsoring the race next year before Bob thinks of it?

Despite a percentage of novice racers/navigators setting out to this most remote of the British Virgin Islands, all competitors arrived safely. However, the real renegade action occurred on the committee start boat. An error in data entry to the autopilot combined with the ever-present westerly current made for an interesting side trip of six miles into the southern Atlantic! The crew, who wish to remain anonymous, were debating the distance to Iceland as the swells seemed to be increasing (and the white water over the bows was getting into their lunch). With no sails or Anegada in sight, a hasty check on the GPS forced a humbling (manual) course change south and east to find Anegada—well, it is only 28 feet above sea level, and Iceland has mountains!

Results: 1. Moab, Ed Stroh, Morgan 51; 2. Rendevous Cay, Tim Stonich, 50-foot Cat; 3. Free Ingwe, Louis Du Plessis, Leopard 46 Cat; 4. Rhumb Squall, Tom Mullen, Antrim 27; 5. Ruffian, Marty Halpern, Pipedream 36

“SERIOUS FUN” CARIBBEAN STYLE HEINEKEN REGATTA, ST. MARTIN, MARCH 5-7

By Arturo Perez The 24th edition of the St. Maartin/St Martin Heineken Regatta was celebrated March 5-7. The regatta, which follows the mantra “Serious Fun,” has become one of the largest events in the region.

On the serious side the race committee delivers the highest standards of destination course design and race management. Sailboats of all types are welcomed, ranging anywhere from the family cruiser all the way to canting keel Maxis. This year was no exception with the likes of Roy Disney’s Pywacket and Morning Glory out to claim bragging rights. In between the two extremes is the bulk of the fleet made up of sports boats and the hugely popular bareboat fleet.

On the fun side the legendary hospitality provided by the St Maartin Yacht Club is next to none. The event is known for hosting some of the liveliest beach parties in the Caribbean. With local and international talent providing musical entertainment until the wee hours of the morning, this year was no exception.

This year proved to be one of the largest fleets to race in 32

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Second place finisher Rendezvous Cay making an impressive start on the downwind return leg to West End Tortola. Photo by Mike Kirk.

the Heineken Regatta with over 285 registered entries. Teams from as far away as Japan were represented with the bulk of the fleet made up of teams from the Netherlands and the United States. Not to be forgotten is the rivalry between teams from Antigua and the local St Maartins. The Dutch again dominated in most of the classes with the exception of the Bareboat 6 fleet where the Americans showed off their skills.

On race day the forecast called for winds of 30 knots, gusting to 35 knots. With ocean swells 6 to 8 feet, the racing was gruesome, taking a toll on the boats and their rigs. Collisions along with rig failure were reported on a daily basis. Fortunately there were no injuries after three days of racing, although by the looks of some of the damage experienced, it was hard to believe. These conditions persisted until the third day of the race, which turned out to be a classic Caribbean day: winds 15-18 knots with the occasional gust and blue skies with fluffy white clouds to add some contrast.

After two days of intense racing, the winner of many of the classes were too close to call. In Spinnaker 1, Morning Glory and Pywacket were still battling it out for first place. At the start of the third race, Morning Glory gained the favorite pin end of the line. When she finally crossed over, she was ahead of Pywacket by about three boat lengths, never to lose her lead.

It was a Caribbean clean sweep in the multihull racing class with Triple Jack from Tortola winning overall first place.

Very fortunate for them considering that the multihull fleet was depleted after the first two days of racing.

In the Spinnaker 4 class, four boats entered the last day tied in points. After some very aggressive sailing, Igoodia, a SunOdassey 52.2, came out on top and won overall honors.

Competition in the bareboat classes, which make up the bulk of the fleets, was very intense throughout the regatta. In Bareboat 2, the top places were changing hands between the three top boats all throughout the first two days. Entering the last day of the race, it was anybody’s race. In the end it would be Team Teerenstra from the Netherlands aboard a Dufour 50 taking the overall win. www.southwindssailing.com

Sunsit II races in the Heineken Regatta. Tim Wright photo.

The Most Worthy Performance award of the regatta was awarded to the winner of the Bareboat 5 fleet, Vague an l’Ame, a SunOdassey 40. The organizers present this award to the winner of the toughest class of the race. With 17 boats in its class, only minutes separated the first place boat from the last after three days of racing. Quite a feat!

The rest of the fleets also enjoyed the same intense competition along with the tribulations. The regatta will be remembered by the numerous accidental round-ups, spinnaker knockdowns, and the demastings that took place during the first two days of racing. All had “their story” to tell and

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

were eagerly waiting to share them with anyone who would listen. The 24th Heineken Regatta once again lived up to everyone’s expectations with festive beach parties, unforgettable dining, and competitive racing. The race had finally come to an end, and for most it was time to return home.

Once again, the regatta had fulfilled its mantra of “serious fun.”

As competitors look forward to returning, the organizers are already hard at work planning next year’s 25th anniversary “Silver Jubilee” event, which promises to be the best regatta ever. Exactly what the organizers will have in store for us, only time will tell. Until then we will just have to wait.

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SOUTHERN SAILING THE SOUTHEAST COAST; THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA SOUTHEAST SAILING IS OFF TO A GREAT START: UPCOMING EVENTS AND REGATTAS

By Rona Garm Last month had Carolina sailors just finishing a perfect weekend at Charleston Race Week, traveling to Annapolis for the National Hospice Regatta and competing in the annual J24 Easter Regatta.

May looks to be even busier. From the Airlie Arts Festival in Wilmington, NC (April 3-May 2, www.airliearts.org), the Spoleto Festival (May 28-June 13, www.spoletousa.org) in Charleston, and the 25th Annual Arts on the River in Savannah (May 8-9, www.savannahga.gov), to Saturday morning Farmer’s Markets in Oriental, NC (www.towndock.net), and Charleston, SC, to exploring a 5,000-acre undeveloped barrier island (www.coastalexpeditions.com) and checking out the coastal aquariums, there is lots to amuse sailors off the water as well as on.

For on-the-water fun, the first weekend has sailors trekking north for the Lightning Regatta in Leesylvania State Park (www.sailsoutheast.org) or the NOOD Regatta in Annapolis or south to Antigua Race Week (don’t we wish!). Education is the name of the game for the following week as NorthU hosts their Race Week at Captiva Island, FL (www.northu.com), and JWorld runs two racing clinics in Annapolis.

Mother’s Day weekend (May 8-9) the Worrell 1000 comes to Wrightsville Beach, NC, and the WBORA hosts the Michelob Mini Series (www.wbora.org). Armed Forces Day, April 15, brings the NC Leukemia Cup Regatta to Southport, NC (www.cfycnc.com), the Tybee 500 from Islamorada, FL (www.tybee500.com) to Tybee Island, GA, and the Abemarle 100 (frank@silverconstructionservices.com) to the North Carolina sounds.

The weekend before Memorial Day has Lightnings traveling to Lake Norman for the Voodoo Regatta (www.sailsoutheast.org), the Neuse (River, NC) Yacht Racing Association hosting an Invitational Regatta and the Southport Sailing Club cruising to Wrightsville Beach; (www.southportsailing.com).

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In addition to lots of Memorial Day festivities in small and large towns throughout the Southeast, the sailing keeps right on. WBORA hosts the Wilmington Group Offshore Regatta from Wrightsville Beach to Beaufort, NC (www.wbora.org) in time for the North Carolina Yacht Racing Association State Championship Regatta held in the Atlantic just south of Cape Lookout (www.ncyra.org). Also in Beaufort that weekend, a US Sailing Small Boat Level 1 Instructor course is planned (wbfuller@aol.com / tom3@bizrec.rr.com). And the previously mentioned Spoleto Festival kicks off over two weeks of music, theater, dance, and lectures in beautiful Charleston, SC.

TALL SHIPS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE TO VISIT DURING THE CHARLESTON MARITIME FESTIVAL, JUNE 17-20, CHARLESTON, SC The Charm of Charleston and Free Fun for the Whole Family on Father’s Day Weekend

The Spirit of South Carolina, currently being built at the Charleston Maritime Center, site of the festival. Photo by Debra Gingrich.

The largest gathering of tall ships in the United States this year to date will be berthed in Charleston Harbor over Father’s Day weekend. Naval tall ships from around the world will participate in the festivities, including the USCG Eagle, the Pride of Baltimore, sail training vessels from Romania (Mircea), Mexico (Cuauhtemoc), and Colombia (Gloria), and many more. On land, the maritime festival will offer incredible family fun with

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events such as free sailboat rides, maritime art, family boatbuilding, wooden boat exhibits, music, food and parties.

The Charleston Maritime Festival will open to the public Thursday, June 17 at 1:00 p.m. Festivities will continue throughout the weekend 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The festival will be centered at the Charleston Maritime Center with tall ships on display – Concord Street one block south of the South Carolina Aquarium.

Additional Class A tall ships will be berthed at the South The Charleston Y-Flyer team of Will Hanckel and Patrick Wilson take an early race lead in the forth and final race of the Y-Flyer Midwinters held at the Lake Norman Yacht Club in North Carolina. Photo by Jim Kransberger.

Carolina Port Authority Passenger Terminal at the foot of Market Street.

The Charleston Maritime Festival (SCMHF) is managed Y-FLYER CHAMPIONSHIP, LAKE NORMAN, NC by the South Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation, a nonMARCH 20TH profit organization currently constructing the Spirit of South

By Jim Kransberger Carolina, the state’s only tall ship. SCMHF intends to use the The Y-Flyer class sailing opened their sailing season on tall ship for educational expeditions. The foundation also manMarch 20th with their Midwinter Championship hosted by ages the Charleston to Bermuda race and other maritime events. the Lake Norman Yacht Club (LNYC) of Mooresville, SC. For more information call (843) 722-1030, or visit As usual for LNYC, the regatta was well-run. www.charlestonmaritimefestival.com .

Attendance at the season opener was again substantial, attracting 31 boats from nine states and Ontario, Canada.

The host and home state, North Carolina, was represented SOUTHEAST COAST RACING CALENDAR by only two of those 31 boats. The Canadian contingent May 1-2 – Catalina 22 Irish Wake, Lake Lanier Sailing was four boats. LNYC’s fleet of Y-Flyer sailors were elseClub, www.llsc.org where on the water, aboard the many boats that constituted May 1-2 – Flying Scot 48 Regatta, Lake Norman Yacht the race committee.

Club, www.lakenormanyachtclub.com Race Chairman Merrill Callen adroitly ducked a posMay 8 – Charleston, SC, CORA Spring, Ocean, sible bullet that a poor weather forecast provided and got www.charlestonoceanracing.org off four races on Saturday in light to a rather fresh breeze.

May 8-9 – Melges 24 SEIC Regatta, Lake Lanier Sailing He quickly got two races in during the delayed morning, Club, www.llsc.com then two more during the afternoon when the air filled May 13-16 – 2004 San Juan 21 Eastern Nationals, rather well. Sunday’s races were canceled due to the exwww.lakenormanyachtclub.com pected bad weather.

May 16 – Charleston, SC, CORA Spring races, Harbor, Will Hanckel, former junior champion, sailing with charlestonoceanracing.org Patrick Wilson, sailed each race progressively better (6-4-2May 29 – Charleston, SC, CORA Femme Fatale, 1) to become the event winner. Hanckel had not sailed a Ycharlestonoceanracing.org Flyer for several years and borrowed his father’s boat to June 12-13 – LBSA Governors’ Offshore Cup, 2004. compete. His father (Bill) and sister (Emily) sailed Will’s www.longbaysailing.org (877) 496-7883 old boat to an 11th place finish.

June 4-6 – 4th Annual Lake Norman Hospice Regatta, Sailing the shifts successfully seemed to be the deterLNYC, www.lakenormanyachtclub.com mining tactic of the first race. Chris Cyrul watched a subJune 12-17 Catalina 22 Nationals, Lake Lanier, GA, LLSC, stantial lead, after three legs, erode as a major shift pretty www.llsc.com much turned the fleet around.

June 19-20 – Reggae Regatta Open Event, Lake Lanier, LLSC, www.llsc.com Results: 1 - Will Hanckel / Patrick Wilson, Charleston, SC (6-4-2-1); 2 - David Irons / Jan June 21-24 – Learn to sail clinic. Open to non-members.

Griffin, Negola, IL (5-2-3-4); 3 - Pat Passafiume / John Bright, Louisville, KY (2LNYC, www.lakenormanyachtclub.com 6-10-6) ; 4 - Jim MacKenzie / Carlene Hone, London, Ontario (10-7-6-5) ; 5 June 28-July 1 – Learn to race clinic. Open to non-memDrew Daugherty / Clif Causey, Little Rock, AK (11-15-1-3) bers. LNYC, www.lakenormanyachtclub.com NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

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SOUTHERN SAILING CHARLESTON RACE WEEK: ANOTHER GREAT WEEK OF RACING, MARCH 25-28

By Jim Kransberger This Race Week met and exceeded every promise and every expectation offered by the Charleston Offshore Racing Association (CORA) in their pre-event promotions. Not only did Charleston Harbor offer up perfect sailing conditions, the level of competition was exceedingly high.

Ninety-six boats signed up this year. That’s a 26 percent growth in a single year, considering 76 registered last year.

Only the quality of the event, on and off the water, can explain the numbers. Forty-some boats from the previous year returned, leaving the growth attributable to a few, new local boats and a huge growth in out-of-state competitors.

The dates of Charleston Race Week have been selected to attract those out-of-state competitors. Beginning in January, there are several major one-design regattas in Florida: Key West, St. Petersburg NOOD and several midwinters. Comparing the scratch sheets of both years, you can attribute 10 boats to this factor.

PHRF seems to be where the substantial numbers are.

The Charleston boats round and go up wind. Scott Strothers’s Destiny is followed by Cal Huge’s Jubilee and then David Kowert’s Andiamo! Photo by Jim Kransberger.

Spirit of Charleston splits the Melges 24 fleet. Left to right: Grins sailing by the Burke brothers, Sports Center Highlight by O’Malley Avant and No Tourism by John Raymont. Photo by Jim Kransberger.

Traveling on their own bottoms or aboard a trailer, these boats like what is happening in Charleston.

Like other major regattas, this regatta divided the boats into two fleets, with each division having with their own starts, race committee, support boats, etc.

Friday A great day! Although the wind was a minute or two late in arriving for the first race, it quickly filled and hovered in the low teens and didn’t rotate all that much. For Charleston Harbor, this is an exceptional happening.

Those not familiar with sailing in tidal waters quickly got a lesson of where not to sail. The in-coming tide flows into the two rivers that adjoin Charleston. It flows, more or less, up the center of these two rivers. If the wind and the tide 36

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www.southwindssailing.com

Nicole Weaver’s Euro Trash Girl leads Fred Silber’s Geechee Grace and Robert Brann’s Shock & Awe around the windward mark.

Photo by Jim Kransberger.

happen to be going together in the direction you’re sailing, great boat speed results. If they’re not, you are doomed to be a very slow boat if you don’t sail along the south shore where the tidal effect is minimal.

