Southwindsseptember2005

SOUTHWINDS News & Views for Southern Sailors Our Changing Waterways Boats for the Bahamas Dry Tortugas

September 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

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His popular Wyliecat series of boats, for instance, use unstayed cat rigs with wishbone booms to eliminate the need for standing rigging, unruly headsails and the danger of a flailing boom. Tom relies on West Marine to supply the products and equipment that give Wyliecat owners Cheshire cat grins. www.wyliecat.com

1-800-BOATING westmarine.com or BoatUS-store.com 2

September 2005

SOUTHWINDS

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

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

Purchase a new 2005 in-stock Hunter or Catalina from Massey and SAVE LIKE NEVER BEFORE! Big cash discounts or generous trade in allowances.

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

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

The best deals ever are limited to our 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

Reg. Price $240,021 - Call for Savings

Reg. Price $270,504 - Call for Savings

Reg. Price $343,852 - Call for Savings

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For Online Boat Show – www.MasseyYacht.com 65 Steel Schooner ‘87 . . . .$329,900 51 Shannon ‘01 . . . . . . . . . .$875,000 50 Gulfstar ‘78 . . . . . . . . . .$115,000 46 Hunter ‘04 . .(warranty) $239,000 46 Hunter ‘00 . . . . . . . . . . .$244,900 45 Morgan CC ‘91 . . . . . . .$179,900 45 Jeanneau 45.2 ‘99 . . . . . .$249,000 45 Hunter ‘00 . . . . . . . . . . .$237,500 45 Hunter CC ‘99 . . . . . . .$198,000 44 Morgan CC ‘90 . . . . . . .$165,000 43 Shannon ‘98 . . . . . . . . . .$449,000 43 Roberts-Steel ‘91/’95 . . .$149,500 43 Hunter ‘96 . . . . . . . . . . .$149,995

43 Beneteau 435 ‘86 . . . . . . .$99,900 42 Tayana ‘87 . . . . . . . . . . . .$149,900 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 ‘03 . . . . . . . . . .$185,000 42 Catalina MKII ‘01 . . . . . .$194,995 41 Morgan Classic ‘87 . . . . .$97,500 40 Island Packet ‘97 . . . . . .$215,000 40 Catalina MKII ‘02 . . . . . .$199,900 40 Catalina 400 MKII ‘01 . .$179,900 40 Caliber ‘98 . . . . . . . . . . .$198,500

40 Caliber LRC ‘96 . . . . . . .$183,500 40 Caliber ‘93 . . . . . . . . . . .$164,900 380 Catalina ‘00 . . . . . . . . .$124,900 38 Catalina ‘02 . . . . . . . . . .$155,000 37 Pacific Seacraft ‘00 . . . . .$209,000 37 Hunter ‘87 . . . . . . . . . . . .$55,000 37 Endeavour ‘78 . . . . . . . . .$39,900 36 Hunter 356 ‘04 (warranty)$99,900 36 Catalina ‘98 . . . . . . . . . . .$99,500 36 Catalina ‘98 . . . . . . . . . . .$98,500 35 Island Packet ‘97 . . . . . .$155,000 35 Beneteau ‘98 . . . . . . . . . .$93,900 35 Beneteau First 35s5 ‘91 . .$68,500

34 Pacific Seacraft ‘87 . . . . .$109,900 34 Hallberg Rassy ‘02 . . . . .$224,000 32 Hunter ‘01 . . . . . . . . . . . .$73,000 32 Hunter Vision ‘89 . . . . . . .$41,900 32 Catalina 320 ‘94 . . . . . . . .$59,500 32 C&C 99 ‘03 . . . . . . . . . .$124,900 32 Beneteau ‘98 . . . . . . . . . .$76,900 31 Pearson ‘89 . . . . . . . . . . .$49,900 31 Catalina 310 ‘03 . . . . . . . .$87,500 30 Sabre MKIII ‘88 . . . . . . . .$57,900 30 Catalina ‘94 . . . . . . . . . . .$54,500 30 Catalina ‘91 . . . . . . . . . . .$39,500

3 Massey Florida Locations 2001 Shannon 51 • $875,000

2002 34 Hallberg Rassy • $224,000

2004 Hunter 46 (2) • from $239,000

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

Sailing Yacht Sales Position Resumes being accepted for all Massey locations

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

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS September 2005

3

STRICTLY SAIL

ST. PETERSBURG

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The only ALL–SAIL BOAT SHOW on the Gulf Coast!

NOVEMBER 3–6, 2005 For tickets and show details visit StrictlySail.com or call 800.817.7245 4

September 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

SOUTHWINDS NEWS & VIEWS

FOR

SOUTHERN SAILORS

8

From the Helm

10

Letters

16

Bubba Discloses Secret Identity

By Morgan Stinemetz

20

Short Tacks: News and Events Around the South

24

Southern Sailors: Paige Railey

By Dave Ellis

25

Our Waterways: News About Our Changing Waterways

31

Hurricane Section New Moon Survives Charley

By Steve Morrell Hurricane Prep From a Dockmaster

By Capt. Paul Warren Hurricane Tip from Dave Ellis

35

Youth Sailing: Suncoast Sailing Camp in Sarasota

By Mike McNulty

36

Weather FAX on the Cheap

By Gary Jensen

39

Boats for the Bahamas, Part I

By Colin Ward

42

The Dry Tortugas: Beyond Paradise

By Betsy Morris

45

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

62

Classifieds

70

Let the Boat Take Care of Itself During a Hurricane

By Michael Burke

18-19 68 69 69

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

Cover: Cover artwork by Charles L. Duhon, nationally recognized marine artist. To inquire about a painting of your boat and other paintings, visit www.ArtistryMarineArt.com.

Boats for the Bahamas. Page 39. Photo by Colin Ward.

The Dry Tortugas. Page 42. Photo by Betsy Morris.

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

SOUTHWINDS

September 2005

5

SOUTHWINDS News & Views For Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS Media, Inc. P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, Florida 34218-1175 (941) 795-8704 (877) 372-7245 (941) 795-8705 Fax www.southwindsmagazine.co e-mail: editor@southwindsmagazine.com Volume 13 Number 8 September 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

BoatUS Stephanie Cox Gary Jensen Mike McNulty Morgan Stinemetz

Rebecca Burg Dave Ellis Kim Kaminski Betsy Morris Colin Ward

Michael Burke Troy Gilbert Walt McFarlane Art Perez Capt. Paul Warren

Contributing Photographers

Rebecca Burg Charles Duhon (cover art) Kim Kaminski Roy Laughlin Mike McNulty Betsy Morris New Orleans Yacht Club Paige Railey Colin Ward 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

September 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors

1-866-SAILTIME (7245-8463)

SOUTHWINDS

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September 2005

See us at the TAMPA BOAT SHOW Sept. 29 - Oct. 2

7

FROM THE HELM Public Mooring Fields

E

ach month, as I prepare for the next issue, I read more news of another marina or boatyard sold for condos.

Then I hear from brokers about problems of finding slips for new boat owners. I recently talked to someone who lives on board a sailboat at a nearby marina. This is a great, well-run marina. Cost of living aboard? How about $20 a foot?

This month we start a new section called “Our Waterways.” It will be devoted to gathering news about our changing waterways and coming up with solutions to the problems we are facing as they change.

I lump many of the problems we have seen surface in recent years into this arena: limited access (like boat ramps); decreasing freedom to anchor—a freedom that has been slowly shrinking after hundreds, if not thousands of years of anchoring; land access—the dwindling access to come ashore by your boat or tender; the decline in public marinas and boatyards as they are sold to the highest bidder for other uses; the decreasing number of slips, accompanied by the increased cost of a slip, making boat ownership more expensive.

One solution to this is public mooring fields with permanent, installed moorings. Having recently purchased another sailboat (I’ll never learn), I pondered the idea of keeping it in the Florida Keys for part of the year. When I inquired at Boot Key Harbor, the response was, “We have no moorings for wet storage. These are for live-aboards and transients.” It never crossed

my mind, as this would be the cheapest way to store a boat. I began to realize that all the public moorings I know of are for transients and live-aboards—and generally only for transients.

In many parts of the world, and in many areas of the United States, public mooring fields for wet storage are commonly used, but not much in the South. There are many public anchorages—places where people just anchor their boat and store it there, but there are not many. (The anchorage off Dinner Key in Miami is one. It has been used by locals for wet storage, live-aboards and transients for years. The local government there is currently in the process of changing that to a managed public mooring field, the details of which we will be covering in a future issue.)

Public mooring fields can become part of the solution to our dwindling slips problem. They can solve the problem of derelict boats creating public hazards, lower the cost of slips, create moorings for transients and live-aboards, supply hurricane-resistant moorings, look beautiful and help dinghy manufacturers.

SOUTHWINDS is planning to catalog all the public permanent mooring fields in the Southeast—those existing or in the planning stages, whether fresh or saltwater. We are asking our readers to send us information on these, with locations, costs, management, etc. Or just tell us about them and we will research these details.

Send us any waterway news, and ideas, too.

Steve Morrell, editor@southwindsmagazine.com

Our Regional Sections: Starting this month, our regional sections will only have local racing events and racing news listed.

This will be at the end of the “Racing” section. The beginning of this section will have general racing news and major racing events in the Southeast. We will still post regional, non-racing news and events, but in the general section of the magazine.

Send your events and news to editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

SOUTHWINDS New Web Site Address: For those of you who haven’t already noticed, we have changed the name of our Web site to www.southwindsmagazine.com. Our e-mail addresses have changed, too. The old address, www.southwindssailing.com will still take you to the new one, and the old e-mail addresses will still go to the new ones.

We got tired of telling everyone, “That’s two ‘Ss’ in a row.”

Visit the Web site. It is evolving with new and better features regularly.

8

September 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

SINCE 1977

FLORIDA’S LARGEST HUNTER, CATALINA, MORGAN, CALIBER & ALBIN DEALERSHIP 2001 Shannon 51 – Owned by one of the principles of the Shannon boat works. Professional maintenance since launched.

The replacement value for this yacht is 1.2Mil. Offered for $875,000.

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Catalina 310, 320, 34, 350, 36, 387, 400, 42, 470 Hunter 306, 33, 36, 38, 41, 44, 44DS, 456CC, 46LE Caliber 35LRC, 40LRC, 47LCR Catalina-Morgan 440 Albin 26, 28, 31, 35, New 40 Shannon Sail & Power

Massey Yacht Sales & Service is the EXCLUSIVE Shannon Yacht Sales Team for Florida and coast wise Georgia.

Call for complete information on all Shannon models.

2000 Island Packet 420 – "Ta Zam" is ready for extended blue water cruising with every imaginable option including bow thruster, satillite TV and telephone. Yanmar 75HP with 1500 hrs. She is in excellent condition and seriouslsy for sale. $349,000 1999 Jeanneau 45.2 – 5’3” Draft, 3 Staterooms, very Nice, Original Owner, Never Chartered, Radar, GPS, AP, Generator, A/C, Watermaker, SSB, Life Raft, Dingy, EPIRB & More. $249,000 2002 Hallberg-Rassy 34 – Pristine, German Frers design, Swedish built, bluewater cruiser / racer. Top quality construction and design. Great sail and equipment list. Turn key and ready to go. Asking $224,000

MONOHULLS 45 ft. to 65 ft.

65 52 51 50 46 46 45 45 45

Schooner steel ‘87. . .

Irwin ‘75 . . . . . . . .

Shannon ‘01 . . . . . .

Gulfstar ‘78. . . . . . .

Hunter ‘04. (warranty) Hunter ‘00 . . . . . . .

Morgan CC ‘91 . . . . .

Jeanneau 45.2 ‘99. . .

Hunter ‘00 . . . . . . .

$329,900 $175,000 $875,000 $115,000 $239,000 $244,900 $179,900 $249,000 $237,500

40 ft. to 44 ft.

44 Morgan ‘90 . . . . . . . $165,000 43 Shannon ‘97 . . . . . . $449,000 43 Roberts-Steel ‘91/’95 . $149,500 43 Hunter ‘96 . . . . . . . $149,995 43 Beneteau 435 ‘86. . . . $99,500 42 Tayana ‘87 . . . . . . . $149,900 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 ‘03 . . . . . . $185,000 42 Catalina MKII ‘01 . . . $194,995 42 Catalina ‘01 . . . . . . $237,000 41 Morgan Classic ‘87 . . . $97,500 40 Island Packet ‘97 . . . $215,000 400 Catalina ‘01. . . . . . $179,900 40 Catalina MKII ‘02 . . . $205,000 40 Catalina ‘00 . . . . . . $199,900 40 Caliber ‘98 . . . . . . . $198,500

40 Caliber LRC ‘96 . . . . $183,500 31 Island Packet ‘86 . . . . $59,900 40 Caliber ‘93 . . . . . . . $164,900 31 Island Packet ‘84 . . . . $52,900 35 ft. to 39 ft.

31 Catalina 310 ‘03 . . . . $87,500 38 Waquiez/Hood ‘79. . . . $79,500 30 Sabre MKII ‘88 . . . . . $57,900 38 Irwin MKII C/C ‘88 . . . $98,900 30 Catalina ‘94 . . . . . . . $54,500 38 Hans Christian ‘84. . . $114,900 30 Catalina ‘91 . . . . . . . $39,900 380 Catalina ‘00. . . . . . $124,900 24 Dana ‘87 . . . . . . . . . $59,900 CATAMARANS 38 Catalina ‘02 . . . . . . $155,000 37 Pacific Seacraft ‘00 . . $209,000 44 Dean Catamaran ‘99 . $269,000 37 Hunter ‘87 . . . . . . . . $55,000 TRAWLERS/POWER 37 Endeavour '78. . . . . . $39,900 45 ChrisCraft Commander ‘72 . $89,000 36 Hunter 356 ‘04 (Warranty) $99,000 42 Ricker Trawler ‘00 . . . $339,000 36 Catalina MKII ‘98 . . . . $99,500 42 Grand Banks ‘78. . . . $159,900 36 Catalina ‘98 . . . . . . . $98,500 41 Silverton ‘02 . . . . . . $294,900 36 Catalina ‘94 . . . . . . . $85,000 39 Mainship Trawler ‘00 . $179,000 352 Beneteau ‘98 . . . . . . $93,900 39 Carver 355 ‘95 . . . . $116,500 35 Island Packet 350 ‘97 . $155,000 38 Chris Craft ‘85. . . . . . $77,900 35 Beneteau First 35s5 ‘91 $68,500 35 Carver ‘98 . . . . . . . $104,900 30 ft. to 34 ft.

34 Sea Ray Sedan ‘83 . . . $37,500 34 Pacific Seacraft ‘87 . . $109,900 34 Meridian ‘04 . . . . . . $169,900 34 Hallberg Rassy ‘02. . . $224,000 34 Mainship ‘82 . . . . . . . $74,900 34 Catalina ‘86 . . . . . . . $43,900 34 Hallberg Rassy ‘02. . . $224,000 34 Beneteau ‘85 . . . . . . $42,500 33 Cruisers 3375 ‘97. . . . $88,700 33 Freedom ‘81 . . . . . . . $39,500 31 Bertram ‘80 . . . . . . $129,000 32 Hunter ‘01 . . . . . . . . $73,000 29 Deno ‘06 . . . . . . . . . $94,000 32 Hunter Vision ‘89 . . . . $41,900 29 Deno ‘05 . . . . . . . . $168,000 32 Catalina 320 ‘94 . . . . $59,500 29 Deno ‘03 . . . . . . . . $134,900 32 C&C 99 ‘03. . . . . . . $124,900 28 Albin ‘96 . . . . . . . . . $69,000 32 Beneteau ‘98 . . . . . . $76,000 26 Hydro Sport ‘02. . . . . $64,900 31 Pearson ‘89 . . . . . . . $49,900 26 Shamrock ‘99 . . . . . . $44,900

3 Massey Florida Locations

For Online Boat Show www.MasseyYacht.com E-mail: yachtsales@masseyyacht.com St. Pete, FL 727-824-7262 • TOLL-FREE 877-552-0525

Bill Wiard

Christine Silvia

Al Pollak

David Cole

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

St. Pete Palmetto Ft. Myers

941-723-3991

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

Brad Crabtree Scott Pursell Frank Hamilton Al Halpern

John Kelley

Ft. Myers, FL 239-334-3674 • TOLL-FREE 800-763-3157

Ben Fowke

Dan Howland

Terry Clark

Jim Klimczak

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.

ANCHOR LIGHTS IN BOOT KEY HARBOR Boot Key is not a federal anchorage area, and only in those you do not have to display an anchor light. A local area goes by its own regulations. Advise S/V owner to ask what the local regs are and do not assume all anchorages are federally designated.

Part 33, code of federal regulations. section 110, lists all federal anchorages. Go to www.bootkeyharbor.com/citymarinamooringlicense.

Rule # 20 states, “All vessels must burn a white anchor light. Boot Key Harbor enforces all federal regs concerning anchoring.”

Marc and Susan Lang IN RESPONSE TO THE LETTER FROM JIM & JUDY JACOBS: As you may recall, I am one of the people who fought for the rights of all those who anchor in Boot Key Harbor. I helped fight for the live-aboards, as well as those who would be either anchoring or taking a mooring ball in the harbor.

So please allow me to address the letter from the Jacobses. Several months ago, in ALL the local papers, it was stated that starting in Key West on April 9, 2005, and moving north, vessels would be inspected for safety as well as the use of their holding tanks.

Now sadly, in order to do this, they must do most of the inspections at night, as in Boot Key Harbor. There are a great number of live-aboards who are part of Marathon’s work force and are not on their vessels during the day.

As to their receiving a citation for not having their anchor light on, Boot Key Harbor is not an anchorage as ruled by the Department of Transportation (Homeland Security now). Just because there are groups of vessels in a given area does not make it a declared anchorage.

Because there are very few DOT-designated anchorages, it is always best to assume where you are anchored is not one, and use your anchor light.

Boot Key Harbor, along with Marathon’s city leaders, have come a long way in working with boaters. As I personally have had my differences with the harbormaster, I believe both the harbormaster and the new city manager will be glad to work with all the boaters of Boot Key Harbor.

I could not and did not feel this way three years ago when I stood before so many city council meetings fighting for our rights.

Thank you, Jim Lowry Marathon, Florida While I have nothing good to say about inconsiderate officials, in Boot Key Harbor or anywhere else, the comments about the need for an anchor light deserve a reply.

I’m sure you have already heard from a lot of people on this issue, so you might have Mike Shea review this from a “legal standpoint” but... I believe this issue of an anchor light not being required in an anchorage is one of the most misunderstood, and therefore potentially dangerous issues See LETTERS continued on page 13 10

September 2005

SOUTHWINDS

www.southwindsmagazine.com

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LETTERS

Continued from page 13

STEVE, I have been reading several articles in the local papers as well as boating magazines, etc., about the problems boaters are having finding a slip to put their boat in these days. I would like to know if there is an organization anywhere in the state of Florida that could help with this and other problems.

