Southwindsaugust2006

SOUTHWINDSNews & Views for Southern Sailors

Hurricane Season: Store Your Boat on Land

Cruising the Bahamas Versus Cruising the Keys

Challenge Cup 2006 in Pensacola

August 2006For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

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News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 3

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SOUTHWINDSNEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

From the Carolinas to Cuba…from Atlanta to the Abacos…SOUTHWINDS Covers Southern Sailing

Store your boat on land during hurricane season.Photo by Capt. Ron Butler. Page 36.

Cruising the Bahamas versus the Keys. Photo by ColinWard. Page 43.

6 From the Helm: Hurricane Season in AugustBy Steve Morrell

9 Letters

15 Southern Regional Monthly Weather and Water Temperatures

16 Bubba Hypes Hassle-Free Trip to CubaBy Morgan Stinemetz

18 Short Tacks: Sailing News and Events Around the South

25 Our Waterways: Misc. News, Florida Wrecked Boat Law Changes, Dwindling Anchorages

34 Hurricane Season 2006. Misc. News, Florida Hurricane Marina Law Changes, Store Your Boat on Land

40 Catboat Trip Down a Florida RiverBy Gretchen Coyle

43 Cruising the Bahamas Versus the KeysBy Colin Ward

46 PHRF Racing Tips: Words to Sail ByBy Dave Ellis

48 Racing: Pensacola Challenge Cup, Gulfport to Pensacola Race, Southern Regional Racing ReportsRace Calendars

70 Finding the Essence of CruisingBy Peggy St. James

60-61 Regional Sailing Services Directory –Local boat services in your area.

68 Alphabetical Index of Advertisers

69 Advertisers’ List by Category

69 Subscription Form

COVER:Sailing in the Challenge Cup in Pensacola, FL.

Photo by Gary Huffordwww.beachmaster.smugmug.com.

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August in the Atlantic Hurricane Season

August is the beginning of theheart of the hurricane season for

the southeastern states. August,September and October: to me, thebig three months when we need to bemore aware.

It’s hard to believe that it has beentwo years since August 13, 2004—theday Hurricane Charley came ashoreand changed my view—and a lot ofother peoples’ views—on the hurri-cane season. I lived in Florida for 10years in the ’80s in southeast Floridaand experienced only one hurricaneduring that time—Hurricane David. Iowned a 26-foot wood cruising sloopthat I stuck in a hurricane hole inStuart, FL, and suffered only onesmashed compass (as a result of thetopping lift breaking). After David, noother serious storms came to Florida,and I became complacent. I was awayfrom the ocean in the ’90s, returning in2001, still not considering them to be areal bother.

Then Charley struck. Then Ivan,Dennis, Francis, Jeanne, Rita, Katrina…well, I won’t bring them all up. Afterthose storms, I saw all the damagethey did to boats (to homes and lives,too, but Southwinds is a sailboat maga-zine). I started to study, see and learnwhat we could all do to save ourboats. I have learned a lot. We can savemost of the boats. Sure, when the bigone hits, there isn’t much you can do,

but I also heard many stories of peoplewho prepared their boats and sur-vived even these big storms.

In SOUTHWINDS, I have made amajor effort to make the magazine asignificant source of information onhow to prepare your boat for a storm.We have collected articles and infor-mation with the main goal being thatthey be practical stories: what to specif-ically do to prepare your boat and fitthat into what you are most likely todo. I hear people give out advice thatthe only real way is to anchor yourboat out with many anchors and stripthe boat down. I’ll bet that is the bestthing to do, but I have learned this:Most boats are kept at docks and ifyou make a plan and prepare to carryit out, you will have the time and itwon’t take long. You are likely to dothis. If you plan to take your boat out,anchor it with three to five anchors,handle all the logistics of moving theboat (with help) to an anchorage, setall those anchors, and then get backinto shore (on some other boat, whichhas to be prepared, too, by someone),you better have a lot of time and bededicated to doing so. It will take up agood part of your day to do all this.

The best anchoring success story Iheard was of Mick Gurley’s Pearson35, New Moon (see SOUTHWINDS,September 2005, available on our Website). Mick had a great plan, imple-

mented it many times in the past—refining it over the years—and carriedit out, taking a direct hit from Charley.It survived with no damage. But NewMoon is Mick’s business as a charterboat. He, along with many others likehim, including those whose boat istheir home, make the time to save theirboats. Most of us use our boats forpleasure and don’t have that time. SoSOUTHWINDS has been concentratingon this group—the majority of sailorswhose boats are for weekend use, oran occasional cruise, and who, per-haps, race weekly in the club races. Wemight only have a couple of hourswhen the storm comes. But with plan-ning, that is all you need—and youcan save your boat from those stormsthat are most likely to hit, the smallerones. Without planning, you will be introuble, as there won’t be enoughtime. Once you’re prepared, it doesn’ttake that much time.

All of our past stories and manylinks to hurricane weather Web sitesand other articles on the Internet areavailable on our new, updated hurri-cane pages on our Web site,www.southwindsmagazine.com.

So this month, stay aware, getyour plan ready and, if need be, carryit out. But let’s hope we won’t have to.

Steve MorrellEditor

FROM THE HELM

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS May 2006 7

SOUTHWINDSNews & 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: [email protected]

Volume 14 Number 8 August 2006

Copyright 2006, Southwinds Media, Inc.

Founded in 1993 Doran Cushing, Publisher 1993-2002

Publisher/EditorSteve Morrell [email protected] (941) 795-8704

AdvertisingGo to www.southwindsmagazine.com for information about

the magazine, distribution and advertising rates.Steve Morrell [email protected] (941) 795-8704David Curry [email protected] (941) 761-0048

Regional Editors

EAST FLORIDARoy Laughlin [email protected] (321) 690-0137\

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA RACINGArt Perez [email protected] (305) 380-0106

Production Proofreading ArtworkHeather Nicoll Kathy Elliott Rebecca Burg

[email protected]

Contributing Writers Letters from our readers Rebecca Burg Ron ButlerJulie Connerley Gretchen Coyle Dave EllisTroy Gilbert Kim Kaminski Roy LaughlinWalt McFarlane Art Perez Hone ScunookPeggy St. James Capt. Cliff Stephan Morgan StinemetzColin Ward

Contributing Photographers/ArtRebecca Burg (Artwork) Ron Butler Julie ConnerleyGretchen Coyle Troy Gilbert Gary HuffordKim Kaminski Roy Laughlin Peggy St. JamesColin Ward

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS:ARTICLES & PHOTOGRAPHY:

SOUTHWINDS encourages readers, writers, photographers, cartoonists, jok-ers, magicians, philosophers and whoever else is out there, includingsailors, to send in their material. Just make it about the water world andgenerally about sailing and about sailing in the South, the Bahamas or theCaribbean, or general sailing interest, or sailboats, or sailing in some far-off and far-out place.

SOUTHWINDS welcomes contributions in writing and photography, sto-ries about sailing, racing, cruising, maintenance and other technical arti-cles and other sailing-related topics. Please submit all articles electronical-ly by e-mail (mailed-in discs also accepted), and with photographs, if pos-sible. We also accept photographs alone, for cover shots, racing, cruisingand just funny entertaining shots. Please take them at a high resolution ifdigital, 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 $37/2years for third class, and $24/year for first class. Checks and credit card num-bers 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 onour Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com. SOUTHWINDS is distributed toover 500 locations throughout 10 Southern states. If you would like to dis-tribute SOUTHWINDS at your location, please contact the editor.

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

8 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

LETTERS

Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one. H.L. Mencken

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

LETTER FROM SEVEN SEAS CRUISING ASSOCIATIONDIRECTOR ON MIAMI BEACH ANCHORINGWe returned from cruising in Maine just in time to pick upthe fight against the insane Miami Beach anchoring ordi-nance. Although the ordinance was passed in May 2005,with the stated purpose of eliminating derelicts and vessels“in storage,” it wasn’t lost on us that the city elected not toenforce the new law until cruising boats started to accumu-late and wait for weather to cross the Gulf Stream early thisyear. Most of the derelicts and “in storage” boats that sur-vived the summer storms and eight months of the ordi-nance are still anchored in Miami Beach. The few boats thatowners did move are accumulating along the west end ofHibiscus and Palm islands, right at the border of city ofMiami waters. It’s only a matter of time before Miami takesa similar stand and tries to close the area completely.

Miami Beach flew its true colors by going after thecruising boats by first getting tough to show constituents itmeans business. In my capacity as a director of the SevenSeas Cruising Association, I have received many verbalcomplaints and at least four letters from cruising sailorsreporting intimidation in the form of daily circling and pho-tographing of boats, asking for photo identification of peo-ple on board, and the threat of removal and impoundmentif they didn’t move within seven days. Almost all said the

police were polite, but they felt intimidated just the same.All said the police made them feel unwelcome, and thatthey needed to get out of Miami Beach before the time limit.

The use of arbitrary time limits to regulate vesselsengaged in navigation is prohibited by Florida statute sec-tion 327.60. Vessels are considered to be in navigation evenwhen they are anchored and waiting for weather to proceedto their next planned destination, provisioning, resting,waiting on parts or repairs, have sick or injured crewmem-bers, or are seeking medical attention. Miami Beach isattempting to bypass this provision by arbitrarily re-defin-ing any vessel anchored for more than seven days as a live-aboard vessel not in navigation.

While the Miami Beach ordinance allows for extremeweather or sickness, many cruisers have told me they wererun out because the police officer said the weather was goodenough to move to another jurisdiction, even though anoth-er jurisdiction was not on their cruising itinerary.

A similar anchoring ordinance in Riviera Beach, FL,was struck down in 1991 when a state court refused todefine the rights of navigation in terms of an arbitrary timeperiod, noting that “the length of time that a boat remainsanchored may be only one criteria determining whether it is

See LETTERS continued on page 10

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involved in navigation.”The regulatory power of a municipality over public

waterways is limited to actions that are reasonably relatedto the public health, safety or general welfare of its resi-dents. The Miami Beach assertion that anchored vesselscause pollution and contamination, are a nuisance and aninvasion of privacy, and are a threat to the safety, health,and welfare of its residents is arbitrary and unjustified. Thecity cannot produce any credible study that shows anchoredvessels are any more responsible for these conditions than arevessels in the city’s marinas, and residential docks. Howcould residents’ boats be any better? The city has made noattempt to provide pump-out facilities, even though there isfederal, state and private grant money to do so. Shame on thecity of Miami Beach for even trying this approach!

Bahamian custom officials say that of the 25,000 privatevessels that enter their waters each year, almost all come fromthree South Florida ports: Miami, Port Everglades and LakeWorth Inlet. Miami Beach is a gateway to the Bahamas andCaribbean, and is one of the few all-weather anchorageswhere boaters can wait out northerlies to cross the GulfStream. Despite this, many cities, including Miami Beach,never invited local merchants to the table to discuss howissues like anchoring restrictions might affect them. Wefound that most merchants didn’t know the city had enactedan ordinance that was taking dollars out of their pockets andinitiated the Boater Bucks campaign to help educate them.

The true origin of the Miami Beach anchoring ordi-nance is pressure from a few waterfront residents whoclaim a right to an unobstructed view of Biscayne Bay. Theyapparently aren’t aware that these waters are a public trustfor the use and enjoyment of boaters as much as for theirs.

Here’s what you can do now to protect yourself while exercising your right of navigation:• Keep your ship’s log, a legal document, current with thedate and location of your anchorages. Note weather and seaconditions, particularly if you are relying on a “weatherrouter” to help decide when to embark on a transit.• Note whether any regulatory signs are posted within view.• Politely ask for identification, badge number and phone con-tact information should you be approached by marine police.Ask for a copy of any paperwork, case number, forms, etc.• State your intention to remain anchored until weather,health, or repairs are acceptable for safe transit. YOUR opin-ion regarding safe transit is the one that counts.• Remain anchored for your full entitlement unless you’reready to move on sooner. It’s important that boaters not bebullied, threatened, or intimidated into moving early.• Report any harassment by shoreside neighbors or otherboaters attempting to drive you off.• In all other respects, be a clean-wake cruiser and a pru-dent mariner. Remember, you represent all cruising boaters.Make your economic impact felt by thanking merchantsand giving managers a Boater Bucks reverse receipt for theamount of your purchase.• Explain to managers that you can only bring your busi-ness to them if the city allows you to remain anchored in itswaters. If merchants want your business, they should say soto the mayor, city commissioners, and/or the city manager.Then grab a phone book and help them look up the tele-phone number!

LETTERS

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• Cut and copy this example as needed;it’s designed to be generic, for use inany city.

Richard BlackfordDirector, Seven Seas Cruising Assoc.S/V Slow Dancing, Miami Beach, FL

Richard,I know we are slow in getting this printed(we received this in March), but we get a lotof letters on this issue, and others were inline ahead of you. Your points are well-taken,and I find it shameful, but not surprising,that police would harass boaters before theyhave done anything wrong. I wonder if theseofficers are proud of their actions.

I agree, it is the power of wealthywaterfront property owners who seem tocontrol many local communities, yet theyare the ones spoiling the waters we sail andswim in with fertilizer run-off right intothe waterways. Non-point source pollution,which is what run-off is, is the singlebiggest source of pollution that exists.Boaters should be complaining about theseproperty owners.

Editor

REPAIR TROUBLES IN GEORGIA MARINAOn April 18, we discovered vibrationwith our shaft and decided to go to amarina in Brunswick, GA, for repairs.Beforehand, we called and talked to theowner/operator, told him the history ofour problem and how it all started wayback when we hit something in theswamp, and that we hauled out and hadthe prop fixed. We told him we needed anew shaft made and gave him the shaftdimensions and were told most likelyone would be either on its way or wait-ing for us when we got there. We came inand nothing was ready. But no big deal.We pulled the shaft and sent out for anew one. I helped the mechanic theentire day to expedite the work. All waslooking good until around 4:30 when wewere asked if we needed anything offour boat. We said no and asked why andwere told we had to leave and couldn’tstay on our boat there.

We found the owner and he said hetold us that when we called. We toldhim that he didn’t; otherwise, wewouldn’t have come there. He said we

did and it was on the paperwork wesigned when we came in. We askedwhat paperwork, as we didn’t signanything! He said, “Oh, you didn’t?Well, it’s on there.”

His secretary drove us to ahotel.(We were not very happy, to put itmildly.) The next day, we finally signedthe paperwork that had nothing thatstated that you could not stay onboard.Okay. The work was done. We splashedthe boat and went to the adjacent mari-na to do our own repair work on analternator and spend the night. The nextday, we left the marina and about 15minutes later noticed something wrong.The shaft was vibrating just as badly asthe original. We called the yard and toldthem the problem. The owner said tocome in but didn’t know if he could getto us as they were really busy! (Excuseme?) So we came in and waited.

Finally, the mechanic comes overand says, “Why did you say I screwedup?” We said we never said anything ofthe kind.

“Well, my boss said you said Iscrewed up the job.”

LETTERS

We told him we just wantedsomeone with more experience tolook at it and see what was wrong. Heclimbs into the engine room and saysit looks like our prop. We told him wegave him the history before we camein. He says, “Well, Cap, we do whatyou say. You said fix the shaft, sothat’s what we did.”

We go back and forth. Then hegoes and gets the owner—who’s in afoul mood—who looks at it and says

yes, it’s our prop. We said the samething, that we gave him our history onthe boat problem, etc. He says, “Listen,Cap. You say fix something, that’s whatwe fix.” So we ask him if maybe we canhave a break on the haul-out and hereplies, “Why did you say mymechanic screwed up the job?” I toldhim I didn’t say that, and he swears Idid. I told him that maybe he misun-derstood me, and that I just wantedsomeone else to look at the problem.

He responds, “Cap, you’re a liar. Eithersay you said that, or I want you off mydock and out of the marina!” I told himI wasn’t going to say something I did-n’t say. He said, “You’re out of here!”

So we had to leave in the middle ofthe day, boat not repaired, storm fore-casted. We thought we were in the twi-light zone. After we calmed down, wecalled Thunderbolt Marina nearby andwere told to come in, gave them thesame info on the boat (omitting the fias-co with the other marina). They fixedthe prop, but insisted on doing a test onthe shaft before we went back in.Everything worked out and we gotunder way. Kevin at Thunderbolt wascourteous, professional and fair in pric-ing. We would recommend ThunderboltMarina in Georgia anytime. The otherplace, we can’t.

Kathie and Charlie Grove S/V My Time Too

Kathie and Charlie,Sorry to hear about your problems. Wehave withheld the name of the other marina,as that is our policy. I can only say to bemore cautious in asking for repairs in thefuture. I strongly recommend getting anestimate and having a long discussion withthose who do the work as to why somethingis being done, get their opinion on whatcaused a problem and test their skills inresponding. You will also learn how theywill deal with you during the discourse—especially their attitude. It’s like gettinghints of what the marriage would be likeduring the courtship. You can protect your-self by being patient and questioning.

Of course, there are others out there,who will insist from the beginning on ask-ing you the questions you should be askingthem, to make sure you understand whatyou are getting into, the reasons for therepairs planned and the possible problemsthat could arise if everything doesn’t workout as planned. Seek those people out towork on your boat.

Editor

Regarding your campaign in SOUTH-WINDS on MSDs, which treat water to acleaner level than shoreside facilitiesdo, I’d like to suggest a few things.First, there are waterless toilets nowavailable for boats. I have some friendswho installed one in their Morgan OI41 and were absolutely tickled pinkwith it. These are similar to compostingtoilets, except that they work really fastSee LETTERS continued on page 14

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LETTERS

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and all that remains is a sterile—non-chemical-enhanced—powder that canbe carried ashore and disposed of virtu-ally anywhere. No smell, no bacteria,no viruses, no nothing but powder.Obviously, unless Lectra San has fig-ured out a way to remove the chlorineprior to discharge, this could be a prob-lem.

If you want some real ammunitioninto the fallacies of NDZs, contact TomWarneke at the Palm Beach branch ofthe Surfrider Foundation. The real cul-prit of much of the reef die-offs and poorwater quality is most likely from deep-water sewage injection wells in the Keysand in South Florida, not a few boatersusing their boats on weekends.

