Southwindsnovember2005 by SOUTHWINDS Magazine

SOUTHWINDS News & Views for Southern Sailors

Allison Jolly From Sail to Steam Composting Head

November 2005 For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

Murray Yacht Sales New Orleans, LA Mobile, AL Pensacola, FL (504) 283-2507 info@MurrayYachtSales.com

Carson Yacht Brokerage Regatta Pointe Marina 1065 Riverside Drive Palmetto, FL 34221 (941) 723-1825 (941) 729-8254 Fax

St. Barts Yachts Charleston, SC (843) 577-7377 Jacksonville, FL (904) 387-5047 sales@st-barts.com

Eastern Yachts West Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale, FL (561) 844-1100 (954) 828-9071 yachts3@attglobal.net

Call for Boat Show Deal

2006 Hunter 41 AC

Call for Boat Show Deal

2006 Hunter 41 DS – New Model

Call for Boat Show Deal

2006 Hunter 44 DS Call for Boat Show Deal

2006 Hunter 44 AC

2006 Hunter 46LE

2006 Hunter 45 CC Master Cabin Call for Boat Show Deal

2006 Hunter 45 CC New Center Cockpit Model – Must See

Performance cruising, luxurious interiors, expansive Mariner Packages and select factory options are all features of the 2006 Hunter Big Boat Fleet. Purchase your 2006 Hunter from Massey and save up to $25,000. Call today… Sail and save now! 3 Massey Florida Locations

Visit Massey in the Hunter display at Strictly Sail St. Pete ~ Nov. 3-6 and the Ft. Myers Boat Show ~ Nov. 10-13 Ft. Myers, FL 239-334-3674 • TOLL-FREE 800-763-3157

St. Pete Palmetto Ft. Myers

Call Sheryl Boddy for Best Rate Yacht Finance Quotes and FREE Pre-Qualification

Ben Fowke

Dan Howland

Terry Clark

Jim Klimczak

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

941-723-3991 Palmetto, FL 941-723-1610 • TOLL-FREE 800-375-0130 SINCE 1977

www.masseyyacht.com Bill Wiard

Christine Silvia

Al Pollak

David Cole

Brad Crabtree Scott Pursell Frank Hamilton Al Halpern

John Kelley

E-mail: yachtsales@masseyyacht.com

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS November 2005

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS

FOR

SOUTHERN SAILORS

From the Helm

Letters

Bubba and Friends Fill a Tank By Morgan Stinemetz

Short Tacks: News and Events Around the South

Strictly Sail St. Pete Boat Show Preview

Our Waterways: News About Our Changing Waterways

Hurricane Season 2005

Riparian and Littoral Property Rights in Alabama & Florida By Capt. J. Michael Shea, JD

Books to Read, Videos to See

Southern Sailors: Allison Jolly By Stephanie Cox

Composting Toilet for Your Boat By Charles Kanter

Little Harbour, Bahamas By Carolyn Corbett

Managing Mildew By Carolyn Corbett

Visit Egmont Key in Tampa Bay By Betsy Morris

Culebra-Forgotten Virgin or the next St. John? By Mike Kirk

From Sail to Steam By Gary R. Gray

Cruising Georgia: Delightful Delegal Creek By Ina Moody

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

Battling Poseidon’s Summer Squall By Mike Hansell

18-19 92 93 93

Sailing Services Directories Alphabetical Index of Advertisers Advertisers’ List by Category Subscription Form

Little Harbour, Bahamas. Photo by Carolyn Corbett. Page 52.

COVER: X-S sails in the Bradenton Yacht Club 2005 Kick-Off Regatta. Story page 77. Photo by Gary Hufford. www.beachmaster.smugmug.com. From Sail to Steam. Courtesy photo. Page 60.

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

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS News & Views For Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS Media, Inc. P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, Florida 34218-1175 (941) 795-8704 (877) 372-7245 (941) 795-8705 Fax www.southwindsmagazine.co e-mail: editor@southwindsmagazine.com Volume 13 Number 11 November 2005 Copyright 2005, Southwinds Media, Inc. Founded in 1993 Steve Morrell

Doran Cushing, Publisher 1993-2002

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

Assistant Editor Stephanie Cox stephanie@southwindsmagazine.com

Advertising Gary Hufford David Curry Advertising Advertising Director davidcurry@southwindsmagazine.com Pinellas & Hillsborough Counties, FL gary@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 761-0048 (727) 585-2814 Regional Editors CAROLINAS AND GEORGIA Walt McFarlane waltmcfarlane@aol.com (912) EAST FLORIDA Roy Laughlin mhw1@earthlink.net (321) SOUTHEAST FLORIDA Steve Morrell editor@southwindsmagazine.com (941) SOUTHEAST FLORIDA RACING Art Perez miamiyachtracing@bellsouth.net (305) Production Heather Nicoll

429-4197 690-0137 795-8704 380-0106

Proofreading Kathy Elliott Contributing Writers

Rebecca Burg Mike Hansell Mike Kirk Ron Mitchellette Art Perez Morgan Stinemetz

Stephanie Cox Kim Kaminski Roy Laughlin Ina Moody Barbara Pierce

Gary R. Gray Charles Kanter Walt McFarlane Betsy Morris Capt. J. Michael Shea, JD

Contributing Photographers

Rebecca Burg Carolyn Corbett Stephanie Cox Gary R. Gray Gary Hufford Kim Kaminski Charles Kanter Mike Kirk Roy Laughlin Ina Moody Barbara Pierce South Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation Morgan Stinemetz Claiborne Young EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: ARTICLES & PHOTOGRAPHY: SOUTHWINDS encourages readers, writers, photographers, cartoonists, jokers, magicians, philosophers and whoever else is out there, including sailors, to send in their material. Just make it about the water world and generally about sailing and about sailing in the South, the Bahamas or the Caribbean, or general sailing interest, or sailboats, or sailing in some faroff and far-out place. SOUTHWINDS welcomes contributions in writing and photography, stories about sailing, racing, cruising, maintenance and other technical articles and other sailing-related topics. Please submit all articles electronically by e-mail (mailed-in discs also accepted), and with photographs, if possible. We also accept photographs alone, for cover shots, racing, cruising and just funny entertaining shots. Please take them at a high resolution if digital, or scan at 300 dpi if photos, or mail them to us for scanning. Contact the editor with questions. Subscriptions to SOUTHWINDS are available at $19.95/year, or $37/2 years for third class, and $24/year for first class. Checks and credit card numbers may be mailed with name and address to SOUTHWINDS Subscriptions, PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach FL, 34218-1175, or call (941) 795-8704. Subscriptions are also available with a credit card through a secure server on our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.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 on our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com. 6

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

FROM THE HELM Let the Sailing Begin (Wind is on the Way): Racing Ain’t all it Seems—It’s More November—last month of the hurricane season, beginning of cooler weather, the Strictly Sail St. Pete Boat Show and the beginning of the Florida tourist and sailing season. Although the water’s colder, the air temperature’s pretty much perfect for many months to come, humidity is way down and there will be a lot more wind. And…..the 2005-6 racing season gets going. With these fall months ushering in the windy season, regattas are happening almost every weekend. If you’ve never raced, give it a try. If you have and will, you know you are in for a lot of fun. The great majority of sailors out there are not racers, as I wasn’t when I took over Southwinds over three years ago. Having sailed since I was young, I had done very little racing till purchasing Southwinds. I slowly got into it. Before, I knew many people who raced, but it seemed like a lot of the stories I heard were of the loud captain yelling at crew. Now I know better. Most aren’t yelling. There’s always some that do, but you meet them on land in daily life, too. Those guys give racing a bad name. The best crew I ever raced with— on my boat where I was taking commands, no less—were the most experienced I ever raced with and probably the calmest and most relaxed. Everyone knew their job well and did it with enthusiasm. We won a lot of races—and the par-

ties afterwards were great. I’m not sure which was more fun, the parties or the racing. One without the other, though, would not have worked. That was PHRF racing. Most PHRF racing is on a boat designed to cruise or play around on. These boats have berths, galleys and heads, coolers of beer. One-design racing, whether big boats or small ones, is another story. These boats are designed to go fast and race. It’s a different mentality and much more intense, but those into it love it to death. PHRF racing is a great way to meet some great people, get into sailing, be on the water and have a lot of fun. So, if you never raced, give it a try. Join a yacht club, a sailing squadron or association, sign up to crew on a boat, or bring your own boat. It’s easier than you think. And this is the season and place to do it. Maybe we can help. For suggestions and info on getting into racing go to our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com, and check out our “Get Into Racing” page. Steve Morrell Editor With this issue, SOUTHWINDS has set another record in size—our biggest issue ever at 96 pages.

Writers and Photographers Wanted Sailing Experiences Stories and photos about experiences in places you’ve cruised, anchorages, marinas, or passages made throughout the Southern cruising waters, including the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Race reporting Generally, we are always looking for someone to send us race coverage throughout the southern states, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Cruising Notes Southern sailors cruising on the high seas or cruising our waterways and coasts: Send us word on where you’re at and what you’re doing. How the cruising life is treating you. Bahamas Trips, experiences, passages, anchorages, provisioning and other stories that are of interest. 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, experiences you’ve had. Send us letters or articles. Our Waterways Information about the waters we sail in: disappearing marinas, boatyards and slips; 8

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

mooring fields, anchoring rights, waterway access, etc.

trip, let us look at it.

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

Miscellaneous Photos Photographs are always enjoyable, whether for their beauty, their humor, or for many other reasons, and we take them alone. We would like photos with every story, if possible.

Individuals in the 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. 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? Cuba Of course, there is always Cuba, and regardless of how our country’s elected officials try to keep Americans out of the largest island in the Caribbean, it will one day be open 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

Cover Photos SOUTHWINDS is always looking for nice cover shots, which are always paid for. They generally need to be a vertical shot, but we can sometimes crop horizontal photos for a nice cover picture. They need to be of a high 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. Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.com for more information and questions. For more Technical guidelines about layout, grammar, etc., please visit our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com and go to “Writer/photographer Guidelines.” www.southwindsmagazine.com

LETTERS

Continued from page 9

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

HURRICANE KATRINA HITS THE BAY OF ST. LOUIS: NOT MUCH LEFT BUT A MORGAN 24 SURVIVES Since both yacht clubs, Bay-Waveland and Pass Christian in Mississippi, were destroyed, along with our house on the bay, I’d like to know where I might pick up a copy of your magazine or to subscribe to your magazine. I’ve always enjoyed reading it and see no reason not to continue to do so. Despite all the destruction, my boat (a Morgan 24) survived with only minor hull damage while tied in a canal across the bay from my home. You cannot imagine the havoc wreaked by Katrina. What was not damaged by wind was destroyed by the wind-driven tidal surge. I took a boat ride with some friends from the bay (they were looking for their own boats—unsuccessfully) and they took me to see mine. While on the trip, we toured Pass Christian Isles (my boat), all of the north shore of the Bay of St. Louis and the Jourdan River. There were NO undamaged houses. Some were in matchstick condition, others completely washed out (second floors included), and the remainder just not there. Nothing. For miles. In addition to the surge damage at the immediate coast, water damage occurred as much as five miles from the nearest water. Simply incredible. While on the subject, I hope that you, in your magazine, will stress the point that the government, both state and federal, were simply overwhelmed. There is NO possible way that any agency could have foreseen the extent of the damage or to have prepared to handle the unprecedented number of refugees. They, all the agencies, did the best that they could and as quickly as they could. All of us that enjoyed any benefit of the massive effort to cope with this disaster should be grateful to those hardworking volunteers and service people. Best regards, Van Ness Tanner Van, Thanks for your continued interest in getting the magazine. I will send you a subscription to your temporary home in Florida, courtesy SOUTHWINDS. I am glad to hear that your boat survived the storm. You must some day tell us exactly what you did, so we can publish it, and perhaps others can learn from your experiences. Sorry to hear about your friends’ boats. The news I have seen has publicized the many efforts by volunteers, and I applaud their efforts. I agree that the storm was so large that all agencies were overwhelmed. If it were not for the flood in New Orleans, the destruction of homes in Mississippi would be the number one news story, as what I have heard is that damage is extensive in your state. The loss of the sailboats and damage to the sailing industry is serious but secondary to the loss of homes and lives in the region. I would like our readers to know that Tanner told me that when he went back to his home on the Bay of St. Louis, he could See LETTERS continued on page 10 News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

LETTERS

Continued from page 9

find no evidence of his home, nor any items that he owned that were there before the storm. Everything was completely wiped out by the wind and storm surge. He said the home was built in 1920. Mr. Tanner wrote the following letter before we received this one, back when he had places to cruise to as many of the Yacht Clubs are now gone. Editor YACHT CLUBS ON THE INTERNET WITH LAT/LONG LISTED? I always enjoy reading your magazine, which I pick up at the Pass Christian Yacht Club. I noticed on your Web site that calendars, with yacht club listings, were available at West Marine. Apparently, West Marine, certainly West Marine Express, here in Pass Christian are not aware of its responsibilities in this area. No calendars. No listings of yacht clubs. If there’s any way that you could see your way clear to make the yacht club listing available on the Internet, I would certainly be appreciative, and, if not, if West Marine (or someone else as your agent) could make the calendars available locally, I’d certainly buy one. With regard to yacht club listings: About three years ago, a friend of mine and I spent three weeks cruising from Melbourne, FL, to Bay St Louis, MS. I used the Yacht Club Registry to call various yacht clubs along the way with the idea of stopping at their facilities. Almost inevitably, some time was spent in getting directions as to how to find their docks. If you could publish the latitude and longitude of each club’s facilities in your guide, it would certainly make life easier for the cruiser. With that in mind, I will send you some yacht club lat/long locations that are in the Louisiana/Mississippi area for your possible future use. I hope that the idea seems as good to you as it has to me. Thanks again for a great magazine, fine articles and stories, and good ads. V. N. Tanner Bay St Louis, MS Van Sounds like a good idea and I will work on that in the future. We do have Southern yacht clubs listed on our Web site and are planning to expand on it in the future, perhaps now with lat/long locations. The calendar you are referring to was our 2004-5 West Florida Yacht Club Directory and Race Calendar. It only listed west Florida from the Tampa Bay area south and not your region. We did not print one this year, but the race calendar is available on our Web site, and it is better than ever with links to NORs, results, changes, etc. The directory is also listed, but we did not print one. By the way, the directory and calendar were free, but not to print. Editor ATTEMPTS AT A PUBLIC MOORING FIELD AT DAVIS ISLAND I read with interest your article about the shortage of public mooring facilities here in the South. As it happens, I tried See LETTERS continued on page 12 10

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

2005 Hunter and Catalina

Inventory Clearance 2005 Catalina 440 • Hull #6

2005 Catalina 400 • Hull #310

2005 Catalina 387 • Hull #66

SOLD

Reg. Price $337,052 - Call for Savings

Reg. Price $226,435 - Call for Savings

Reg. Price $192,668 - Call for Savings

2005 Catalina 350 • Hull #339

2005 Catalina 310 • Hull #310

2005 Hunter 306 • Hull #586

Almost Gone!

SOLD

SOLD Reg. Price $164,836 - Call for Savings

Reg. Price $107,794 - Call for Savings

Reg. Price $97,856 - Call for Savings

2005 Hunter 33 • Hull #243

2005 Hunter 36 • Hull #229

2005 Hunter 38 • Hull #108

SOLD

Reg. Price $119,270 - Call for Savings

Reg. Price $155,950 - Call for Savings

Reg. Price $205,159 - Call for Savings

2005 Hunter 41DS • Hull #236

2005 Hunter 44DS • Hull #182

2005 Hunter 46LE • Hull #336

SOLD SOLD

Reg. Price $240,021 - Call for Savings

Reg. Price $270,504 - Call for Savings

Going, Going,

Reg. Price $343,852 - Call for Savings

Massey has a few 2005 Catalinas and Hunters available at huge savings. The rest of the 2005 fleet is SOLD. Take advantage of big cash discounts or generous trade in allowances. The best deals ever are limited to 2005 in stock inventory shown on this page. Call your nearest Massey dealership today. When these boats are sold the deals sail away with them.

Sail and Save Now!

For Online Boat Show – www.MasseyYacht.com 51 Shannon ‘01 . . . . . . . . . .$875,000 50 Gulfstar ‘78 . . . . . . . . . .$115,000 47 Vagabond ‘87 . . . . . . . . .$224,000 46 Hunter ‘05 #325 . . . . . .$252,000 46 Hunter ‘04 #320 . . . . . .$249,900 46 Hunter ‘00 . . . . . . . . . . .$244,900 45 Morgan CC ‘91 . . . . . . .$179,900 45 Jeanneau 45.2 ‘99 . . . . . .$249,000 45 Hunter ‘00 . . . . . . . . . . .$229,000 45 Hunter CC ‘99 . . . . . . .$198,000 44 Morgan CC ‘90 . . . . . . .$165,000 43 Roberts-Steel ‘91/’95 . . .$149,500 42 Island Packet 420 ‘00 . . .$349,000

42 Hunter CC ‘96 . . . . . . .$164,900 42 Endeavour ‘88 . . . . . . . .$124,900 42 Cheoy Lee ‘98 . . . . . . . .$185,000 42 Catalina MKII ‘01 . . . . . .$194,995 41 Morgan Classic ‘87 . . . . .$97,500 41 Hunter ‘02 . . . . . . . . . . .$189,000 40 Catalina 400 MKII ‘02 . .$205,000 40 Catalina 400 MKII ‘02 . .$199,900 40 Catalina 400 MKII ‘01 . .$179,900 40 Caliber LRC ‘98 . . . . . . .$198,500 40 Caliber LRC ‘96 . . . . . . .$183,500 40 Caliber ‘93 . . . . . . . . . . .$164,900 39 Freedom PH ‘83 . . . . . . .$79,900

38 Morgan ‘78 . . . . . . . . . . . .$59,900 38 Hans Christian ‘84 . . . . .$114,900 38 Catalina 380 ‘00 . . . . . . .$124,900 38 Catalina 380 ‘02 . . . . . . .$155,000 38 Catalina 380 ‘97 . . . . . . .$132,000 37 Jeanneau ‘03 . . . . . . . . . .$135,000 37 Hunter ‘96 . . . . . . . . . . . .$99,900 36 Catalina ‘99 . . . . . . . . . .$114,900 36 Catalina ‘98 . . . . . . . . . . .$94,500 35.5 Hunter ‘95 . . . . . . . . . . .$78,900 35.5 Hunter ‘93 . . . . . . . . . . .$57,000 35 Victory Catamaran ‘95 . .$129,900 35 Beneteau ‘98 . . . . . . . . . .$84,900

TRADE IN

35 Beneteau First 35s5 ‘91 . .$68,500 34 Pacific Seacraft ‘87 . . . . .$109,900 34 Hallberg Rassy ‘02 . . . . .$224,000 32 Island Packet ‘94 . . . . . .$114,900 32 Hunter ‘01 . . . . . . . . . . . .$73,000 32 Hunter Vision ‘89 . . . . . . .$41,900 32 C&C 99 ‘03 . . . . . . . . . .$124,900 32 Beneteau ‘98 . . . . . . . . . .$76,900 31 Pearson ‘89 . . . . . . . . . . .$49,900 31 Island Packet ‘86 . . . . . . .$59,900 31 Catalina 310 ‘03 . . . . . . . .$87,500 30 Catalina ‘91 . . . . . . . . . . . $34,900 28 Freedom Cat Ketch ‘83 . .$29,500 24 Dana ‘89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$59,500 3 Massey Florida Locations

1991 Morgan 45 • $179,900

1987 Tartan 37 • $74,900

2004 Hunter 46 #320 • $249,900

Ft. Myers, FL 239-334-3674 • TOLL-FREE 800-763-3157 Call Sheryl Boddy for Best Rate Yacht Finance Quotes and FREE Pre-Qualification

Ben Fowke

Dan Howland

Terry Clark

Jim Klimczak

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

941-723-3991

See Massey at Strictly Sail St. Pete ~ Nov. 3-6 and the Ft. Myers Boat Show ~ Nov. 10-13

St. Pete Palmetto Ft. Myers

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

SINCE 1977

Bill Wiard

Christine Silvia

Al Pollak

David Cole

Brad Crabtree Scott Pursell Frank Hamilton Al Halpern

John Kelley

www.masseyyacht.com

LETTERS

Continued from page 10

working with the city of Tampa six years ago to persuade them to allow me to install a public mooring facility at the Davis Island Seaplane Basin. At the time, they were interested in hearing more so I sent in an entire proposal only to find out later that the city had accomplished its own study and went as far as having a survey company lay out proposed mooring locations for it. My proposal had set a bit smaller density than the city’s (much more realistic) and also added a mobile pump-out service, “The Dung Dhow.” To make a long story short, the city held a meeting at the Davis Island Yacht Club to inform us of its intentions to “clean up the basin of derelict boats and remove all the debris from the bottom in preparation for a public mooring field.” Now for me this meant that my plans were scrapped, and I did not continue any further with the issue. Unfortunately they have not taken the first step since this announcement five years ago, and all still remains the same. So if you want to use its statement for information, contact the Parks Department for more information, and while you are talking to them, ask them what their proposed start date might be and also why they deem it necessary to “clean the debris off the bottom.” In my proposal I employed a diver, barge and the Manta brand mooring anchors. They are engineer-approved and also “proven” in existing moorings around the North and South with our typical bottom topography, and I have never heard of it being required to clear debris first. This is what some are citing as the most costly part. So why is it required? I do agree that it appears our only recourse as boat owners at large is to push our plight with city, county and state governments for our rights before we lose all of them—when it becomes illegal to moor or anchor anywhere in Florida. My situation with our 44-foot cutter after a time on a self-made mooring was to join a yacht club then wait for five years for a sublet slip. We finally got our own after six and a half years. Public moorings would alleviate the problems of derelict boats, raw sewage on the beach in our case and the associated problems, which affect all of us. But unless the city agrees to move forward—or allows an individual such as myself to go ahead—there will not be many options left. Mark Thiem S/V Aeolus Mark, We have more information on this situation in this issue in the “Our Waterways” section. I am still unsure of how many of the boats there are “derelict.” I’ve heard rumors that most of the boats moored there belong to members of the Davis Island Yacht Club (and that many that washed up on shore last hurricane season were these boats), other stories that they are just boats that some never come to see and that no one cares about them and even more stories that many of the boats aren’t derelicts and people do come and work on them—plus mixtures of all these stories. I would like someone to fill me in on this as it is all rumors at this point. A privately planned and installed public mooring field? That would set a precedent the local authorities wouldn’t know what to do with. Probably scared them so they didn’t allow anything. Too bad. Editor See LETTERS continued on page 15 12

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

LETTERS

Continued from page 12

STAYING ABOARD: STRUCK BY CHARLEY WHILE AT ANCHOR IN FORT MYERS I was in a harbor in about 6-8 feet of water, with good holding. My normal ground tackle was a CQR 45 on 100 feet of 3/8-inch BBB chain and a Danforth 43 on 100 feet of 3/8-inch BBB chain. I added a third anchor: a CQR 35 with 15 feet of chain and 120 feet of 5/8-inch nylon rope. My boat is a 44-

foot motor-sailer with high freeboard and a pilothouse, so it has lots of windage. If I’d had a decent fourth anchor, I probably would have put that out, too. Other preparations I made were to take everything off the decks. And when someone came in a day before Charley and dumped a small boat too

close with only one anchor, despite our protests, a couple of us relocated it to somewhere else. (It came through just fine.) Charley hit us with about 95-knot winds for three hours or so. The worst part was a storm current that held us abeam to the worst wind for a couple of hours; many big boats rolled so hard they almost buried rails in the water. A friend of mine, inside his boat at anchor, was thrown across the cabin and hit his head but escaped serious injury. Frances gave us about 36 hours of 50-plus knots of wind. Jeanne and Ivan were nothing special here, maybe 30 knots. I was glad I stayed aboard, because my boat threatened to swing over and foul my third anchor rode just before Charley and again just before Frances. I was able to shift the rode and avoid that. I always had said I would get off the boat for more than a Category 1 storm. But I have nowhere safe to leave the dinghy if I do. Shelters are far away, and I’d be at the mercy of busses to get back afterward. Still, if I’d known Charley was going to increase strength and turn right to pass closer to us, I might have gotten off the boat. Bill Dietrich S/V Magnolia 1973 Gulfstar 44 ketch motor-sailer Bill, So would I. Get off the boat, that is. Editor

Send your letters to editor@southwindsmagazine.com Web site: southwindsmagazine.com PO Box 1175 Holmes Beach FL 34218 Fax: (941) 795-8705 News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

Regional Sailing Services Directory Sailing Services Directory starts as low as $8 a month. Call (941) 795-8704 or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com CHARTERS

FISHING GUIDES

SAILMAKING, REPAIRING & CLEANING

Masthead Used Sails………..(800) 783-6953 Yoga Sailing Charters (305) 989-7181 FL KEYS BACKCOUNTRY TRIPS www.mastheadsailinggear.com Enjoy a Magical week of Yoga & Adventure With Pro Guide Capt. “BR” Largest Inventory in the South (727) 327-5361 Sailing in the Bahamas or Belize - Oct. 05 or Exploring, Sportfishing, Birding www.dutchlove.com (305) 304-2258 www.keywest-sportfish.com Jan & May 06 GESLIN SAILMAKERS (305) 294-5854 New Sails, Service & Repairs 201 William St. – Key West CAPTAIN SERVICES MARINE DIESEL SERVICE CAPT. JIMMY HENDON (727) 459-0801 USCG Licensed Master Mariner Deliveries • Instruction ASA Certified Bareboat Charter Instructor

Sarasota INLAND MARINE DIESEL....................Atlanta PORPOISE SAILING SERVICES *New/Used Sails * New Custom Sails Service/Parts for all makes of diesel auxiliary Roller Furling Systems & Packages New Engine Sales–Universal, Beta, Yanmar, and Westerbeke.......................(404) 513-4414 (800) 507-0119........www.porpoisesailing.com

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

Boaters Exchange East Florida All brands, specializing in Honda, Suzuki, Tohatsu, and Nissan. “The friendlist outboard repair on the East Coast!” Rockledge...........................(321) 638-0090

SUNRISE SAILS PLUS WEST FLORIDA Complete Yacht Outfitting Service Sails – New, Repair, Cleaning Complete rigging service, masts, cushions, canvas & more (941) 721-4471 sunrisesailsplus@msn.com Wind Dancer Sailmakers NE Florida Sailmaking and repairs Jacksonville, FL........................(904) 384-3102

RIGGING SERVICES

COMMUNICATIONS

East Florida DockSide Radio www.docksideradio.com Beach St.Canvas/Rigging Rigging, Canvas, Sails, Sail Repair Pactor II/III Modem Sales & Support; FCC Marine Radio License filing; SailMail & WinLink Daytona Beach, Florida............(386) 253-6322 Installation & Training.............(941) 661-4498

SAILING INSTRUCTION/SCHOOL CUSTOM BOAT SERVICE

SEA TIME SAILING SCHOOL Miami, FL Offshore trips/Sailing courses www.seatimesailing.com..........(786) 201-3487

Subscribe to SOUTHWINDS Line ads: 3-line $8/mo; 4-line $10/mo

on-line on our secure Web site: www.southwindsmagazine.com

Rent this 2" ad space starting at $38 a month ADVERTISE FOR $8-$10/MONTH Rent a three-line ad for $8/month a four-line ad for $10/month OR GET A DISPLAY AD 1" Tall AD - $20 a month 2" Tall Ad - $38 a month Call (941) 795-8704

ADVERTISE YOUR SAILING SERVICES IN OUR REGIONAL DIRECTORY. CONTACT: Steve Morrell 18

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

editor@southwindsmagazine.com

(941) 795-8704 www.southwindsmagazine.com

West Florida Sailing Services Directory From Cedar Key to Cape Sable Sailing Services Directory starts as low as $8 a month. Call (941) 795-8704 or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com BOAT LETTERING – GRAPHICS

RIGGING SERVICES cont. SSMR. Inc. 727-823-4800 Complete Rigging Services On-Site Swaging & Splicing Commissioning Services On Salt Creek at Salt Creek Boat Works Fax 727-823-3270 St. Petersburg

SAILBOAT SERVICES AND REPAIRS GLASTECH YACHTS (727) 544-5512 Full Service Marine Yard & Mobile Service Power & Sail • Serving West Florida www.glastech34trawler.com

CANVAS & CUSHION SERVICES Scuba Clean Yacht Service See ad in Underwater Services

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

MARINE SURVEYING

ELLIE’S SAILING SHOP Clearwater Lifelines, rigging, hardware, repairs Serving small boat sailors Since 1958 Sunfish Boats and Parts...........(727) 442-3281

SAILING INSTRUCTION/SCHOOLS Adventure Cruising & Sailing School A sailing school for Women and Couples • ASA • West Florida and Chesapeake www.acss.bz............................(727) 204-8850

SAILMAKING, REPAIRING & CLEANING ADVANCED SAILS (727) 896-7245 Quality Cruising Sails & Service Closest Sailmaker to St. Petersburg Marinas Keith Donaldson......................(727) 896-7245 Scuba Clean Yacht Service See ad in Underwater Services Masthead Used Sails………..(800) 783-6953 www.mastheadsailinggear.com Largest Inventory in the South (727) 327-5361

Rent this 1" ad space for $20 a month YACHTING VACATIONS SW FLORIDA Live-aboard/non-live-aboard ASA instruction www.yachtingvacations.com (800) 447-0080

PORPOISE SAILING SERVICES – Sarasota

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

(800) 507-0119 www.porpoisesailing.com UNDERWATER SERVICES

Scuba Clean Yacht Service RIGGING SERVICES

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

Cell (727) 215-0704 www.bayrigging.com News & Views for Southern Sailors

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

(727) 327-2628

Rent a 2" ad space for $38 a month SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

UPCOMING SOUTHERN EVENTS BOAT SHOWS Nov. 3-6. Strictly Sail St. Petersburg Boat Show. The largest all sailboat show on the Gulf Coast with many boats presented on land (smaller boats) and in the water. Hundreds of exhibitors. The best and most beautiful venue of all the sailboat shows, being on Tampa Bay. On the Vinoy basin on the causeway to the St. Petersburg Pier. www.sailamerica.com. ThursdaySaturday, 10-6, Sunday 10-5. $10, Thur.-Fri. $12, Sat.-Sun. 15 and under free with paid adult. Additional events this year. See page 31 for the show events calendar and more information. Nov. 10-13. Fort Myers Boat Show. Harborside Convention Complex and City Yacht Basin, Fort Myers, FL. John Good Co. (954) 570-7785. www.swfmia.com. Nov. 17-20 Annual St. Petersburg Powerboat Show. Bayfront Center Yacht Basin, St. Petersburg, FL. (954) 764-7642

PUBLIC BOATING PROGRAMS Ongoing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs. St. Petersburg, FL, Each Tuesday night, 7:30-9:30 p.m., 1300 Beach Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 72. Completion satisfies the State of Florida boater safety education requirements. The continuous rotating

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

program has 11 lessons. One lesson is presented each Tuesday night. Lessons include: which boat for you, equipment, trailering, lines and knots, boat handling, signs, weather, rules, introduction to navigation, inland boating and radio. (727) 823-3753 Boating Safety Course, St. Petersburg, FL: The St Petersburg Sail & Power Squadron has one course scheduled for the remainder of 2005. On December 3, the three-session Boat Smart Course begins. Call (727) 867-3088 or visit www.boating-stpete.org for details. Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary offers Public Boating Programs: Boating Safely Program. Nov. 12-13. GPS and Chart Reading. Nov. 28-30. All programs are held at the Clearwater Sailing Center, 1001 Gulf Blvd., Sand Key (Clearwater). They are open to adults and youths. For more information on upcoming education programs or to request a free vessel safety check, visit www.uscgaux.org/~0701101/PublicEducationPrograms.htm. or call (727) 469-8895. North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC, www.ncmm-friends.org, maritime@ncmail.net, (252) 728-7317 Adult Learn to Sail Programs, Nov. 11, 25. Instruction on a 30-foot keelboat. Reservations. Fees. Traditional Boat Handling. Nov. 11, 26. Instruction on a traditional skiff. Reservations. Fees.

www.southwindsmagazine.com

SEAFOOD FESTIVALS Nov. 4-6. Florida Seafood Festival. Apalachicola, FL. The state’s oldest maritime exhibit. The three-day event annually draws thousands of visitors to this scenic historic town at the mouth of the Apalachicola River. The festival features delicious seafood, arts and crafts exhibits, seafood related events and displays under the shady oaks of Apalachicola’s Battery Park. Some of the notable events include oyster eating, oyster shucking, a parade, a 5k Redfish Run and a Blessing of the Fleet. (888) 653-8011. www.floridaseafoodfestival.com

OTHER EVENTS Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Conference, Nov. 2-4, Savannah, GA The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Savannah, GA, on Nov. 2-4 to discuss the problems, financing and future of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Go to www.atlintracoastal.org for more information and to register online.