My husband and I are live-aboards and were just given notice that the fee has gone from about $110 a month to $225 a month starting May 1. We thought it was our walking papers, which we figure will be the next step along with the slip rent going up. It’s long overdue for all boaters to have some rights. There are no caps on how much the rent can go up as in apartments. They can do anything they want. We like where we live and will pay the extra to stay here even though we really can’t afford it. I think they are just trying to run us all out. With so many on the waiting list to get a slip, if we are told to get out or get off the boat, we will have to try to sell the boat and live in an apartment.

I can’t even imagine what that would be like.

We also have condos going up soon right behind us. I guess when the construction is complete, we will probably be asked to leave or purchase the slip. The latest article I read was in the St. Petersburg Times, on April 10, in the “Neighborhood Times” section. It stated that the marine industry is larger than the citrus industry in Florida, yet marinas and marine facilities are being sold or are for sale and turning into condos, or slips are being offered for sale for about $50,000. If this continues, it will hurt the economy here as well as other places. Many people will lose their jobs as companies close across the United States. New boat sales have already started to drop because there isn’t a slip to put them in, and the trickle starts. Now the sales in fiberglass, stainless, vinyl, wood, sunbrella, plastic, paint and all other boat supplies are hurting. As companies close, you will lose advertisers, won’t use as much paper and ink, won’t need as many salespeople and the list goes on and on. I hope something can be done before it’s too late. If you have any suggestions, please let us know. I know I’m not the only boater who is concerned. I wish to remain anonymous for fear of losing my slip.

A Very Concerned Boater Very Concerned Boater, I know of one organization, Boaters for Waterway Rights, tgill47672@aol.com. They are not heavily funded and are a small operation but a source of some information.

SOUTHWINDS has, in the past year, published everything it can on what we consider to be many aspects of this that fall all under the same umbrella; anchoring rights, public moorings, waterway access, closing boatyards and marinas, slip fees, the decline of slips, the sale of marinas to condos (and more, but my mind is getting overloaded).

We will have more in the future and will be setting up pages on our Web site where we can exchange information, views and ideas on these problems.

I strongly believe that the South needs more public moorings—for transients, live-aboards, and wet storage. The Northeast has them, Europe has them and many other areas around the world have them. I don’t mean just anchorages. I mean permanent moorings—and hurricane-safe moorings at that. These anchorages need to have excellent and free pump-out 14

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facilities and other shore facilities.

This will solve many problems, but it is just one small part of the process. Unfortunately, the moving forces now are economic, and people are selling out to the highest bidder, as many of us might do in the same situation, and we can’t stop these forces for many years to come. We can only begin gathering together now and work toward solutions that might take effect years from now.

More to come in SOUTHWINDS on this in the future. We are asking readers to keep sending us information on changes, ideas and news in their areas.

Editor OUR CLEAN WATERWAYS? Editor A Commentary: The Sound Of Silence On Florida Waters Cruising many Florida waters is not the same as it used to be. It’s quieter, less commercial fishermen. Is this for better or worse? It’s certainly debatable; but it’s different and quite obvious at night or when enjoying peaceful times at anchor.

Squealing outboards continually revving up and down, splashing nets, fishermen talking. The whole process repeated itself over and over again. There were times in my bunk when I would pull a blanket over my head, shoulder pushed up into my exposed ear. Mullet fishermen checked out every mangrove island, every gunkhole where sailors quietly bobbed up and down.

Mullet fishermen could drive anyone crazy … at least until the net ban. Then it really began to hit me what generations of commercial fishermen had lost financially and emotionally. It has been 10 years since the hardship of the net ban was imposed. Many families have suffered. Not hearing the mullet fishermen on a daily basis has spoken volumes to me.

Shrimpers and scallopers were once heard all night in the Charlotte Harbor/Pine Island Sound area. The drone increased as the nets were pulled. Back and forth, hour after hour, they went, their motors sounding strained.

Insomnia was frequent on the water where even the smallest sound carries. Now I realize the lack of noise means many things: overharvesting (lack of shrimp, scallops almost completely gone), pollution, and too much development, which has caused changes to the waters.

(Now our area of southwest Florida is experiencing one of the longest “plagues” of red tide. Shellfish are affected, but not the fish, or so experts say… We still sail and race our catboats weekly off Useppa Island; every racking cough seems to jiggle the tiller and luff the sail. Seems we are generating our own small noise.)

Our estuaries are the nurseries where most marine life starts. Microorganisms are eaten by something larger—on and on up the food chain. Southwest Florida is being develSee LETTERS continued on page 66

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

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Regional Sailing Services Directory Sailing Services Directory starts as low as $8 a month.

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

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UPCOMING SOUTHERN EVENTS Ongoing – 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 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 St. Petersburg, FL, West Marine Free Seminars for September– Of Interest to Sailors (Call the store—reservations sometimes needed) St. Petersburg Store, 5001 34th St. South, 6 p.m. Sept. 2.

Getting the most out of your GPS. Peter Barton Largo Store, 10289 Ulmerton, 727-586-7040, 7 p.m. Sept.

22. Why get a Captain’s License. Capt. George Trowbridge of Quality Maritime Training School, discusses the advantages of getting a Captain’s License.

Boating Safety Courses, St. Petersburg, FL: The St Petersburg Sail & Power Squadron has two courses scheduled for the remainder of 2005. On September 12, starts the seven-session Squadron Boating course, and 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 Skills and Seamanship Programs.

Sept. 8-Oct. 3. Six lessons.

Boating Safely Program. Sept. 10-11. Oct. 22-23

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Basic Coastal Navigation Program (includes charting tools). Oct. 6-31.

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/PublicEducationProgra ms.htm or call (727) 469-8895.

Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival. Sept. 1-5.

Louisiana’s oldest chartered harvest festival. The event has grown to become one of the country’s premiere festivals. There’s plenty of fun for “kids” of all ages and lots to see, hear, do and EAT! www.shrimppetrofest.org. Morgan City, LA. (985) 385-0703. Free.

Five-week Sailing Course, Boca Ciega Yacht Club, Tampa Bay, FL, Sept. 8 Five-week basic sailing course for adults with Wednesday evening classes and four hours of on-thewater sailing practice on the weekends. Limited enrollment and pre-registration required.

The course is open to the public. The yacht club has been teaching classes for almost 40 years. To register, call (727) 322-2813.

Indian River Yacht Club Presents Sail A Small Boat Day, Cocoa, FL, Sept. 10. 11 to 5 p.m.

Whitley Bay Marina. Sponsored by the Indian River Yacht Club. This family-friendly event provides an excellent opportunity to test-sail new sailboats from 10 to 25 feet on the Indian River. Sailboats including Catalina, Hunter, ComPac, Vanguard, Walker Bay, and Precision will be featured from a number of dealers throughout the state.

This event is free and is open to everyone. No previ-

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ous experience required. For more information, contact Jerry at Boaters Exchange at (321) 638-0090, or go to www.BoatersExchange.com. or Jerry@BoatersExchange.com.

Biloxi Seafood Festival. Sept. 10-11. Seafood dishes and a wide variety of arts & crafts. Continuous music of all varieties: rock, reggae, and jazz, fishing rodeo, kids games, and other activities. Point Cadet Plaza, Biloxi, MS, (228) 374-2717.

Mississippi Coastal Cleanup, Sept. 17. Clean the beaches and collect information on the types of debris found, and promote marine debris awareness. All waterways, islands and beaches on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. (228) 374-5000 Pensacola Seafood Festival. Sept. 23-25. Sample a variety of mouth-watering seafood dishes, enjoy continuous live entertainment in Fountain Park and start your holiday shopping early at more than 185 arts and crafts vendors. Downtown Pensacola. (850) 433-6512 or www.fiestaoffiveflags.org/ seafood.htm.

40th 2005 Tampa Boat Show, Tampa Convention Center, Sept. 29 – Oct. 2 Largest boat show in the Tampa Bay area. Lots of boating and fishing with over 700 different boats, 9 feet to 70 feet. Activities for all ages. Discover Boating Center and see the latest and best in boating, fishing gear and electronics. Tampa Convention Center. 333 S. Franklin Street. Thursday and Friday from Noon-8 p.m. Saturday from 10-8 p.m., Sunday 10-6 p.m. $8.00 for adults, $4.00 for ages 13-15.

Free 12 and under. For E-tickets and show information, visit www.tampaboatshow.com or call 954-441-3220.

Introduction to Navigation. U.S.C.G. Auxiliary, Ruskin, Fl, Oct. 15 A one-day program will be presented. $50 per person.

Program includes how to read a chart, plotting, determining speed, time and distance. Seating is limited.

Plotting tools included. Prerequisite: Safe boating pro-

News & Views for Southern Sailors

gram certificate. For reservations and information, call Fred Kramer at (813) 677-2354.

Key West Fantasy Fest. Oct. 21-30.

Over a week of fun with costumes, parades and parties.

In its 27th year, Fantasy Fest is a major event that draws thousands of visitors. View last year’s glittering celebrations at www.fantasyfest.net or contact Linda at (305) 296-1817.

8th Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market, Oct. 29 The 8th Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market will be on Saturday, October 29 from 8 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Seafood Shack Marina in Cortez, FL. Bring your own table (BYOT) to sell.

Lots of used boat stuff, some new boat stuff too, buy or trade. You might even see some boat stuff you wouldn’t let your dog chew on. Guaranteed you will meet a lot of boaters (or interesting people) and have a good time. So dig out and dust off all that old boat stuff, and bring it on down (or you could just keep it until you can’t remember what it was ever going to be used for). Take the whole family (or leave the kids home to play some more video games) and join us. For more information, call (941) 792-9100.

NEWS Sailing Fundraiser Benefits All Children’s Hospital at Strictly Sail St. Pete Boat Show Nov. 3-6.

The Southeastern Sailing Association (SESA) members and Strictly Sail St. Petersburg are in the same boat this fall as SESA launches Sailing for Miracles to raise money for All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL. Special events and programs will be held from November 3-6, during the Strictly Sail boat show at the Vinoy Yacht Basin, where

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celebrity sailors will skipper fun regattas, and children from the hospital will be brought to the show for sailboat rides.

“Sailing for Miracles was conceived to have fun in the sun and raise awareness in the sport of sailing while giving something back to the community,” said Ron Frisosky of Catalina Yachts and president of SESA. The public is invited to a Masters Under Sail cocktail party that kicks off the fundraiser on November 4, sponsored by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. The highlight of the event is the Masters Under Sail regatta.

The St. Pete Yacht Club will provide ten Sonars, and sailing participants can buy tickets to sail with some of the highest profile icons of sailing. As of press time, Ted Irwin, Gary Jobson, Ted Hood, Charlie Morgan and Frank Butler have committed to sail. Check www.sailingformiracles.org for updates and how to purchase tickets for the cocktail reception.

A major fun regatta on the fifth is the Wild Card Regatta, featuring yachts and teams provided by yacht manufacturers. Participants obtain poker cards at five destinations, and the best poker hand at the end of the race determines the winner. Finally, sailors who want to sail their own festively-decorated yachts, regardless of size or type, can enter the Mother Tubber Re-gretta, which is a simple, fun race with prizes to the best (and worst!) participants.

Strictly Sail will provide free boat show tickets to participants of all races. Sailing for Miracles is presented in partnership with Sail America and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. The city of St. Petersburg has also agreed to collaborate with SESA on Sailing for Miracles and will be another major contributor to the event. Frank Butler of Catalina Yachts has donated a Catalina 22 Sport complete with sails and trailer. Raffles, prize drawings and other awards will be presented. All proceeds will benefit All Children’s Hospital.

SESA encourages participation from sponsors who wish to volunteer or make donations. Those interested should contact Tom Casey, event chairman at (941) 927-2675 or tomcat911@comcast.net. Donations can also be made directly at the event’s secure Web site: www.sailingformiracles.org.

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St. Petersburg’s Vinoy Marina Repairs Progress—Vinoy Basin History

By Dave Ellis

The Vinoy Marina right after Hurricane Dennis, before recent repairs were done.

Before 1904, the St. Petersburg waterfront was simply a mangrove coast with the railroad bridge having to go nearly 2000 feet to get to deep water. In the boom days of the 1920s, fill was added to the railroad bridge approach and along the Electric Pier to its north, now The St. Pete Municipal Pier. North of that pier was a natural turn of the coast, now known as the Snell Isle Shoal. In those days kids used to pick up old ship’s ballast stones on that shoal and hammer open the smaller ones looking for geodes.

This filling and subsequent sea walls made three

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basins curiously called the South, Central and North Mole.

(Look it up. It’s the third definition of mole.)

When the wind blows long and hard enough from just south of an easterly direction, waves pile into the North Mole, ricochet off the north sea wall, bounce to the west wall and then set up a washing machine of turbulence in the oval body of water.

Old-timers knew that there was an inherent problem.

This basin remained undeveloped while the middle and

south moles became the largest municipal marina in the Southeast.

In the 1940s, the Sunshine City Boat Club asked for a piece of land between the Spa pool and the public rest room at the approach to The Pier. The city was not receptive. So the sailors simply pulled a dock to the location on a dark night. Eventually a lease for a dollar a year was granted. The reason for the choice of that southwest corner was it is the only spot that isn’t blasted by wave action.

In 1964, the replica of the ship Bounty was given that spot by those who knew the wave problem. Other areas can be very rough for those at anchor, with poor, muddy holding ground making for long nights.

When a marina for the first-class Vinoy Resort was proposed in the North Mole, a breakwater of some sort was suggested to alleviate the wave problem. It didn’t happen.

The damage from Hurricane Dennis was substantial to the floating concrete docks of the Vinoy Resort Marina. The wave action was forceful and high enough to twist and pull the docks apart.

It is impressive what good management, motivation, machinery and money can do. Three of the four docks appear to be repaired with some tweaking to be done. Vessels are already returning to the repaired sections. The dock nearest the entrance will be tackled last.

Sailors are watching the progress with interest since this marina is the venue for the November 3 – 6 Strictly Sail Boat Show. While tentative plans are being made to erect temporary docks on the south side of the Vinoy basin, it looks like the Vinoy Marina will also be ready for this popular event.

Editor’s note: The Vinoy Resort recently indicated that they are committed to rebuilding the marina whether a seawall is constructed to protect the basin or not. Floating docks can be built to different standards to withstand different wave heights, and the current marina, built over 15 years ago, was not built to withstand the waves that damaged it recently—besides the fact that better engineering today is now applied in building better docks. The resort indicated they are planning to expand the size of the marina in its plans to rebuild, helping the region’s shortage of slips.

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SOUTHERN SAILORS

Clearwater Sailor Wins Youth Worlds Again

By Dave Ellis

P

aige Railey, 18, was victorious in the 2005 ISAF junior single-handed girl’s championship over worldwide competition. She is the only repeat winner of the event, having won in 2002. Usually competitors age out of the competition before trying again. Railey also represented the United States in 2003 when she won the bronze medal and in 2004 when a series of scores that included letters instead of numbers dropped her to seventh.

Racing was on the Olympic Laser Radial in the cold, foggy waters off Busan, Korea. Yes, that was Pusan during the Korean War conflict.

Starting was a challenge. The right side of the course was favored. Since the talented fleet all knew that, it was difficult to start on the right and go right and then judge the layline for the distant windward mark. Not surprisingly, Railey used an OCS and a 13th as throwouts.

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Paige Railey accepts her trophy at the ISAF World Youths.

Photo courtesy Paige Railey.

The second place girl, sailing for China, had two OCSs and ended up five points back. The rest of the fleet was some distance behind in points.

The final day was so foggy that no racing could be attempted. So Railey got the usual whoops and hollers and the toss into the drink. Then competitors retired to their rooms to get dressed up for the evening’s festivities and prize-giving. All except Railey. She went to the gym as usual.

It may not have made much difference in the strength or stamina of the sailor, but the press picked it up and made much of the dedication. It certainly showed fellow Olympic aspirants that this is a sailor to be reckoned with for 2008.

Paige and her fraternal twin sister Brooke had enjoyed rides on big brother Zach’s Optimist dinghy as five-yearolds. They learned to sail at the Clearwater Yacht Club at age eight and then spent two years with the then-dominant St. Petersburg Yacht Club junior program.

I was the sailing master of the sailing center in those days and remember the Railey family as being among the most active among the Opti parents. It became even more difficult to beat Zach in a Laser race. The girls seemed to enjoy the sailing, racing and camaraderie of the racing team.

Zach went off to Miami for college, and Brooke enjoyed the normal life of a teenager. Paige, however, decided to see how far she could go in sailing. The Laser Radial was the boat of choice in this part of Florida. There were no Olympic Europe dinghies raced regularly in the region. Would this be a handicap to sailing at the top of the sport?

Imagine the elation when the Radial was chosen for the next Olympics. Paige won the first Pre-Olympic regatta held at Miami after the announcement and has been at or near the top of world rankings since. As a matter of fact, she is at the top of the Radial rankings in the United States, over all the boys and men.

Railey was named female sailor of the year by US SAILING in 2001, 2002 and 2004 while still a student at Clearwater High School. This fall she will be a freshman at the University of South Florida, where the head coach is a sailor familiar with what it takes to go for the Gold. Allison Jolly, the first female gold medal winner in sailing, ironically, sailed off Pusan, Korea. Do you think the USF Bulls will have a decent sailing team this year? www.southwindsmagazine.com

OUR WATERWAYS

The future of our waterways? Photo by Steve Morrell.

Our Changing Waterways 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, dissappearing marinas, boatyards and boat ramps, environmental concerns and other related news. Contact Steve Morrell, editor@southwindsmagazine.com, or call (877) 372-7245.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

Moored Boats Cause Health and Safety Concerns on Davis Island in Tampa, FL

By Stephanie Cox

W

hat sailor has not dreamed of leaving the house behind and sailing away from it all? All you need is a boat, an anchor, and a dream.

Recently, however, this dream getaway has become more challenging.

Over the past couple of years, a controversy over harbor anchorage has been brewing in Tampa, Florida. Boat owners who do not get a marina space turn to harbors and basins for “temporary” anchorage. Just how “temporary” this harbor anchorage is remains the topic of debate.

If you have ever spent time along the shores of the Seaplane Basin off Davis Island Yacht Club, it is easy to see why boaters would be attracted to this harbor. The lights from skyscrapers and Bayshore Drive illuminate the sky in the distance. It is protected from the waves of the bay. Children play on the beaches surrounding the harbor. It would seem the only threat to a moored boat is a newbie sailor who hasn’t quite mastered “tiller towards trouble.” But some Tampa residents feel these moored boats are a hazard and need to pull up anchor.

