Southwindsjune2008

SOUTHWINDSNews & Views for Southern Sailors

June 2008For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

2008 Hurricane Season Begins

Charleston Race Week

Tampa Bay’s Weather Stations

SOUTHWINDSNews & Views for Southern Sailors

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 3

6 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

SOUTHWINDSNEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS

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

Sea Scouts Regatta. Photo by Bill Fishbourne. Page 42.

10 Editorial: It’s Hurricane Season Once AgainBy Steve Morrell

11 Letters

15 Southern Regional Monthly Weather & Water Temperatures

16 Bubba & Good Riddance To RoachesBy Morgan Stinemetz

18 Short Tacks: Sailing News and Events Around the South

23 Allied Boats GamBy Ed Verner

28 23rd Morgan Invasion

30 Great Florida Gulf Coast Small Craft FestivalBy Roger Allen

32 Our Waterways: Stuart’s Southpoint Anchorage Closes, Are Wag Bags Legal?

34 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season Opens:Boat Us Hurricane Preparation Symposium

By Steve Morrell

37 PORTS, Tampa Bay’s Real-Time Weather StationsBy Ali Hudon and Chris Simoniello

40 Travels With Angel: Cruising the Northernmost Bahamas with 5200

By Rebecca Burg

42 Sea Scouts Regatta: More Than Just a RegattaBy Kathryn Shea

44 Carolina Sailing: Charleston Race WeekBy Dan Dickison

46 Southern Racing: Southern Race Reports and Upcoming Races, Southern Regional Race Calendars

48 Tampa Bay SailingBy Dave Ellis

70 Know your Liveaboard NeighborsBy Ginny Jones

24-27 Marine Marketplace56 Boat Brokerage Section 61 Classifieds69 Alphabetical Index of Advertisers69 Advertisers’ List by Category

COVER:Two Morgans sail in the Morgan Invasion

Regatta. Photo by Gary Hufford.www.beachmaster.smugmug.com.

Gulf Coast Small Craft Festival. Photo by SteveMorrell. Page 30.

8 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

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.com

e-mail: [email protected]

Volume 16 Number 6 June 2008Copyright 2008, Southwinds Media, Inc.

Founded in 1993 Doran Cushing, Publisher 11/1993-6/2002

Publisher/Editor7/2002-Present

Steve Morrell [email protected] (941) 795-8704

AdvertisingSteve Morrell [email protected] (941) 795-8704

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

Regional EditorsEAST FLORIDA

Roy Laughlin [email protected] (321) 690-0137

Production Proofreading ArtworkHeather Nicoll Kathy Elliott Rebecca Burg

[email protected]

Contributing Writers

Letters from our readers Roger Allen Rebecca BurgJulie B. Connerley David Curry Dan DickisonDave Ellis John Fox Harmon HeedAli Hudon David Jefcoat Ginny JonesKim Kaminski Dan Kresge Roy LaughlinJohn MacKay Chris Simoniello Hone ScunookKathryn Shea Morgan Stinemetz Janet VerdeguerEd Verner

Contributing Photographers/Art

Marie Bridley Rebecca Burg (& Artwork) Bill FishbourneRoss Herbert Gary Hufford Ginny JonesScunook Photography Chris SimonielloTim Wilkes Photography Ed Verner

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 $24/year, and $30/yearfor first class. Checks and credit card numbers may be mailed with name andaddress to SOUTHWINDS Subscriptions, PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach FL,34218-1175, or call (941) 795-8704. Subscriptions are also available with acredit card through a secure server on our Web site, www.southwinds-magazine.com. SOUTHWINDS is distributed to over 500 locations throughout8 Southern states. If you would like to distribute SOUTHWINDS at your loca-tion, please contact the editor.

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

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 9

It’s Hurricane Season Once Again

When I first moved to Florida (I’ve moved here twice) in1979, I left Florida to cruise around the Bahamas the

first week in June—the beginning of hurricane season. If itwasn’t for the ignorance and adventurous spirit of youth, Iwonder if man would still be living in caves—on the samecontinent he first started out on, wherever that is. After all,who would go cruising in one of the most hurricane prone-areas of the world at the beginning of hurricane season? Onlyfools, madmen and young naïve sailors.

I spent most of my life on the West Coast and knew lit-tle about hurricanes, although I had been through the edgeof one as a child in North Carolina. But that was exciting fora 10-year-old. I never thought of it as dangerous. InCalifornia, though, where I spent much of my adult life, fewpeople pay attention to these storms or when they occur.When I came to Florida to go cruise around in a sailboat, Ididn’t give them a thought. I just took off. Not only that, theonly radio I had was a transistor AM radio—my only link toany news or weather, besides looking at the sky. I did getstuck in Nassau for a week when a storm brewed upenough wind and waves to keep us in port. We only heardabout it from the scuttlebutt on the dock. Even then, I neversaw a day windy enough to make me think about a hurri-cane that was a long ways off. When the wind lightened upto the southeast, we left Nassau and headed toward theExumas—deeper into hurricane country.

Today, I would not consider venturing off during the

height of hurricane season—the heavy, storm-prone monthsof August, September and October. I am less ignorant now,at least about hurricanes. But I do remember that the sum-mer I spent in the Bahamas was paradise. Every day waspredictably beautiful, there was a breeze to keep you cool,the water was 80-plus degrees and clear as a glass of water,and the spearfishing fed you whenever you wanted. If youhang out into August, you get to dive for lobster—and theymake a great meal. Honest.

I do remember hitting lots of afternoon thunderstormsthat summer in the Bahamas. They always seemed to be onthe banks. When we knew we would be passing throughone, we would reef the main and just sail through it. It wasabout 15 minutes of wind and rain—then back to paradisewith a great sailing breeze. The freshwater tasted good andgave us a great shower—a luxury on a 26-foot sailboat. Wewatched as little powerboats would just motor around thesestorms at 25-30 mph.

I guess we were pretty lucky back then, because oneweek after we got back in late August, Hurricane David hitWest Palm Beach, and I had to move the boat north to a hur-ricane hole in Stuart. That’s another story.

I got older and found out that hurricane season comesaround every year. Here it is again. But one of the best fewmonths of my life was spent cruising in hurricane countryduring hurricane season.

It sure was great being young and ignorant.