I’m pretty sure that Surfrider hasbeen involved in lawsuits over ASR(aquifer storage and recovery) wells.FDEP claims that the fluids injected areso deep that they remain there, but USGSstudies have shown that ASR wells inFlorida, with its karst formations of lime-stone tubes that carry water from theAppalachians all the way to the end ofFlorida and beyond, not only don’t holdwater (or effluent), but in some cases letit out at a rate of several hundred feet perhour! I believe that Surfrider has docu-mented this with studies that show theeffluent is flowing out from seeps in theocean and polluting the offshore watersand our beaches.

On the Gulf side, the FDEP actual-ly allows the paper mill on theFenholloway River near Chiefland to

pipe its effluent into the Gulf. TheFDEP (department of encouraged pol-luting) claimed, when they issued thepermit, that there would be ample dilu-tion of the effluent. Well, ever sincethen, the red tide outbreaks have beenmagnified many times over, lastinglonger and happening in places wherethey never happened before, at least innoticeable amounts. This effluent ispiped very near the “dead zone” thatcovers hundreds of square miles southand southeast of the Mississippi RiverDelta, where nutrient loading hasremoved all oxygen from the waters.This is your government at work forthe development community!

Also, don’t forget the antibiotics.Your body only uses about 30 percentof any antibiotic that you take. The restgets whizzed down the toilet and ispretty well unaffected by “treatment.”So, the reused water that is poured intoour lakes, rivers and estuaries containsenough antibiotics to kill the bacteriathat is the slime on fish that protect thefish from other bacterial infections. Ofcourse, they do the same to virtuallyany living creature that lives in thewater and may be producing super-bacteria that will not respond to treat-ment if we humans get a dose.

And then, there are the estrogenmimickers. They are actually producedas part of the “treatment” process.You’ve undoubtedly read about all thealligators that are being born with use-less genitalia, the frogs, fish and dol-

phins born with no sex or two sexes orcombinations that render them inca-pable of reproduction and susceptibleto cancers. Thank your local FDEP forthat one, too.

Pogo was right. We are the enemy.For more on the Surfrider Found-

ation, go to www.surfrider.org.

Eric,Thanks for the information. Again, I repeatwhat I have said about the waterfrontlandowners’ complaints about cruisers pol-luting their waters. They are polluting thewaters we sail in, and we should be com-plaining about them. Surfrider Foundationhas been doing this for many years and is oneof the most effective fighters for clean oceanwater out there. Thanks for reminding me.

By the way, the Lectra San toilet usesa harmless form of chlorine in treatingwaste. It takes the chlorine from that foundin the sea’s salt. In freshwater, commontable salt can be used as a substitute. Thisis different from the chlorine used in clean-ing pump-out hoses, which is very powerfuland can be harmful to marine life. The chlo-rine Lectra San uses is harmless. This is acommon misconception people have aboutthe system. You can learn more about it inthe “Our Waterways” section in the April2006 issue of SOUTHWINDS.

Editor

E-mail your letters to the Editor: [email protected]

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 15

NORTHERN GULF COAST Pensacola, FL 74º lo – 91º hiGulfport, MS 74º lo – 91º hiWater Temperature – 85º

WEST FLORIDA St. Petersburg 77º lo – 90º hiNaples 73º lo – 91º hiWater TemperatureSt. Petersburg – 86ºNaples – 87º

FLORIDA KEYS Key West 79º lo – 90º hiWater Temperature Key West – 87º

SOUTHEAST FLORIDA Miami Beach – 76º lo – 91º hiStuart – 75º lo – 90º hiWater TemperatureMiami Beach – 86ºStuart – 80ºGulfstream Current – 3.2 knots

EAST FLORIDA Daytona Beach - 73º lo – 90º hiJacksonville Beach - 74º lo – 88º hiWater Temperature Daytona Beach – 81ºJacksonville Beach – 83º

CAROLINAS AND GEORGIACape Hatteras, NC 73º lo – 84º hiSavannah, GA 71º lo – 90º hiWater Temperature Cape Hatteras, NC – 80ºSavannah Beach, GA – 85º

Southeastern U.S. Air & Water Temperaturesand Gulf Stream Currents – August Weather Web Sites:Carolinas & Georgia www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Southeast.shtmlFlorida East Coast www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtmlFlorida West Coast & Keys http://comps.marine.usf.eduNorthern Gulf Coast www.csc.noaa.gov/coos/

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

The number in the center of the circle shows the percentageof the time that the winds were calm. The lengths of thearrows plus the calms number in the center add up to 100percent. The number of feathers on the arrow indicates thestrength of the wind on the Beaufort scale (one feather isForce 1, etc.). Wind Roses are taken from Pilot Charts.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 17

Events and News of Interest to Southern Sailors

To have your news or event in this section, contact [email protected]. Send us informationby the 5th of the month, possibly later. Contact us if later.

Racing EventsFor racing schedules, news and events see the racing section.

UPCOMING SOUTHERN EVENTS

EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING/SUMMER CAMPS

Ongoing – Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs. St.Petersburg, FL, Tuesday nights, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.Satisfies the Florida boater safety education requirements.Eleven lessons every Tuesday. Lessons include: which boatfor you, equipment, trailering, lines and knots, boat han-dling, signs, weather, rules, introduction to navigation,inland boating and radio. (727) 823-3753

Boating Safety Courses, St. Peters-burg, FL: St. Petersburg Sail andPower Squadron. Six-week publicboating course begins every Monday.Includes safety information plusbasic piloting; charts, course plot-

ting, latitude/longitude and dead reckoning. SatisfiesFlorida’s under age 21 boater requirements. (727) 867-3088.Other courses continuosly offered. (727) 565-4453. www.boat-ing-stpete.org.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 14-4, Jacksonville, FL.One-day America’s boating course. Saturdays: August 12,Sept 16. Captains Club, 13363 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville FL.Meets Florida state boaters card requirements. Contact JohnDavis at (904) 821-9692.

Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary (Flotilla 11-1) PublicBoating Programs:America’s boating course (2 lessons): Aug. 14, 17, evenings.Clearwater Sailing Center, 1001 Gulf Blvd., Sand Key(Clearwater). Open to adults and youths. Basic Coastal nav-igation program (includes charting tools) – seven lessons,begins Sept. 28. Evenings

For more information on upcoming education pro-grams or to request a free vessel safety check call (727) 469-8895 or visit http://a0701101.uscgaux.info/.

Ruskin, FL, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 75 OffersHome Study Safe Boating CourseThe Ruskin flotilla each month offers a boating safety coursein Ruskin, but has found that many boaters do not have thetime to attend the courses, so they are now also offering ahome study course at $30. Additional family members will becharged $10 each for testing and certificates. Tests will be heldbi-monthly. Entry into the course will also allow participantsto attend the classes. To apply, call (813) 677-2354.

North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC,www.ncmm-friends.org, [email protected], (252) 728-7317. On-going adults sailing programs. Family sailing. 2-6people; 2-6 hours. Traditional skiffs or 30’ keelboat. $50-$240. Reservations/information: call The Friends’ office(252) 728-1638

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West Marine Free Seminars for August, Tampa BayThe following are of interest to sailors. West Marine has manyother seminars on fishing. Contact stores for more information.

South St. Petersburg Store5001 34th St. South, St. Petersburg, FL(727) 867-5700, start time 6 p.m.

8/10 Basics of your GPS w/Peter Barton8/24 Tips on Cruising the Bahamas w/Lynn Neumann

Clearwater 111477 US 19N (727) 573-2678, start time 6 p.m.

8/31 Everything Garmin w/Regional Product Trainer John Murch

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Marine Service Managers Course. West Palm Beach,FL. Association of Marina Industries. (401) 247-0314.Sept. 9-12. www.marinaassociation.org.

Basic Electrical Course, Sept. 12-14. Wilmington,NC. American Boat & Yacht Council. (410) 956-1050.www.abycinc.org.

BOAT SHOWS

Regatta Pointe Marina Boat Show,August 25-27, Palmetto, FL

Break up the summer heat and doldrums by attend-ing the Regatta Pointe Marina Boat Show, August 25-27, at 1005 Riverside Dr. on the Manatee River inPalmetto, FL. Admission is FREE to the public. Showhours are from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Friday,Saturday and Sunday.

This show will feature about 75 yachts—worth approx-imately $25-million—in the water and ready to cruise away.There will be special boat show purchase incentives on allnew yachts. Inspect a wide variety of power and sailingyachts, both new and pre-owned. New yacht brands repre-sented include Doral, Novatec, Craig Cat, Albin, NordicTug, Hunter, Catalina, Island Packet and MantaCatamarans, both power and sail. There are many addition-al brands of pre-owned power and sailboats. Yacht stylesinclude cruising sailboats, trawlers, sportfish, sedan,express and New England-style cruisers, fishing boats andcatamarans. Yacht financing and insurance representativesplus a variety of yacht outfitters will be on hand to offertheir services and answer questions. Attendees may sign upfor the $500 West Marine door prize. Food and drinks areavailable at the Riverside Café.

The show is hosted by Regatta Pointe Marina, IslandYachting Centre, Manta Catamarans, Carson YachtBrokerage, Dolphin International Yacht Sales and MasseyYacht Sales & Service. For additional information or ques-tions, please call Mark Hayes, Regatta Pointe Marina har-

bormaster, at (941) 729-6021 or contact any of the hosts orvisit their Web sites. Mark your calendars now and plan toattend this exciting summer event.

NEWS

Florida Fish and Wildlife ConsidersRegistration of Non-Motorized Craft

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission is looking intothe possibility of registering non-motorized craft such ascanoes, kayaks and non-motorized sailboats (includingwindsurfers). The idea was originally proposed by repre-sentatives of the Marine Industries Association of Florida,citing the idea of fairness, since about 10 percent of boatingfatalities in the state are on non-motorized canoes andkayaks. Supporters of registration believe these boatersshould contribute to the cost of services received, such asrescue services, although a spokesman who is on the com-mittee that is looking into the issue believes the state shouldencourage canoes and kayaks because they are a passive,low-impact form of boating, and asking for registrationwould place a burden on them. It is estimated that there areover 1-million canoes and almost 800,000 kayaks in Florida.The number of non-motorized small sailboats is unknown.

The FWC states they are a long way off from implement-ing such a requirement, if they do so at all. Kayak and canoeorganizations have expressed opposition to the proposal.

Currently Florida law states that all vessels 16 feet andlonger must register in the state of Florida. Non-motorizedvessels less than 16 feet long do not have to register unlessthey are motorized, in which case they must be registeredregardless of length, even if they are using a small electrictrolling motor. For a summation of the law, go towww.hsmv.state.fl.us/dmv/faqboat.html.

Regatta Pointe Marina in Palmetto, FL.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 21

Florida Now Has LargestNumber of Boats

Florida recently passed Michigan as thestate with the greatest number of regis-tered boats, counting 946,072 in 2004.Michigan is now second with 944,800and California third with 894,884 dur-

ing the same time period. The numberof boats in Florida probably far exceedsthe other states beyond that number asso many boaters who come to the statenever register their boats in the state,whether they are registered in anotherstate or USCG-documented vessels,although it is required to do so if theboat is in Florida for more than 90 days.

Update on Historic ShipFound in the NorthernGulf after HurricaneKatrina By Kim KaminskiSOUTHWINDS recently reported about ashipwreck discovered at the PensacolaNaval Air Station. The wreck was dis-covered while demolishing one of thebuildings damaged from the 2005 hur-ricane season.

Archaeologists believe the ship-wreck may be part of the Spanisharmada fleet of 13 ships that DonTristan de Luna, who led the first settle-ment to Pensacola in 1559, was given tosail into Pensacola Bay close to 450years ago.

As history goes, in 1559, Don LuisVelasco, who was the Viceroy ofMexico, sent Spanish ConquistadorTristan de Luna y Arellano (a wealthyand religious soldier) to establish aFlorida settlement on the Gulf Coast ofthe United States as well as an overlandroute to Santa Elena (on Tybee Island,GA) where another outpost would beestablished. This settlement that DeLuna would create would not only helpany shipwrecked sailors along the GulfCoast, but the settlement would alsodiscourage French trading.

To accomplish this task, DonTristan de Luna set sail with the 13ships and over 1500 soldiers, colonistsand friars to implement the firstEuropean colony within what wouldbecome the boundaries of the continen-tal United States. He set up theencampment of Puerto de Santa Mariaon the location where he landed (nearthe site of the Naval Air Station atPensacola) and sent several groupsinland to explore the land. De Luna lefthis ships and much of his supplies inthe bay for almost two months whilethe group explored the region.

During the night of September 19,1559, a hurricane swept into the areaand destroyed five of his ships filledwith supplies. De Luna’s explorationefforts stopped, and his main focusnow changed to that of survival. Afterstruggling through a harsh winterfilled with uncertainty and starvation,the settlement expedition was can-

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News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 23

celled. Leaving only a handful of men behind, De Luna andhis crew left the area for Havana. The area was not populat-ed again until 1698 when the Spanish established the city ofPensacola.

The archaeologists who are now in charge of the sitespeculate that the wooden ship was one of De Luna’s lostsupply vessels that sank in the hurricane of 1559. Access tothe site has been restricted to the U.S. Navy and to thearchaeologists working on the dig location. However, asmore discoveries are unearthed from the shipwreck, imagesof the past will be revealed to all from this fascinating nau-tical treasure.

“Boating andAngling Guideto BrevardCounty“AvailableBy Roy Laughlin

Just about everythinga day sailor or cruis-ing sailor would liketo know but would-n’t know who to askis included in thisguide to BrevardCounty’s ICW andIndian River Lagoonsystem. One side ofthis map formatdocument is achart of the coun-ty’s Indian RiverLagoon, includ-ing the ICW. Itshows channelsand navigationmarks, shallowsand f lats , speed restrict-ed areas and other features of interest to sailorsand boaters. The document also includes several contactlists, including boat ramps and marinas. The back side ofthe map has several narrative sections on endangeredspecies, boating safety, and organizations working in thelagoon. You can find more detailed information on each ofthese topics elsewhere, but no other source has such broadand concise coverage in one place.

Best of all, it’s free. As of the end of March, nearly 5000copies have been distributed to individuals, bait shops,boating stores, marinas and other business and boatingestablishments. You may also request a copy directly fromBrevard County’s Parks & Recreation Department. UseParks & Rec’s Web site, www.brevardparks.com. On the farright side of the home page graphic, a box contains two

logos, one of which is for the Brevard County MarineAdvisory Council. This logo links to the advisory board’spage. On that page, upper left, is a line of topics. Follow thelink on Boating, the last (rightmost) word. The Boating pagehas a list of Informational Resources. A link in this list shouldbe available allowing you to request a copy by e-mail.Business and organizations intending to make the guidepublicly available should specify how many copies to send.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife ConservationCommission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, in col-laboration with Brevard County’s Parks & RecreationDepartment produced this guide. If you wonder whereyour boating registration and fishing license taxes go, asmall part went to produce this document.

Sail America Board Names JonathanBanks New Executive Director Sail America President Bill Bolin announced in June thatthe screening committee’s unanimous choice for the exec-utive director’s post is Jonathan Banks, a marketing con-sultant with an extensive background in all facets of sailingand the marine industry. Banks took the helm of Sail

not go to the beach. Some reports show the red spreading.Reports of discolored waters in Manatee County andcloudy water in the Pine Island Sound are reported by theFlorida Fish and Wildlife Institute to not be caused by redtide.

A red tide report is regularly updated and available onthe Florida Fish and Wildlife Institute Web site,http://research.myfwc.com. Regional reports from aroundthe state are available.

Researchers Believe Red Tide inFlorida Possibly Caused by 2004Hurricanes and Nutrient-RichUnderwater SpringsResearchers from the University of South Florida and theUnited States Geological Survey recently published a theo-ry that the excessive rainfall from the 2004 hurricanespassed through Florida’s nutrient-rich porous ground andfilled Florida aquifers, which eventually went into Gulfwaters through underwater springs off Florida’s west coast.

The authors of the study believe the theory needs moreresearch and cannot say that the tide was absolutely causedby these reasons, but are convinced that the nutrients fromthe springs at least contributed to maintaining the red tide.It was previously believed that nutrients from runoff fromFlorida rivers after the rains contributed to the red tidebuild-up, but the lag in time could not be explained, as theriver runoff would be almost immediate, but the red tidestarted up long after that river runoff. The study suggestedthat the rains passed through the Florida soil, where theypicked up phosphorus, nitrogen and other nutrients fromseptic tank effluents and man-made fertilizers, and thenfilled the aquifers, which eventually emptied into the Gulfthrough these underwater springs, thus explaining the timelag. The researchers suggest testing the waters of theseunderwater springs more extensively to further theresearch.

America the first week of July. “Jonathan Banks got his feet wet in the marine industry

with New England Ropes a few years back and now runshis own marketing consulting company,” said Bolin. “Hehas circumnavigated the world as a yacht captain aboard aSwan 57 and remains actively involved with sailing.”

Banks brings over 20 years’ experience in internationalbusiness management with leading companies in themarine, electric vehicle, automotive, sporting goods, andtelecommunications industries.

Previously, he was director of marketing for VectrixCorp. in Newport, RI, a leading developer of zero-emissionpersonal transportation products; vice president of salesand marketing at Thule, in Seymour, CT, the world’s lead-ing manufacturer and distributor of roof rack systems; andmarine market manager at New England Ropes in FallRiver, MA. He also held various management roles withtwo of the UK’s leading telecommunications companies,British Telecom and Cable and Wireless.

Banks has extensive sailing experience on all types ofboats from dinghies to mega-yachts. He grew up sailing onthe south coast of England. He twice won the UK NationalChampionships in the MG Spring class and competed inregattas in Europe and the Caribbean. From 1991 to 1994, hewas the captain of Tenareze, a Swan 57, on a circumnaviga-tion of the world. Since moving to the United States in 1995,he has been actively involved in cruising and one-designracing.

Sail America manages and puts on the Strictly Sail boatshows throughout the United States. For more information,go to www.sailamerica.com. For more information on theStrictly Sail shows and the upcoming show schedule, go towww.strictlysail.com.

Red Tide Spreads in Southwest FloridaAlthough small, red tide has been detected in areas ofsouthwest Florida in southern Sarasota County, parts of LeeCounty and the northern part of Collier County. CollierCounty officials notified those with respiratory problems to

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OUR WATERWAYS: DWINDLING ANCHORAGES?

See SHORT TACKS continued on page 68

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 25

OUR WATERWAYS

OUR WATERWAYS: DWINDLING ANCHORAGES?