One Tampa resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that the live-aboards pump out raw sewage, abandon their boats, and do not secure their vessels properly during storms. Ultimately, the city taxpayers have to pay to have the damaged and abandoned boats removed.

Davis Island racer Will Green says, “I really don’t mind the people who actually live on the boats anchored in the harbor. It’s the people who drop anchor and abandon their boat that are a problem. There are a couple of boats in Seaplane Basin that are sinking or have sunk from last year’s hurricanes, and those have become a hazard to navigation.”

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the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, fines for the civil penalty of discharging raw sewage are $250.

The pollution on the beaches at Davis Island could be due to a few unsanitary boaters who dump their waste overboard, or there could also be other factors contributing to the mess. The fact that the bay has only one very small opening makes cleaning of the water through tidal flow all the more difficult.

Some Davis Island sailors like Will Green do not peg the pollution in the harbor strictly on the live-aboards. “I would attribute it to the Port of Tampa, the sulfur mines, and basically all the industrial activity to the east of Davis Island.” It is true that a host of factors could play a role in the pollution at the beaches of Davis Island, but opponents of the live-aboards do believe that a solution to the pumpout issue needs to be found.

The reality for the live-aboards is that the closest pumpout station is at Marjorie Park up the channel, and many of their boats have no engines and are not seaworthy. Former Tampa mayor Dick Greco had planned to add bathrooms and facilities at Davis Island Park. Greco also spoke of installing permanent moorings and charging users a monthly fee for their usage. When current mayor Pam Iorio took office, these plans were put on hold. Attempts to reach Mayor Iorio’s office regarding this matter were not successful.

Even the critics of the live-aboards do not think the Seaplane Basin should be completely void of boats. A com-

News & Views for Southern Sailors

promise could include a 48-hour time limit for moorings, establishing mooring fees, and making sure moored boats have ways to dispose of waste. Creating a public pumpout station and installing waste dump receptacles for boat port-a-potties would also help clean up the harbor.

Editor’s note: Sanitation workers in Bradenton Beach, in Manatee County, have, for the last several months, had to deal with human fecal matter being dumped in local trash receptacles. This has turned out to be a serious health hazard for the employees, as the waste is difficult to deal with, and workers can’t help but get the waste on them in emptying the containers.

The receptacles are near a local anchorage, and officials suspect that boats anchored there are dumping the waste instead of dumping it in the water, which would be illegal.

The city of Bradenton Beach is exploring the possibility of creating a mooring field in the anchorage with shore and pumpout facilities for the boaters. That project is still being considered and is a long ways off, but the local community is currently planning to manage the anchorage through local law enforcement that will soon be inspecting the boats for Coast Guard requirements, including the enforcement of waste disposal laws.

If the boaters are dumping their waste ashore, it is good to see that their intentions are noble, but perhaps they were not aware of the problems created by dumping waste in the local receptacles.

Let’s hope the mooring field is created and accessible, and affordable pump-out facilities become part of it.

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OUR WATERWAYS $20-Million Marina Proposed in Louisiana Plans to build a $20-million marina on Lake Pontchartrain in Kenner, LA, recently moved forward after the Kenner City Council approved rezoning for the project.

The proposed 28-acre marina, expected to cost more than $100-million, would include 330 slips, 40 boathouses, a luxury hotel, yacht club, shops, and restaurants. Although it is to be built in a gated community, the council mandated that public access to the property must be included.

Another Boatyard Possibly Closing in Marathon

By Rebecca Burg In the Keys, boatyards are in short supply. Not too long ago, Penninsular Marine on Stock Island sold its property and closed its doors. The Keys’ working waterfront, with its shrimpers and commercial fishing boats, is becoming a thing of the past. Currently, boaters in the middle Keys have become quite concerned. A persistent rumor, says the Keynoter, is that Keys Boat Works in Marathon has been sold to a developer. The boatyard, on 39th street, is across from a

former trailer park and the spot where the City Fish Market used to be. Both the trailer park and fish market were recently demolished to make room for an exclusive, gated community. According to the Keynoter, sources point out that a developer, D’Asign Source, is purchasing Keys Boat Works.

Neither the buyer nor the seller would comment.

Popular, Small Resort in Keys Sells to Developers Seascape Resort, once named by Outside magazine as one of the top 10 finds in the Keys, was recently sold to developers out of Winter Park, FL. The resort, located in Marathon on the ocean side, has 10 small rooms, a dock and a swimming pool and was known for its loyal guests who returned year after year.

Future plans for the resort are uncertain, but it is rumored the new owners will maximize the use of the land by building 10 more condo rooms with boat slips for each.

Whether they will be rented out as condo hotel rooms is uncertain.

The resort sold for $4.45 million.

Martin County Increases Impact Fees for New Marinas

By Roy Laughlin The Martin County Board of County Commissioners recently increased impact fees for marinas, effective Oct 1.

Florida Keys Initiates Waterfront Moratorium In July, the Monroe County Commission passed a one-year moratorium on any waterfront development in the unincorporated areas of the Florida Keys. The purpose of the moratorium was to consider the implications of the recent sales and conversions of waterfront marinas, boatyards and other properties to the development of condominiums, resorts and clubs.

Proponents of the moratorium include some property owners, who want to continue to keep their holdings as working, waterfront businesses (like boatyards and marinas), employees and businesses, who need these properties for their livelihood, and residents and visitors, who need the waterfront access. Opponents include those who would like to sell their property at the premium prices being offered right now by developers, and, of course, the developers themselves. It is a story that rings true in much of Florida—and in other waterfront areas throughout the country.

The moratorium will allow South Atlantic University to inventory waterfront businesses and dock space in the Keys and create an economic plan to manage these resources.

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In-water slips will increase to $1536 per berth. Dry storage will become $775 per berth. The ordinance includes a new fee structure that charges more for in-water berths compared to dry storage. Prior to the new ordinance, the marina fee was $614 per berth in mixed-use marinas. The new fees apply only to marinas, not to boat slip construction on residential docks.

The Martin County Growth Management Office uses a defined economic model to generate impact costs. Marina impact fees are based primarily on impacts on roads, public buildings and emergency services, according to Cesar Perez with the county’s Growth Management Office. The county used “standard values” for road and transportation impacts. Road cost exerts a predominant influence on the overall impact fee determination.

Opponents believe the actual road-cost impact for marinas is significantly less than the value used to justify the current impact fee increases. By early 2006, the county will finish a follow-up study to verify that marinas do in fact incur the economic cost for roads that the economic model uses. If road costs for marinas are lower, the new numbers will be used in the model to generate a revised impact fee estimate. The Martin County Board of County Commissioners may then adjust the impact fee for marinas.

The impact fee increase as it now stands will have no immediate effect because no new marinas have applications pending and would therefore pay the new impact fee before the follow-up study is complete, according to Mr. Perez. In the long term, however, costs to marina users in Martin County will increase, perhaps dramatically.

Are gated waterways coming? Photo by Steve Morrell.

Water Access for Boaters: For Florida’s Local Governments, No Longer Someone Else’s Problem

By Roy Laughlin In an attempt to mobilize local government resources, Brevard County Commissioner Helen Voltz and her staff organized a roundtable discussion of boating access to lagoon, bay and nearshore public waters. Local government representatives from at least 12 counties from Duval to Citrus attended the meeting in Melbourne on July 29.

Representatives from state legislators and administrative agencies also attended to give input when requested.

Discussions covered an enormous range of issues affecting public access and “convenience of use.”

Identifying a consensus on these issues and common goals to address problems was the discussion’s purpose.

Each county has a different set of constraints and conditions affecting public access. Brevard and Volusia counties, for instance, cannot build any more public marinas because Section K boat slips have been met. In these counties, even if local governments were to appropriate money for marina construction, facilities could not be permitted by state and federal oversight agencies. Citrus See WATERWAYS continued on page 67 News & Views for Southern Sailors

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HURRICANE SEASON 2005 A Calm August Early to mid-September is the traditional high point of the hurricane season, and although the season started with a lot of activity, August was a calm month. Southerners are thankful for that.

Last month we covered a charter company that succeeded in safely securing their boats at the docks. This month we tell the story of New Moon, which took a direct hit from Charley and survived at anchor, suffering no damage.

We’ve added more stories to the hurricane page on our Web site and are hoping our readers will continue to send them in.

We are aiming at getting real stories of success and failure from boaters’ efforts to survive the storms—telling us what they actually did or experienced, what gear they used and what specific actions were taken.

New Moon Survives Charley Anchored off Captiva Island

By Steve Morrell

O

n September 17, 2000, Hurricane Gordon passed near Mick Gurley’s sPearson 35, New Moon, as she lay anchored off Captiva Island. He lost the boat, but not because he didn’t secure it well. The boat was struck by lightning, which put a hole through it.

The boat sank. The boat was a complete loss and put a temporary end to his charter business, New Moon Sailing, located in Captiva.

Mick has been in the sailing and charter business for over 25 years and wasn’t about to let a little old hurricane or lightning bolt put him out of business. Two months after the loss, he purchased a Pearson 39, named her New Moon, and was back in business.

Four years later, on August 13, 2004, the eye of Hurricane Charley passed over North Captiva—a few miles north of the same spot where the old New Moon was during Gordon—hitting the new New Moon pretty much directly, as it lay at anchor in the same spot as the old one. This time, though, the boat suffered no damage. It was not struck by lightning, but it did survive a Category 4 storm— winds of 150-plus mph. That’s right; no damage. What did Mick do that worked so well?

“I have always had a special affinity for anchors. At one point I had 14 or 15 anchors— and used them all,” says Mick. And he learned from them over the years. He has slowly, over time, narrowed them down to what he considers the best. He says he now, for storm preparation, always uses five anchors, which is what he did on Wednesday, August 11—two days before Charley struck.

Mick set up in Roosevelt Channel, the narrow waterway east of the south end of Captiva Island that heads south to the bridge separating the island from Sanibel. Uninhabited and wild Buck Island borders its eastern side. The channel is 50-150 yards wide, with a navigable channel meandering through it. In places, only a kayak can pass over the shallow waters outside the navigable part. The channel itself is 6 or 7 feet at high tide in the deeper areas and only a few feet deep farther south. Mick chose an area as far New Moon, unharmed, anchored in Roosevelt Channel about one month down the channel as he could find and still get after Charley passed through. Photo by Steve Morrell. the depth he needed for New Moon’s 5-foot

Visit Our New Hurricane Page On The SOUTHWINDS Web Site For more information, links, and other stories and letters on hurricane protection for you and your boat, go to our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com. The SOUTHWINDS hurricane page will be dedicated to saving boats during tropical storms—sail or power. The stories printed monthly will be available on the online magazine each month and then posted to our hurricane page the following month along with other stories previously printed (follow the link on the home page.)

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HURRICANE SEASON draft—and still have room to put out five anchors. He also went to what he called “the front of the line,” where there would be no boats upwind from New Moon. The channel is somewhat of a hurricane hole, with luxury homes on its west side, and thick vegetation on all sides.

Mick put his five anchors out in a hemispherical pattern, the orientation of which is determined by the anticipated wind direction that a storm will bring. This is one of Mick’s most important points; where will the strongest winds of the storm come from? Mick predicted that Charley would pass to the west heading north, and the southerly winds along the storm’s right flank would come right up the north/south-running channel. He therefore pointed his half-circle of anchors down the channel, with the center anchor running directly to the south.

Mick uses two 35-pound CQRs, a 33-pound Bruce, a 22pound Delta, and—what Mick calls “one big mother of a Danforth,” On four of the anchors he carries 30-40 feet of galvanized chain, either 1/2-inch or 3/8-inch. For the Danforth, he carries about 200 feet of 1/2-inch chain, which he stores in a bucket. He secures 30-40 feet of 5/8-inch line to the chain and, with a tender, runs the chain out of the bucket till both reach the end, where they drop the anchor, then bear down on it, securing it on the bottom. All anchors are set in a similar fashion equally spaced in the hemispherical pattern.

I asked Mick how he secures five anchor rodes to a 39foot boat, knowing that many boats aren’t equipped for this.

He said he has two bow cleats and two chocks. He secures two lines to each cleat and then takes the Danforth rode, makes a large loop with a bolin in it, and loops that around the two cleats.

Mick used no chafe protection. Having heard of stories where lines actually melted inside chafe protection, he decided not to use it—especially since he had good solid chocks through which the lines were led. (I will have to some day remind Mick of stories on the east coast where large, slow storms created hurricane-force winds that lasted up to 17 hours—when chafe became the final destroying factor for many boats. Charley was a strong, but small and fast storm.)

He also removes all canvas and sails on the boat, putting them down below, and lashes the helm, holding the rudder inline. He also shackles the roller furling drum to the

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Another boat that was anchored in Roosevelt Channel during Charley that didn’t do so well. Notice the canvas still on the boat. Photo by Steve Morrell.

Storm Tip

By Dave Ellis Just before Hurricane Charley made its hard right turn toward Captiva Island and Charlotte Harbor, Offshore Sailing School instructors caring for 11 teaching boats had their hands full with little time. Then they discovered to their dismay that the Hunter 47 roller furling track on the genoa jib was separated at a joint somewhere up that tall rig. The big sail would not come down.

Since there was a 5:00 p.m. deadline to get off the island, it was decided to wrap the sail as tightly as possible. They wrapped two spare halyards many times around the sail in the opposite direction, top to bottom.

Winds gusting to 140 mph swept the island that night. A large piling was pulled over from the strain of a boat. Some Colgate 26s heeled over under bare poles enough to break the mast on the nearby seawall. But that wrapped sail came through without damage.

Former St. Pete Sailing Center boatwright and Isla Del Sol dockmaster Dan Sherwood passed this tip along a couple years ago. Now it is standard procedure if a significant wind is brewing.

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frame to minimize any movement.

He also removes one battery from the system and separately connects it to the bilge pump, isolating the system to some extent—remembering his previous boat getting struck by lightning.

Mick then went home and began to prepare his house on Sanibel.

After Charley struck on Friday afternoon, August 13, Mick was anxious to get back to see how his boat—and his business—survived the storm. He was able to get to it soon afterwards and was pleased to see no damage.

Well, there was one thing. The channel suffered a low storm surge, laying the boat way over on its side. Engine oil, a couple of quarts of it, drained out through the dipstick tube. Mick said it was a real mess cleaning it up. We discussed different ways to shut off the dipstick tube in the future.

He did remark on one item he forgot and left on deck, the boat hook. It hadn’t moved.

When asked what he would like to say to others about preparing their boats, Mick responded, “You can’t prepare enough. When the season rolls around, you get your gear together. You put it in one spot where you can grab it and run with it up to the boat.”

Unfortunately, Mick’s home didn’t do as well as his boat. His Sanibel house had a tornado touch down on its roof, flooding the bedroom. He and his wife had the foresight to stay inland during the storm.

Probably would have been safe on the boat.

For more information on Mick Gurley and New Moon, go to www.newmoonsailing.com.

Hurricane Preparations Through The Eyes Of A Dockmaster

By Captain Paul Warren, Dockmaster, Isla Del Sol Yacht Club, St. Petersburg, Fl Hurricane preparations are a serious matter—regardless of your perspective. However, the perspective of a marina dockmaster is substantially different from that of a boat owner. Ultimately, however, we all have the same objective: to weather the storm with minimal damage to our respective properties.

At the outset, it should be recognized by all concerned that a dockmaster’s primary responsibility is to protect his/her facility. Damage to the facility can come from a variety of sources: boats chafing away on pilings until they’re half their original diameter; boats tied loosely so they crash into the docks and power pedestals, tidal surge waves dislodging deck boards; tie poles (pilings) being broken by torquing action of boats tossed by waves. Our job is to minimize the potential for this kind of damage.

We certainly have a secondary responsibility to assist our boat owners with their preparations. Every dockmaster I know has a wealth of information, experience and techniques that can assist boat owners with their hurricane preparations. I know that I spend a considerable amount of time and effort each year researching lessons learned from News & Views for Southern Sailors

Twenty-five Percent of Florida’s Boats Prepared in 2004 From BoatUS A review of last year’s hurricane boat claims by the BoatU.S. Marine Insurance Catastrophe Response Team found that only 25 percent of Florida boaters had made the proper storm preparations. “These boats largely survived because time was spent early in the season to develop a basic hurricane plan, which was then later implemented when disaster struck,” said Carroll Robertson, vice president, BoatU.S. Marine Insurance Claims Division.

previous storms, talking to other dockmasters/marina managers for their tips, and, simply thinking about the processes and how to improve our planning. However, the boat owner needs to ask us for our advice. Remember, again: Our first priority is to protect our facility.

Here are some suggestions that will help both of us: ■ Maintain a “Weather Eye.” This means paying attention to more than today’s forecast. It means for tropical storms/hurricanes, updating yourself (and your dock mates) regularly on potential trouble in the tropics. You should be loosely tracking each low pressure area in the Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico. You should be tracking each tropical wave coming off the coast of Africa. You should be paying attention to the “sea surface temperatures” in the Atlantic/the Caribbean/the Gulf. If you do this regularly, you’ll develop an internal sense about the potential of a given weather system to develop into a potential threat to your marina or your boat. (Note: One of the best Web sites I’ve found for broad hurricane information is presented by Robert Lightbown of Crown Weather Services at www.crownweather.com/tropical.)

■ Be Action-Oriented. Don’t wait until a full hurricane warning is in effect before arriving at your boat. Take action NOW, while the wind is still blowing 8-15 and the waves are still 1 to 2 feet. If you wait until you’ve got storm condi-

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HURRICANE SEASON tions, you’ve lost! … valuable time, valuable resources and, potentially, the value of your boat. Action-orientation is an attitude … either you adopt it or you don’t. Your choice!

■ Plan Ahead. Planning means having a written hurricane plan completed to remind you what steps you need to take.

(Give it to your crew and your marina’s dockmaster.) It also means having the basics of hurricane prep done at the start of the season; storm lines in place in order to double-up your dock lines, chafe gear in place on your dock lines, fenders and fender boards in place to protect your topsides.

Even these basic precautions will allow me, as your dockmaster, to sleep better at night.

■ Recognize that your marina manager has his/her own “Action Plan.” While they’re there for advice on the fly, lending a helping hand may stretch their resources and restrict their ability to secure their facility. Each boat owner should be “independent” with pre-arranged resources (crew, friends, materials, etc.) to be self-sufficient.

■ Have proper “emergency” equipment available. Last year, I found having a “come along” (ratcheting block and tackle gear) extremely helpful, using it to pull boats off pilings and docks—I used it several times. Remember, the marina may have some equipment, but if you really want to protect your boat, it’s up to you.