Seven Seas Cruising Association 30th Annual Gam, Melbourne, FL Nov. 11-13 On Nov. 11 - 13, SSCA will hold its 30th annual three-day convention in Melbourne, FL, in the Eau Gallie Civic Center. Activities on the SSCA program include seminars and forums during the day, a marine flea market, a cocktail party and Eileen Quinn concert, a catered barbecue hosted by West Marine, and even a two-day Spanish language course to be held prior to the convention. Cruisers will be able to anchor adjacent to the Eau Gallie Causeway and have access to Abaco Jack’s dinghy dock near the civic center. Special rates are available in beachside hotels for those intending to drive or fly in. Attendees will take a second look at the registration price for this three-day event. It is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. What a deal! (Meals and evening socials cost extra and require advance reservations). For a complete schedule and information on registering, please see www.ssca.org, e-mail office@ssca.org or call (954) 771-5660. Nov. 15-16. SSCA-sponsored Marine Weather Forecasting Workshop. A two-day Marine Weather Forecasting Workshop will be held in Vero Beach, FL on Nov. 15-16. The workshop is sponsored by the Seven Seas Cruising Association and is scheduled to follow the annual SSCA Gam in Melbourne, FL, Nov. 11-13. The workshop curriculum includes cause and effect of marine weather, charting symbols and terminology, the patterns of weather systems and interpreting surface and 500mb charts. The goal of the workshop is to enable self-reliant mariners to determine the safest routes for their voyages. Lee Chesneau, a senior marine meteorologist for NOAA’s Ocean Prediction Center and a USCG-certified STCW instructor, will conduct the courses. He has held marine weather seminars for Safety-at-Sea and several boat shows. The cost of the workshop is $250 per person for SSCA members, $275 for non-members. The fee includes a 250plus-page interactive workbook as well as breakfast and lunch both days. Class size is limited to 20 participants. For more information, call SSCA Home Base at (954) 771-5660 or e-mail office@ssca.org. The registration form is online at www.ssca.org. Nov. 16-18. Advanced Diesel Training Program. West Palm Beach, FL. Three-day course. American Boat Builders & Repairers Association and New England Institute of Technology. (401) 247-0318. www.abbra.org.

Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival, Nov. 19-20, Madisonville, LA (event was rescheduled because of the hurricanes) Every Fall, about 100 classic wooden boats, hundreds of spectator boats, and thousands of wooden boat and music enthusiasts come to Madisonville, LA, for this museum News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

fundraiser. This year’s festival will be held November 19-20 on the scenic Tchefuncte River, featuring a wide variety of family fun, food, artists, children’s activities, and of course, music. The popular Quick ‘N Dirty Boat Building Contest will return again this year, with teams competing to build a boat, with materials provided, in a day and a half, culminating with the Quick ‘N Dirty Boat Race on Sunday. There will also be a number of activities held at the museum with a free shuttle operating between Water Street and the museum. The Festival Kick-Off Party will be held Friday, November 18, at the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum. For more information, go to http://lpbmaritimemuseum.org/wooden_boat_festival/wbf.html. Nov. 19-20. 16th Annual Nautical Flea Market. Lighthouse Point & Pompano Beach present the 16th Annual Nautical Flea Market in mid-November. (954) 786-4111. Held at Pompano Community Park, 830 NE 18th Ave, Pompano

Beach. Saturday 8 am-5 pm Sunday 8 am-3 pm. www.nauticalfleamarket.com. Nov. 24-Dec. 4. Pirates in Paradise. Various locations throughout Key West, (305) 296-9694. More than 100 improvisational actors and combative stuntmen in pirate garb conduct the annual “invasion” of the southernmost city by a flotilla of pirate ships. Entertainment includes swashbuckling and sea chanteys, pirate costume competition, parties, exhibitions, daily sailing trips, nautical excursions and seafaring adventures, films, a tall ships sea battle, arts and crafts, music, re-enactments and more. Admission: Most are free, various charges for excursions, theatrical and party events. www.piratesinparadise.com. Dec. 2-4. Wharram Catamaran Rendezvous, Dec. 2-4, Hobe Sound, FL. There will be a rendezvous of the world-famous Wharram Catamarans in Hobe Sound, FL, on Dec. 2-4. At least five Wharrams are expected to be at the meeting, including a Tangaroa or two. Last year, the rendezvous attracted visitors, both owners and the curious, from as far away as Vancouver and Colorado. It was said they came to see the Wharrams “in the flesh.” They came to see the boats, pictures, plans and visit. This year, a boat of particular interest will be Nev’s Tiki 46, a gorgeous boat they built themselves and took across the Atlantic for its shakedown cruise. For more information, call Gene Perry at (772) 545-9312. For more information on Wharram catamarans, go to www.pca-seapeople.org. Dec. 5-8. Electrical Certification. Tampa, FL. American Boat and Yacht Council. (410) 956-2737.

NEWS Peninsular Marine in Key West Still Open For Business and Not Sold Last month we reported in SOUTHWINDS that Peninsular Marine in Key West was sold. This information was incorrect. The business is for sale, but there is no sale pending, and the yard and all business services are still open. Peninsular Marine is a full-service boatyard, which offers haul-out, all boat services and yard work for both sail and power. Boaters can also work on their own boats in the yard, except below the waterline as the yard must perform that work because of environmental restrictions. The yard has been in Key West for many years and is well-known by boaters from all over for its quality work and is also a popular marina for working on one’s own boat. It is located at 6000 Peninsular Ave. in Key West and can be reached at (305) 296-8110. 22

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

October 2005

Heading South For The Winter? Snowbirds Have Low Cost Rental EPIRB Option From BoatUS Foundation

The new Farrier F-22. Courtesy Farrier Marine.

In an effort to bolster marine safety, the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is offering cruisers a low-cost 406MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The rental program is offering the $800 life-saving devices available as low as $50 per week as a public service. Reservations can be made online up to six months in advance at www.BoatUS.com/foundation/epirb, or by calling (888) 663-7472. The rental fee includes round trip shipping via three-day service, and the BoatU.S. Foundation handles all of the critical registration information. “By going online we can have an EPIRB delivered to your door in a matter of days,” said David Carter, manager of the BoatU.S. EPIRB Rental Program. Carter also cautioned against borrowing an EPIRB from another vessel, as it could hamper rescue efforts. “The EPIRB registration information is married to the vessel. You don’t want the authorities looking for the wrong boat,” he said.

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

Farrier 22-foot Sport Trimaran Coming Soon The completely new Farrier F-22 will be ready for its initial release soon, and the latest details are now available at www.f-boat.com/pages/trimarans/F-22.html. The F-22 is the latest Farrier design, and it is intended to be a low-cost, entry level, trailerable trimaran, that can offer both cruising comfort along with outstanding performance at a reasonable price. It has been in ongoing development for a number of years but is now nearing completion and will come with all the latest Farrier features including the new third generation beams and folding system as first used by the Farrier F-33. The F-22 key components are to be built in New Zealand by Farrier Marine (NZ) Ltd. to take advantage of significant cost savings, and a highly skilled workforce, while the U.S.-based Farrier Marine, Inc. will be doing the marketing.

Mike Chappel Honored For Organizing Ocean Races In Brevard County Receives 2005 Walter Erben Memorial Award By Roy Laughlin Mike Chappel received the Walter Erben Memorial Award in recognition of his efforts to promote ocean racing in Brevard County. The award citation notes his continuing efforts as a founding member of the Port Canaveral Yacht Club to organize ocean races and, when needed, to serve as race officer for these events. He has been the fleet captain and commodore at the Port Canaveral YC. He is also cited as “a calm and excellent teacher” of sailing technique and racing tactics. The citation additionally recognizes his years of efforts to promote ocean racing in Brevard County for

www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

Florida’s east coast racers. The Port Canaveral YC awards the Walter Erben Memorial Award each year during its Labor Day Regatta. The recipient is selected for his or her efforts on behalf of sailing, which does not necessarily have to be sailboat racing. The recipient’s name is added to a plaque on display at the Port Canaveral YC, and he or she receives a rotating trophy to keep until it passes to the next year’s recipient. Bill and Mary Ann Erben Ward donated this memorial award in honor of Mary Ann’s father. Other nominees for this year’s award included Sherry Beckett, Gerry Moores, Jamel Liebl, Dave Merchberger and Mike Nulf. The award committee accepts nominations from the public, who may make the nomination to Jim Lacy via e-mail at lacy7377@bellsouth.net. A nomination should include the nominee’s full name and a discussion of specific accomplishments and efforts to justify giving the award to the nominee. The Port Canaveral Yacht Club recently changed its name from the Cocoa Beach Yacht Club. (See SOUTHWINDS, Oct. 2005, for more information about this yacht club’s name change and recent growth.)

Planking Begins on Spirit of South Carolina Tall Ship: Crew Fastens First of 200 Wooden Planks to Frames of Tall Ship

Children from the Buist Academy, who came to visit and learn about the ship, get to place their names on the first planks. Photo courtesy South Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation.

skin, of this great 140-foot wooden ship. “Rain or shine, come hell or high water, we are building this ship,” said Brad Van Liew, executive director of the SC

Kenny drilling the first planks on the Spirit of South Carolina. Photo courtesy South Carolina Maritime Heritage Foundation.

This Sept. 28 was a landmark day for the Spirit of South Carolina tall ship project. The very first plank was held in place and lagged (or screwed) to the enormous live oak frames as a deluge of rain began flooding the shipyard. Following that, 199 more planks will be lagged into place over the next several months, forming the hull, or outer News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

Maritime Heritage Foundation. “Our progress will not be slowed by inclement weather, just as weather didn’t stop the crew building the Frances Elizabeth pilot schooner in 1879.” The first planks of any wooden vessel are special in that they form the garboard, a string of planks running the length of the ship at the lowest point next to the keel. The garboard planks on the Spirit of South Carolina are fashioned from angelique, a dense South American hardwood, whereas other planks on the ship will be hewn from South Carolina longleaf yellow pine. The seam between the garboard planks and the keel is known as the “devil,” and this term has spawned many phrases we use today such as “between the devil and the deep” and “devil to pay.” The latter dates back to sailors faced with the unfavorable task of paying the devil, or caulking the longest seam of the ship. As the garboard planks are installed, the most crucial seam, or “devil,” of the ship is formed. The garboard planks will be screwed into place with large bronze lag bolts. Planking is a complex process, which involves cutting immense, heavy pieces of wood into precise pieces (measuring approximately 18 feet x 10 inches x 3 inches). The planks are installed using the carvel technique, meaning they are fitted directly next to each other in a single layer for a flush fit with no overlap. In many cases, planks must be steamed

in order to fit the ship correctly, and bent into place. The crew in the shipyard is building a steam box for this purpose. “This has been a long time coming,” said shipwright Douglas Dow, who has been working on the ship since the keel was laid in 2002. “We’ve got a great crew working on the Spirit of South Carolina, including both professional shipwrights and skilled volunteers.” For more about the Spirit of South Carolina, call (843) 722-1030 or go to www.scmaritime.org.

M.G. Mayer Yacht Services Opens First Boatyard in New Orleans Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita M.G. Mayer Yacht Services, Inc. of New Orleans, LA, announced the re-opening of its West End boatyard in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It will be the only functioning boatyard on Lake Ponchatrain’s south shore for the foreseeable future. Though Katrina destroyed most of the immediate area and some of Mayer’s facilities, the yard itself and the heavy-lift capacity crane were spared and are now operational. The company also has a barge crane in service. The boatyard is taking calls from boat owners needing recovery or repairs to their boats and assistance with insurance claims. (877) 212-7333.

BoatUS Foundation Provides $40,000 In Grants To Promote Clean Boating Projects: Two Florida Groups Receive Funds The BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has awarded $40,000 in Clean Water Grants to 21 nonprofit organizations around the country to support efforts to educate boaters on how to reduce their environmental impact on our waterways. A special emphasis was made this year to support projects designed to help reduce the spread of aquatic nuisance species. “Community groups using America’s waterways often offer the most innovative ideas to protect our waters. Working with smaller, local groups allows us to take a bottom-up approach that helps boaters understand that keeping our waterways clean starts on the lake, river or ocean in your own backyard,” said Margaret Podlich, environmental director for the BoatU.S. Foundation. Over 100 grant applications were received. After a thorough selection process, 21 grants were awarded; 17 grants were devoted to the subject of aquatic nuisance species. Some of the projects include invasive species signage at launch ramps and marinas, and the printing of a new guidebook for greener habits at do-it-yourself boatyards. The Clean Water Grant Program was established in 1999 to help local volunteer groups educate boaters on ways to minimize their impact on the environment. Since that time, over $100,000 in funding has been dispersed nationwide. This grant program as well as other BoatU.S. Foundation projects such as the “Help Stop the Drops” 28

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

National Clean Fueling Program, the “Basics of” clean boating brochure series, and the foundation’s consulting work on state Clean Marina initiatives are funded primarily by donations from members of the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatU.S.). For more information, go to www.BoatUS.com/Foundation.

The two Florida recipients are: 1. Cockroach Bay User’s Group of Sun City Center, FL, to produce educational panels for four informational kiosks on topics like clean boating practices, reducing the spread of invasive species, and the location of seagrass and manatee protection areas.

2. United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 07-08-81-87,89 of Bradenton, FL, to develop and print 1,600 laminated full-color cards with pictures and descriptions of aquatic nuisance species affecting Tampa Bay.

Florida Lobster Season Opens with Mixed Results; Then Came Katrina…and Then…Rita Florida’s lobster two-day mini-season opened in early August, followed by the opening of the regular season on Aug. 6. The season runs through the end of March. This year’s meager catch during the mini-season left many commercial lobster fisherman and sport divers worried about the coming harvest. Eighty-five percent of Florida’s lobster catch comes from the Keys. Divers reported a lack of legalsized lobster during the two-day miniseason, many claiming they could only keep a small percentage of those they measured for length. The twoday pre-regular season take is usually a good indication of the coming year’s harvest. Although last year’s catch was the best in four seasons, with 5.5million pounds, it fell short of the 6 million pounds brought in during an average season. State lobster laws, and the management of the dwindling lobster take in recent years, has prompted a current review of the regulations. Enforcement of current limits and stopping poachers are two of the main concerns. One of the big problems with poachers is they not only steal from traps, considered by many to be as evil as horse thievery, but the thieves take lobsters of all sizes. Another possible change could be restricting the mini-season regulations, which do not forbid night diving and allow for nearshore taking of lobster. One diver addressed the changes the GPS has brought to lobster diving. Many of the lobster in the Keys are found on the bay side, hiding under small remote shelves that are scattered over hundreds of square miles of grassy and sandy bottoms. Some of these shelves are no bigger than a din-

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

ing room table and might hold a dozen lobster. In the preGPS days, divers found these shelves by painstakingly searching—and luck. But, returning to the exact spot was difficult. Today’s GPS is so exact that returning to these locations has become easy. This, coupled with the huge increase in the number of sport divers, has helped decimate the lobster population. After Hurricane Rita came through, damage from the storm’s wind and surge scattered and destroyed a good portion of the half-million traps that were out. Traps were swept on land, some even crossing the Overseas Highway. Hurricane Katrina did its share, but Rita did the most severe damage. The season was barely open before Katrina hit, and with Rita not far behind, lobsterman feel they had about 12 days of the season since it opened August 6. Some think the season is over for them, as many cannot afford to go out and look for traps. Most are finding pieces of traps anyway. The lobster take in the Keys accounts for about 85 percent of the state’s harvest.

Walker Bay Enters Inflatable Market

up a boater’s bill of rights where a dealer can be certified under the program. The bill of rights must be displayed at the dealer location. Some of the key elements of the bill of rights concerning sales, along with capable salespeople and honest advertising, include full disclosure of all details of the purchase, products tested before delivery, delivery as scheduled of products, and explanation and copies of maintenance and warranties. Key points of the service aspects of the new certification guarantees are: explanation of repair plans, estimates, costs and repair time, itemized list of charges, prior approval for changes in repairs or additional costs, proper work completed by competent, trained technicians, access to management, and inspection of replaced parts. General operational rights include: treatment without discrimination, professional response to questions and requests, customer records privacy, and the ability to voice concerns about service and sales directly to management. For more information, contact Terry Leitz at (312) 9466212, or tleitz@nmma.org.. For more information on the NMMA and boater bill of rights, go to www.nmma.org, or www.GrowBoating.org.

Walker Bay, manufacturer of the well-known plastic sailing and rowing tenders for many sailboats, recently entered the inflatable market, coming out with two lines of boats, the Genesis and Odyssey. They are offering 21 different models in the RIB and inflatable market. Walker Bay already has its RID, the Rigid Inflatable Dinghy, an inflatable, rigid-design boat that offers the advantages of a hard shell dinghy with the stability of an inflatable. Boats will be delivered to dealers in January. For more information, go to www.walkerbaygenesis.com.

Marine Industry Establishes Boating Consumer Bill of Rights The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the Marine Retailers Association of America recently set

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

STRICTLY SAIL ST. PETERSBURG

November 3-6 Thursday-Saturday – 10am-6 pm Sunday – 10 am-5 pm Spa Beach Park in the Vinoy Basin at the St. Pete Pier Downtown St. Petersburg FL on the water TICKETS (ages 15 & under are free) 1-day adult Thurs/Fri – $10 1-day adult Sat/Sun – $12 2-day adult – $20 4-day adult – $36 (only available in advance) Purchase tickets online at www.sailamerica.com DIRECTIONS New for 2005! Strictly Sail has relocated to Spa Beach at the base of the St Pete Pier. This is directly across the basin from the Vinoy Resort. The Pier is located at the end of Second Avenue N.E. From I-275, take Exit 23-A (Old 10) going East to Beach Drive. Turn South to Second Avenue N.E. for one block, at Bayshore Drive, directly in front of the Pier, turn right and follow South to discounted parking area, just opposite the Bayfront Center or follow the “BOAT SHOW PARKING” signs, take the FREE show shuttle to the Pier. BOATS AND GEAR Hundreds of exhibitors of gear and boats. Dozens of in-water and on-land boats to tour STRICTLY SAIL ST. PETERSBURG SEMINAR SCHEDULE: Seminars on a variety of sailing topics are being held continuously during the show. For more information and updated schedules and seminar titles go to www.sailamerica.com. DISCOVER SAILING Discover Sailing, a national introduction-to-sailing program will be going on each day at STRICTLY SAIL to help non-sailors take their first sail. Show-goers can go on free, 30-minute sailing trips and collect free, learn-to-sail materials and names of sailing schools where they can further their education.

sailing world. Sailing for Miracles is a benefit for All Childrens Hospital in St. Petersburg. Sailing for Miracles Events: Masters Under Sail VIP Cocktail Party Friday, November 4, 7 p.m. at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. The public is invited to a “Masters Under Sail” cocktail party that kicks off the fundraiser. Masters Under Sail Regatta Saturday, November 5, 4 p.m. Celebrity sailors will race aboard a fleet of ten Sonars in full view of spectators at the boat show. Sail with one of the masters for just a $100 donation. Mother Tubber “Re-gretta” Saturday, November 5, 1 p.m. Come out and sail your own festively decorated boat on the 5th, regardless of size or type, in a fun, sailing parade. Win 25 cases of Heineken just for showing up! More great prizes awarded to the best, (and worst!) participants. Boat Builder’s Poker Run Sunday, November 6, 1 p.m. A major fun regatta is the Poker Run Regatta, featuring yachts and teams provided by yacht manufacturers. For more information and to donate to the hospital, go to www.sailingformiracles.org.

AUTHOR’S CORNER TENT Come meet some of your favorite sailing authors and pick up all of the most current sailing books! KIDS ABOARD Free boatbuilding workshop for children ages 4 and older, teaches them to design and build their vessels. LATITUDES & ATTITUDES CRUISER’S BASH Saturday night 7 p.m. Everyone at the show Saturday evening is invited. SAILING FOR MIRACLES This year, Strictly Sail St. Pete is hosting a new event, Sailing for Miracles, which brings together some of the well-known sailing personalities of recent years who have been influential in the News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

OUR WATERWAYS The SOUTHWINDS “Our Waterways” Section SOUTHWINDS has created this section to inform our readers about changes in our waterways. We believe that Southerners are in the midst of a great change occurring on our waterways—through the conversion of many boating properties to condominiums, restrictions on anchorages once thought to be more open and now being more restricted and regulated, and other economic forces at work. The waterways belong to all of us, and all of us have a right to use them. The waterways are not just for those who can afford to live on the water, and it is up to us boaters and lovers of these waters to protect that right. We hope that by helping to inform you of these changes, we will contribute to doing just that. We are looking for news and information on changes, land sales, anchorages, boaters’ rights, new marinas, anchoring rights, disappearing marinas, boatyards and boat ramps, environmental concerns and other related news. Contact Steve Morrell, editor@southwindsmagazine.com, or call (877) 372-7245.

Communication is Crucial in Solving the Tampa Davis Island Seaplane Basin Liveaboard Controversy

The Davis Island Seaplane Anchorage in Tampa. Photo by Steve Morrell.

Island neighborhood in Seaplane Basin for the past eight months and during that time, they have witnessed a controversy brewing between the liveaboard community and the citizens of Tampa. The controversy, according to the liveaboards, stems from a litany of stereotypes and misunderstandings. Some

By Stephanie Cox The Taylor family has been living aboard their 40-foot Chris Craft Constellation in Tampa’s Seaplane Basin for the past eight months. During that time the family has worked onshore, maintained its boat properly, and been environmentally conscious. All of these facts fly in the face of many of the stereotypes that racers and landlubbers make against people who liveaboard their boats. Lelena Taylor believes that liveaboards in Tampa’s Seaplane Basin are getting a bad rap. According to Taylor, people stereotype liveaboards “as poor, unemployed, and uneducated.” The Taylor family has lived off Tampa’s Davis

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

of the affluent Davis Island residents liken the liveaboard population to a homeless population. The reality, is according to Taylor, that most of the liveaboards left their houses behind and purposely chose this alternative lifestyle of living on a boat. Taylor is a nurse by trade, currently homeschooling children aboard her boat and her husband is a contractor. In fact, most of the liveaboards work, and those that don’t are retirees living on a fixed Social Security income. Taylor believes that the liveaboard community is blamed for many problems in Davis Island that are not its fault. Taylor contends that there are approximately 100 boats in the Seaplane Basin harbor, and only about ten belong to the community at-large. The remaining boats belong to Davis Island Yacht Club (DIYC). Yet, the liveaboard community gets blamed for pollution in the harbor, theft at DIYC, and ill-maintained boats.

Miscommunications Cause the Feces to Hit the Prop in Davis Island Recent water-testing results from September and October, show only trace amounts of pollutants in the harbor, making it technically safe to swim in. Taylor admits, “I don’t let my children swim in the water because I see feces floating by and worry about toxic chemicals in the water.” But the liveaboards say this pollution is not from their few boats. The pollution that closed Davis Island beaches in 2004 could be caused from a number of sources such as nearby plants, other boats from other boaters, a near by beach and a lack of

Send Us Information On Public Mooring Fields SOUTHWINDS is trying to catalogue all the public mooring fields and anchorages that are regulated by local municipalities in the South, whether fresh or saltwater. We ask our readers to send us information on those that they know, with contacts, locations, regulations, news etc. Contact Steve Morrell, editor@southwindsmagazine.com, or call (877) 372-7245. water movement in this small harbor. For her part, Taylor’s boat goes to Marjorie Park to dispose of their waste properly, and she contends that other liveaboard boats do the same. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission boarded the Taylor’s boat just last month and deemed it in compliance with state regulations. Taylor believes that the liveaboard population are actually the unsung heroes of Seaplane Basin harbor. They have rescued and tethered boats from Davis Island Yacht Club (DIYC) that have broken loose in storms. In fact, Taylor says that many of the boats photographed in a St. Petersburg Times article last year, washed up on a Davis Island beach, were Davis Island Yacht Club boats. Adrift boats, regardless of origin or ownership, endanger the liveaboards’ homes so they definitely want to work with Davis Island Yacht Club and the city of Tampa to prevent this problem. Taylor says that the liveaboard population has also thwarted thefts at Davis Island Yacht Club. They live there and are the eyes and ears of the community when the rest of Davis Island sleeps. It is easy for them to hear an odd motorboat noise late at night or see people that are up to no good. For those reasons alone, the liveaboards and residents of Davis Island should be on the same side. After a recent SOUTHWINDS article, the controversy increased between the liveaboards and residents of Tampa. The liveaboards want to work to help solve problems that impact everyone who enjoys Seaplane Basin.