SOUTHWINDS “Our Waterways” SectionSOUTHWINDS has created this section to inform our readersabout changes in our waterways. We believe thatSoutherners are in the midst of a great change occurring onour waterways—through the conversion of many boatingproperties to condominiums, restrictions on anchoragesonce thought to be more open and now being more restrict-ed and regulated, and other economic forces at work. Thissection will also concern itself with the environmentalhealth of the waters we boat and swim in.

The waterways belong to all of us, and all of us have aright to use them. The waterways are not just for those whocan afford to live on the water, and it is up to us boaters andlovers of these waters to protect that right. We hope that byhelping to inform you of these changes, we will contributeto doing just that.

We are looking for news and information on changes,land sales, anchorages, boaters’ rights, new marinas,anchoring rights, disappearing marinas, boatyards and boatramps, environmental concerns and other related news.

Independent writers wanted on these subjects. ContactSteve Morrell, [email protected], or call(877) 372-7245.

We regularly receive many letters to the editor on theseissues. See the “Letters” section for more opinions andinformation. Some letters will be published in this section ifappropriate.

In the coming months, we will be developing “OurWaterways” pages on our Web site, www.southwinds-magazine.com. Visit those pages for links, information, arti-cles and more.

BoatU.S. Magazine Honored ForAdvocacy on Column on RickSantorum Bill to Privatize NationalWeather Service ForecastsFor the fourth year in a row, BoatU.S. Magazine has receivedan Apex Award, this time in the contest’s Editorials and

A liveaboard sailor, who has anchored out along Florida’s western coast for many years, writes about the changes he has seen. In this sec-tion. Photo by Steve Morrell.

Advocacy Writing category for its editorial column,‘‘Behind the Buoy,” written by Editor Michael Sciulla.

The winning column, in the Sept. 2005 issue of the mag-azine (http://www.boatus.com/news/buoy09_05.htm),was a hard-hitting editorial taking on Sen. Rick Santorum(R-PA) for introducing legislation that would prohibit theNational Weather Service from providing anything butsevere weather forecasts to the public. Santorum’s billwould have required the National Weather Service to turnits data over to the private sector, which then would havebeen free to repackage it and sell it to the public.

“The nation’s 14-million recreational boat owners relyon accurate and up-to-the minute weather forecasts for theirsafety, and prudent boaters always check weather forecastsbefore venturing out,” said Sciulla. “In the aftermath of thedevastating hurricanes that have pummeled our coasts inrecent years, this legislation is particularly inappropriate,”he added.

Now in its 18th year, the Apex Awards are based onexcellence in editorial content, graphic design, and the abil-ity to achieve overall communications excellence. Nearly5,000 entries were received by the judges.

“Being recognized in the Editorials and AdvocacyWriting is especially gratifying because so much of the mis-sion of the Boat Owners Association of the United States(BoatU.S.) is to represent not only the interests of our660,000 members, but the larger boating community aswell,” said Sciulla.

Wrecked Boat Law Goes Into Effect in FloridaOn July 1, a new law, HB 201, went into effect in Floridaallowing marina operators, who have a possessory lien on aboat, to remove and dispose of boats that are in a “wrecked,junked, or substantially dismantled condition, which hasbeen left abandoned at a marina.” The marina can pass thecosts of the removal or disposal of the boat along to the boatowner. The marina must notify the owner in writing, in per-son or via certified mail. They must also post a notice at themarina and on the boat and give at least 60 days to the boatowner, stating the claim and situation, giving the owneropportunity to pay up on the claim.

The exception to the law is for hurricanes, where appli-cation of the lien provisions of the law are suspended for 60days, so the boat owner or his insurance company can takecare of the boat if the boat was wrecked at the marina froma storm.

Florida Passes Law on MarinaOperators’ Rights During NamedStorms & Removal of Derelict VesselsThis law, HB 7175, went into effect July 1. See the Hurricanesection in this issue for more on this law.

Florida Maritime Museum at Cortez Continues to Pursue Seafood Shack LocationFlorida’s only maritime museum, the Florida MaritimeMuseum in Cortez, in the south Tampa Bay area, has beenworking for the last year on getting the Seafood ShackRestaurant and Marina as part of its new home. Last spring,Manatee County gave up on purchasing the marina andrestaurant after estimated costs came in over budget. Thecounty wanted to purchase the marina to keep the locationfrom being sold to condominium developers in order to

OUR WATERWAYS

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SOUTHWINDS Editor Comment on BoatU.S. MagazineI have been a member of BoatU.S for many years andhave received its monthly magazine each month. Themagazine is an excellent source of information about theongoing problems we face with our changing waterways,as we have tried to publicize in the last year in Southwinds.BoatU.S and its magazine are one of the greatest resourceswe have in trying to stem the tide of disappearing mari-nas and boatyards, waterways access, pollution, mainte-nance of our waterways, saving the ICW and all the otherproblems we all face in trying to manage and save ourwaters and coasts. I strongly urge our readers to joinBoatU.S., which gets you a subscription to its magazine,and help in this endeavor. Go to www.boatus.com to doso. Plus their Web site is a great resource for information.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 27

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keep the marina public. They also proposed opening a boatramp at the marina to fill the need for more boaters’ access.The proposal included plans to use the existing restaurant

building as a new location forthe museum.

The museum is a joint ven-ture of the Florida Institute forSaltwater Heritage (FISH) andthe Manatee County Clerk ofCourts. FISH was established in1991 to help preserve Florida’ssaltwater heritage and to workon establishing a maritimemuseum. In recent years, theinstitute partnered with theManatee County Clerk of Courts,purchased the old Cortez school-house as a museum site, estab-lished a traditional boatbuildingand restoring school and hasbeen seeking more waterfrontlocations for its activities. Italready has purchased water-front property in the historic vil-lage of Cortez and continues toseek more land in the area. TheSeafood Shack and Marina hasbeen for sale for the last few

years, and it is seen by many to be headed down the roadtoward purchase for condominium development. It would bean ideal location for the museum’s boatbuilding school.

OUR WATERWAYS

The Seafood Shack and Marina in Cortez, FL. Photo by Steve Morrell.

The most recent move to get the Seafood Shack as amuseum/boatbuilding site has been taken up by theSarasota Conservation Foundation, which was founded in2003. The foundation purchases property for conservationpurposes and has expressed interest in buying the 6.1-acresite for the museum. The proposed boat ramp that ManateeCounty was considering is no longer part of the plan, part-ly because of strong neighbor opposition to placing a boatramp in the area.

Public Input Sought for BrevardCounty Marine Management PlanBy Roy Laughlin

The Brevard County Comprehensive Marine ManagementMaster Plan, becoming known as CM3P, has been underdiscussion for the last few months among members of theMarine Advisory Board, a group established by the BrevardBoard of County Commissioners to help draft policy meas-ures such as this master plan.

Although Marine Advisory Board meetings are open tothe public, they are highly structured, and the public haslimited ability to affect the agenda. In the next phase ofdeveloping a master plan, the public can have a muchgreater role. Ernest Brown, director of the Brevard NaturalResources Office, and Chuck Nelson of the Brevard CountyParks and Recreation Department are planning the first of aseries of meetings to bring the public into the evolving man-agement plan to be held at the end of August. The chiefvalue of this meeting will be to identify users and groupswhose input will be sought. Any member of the public, how-ever, has a chance to make comments, and organizations thatwant to be included in subsequent meetings can make thatrequest during the meeting. As Southwinds goes to press, themeeting date and place has still to be determined. Anyonewishing to attend the meeting should contact ElizabethAlward, Brevard County Parks and Recreation Departmentat (321) 633-1874 for further information.

It is important that members of the public understandhow significant a few voices can be at this stage of masterplan development. The issue of liveaboards was a seminaltopic when the County Commission agreed, in November2005, that a comprehensive marine management masterplan was desirable. The liveaboard issue was nurturedthrough several County Commission meetings by just twoproperty owners complaining about one single boatanchored in front of their waterfront homes. At the finalmeeting, not a single person spoke in defense of liveaboardsor about the opportunity for boaters to anchor for more thanseveral days in a specific location. Anyone interested in liv-ing aboard, or even enjoying the option of extended anchor-ing (for example, over several weeks of a vacation), shouldstrongly consider the benefits of bringing their bodies andcomments to these meetings, or perhaps face prospects oflosing the right to anchor for more than a day or two inBrevard County. This is one example of users who havehardly been heard thus far. But anyone who enjoys thelagoon system in Brevard County has a stake in this planand should pay close attention to its development.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 29

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News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 31

Describing all the enjoyable anchorages in PinellasCounty, FL, home to St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and severalother great Tampa Bay communities, could fill a book.Sadly, the local communities have adopted codes/lawswhich, when enforced, make anchoring here a short-termaffair. The local codes in the Pinellas County area don’t flat-out prohibit anchoring. By federal statute, no laws canimpinge on the rights of a vessel to navigate. Yet federallaws haven’t protected anything except interstate com-merce. In locally policed waters, the citizens can legallymake and enforce laws requiring you to move after a veryshort stay.

The existence of these laws was painfully evidenced bythe bright orange “bumper sticker” posted on my sailboatin October of 2005. I didn’t know what to expect. A phoneconversation with the Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy ear-lier that morning had informed me I was breaking the law.I was not aboard when he phoned saying he had boardedmy sailboat. Times had changed! Many times and for peri-ods longer than 30 days I had anchored there. Only twicebefore have deputies arrived asking me to move. One time,some two years ago, I was one of three vessels in the area ofthe lighted Christmas boat parade who were asked to move.Another unhappy time in a different community, a vesselsank near me, raising the ire of the waterfront homeowners.During the past four years, these are the only occasionswhen the laws were enforced against my sailboat. This time

OUR WATERWAYS

How does it feel to be unlawful? To realize your lifestyle,the way you have chosen to live, the way you enjoy life isunlawful? I have chosen to live on a vessel, a way of lifewhich harms no one. Yet it is illegal in my hometown.

The bright orange “bumper sticker” posted on Misty.

DWINDLING ANCHORAGES?

An Anchored-Out Liveaboard Sailor Discusses Anchoring Rights: Prohibited Uses Of A Vessel In FloridaBy Capt. Cliff Stephan

32 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

it was an unpleasant call to tell me tomove, or they would issue a ticket, andthe city would impound my vessel.

There is a reason I kept anchoring inMandalay channel: It is close to my par-ents who were both getting on in yearsand in ill health. Dad is doing well, butwith Mom now deceased, he was not sogood. My visits to Clearwater were a biglift to both of them. When, two monthslater, I returned to the same anchorage,the same sheriff’s deputy showed upwithin eight hours of my dropping thehook. He was visibly upset that I wasback again—“breaking the law.” I startedto wonder who had moved into one ofthe new condos and knew about the law?After a long conversation and a call bythe deputy to the Clearwater harbormas-ter’s office, he was resigned to letting mestay for the 72 hours as stated on thesticker he posted in October. No longer!Then I got the call. This was the reason I was hanging so farnorth in December: My mom had just been taken to theemergency room. On my way to the hospital, I stopped bythe harbormaster’s office, hoping to plead my case for some

leeway, and a few extra days closer tohome. After putting my request in writ-ing, I left for the hospital. While visitingwith Dad, Mom, my aunt and uncle, theharbormaster called to say I could pick upa letter granting permission for the extratime I wanted. Since then, I have beensearching for the who, what, when, andwhy my life was declared UNLAWFUL.

Researching the law on anchoring,sparked by the UNLAWFUL sticker post-ed on Misty last October, has revealedmore than I wanted to know. FloridaStatute 327.60 provides local governmentsthe power to regulate liveaboard vessels,while at the same time prohibiting regula-tion of non-liveaboard vessels engaged innavigation. In researching anchoringrights, I have learned neither the federalgovernment nor the state of Florida careswhat local communities do as long as thefederal law is not impinged. The federal

laws are very limited, only serving to protect interstatecommerce.

So how can I live my life my way in Pinellas County?Legal challenges have upheld the rights of communities toprotect their rights. Seems when you choose to live on ameans of transportation, you are forfeiting your basic pro-tections under the Constitution. Why?

Legal dilemmas appear when I compare the differentdefinitions in the various codes. When you refer to the def-inition of a liveaboard vessel in the state law, it states; “Anyvessel used solely as a residence.” I am in disbelief. Howcan they apply these laws to me? My home is the way I trav-el, not just a residence. It takes me to all the places I want orneed to be. When taking my captain’s test, I sailed over toTampa and anchored south of the Gandy Bridge. Fromthere, I walked 200 feet to the place in Tampa the test wasgiven. So in my view, no cruising sailor’s vessel should besubject to local regulation, or prohibition, in accordance toFlorida state law. I will point out here, the same statute,which gives local governments their authority to prohibitliveaboard vessels, forbids discrimination against personalwatercraft. Try to wrap your mind around that! Mine stillreels at the injustice.

There are 18 local communities along Pinellas County’s588 miles of waterfront. All but three either restrict or pro-hibit anchoring, or liveaboard vessels. Many allow short-term stays but restrict how often it can be done. Very typi-cal is the 72 hours in 30 days, yet one community allows fivedays—but only every six months. Others want the city man-ager’s or commission’s approval before anchoring, but themaximum they can then approve is 72 hours. Only twoaddress real issues as how close to the shore or docks onemay anchor. St. Petersburg states, “No vessel or watercraftupon which people reside or live shall dock, berth, oranchor in any of the waters or waterways of the City for thepurpose of living or residing in that area.” My purpose is tovisit, not reside.

The publication, Anchoring Away: Government Regulations

OUR WATERWAYS

Misty at anchor.

and The Rights of Navigation in Florida, by Florida Sea Grant(publication #TP 099, available online or to purchase athttp://www.flseagrant.org/library/publications/index.htm), has in its appendix A, section I, “Principles ofAnchoring,” some guidelines for local communities whenattempting to regulate the waterways. Few of these veryreal objectives are found in the local codes passed to date inPinellas County.

When local codes define watercraft, several codes lumpvessels with floating structures. State laws define vesselsand floating structures as separate and very different. Let’sjust try putting our eggs in the same bag with the cannedgoods. Makes sense? Whole communities have beendesigned around floating structures, several in theNorthwest and some in the Florida Keys.

Communities of houseboats tied to the shore are not thesame as an anchorage for vessels. It may well be the KeyWest houseboat row legal actions gave rise to many ofFlorida’s current restrictive waterway codes.

While unprepared for the emotions which surfacedwhen I saw UNLAWFUL posted on my home, the fact is, asa water skier, I participated in the draft of the new 1971Clearwater waterway code. I wanted to be sure they didn’toutlaw all the good places to ski in Clearwater Harbor. Oneof the areas protected for waterskiing in 1971 is still legal.Over the years, the rest have become minimum-wake zones.My once favorite water ski area is now my hurricane hole,and the code I helped draft makes my living in Clearwaterunlawful.

Well-meaning people at some time must have thoughtcruising people were a threat; an uncontrollable threat,which required special laws to protect local residents. Why?The reason given by the harbormaster was I don’t pay taxes,but I do; the same as mobile home residents who for yearssuccessfully fought local authorities seeking to add proper-ty tax to their financial burdens, we pay a state tax to regis-ter our homes. Many other reasons are given, but are theyrational? Raw sewage, which is one of the most cited, is nowregulated by its own laws. The excuse I find most offensiveis “visual intrusion.” To expect a waterview clear of water-craft is just unnatural! Diversity is what makes life interest-ing and is part of why I live on a boat, to explore as manydifferent places and people as possible.

In spite of the quagmire of local codes, there are many

great places to anchor and lots of opportunities ashorethroughout Pinellas County. So come explore. Let’s showthem what fun it is to be aboard a vessel, bound for wher-ever the wind blows her. Unexpectedly, a couple recentlyleft a note in my dinghy inviting me to chat with them, say-ing they enjoyed seeing my sailboat anchored in their har-bor. The note included pictures of my sailboat anchorednear their condo. I don’t expect to gain my anchoring rightsback through court actions, but maybe responsible boaterscan show the powers that be just how unjust the currentcodes are. They may discover cruising boaters are a boost tothe local economy.

,

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 33

Links for Our Waterways Issues

Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway issues. www.atlintracoastal.org

BoatUS FoundationGreat source of information and links on miscellaneous issues. www.boatus.org

Florida Inland Navigation DistrictA taxing district for management and maintenance of the AICW in Florida. www.aicw.org

Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. www.gicaonline.comMarine Industries Association of Florida

with links to local associations www.boatflorida.org

Marine Industries Association of South Florida.www.miasf.org

National Waterways ConferencePromotes, educates and lobbies on behalf of all of the nation’s inland waterways www.waterways.org

Ocean Conservancydedicated to the protection of the oceans www.oceanconservancy.org

Reef ReliefA non-profit group which is dedicated to preserving the reefs, based in Key Westwww.reefrelief.org

Gulfbase.orgA research database for Gulf of Mexico Research. www.gulfbase.org

34 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Visit the Southwinds Web Sitewww.southwindsmagazine.com

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Florida Law 7175: Florida Marina Owners’Rights Change DuringHurricanes, Along withDerelict Vessel Removal LawsBy Roy Laughlin

On June 26, Governor Bush signed State Law 7175,which went into effect on July 1. This law deals with several boating topics and includes some of the most significant changes and additions to Florida laws affecting boaters to be enacted in a generation.

Marina Owners’ Rights Change During HurricanesSection 2 of 7175 amends Section 327.59, Florida Statutes. That statuteprevents marina operators from evicting boats from a marina before anadvancing tropical cyclone. Wording in 7175 allows marina owners tosecure boats and charge reasonable fees for the service. The new lawalso includes the following:

“. . . in order to minimize damage to a vessel and to protect marinaproperty, private property, and the environment, a marina ownermay provide by contract that in the event a vessel owner fails topromptly remove a vessel from a marina after a tropical storm orhurricane watch has been issued, the marina owner, operator,employee, or agent may remove the vessel, if reasonable, from its

BOATS STORED ON LAND

This month we have one sailor’s experienceand report of boats stored on land. There area lot of people who believe that boats storedon land is a lost cause, standing firm behindtheir belief that the best way to survive astorm is at anchor. This is probably true, butonly if all the precautions are taken atanchor. A poor job at anchor is not betterthan any other place for a boat, possibly it’sworse. We’re concerned here with what mostof us can realistically do, and storing on landis realistic.