Chains around pilings acting as chafe gear instead of your dockline. Photo by Steve Morrell.

■ Have backup supplies on hand. Materials like spare dock lines, spare fenders and fender boards can be expected to be used in almost every storm. Various tapes (e.g., duct tape, masking tape and electrical tape) are likely to come in handy in the aftermath of a storm. I also like to have several nylon straps w/ratchet adjusters available for securing dock boxes to the deck, for securing boats on lifts (heavy duty straps, please) and for securing dinghies in the dinghy rack.

■ Administratively, mark personally-owned items such as tools, fenders and other equipment with your name or boat name. It facilitates quicker return of borrowed/lost items.

If you need help preparing your boat, consider hiring temporary day-workers, preferably people with substantial boating knowledge and skills – like USCG-licensed captains, yacht maintenance services and other experienced individuals. You should give clear and specific assignments and tasks.

■ Hold a hurricane drill, preferably at the start of the storm season. It’s important to have a plan of action for preparation, with specific assignments. If you walk through the process when conditions are calm, it gives you a chance to ask questions, make adjustments, note additional tools and/or supplies and, in the end, feel more confident about your ability to deliver your boat safely on the other side of a storm.

■ Use fenders and fender boards. They do a good job of protecting your boat, when positioned properly. (If tying from the lifelines/railings, twisting the hanger lines will help keep them in position.) This may seem obvious, but I’ve observed the majority of boats have too few or no fenders hung prior to a storm.

■ Try putting a length of chain (say, about 4-6 feet) around your dock pilings. These act as chafe gear for your storm lines. That way the chain—not your dock lines—rubs against the pilings. Needless to say, the pilings should be stronger than the dock cleats. (I’ve seen cleats pulled out of the dock and fasteners sheared, setting boats adrift.)

See HURRICANE SEASON continued on page 67

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YOUTH SAILING

Sun Coast Sailing Camp Enjoys its Second Year at Sarasota Sailing Squadron

By Mike McNulty

A

The 2005 Sun Coast Sailing Camp crew. Back row left to right is Ashley Rogers, Rebecca Payne (another coach), Ashley Galliard and the kids. Photo courtesy Mike McNulty.

fter last year’s successful week of teaching kids who would not otherwise have the opportunity to learn to sail, the teenage girls who founded the Sun Coast Sailing Camp were back to repeat the camp again this year.

Ashley Rogers and Ashley Galliard, both U.S. Sailing certified instructors at age 17, put their years of sailing expertise to good use showing kids from the Boys and Girls Club the basics of safe sailing. Rigging the boats, each child was familiarized with terminology, gear and parts of the boat. Since safety is the focus of the course, proper fitting of lifejackets and frequent sunscreen application were among the things discussed before the manda-

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tory swim test was given. Each child was issued a souvenir T-shirt with “official” camp logos silk-screened by hand. Sultry summer breezes provided by Sarasota Bay gave the rookie sailors perfect conditions for their maiden voyage into the sport of sailing.

In the days to follow, students learned basic sailing theory and skills. Appreciation for nature was demonstrated one day when one of the kids observed sea horses near the dock, as well as dolphin and manatee sightings throughout the week. (Let’s leave the part out about other fish sightings due to red tide.) One day when it rained and winds abated, the kids watched the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, perhaps knowing a bit more about the nautical aspects of being a pirate. On the last day, they sailed to North Lido Beach where they enjoyed a beach party complete with watermelon, cookies and sodas donated by the Galliard family.

Bauer 12 sailboats were kindly provided by John Jorgenson and Sailing Alternatives. The five-day camp was hosted by the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, which also provided a coach boat. Jabbo Gordon and Rebecca Payne volunteered time all week as coaches. Girl Scout Troop 132 donated a first aid kit that was thankfully not needed.

Ashley Rogers is using this opportunity, not only to serve the community, but also as her Girl Scout Gold Award project. She used her “cookie dollars” earned by selling Girl Scout cookies for bottled water and ice, sunscreen and Tshirts. The teens would like to see a permanent venue created for future such sailing camps.

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WEATHER RADIO

Weather FAX on the Cheap

By Gary Jensen

W

ith the 2005 hurricane season here again, up-to-date weather maps and forecasts are critical to the safety of offshore and coastal voyaging. You can receive these forecasts while at sea using readily available, moderately priced equipment. You don’t need to have a dedicated Weather FAX (WEFAX) machine on board, nor is it necessary to use a new sophisticated marine SSB. In many cases, you already own one or more of the components needed to create a WEFAX system.

Basic WEFAX System Architecture A basic WEFAX system consists of a radio capable of tuning to the WEFAX frequencies (See Table 1), a computer, some software, and an audio cable to connect the radio and the computer together. Audio from a radio is fed into the MIC connector on the computer sound card, where a program tells the computer’s sound card how to decode the signal, and store, print, or display the results on the computer screen.

The Radio Your choice of radio is limited primarily by how much money is budgeted for its purchase. While new radios like the Icom M-802 marine SSB or Icom 706MKIIG ham radio are ideal, older marine radios like the Kenwood TMK-700 or Icom M-700 (not to be confused with the M-700Pro), or older ham radios like the Icom 735 or Kenwood TS-440 will work just fine. Even inexpensive general coverage shortwave radios from companies like Saegean, Sony, and Grundig, can be made to work, although the lower-cost models do not provide as good a result as do the more expensive models.

If you are planning on buying a used radio, the three important features you are looking for are: Frequency stability.

The radio must stay on the frequency to which it is tuned. Any up or down frequency drift will cause the WEFAX output to shift lighter or darker, making the received document difficult to read.

The ability to “fine tune” the radio.

To receive a readable WEFAX document the radio must be able to accurately tune in a signal to 100-

hertz accuracy. For example, to receive WEFAX documents from the Boston station NMF, the radio must be tuned to 9108.1 kHz. The number to the right of the decimal point is tenths of a kilohertz, which in this example equals one hundred hertz.

The ability to reject adjacent signals.

A good radio has the ability to reject interference from other stations broadcasting on nearby frequencies. The better job the radio does in separating the signal you are trying to tune in from adjacent signal interference, the clearer your WEFAX document will be.

These important features come at a price, and they’re what differentiate a $2000 - $3000 radio from an $80 - $200 radio. Does this mean that you must spend thousands of dollars to get a radio that will produce the satisfactory WEFAX results that you want? No, not at all. As cruisers and hams update their radios with newer, more feature-laden radios, their used equipment frequently ends up on the used radio equipment market. Used marine radios in good condition from Icom and Kenwood can be bought for several hundred dollars, a fraction of their price when new.

If you are in the market to buy a used radio and don’t know where to begin looking for one, you might start by asking the folks around the docks if they know of anyone selling a used radio. Other resources to check are dealers like Amateur Electronic Supply (www.aesham.com), and Ham Radio Outlet (www.hamradio.com), ham radio clubs in your area, and, of course, the listings on e-Bay. With a little diligence, for $300 - $400 you should be able to find a radio that will tune in WEFAX, and with the appropriate FCC licenses, lets you talk on the ham or marine frequencies.

The Computer WEFAX technology was perfected during the 1940s, so you don’t need the latest and fastest computer to decode it. Just about any Pentium/AMD-based computer with a 16-bit or greater sound card, and Windows 98SE or later, should work just fine. The sound card is a requirement because the software will use it as a “radio modem.” That’s right; there’s no need to buy a separate “radio modem” or use a separate decoding module to decode the WEFAX signal. A computer and radio are the only hardware components needed.

The Software There is a variety of freeware, shareware, and commercial software in the market that will decode, store, display, and print WEFAX documents. The cost of these programs ranges from free, to several hundreds of dollars. One of the more popular programs is the shareware program JVCOMM32. Written by Eberhard Backeshoff in Germany, JVCOMM32 can receive maps and forecasts broadcast on the HF (High Frequency) bands, and directly from low earth-orbiting (LEO) satellites like METEOSAT (if you have a satellite receiver and antenna). JVCOMM32 will also copy

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and manage NAVTEX messages, which you can receive if your radio will tune down to 516.5 kHz. A fully functional unregistered version of JVCOMM32 can be downloaded free-of-charge from the JVCOMM32 Web site, www.jvcomm.de/. JVCOMM32 is a “shareware” program, which means that you can try out the program for a while, and if you like it and plan to keep using it, you can go online and pay the $80 licensing fee by credit card.

Putting it All Together As we’ve seen, the WEFAX system consists of three building blocks: a radio, a computer, and some software. With a properly working radio and your WEFAX software loaded and configured, it’s time to connect the radio to the computer. This can be done using off-the-shelf components available from consumer electronic stores like Radio Shack, Circuit City, Best Buy, Frys Electronics, etc. Even smaller communities usually have a least one Radio Shack in town, so the following example uses their components.

A 1/8-inch stereo phone plug fits the MIC connector on a computer sound card, and many radios also use a 1/8–inch stereo phone plug for the headphone connection.

Radio Shack sells a 6-foot stereo cable with 1/8–inch stereo phone plugs on each end (part number 42-2387) for about five dollars. Simply plug one end of the cable into the MIC jack on your computer, the other end into the headphone jack of your radio, and you’re done. If your radio requires a 1/4-inch stereo phone plug instead of the 1/8–inch size, no worries, the four- dollar 274-348 inline stereo adaptor solves the problem. Radio Shack also has adaptors that convert from 1/8 inch to 3/32 inch, to/from RCA style audio jacks to 1/8 inch, etc. They’ve got adaptors for just about any plug/jack combination you can think of, so there’s no need to have a special cable made up. Just hop down to your local electronics store and pick up the adaptor combination you need.

US WEFAX Station locations, Frequencies, and Areas Covered.

There are three WEFAX stations of interest to sailors cruising along the U.S. coast. They are NMF in Boston, NMG in New Orleans, and NMC in the San Francisco Bay area (actually Point Ryes, north of San Francisco). NMF in Boston broadcasts WEFAX information pertaining to the coastal and offshore waters of the northwest Atlantic. NMG in New Orleans broadcasts maps and forecasts covering the coastal and offshore waters of the tropical Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and tropical east Pacific; and NMC in San Francisco covers the eastern Pacific.

Each of the WEFAX stations broadcasts on several frequencies simultaneously. This is done to ensure the signal reaches cruisers near the transmitter, cruisers a thousand or so miles away, and cruisers in between. Identical data is broadcast on each of the frequencies, so to ensure you receive the best quality documents possible, listen to each frequency to determine which one is providing the best reception.

Documents: What You Can Expect to Receive, and When Will You Receive It? The USCG Weather FAX stations broadcast weather maps, satellite pictures, and text forecasts, according to a published schedule. Tables 2 and 3 contain the current broadcast schedules for the Boston and New Orleans stations.

Table 2 can be viewed online at http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/fax/hfmarsh.txt.

Table 3 can be viewed at http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/fax/hfgulf.txt.

Receiving a WEFAX With your radio and computer turned off, plug in the cable/adaptor assembly you’ve put together into the headphone or external speaker jack on your radio, and the MIC connector of the computer. Then do the following: Turn on your radio and computer.

Start up your WEFAX program.

Configure/set up your WEFAX program to work with your computer sound card.

Put your radio in the USB (Upper Side Band) mode.

Tune the radio to one of the frequencies shown in Table 1. Identical data is being sent on each of these frequencies, so switch between them to determine which frequency has the strongest signal. Leave the radio tuned to the strongest signal.

Adjust the volume if necessary and you’re ready to start copying WEFAX.

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WEATHER RADIO

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Further information see: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/home.htm

To provide more reliable coverage in the Gulf of Mexico, beginning December 5, 2003 the broadcast of radiofacsimile from U.S. Coast Guard New Orleans station NMG, will be changed from broadcasting on center frequencies of 4317.9, 8503.9 and 12789.9 kHz at 0000 and 0600 UTC, and 8503.9, 12789.9 and 17146.4 kHz at 1200 and 1800 UTC to: broadcasting on 4317.9, 8503.9 and 12789.9 kHz at 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800 UTC, and 17146.4 kHz at 1200 and 1800 UTC. Subtract 1.9 kHz for carrier frequencies. Please send any reception reports and user comments to marine.weather@noaa. (dated December 5, 2003)\ http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/fax/hfgulf.txtSource: http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/fax/hfgulf.txt Conclusion Now that you’ve got your WEFAX system working, it’s up to you to practice using it. Through experience, you’ll learn when the signals are strongest at your location, how to use your software, which documents are useful to you, and when these charts are broadcast.

With a busier than normal hurricane season predicted this summer, it’s important to keep yourself and your crew up-to-date on current and future weather trends. Now is the time to develop a feel for the summer weather rhythm.

Start monitoring your WEFAX today.

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BAHAMAS

Boats for the Bahamas PART I

By Colin Ward

Many different boats at anchor in Georgetown.

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any of you may be tempted to sail to the Bahamas and are wondering what kind of boat is necessary or desirable to make cruising there safe, enjoyable and comfortable. The short answer is that almost any cruising boat can make it, but let’s take a look at what makes a boat truly suitable. In addition to the boat itself, there are decisions to be made regarding the outfitting, so we will take a look at the gear you need. Lastly, you do not necessarily need a circumnavigator to sail to the Bahamas, so be sure you know where you want to go before you plunk down the big bucks.

Boats That Are Out There I am writing this in Elizabeth Harbor in the Exumas, where there are presently 250 or more cruising boats anchored. If I dinghy around, I can find a MacGregor 22, a 60-foot catamaran, a couple of Pearsons from the 70s, several Morgans (one of which is 40 years old), Gulfstars, Irwins, Endeavors, Island Packets, a ferro-cement schooner and an Oyster 63.

Near our Catalina 42 are two 40-foot Beneteaus, a Morgan 38, an O’Day 34, an Erickson 35, a Tayana 37, a Manta 40 and a Cabo Rico 38. If a bell-shaped curve of boat sizes was created, the peak would be around 38 feet with a range from 21 to 70 feet, with the vast majority of boats falling in the 35to 42-foot range. Boat styles would include almost all types of sailboats except for bare bones race boats, which are rare.

About 10 percent are multihulls, of which one in 10 is a trimaran and the remainder catamarans.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

Constraints for Boat Selection If you are shopping for a boat, or if you are deciding whether or not your boat is suitable for a Bahamas trip, you should consider the conditions and constraints that you will be dealing with. Weather conditions in the winter are generally windy with 15 to 25 knots common. Seas can be rough unless you patiently wait for a break in the strong winds.

Seas on the Bahama banks can build to a 4-foot chop in strong winds. Waves on Exuma Sound and other deep water can easily be 8 or 9 feet on windy days. Most sailors wait for milder weather to travel when the chop on the banks is 2 feet or so, and the ocean has 3-5 foot waves with a period of six seconds or more. You will often be heading upwind into the prevailing winds, which usually means motoring. The most protected anchorages are often fairly shallow. While a heavy bluewater boat with a deep keel might be best for handling higher winds and accompanying waves, a small shallow draft vessel can sometimes sneak along in protected waters and enjoy a more comfortable ride.

Another constraint to consider is the need to carry supplies and fuel. Although the large towns such as Marsh Harbor and Nassau have a good supply of groceries and equipment available, the best cruising is usually away from it all, and that includes grocery stores and ship chandleries.

Most cruisers bring stores from the United States, where they are less expensive, and purchase fresh produce wherever they can. The capacity to carry stuff is roughly proporSOUTHWINDS

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BAHAMAS tional to the displacecruise in the Bahamas, ment of your boat. but the number of You can assume that a places they can go 30,000-pound boat decreases substantialdoes not notice 2,000 ly. While it is a shame pounds of stores and that they miss some possessions nearly as desirable spots, the much as a 10,000real issue is that they pound boat does. cannot access some of More marinas are the protected anchorappearing which means ages that are required that fuel is easier to when one of the frecome by until you quent cold fronts head to the Out brings strong westerly Islands. South of Long winds. I would not Island, however, fuel recommend cruising stops are unreliable here with a draft that until you reach the exceeds 6 feet unless Turks and Caicos. you already own such A final constraint a boat, in which case I to consider is the would say give it a try requirement for good and then decide if it is navigation. This is not fun or not. so much an issue for If your boat the boat as it is for the draws 4 feet, you can navigator and the navslip down the Exumas igation gear, but it A 1960s Morgan 34 cruises the Bahamas. on the protected should be noted that Banks side avoiding the Bahamas are unforgiving. There are thousands of islands, much of the sailing in the Sound. You can also squeak into rocks, shoals, reefs, narrow cuts and lee shores to deal with. some Abaco harbors that we must avoid. Unfortunately, a The tides are considerable, and the associated current is 40-foot monohull with a 4-foot draft will not sail to weather strong. Good charts and a good GPS will give you the inforlike a race boat, so, as we all know, life is a compromise. mation you need to stay out of trouble, but if you make a misUsing the range of the tides to your advantage will help take or if the engine, sails, rig or anchor gear fails at a critical those of you with a deep draft. Sometimes, you can cross a moment, your boat can be on the rocks in no time. bar into a deep anchorage at high tide. Bahamian tides range from 2 to 4 feet, which makes a big difference as long Let’s Look In More Detail At Features as you have good tide tables.

The mast height or “air draft” of your vessel is a minor Of A Comfortable Bahamas Cruiser: consideration in the Bahamas with only a couple of bridges in Nassau to worry about, both of which are more than 70 Draft feet high.

We cruise the Bahamas successfully with a draft of about 6 feet. We rarely have touched bottom, but there are places Boat Length where we do not venture, especially if the approach is over As I mentioned above, most Bahama cruisers arrive at 38 rocks or coral. Other boats with 7-foot and 8-foot drafts 40 feet as the ideal length for a couple. Ignoring the cost issue for a moment, a 40-foot boat provides enough space for people, stores, equipment and privacy, as well as access to work on the engine and other systems. Smaller boats start to feel cramped, and jobs like tightening the stuffing box often require a contortionist. Larger boats can be a handful when it comes to raising sail and anchoring, although they are often more comfortable under way.

Modern roller furling mainsails, electric winches and windlasses make large-boat handling much easier but add complexity and create maintenance problems. Costs do increase dramatically with boat length. The relationship may be direct (such as dockage), or exponential (such as buying sails). Once you are in the Bahamas, however, you will probably not go to a dock very often or purchase sails.

Expensive fuel remains a cost issue, and fuel consumption is largely proportional to displacement.

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Having said that, we recently observed a couple with three small children on a 29foot sailboat entertaining two grandparents aboard for a week. I also met a couple handling a 61-foot Oyster cutter by themselves.

There are exceptions to every rule! You must decide what is comfortable for you.

either free or for a modest price. City water quality is improving with reverse osmosis water becoming the norm. You will need jugs to transport city water since you will not always be able to get your boat close enough to fill up.