Additionally, tides played with the laylines to marks.

Many boats understood the mark only to overstand next time around when the tide had ebbed. There were plenty of penalty turns taken after mark roundings.

Tidal conditions and a long scope on the anchor line, in not especially deep water, of one of the race committee boats wasn’t something to be missed by the bigger yachts. Twice the committee boat lost its anchored position as the line was snagged. In the same way, several boats made contact with another.

Part of why good sailors are good is because they keep their heads and eyes on the course and out of their boats, learning quickly. By the second race, it seemed, local knowledge was not quite so localized. At day’s end, 17 protests were filed.

PHRF fleet C was dominated by John and Linda Edwards’ J27, Rhumb Punch, that took all the four first place guns of the day. Three PHRF firsts were earned by Bruce Gardner ’s Beneteau FC 10 L’Outrage in B, while two were each earned

by Nicole Weaver’s J120 Euro Trash Girl in A and two by Francisco Kreb’s J-24 Latte in E. In the one-design fleets there were only big winners: Mark Durlach and John Lucas in their Beelzebubba Melges 24 took three first places. Robert Baker’s J105 Planted B, Roger Dougal in his J24 Tukalmaut and Tom Pipe in his Etchells Pipeline all took two firsts in their respective classes.

Racing was promptly followed by some spirited beer consumption on the docks of the Charleston City Marina and progressed to a Sticky Fingers barbeque buffet and a tad more rum, provided by Mount Gay. NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

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SOUTHERN SAILING Saturday The temperature made for a beautiful day. Seventy-five degrees after a long winter was not hard for the competitors to enjoy. There was a two-hour delay in the start of the day’s first race due to the lack of wind, which made Saturday a two-race day as four already had been completed and one had to be saved for Sunday. The respective race committees shortened the courses from eight to six miles and upped the times around to three. Again, the wind went over the 10 mark and stayed rather fixed in direction.

In PHRF, Saturday’s double winners were the Edwards in their Rhumb Punch (that’s five in a row!) in a J27 in C and Frank Silver in his Beneteau B25 Phantom in D. One-design sailors were unable to post any double victories, but some were able to add another first to their previous collections. Team Durlach and Lucas got another first for their Melges 24 Beelzebubba as did Baker in J105 Planet B. Surprise! There was more onshore after-racing frivolity.

Sunday An approaching cold front could not hold off a clear sky for this last day’s single race. Again the wind filled in at a tad over 10 knots and from the north.

This last race was in many cases essential in many fleets to determine eventual winners, and one could sense in the pre-start maneuvering it was going to be closely contested. A good, clean start was not to be had, and the race to be abandoned as the course was set in an anchorage area, and a tug with barge in tow had more need of sea room than the racers.

It took a while for the tug to reverse its tow and continue pushing the barge up stream.

The restart of PHRF A looked more like an old Vanderbilt start than anything else. No one could afford to give an inch, so close were the points between Nicole Weaver’s Euro Trash Girl and the other J120, Roger Elliot’s Crosswave, that they were both over early and had to restart. Weaver put a couple of slower boats between her and Elliot’s boat to outpoint him. It might have been the covering of each other in the J-120s, or it might have been he finally found his groove, but Steve Devoe’s Swan 45 Devocean finally got its legs and was able to amass enough of a lead to finish first in PHRF A. To keep one’s time isn’t easy in any competitive fleet.

In PHRF B, Michael Jones sailed his SR 33 Outrageous to his second regatta victory and tied in points with Bruce Bingham’s Mumm 30 Blockade Runner. Jones received the fleet trophy after the who-beat-whom-and-how-often formula was applied. Jones also won the Charleston Race Week Cup for winning in the most competitive class in PHRF. In PHRF C, Rhumb Punch had a perfect score, winning all seven races. Had not John and Linda Edwards won so convincingly over the rest of their fleet, they, too, would have been competition for the Charleston Race week Cup. Frank Silver proved that four bullets are better than one OCS, even if you own them all in PHRF D. Silver’s Beneteau B-25 Phantom took an OCS disqualification and still captured their fleet honors by four points.

PHRF E was about as close as you can get and still win.

Steve Burke’s second place, last race finish, was exactly the 38

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place he needed. He covered the boat he had to beat, Bill Krebs on his Ericson 38 Knot Numb, to a one point overall fleet victory.

The Melge-24 class was won by Mark Durlach and John Lucas aboard their Beelzebubba with an impressive low score.

Plant B owned by Roger Baker took the overall class in the J-105s by six points.

Seaplane, sailed by Randy Tilly, edged out Roger Dougal’s Tukalmaut in a who-beat-who mathematical tie breaker after the finish of the last race left no clear J24 class winner.

Lastly, the Etchells class was won by Tom Piper aboard his Pipeline. Piper also won the trophy for the most competitive one-design boat. Through most of the regatta you could have covered the six-boat fleet with a blanket.

It was a terrific sailing weekend. One that will only get better each and every year.

EAST FLORIDA SAILING RACING CALENDAR May 1 – 51st Annual Mug Race, Jacksonville, FL. Sponsored by the Rudder Club of Jacksonville. Said to be the longest river sailboat race in the world, covering 42 miles from Palatka to Jacksonville on the St. Johns River. www.rudderclub.com May 1-2 – Florida Yacht Club, Jacksonville hosts the Snipe Tea Party and JY 15 SE Districts floridayachtclub.org May 1-2 – Cinco de Mayo Regatta, Cocoa Beach Yacht Club, PHRF, www.sail-race.com May 15 – Navy Jacksonville Yacht Club Armed Forces Day Regatta PHRF www.sailjax.com May 15-16 – Brevard Challenge, Brevard County’s Oldest Regatta, www.sail-race.com May 28 – Gulfstreamer Race. This race is held every other year and goes from Daytona, FL, to Charleston, SC, a 225mile one-way run open to all boats 29 ft. LOA and longer.

PHRF and multiple classes. Sponsored by the Halifax River YC and the Charleston YC. (386) 304-7390 or www.hryc.com May 29 – St. Augustine Regatta, Long distance PHRF race from the North Florida Cruising Club (904) 389-3441 May 30 – Race of the Century, PHRF, St. Augustine Yacht Club (904) 824-9725 June 5-6 – TYC Annual Regatta, Titusville Yacht Club, www.sail-race.com

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SAILING RACING CALENDAR May 1 – C-Gull Cup Race. Miami. Host: CGSC. Annual regatta for the Women’s Auxiliary Club of CGSC. Contact: (305) 444-4571. www.cgsc.org May 8 – Snipe Ocean Regatta. Fort Lauderdale. Host: LYC. The 6th annual regatta in the ocean for Snipes.

Contact: www.lyc.org www.southwindssailing.com

May 15 – BBYRA PHRF #5. Miami. Host: CRYC The fifth race of the BBYRA Series 1. For PHRF and ARF fleets. Contact: www.bbyra.net May 16 – BBYRA OD #5. Miami . Host: KBYC. The fifth race of the BBYRA Series 1 for One Design. Contact: www.bbyra.net May 22 – Hospice Regatta. Fort Lauderdale. Host: LYC & Hospice Care of Broward County. This is the eighth annual benefit regatta. Pursuit type race open to PHRF & Cruising fleets. Fort Lauderdale. Contact: www.lyc.org May 29 – 20 – Goombay Regatta. Miami. Host: CGSC. The 17th annual Cruising and One Design day races in Biscayne Bay held in conjunction with the Goombay Festival and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. Contact: (305) 444-4571. www.cgsc.org June 5-6 – BBYRA PHRF/OD #6. Miami. Host: KBYC annual regatta held as part of the BBYRA Series’ championship. Open to all PHRF (Sat.) and One design (Sun.) boats.

Contact: www.bbyra.net June 19 – BBYRA PHRF#7. Miami. Host: CRYC. Final race of the BBYRA Series1 for the PHRF class. Contact: www.bbyra.net June 26 – BBYRA OD#7. Miami. Host: CGSC. Final race of the BBYRA Series1 for One Design class. Contact: www.bbyra.net Legend : Yacht Clubs & Organizations CGSC – Coconut Grove Sailing Club CRYC – Coral Reef Yacht Club MYC – Miami Yacht Club KBYC – Key Biscayne Yacht Club BBYC – Biscayne Bay Yacht Club BBYRA – Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association LYC – Lauderdale Yacht Club

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA RACING SORC AND PREMIERE RACING TEAM UP FOR MIAMI RACING 2005 The Southern Ocean Racing Conference, a Florida corporation known to racing sailors around the world as SORC, has reached an agreement with Peter Craig and his Premiere Rac-

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

ing organization, which will step in and produce the Miami event beginning in March 2005. The Marblehead, MA, based company has built Terra Nova Trading Key West into the top annual keel boat event in North America and one of the elite race weeks on the international racing calendar.

“SORC has had a remarkable run,” said spokesman Bob Meagher. “However, the business of regatta management has changed over the years, and it’s become too much for the clubs to handle themselves. The consortium of five yacht clubs was formally established in 1941, founding a series of five point-to-point races that included stops in Nassau, Key West and Havana, Cuba, during the first “Southern Circuit.”

Over the years, the SORC has been a condensed history of American ocean racing with the circuit ultimately growing to six races spread over four weeks. Its popularity would peak in 1973, before changes in offshore racing designs and increasing demands on leisure time led to waning interest in distance racing. The current format of an intense week of windward/leeward day racing off Miami Beach made its debut in 1990. Acura has been the title sponsor at SORC since 1999.

The Miami Beach Marina will remain the official site for this mixed-class event (One Design/PHRF/IMS). Premiere Racing is in the process of polling boat owners, class organizations and the industry to determine the ideal racing dates going forward. The Thursday to Sunday racing format will continue with the 2005 regatta dates to be announced later this month. Information and details on the Miami regatta will be posted on the Premiere Racing web site: www.Premiere-Racing.com

AUGIE DIAZ WINS SNIPE CIRCUIT

By Dave Ellis Sailor of the Year Augie Diaz of Miami won all three of the regattas making up the Snipe southern circuit to win the Zimmerman Trophy.

He won the Midwinters in Clearwater, and the Don Q Rum Regatta in Miami, which had 49 boats with good competition. Diaz sailed with Kathleen Tocke to a convincing win at the Miami event.

At the Royal Nassau Sailing Club he sailed with Jon Rogers to a win over 42 boats in sometimes windy conditions.

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LIGHTNING MID-WINTERS, CORAL REEF YACHT CLUB, MIAMI, MARCH 16-17

By Fritz Mueller Fifty-four teams convened at Miami’s Coral Reef Yacht Club for the second venue in the Lightning Class Mid Winter Circuit and an exceptional two days of keen racing. Almost typical of such an event, the current World and North American champions were there to gauge the level of competition.

As it was to be, current world champ Tito Gonzalez of Chile with Diego Gonzalez and Fernando Gallyas, took the 4-point victory in five races, along with the Don Bliss Trophy. Gonzalez also comes off a strong win in the previous week’s stage at Savannah. Second overall went to Tom Allen Jr., with John Humphrey and Bill Pictor. Steve Hayden teamed with Barr Batzer and Davis Hood, to come in third for the series, winning a tiebreaker with Sean Fidler, Marek Valasek, and Eric Wulff.

The first day’s racing was almost textbook Biscayne Bay, presenting a very steady southerly breeze of 15-20 knots. The impending arrival of a cold front with a westerly quadrant shift toward the north never materialized, though a few squalls brewing in the SW did tend to split the fleet toward the right most of the day. With no general recalls in three starts, the day was a test of exceptional boat-handling skills and smart sailing all around.

The expected westerly quadrant shift came through for the second day’s racing, a shifty breeze of 15-18 knots, which held out for the first race favoring the left side of the course. Competitors forced a general recall at the first start. By the early afternoon the breeze began to ease, though conditions remained highly tactical and racing was close. Remarkably, only one protest was heard for this series. Event Chairman Carol Ewing, PRO Dr. Bill Smoak, and the committee of Coral Reef Yacht Club did another spectacular job in running this memorable regatta.

Final Results: 1. Tito Gonzalez, Diego Gonzalez, Fernando Gallyas ; 2. Thomas Allen Jr., John Humphrey, Bill Pictor ; 3. Steve Hayden, Barr Batzer, David Hood ; 4. Sean Fidler, Marek Valasek, Eric Wulff ; 5. Ched Proctor, Todd Johnson, Kattie Offermann

CAYARD AND TRINTER ARE GOING TO ATHENS: STAR CLASS OLYMPIC TRIALS, MIAMI, FL, MARCH 28 From sailingscuttlebutt.com and YachtRacing.com Web site.

The biggest sailboat race of his life figured to be a cakewalk Sunday–all he had to do was finish within 12 places of the second-place boat to clinch the U.S. Olympic berth in the Star class—but Paul Cayard didn’t vary from his pre-race routine.

The winds had gone light after several days of boisterous breeze, and light wind usually means tricky shifts that can turn a race into what sailors call a “crapshoot.

In a three-lap, light-air tour of the windward-leeward course won by Howie Shiebler and crew Will Stout, Cayard/ Trinter finished a comfortable fifth, only two places behind Andy Lovell and crew Magnus Liljedahl, who needed to put 12 boats between them to force Cayard/ Trinter to sail one or both of the last two races. As it was, they counted those as their allowable pair of discards to finish with 40 points. “I just wanted go get it over with and get back here (to shore),” Cayard said. “I’m feeling pretty tired.”

So were 42 others from 21 boats, especially Andy Lovell and Magnus Liljedahl—the latter a 2000 gold medallist crew with Mark Reynolds at Sydney, who ground back from a double DNF and DNS disaster when their mast broke on Day 1 to finish second, 25 points behind C/T. Lovell and Liljedahl were Cayard/Trinter’s tuning partners the last few months and are first alternates for the Olympics.

While many great sailors’ careers have progressed from Star boats to America’s Cup or Whitbread/Volvo races, Cayard has gone back to his roots. “That’s a pretty cool thing at my age,” he said. “It’s not the norm.” One reason, he suggested, is that “kids in the U.S. can’t afford to do a (serious) Star campaign. I’ve spent at least a hundred grand, as have some others here.” But getting there is only half the fight. “This was a necessary step,” Cayard said. “I’d like to win the gold medal.” - Rich Roberts, YachtRacing.Com Web site, complete story and photos: www.yachtracing.com Final results (22 boats, 16 races, two discards): 1. Paul Cayard/Phil Trinter, San Francisco, 40 points; 2. Andy Lovell/Magnus Liljedahl, New Orleans, 65; 3. George Szabo/Mark Strube, San Diego, 69; 4. Eric Doyle/Brian Sharp, San Diego, 76; 5. Mark Reynolds/Steve Erickson, San Diego, 80; 6. Vince Brun/Mike Dorgan, San Diego, 80; 7. Howie Shiebler/Will Stout, San Francisco, 90; 8. John MacCausland/Brad Nichol, Cherry Hill, NJ, 95; 9. Rick Merriman/Bill Bennett, San Diego, 102; 10. Andrew MacDonald/Austin Sperry, Laguna Beach, CA., 102

NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING IN MAY AND UPCOMING SAILING EVENTS

By Kim Kaminski The boating season has “officially” opened for the sailors and yachtsmen here along the Gulf Coast of Pensacola, FL. Beautiful and traditional “official” ceremonies performed during the springtime offer a once-a-year opportunity for not only the yacht clubs to show off their pride in their facilities as 40

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www.southwindssailing.com

well as their members, but also for our local communities to take pride in our coastal waterways that harbor all of the fun and exciting sporting activities and events that our Gulf Coast region is known for.