Boats stored on land can be the best betfor those storms that are most likely to strike,and, in the June issue, I made a case that themost likely winds to be hit by are the lowerlevel winds; tropical storm force andCategory 1 winds, even Category 2 winds.For this most likely scenario, on land is oftenthe safest bet.

On land, with a Category 4 or 5, andmaybe a 3, storms can really damage a boat,but there are variables about being on land:Is the area going to be flooded by stormsurge—and is it enough to float the boat?Will the boats be anchored to the ground?Will the jack stands “walk” along the groundand cause the boat to fall over?

In the last two years, one thing I havelearned that is an absolute: We can save a lotmore boats than we have and learn from thesuccesses and failures of the past. The maingoal is to save as many as possible. The morewe investigate, the more we see it is possible.

Steve MorrellEditor

HURRICANE SEASON 2006

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 35

slip and take whatever reasonable actions are deemednecessary to properly secure a vessel to minimize damageto a vessel and to protect marina property, private proper-ty, and the environment and may charge the vessel ownera reasonable fee for such services rendered. . . A marinaowner, operator, employee or agent shall not be heldliable for any damage incurred to a vessel from storms orhurricanes and is held harmless as a result of suchactions.”

It appears that while a boat owner cannot be forced to evac-uate a boat from a marina, the marina owner may move aboat from its slip and place it elsewhere, an act not deemedan evacuation under the new provisions of this law. Themarina can also charge for this action and cannot be heldliable for any adverse outcome of the move.

Derelict Vessels Change Section 4 of 7175 puts teeth and a piranha’s bite into ownersof derelict vessels so that the vessels can be removed fromwaterways. The new bill defines “derelict” broadly, andallows officers of the Florida Fish and Wildlife ConservationCommission to designate a boat derelict. Then this commis-sion or other law enforcement agencies can remove theboats and charge the owners the costs if the owner does notundertake removal. If a law enforcement agency pays upfront to remove a derelict vessel:

“All costs incurred by the commission [FWCC] or otherlaw enforcement agency in the removal of any abandonedor derelict vessel as set out above shall be recoverableagainst the owner thereof. . .any person who neglects orrefuses to pay such amount is not entitled to be issued acertificate of registration for such vessel or motor vehicle,or any other vessel or motor vehicle, until such costs havebeen paid.”

In other words, no other boat or car can be registered untilthe cleanup debt is paid to the state.

Derelict vessel removal cost recovery does not appear tobe retroactive, and even if it is deemed to be, ownership of asubstantial number of wrecks cannot be determined. For thefirst time, money from a couple of trust funds is designatedto pay for derelict vessel removal (Section 1 of 7175). In thefirst year, $1.1-million may be available to local governmentsstatewide to aid in derelict vessel removal, according toRalph M. Perkins, analyst, House of Represent-atives. TheFlorida Coastal Protection Fund and Fuel Tax CollectionTrust Fund are mentioned as sources. In the case of the FuelTax Collection Fund, use for derelict vessel removal is addedto the list of fundable initiatives, which include boater accessfacilities. Derelict vessel removal is now potentially compet-ing with new boat ramps and mooring fields for which localgovernments might also make use of the Fuels Tax Fund.According to Bill Johnson, an aide to Rep. Mitch Needleman,local governments can now use their share of boating regis-tration fees on derelict vessel removal if they choose (Section5, 7175).

Even on its face, 7175 makes substantial changes in bothlaws and funding programs for boaters in the state. Withoutspecifically using the word, it again permits marina evacu-ations and will hold boat owners responsible for derelictboat removal. And this time, the legislature means it, too,because a boat owner cannot register any other vehicle inthe state until he or she pays for derelict vessel removal. Ifforecasts for stormy weather later this summer turn out tobe correct, the career path to marine salvor/vessel removerwill be so bright, aspirants will have to wear shades, thanksto 7175.

The complete text of 7175 is available at http://myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Docummmments/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h7175er.doc&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=7175&Session=2006.

Storing Your Boat on LandBy Capt. Ron Butler

Most of the attached pictures are from November 2005 atIndiantown Marina, Indiantown, FL, in the wake ofHurricane Wilma. Wilma scored a direct hit on IndiantownMarina on its way across Florida. Wilma was a late seasonstorm, making landfall on October 24 near the 10,000Islands region south of Cape Romano in southwest Floridaas a Category 3 storm. It went northeast across southernLake Okeechobee and exited into the Atlantic around theFort Pierce area still as a category 3 storm. The storm hadbeen up to a Category 5 storm before landfall as it devel-oped in the Caribbean.

Indiantown Marina is basically a dry storage yard witha few wet slips on the St. Lucie Waterway that leads east

from Lake Okeechobee across the state to Fort Myers. Locksand other flood control structures control the waterway level.

The marina itself is about 6 or 7 miles east of the lake.About 300 boats are stored here over the summer, manybeing owned by Canadians, and almost all are in that absen-tee owner category. There is no danger of high water or thekind of wave action seen on the coast here. The land is flatand rainwater collects in low spots but usually drains off orsoaks in pretty quickly. Interestingly, earthen-works dikes orlevees contain Lake Okeechobee itself, not unlike NewOrleans. If they ever broke down, 6 or 7 miles away is notgoing to be nearly enough. The damage shown here, howev-er, was all caused by wind and possibly tornados. Judgingby the randomness of the damage, tornados would be a goodbet. Thirty-three boats were knocked over, but damage wasnot limited to just those boats, as some boats fell into othersnearby, taking rigging and damaging decks, etc.

Boats on the hard here last year were blocked with jackstands. Our Ericson 38, Kismet, had eight stands alignedtogether in four pairs. The front pair and the aft pair werechained together. Generally the ground here is a well-packed sand/shell mixture with a fairly dense grass cover.The boats were also secured with heavy-duty 3-inch ratch-eting cargo straps hooked to large mobile-home-size screwanchors in the ground between boats. Boats in the storageyard are closely spaced with only a couple of feet betweenthem in some cases. Adjacent boats share the screw anchorbetween them.

One eyewitness said he watched boats rocking in thewind and walking their jack stands out from under theboats. He thought that this was because the chains holdingthe jack stands under the boats were positioned too low tokeep the pads in contact with the hull. He said that nexttime, in addition to chains, he would put cargo strapshooked onto the jack stands high up, just under the pads,then wrapped under the hull to the opposite stand, then

HURRICANE SEASON 2006

36 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Some went one way while others went over the opposite way, yetsome in the middle stayed put only to take damage from theirneighbors. This group shows you just how random the destructionwas. Note the masts standing straight versus the ones tilting.

In the picture you can see our boat as we left her in May of 2005for the hurricane season. The tarp over our boom was supposed tobe cut away by our boat-sitter if a storm approached. It was notand ended up shredded, although it stayed put. Also note the sin-gle cargo strap. I hooked our cargo straps to the main chain plateson each side. The chains linking jack stands are just visible with aladder resting on the after-chain.

until the center and braces contacted the plywood. The ply-wood would then prevent further sinking, and the sunkenends of the legs would help hold it in place. However, I didnot see any boats knocked over or damaged because thejack stands sank into the ground. There could have been afew. I just didn’t see any.

We did see one knocked-down boat with a jack standthat penetrated the hull. But again it’s hard to say whetherthis was a cause or effect without further investigation, butit would probably be a good idea to position stands in align-ment with interior bulkheads.

No one I spoke with mentioned storing the boats withthe rigs removed, and although this would reduce windage,

cinched up tight. Sounds good.Another owner said that he would put plywood pads

under the center of the jack stands. The jack stands are a tri-pod arrangement with a center pipe to accommodate thejackscrew itself. At about two inches from the bottom of thestand legs, horizontal pipes are welded to the central pipe tohelp center the pipe and keep the legs spread. A 3/4-inchplywood pad about 2 by 2 feet under the center would like-ly be adequate as the leg ends would then penetrate sand up

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 37

Hurricane TipsGot a tip to help others?

Send them to [email protected].

Here’s a Couple:

Don’t Forget to Secure Your BoomI once had my topping lift break during a storm, and theboom fell and smashed the compass. Now I lower theboom down to where it is just above the cabin top at thecockpit and double the topping lift using the main hal-yard, then I secure the boom with lines port and star-board to the two headsail sheet winches to minimizemovement and chafe, which caused my topping lift tobreak that time.

Tape Water Entrances to Down BelowI heard of one boater who found so much water downbelow after a storm passed through that he realized allthe rain was getting in through tiny cracks and crevices,like the companionway boards where they butt up toeach other. High winds and hours of rain was forcing thewater into small openings. He taped every opening hecould find with Duct tape and solved almost all of hiswater problems. WD-40, or mineral spirits will removethe residue later.

Note the screw anchor pulled out here. In boats that wereknocked over, some had the screw anchors pulled out, but I don’tknow if this was cause or effect.

Some owners said they would rig four tie-down straps to four sep-arate screw anchors; also a good idea. Note in the picture abovewhere three boats were knocked over, but the one in the middle isstill standing. That boat has four cargo straps rigged. Also notethat it has no rig. I’m not sure if the rig got knocked off or wasstored separately before the storm. Some told me that the pull onthe screw anchors was too vertical and that wider spacing wouldbe better; probably a good idea, too.

you still need to store the rig somewhere safe. You will, ofcourse, incur additional costs for the stepping/unsteppingand storage process. It might be worth it, especially if youneed to unstep for other purposes anyway.

It’s also interesting to note that my insurance will payfor a haul-out—IF I haul out in anticipation of a specificnamed storm, but it won’t pay for a seasonal haul-out—once again proving that underwriters are just stupid. Sookay, let me understand this: In 2004, they would have paidfor me to haul and launch my boat three times, but theywon’t pay for it to be hauled once? No wonder my rates areso high.

So what does this all mean? How would I prefer toleave my boat? Well, it depends on circumstances. Kismethas survived two hurricanes on the hard (Isabel in 2003 andWilma 2005) and three in the water (Charlie, Frances andJeanne in 2004). We’ve been lucky enough to survive all fivewith minimal damage…probably should have named theboat Stormy.

By the way, the boat was stored on the hard at PortAnnapolis Marina during Isabel in 2003, and the yard justsecured the boat with chained-together jack stands and notie-downs or plywood under the stands. So the jury’s out onwhether tie-downs work or not. After seeing the damage atIndiantown, I prefer tie-downs. However, no boats at Port

Annapolis Marina fell over during Isabel, so go figure.Given our experience, if I can’t be there to shepherd the

boat and try to take care of it myself, I’d prefer to store it onthe hard in a knowledgeable yard. If I can be near enoughto prepare for a storm, set anchors, set-up storm dock lines,anchor out or some other strategy, then I think I like the “inthe water” solution best.

If I were to store on the hard again over a Florida sum-mer, what I’d really like would be a flood-proof yard thatwould dig me a four-foot deep trench, lower the boat into itand backfill it with sand. Probably ain’t gonna happen.

The “H” Word in Key WestBy Rebecca Burg

“Did you really have to say the H-word?”

That was a common response when I asked a number ofFlorida boat owners about their experiences with hurri-

canes. No one likes to entertain the idea of another busycyclone season, but we do have to plan and prepare. Manyboaters had faced some rough lessons during last year’srecord season, and they plan to do things differently thisyear.

“This time I’m taking the boat into a marina,” saidSteve, liveaboard captain of the 41-foot Beneteau Aclient.“Also, I’ll be sure to have insurance.” Steve regretted nothaving insurance for Aclient after a hit by HurricaneWilma’s eyewall and storm surge. The boat was left atanchor near Key West (west of Fleming Key) on three 3/4-inch nylon lines with chafing gear at the bow. There is asouthwest and northwest exposure to open seas and duringthe storm, one line chafed through and the other two brokeabout 10-feet from the bow. Aclient was blown into the man-groves, the trees puncturing her hull below the waterline.The rudder was torn away as its monel post snapped intwo, cabin windows on the port side were smashed, andhardware was mostly crushed or ripped away from thedeck due to a lengthy pounding into the trees by the steep,violent seas. No one was onboard during the time. Afterfour months in the yard and with numerous new bodyparts, Aclient is floating again. Still being nursed back tohealth by Steve and partner Capt. Kris, the sailboat was one

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38 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

SOUTHWINDS Web Site Hurricane Pages

Visit the SOUTHWINDS hurricane pages at www.south-windsmagazine.com for stories and articles on how tosave your boat during a storm, tips, links to other Websites, great weather links for hurricanes and more. ThisWeb site is becoming the best save-your-boat Web site onthe Internet.

I don’t know what happened here, but I’m guessing the boat triedto move forward—maybe due to the drag on the canvas—androcked off her stands. I think stripping canvas is a must whetheryour boat is on the hard or in the water.

HURRICANE SEASON 2006

just have to do what you can.” Your hurricane plan needs tobe tailored to your own unique situation, location and typeof vessel. Clearly, the boat should be protected fromexposed areas of ocean and storm-tossed debris. Removethe vessel’s canvas, especially roller furling sails. For boatskept in slips or on relatively sheltered moorings, ownersfeel strongly about having numerous shock-absorbinglines and chafing gear. For chafing gear, people typicallyused cloth-covered fire hose, garden hose or the flexibleplastic hose for a boat’s water system. Hurricane expertDr. William M. Gray and his team predicted 17 namedstorms and nine cyclones to form this year, and this is wellabove average. To protect our lives and property, we musttake the time to plan and prepare.

of the lucky ones. Most vessels that had beenleft at anchor on the west side of Fleming Keywere sunk, driven aground, hit by drifting boatsor completely destroyed by the end of the ‘05season. There was just too much exposure toopen seas and winds.

Not too far away, Ed and Julie Gully werein the sheltered waters of Garrison Bightonboard their 46-foot Spindrift with their 29-foot sailboat tucked in a slip nearby. DuringWilma, one of the sailboat’s lines chafedthrough, but Ed was nearby to correct the prob-lem. During the storm surge, the water roseover the fixed pier, and the couple had to moni-tor and adjust their vessel’s ropes to keep hercentered. Both boats were unharmed. “We haveall kinds of extra lines,” Ed says about his stormpreparation. He uses nylon lines, keeps them ingood condition and watches for chafe. In near-by slips, a few of the houseboats sank, theirstructures unable to handle the shock loads of hurricaneforce gusts and lines stretched too tight from a storm surge.One houseboat owner, his vessel is equipped with anengine, hid from Wilma in a natural mangrove shelter andsurvived unscathed.

Like all Southern marinas, Oceanside on Stock Islandfollows through with a long checklist of hurricane prepara-tions. Loose items are secured or put away, power is shutoff, and the light bulbs are removed from exterior fixtures.Boats in slips are tied with extra line, and sailboat ownersare encouraged to remove roller furling sails. DuringWilma, one sailboat in the marina was dismasted when herheadsail unrolled, but most boats survived unharmed. “Wereally didn’t expect the tidal surge,” said dockhand JohnNicholson, Jr. “The marina flooded this high.” He held hishand about four feet above the asphalt driveway. The fuelpumps were flooded, and all dockside electrical wiring hadto be replaced. John’s own liveaboard sailboat, tied in a slipwith multiple sets of line and chafing gear, was okay. Theboat did experience a close call when a floating Dumpsterthreatened to crash into her. John stressed the importance ofremoving a sailboat’s canvas before a hurricane, especiallyroller furling. In a boatyard nearby, several vessels wereknocked from their stands and damaged when furled sailsunrolled and flapped in the winds.

Charlie and Krista Corrado’s 24-foot sloop, tied in aMarco Island canal, saw a long period of relative calm whenHurricane Wilma’s large eye passed overhead. When theother side of the violent eyewall hit, a tree fell on the sail-boat. No one was onboard. Unexpectedly, the tree didn’tharm the little vessel, but instead held her away from beingscraped against the concrete seawall. The inflatable RIBdinghy, not as lucky, was wrapped around a separate treenearby. Some boats tied near docks and seawalls experi-enced hull damage from rubbing on pilings or other hardsurfaces. In Hurricane Dennis, in 2005, one man near KeyWest died when his vessel sank in the slip after the hull washoled this way.

“I really don’t know of any perfect system yet,”Aclient’s captain, Steve, said about hurricane plans. “You

Chris and Steve on board their 41-foot

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 39

Send Us Your Hurricane Stories

We are always looking for stories on your experiences, tolearn those techniques that succeeded and those that didn’t,as we can learn from both. Ideas, tips and Web site linkswanted, too. [email protected].

40 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

“Ain’t never gonna happen,” an old Florida cracker muttered.“Nothing like that’s gone down

the Oklawaha River since thesteamboats in the late 1800s.” In the same vein, a ranger from the Cross Florida Greenway field

office said, “I don’t think so!”

T he above comments were made in reference to thefact that my husband and five other men planned to“cruise” down the Oklawaha River in two 15-foot

Marshall Sandpiper Catboats. Obviously the commentswere made by people who didn’t know the men involved,their ingenuity, perseverance, and love for the water.

And if you find this title an oxymoron, well … theOklawaha and St. Johns Rivers are among the few that actu-ally flow northward.

With the above in mind, and about a year’s worth ofplanning, two Marshall Sandpipers from Useppa Island,with collapsible masts, were pulled out of their home

waters of Pine Island Sound, loaded on trailers, and packedto the gunnels with food, coolers, clothing, and everythingelse needed for a three-day water trip and two travel days.

Five hours were spent driving north to the FloridaLakes region. Our first night was in Mt. Dora, a cosmopoli-tan town with good lodging and restaurants. The trip wasto start at Lake Dora or Lake Eustis at the Eustis SailingCenter. However, the wind was blowing about 20 mph fromthe north.

Plan “C” was quickly put into action with the guysdropping the boats into the water a little farther north at theheadwaters of the Oklawaha. Into Nelson’s Fish Camp atthe north end of Lake Griffin drove our enthusiastic group.

Nelson’s is a trip back in time to the ‘50s or before. Oldmobile homes and cabins are scattered throughout theproperty, roofs covered with years of pine needles. A signon the dock next to the bait well read, “Watch out forSnakes.” Water moccasins climb up into the bait wells on adaily basis, we were told. Needless to say, every step wastaken with this in mind.

Paraphernalia was arranged and re-arranged so eachboat could hold three men without their knees up to theirchins. Four men on the dock listened and watched in horroras the collapsible masts were lifted into place, and the sixguys motored off. Our feeling was that no one from the fishcamp had ever seen a sailboat on the river. Probably nevereven seen a sailboat. These guys had been fishermen alltheir lives.