FROM THE HELM STEVE MORRELL, EDITOR

10 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

LETTERS

BOAT SLIP AVAILABILITYFirst of all, I think you have the bestmagazine in sailing. It is so informa-tive to Florida sailors. I read one ofyour editorials about slip availabilityaround Tampa Bay. I have a Bristol 27that is in a wet slip in old Tampa Bay.If something happened to our marina,

I would be in serious trouble to find anew marina in my area.

I know that condo and docko-minium developers are big advertis-ers in your magazine. They bring youbig advertising income. To the sailorsand boaters around Tampa Bay theyhave raped and just about destroyed

access to Tampa Bay. The developerthat was going to build condos anddockominiums at the old ImperialYacht on Gandy wanted to close theGandy boat ramp. Can you imaginethat? Many boaters don’t even knowthe seriousness of this issue. I havepresented information to theHillsborough County Commissionover this issue. In the last six years, wehave lost 41 percent of the access ofTampa Bay.

On another subject, last year I hadto get my boat bottom painted. Icouldn’t find a marina in Tampa thatcould do it. I had to go to one in St.Petersburg to get it done. Boatyardsare another major story.

Dennis Brooks

Dennis – I understand that boat slips arescarcer on the north side of Tampa Bay,but here in Bradenton, they are abundantand prices have even gone down at one ofPalmetto’s largest marinas, which allowsliveaboards and has great facilities.

By the way, I have never had a condodeveloper advertise in the magazine. Ihave had a couple of people put classifiedsin for dockominiums, but I don’t know ifthey were developers.

Editor

MORE ON BOAT SLIPSFrom the other side of Tampa Bay, Iecho Mr. Shurr’s letter, “No SlipsAvailable Around Here” from theDecember SOUTHWINDS. If you thinkfinding a slip in Pinellas County ishard, try Hillsborough County. Toquote the summer 2006 edition of theTampa Bay Estuary Program’s “BaySoundings” newsletter, “…Hillsbor-ough County alone has lost more than600 dry and 276 wet rental slips inrecent years.” It is ironic that whenev-er the media or local governmentwants a photo to show “the good life”of the area, a sailboat is often thefocus, but there is absolutely no sup-port for meeting the needs of the aver-age sailor. Even in areas lucky enoughto have slips available, the monthlyfee is often well out of reach for thoseof us with a modest income. I suggestthat you look more closely at the real-ities of local boating before you pro-

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

E-mail your letters to [email protected]

See LETTERS continued on page 12

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 11

nounce that all is well. Having said that, I am a faithful reader and enjoy

SOUTHWINDS very much.There are a lot of sour grapes around here because of all

the—mainly lower end—slips that have disappeared overthe past few years. It’s even more frustrating because someof the larger sites, such as Imperial Yacht Basin andGeorgetown Apartments in south Tampa, have been soldbut not redeveloped. Imperial was totally flattened and hasbeen a barren dirt patch for two years. Recently there wasan article that the developer canceled his plans because ofthe soft housing market. Just north of that, the GeorgetownApartments, where I had my boat, was sold a couple ofyears ago and everyone was kicked out, but it just sits therewith no activity. Life is tough, but we sail on…

Hans ZarbockTampa, FL

Hans – Again, I see that that boat slips on the north side of theBay are scarce, and my comment in the above letter holds true.Down south here, things are different.

Thanks for your support of the magazine.

SAILOR PASSES ONA.O. Halsey passed away on his boat on March 27 whileanchored at Old Port Cove in North Palm Beach, FL. Heand his wife Lindy had just completed a passage from theBahamas aboard their Falmouth Cutter, The Polaris Jack. He

was 69.A.O. was born with spina bifida and was not expected

to live beyond the age of eight. Despite this disability, helearned to sail and loved everything about the sea. Heworked transporting pilots to the ships. When not on thejob, A.O. loved to ride around in his dinghy and greet theother boaters. He was a kind person with a “can do” atti-tude, and he will be greatly missed.

I don’t know if you can print this information, but itwould be helpful to his family to get the word out to themany people who knew and loved him. They met so manypeople on their cruises whom they would like to inform ofhis passing.

Thanking you in advance for your consideration. SV Sea Bird

Newnan, GA

ST. AUGUSTINE MOORING FIELDSThis is in regards to Ken Trepagnier’s letter in the January2008 issue. I am a longtime St. Augustine resident from 1971to the present.

Yes, the city is planning moorings but not just a dozenor two around the city dock. They plan to set up mooringsin every viable spot both by the city and over east at thelighthouse. This would mean taking out all those who areeither moored or anchored and making them pay.

There is now no free parking in the city. The $25-millionparking garage has not done well, so meters have now gone

LETTERS

12 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

See LETTERS continued on page 14

up to a $1.50 per hour. Residents may pay for cards andonly pay $.50 an hour—twice what it used to be. Thistown’s government only exists to get tourists into thedowntown area to spend money. The city dock has no park-ing and it was always the dock to raise rates first.

Many waterfront homeowners want the boats out.Holding-tank laws seem loosely enforced. There is a freepump-out at Camache Cove Marina.

Capt. Bill CookSt. Augustine, FL

THE FWC AND BOOT KEY HARBOR RESIDENTS I feel like there is a lot of bad-news editorials sent to you. Infact, I sent one to you a while back about the FWC in theKeys and how its presence in Boot Key Harbor was, to saythe least, overwhelming. So here is a good-news update. Weleft Boot Key in April 2007 to take our boat up North for afew months. When we left—and before—the situationbetween the boaters in Boot Key and the FWC was, in myopinion, at an all-time low. The boaters there viewed themas the enemy. And since I can’t speak for them, I don’t knowhow they viewed the boaters. But all in all, it was not agood, friendly relationship. Since that time, there have beenseveral editorials in your magazine on this subject.Someone, somewhere up the chain of command in the FWCmust have heard us and, in my opinion, finally used somegood old-fashioned common sense. We returned to BootKey on December 1, and since that time, I have only seenthe FWC in the harbor twice. Both times were during day-light hours, and as far as I could tell, they didn’t stop any-one to check anything. I realize that there could have beensome coming and going that I did not see, but when I washere pre-April 2007, they were a daily and nightly presence.