The Liveaboards Want to Help Make Seaplane Basin Better The Taylor family is personally willing to front the money to get a pumping boat in the harbor. The pumping boat

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

OUR WATERWAYS would be a small barge-style vessel with a holding tank. The Taylors are willing to pay for the pumping boat because they want to help the environment. The Taylor family also reports that the liveaboards hope that the city does create a public mooring field in Seaplane Basin, and they are willing to pay a reasonable amount to keep their boats there. A mooring field would help reduce the number of boats that the city needs to house at marinas, and create additional funds for the city that are currently not being collected. The moorings would also help the city better monitor who is living aboard their boats in the Basin and hopefully prevent boats from being improperly anchored. Taylor advocates a reduced mooring fee for retirees on a fixed income. The liveaboards want the city to fulfill its promise to build public bathrooms on Davis Island. Currently, some of the disagreement between Davis Island Yacht Club members and the liveaboards stem from membership complaints that liveaboards come onto the grounds of their club to use the bathroom facilities. SOUTHWINDS has seen no proof that is true. If it is, it is hard to blame someone for doing this when the only public bathroom at the beach at Davis Island is one Port-O-Let that has been tipped over for months. The city was kind enough to put yellow tape around the portable toilet. Finally, the liveaboards want the city to put up an idle-speed sign for the harbor. Lelena Taylor is working personally to get a sign put up because powerboats come speeding through this small basin endangering sailors young and old. At the end of the day, the disagreements between liveaboards and Tampa residents seem to stem from a lack of communication. It is hard to pick up the phone and talk to someone living on a boat and it is easy to base opinions on rumors. The sailors of Davis Island Yacht Club and the liveaboards should band together to be on the same side to make sure that elected officials support their interests. They should also work together to preserve and protect the oceanic environment that we all enjoy.

Currently, there is an anchorage just south of the Bradenton Beach City Pier, which has been used for many years by visiting boaters and local liveaboards. Enforcement concerns center around a number of derelict vessels that use the existing anchorage for wet storage. Some of these vessels have been there for long periods of time without ever getting any attention from their unknown owners. There has always been a concern that these boats will break away from their anchors during a storm and become a hazard. There is currently one boat in the anchorage that sits on the bottom with its mast sticking out of the water—a real hazard in the dark. Another enforcement concern is the dumping of raw sewage into the waters by transients and liveaboards, something strictly prohibited by law. It is not known that boaters are dumping into the waters, but the practice is suspected. Human feces has been periodically found in local trash receptacles in the area, which poses a health hazard for refuse workers when they pick up the trash, as it is almost impossible to keep it off the worker who empties a can by hand. If this is the result of liveaboards bringing their human waste ashore, then it is proof that at least one boater is concerned about the discharge laws and probably not dumping in the local waters, even though they don’t know the health hazard they are leaving. There have been other concerns that liveaboards have been stealing from homeowners on shore, but there has been no proof of this. This past year, the city did made a property swap with a local landowner to establish a dinghy dock for those currently using the anchorage. Chief Speciale would like to see a mooring field set up so he doesn’t have to enforce the laws on the water. When the city extends its jurisdiction to cover the existing anchorage and future mooring field area, he will be able to enforce any laws covering boats in the area, but with a mooring field, only currently registered boats with proper marine sanitation devices will be allowed. Pump-out facilities will

Bradenton Beach Plans City Mooring Field By Steve Morrell and Barbara Pierce Bradenton Beach, a small community located on Anna Maria Island on the southern edge of Tampa Bay, has taken recent steps to establish a public mooring field with permanent moorings. The town’s police chief, Sam Speciale, has been pushing for this for over four years and has taken a personal interest in the matter. His interest has been not just for enforcement concerns, but to also establish a good mooring field for the town that would be beneficial for both visiting boaters and the local tourist economy, bringing boaters who would patronize local shops and The Bradenton Beach Pier. Photo by Barbara Pierce. restaurants. 34

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

OUR WATERWAYS worked on. A few years ago, Chief Speciale looked into specifics of setting up a mooring field, bringing in experts from the University of Florida and Sea Grant to discuss the matter with local citizens. A meeting was held and public attendance was so high that it was apparent that there was heavy demand for the field. Not much happened after that meeting till recently. One of the unique problems that has faced the town in setting up a field is that the city limits of Bradenton Beach end at the water â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge, and the police department has no jurisdiction for enforcement of compliance with discharge laws and other boating laws in the existing anchorage. Enforcement The Bradenton Beach pier and mooring field. The current dinghy docks are in the can only be done by county law enforcement or the U.S. Coast foreground. Photo by Steve Morrell Guardâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and both groups do not have the manpower or money to do so. The city also has no rights to set up a mooring field be available, and the discharge issue will hopefully be since the area under consideration falls outside the city limresolved, as will the problem with derelict boats. its! The city is currently in the process of changing the city Plans would include the establishment of permanent moorings in the current anchorage. With permanent moorings, protection of the sea grass will also be better since boats that anchor there now anchor where they please, and an anchor is never dropped in the same exact place twice â&#x20AC;&#x201D; besides the issue of anchor chain moving on the bottom with currents and wind. City Pier to be Rebuilt With Facilities for Mooring Field Good shoreside facilities for boaters would also be built on the pier. These would be available for liveaboards and transients. The local pier was damaged last year from tropical storms and needs rebuilding. Chief Speciale would like to see the pier rebuilt with bathrooms and other facilities for those using the mooring field. Another service that would be available is a pump-out facility, either one onshore that boaters could come to or a pump-out boat that would come to the boats. Details of the plans are currently being

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

limits to include the anchorage and when that is completed, which should be in the coming months, the town is hoping to begin work on the project. In the meantime, the town is working on developing the details for setting up the mooring field. On Oct. 6, a public meeting/workshop was held, and recommendations were made by the Conservation Clinic of the University of Florida on how to proceed. Recommendations included information gathered by a survey of existing mooring fields, especially Fort Myers Beach and Vero Beach. The anchorage south of the Bradenton Beach City Pier will become a “Managed Anchorage and Mooring Field.” The city pier will be rebuilt to include a harbormaster’s office and a dinghy dock. There are many jurisdictional issues to be resolved through negotiations with the state and county. Among other issues are fees, whether to regulate length of stay, liveaboards (allowing liveaboards was encouraged), type of mooring hardware, environmental issues, and how the mooring field will be governed. A lease from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is needed. Sea grass is patchy near the designated area and is the next issue that must be resolved before proceeding. Because of the sea grass, there is room to moor only 18 boats. As waterfront property throughout Florida becomes increasingly valuable, marinas are closing, converting to condos. The 2005 Working Waterfronts Legislation addresses this and encourages mooring fields as a solution. For Bradenton Beach, this solution has already been several years in progress, and remains a complex, lengthy process.

A New Public Marina in Brevard County? By Roy Laughlin In September, news briefly flashed across newspaper headlines and TV screens that Brevard County Commissioner Ron Pritchard wanted Brevard County to buy a marina site and build a publicly owned marina. He and representatives of Towne Realty were in the initial stages of a discussion for the sale of the marina site at Towne Realty’s Island Point Condominium project. If the sale occurred, the marina, to be named the Merritt Island Marina, would become a publicly owned marina in Brevard County to provide boater access to the Indian River. As presently envisioned, the Merritt Island Marina would include 120 slips for annual lease on a per-foot basis. It would also have a fuel dock, pump-out facility, a harbormaster’s facility and permanent staff. A mooring field in the Indian River may also be part of the marina project, if feasible. The site the commissioner has in mind had previously been two marinas that shared the same cove: Island Point Marina and Indian Cove Marina, across the Indian River from downtown Cocoa. The two marinas in the cove and adjacent property were purchased over several years, and all are now being developed as the Island Point waterfront News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

OUR WATERWAYS condominium complex. That is the company that developed Whitley Bay Marina, the second of three formerly public marinas that purchased and converted to condominium developments along the Indian River in the Cocoa area. In the case of Whitley Bay, Towne Realty sold the marina to an investment company that now owns and manages it. Sale of the marina area for the Merritt Island Marina, if it occurs, would be at least the second time Towne Realty spun off a marina facility from one of its development projects in the Cocoa area. At this point, the purchase plan should be considered slightly more substantial than vapor. One factor sets this proposal apart from It will be a brighter day if this site becomes the Merritt Island Marina, a public facility within many other public facility a condominium development. Photo by Roy Laughlin.

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

purchases, however: The proposed Merritt Island Marina is within the Merritt Island Redevelopment District along SR 520. This agency is an easy source of ample seed money for a project that may cost $6-7-million for site purchase and subsequent development. The Florida Inland Navigation District is another source of funding, but it will financially support the proposed Merritt Island Marina only if the county establishes an enterprise fund to manage its finances. (The Merritt Island Redevelopment District will “sunset” in 2012, so, although it will be helpful at the start, it cannot be designated as the marina’s long-term management and financial entity.) According to Commissioner Pritchard, the proposal’s hiatus from public view since its announcement has been one of busy planning and preparation. Staff are “going over the numbers” to make sure the envisioned facility can be completed within the proposed budget. The County Commission has agreed to hear the proposal when it is ready for presentation. According to Commissioner Pritchard, there has been a groundswell of public support for the proposed Merritt Island Marina as a public marina, and no opposition. Given substantial public support, apparent lack of political opposition, and a source of funding other than ad valorem taxes, the initially vaporous plan for the Merritt Island Marina may coalesce into a genie who will grant the boaters’ wish for a publicly owned marina in central Brevard County.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

Small Boat Launch at Sebastian Inlet State Park Continues as a Favorite Spot for Local Sailors By Roy Laughlin Scarcer than boat ramps are accessible beaches for launching unmotorized sailboats. Sebastian Inlet State Park has an outstanding beach launch area on the south side of the inlet. It is at the end of a sand spit forming the inlet’s southwest bank. The area includes a couple of covered picnic pavilions, grass lot parking and toilet facilities. The spit has hundreds of feet of low-slope beach access for sailboat launching and beaching. A portion is graded to a low slope to allow launching from a trailer onto the sand or water, especially good for catamaran sailors. This is a favored area for unmotorized sailboats, wind surfers and kayakers. Although this beach and some of the structures have sustained damage in hurricanes since 1999, park management remains committed to maintaining its availability. It was quickly repaired after last fall’s hurricanes and is in good shape now. Simplicity is the trait making this area useful to sailors. It has no pavement and no rock revetments along the water. Park management worked closely with Chris Runge and other members of the Indian River Catamaran Association (IRCA) to make the launch area convenient and accessible without the usual tendency to improve the facility to the point it becomes ornamental rather than useful. The IRCA began scheduling the first Saturday of the month in the mid ‘90s at Sebastian Inlet State Park for a loosely organized day of sailing—intended to get catamaran sailors and other small boat sailors in one place at the same time to enjoy sailing comraderie and a great locale. This continued almost uninterrupted until last fall’s hurricanes. So many of the local sailors had residential and business property damage that they found less time for sailing for several months. Although many IRCA sailors continued to use the beach launch facilities following the hurricanes, the IRCA temporarily suspended regularly scheduled Saturday events. The organization resumed the first Saturday meets in September, and had a great day of sailing on Oct. 1, when the members enjoyed strong breezes and moderate temperatures. With the facilities in good condition and enthusiasm for sailing returning to local sailing groups such as the IRCA, Sebastian Inlet will be a hot spot even in a cool winter.

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

HURRICANE SEASON 2005 Send Us Your Hurricane Stories Visit our Hurricane Page on the SOUTHWINDS Web site Our Mission Is To Save Boats We are looking for readers to send in their hurricane stories-whether on the water, at the dock, or at anchor/moored, both sail and power. Tell us what worked, what didn’t work, what lines, fenders, anchors, chafe protection gear and other techniques were used to help save your boat or what didn’t; What you saw worked or didn’t work on other boats-or what you heard about; or just tell us what happened. Next year, when the 2006 hurricane season begins on June 1, we will publish more of these stories and letters along with those we continue to receive. This year’s stories are on our hurricane page on our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com. Through sharing these experiences, other boaters can learn what to do next time a storm comes and, perhaps save their boat and, perhaps, even lives. Send them to editor@southwindsmagazine.com. Send pictures if you have them.

END OF SEASON HURRICANE REPORT

The 2005 hurricane season ends on Nov. 30. After last year’s hurricane season, SOUTHWINDS initiated a monthly hurricane section during this year’s season. We thought it important to solicit and share stories that readers could learn from to save their boats. With this year’s storms, it has become even more important and I, personally, have learned a lot. I have learned that people who lose their boats want to come back and get theirs repaired or buy another one and start all over. But they wanted to continue to sail. I purchased a sailboat this last year that suffered storm damage (a thunderstorm while it was on the hard—not from a tropical storm), had to go through an insurance claim and have the damage repaired. Next year, it will be here, in west

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

A success story. (See SOUTHWINDS August 2005 issue at www.southwindsmagazine.com) Photo by Steve Morrell.

Florida, in the water. After researching and reading these survival stories, I have learned that we can save our boats, and I learned by seeing what others did. It is possible, but it takes planning and preparation. Of course, those who lost their lives, and/or their homes and livelihoods, have suffered more, but SOUTHWINDS is a sailing magazine, and we will continue to offer what we can in lessons learned to help others save their boats in the coming years, as there will be more storms. So, send us your stories—stories of success and failureover the winter months, learn what you can on how to prepare and be prepared for next year. Steve Morrell, Editor

Keys Not Seriously Harmed By Hurricane Rita By Rebecca Burg On Monday, Sept. 19, a mandatory evacuation was in place for all Keys residents and visitors. Category 2 hurricane Rita brushed just south of the Keys chain on Sept. 20 and was not as injurious as first expected. Rita proceeded through what locals refer to as “hurricane alley” in the Florida Straits between Cuba and the Keys. The devastating eyewall missed the islands. There was temporary flooding of residential areas and a storm surge over parts of U.S. Route 1. Gusty winds caused some damage to trees and buildings and there were localized power outages. Boats in slips and anchored or moored out in exposed areas experienced damage, with some dismastings and sinkings. The island chain rebounded quickly and visitors were welcomed back by that Friday. The area’s infrastructure is unharmed with local services and the beautiful subtropical scenery ready for tourist season. www.southwindsmagazine.com

Hurricane Update Along the Northern Gulf Coast After Katrina and Rita By Kim Kaminski Hurricane, by now, has become a household name along the northern Gulf coast. When Dr. William Gray, professor of the Atmospheric Science Department at Colorado State University, predicted a “busy” hurricane season, he was absolutely correct. The 2005 hurricane season has not only been one of the most active seasons on record but also one of the most destructive. Last year, during Hurricane Ivan, the sea floor was significantly altered along the coast of northern Florida and Alabama. After Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina and Rita, even more of the sea floor changed, restricting the access to Pensacola Bay and passage through other inlets along the coast. Consequently, relief ships to the area following Hurricane Katrina had limited port access. Many of these vessels had a deep draft of 36 feet or more, and access through the Pensacola Bay Pass channel was restricted to one of the only open port areas in the region. The debris fields that lay along the shorelines and coastal areas of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana made ship movement nearly impossible.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains the region’s waters, which include five deep-water harbors from the Louisiana-Mississippi border to Tallahassee, FL. The Corps of Engineers had work scheduled for later this fall to dredge the active Pensacola channel following Hurricane Ivan. This was postponed by this year’s storms. Now, since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made landfall, the Pensacola ship channel has become an even more vital asset and a key factor for future relief assistance. The channel’s importance became even more apparent when various relief vessels had to anchor offshore, and the Pensacola Naval Air Station’s military personnel made efforts to get liberty ships out to the anchored vessels to load, offload, take on fuel, stores and personnel. Instead of taking a day to accomplish this task at a port facility, it took three days to run boats back and forth to load and unload at sea. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planned on removing approximately 200,000 cubic yards of bottom material by September 29, 2005, from the Pensacola channel. If successful, this will allow more access, especially for these vessels that will be bringing relief supplies to the storm victims.

AN END-OF-SEASON STORY

Keys Hurricane Hideout Hustle: A Native American Sailor’s Secret Revealed By Rebecca Burg After a long silence, the FM radio station crackled back to life. “…on emergency power right now,” said the DJ. He went on to describe how the station’s roof was leaking. At the same time, the National Weather Service VHF broadcast went silent. I twirled the knob and pushed a few buttons. Nothing. It’s outright spooky to lose contact with the outside world when a hurricane is passing close by. Angel’s backup VHF radio, on 72, buzzed. “You still there?” It was Capt. Bill from Defiant.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

HURRICANE SEASON 2005 “Yeah,” I said, the thickest tree then added, “I can’t trunks near the roots get the weather.” kept us in place. Bill came back. Chafing gear to pro“They’re off the air. tect the line and the The power must be mangrove’s bark is out.” To pass the ideal. Hurricane time, Bill and I nervDennis kept us away ously chattered on from land for a the radio while our week, and having a sailboats rattled in fairly self-sufficient the gusty winds of and well-stocked Hurricane Dennis. boat is a must. As Boat owners in Dennis passed by in the hurricane belt the night, I began to need to have a perwonder if Angel’s sonalized storm plan. bar had been too As a single-hander Angel hiding in the mangroves. Photo by Rebecca Burg. well-stocked when I who lives, travels and works onboard a small sailboat, my saw tiny green flashing lights in the mangroves. Nearby, Bill course of action is to flee and hide in the mangroves. If also saw the lights. We soon realized that they were fireflies unable to flee, I’ll hide in the nearest mangroves available. stirred up by the storm. Who would’ve known? After Fellow cruiser Capt. Bill gets the credit for showing me the Dennis, I sailed into the Keys to replenish Angel’s stores, run-and-duck-for-cover-in-the-trees trick. Years ago, after particularly the bar. Just when I was getting comfortable migrating from the hurricane-free Great Lakes, I had faced and resting in a favorite lower Keys anchorage, I fled on a a rude crash course in tropical weather. While Angel and I whim. Bill and Defiant did likewise. have bobbed around in the subtropics for the past few years, we ran and hid from six hurricanes so far. We were And Then Along Came Katrina safe each time. The key to survival is to stay far ahead of the A mere tropical depression, Katrina didn’t even have a name weather, act early, avoid unsafe risk-taking and use plenty yet, and it was a hot, sunny and windless day. The weather of common sense. Staying ahead of the weather is easier forecast was mild and raised no brows. Nevertheless, I hastisaid than done, so that’s where the avoid-risk-taking part ly stuffed my bowsprit into a lonely mangrove channel. comes in. Defiant settled nearby. Bill, falling back on 30 years of profesI also fall back on my native ancestors’ beliefs, but more sional experience at sea, didn’t like the looks of the skies. I on that later. One must plan ahead, preselecting potential was relying on something much harder to explain. My native mangrove shelters on a calm day. Note the mean low water ancestors (from a mix of tribes) had passed on bits of their depths and the time it takes to reach each shelter. Smaller culture, beliefs and sensitivities. A wise elder, my grandvessels and shallow drafts are easier to hide. With a threemother had taught me things that were at one time everyday and-a-half-foot draft, Angel is only 31 feet with her overlife in our past. One of our beliefs is that everything has a sized bowsprit. Bill’s Morgan Out Island, Defiant, has a spirit, even manmade things like homes and boats. One four-and-a-half-foot draft, and she’s about 40 feet long with could learn from and communicate with that spirit. Of her davits and attached dinghy. course, these traditional ways are no substitutes for practical The mangroves not only buffered the winds, but they seamanship, but I can’t help including them in what I do. shielded Defiant and Angel from the seas. There was little Though modern society may question my less-modern ways, fetch in the narrow, dogleg mangrove channel. We were it’s not an option for me to ignore an upbringing and family also surrounded by shallow tidal flats. Nylon line tied to traditions that are thousands of years old. Between Bill’s serious nautical experience and my belief that Angel’s spirit urgently wanted to hide, we had dropped everything to run away like Chicken Littles in perfectly fine weather. Two days later, Hurricane Katrina crossed over South Florida. Boaters had little chance to prepare. Katrina took people by surprise as it swept along the Keys chain, intensifying as it moved along. It came at night with torrential rains and tornadoes. Into the morning, it trashed the lower Keys anchorage that Defiant and Angel had recently occupied. Boats were sunk, some dismasted, blown into each other or blown into the Gulf of Mexico. It was chaos. We were well-sheltered, but our masts were exposed to the hurricane force winds. Defiant’s masthead antenna tore away. Angel’s saggy old bimini self-destructed. I tried to make coffee as my cruiser was being bodily shaken like a toy in the hands of a hyperactive kid. It’s sort of 42

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

like when someone shakes a can of nuts to see van, but I really should’ve lishow many are left. There was only one nut tened to my sailboat. inside Angel. The high tide went out and When it was safe enough, I took the wouldn’t return for a long 24 dinghy over to Defiant to share dinner and hours. Defiant and Angel were watch a movie. A long-time buddy cruiser, resting on their bilges at a 30Bill was curious about my cultural degree angle in silty sand. beliefs. He liked the idea that a boat’s Anchors had been strung out on spirit could possibly be “listened” to and both vessels. The water was only learned from, especially if it’s advantaankle deep, and I found it discongeous to one’s safety. I told him that it certing to see Angel’s nether regions didn’t matter what one’s background completely exposed. When I crawled or heritage was. Anyone can freely inside the cabin, I began to feel sick. choose to learn and apply this sensitivI didn’t throw up, but Angel wasn’t so ity while cruising or to daily life. It’s lucky. She managed to expel the conjust a matter of being open-minded. tents of her freshwater tank. For the Still, the subject was awkward for me time being, I think that my beloved to talk about. It’s easy to say that a deci- Angel and Defiant in the mangroves. Bayfield was mad at me. What sailboat sion was made based on practical expe- Drawing by Rebecca Burg. wouldn’t be? At least I had a spare jerry rience. It’s not so easy to admit that I jug with some water in it. Adding insult took an action because a certain yellow sailboat “talks” to me to injury, a loud thunderstorm with tropical storm force winds about it. If one openly shares things like this in this society, rumbled our way. With pelting rain, the weather came and men in white suits and a rubber van might just pay a visit. kicked us while we were down. Still, a cruiser has to use all options available to keep After the storm, I walked my dinghy over to Defiant one’s life and property safe. Sometimes that means to see how Bill was doing. At least his cruiser didn’t barf. thinking and seeing outside of the box. We tried to make sandwiches in the ketch’s tilted galley without letting too much stuff slide to the floor. Later, On the Bottom in the Mangroves in the middle of the night, Angel was partially After four long days in the trees, Bill and I were buoyed by the incoming tide. I was soon able to so bored that we were watching crabs crawl kedge free and anchor in the channel to wait around the nearby mangrove roots. Katrina had for first light. Defiant floated free just before stirred the water so badly that we couldn’t see dawn. Finally, we were bounding through our escape channel. The snaking route was the refreshingly deeper waters of the surrounded by shallow tidal flats, which Gulf. Aside from scuffed bottom we couldn’t see either. By the fifth paint, both boats were unharmed. day, and heedless of the water We found our way into South clarity, Angel and Defiant ran Florida and managed to rest in a frenetic panic away from and regain our senses just in the mangroves. Activated by time for Hurricane Rita. Once the hurricane’s rains, swarms of more, Angel had talked me into biting bugs had made the trees another wild ride toward manAngel and Defiant aground after almost intolerable. Defiant mangrove no man’s land. These the storm. Drawing by Rebecca Burg. aged to make it all the way to the days, it’s just another day in the channel’s entrance before promptly runlife of a cruising sailboat. ning aground on a falling tide. Resorting to my depth sounder and tuned to Angel’s lively spirit, I stayed in deeper water. The convoluted channel takes about 40 minutes to motor through, and there are no markers. Reading the water’s current flow was difficult in the post-storm swell and chop. The winds were a steady twenty knots. Angel and I were almost free when Bill, trying to be helpful, radioed. “You’re gonna run aground over there! Turn west.” Angel did not want to turn west. Befuddled and unsure whether to listen to an experienced sea captain or to my sailboat, I began to swerve like a drunken ice skater. Flashing different readouts, the depth sounder gave up and blinked in confusion. “No, no, turn west!” Bill urged. “No, no turn east,” Angel seemed to say. Conflicted, I turned west. Bumping to a halt, Angel joined Defiant. Boom drooping in defeat, she slowly leaned over like a wounded animal. Don’t tell the men in the rubber News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

MARITIME LAW

Riparian and Littoral Property Rights in the States of Alabama and Florida Or the right to use the water in front of my property. By Capt. J. Michael Shea, JD

ith all the marinas becoming condos and more and more restrictions being placed on waterfront property, I thought it might be interesting to look at an old waterfront property owner’s right to use the abutting water: riparian rights. Time and space does not permit me to cover the subject for all the Southern states, so I have chosen two to write about in a somewhat general way. Most of our Southern states have similar laws, as we all get our law in this area from the British common law. The definition of riparian property rights (or owner) is best described as one whose land is bounded by a river, and “riparian rights” are special rights to make use of water in a waterway adjoining the owner’s property. The words “riparian owner” have been frequently applied also to ownership on the shores of the sea or of a lake, a condition more accurately expressed by the phrase “littoral owner.” Accordingly, the term “riparian rights” refers to the rights of owners of land abutting a stream, while the term “littoral rights” refers to the rights of owners of land abutting surface waters of a lake or sea. However, the term “riparian” is now used generally to describe a landowner who owns land bordering upon, bounded by, fronting upon, abutting or adjacent and contiguous to and in contact with a body of water. Thus, the terms, “riparian rights” and “littoral rights,” are often used interchangeably today. The more common of the two is “riparian rights,” which has come to mean both “riparian and littoral rights.” One of the latest and most interesting cases in Alabama is the case handed down by its Supreme Court, Cove Properties, Inc. v. Walter Trent Marina, Inc. (2000). In this case, the riparian landowner filed case asking the court to define his rights (to determine each party’s respective rights). The case was an action against a neighboring marina, alleging the adjacent pier encroached in front of the landowner’s property. The Supreme Court of Alabama held that the marina had no right to erect a pier in front of the riparian lands of another. The court was looking at Alabama Code 1975, § 33-7-50, which gives an owner of riparian lands the right to install a pier in navigable waters in front of its riparian lands, but has no right to erect a pier in front of the riparian lands of another. Of interest in this case is the fact that the state of Alabama had given the marina owner a lease for the bottomland (the small piece in question) which was in front of the adjacent landowner. The court held that the state’s lease of submerged property 44

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

to the marina did not give the marina the right to erect a pier encroaching in front of the neighbor’s riparian lands, even beyond the point of navigability. Code 1975, § 33-7-50. This statute controls and gives riparian rights in Alabama to install wharves, docks, and the like in front of your waterfront land. The owner may also receive, discharge, store, protect, transfer, load and unload freight and commodities of commerce to and from vessels. The case law in Alabama gives riparian rights to owners: the right to construct waterfront improvements abutting the water. Of interest to the issue of riparian rights in Alabama is

www.southwindsmagazine.com

another Statute: Alabama code 1975 § 9-12-21 “Natural oyster reef” and the definition of an oyster bed. This statute gives the oyster fisherman the right to fish a natural oyster reef. The old question of oyster beds came up in the Alabama case of South Alabama Seafood Assoc., V. Kuppersmith. In that case, the Seafood Association and its members sought injunctive against state and private lessees of oyster bottomland (an oyster farmer). The court held that all of the bay, What rights do waterfront property including the area subject on? Photo by Steve Morrell. to lease agreement was a “natural oyster reef” and enjoined the state from preventing public access to that area. Thus, one must remember that if an oyster bed is within an upland owner’s riparian rights area, they may have to share the oyster bed with the oysterman in the area. Summary as to Alabama Riparian or littoral rights in Alabama are alive and well. The state still adheres to the common law treatment of the subject and does not allow much infringement on the principle. The upland owner has a right to the “riparian use” of the water column in front of his land from the shoreline out to the navigational channel. In Florida, we have an old 1921 Fla. Laws ch. 8537 (the “Butler Act”), and it provides, in part: “The State of Florida ... divests itself of all right, title and interest to all lands covered by water lying in front of any tract of land owned … by any person, … lying upon any navigable stream or bay of the sea or harbor, as far as to the edge of the channel, and hereby vests the full title to the riparian owner, and gives them the full right and to build wharves into streams or waters of the bay or harbor and to fill up from the shore, bank or beach as far as may be desired, not obstructing the channel, but leaving full space for the requirements of commerce, and upon lands so filled in to erect warehouses, dwellings or other buildings and also the right to prevent encroachments of any other person upon all such submerged land in the direction of their lines continued to the channel and confirming to the riparian proprietors all improvements which may have been made upon submerged lands.” And what that is all about is historical, as the statute dates back to 1856 when the state legislature was trying to get people to come to the state and help develop it. Thus, this statute was passed, giving people the riparian rights in front of their upland property if they improved the uplands by building something on the waterfront. The statute was declared unconstitutional in the late 1800s, only to have the legislature pass it again in 1921. The statute was in effect until 1957 when it was repealed. However, its effect is that if a riparian property News & Views for Southern Sailors

owner in Florida can show that the upland was improved before 1957, they can claim riparian rights out to the nearest channel (and that may be some distance). After 1957, the riparian rights in Florida get very confusing. In some places, the bottomland has been transferred to a local city, county or port authority. They often want a rental fee to permit the upland owner to build a dock or other facility. If the land has not been given over to owners have to the water they are a local government body, then it is still owned by the state, and it has restrictions as to how the bottomland can be used. Summary as to Florida If you can show that your waterfront land was improved before the Butler Act was repealed in 1957, you have riparian rights in Florida that are quite good (the old common law kind). If your land was not developed until after 1957, you most likely are at the mercy of the state or local governments, depending on who owns the bottomland. Mike Shea is a member of the Florida Bar and admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the South District of Alabama. He is not a member of the Alabama Bar. If you have a boating legal (sailing) question, please write Mike in care of SOUTHWINDS or e-mail Mike at mike@jmichaelshea.com. Capt. J. Michael Shea is a maritime attorney in Tampa, and holds a masters and harbor pilots license. He has co-authored law books in the maritime field, and teaches law and writes articles on maritime law. He has served as a marine investigator for the United States Coast Guard. The opinions in this article are those of the author and not those of the U.S. Coast Guard or any other entity.