The weather during the month of May is ideal for any outdoor enthusiast. Temperatures ranging in the mid 70s to mid 80s, moderate winds of 8 to 12 knots that fill in from the Gulf of Mexico generally from the south-southeast. Usually, there is a short time period during the mid-morning to early afternoon when the land breeze and see breeze meet, creating very little breeze at all. Gradually the sea breezes will take control and fill in along the shoreline, making the day perfect for sailing.

On May 1-2, the Gulf Yachting Association’s Opening Day Regatta for Inter-Club competition begins this year at the Fort Walton Beach Yacht Club. Competitors will be racing on the inter-club one design boat, the Flying Scot, in several regattas to be held throughout the year.

On May 12-13, sailors will be gathering at the Pensacola Yacht Club preparing for the 550-mile adventure across the Gulf of Mexico to a little island off the coast of Cancun, Mexico.

The 23rd Annual Regatta al Sol will be held with participants and visitors embarking to the island of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, for a week-long celebration before the adventurers journey back to their home ports.

Also during the month of May, the prestigious Navy Cup Regatta will take place on May 22-23. This inter-club competition between local yacht clubs in the Pensacola area pits yacht club against yacht club in a competition to earn the coveted Navy Cup. Races will be held in PHRF, Flying Scot, and other one-design boats where contestants can earn points for their respective yacht clubs in the race for the trophy.

So...make your plans to enjoy springtime sailing along the Gulf Coast. There is something here for everyone to enjoy. And if you want to enjoy other fun events that can be found here along the Northern Gulf Coast, check out the activities listed below:

OTHER LOCAL EVENTS IN MAY April 30 - May 2 – 20th Annual Pensacola Crawfish Creole Fiesta. Held in historic Bartram Park, the Crawfish Creole Fiesta celebrates the Cajun influence in the northwest Florida community. The event is one of the largest crawfish boils in the state. In addition to crawfish, other traditional Cajun fare served will be spicy chicken, red beans & rice, jambalaya and etoufee. Cost $5 per person over 12 years; free to children 12 and under.

In addition to excellent Cajun and Creole dishes, the festival will present authentic Louisiana bayou country and Zydeco entertainment. www.fiestaoffiveflags.org

May 1 – Great Biloxi Schooner Races. Biloxi, MS. Held in conjunction with the Blessing of the Fleet, the Glenn L. Swetman will race the Mike Sekul. The race will begin and end in front of the Biloxi Yacht Club. (228) 435-6320.

May 1 – Biloxi Shrimp Festival & Blessing of the Fleet.

Biloxi Small Craft Harbor, Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS. (228) 4355578 May 15-16 – Billy Creel Memorial Gulf Coast Wooden Boat Show. Largest Gathering of wooden boats on the Gulf of Mexico for viewing. Smaller vessels are at the Maritime & Seafood Museum. Water’s edge between the Isle of Capri Casino Resort & Casino Magic. Biloxi and 115 First Street, Biloxi, MS. (228) 435-6320.

RACING CALENDAR, NORTHERN GULF COAST May 1-2 –GYA (Gulf Yachting Association) Opening Regatta, Ft. Walton YC, www.fwyc.org May 8 – Sea Buoy Race, Pensacola Beach YC, www.pensacolabeach-yc.org May 8-9 – High School Mallory 420 National Championship, Southern YC, May 12-13 – Regatta al Sol XXIII, Pensacola YC, www.pensacolayachtclub.com May 15-16 – Spring Regatta, Buccaneer YC, www.bucyc.com May 22-23 – Navy Cup, Navy YC, www.navypnsyc.org May 22-23 – Star Gulf Districts, Buccaneer YC, www.bucyc.com May 22-23 – Laser Gulf Coast Championship, Southern YC, May 29-30 – Memorial Day Regatta, Pensacola Beach YC, www.pensacolabeach-yc.org June 5 – Cancer Society Regatta, Pensacola YC, www.pensacolayachtclub.com June 5-6 – Candler Regatta, St. Andrews Bay YC, www.stabyc.com June 12 – Commodore’s Cup Race #3, Navy YC, www.navypnsyc.org June 12-13 – Area D Quarter Finals, Mobile YC,

May 1-2 – 9th Annual Wooden Boat Show. Pirates Cove Marina, Josephine, AL. Local artists, boatbuilders, marine sales, music all weekend, Chet’s famous fried mullet plates Saturday only, Sharpie Sailboat Race Saturday 1 p.m. Race for the Skull Sunday 1 p.m. www.piratescoveriffraff.com.

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SOUTHERN SAILING June 18-20 – Challenge Cup, Gulfport YC, www.gulfportyc.org June 25-26 – Gulfport to Pensacola Race, Gulfport YC,/Pensacola YC, www.pensacolayachtclub.com

more favorable conditions, when their yacht club can “open up” and provide all the yachting events and club activities that they yearn to engage in. As boatowners prepare their vessels for the upcoming season, dignitaries would take the opportunities to throw a big party to “officially” kick off the Club Racing season. Thus, the “Opening Day Ceremony” was created. This Open Entry Fun Sailboat Races, 2nd and 4th Wednesday evetradition has been absent here along the Gulf Coast, genernings of every month, from April to October, Pensacola YC, ally because our weather provides year-around boating opOpen Entry Fun One Design Races, Wednesday evenings, portunities; many of the yacht clubs never “officially” close Pensacola YC, down. However, the Navy Yacht Club wanted to embrace this For additional race schedules check the Gulf Yachting old-time tradition and enthusiastically offered a unique opAssociation Web site at: www.gya.org portunity to experience and initiate this new custom for the boaters in our region.

The weather was NAVY YACHT ideal (sunny skies, CLUB INITIATES moderate temperaOPENING DAY tures, gentle breezes) CEREMONY, and numerous digniPENSACOLA, FL taries, along with welAPRIL 4 comed guests and

By Kim Kaminski Navy Yacht Club memThe Navy Yacht Club bers, gathered in abunof Pensacola, FL, initidance for the hospitalated an old-time yachtity that was provided. ing tradition on SunVisitors arrived and day, April 4. The “Inauwere greeted with a gural – Opening Day complimentary beverCeremonies” were perage while they mingled formed at its yacht club for a brief time prior to facility at Bayou the formal ceremonies.

Grande Marina located Navy Yacht Club’s Past on the Naval Air StaCommodore Marytion in Pensacola. anne Hayes welcomed The “Opening Day the guests and introCeremony” is a longduced the Naval Air standing tradition that Navy Yacht Club Commodore Bill Hayes, Commander of the Pensacola Naval Air Station Station’s Tactical Traincan be found in numer- Captain John Pruitt and Gulf Yachting Association Commodore Cal Jones (pictured from ing Center ’s choral ous sailing communi- left to right) render their salute to the yachtsmen and women of the Navy Yacht Club at group which perthe Inaugural Opening Day Ceremonies held on Sunday April 4th, 2004. Yes, the sailing ties around the world. season is officially opened! Photo by Kim Kaminski. formed for the crowd.

It is a ceremony that is Navy Yacht Club’s generally seen at yacht clubs located in colder climates. Many Commodore Bill Hayes and his wife Lynda, along with memof these yacht clubs close down for the winter and look forbers of his present staff, introduced the visiting dignitaries, ward to the springtime when the weather offers a chance for which included; the commanding officer of the Pensacola Naval Air Station, Captain John Pruitt and his wife Lisa, U.S. Navy Retired Rear Admiral Louise Wilmot (former deputy chief of Naval Education and Training (CNET) Pensacola, during Vice-Admiral Fetterman’s tenure) and her husband James, Gulf Yachting Association (GYA) Commodore Cal Jones, president of the GYA Foundation (and past commodore of the Pensacola Yacht Club) Ron Richards and his wife Innis, Commodore John Langford and his wife Carole from Fort Walton Beach Yacht Club, Vince Cooke and wife, Pat, staff commodore Navy Yacht Club San Diego, plus Thaine Ford and wife Marion, staff commodore of Navy Yacht Club, Charleston. Also in attendance were Charles Smith, president of the Pensacola chapter of the International Order of the Blue See SOUTHERN SAILING continued on page 45 42

May 2004

SOUTHWINDS

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COMING SOON! In coming months, SOUTHWINDS magazine will be adding regional sections to cover sailing events in the following regions. This month we have begun one region called West Florida Sailing covering the west coast of the Florida peninsula.

The regions we will be adding in the coming months will be: ■ The Southeast Coast: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia ■ The Northern Gulf Coast: The Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas ■ East Florida: From the central east coast of Florida to the Georgia line ■ Southeast Florida: From the central east coast of Florida south into Miami

We will be offering more and better local coverage in these areas with the following: ■ Racing News and a Racing Calendar ■ Cruising, Gunkholing and News ■ Upcoming Events Calendar ■ General Sailing News ■ Sailing Services Directory for Businesses

Advertisers will be able to better reach sailors in their region.

Call your advertising representative today.

Steve Morrell

editor@southwindssailing.com (941) 795-8704

Gary Hufford

gary@southwindssailing.com

(727) 585-2814

angel@artoffshore.com

(305) 304-5118

Florida Keys Rebecca Burg

The Southeast Coast: Carolinas and Georgia Rona Garm

rgarm@ec.rr.com

(910) 395-0189

The Northern Gulf Coast: Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas Kim Kaminski 44

May 2004

SOUTHWINDS

Kaminski_K@msn.com

(850) 384-8941 www.southwindssailing.com

SOUTHERN SAILING (continued from page 42) Gavel and his wife Cameron, Rear Admiral Carmen Ciardello, U.S. Navy (Retired), who is serving as rear commodore of the Navy Yacht Club Pensacola, Pensacola Yacht Club’s Commodore James Lee and his wife Page along with numerous past and present officers of both the Navy Yacht Club and Pensacola Yacht Club: Claude Mullen and Marcelle, Whit Johnson and Carol, Norm Winger and Hariett, E. J. Sacks, Richard Coleman and Claudia, Ted Cann and his wife Lee (Lee is the current secretary for the club), Chip MacMillan and Joyce, and Brian Silk and wife Sharon.

The brief ceremonies included the hoisting of the club’s officers’ burgees (performed traditionally by past Vice Commodore - Chief Cliff “Robbie” Roberts) and the presentation of officiating officer’s coin from the commander of the base - Captain John Pruitt to Commodore Bill Hayes.

Recognition was also given of notable events as well as the Navy Yacht Club members who have made a significant contribution to the club’s activities. The Winners of the Maxine Sansom Memorial Sailboat Regatta Series were all smiles they received the coveted series trophy from Maxine Sansom’s son, Doug (pictured formal ceremonies were concluded, and the ladies of when in the middle). Mike Beard (on the left) earned 1st Place in Non-Spinnaker, and the Navy Yacht Club provided the crowd with food George Gamble (on the right) earned 1st place in Spinnaker. Photo by Kim Kaminski. and refreshments. windward finish ) was set for the competitors with two simiSoon after the champagne reception, members particilar courses for the Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker classes. The pated in a boat parade rendering salutes to the GYA Commoracing competition was exciting, and there were several close dore Cal Jones, Commodore Bill Hayes and Commander Capfinishes and well as some close racing moments throughout tain John Pruitt. Eighteen brightly decorated vessels sailed the day. For instance on the last leg of the race course Animal by the end of the floating dock saluting the dignitaries as they and Patriot were in a tight racing duel sailing upwind to the proceeded out of the channel to circle and returned to the finish. At one point in the course Animal decided to tack away dock to raft-up for the remaining social activities. The raft-up from Patriot and use one of the downwind spinnaker boats provided many of the “landlubbers” in attendance a chance (Applejack) as an obstacle between its competition Patriot. Pato visit the owners and their boats. triot elected to cover Animal’s move and tacked to cover its The final ceremony of the day included the “pinning” of position. It was a thrilling test of skill and maneuverability the new vice commodore for the Navy Yacht Club, Ted between all of the sailors involved in this racing situation.

Cunningham, who replaced the elected vice commodore Bill There were some close moments as well during the start of Russell. (Bill had to resign his position due to health.) Bill’s the race when all 11 boats in the Spinnaker class began towife Barbara was also in attendance. (She is the current treagether, and everyone wanted to be in the ideal position. surer for the club.) The day and the event was a huge success The competition did not stop there. The overall finishes thanks in part to Chairman Pat Cooke and her diligent crew found two boats tied for points for the coveted Maxine Sansom (protocol: John Matthews; food and beverage: Paulina Smith; Spinnaker Trophy - Pretty Woman with a sixth in fleet, first in facilities and logistics: Cliff Roberts; parade of boats commisfleet and first in fleet finish for a total of eight points and Road sioner: Adron Joyner, and invitations/registration: Terri Tripp with a second in fleet, second in fleet and fourth in fleet Farris) who put this unique traditional event together. finish for a total of eight points. After adjusting the tie-breaker according to the actual finish times, Pretty Woman captured MAXINE SANSOM MEMORIAL SAILBOAT REGATTA the win in the Spinnaker class, with Road Tripp earning secSERIES, PENSACOLA YACHT CLUB, MARCH 27 ond and Phaedra earning third place.

By Kim Kaminski For the Non-Spinnaker class Kanaloa won first place with The Pensacola Yacht Club (PYC) held the third and final race its first in fleet, second in fleet and second in fleet finish. Ezin the Maxine Sansom Memorial Sailboat Regatta Series on Duz-It earned second place and Delphina earned third place.

Saturday, March 27. The springtime sailing conditions filled Results: the area with warm moderate temperatures ranging in the Race #3: Spinnaker (10.5 miles): Class A: 1; Pretty Woman, George Gamble, 2; Animal mid 70s, mild breezes from the east-southeast at 12 to 15 knots Oscar Denham, 3 ; Awesome, David Dunbar, 4 ; Phaedra, Bob Patroni, 5 ; Patriot ; Mark Taylor, 6; Atlantic Union,; Paul Gillette, DNC ; Latex Solar Beef, Steve “Doc” Bellows, Class and bright sunny skies. Sixteen sailboats (11 spinnaker and 5 B: 1 ; Road Trip, David Kellen, 2 ; Antares, Dave Hoffman, 3; Erin Star, Wm. Roy Harden; 4 ; non-spinnaker) entered the contest for this final day of the Applejack – Kaminski/Owczarczak: 5 ; Roki Dobi - Ron Bray: Series Standings, Maxine three-weekend sailing series.