I would also like to make note that the harbor and theboaters in the harbor are just as good now as they werebefore. There have been no killings, drownings, no boatsrunning into each other, etc. The harbor and the boatershere do a good job of policing themselves. If we see a boattraveling too fast in the mooring field, we will slow themdown. If we see something that is not safe, we will seeabout correcting it. I’m not naive enough to think that thereis no need at all for law enforcement, but there is a balanc-ing line and, in my opinion, we may have reached it. I maybe optimistic, but I can actually see a day in the not too dis-tant future when the boaters here may even smile and wavewhen they see a FWC boat.

Thanks, Steve, and I give 99 percent of the credit toyour magazine.

Vernon Roumillat S/V Chiqui

Boot Key Harbor, Florida Keys

Vernon – Thanks for the good news and the kind compliment, butyou give SOUTHWINDS too much credit. The magazine is themedia and only one small link in the whole situation along withall the boaters, including the good FWC officers and the localcommunity. If I have ever seen or heard of a change for the goodin boating relationships between the liveaboard and cruising com-munity and the marine patrol (the FWC in this case), it is in BootKey Harbor. When I think back to the night raids that went onover a year ago and what I have heard is going on now, I see hope

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 13

LETTERS

for the future. Boot Key Harbor appears to not only be a model forgood relationships between the water police and liveaboards butalso a model of how to create and manage a positive mooring field.Maybe it is the beautiful waters of the Keys that have mellowedeveryone out.

What I believe is a major factor to all this is that the FWCofficers in Boot Key came to meet with and got to know the live-aboards there—and vice versa. I believe there is—and has been—a general prejudice against liveaboards by the on-the-waterpolice. (I don’t believe there was a prejudice against FWC officersby liveaboards, as I never heard of a liveaboard stopping an FWCofficer and inspecting him, especially at night with floodlightswhile he is asleep.) I bet anything this prejudice does not exist inthe mind of any FWC officer who has ever cruised around in asailboat (or even a powerboat). We sailors all know that 90 per-cent, if not 99 percent, of liveaboards, are all great people wholove and respect the water, love people, work hard, and are honestand friendly. Most of them are all seeking out the beauty andpeace of the natural world—the still-wild oceans. Most of the on-water FWC people today, except for those who came from the oldFish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (who actually justenforced fish and wildlife laws) before it merged with the FloridaMarine Patrol in 1999, came from the law enforcement side andmany came from law enforcement on land. They have no ideawhat the sailing/cruising world and the people in it are like—orwhat life on the water is like. The old FWCC didn’t deal muchwith sailors, nor did the old marine patrol. And—for somestrange reason—the current FWC wants to enforce the laws onsailos even though they rarely cause accidents. We all know it’sthe fast-moving powerboat world that is statistically causing 90percent of the accidents. Maybe 99 percent. Years ago, sailorswere rarely stopped by the old marine patrol. Today, the FWCseems to like stopping sailors and inspecting them—ignoring thestatistics of what accidents are caused by what and whom. Youare less likely to get stopped on the streets now than on the water.At least on the streets, they can’t stop you just to see if yourpapers are in order.

The situation is different where we have FWC officerscoming upon cruisers who are moving through an area. MostFWC in those locations will rarely have a chance to get to knowcruisers as they have in Boot Key Harbor. And since so manyof the FWC officers come from land law enforcement (someoneeven compared the TV program “Cops” to their situation), theyhave no idea whom they are dealing with and what the life islike on the water. In Boot Key Harbor, they all live together inthe same community, and I bet many even know each other byfirst name now.

I hope it all works out that way throughout Florida. Maybewe should request that all FWC officers go to Boot Key Harborand meet up with the FWC officers down there to learn aboutliveaboards.

They could call it “Boot Camp.”Editor

14 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

E-MAIL YOURLETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

[email protected]

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 15

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.

Southeastern U.S. Air & Water Temperaturesand Gulf Stream Currents – June

16 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 17

n RACING EVENTSFor racing schedules, news and events see the racing section.

n UPCOMING SOUTHERN EVENTSGo to the SOUTHWINDS Web site for our list of youth sailingprograms in the Southern coastal states, www.southwinds-magazine.com. The list was printed in the April 2006 issue.

EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING

Monthly Boating Safety Courses 2008 Schedule in Fort Pierce, FLBoating Safety Course designed for the recreational boater, toencourage safety on the water. This one-day boating courseemphasizes safety on the water to enhance the boating expe-rience and to increase confidence on the water. The course isstate of Florida approved for those 21 and under to obtaintheir FL state boaters license. Dates in 2008 are June 21, July19, Aug. 16, Sep. 13, Oct. 18, Nov. 15. Classes are usually veryfull, call and reserve space on the preferred program date. $36(+ $10 for each additional family member).

Courses are held from 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at theFlotilla 58 Coast Guard Auxiliary Building 1400 SeawayDr., Fort Pierce FL. (772) 579-3395 Stephanie, or (772) 321-3041 Gary, or e-mail [email protected].

Coast Guard Auxilliary Boating Courses Jacksonville, FLSafe Boating Saturdays. Captains Club, 13363 Beach Blvd.,Jacksonville. June 7, July 26. Meets Florida legal require-ments for boater education. Most insurance companiesoffer discounts to program graduates. Mike Christnacht.(904) 502-9154. www.uscgajaxbeach.com,

Ongoing – Boating Skills and SeamanshipPrograms. St. Petersburg, FLTuesday nights, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.Satisfies the Florida boater safety educationrequirements. Eleven lessons, every Tuesday.

Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs, 7:30-9:30 p.m.,1300 Beach Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. Lessons include: whichboat for you, equipment, trailering, lines and knots, boathandling, signs, weather, rules, introduction to navigation,inland boating and radio. (727) 823-3753. Don’t wait untilnext summer to have your children qualify for a state ofFlorida boater safety ID, possibly lower your boaters insur-ance premium or just hone your safe boating skills.

Boating Safety Courses, St. Petersburg, FLSt. Petersburg Sail and Power Squadron. 6-week public boat-ing course begins every Monday. Includes safety informationplus basic piloting; charts, course plotting, latitude/longitudeand dead reckoning. Satisfies Florida’s under age 21 boater

EVENTS & NEWS OF INTEREST TO SOUTHERN SAILORSTo have your news or event in this section, contact [email protected].

Send us information by the 5th of the month preceding publication. Contact us if later.Changes in Events Listed on SOUTHWINDS Web site

Go to www.southwindsmagazine.com for changes and notices on upcoming events. Contact us to post event changes.