Collecting rainwater is not a reliable An older Allied 36 ketch cruises the Abacos. water source in this Engines dry climate.

Cruising in the Bahamas requires a reliable engine. Second Pump-out stations are non-existent in the Bahamas so only to keeping the boat afloat, it is a top priority. “Not be sure you have the means to take care of business the Me,” you may say, “I sail everywhere.” Well, I can assure old-fashioned way. you that you cannot sail out of the cuts between the Alternative energy sources such as solar panels or wind islands into open water with the wind and current on the generators or a powered generator are much preferred over nose and no room to tack. You probably cannot sail intricharging with the main engine. Solar panels and wind gencate routes among shoals and rocks to get to the next erators work exceptionally well in the Bahamas because anchorage. And sometimes you will need to make tracks wind and sun are the norm. Fuel is expensive, but small to tuck into the next harbor before nightfall. Lastly, you portable generators are seen throughout the harbors. A should not depend on sail when you are weighing or drophouse battery bank of 450 amp hours is recommended, ping anchor in the midst of a busy anchorage filled with along with a separate starting battery. high-dollar boats owned by lawyers.

A modern diesel is the engine of choice. Some small The Ideal Boat boats will be okay with outboards. Diesel parts will generThere is, of course, no ideal boat for everybody as evially have to be brought in from the United States when denced by the number of different boats that are out here. A needed. Outboard parts are available in the Bahamas only composite of the foregoing information would probably for Yamaha, Johnson, Mercury and Honda. Bring spares result in a 40-foot boat with a 5-foot draft, good sailing abiliwith you! ty, a 40+ horsepower diesel, an autopilot connected to the GPS, an SSB radio, a watermaker, 200 watts of solar panel Navigation Gear power and a wind generator. Add to this sturdy anchoring Whether you use paper charts, a chart plotter or computer gear that will allow the use of two anchors when needed. The charts, make sure you have the Explorer charts for the boat should be as simple and easy to maintain as possible, Bahamas. Other charts do not provide the information you with systems accessible for routine maintenance and repair, will need. One or more GPS units is essential in this day and all wiring and plumbing labeled and documented. and age and ideally, your primary GPS should be connectIn practical terms, your ideal boat is probably the one ed so that it can guide your autopilot, automatically coryou already have. If it can handle the conditions described recting for the largely unpredictable effects of current above safely and with comfort adequate for you, then start swirling around islands, rocks and cuts. Additional naviplanning your trip to the Bahamas. gation gear such as radar is certainly nice to have but not essential. Fancy chart plotter/radar combinations with multiple screens and many views are unnecessary and can be a distraction. One accident occurred recently when a skipper was so intent on watching his chart plotter, he forgot to look where he was going and T-boned a brand-new anchored boat.

A single sideband or ham transceiver is nice to have, but just a high frequency (SSB) radio receiver will enable you to obtain critical weather reports. Certain weather reports are repeated on VHF in some locations, but the SSB radio will work anywhere, there will be no weather reports on your VHF weather channels.

Water and Energy A watermaker is very nice to have in terms of convenience, but drinking water is available on most inhabited islands News & Views for Southern Sailors

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DRY TORTUGAS

Beyond Paradise

By Betsy Morris

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onchs, and a lot of other landlubbers, consider Key West paradise. Sailors like it, too, but some know that the Dry Tortugas, with its anchorage under the wall of fabled Fort Jefferson, is even better.

It’s a long sail from one to the other, about 70 miles, almost due west. While the sea is that indescribable color that Northerners dream of on bitter winter days and the sky as blue as a Dutchman’s britches, conditions can change in an instant. Squalls and fronts packing high winds can come off the nearby Cuban coast, and northers roll south down the unpredictable Gulf of Mexico.

Along the route are very few shelters, and it’s smart to make the trip when the weather is benign.

For shallow-draft boats, the Marquesas offer a possible stop along the way. This group of mangrove keys is shaped like an atoll. It’s buggy and the waters are shallow. A sailboat drawing more than five feet cannot get close. But for shallow-drafters there is a snug anchorage between

The lighthouse in the Dry Tortugas.

Mooney Harbor key and Gull keys at the southern entrance to the atoll, and from there many dinghy explorations are possible. The sand bars shift often. An approaching skipper needs to be careful, coming in when the sun is high and not letting himself be seduced by the sweet/sour smell of the swamp forest mangroves.

Most of the Florida Keys are behind a reef, which mitigates the ocean waves and allows for fine, lee-rail-under sailing when the wind is brisk and the reef calms the seas.

Cruisers who have come south through the Florida section of the ICW are usually relieved to exit at Miami, leaving the bothersome bridges and confining cuts behind, to enter the Hawk Channel for the trip down the Keys.

Opposite the Marquesas, the reef peters out, and so does its sea-calming influence.

There’s another place to anchor along the way, known mostly to conchs (true Key West citizens, from the Conch Republic, as they call their island community), who come down for the day to fish or loaf. It’s the anchorage to the north of Boca Grande Key, about 10 miles west of Key West.

The passage in is well marked with a series of reds and greens. Leave green to starboard here, entering from the south. The convention seems to be red-right-returning from the Gulf to the Atlantic. There are several choices for anchoring. Near to the Key itself, in 12-20 feet, in a wide, current-scrubbed channel is the most popular. With sandbars to the north and west, and the island to the south, it is snug, and the holding is excellent. Farther along the marked channels are other spots, protected by sandbars and banks.

One is next to an old wreck that’s been high and dry for so many years that it has sprouted its own mangrove forest.

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Part of the Key is a wildlife preserve, but some of its sandy beaches are accessible, and the adventurous can probe deep into its mangrove canals by kayak or dinghy.

Commercial fishermen row into these canals to catch small baitfish in fine-meshed throw nets. The diving birds are savvy to the abundance: pelicans, laughing gulls, cormorants and terns. Frigate birds glide overhead, with nary a wing beat. And when a splash is too dramatic to be a bird, you can guess it’s a ray.

It’s almost 60 miles farther, a brilliant open-water passage, to the last islands in Florida’s chain of keys. Seven islands—Bush, Garden, Loggerhead and some smaller mangrove or coral islands—make up the Dry Tortugas, managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The favored anchorage is at Garden Key, site of Fort Jefferson, built to control navigation to the Gulf of Mexico. The fort’s cannons never fired a shot, but maybe they deterred pirates, and certainly the war ships stationed in the harbor protected the shipping lanes to New Orleans, Mobile, and Pensacola. The fort was also used as a prison, and a good one, since escape was impossible. Its most famous prisoner was Dr. Samuel Mudd, the doctor who set John Wilkes Booth’s leg after the assassination of President Lincoln.

Thanks to the whim and wiles of nature, the anchorage is better than ever, since a Christmas storm a few years ago created a sandbar between Garden and its nearest neighbor, Bush Key, thereby nearly encircling the area.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

MORE INFORMATION: Dry Tortugas National Park 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, FL 33034-6733 (305) 242-7700 www.nps.gov/drto CHARTS: NOAA Chart No. 11438 The national park provides a good (free) chart for snorkeling and scuba sites.

ANCHORAGE: Overnight anchoring within the national park must be within 1 mile of the Garden Key Harbor Lighthouse.

RESTRICTIONS: - No sewage discharge in park waters; - Visits are limited to 14 days - No spearfishing or taking of conch or lobster - Bush Key rookery is closed February through September - Hospital and Long Keys are closed for public use FEES: $5 per person per week.

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DRY TORTUGAS

Fort Jefferson surrounded by a moat.

The Garden Key Anchorage in the Dry Tortugas.

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Ponce de Leon named these islands Las Tortugas in 1513, commemorating the numerous turtles he and his men found here, and subsequent chartmakers altered the name to Dry Tortugas, signifying that they had no fresh water. When the massive fort was begun in 1846, a water catchment and storage system was intrinsic to the design. Tourists come to Fort Jefferson by seaplane or high-speed motor catamarans from Key West by day, but in the early mornings and late afternoons, cruisers share the island with a few park employees, a few tent campers, and scores of birds. Sooty terns by the tens of thousands nest on Bush between March and September. They come from the Caribbean and west central Atlantic, stopping at Bush only to lay and tend their eggs. They feed in the evening, capturing fish and squid from these abundant waters. Among them are brown noddies, as many as 2500 breeding pairs, as well as masked and brown boobies, buntings, tanagers, thrushes, warblers, hummingbirds, swallows, pelicans and frigate birds.

It’s only two miles over to the last island in the entire chain: Loggerhead. The Coast Guard maintains the 167-foot-tall lighthouse there, but volunteers live on the island as caretakers.

The beach is gorgeous, the shelling excellent, and the nature trails interesting.

Snorkeling and scuba possibilities are as simple as snorkeling around the outside of the fort’s walls, to snorkeling or scuba diving on the wrecks off Loggerhead. The islands, shoals, and reefs have seen their share of shipwrecks.

Their proximity to the shipping lanes of the Gulf of Mexico has made them a natural “ship trap.” The Avanti lies in only 18-21 feet southwest of Loggerhead. She was built in Liverpool in 1875 and met misfortune in a winter storm in 1907. Swimmers can see her foremast, bowsprit, anchor, rudder, and other bits, as well as colorful reef fish and coral. There are other wrecks, other reefs, and other beaches, mostly within easy dinghy distance.

These small islands feel tropical and exotic – almost foreign, and no wonder with Cuba only 90 miles away. Fishermen share the anchorage with cruisers; they’re mostly Spanish-speaking from Key West.

There’s a lot to do: bird watching, shelling, swimming, fishing, ranger tours, and excellent loafing. These Keys—beyond the reach of the highway, beyond supermarkets and West Marine, far from cellular zones and Internet cafes—are a special kind of paradise. You have to really want to go there; their remoteness is their allure. www.southwindsmagazine.com

RACING Augie Diaz of Miami Again Takes Snipe World Championship From www.snipe.org On July 30, in Gamagori-City Japan, Augie Diaz, with crew Pam Kelly, repeated his title as Snipe World Champion.

Augie finished 19th in the final race held in 6-8 knots on the final day, with a nine-point lead over second-place finisher Matsuzaki of Japan. Pablo Defazio of Uruguay rounded out the top three. This is the second time in its 75-year history that a woman has won the world title. Bob and Betty White of Newport Beach, CA, last won in 1945.

Acura Becomes Title Sponsor For Key West And Miami Race Weeks Premiere Racing recently announced that Acura, the luxury division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., will be the title sponsor for both Key West and Miami Race Weeks. Acura extended its naming rights sponsorship of Miami Race Week (formerly SORC) and added North America’s premier regatta, Key West Race Week, to its portfolio.

2006 will be an extraordinary year for both Premiere Racing events with Nautor’s Swan choosing Key West for their Swan 45 Gold Cup and the high profile Transpac 52

News & Views for Southern Sailors

class hosting their inaugural Global Championship in Miami.

Acura Key West 2006 (Jan 16–20), now in its 19th year, has established itself as one of the top events on the international racing calendar. Over 300 racing programs from across the United States and all points of the globe compete there every year.

The 2005 Miami regatta was the first under Premiere Racing’s management with fleet size doubling from the previous year. Projections for Acura Miami Race Week 2006 (Mar 9-12) point to continued growth with up to 200 boats racing on Biscayne Bay and ocean venues.

The Acura Grand Prix Awards, presented to the combined class winners of Acura Key West and Acura Miami Race Week, are destined to be some of the most sought-after trophies on the international racing circuit. Perpetual awards will be offered for the Transpac 52, Swan 45, Farr 40, Mumm 30, J/105, Melges 24 classes and others that meet eligibility requirements.

Details and past results for both events are available at www.Premiere-Racing.com

51st Annual West Marine Columbus Day Regatta, October 8-9, Biscayne Bay, FL The 51st annual Columbus Day Regatta will take place during the weekend of October 8-9 on Biscayne Bay. West Marine will again be the main sponsor of the event, and

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RACING organizers are looking for more sponsors.

Attendance is expected to draw over 200 racing and cruising sailboats from around South Florida. As usual, the course layout consists of a combination of government marks and buoys scattered throughout Biscayne Bay, testing the navigation skills of the competitors.

Contenders will compete for first through fifth place trophies in all classes as well as eight Perpetual Trophy awards. The Coral Reef Yacht Club will once again host the award ceremonies on Saturday, October 15. Raffle prizes will be given away at the awards ceremony. Organizers are looking for donations for raffle prizes.

To sponsor, donate raffle prizes or for more information, go the event’s Web site at www.columbusdayregatta.net/2005.

J/30 Nationals Come to Gulf Coast

By Troy Gilbert The winds and water of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans will be host to the J/30 National Championships October 20–23, and the expectations are building for this to be one of the most fiercely competitive championships to date.

With big-name sailors already being spotted sizing up the notoriously shifty winds on the lake and having cocktails at the New Orleans Yacht Club’s bar, it’s bringing an early sense of what’s to come. The interest level is already

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The J/30 National Championships in Rhode Island in 2004.

Photo courtesy NOYC.

high, as one New Orleans-based team has a lot riding on this regatta. Team Zephyr, having won the last four J/30 nationals championships, will be shooting for an unprecedented fifth win on their home waters.

When asked about the upcoming championship, mav-

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erick New Orleans sailmaker and Zephyr crewmember Benz Faget states, “I’m looking forward to the J/30 nationals after being with Scott for the last four winning years. We are expecting some great competition from both the local sailors as well as the out-of-town boats. I will be doing a tuning seminar prior to the regatta and will give away some of our successful secrets and tricks to help everyone get the most performance from their boat.”

In J/30 circles, the blue-hulled Zephyr has become the boat to beat on the Gulf Coast, with an average margin of victory of over 18 seconds per mile against other J/30s and is manned by some big names in Southern sailing: Tonguis, Faget, Steinkamp, Brennan and Erwin. They’re not only known in the South either. In 2001, Zephyr won Chicago’s Verve Cup, the Leukemia Cup and the 2001 North American Championship, all within a two-week period.

With an anticipated turnout of over 25 J/30 teams from over 15 states and helmed by names such as David Bolyard, John McArthur and Scott Tonguis, the expectations are that there will be a record number of spectator boats plying the waters around the course.

As the host site, the New Orleans Yacht Club is providing a huge amount of support ranging from the parties, including an expedition to the French Quarter, to the spectator boats to free winter storage. A number of loaner boats are available, and registration is ongoing. For further information, visit www.noyc.org, or contact Katie Triplett at Katie@noyc.info.

19th Annual Harvest Moon Regatta, Lakewood Yacht Club, Seabrook, TX, Oct. 13-15. ORC-Club Rating System Offered for First Time The Lakewood Yacht Club is offering a new alternative in the Harvest Moon Regatta this year with an ORC Club Spinnaker Division. The ORC-Club rating system is being offered to address concerns from some racers that winners are often determined more by the wind conditions than by the skill and performance of the crew.

The ORC Club rating system has been accepted by the ISAF for many years, and it is used in 30 countries. This system has rated over 6000 boats but has never been available for use in the United States until now. ORC Club is a lowcost rating system based on the IMS measurement system.

Using the two-numbered “Performance Line OFFSHORE” scoring options, the race committee can correct for each boat’s performance in different wind conditions, but the race committee does not have to make a judgment as to the wind condition, nor does it have to use an assumed wind.

By using a Velocity Prediction Program, each boat is given two different factors. One is a distance factor and the other is a time factor. To determine a boat’s corrected time, the time factor is multiplied by the boat’s elapsed time, and the boat’s distance factor is multiplied by the race distance. The distance factor product is then subtracted from the time factor product to obtain the corrected time.

If at least five ORC Club-rated boats enter the Harvest News & Views for Southern Sailors

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RACING

REGIONAL RACING

Moon Regatta, division trophies will be awarded. Racers who have a valid PHRF certificate will also be eligible to compete for the Bacardi Cup, a perpetual trophy that has traditionally been awarded to the winner of the PHRF Spinnaker fleet.

For more information and questions on the Harvest Moon Regatta, go to www.harvestmoonregatta.com.

For more information on the ORC Club rating system and its application, go to www.orc.org.

REPORTS, NEWS & RACE CALENDARS

New IRC Gulf Stream Series to Debut in 2006 A new racing event promises to bring the best of world class racing to a yacht club near you. The inaugural IRC Gulf Stream Series invites the best yachts racing in the world to compete. Racing will take place across Florida, the midAtlantic, New England, Bermuda and the Caribbean.

Organizers anticipate participation from an international IRC fleet that will bolster competition in all of the events.

The Gulf Stream Series promises to be like the SORC, but it offers sailors the choice between events best suited for their sailing programs. The Onion Patch Series, including Newport-Bermuda, is required, as is one of the two medium distance races- either Fort Lauderdale to Key West or the Block Island Race. Two other events, Key West Race Week, St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, Acura Miami Race Week, International Rolex Regatta St. Thomas or the Annapolis Yacht Club Spring IRC regatta, must be sailed at the owner’s choice to complete the series. Professional or amateur programs are welcome.

The Notice of Race and Deed of Gift for the trophy are in the approval stages and will be posted on the series Web site, www.gulfstreamseries.com.

Starting in January 2006, racing will include: • Ft Lauderdale to Key West, January 11. www.keywestrace.org/cccccs.

• Key West Race Week, January 16-20. www.premiere-racing.com.

• St Maarten Heineken Regatta, March 3-5. www.heinekenregatta.com.

• Acura Miami Race Week. March 9-12. www.premiere-racing.com.

• International Rolex Regatta, St Thomas, March 24-26. www.rolexcupregatta.com.

• Annapolis Yacht Club Spring IRC Races, April 22-23. www.annapolisyc.org.

• The Storm Trysail Block Island Race, May 26-27. www.stormtrysail.org.

• The New York Yacht Club Annual Regatta, June 9-11. www.nyyc.org.

• The Cruising Club of America-Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.Centennial Newport Bermuda Race, June 16-21. www.bermudarace.com.

• The Royal Bermuda YC Anniversary Regatta, June 23. www.rbyc.bm.

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

For publishing of your event, questions and information, send us your race schedule by the 5th of the month to editor@southwindsmagazine.com.

Since race schedules and venues change, contact the sponsoring organization to confirm. For changes to be published contact the editor.

SOUTHEAST COAST: CAROLINAS & GEORGIA SE Coast September Weather Water Temperature Cape Hatteras, NC – 76 º Savannah, GA – 81 º Average Temperatures Cape Hatteras, NC 69º lo – 81 º hi Savannah, GA 67º lo – 86º hi For Real Time Southeast Coast Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Southeast.shtml LOCAL RACE REPORT & NEWS

USA Jr. Olympic Sailing Festival, Savannah, GA, July 15 – 17

By Walt McFarlane The 2005 USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival was held in Savannah, GA, and was hosted by the Savannah Yacht Club. This event is one of many held throughout the United States and is a cooperative program of US Sailing and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Teams from around the Southeast converged at the Savannah Yacht Club to participate in the regatta. One team even arrived from Tennessee. Competitors as young as eight years of age participated in the three-day event.