Sansom, Spinnaker winner:Pretty Woman - George Gamble, Maxine Sansom, Non-Spinnaker winner:Kanaloa, Mike Beard An Olympic course (a triangle by a windward, leeward, NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

45

F LORIDA K EYS S AILING Keys News for Sailors Racing News Calendar Cruising News & Information Upcoming Events Calendar

Key Largo Cape Sable

5

4

37

38

Marathon Dry Tortugas

Key West

SAILING IN MAY

By Rebecca Burg You can’t explain how it happened. You were simply going to check on the sailboat, but one thing led to another, and now you’re flying over the blue without a care in the world. A sailboat’s wiles are so irresistible at times.

In the Florida Keys, sailors of all stripes have been out and enjoying the season. Shallow draft gunkholers explore wild mangrove isles, while others find public moorings near a confetti-colored reef to play Jacques Cousteau for a day. Cruisers pause to experience tangy key lime pie or a rumrunner under a rustling grass roof tiki bar. Colorful tourist traps are easy to find, though spying the comically diminutive 26-inch key deer or a leaping baby porpoise brings out the broadest grins. Local sailing clubs host exciting races, youth programs and social events for all. There is just so much to do and explore here in the unique Florida Keys.

Go ahead and let that wily sailboat take you into an exotic realm.

Splice the main brace with fellow cruisers while watching the fiery subtropical sun fade into a pastel sea. Ply through clear Caribbean blue waters in an invigorating race around the buoys. These are the memories that one will treasure for life.

MAY WEATHER Locals consider May to be the prettiest month of the year. Those strong late winter winds have long eased, while air temperatures grow to a balmy high of 85F and a low of 76F. This month’s mostly light sailing winds are predominantly from the east to southeast. Racing sailboats are sometimes frustrated by lack of significant winds, and cruisers who haven’t migrated north will notice the calmer seas and even calmer evenings. Water temperatures warm into the low 80s, and water-lovers eagerly jump in to swim or, less eagerly, to clean the sailboat’s fuzzy bottom. This month will see a few days of T-storms and the start of the summer season’s waterspout sightings. The Keys’ rainy season typically arrives near the end of May.

May Prevailing Winds See page 62 for Windrose legend

Florida Keys May Weather AVERAGE TEMPERATURES Key West 76o lo - 85o hi GULF WATER TEMPERATURE Kay West 82o For real-time Eastern Gulf weather, winds and marine forecasts, go to http://comps.marine.usf.edu

FLORIDA KEYS SAILING

Keys Events & Happenings Calendar

Club Racing

Racing and Non-Racing

KEYS SAILING CLUB LOCATIONS & CONTACTS Key West Sailing Club. In Key West off Palm Avenue to Sailboat Lane. Sailing is out of Garrison Bight. (305) 292-5993 Marathon Sailing Club, Marathon Key. Web site pending…

Upper Keys Sailing Club. Buttonwood Sound, Key Largo. www.upperkeyssailingclub.com

To have your race, regatta, or club races listed, please contact floridakeys@southwindssailing.com by the 10th of the month.

Races listed should be open to anyone.

To have your event put in the Events Calendar, e-mail floridakeys@southwindssailing.com or fax (941) 795-8704 (we prefer e-mail and please don’t phone them in unless unusual circumstances) by the 10th of the month. The Events Calendar is for any event, marine-related, of interest to sailors. It is not intended to be advertisement for commercial purposes but events open to the public for free or that don’t cost very much, or targeting a specific group of sailors, like a rendezvous or similar event.

Every Saturday – Open House at the Key West Sailing Club. 10:00 am to 1:00 pm Every Friday – Women’s Sailing Program at the Key West Sailing Club. 12:00 noon. Women of all ages and sailing experience meet at the clubhouse, learn new things and enjoy hands-on sailing.

May 1-2 – 12th Annual Taste of Islamorada. The area’s best chefs prepare island dishes for all to enjoy. Contact: Islamorada Chamber of Commerce, (305) 664-4503 May 7-8 – Key Largo. Barley’s Bay Music Festival, Rowell’s Marina. Reef cleanup and concert fundraiser to benefit the Keys marine environment. Contact: (305) 451-4040 May 14-16 – Marathon. Traveling cruisers, note that offshore powerboat races take place near the old seven-mile bridge.

May 16-22 –Hurricane Preparedness Week. For more information go to www.nhc.noaa.gov/ May 29-31 – Memorial Day weekend May 30 – Key West. Thirteenth Annual Schooner Wharf Minimal Regatta. Entrants build a boat from the required “minimal” materials and race each other in the bight for generous prizes. Past winning boats are on display and part of the décor at Schooner Wharf Bar. Hint: The winning boats resemble kayaks. www.schoonerwharf.com June – Key West. First week of June after the little ones are released from school, the Key West Youth Sailing Program begins. Wee sailors first learn the ropes in the shallow, sheltered waters of Garrison Bight. Key West Sailing Club (305) 292-5993 June 1 – Hurricane Season Begins. Runs through November 30.

June 10 – Full Moon June 17-21 – First annual event that “honors” Key West’s indigenous poultry. Planned activities include a “Fowl Follies” costume contest, “Tastes Like Chicken” cook-off, Funky Chicken Dance, street fair and a “Poultry-in-Motion” parade.

Contact: Linda O’Brien (305) 296-5596. kwfanfest@aol.com June 21 – Father’s Day June 24 –Summer Solstice – Longest day of the year, and the days start getting shorter.

June 26 – Marathon. Sombrero Beach. Tropical Fruit Fiesta. Free family fun for lovers of exotic fruit. Presentations, samples, tree sales and a special area for the kids. Contact: (305) 292-4501 NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

Key West Wednesday Night Racing has started at the Key West Sailing Club. Bring your own boat or crew on a club boat and join us in a series of social races around the buoys with beer, soda and food after racing.

Marathon Sailing Club Holds First Race of New Sunfish Fleet

L

ocal race results! Marathon Sailing Club’s Sunfish fleet en joyed its very first race this spring. Working diligently onboard the race committee boat, Cathy Gardner and Judy Rowley watched the little flock of swiftly-moving triangular sails. Everyone seemed to revel in the beautiful, sunny subtropical afternoon at Sombrero Beach. Three races were held, and the social Sunfish sailors ranked as follows: Keith Lyman 5, Pierre Digeon 6, Ridge Gardner 6 (out of action in first race), Wes Pratt 9, Paul Koisch 14.

Advertise in this Florida Keys Sailing Section

SOUTHWINDS is offering very economical introductory advertising rates in this new developing section dedicated to the Florida Keys. You can also advertise your sailing services in our regional directory on page 44 – prices starting at $8 a month.

Call today to hear about our great advertising rates!

Rebecca Burg, Keys Regional Editor (305) 304-5118 • angel@artoffshore.com Steve Morrell, Southwinds Editor, (941) 795-8704, editor@southwindssailing.com SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

47

FLORIDA KEYS SAILING

Interview with Peter Goldsmith, Organizer of the Conch Republic Cup Race to Cuba:

Sailors Intimidated by Authorities — Race Cancelled

By Rebecca Burg

I

t was a humid Easter Sunday when I headed into Key West’s waterfront for an exclusive interview with Mr. Peter Goldsmith of the Conch Republic Cup. Taking place for eight years, this race to Cuba from Key West experienced difficulty last year when officials from the Department of Commerce seized the private property of returning sailors.

The stolen personal items have not yet been returned. Early this year, a grand jury convened in Key West and people, confused by the government’s treatment of a group of American citizens who love to race sailboats and had raced to Cuba, wanted to learn more. I sat with Peter in the spacious loft of Geslin Sailmakers overlooking the bight. Soon, I learned of the events that may have led up to the current prosecution of sailors involved in the race.

The sailors had held their public skipper’s meeting in Key West the night prior to the race on May 21st of 2003.

Accompanied by four men who were wearing guns, Jonathan Barnes, from the Department of Commerce, came to the skipper’s meeting and was shown all relevant paperwork. A lawyer was present along with the issuer of the export license, and these individuals convened with Jonathan for at least a half an hour. According to Peter, all Mr. Barnes would say before he left the meeting was, if this is what you think you need to go to Cuba. The sentence ended right there.

The next morning while the Conch Republic Cup boats were casting off their lines to start the race, officials showed up at the docks and handed out papers that required the boats to obtain another type of export license. The racers were told not to go to Cuba. It is not known why officials waited until the boats were casting off when there had been sufficient time months in advance and an opportunity at the last night’s skipper’s meeting to give sailors notice of this previously unknown requirement.

After the race, when the sailors returned to Key West, authorities searched the boats and seized various personal items belonging to the sailors. By February of 2004, various people involved in the Conch Republic Cup were called 48

May 2004

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to testify before a grand jury in Key West. The situation seems to concern an export license requirement that the sailors were not aware of and did not have.

Actual details of the grand jury’s intentions are not known.

Peter told me that Jonathan Barnes had stopped by his house just before the grand jury convened. He asked Jonathan why wasn’t anyone informed of the additional export license during the skippers’ meeting when all paper work was shown, verified and checked over. Jonathan’s response was to say that it wasn’t his job; it was someone else’s department.

“That’s like entrapment,” Peter told me.

“But entrapment’s not a legal argument anymore so there’s really nothing we can say. We just have to go through the process, and this grand jury is trying to determine whether we did something criminal or not.”

For the eight years of racing, was part of it to bring medicine, humanitarian aid? (In 2003, a number of boats carried aid, but this is not considered to be part of the violation; just the boats and their destination are.) “No. I’m not political about this. We’re not doing this race for any political reasons. I’m in it because I like sailing and racing sailboats. Racing around here gets old, and we were invited to race down there.”

You were invited? “Yes, the commodore from Club Nautico at Marina Hemingway invited us.” Peter went on to explain that the racers were fully hosted by Cuba. Eight years ago, the Conch Republic Cup was first started when a letter of invitation from the Cuban commodore was sent to Key West sailors at their local club. The Key West Sailing Club backed out of all involvement with the race after receiving cease and desist orders from the Treasury Department. Peter ended up with the race.

Was a specific reason given for the cease and desist orders?

“Basically, they didn’t want us to go. Here’s what we based the race on for all these years. First is our constitutional right to travel. Second was that the embargo on traveling to Cuba has never been challenged in a court of law.

So this is what we based the race on until

they came up with this export license last year. So we got an export license.

But it wasn’t good enough. Can you imagine? That they’re convening a grand jury over this?”

Obviously confounded, Peter plunked down his cigar, threw his hands up in the air and said that he’d heard of a person from the South Pacific who was subpoenaed and has to be flown over to testify. People from all over the country are being subpoenaed.

That’s a lot of work over a group of sailboats just trying to do a race, isn’t it? Peter shrugged and told me about one of his fellow sailors, Mark, who was called in to testify. Mark told the prosecution that he thought the export license the sailors had was sufficient; otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone to Cuba. Why wouldn’t the license be good? Mark had asked. Prosecution’s response was that the license wasn’t good enough, and the sailors needed this other license. Mark’s response was to say that it’s just a technicality, right?

Peter shakes his head over the recollection of Mark’s words. He couldn’t believe that a grand jury would convene over a trivial matter such as a technicality, or that people would be prosecuted for having the wrong license when they had not been aware that it was wrong in the first place.

Is this really what this whole thing is based on? A wrong license? “Well, you never know where a grand jury is coming from. They hide their real intentions and they don’t tell you right away because that would give you time to set up a defense. With grand juries it’s totally one-sided. You can’t go in with a lawyer. You’re sitting there with the jury and thirty-some people working for the government, and these people are all trying to convince the jury that you did something wrong. This seems so unconstitutional and against everything that’s American.” Peter didn’t believe that there was anything in the Constitution that supported the convening of a grand jury, nor that there was anything morally or ethically correct about the government’s actions against the sailors.

Do you think that the government is doing this because they’re worried www.southwindssailing.com

FLORIDA KEYS SAILING

about the security of the United States in this day and age?

“It’s all about politics. Maybe Washington knows something that we don’t know.” Peter was sure that none of the prosecutors, investigators or President Bush has ever been to Cuba to learn what was really happening there and to gain firsthand knowledge. He wondered if officials are aware of how the embargo is affecting the actual citizens of Cuba and if authorities even care.

Peter has been there. He has met the Cuban people, who warmly welcomed the sailors with open arms, and has seen how they lived.

We are being prosecuted for an export license detail, Peter says, yet there are freighters full of goods going to Cuba every day. The entire situation is believed to be strictly political. Peter then discussed the Cuban exile vote, about 11 percent in Florida, and how it may be a factor in Washington’s actions regarding Cuba. However, Cuba private citizens can only speculate on the true intentions and motivations of their elected officials.

Obviously, the Conch Republic Cup must be cancelled? “Yes. It’s canceled this year due to intimidation by the authorities. For eight years we raced and never needed an export license. Yet all of a sudden after eight years we’re asked to get one. We did it as legally as we thought we could do it, and every boat got a license. You see, we’ve always tried to comply with the law. It would be stupid not to. But they’re not obligated to tell us the law, even when you ask them.”

“I don’t know where this is all going to go,” Peter said, wearily leaning back into his chair. “We’ve never tried to hide anything or tried to be political NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

about this. All we have to do is tell the truth, yet they’re acting like we’re criminals. They’re trying to hand out criminal indictments. Can you imagine going to jail over this?” Peter folded his hands and dropped them into his lap.

tablished by the Europeans with white talcum powder sand beaches. (American travel may be restricted, but many other nationalities freely visit Cuba.)

Steve told me how warm and friendly the Cuban people were. “They taught

The situation was clearly an uncomfortable thing for him to talk about.

That afternoon, I bumped into a professional fishing captain who was familiar with the sportfishing boats and fishermen who had participated in the billfish tournament that involved a stop in Havana, Cuba. He was obviously reluctant to discuss the matter but told me that the fishermen involved did get letters from authorities.

A local sailor, Steve, who had crewed onboard a vessel in the Conch Republic Cup of 2000 and 2001, told me that he had enjoyed seeing Cuba. Fully hosted and staying in Varadero harbor, Steve recalled the buoy races he’d enjoyed with the Cuban Olympic Sailing team. He also saw a ritzy resort area es-

me how to make a mojito with real sugar cane!” He enthused. Steve’s mood suddenly changed when he shared his views on the current prosecution of his friends.

Saddened, he became silent and folded his arms like a shield.

People who are aware of Peter Goldsmith’s situation are worried but also angered. Peter’s wife, a sailor who is also being prosecuted, has been hospitalized with a serious illness. The sailors involved fear government retribution and are too stressed by the situation to openly discuss the matter. It’s clearly upsetting for the public to witness the lives of fellow American citizens, who harbored no ill intent, being callously demolished by something that seems to defy both logic and our own Constitution.

SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

49

W EST F LORIDA S AILING Cedar Key to Cape Sable Racing News & Calendar Cruising Upcoming Events Calendar West Florida News for Sailors Sailing Services Directory

Cedar Key

22

St. Petersburg

SAILING IN MAY

Tampa

5 Fort Myers

By Dave Ellis From the Ten Thousand Islands, into Tampa Bay, up to the Big Bend and the myriad lakes to the east, May can be as good as it gets for sailing.