18 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

requirements. May 12 a course starts at the St. PetersburgSailing Center (727) 867-3088. Other courses continuous-ly offered. (727) 565-4453. www.boating-stpete.org.

Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary(Flotilla 11-1) Public Boating Programs

America’s Boating Course, weekend course, twolessons—June 28-29, July 12-13. Sailing Course, GPSand Chart Reading—June 9, 10.

For more information on upcoming education pro-grams or to request a free vessel safety check, call (727) 469-8895 or visit www.a0701101.uscgaux.info. Click on PublicEducation Programs. America’s Boating Course and othercourses regularly posted on the Web site.

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

Ruskin, FL, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 75 Offers Home Study Safe Boating CourseThe Ruskin flotilla each month offers a boating safety

course in Ruskin, but has found that many boaters donot have the time to attend the courses, so they are

now also offering a home study course at $30.Additional family members will be charged $10each for testing and certificates. Tests will be heldbimonthly. Entry into the course will also allowparticipants to attend the classes. To apply, call(813) 677-2354.

n OTHER EVENTS

2008 Atlantic Hurricane SeasonBegins, June 1-November 30See the SOUTHWINDS Hurricane section this issue. Also visitthe SOUTHWINDS hurricane pages at www.southwinds-magazine.com for articles and links to weather Web sites,hurricane plans, tips on preparing your boat and more.

Looking for Boats to Buddy Cruise to Abacos in June — FromWest Florida, Keys or Key BiscayneCruisers from the Sarasota area are putting together a cruiseof boats to the Abacos in June and are looking for otherboats who want to cruise with them. Boats can join themanywhere from Sarasota to the Keys to Key Biscayne, wherethey will be leaving from No-Name Harbor around June 15.They will be departing from Sarasota around June 9 andwill then go on to West End to clear customs and then on to

Southeast Florida Sailing and Boating News WantedSOUTHWINDS magazine is looking for writers to coversailing and boating news from southeast Florida.Articles and news wanted on racing, waterways issues,boaters’ rights, mooring fields, businesses, etc. Pleasecontact [email protected].

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 19

SailLaser Miami is Miami’s premier sailing andwater sports facility. SailLaser is a division of

LaserPerformance, the world’s leading manufac-turer of sailing dinghies, and produces such pop-ular boats as the Laser, Sunfish and many otherpopular boats. Located in the heart of CoconutGrove, just 20 minutes from Miami’s international

airport, SailLaser Miami is based at the US SailingCenter, the only official U.S. Olympic Sailing Training

site in the United States. SailLaser is directly onBiscayne Bay, one of the finest sailing areas in the world.

SailLaser will also be holding Laser youth learn-to-sailprograms. The program is open to youth ages 5 to 17 andstarts June 9 and runs though the summer. Basic toadvanced sailing courses are available.

Eighth Annual Summer Sailstice,Planet Earth, June 21-22The eighth Annual Summer Sailstice, a sailing cele-bration of the Summer Solstice, will be held June 21-22. There is no specific location of the SummerSailstice except that it occurs on the planet Earth, inthis solar system, where sailors can spend the day—or two days—sailing as a tribute to the solstice,which—astronomically—occurs on June 21.

The Summer Sailstice sailing holiday allows all sailorsto sail locally and celebrate globally with other members oftheir club, class, fleet or family while connecting with thou-sands of sailors worldwide. This year’s Summer Sailsticecelebration takes place on June 21-22 on the weekend clos-est to the summer solstice with more daylight than anyother weekend of the year.

Summer Sailstice was founded in 2001. It is a globalholiday celebrating sailing annually on the summer sol-stice. The goal of Summer Sailstice is to encourage allsailors and sailing organizations in the NorthernHemisphere to participate by sailing and celebrating wher-ever they are on the longest sailing day of the year.

For more on the Sailstice, go to www.summersailstice.com.

the Abacos. Total trip time will be 5-9 weeks, butboaters can join for any length of time. They areplanning to be in the Abacos for Regatta Time inAbaco, July 3-11. Power or sailboats welcome,but mainly sailboats. Anyone and everyone iswelcome. It is important that all boats joining bein good condition with all systems checked out.

For details, call Walt at the SarasotaSailing Squadron. (941) 374-9601.

Sarasota Bay Singles Yacht ClubMonthly MeetingsSarasota Bay Singles Yacht Club welcomes all singles with agenuine interest in sailing. Captains with boats are encour-aged to join in the fun! All are welcome the first Tuesday ofeach month at 6:00 p.m. at Red Lobster Restaurant, 5711Tamiami Trail in Bradenton (four miles north of the airport).See monthly events at www.SBSYC.org. (941) 755-6508.

SailLaser Miami Laser Clinic, US Sailing Center, Coconut Grove, FL, June 9-13SailLaser will be hosting a Laser Clinic at the new SailLaserCenter located at the US Sailing Center in Coconut Glove,FL. The clinic is for intermediate to advanced sailors. Thecost is $395 for the week and the fee includes lunch daily.For more information, contact SailLaser at (305) 285-3442 oremail at [email protected].

CONTRIBUTE TO SOUTHWINDSWRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED

SOUTHWINDS is always looking for articles and photoson various subjects about sailing (cruise or race) in ourSouthern waters, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Formore information, go to our Web site, www.southwinds-magazine.com, and see the “Writers Guidelines” page,or e-mail [email protected].

20 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

able resource is Steve Dodge’s The CruisingGuide to Abaco, which offers a wealth of localinfo. Once you’re in Abaco, the daily local cruis-ers’ net is broadcast on VHF 68 at 8:15 a.m. andincludes Bob Toler’s excellent weather reports.Known as Barometer Bob, you can view his Website at www.barometerbob.com.

n NEWS

City of Marathon Decides to Buy Boot KeyOn April 29, the Marathon City Council voted

unanimously to buy Boot Key instead of having todeal with and pay for replacing or repairing the openingbridge, the island’s only vehicle access. For several years,the city has dealt with problems with the aging bridge.Estimates ran as high as $10-million for repairs. Keys Radioowns a small portion of the island, and the bridge is theonly access to the radio station. It has threatened to sue thecity, claiming a taking if the city opted not to repair thebridge. Most of the island is owned by one individualwhose Realtor stated that the owner thought the propertywas worth more than the $3.4-million that the city is pro-posing to pay for it.