A bridge loomed a hundred yards ahead, supposedly

North ByNortheast:

TravelingDown Florida’s

Oklawaha ina catboat

By Gretchen Coyle

Map by Florida Departmentof Environmental Protection,

Office of Coastal and AquaticManaged Areas (CAMA).

village, and one of the first glass-bottomed boats from theearly 1900s. We were lucky to be able to stay there one night.

Monkeys were sighted, looking healthy and well-fed.Not Florida natives, these fellows are the descendants of theones that escaped during the filming of the first Tarzanmovies made in the Silver River/Silver Springs area in the1930s.

Next morning, the original prophecy of the OklawahaRiver not being navigable in spots loomed its ugly head.Not missing a beat, nor wanting to say they missed part ofthe river, canoes and kayaks were rented for the six-hourpaddling stretch between Silver Springs and Eureka. TheCatboats were towed there early in the morning.

A line drawing of theOklawaha illustrated inBoating and Cruising Guide tothe St. Johns River labels thearea as “nasty snags” inaddition to “gorgeous wildriver!” Nothing more specif-

ic or detailed was founddespite poring over numer-ous materials. Branches andvegetation continually blockthe river. What charts existare for the St. Johns, mislead-ing or nonexistent in refer-ence to parts of theOklawaha.

Night three was spent at the Outpost Resort in Eurekaabutting the Ocala National Forest. The sailors stayed incabins along the Oklawaha where the guys cooked steaksover a grill. Meanwhile. Bike Week was taking place inDaytona with thousands of bikers hogging the roads (punintended), not to mention partying at every spot within 200miles. My trailering friend and I were sorry we were not onthe water.

Back to the boaters: After their exhausting six-hour pad-dle up the Oklawaha through water just inches deep and notmuch wider, they began what was to be a perfect day-and-a-half sail to Welaka. With an 18-mph wind at their backs, anda perpetually curving Oklawaha, the Catboats moved rightalong, continually tacking downwind. Taking turns at thehelm, everyone claimed it was the highlight of the trip.

The catboats leave the Moss Bluff Lock after dropping 20 feet.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 41

20 feet in height. The sailors had not counted on either aninaccurate chart or the Oklawaha River being so high dur-ing a Florida drought. But sure enough it was, resulting inthe wind vane on our boat flying in every direction, piecesof black plastic raining down.

“Shore ain’t much of a difference between dedicationand stupidity,” one of the fellows muttered to us as theboats slipped under the bridge (a Sandpiper probably has aheight of 16 + feet.) Another wife and I were left on the dockto explain about sailing—and drive the empty trailersahead daily to the next landing or dock.

Touring along the way we stopped in the town ofOklawaha. Walking around, we located the Ma BarkerGang homestead (where theshootout with the FBIoccurred), and a nifty bar andrestaurant spot overlookingLake Weir called Gator Joe’s.With docks and its ownbeach, it must be popularwith the boating crowd.

Our next stop was theMoss Bluff Lock. With impec-cable (translate that lucky)timing, we pulled in just asthe sailboats came into sight.After the bridge fiasco, themen had sailed all the wayto Moss Bluff. Having justpassed an unbelievablerookery filled with numer-ous osprey, egret, ibis, andheron nests, we were invit-ed aboard to motor back tothis site.

Hoagies and bottled water in our laps, we lunched,anchored among the lilies and aquatic vegetation and lis-tening to the birds. Talk centered around the days whenhunters randomly shot birds for the plumes, which endedup on Victorian ladies’ hats.

Moss Bluff Lock dropped the Sandpipers 20 feet, muchmore than anyone thought would happen. “I’ve workedhere four years and never seen a sailboat,” the lady lock-keeper yelled down. “And I hope you have lots of drinks;there isn’t a bar along the way.”

“We may be crazy, but we’re not stupid,” was thesailors’ reply. It immediately became the mantra of the sixvoyagers.

The sail continued on to Ray’s Landing on the brilliantSilver River/Silver Springs with masts being dropped to getunder the old metal, swing Sharpes Ferry Bridge, (nowminus its bridge tender). It was hard to imagine the steam-boats going along the narrow river. But old photos andpostcards clearly show tree branches and vegetation imped-ing them on the way.

Now a suburb of Ocala, Silver Springs was an earlytourist attraction for the tin-canners. People once visited thebubbling, clear, and healthy springs where 516-million gal-lons of water are still emitted per day. The attraction nowhouses a few blue plastic water slides in addition to thesprings.

Nearby Silver Springs State Park is a gem. Walkingtrails led to the Silver River, where we could see downunimaginable depths. There are cabins to rent, a first-classmuseum, a group of old homes situated to form a Cracker

Moss Bluff LockCR 464COklawaha, Fl(352) 671-8560

Cross Florida Greenway8282 SE Highway 314Ocala, FL 34470(352) 236-7143www.floridagreenwaysandtrails.com

Ray’s Landing, Ray Wayside ParkEast Highway #40Silver Springs, FL(352) 671-8560

Silver River State Park1425 NE 58th Ave.Ocala, FL 34470(352) 236-7148(800) 326-3521

Oklawaha Visitors CenterRoutes #315 and 40Silver Springs, FL 34488(352) 236-0288

Rodman Reservoir and Buckman Lock(386) 329-3575

42 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

The Oklawaha Rivermainly runs through ruralareas so the scenery is nat-ural, native, old Florida.Turtles and larger-than-lifealligators line the banks. Agopher tortoise may stareback while a fox lingersclose by. Snakes drop intothe water off live oakswhile deer scurry off at theslightest sound. Spanishmoss drapes over the river.Rare flora and fauna arefound along the route.Partnerships from differentlocal, county and federalorganizations have groupedtogether to provide trails,camping sites, and boat landings inareas such as the Cross FloridaGreenway.

Names from the old steamboatroute popped up like Payne’sLanding, Twin Plantation, and FortBrooke. All forsaken now for the moreexciting spots like Orlando, Ocala,and Jacksonville. Welaka on the St.Johns River was the sailors’ ultimatedestination.

The never-completed CrossFlorida Barge Canal and HenryHolland Buckman Lock and RodmanReservoir Pool connect the OklawahaRiver to the St. Johns. The idea of across-Florida canal system was amaz-ingly started in the 1500 by a Spanishexplorer. During a time of U.S. canalbuilding in the mid 1800s, the ideawas proposed again. Attempts weremade in the 1930s and 1960s, but theproject was finally halted in 1990 aftera series of lawsuits.

It was decided to deed the land tothe state, forming recreation and con-servation sites. Once designed forbarge and ship travel, the BuckmanLock is 600 feet long by 84 feet wide.The area is a favorite spot for localfishermen, canoes, and kayaks. Fewpeople have ever heard of it, let alonebeen there. It is not for the meek.Sailing is unheard of.

Luckily, the Florida Greenwaysoffice and Oklawaha Visitors Centerhad provided good advance informa-tion to my husband. And the windwas at their backs. Tacking could havebeen tiring, time consuming, andimpossible at times due to the width.

Confusing as it sounds, thesailors headed up (south) the St. JohnsRiver after exiting the Buckman Lock.

After a good sailing run, sails weredropped and outboard motors turnedon for the last stretch against windand water flow to the small fishingvillage of Welaka.

Welaka is located on the St. JohnsRiver, and locked in the ‘40s. Old fishcamps and small cracker homes linethe river. A more beautiful sight can-not be imagined. It is about two hourssouth of Jacksonville and will proba-bly be the next spot “found” in fast-developing Florida.

My friend and I had our trailersneatly lined up at the Welaka townramp next to the Welaka Landing

Boat Works where the spe-cialty is wooden boatrestoration. Owner RandSpeas is a congenial gen-tleman, who was givinghis 1930 35-foot Elco arefurbishing for the Mt.Dora Wooden Boat Show.

Time was spent walk-ing around town and talk-ing to a man who was try-ing to snag turtles. “Tasteslike chicken,” he told us.

Finally, the boats cameinto sight late afternoon,American flags proudlyflying from the masts.Curious locals stared atthe Catboats, undoubted-

ly the most exciting thing that had hap-pened in weeks. Less than 24 hourslater, both boats were resting on theirUseppa Island moorings, the eight ofus either unpacking or napping.

Six men had indeed traversed theOklawaha River—mainly by sail,although one part was paddled,another motored. Cruising over 110miles in two 15-foot SandpiperCatboats down the Oklawaha River,where probably the last people tofully navigate it were the steamboatcaptains, was a thrill not soon to beforgotten.

Mast down to passunder the bridge.

Sailing down the Oklawahain a catboat.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 43

T here is no doubt that differentstrokes are for different folks,so let’s take a look at choosing

between cruising in the Florida Keysor the Bahamas. Assuming that youhave a season—or at least a fewweeks—to spend cruising one ofthese island groups, let’s evaluatewhich of them might offer the bestexperience for you.

First of all, there are some simi-larities, which would probably getyou thinking about visiting eitherisland chain in the first place. TheKeys comprise islands extending from just south of Miamito Key West (and beyond if you consider the Dry Tortugasas part of the package). From Biscayne Bay to Key West isabout 140 miles. The Keys offer good sailing in the HawkChannel where the ocean swells are knocked down by theoffshore reefs and the shallow waters. North of the Keys inFlorida Bay, there is also good sailing and anchoring forboats with a shallow draft. Snorkeling and fishing are goodand very popular. Although the Keys are well populatedand some areas are built up, many islands are low-lying andhave not been filled and developed (at least not yet).

The Bahamas comprise several island groups, each ofwhich is roughly the same length as the Florida Keys.Sailing, snorkeling and fishing are good in the Bahamas.Most of the islands are relatively unpopulated andremote. Much of the best sailing is on the protected andshallow Bahama Bank, which offers great sailing inbenign sea conditions.

So if both island groups offer all this, how would youchoose where to spend your season? Well, rest assured;there are lots of differences to consider. Let’s take a look.

Foreign or Domestic?Some folks are looking for a foreign experience in a differ-ent country with a different culture from what they are usedto. Others prefer the comfortable familiarity of being able toshop at Publix and Kmart and use the bank and U.S. mailjust like at home. Also, anyone who wishes to work alongthe way will probably have to choose the Keys.

Visiting the Bahamas is unquestionably a foreign expe-rience, and all those familiar conveniences we are so used tovaporize the minute you cross the Gulf Stream. The goodnews is that the Bahamian people speak English, although I

Cruise the Bahamaor the Keys?

Differences and SimilaritiesBy Colin Ward

defy the new visitor to understandtwo Bahamians talking to each otherin their local accents. The foreignexperience starts when you firstarrive and clear in through customsand immigration. The cost to obtain acruising permit for your vessel for ayear is either $150 or $300, dependingon whether it is longer than 35 feet ornot. Immigration is free. The crew canleave and return at no extra cost, butthe boat can only leave once andreturn during the first 90 days or itwill be liable for another cruising per-

mit fee. Towns like Nassau and Marsh Harbor have super-markets and other stores that are similar to the United

The dinghy dock and marina at Boot KeyHarbor, Marathon, in the Florida Keys.

44 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

States, but away from thebig towns, shopping islimited or non-existent.Bahamians order goodsfrom Nassau or theUnited States and havethem delivered inexpen-sively by one of the mailboats or freighters thatply the waters regularly.You should learn rightaway that islands in theBahamas are known asCays (pronounced thesame as Keys).

The Florida Keys arenot as developed as partsof the U.S. mainland, butyou don’t have to go far tofind the same suburbiastores that are in everyother U.S. town. HomeDepot, Publix, Kmart,Office Depot, WestMarine, Wendy’s and soon are in Marathon, KeyWest and other largertowns. Of course, bankingand medical care are alsoreadily available. TheKeys cater to tourists sothere are restaurants onmany corners, from localeateries to modern chains.

Menu choices inBahamian local restau-rants are limited to a fewcommon dishes. Some arevery good, but those whovalue dining out in theUnited States will soon be longing for good steak, pizza ormoo goo gai pan.

Getting to the Bahamas requires selecting the rightweather to comfortably cross the Gulf Stream, which can bevery ugly in the wrong weather. Otherwise, navigation isnot particularly difficult. There is far less support if some-thing goes wrong in the Bahamas. Assume there are notowing services and be self-sufficient. The Keys on theother hand are well equipped with ice, towboats, marinechandleries and boatyards.

The Sailing and the WeatherSailing can be very good both in the Bahamas and the Keys.The weather is the deciding factor, and the winter brings aseries of cold fronts to both areas. The cold fronts usually hitharder the farther north you lie. The Abacos typically seemuch colder and windier weather than the Exumas. TheKeys receive something in between. A typical cycle wouldbe easterly winds in the 15- to 20-knot range for two or threedays, then winds clocking toward the south and southwest

and lightening a bit, thenthe wind clocking west.Then, all of a sudden, asquall line comes through—often packing north-west winds to 40 knotsfor a short time, and thenit continues clocking tothe northeast at 15 to 20,and then back to the eastagain. The entire cycletakes less than a weekand is then repeated. Thecold-front cycle dimin-ishes in intensity in thespring, and summer andfall are pleasant otherthan the threat of hurri-canes.

The sailing is goodfor much of the cold-front cycle, but the focusis on where to be whenthe northwest squallsarrive. Both the Keys andthe Bahamas have a fewharbors offering all-around protection, butmany anchorages areonly protected from onedirection. Careful studyof the charts and guide-books is required toinsure a safe and pleasantcold-front passage.

Depths and DraftOur sailboat Mandalay, aCatalina 42, draws in

excess of six feet so we are well aware of the limitations ofdraft in both areas. We have found that we can enjoy mostof the Bahamas with some planning and forethought. Wehave no difficulty sailing in the Hawk Channel south of theKeys, but we have not found many anchorages that are pro-tected from anything more than the north. The exception isBoot Key Harbor in Marathon, which is a terrific harbor,and I am writing this article sitting there on a mooring. Thechannel into the harbor is deep enough for us to get in, butI picture the keel scaring the crabs on the bottom as itsqueaks by. Mandalay does not cruise along the Florida Bayside of the Keys simply because the depths are inadequate,and tides—that help us into some Bahamian anchorages—are very small and unpredictable in Florida Bay.

Deep-draft anchorages off the Hawk Channel includeRodriguez Key, Tavernier Key, Bahia Honda State Park,Newfound Harbor and Key West. Of these, only Boot KeyHarbor qualifies as an all-weather harbor. In light winds,you can always pull up to an island and drop the hook. Youcan usually get in the lee of the islands near Channel Five.There may be a couple of marinas that can accommodate a

Collecting conch in the Bahamas.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 45

six-foot draft. Call before entering!Boats drawing significantly less

than six feet can find many moreanchorages and marinas both“ocean side” (south and east of theKeys) and “bay side” (north andwest of the Keys).

Physical CharacteristicsThe Keys look a lot different from the Bahamian islands.The Keys are composed of sandy soil covered with man-groves. Much of the undeveloped land is low-lying and notsuitable for building. Some of the undeveloped areas areparks operated by the state government.

If you take the Overseas Highway down the islandchain, you will see the best and the worst of the Keys, thebest being the views of the water and the worst being theolder commercial buildings and yards, which appear tohave grown up years ago without the benefit of planning orzoning and now look distinctly shabby. Despite the veryhigh cost of real estate in the Keys, the impression is hardlyone of “upscale” unless you get into one of the new resortsor developments. As in the rest of Florida, I think this is des-tined to change.

The Florida Keys are close to the only coral reefs in theUnited States. The reefs therefore receive a lot of attention,and there are numerous rules and regulations aimed atpreservation. The farther offshore and the farther south yougo, the clearer and more spectacular the water becomes,especially if one ventures to the Dry Tortugas.

Bahamian islands are essentially limestone rock, some-times appropriately called ironshore, often surrounded bysandy beaches. A large number of native shrubs grow in soilpockets on the rocks, and there are trees called casuarinas(or Australian pines) and various palms along the beaches.The Bahamas are not very high, but they are more hilly thanthe Keys. The majority of Bahamian cays are sparsely inhab-ited although many are privately owned. Once you havecleared into the Bahamas, there are few rules and regula-tions to worry about.

Coral reefs are found throughout the Bahamas, and thesnorkeling and reef fishing is very good. Bahamian fisher-men have abused the reefs in the past using techniques suchas dynamiting and bleaching the reefs to catch fish. Thesepractices are now illegal, but some reefs will never recover.Fortunately, there are thousands of reefs and coral heads sothere are many that are still pristine. The water in theBahamas is totally clear, and it takes on beautiful shades ofturquoise and blue depending on the depth. When the sur-face of the water is not disturbed by wind, it is easy to seeyour anchor and chain on the bottom in 20 feet of water. Ido not think the water is prettier anywhere in the UnitedStates or the Caribbean than it is right across the GulfStream in the Bahamas.

CostsIn addition to the customs fees mentioned above, the cost ofvisiting the Bahamas might be higher than visiting the Keys.Groceries and other imported items are subject to a duty

that drives the price up about 40percent. Telephones and fuel are alsomore expensive. If you take most ofyour groceries with you, you willnot feel the effects of higher pricestoo much. There are a few gooddeals in the Bahamas. For instance,we get all of our dental care in theBahamas; $40 for a cleaning andcheckup. We have also bought two

outboard motors in the Bahamas for lower than U.S. prices.Make sure your boat insurance covers you. Most U.S. com-panies either include the Bahamas or will add a rider for amodest amount.

The Keys are a little more costly than the mainland.Fuel is noticeably more expensive and other items vary inaccordance with supply and demand.

DecisionsIn summary, both the Keys and the Bahamas are excellentcruising grounds, and you will have to decide which fitsyour style. The Bahamas are foreign, more remote and chal-lenging, and possibly more rewarding. The Keys are famil-iar, convenient and relatively safe with lots of support avail-able. The Keys are more difficult in a deep-draft vessel.

Good luck with your choice. I do not think you will bedisappointed with either.

The anchorage in Georgetown, Bahamas.

46 Juny 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

S ailors for generations have used chants, songs and say-ings to remember what they need to know to make theboat do what they want it to do.

PHRF racing skippers and crew can use wordreminders to keep the myriad things in mind that make ourboat a little faster than that boat back there.