Usually May gives us as much or more wind than April. This year, however, April was the windiest in memory. It all depends on where the big high-pressure system is located. April had a big one over the East Coast and a low-pressure system near Cuba, squeezing that east wind through it with force.

May usually has the Bermuda High establishing near — you guessed it-Bermuda. That means that the clockwise circulation makes for an easterly over Florida. If that nearly permanent high drifts south, we end up with a more southerly breeze. If it goes well south, toward the Bahamas, we actually get a southwest breeze circulating around it.

How each breeze interacts with the afternoon sea breeze is what controls our wind. An easterly in the morning is the normal ambient wind. The wind near the Florida west coast dies as the day progresses. Finally, after a zone of calm with its little black squishy flies, the sea breeze arrives. May still has relatively cool Gulf water, so sea breezes are likely.

A more southwesterly breeze will be enhanced by the afternoon sea breeze causing puffs from a more westerly direction near shore.

The largest tides of May will be in the middle of the first and third weeks. Don’t run aground at high tide.

Most sailing in May is cruising, day sailing and the club weekend and evening races. The Key West Rendezvous, starting from three different locations and heading to the Conch Republic, is mid month as is a big Sunfish regatta. Take a look at the calendar in the Florida west coast section and plan your sailing for May.

Naples

May Prevailing Winds See page 62 for Windrose legend

5

37 Cape Sable Key West

West Florida May Weather AVERAGE TEMPERATURES St. Petersburg 71o lo - 86o hi Naples 67o lo - 87o hi GULF WATER TEMPERATURE St. Petersburg 80o Naples 82o For real-time Eastern Gulf weather, winds and marine forecasts, go to http://comps.marine.usf.edu

Local News For Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

51

WEST FLORIDA SAILING

Events Calendar To have your event put in the Events Calendar, e-mail editor@southwindssailing.com or fax (941) 795-8705 (we prefer email and please don’t phone them in unless unusual circumstances) by the 10th of the month. The Events Calendar is for any event, marine-related, of interest to sailors. It is not intended to be advertisement for commercial purposes but for events open to the public for free or that don’t cost very much, or targeting a specific group of sailors, like a rendezvous or similar event.

Nightly - Sunsets at Pier 60. A year round street festival featuring local artisans and performers. Free. Two hours before and after sunset.

Clearwater Beach just south of Hilton Resort. (727) 449-1036 http://www.sunsetsatpier60.com/ MAY May 2-8 - North U Race Week, Captiva. North U racing course with on-the-water racing and coaching in Colgate 26 sloops. Professional coaches hone your racing skills. Offshore Sailing School, Captiva Island, Florida (800) 221-4326 May 4 - Full moon May 4 - Safe Boating Course, covering all safe boating topics.

Presented by: St. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron. Class meets at 7 p.m. Demens Landing, 250 2nd Ave SE, St Petersburg. The instruction is free. There is a nominal charge for the textbook and course materials. Call (727) 527-3117 for information and to pre-register.

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo. Margaritas.

May 6-9 - Tampa Bay Marine Flea Market. Buy, sell, or trade. This is not a boat show. This is a market for the average person to find great deals on new, used, exotic, or hard to find items. Vendors will be offering great deals on new merchandise, excess inventory, returned items, items not fit for retail stores and discontinued products. Browse the market in search of something special or just spend time with the family.

Tampa Bay Downs Thoroughbred horse racing complex parking area. $7, 12 and over. $5, ages 6-11, free six and under. Early bird special: $3 admission Thursday. (813) 914-0208 www.tampabaymarinefleamarket.com May 9 - Mothers Day. Take your mother sailing, but only if she wants too.

May 16-22 -Hurricane Preparedness Week. For more information go to www.nhc.noaa.gov/ May 21-23 - Catalina, Hunter and Mainship All Cruisers Rendezvous and Boat Show. Regatta Pointe Marina and Anchorage, Palmetto.

Seminars above the restaurant on the pier and cookout below at the Friday night welcome party. All Catalina, Hunter and Mainship owners and prospective purchasers and sailors. Come to the marina by land or anchor off shore (water taxi available for those anchoring). www.masseyyacht.com or (941) 723-1610, or (800) 375-0130.

May 29-31 - Memorial Day Weekend.

JUNE June 1 - Hurricane Season Begins. June 1 through November 30.

June 10 - Full Moon June 21 - Father’s Day June 24 -Summer Solstice - Longest day of the year, and the days start getting shorter.

Sarasota Sailing Squadron’s Youth Sailing Program: A Dad’s Perspective

By Mike McNulty

W

hen the opportunity to write an article about our Youth Sailing Program was offered in an e-mail from our director, I thought, Oh no, not me. I don’t know enough about sailing to make even a brief intelligent article. I’m only a daysailor.

I’ve owned Hobie and Prindle catamarans and sailed shortboard windsurfers for nearly 20 years, but I doubt I could tie a decent bowline and don’t know anything about “real” sailboats. My motto is, “If it ain’t a jam-cleat, don’t ask me.” But then I realized, I didn’t have to be an accomplished sailor to have an opinion on the YSP. My experience as the father of a participant qualified me as a valid author. So, here goes.

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SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

53

WEST FLORIDA SAILING My daughter, now 16, has been involved with the Sarasota Youth Sailing Program since she was eight years old. Her mom and paternal dad lived aboard a 28-foot sloop when she was born. With an affinity for sailing, my wife signed Ashley up for the summer camp just as soon as she was old enough. The “first come, first serve” sign-up for summer sailing camp brought early mornings and long lines at the Sailing Squadron.

Moms listen while the kids fidget as the safety instructions for basic seamanship are emphasized by the instructors in great measures. Swimming tests and exercises for righting a sailboat are performed. Finally, nervous moms watch as the kids hop into their chosen Optis and head out into a whole new and wonderful world on the water. Treasure hunts, manatee sightings and sought destinations like sandbars often hone the kids’ sailing abilities without their even noticing. Soon they will have a valuable skill that will last a lifetime. Appreciation for the environment is taught when, after successfully sailing to a nearby beach, each child earns a cold soda by retrieving a piece of trash.

Perhaps the commercial should read: Used Opti: $1000 Lifejacket: $40 Life’s lessons learned at Sailing Camp: priceless.

As the years go by and the skills improve, the kids grow up and friendships are forged. Ashley now sails a 420 and is on the racing team. Some of the kids in her original group are gone now, but the ones that remain have become close friends. New friends have arrived along the way, too. Parents whose children have this common interest are now pulled together as well. We now plan family camping trips designed to attend regattas around the state together.

Ashley is taking a course in becoming a sailing instructor herself, and so completes the circle.

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

FLORIDA WEST COAST & INLAND LAKES The races and regattas listed here are open to those who want to sail.

May 1 - Commodore’s Cup. Tampa Sailing Squadron, PHRF racing. (813) 645-8377 May 1-2 - Sarasota Sailing Squadron Youth Sailfest Regatta. Multiclass and Optimist Dinghies. A full weekend of fun and racing taking place on Saturday May 1, & Sunday May 2. Come along and support the kids in their annual regatta. Racing on both days, with the famous Island Party on Saturday night. All proceeds go to support the Youth Sailing Program. For more information call Liz Jarman (941) 729 5847 or visit www.sarasotaysp.com.

May 1-2 - Lightning District Championship. Davis Island Yacht Club. www.diyc.org May 2 - Women’s Championship. Bring your own boat, PHRF Tampa Bay Yacht Racing Association www.diyc.org May 2-8 - North U Race Week, Captiva May 8 - Pram Jam. Optimist Dinghy Racing. Davis Island Yacht Club www.diyc.org May 8 - St. Petersburg Sailing Association. Offshore Race #13, Talbot Race & cookout. www.spsa.us May 8 - Hula Cup. Florida Women” s Sunfish Championship.

Sarasota Sailing Squadron www.sarasotasailingsquad.com May 15 - 17th Annual Couples Race. 1400 hours. Father/daughter, man and wife, wife and boyfriend, husband and…you get the idea.

St. Petersburg Sailing Association. Start off the Municipal Pier, www.spsa.us May 15 -16 - Florida Regional Sunfish Championship. On Charlotte Harbor at the Harbor Inn. Punta Gorda Sailing Club pbgxtgrax@aol.com May 19-25 - Key West Rendezvous. Clearwater Yacht Club/Naples Yacht Club/ Gulf Coast Sailing Club/Punta Gorda Sailing Club/Platinum Point YC. Starts at Clearwater, Naples, and Boca Grande to Key West. Return race to Naples. www.clwyc.org 54

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING May 22-23 - Prince of Wales Match Racing. Area eliminations sailed in matching Sonars. Finals are in St. Petersburg in September, ‘ 04. St. Petersburg Yacht Club www.spyc.org May 29-30 - School’s Out Junior Regatta. Optimist Dinghies, Sunfish. Davis Island Yacht Club www.diyc.org May 31 - Race Around Lido. Dinghies. Sarasota Sailing Squadron 10 a.m. registration. www.sarasotasailingsquad.com June 12 - SPSA Commodore’s Cup. 12 noon. Spsa.us June 2-6 - Corinthian Regatta. Manatee River in Bradenton to Key West Bight Marina. Motorsailing possible without being disqualified. Call Capt. Miller Time (941) 765-4646. Bradenton-Yacht-Club.org July 4 - Firecracker 400 Regatta. www.sarasotasailingsquad.com

Club Racing Open to Everyone Wanting to Race Davis Island YC Thursday evenings. Tampa. Windsurfers, dinghies, cats, PHRF, keelboat one designs. 6:30 start of first class, sailing around upper Hillsboro Bay. Lots of boats; Daylight savings time of year. Must be US Sailing member. Register before racing, once for summer. An RC duty day may be in your future. www.diyc.org Davis Island YC Wednesday evenings Dinghy Series. First warning 6:30 p.m. Laser, Laser Radial, C420, Sunfish, Lightning, Flying Scot, 470, Fireball. Andrew Sumpton at asumpton@earthlink.net or Allison Jolly at abjolly@aol.com Bradenton YC. Thursday evenings. Starts with daylight savings.

PHRF racing on Manatee River. For info call Bob Miller, (941) 7954646 St. Petersburg YC Friday evenings. 6:30 start off the Municipal Pier. PHRF, Snipes starts May. Look for the RC boat at the Pier if an easterly, a half mile downwind from the pier in other breezes. Course around nearby navigation buoys. Sail by the RC boat to register. Anywhere from 10 - 25 boats www.spyc.org Treasure Island Tennis and YC. Friday evenings.7 p.m. start outside of John” s Pass in Gulf of Mexico PHRF racing. Starts May. Get together to go under the bridges. www.tityc.org Clearwater YC. Friday evenings. 7 p.m. start off Clearwater Pass in Gulf; PHRF racing. Starts May www.cyc.org Venice Sailing Squadron. Saturdays. First Saturday of each month, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet. www.venice-sailing-squadron.org Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Friday evening. Begins April 9. Start at 6:30. Everyone welcome. www.sarasotasailingsquad.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

West Marine/BoatUS Free Seminars for May (Call the store-reservations sometimes needed) BoatUS Bradenton, 5627 14th St West, 941-755-9670, 6 pm 5/2 - Live Baiting for Kings, Capt. Anthony Clearwater, 11477 US Hwy 19 North, 727-573-2678, 6 pm 5/12 - VHF Radios - DSCI, Rescue 1, Antennas, Chuck Husick 5/26 - Why Radar? Practical Uses, Klaus Gansel Tarpon Springs, 41286 US Hwy 19 North, 7 pm - call store for details West Marine Apollo Beach, 268 Apollo Beach Blvd., 813-645-6144, 6 pm call store for details Bradenton, 4569 14TH Street West, 941-753-3585, 7 pm call store for details Clearwater, 1231 Cleveland, 727-443-2280, 7 pm - call store for details Clearwater, 18891 US Hwy 19 North, 727536-4002, 7 pm call store for details Crystal River, 160 SE Hwy 19 North, 352-563-0003, 5 pm 5/6 - Eye Splicing, John Tuffy 5/20 - Rope to Chain Splicing, John Tuffy Holiday, 3346 US Hwy 19 North, 727-846-1903, 6 pm call store for details Largo, 10289 Ulmerton, 727-586-7040, 7 pm - call store for details St. Petersburg, 3905 W Cypress St., 7 pm - call store for details St. Petersburg, 119 1st Ave North. 727-822-6565 3PM, 5/15- Sailing - Own Charter, “Fractional Sharing” Reservations Tampa, 3905 W. Cypress, 813-348-0521, 6 pm - call store for details NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

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Racing Snipe Midwinters, Clearwater Community Sailing Center March 13-14

By Dave Ellis

T

he Midwinters of the Snipe class has been held at Clearwater Yacht Club for 66 years. Now sailing out of the Clearwater Community Sailing Center, 20 boats sailed a light air series March 13-14.

The very shifty winds and current placed a premium on strategy. In one race the busy race committee moved the marks on every leg of the course but the first one.

Thirteen of the boats had skippers who are considered Masters, age 45 and better. Many family crew were sailing. The atmosphere was less intense than many major Snipe regattas.

Augie Diaz and Mike Ivey of South Florida were the winners. Peter Commette and John Kehoe were second and first among the Masters. Commette a Master!? David Heibert and Bill Schoenberg completed the SE Florida sweep of the races.

Snipe Midwinters. Gary Hufford photo.

Lightning Midwinter Circuit Winds up in Tampa Bay March 19-21

By Dave Ellis

E

Lack of wind on Friday’s race called for the use of paddling — to return to port, not for racing — in the Lightning Midwinters. Gary Hufford photo.

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ach year for decades the sailors of the 19-foot Lightning class have trekked to the Southeast for some midwinter racing.

The first stop is the Savannah Yacht Club where they sail in the tidal flow of two converging rivers. Sailing out of the current and into the fickle breeze is a challenge.

Tito Gonzalez and crew from Chile mastered the conditions, winning the three-race series with 33 boats. Larry McDonald of Ontario, Canada, was second, Greg Fisher third. Jeff Linton of Tampa was the top Southeast boat in fourth.

The Miami stop on the circuit saw 48 boats racing five races.

Tito again topped the fleet.

St. Petersburg has held the Midwinters for five decades.

This year 61 boats were disappointed with the lack of wind Fri-

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING

day and Sunday, March 19 and 21. But Saturday was perfect for three races. Allen Terhune of New Jersey was the winner with Richard Hallagan of New York the Masters winner.

Overall for the circuit, Tito Gonzalez took bragging rights for the year.

Wind is Ample for Michelob Ultra Cup, Treasure Island Yacht Club, March 20

By Dave Ellis

“I

was told that nobody would be interested in a one-day, one-race regatta,” smiled race organizer George Pennington. “They came,” he said.