Regatta Time in Abaco, July 3-11 —Not Just a RegattaBy Rebecca Burg

The skippers and crews who participate in the annualRegatta Time in Abaco see an exciting series of races.However, the event is much more than your usual runaround the buoys, and sailors return every year for theirresistible Bahamian culture. While the regatta is ahighlight, rest days in between each race allowcrews to immerse themselves in Abaco’s exoticand laid-back tropical ambiance. Family-friend-ly parties punctuate each day, and the funstarts with Bobb Henderson’s immense“Cheeseburger in Paradise” picnic on asparkling white-sand beach.

The local charm will sweep you into a different timezone. Tiny mom and pop shops greet sailors who visit GreatAbaco Island and its many out-island cays. Here, a trafficjam consists of two golf carts meeting on a narrow sidestreet. Enjoy the grand ocean view with a frosty Kalik beerat Nipper’s on Great Guana Cay or check out Cracker P’son the little island of Lubber’s Quarters. You can trade yourpaperback books in the Jib Room at Marsh Harbour, tryconch salad at a local festival, see the BahamianIndependence Day fireworks on July 10 and discover theparrots and wild horses on Great Abaco. There’s so much tosee and do.

During the races, sailboats canter along a bit like wildhorses in the area’s prevailing 10-knot easterly breeze.Racing divisions include PHRF w/spinnakers, the cruisingboat “Mother Tub” with no spinnakers and a division formultihulls. Many sailors return year after year with theirfamilies, like Jim Miller and Sea Turtle, to enjoy a cruisingvacation as well as the sociable regatta. You don’t have toenter all five races, and many cruisers come just to followthe action, crew on another vessel and be part of the festiv-ities and social setting.

To be a part of the adventure, visit www.rtia.net, or inthe United States contact race committee Jon and CarolEwing at (305) 665-8316 or [email protected]. An invalu-

Articles Wanted About Southern Yacht Clubs, SailingAssociations and Youth Sailing Groups

SOUTHWINDS magazine is looking for articles on indi-vidual yacht clubs, sailing associations and youth sailinggroups throughout the Southern states (NC, SC, GA, FL,AL, MS, LA, TX (east Texas). Articles wanted are about aclub’s history, facilities, major events and general infor-mation about the club. The clubs and associations must bewell established and have been around for at least fiveyears. Contact [email protected] forinformation about article length, photo requirements andother questions.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 21

Most of the island is zoned aConservation-Native Area and is predomi-nantly wetlands. Part of the island was usedas a dump, and there will be some clean-upcosts the city will have to come up with topay for that. The city is planning to turn theisland into an “eco-preserve.”

Without the bridge, sailors and other tallcraft will not have to wait to enter or exit theanchorage and mooring field. Because of mechan-ical failures when the bridge would not open,some boats have been unable to enter the protectedanchorage during bad weather. Other boaters havebeen trapped and not able to leave when the bridgewas stuck in the down position. Without the bridge,these problems will be eliminated.

Dockage Rates to Rise atPlantation Key Yacht Harbor in the Keys The Islamorada Village Council voted to raise dockagerates at Plantation Key Yacht Harbor at Founders Park.Currently marina bulkhead slips pay $25 per foot per

month and other slips pay $14 per foot. The Councildirected the village manager to raise the rates so that theaverage charge will be $25 per foot. The manager said themarina was losing money on a daily basis because theywere charging old rates.

Ethanol-Laced Gasoline Dissolves Fiberglass Fuel Tank

A boater in California recently filed a lawsuit against10 major gasoline producers because gasoline withan ethanol additive has been dissolving fiberglassfuel tanks. Boaters have found that their tanks weredissolving and leaking fuel into their boats’hulls—causing severe damage, besides anextreme fire danger—because of the ethanol thathas been added to fuel. In 2004, Californiarequired all gasoline sold in the state to carry 5.7

percent ethanol to replace another additive that wascontaminating ground water. The lawsuit was filed by aboat owner, who had $35,000 in damage to his boat from aleaking tank and had no idea that the fuel would be danger-ous to fiberglass tanks. The lawsuit stated that the gasolineproducers sold fuel without warning the public about thedangers of the gasoline to fiberglass tanks.

22 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

They have spanned the globe, fulfilled their destiny forgenerations, and survived the storms of wind, sea, andtime, yet the scattered children came together on a springweekend in 2008 as 10 different Allied sailboats joined in aflotilla on the waters of Tampa Bay on April 11-13 at theTampa Sailing Squadron in Apollo Beach.

Originally crafted in a no-nonsense yard on the upperHudson River in the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, these rugged andwell-built sister ships and cousins have found themselvesin the warm Florida gulf waters in the hands of children orfriends of their former first captains. Sometimes the jour-ney south was due to owner retirement and the migrationto the warmer clime. Sometimes they’d been in service intropical waters and wound up not returning to the northafter their charter duties or passage-making cruise dayswound down.

No matter the how, seeing 10 of these Allieds formedup and sailing as a flotilla, there was no doubt I was wit-nessing a warm, historic moment. I felt a special pride as Isailed abeam a Gilmer-designed Seawind 30 as she wasalongside her big sister, the Seawind II 32—while all of uswere cutting a port tack to windward and chewing somefoam—with seven more Allied vessels astern, their can-vases brightly lit by a bold, clear day’s sun and curved bya steady 15- to 20-knot wind.

In all, this first Allied sailboat gam of Tampa Bay drew10 boats of six different varieties: one Seawind 30 (the firstfiberglass design to circumnavigate), five Seawind II 32s,

one Luders 3, two Seabreeze 35s (one sloop and one yawl),and one Princess 36. The boat-to-boat tours seemed all tooshort as variations of systems, running rigging, interiorspace usage, and vessel alterations were varied and per-sonalized. Discussions of sail choice, passages of the past,a planned run to Mexico next month, etc.—all kept theconversations lively and jovial. Festivities at the TampaSailing Squadron clubhouse gave the captains and crew aperfect place to make new friends. The dinner on Saturdayevening, at Circles Restaurant in Apollo Beach, saw 28wind-blown and suntanned sailors and their friends shar-ing much pride and affection for their prized Allied “goodold boat.” Photographer Jon Bolton captured the flotillaon film from the air on Saturday afternoon, and it wasappropriate how the aerial photography mission wasflown in a beautiful red Waco biplane of yesteryear, withits roaring radial engine, flown by Tom Hurley.