Here are a few words to sail by:

SAILS

• If in doubt, let them out.• Make the top battens parallel to the boom. If they are full-

length battens, make the aft third parallel to the boom. • Check the top full-length batten after every tack or jibe.• Trim the genny or jib first, then the mainsail to match. • Play the mainsheet more, the tiller less.

Words to Sail ByBy Dave Ellis

PHRF RACING TIPS

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 47

SAILING

• Get Clear Air. Maintain Clear Air. Stay in Clear Air.• To “slow” the boat, don’t slow down; make turns to go

more distance (at the start or to position for insideturns).

• The rudder is a brake. Use it judiciously. Use the main-sail to help turn: Dump out when falling off; pull inwhen heading up from a reach or run.

• Telltales on the genoa: Turn the tiller toward the one thatis misbehaving when going to windward.

• Telltales on the genoa when reaching: Let the sail out orpull it in toward the one that is misbehaving.

• After a jibe, push the tiller toward the boom to avoiddoom.

• When tacking, push the tiller toward the boom to avoiddoom.

• With wheel steering, turn the top of the wheel awayfrom the boom to avoid doom.

• Sailing to weather, think speed, not height. Generally“bow down” is faster on most PHRF racers, especiallyin waves.

• On reaches, up on the lulls, off on the puffs.• On the corners, “Wide and Tight,” like a motorcycle

racer’s turn.• A free-spinning prop has more drag than a stopped

prop.• If you think you may want to reef, REEF. Heeling caus-

es weather helm, which causes rudder angle, whichcauses slowing.

THE BOAT

• A smooth, clean boat bottom has more speed effect thannew sails.

• Every extra pound on the boat has to be pushed aroundthe course.

BRAIN GAME

• A 10-degree shift advantages one boat by 25 percent ofthe separation between boats. Get separation at yourperil—or advantage.

• When a port tacker ducks a starboard tack boat, unlessthat boat is laying the weather mark, the port tacker isnow ahead. Stay to the right of your closest competi-tion.

• Plan ahead, anticipate, prepare. • Communicate to crew…before you do anything, not

during.• Keep the crew hydrated. A thirsty crew makes more

mistakes.

Smile! It is supposed to be fun.

T he 26th Annual Gulf Yachting Association’s OffshoreChallenge Cup Regatta was held at Pensacola Yacht

Club June 22-25. This interclub competition pitting memberyacht clubs against each other in a series of spinnaker racesis normally held in Gulfport, MS. While hurricane-rebuild-ing efforts continue along the Gulf Coast, PYC agreed tohost this year’s event.

“We have been challenged by the weather, then by

changing venues, and by delivery of boats,” said JanetMiller-Schmidt, GYA commodore, “but we rallied, and herewe are at Pensacola Yacht Club. We are thankful we can geton a boat to sail.”

Besides the outstanding hospitality of the “South’sFinest Yacht Club,” competitors and guests were treated tothree days of great sailing weather with winds ranging from8-10 knots increasing to 15-17 knots on Friday. Saturdaythere were winds beginning with 4-5 knots, increasing to 12-15 knots. Sunday’s final race was 8-12 knots.

Pensacola Beach Yacht Club’s A-class boat, Liberty, aMelges 32, won the first race by just 14 seconds, overdefending GYA Cup team, Southern Yacht Club’s A-classboat, Iris. It set the pace for the six races that followedthroughout the weekend. Less than 18 seconds separatedfirst- and second-place finishers in both the B-class and C-class as well.

PYC hosted the inaugural Challenge Cup Regatta in1979. Mobile Yacht Club won it. Except for 2004, whenFairhope Yacht Club took first overall, the yacht clubs sur-rounding Lake Pontchartrain have claimed the coveted per-petual trophy every year.

“The one-hour trip to the start line and changing windconditions in Gulfport has often limited the total number ofraces held,” explained PYC’s fleet captain and regatta chair,John Matthews. “However, Pensacola Bay offers immediateaccess to good deep sailing waters, so we planned on com-pleting seven races over three days.”

In 1979, three boat teams representing GYA clubs partic-ipated. Later four-boat teams raced. Today, clubs have achoice of sending either three- or four-boat teams.

Thirty-nine boats representing 10 GYA yacht clubs par-ticipated. Teams from PBYC, PYC, and SYC were joined byPontchartrain Yacht Club, Fairhope Yacht Club, NewOrleans Yacht Club, Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile YachtClub, Fort Walton Yacht Club and St. Andrews Bay YachtClub.

Using a low point scoring system, the best three of fourfinishes for each team are tallied for each race. Defendingchampion, SYC, had a total of 18 1/2 points after the first day.

Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, which finished in secondplace overall last year, had a total of 26 points, andPontchartrain Yacht Club earned 30 1/2 points. PensacolaYacht Club had amassed 41 points.

It seemed half of New Orleans was there to support andcheer on its teams. Bob Maher’s 42-foot trawler, Second Cup,was joined by the 49-foot Neptunus and a 16-foot runaboutferrying crew members and cheering as club boats crossedthe finish line after each race.

After Saturday’s three races the gap between first andsecond place overall closed significantly. Southern YachtClub tallied 50 points. Pensacola Beach Yacht Club had 54

Pensacola Beach Yacht Club Brings Home Challenge Cup — First Time Pensacola Bay Area Yacht Club Wins Interclub CompetitionBy Julie B. Connerley

RACING

White Trash sailing in the Challenge Cup. Photo by Gary Hufford.www.beachmaster.smugmug.com.

48 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 49

points. Pontchartrain Yacht Club was close behind with 581/2 points.

The regatta hinged on Sunday’s final race. SYC’s Iristook a fifth, while its C-class boat, TGV, and D-class boat,Carnival Time, both finished second, giving the team agrand total of 59 points.

PBYC’s Liberty, and C-class boat, John O, an Elliott 770,each finished first, while the B-class boat, My DixieWrecked, a Melges 24, brought home a third to give theteam 59 points for the series also! According to the rules,the tiebreaker is determined by which team had the mostnumber of first-place wins.

Pensacola Beach easily broke the tie with eight first-place wins. Southern had only three. PBYC’s Liberty wonher final race, and earned four more bullets, a fourth and asixth place. My Dixie Wrecked captured two firsts, a second,two thirds, and two fourths. John O, the C-class boat, fin-ished with a first, second, third, two sevenths, a ninth anda tenth. Kanaloa, a Tartan 37, the D-class boat, took twothirds, a fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth and eleventh. John Oand My Dixie Wrecked were also class champions from2005’s Challenge Cup.

PBYC’s Challenge Cup team captain, Ken Branchsummed it up. “Teamwork. A tremendous amount of effortby everybody associated with our Challenge Cup teambrought home the trophy for the Pensacola Beach YachtClub. Southern was a tough competitor, as always, and weappreciate the effort they made getting a top-notch teamtogether after all the hardships they’ve endured in NewOrleans.”

At the awards ceremony, PBYC’s commodore, JoeStanley was like a proud papa, complete with goosebumps when the announcement was made. “I can’t believeit,” he said. “This is a fabulous win for the best little yachtclub on the Gulf!”

To view photos of the 2005 GYA Offshore ChallengeCup, visit www.NOYC.org and click on photos, or go tohttp://beachmaster.smugmug.com, and go to Regattas2006. For a complete listing of all the race results, visitwww.pensacolayachtclub.org.

The winning team from the Pensacola Beach Yacht Clubreceives its award at the Challenge Cup. Photo by JulieConnerley.

Gulfport to Pensacola Race,June 16-17By Troy Gilbert

I n 2004, 120 boats competed in the Gulfport to PensacolaRace. Historically it’s one of the premier Gulf Coast off-

shore regattas, but in 2005 after Hurricane Ivan came ashorein Pensacola, the competition was winnowed down to halfits normal registration, 60 boats.

This year, with the devastation of the New Orleans andMississippi Gulf Coast fleets from Hurricane Katrina, theorganizing committee for the race, Southern Yacht Club,was faced with the serious decision of whether or not toeven hold the 57th running of this regatta.

The hurdles they faced were severe. With nearly everyyacht club destroyed from New Orleans to Pascagoula,there were no onshore facilities for logistical support.Virtually every pier along the entire coast from Gulfport toBiloxi was destroyed. Then there was the great unknown ofhow many boats would even be able to compete. The racecame within inches of cancellation.

After some soul-searching, creative planning and the loudclamor from competitors for the Bushwhackers over at PensacolaYacht Club, the organizers agreed that they had to move forwardwith holding the 100 NM offshore regatta. Or at least they would

try to do so.They found slips for the participants with the

help of the rebuilt Schooner Pier in Biloxi.However, this forced them to slightly modify thecourse to a start farther east in the MississippiSound near Biloxi. Surprisingly, this move onlylengthened the course by 1.1 NM. The committeealso was forced to move the date up by a week toaccommodate the Gulf Yachting Association’sChallenge Cup, which had been relocated andrescheduled for the same weekend in Pensacola.By pure chance, they turned the regatta into afeeder race.

The 57th Annual Gulfport to Pensacola Racewas a go, even though after the shortened registra-tion period was over, only 19 boats had registered.

But the fact is – the race took place.The majority of the boats were from the clubs

surrounding Lake Pontchartrain as those marinaswere obviously a little bit better protected fromthe storm than the Mississippi coast. The fleet was dividedup into five classes and ranged in size from Belle, an Indigo60, to Tin Man, an Antrim 27, as well as one 31-footTrimaran, Tribology, which raced in her own class.

On June 16th as the withered fleet transited to the startpast the mangled casinos and homes, it was obvious thatthe energy level was high. Even more so as the first gunapproached at noon and the first class jockeyed for posi-tion in the light, southerly breeze.

Though considered by many to be an overnightendurance regatta, with the sea breeze generally dying offaround the Mobile Sea buoy, this year the wind beganfreshening in a big way and gave several boats a great ride.No matter the weather, all Gulf Coast racers regard it as agood test of their skill over distance against some of thebest sailors on the coast.

Ryan Finn, a 28-year-old New Orleans native, who hassinglehanded the Transpac on a J90 as well as doublehand-ed the Transat Jaques Vabre, remarked on tactics as hewatched Tiburon, a Melges 32. Skippered by John Dane III,Finn commented as Tiburon headed heavily above therhumb line into the darkness and away from the majorityof the Class A boats, “They’re off to go find thattime/space portal they always catch.”

Tiburon, in fact, did finish well with a first in Class A,but only a second in fleet. Tiare, a Cal 48 skippered by BillProvensal, took down first in Class B and first in fleet.

Intensity, an Evelyn 32, grabbed first in Class C alongwith a third overall, while Free Spirit, a Pearson 36 cutter,skippered by Thomas Stokes, pulled down a first in thecruising class.

The Pensacola Yacht Club is always a gracious host,and the post-regatta party is legendary, but even thoughthe crowd was smaller in size this year, the energy levelwas high and the Bushwhackers were plentiful.

As the Louisiana and Mississippi fleets rebuild andrepopulate, it is hopefully this celebratory spirit as well asthe dedicated competitive spirit of the area’s sailors, whichwill drive the Gulfport to Pensacola Race to again retakeits position as one of the most well-attended and heavilycompetitive offshore regattas along the entire Gulf Coast.

REGIONAL RACINGReports, News And Race Calendars

Regattas and Club Racing—Open to EveryoneWanting to Race The races listed here are open to those who want to sail. Noindividual club membership is required, although a region-al PHRF rating, or membership in US SAILING or member-ship in a regional sailing association is often required. (Ifindividual club membership is required, please contact usand we will not list their races in the future.)

For publishing of your event, questions and informa-tion, send us your race schedule by the 5th of the month [email protected]. Send in the name of theevent, date, location, contacts (Web site, e-mail and/orphone), and, if you want, a short description. Do not justsend a link in to this information.

Since race schedules and venues change, contact thesponsoring organization to confirm. For changes to be pub-lished, contact the editor. Changes can be put on our Website, if possible.

Lake Lanier Sailing Club, Reggae Regatta, June 16-18By R. J. Mitchellette

What a weekend! What fathers on Father’s Day weekend,June 16-18, could have had a better gift than watching and

50 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

RACING

Ryan Finn of New Orleans helms the multihull Tribology as Lunami tacks below. Photo by Troy Gilbert.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 51

even, in some cases, crewing with their children in a varietyof race venues? The event was hosted by the Lake LanierSailing Club, which said, “This year’s event proved to bethe most successful in recent memory.”

The club house is situated on a beautiful point lot withpanoramic views of most racing venues and the lake’smany islands with tall stands of old oaks and pines. TheAmerican flag, the club burgee, and code flags were flyingfrom the LLSC flag pole, creating an ambiance that wouldrival an Eastern Seaboard regatta, anytime, anywhere. Thisyear the LLSC asked its participants to anchor and/or raft-up in its bay with the boats fully dressed in either codeflags, burgees, and/or colorful flags, all of which served upa beautiful sight, worthy of the event,

This year also included the new Performance Cruisingracing fleet’s cruisers (not racers), which had a separatestart and a longer course (9.5 nautical miles) in virtuallyminimal wind conditions, although one of the LLSC’s mem-bers took first place in his 37-foot C & C with Mylar sailsnearly an hour before the rest of the 12-boat fleet crossed thefinish line. The first-place skipper, Mike McCloud, also hadthe Atlanta Public Broadcasting crew on his boat taking pic-tures of the race as part of a special program featuringsporting activity in Georgia and sailing on Lake Lanier. (Forcomplete details on all the races and venues, go to the LLSCWeb site, www.llsc.com).

The regatta was a three-day event with the skippersmeeting on Friday evening, the races Saturday afternoonand the big party Saturday evening followed by races onSunday and an evening cook-out and trophy awards onSunday evening. The food was once again of high qualityand delicious, with ample spirits being generously pouredagainst a background of great tunes and dancing fun.

The officers, chairpersons and committees are to becongratulated for another exceptional event, and hopefullynext year, following two consecutive years of poor windconditions, will be a better year for winds on our lake to bemore conducive to a good sail.

RACE CALENDARAUGUST Charleston Ocean Racing Association, www.charlestonoceanracing.org2-30 Summer series races (Wednesdays)

Lake Lanier, GA. www.lakeniersailing.com26-27 PHRF Championships Long Bay Sailing Association

www.longbaysailing.org5-26 Summer series racing, Little River Inlet, SC.

Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org5 - 6 Dragon’s Breath / ICRC – PHRF, Ensign, J-24, S21 -

Oriental Dinghy Club, Oriental, NC..12-13 Moonlight and Mimosa Regatta - PHRF -

Pamlico Sailing Club, Oriental to Bath, NC.12-13 Hoop Hole Regatta - Flying Scot, Sunfish - MCBC,

Merrimon, NC.19 Greens Creek Regatta – Laser - Oriental Dinhgy Club,

Oriental, NC19 PSC Solo Race - .PHRF - Pamlico Sailing Club,

Washington, NCSouth Atlantic Yacht Racing Association, www.sayra-sailing.com4 SAYRA Splash - Laser 4.7, 420 - Carolina Yacht Club – NC,

Wrightsville Beach, NC.5-6 Rockville Regatta – Open - Sea Island Yacht Club,

Anderson, SC.

52 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

REGIONAL RACING

5-6 SAYRA Open Invitational – Open - Carolina Yacht Club – NC, Wrightsville Beach, NC.

12-13 Spar Wars – Opti, Sunfish, Laser, Harbor 20 - South Carolina Yacht Club, Hilton Head, SC.

18-20 JY15 North American Championships – JY15 - Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, Beaufort, SC.

18-20 Rocket Regatta – Open - Cape Fear Yacht Club, Southport, NC.SEPTEMBERCharleston Ocean Racing Assoc., www.charlestonoceanracing.org2-3 Georgetown Triangle – Ocean – Charleston. SC.

Lake Lanier, GA. www.lakeniersailing.com9-10 PHRF Championships, Lake Lanier Sailing Club 15-17 SSC Special Olympics Regatta, Southern Sailing Club

Long Bay Sailing Association www.longbaysailing.org6-23 Summer series racing, Little River Inlet, SC.15-18 Cape Fear Open, Cape Fear Yacht Club, Southport, NC.

Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org2-3 The Oar Race Regatta - PHRF – NYRA boty - FHYC,

New Bern, NC. 9-10 Blackbeard Regatta – Ensign, SJ21, Laser - BSC,

New Bern, NC. 16-17 J24 Weekend Regatta – J24 - ODC,Oriental, NC. South

Atlantic Yacht Racing Association, www.sayra-sailing.com2-3 Labor Day Regatta – Open - Lake Norman Yacht Club,

Mooresville, SC.9 Mt Pleasant Youth Regatta – Opti, Sunfish, 420, Lasers –

Hobcaw Yacht Club, Mt Pleasant, SC.9-10 Cat Fest – Catamarans – Lake Norman Yacht Club,

Mooresville, SC.9-10 Scots & Rocks – Flying Scots, Lightnings –

Lake Murray Sailing Club, Columbia, SC.9-10 All Island Regatta – Yacht Club of Hilton Head,

Hilton Head Island, SC16-17 Lighting Invitational – Lightinngs – Augusta Sailing Club,

Augusta, GA.16-17 Leukemia Cup / Wassaw Cup – PHRF, Open -

Savannah Yacht Club, Savannah, GA.22-23 10th Annual Charleston Leukemia Cup Regatta –

PHRF, Open – Charleston, SC23 Around Paris Island – Sunfish, Hobie -

Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club, Beaufort, SC.30-1 Southeast Opti Championship – Opti -

Lake Norman Yacht Club, Mooresville, SC.30-1 Out Back Regatta – Open – Columbia Sailing Club –

Columbia, SC.30-1 Laser States – Laser – Western Carolina Sailing Club,

Anderson, SC.

RACING

Daytona Summer Sizzler, Daytona, FL, June 24-25By Roy Laughlin

The best summer beach cat regatta is like a trip to the beachand more. The more is the sailing through the surf and riding

the trap line in warm breezes and cool spray. A regatta hap-pens when several people do it the same time and go in thesame direction. Great weather and no rain made the DaytonaSummer Sizzler (June 24 - 25) a memorable regatta when rac-ers enjoyed just what an ocean regatta is all about.