The first day of the festival was busy with registration, clinics and practice. The Savannah Yacht Club provided excellent instructors for the sailing clinics as well as providing personnel and facilities for the entire event.

Thirty-five boats made up the four classes of 420, Laser, Sunfish and Optimist. These classes were broken down into a total of nine fleets.

The smaller than expected turnout was partly due to other major events taking place during the same weekend, including a regatta held in neighboring Charleston, SC. www.southwindsmagazine.com

Day two of the event got off to a slow start. It was well into the afternoon before the winds were strong enough for the races to begin. Even so, the young sailors, eager to get started, launched their craft and headed for the committee boat. In all, four races were held before retiring for the evening.

On the last day of competition, the wind was again light, but three races were held for the 420s, Lasers, and Optimists. Only the Sunfish were able to Ashley Saylor standing on her head after placing get in two. Each second in the Laser Radial Fleet and third overall team was allowed to in the Laser class. Photo by Walt McFarlane. throw out one score.

The remaining points were then added to determine the team’s overall score.

Sunfish competition was close; Only one point separated first and second place in the Midget fleet, and at the end of the second day, the JR fleet found itself in a tie for first.

Both sailors had 6 points. It was time for the rule book.

It was my pleasure to meet many of the parents of those young sailors. I was amazed at the amount of support given.

Many take these young people from one race to the next. We should give them all a well-deserved thank you, for these Junior Olympians will be sailing for our country in the very near future, and from what I saw, they will make us proud.

For additional information on the U.S. Jr. Olympic sailing program go to www.Olympic-USA.org.

24-25 GWTW Regatta, Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Open and One Design C22 25 Trade Winds #3, Barefoot Sailing Club, 6 pm 28 LLSC Daylight Savings, Lake Lanier Sailing Club Charleston, SC. www.charlestonoceanracing.org 6 CORA, Executive Meeting, www.charlestonoceanracing.org 4,17,25 Fall Harbor Races #2,3,4 Go to www.longbaysailing.org for additional information on clubs and/or races.

6 Cape Fear Open, Cape Fear 17 Race Week 5, Little River Inlet Go to www.sayra-sailing.org/pages/racing.htm for additional information on clubs and/or races.

2 Southport NC., Cape Fear Open, Cape Fear Yacht Club 3-4 Mooresville, NC., Labor Day Regatta, Open, Lake Norman Yacht Club 10-11 Mooresville, NC., Cat Fest, Multi Hull, Lake Norman Yacht Club 10-11 Flowery Branch, GA., Thistle Old Goat, Thistle, Lake Lanier Sailing Club 16-18 Cornelius, NC., Peninsula Cup - PHRF, Open Peninsula Yacht Club 16-18 Southport NC., Cape Fear Open, Cape Fear Yacht Club 17-18 Savannah, GA., Leukemia Cup - PHRF, Open Savannah Yacht Club 24 Beaufort, SC., Around Parris Island - Sunfish, Hobie - Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club 24-25 Mooresville, NC., Board Bash - Opti, Sunfish, Laser - Lake Norman Yacht Club

Results (fleet, first place, second place): Optimist: Green Fleet; Kathryn Booker, Rachel Hardage:White Fleet; Jennifer Hays, Elizabeth Hays; Blue Fleet; Michael Booker, J D Reddaway; Red Fleet; Mateo Vargas, Kyle Sowers; 420; Tripp Bower, Adam Kurtz; Scott Schulze, Sam Metger; Laser; Full; Chris Jackson, Killian Dortch; Radial; Emily Smith, Ashley Saylor; Sunfish; JR; Drew Zeigler, Andrew McIntosh; Midget; Foster Marshell, Wiley Marshell.

RACE CALENDAR SEPTEMBER Lake Lanier, GA. www.larc.strictlysailing.com 3-4 Vernon Pickering Cup, Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Closed 7 AISC Series II, #10, Atlanta Inland Sailing Club 9-10 Special Olympics Regatta, Southern Sailing Club, Open 10 Old Goat Regatta, Lake Lanier Sailing Club, One Design – Thistle, Open 11 Special Olympics Regatta, Southern Sailing Club, Open 17-8 Snipe Battle of Atlanta, Lake Lanier Sailing Club, One Design, Open 17 -18 Dorton Cup, Barefoot Sailing Club, Club Championship 21 LLSC Daylight Savings, Lake Lanier Sailing Club News & Views for Southern Sailors

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REGIONAL RACING OCTOBER Lake Lanier, GA. www.larc.strictlysailing.com 1,23, Bill Sears #1, #2, Southern Sailing Club 2 Trade Winds #4, Barefoot Sailing Club 5 LLSC Daylight Savings, Lake Lanier Sailing Club 7-9 Barefoot Open, Barefoot Sailing Club, Open 12 LLSC Daylight Savings, Lake Lanier Sailing Club 15 LARC Fall #1, Lanier Auxiliary Racing Committee, Series – Atlanta Inland Sailing Club, Barefoot Sailing Club, Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Southern Sailing Club, & University Yacht Club 15 -16 Laser Georgia State Championship, Lake Lanier Sailing Club 16,22 Fall Squall #1,#2, Barefoot Sailing Club 19 LLSC Daylight Savings, Lake Lanier Sailing Club 26 LLSC Daylight Savings, Lake Lanier Sailing Club 29-30 Halloween Regatta, Lake Lanier Sailing Club

EAST FLORIDA Eastern Florida September Weather Water Temperature Daytona Beach – 82 º Jacksonville Beach – 82º Gulfstream Current – 3.0 knots Average Temperatures Daytona Beach - 72º lo – 89º hi Jacksonville Beach - 73º lo – 85º hi For Real Time East Florida Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtml

Charleston, SC. www.charlestonoceanracing.org 8 Leukemia Cup 15-16 Alice Cup 30 Witches Brew

LOCAL RACE REPORT

Go to www.longbaysailing.org 1 Race Week 6, Little River Inlet 29 Stede Bonnet, South Port

Beach Cats: St. Augustine Summer Sizzler, August 5 – 7

Go to www.sayra-sailing.org/pages/racing.htm 1-2 Charleston, SC., Out Back Regatta, Open, Columbia Sailing Club 1-2 Mooresville, NC., Old Salty, Thistle, Lake Norman Yacht Club 1-2 Kernersville, NC., Pursuit of the Cure Regatta, PHRF, Outrigger Yacht Club 1-2 Thunderbolt, GA., Octoberfest, Open, Geechee Sailing Club 1-2 Hilton Head, SC., South Carolina Laser State Championships, Laser, Western Carolina Sailing Club 1-2 Flowery Branch, GA., Lightning Atlanta Cup, Lightning, Lake Lanier Sailing Club 7-9 Augusta, GA., Halloween Regatta, Open, Augusta Sailing Club 7-9 Lake Lanier, GA., Sea Dog Barefoot Open - One Design, PHRF, Portsmouth, Barefoot Sailing Club 8 Charleston, SC., 9th Annual Leukemia Cup Regatta – PHRF, High School, One Design, Model Boats – Charleston Yacht Club 8-9 Acworth, GA., Beers Regatta, Y flyer, Atlanta Yacht Club 8-9 Flowery Branch, GA., Southeast Optimist Championships, Opti, Lake Lanier Sailing Club 14-16 Augusta, GA., MC Scrow Nationals, MC Scow (over 50), Augusta Sailing Club 15-16 Hilton Head Island, SC., Calibogue Cup, PHRF, Yacht Club of Hilton Head Island 15-16 Mooresville, NC., Highlander Pipe Regatta, Highlander, Lake Norman Yacht Club 15-16 Greenville, NC., Hospice Cup, Pamlico Sailing Club 21-23 Hilton Head Island, SC., Hospice Regatta / J24 D8 Championship, Open, Western Carolina Sailing Club 22-23 Hilton Head Island, SC., Carolina Ocean Challenge - PHRF, J105 – South Carolina Yacht Club 22-23 Acworth, GA., Cracker Barrel Snipe Team Race, Snipe, Atlanta Yacht Club 22-23 Flowery Branch, GA., Atlanta Classic Open Windsurf, Windsurfers, Lake Lanier Sailing Club 24 Brown Summit, NC., Spook Race, Pursuit, Lake Townsend Yacht Club 25 - 27 Acworth, GA., US Masters Championship, Snipe, Atlanta Yacht Club 29-30 Acworth, GA., Halloween Ragatta, Snipe, Atlanta Yacht Club 29-30 Wadmalaw, SC., Turkey Shoot, Open, Keowee Sailing Club 29 Southport, NC., Stede Bonnet, PHRF, Cape Fear Yacht Club 29-30 Mooresville, NC., Nothin’s Finer Regatta, Open, Lake Norman Yacht Club 50

September 2005

SOUTHWINDS

By Roy Laughlin The St. Augustine Summer Sizzler Beach Catamaran Regatta has the perfect recipe for a regatta: 1. Go to the beach.

2. Set up your beach cat.

3. Race all afternoon in warm summer sea breezes.

4. Spend the evening socializing.

The beach cat faithful orchestrated these steps without a problem during the Aug 5-7 weekend. The regatta is sponsored by Fleet 111, a Jacksonville-based boating club.

Saturday began with offshore winds that clocked around to the northeast by noon and allowed an on-time start of the race. The 2- to 3-foot swells on the ocean, combined with 10- to 12-knot breezes made for just about perfect sailing conditions, a fantastic antidote to the ennui of the summer’s hottest month. The race committee completed four races by 5 p.m.

The race committee formed five classes from the 26 boats participating. (The number of entrants in the summer’s regattas has been off about 30 percent compared to last summer, perhaps because of high gas prices and disruptions from last year’s hurricanes.)

Hobie 16s formed the largest one, as they typically do in these summer triangle regattas. Mike Burley and Jerry Price finished first. Bubba Ball and Susan Edwards, and Paul and Lauren were second and third, respectively A group of A class sailors made this one of their special efforts and showed up in sufficient numbers to form a class. Rush Bird, four time NACRA 5.5 unirig U.S. national champion, sailed a borrowed A-class cat. Woody Cope dominated his class with a solid string of first-place finishes. Dave Carlson and Rush Bird tied for second place, with the tiebreaker formula giving second place to Dave and third to Rush.

Mark Smith and his crew, carrying Key Sailing’s dirty bird logo on his sail (a pelican wearing sunglasses) dominated the Inter 20 class with three first-place finishes. Terry and Rick Loewen placed second. Richard and Austin Shipes www.southwindsmagazine.com

were third. The Inter with Gilligan and Joni 20s are the big boats of for first place, but the the beach cat fleet. tie-breaker formula put They always get a lot them in second place. of attention with spinJerry Wolfe and son nakers flying and hulls Connor finished third throwing spray. racing a vintage Hobie 18 sailors Prindle 18. formed a class at the As perfect as St. Augustine Summer Saturday was, Sunday Sizzler with five teams, was different without a situation that does sufficient wind until not always occur. Dale after 1 p.m. ConBroadwell and sequently, the race comRebecca Lambert dommittee was never able inated the class with a to start a race. Jerry solid string of firstWolfe asked his son if place finishes. Jerry he would rather sail or and Angel Shuett were put the boat up and Dave Carlson rounds the mark on an A class cat during the St. Augustine second, with second Summer Sizzler. Photo by Roy Laughlin head home. Conner place in all races. Paul replied, “Sail.”

The Price finished third, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the Wolfes and several other teams enjoyed casual sailing off the relaxed sailing tempo needed for this race. beach. Both Saturday and Sunday, in different ways, were a The open Portsmouth class consisted of an eclectic scene from pre-overdeveloped Florida. How refreshing! assemblage of Prindle catamarans. Richard Ushcold For additional photos, please see www.floridamultihullsailor.com. (“Gilligan”) and Joni Burman, racing a Prindle 18.2, finished first. John Klinx and Cathy Wilson, racing a Prindle 19, tied

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REGIONAL RACING RACE CALENDAR Daytona to St. Augustine 2005 Race, Sept. 2 Halifax River Yacht Club, Daytona Beach. Ponce Inlet to St. Augustine. Sept. 2. Spinnaker, Non-Spinnaker and Cruising. Rob at (386) 804-6837. www.hryc.com.

Southward Bound Lipton Cup Regatta, Smyrna Yacht Club, Oct. 21-23 Sir Thomas Lipton is famous for his many America’s Cup Challenges. In 1922 he donated a beautiful sterling cup to perpetuate the sport of yacht racing in the central Florida area.

All races will be held off-shore of Ponce Inlet. Spinnaker, NonSpinnaker, Cruising, Multihull. Register on the Web at www.smyrnayachtclub.com or contact Erik Halleus at (386) 424-6715 or John Jacobs at (386) 423-2256 or liptoncup@smyrnayachtclub.com Wednesday Night Racing, Northeast Florida. www.sailjax.com May 4 - Aug 31 Wednesday Night Races – North Course Fleet 55 6:30 p.m. @ Mark “5” Free race May 4 - Sep 28 Wednesday Night Races – South Course NFCC 6:30 p.m. @ Mark “13” Free race SEPTEMBER – CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA 3-5 Sebastian Inlet Cruise. Melbourne Yacht Club 3-4 Fall Steak & Lobster Regatta. Cocoa Beach Yacht Club.

4-6 Cruise to Port Canaveral. East Coast Sailing AssociationCruising 4 Small Boat Sunday Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club 5 FUNMA Regatta. Lake Monroe Sailing Association 10-11 Junior Sailing Festival and Regatta. Lake Eustis Yacht Club (Opti, Laers & 420s) 10 Fall Rum Race #3. Melbourne Yacht Club 11 Double Handed Race. East Coast Sailing Association-Racing 11 Manatee Cove Marina Race. Manatee Cove Marina 12 Summer Women’s Series #2 East Coast Sailing Association - Women’s 17 Fall Series 4,5,6. Lake Monroe Sailing Association 17-18 Cruise to Titusville. East Coast Sailing AssociationCruising 18 Summer/Fall #4. Indian River Yacht Club 18 Small Boat Sunday Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club 24 Fall Rum Race #4. Melbourne Yacht Club 24-25 Mermaid Regatta. Melbourne Yacht Club and East Coast Sailing Association-Women’s Race 24-25 Wildcat Regatta. Fleet 80 & Lake Eustis Yacht Club (beach cat regatta) SEPTEMBER – NORTHEAST FLORIDA. WWW.SAILJAX.COM 4-6 Labor Day Regatta. Rudder Club 10 Fall Series #1 & Mexican Fiesta. Rudder Club 24 Fall Series #2/Work day/Burn-It. Rudder Club OCTOBER – CENTRAL EAST FLORIDA 1-2 Club Races. Lake Eustis Sailing Center.

2 Summer/Fall #2. Indian River Yacht Club.

2 Small Boat Sunday Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club.

7 Fall Rum Race #6. Melbourne Yacht Club.

9 Fall Race #3. Kennedy Point Sailing.

15-16 Marker 21 Fish Fry. East Coast Sailing Association-Cruising.

15-16 Club Races. Lake Eustis Sailing Center.

15 Fall Races #7,8,9. Lake Monroe Sailing Association.

16 Small Boat Sunday Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club.

21 Fall Rum Race #7. Melbourne Yacht Club.

21-23 Lipton Cup Regatta. Smyrna Yacht Club.

22-23 Fall Regatta. Small Boats. Melbourne Yacht Club.

28-30 Fall Regatta. Big Boats. Melbourne Yacht Club.

29-30 Hirams Haul. Performance Sail (multihull race, Pineda Causeway to Sebastian Inlet and return).

OCTOBER – NORTHEAST FLORIDA. WWW.SAILJAX.COM 1,15 Fall Series #3,#4. Rudder Club.

23 Women on Water (WOW) Regatta. Rudder Club.

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SOUTHEAST FLORIDA September Weather Water Temperature Miami Beach – 83º Stuart – 81º Gulfstream Current – 2.5 knots Average Temperatures – Miami Beach – 76º lo – 89º hi Stuart – 74º lo – 89º hi For Real Time East Florida Weather go to: www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtml LOCAL RACE REPORT & NEWS

1st Annual Commodore’s Cup, Miami, July 16

By Art Perez After two years in the planning, the 1st annual Commodores Cup, hosted by the Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC), was held on Biscayne Bay on July 16. Twenty-two boats vied for top honors for the top five places in each class along with a perpetual trophy. In spite of menacing skies and rumbles of thunder, the storms stayed away along enough to complete the three-race event. In the cruising class, top honors went to Dave Kurtz sailing his J/27 Goombay.

Dave, who is well known for his sailing skill, held off Russ Horn, who took second. Russ did a magnificent job himself keeping at bay Dave Woolsey, who took third, skippering his SR33, Mostly Harmless.

In the One-Design class, racing under the Portsmouth rating system, it was a class runaway for Heather Wulkan and Jack King on their J/22, Hot Streak, winning all three races.

After a fabulous day of racing, it was time to compare notes and enjoy the barbecue, ever present at these events, finishing the day with the trophies presentation and the promise to make next year’s race even better.

Results: Cruising Class;1 – Goombay/Dave Kurtz;2 – Mild to Wild/Russ Horn;3 – Mostly Harmless/Chris Woolsey;One-Design;1 - Hot Streak. Jack King;2 – Being There/Vladimir Stroleny;3 – Margaritaville/Larry Whipple.

RACE CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 5

Labor Day Regatta. Palm Beach Sailing Club. www.pbsail.org.

10-11 Florida State Snipe Juniors. CGSC – The 48th annual twoday regatta for Snipes.

17-18 SLime Cup. BBYC – The 38th annual ocean race from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale, starting on Sat. and returning Sun. Winner determined by lowest combined time.

18 Single Handed Race. CRYC – Skippers test their skills to the limit in this single handed race.

24 BBYRA#8 – PHRF. MYC – The start of the second leg of www.southwindsmagazine.com

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the season (Series-2) for PHRF and ARC fleet.

BBYRA#8 – O.D. CRYC Originally scheduled for the 17th this race gives commencement to the second part of the racing season, Series 2.

OCTOBER 1-2

Flying Scot Florida District Championship series, CGSC.Charlie Fowler (305) 638-8885 Charlie@fowlersails.com.Florida District web; www.fssa.com/fldist/ 1-2 CGSC Annual Regatta – BBYRA #9 One Design. The start of Series 2 of the BBYRA regatta championship for One-Design classes. Open to all entries.