This time next year, we promoters of Dancing WithThe Wind hope to see even more fun being had by ournew Allied sailboat and Tampa Sailing Squadron friends.If you have a sailboat in Tampa Bay and want to wind upwith an aerial photograph opportunity, stay tuned for thenext Allied gam of Tampa Bay.

Many thanks to SOUTHWINDS magazine, and our spon-sors for helping to create a great weekend event. Checkout the photos and comments at http://dancingwith-thewind.net and support those who support sailing.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 23

An Allied Cause for Celebration: Allied Boats Gam, Tampa Bay APRIL 11-13By Ed Verner, rendezvous organizer

24 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

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28 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

23rd MorganInvasion 2008Treasure Island,Tampa BayApril 18-19Photos by Gary HuffordCover photo: Two Morgan Out Islands sailing in the Morgan Invasion Regatta.

The Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club hostedthe 23rd Morgan Invasion at its new clubhouse onApril 18-19. The Invasion has been held at theDavis Island Yacht Club for the previous twoyears because the new clubhouse was under con-struction on Treasure Island.

This year, 33 boats from 22 to 41 feet showedup for the rendezvous and sailboat race. Boatschecked in all day on Friday, April 18, and the TikiBar on the pool deck was open for partying gueststo mingle and listen to live music. CharleyMorgan presented a Power Point show in theevening on Morgan boats.

Saturday was the traditional boat race in theGulf while the non-racers hung out at the pool fora midday barbecue. After the race, there wasanother afternoon and evening of dinner andentertainment, followed by an awards ceremonyfor the day’s race.

The boat that came the farthest to the Invasionwas Obsession, which traveled from Dayton, OH,574 miles around the Florida Keys. Two Out Island41s, Obsession and Mother Goose, won the pristineboat award. Surveyor Pete Brown said they wereboth in better-than-new condition.

Shadowfax, a Morgan 38 at the Treasure Island Yacht Club basin.

Mary Beth Singh, Charley Morgan and Les Lathrop,Treasure Island Yacht Club’s venerable dockmaster.

Mother Goose, an Out Island 41 owned by Mike Oscanyan. Mother Goosewon the pristine boat award (along with Obsession).

Happy Morgan sailors wave from Nobility, an Out Island 41 owned by Mike Noble.

30 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

The festival, which was moved to the Sarasota SailingSquadron last year because of construction at the Cortez

site, returned to its true home on the waterfront at JohnBanyas’ N.E. Taylor Boatworks in Cortez.

Co-hosted by the Florida Maritime Museum, theFlorida Gulf Coast Traditional Small Craft Association, andthe Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, the “mess-about” is a user-friendly gathering of owners who sharesuch a passion for small traditional sailboats, rowboats,canoes and kayaks that most have built their own boats tobring to the show. This is an event for anyone who wants tosee superb craftsmanship executed in cypress, teak,mahogany, white cedar, and longleaf yellow pine that havebeen lovingly coated with seven to 10 coats of Captain’svarnish. The festival features boats where bronze and brasshardware are the norm—and “zamac” and stainless steelfittings on a boat are viewed with condescension. But, it’salso a place to see state-of-the-art modern boatbuildingmaterials including epoxy, carbon fiber, and expensivemarine grades of plywood that have been brought togetherto produce low-maintenance, lightweight boats built to theloveliest traditional designs. Abaco dinghies, CortezSpritsail skiffs, New Jersey Melon Seeds, and state-of-the-art wooden recreational rowing shells were all presented atthe festival this year for participants to see and try out.

One of the most unusual boats at the show wasEsperanza, a 15-foot all-traditional wooden sailboat, which isreported to have been sailed circa 1963 from Cuba toIslamorada in the Florida Keys by six desperate Cubanos. Itwas the latest complete restoration project of Bob Pitt at theMuseum’s F.I.S.H. Boatworks in Cortez. Led by volunteerJerry Bien of Erie, PA, Esperanza was given a new rig, tran-som, stem, some new planking, a new deck and several newframes and then painted up just in time to participate in theMullet Cup Regatta that is part of the festival. In a continu-ation of a generous tradition, Esperanza’s sail was providedby Jo Jo Glover, who has taken over the sailmaking businessof her late husband, Ray Glover, of Sunrise Sails Plus inPalmetto, FL.

At the other extreme, Urs and Renee Wunderli fromLongboat Key brought several Stampfli recreational rowing

The Third Great Florida Gulf Coast Small Craft FestivalCortez, FL, April 18-19

By Roger Allen

Photos by Steve Morrell

The Great Florida Gulf Coast Small Craft Festivalheld April 18-20 couldn’t have offered up betterweather to the 53 various small traditional boatsand their crews who came from as far away as SanFrancisco, Racine,WI, and Vermont this year.

Nancy Jean, a Pete Culler-designed motor launch, is owned andlovingly maintained by D. Turner Matthews of Bradenton. Thelaunch, which is all traditionally built, served as the event’s racecommittee boat.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 31

The awards dinner wascapped by a presentationfrom legendary naval archi-tect, yacht builder and worldclass sailor Charlie Morgan,whose slide show capturedhis remarkable career, which

included America’s Cup contenders, custom yachts, andpioneering developments that formed the basis for currentyacht building methods.

The final event of the festival was a two-and-a-half daygunkhole sailing trip that six boats participated in.Accompanied by Allan Horton’s beautiful 42-foot Marylanddeadrise workboat, Juniper, the boats spent the time sailingaround, and camping on, the shores of the western reachesof Tampa Bay, including Egmont Key. The return trip toCortez provided exciting sailing as a late afternoon breezeof 15 to 18 knots provided a screaming broad reach downAnna Maria Sound.

shells built of cedar inSwitzerland for people to tryout. Instead of having a slid-ing seat, their unique recre-ational boats have sliding oar-locks—and if being out on thewater is already a healthyexperience for mind and body, these boats step up the ben-efit by providing a great workout as well.