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

BOOKS TO READ, VIDEOS TO SEE Being Out There, DVD

Getting Started in Sailboat Racing

Being Out There is a cruising video. Made by a Tampa Bay company owned by a cruising couple, this video will tell you a little bit about what it’s like “being out there” cruising around. Mitch and Michelle Traphagen took several months and cruised the Bahamas and the Caribbean aboard their sailboat. When they returned, they wanted to make a video about cruising. Since they had professional experience in a related media field, they produced Being Out There. The filming is in the Bahamas and other points south (including Havana), but the real interesting part is the interviews with miscellaneous cruisers who give the viewer an idea of what the cruising life is like. Among those interviewed were a couple that took their baby along, telling you what they encountered, joys and experiences they had, what their parents thought about them cruising with their grandchild, what their daily life was like. Another interview was with teenagers in the Bahamas who were cruising with their families—what they felt and missed and like about the lifestyle, what friends they made. A fun and informative video, with beautiful scenes, leaving the viewer wanting to be out there now—or pretty soon anyway. Great music by Eileen Quinn, too. Being Out There, Lifecaptions Studios, Ruskin, FL. DVD. www.sailingmovie.com. This video can be seen at the SOUTHWINDS booth at the Strictly Sail St. Pete Boat Show, Nov. 3-6.

Among non-racing sailors, there is a lot of unknowns surrounding the world of sailboat racing. You can really get into the sport if you know the following: Wait till after the bell to cross the start line, starboard tack has right of way, and aim to cross the finish line as fast as you can. With this knowledge, you got most of the battle won (then there is the party afterwards)— and you know enough to teach yourself out on the racecourse. This book will tell you a little more about the rules, how the flags work, the starting sequence, what PHRF ratings mean. Then it will tell you about the course, how to go faster and how to round the marks—with some strategy and tactics thrown in. Lots of great introductory info is in this book, and then it tells you a little more to get you into racing a little further if you want. The book is for those who want to crew, or those who bring their own boat. Getting Started in Sailboat Racing by Adam Cort and Richard Stearns. International Marine/McGraw-Hill. www.internationalmarine.com.

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

SOUTHERN SAILORS

Allison Jolly – Still Sailing After All These Years By Stephanie Cox Allison Jolly coaching at the University of South Florida. Stephanie Cox photo.

lympic medalist Allison Jolly of St. Petersburg, FL, is a reluctant hero. If you met her, you’d never know she has won the coveted Olympic gold. From her penchant for drinking Mountain Dew to the 1990-something Toyota van she drives, Jolly is just like one of us— except she has lived every athlete’s dream. When I first met her five years ago, she cringed with a twinge of embarrassment at the mention of the fact that she has a regatta named after her. The Allison Jolly Regatta, held every October, celebrates the accomplishments of this down-to-earth hero by

encouraging young girls to compete in the sport of sailing. The regatta is hosted by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, which is where Jolly got her start in the summer learn-tosail program. Like many sailors, St. Petersburg native Jolly tried other sports before falling into sailing. “I had been on a swimming team for years and really liked competitive swimming, but I wasn’t great at it. My parents signed me up for sailing lessons when I was nine, and my mother says about halfway through the summer I became terrified because the class got caught out in a classic Tampa Bay summer squall.” Luckily, Jolly continued on despite the summer squall and became “hooked for life on the sport of sailing.” Jolly grew up sailing the Optimist Dinghy in a time when many girls opted for activities like gymnastics and ballet. She grew to love sailing over the years because it “combines both physical and intellectual skills.” As she matured as a sailor in the ’70s and ’80s, Jolly enhanced her intellectual ability off the water at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg and Florida State University in Tallahassee. The Olympics The 470 is a double-handed dinghy measuring 4.7 meters in length that was originally built in France. It has both a spinnaker and a trapeze and was first sailed as an open fleet in the 1976 Olympics. In fact, the first woman to ever win a sailing race in the Olympics was Cathy Foster of Great Britain, who skippered her 470 to a win in 1984. The 1988 Olympics were in Seoul, South Korea. The 470 had a separate men’s and women’s division for the first time in Olympic history. Thirty-year-old Jolly earned the right to represent the United States along with her crew Lynne Jewell. Jolly remembers, “We had been advised by a former Olympic sailor to treat the Olympics as just another regatta, and we took the advice seriously, going through all our normal daily routines, altering nothing. In fact, I think we were far more nervous and edgy about the U.S. Olympic Trials. At the Olympics, you’re a medalist if you finish first, second, or third, with all the accompanying accolades. At the Trials, no one remembers who finished second or third, because only the top team qualifies, sometimes after four or more years of training for this one regatta.”

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

The ability to stay calm and focused was key to Jolly’s victory. In one race at the Olympics, the team had to make a quick “crash” tack to starboard just after the start to avoid hitting a starboard tack French team, which they didn’t see. Unfortunately, the tack caused Jolly and Jewell to capsize in the over-18-knot breeze. Despite the capsize in that race, the Americans battled back to third in that race. Feeling pretty good about their comeback, Jewell and Jolly returned to shore thinking that their problems with that race were over. They soon discovered that they were protested for tacking too close to the other boat. After a hearing, they were disqualified from the race. Eating a disqualification (DSQ) in the Olympics could easily send lesser teams into a psychological panic, but Jolly and Jewell maintained their composure. In fact, they sailed so fast that going into the last race they only needed a 13th or better to win the Gold. Murphy’s Law and Olympic Gold The team’s worst finish, other than the DSQ, was a sixth. They thought there was no way they could finish as deep as 13th in the last race. Little did they know that Murphy’s Law was in effect. Going into that last race a lot of things could go wrong. The first thing the team had to watch out for were rival

News & Views for Southern Sailors

countries trying to force them into a foul, which would result in their disqualification from this important last race. Back in 1988, there was no way for the team members to exonerate themselves from a foul by completing a 720degree maneuver (two tacks and two gybes in a consecutive circle). (In racing today, the 720 rule exists to allow teams that foul another boat to admit wrongdoing and spin circles immediately to exonerate themselves.) Allison and Lynne had to avoid someone intentionally fouling them, which would have given them a second DSQ and cost them the Gold. They decided to start the last race 20 seconds late, allowing their competitors time to get safely ahead and away from the starting line where rivals could easily create a foul for them. They sailed through the fleet the first weather leg, rounding the top mark in an impressive seventh. Then the jib wire broke. Every Olympians’ worst nightmare happened as Jolly watched her jib blow down. The team had to repair the jib wire in the over-25-knot breeze and nine-foot seas (no easy feat). One by one, their competition flew by them until they were in last place. They fixed their jib and worked on battling back from last place. The wind was blowing, and their competition started to See JOLLY continued on page 91

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

Using Your Head (MSD): Composting Toilet By Charles E. Kanter, AMS

t is Saturday night. You are out at the end of the mooring field in the harbor. You have your wife, your teen-age daughter and two of her teen-age friends aboard. You have your suspicions that your holding tank may be close to its capacity limit, but you hope it will last until morning when the pump-out boat begins operation again. All the parts assembled on deck. Charles Kanter photo. You hear the usual pumping sounds, chugga, chugga, chugga, then the plaintive cry: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Daddy, Daddy, it wont go down,â&#x20AC;? then. . . BOOM!, gurActually, there is better technology presently available gle, gurgle, gurgle. for a large spectrum of smaller yachts with installed marine Now what? You are stuck out at the fringe of the harbor toilets, and that technology is composting. Composting toion a cold, rainy Saturday night, with yourself and four lets are not new. The technology is tried and true, proven females, two of whom are total landlubbers, and you have over many decades of use in areas where either public sewno toilet facilities, but you do have a bilge full of odorifererage or sanitary septic systems are not feasible or available. ous former holding tank fluids. Recently, a brave entrepreneur, without a government It only takes one incident of this type to raise the congrant, has undertaken to bring this technology to us boaters. sciousness of an entire group of boaters to the shortfalls of There is a composting toilet that is designed specifically for the government arm-twisted holding tank system. Frankly, us, the boaters. I would expect much more of our government in the The Air Head Composting Toilet is the brainchild of encouragement of major research into far better technology.

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

of the unit is based upon approximately two uses per day for two people or 80 uses. To empty, the bottom unit is detached and the material either appropriately dumped or stored until completely degraded and placed in the flower beds. Any bacterial or viral contamination is destroyed by the natural processes. It is an ideal MSD for offshore boats that have two heads. One can be direct discharge (locked in port), the second an approved Type III, the Air Head, thus cutting seacock-hose failure flooding risk in half. It is my hope that manufacturers will recognize the potential of these units and offer them as accessories or alternatives to the standard complex pump, hose and tank systems now prevalent. For the average weekend cruiser, especially in high traffic areas where getting pumped out is a real hassle, this unit is ideal. You arrive at your boat, no pump-out milling around the dock, waiting, needed. Enjoy your weekend, no worry about pump-out when you return. End of season, The installed toilet fits neatly in a forward section of the starboard hull, mak- take the bottom unit home, leave it in the garage, ing a cozy, private and convenient head. Charles Kanter photo. cellar, attic, etc.; springtime, fertilizer into the roses or whatever. This scenario has many variations depending upon latitude, but all in all, the Geoffrey Trott, and has been around for a several years getcomposting toilet eliminates the hassle of pump-outs, and ting well tested. I came across it a couple of years ago at the potential problems with seacocks, hoses, pumps, tanks, Miami Strictly Sail Boat Show and instantly recognized its clamps, leaky toilets, and universally: odors! potential, installing one in my own boat. First, the footprint of the unit is no bigger than that of For full details, check the Web site, my diminutive Porta-Potti, though it is almost twice as tall. www.airheadtoilet.com/, or contact the company at: Next, it is simplicity itself, having few moving parts and only a 45 milliamp muffin fan as current draw, but it uses EOS Design LLC no water, thus has no seacocks or hoses. Third, it is of modAIR HEAD Dry Toilet est cost, being no more (or considerably less) expensive than Geoffrey Trott a complex marine toilet installation with seacocks, “Y” P.O. Box 5 valves, siphon breaks, holding tanks and macerator pumps Mount Vernon, OH 43050 and deck pump-out fittings. Fourth, unlike so many holding (740) 392-3642. (866) 556-1571 toll free tank installations, foul odors have not been a problem. Best info@airheadtoilet.com of all, it is USCG-approved under CFR 159.53, thus solving your mandated Type III MSD “No Discharge” regulations. Subscribe to Installation is simplicity itself. The unit bolts to the cabin sole with spring-loaded catches and a single vent pipe with small fan, installed in a convenient location. The $19.95/year $37/2 Years 3rd Class unit needs only an initial feeding of a few bags of ordinary $24/year $45/2 Years 1st Class peat-moss, available at any garden shop and a blushingly modest amount of electric power for a fan that maintains (941) 795-8704 • www.southwindsmagazine.com airflow through the unit. (In some installations, it is possiP.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175 ble to create sufficient natural draft as to eliminate the fan). Subscribe on line on our secure Web site with credit card After use, a couple of turns of the crank handle mixes the www.southwindsmagazine.com deposit with the peat moss and natural decomposition Name ______________________________________________ takes place, thus returning the product to its original state: soil! The basic design genius that allows this unit to be Address ____________________________________________ smaller, lighter and far more efficient than many competing City/St./ZIP _________________________________________ models is the separation of liquids from the solids. Urine is ENCLOSED $ ________ Check ___ Money Order ___ cleverly separated into a separate bottle, which quickly detaches for emptying. A teaspoonful of ordinary sugar in Visa/MC #_________________________________________ the bottle suppresses odor. Depending upon the particular Name on Card ______________________________________ vessel usage, the bottle can conveniently be emptied or Ex. Date _________ Signature _________________________ even transferred to an existing holding tank. The capacity

SOUTHWINDS

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

BAHAMAS

The Abacos, Bahamas: Why Little Harbour? By Carolyn Corbett

oats drawing much more than six feet are out of luck. The entrance to Little Harbour, Abaco, is shallow. At low tide you’ll find three-and-a-half feet in the channel, two feet if you stray from it. Follow the directions in the guidebook carefully; the short, narrow channel makes a turn to the southeast. Stay centered between land on each side till you line up the channel balls, then trust them. The light green water over the sand patch is the deepest water there is. Wait a minute! With 84 nautical miles of beautiful cays offering over 60 recognized anchorages to choose from, why bother navigating this difficult channel? Why swing on the hook in a temporary anchorage waiting for enough tide to float your boat into this harbor? Palm trees and sandy beaches abound in the Abacos. Why not simply pick a different piece of paradise?

Let me count the whys… 1. Location Little Harbour is often the last stop for cruisers departing the Abacos for points south. North Bar Channel and Little Harbour Bar each provide deep, wide routes from the Sea of Abaco to the Atlantic Ocean. When one channel is impassable, it is often possible to run the other.

heads to the south of the lighthouse are breathtaking to behold. When conditions are too rough for snorkeling on the ocean side, try the reef in protected waters directly off the sandy, palm-lined beach just outside and to the east of the Little Harbour entrance. 4. Abundant Turtles, Fish and Other Marine Life Turtles and dolphins swim freely throughout the anchorage, which is part of the Pelican Cay Land and Sea Park. Little Harbour ’s cliff, north beach, reef, and harbor are all protected under the Bahamas National Trust. The Trust, which was established in 1959, is responsible for conservation of wildlife and preservation of natural beauty. Strict laws prohibit fishing, spearing, and disturbing or removing any plant or animal life, including shells, coral, and the eggs of birds or turtles. It goes without saying that the dumping of garbage is also forbidden within the 2000-acre Land and Sea Park.

5. Dinghy Exploration Just around Tom Curry Point the Bight of Old Robinson beckons. This undeveloped wilderness encompasses countless small cays and islet-studded creeks. Sandy beaches abound on the cays along the north shore of the Bight. The view of the harbor from Pete’s Pub on the The water colors, which are spectacu2. Excellent Protection Many cruisers headed for Eleuthera or eastern shore. Both anchoring and moorings lar throughout the area, are at their Nassau wait for weather in this snug are available to cruisers. Notice the palm tree very best in the shallows off the northwest shore of Bridges Cay. The opporrefuge, where both moorings and growing out of the picnic table. tunities to explore the Bight and Little anchoring are available in seven to 10 Harbour Creek are limited only by the amount of gas in the feet of water. Little Harbour is a circular, landlocked dinghy and the depth of the water. Schedule gunkholing anchorage where high cliffs and hills provide protection expeditions for a rising tide. from winds of any direction. Boats that require a rising tide to enter Little Harbour can find temporary anchorages off 6. Bonefish Flats Lynyard Cay or west of Tom Curry Point. Bonefishing is reported to be excellent on the flats in both O’Neil’s Creek and North Robinson’s Creek. 3. Sensational Snorkeling Fishing is allowed, for these areas are not within the A hike up the hill to the old, boarded-up lighthouse proboundary of the Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park. With vides a vantage point from which to appreciate the majesty only one foot of water covering the coral between the of the Atlantic Ocean and determine whether or not it is a small cays on the way into O’Neil’s Creek, bonefishersuitable day for diving offshore. The outer reefs and coral 52

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

men definitely need to stalk their prey on a rising tide. 7. Blue Holes Robinson’s Creek, on the west side of the Bight, has blue holes reported to be over 100 feet deep. These underground connections to the ocean have ledges, coral heads, stalagmites, and huge fish. Sometimes called “boiling holes” because the water “boils” out of them during ebb tide, these deep blue holes are home to all manner of sea life. 8. Art and History Randolph Johnston—professor, adventurer, sailor, journalist, and internationally renown artist — made his home at Little Harbour in the 1950s. The Johnston family arrived aboard Langosta, a large schooner. In his studio at the water’s edge, Randolph created bronze statues using the ancient lost-wax process, using much equipment he designed himself. His sculptures appear in Nassau and cities throughout the United States, and one stands in the garden near his Little Harbour home. Randolph penned his thoughts about the twilight sky, the Bahamian sea, and this land where they could “breathe the air of freedom.” Two decades after their arrival at Little Harbour, Randolph wrote in his journal, “I find the spell of the sea and the colors still unbelievable after twentyodd years . . . irresistible.” Randolph died in 1992, but his family carries on the News & Views for Southern Sailors

artistic tradition in the studio and foundry on the harbor’s eastern shore. His wife, Margot, specializes in ceramics and glazed metal. Son Pete creates jewelry and life-size bronze castings of sea creatures, as well as the dolphin and shark belt buckles that are so popular with Abaco cruisers. Visiting hours for the galleries are posted by the dinghy dock. 9. Caves In the cliffs to the west of the anchorage are the caves in which the Johnston family lived during their first years at Little Harbour. Spelunkers can beach their dinghies near the big rock. The caves boast stalactites, black bats, hermit crabs, and several floor to ceiling pillars. Keep a lookout for sharp coral underfoot. 10. Pete’s Pub Pete’s Pub is an open air beach bar draped with floats, life rings, netting, and Tshirts left by previous cruisers. Pete serves food and drink at the Pub. There’s no regular schedule at the Pub; folks hanging in the harbor keep an eye out for the action. In fact, several years ago, the Pub hosted the wedding reception of cruisers Charlie and Deborah Pfeffer (S/V Piper) following their marriage ceremony beneath A cruiser proposes a toast outside Pete’s Pub. The original the thatched roof of the Tiki pub was the pilothouse from Langosta, the schooner aboard Hut high atop the hill. which Pete Johnston’s family sailed to Little Harbour. That burned down some years back and was replaced by an open- So, why Little Harbour? Gosh, air beach bar. why not? SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

Managing Mildew By Carolyn Corbett

t’s there...lurking in lockers, flourishing on fenders, prospering on papers. Mildew—the bane of the boater. It looks bad, smells nasty, aggravates allergies and causes damage to fabrics, electronics and metal components. Mildew spores exist virtually everywhere. They come aboard in the air. They thrive in the same range of temperature and humidity that people do. Commercial products promising a mildew-free future are a bit optimistic. Myrna Farquhar, a nurse/sailor from New York, reports that even autoclaves have trouble killing mildew spores. Cleansers containing a chlorine component will kill mildew, but if the accompanying residue is not completely eradicated, it reappears shortly, using the residue as nourishment. Fungicides aren’t the solution. They discourage growth temporarily, but often contain formaldehyde, phenol, pentachlorophenol, or kerosene. The “de-structions” on the label should be followed carefully. The bad news? Mildew is going to be around longer than we are. The good news? There are ways to control this culprit. Mildew Requires Four Things 1. The right temperature. Mildew prefers a balmy 77 to 88 degrees, but will grow at temps as low as 32 degrees and as high as 95. 2. Humidity. Moisture is mildew’s soulmate. The optimal growth range is 70 percent to 93 percent relative humidity. 3. Food. Any organic or bacterial material is sustenance— wood, paper, food, leather, natural fibers, smears from sticky fingers, damp swimsuits, soap scum in the shower—yum! 4. Oxygen. Let’s face it. Boats are mildew magnets. They

How Much Ventilation Is Required For Your Boat? Ideally, the air in the interior of a boat should be circulated once every hour. A typical 30-foot boat contains approximately 800 cubic feet of air. The general guidelines for providing maintenance ventilation are: Up to 24 feet: 1 exhaust vent 24 to 40 feet: 1 exhaust vent and 1 intake vent 40+ feet: 2 exhaust vents and 1 intake vent To specifically calculate your boat’s air volume, use this formula: A x B x C x 70% = Boat Interior Volume A: Interior length (excluding cockpit) B: Boat width C: Average interior height (This information was provided by the Nicro Ventilation Systems.) 54

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

A solar vent, like this one by Nicro, is important in circulating fresh air into a boat.

generate moisture (condensation) due to disparities in water, air and hull temperatures. Interior and exterior temperatures are rarely identical and constantly fluctuate. Well-insulated vessels experience fewer problems since less condensation forms. A boat without proper ventilation is Home Sweet Home to mildew, yet ventilation during warm, humid periods actually fosters problems by allowing up to 20 gallons of moisture a day to enter a vessel. The purpose of ventilation is not simply to move air, but to equalize humidity levels inside and outside the boat. Powerful Weapons to Fight Mildew Solar vents use the sun’s energy to power fans, providing ventilation without drawing down your 12-volt supply. Cruisers who install solar-powered vents with rechargeable batteries battle fewer bouts with the pesky problem. Air conditioners remove moisture from the air as they cool it. Cool air holds less moisture than warm air, so liquid condenses on the cooling coils and runs to a drain. Dehumidifiers pull water out of the air in a similar manner, though there is little change in temperature. Some marine dehumidifiers have hoses. Cruisers on the hard often leave the sink thru hull open and allow the water to drip into the sink. Other models have collection pans that must be cleaned regularly or...you can guess! Air purifying units with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters remove mildew spores from the air. HEPA was developed by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission to prevent radioactive particles from escaping into the atmosphere. A human hair is 300 times too big to go through a HEPA filter. Virtually any machine with a fan can call itself an air cleaner, though, so research before investing. Ozone generators duplicate the effects of the sun’s rays. Ozone is a form of oxygen that rapidly breaks down into oxygen molecules and atoms. The oxygen atoms eliminate odors, toxic gases, and the organic and bacterial matter that feeds mildew. The atoms are like tiny kamikaze pilots, defending every hard-to-reach nook and cranny on the boat They are going to die, but they’re taking mildew food with them when they go. www.southwindsmagazine.com

Heat Up the Battle Dry heat daunts mildew. A light bulb hung under a bunk prevents condensation from forming on the underside of the mattress. One in the hanging locker dries the air in this low-circulation area. Electrical devices called Golden Rods accomplish the same task, radiating a low level of heat at minimal wattage. Heat is also effective for cleanup. For major problems, place a portable electric heater below, close up the boat, and bake overnight. Mildew dries into a powder that brushes right off. For concentrated areas, a hand-held hair dryer works within minutes. Absorb the Problem Cruisers use everything from kitty litter to charcoal, lava rock to desiccants, in efforts to suck water out of the air. Desiccants such as silica gel or alumina absorb up to half their weight in moisture. When they become saturated, dry them in a vented oven for several hours at 300º F, then return to strategic locations throughout the boat. Calcium chloride granules, another desiccant, soak up several times their weight. Place the granules over a container to catch liquid as it forms. Chemical inhibitors such as Mildewcide and Damp Rid are nearly pure formaldehyde and toxic to people and animals. Boating catalogs offer non-toxic, formaldehyde-free mildew control bags that last up to three months. Harmless to humans, pets and the environment, they absorb moisture, cleanse air particles and emit fungi inhibitors.

Clean It Up If a cabinet or locker begins smelling musty, clean both storage space and contents thoroughly before the problem spreads. The key to success is to take a swipe, rinse the cloth well, take another swipe. If you don’t remove the residue mildew feeds on, new spores move in for a free meal. Activated charcoal, baking soda and Borax all function as deodorizers. Borax also deters mold growth. Wash down fiberglass or plastic areas with Borax. Leave it on. Sprinkle Borax in cabinets, under the sink or around the head. Sprinkle on carpeted areas and vacuum up an hour later. Mix Borax with water, spray on, and mildew wipes right off. Same thing with vinegar. For stubborn problems, try straight vinegar. Let it sit overnight. Sprinkle baking soda between the pages of books that are musty-smelling. A baking soda paste removes mildew stains from fiberglass. Apply, wait 30 minutes, then rinse. Stains can often be removed from fabric by covering the stain with a light coating of baking soda, then pouring on straight vinegar. Soaking fabrics in lemon juice, then baking in sunshine several hours works, too. The ultraviolet rays in sunshine kill mildew. Just ask any Floridian who’s been around since pre-air-conditioning days. Good luck! May your mildew problems be small and sporadic!

Prevention Mildew loves textured surfaces. High gloss paint on the rough interiors of lockers makes clean-up easier. “Barn paint,” available at building supply stores, is inexpensive, goes on thick, and has a built-in preventative. Don’t try to hide mildew by painting over it. Surfaces must be completely clean or paint flakes off as mildew continues to grow. Lemon oiling interior wood seems to deter mildew, as does varnishing the interior teak. Finished wood is easily cleaned with wood soap. Myrna Farquhar finds placing baskets of eucalyptus in the main salon, staterooms, and heads seems to reduce mildew. Asked why it works, she can only guess at the scientific reason. Perhaps the leaves absorb moisture from the air, stimulating the oil contained in the stalks, giving off a fresh smell and killing the mildew at the same time? Store infrequently worn clothes in resealable plastic bags. Blankets and sweaters fit well in plastic zippered bags that new comforters come in. Suck out air with a straw. When storing dive gear or foul weather gear for long periods, dry thoroughly, then sprinkle with baking soda. Dry towels on the lifeline, rather than down below. Wipe down the walls after showering. Wash shower curtains often in hot, soapy water. Use plastic lattice, vinyl runners with nubbins, or Dry Bunk to line lockers and under the mattress. Plastic-coated wire baskets work well for storing clothing and linens. Louvered doors help. When leaving the boat unattended for any length of time, lift the floorboards, open drawers and lockers, leave cabinet doors ajar and remove or prop up cushions. News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

CRUISING DESTINATIONS

Visit Egmont Key in Tampa Bay By Betsy Morris

The Egmont anchorage and the pier where the pilot boats are docked. Photo by Steve Morrell.

he beach at Egmont Key is so white it blinds me and makes me search for comparisons. As white as snow? Whiter. Like sugar? Salt? Whiter. Then it comes to me: this lovely beach with the midday sun blazing down on it is as white as the sun itself. Just like the sun’s center, it dazzles your eyes, and you can’t quite look at it directly. You can feel its silky warmth with your toes, though, as you amble its Gulf of Mexico side, searching for shells. Like Sanibel and Captiva, this little mile-and-a-half-long island is known for the variety and quality of its shells; unlike the others, Egmont is a well-kept secret, known to and used by the locals around Tampa Bay, but rarely visited by cruisers. My husband and I were there on a quiet February day

FOR INFORMATION: Egmont Key State Park (727) 893-2627 or www.floridastateparks.org/egmontkey Tampa Bay Pilots Association (813) 247-3737 or www.floridapilots.com PORTS: Tampa Bay Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (for current, wind and water velocity, water level and bottom temperatures). 24/hrs/day. (727) 822-0022 or http://ompl.marine.usf.edu/ports/ ANCHORAGE: Sea grass beds are protected, otherwise almost anywhere around the island in appropriate depth. 56

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

on Salsa, our 39-foot Gulfstar sloop. We anchored on its eastern side and dinghied into the beach, glad for benign conditions. Egmont, named for an obscure 18th century member of the Irish House of Commons, is located in the entrance to Tampa Bay, and just a bit outside of the Bay itself. In strong winds there is no protection from either winds or waves, but in fair weather, mariners can anchor on either side of this long, narrow island, and have a day full of delight and surprises. We knew there was an 85-foot lighthouse on the northern end, guiding every imaginable kind of ship – tanker, cruise ship, container ship, gambling boat, coaster, nuclear submarine – that regularly use the Egmont Channel into Tampa Bay. We also knew that the island is home for the Tampa Bay Pilots Association (TBPA) and has been for almost 80 years. While we were there, many pilot boats came and went guiding the big boats under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge into and out of the inner bay. The TBPA maintains docks on the eastern side of the island that are off limits for visitors. We had guests with us. We had sailed with Beth and Gary on their boat or ours or in tandem in many beautiful places from Venezuela to Maine. We all loved shelling, birding, and generally nosing around new places, and with a nod of agreement we quickly hauled the dinghy above the wrack line and set off on a trail to the Gulf side. Imagine our amazement when the path dead-ended at a broad brick thoroughfare, seemingly stretching the entire length of Egmont Key. It was obvious that we needed a history lesson www.southwindsmagazine.com

of this remote place. At the island’s north end, we found the Egmont Key State Park rangers’ headquarters with historical information. The first lighthouse was built in 1848 at a time when shipping into Tampa Bay was increasing, and ships needed help navigating the sandbars and low islands. By 1858 the island was used by the U.S. Army to detain Seminole prisoners before relocating them to Oklahoma. During the Civil War both the Confederates and the Union forces attempted to use the island (but not at the same time!) to defend Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. When the Spanish American War was imminent, Fort Dade was established on the island, and even though the Spanish fleet never came near, and the actual war was over in three months, construction of the fort continued. By 1906, 300 people lived on Egmont, enjoying a movie theater, bowling alley, tennis courts, a school, hospital, and imaginative plantings. In all, 70 buildings were constructed as part of the U.S. Army’s coastal defense system. The fort was deactivated in 1923, and the forces of nature and lack of maintenance caused most of the buildings to sink into sand and underbrush. Today, the magnificent system of brick roads remains, criss-crossing the island. There are haunting ruins of gun emplacements, the power plant, and other buildings – most of which we climbed in and around. As wave action over the years has eroded the Gulf side of the island, sewer manholes now stand foolishly in several feet of Gulf water. There are tall trees, shrubs, and flowers remaining that were undoubtedly planted by the U.S. Army 100 years ago. In 1923 the Tampa Bay Pilots Association established its headquarters on the island, and in 1974 Egmont Key was designated a National Wildlife Refuge, now co-managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Park System. Parts of the island are designated as nesting sanctuaries, out of bounds for visitors. Of course, the birds don’t recognize those restricted areas, and we saw several variNews & Views for Southern Sailors

eties of sandpipers; many waders, including snowy and great egrets; tricolored, little and great blue herons; several kinds of terns and gulls, and lots of songbirds. We were charmed by Egmont and only agreed to return to Salsa at anchor when our shorts threatened to drop to our ankles by the weight of shells in our pockets – augers, cockles, scallops, slippers, doves, venuses, coquinas, and a small Florida fighting conch. We ate a late lunch in the cockpit and vowed to come back another day with snorkeling equipment to explore the wrecks off shore and the ruins of Fort Dade overtaken by the Gulf. Tampa Bay and the nearby area are busy places. Snowbirds flock to Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton, and many other beautiful cities and towns. There are marinas everywhere, and sailors, motorboaters, and even kayakers are abundant. Cruisers come through from all the Gulf ports heading for the Keys and often beyond. Yet little Egmont Key is seldom visited. The adventuresome guest, especially during the week, has it nearly to himself, to experience its history, enjoy its wildlife, both floral and faunal, and slowly walk its powdery beaches, observing or collecting the shells and trying to find just the right word to describe the whiteness – Chalk? Whitewash? Alabaster? Sunshine?