The race committee scored 4 classes: Formula 18, Hobie16s, Open class and Open Spinnaker class (which includedthe Blades and other formula 16 catamarans). The race con-trasted the old and the new. The Hobie 16 class, a cherishedliving relic of beach cat racing’s earliest days, had 11 teams,and was the largest class. In the Formula 18 class, two teamsraced a Capricorn, an Australian formula 18 catamaran thatresembles the Blade (but the two do not share the samedesigner or builders). The race committee had two coursesand two starts for these four classes. Seven races were heldduring the regatta, a recent record for a regatta typicallyshortened by afternoon rains.

• FORMULA 18 In the Formula 18 class, Robbie Daniel andTina Pastoor, racing one of the two Capricorns, finished firstwith a score of 12 points. Olli and Kelly Jason came in secondwith 19 points. Those Ingrams, Dave and Cathy, were thirdon a NACRA F/18. In fourth and fifth place, respectively,were Brian Karr andAaron Hayson, and Jennifer Lindsayand Fred Metcalf. Results in this class were fairly consistentin the races held both days: In the individual races, the teamconsistently scored what their final ranking was.

•OPEN SPINNAKER. Matt and Gina McDonald dominat-ed the Open Spinnaker class with a string of first-place fin-ishes on their Blade, a formula 16 racing catamaran. Therewas competition for second place between Team Rick andTerri Loewen, racing an Inter 20, and Chuck Harndon andSean Karr on a Blade. In the final rankings, one too manyDNFs for Harndon and Karr gave the Loewens a score of 25to a 32 for Harndon and Karr. Terry Beck, a new face at theocean regattas this summer and who single-hands a Blade,scored a respectable 36 points for fourth place in the rank-ings. Larry Ferber and Pam Panetti, on an Inter 20, werefifth in the Open Spinnaker class, and Pete Pollard andMary Gilbertson on an F/16 Blade were fifth.

Kate Brennen and Javier Junco cross the finish line at the SummerSizzler in racing form. Photo by Roy Laughlin.

•OPEN CLASS. And finally, the Open class, familiar namesappear in the rankings. Frank Rodricks, on the FrankenboatFlippin’ Fearless, ranked first because of a predominance offirst place finishes in the individual races. This was a goodyear for Frank, who had 12 points in the final tally. Not onlydid he often finish first after Portsmouth rating correction, hewas first across the line for his class. Second place was a tiebetween John Kuna and Cathy Wilson, and Rick Uscholdand Randy Burman. Both teams scored 18 points, but atiebreaking formula gave second place to John and Cathy.

Score listings do only a partial job of describing the excit-ing racing this year. The wind had been blowing for at least 4days consistently. The ocean had swells as high as 5 feet, butthey were gentle and regular. The wind was sufficient topower the catamarans through the swells and the moderatewind waves. There was a lot of surfing off the back of waveson reaches across and off the wind. Surfing off the backs ofwaves gives ocean racing the adrenaline rush so many catsailors thrive on but never get enough of. There wasn’tenough for complete satisfaction–there never is–but the 2006Summer Sizzler is going to be one of the most memorableraces of the year for the real ocean racing conditions.

More photos of the Summer Sizzler are on www.flori-damultihullsailor.com

RACE CALENDAR

August– Central East Florida2 Mosquito Race (Wed Evening Race), Indian River Yacht Club4 Fall Rum Race, Melbourne Yacht Club6 Small Boat Racing, Melbourne Yacht Club 9 Mosquito Race (Wed Evening Race,) Indian River Yacht Club12 Single-Handed, Race, East Coast Sailing Association13 Summer Racing Series #2, Indian River Yacht Club16 Mosquito Race (Wed Evening Race), Indian River Yacht Club18 Fall Rum Race, Melbourne Yacht Club19 Fun Race, East Coast Racing Association19 Beach Raft Up at Peck’s, Lake Stuart. Corinthian Yacht Club20 Fall Women’s Race Series #2, East Coast Racing Association23 Mosquito Race (Wed Evening Race), Indian River Yacht Club.30 Wed Evening Fall Series, Indian River Yacht Club

September – Central and NE Florida1,8,22 Fall Rum Race, Melbourne Yacht Club2 Herb Elphick Memorial race (Offshore Series #5)

North Florida Cruising Club2-3 Labor Day Regatta, includes Hobie Fleet 111 catamaran

regatta, formerly St. Augustine Summer Sizzler. Rudder Club

2-3 Labor Day Club Series, Lake Eustis Sailing Club.2-4 Labor Day Cruise, East Coast Sailing Assoc. – Cruising3 Steak and Lobster Regatta, Port Canaveral Yacht Club6,13,20,27 Wed Evening Fall Series, Indian River Yacht Club9,23 Fall Series #1,#2, Rudder Club10 Women’s Fall #3, ESCA-Women’s16-17 Club Series, Lake Eustis Sailing Club.16 Fall Race Series #1 ECSA17 Summer Race Series #3, Indian River Yacht Club23-24 Wildcat Regatta, Lake Eustis Yacht Club

(beach cat regatta)24 Dixie Crossroads Cruise, East Coast Sailing Association

– Cruising30-Oct 1 Club Series Lake Eustis Sailing Club.30 Hands on Helm Regatta, North Florida Cruising Club30 Lunch Cruise, Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club

RACING

BBYRA #8, CRYC Annual Regatta,Miami, FL, June 16By Art Perez

For the PHRF 2 fleet, this regatta was the final showdown todetermine the winner of the BBYRA Series 1. The series, withits three-race throw-out format, was still up for grabs, andtoday’s results could have serious impact on the final stand-ings. Although race favorite, Jammin, held what looked like acomfortable lead, second, third and fourth place were still upin the air. Shadowfax, after last month’s first-place perform-ance, was looking to repeat and challenge Jammin. With thatin mind, Oliver Waite, skipper/owner of Shadowfax, broughtaboard two top-gun sailors, Eamonn Delisser and FrankAtkinson, to help out with tactics and trim.

PHRF 1 was all but a wrap, and only four boats turnedout for the start. Pipe Dream IV had virtually locked up firstplace for the series, but in a show of true sportsmanship,still showed up to race.

By race time, the wind had still not filled completely, justbarely reaching over five knots, leaving the tacticians with thedifficult task of searching for that extra bit of “pressure”which would translate into maybe a half a knot more of boatspeed, but as any good sailor knows, enough to win any race.As the race wore on, the sea breeze started to fill in ever soslightly, building up toward the end of the race.

Jammin took advantage of the light breeze to walk awaywith a first-place finish, leaving the rest of PHRF 2 to battleit out for second and third place. By the start of race two, thewind had freshened up, diminishing the advantage of thelight displacement boats. In these new conditions,Shadowfax made its move to hold onto first place and securea second-place overall finish for the regatta with Goombay inthird. With these results, Shadowfax had unofficially jumpedfrom fourth place in the series to second place, tied withGoombay. On the tiebreaker, Shadowfax won! What a come-back for the new kid on the block.

Not to get carried away with the PHRF 2 class, theMelges were out in full force for the first time in a while. Asix-boat fleet paraded around the course, which was a beau-tiful sight to behold for this new fleet. Moving Party 4 andGroup Therapy came in tied for first with the first- and sec-ond-places going to best overall time for the tiebreaker, inwhich case Moving Party won.

The J/24 fleet, although split up between BBYRA and FlatEarth, sported five entries. Joe Cool pulled off a well-deservedwin over Blitzkrieg and I’ll Go; all three tied in points.

With both races in the bag it was time to pack up and head

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 53

54 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

back to the host club to celebrate another great day of racing!

Results: PHRF1; 1st PL Triptease/Rubin-Shellow; 2nd Pl – Breeze/Valeri Safiullin; 3rd Pl –Concept vs Reality; PHRF2; 1st Pl – Jammin/Russ & Vicky Horn; 2nd Pl – Shadowfax/OliverWaite; 3rd Pl – Goombay/David Kurtz; PHRF4; 1st Pl – Deadline/Gary Marston; 2nd Pl – Finesse/William Beavers;3rd Pl – Night Moves/Victor Brown;J/24; 1st Pl – Joe Cool/Lionel Baugh; 2nd Pl – Blitzkrieg/Karen Mitchell; 3rdPl – I’ll Go/Gonzalo Diaz, Sr; Melges 24; 1st Pl – Moving Party 4/Mike Catalano; 2nd Pl – GroupTherapy/Tom Seghi; 3rd Pl – Road Trip/Rick Rahm.

RACE CALENDAR

AUGUST8 Venture Sailing Club Races open to

the public. Miami, www.venturesailingclub.com. (954) 494-2304.

12 Single-Handed Race – CGSC. 13 Double-Handed Race – CGSC. 19-20 Summer in the City Regatta. MYC.26 J/24 Summer 4. Flat Earth Racing.

J/24 One-design racing. Must be registered with Flat Earth Racing.

NOTE: There are no BBYRA scheduled racesduring the August summer break

Legend for Above Yacht Clubs and Organizations BBYRA Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.netBBYC Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. www.bbyra.netCGSC Coconut Grove Sailing Club. www.cgsc.orgCRYC Coral Reef Yacht Club. www.coralreefyachtclub.orgKBYC Key Biscayne Yacht Club. www.kbyc.org.MYC Miami Yacht Club. www.miamiyachtclub.net.

RACING

Key West Sailing Club. Every Saturday – Open House atthe Key West Sailing Club. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (305) 292-5993. www.keywestsailingclub.org. Sailboat Lane off PalmAvenue in Key West. Come by the club to sail. Non-membersand members welcome. Wednesday night racing has begunfor the summer season. Skippers meet at the clubhouse by5:00 p.m. and boats start racing at 6:00 p.m. in the seaplanebasin near the mooring field. Dinner and drinks afterward.

Upper Keys Sailing Club www.upperkeyssailingclub.com

RACING

West Florida PHRF Holds Annual Meeting, Presents Boat of the Year Awards

The West Florida PHRF organization, one of the fastest grow-ing PHRF groups in the country, held its annual meetingSaturday, June 24, at the Bird Key Yacht Club in Sarasota, FL.

The group changed some administrative procedures,discussed concerns that members have on racing and class-es and held elections for the board of directors. New direc-tors were recommended by the past nominating committeeand approved by the general membership. New boarddirectors are Wiley Parker, president, Dick Boothe, secre-tary/treasurer, J A Booker, Jay Tyson, Jamie Meyers, RonEuler, Bob Armstrong and Chuck Margetta.

The Boat of the Year (BOTY) awards were presented in atotal of 22 different divisions in the four regions of the WestFlorida organization; Suncoast (Tampa Bay), Sarasota Bay,Charlotte Harbor, Southwest Florida (Fort Myers area and south).

For a complete list of the BOTY winners, go to thegroup’s Web site at www.westfloridaphrf.org.

One-Design Crew Training, Davis Island Yacht Club, Tampa, FL, June 3-17By King Purton, ODCT Chief Honcho

The fifth edition of ODCT was completed Saturday, June17, in grand style with 15 knots of wind and glorious sun-shine. This year’s enrollment was held to 24 students asonly 8 J/24s were available. After two months of recruitingeffort, only 15 people had submitted checks to secure a posi-tion. I then lowered my requirements and accepted studentsof limited experience. In the last week, I turned away 10

RACING

West Florida PHRF Boat of the Year Winners

experienced students. Oh, well, live and learn. Of the 24 students, there was one no-show, two excused

absences and three more who dropped out finding thatcrewing was not their thing. Of the 18 remaining, it wasgratifying on the last day observing them doing bearawaysets and windward takedowns after only three sessions.

The students who were winners in that half havesecured positions in boats, and Kat Malone is setting up areferral program to secure positions for the remainder. TheJ/24 owners won in that they are now acquainted with anew batch of crew members. Davis Island Youth Sailingwon in that this year’s donation of $2200 raised the totalfrom ODCT to over $14,000. I won when the light of under-standing came on in the eyes of the students.

4th Annual Corinthian Regatta to KeyWest, Bradenton Yacht Club, June 31By Bob Miller

Eight entries ranging from a 30-foot Freedom named StarWaketo a 53-foot Mason called Seraphim, set off for Key West in thelate afternoon on Wednesday, June 31. Even the start of therace was delayed a few minutes while the sail fleet captainaboard his 30-foot S-2 struggled to get to the starting line.Marianna, a 42-foot Jeanneau, captained by the Zeppi broth-ers, had a shaky start when their inflatable, secured to theirtransom, decided to take a trip of its own just after the start.

One of the entries, Infinity, a 47-foot Tayana captainedby Dave Baysden, was harbored in Sarasota at MarinaJack’s. Its mast was over 70-feet tall, and Baysden wasunable to get under the new 63-foot Ringling Bridge to getup to the starting line. Consideration was made for thisentry, and he joined the fleet after motoring down the ICWto the Venice outlet. Because this is a “Corinthian” event,time and distance calculations were taken into considera-tion, and Infinity actually started behind the entire fleetsince all the other entries were already south of Venice.

A very strong north wind (20-32 knots) pushed the fleetalong at hull speed for nearly 14 hours after turning thesouthwest passage marker #1. With position reports takenevery six hours at 0600, 1200, 1800 and 2400, most of thecompetitors kept in contact with each other. The next dayfound little or no wind for most of the day, and engineswere fired up to assure that all vessels arrived in Key Westno later than by noon on Friday.

Miller Time, a 36-foot Catalina, and Seraphim were onlya few miles apart and found themselves becalmed about 40miles from the finish. An exchange of six gallons of fuelfrom Miller Time allowed Seraphim adequate fuel to safelycomplete the trip. The bottle of champagne was also a nicegesture given to Miller Time by Capt. Rose’s crew.

Around 2200, Miller Time and Seraphim were closing inon the finish with Seraphim about six or seven miles aheadof Miller Time. The Smith Shoal light (should be able to beseen for up to 10 miles) was still not visible. Seraphim camemighty close to making contact with this 40-foot tower andsoon reported that the light was “extinguished.” Miller Timecontacted the Key West Coast Guard station, and they wereunaware that the light was not working. Within minutesthey began to give a “pan, pan, pan” announcement to allmariners regarding the light being out.

A great gathering of over 75 folks dined at Crabby Bill’sin Key West, where awards were presented to the first threefinishers, and a special award of a Conch flag was given tothe crew of Seraphim for the great design on their crew shirts.

Results:1, Infinity, D. Baysden, Tayana 47; 2, Seraphim, T. Rose, 52’Mason; 3, Miller Time, B. Miller, Catalina 36; 4, StarWake, P. Pratley,Freedom 30; 5, Mistress, D. Prezinjowski, Cal 37; 6, Spring Fever, P.Roberts. Catalina 34; 7, IOS,R. Howell, 36’ Hunter 36; 8, Marianna, M.Zeppi, Jeanneau 42.

RACE CALENDAR

The 0nline West Florida Race Calendar will be available on theSOUTHWINDS Web site by September 1. It will cover racing in WestFlorida from Marco Island in southwest Florida north, up to andincluding Clearwater. www.southwindsmagazine.com.

Club Racing – Bradenton YC. Evening Races Daylight Savingstime of year. Races at 6:30 p.m. PHRF racing on Manatee River.For info call Larry Lecuyer, (941) 729-5401.

Edison Sailing Center, Fort Myers. Sunfish and dinghy racingonce a month, year-round [email protected]

Port Charlotte. Third Saturday of month, [email protected]

Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Friday Series PHRF/Multihull. EveryFriday through to Sept. 15. 6:30 p.m. start. Motley SundayCruisers Pursuit Race. Free pursuit race every Sunday, 12 a.m.skippers briefing, BBQ after the race. www.sarasotasailingsquad.com.

Venice Sailing Squadron. Saturdays. First Saturday of eachmonth, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet. www.venice-sailing-squadron.org

AUGUST12 Cortez Yacht Club Commodore’s Cup Series (CYCCC).

Race #4. Cortez YC.

RACE CALENDARWednesday Evening Fun Races – Pensacola Yacht Club – 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the Month -April thru OctoberFort Walton Yacht Club – April thru October

AUGUST 20065 Summer #3. CSA. 5 Commodore’s Cup #4. NYC5-6 Angus J/22 Regatta.GYC

See NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING continued on page 60

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58 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 59

60 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

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Inflatable Dinghy for sale. 8’ 8” PlastimoP270K. Solid wood floor. PVC. Oars. Neverused, in perfect condition. $750/Best Offer. Bradenton, FL. (941) [email protected].

Caribe 10X RIB, 2001, 10’ Inflatable dinghy,Fiberglass V hard bottom, Yamaha 15hp,Anchor, New trailer, Great tender or smallrunabout, $2,985 Rick (813) 376-8040.(10/06)

1971 O’Day Rhodes 19 Sailboat, 3’3”Keel, Johnson Sailmaster-6, Tohatsu-3.5hp Outboard(s), Includes 10 ft. Zodiac,Battery, Sails, New Bottom Paint, Electrical,many Accessories, Good Condition. $4800OBO. www.RedMcKenna.com. (813) 831-8585. (10/06)

Tanzer 22CB. Main, Genoa, Jib, Spinnaker,9.9HP Electric Suzuki, Compass, Speed,Depth, Ice Box, Porta Potti, Boom Awning,Screens, VHF Antenna/cable. Sleeps four.Great Weekend Cruiser, Racer. More. $4000.(239) 542 3753. (10/06)

Catalina 30, 1990 Std Rig, Wing Keel, 2001Westerbeke 26 HP 525 Hours, two 155 Jibs, 2Mains, Spinnaker, Profurl, A/C, Refrigeration,Propane Stove, Hot Pressure water, FullCanvas covers, Auto Pilot, Full electronics,Beautifully Maintained. Call for Specifications$47,500 (239) 768-9205. (8/06)

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C L A S S I F I E D A D S

1985 Bayfield 32C Cutter full keel cruiser,with 18HP Yanmar diesel and only 3’ 9” draft.Edson wheel sterring. Datamarine depth andspeed. 25# CQR anchor with chain and rode.Bow sprit. Dorade vents. Isomat spars. 8winches. Excellent sails. S/S stove and oven.Ice box. Sleeps five. Classic H.T. Gozzarddesign. Only $22,500. Major Carter.www.CortezYachts.com (941) 792-9100

33’ Glander Tavana 1985 center board masthead sloop. Newly painted bottom, hull, top-sides and non-skid. New rub rail, teak hatch-es. New jib sail. 30 HP Vetus diesel. GreatFlorida and Bahamas boat, draws 3’ board up.A no-nonsense boat offered below market at$12,900/best offer. Needs TLC. Call MajorCarter (941) 792-9100.