Despite the snobbery about hardware, owners actuallybring their exquisite boats to the festival knowing that totalstrangers will take them out for a sail or row—and, in fact,inviting them to do so—making this a special kind of “peo-ple scale” boating event. George Krewson of Cocoa, FL,added a special dimension to that aspect of the show thisyear by bringing six orphans ranging in age from eight to14for some messing about in boats.

The four racing events, the Mullet Cup Regatta, theWay Out Island Regatta for Bahamas dinghies, and a row-ing and paddling race all went off with the usual minorhitches and glitches that accompany these seriously non-competitive events. With a full array of exotic sprit, gaff, legof mutton, and catboat rigs represented by the variety oftraditional boats from every cultural region in the UnitedStates, the races are uniquely appealing to sailors or thosewith a more artistic eye. The races are so informal that morethan half of the boat crews were made up of folks who justcame to see what the show was all about but got“Shanghaied” off the docks to help sail in the race. Theawards ceremony held on Saturday evening recognizedthose winners and others who received awards for variouscategories of boatbuilding, including Best in Show, whichwas taken by Howard Heimbrock of Nokomis, FL, with anelegant 20-foot Melon Seed designed by the museum’s his-toric sites manager, Roger Allen, and built by Howard.

RIGHT : Jazz is a 13’6”New Jersey Melon Seed

built of glued lap plywoodby Rex and Kathy Payneof Tallahassee and now

owned by Gerry Goldbergof Pine Island. MelonSeeds were originally

built for duck hunting in the salt marshes of

New Jersey. An 18-footMelon Seed built by

Howard Heimbrock ofNokomis took Best in

Show at the festival this year.

ABOVE: The Sea Pearl, a water-ballasted canoe yawl with leeboards. This one is in the waters adjacent to the festival docksknown as “the kitchen,” thename given by local Corteziansduring the depression, becausewhen the villagers got hungry, they could always go out to“the kitchen” to find some fresh shellfish for the table.

LEFT A Sea Pearl with outriggers. Fast, stable andcomfortable for minimalistcamp cruising, the Tri Hull SeaPearl has become a populardesign among members ofFlorida’s West Coast TrailerSailors who made a strongshowing at this year’s festival.

OUR WATERWAYS

Liveaboards Can Anchor Anywherein Martin County While SouthportAnchorage is Temporarily ClosedLast month, SOUTHWINDS reported that the city of Stuartwas closing its Southport Anchorage after seven years. Thecity has leased the property and the mooring field to a com-pany that plans to develop a marina on the site. Plans forthe mooring field, which has 86 moorings (80 were occu-pied at the time of closing), are to reopen it in November orDecember after development of the property gets underway. Meanwhile, the boaters, including liveaboards, will beallowed to anchor anywhere in the county’s waters. Statelaw says that local government cannot regulate anchorageof non-liveaboards, but liveaboards can be regulated.

Plans for the new complex are to build a 198-slip water-front marina restaurant complex. There will also be 2000feet of side-tie dockage and a fuel dock. The current harbor-master building will be expanded by 2300 square feet withadditional showers, restrooms and meeting area for boaters.Sixty-nine of the original 86 moorings are to be retainedwhen the mooring field reopens.

(SOUTHWINDS has always called this anchorage theSouthport anchorage. The local newspaper in Stuart calledit the Southpoint Anchorage. I found legal county and citydocuments referring to it with both names — editor)

City of Stuart, FL, Apologizes &Pays Sailor for Citation Givenfor AnchoringOn May 5, the city of Stuart, FL, agreed to pay $2000, alongwith a letter of apology, to sailor Vincent Sibilla in exchangefor his dropping a federal lawsuit against the city for a cita-tion he received for improperly anchoring his boat insidethe city limits. The city will also pay Sibilla’s $3,000 attorneyfees and agreed to change the city’s ordinance on non-live-aboard boats. The new ordinance will define the term “innavigation” to be in line with Florida state law. The oldordinance stated that non-liveaboard boaters are no longer“in navigation” if they are anchored for more than 10 days.

Are Wag Bags Allowed to beLegally Used on Boats in U.S. Waters?By Steve Morrell

Since we started selling Wag Bags last fall, I have had manypeople ask me if they are legal to use and will law enforce-ment accept them. I have researched this and my final con-clusion is: Yes. They should accept them—if they know thelaws. I discovered how little I really knew about Type IIIMSDs before this research. When I heard an FWC officer inFlorida did not accept them, I realized that he probably didnot really know the law either. In fact, I think few peoplereally do. Hopefully, this will help to educate those whodon’t know, including those who should know the most—law enforcement. You can research this yourself to verify.

I will use what I found on federal and Florida law, butI believe the reader will see below that federal law preemptsstate law and that the situation is the same in all states.

Although, I am, by no means, a lawyer nor an expert onthis law, it does not take a lawyer to research and under-stand the rules, although I heavily refer below to a legallydrawn up and in-depth analysis of the situation by lawyers.

Much of the below information was taken from thepaper, “Florida Marine Sewage Discharge Regulation” fromthe Center For Governmental Responsibility, University ofFlorida, Levin College of Law. Quotes I use below whichhave no reference to them are quotes from this paper. I willrefer to it below as the “University of Florida paper.” Thepaper can be accessed at www.law.ufl.edu/conservation/pdf/marine_sanitation.pdf.

Other parts referred to below are from the Code ofFederal Regulations, CFR, which is the guide for humanwaste on boats that the Coast Guard uses.

Federal Law & Florida Law on MSDsTo start with, federal law preempts states from regulatingMSDs, except in three instances. Those three instances haveto do with houseboats and no-discharge zones, which donot affect us in this discussion. Outside these instances, ifthere is a Florida law regulating discharge, it is only valid if

32 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

it does not conflict with federal law. Florida law—or anystate law—cannot regulate MSDs.

Federal law prohibits the manufacture, sale or operationof vessels with toilets that are not equipped with certified orlabeled MSDs. There are three types of federally approvedMSDs: Type I, Type II and Type III. We are only concernedhere with Type III MSDs.

Readers might think that this means that a Type III MSDmust be labeled or certified to be able to be used. That’s cor-rect, but it all depends on the definitions of these words, likethe word “certified,” which the federal statute defines. Wewill get to that.