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

THE CARIBBEAN

Culebra – Forgotten Virgin or the next St. John? By Mike Kirk

irgin Islands a well-known nesting means different site for some 85 things dependspecies of seabirds ing on your cultural and endangered sea point of view. The U.S. turtles. and British Virgins are Checking into well known by their Culebra from the east respective national oriis an interesting expegins, while to many rience. Clear into the native islanders they U.S. Virgins in the are just “The Virgins.” usual “informal” way (International borders at the customs dock are for travelers — not in St. John (see your for indigenous folk cruising guide). But who have common arriving in Culebra, roots.) However, this you are required to parochial pride and check in again. notoriety masks the Tom Tangveld single-handing his wooden Culebra Island sloop. Photo by Mike Kirk. Sounds tedious, but unsung individuality the Coast Guard is of these “Spanish Virgins,” displaying a culture as indenow issuing yearly stickers to make any entry into the “US pendent as Puerto Rico. Situated some 20 miles east of of A” much easier. So, assuming your boat is legal and has Puerto Rico and some 20 miles west of St. Thomas, this is an a $25 sticker, it’s all done by telephone. Simply pour youreasy weekend haunt for Puerto Ricans exploring the bays self rum, and from your arrival anchorage grab your cell and islets around the two main islands of Culebra and phone. Call the Culebra Airport at (787) 742-3531. With Vieques. passports and sticker number in hand, you will be checking The trip from St. Thomas (USVI) or Tortola (BVI) is, in sitting in your cockpit and enjoying an evening cocktail. however, well worth it for the seclusion, spectacular beachWhat could be a more civilized benefit of your tax dollars! es, bird watching and diving opportunities. Enjoy the (Tip: As always with immigration, be polite and gracious as downwind run across or around the Grampus Banks with the hike to the airport to do this the hard way can take half the strong east to west current, but remember to allow for a day.) the reciprocal slow return home. These forgotten Virgins Arriving from the east, you will be delighted with can reward you with quiet bays and true gunk holes. Dakity Harbor situated behind an exposed reef at the Caveat: Unless you “party hard,” Puerto Rican style, avoid mouth of Ensenada Honda. Several mooring balls are availthe Puerto Rican/U.S. holidays when those same getaways able, but anchoring anywhere in the two- to three- fathom become a focus for salsa/swim parties on the muscle boats lagoon is comfortable if they are full. Try to catch the unobof the Puerto Rican “navy.” structed sunrise with your morning coffee. When looking As of this writing, two-thirds of Vieques is still under for civilization, you can proceed to the island’s only towngovernment-restricted access despite the cessation of bombship, Dewey, at the head of Ensenada Honda. Anchor west ing. So the easiest way to enjoy the Spanish Virgins in a few of Cayo Pirata out of the mooring area. Look for Tom days is around Culebra and its neighboring 23 cays. Tangveld’s hot little Island Sloop, Buenadago, anchored here Colonized in 1879 by the Spaniards, much of this seven- by in the roads. On shore there is the inevitable Dinghy Dock four-mile island is the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge Restaurant (is this a franchise?). While serving three meals under the control of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is a day, seating for dinner starts strictly at 6:00 p.m.—using a 58

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

sort of land-grab approach. So be there on time and look for huge tarpon off the dock while awaiting your first-come, first-served meal. For a more customer-centric gastronomic welcome, try Mamacita’s, situated west of the drawbridge. There are no marinas, chandleries, boatyards or supermarkets in Dewey, but wander the half dozen streets in the town, and you will find most of your needs, from the Superette (via the beautiful church) to the Internet café and wireless hot spot. Tiny individual artists’ boutiques and stores hint at what might be the next St. John—or just another excuse for “starving” in paradise. A two- or three- day cruise clockwise round Culebra will take you to Bahia de Sardinas, passing west of the Dewey ferry access. Your tax dollars have been put to good use here with a nice new waterfront, ferry terminal and municipal complex, which includes the tourism office. Proceed northwest to Cayo Luis Pena with its north-facing anchorage of clear, white sand roads and patches of coral. The island is an uninhabited wildlife refuge offering good hiking. If the wind is from the north, use the south-facing anchorage close by in Bahia Tamarindo. Next, day sail around the rocky northwest point to world-famous Flamenco Beach (avoid in north swells), or

News & Views for Southern Sailors

proceed to Cayo Norte for several south-facing lunch stops. Further east navigate to Isla Culebrita with its 400-yard diameter basin and seven to 25 feet of clear water surrounded by a white beach. Hike to “the Jacuzzis” on the northfacing shore. Your alternate safe anchorage is on the west of Culebrita, north of Punta Arenisca. For the most tranquil anchorage, plan a careful entry into Bahia de Almodovar via Puerto Manglar. Use a heading of 325 degrees magnetic as a transit to a large wedding-cake house overlooking the bay. Swing to port around the island of Pelaita and its mangroves, through small red/green buoys with 10 feet of water, into the deep, still waters of the anchorage—the outer buoys in your chart guide are pure fantasy. Your circumnavigation complete, return to Dakity and have a happy hour at Club Seabourne in Fulladosa Bay. Return to St. Thomas via the Grampus Banks Buoy R “2,” checking the tides for the most favorable window to improve the return time. Culebra has initiated two regattas. The First Annual International Regatta held this year, March 18-20 drew 36 boats. Sailed out of the Costa Bonita Resort opposite Dakity, this event promises to grow in future years. The Around Culebra Race on July 24 promises to be a typical Puerto Rican party with no holds barred. Development on Culebra has been slowed by the peculiar nature of the zoning— imposed by the United States when the military left. Hoping to attract large developers, most land outside of Dewey is zoned in 25-acre parcels. Thus, individual real estate is almost non-existent except for some quaint but illegal waterfront shanties. Will this eventually lead to a selectness akin to that enjoyed by St. John? Or will the present state of seclusion continue? The answer remains to be seen. Go now and see Culebra before change overtakes it.

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

The author’s Catalina 30. Photo by Gary R. Gray.

Switched From Sail to Steam:

A Sailing Couple Makes the Move to a Trawler By Gary R. Gray Camano photos courtesy Rhumb Line Yacht Sales

So goes the line in the Jimmy Buffet song, “A Pirate Looks at Forty.”

atty and I have enjoyed sailing a couple of sailboats together—spent part of our honeymoon aboard one. Lately, we’ve noticed that after a couple of days on the boat we were feeling kind of stiff and sore. I guess we’re getting older, though she would deny it. And when people see us together, I get comments about taking my “daughter” out for a sail. I always say, “Patty is not as young as I look old.” Still, we began to wonder if another kind of boat would be more comfortable. People often say, “Sailing is a lot of work.” Modern boats have a lot of features like in- mast furling and cockpit controls that can lessen the effort. Our problem was the bending and twisting that goes on to get in and out of the boat, climbing up and down the companionway to get “down below.” Speaking of down below, you can’t see much from down there. At anchor or dockside, you are really removed from everything going on. We were drawn to the idea of being able to sit at the salon table having a cup of coffee and enjoying the view. We also found that at this time in our lives we can’t really get much time off. Two-week trips are just not possible most of the time. Much more possible is a long weekend. Some of our favorite cruising destinations are about seven

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

hours away by sailboat. If the wind is right, it’s nice. Otherwise….well, it’s seven hours just getting there. Some people say that trawlers are slow. It’s all relative. Most sailboats will do between five and six knots. A good day’s run of, say, seven hours would allow you to cover 35 to 42 miles. An 8-knot boat can cover 56 miles in a day. A

www.southwindsmagazine.com

“fast trawler” that can do 12 knots will cover 84 miles. This makes a big difference at the end of the day. There is another consideration. In a sailboat, if the wind is “on the nose,” most auxiliaries are not powerful enough to make cruising speed. You will be lucky to make 4-5 knots, a 28-mile day (in seven hours). In these days of rising fuel prices, we have enjoyed auxiliary engines that only burn a half a gallon of diesel per hour. We were reluctant to get into a boat that would use a

lot more fuel, but it would be nice to count on at least eight knots while burning three to four gallons per hour. The other issue that surfaced for Patty is that she is very heat sensitive. On long, hot runs she sometimes would be close to a migraine from the heat (even with a very nice bimini). She found that cooling herself off with the shower helped, but A/C under way would really be nice in these situations. As we looked at different sailboats, we weren’t sure we could fit a genset on board, and it usually isn’t practical to sail with a genset running. It looked like we would need a much larger sailboat to go this route. This brings me to another consideration. In southwest Florida, as well as other areas, slips are disappearing. Finding a slip for any boat is challenging. For a larger boat, it can be very difficult AND EXPENSIVE. This is supposed to reduce stress, right!? So we began to formulate our list as we narrowed down our expectations of what we wanted a boat to do for us. This is a crucial step in the process of selecting the right boat. We knew we needed the following: 1. A boat that would fit a slip 12’7” wide and 36 feet long. 2. A boat that would do eight knots without breaking the bank. 3. A boat that would accommodate a genset to run A/C under way. 4. A comfortable boat. Subjective, yes. We wanted a nice bunk, preferably an in-line queen, and good seating options in the salon. As we began our search, we found that to get a great in-line queen in an aft cabin you had to have a boat that was at least 34 feet. There were considerable more options at 36 feet and above. The style of the boat was also a consideration. The traditional trawler designs tend to have aft cabins that feature divided bunks so that you can have access to the aft companionway. Patty and I felt as if we hadn’t been married long enough to want this type of sleeping arrangement. We were drawn to the “sundeck” style as found in the Heritage East that has a very nice aft cabin with a large in-line

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

queen, but this with a shoe that was a little large connects that rudfor our slip. der and protects There is also the propeller. Proa great debate perly maintained, about whether most modern you should have engines are very one engine or reliable. Add a two. Proponents bow thruster and of the two-engine you have very crowd tout the precise control of features of manthe boat. Certainly euverability and much easier hanredundancy. Most dling than we trawlers will cruise enjoy in a sailboat. almost as well on We decided one one engine as The authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new boat, the Camano 31. File photo. engine with a bow they will on two, thruster would be and it is nice in docking situations to have that ability to just fine. twist the boat with two screws. The other argument is that We did the math and decided that we could afford a boat a single screw boat usually runs the shaft through the keel between $100,000 and $150,000. We decided that we would

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

finance our purchase and buy a used boat less that 10 years old. Of course, there is no perfect boat. Even the most expensive custom boats have trade-offs. Because we didn’t want to change our slip situation, we reluctantly decided to accept a large V-berth over our in-line queen aft. We would need a boat with a beam of 11 feet and no longer than 34 feet. There The main salon in the Camano 31. File photo. were some older boats in this range: Albins, and Marine Traders. In the 32-foot range, you find the Nordic Tug and an old Grand Banks, but they were older boats. That’s when someone said, “Have you considered a Camano?” “A Ka-what-O?” They described a little “pocket trawler” built in the Pacific Northwest. The builder’s mission was to build a stout, seaworthy boat that would maximize every inch of space. Up forward is a very large V-berth that is comfortable. Down below to port is a galley with a great stove and a front-opening refrigerator. To starboard is a large hanging locker, and aft of that, a nice modern head. Two steps up to the main salon reveals a marvelous open, airy space with a The flying bridge on the Camano 31. File photo. helm station to starboard and windows all around. A watertight door aft allows access to a cockpit area for line handling and the ladder to the fly bridge. Their motto is: six for cocktails, four for dinner, and two for overnight. I like how they think. All of this in a boat that is 31 feet over all, and 10’ 6” on the beam. This is also when we began to get educated to the world of “fast trawlers.” A great debate rages as to whether these boats are really trawlers because they are not displacement hulls. We won’t go there. As mentioned above, there are real advantages to 12 knots if you can afford the fuel. The Camano has a “keel form” hull, a deep V that goes flat aft with extra volume in the full keel. I don’t understand all I know about it, but the bottom line is that the boat will do up to 18 knots and cruise comfortably at 12-14 for about

five gallons per hour. In the end, we selected a 2001 Camano 31. I have just spent a very comfortable night aboard her in Maryland where she was purchased. I’ve been up and down and all around this boat, and I’m not sore. The V-berth is five inches of foam; very nice! Since this is a “small boat” (10’6” on the beam), it is fairly simple to have her shipped by truck to Florida. Or so we thought…but that’s another story. We are looking forward to a more comfortable kind of cruising. Will I miss the sailing? Yes. I will miss those “perfect sails,” but I will not miss getting up before dawn to try to make 50 miles before dark, or trying to make our next port to weather. Now, could I interest anyone in a very nice Catalina 30…. many up-grades, clean, wellmaintained.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

Gary R. Gray wrote of the “perfect sail,” about a trip he and Patty took down the Florida coast one peaceful, moonlit night in the June 2005 issue of SOUTHWINDS, available on-line at www.southwindsmagazine.com.

November 2005

CRUISING DESTINATIONS

Delightful Delegal On the Eastern Seaboard Tropical Storm Arlene Guides Two Sailors to an Inviting Refuge By Ina Moody

NAVIGATIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO DELEGAL CREEK MARINA From Cruising Guide to Coastal South Carolina and Georgia by Claiborne S. Young. “On the water, the marked entrance into Delegal Creek does not bear much resemblance to what you might expect from a study of chart 11512. The charted marsh southwest of the creek’s mouth is completely covered at high tide or even mid-tide, and it’s all too easy to wander into its shallow depths. “To avoid the shoal, come abeam of unlighted day beacon #2 on Steamboat Cut to its fairly immediate northerly side. From #2, set a careful course to come abeam of and pass unlighted day beacon #5 by some 20 yards to its southerly side. Point to come abeam of flashing day beacon #7 by about the same distance to its southerly side as well. Hold course for another 25 yards or so and then turn 90 degrees to the north-northwest and enter Delegal Creek. More than one boater has made the mistake of not rounding both #5 and #7 before turning north-northwest into the creek. Such an error can land the unlucky cruiser in less than three feet of water. After making your northward turn, point to pass between flashing day beacon #10 and unlighted day beacon #9. Soon, the creek takes a sharp jog to the northeast. Favor the southeasterly shores heavily to avoid the correctly charted shoal northeast of flashing day beacon # 11. You will soon sight the marina docks on the easterly banks. “Delegal Creek continues deep for quite some distance upstream until it splinters into several branches west of Ritter Hammock. Hold to the centerline and avoid cutting short any point of land.” 64

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

ave you ever received directions so detailed and complicated, you say, “To heck with it, we’ll go someplace else”? That’s how we felt about Delegal Marina on Skidaway Island in Georgia. We had read Claiborne S. Young’s Cruising Guide to Coastal South Carolina and Georgia, where there is a warning to read the navigational instructions before attempting first time entry. After reading them, we decided to leave Delegal Creek Marina off our initial float plan for our trip to Charleston, S.C. However, thanks to Arlene, the first named storm in 2005, we learned first hand that a visit to this delightful little piece of heaven is well worth the trouble. When Arlene was first named and rounded Cuba’s western shore and entered the Gulf of Mexico, we had just crossed the Okeechobee Waterway in our 33 Morgan OI, Eclipse, coming from our homeport of Bradenton, FL. As we turned north on the ICW, Arlene’s feeder bands were beginning to develop, hitting the East Coast with gusty winds and showers. It continued for the next couple of days, and by the time we anchored for the night at Fernandina Beach, the weather was downright snotty. When we left the following morning, all of Florida was being drenched by Arlene, so we buttoned Eclipse up tightly: All curtains around the perimeter of our bimini were zipped shut and snapped down, and only a tiny slot was left open in the dodger to peer out of. Crossing St. Mary Entrance wasn’t too bad, although at times the rain came down so hard that the visibility was next to nothing, but we were fairly well protected from the brisk wind coming out of the southeast. Likewise, going up Cumberland Sound was pretty well a straight shot. Besides, we had planned on stopping at Golden Isles Marina on St. Simon’s Island. With everything being clammy and damp, the idea of a marina with hot showers, a washer and dryer, www.southwindsmagazine.com

and friendliest marinas and several good reston the East Coast. aurants sounded pretty Delegal Creek Marina good. is less than a mile off the But Arlene was ICW, and it is part of a traveling up the Gulf at private development, about the same speed The Landings, but the we were traveling marina facilities are north, so as we crossed open to all boaters. St. Simon’s Sound, her They have floating long, gray, streaming docks, full power and skirts were still covering water connections, gasous with torrential rain Eclipse docked at Delegal Creek Marina. line and diesel fuel, and winds that gusted showers and laundry up to 30 knots. In fact, and — once inside — we were so preoccupied we were very well prowith finding the marktected against the foul ers in all that grayness, weather. that we were way up Jimmie A. Mercer, the MacKay River before dockmaster, is the perrealizing we had missed sonification of Southern the turn-off for Golden hospitality, although he Isles Marina at Green did admit that he doesBlinker 249. n’t greet all newcomers That night we by coming out in a anchored off the ICW, at powerboat to guide about Statute Mile 653, them in. As it hapand knowing the size of pened, a friend of his the barges that come with the marine patrol through at night maneuwas ready to pull out vering the often tortu- Cocktail hour at Delegal Creek Marina. when we called for help ously twisted waterway, in finding the entrance. we slept with one ear Later, in the clubhouse of TLYC (The Landings Yacht Club), alert to our anchor alarm, while the wind howled in the rigFleet Captain Marty Vernick showed us on an easily read, ging and our anchor chain groaned at every gust. stylized chart on the wall, how to enter the creek. The Saturday morning, while Arlene prepared to make instructions in the Cruising Guide were accurate. It was landfall in the Panhandle of Florida, we were still heading simply poor visibility that caused us the difficulty in findnorth in its downpour. Altamaha Sound and Doboy Sound ing the markers on our way in. were both quickly crossed, but Sapelo Sound was long and Skidaway Island, where Delegal Marina is located, wet, as was St. Catherine’s Sound where another sailboat, abounds in natural beauty. In addition to the serenity of going slightly faster than us, passed us in seas that had built the salt marshes, the lush vegetation on the island has so that we only saw the top of her cabin when both of us been manicured to frame golf courses and beautiful were in a trough. homes. We saw it all from the marina’s courtesy car, By then we had had enough! It was time to get out the which gave us the opportunity to re-provision at Waterway Guide to find the nearest marina. Again, we Kroger ’s Supermarket, eat at an excellent Chinese looked at Delegal Marina and the warning for first-time visrestaurant, and even visit Savannah’s picturesque riveritors. We looked at each other. How bad could it be? front. The visibility was bad, the markers weren’t where we All in all, we had a marvelous time, and we are thankthought they would be, and the navigation program on our ful to Arlene for forcing us to make a stop at Delegal Creek computer chose that moment to go blank. But rather than Marina. Take it from one who knows. Delegal should be a giving up, we called Delegal Creek Marina one more time, MUST VISIT for any boater who travels the Eastern and, believe it or not, the dockmaster offered to come out Seaboard. and guide us in... and this is how we found one of the nicest News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

RACING Regata del Sol al Sol 2006 Applications Now Online at Reduced Rates, Schedule of Events Announced, Improved Tracking System for the Race Announced The Regata del Sol al Sol Race Committee, the Saint Petersburg Yacht Club, and Club Yates, recently announced that the NOR and application for the 2006 Regata del Sol al Sol are now available on the Web site, www.regatadelsolalsol.org. The preliminary schedule of events is also posted. Last year’s format was so well received, that it has been adopted for 2006. The race committee has managed to keep the entry fees the same now for the third year in a row, and they also announced the Mexican fees will remain the same. For those who apply early, before January 1, there will be savings. They are encouraging early applications to help improve planning and projections. Last year’s theme was Living the Legend, Viviendo la Leyenda! This year’s theme is Become Part of the Legend. This year the tracking system will also be improved, making boat locations more available in real time. SOUTHWINDS will be posting details of these changes in coming issues. For more information, and to apply online, go to www.regatadelsolalsol.org.

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

Southern Sailors Kick Off 2008 Olympic Fundraising Campaign: Evan Brown and Caroline Young to Vie for U.S. Sailing Team Berth

Caroline Young and Evan Brown. Courtesy photo.

Two Tampa Bay area sailors, both of whom currently skipper the A and B divisions for the number three-ranked Stanford University Varsity Women’s Sailing Team, recently launched their fundraising campaign for the 2008 Olympic Games. Evan Brown, 19, and Caroline Young, 20, announced that they have teamed up to vie for a position on the US Sailing Team as the women’s 470-class entry in the Beijing, China, Olympics. Their first qualifying regatta, the St. Francis Olympic Class Regatta, was scheduled for October 27-28, in San Francisco. They will compete in two more regattas in Miami in January in an effort to qualify for the US Sailing Team. The women estimate that their journey to Beijing will require some $250,000 over the next three years. They have already made a significant personal financial commitment to their campaign by investing much of the income earned from their summer sailing instructor jobs in the boat and equipment they will use to train and compete in regattas leading up to the 2007 Olympic Trials. The remainder of the funding will be dedicated to new sails, equipment, coaching and travel to competitions, most of which are held in Europe and China. The Olympic Trials will be held in Southern California in November 2007. Ms. Young, a junior at Stanford majoring in product design and a member of the 2005 Ronstan All American Women’s Sailing Team, will skipper the 470 and Ms. Brown, a sophomore majoring in microbiology and immunology, will crew. “Because we both usually drive the boats in races, we figure we’ll have an edge on the competition, since two tactical heads are better than one,” says Young, the youngest and only West Coast member of the Ronstan Collegiate AllAmerica sailing team. “Plus, I’m 5’2” and Evan is 5’10”, which is perfect for the 470, which requires a lot of crew leverage on the trapeze to keep the boat flat and fast.” “We have our work cut out for us the next few years,” comments Brown. “But, as our histories have proven, we’ll thrive on the kind of demand that our academics, collegiate sailing and Olympic training will put on us. It’s how we got to this point in the first place.” The women have dubbed themselves The Bay Team to www.southwindsmagazine.com

signify their long-standing bond with their Tampa Bay home and their new tie to San Francisco Bay, where they now attend school and train. Bay also serves as an acronym for Brown And Young. The team is supported by the Tampa-based Davis Island Youth Sailing Foundation (DIYSF), a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization, which will collect contributions on their behalf. Both women learned to sail 11 years ago through DIYSF’s summer learn-to-sail program and have been competing successfully since then in a variety of boat classes. Anyone interested in contributing to The Bay Team’s Olympic campaign can mail a donation to: The Bay Team, c/o Davis Island Youth Sailing Foundation, P.O. Box 10471, Tampa, FL 33679-0471. Make checks payable to the Davis Island Youth Sailing Foundation and note either The Bay Team or Brown/Young Campaign on the memo line. All contributions are tax deductible. The team also welcomes other contributions such as sailing gear, frequent flyer mileage and fundraising opportunities. For more information on the sailors and their progress, call (813) 286-0640 or visit the team’s Web site at www.thebayteam.org. For more information on the Stanford University sailing team, see www.gostanford.collegesports.com, or www.collegesailing.org.

Race Management Seminar, Naples Sailing and Yacht Club, Dec. 18 Henry B. Moore, well-known and respected US Sailing certified race management instructor, certified regional race officer and certified senior judge will join with R. Fairlie Brinkley, certified regional race officer, certified race management instructor, former WFPHRF director and WFPHRF Boat of the Year chairman and past commodore of the Clearwater Yacht Club, to present a US Sailing Basic Race Management Seminar on December 18. This class meets the education requirement for certification as a US Sailing Certified Club Race Officer. The seminar will be held at the newly completed clubhouse of the venerable Naples Sailing and Yacht Club and is sponsored by NSYC and West Florida PHRF. The cost is $50 per person which will include testing materials, a continental breakfast and buffet lunch. Attendance will be limited to 20 people, and advance reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis. Online registration, additional seminar information, and study guides are available at the event, http://basicseminar.home.att.net/Home_Page.htm.

Paige Railey Makes Final List for 2005 Rolex World Sailor of the Year Nominations

The International Sailing Federation has announced the sailors from around the world whose nominations have been short-listed for final consideration as the 2005 Rolex News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

RACING/REGIONAL RACING World Sailors of the Year. Selection is based on outstanding achievement from Sept 1, 2004 through August 31, 2005. Paige Railey was listed as one of four women and six men and the only U.S. sailor chosen by the international committee for the shortlist. Paige, an eighteen-year-old freshman at the University of South Florida, competes in a Laser Radial for the Clearwater Yacht Club sailing team, which trains at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center. Paige is the 2005 Female Youth World Champion, as well as the winner of the 2005 European Open Women’s Championship and is currently ranked first in the ISAF World rankings. The International World Sailor of the Year Awards are recognized as the pinnacle award a sailor can receive in recognition of his/her outstanding achievements by the world of sailing. Each member nation of the International Sailing Federation will have one vote to select the man and woman from the shortlist to receive the World Sailor of the Year Awards. The 2005 ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards will take place on Nov. 8 at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel during the International Sailing Federation Annual Conference in Singapore.