1973 S&S DEB 33 centerboard sloop. 3’7” -6’3” draft, diesel, tiller autopilot, good sails,Bimini, dodger, VHF, depth, roller furling,AC, 8’ dinghy w/OB. $20,000 OBO. (941)918-8310 (941) 320-7505. (9/06)

1977 Trident Warrior 35. Well-maintainedand equipped for offshore. Call for Details.(850) 866-4490. $46,500 OBO. 8/06

Fountaine Pajot Tobago 35 Catamaran.1996. Ready to cruise. Many extras. Solar pan-els, new fridge, windlass, twin Yanmar 18s,dinghy with Merc 6 (4-stroke). $135,000. Joanor Steve. (954) 321-1603. (10/06)

1995 Hunter 35.5 Only 615 hrs on Yanmar27. New canvas, Navico autopilot, ST 60depth, ST 60 speed, Furuno GPS, SGC SSBradio, Apelco VHF, dinghy w/OB engine, rollerfurling, full batten main w/dutchman, solarpanel, S&L windlass, holding plate refrigera-tion, SS propane stove, 12000 BTU marine air,TV, stereo. Ready to sail with performance andpleasure. $65,900. www.cortezyachts.com.(941) 792-9100.

1994 Hunter 35.5 Yanmar 27 HP recentlyserviced with 780 hours, NEW stereow/remote control, NEW refrigeration, NEWIsenglass in dodger, NEW Batteries (3), NEWBottomsider cockpit cushions, NEW AC ther-mostat, NEW electric windlass w/remoteswitch in cockpit, MarineAire AC, 16,000 BTU,recently serviced, Davits, inflatable and 2-hpHonda 2-stroke recently serviced. MasseyYacht Sales & Service (727) 824-7262.

Catalina 36, 1984. Full racing/cruisingupgrades, Tall mast, 5’10” draft, rigid boomvang, upgraded flat travel, AC, self-tailingtwo-speed winches, good condition, newheadsail, roller furling, cockpit shower, 3 GPSunits, 2 VHFs, bimini and dodger, 4 batteries,all lines lead to cockpit. $48,900. Autohelm4000. (941) 795-4646. Tampa Bay. [email protected]. For pictures and more info,go to www.catalinaowners.com and do asearch for this boat in classifieds. (10/06)

IRWIN 37’ cruise equipped, Auto Pilot, diesel,center cockpit, watermaker, GPS’s, VHF/HFradios, solar panels, Wind-Gen. Dinghy & OBSpares, complete, working, everything youneed, needs TLC $29,900 (305) 731-3911. [email protected]. (8/06)

1978 Jeanneau 38’ Gin Fizz with Perkins 4-108 diesel - less than 100 hours SMOH Thispopular center cockpit with aft cabin is acruiser’s choice. 2 blade Maxi prop and newshaft. Bimini and dodger. Main sail, jib, genoaand spinnaker. Horizon depth, wind speedand direction. Roller furling needs work orreplace. Manual windlass. Bruce anchor w/20’chain and 300’ rode. Pressure hot and coldwater. Microwave built in. Adlar Barbor refrig-eration. Head with shower. VHF radio, AplelcoGPS. Stereo. Best buy on the market. $36,900Owner anxious, taking offers, try $30,000.www.CortezYachts.com 941-792-9100

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Display classifiedsstarting at

$38 per monthSECURE SUBSCRIPTION WEB SITEwww.southwindsmagazine.com

38’ LOA Bruce Bingham design, heavy dis-placement, double-ended cutter, LOD 32’,LWL 27’, BEAM 11’, Draft 5’4”. Yanmar 28 HPdiesel, like new, 2 jibs, 2 staysails, 2 mains,new set standing rigging to be installed.12,000 BTU air conditioner, NO cook stove,fridge or electronics. Some cosmetics needed.Pensacola $9,950 OBO, 850-572-1225 or [email protected]. (10/06)

38’ Lagoon Catamaran. 2002. Excellent con-dition. One of the best on the market for themoney. Very well-equipped. Lots of new andupdated equipment. Reduced to $279,000.Call Bob, owner, at (507) 951-1625. BurntStore Marina, Punta Gorda, FL. (8/06) _________________________________________

Columbia 40 1966 centerboard diesel sloop.This classic Maine yacht needs elbow grease onthe bright work. First $21,000 firm. Lying FortMyers. (239) 454-6404. (8/06)_________________________________________

Morgan Out-Island 41’ 1981 Ketch. NewPerkins 65HP engine/transmission. Fullyequipped for extended cruising. Heaviercruising boat - 27,000 lbs. Large interior -13’10” beam, shallow draft 4’5”. $79,900.John. [email protected] (772) 453-4069, Fort Pierce, FL. (10/06)

45’ 6” LOA Bayfield 40, Hull # 34 full keel 5’draft, cutter ketch designed by H.T.Gozzardbuilt in 1984. Exceptional condition with lotsof 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 $99,000 Call Major Carter orvisit www.Cortezyachts.com

BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES_________________________________________

2- 8000# boat lift straps, 14’ long, D ringends, used once. $100 for both. (281) 324-1416. (10/06)

Rigging cable. 7 x 19. Stainless Steel. Non-magnetic. 7/16” diameter. 600 ft for $1200.(904) 794-0937. (10/06)_________________________________________

WIND GENERATOR, FOUR-WINDS (NEW)with 9’ pole mount, air-brake, swivel base.$1,200 OBO (includes shipping). (813) 545-9218. (10/06)_________________________________________

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Classifieds on the internet: www.southwindsmagazine.com

64 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Used Boat Gear for Sale. 10’ Zodiac RIB,Paratech 15 & 18 – both with line and chain,Teak doors, Stainless Propane stoves,Sospenders, Offshore life vests, 6-man coastallife raft, 36’, 26’, 30’ masts & booms, somewith rigging. Nautical Trader, 110 E. ColoniaLane, Nokomis, FL, (941) 488-0766. Shoponline at www.nauticaltrader.net. _________________________________________

Two Montague folding, full-size bicycles;perfect for cruising. Like new, with manyextras, including soft carrying cases. “A bicyclethat folds, not a folding bicycle.” $350 each.(941)743-7156 or (941)504-3302. (8/06)

Yanmar 10hp 1GM10 Diesel. ExcellentCondition. All gauges and controls. Tank, propand shaft, extra filters and parts. $1600. (727)804-4508._________________________________________

CQR 25 Anchor for sale - No Rust. $75Pompano Beach (954) 558-1360. (8/06)_________________________________________

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News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 65

$50 for 3 months for Ad & Photo941-795-8704

BOOKS & CHARTS_________________________________________

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

BUSINESSES FOR SALE/INVESTMENTS

_________________________________________

FOR SALE: Florida East Coast Sail Loft.Established 10 years. Well-equipped, exten-sive inventory and client list. Walking distanceto several marinas. New sail design, construc-tion and repairs. Custom canvas work, exteri-or/interior, and cushions. Strong used sailinventory. Respond to [email protected]_________________________________________

Licensed contractor in Florida with experi-ence in high-end residential work and lightcommercial, both new and remodeling, seeksto qualify a builder/company. I am a veryresponsible, honest experienced builder withexcellent qualifications seeking a companyneeding my advice and experience in the con-tracting business. Only very quality-orientedand responsible people need contact me whoare in the Tampa Bay [email protected].

CREW AVAILABLE/WANTED_________________________________________

Visit SOUTHWINDS “NEW” boat and crewlisting service at southwindsmagazine.com

DELIVERY SERVICES_________________________________________

DELIVERIES. ICW, Coastal, Caribbean & Gulf,Sail or Power, by USCG Licensed Captain with30 Years professional experience Includingtwo transAtlantic deliveries. (443) 243-4925or www.marylandsailing.com (8/06)

HELP WANTED_________________________________________

SAILMAKER St. Petersburg. IndustrialSewing Machine and Hand sewing experiencefor new sails and repairs. Must be capable oflifting 40lbs. Benefits available for full-timework. Must have valid FL Drivers license. EOE.Contact: Peter O. (727) 471-2040, DoylePloch Sailmakers. _________________________________________

Sailing Instructor/Administrator wanted.Venice Youth Boating Association, in Venice,Florida, is looking for Administrator/HeadInstructor to oversee our junior sailing pro-gram. Must be US Sailing level 1 certified.Call (941) 966-4851 or e-mail [email protected]. (10/06)_________________________________________

Marine Mechanic Wanted. Marina located inApollo Beach, Tampa Bay, FL, is looking for anexperienced marine mechanic certified inMercruiser, Mercury and Volvo Penta. Greatpay, benefits, 401K, uniforms. Call Andrew at(813) 645-5594. (8/06)_________________________________________

Articles and race reports in the Carolinas andGeorgia. [email protected]._________________________________________

Edwards Yacht Sales is expanding! Yacht bro-kers needed to sell sailboats on either coast. Willtrain! Excellent commissions, group health insur-ance, bonus plan. Contact Roy Edwards at (727)725-1600, www.EdwardsYachtSales.com_________________________________________

Writers, Reporters, Articles, Photos Wanted.SOUTHWINDS is looking for articles on boating,racing, sailing in the Southern waters in allregions, the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Weare also looking for other articles on the follow-ing subjects: marinas, anchorages, mooringfields, disappearing marinas and boatyards,marinas and boatyards sold for condos,anchoring rights, sailing human interest stories,boat reviews, charter stories, waste disposal—and more. Photos are wanted on all these sub-jects, plus we want cover photos (pay $65 forcover photos) of both race and non-race sub-jects, but about sailing. Cover photos must bevery high resolution and vertical format._________________________________________

Salesperson wanted to do ad sales forSOUTHWINDS Magazine, selling ads.Experience in sales a must and must be aboater, preferably a sailor, know computer useand email. You can work from anywhere onthis. Commission based. [email protected]. (941) 795-8704. Steve Morrell_________________________________________

Writers and Ideas Wanted on WaterwaysIssues. SOUTHWINDS is looking for writers, act-ing as independent subcontractors to researchand write articles on subjects discussed in the“Our Waterways” section. Must be familiarwith boating, good at research, have comput-er skills, high-speed Internet access and workfor little pay. Most important, you must havean interest and passion for the subject andwant to bring about change and improve-ment of boaters rights, waterways access, anddisappearing marinas and boatyards—andhave lots of ideas and energy to help bringabout improvements through various means(that are, of course, legal and principled). Youmay choose your subject within these param-eters. We would also like to get an organiza-tion going to promote these interests if youcan help. Writers, photographers, cartoonists,jokers, magicians, philosophers and others ofquestionable professions may apply. Send infoto: [email protected]. _________________________________________

Massey Yacht Sales Positions-Sail and/orpower yacht sales positions available in theMassey St. Petersburg and Palmetto dealer-ship offices. Best marina dealership locations,excellent sales, marketing and service dept.support. We are new yacht dealers forCatalina, Hunter, Albin, True North, NordicTugs, plus offer a large inventory of brokeragesail and powerboats. Applicants must be com-puter literate, have successful yacht sales his-tory, good knowledge of yachts and builders,be a team player, motivated and hard work-ing. Best yacht sales income potential onFlorida west coast. Call Massey general salesmanager Frank Hamilton at (941) 723-1610or fax resume to (941) 729-7520.

Murray Yacht Sales is adding professionalyacht brokers and customer service personnelto its successful team. Immediate needsinclude: yacht broker in St. Petersburg office,yacht sales experience required; Rigger/ServiceTech in New Orleans office. E-mail résumé [email protected]._________________________________________Service Dept. Rigger. Massey Yacht Sales isaccepting applications and resumes for sailand/or powerboat riggers/outfitters. Manyemployee benefits including paid holidays, paidvacations, health insurance, workmen’s compinsurance, performance bonuses, and goodhourly salary. Must be hardworking, honest, haveown tools and be a team player. Excellent servicedepartment support and organization. Call AliceWinter, ext. 10, service dept. mgr. at (941) 723-1949, or fax resume to (941) 729-7520.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE OR RENT_________________________________________

South Brevard, Florida Townhouse.Intracoastal Waterway. Deep water. Dockageavailable. No bridges. 2/2.5. New roof andAC. Pool. Tennis. Built 1974. Association fees$236 including water. $249,[email protected]. (9/06)

Waterfront Home for Rent in New PortRichey! (Pasco County). 2BR, 1BA, 1 Carport.40-foot Boat Dock. On 15-foot deep sailboatcanal! Neat and clean. New tile and paint. Just30 minutes from Clearwater. $1,300/month.(727) 452-4851 or (727) 939-4850. (9/06)

Sarasota, FL Waterfront Townhouse w/Deepwater boat slip for rent. 3br/3ba, 3 floors, 2 fire-places, gated, pool, tennis. Protected boat slipaccommodates up to 70-foot Boat. Directaccess to Gulf. Walk to restaurants and shop-ping. For info call (561) 213-2390. (9/06)

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66 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

For Sale - Shows Like A Model - 3BR, 2 fullbaths, 2-car garage with enclosed Florida room,patio and high vaulted ceilings. Built inlate 2003 on premium lot. Surrounded bymature palms, sprinkler system, well andground lighting. Upgrades galore. Appliancesstay. Generator and hurricane-ready. Located inprivate community in Edgewater, Florida. Closeto beaches, ICW and parks. $284,900. Call(386) 846-9185 for details. All offers enter-tained. (8/06)

Perfect 2 bedroom Waterfront TownhouseFor Sale. Ultra-furnished—even has HDTV.Very close to Fort Myers Beach. 16-foot boatdock at front door—seconds to the Gulf.$489,000. (239) 565-2277 or (239) 454-1817.

INSURANCE_________________________________________

LODGING FOR SAILORS_________________________________________

Ponce de Leon HotelHistoric downtown hotel at the bay, acrossfrom St. Petersburg YC. 95 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 550-9300 FAX (727) 896-2287www.poncedeleonhotel.com

MARINE ART__________________________________________

SAILING VIDEOS__________________________________________

SAILING INSTRUCTION__________________________________________

SAILS & CANVAS__________________________________________

All Classifieds displayed on web site

www.southwindsmagazine.com

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News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS August 2006 67

TROPHIES/AWARDS HALF HULLS__________________________________________

WINDSURFING GEAR__________________________________________

Wanted: Used Prodigy (standard or race),other boards, miscellaneous windsurfingequipment. Steve (941) 795-8704,[email protected]

68 August 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Air Duck 65American Marine & Supply 12,27Anesco Marine 64Annapolis Performance Sailing 46Aqua Graphics 60Atlantic Sail Traders 20Banks Sails 61Beachmaster Photography 65Beneteau Sailboats BCBeta Marine 25Bluewater Bay Yachts 6,7Bluewater Sailing Supply 64Boaters Exchange 10,12Bob and Annie’s Boatyard 35Bo’sun Supplies 24Bradenton YC Kick Off Regatta 47Bubba Book 45Catalina Yachts 12,27Colligo Engineering 36Cortez Yacht Brokerage 63Crow’s Nest Restaurant 17Cruising Direct Sails 32Defender Industries 65Dockside Radio 41Dunbar Sales 27Dwyer mast 65Eastern Yachts/Beneteau 27,53,BCEdwards Yacht Sales 57E-marine 65First Patriot Health Insurance 67Flying Scot Sailboats 64Garhauer Hardware 4Glacier Bay Refrigeration 16Gulf Coast Yacht Sales 56,62Gulf Island Sails 7,12,27Higgins, Smythe & Hood 59Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack 28Hotwire/Fans & other products 65Hurricane Hoops 37J/Boats - Murray Yacht Sales 50, BCJR Overseas/Moisture Meter 39JSI - New JSI 15Kevane Sails 67Lake Fairview Marina, Precision 7Latts & Atts TV 67Laurie Kimball Realtor 18

Leather Wheel 60Lex-Sea Charters 64Life Captions Video 31Massey Yacht Sales 8,21,27,29,IBCMasthead Enterprises 4,12,67Melbourne Yacht Club 49Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau 58,BCNational Sail Supply 40Nautical Trader 24New JSI 15Noble Awards 68North Sails 9,67Patricia Knoll Realtor 26Porpoise Used Sails 67Precision Yachts 7Quantum Sarasota 3RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke 10Regatta Pointe Marina Boat Show 19Rparts Refrigeration 38Sailing Services 23Sailtime Fractional Sailing 22Sarasota Sailing Labor Day Regatta 51Sarasota Youth Sailing Program

donated boats 56Schurr Sails 8Scurvy Dog Marine 33Sea School 17Sea Tech 25,64Snug Harbor Boats, Precision 7SSMR 16St. Augustine Sailing School 67St. Barts/Beneteau BCSuncoast Inflatables 14Sunrise Sailing Services 61Sunstate Realty 26Tackle Shack 7,28Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program 33Turner Marine 27UK Halsey Sails 13Ullman sails 43Vista Galleries/Sail Portraits 67Watersports West 65Weathermark 12West Marine IFCZarcor 64

ESSENCE continued from page 70

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.

Late fall became later fall, and weslowly continued our trek south.Christmas decorations began appear-ing in the coastal towns and cities westopped in. Rather than the mall withcookie-cutter stores within that don’tvary except for which end of the mallthey are located in, I Christmas-shopped in small-town and small-cityAmerica, reminding me of my veryearly years in a small town in upstateNew York. A book purchased inBeaufort, NC, a shirt in Georgetown,SC, cookie cutters in Savannah, GA, afireplace grate in St. Augustine, FL. I

found, in these locales, convenientlysituated post offices to mail gifts andthe Christmas cards I could finally,leisurely write with personal notesafter my many working years of thephotocopied holiday newsletter. Andwho can forget the Christmas dogparade in Fernandina Beach, FL? Idon’t know for certain, but I hope theballerina dog won something! I hadn’tremoved many layers of clothing yet,but the warmth of the holiday seasonhelped me endure the cool tempera-tures.

Would I want to leave the Northern

climes earlier another year for the tripsouth? Yes and no. Yes, I would bewarmer, and warmth is a good thing.Also, there aren’t as many cold fronts todelay the journey. No, I want to experi-ence autumn again. Also, with theactive hurricane seasons predicted forsome period into the future, not beingcaught in a category 5 hurricane is agood thing.

Sometimes, changes in our well-laid plans send us in directions wenever would have chosen with unex-pected results. And isn’t that really theessence of cruising?

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