The wind cooperated in Chamber of Commerce fashion for the sixty-eight boats sailing out of the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club. There were the usual puffs and lulls associated with an easterly, offshore breeze in the Gulf, rewarding those who kept a careful eye and had a bit of luck.

Pennington also was the principal race officer for the Michelob Ultra Cup racecourses that used the “compass rose” marks of the host club off John’s Pass and various navigation marks south of there. The spinnaker boats, non-spinnaker and True Cruising each sailed a different course.

Andy Cheney and crew from St. Petersburg on the Beneteau 34 Kelly sailed a stellar race to be the only spinnaker keelboat boat to finish in under three hours corrected time. They

Spinnaker boats race in the Michelob Ultra Cup. Gary Hufford photo.

took Spinnaker Class 3 and the overall win. “Andy steered the boat beautifully,” said bowman Mike Noble.

Spinnaker 1 Class was won by the B-32 Abby Normal of Davis Island, skippered by Robert Hobbs. Just two seconds back was Mike Siedlecki of St. Petersburg on Tack Tick.

Fire & Ice, a J-105 out of Tampa, sailed by George Cussins, took Spinnaker 2, while Semper Fi, Ray Mannix’s J-29 from Clearwater, won Spinnaker 4.

The Chrysler 27 Eclipse of Ron Kinney from St. Petersburg won Spinnaker 5.

Non-Spinnaker Class winners were the Beneteau 44 Prime Plus, sailed by Frank Hannah of ABYC and Mexicana, Ben Skinner’s Morgan 34 from Dunedin.

Ben has been sailing Michelob Cups for as long as they’ve been run. At 85 he remembers playing on the islands off Clearwater and Tarpon Springs when they were exotic destinations, and Three Rooker Bar was just a sandbar.

To encourage participation by boats that are not intended to be racing-oriented, there were three True Cruising classes, with 21 boats attending. Sonia-Cate, a Catalina 40 sailed by Don Miller of St. Petersburg won TC 1; Shady Lady, Steve Honour’s Cal 34 from St. Petersburg ran away with TC2; Second Wind, a big Morgan Out Island 41 skippered by Tom Buresh of the Treasure Island club, won TC 3.

Multihulls were well represented by six boats, with Deuce Coupe, a modified Stiletto 27 sailed by Peter Wormwood, winning by a large margin.

Sunfish Series, March 21, Edison Sailing Center, Fort Myers

By John Kremski

W

e had fourteen racers attend Sunday’s race in downtown Fort Myers. In spite of what looked like would be a delayed start (Moe and Larry showed up to do race committee, waiting for Curley...), everyone was on the water by 1:00 p.m. It soon became apparent that we really needed Curley on the RC boat, since our stand-in RC, Pete D’Allesandro, promptly announced that he was sinking and had to run around in between races to slosh the water out. It seems that Curley had the hull plug! In spite of all the distraction, Pete got us off for a total of seven races, triangles once around.

There was a fairly strong tide, and about halfway through

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING

race three the wind dropped to zero, then on the last leg filled in from behind so we had some really close finishes. It quickly picked up into the 15 to 20 range and continued to shift left the rest of the day. In spite of resetting the course twice, the first leg continued to have a strong port tack favor, which made for some really entertaining starts, as people tried to find a clear lane on the favored port tack and dodge those still on starboard.

Thanks to Brian and Ellen who made the drive over from the east coast (Hollywood) to sail with us, and to Ross Webb for the grilled chicken and hamburgers post race!

The Sunfish series is on Sundays, monthly. The next is May 16 and then June 20. See the Club Racing section in SOUTHWINDS this section for more info.

1st Annual SBYA Tampa Bay Pursuit Regatta, March 27

T

he Bradenton Yacht Club and the Manatee Sailing Association held the first Pursuit Regatta in Tampa Bay on Saturday, March 27. The race was a Sarasota Bay Yachting Association BOTY reverse handicap event. Multiclasses were available.

With the reverse handicap start boats started at intervals based on the PHRF ratings.

It was a beautiful spring day on Tampa Bay, and in the morning, winds were at 15-20 knots. The first three legs of the race were run with great sailing conditions, although toward the end of the second leg for many of the boats, wind conditions calmed, and some boats came across the finish line in con-

ditions approaching dead calm. With the reverse handicap, the finish seems to bring out a little more competition as boats crossed the line with their handicap already figured into the start.

The Bradenton YC hosted the after-race party where all won prizes from the raffle tickets sold. There were many prizes, including foul weather gear, Sospenders, and other highly-prized items. Many won bottles of the infamous Dat’l Do-it hot sauce, a favorite of Bradenton Yacht Club member and promoter Bob Miller, who, it is rumored, is part owner of the hot sauce company, or at least has some distant cousin who is a part owner. It is also rumored that Miller rubs his hull with the sauce before he races his boat Miller Time, although it is uncertain if it helps. Taking a first in the True Cruising Class, Miller could have used the sauce this time around. (Someone mentioned that if he drinks too much of this sauce before a race, it is best not to sail as crew on his boat, as he gets hot-tempered.)

Results: Spin: 1st Grand Illusion, 2nd Special “K”,3rd Tripp Tease (hooked the windward mark and got a late start but still deserving of the 3rd place award)Non-Spin: 1st Wind Caller, 2nd Flash, 3rd OceanAngel, 4th Jacana (MSA), 5th Sprit2, 6th Samuria(MSA)True Crusing: 1st Miller Time, 2nd Kitten (Captained by John “Maintenance also” Hargreaves.The crew ran a spectacular race with superb skill), 3rd Genesis, 4th Sails Call (MSA), 5th StarWake, 6th XX(MSA) 7th Qwest. Multihull: 1st Sierra Hotel.

Disabled Sailing Regattas St. Petersburg Yacht Club March 29-April 3

By Dave Ellis

T

he two-person world championship for disabled sailors made its debut on the sparkling waters of Tampa Bay near the St. Petersburg waterfront the last week in April.

The International Federation of Disabled Sailors governs this aspect of the sport.

They chose the St. Petersburg Sweden’s Gustaf Fresk, first overall Yacht Club for the area winner in the two-person world weather and relatively pro- championship for disabled sailors. tected bay. But the primary Gary Hufford photo. reason for choosing this venue was the experienced race management and the accessible facilities of the St. Petersburg Sailing Center. It has been fashioned into the facility that other

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Karen Mitchell, fourth overall winner in the two-person world championship for disabled sailors. Gary Hufford photo.

counties disabled programs aspire to emulate.

There was a Public Broadcasting TV crew here for the week documenting the activities, both on the water and on land. “We have done over 200 shows,” said the director. “This week was the most impressed I’ve been with any program for the disabled.”

Sailors from Sweden, Canada, Finland, Australia, England, Japan and the United States made up the crew of the 14 boats.

There also was a three-man delegation from mainland China. They were there to observe. They made it clear that

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they were responsible for all 28 Olympic sports in their country. They, too, expressed their being impressed with the way the facility accommodated severely disabled sailors.

It seems that the two-person disabled concept is being groomed as a sailing event for the severely disabled at the Paralympics. The Martin-16 sloop is one of two boats being considered if the discipline is accepted for future Olympic events.

The sailors prefer the Martin-16 to the Access Dinghy of Australia because it is a much more high performance boat. The asymmetrical spinnaker gives a new dimension to downwind legs, and the jib keeps both sailors busy on the Martin.

Sweden’s Gustaf Fresk and Aron Andersson dominated racing. “I have been sailing my entire life,” said Fresk in his Swedish accent. “I started in Optimist Dinghies at age 7 and have sailed boats up to the J-80. It is easier for me to sail an unfamiliar boat because I have sailed so much.”

The first time Fresk ever sailed the Martin-16 was a few days before their Nationals regatta held the weekend before the worlds. He quickly figured out the boat and placed second after able-bodied sailors Brad Boston and Curtis Florence of Ontario, Canada. Boston is a pro sailor and sailmaker.

On the weekend before the 2-person Worlds, the Sonar and 2.4 Meter classes held their Midwinter regatta. These are the two boats currently in the Paralympics.

John Ross Duggan of California did not fare well, being bested by sailors from Canada and the UK and by Rick Doer and crew from New Jersey, an up and coming force in the discipline.

Maine’s Tom Brown served notice that he will be a top seed at the Athens Games by winning the 2.4 division.

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WEST FLORIDA SAILING

Suncoast Race Week Tampa Bay April 2-4

By Dave Ellis

G

reat breezes greeted the 45 boats of the 26th annual Suncoast Raceweek. This is one of those events that actually rewards navigation and planning skills outside of the usual race course.

The first day, the fleet took off from the St. Petersburg waterfront and, passing a few navigation buoys on the way, sailed under the Skyway to the finish outside of the Manatee River. Saturday they sailed a windy course out into the Gulf and up to John’s Pass. Finally, Sunday saw racing around racecourses Spinnaker class boats on the first day of Suncoast Race Week. Fire & Ice is in the foreground. Abbey Normal, to the right and set up for the ahead of Fire & Ice, took three first places in the Spinnaker A division in the three-day event. Toni Miro photo. speeds and preferMichael Booker of St. Petersburg won the Blue fleet with ences of various classes, most finishing on lower Tampa Bay. Paul Polger of Team FOR second and Mike Zonnenberg of Three Spinnaker classes, two Non-spinnaker, a True CruisDavis Island third. ing class and Multihull class enjoyed the conditions and the Antolin Rivera of Davis Island won the young White fleet Friday night party on April 2 at the Bradenton Yacht Club in with Parker Polger, Team FOR, second and Corey Page of Palmetto.

Naples third.

Andy Cheney’s Beneteau Kelly was the overall winner, The small-sail 4.7 fleet was taken by Emily Billing of but Abby Normal, a B-32 out of Davis Island, garnered points Clearwater just ahead of Courtney Kuebel of Team FOR Raenough to lead the Suncoast Boat of the Year standings. dial winner.

For complete results go online to www.diyc.org.

Radials order was Mitch Hall, Chris Taylor and Eric Pruitt, all of Team FOR. The full rig Laser had Jimmy Givens of Edison Sailing Center winning.

25th Annual Clark Mills Regatta, Clearwater Yacht Club, April 3-4

By Dave Ellis

I

t is not an urban legend that Clark Mills designed the Opti mist Pram as a subsitute for the Soap Box Derby on Florida’s flat land. Each year a junior regatta salutes the late Mills. There were 85 sailors this year in Optimists, 420s, 4.7, Radial, and Laser fleets.

The new sailor’s Green fleet was won by Georgia Hardage of St. Petersburg. The Red fleet and overall winner was Alex Cook, followed by Zeke Horowitz and Justin Doane, all from Team FOR, coached by Eric Bardes. The FOR stands for Florida Ocean Racing. The kids named it.

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

SOUTHWINDS

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61

DONATE YOUR BOAT Tampa Sailing Squadron is looking for boat donations for their youth sailing program. Take a tax write-off and donate a boat to YOUTH SAILING, INC. a non-profit organization to help kids learn to sail.

Call Bud at 813-645-5704 www.tampasailingsquadron.org Explanation of Wind Roses

E

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$650 $400 $400 $500

ach wind rose shows the distribution 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 prevalent were the winds coming from that direction.

The length of the shaft is generally to a scale to indicate the percentage of the winds from that direction, but not as printed in the magazine, but the proportions are correct and as a general indicator, the diameter of the circle is a little over 15 percent.

The wind blows in the direction the arrows fly. When the arrow is too long to be printed in a practical manner, a number is indicated. In the sample here, that would be the number 32, which means that 32 percent of the time the wind blew from the west.

The number of feathers on the arrow indicates the strength of the wind on the Beaufort scale (one feather is Force 1, two is Force 2, etc. See below). The number in the center of the circle shows the percentage of the time that the winds were calm. They all add up to 100 percent. In this example, 32 percent came from the West and 9 percent were calms (a total of 41 per cent), so the remaining arrows add up to 59 percent. These symbols are used here to generally show where the winds came from during that month, how strong and how often.

In this example we can see that about a third of the time the winds came from the West, about 20 percent of the time from the NE, Force 3, about 20 percent from the SE, Force 4, maybe 15 percent from the south, Force 2, about never from the NW, and 32 percent from the West, Force 3. It was calm 9 percent of the time. We had some winds from the East at Force 4 and the SW at Force 2.

Beaufort Scale (in knots): Force 1(1-3); Force 2(4-6); Force 3(7-10); Force 4(11-16); Force 5(17-21); Force 6(22-27); Force 7(28-33); Force 8(34-40); Force 9(41-47); Force 10(48-55); Force 11(56-63); Force 12(64-71 Hurricane) Wind Roses are taken from Pilot Charts 62

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C L A S S I F I E D

A D S

“In August, you began running an advertisement to sell my diesel engine in your classifieds section. I am pleased to advise you that I have a buyer as a result of the advertisement. Please discontinue it. FYI, I have also had inquiries from West Africa and France as Capt C.T., St. Petersburg, FL a result of the Internet ad you made available. I’m MAJOR impressed!! Thank you very much.”

CLASSIFIED ADS for $5 PER MONTH 1. Classified ads for boats are $5 a month for up to 30 words, 3-month minimum ($15).

Check or credit cards accepted.

2. Add $5 a month for horizontal photo (vertical photos $5 a month more), 3-month minimum, ($30 for three month ad for boat with photo).

3. Free ads for boats under $500 (sail and dinghys only), all gear under $500, and windsurfing equipment. Add $5 a month for photo.

4. Boats must be for sale by the owner to

qualify for the above.

5. E-mail ads (including photos to editor@southwindssailing.com. Add $5 typing charge for ads mailed in or faxed in (including free ads).

6. Photos not accompanied by S.A.S.E. will not be returned. Photocopies of photos will not work. E-mail or send actual photo.

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

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

9. All other ads are $20 a month for up to 20 words. Add $5 a month for each additional 10 words. $10 a month for a horizontal photo. Frequency discounts available. Contact editor. editor@southwindssailing.com Southwinds PO Box 1175 Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175 (941)795-8704 (941) 795-8705

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

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

BOATS & DINGHIES

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

(3 column inches is 1/8 page) Monthly Cost Ads Per Inch

9' CAPTIVA ESCAPE with trailer, great fun, easy to sail, good for learning. $950 OBO. Call Nora at (727) 397-4309. (5/04) 8' Vanguard Pram, multi purpose Sailing Dinghy.

Ideal for Camps or Clubs. Used 2 times, All Equipment, Cover, Seatech Dolly and Extras. $1100.

Tampa (813) 792-1319 rpandab@att.net (7/04) 10-foot sailing dinghy, fiberglass, sail rig in good condition. $600. Eve. (850) 648-2241. Panama City (5/04)

12 6 3 1

$17 $20 $23 $27

Minimum Inches

Total Cost

2" 2" 2" 2"

$34 $40 $46 $54

12-foot sailing dinghy, fiberglass, gaff-rigged main.