Melges 24 World Championship Set For Key Largo By Stephanie Cox

November 2005

REGIONAL RACING Reports, News And Race Calendars

The boat infamous among racers for being so fast that it can tow a wakeboarder is bringing its World Championship to the Florida Keys. The Corum Melges 24 World Championship will be held at Key Largo’s Ocean Reef Club, Dec. 11-16. The regatta is expected to attract a large field of boats from the United States and around the world. The high caliber fleet will include America’s Cup sailors, Olympic medalists and world champions from multiple international classes. John Bertrand, “Shark” Kahn, Jeff Ecklund and Argyle Campbell are among some of the champions who have preregistered for the regatta. The stiff $800 entry fee might dissuade some Melges sailors from making the trek down South, but the lure of sailing in a World Championship is tough to turn down. Currently, one of the biggest problems

is actually finding enough boats in the area for sailors to charter. Potential competitors are willing to pay a hefty price for the opportunity to sail in this event. One of the reasons this particular World Championship is so popular is due to the venue it is being hosted out of. The Ocean Reef Club is situated on the northern tip of Key Largo. The Club has hosted presidents, heads of state, movie stars and sports heroes. It was founded in 1945 as a private fishing club and remains private today, with membership by invitation only. Thanks to the Ocean Reef Club, Melges sailors will be able to sail, sip a beer, and sleep without even leaving their hotel parking lot. In the 12 years since it was introduced, the Melges 24 has become the world’s leading high performance, onedesign sportboat. Over 600 boats are now sailing, and an additional 30 new boats are built and delivered each year. Today, Melges 24 fleets compete in sailing venues across Europe, North America and Asia. There are fleets in the United States, Canada, France, Great Britain, Italy, Finland, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Monaco, Sweden, Spain and Japan. For more information on the Corum Melges 24 World Championships, check out the regatta’s Web site at www.2005corumm24worlds.com.

SOUTHWINDS

Regattas and Club Racing — Open to Everyone Wanting to Race The races listed here are open to those who want to sail. No individual club membership is required, although a regional PHRF rating, or membership in US Sailing or membership in a regional sailing association is often required. (If individual club membership is required, please contact us and we will not list their races in the future.) For publishing of your event, questions and information, send us your race schedule by the 5th of the month to editor@southwindssailing.com. Since race schedules and venues change, contact the

www.southwindsmagazine.com

sponsoring organization to confirm. For changes to be published contact the editor.

SOUTHEAST COAST: CAROLINAS & GEORGIA November Water Temperature – Cape Hatteras, NC – 58º See page 92 Savannah Beach, GA – 64º for windrose legend Average November Temperatures – Cape Hatteras, NC 52º lo – 64º hi Savannah, GA 47º lo – 71º hi For Real Time Southeast Coast Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Southeast.shtml

LOCAL RACE REPORT Special Olympics Of Georgia Regatta, Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Lake Lanier, GA, Sept. 9-11 By Ron Mitchellette

trophies she has won in a variety of sports. Special Olympics of Georgia has 23,956 athletes participating in 23 Olympic-type sports, including over 500 games, meets and tournaments all held in communities throughout Georgia. Five statewide events are held annually and culminate in World Summer and Winter Games every two years. For results, go to www.specialolympicsga.org, and/or www.southernsailing.com.

Octoberfest Regatta, Wilmington Island, GA, Oct. 1-2 By Walt McFarlane It started off as a cloudy morning with winds blowing out of the southeast between seven and 15 knots. The Wilmington River was a little choppy. I boarded the mark boat with members of the race committee and thought to myself that this could turn out to be a rough day for a regatta. However, as the course was being set up, the clouds started to lift and my dismal outlook turned to one that told me this could be a great day for a regatta. The first race went off like clockwork. As the countdown signals were being given you could see the crews jumping around, working the lines of their respective crafts

The 35th anniversary of the Special Olympics of Georgia (SOGA) Regatta was held on Lake Lanier on Sept. 9 -11. This event was once again a smashing success with outstanding performances by the participating skippers, sponsors and donors. Total funds raised reached $29,700, with contributions from the host sailing club, Southern Sailing, of $4,796, which won first prize and took it away from last year’s winner, the Barefoot Sailing Club (an annual rivalry), which raised $4,070. Other clubs that participated were the Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Atlantic Inland Sailing Club and the University Yacht Club, all of which raised an aggregate amount of approximately $4,300. The balance of the funds raised came from sponsor donations including, but not limited to, Optelian, ADC, ALCOA West Marine, WeatherMark, The Sail Loft (Northsails), Sunsail, Alcatel, Conch Charters, Knights of Columbus and Warsteiner beer. All of the marinas on the lake also contributed. Also to be thanked are all the skippers, who raised a total of $17,875, including the winning skipper, Steve O’Hagan, who raised the most money and won a one-week charter trip to somewhere? (Tell us when you return, Steve!) All the skippers had to register and pay a fee of $250 to qualify, which added up, considering 34 skippers signed in. Even the weather cooperated with sunny skies and 10to 14-knot winds on Saturday, but Sunday was in the doldrums. PHRF-rated fleets in Spin and Non-Spin classes raced Saturday and Sunday. A Performance Cruiser Racing Fleet (PCRF) raced on Saturday only. The après-race party on Saturday night was terrific and the food superb. The guest speaker was a very articulate Special Olympian by the name of Katy Wilson, who should be in a Special Olympics Hall-of-Fame for the numerous News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

REGIONAL RACING

Seaplane changes sails in the Octoberfest Regatta. Photo by Walt MacFarlane. as the helmsman barked orders and steered his boat into position for the starting gun. This is to me the most exciting moment of sailboat racing. It is a beautiful ballet of craft being maneuvered through wind and water, while at the same time a show of teamwork and seamanship filled with excitement. I, for one, get a complete rush every time I see it. As the gun fires, the boats dashed across the starting line and headed for the windward marker. After passing it to starboard, their sails billowed with air, and each craft heeled over as they started their long run down the course. Each of Saturday’s three races went flawlessly. Only once did I fear there was going to be trouble. It was during the second race, when three boats were making a run for the windward mark. I just knew there would be a collision, but at the very last moment, one peeled off to port and a second pulled back as the boat on the starboard tack reached and rounded the marker. It was an exciting display of sailing to witness. The final race of the day was finished with the apparent winds, reported by some crews, gusting up to 23 knots. Saturday evening I sat down with a number of crews and talked about the day over mountains of boiled shrimp and mugs of beer. All agreed it had been a kicker of a day—the type that makes the races fast and nerve-racking. As one skipper put it, “There isn’t much time to correct if you make a mistake.” Steve Toney, skipper of Second Wind, told me his C&C 35 was sailing at times with speeds of 9.5 knots. He and his crew, Joey Duran, Joe Thompson, George Frank, and Jeff Kerr all agreed they had a good day crossing the finish line first in their class in all three races. 70

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

Skipper John Demere and his crew on Revelation also had a good day with one secondand two first-place finishes, leading after the first day in the Spinnaker Class. The “pirates,” as they are called by the others, finished first for the day in the Non-Spinnaker class. Captain Chris Weaver, along with crew members Steve Sullivan, Jay Shehane, Carli Luby, and George Von Dolteren, were aboard the 1965 Pearson 32, Rapacious. On Sunday, the winds had really picked up, blowing 17 knots plus, with gusts reported to 30 knots. During the first race of the day, a number of boats experienced wind-related problems, especially the “pirates” aboard Rapacious, which lost her main sail due to a rip. After such a great day on Saturday, it was sad to see her limp across the finish line and fall from first to third in the NonSpinnaker class. As the boats were finishing the first race of the day, a heavy rain came down, but it only lasted 10/15 minutes. With the weather getting worse, the race committee decided that the second race of the day would be on a shortened course and would be the last for this regatta.

ONLINE

West Florida Race Calendar Starting in September, SOUTHWINDS will be providing an online race calendar for West Florida racing and regattas. All racing events held in the region from Marco Island to Tarpon Springs will be listed for the period from September 2005 up through August 2006. Listed will be the event, sponsoring organization and contacts, and links to the NORs, registration and results, when made available by those organizations. The Web site will also publish up-to-date venue changes for those who send us that information. With this new service, sailors only need go to www.southwindsmagazine.com and will no longer have to seek out the sponsoring organization’s Web site for this information. Only those races open to everyone will be listed. To have your race listed, or changes in your race schedule, e-mail the information to the editor, Steve Morrell, at editor@southwindsmagazine.com. For those who cannot post the results online at a Web site, contact us for possibly doing so on ours. The West Florida list of yacht clubs and sailing organizations will also be online. www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

August 2005

REGIONAL RACING Judy’s ‘D Lite’ sails in the Octoberfest Regatta. Photo by Walt MacFarlane.

After two days and five races, the boats with their crews retired. It had been a well-run race. Merry Bennett (PRO) and her committee did a splendid job. I would also like to thank Ron Robinson, captain of the mark boat I was assigned to as well as the Geechee Sailing Club of Thunderbolt, GA, who hosted the regatta and made me feel very welcome. For all of the final results or to learn more about the Geechee Sailing Club go to www.geecheesailingclub.org. Results (place, boat, skipper – top two finishers): Spinnaker: 1, Revelation, John Demere; 2, Sea Plane, Randy Tilly; NonSpinnaker:1, Pelican, Leo Peloquin; 2, Second Wind, Steve Toney; Cruising: 1, Z Breeze, Andrew Ziegler; 2, Judy’s D Lite, Ken Simpson.

Sea The World: The Barefoot Sea Dog Open Regatta, Lake Lanier, GA, Oct. 7 By Ron Mitchellette The Barefoot Sailing Club, along with co-host and key sponsor Sea Dog Sailing, a charter service, held the 31st Annual Barefoot Sea Dog Open Regatta on Oct. 7-9. The event began with a Friday evening skippers’ meeting, a Saturday morning skippers’ breakfast hosted by the club’s cruising fleet and a Saturday evening, record-smashing bash that included rum donated by Pusser’s, wine donated by Barefoot/ Gallo Cellars and beer donated by Village Spirits, a locallyowned package store. The absolute highlight of the Saturday evening’s festivities was the international dinner donated by one of the club’s regular sponsors, Jock & Jill’s Sports Bar, which provided “state-of-the-art” cuisine, together with servers to feed 300 people in a buffet line. The dinner was followed by the tunes of Marty and the Party, and all got a chance to show off their dancing skills or lack thereof, mostly the latter. This year’s 11-fleet racing venue was loaded with the traditional PHRF classes consisting of high, mid and low spinnaker and non-spinnaker fleets, multihull and one designs. One designs consisted of J/22s, J/24s and Santana 20s. The club also had its affiliate group, the Sea Scouts, race their regional 420 competition, won by an Atlanta team. The club also added a new racing venue for its cruising fleet, titled the Performance Cruising Racing Fleet (PCRF), for big-boat owner/skippers to enjoy the same thrill of victory as their racing fleet fellow members have been enjoying for eons. On Saturday, it was a picture-perfect race day with winds ranging from seven to 12 knots and clear skies. Sunday was cloudy with about the same wind range. A total of 67 boats raced in the various venues, and the final results are posted on the club’s Web site (www.barefootsailing.org). The Barefoot Sea Dog Open Regatta is one of the major regattas on Lake Lanier. It is often considered the premier regatta on the lake due to its large sponsor participation and a vendor’s tent, which this year, in addition to the sponsors men72

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

REGIONAL RACING tioned above, included Snug Harbor Boats and Brokerage (which provided a 3.5 hp/OB motor), Christensen Design (providing the artwork for the T-shirts), and Aqualand Marina and Sailtime (which displayed its new Hunter 33). Another sponsor, Neil Pryde, donated three $500 gift certificates as did West Marine with five $100 gift certificates. As happens each year, the club used the great facilities of the Sunrise Cove Marinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clubhouse as its base for the event. And last to mention, but certainly one of the highlights of the regatta, was the exhibition of an internationally famous artist, Clayton Pond, who displayed his nautical art and contemporary paintings.

RACE CALENDAR NOVEMBER Lake Lanier, GA. www.larc.strictlysailing.com 6,13 LARC Fall #2,#3 Lanier Auxiliary Racing Committee, Barefoot Sailing Club 12,29 BFSC Fall Squall #3,#4 Barefoot Sailing Club Charleston, SC. www.charlestonoceanracing.org 12 Big Boat Race, Charleston Yacht Club 19 Double-Handed Race Go to www.longbaysailing.org for additional information. 3 Race Week 7, Little River Inlet

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

Go to www.sayra-sailing.org/pages/racing.htm . 5 Augusta, GA., Fall Series 2, Augusta Sailing Club 5 Oriental, NC., ODC PHRF and Ensign Fleet Series, Oriental Dinghy Club 5-6 Kernersville, NC., Wilmer Cup, Outrigger Yacht Club 5-6 Acworth, GA., No More Turkey Regatta, Atlanta Yacht Club 5-6 Columbia, SC., Midlands Regatta, Columbia Sailing Club 5-6 Mooresville, NC., Flying Scot Fall 48 and RC Fleet Regatta, Lake Norman Yacht Club 12 Columbia, SC., LMYRA Race 8 Island, Columbia Sailing Club 12-13 Mooresville, NC., N3 Nationals (2.4mR) and Carolinas Keelboat One Design, Lake Norman Yacht Club 12-13 Savannah, GA., North Points #4 ISA Regatta at Sail Harbor, Savannah Sailing Center 19 Augusta, GA., Fall Series 3, Augusta Sailing Club 19 Kernersville, NC., Commodore s Cup, Outrigger Yacht Club 19-20 Acworth, GA., UGA Regatta / Annual Meeting, Atlanta Yacht Club Go to www.catawbayc.org for additional information on the Catawba Yacht Club, Lake Wylie, Charlotte, NC. 5,19 Board Boat Racing, Hensley Cup, Fall Party, and Halloween Hay ride for Kids 12 Keel Boat Racing Go to www.osyc.net for additional information on the Oconee Sailing and Yacht Club, Lake Sinclair, GA. 13 Season Finale Fun Run Go to www.saisa.org for information on the S. Atlantic Interscholastic Sailing Association & participating high schools 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 13 Savannah, GA., NP X, location TBD

www.southwindsmagazine.com

EAST FLORIDA

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA

Eastern Florida November Weather Water Temperature – Daytona Beach – 71º Jacksonville Beach – 67º Gulfstream Current – 1.8 knots Average November Temperatures – Daytona Beach - 57º lo – 77º hi Jacksonville Beach - 56º lo – 72º hi For Real Time East Florida Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtml

November Weather Water Temperature Miami Beach – 76º Stuart – 75º Gulfstream Current – 1.9 knots Average Temperatures – Miami Beach – 70º lo – 78º hi Stuart – 64º lo – 80º hi For Real Time East Florida Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtml

See page 92 for windrose legend

RACE CALENDAR

RACE REPORT

NOVEMBER

Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association, First Race, Series 2, Miami Yacht Club, Sept. 24

5 6 12 - 13 12 - 13 11 -13 12 13 13 13 13 19 19 - 20 20 19 – 20 26 26

Mothers Arms Race. Lake Monroe Sailing Association. Winter Rum Race #1. Melbourne Yacht Club Lake Toho Regatta. Lake Monroe Sailing Association. 12th Annual SER MC Scow Championship Regatta. Lake Eustis Sailing Club SSCA Gam. Seven Seas Cruising Association. ECSA Fall River Race #3. East Coast Sailing Association–Racing ECSA-W Fall Women’s Series #4. East Coast Sailing Association–Women’s Small Boat Sunday Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club. Summer/Fall #8. Indian River Yacht Club VNA Air Show and Raft Up. Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club. Double-Handed Race. East Coast Sailing Association–Racing Cruise to Pinedaville (Pineda Causeway). East Coast Sailing Association–Cruising Winter Rum Race #2. Melbourne Yacht Club “No Frills/Cheap Thrills” Sunfish Regional Regatta, Melbourne Yacht Club Cocoa Rockledge Holiday Boat Parade. Indian River Yacht Club Race of Champions. Indian River Yacht Club

NOVEMBER – Northeast Florida. www.sailjax.com 5 Halloween J24 Regatta. Florida Yacht Club 12 EFYC Kings Day Regatta. Epping Forest Yacht Club 18-20 Jacksonville King’s Day Regatta. (Melges 24). The Florida Yacht Club, Jacksonville. DECEMBER — Central East Florida 3 Martin County Christmas Boat Parade. Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club 3-4 Gator Bowl Regatta. Rudder Club 3-4 Lake Monroe Kettle Cup Regatta. Lake Monroe Sailing Association 3 River Challenge Race. East Coast Racing Association 4 Winter Rum Race #3. Melbourne Yacht Club 8-10 Cruise to West Palm Beach. Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club 10 St. Lucie County Christmas Boat Parade. Fort Pierce Yacht Club 11 Small Boat Sunday Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club 25 Small Boat Sunday Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club DECEMBER – Northeast Florida. www.sailjax.com 10 One Design & FCSA Interclub Regatta. Florida Yacht Club 11 Fall Women’s Series #5. East Coast Racing AssociationWomen’s 17 Boat Parade Party. East Coast Racing AssociationCruising News & Views for Southern Sailors

By Art Perez Hurricane-weary sailors finally took to the waters for the first race of the BBYRA Series 2 regatta. After two skirmishes with hurricanes (Katrina and Rita), part of the fleet was still in recovery mode. Many were scrambling to get their boat race-ready or were just too exhausted to come out to race. Still uncertain if the regatta would take place, the organizing committee conducted an informal head count among the racers to see if the regatta should be canceled or not, with the “yes votes” (meaning the race was on) winning by a small margin. In my dual role of reporter/crewmember on the J/24 Joe Cool, I couldn’t help but feel the pure enjoyment of being out on the racecourse again after a three-month hiatus. As the fleet mingled at the starting line, the camaraderie was evident. To add to the splendor of the regatta, the predicted weather forecast of 12-15 knots out of the northeast was on the money. All that lay ahead was an afternoon of great racing. On the racing front, the J/24 class was, as usual, hotly contested, but this time between veteran Peter Benziger and newcomer Lionel Baugh. With less than a year racing in the fleet, Lionel has started to move up in the ranks with consistent top finishes in the last few races. Both boats finished tied for first place with 1-2 finishes, Peter taking top honors on the tiebreaker. In PHRF 1, Stuart Hebb on Thin Ice did a nice job keeping everyone at bay with two strong first-place finishes. The expected competition from the Tripp 33s never materialized. The PHRF 2 fleet, on the other hand, was only able to muster up two boats, Blackbird and Hot Air III. With top contender Goombay still in the yard for repairs. as was Tiburon, both boats matched race all afternoon, ending the day with 1-2 finishes, top honors going to Blackbird on the tiebreaker. The day ended with everyone headed to the Miami Yacht Club for the party and trophy presentation. It was time, once again, to compare notes, stories and excuses among friends and competitors. SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

REGIONAL RACING Results: PHRF1;1 – Thin Ice/Stuart Hebb;2 – Sleeper/Malcolm Swartz ;3 – Moving Party IV/ Mike Catalano;PHRF2;1 – Blackbird/Pat Cacace;2 – Hot Air III/David Berg;PHRF3;1 - Magic/John Degen;2 – Mild to Wild/Russ Horn;3 – Sailing for Life/Karen Mitchell ;PHRF4;1 – Freebird/Kennith Ellis;2 – Pale Rider/Gerry Marston;3 – Special Warfare/Stuart Sorg;J24; 1 – Gotta Go/Peter Benziger;2 – Joe Cool/Lionel Baugh;3 – LacaLaca/Iker Belausteguigoitia;Series 1 Results:PHRF1;1 – Triptease/Rubin-Shellow;2 – Concept vs. Reality/Steven Alexander; 3 – Group Therapy/Tom Seghi;PHRF2;1 – Goombay/Dave Kurtz;2 – Blackbird/Pat Cacace;3 – Caraluna/Cai Svenson;PHRF3;1 - Mild to Wild/Russ Horn;2 – Sailing for Life/Karen Mitchell;2 - Touchstone/Jaime & Vicki Topp3 – Magic/John Degen;PHRF4;1 – Pale Rider/Gerry Marston;2 – St.Clair/Richard Hall;3 – Special Warfare/Stuart Sorg;J24; 1 – I’ll Go/Gonzalo Diaz, Sr;2 – Gotta Go/Peter Benziger;3 – Pick Up Stix/Jonathan Luscomb;

FLORIDA KEYS

RACE CALENDAR

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

Upper Keys Sailing Club, www.upperkeyssailingclub.com.

NOVEMBER 5 Sat. CRYC Annual Regatta – BBYRA #10 One-Design. Part of the BBYRA regatta championship for One-Design classes. Open to all entries. 6 Sun. CRYC Annual Regatta – BBYRA #10 PHRF. Part of the BBYRA regatta for PHRF/J24 and ARC. Open to all classes. 12 Sat. 40th Anniversary of the “Around the Island Race.” Host: KBYC. The Ed William Memorial “Round the Island race around Key Biscayne, starting at Donovan’s Channel, past Stiltsville to finish at KBYC. Followed by a raft-up and party. 19-20 Sat./Sun. PHRF SEF Championship. The 4th annual PHRF/J24 two-day regatta. Open to boats with PHRF certificate. DECEMBER 2 Fri. Wirth Monroe Palm Beach Race. SCF/CCA – The 49th annual ocean race starting off Government Cut and ending in Palm Beach. 3-4 Sat.-Sun.Commodore Cup Stars. CRYC – The 25th annual championship for Stars. 3-4 Sat.-Sun. Piana Cup Etchells. BBYC – First race of the Jaguar Cup Series for Etchells. The 9th regatta hosted by the local fleet #20 celebrates the lifetime achievement of our own Louis Piana of CRYC, elected to Honorary Life Membership of the International Class Association, an honor shared on;y by three others in the history of the class. 10 Sat. BBYRA OD #11. KBYC – The last race of the BBYRA Series2 and the year for the registered One Design fleets. 11 Sun. BBYRA PHRF #11. KBYC. The last race of the BBYRA Series 2 and the year for PHRF and ARC fleets. 26-30 Mon./Fri. Orange Bowl Regatta. CRYC/CGSC – The 26th event is co-hosted by both clubs. CGSC hosts the annual International 420 & 470, Collegiate 420, and Eurodinghy (for women) Mid-Winters. CRYC hosts the annual Youth Regatta (IODA) and International Youth Regatta (Laser, Laser Radial, Club 420 and 29ers), and Snipe regatta.

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

Florida Keys November Weather Keys Water Temperature Key West – 76º Average Temperatures Key West 72º lo – 81º hi For real-time eastern Gulf weather, winds and marine forecasts, go to http://comps.marine.usf.edu

See page 92 for windrose legend

NOVEMBER 6 Flail and Sail Regatta B/S PHRF. 12-13 Dockmaster’s Regatta Portsmouth & PHRF. 24 Thanksgiving Day Raft Up. DECEMBER 3 Winter Portsmouth Regatta B/S. 4 Ocean Side Championship Regatta #4. 11 Mark Sorensen Memorial Youth Sailing Championship. 17 St. Nick’s all Comers B/S Regatta. Key West Sailing Club Every Saturday – Open House at the Key West Sailing Club. 10-1 p.m. (305) 292-5993. www.keywestsailingclub.org. Sailboat Lane off Palm Avenue in Key West. Casual racing/sailing on the weekends during winter months after October till Spring. Come by the club to sail. Non-members and members welcome. November 20. Thanksgiving Race and First Race in the Commodore Series

WEST FLORIDA West Florida November Weather Gulf Water Temperature St. Petersburg – 70º Naples – 73º Average Temperatures St. Petersburg 63º lo – 77º hi See page 92 Naples 62º lo – 82º hi for windrose legend For real time eastern Gulf weather, winds and marine forecasts, go to http://comps.marine.usf.edu

RACE REPORT High School Cressy Championships Qualifies Juniors for Trip to Hawaii, Sept. 10-11 By Stephanie Cox The Clearwater Yacht Club hosted the 2005 South Atlantic Interscholastic Sailing Association Singlehanded Qualfiers for the Cressy Trophy on September 10-11. Over 40 high www.southwindsmagazine.com

school sailors competed in Lasers and Laser Radials for the right to represent their schools at the Cressy North American Championships hosted by Waikiki Yacht Club Thanksgiving weekend. The beginning of the regatta started out with a bit of controversy due to a sudden procedural rule change. Normally, in high school sailing, coaches are not allowed to ride in their own coach boats. All coaches must stay together on land or on designated spectator boats so that no team has an unfair advantage. The race committee decided to change that rule for this regatta at the last minute because there weren’t enough support boats. Unfortunately, not all the coaches were informed of the decision so some teams were left in the uncomfortable position of having to hitch a ride at the last minute. At the end of the day, the race committee decided that safety took priority over politics, and the regatta went off with few problems. The Clearwater race committee did a great job completing a large number of races across two days. Sailors competed in 16 grueling races that were 30 minutes in length or longer. By the end of the weekend, only the strongest survived. Ten sailors competed in the Laser fleet with four qualifying to attend North Americans in Hawaii. Fred Strammer of the Pine View School in Sarasota came out on top followed by fellow Pine View teammate, Zeke Horowitz. Chris Enger of Sarasota and Luke Lawrence of Martin County rounded out the top four. In Laser Radials, David Hernandez of Miami Killian High School won, followed closely by Mitch Hall of Seminole High School. Sarah Lihan of St. Thomas Aquinas High School was the top girl at the regatta in third place, and Colin Smith of Pine Crest High School was the top freshman.

winds allowed most boats to be back in port by noon or well on their way home north. In the Spinnaker 1 fleet, X-S, a custom 41-footer with a -6 rating and skippered by Doug Fisher, took first overall for all three races, taking firsts on both of Saturday’s races. In the first race, they beat out All-In, a J/33 with a rating of 81, by 18 minutes in elapsed time and seven minutes corrected time. Third was Time Bandit, a J/35 with a rating of 72, coming in one minute later. X-S again took first with a good finish in the second race, beating out Mariah, a J/109, by 13 minutes elapsed time and one minute in corrected time. In Sunday’s race, X-S took first to finish, but with that low rating, finished behind Time Bandit and Mariah, the first two boats in with only three second’s time difference. X-S took third in corrected time by only 13 seconds, but that hardly kept it from taking first overall in the regatta for its division with a total of five points, beating out second-place Time Bandit, which scored eight points, the same score earned by third-place Mariah. In the Spinnaker 2 and 3 fleets, Semper Fi, a J/29, and Hubberts Peak, a SMR-21, took their divisions. In the J/24 class, More Grief took first place, although it tied for overall points with second-place Sight Seeing. Bruiser came in third. In the Non-Spin fleet, Ohh Zone, a J/109 skippered by Jose Suarezhoyos, took the Division 1 title and Misty, the Family Wagon, Greg Knighton’s Ranger 33, came in first in Division 2. In the Corsair F24 class, Keewee took first, followed by Third Rail and Trifecta. True Cruising, racing around government marks in one race on each day, saw Millertime, a Catalina 36 skippered by Bob Miller, take first in Division 1. Soniacate, a Catalina 40 skippered by Don Miller, took the winning spot in Division 2. The surprise boat of the regatta was Geoff Bradenton Kick-Off Regatta, Kendrick’s Lex-Sea, a Sept. 23-25, Bradenton Yacht Club: MacGregor 65—making an impression by Two Days of Winds and Parties its length alone as the Kick Off the Coming Season largest boat to race. The MacGregor 65 has By Steve Morrell also always been a This month’s cover photo shows Doug Fisher’s custom 41-footmystery within the sailer, X-S, overall winner of the Spinnaker A fleet division. Photo ing community as it is a by Gary Hufford. somewhat affordable 65-footer—something Sixty-three boats competed in nine classes in West hard to find in modern Florida’s 23rd Annual Bradenton Kick-Off Regatta, hosted boats. Its 12-foot beam each year by the Bradenton Yacht Club. The event marks makes it look small the beginning of central west Florida’s 2005-2006 racing when viewed straightseason. In late September in west Florida, temperatures on, looking at the bow have cooled a little bit, and there is a good chance sailors or stern. When it turns will find good winds for a regatta—following those long, hot, humid and windless days of the summer. In some OHH Zone, the non-Spinnaker division sideways, it usually years, those summer days stick around for the Kick-Off #1 winner, rounds the mark in the 2005 surprises the viewer Regatta, but this year, 12- to 15-knot winds gave sailors Bradenton Kick-Off Regatta. Photo by with its length. The Steve Morrell. boat is known to be what they wanted. fast, but perhaps not well-suited for short buoy racing with a Two races were held on Saturday and one on Sunday rating of 55, as it placed fifth and sixth in its Non-Spin divifor all divisions except the two True Cruising divisions, sion. Perhaps the boat will do better in longer-course racing which had only one race each day. Only at the end of in the coming season. (The boat is in charter service at the Saturday’s second race did sailors experience no winds, Seafood Shack in Cortez.) bringing a swarm of hated love bugs out to visit. Sunday’s The Bradenton Yacht Club put on a series of great parracing started a half-hour earlier at 9:30 a.m., and good News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

REGIONAL RACING ties for the regatta: First came the Friday afternoon party, which slowly grew as dozens of boats sailed in, rafting up along the club’s bulkhead. On Saturday, the after-race festivities began with ample amounts of free keg beer, a great buffet and prizes. As friends and family of many of the sailors and others crowded around the pool and patio, everyone was treated to an impromptu belly-flop contest among adults and kids, the winner and losers all winning what appeared to be a prize of sunburnt-looking bellies. With hundreds of participants in crew and friends, on the water and off, it was another great kick-off regatta for the season—signaling the end of the hot summer doldrums. For full results, go to the Bradenton Yacht Club Web site at www.bradenton-yacht-club.org. A direct link to the results can also be found at the SOUTHWINDS West Florida Racing Calendar at the magazine’s Web site at www.southwindsmagazine.com.