8-9 Columbus Day Regatta. Columbus Day Cruising Regatta Committee. The 51st annual two-day cruising boat race held in Biscayne Bay. www.columbusdayregatta.net/2005.

15 Columbus Day Regatta Award Party. Award party and trophy presentation for top five finishers in each class.

22 CGSC Annual Regatta – BBYRA #9 PHRF. CRYC. The start of the Series 2 BBYRA regatta championship for PHRF and ARC classes. Open to all entries.

22-23 Fall Harvest Regatta. MYC. Annual two-day regatta open to all one-design and multihull classes.

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.

FLORIDA KEYS Florida Keys September Weather Average Temperatures Key West 79º lo – 88º hi Water Temperature Key West – 86º For real-time eastern Gulf weather, winds and marine forecasts, go to http://comps.marine.usf.edu.

LOCAL RACE REPORT

Hemingway Bell Regatta, July 24, Key West On shore, slender coconut palms sagged in the humid, 90degree tropical air. In the harbor, dueling J24s Skyyking and Thin Ice did their best with the faint 3-mph breeze and a strong current. Wrinkled mains and jibs stood tall, as the two fought their way onto the race course. Thin Ice, helmed

by Matt Blumberg, pulled ahead at the start. Skyyking, with Mark Milnes at the helm, worked to close the distance.

Struggling to keep their spinnakers from collapsing, they slowly inched past a docked cruise ship and the harbor News & Views for Southern Sailors

dredge. A few hours later, the two hot sailboats slowly crawled over the finish. Thin Ice took first with Skyyking finishing shortly thereafter. Thin Ice earns this year’s honor of inclusion on the Key West Sailing Club’s perpetual trophy. Crafted from a varnished piece of driftwood, the trophy displays an original ship’s bell from Pilar, Ernest Hemingway’s famed vessel.

RACE CALENDAR Every Saturday – Open House at the Key West Sailing Club.

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (305) 292-5993. Sailboat Lane off Palm Avenue in Key West. www.keywestsailingclub.org.

Key West Sailing Club. Wednesday night races. Casual and fun racing in the sea plane basin every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. until October. Socializing and food afterwards at the clubhouse.

Women’s Sailing continues every Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Non-members and members welcome.

Upper Keys Sailing Club, www.upperkeyssailingclub.com.

SEPTEMBER 3-4 Labor Day Regatta, bayside, Portsmouth and PHRF w/beach party.

17 Ladies Sailing Program 18 Ocean Side Championship Regatta #3, bayside. PHRF OCTOBER 1 Nonsuch One Design Race, bayside.

2 Fall Regatta Portsmouth, bayside.

15-16 Black Betsy Regatta and Raft-up, PHRF, bayside.

29 Halloween Allcomers race, PHRF and Portsmouth, bayside.

WEST FLORIDA West Florida September Weather Average Temperatures St. Petersburg 76º lo – 88º hi Naples 73º lo – 90º hi Gulf Water Temperature St. Petersburg – 84º Naples – 86º For real time eastern Gulf weather, winds and marine forecasts, go to http://comps.marine.usf.edu LOCAL RACE REPORT & NEWS

Dunedin Cup, Dunedin Boat Club, FL, Oct. 15 For the past 20 years, the Dunedin Cup was a monohull racing event in the Gulf of Mexico. For 2005 and in the future, the Dunedin Cup will be held jointly with the Kiwanis Regatta.

Race courses will be located in the Gulf of Mexico and St. Joseph Sound, with locations set to provide ample spectator viewing from the Dunedin Causeway and Honeymoon Island State Park. Monohulls, kayaks and catamarans will race in the Gulf. Sunfish, Optimist Prams, and SOUTHWINDS

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REGIONAL RACING Ensigns will race in St. Joseph Sound. The Tampa Dragon Boats Paddlers, who will host the International Dragon Boat races in 2006, will participate with Dragon Boat demonstrations and races in St. Joseph Sound. For more information, go to www.dunedincup.org, or Jim Tillges at jatillges@earthlink.net.

Racing for Women at the Tampa Bay Yacht Racing Association Women in the Tampa Bay area who would like to compete against each other have a great opportunity to do so in the Tampa Bay Yacht Racing Association’s (TBYRA) Champions of the Bay (COTB) Series.

Since this series awards the skipper and not the boat, it allows women who do not own boats to borrow different boats as need be for the three venues. Open to female skippers with all female crew, regattas are held in St. Petersburg, Tampa and Apollo Beach. Six of the seven regattas are on the Sunday following a regular TBYRA event. The idea is that the boats are already at a given venue and available and, theoretically, convenient for spouses, girlfriends, or other women to use on that Sunday.

There are currently two divisions, Spinnaker and NonSpinnaker. Individual regattas may include a coach-onboard division for inexperienced skippers to hone their skills under supervision and gain a boat owner’s confidence in their abilities. Multihull sailors are encouraged to join in the fun. For a schedule of events and Notice of Series, go to www.tbyra.com. For more information contact Sandy Mickelson at ssmickelson@mindspring.com. Multihull sailors should contact Janet D’Arcy at RACING CALENDAR Club Racing Bradenton YC. Thursday evening races at 6:30 p.m. till end 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.venicesailing-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

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ON LINE 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 West Florida list of yacht clubs and sailing organizations will also be on line.

SEPTEMBER 2 Davis Island YC. Labor Day Race. PHRF 3-5 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. Summerset Regatta, PHRF. NOR 3-4 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Annual Labor Day Open Regatta. NOR 4 Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. Union Regatta, Dunedin Causeway.

10-11 High School Cressy District Singlehanded Championship.

Clearwater Community Sailing Center. tpmonkus@saisa.org. SAISA. 10-11 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. Junior Sailing Festival. NOR on their home page. rick@teamloewen.com.

17 Sailing Association of Marco Island and Gulf Coast SC. Fall Ladies Day Race, PHRF. 17 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. Hurricane Race, PHRF 17 Davis Island YC. Keelboat Regatta.

18 Davis Island YC. Dore Drake Regatta.

17-18 Treasure Island Tennis and YC. Annual Bruce Neubauer Pram Regatta-Optimist dinghies.

www.southwindsmagazine.com

17-18 Port Charlotte, FL, Sunfish World Qualifier. Florida Sunfish Class Web site. pbgvtrax@aol.com.

18 Davis Island YC. Dore Drake Regatta 24-25 Sailing Association of Marco Island and Gulf Coast SC. Captain’s Cup, PHRF 24-24 St. Petersburg YC. Bruce Watters Junior Regatta, Green Fleet Optis 24-25 Bradenton YC. Kick-Off Regatta, PHRF 24-25 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. 7th Annual Wildcat Regatta, Catamarans. rick@teamloewen.com.

30 Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. Union Catamaran Regatta.

OCTOBER 1-2 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. Festival of the Island, PHRF 1 Tampa Sailing Squadron. Fall Regatta, PHRF 2 Tampa Sailing Squadron. Women’s Fall Regatta, PHRF 1 Clearwater YC. Youth Regatta, Opti, Laser, Radial, C420 1-2 Clearwater YC. Clearwater Championships PHRF racing in the Gulf 7 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Feeder Race to Venice, PHRF 7 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Windjammer to Venice, PHRF, 1800 hours 7 Bradenton YC. Race to Venice PHRF starts 1730 7 St. Petersburg YC. Distance Classic PHRF to Venice 8 Venice Sailing Squadron. Crows Nest, PHRF 8 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. South Seas/ Kayusa Cup, PHRF 8-9 University of South Florida, St. Pete Campus High School Great Oaks Districts. tpmonkus@saisa.org. SAISA 8-9 St. Petersburg YC. Allison Jolly Regatta, junior girls in Optis and 420s 14-15 Naples YC. Offshore Regatta, PHRF 4:00 p.m. start in Gulf 15-16 Edison Sailing Center River Romp Regatta and USA Junior Olympic Sailing Festival.

15 Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. Dunedin Boat Club, Dunedin Cup Regatta, Dunedin Causeway 21-23 St. Petersburg YC. Flying Dutchman Nationals 22-23 Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. Cedar Key Cat Regatta, Beach Cats 22 Dunedin Cup Race, PHRF 22-23 Davis Island YC. Classic, PHRF 23 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. No Boca Race, PHRF 26-30. St. Petersburg YC. Rolex Osprey Cup Women’s match racing invitational, Sonars 29 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Great Pumpkin Regatta 28-30 Clearwater Yacht Club. Clearwater Challenge Regatta, PHRF 30 Cortez YC. Halloween Race. PHRF 31 Clearwater Yacht Club. Single-hand/double-hand Clearwater to Egmont, PHRF

News & Views for Southern Sailors

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REGIONAL RACING NORTHERN GULF COAST: FLORIDA PANHANDLE, ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA, TEXAS

Northern Gulf September Weather Water Temperature – 80º Average Temperatures Pensacola, FL 70º lo – 87º hi Gulfport, MS 70º lo – 87º hi For Northern Gulf Weather go to: www.csc.noaa.gov/coos/ LOCAL RACE REPORT

Ladies Sailing Trilogy – Fast Women, Bikini Regatta and Race for the Roses

By Kim Kaminski

were able to salvage from their club facility, the slightly leaning outdoor covered deck. A total of five boats entered the competition. The three Spinnaker class boats were Cuda Been Paris (a local J/24 Point Yacht Club boat), Gritz (a J/30 from the New Orleans Yacht Club) and the Fun Polish Navy ( a Tartan 10 from the Navy Yacht Club), with each boat entering the race with an all-female crew. Two Non-Spinnaker local Point Yacht Club boats, Windy City (an IP 35 boat) and Cannonball (a J/30), rounded up the competitors’ list. The weather conditions on the 4.5-mile course were ideal. The race competitors enjoyed a southeasterly breeze between 10 to 12 knots along with bright sunny skies on a simple Gold Cup (triangle – windward leeward) course.

Soon after the start, a match-racing situation ensued between Gritz and the Fun Polish Navy while the spectators cheered on the two teams. When the day was done, only 11 seconds separated the finish time for these two boats. The four-person female team on Fun Polish Navy had captured the first-place trophy and the top honor for best all-female crew. Janet Brown, skipper on the Non-Spinnaker boat Cannonball, tried her hand at being at the helm of a boat for the first time in a regatta. Not only did she earn first place in the Non-Spinnaker class, but she also won the “Virgin Skipper Award” for sailing as a first-time skipper. These adventuresome ladies set the course for the next leg in the trilogy series.

Lady sailors along the Gulf Coast look forward to the month of July, for it is during the summer months that the active sailboat racing calendar turns its focus on Bikini Regatta the woman athlete. Three races— The second race in the Trilogy the Fast Women Regatta held by Series, the Bikini Regatta, was the Point Yacht Club in Josephine, sponsored by the Navy Yacht AL, the Bikini Regatta held by the Club of Pensacola. This year Navy Yacht Club in Pensacola, marked the 25th anniversary of FL, and the Race for the Roses the regatta, which had the honor of Regatta held by the Pensacola being the first ladies sailing event Beach Yacht Club—have evolved Janet Brown was a first-time skipper on Cannonball, a in the area. The excitement was over the years into a special J/30 Non-Spinnaker boat that raced in the 2005 Fast building. Not only did this race see Women Regatta. She earned the Virgin Skipper Award Women’s Sailing Trilogy event. an increase in the number of comThanks to the efforts of a for her efforts and also took home the Non-Spinnaker petitors (a total of nine boats—the first-place trophy. Photo by Kim Kaminski. handful of race organizers, yacht most in any sailing event since club officers from the three yacht clubs and some diligent Hurricane Ivan), but also the participants were able to enjoy women sailors, these three different races have merged into the anniversary activities that were planned by the regatta a very special sailing community event. While each race still organizers recognizing achievements of lady sailors over the maintains its own historical beginnings and identity, they past years. have become major components in the overall race for the Despite the storm damages to the Navy Marina complex Trilogy trophy. and the absence of docks, the sailing community pulled together once again and salvaged the event, making it a great Fast Women success. Starting out on Friday evening, July 22, participants The first race in the Ladies Trilogy – the Fast Women Race enjoyed a pre-registration party (under tents in the parking was held on July 16. After Hurricane Ivan devastated the lot of the Navy Yacht Club’s facility) with a Low Country Boil area’s marina along with the clubhouse facilities, it was anyand the ceremonial cutting of the anniversary cake. one’s guess as to whether or not any sailing event would On Saturday, due to the demolished clubhouse roof and take place any time soon. lack of docking facilities—and thanks to the hospitality of But sailors are a resilient lot, and soon the preparations another local yacht club (the Pensacola Yacht Club)—the were made to carry forth with the scheduled ladies’ sailboat race committee was able to stage the skipper’s briefing, run racing activity. Fleet Captain Neal Rowell set up the registrathe race committee functions and give the competitors and tion for the race on the only structure the yacht club members their crews a location for docking their boats for the race.

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Initially, the race committee had planned to set a double windward-leeward course of approximately 10 to 12 miles in length. However, due to the extreme temperatures and high humidity, the race course was shortened to 7.4 miles. Six Spinnaker boats (four racing with all-female crew) and three Non-Spinnaker boats sailed in the anniversary race. The breeze started out light (5-7 knots) and built in strength (10-12 knots) as the afternoon progressed. Once again Gritz and Fun Polish Navy planned an engaging battle out on the water. After a slow start, the two boats split tacks, and Fun Polish Navy caught a freshening breeze, which brought the boat to the weather mark ahead of the rest of the fleet. However, things went downhill fast when the four-person team prepared to drop the spinnaker on the first downwind leg and found the spinnaker halyard was fouled. After a long recovery period, this team found themselves in last place. The seven-person crew on Gritz took advantage of the opportunity and sailed into first place in class, thus winning the Bikini Regatta’s overall trophy for best all-female team.

Now that both teams had earned a first place in the series…all eyes were turned towards the final race of the Trilogy, the Race for the Roses.

We will be covering that in the next issue.

RACE CALENDAR

5,12,19 8-9 8 8 8 8,22 9 9 10-14 14-16 15,23 15 15 15-16 20-23 22 22-23 22-23 22 22 23 24-28 29-30 29 29

Bruning’s Series #3,#4,#5 - NOYC GYA Multihull. OSYC, Oceans Springs, MS Commodore’s Cup #6. NYC, Pensacola, FL Hospitality Regatta. JYC, Jackson, MS Level 138. BYC, Mobile, AL Fall #3,#4. SABYC, Panama City, FL Double-Handed Regatta. CSA, Mandeville, LA Old Timers (Masters). SYC. Rhodes 19 Nationals. FYC, Fairhope, AL WFORC (West Florida Ocean Racing Circuit). PYC, Pensacola, FL Fall #5 make-up. SYC, New Orleans, LA Pink Ribbon Regatta. Lake Pontchartrain Women’s Sailing Association, New Orleans, LA Charity Regatta. LFYC, Lake Forest, LA Fish Class World Championship. BYC, Mobile, AL J/30 National Champ. NOYC Schreck Regatta. PYC, Pensacola, FL Fish Class Regatta. BYC, Mobile, AL NSGA Senior Olympics PHRF- FYC, Fairhope, AL Closing Regatta. NOYC, New Orleans, LA Charity Cup Regatta. PBYC, Pensacola Beach, FL Closing Regatta. #6 SYC NSGA Senior Olympics One Design. FYC, Fairhope, AL LPRC (Lake Pontchartrain Racing Circuit) - New Orleans, LA Anniversary / Broken Triangle Regatta - MYC, Mobile, AL Lagniappe 420, Opti. SYC, New Orleans, LA

See REGIONAL RACING continued on page 67

Club Racing – April through October Wednesday Night Fun Races, PYC on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the Month, PHRF. Every Wednesday night, one design races at FWYC Wednesday Evening Fun Races, NOYC 2005 NorthAmerican FINN Masters Championship, Fairhope Yacht Club, Fairhope, AL Open to all FINN sailors who are 40 years of age or older.

Fairhope Yacht Club, AL. Seven races planned, three required to complete the championship. Additional Information and NOR: r_matteis@yahoo.com.

SEPTEMBER 3-5 Lipton Cup. BWYC, Bay St. Louis, MS 7, 12 Summer Twilight #4,$5. NOYC 10 Back to School Regatta. PontYC, Mandeville, LA 10 Caring Cup. FYC, Fairhope, AL 10 Commodore’s Cup #5. NYC. Pensacola, FL 10 Fall #1& #2. SYC, New Olreans, LA 10, 24 Fall #1,#2. SABYC, Panama City, FL 11 J/22 Fall #1. SYC, New Orleans, LA 17 Great Lake Race. NOYC/SYC/CSA, Mandeville, LA 17 Lost Bay Regatta. PYC, Josephine, AL 17 V15 Circuit #4. BWYC, Bay St. Louis, MS 17 Louisiana State Opti Championship. SYC, New Orleans, MS 17 Round the Island Race. Ft. Walton Beach, FL 17-18 Race Week, PCYC, Pass Christian, MS 17-22 International Catamaran Challenge SYC, New Orleans, LA 21, 28 Bruning’s Series #1,#2, NOYC 24 Round the Cat. PCYC, Pass Christian, MS 24 Middle Bay Light Regatta. BYC, Mobile, AL 24-25 Fleur De Lis / GYA Women’s PHRF Championship. SYC, New Orleans, LA OCTOBER 1-2 Wadewitz. FYC, Fairhope, AL 1 Single-Handed Around the Lake. TYC, Mandeville, LA 1 J-22 Fall #2. SYC, New Orleans, LA 2,15 Fall #3,#4. SYC, New Orleans, LA News & Views for Southern Sailors

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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 & DINGHIES ___________________________ S2 7.9, 1984 Hull # 294, 6HP Merc OB, 2 mains, 2 155s, 1 jib, 2 spinnakers. GPS, compass, many new halyards, swim ladder, trailer, new brakes, tires, $11,900. (321) 779-4464. palexy@cfl.rr.com. (10/05)

• 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

Pearson Flyer 30, diesel, solid boat, $16K survey, $8,500 for quick sale. Russ (904) 5831274. butterflyai@earthlink.net. (11/05) 30’ Catalina 30, 1990. 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. (10/05)

Pearson 27, 1988 shoal-draft pocket cruiser offers a big boat feel in an affordable package.

Roller furling, wheel steering, 12 hp diesel, bimini, VHF, new bottom paint. $19,000.

(941) 721-4452 (11/05)

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28’ Ranger 75, 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) 28’ Albin Mariner 79, 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. (9/05)

___________________________ Cal 29 Mk II, 1971 classic. Fully overhauled with new equipment & material. 23hp Universal diesel, roller furling, 2 mains, jib, genoa, gennaker, tiller auto pilot, Imron hull, Awl Grip deck, Trinidad bottom 2005, barrier coated. A must-see to appreciate this beauty. $19,000. (941) 730-8200.