Self-tacking jib. Sails in new condition. Includes trailer. $900. Eve. (850) 648-2241. Panama City (5/04) 12’ 1981 Areys Pond, Catboat, monohull, 10” draft, gaff-rig, teak trim, bronze fittings, fiberglass hull, Shoreline trailer, all in very good condition. $5500 or best offer. (239) 218-6969. (7/04)

Hotfoot 20 Sportboat 1985, Similar to Ultimate 20, recent hull paint, PHRF 168 - Lift bulb keel, 1000 lb displacement, Mainsail,155% ,UK Tape Drive blade, spinnaker, Boomkicker, Galvanized trailer, $7400.

Atlanta, Call Scott at (678) 947-8875 or e-mail stle32@aol.com (5/04)

ter berths. $2100 OBO. Stuart FL (772) 878-4721 (5/04) 1973 21' Reynolds Catamaran Great beach cat. good condition. Needs a little TLC. Call for details. Includes continental trailer. $2200 OBO. Must Sell. (239) 765-4433. Ft. Myers Beach (5/04)

22' Ensign Class Sloop. Sailing School fleet. Older boats in sailing condition. With main and Jib. Four available from $1500-$2500. Call (305) 665-4994 (5/04) Precision23 (1995) for sale - 150% jib (2002), bimini, auto helm (2002), 8HP Yamaha (2002) 4 stroke with electric start & tilt, VHF, instruments with yard trailer. Reduced to $14,900. Extra equipment available separately. Call (941) 351-6207 or e-mail gigbobdob@juno.com for additional info. (6/04)

1980 Skipper 20’ Shallow-draft sloop and trailer. 3 sails, self-bailing with motor well, displacement 2,000 lbs. Adult v-berths, opening ports, and quar-

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

1982 Merit 25. Great condition. Stored out of water 8 of the last 9 years. Photographs and details at http://www.intelligentstrategies.com/merit. $7,995. (770) 932-9382 or dpope@intelligentstrategies.com (5/04)

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63

C L A S S I F I E D

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28’ Bristol Channel Cutter 1993-94. 27 hp Yanmar diesel, ABI windlass. 300’ new chain, traditional layout with work bench. $135,000. For more information go to: http://bcc.fortworks.com or jim25525@yahoo.com. (7/04)

28' Ranger, immaculate, freshwater maintained racer-cruiser with $16,000 in recent improvements, 12 sails, new yanmar. $15,000. Call (813) 685-8737 (5/04)

Argonauta 27 folding tri, fast Newick design, high tech fg, aft cabin, center cockpit, wheel, bimini, roller furling, trailer, only 3 built!!! 45k firm or consider coastal land trade, (361) 442 9351 or lvltlbts@yahoo.com in Texas. (6/04)

2000 Hunter 290. Selden inmast and jib furling,18hp Yanmar, Garmin 182GPS, Raymarine Auto-pilot, knot and depth.12cd Stereo, VHF, LPG stove. Bimini & dodger. $59,000. In Jacksonville, FL, (904) 683-7476. willgray@comcast.net (5/04) 1978 Catalina 30, Yanmar 3GM 30 100hours, 12000 BTU AC/Heat, tiller steering w/autopilot, speed, depth, compass, stereo, pressure water, 2-speed winches, $16,500. Eve. 850-648-2241. Panama City.

(5/04)

Catalina 270 Wing-keel, full electronics, autopilot, spinnker and gear, walk-thru transom, north sails new 2001-2002 (3 jibs, main, spinnaker) Vessel gifted to charitable organization.This organization eager to sell boat for cash. Best offer: asking $26,900. Contact Lou at hooyengl@bellsouth.net or phone (305) 3940901(5/04) Accepting offers: 1978 Buccaneer 27’x8’, documented, shoal-draft hull/rig. Interior removed. Zero blistering. No sails. Most voluminous trailerable sailboat built. Delivery possible. (850) 442-6510. Bob Burnham. 392 East Lake Rd., Quincy, FL 32351.

(5/04) 27' Pacific Seacraft Dana 24, 1987. Blue water boat. 3’10" draft.

Yanmar diesel.

Staysail.

H/C pressure water.

Cockpit shower.

Propane stove w/ oven.

Much more. Lying Miami. $47,500.

(954) 683-7372; lv2_sail@yahoo.com (7/04) 27' Watkins, 10' beam, 3’8" draft. Ideal cruiser.

Well equipped. 20-20 Yanmar diesel, roller furling, new bimini, fully battened main, lazy jacks. (305) 852-8158. Key Largo $14,000. jmilekey@msn.com. (7/04)

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May 2004

SOUTHWINDS

30’ Hunter designed by Cherubini. S/V Uluru is being offered for sale. Complete refit from stem to stern.

Turnkey cruiser. Our loss your gain. Bought 42’ cruiser. For a detailed inventory, e-mail zekeatthebeach@aol.com or call (239) 280-7434 (5/04)

Bombay Clipper 31’ 1978 sloop 11.5' beam, 3.5' draft, 6’2" headroom. Furling jib. Well maintained with new bottom job, batteries, alternator, stove Great for cruising. $24,995 OBO Details: www.bombayclipper.blogspot.com (321)946-1275 (7/04) Hunter 31, 1986, 18hp Yanmar, Profurl, 150%, 135%, working jib, spin, LOF #2, windlass, 80ft chain, Bimini, Dodger, interconnect canvas, teak doors, Mermaid Air & heat, cockpit table, refrigeration, 3 batteries, microwave, wind, speed, depth, inst. TV, $29,500. Located 5346 Bay Point Ct., Cape Coral, (239) 549-0001 work, (941) 575-8834 home.

(7/04)

Voyageur 30.5 LOA,cutter, AJA, 1981, traditional coastal/bluewater, 3.4 draft, Florida/Bahamas, 5 sails, Yanmar 8 hp. 1/3 gal/hr, full keel, tiller, heavy rigging, custom teak topsides and below, gimble kerosene 2 burner w/oven, excellent ground tackle w/new lines,9 opening bronze ports, ideal for 3 or small family, asking only $29,500 for prompt sale, wilmad@cuisp.com (941) 794-1604 (7/04)

See Classified information on page 63 www.southwindssailing.com

C L A S S I F I E D

31' VanDerStadt 1969 Harmony, full keel, 5ft. draft, new Harken roller furling, 4 Lewmar self-tailing, Auto Helm 4000+, solar, wind generator, 27hp.

Yanmar, $20,000. St. Petersburg, FL, (727) 4344586. casadelgato1@hotmail.com.

Pearson 33 1986 Hull #16 Draft 3’10' w/cb, perfect for racing or cruising the shallow waters of Bahamas & Florida. A/C, davits, refrig., many extras; documented, $37,000. sailboat86@att.net; (239) 549-2849 (7/04)

32' Catalina 320 1999 WK, Yanmar 30 (240 hrs) ac, ap, km, df, Bimini, Adler Ref, Bottom Aug 02, VHF W/DCS-GPS, Reduced $92,000, lying Shalimar FL (850) 499-0264 (5/04)

Irwin 33 Center Cockpit Sloop, 1986. Sale or Trade.

Diesel 3’ 10” draft. $40,000 value. Trade for property or motorhome. Boat is clean and ready for the Bahamas. (239) 691-6580. Located Ft. Meyers, FL. E-mail: www.suzy213@juno.com (5/04)

Island Packet 32, 1990. Fully Equipped, Beautiful Condition. Ready-to-cruise; just add food and clothes. Newly finished teak. Bimini and dodger.

Yanmar 3GM-24hp. Maintenance records available. $91,900. (727) 409-1768. sue.nutt@verizon.net (7/04)

Pearson 323, 1983. Volvo diesel, roller furling jib, whisker pole, self-tailing winches, autopilot, depth/ speed log, factory bow pulpit with anchor roller, transom-mounted boarding ladder. Epoxy bottom 2002. Asking $29,000. Call: (850) 380-6236. (7/04)

1981 Freedom 33' cat-ketch. Among World’s Best Sailboats. Unique, strong, fast, roomy. Single hand easily. Carbon-fiber spars, centerboard, Windlass, bimini. Delivery possible. Reduced. $35,000. (713) 847-9897 (5/04)

Catalina 34 1986, Tall Rig, Good condition, Custom Bimini, Dodger. All standard features sleeps 7, new cushions, Chartplotter, many upgrades, Slip in St. Pete municipal; can transfer $43,900 (813) 8311011, mvazmina@tampabay.rr.com (6/04)

1986 Schock 34 GP. Consistent winner GYA Challenge Cup-Sugar Bowl- Gulfport/Pensacola. Yanmar diesel, chart plotter, recent sails. Berthed NOLA. $39,000 Jack (228) 452-1240. hagarjac@bellsouth.net (5/04) Jason 35 bluewater cruiser,fiberglass Brewer designed double-ended cutter. Radar, chartplotter, SSB/ham, autopilot, 100 gal water, 60 gal fuel asking $52,900, see at escheel.com/boat (941) 7733715 (6/04)

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1983 C & C 35 Mk III Great cruiser/racer, Yanmar, 11 sails, bunks for 7, stove with oven, A/C (’00), refrig (’00), feathering prop (’03), self tailing winches, Harken roller furler, bimini, covers for everything, autopilot, new batteries, etc., etc. This boat needs nothing. $62K. (504) 392-0840 or cwilke@haywilkgalvanizing.com (7/04)

1984 Morgan 36 K/CB. Diesel, auto pilot, AC, Furling genoa, wheel, GPS plotter, sleeps 6. Berthed PC, MS. Ted cell (504) 723-8766. tdiaz31928@aol.com (5/04)

Lagoon 37 1994. totally equipped for comfortable, safe liveaboard/cruising excellent condition. Original owner. $185,000 (239) 543-7208 or (239) 8989522 (8/04)

DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS starting at $34/month. editor@southwindssailing.com

S NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

SOUTHWINDS

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C L A S S I F I E D

1975 Seafarer Ketch, 38' “Rhodes Design” - ready to sail or live aboard. R/furling & cutter, new interior , 50hp Perkins, Radar, GPS, Auto-Pilot, refrig, Bimini, davits, p/water, A/C, fantastic upgrades, 4’ draft, $41,900 JAX FL (904)838-5767 drterrytaylor@comcast.net (5/04)

A D S

41' Gulfstar Ketch 1973 cruising equipped, ready to go. 2002 - 10 barrier coats and Strataglass enclosed bimini, lived aboard 14 years, selling medical reasons, photos, details: $55,000 www.shevard.com (904) 284-9986 X2040 (6/04)

39' Bristol Yawl, 1968, Westerbeke 4-107 diesel, hard dodger, ss 3 burner stove w/ oven, Aries wind vane steering, auto pilot, depth sounder. contact Bill at (907) 388-3035 jubi@linkrvs.net (7/04)

Catana 411 catamaran, 1995. Loaded for cruising. SSB, Radar, Chartplotter, APs, generator, solar, wind generator, liferaft, EPIRB, much more. She is fast, safe, comfortable. Excellent condition. $265,000, Go to www.catana411.com, (949) 4638287 (7/04) Endeavour 40, 1985. Center cockpit sloop.

Perkins 4.108, roller furling jib, full batten main with MacPac, dodger, bimini. New epoxy bottom, fresh brightwork. All systems working. Good basic boat, ready to go anywhere. Asking $72,000. Call: (850) 380-6236. (7/04)

1988 Brewer 44’ shoal-draft w/board. Center-cockpit cutter, Perkins 85, sale by original owners, (941) 962-7100 or (813) 671-0862 or paritytwo@yahoo.com. (6/04) Morgan 41 OI, 1973. 413 Walkover model. Nice Clean boat. Needs new driveline. 2 heads, 2 staterooms. Best offer over $25,000. (727) 742-5775.

(7/04)

45’ Columbia Sloop, 1973, 85 hp Perkins, R/F Main and Genoa, completely new fuel system, hard top bimini, davits, windlass, solar panel, AC, comfortable cruising boat, Jacksonville, FL, $35,000. (904) 541-1585. (7/04) 51’ Airex foam Trimaran 1976. Cruising Equipped.

4 Cylinder 40 hp Isuzu Diesel. Selling for medical reasons. $60,000. For more info and photos. www.salinet.com (id#12820) or call (530) 6472757. randk@d-web.com. (7/04)

2002 Catalina 40, fully loaded plus unique custom cruising upgrades. Must sell, asking $205,913. Palm Beach, FL. Trades considered for SW Florida land/ home. More pix and specs available cturner1@swfla.rr.com or (239) 470-5567. (6/04)

APARTMENT FOR RENT

THIS AD FOR RENT starting at $34/month.

Call (941) 795-8704 or

1989 Irwin 43 CC Sloop Raytheon ST50 Knot Log Depth apparent wind and speed, Raynav 520+plotter WAAS GPS, AP7000 auto pilot, radar RX20, ICOM dual station VHF, roller furling, Stack Pack

by Mac Sails, main 2 years old, Jib 4 years old. 2 AC reverse cycle units, full galley with SS stove and oven, microwave, Adler Barbour freezer refrigerator, 2 heads with separate showers, large saloon and large nav station. 8KW Genset, 66HP Yanmar 1500 Hours, fuel polisher, 3 anchors, 2 Plow 35 & 45 and Fortress, 165’ chain and 300’ rode. New cockpit cushions. Safety package and much, much, more. $140,000 or BRO. (941) 350-8113 (7/04)

Apartment for rent in Durango, Colorado. Nice 2 bedroom, 2 bath unfurnished townhouse in the woods in town. Fireplace, deck, garage, dishwasher, refrigerator, great room. $1050 a month. Lease. Nice neighborhood. Quiet. Clean. Available June 1. (877) 372-7245 toll free. smorrell1@tampabay.rr.com

BOOKS & CHARTS Ocean Routing – Jenifer Clark’s Gulf Stream Boat Routing/Ocean Charts by the “best in the business.”

(301) 952-0930, fax (301) 574-0289 or www.erols.com/gulfstrm

1983 Southern Star 43’. Excellent condition. $75,000. S.J. Brown or Collene Johns. (850) 4533471. (6/04)

View Classified Ads & Boat Pics on our secure Web site www.southwindssailing.com 66

May 2004

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindssailing.com

C L A S S I F I E D BUSINESS/INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

MARINE ENGINES

www.martekdavits.com

Sailtime.com is looking for base operators on the Florida coast. This may suit existing marine business owners who wish to add an additional income stream. Sailtime is a unique business model that requires minimal capital and no staff. Tel. (813) 8170104 or jtwomey@sailtime.com

Visit SOUTHWINDS new boat and crewlisting service at southwindssailing.com

727-686-5020 Famet roller reefing. Seeking best offer. lvltlbts@yahoo.com (361) 442-9351 (6/04)

MISCELLANEOUS BOAT GEAR NEW & USED

PROPELLER 3 blade bronze 19D, 18P, taper, unused since rebalanced $150 +UPS, call (850) 8727811(5/04)

Visit SOUTHWINDS new boat and crewlisting service at southwindssailing.com

Cutlass (flatfish) shaft bearing 2x6 OD unused $30 call (850) 872-7811 (5/04)

ELECTRONICS SeaTech Systems – Computerized navigation & communication. Call for free Cruiser’s Guide to the Digital Nav Station and CAPN demo disk. (800) 444-2581 or (281) 334-1174, navcom@sea-tech.com, www.sea-tech.com

HELP WANTED Advertising Sales Representative wanted for SOUTHWINDS Magazine. We are looking for an additional advertising sales representative in the West Florida region to seek West Florida advertisers and also contact national advertisers. Commission. Part time work. Must be experienced in sales, preferably advertising sales. (941) 795-8704 or editor@southwindssailing.com.