Competitors Battle Stiff Breeze at Clearwater Yacht Club Regatta, Oct. 1 By Stephanie Cox Competitors in Optimists, Lasers and 420s converged on the Clearwater Community Sailing Center to race at one of the most popular dinghy regattas on the Florida fall circuit. Over 120 sailors raised their sails on Saturday, Oct. 1, in a gorgeous 12-knot breeze. Racing was held in the Gulf of Mexico in a north/northeasterly breeze and a light chop. The medium breeze caused a few capsizes but the race committees were able to bang out many races in the morning before a squall line came through in the afternoon. A seemingly innocuous grouping of clouds grew into a storm late Saturday afternoon, challenging racers with winds of over 20 knots. The race committee on the Laser course called it a day when the storm

Online West Florida Race Calendar Starting in September, SOUTHWINDS will be providing an online race calendar for West Florida racing and regattas. All racing events held in the region from Marco Island to Tarpon Springs will be listed for the period from September 2005 up through August 2006. Listed will be the event, sponsoring organization and contacts, and links to the NORs, registration and results, when made available by those organizations. The Web site will also publish up-to-date venue changes for those who send us that information. With this new service, sailors only need go to www.southwindssailing.com and will no longer have to seek out the sponsoring organization’s Web site for this information. Only those races open to everyone will be listed. To have your race listed, or changes in your race schedule, e-mail the information to the editor, Steve Morrell, at editor@southwindssailing.com. For those who cannot post the results online at a Web site, contact us for possibly doing so on ours. The W. Florida list of yacht clubs and sailing organizations will also be online. 78

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

caused some boats to capsize or break masts. The die-hard Optimist sailors stayed out despite the wind, proving that even though they are young, they are strong. It was breezy again on Sunday with winds gusting to 18 knots, but it also was a little more fluky with some light spots on the course for sailors to contend with. In the Laser fleet Clearwater Yacht Club sailor and Olympic hopeful Brad Funk enjoyed his first regatta back after having surgery for a dislocated shoulder. Funk easily topped the Laser fleet earning all bullets and one second. In the Laser Radial fleet, Mitch Hall of Team FOR did extremely well in the breeze, topping Genoa Griffin. Cleve Hancock of St. Petersburg Yacht Club got his first trophy ever after finishing third in the highly competitive Radial fleet. Courtney Kuebel of Team FOR finished first in the Laser 4.7 fleet. The 4.7s started with the Radials and even beat some of them despite having less sail area. Chris Vetter and crew from St. Petersburg Yacht Club won their second regatta in a row this fall in 420s. In the Optimist fleet, some controversy arose over a loose mark, impacting the final results for the red, white, and blue fleets. In the end, Jason Kuebel of Team FOR won a tie-breaker to claim the championship title over secondplace competitor Ian Holtzworth of St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Sean Durkin of Sarasota won the Optimist Green fleet.

South Florida Bulls Win South Atlantic Women’s Singlehanded Championships, Oct. 1 On Saturday, Oct. 1, 11 of the top women college sailors in the South Atlantic region competed at Eckerd College for the right to attend the Women’s Singlehanded North American Championships. This year, North Americans will be hosted by the University of Hawaii, adding an extra incentive to do well at qualifiers. The qualifiers for Singlehanded North Americans were sailed in Laser Radials in an 8-18 knot breeze at Eckerd College. Freshman Paige Railey of the University of South Florida dominated the fleet, winning the regatta with a mere 16 points after 11 races. Lindsey Nahmias of Eckerd College finished second, narrowly beating Alana O’Reilly of the College of Charleston who finished third. Both Railey and Nahmias will represent the South Atlantic region in Hawaii this November. Results: 1. Paige Railey (09) 16;2. Lindsey Nahmias (06) 40;3. Alana O’Reilly (06) 42;4. Nicole Buechler (09) 48;5. Katja Riise (08) 59;6. Kristen Herman (06) 69;7. Kim Witkowski (09) 70;8. Andrea Savage (09) 92;9. Megan Riddle (08) 93;10. Mandy Sackett (09) 94;11. Carly Cappelluzzo (09) 103.

Charleston Cougars Win South Atlantic Women’s Doublehanded Championships, Oct. 2 By Stephanie Cox The South Atlantic Women’s Doublehanded Championships were held at the University of South Florida on Oct. 2. The top three teams at this regatta move onto the Atlantic Coast www.southwindsmagazine.com

Championships at the Coast Guard Academy. The College of Charleston Cougars had a great day in the medium to heavy breezes with Alana O’Reilly, Mandy Sackett, Andrea Savage and Suzy Lintern claiming the championship. U.S.F. and Eckerd will also move on and represent the South Atlantic at the highly competitive Atlantic Coast Championships. Results: 1. College of Charleston; 2. U. S. F.; 3. Eckerd; 4.University of Florida; 5.Vanderbilt; 6. Rollins.

Tampa Sailing Squadron’s Rumgatta, Apollo Beach Oct. 1-2 By Morgan Stinemetz

under water and had the three crew looking down at Tampa Bay. Second in class was Shrew, a Creekmore owned by Gene DiNisio. Shrew’s crew won the first race of the day but had trouble with the yellow and black spinnaker on the broad reach to the finish line. The chute looked like a huge handkerchief flapping in the wind, and that prompted a query aboard the committee boat about which part of Shrew to use to judge the finish. “The bow,” came the terse answer. Third in class was A-1-A, Bill Mann’s Newport 28. In the Non-Spinnaker class (2 boats) John Towne’s Morgan 24, True Blue, posted a 2-1-1 to win. Joy Ride, a Ranger 23, was second. The lone multi, TRIfecta, a Corsair 24, had an automatic win in class.

Crow’s Nest Regatta, October 8, Crow’s Nest Restaurant and Marina By Morgan Stinemetz

Lagniappe, a Catalina 22 that won the Spinnaker C division at Tampa Sailing Squadron’s Rumgatta. Photo by Morgan Stinemetz. Cheap camera by Steve Morrell.

Tampa Sailing Squadron’s October 1-2 Appleton Rumgatta had 13 boats in four classes racing on a windward/leeward course off Apollo Beach in Tampa Bay. Though the turnout was modest, the racing was good due to building northeasterly winds that got to 15 knots. The remaining three classes—Multihull (one entry), True Cruising and an assigned rating class—sailed one race around government marks on Tampa Bay, but results for the latter two classes were not available at press time. The class act of the day was clearly Howard Johnson’s Blade Runner, a Melges 24. Though Blade Runner was strictly sailing against one other class entry, a MacGregor 65, Walking Tigress, she finished so far ahead of Walking Tigress in the second and third races of the day in Spinnaker A that the MacGregor missed the cutoff at 15 minutes and was scored DNF for the latter two races. In Spinnaker B (five boats racing), David Taylor’s Schock 24, Bill the Cat, posted a line score of 2-1-1 to edge Donald Rychel’s Tripp 26, Volcano, by a point. Volcano traded finishes with Bill the Cat in all three races and had a line score of 1-2-2. Jabberwocky, Ed Johnson’s J/22, finished third and was doing some serious downwind planing as the wind built. In Spinnaker C (three boats), it was Darin O’Neal’s Lagniappe, a Catalina 22, that won the day with 2-1-1. Maybe the most exciting moment of the day on Lagniappe came after the last race, when, as the boat was heading back to the dock under main alone, it took a puff that put the port rail News & Views for Southern Sailors

If you were on board Misty, the Family Wagon, a Ranger 33 sailed by Greg Knighton, his daughter Jessica, and assorted kids and old salts, Saturday was the day when all the stars fell on you. Misty won the big Crow’s Nest Cup, first in the Non-Spinnaker class and first in fleet. It was the latter win that brought the Crow’s Nest Cup. After the awards ceremony, Jessica was so weighted down with loot that she didn’t have enough hands to carry it all. Knighton, a Sarasota sailmaker and honcho of the local Quantum loft, sort of rehabbed Misty from a sure trip to the dump and made it into a winner over the summer. Misty has posted wins in class at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron’s Charles Schwab Regatta over Labor Day weekend, at the Bradenton Yacht Club Kick-Off Regatta two weekends back and then this latest notch victory. The 8.1-mile race in the Gulf of Mexico off Venice began its countdown at noon. There was plenty of wind and also lumpy seas. According to Bob Cohen, who raced on Seahawk in the Cruising class, the boat he was on, a Catalina 350, was seeing 18 knots from the southwest and intermittent rain showers. “We had one pretty good shower that took away the wind for a while,” Cohen said. Seahawk started at 12:10, finished at 1:38 and posted a third-in-fleet finish, too, which is a rather sweet victory for a boat that is tricked out for cruising. There were 12 boats with West Florida PHRF ratings that were scored in the three main classes: Spinnaker, NonSpinnaker and Cruising. An additional class of nine boats with unofficial ratings assigned by the Crow’s Nest also were registered. One boat did not start, and three found the conditions a bit too challenging and withdrew, so there were five finishers in class. The top boat in the four-boat spinnaker class was Dean Cleall’s Little Mac, an Elliot 25. Second went to Doug Fisher’s XS, a custom 41—a full-race machine that looks fast and dangerous just sitting at the dock. In third was Jim Liston’s Cat’s Meow, a J/105. Non-spinnaker had only two boats that finished after a third dropped out. They were the aforementioned Misty, the Family Wagon, and Ohh-Zone, Rudy Reinecke’s Beneteau 39. Ohh-Zone got the second. SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

REGIONAL RACING In the six-boat cruising class, it was Chan Sweetser’s Seahawk in first. Second was Chuck Fuller’s Kismet, a Jeanneau 34. In third came Summertime, John Lynch’s C&C 36 out of Venice. The Venice Women’s Sailing Squadron portion of the Crow’s Nest Regatta raced on Wednesday, Oct. 5, in Venice’s Robert Bay. In Prams, Wendy Murray took first place, Nancy Muldoon, second and Lynn Paul, third. In the Sunfish race, Lois Steketee took first, Marguerite O’Connor, second and Cecily Cerutti third. There were over 20 participants in the Venice Youth Boating Association (VYBA) division of the regatta that raced on Sat., September 17, in Roberts Bay. The Crow’s Nest hosted all the VYBA racers for lunch and an awards event on October 8. Mike Tompkins and Jabbo Gordon, VYBA race directors, presented trophies to the following: Green Fleet: Ben Mohney 1st, Morgan Mierswa 2nd, Happy Hale 3rd. Red White & Blue Fleet: Ryan McKinney 1st, Molly McKinney 2nd, Christi Frost 3rd. Portsmouth Division: Jackie Sims 1st, Joe Garlick 2nd, Bryan White 3rd. All regatta entry fees and proceeds from the event go to the Crow’s Nest Regatta Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The fund supports Venice area youth activities. Two grants were awarded this year: $1000 to the Venice Youth Boating Association, and $10,000 to the new Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Venice facility, and the Robert and Joan Lee Boys and Girls Club. Each year, the Crow’s Nest Regatta raises money for charity. The regatta has been a Gulf Coast mainstay every fall for nearly three decades.

RACE CALENDAR Club Racing Bradenton YC. Sunday Afternoon Races at 12:30 p.m. October till beginning of Daylight Savings. PHRF racing on Manatee River. For info call Larry Lecuyer, (941) 729-5401. Venice Sailing Squadron. Saturdays. First Saturday of each month, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet. www.venice-sailing-squadron.org Edison Sailing Center, Fort Myers. Sunfish and dinghy racing once a month, year-round john@johnkremski.com Port Charlotte. Third Saturday of month, year-round. pbgvtrax@aol.com Boat of the Year Races (BOTY): Southwest Boat of the Year (SWBOTY), Charlotte Harbor Boat of the Year (CHBOTY), Sarasota (SBOTY), Suncoast Boat of the Year (SBOTY) NOVEMBER 1-3 St. Petersburg YC. Disabled Sailor/Open Clinic. 3-6 Strictly Sail Boat Show, Vinoy Basin, St. Petersburg, 4-6 Clearwater YC. Finn North Americans. 5 St. Petersburg Sailing Assoc. Commodore’s Cup, PHRF. 5-6 Naples Sailing and YC. Commodore’s Cup, PHRF, (SWF BOTY) 4-7 St. Petersburg YC. America’s Disabled Open Regatta, Sonar, 2.4 Meter, Martin 16. 12 Sarasota YC. Invitational, PHRF, (SBBOTY) 12-13 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. Southeast Regional MC Scow Championship. 12-13 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Flying Scot Florida States. 12-13 Naples Community Sailing Center. Kid’s Regatta. 12-13 Clearwater Community Sailing Center. Carlisle Classic in the gulf and on the bay. 80

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

12-13 Davis Island YC. Egmont Key Race, PHRF. 12-13 Watersports West. St. Petersburg Suncoast Classic. Holiday Inn Sunspree, St. Pete. 14-17 Clearwater Community Sailing Center. NACRA 20 Catamaran Regatta. 19 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Drumstick Regatta. 19-20 Marco Island YC Fall Regatta PHRF, (SWFBOTY). 19-20 St. Petersburg YC. Snipe Florida States. 19-20 St. Petersburg YC. Fall Bay Race PHRF. (SBOTY) 24 Thanksgiving. 25 Davis Island YC. Old Shoe Race. 26-27 Davis Island YC. Thanksgiving All Class Regatta. Laser District 13 championship. DECEMBER US Sailing Basic Race Management Seminar, Dec. 17 at the Naples Sailing and YC, contact Fairlie Brinkley at fairlie@fairliebrinkley.com for registration. See more information at beginning of racing section, page 66. 3-4 Edison Sailing Center. Sunfish Challenge Cup Regatta. 10 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Commodore’s Cup, PHRF. 10 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. Commodore’s Cup, PHRF.

NORTHERN GULF COAST: FLORIDA PANHANDLE, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA, TEXAS Northern Gulf November Weather Water Temperature – 65º See page 92 Average Temperatures – for windrose legend Pensacola, FL 51º lo – 70º hi Gulfport, MS 51º lo – 70º hi For Northern Gulf Weather go to: www.csc.noaa.gov/coos/

LOCAL RACE REPORT Lost Bay Regatta (aka “The Lovebug Regatta”), Point Yacht Club, Josephine, AL, Sept. 17 By Kim Kaminski This year’s 18th Annual Lost Bay Regatta was a welcome sight for many weary Gulf Coast sailors who have waged battle against this year’s damaging tropical storms. This annual sailboat race/beach party was cancelled last year due to Hurricane Ivan’s wrath, which destroyed the Point Yacht Club’s facilities and adjacent marina complex two days before the race. This year, despite the lack of a formalized building, the officers of the Point Yacht Club went ahead—full force—for the annual event (even though Hurricane Katrina tried her best to stop the occasion altogether). Registration and regatta activities were held on a covered deck that the Point Yacht Club members managed to salvage following Ivan’s destruction. The deck was originally connected to the clubhouse and broke away, washing ashore not far from its original location. After some tender loving care and minor repair work, the deck was ready to www.southwindsmagazine.com

Horse With No Name, earned the Paul Mueller Memorial Trophy for first place in the Non-Spinnaker (Genoa) fleet. The Lost Bay Regatta was made possible by the generous support of its members, sponsors, advertisers, Pirates Cove Marina and the sailors who rallied together after the storms, and who were again having fun on the water— because you can’t keep a good club or a fun race down!

Lovebugs gave the Lost Bay Regatta a nickname this year, the “Lovebug Regatta.” Photo by Kim Kaminski.

become the host location for the Lost Bay extravaganza! Forty-three boats and crews made their way to the secluded area of Perdido Bay, aka, “Lost” Bay. Everyone, including swarms of lovebugs, was anxious to enjoy the outdoor activities. That’s right, “lovebugs!” Even the strong winds from the multiple hurricanes did not blow these flying “lovemaking” bugs away. These friendly creatures generally arrive on scene in the early spring and late fall, usually splattered against your windshield or across the front of your vehicle (since these bugs generally are attracted to hot engines and exhaust fumes). This year, race competitors sailed into unusually large swarms of the lovable insects, which were everywhere. As the sailors headed up the bay to the race start, they found themselves covered from head to toe—along with their white sails and white decks—with these black “lovemaking” specks. Thankfully, as the afternoon breeze began to pick up, the nuisance-making lovebugs were blown away, and the sailors could turn their attention to the task of sailboat racing fun. The competition was divided into 13 racing classes made up of Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker divisions. A triangle course was set-up in the middle of the bay with the Spinnaker class racing three times around, and the NonSpinnaker classes going two times around. The racing excitement was in the air (along with the lovebugs), as many of the sailors were happy just to be on the water again. Even the race committee had members who belonged to some of the other yacht clubs located along the Gulf Coast that were destroyed by the storms… happily assisting with the day’s racing format. Following the races, competitors enjoyed live music by Rabbit Branch along with a delicious fried mullet dinner catered by Cliff Stapleton. There was also the presentation of unique, handcrafted studio pottery and clay-sculpture trophies designed by the Sea Oats Studio. Two perpetual trophies were also given to the fleet winners in the Annual Lost Bay Regatta. This year the honors went to Bill Yoder and crew on Wild Cherry, earning the Paul Schreck First Place Spinnaker Fleet Trophy. Paul Turner and crew, on News & Views for Southern Sailors

Results: Spinnaker; Class A, 10.1 miles:1, Nasty Tripp, D. Dunbar, 1:27:02; 2, Phaedra, B. Patroni, 1:27:46; 3, Polish Navy, D. Owczakczak, 1:31:25; 4, Animal, B. Denham, 1:39:06; Class B, 10.1 miles:1, Wild Cherry, Z&B Yoder, 1:24:32; 1st in Spinnaker Fleet 2; Roka Dobi, R. Bray, 1:30:49; 3, Kanaloa, M. Beard, 1:31:52; 4, Sweet Bee, K. Wall, 1:40:15; Class C, 10.1 miles:1, Mud Flap Girl, H. Riddle, 1:28:13; 2, Outta Reach, L. Crona, 1:29:54; 3, Shake “M” Baby, W. Stanley, 1:34:47; Class D, 10.1 miles:1, Incognito, L. Robbins, 1:28:13; 2, Chiquita, F. Burgett, 1:29:21; 3, Jus Magic, T. Crutherds, 1:29:43; 4, Kaotic, F. Chadsey, 1:30:39; 5, Soulshine, P. Robbins, 1:33:43; Non-Spinnaker; Class E, 6.8 miles:1, Cannonball, J. Hood, 1:11:07; 2, Turbo Dog, D. Davis, 1:12:17; 3, Ma Jo Lee, T. Stringfellow, 1:39:33; 4, Katie Lee, J. Majerick, 1:41:53; Class F, 6.8 miles:1, Caribbean Soul, B. Kriegel, 1:14:29; 2, Island Time, E. Rankin, 1:24:09; 3, Solmate, K. Coate, 1:25:59; 4, Daedalus, B. Brothers, 1:35:05; Class G, 6.8 miles:1, Gypsy Wind, J. Ardrey, 1:12:12; 2, Caddy Wampus, J. Bozeman, 1:26:15; 3, Reverie, R. Seals, 1:30:14; 4, Windy City, B. McDonald, 1:32:42; Class H, 6.8 miles:1, Pura Vida, R. Simmons, 1:24:01; 2, Alley Cat, K. Menck, 1:24:57; 3, Sweet Little Sheila, L. Chapman, 1:27:36; Class I, 6.8 miles:1, Thunder Child, D. Woods, 1:25:27; 2, Domani 3, D. Driver, 1:27:14; 3, Kokomo, B. Brummett, DSQ; Class J, 6.8 miles:1, Zig Zag, D. Blume, 1:13:16; 2, Reverie, N. Rowell, 1:14:57; 3, Pick Pocket, D. White, 1:31:32; Class K, 6.8 miles:1, Horse With No Name, P. Turner, 1:06:56; 1st in NonSpinnaker Fleet 2; Whirlaway, J. Veal, 1:12:49; 3, Allycat, B. Munhollan, 1:35:58; Class L, 6.8 miles:1, Hydro Therapy, L. Byrne, 1:19:20; 2, Wind Song, H. Furman, 1:35:28; 3, San De Neepals, J. Shoemaker, DNF; Class M, 6.8 miles:1, Flirt, J. Shaw, 1:11:37; 2, Clewless, B. Holk, 1:13:02.

Make-up Regatta, Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, Oct. 1 By Kim Kaminski

George Gamble proudly displays his first-place trophy (a section of a torn mainsail with the sail number 911) for the Make-up Regatta that was held by the Pensacola Beach Yacht Club. Photo by Kim Kaminski. Bad weather has really made a mess of the sailboat racing schedule for many community yacht clubs along the Gulf SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

REGIONAL RACING Coast. Torrential rains, tropical weather, and severe lightning storms are just a few of the intense weather conditions that delayed or canceled events. Pensacola Beach Yacht Club’s Fleet Captain Tim Simmons had two events during this sailing season that had to be postponed due to weather; the Frostbite Regatta that was to be held in January, and the Patriot’s Day Regatta that was cancelled due to Hurricane Dennis. After the destructive weather left its mark on the area, and sailing friends and other community yacht clubs experienced even more severe losses and destruction from the storms, people were in need. Tim and his fellow board members decided their yacht club and its members could assist others in the sailing community by holding a “Make-up” regatta and pledging all of the registration fees from the regatta, as well as from the upcoming annual Charity Regatta, toward hurricane relief funds. Their efforts were almost delayed once again due to strong weather conditions as the Make-up Regatta began on Oct. 1: The winds on the morning of the race were blowing at 18 knots with gusts to 22. Scott Stonebreaker and his crew on Animal blew out their mainsail as they were preparing for the race start. They quickly retrieved the sail, removed it from the boom and started the race with just the jib. Halfway through the race, the Animal team elected to drop out of the competition as the winds continued to remain strong and the crew did not want to ruin another sail. Another competitor, Mike Beard and his crew on Kanaloa, prepared to race but did not continue, as their backstay broke under the heavy winds. Out of the nine contestants, six completed the race. Trophies (made out of the torn mainsail from Animal) were handed out to the winners. Ironically, the sail number 911 was given to George Gamble and crew on Wicked Woman as the first-place trophy. Results: Spinnaker – 15.3 miles; Class A: 1, Wicked Woman, George Gamble, 2:14:22; 2, Bad Tripp, David Dunbar, 2:19:12; DNF, Animal, Scott Stonebreaker; DNF, Forerunner, John Mathis, Class B; 1, Phaedra, Bob Patroni, 2:23:46; 2, Polish Navy, Owczarczak/Kaminski, 2:23:58;DNF, Kanaloa, Mike Beard; Non-Spinnaker–15.3 miles; 1, Caribbean Soul, Bob Kriegel, 2:28:41; Multi-hull; 1, N-20, Mark Smith, 3:03:10.

RACE CALENDAR NOVEMBER 5 Texas Challenge Cup, Houston Yacht Club, Houston, TX. 5-6 Area D South Multihull Eliminations. Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, Pensacola Beach, FL. 5-6 Junior Rondinella. Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St. Louis, MS. Katrina Damage 5-6 LPRC (Lake Pontchartrain Racing Circuit). New Orleans, LA. Katrina Damage 11-13 2005 NOOD Regatta (RE-Scheduled), Houston Yacht Club, Houston, TX 12 V-15 Mini Series. Houston Yacht Club, Houston, TX. 12 Individual Flying Scot. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL. 12 Jubilee Regatta. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL. 12 D12 Double-Handed. Fairhope Yacht Club, Fairhope, AL. Katrina Damage 12 Great Oaks Regatta. Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA, Katrina Damage See NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING continued on page 92 82

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

C L A S S I F I E D

A D S

CLASSIFIED ADS — 3 Months for $25 Place your ad early on the Internet for $10 • Classified ads with text only for boats are $25 for a three-month ad for up to 30 words. $50 for ad with horizontal photo ($65 if vertical photo). Check or Credit cards accepted. Must be for sale by owner – no business ads. Boats wanted ads included. • Free ads for boats under $500 (sail and dinghys only), all gear under $500, and windsurfing equipment. For sale by owner ads only. • All other ads (including business ads) are $20 a month for up to 20 words, add $5 a month for each additional 10 words. $10 a month for a horizontal photo. Frequency discounts available. Contact editor. • All ads go on the SOUTHWINDS Web site. For a one-time $10 fee, we will place your ad on the internet before going to press on the next issue. • No Refunds • The last month your ad runs will be in parentheses, e.g., (10/06) is October, 2006.

BOATS/BOAT TRAILERS WANTED ___________________________ Sailboat Trailer Wanted for 1996 Hunter 26 sailboat with centerboard and water ballast. (770) 519-3384. (12/05)

BOATS & DINGHIES ___________________________

• Ad must be received by the 10th of the month. TO PLACE AN AD: 1. On the Internet www.southwindsmagazine.com This applies only to the $25 and $50 ads above with and without photo. Pay with Paypal and put your ad in the subject line. If a photo, then e-mail to editor@southwindsmagazine.com as a separate jpeg attachment. 2. Via E-mail and Credit Card. E-mail your ad to editor@southwindsmagazine.com. Text can be put in the e-mail. Send photos as a separate jpeg attachment to the e-mail. Pay be mail (see below) or credit card. You can call us with a credit card number. Give us the credit card number, expiration, billing address and name on card. Call (941) 795-8704. 3. Mail your ad in. Mail to SOUTHWINDS, PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175. Send a check or credit card number with information as listed in #2

above. Mail the photo in (35mm best). If you want the photo back, enclose a SASE. Add $5 for a typing charge. 4. Telephone or fax your ad in. Call (941) 7958704 and give us your ad over the phone. There is an additional $5 typing charge. If you have a photo, you can mail it in. We can take your credit card number, or you can mail a check. Fax: (941) 795-8705. 5. Do a combination of the above. E-mail, call in or send the ad text in via Paypal on our Web site. Email the photo directly to the editor. If you don’t have a scanner, mail the photo to us separately. Call the editor at (941) 795-8704 with any questions. 6. We will pick up your ad. Send the editor a check for air flight, car rental, hotel, travel, eating and entertainment expenses, and he will come to your location and pick up the ad. Any ads to be picked up on tropical islands or other resort destinations will be free.

DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDS

Advertise your business in a display ad in the classifieds section. Sold by the column inch. 2 inch minimum. (3 column inches is 1/8 page) MONTHLY COST ADS PER INCH

12 6 3 1

$19 $22 $25 $29

MINIMUM INCHES

TOTAL COST

2" 2" 2" 2"

$38 $44 $50 $58

2004 Raider 16 Sport - Dealer Demo Boat Like New!!! Save over $2,300!!! Includes trailer, Spinnaker package, Halyard System, & Spar Bag. $5,900. Will assist in delivery! (615) 403-4698. (12/05)

1976 Tanzer 22 with 3’ 6” draft, main, jib, tiller, winches, outboard bracket, all in good shape. Must sell $2,900 (941) 792-9100

26’ Wharram Tiki Catamaran. Solid. No Rot. Many Improvements. Needs sails, rigging and major detailing. 16” draft. Great camping cruiser. Marathon (Keys). Must Sell, Bought 36’ Wharram. $5K obo. (305) 664-0190. drkunz@hotmail.com. (12/05)

1975 28’ Ranger, freshwater maintained racer/cruiser now in Tampa, over $20K recently spent in improvements, new Yanmar diesel, 9 sails, 3 spinnakers, much more. $12,900. Call original owner at (813) 685-8737 (11/05) 1968 28’ Albin Mariner, 1977. Good condition. Watermaker, 10hp diesel, 7 sails. Auto pilot, GPS, Loran, VHF. 3’ 6” draft. $10,000. On a trailer in good condition. (507) 744-2579. (11/05)

___________________________

1990 30’ Catalina 30, std rig, fin keel 5’3”, roller furling, bimini, cushions, instruments, Excellent condition. Reasonably and practically priced at $32,900. email: galileo430@comcast.net or (727) 207-0717. (1/06) 1982 Cape Dory 25. Excellent condition, sleeps 4, standing headroom, Yanmar deisel, bimini, many upgrades including sail covers, sails, roller furling genoa, VHF, compass, toilet. 6 opening ports, Bimini and Dodger. $17,500 mayras1957@aol.com. (305) 6100988. (12/05) 86

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

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

C L A S S I F I E D

A D S

Beneteau First 310, 1992 racer /cruiser, roller furling, B&G Quad, full sail inventory, 18hp diesel, accommodations for six, head, shower, LPG stove, A/C, professional bottom job Oct., 2004, Excellent Condition ASKING $39,900 with transferable slip. (813) 818- 0145 or e-mail, Beneteau_First_310@hotmail.com. (12/05)

32 Gulf Pilothouse, complete refit all new 2005- standing running rigging, performance sails, wiring, circuit breakers panel, water heater, holding/macerator, fuel tanks, 12v/110 standing fridge freezer, propane cooktop infared broiling, 3 batteriers autocharger, 17000btu heat/air, bimini $49,600 sailsetc@ilnk.com (904) 810-1966. (1/06) 1996 Cheetah 30 sport boat. 87 PHRF. Carbon lift keel and bow pole. 3 spinakers. 2 mains, 2 jibs. 15+ knots on reach. KVH, Knotmeter, depthmeter. Trailer. $24,500. (904) 880-6503. (12/05)

Pearson Flyer 30, diesel, solid boat, $16K survey, $8,500 for quick sale. Russ (904) 5831274. butterflyai@earthlink.net. (11/05)

CATALINA 30. 1989. Wing Keel. New Canvas, Full enclosure. AC, custom teak doors. Garmin 182 Chart plotter, Loran, VHF, Auto-pilot, AM FM Stereo CD, Refrigerator, extra fresh water tank. New bottom paint September 2004. A very clean boat, carefully maintained. $37,500.00. Call (727) 421-3014. (1/06) News & Views for Southern Sailors

1978 Endeavour 32 with 20 hp Yanmar. Recent canvas, dodger, bimini, enclosure, 12volt DC refrigeration, pressure water, Origo stove and oven, new ST 28 winches, Auto Pilot, main w/lazy jacks, 150% genoa, 110% jib, whisker pole, CQR w/ chain and rode, new bottom paint, marine AC. Great interior. Must see, must sell!! $27,500. Visit www.cortezyachts.com or call (941) 7929100.