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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. (9/05)

32’ Allied Seawind II, 1977 ketch, Westerbeke 30, roller furler, new sails, auto helm, depth, VHF, speed, stereo, GPS, EPIRB, Lectra-San MSD,epoxy bottom. Well-maintained classic-looking boat with graceful lines. $31,900 (941) 792-9100.

1974 Northstar 1000, 30’, two mains, four headsails, spinnaker, bristol condition. Inboard engine. Topsides repainted 2003.

Interior upgrades. Auto pilot, VHF, depthfinder, GPS and more. Overall first place Daytona to Charleston Race. Good heavy weather racer/cruiser. South Carolina. $18,900. (843) 884-1729. (11/05)

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)

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1982 MORGAN OUTISLAND 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) 4914132. alan@tirebargaincenter.com (10/05)

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

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36 Catalina 1985 $49,500. Sea Gypsy.

Medical forces sale. Tall rig, fin keel 4.5 Harkin system, central air, refrigerator, 2 mains, 3 headsails, 2 anchors, dodger, bimini. Plus extras. bobhrck@aol.com. (9/05) 1976 CT41 Cutter-rigged ketch. Come to Louisiana to see La Mouette, beautiful, seaworthy double-handed cruiser. Many improvements. Offered by liveaboard owners of 20 years. $79,500. (985) 781-5625 Details www.ct41ketchforsale.com. (9/05)

View all classifieds at www.southwindsmagazine.com.

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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 ___________________________

HELP WANTED ___________________________

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 (9/05)

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.

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

(941) 795-8711 (9/05)

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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. (9/05)

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

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1987/88 Brewer 44 shoal-draft w/board, center-cockpit, cutter-rig, Perkins 85, RIB w/15 hp, R/F foresails, cruising-equipped, for sale by original liveaboaard owners, wellmaintained, lying Palmetto, FL, (941) 9627100 or paritytwo@yahoo.com. (9/05)

CAPTAIN/sweetheart/companion NEEDED. Come Caribbean cruising with me on my great luxury catamaran! Lets enjoy an endless adventure filled with fun, laughter and love.

E-mail me for more info and photos. And tell me a bit about yourself. smilingmermaid@hotmail.com. (9/05)

DOCKS/SLIPS FOR RENT/SALE ___________________________ 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) 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 (9/05)

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

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Slip for Sale, 46 feet, Myrtle Beach, SC, ICW, MM 348, all amenities, private club, dockside pumpout, safe harbor, close to Little River Inlet, $75 K, deep water, floating docks (843) 249-1917. (11/05)

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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

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Experienced Sailing Coach in Sarasota. US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Course and racing experience required. Optimist coaching experience preferred. Part-time - Saturdays, one evening per week, and Regatta attendance.

Call - Sarasota Youth Sailing Program.(941) 504-4236

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Massey Yacht Sales Opportunities-Massey is accepting resumes and interview appointments for yacht sales positions in both their sail and power divisions. Dealership locations are in St. Petersburg at the Harborage Marina, Palmetto at Regatta Pointe Marina and Fort Myers at Centennial Harbour Marina.

Massey offers its sales team an extensive range of yacht sales tools as well as expansive advertising, marketing and boat show attendance. We are the largest Southeast U.S. dealer for Catalina, Hunter, Caliber and Shannon sailing yachts and the exclusive Florida west coast dealer for Albin and Shannon power yachts. Massey is an industry leader in brokerage yacht sales with continued rapid growth, in both sail and power.

Applicants must be self-motivated, successful yacht sales professionals. A thorough knowledge of either the sail or power industry and substantial computer skills are essential. Fax resume to the attention of Frank Hamilton at (941) 729-7520 or call (941) 723-1610 for interview information.

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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 department manager at (941) 723-1949, ext.

16 or fax resume to (941) 729-7520.

DELIVERY SERVICES ___________________________ 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 (10/05)

ALL CLASSIFIED ADS DISPLAYED ON WEB SITE

CLASSIFIED WORD ADS 1" $25 FOR 3 MONTH

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Mast (30.5’), boom (10.5’), mainsail, genoa on roller furling and some rigging for Pearson 27 Mk.II. $300 takes it all. (813) 789-3324.

(11/05)

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 ___________________________

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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 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.

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 to 50 feet - $1200. Call Matt (904) 460-0501 or email yachtsantana@aol.com.

(11/05)

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Wanted-SSB transceiver. Under $500. (941) 235-1890. (9/05)

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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. (9/05)

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Life Raft: Winslow Super-Light 6-Person Offshore, OCR Category 1 Survival Pack.

Certified. 1-year old $3500. C&C 110 Schurr Racing Mainsail, Mylar/Kevlar Laminate. 2Years Old. Good Condition (P=45’, E= 15.5’) $1500. (770) 265-0187. (9/05)

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MISCELLANEOUS BOAT GEAR NEW & USED ___________________________ 2 NEW 4” X 14’ POLYESTER SLINGS, 8000# capacity each, D ring ends. Paid $200, sell $100 + shipping. (281) 324-1416. (9/05)

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)

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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)

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VHF radio, fixed mount, excellent condition.$45 (941) 235-1890. (11/05) News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS

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SAILS & CANVAS ___________________________

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

LETTERS continued from page 15

SAILING INSTRUCTION ___________________________

CHECK OR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED. PAY ON LINE. 66

September 2005

oped by leaps and bounds.

Hopefully, environmentalists, fishermen, developers, and government officials will work in synch for the good of our waters. It does not speak well for our future when the sound of silence on local waters speaks loudest.

Gretchen F. Coyle Useppa Island Gretchen, Without an increase in population, there is much to do to just clean up and re-create a healthy ecosystem and environment. With the current wildly growing population in Florida, even greater demands and stress will be put on this fragile environment, yet many trends indicate there won’t be much cleanup of what we have, nevertheless containing what is coming.

Nonpoint source pollution, the runoff from land into the water, is one of the largest sources of pollution, and that will increase with more development of the land and hurt the waters we boat, fish, play and swim in. Few realize this. Florida’s ecosystem will be stretched to the limits in the coming years, I fear.

Editor

SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

WATERWAYS continued from page 29

HURRICANE SEASON continued from page 34

County has geographical limits on access points. There are few accessible places to build ramps, and these already have ramps. Comments from several attendees noted that sailors were particularly hard hit by marina loss.

Manatee and habitat protection regulations favor dry storage. Sailboats are, however, more difficult to move and store on shore. Dry stack, for instance, is not an option. Anchoring out is becoming common in many places. This practice led to disproportionate loss or damage to sailboats compared to last year’s hurricanes in central Florida.

Some conferees discussed the social justice of laissezfaire access to public waters favoring those who can afford expensive waterfront property. For instance, every household in coastal counties pays the Florida Inland Navigation District and water management districts. The socio-economic class that pays most of the cost is increasingly losing equitable use of the resource.

That residents of both coastal and inland counties have a stake in public access was another common theme echoed by representatives of many counties. Citrus and Flagler counties provide water access to significant numbers of residents of Alachua County. Brevard County is a gateway for Orange and Seminole county residents. The situation is similar for almost all counties north of Lake Okeechobee.

Distribution of motor fuels taxes paid by boaters (“the gas tax”) received a lot of discussion. The state takes in about $40-million from boaters who buy gas and diesel fuel at marinas. The amount returned for boating benefits is capped at about $12-million. The remaining $27-million goes into the unrestricted funds for the Florida Department of Transportation. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission disperses the gas tax funds earmarked for boating through grants to local governments. Tripling available funds would significantly elevate the level of boater access programs in coastal counties.

■ Stagger the position of your sailboat in the slip so that your mast or spreaders are less likely to get caught on your neighbors’ masts or outriggers.

Hopefully, these tips and techniques will help you to come through the next storm(s) with minimal or no damage to your boat or your marina. Hurricane preparation is a stateof-mind that includes planning, purchases and practice well before the first storm looms on the horizon.

Capt. Paul Warren holds a USCG 100 GT Master’s License, is a US Sailing-certified Coastal Cruising/Navigation Instructor, former sailing coach at the US Naval Academy, former sailing instructor at both Offshore Sailing School and Annapolis Sailing School, an active racing and cruising sailor and boating educator. He has been involved in the marine industry in various positions since 1964.

BUBBA continued from page 17

REGIONAL RACING continued from page 57 Northern Gulf Coast Yacht Club Legend Bay-Waveland Yacht Club Bay St. Louis, MS www.bwyc.org BYC Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile, AL www.bucyc.com CSA Corinthian Sailing Association. New Orleans, LA. www.corinthians.org FWYC Fort Walton Yacht Club. Fort Walton Beach, FL GYC Gulfport Yacht Club, Gulfport, MS. www.gulfportyachtcclub.org MYC Mobile Yacht Club, Mobile, AL. www.mobileyachtclub.com NYC Navy Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL www.navypnsyc.org NOYC New Orleans Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA www.noyc.org PBYC Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL. www.pensacolabeachyc.org PCYC Pass Christian Yacht Club, Pass Christian, MS. www.pcyc-gya.org PYC Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL. www.pensacolayachtclub.org.

PontYC Pontchartrain Yacht Club, Mandeville, LA www.pontyc.org SYC Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA www.southernyachtclub.org SSYC South Shore Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA www.ssycnola.org SABYC St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, Panama City, FL www.stabyc.com TYC Tammany Yacht Club, Slidell, LA www.tammanyyachtclub.org BWYC

At the end of the meeting, conference attendees resolved to: A. Draft a white paper to outline the common interests among all counties for public access to waterways.

B. Prepare requests for legislative action and present them to this fall’s Florida Legislature planning sessions.

C. Request additional law enforcement activities on the water.

D. Identify revenue sources from the state and request money for targeted projects and activities.

By the end of the conference on Friday afternoon, it was clear that the major effort to produce a product from the discussions was yet to occur. Ongoing efforts and milestones, such as the white paper on the common interests and needs, will be posted when available on Commissioner Voltz’s Web site, www.mycommissiondistrict3.com. (Scroll to the bottom of the home page for the site’s content links.) It is also likely that local officials in other counties will be seeking public input and response during the late summer and fall to prepare requests for the Florida Legislature. As far as local governments are concerned, boaters’ access to public waterways is no longer someone else’s problem.

News & Views for Southern Sailors

SOUTHWINDS

September 2005

67

INDEX

OF

ADVERTISERS

Air Duck 66 America’s Generators 65 Anne’s Anchors 25,65 Apex/Mayer Yacht Brokerage 8 Appleton Rum Regatta 47 Aqua Graphics 19 Atlantic Sail Traders 22 Banks Sails 19 Beachmaster Photography 64 Beneteau Sailboats BC Beta Marine 26 BigFish Sailboat 35 Bluewater Sailing Supply 6 BoatUS 15 Boaters Exchange 27 Bob and Annie’s Boatyard 20 Bo’sun Supplies 26 Bradenton YC Kick-Off Regatta 55 Bubba Book 14 Carson/Beneteau BC Clearwater YC Upcoming Regattas 46 Companiion Wanted Ad 21 Cortez Yacht Brokerage 63 Crow’s Nest Restaurant/Marina Regatta 54 Cruising Direct Sails 14 Defender Industries 15 Dockside Radio 32 Dwyer mast 66 Eastern Yachts/Beneteau BC Edwards Yacht Sales 59 E-marine 65 Fleetside Marine Service/Yanmar (813) 645-8971 65 Flying Scot Sailboats 62 Garhauer Hardware 30 Georgia Special Olympics Regatta49 Glacier Bay Refrigeration 36 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales 58,63 Hanse Sailboats 63 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack 43 Hotwire/Fans & other products 66 The Hull Company/Island Packet 12 Hunter 11 Island Marine Products 21 Island Packet 12 Island Yachting Centre/Island Packet 60,63 Johannssen/Raider Sailboats 62

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.

JR Overseas/Moisture Meter 32 JSI 66 Laurie Kimball Realtor 6 Leather Wheel 18 Massey Yacht Sales 9,28,IBC Masthead Enterprises 16,66 Melbourne YC Fall Regatta 51 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau BC National Sail Supply 40 Nautical Trader 37 North Sails 24 Performance Sail and Sport 41 Porpoise Used Sails 66 Premiere Racing 4 Quantum Sarasota 3 Raider Sailboats 62 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke 10 Rparts Refrigeration 22 Sailboats Florida, Inc. 63 Sailing Coach Wanted 35,55 Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage 60 Sailrite 10 Sailtime 7 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program 61 Schurr Sails 13 Scurvy Dog Marine 33 Sea School 38 Sea Tech 25,66 Snug Harbor Yacht Brokerage/Hunter 13 Southern Trades Brokerage 61 SSMR 29 St. Augustine Sailing School 66 St. Barts/Beneteau BC St. Pete Strictly Sail Boat Show 4 St. Pete YC Fall Regattas 45 Suncoast Inflatables 17 Sunrise Sails 19 Tackle Shack 43 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program 61 Turner Marine/Island Packet 12 Two Hulls Brokerage 58 UK-Halsey Sails 23 Ullman sails 42 West Marine IFC,34 Windcraft Catamarans 27 Yanmar Diesel 65

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Steve Morrell David Curry Gary Hufford 68

September 2005

CONTACT OUR SALES REPRESENTATIVES TODAY Publisher editor@southwindsmagazine.com Advertising Director davidcurry@southwindsmagazine.com Advertising gary@southwindsmagazine.com

SOUTHWINDS

(941) 795-8704 (941) 761-0048 (727) 585-2814 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 Apex/Mayer Yacht Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Beneteau Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 BigFish Sailboat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Boaters Exchange/Catalina Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Carson Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Cortez Yacht Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Eastern Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Flying Scot Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Gulf Coast Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58,63 Hanse Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 The Hull Company/Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Island Yachting Centre/Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60,63 Johannssen/Raider Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Massey Yacht Sales/Catalina//Hunter/Shannon/Albin . . .9,28,IBC Masthead Yacht Sales/Catalina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,66 Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Performance Sail and Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Raider Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Sailboats Florida, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Sailtime, Fractional Sailing & Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Snug Harbor Yacht Brokerage/Hunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 St. Barts/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC Southern Trades Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Suncoast Inflatables/ West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Turner Marine/Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Two Hulls Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Windcraft, Trimarans and Catamarans, Sail or Power . . . . . . . .27 GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHING Anne’s Anchors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25,65 Air Duck Hatch Windscoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Bluewater Sailing Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Boaters Exchange, boats, gear, etc. Rockledge FL . . . . . . . . . .27 Bo’sun Supplies/Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Defender Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 E-Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Garhauer Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Glacier Bay Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Hotwire/Fans & other products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Island Marine Products/Davits,motorlocks,etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 JR Overseas/Moisture Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Leather Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Masthead Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,66 Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Performance Sail and Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Rparts Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 West Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC,34 SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS, RIGGING SERVICES Atlantic Sail Traders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida . . . . . . . .19 Cruising Direct/sails online by North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Dwyer Mast/spars, hardware, rigging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Masthead/Used Sails and Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,66 National Sail Supply, new&used online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 North Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Performance Sail and Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Porpoise Used Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Quantum Sails and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Schurr Sails, Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Sunrise Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Ullman Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 West Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13,IFC News & Views for Southern Sailors

CANVAS Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida . . . . . . . .19 JSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Quantum Sails and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 USED SAILING/BOATING SUPPLIES Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign, West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Scurvy Dog Marine/Used, Consign, Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . .33 SAILING SCHOOLS Sea School/Captain’s License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 St. Augustine Sailing School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 MARINE ENGINES AND ACCESSORIES America’s Generators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Beta Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Fleetside Marine Service/Yanmar (813) 645-8971 . . . . . . . . . .65 RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Yanmar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 RESORTS, MARINAS, RESTAURANTS, BOAT YARDS Bob and Annie’s Boatyard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 FRACTIONAL SAILING/CHARTER COMPANIES Sailtime, Fractional Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 MARINE SERVICES, SURVEYORS, INSURANCE, TOWING, BOAT LETTERING, ETC. Aqua Graphics/Boat Names/Tampa Bay or buy online . . . . . . .19 Beachmaster Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 MARINE ELECTRONICS Dockside Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 JR Overseas/Moisture Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Sea Tech/Navigation/Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25,66 BOOKS/CHARTS/VIDEOS Bubba Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 REGATTA ADVERTISEMENTS, BOAT SHOWS Appleton Rum Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Bradenton YC Kick-Off Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Georgia Special Olympics Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Melbourne YC Fall Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 St. Pete Strictly Sail Boat Show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 St. Pete YC Fall Regattas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 Sailing Services Directory West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Regional Sailing Services Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Subscription Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 Alphabetical Advertisers’ List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

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September 2005

69

Protect Your Boat During a Hurricane?

Let the Boat Take Care of Itself From Michael Burke Boxford, MA / Bradenton, FL

Being a snowbird, I just happened to be in Florida for a week and picked up your July edition.

I thought that my hurricane tale may be interesting to your readers.

I

belong to Winthrop Yacht Club, Winthrop, MA (Boston Harbor next to Logan Airport). In September, 1995, just before Hurricane Gloria came through the area, I stripped sails, boom and all other removable gear off Stargazer, my Ranger 33, and moved it to a friend’s mooring that had a 500-pound mushroom anchor compared to my 250-pound one—not knowing, “stupid me,” that my friend’s mooring had a one-inch, three-strand rode to the mooring buoy, unlike mine that had all 5/8inch chain, I put out six big fenders port and starboard, lashed the wheel amidship, put on chafing gear and went home to Boxford, 35 miles away.

When Gloria hit, friends at the yacht club told me the story and gave me pictures of Stargazer’s run through the mooring area.

First, the rode broke off from the mushroom anchor. Then Stargazer turned 180 degrees and went approximately one-quarter mile toward the rocks at the Elks Club Marina, weaving through many moored boats along the way, missing every one of them. Then, approximately 50 yards from the rocks, she took a 90-

70

September 2005

SOUTHWINDS

degree turn to port and proceeded rail down toward Shirley Street. Approximately 25 yards short of the beach, she took a 90-degree turn to starboard and went straight into the only “open” slip at Crystal Cove Marina where some (as always) GREAT lobstermen secured her. Boston Globe reporter Andrew Blake wrote in the paper on September 29 of that year that the boat “angled into the empty slot like a guided missle and was secured by half a dozen people in yellow slickers.” Blake’s report continued with a quote from Richard Minichino, who watched the entire event from the upper deck of the Winthrop Yacht Club and remarked, “Don’t tell me boats don’t have minds of their own.”

The only damage was a slightly bent, forward stanchion. After that event I purchased a 500-pound mooring anchor and never trusted an unknown mooring again.

Many friends still talk about Stargazer’s run through the mooring area to this day.

After that, I always kidded with them that, if “the poop hits the fan while I’m aboard, I would lash the wheel, go below, and let her take me home safely.”

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