Boom from Tartan 40, E=14’. $400 (813) 932-3720 (5/04) 3 burner oven, CNG. Can be converted to propane. $400 (813) 932-3720 (5/04)

CREW WANTED

Best Prices – Solar panels, wind generators, charge controllers, deep cycle batteries, solar panel and wind generator mounting hardware.

Authorized dealer for Siemens, Kyocera, Solarex, and Uni-Solar solar panels, Air Marine wind generator, Deka, Trojan, and Surrette deep cycle batteries.™ Toll free (877) 432-2221 www.e-marine-inc.com

DINGHY DAVITS Only $360.00

Construction/Real Estate investment Highly-experienced, honest, licensed, responsible and reliable contractor seeks investor/partner in new construction/remodeling in West Florida. Perhaps a spec house or purchase to remodel. Contractor is experienced in custom homes of all sizes, including very high end homes. Only interested in doing interesting and enjoyable projects. (941) 795-8711

CREW AVAILABLE

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Wanted: Marine single-side band radio transceiver/receiver. (941) 235-1890 (7/04)

Wheels Custom Leathered – Satisfaction guaranteed, 1 year warranty. Free turks head. Over 100 satisfied customers last year. Contact Ray Glover at Sunrise Sails Plus (941) 721-4471 or sunrisesailsplus@msn.com

Remanufactured engines, cheap: 12V71 Detroit Marine. 16149 Detroit Marine. 3208 Cat Marine Engine. S.J. Brown or Billy Brooks. (850) 453-3471.

(5/04) 9.9 Honda OB, electric start, new controls, still in box, installed 2003, less than 100hrs. $1750. (772) 349-0796. (6/04) Honda 8 HP 4-stroke extra long shaft. 1990. Pull Start. Set up for either tiller or cable operation. Includes gas tank/hose. Runs perfect. $925 or trade for similar 2-stroke. St. Petersburg, FL (727) 7442200. (6/04)

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

Folds and fits on your boat or inside your car. More info: www.tiralo-usa.com or swti@oasisllc.com

DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS starting at $34/month. editor@southwindssailing.com NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

67

C L A S S I F I E D Dripless Packing Proven high-tech propeller and rudder packing that outlasts all other packings and is virtually dripless. Easy to install. Bilges stay dry.

Won’t damage shafts.

Economical. Dealer inquiries welcome. Toll Free (877) 432-2221 or www.e-marine-inc.com

SAILING INSTRUCTION

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USED SAILS SAVE $$$ 1000s of headsails, mains & spinnakers. We ship everywhere, satisfaction guaranteed. We also buy sails. Sail Exchange. (800) 6288152. 407 Fullerton Ave. Newport Beach CA 92663 www.sailexchange.com See Display ad in Index of advertisers

SERVICES FOR SAILORS

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

OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE

SAILS & CANVAS

Office and warehouse space available for lease to marine-related businesses. Great for boat brokers or sales representatives. High speed Internet access. JSI (727) 577-3220

LODGING FOR SAILORS

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

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

PERSONAL Live-aboard sailor looking for rich woman with connections to people who can acquire Micron 44 bottom paint. This bottom paint is not generally available through the normal commercial channels.

Bad government research has determined that Micron 44 kills shellfish and other marine critters because of the tin content (TBT) in the paint. Because of the fact that Micron 44 is not readily available for a boat of Right’s Guard’s size, the woman I am seeking has to have some experience in the marine trades and know how to solder electrical connections. It would also help if she had an American Express platinum card, knew how to cook gourmet meals and was drop dead gorgeous. Tobacco chewing optional. Contact Bubba Whartz at rightguard@southwindssailing.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS: SOUTHWINDS 2005 CALENDAR PHOTO CONTEST.

See advertisement in the magazine in the ad directory under calendar contest.

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May 2004

WINDSURFING GEAR

SOUTHWINDS

Starboard 2002 X186 Formula Windsurfer, Neil Pryde (NP) 9.8 2002 Race Slalom sail NP 530 2003 Carbon Mast & Foot, NP 260 2003 Carbon Boom, Harness Lines & adj. outhaul NP Padded Triple Board Bag (fits all!), TOTAL $1400, t.fiedler@umiami.edu ( 5/04) Tiga 268 SLR, Excellent condition, 2 fins, carbon mast, windsurfing Hawaii boom & harness lines, 3 mylar monofilm sails (4.5, 5.5, 6.5), padded board bag.Total $400, t.fiedler@umiami.edu ( 5/04)

S

THIS AD FOR RENT starting at $34/month.

Call (941) 795-8704 or editor@southwindssailing.com www.southwindssailing.com

BUBBA (continued from page 21)

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

1ST CLASS

Air Duck 24 Aqua Graphics 57 Atlantic Sails 27 Banks Sails 57 Beachmaster Photography 65 Beneteau Sailboats BC Beta Marine 24 Bluewater Sailing Supply 58 Boaters Exchange 18,64 BoatUS 13 Bob and Annie’s Boatyard 20 Bo’sun Supplies 23 Bubba Book 16 Carson/Beneteau BC Coast Weather 68 Compac Boats East 6 Corinthian Regatta, Bradenton YC 52 Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Marina 59 Cruising Direct Sails 37 Davis Maritime Surveying 56 Defender Industries 67 Dockside Radio 33 Don’s Salvage 55 Dwyer mast 67 Eastern/Beneteau BC First Patriot Insurance 25 Flagship Sailing 54 Fleetside Marine Service 67 Flying Scot Sailboats 66 Forespar 64 Fujinon Binoculars 19 Fun Maritime Academy 39 Garhauer Hardware 17 Glacier Bay Refrigeration 33 Great Outdoors Publishing 55 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales 63 Gunkholer’s Cruising Guide 55 Hood/SSMR 54 Hotwire/Fans and other products 67 Hunter Sailboats 10,11 Island Marine Products 31 JR Overseas/Moisture Meter 28 JS9000 PHRF Racer 63 Martek Dinghy Davits 67 Massey Yacht Sales 3,9,18,22,43,53,IBC Masthead Enterprises 7,68 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau BC National Sail Supply 34 Nautical Trader 56 NBOA 51 North Sails 14 Nuclear Sails 14 Pasadena Marina 61 Porpoise Used Sails 68 Raider Sailboats 65 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke 12 Regatta Time in Abaco 21 Rparts Refrigeration 27 Sail Exchange/Used Sails 36 Sailcovers and More 68 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program summer camp 52 Sailor’s Soap 31,34,41 Sailor’s Wharf 55,59 Sailtime 64 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program 62 Schurr Sails 16 Scurvy Dog Marine 39 Sea School 42 Sea Tech 40 Shadetree 19 Snug Harbor Boats 6 South Carolina Maritime Festival 17 SSMR/Hood 54 St. Augustine Sailing School 68 St. Barts/Beneteau BC Suncoast Inflatables 60 Tackle Shack 53 Tampa Sailing Squadron 62 UK Sails 7 Ullman sails 17 Weathermark sailing 19 West Marine 15,IFC Windcraft Catamarans 12

SEE PAGE 4

Sailing Services Directory West Florida Regional Sailing Services Directory Calendar Photo Contest

one record every possible option they can imagine. It wouldn’t surprise me one day to hear a recording that said, ‘If you are scratching your butt while listening to this message and your computer is using a Windows operating system, please press 714.’ It is getting that ridiculous. Businesses are depersonalizing themselves with these insipid messages; they are distancing themselves from their own customers. Automation doesn’t save the customer time; it wastes the customer’s time,” Bubba said.

I thought that Bubba was on a roll, so I encouraged him to continue. “Keep going, Bubba,” I said.

“What we need are real human beings on the telephone, people who can make you feel as if they have a personal interest in your needs,” he added.

“Can you be more specific?” I said, looking for amplification on a theme that might be a moneymaker.

“Take Trixie LaMonte, for example,” said Whartz, alluding to the exotic dancer with whom he had had various experiences, some good, some not so good. “She would be good answering the phone. She has all the right moves.”

“What do you mean by that?” I wanted to know, realizing that the attention-getting moves that Trixie often displays where she works wouldn’t come across over a telephone line.

“You remember how radio used to be so much fun to listen to, before every station sounded the same? It was because you were required to use your imagination. That’s why radio succeeded like it

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$24/YEAR $45/2 YEARS

NEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

did. I think that would work today, the imagination part,” Bubba responded.

“Give me an example,” I suggested.

“Well, say you called your bank about something mundane like ordering new checks. If Trixie LaMonte were answering the telephone, she could say something like, ‘Hi, this is Trixie LaMonte with People’s Bank. How can I (big sigh) help you?’ Then you would say something banal like, ‘I’d like to order some additional checks.’ Trixie could respond with, ‘You want those checks with a lap dance or without?’ You might ask, ‘What’s the difference?’ She’d add, ‘Well, I am not wearing a top when I am talking to you on this phone, and I have on the tightest pair of flimsy shorts you can possibly imagine.’ You can see where this would certainly be an improvement over a recorded message, can’t you. Can’t you?”

Bubba had to repeat himself because I was lost in a personal reverie involving Trixie LaMonte and tight shorts and movements that one would not see choir girls make during the processional or the recessional.

“Bubba, I think you are onto something good” I answered, as the mental images of Trixie LaMonte evaporated from my brain like morning mist after sunrise.

“Great,” said Bubba, “let’s drink to that with a few more beers.” His voice prodded Doobie into motion. She arrived with two more beers and a lined, green piece of paper with some numbers scrawled on it that she gave to me.

At the top of the piece of paper was printed GUEST CHECK.

SOUTHWINDS

May 2004

57 29 8

69

THE FUN OF CHARTERING

Six Quarters for Two Minutes: When a Quarter can be Worth a Lot More than Twenty-five Cents

By Joe Cloidt

W

henever I return from one of my sailing adventures, my sailing buddies always look forward to one of my “Joe Stories.” These are usually those things that don’t quite go as planned. My last trip to the BVIs was no exception, although Kathy won’t let me tell the story of her falling in the water while getting out of the dinghy. I had a log book full of adventures to fall back on.

We had spent the day sailing and snorkeling over by the Great Dog Rocks and decided to head over to Marina Cay to pick up a mooring and go in for dinner. While going through the guidebook, I read that they had freshwater showers available to sailors. Since cockpit showers were getting old and it was a crowded anchorage, I thought we would spare our neighbors from our daily bathing routine.

It was still early to go in, so we enjoyed a few Painkillers, courtesy of the bottle of Mt. Gay rum that came with the charter. Feeling no pain, we made it to the dock, without Kathy falling in, and wandered over to the Pusser’s store to ask about the showers. The women at the counter told us the showers are coin-operated, and it’s six quarters for two minutes. So we start fumbling for change while I’m trying to do the math in my head, “Let’s see, six quarters times two for how many minutes?” I quickly give that up and the women give us some change that we hope will be enough.

Now, I have never timed myself at home in the shower, but I figure it can’t take that long. Right? We go off to the

separate bathhouses (no co-ed showers here) and I start looking forward to a real shower. I get my soap and shampoo ready before I start stuffing in the quarters. The machine clicks and the water starts running, and for a few seconds I’m in bliss before remembering I’m on the clock. While washing my hair, I’m trying to count, one painkiller, two painkiller, three painkiller ... but somehow keep losing track of the count.

The hair is done with plenty of time to spare, and I start to soap up when suddenly, damn! The water stops. Wait a minute, it can’t be time yet, there’s something wrong with the timer. So there I am, all soaped up. No water, no quarters, wondering what the hell do I do now. I look out the door and call over to Kathy, but get no response. I figure she’s hoarding her quarters. I briefly thought about running back to the store for more quarters but realized that the sight of a lathered-up man running around with just a towel on might land me in a place where I would be afraid to drop the soap. The thought then occurs to me that the sinks were not on timers, and maybe I can somehow rinse off there. Luckily the bath house was empty, and while I managed to get more water on the counter and floor than myself, I did finally get mostly rinsed off. I cleaned up the sink the best I could and got out of there before anyone could ask if a water pipe had broken.

Kathy came out about the same time, and I could tell by the look on her face she had a similar experience. We both had a laugh and wandered off in search of another Painkiller.

WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED Stories and photographs wanted in the following areas: Boat Reviews: Old boats, new boats, large boats and small boats. Review your own boat.

Multihulls: Articles and reviews.

Sailing Experiences: Stories and photos about experiences in places you’ve cruised, anchorages, marinas, or passages made throughout the Southern cruising waters, including the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Windsurfing: Information and news on the sport, including places to sail, equipment, experiences, etc.

Race Reporting: Generally, we are always looking for someone to send us race coverage throughout the Southern states, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. Specifically, we are looking to hire someone to coordinate all racing, who is into racing, a good writer and photographer, and willing to work a lot of hours, do some traveling, and doesn’t need a lot of money to get going with a great potential for the future.

The Florida Keys: Racing and cruising articles about the keys.

Hurricane Stories: Hurricanes are a part of owning a boat in the Southern waters, and we would like to hear how you and your boat might have been affected by a storm or how you prepare your boat for one. Send us letters or articles.

The Politics of Sailing: “Politics begins when two or more people get together.” Politics affect us all and particularly in the general world of boating and our waters. We have already heard about anchoring, liveaboards and other topics (like Cuba), but there is always more.

Maintenance and Technical Articles: How you maintain your boat, or rebuilt a boat, technical articles on electronics, repairs, etc.

Individuals in Sailing Industry: Interesting stories about the world of sailors out there, young, old, and some that are no longer with us but have contributed to the sport or were just true lovers of sailing.

Cuba: Of course, there is always Cuba, and regardless of how our country’s elected officials try to keep Americans out of the Caribbean’s largest island, it will open one day as a cruising ground.

Today American sailors can legally go to Cuba and cruise if they follow the proper procedures. If you have a story about such a trip, let us look at it.

The Caribbean: Stories about the warm tropical waters farther south of us.

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

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

Cover Photos: Southwinds is always looking for nice cover shots of all types. Cover shots are paid for, but donations accepted. They generally need to be a vertical shot, but we can sometimes crop horizontal photos for a nice cover picture. They need to be of a good resolution. If digital, they need to be taken at a very high resolution (and many smaller digital cameras are not capable of taking a large high resolution photo as is on a cover). If a photograph, then we need it scanned at high resolution, or if you send it to us, we can do so.

Letters to the Editor: For those of you who are not as ambitious to write stories, we always want to hear from you about your experiences and opinions.

Bahamas: Trips, experiences, passages, anchorages, provisioning and other stories that are of interest.

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

70

May 2004

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindssailing.com