32’ MORGAN 32 1979 Great Bahamas cruiser. 4ft draft, Yanmar 20 Hp, Bimini, Wheel Steering, Auto Pilot, Inverter, more. $26,900. Request info at mehnert@cfl.rr.com. (321)514-4983.

1979 Bristol 32, “Murph” Sloop, centerboard; 18hp Yanmar 1997, mainsail, 3 jibs, stormsail; watermaker, wind generator, solar panel, autopilot, new instruments, dodger and bimini 2003. $37,000. www.jamesewing.com/murph. email: sailorfred05@yahoo.com or (252) 6228139. (12/05) 32’ Endeavour 1977 20 HP Yanmar, dual 90 amp Balmer w/Max charge, auto pilot, selftailing winches, roller furling, lazy jacks, inverter, 10 opening ports, new cushions, bimini, dodger, stove top, new bottom 2004. $22,500. (727) 742-5381. (11/05)

1993 Gemini 3400 catamaran 14‚ beam 18‰ board up 5‚ board down. In Sarasota. Cruise ready, Air, solar, davits, contact Alan (970) 690-3758 or alanm@frii.com for inventory list. Asking $79,000.

350 Island Packet 1998. Original Owner, Bahamas-ready, 4kw gen, 8gal/hr watermaker, roller furling, autopilot, electronics, radar, ac/heat, refrig., full canvas, new AB 10’ dinghy, 15hp Yamaha, davits, EPIRB, more custom upgrades, $183,000. (727) 392-3162. (12/05) SOUTHWINDS

November 2005 87

C L A S S I F I E D

BOOKS & CHARTS ___________________________

FREE-New Hunter 33 or 36. SailTime will pay mortgage and all expenses for 5 years – you put 20% down–own 100%.1-866-Sailtime. Pearson 365 ketch. 1976, new diesel (03) & fuel tank. Max prop, new upholstery, new dinghy w/OB. Deck just painted, hull done w/Imron. 4kw, 36-mile radar, 2 a-pilots, heavy chain ground tackle w/ windlass, gps plotter. ds/ws/log ,406 EPIRB, Force 10 galley & cabin heater. Dodger and bimini. Much new equipment and many upgrades. One of the best equipped and maintained 365s around. By second owner, in Punta Gorda, FL. $ 51,000 delivery available. (941) 920-0132. (1/06)

1965 Columbia 40 by Charlie Morgan. 30hp diesel w/750 hrs. S/S center board draws 4’ 6” up. Auto pilot, Furlex RF, 5 sails, 8 winches, Bimini, boom shade, S/S stove w/oven, pressure water, brass fixtures, dorades, Type III MSD, ICOM VHF, Garmin, GPS, depth, speed, tacking compass, binnacle compass. Own this classic beauty for only $35,000. Located in Edgewater Maryland. Visit www.cortezyachts.com or call (941) 792-9100.

SEE CLASSIFIED INFO ON PAGE 86 88

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

A D S

Ocean Routing – Jenifer Clark’s Gulf Stream Boat Routing/Ocean Charts by the “best in the business.” (301) 952-0930, fax (301) 5740289 or www.erols.com/gulfstrm

1982 MORGAN OUT ISLAND 416 Engine: 65HP Perkins, ONAN Generators, 2 AC units, auto pilot, integrated GPS chart plotter, integrated LCD radar, VHF, 2 refrigerators, 2 freezers, ice maker, electric stove, microwave, TV & TV Booster, radio & CD player, 6 speakers, 2 baths, electric aft head, inverter 1750, enclosed bimini, 2 anchors, windlass, many spare parts, watermaker installation, 5 sails, roller furler & storm jib, major upgrades on engine, all new hydraulics, new hull paint Mar. 05, new cushions 04, life raft. Surveyed at $95,000, asking $92,500. Total Value $150,000. (504) 491-4132. alan@tirebargaincenter.com (1/05) Island Packet 44 cutter, 1994. Yanmar, 1450 hrs. Totally renovated. New: AC, running, standing, pumps, reefer, radar, depth, VHF, autopilot, lighting, rubrail, lifelines, bottom, alternator, teak café doors. Clearwater. $223,000. (813) 391-0470. (11/05)

BUSINESS/INVESTMENT ___________________________ Sailtime.com is looking for base operators on the Florida coast. This may suit existing marine business owners who wish to add an additional income stream. Sailtime is a unique business model that requires minimal capital and no staff. Tel. (813) 817-0104 or jtwomey@sailtime.com (10/05)

___________________________

Licensed contractor with experience in highend residential work, both new and remodeling, seeks to qualify a builder as an active, advising, part-time, non-working partner. I am a very responsible, honest experienced builder with excellent qualifications seeking the same to work on projects in residential work. Only very quality-oriented and responsible builders/carpenters need contact me who are in the Manatee/Sarasota counties area. I also am only interested in enjoyable, interesting work — not the rat race. Craig100@tampabay.rr.com.

___________________________

FREE – New Hunter 33 or 36. SailTime will pay mortgage and all expenses for 5 years – you put 20% down and own 100%. Call 1-866-Sailtime. 45’ 6” LOA Bayfield 40, Hull # 34 Full keel 5’ draft, cutter ketch designed by H.T.Gozzard built in 1984 Exceptional condition with lots of new gear. Harken Roller furling on all sails. Marine Air, WS, WD, Depth,VHF w/remote, SSB, CD/Radio, Autopilot, Chartplotter, Radar, Dinghy, Life Raft $114,000 Call Major Carter or visit www.Cortezyachts.com (12/05)

CREW AVAILABLE/WANTED ___________________________ Visit SOUTHWINDS “NEW” boat and crew listing service at southwindssailing.com www.southwindsmagazine.com

C L A S S I F I E D DOCKS/SLIPS FOR RENT/SALE ___________________________

A D S

INSURANCE ___________________________

Private, attractive 40’ Dock w/dolphins, 5’6’ draft. Off Jourdan River; parking bay, water, w/ phone, cable, power all available. (228) 467-2254 (11/05)

DELIVERY SERVICES ___________________________

Tiralo floating deck chair - a beach chair that floats in water and rolls easily on the sand. Looks great. Folds and fits on your boat or inside your car. More info: www.tiralousa.com.

DELIVERIES. ICW, Coastal, Caribbean & Gulf, Sail or Power, by USCG Licensed Captain With 30 Years Professional experience Including two trans-Atlantic deliveries. (443) 243-4925 or www.marylandsailing.com (1/06)

Outboard Motor. 2002 Yamaha 15HP, 4cycle, manual start, great condition, less than 40 hrs use. $1,200 (727) 544-1833. (1/06)

___________________________ Generator 2002. freshwater-cooled Phasor K2-6.0SM 6KW. Includes remote panels and plumbing. In boat now. Will demonstrate and remove. Balance of 5-year warranty transferable. $2,500 (727) 544-1833. (1/06)

HELP WANTED ___________________________ Sick of North American Winters? Growing St. Thomas-based bareboat charter operation seeks qualified check-out and service department personnel. Full-time and seasonal positions available. Bring your positive attitude and experience and enjoy top pay in the Caribbean sunshine! Fax resume to (340) 777-9750 or email john@cyoacharters.com. (11/05)

___________________________

Yacht Broker wanted. Established company in St. Petersburg Fl. Be part of a successful sales team with full support. Contact Bo Brown, Yacht Sales Florida. (727) 553-9551 or fax to (727) 896-5175 ___________________________ Seeking Yacht Broker/Salesperson. Gulf Coast Yacht Sales is seeking a seasoned, selfmotivated , productive broker/salesperson for our St. Pete office! All responses kept confidential. Call (888) 882-5516 or e-mail info@gcyachts.com. We have a strong support staff and all closings are in-house.

___________________________

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

MARINE ENGINES ___________________________

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

___________________________

Boat Riggers/Outfitters. Massey Yacht Sales is accepting applications and resumes for sail and/or powerboat riggers/outfitters. Many employee benefits including, paid holidays, paid vacations, health insurance, workman’s comp insurance, performance bonuses, and good hourly salary. Must be hardworking, honest, have own tools and be a team player. Excellent service department support and organization. Call Alice Winter, (941) 723-1610, ext. 10, or fax resume to (941) 729-7520.

___________________________

Service Dept. Rigger. Massey Yacht Sales is accepting applications and resumes for sail and/or powerboat riggers/outfitters. Many employee benefits including paid holidays, paid vacations, health insurance, workmen’s comp insurance, performance bonuses, and good hourly salary. Must be hardworking, honest, have own tools and be a team player. Excellent service department support and organization. Call George Humes, service dept. mgr. at (941) 7231949, ext. 16 or fax resume to (941) 729-7520. News & Views for Southern Sailors

MISCELLANEOUS BOAT GEAR NEW & USED ___________________________ GALERIDER parachute storm anchor system, complete in storage bag, thankfully never used. New over $500, asking $150. (305) 294-1541. RCStewart55@aol.com (12/05) SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

C L A S S I F I E D

A D S

Bimini top, canvas and frame complete. From BOSTON WHALER. Originally $700. Usable on any craft with 87” beam. Navy. Like new. $400. Pick up only. Lake Lanier, Gainesville, GA. Chris @ 770 536 4628, or cwnlanier1@aol.com.

___________________________

Mast & Boom For Sale. Aluminum, 61.5 ft loa, mast step, deck collar, boom. Good condition $2,200. Mainsail. Doyle Stackpack 2001, new condition, P=48, E= 16’11”, $1,800. (305) 743-4855 svsafari@aol.com. (11/05)

___________________________

UNUSED: Rule Pump, 3800 gph with 30 feet 1-1/2 inch hose - $150; Galerider Drogue with 300 feet of ? inch line - $150; ProTech Battery Charger, 4-Step 120/240 volt, 40 amp - $350; Mastclimber, 40 feet - $100; Collision Mat, West, 4-foot triangle - $90. SLIGHTLY USED: Davis Mark 20 Sextant with Celesticomp computer - $250; Par Electric Flush Pump which converts all PAR manual heads to electric operation. Adaptors available for other brands - $150. USED: Yamaha 6 HP Outboard Model 6 mshr, standard shaft, no tank, used 30 hours - $400; Johnson 2.3 HP Outboard, standard shaft $150; Simson-Lawrance Manual Windlass, 600-pound, double-acting 5/16 inch chain $200. Call Matt (904) 460-0501 or e-mail yachtsantana@aol.com. (11/05)

___________________________

AC/DC Reefer, 22# Bruce Anchor, Anchor Ball, Sospenders, Magma Grills, Mariner 9.9 Mercury Long Shaft 7.5 HP, folding bikes, windsurfers, Metzeler sailing rig, windscoop, Drogues, lifesling, Type I life jackets w/strobe. Nautical Trader. (941) 488-0766.

___________________________

Wanted Raritan Cricket marine toilets (2, but I’ll take one) either new or good used. If used must be cosmetically good. Needing rebuild OK. Sonett48@AOL.com (12/05)

VHF radio, fixed mount, excellent condition.$45 (941) 235-1890. (11/05)

ALL CLASSIFIED

UNUSED: Zodiac 6-person Valise Liferaft, 2005 Model Opensea MP-6 - $1900; Survivor Technologies Bag with Pur 06 hand watermaker, inflatable splints, parachute flares, emergency lites - $600. USED: Sailomat Windvane Steering System, Size 600-X5 for yachts 38-50 feet $1200. Call Matt (904) 4600501. email yachtsantana@aol.com. (11/05)

ADS DISPLAYED

___________________________

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

ON WEB SITE www.southwindsmagazine.com See Classified Info pg 86 www.southwindsmagazine.com

C L A S S I F I E D SAILING INSTRUCTION __________________________

A D S

JOLLY continued from page 49 blow over. At the next windward mark, they were still in last, but downwind it was total whitewater carnage. Capsized boats were everywhere. At that moment, Jolly and Jewell made the bold decision to throw their chute up downwind in the 25-knot breeze. They had nothing to lose. They were going too fast to think about capsizing. They flew by their competitors. Jolly recalls, “By the time we finished the race there were capsized and broken boats everywhere. We had no idea what place we were in. Some of the women’s fleet had caught the men’s fleet, and we couldn’t count where we were. So we had to sail for a whole hour, not knowing if we had lost the Gold medal or not.” The team miraculously won the Gold medal after finishing an impressive sixth in that last race. They also gained another form of redemption regarding the earlier protest that got them thrown out of a race. They were given a photo proving they were completely tacked before the French boat altered course. The protest ruling against them that cost them a race was incorrect. Fortunately, the judges’ mistake didn’t cost them the Olympics.

SAILS & CANVAS __________________________

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

Motherhood and Life After the Games Since the 1988 Games, Jolly has been keeping herself busy cross-training in 505s, Snipes, 470s and C-15s.She has a daughter named Blair who is now in high school at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts, where she dances and has won national competitions in jazz, hip-hop, modern and lyrical dance styles. Blair tried sailing and. according to Jolly, “has a love/hate relationship with the sport. She resisted sailing mightily, probably sensing it was something I wanted her to do.” Jolly did get to be an Opti mom for a little while. Blair even made the US National Optimist Team at age 12 before finding different activities to participate in. According to Jolly, “Blair did not appreciate the solitude of sailing Optis. I think she would enjoy sailing again in double-handed boats.” If Blair does start sailing double-handed boats, she could be racing against her mom. At 48 years old, Jolly is still actively racing her 470 and is ranked third on the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team. She is currently sailing with Yale graduate and former Olympian Isabelle Kinsolving. They finished an impressive fifth at the 470 North American Championships just this past summer. During the fall, Jolly coaches future Olympians like Paige Railey on the University of South Florida Varsity Women’s Sailing Team. Under her watch, USF has continued to maintain its top 15 national ranking and recently won the South Atlantic Women’s Singlehanded Championship. What it Takes to Win Jolly knows what it takes to make it to the Olympics. In the 470, Jolly says that winning is two-thirds crew and one-third skipper. She also credits her success with choosing the right boat for her size, sailing style, and finances. Sailors today must be athletic, strong, flexible, mentally tough and financially able to conduct a costly campaign. Sailors don’t get lucrative endorsements or their faces on the front of a Wheaties box. Athletes like Allison Jolly don’t seem to need that kind of external motivation to keep them going. She sails for the love of the sport. Over the years, Jolly has been a computer programmer, a medical transcriptionist, and a high school sailing coach. Sometimes, she’s held multiple jobs all at once. Yet, she has remained competitive in the 470 fleet on a shoestring budget against kids half her age. Many of her competitors are students right out of college who don’t have to support a family or make difficult career choices yet. Some of their parents fund their campaigns and trips to Europe to train. Yet, forty-something Allison Jolly remains a top contender for the American 470 spot on the Olympic team. Her wisdom, athleticism and love of sailing keep her in the hunt to sail for the Gold in China in 2008. SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

INDEX

ADVERTISERS

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

NORTHERN GULF COAST continued from page 82 19 19 19-20 20 24 19 19 19 19-20 24-26

J/22 Circuit Regatta (Heritage Cup). Houston Yacht Club, Houston, TX. Turkey Day Regatta. Houston Yacht Club, Houston, TX. PYC Championship Race #3 & #4. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL. Turkey Regatta. Jackson Yacht Club, Jackson, MS. Optimist MidWinter Regatta. Houston Yacht Club, Houston, TX. Monk Smith Regatta. Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St. Louis, MS. Katrina Damage J-Fest. New Orleans Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA. Katrina Damage Cold Turkey Regatta. Southern Yacht Club New Orleans, LA. Katrina Damage Mississippi State Optimist Championship. Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St. Louis, MS. Katrina Damage USODA Mid-Winters. Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA. Katrina Damage

DECEMBER 3 We’re Baaaaack Regatta. Navy Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL. 3 GMAC Bowl. Fairhope Yacht Club, Fairhope, AL. Katrina Damage. 10 Santa Claus Regatta - Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL. 10-11 Sugar Bowl Regatta - Southern Yacht Club, New 92

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

Air Duck 90 Anne’s Anchors 43,90 Aqua Graphics 19 Atlantic Sail Traders 60 Banks Sails 7 Beachmaster Photography 87 Beneteau Sailboats BC Beta Marine 40 Bluewater Sailing Supply 16 Boaters Exchange 36 Bob and Annie’s Boatyard 50 Bo’sun Supplies 63 Bradenton Yacht Club Kickoff Regatta 67 Bubba Book 44 C&C/Tartan 23 Carson/Beneteau BC Cortez Yacht Brokerage 88 Crow’s Nest Restaurant 33 Cruising Direct Sails 32 Davis Island Yacht Club Thanksgiving Regatta 69 Defender Industries 17 Dockside Radio 33 Doyle Sails 26 Drive Insurance From Progressive 38 Dwyer mast 90 Eastern Yachts/Beneteau BC Edwards Yacht Sales 85 El Cid Marina 47 E-marine 89 First Patriot Health Insurance ,90 Fleetside Marine Service/Yanmar (813) 645-8971 89 Flying Scot Sailboats 88 Garhauer Hardware 14 Gill 21 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales 84,86 Hanse Sailboats 87 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack 74 Hotwire/Fans & other products 22 The Hull Company/Island Packet 35 Hunter 24,25 Island Marine Products 42 Island Packet 35 Island Yachting Centre/Island Packet 35,82 JR Overseas/Moisture Meter 32 JSI 90 Kevane Sails 39,91 Laurie Kimball Realtor 57 Leading Edge Yacht Brokers 83 Leather Wheel 18 Lex-Sea Charters 68,88 Life Captions Video 59 Manton Marine Surveyors 19

10-11 17-18 17-18 26-30 27-28 30-31

Massey Yacht Sales 11,12,37,48,62,72,IBC Masthead Enterprises 7,21,90 Mount Dora Yacht Club Annual Regatta 66 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau BC National Sail Supply 46 Nautical Trader 45 Noble Awards 17 North Sails 30 Performance Sail and Sport 68 Pinnacle Fractional Sailing 15 Porpoise Used Sails 9,91 Premiere Racing 71 Quantum Sarasota 3 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke 62 Regata del Sol al Sol 73 Rparts Refrigeration 36 Sailboats Florida, Inc. 87 Sailing Coach Wanted 46 Sailing for Miracles Benefit 49 Sailing Services 27 Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage 84 Sailrite 60 Sailtime 4 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program 83 Schurr Sails 41 Scurvy Dog Marine 41 Sea School 30 Sea Tech 31,89 Shannon Yachts 13 Smiling Mermaid Captain Wanted 16 Snug Harbor Yacht Brokerage/Hunter 28 SSMR 55 St. Augustine Sailing School 91 St. Barts/Beneteau BC Suncoast Inflatables 20 Sunrise Sails 19,90 Tackle Shack 74 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program 39 Turner Marine/Island Packet 35 Two Hulls Brokerage 83 UK-Halsey Sails 29 Ullman sails 6 US Spars 6 Walker Bay 61 West Marine IFC,10 West Florida Race Calendar 70,75 Windcraft Catamarans 12 Yachting Vacations 59 Yanmar Diesel 89

Orleans, LA Katrina /Rita damage. Sugar Bowl Board Boats - Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA. Katrina /Rita damage. 2006 Race of the Champions - New Orleans Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA. Katrina /Rita damage. Sugar Bowl Regatta New Orleans Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA. Katrina /Rita damage Orange Bowl - (CRYC) Youth Program. Sugar Bowl (HS) Youth Program. Sugar Bowl (CS) Youth Program.

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

ADVERTISER INDEX BY CATEGORY TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN SOUTHWINDS! SOUTHWINDS provides this list as a courtesy and asks our readers to support our advertisers. This list includes all display advertising. SAILBOATS – NEW AND BROKERAGE Beneteau Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Boaters Exchange/Catalina Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 C&C/Tartan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Carson Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Cortez Yacht Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 Eastern Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Flying Scot Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84,86 Hanse Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 The Hull Company/Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Island Yachting Centre/Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35,82 Leading Edge Yacht Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Massey Yacht Sales/Catalina//Hunter/Shannon/Albin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11,12,37,48,62,72,IBC Masthead Yacht Sales/Catalina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,21,90 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Performance Sail and Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Pinnacle Fractional Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Sailboats Florida, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Sailtime, Fractional Sailing & Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Shannon Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Snug Harbor Yacht Brokerage/Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 St. Barts/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Suncoast Inflatables/ West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Turner Marine/Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Two Hulls Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Windcraft, Trimarans and Catamarans, Sail or Power . . . . . . . . . . .12 GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHING Anne’s Anchors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43,90 Air Duck Hatch Windscoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Bluewater Sailing Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Boaters Exchange, boats, gear, etc. Rockledge FL . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Bo’sun Supplies/Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Defender Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 E-Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 Garhauer Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Gill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Hotwire/Fans & other products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22,90 Island Marine Products/Davits,motorlocks,etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 JR Overseas/Moisture Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Leather Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Masthead Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,21,90 Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Performance Sail and Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Rparts Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Sailrite Sewing Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 Walker Bay Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 West Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC,10 SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS, RIGGING SERVICES Atlantic Sail Traders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida . . . . . . . . . . .7 Cruising Direct/sails online by North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Doyle Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Dwyer Mast/spars, hardware, rigging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Masthead/Used Sails and Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,21,90 National Sail Supply, new&used online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 North Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Performance Sail and Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Porpoise Used Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9,91 Quantum Sails and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Sailing Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Schurr Sails, Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Sunrise Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19,90 UK-Halsey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Ullman Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 West Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC US Spars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 CANVAS Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

News & Views for Southern Sailors

CANVAS cont. JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Quantum Sails and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 USED SAILING/BOATING SUPPLIES Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign, West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Scurvy Dog Marine/Used, Consign, Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 SAILING SCHOOLS Sea School/Captain’s License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 St. Augustine Sailing School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91 MARINE ENGINES AND ACCESSORIES Beta Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Fleetside Marine Service/Yanmar (813) 645-8971 . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Yanmar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89 RESORTS, MARINAS, RESTAURANTS, BOAT YARDS Bob and Annie’s Boatyard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 FRACTIONAL SAILING/CHARTER COMPANIES Lex-Sea Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68,88 Pinnacle Fractional Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Sailtime, Fractional Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Yachting Vacations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 MARINE SERVICES, SURVEYORS, INSURANCE, TOWING, BOAT LETTERING, ETC. Aqua Graphics/Boat Names/Tampa Bay or buy online . . . . . . . . . .19 Beachmaster Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Drive Insurance From Progressive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 First Patriot Insurance Health Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Manton Marine Surveyors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Sailing Coach Wanted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Smiling Mermaid Captain Wanted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 MARINE ELECTRONICS Dockside Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 JR Overseas/Moisture Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Sea Tech/Navigation/Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31,89 BOOKS/CHARTS/VIDEOS/AWARDS Bubba Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Life Captions Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Noble Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 REGATTA ADVERTISEMENTS, BOAT SHOWS Bradenton YC Kickoff Thankyou ad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Davis Island Yacht Club Thanksgiving Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Mount Dora YC Annual Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Premier Racing/Key West & Acura Miami . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Regata del Sol al Sol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73 Sailing for Miracles Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 West Florida Race Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70,75 Sailing Services Directory West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Regional Sailing Services Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Subscription Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Alphabetical Advertisers’ List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .92

Subscribe to

SOUTHWINDS $19.95/year $24/year

$37/2 Years $45/2 Years

3rd Class 1st Class

(941) 795-8704 • www.southwindsmagazine.com P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175 Subscribe on line on our secure Web site with credit card www.southwindsmagazine.com Name ______________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________ City/St./ZIP _________________________________________ ENCLOSED $ ________ Check ___ Money Order ___ Visa/MC

#_________________________________________

Name on Card ______________________________________ Ex. Date _________ Signature _________________________ SOUTHWINDS

November 2005

Battling Poseidon’s Summer Squall By Mike Hansell

n August 21, our sailing club held one of its drifter series regattas. It was a three-race affair with eleven boats competing. I arrived early to “ready” my boat for the day’s event. You know ready; snacks on board, drinks and ice in cooler (all within easy reach of the skipper) and a splash of coffee over the side to appease the lake gods. When I had finished I made my way to the skippers’ meeting that was held in the usual location. The skippers’ meetings are very serious gatherings with very serious people discussing very serious matters like “I replaced all my cushions with a 50-pound bag of rocks.” We all paid our entry fee (a real bargain), talked about course layout and the number of laps, and made our way to the boats. The first two races went well. Through careful sail selection, keen boat-handling skills and my personalized tactics (I’ll just do what he does), I was able to maintain my last place position unopposed. Things were going as planned. Now comes the third race. As I round the windward mark, I glance over my shoulder to see the boats of both A and B fleets in pursuit. Okay, okay, I’m about to be lapped again. At about this time, the rain that was predicted for that day made its appearance. “What’s a little rain?” I thought as I donned my yellow oilies, looking much like a Gloucester angler without pants. To gain some speed, I maneuvered my boat from a run to a broad reach with the wind coming over my starboard quarter. As I narrowly missed a pontoon boat, which had earlier deposited one of the owner’s offspring into the path of several competing boats, the heavens opened up with torrents of water and a great blast of wind. You would have thought Poseidon himself was leading an attack on our flotilla. My boat began to round up into the wind, which was what I wanted, but thanks to my skillful touch at the helm, it became a complete broach and knockdown with me hanging from my now horizontal winch. While standing in ankle-deep water

November 2005

SOUTHWINDS

on the side of the port cockpit seat, I wondered if I was going to hit the boat dock or the nearby pile of rocks. Now I had read about this very situation not too long ago, but not until the boat righted itself and then blew back over, did it dawn on me what the remedy was. I released the main sheet. Now that the boat was almost upright, I scrambled to drop the sails. The effect was magical. When I say magical, I mean it was a real trick to get both my keel and rudder stuck in the mud at the same time. By now the wind had returned to its prestorm velocity, and all that was left to do was free myself and return to the race. I jumped out into waist-deep water, raised the kick-up rudder out of the way and managed to push the boat out of the mud. When I pulled myself back on board, my weight put the keel back down into the bottom again. With the tip of the keel stuck and the rudder now clear, the boat began to pivot and bang into the previously mentioned boat dock. This had to stop. I turned on my electric motor (I have been called a purist), set the tiller and jumped up and down on the bow until the boat was free. There seemed to be no damage to boat, dock, crew or rocks. So I raised the sails, reported my disqualification (I had started my motor) and made my way back to the marina. I was exhausted. I wrote this story with some exaggeration and a lot of tongue-in-cheek. The facts are there, however. I trailed the pack in all three races. I got smacked hard by the wind and took a knockdown, got blown ashore and stuck in the mud. My prescription glasses washed overboard, water filled my pager, and my cell phone did not work properly for two days. I was also disqualified in the last race and completely embarrassed by my inexperience. I loved every minute of it! Last place in my own boat is as good as first place in someone else’s. I learned from the whole experience, and that knockdown was better than any ride at Six Flags. www.southwindsmagazine.com