Florida law states, in Title XXIV, Chapter 327.53, the fol-lowing (section 2 is about houseboats and skipped here) :

“(1) Every vessel 26 feet or more in length which has anenclosed cabin with berthing facilities shall, while on thewaters of the state, be equipped with a toilet. On a vesselother than a houseboat, the toilet may be portable or perma-nently installed. Every permanently installed toilet shall beproperly attached to the appropriate United States CoastGuard certified or labeled marine sanitation device. (3) Every floating structure that has an enclosed living spacewith berthing facilities, or working space with public access,must be equipped with a permanently installed toilet prop-erly connected to a Type III marine sanitation device or per-manently attached via plumbing to shore-side sewage dis-posal. No structure shall be plumbed so as to permit the dis-charge of sewage into the waters of the state.”

The Federal Definition of a Certified Type III MSDThe crux of the question for our discussion remains: Whatis a certified or labeled marine sanitation device? I knowthe above Florida law quote sounds redundant and confus-ing, but that’s expected. One thing, before we move on toType IIIs, is that portable toilets are acceptable and a casecan easily be made that Wag Bags are a portable toilet. Themanufacturer, PETT, calls the bags “portable, efficient, drywaste collection products.” Nothing could be moreportable than a Wag Bag.

Back to the main question, which comes down to whatis a certified or labeled marine sanitation device? The CoastGuard and the CFR defines what those are in 33 C.F.R. Part159, which is the United States Code, Title 33 (Navigation

and Navigable Waters), Part 159 (Marine SanitationDevices). It describes MSDs as Type I, II and III. We will onlydiscuss Type III here.

Most people are going to automatically say a Type III isa holding tank. Not true, according to federal regulations. Aholding tank fits the definition, but so do a lot of otheroptions. Here is the CFR quote: “Type III marine sanitationdevice means a device that is designed to prevent the over-board discharge of treated or untreated sewage or any wastederived from sewage.” (Italics are CFR, not mine.)

That is a pretty broad quote. But let’s dig deeper. Thelaw goes on: “(a) No person may operate any vesselequipped with installed toilet facilities unless it is equippedwith: (1) An operable Type II or III device that has a label onit under § 159.16 or that is certified under § 159.12 or §159.12a;”

That’s pretty clear, but we must next go to the sectionsreferred to. We are not concerned with a “device that has alabel” but with certification. 159.12a (b) states that:

“(b) Any Type III device is considered certified under thissection if: (1) It is used solely for the storage of sewage andflushwater at ambient air pressure and temperature; and (2)It is in compliance with § 159.53(c).”

Obviously, it does not mention the word “holding tank” asa certified device, but leaves the situation open for broadinterpretation and miscellaneous ways to fit the criteria.

Next we need to see if it complies with 159.53 (c):

“Be designed to prevent the overboard discharge of treat-ed or untreated sewage or any waste derived fromsewage (Type III).”

The University of Florida paper also agrees with this infor-mation. Below is a quote from that paper:

“There is not a quantitative effluent limit for a Type III MSD.Rather the regulations require Type IIIs to be designed toprevent overboard discharge of treated or untreated sewageor any waste derived from sewage. Thus, Type III MSDs areoften holding tanks, although vacuum collection, incinera-tion, recirculation, and composting systems may also quali-fy as Type III MSDs.

Type III MSDs may have a through hull “Y” valve, butit may be opened only when the vessel is beyond U.S. terri-torial waters (three nautical miles). To secure the “Y” valuein a no- discharge position, the vessel operator must eitherremove the value handle or use a padlock or a non-releaseable wire-tie to comply with federal law.

Finally, a Type III device will be considered certifiedwithout going through the certification process if ‘it is usedsolely for the storage of sewage and flushwater at ambientair pressure and temperature’ and is designed to prevent theoverboard discharge of treated or untreated sewage or anywaste derived from sewage.”

It is clear, not only from reading the law on what a Type III

See OUR WATERWAYS continued on page 68

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 33

34 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

THE 2008 ATLANTICHURRICANE SEASON

June 1 - November 30

Second Annual BoatU.S. 2008 Marina Hurricane PreparationSymposium, Orlando, March 4-5By Steve Morrell, Editor

After two years of no hurricanes coming ashore in theUnited States, I wondered how interested marina own-

ers would be in attending another symposium, but atten-dance was up this year to 160—plus more sponsors jumpedin to help pay for the event. SOUTHWINDS was one of them.Sponsors who had displays at the symposium numbered18, up from last year’s 11.

I also wondered what new information BoatU.S. wouldpresent since so much was covered last year (SeeSouthwinds, past issues, April 2007, page 34, at www.south-windsmagazine.com/backissues). But they came throughwith flying colors, although a few subjects were repeated.But the repetition, like how one marina strapped their boatsto the ground, was important, since this practice hasbecome more widespread today (see past issues, January,February, March 2008).

There was a lot of new information this year—much ofwhich was learned by those who rebuilt and had a couple ofyears to think about preparing for another big storm—les-sons which can be very beneficial to those who were neverhit. Surely, the best-prepared marinas in the future will bethe ones who already have been hit. Many of them showedup, and they are the ones who are obviously the most pre-pared. It is the marinas who have never been hit who aremost likely to be less prepared, and who can really learnsomething at a symposium such as this. But the symposiumis really aimed at marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs—andthere was something to be gained for all of them.

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On June 1, we enter another Atlantic hurricane season.Still in the minds of many are the 2004 and 2005 seasonsthat were so destructive. Despite experts’ predictions ofstorm-heavy seasons since then, no hurricanes have comeashore in the continental United States for the last two sea-sons, leaving many wondering what’s up each year.

At SOUTHWINDS, we continue to try to make peopleaware that each year is unique and can be another calmyear or another heavy one—or whatever lies in between.

BoatU.S. held their second annual marina hurricanepreparation symposium in March. For the second year, Iattended this event and learned a lot about what the con-cerns are of marina operators in the South. Below you willread my report on that symposium and what has beenlearned over the last few years about preparing for a storm.

For boat owners, SOUTHWINDS has prepared what Ibelieve is the best article out there on helping boat own-ers put together and carry out a plan for their boats. Wehave published this article with changes in the last twoyears, but this year we are just referring our readers to goto our Web site and read this article, “Why Prepare YourBoat for a Tropical Storm,” on our hurricane pages atwww.southwindsmagazine.com/hurricane (go toSOUTHWINDS articles). Other valuable links to articlesand hurricane information are available on those pages.

We are still asking our readers to send us articles andopinions about their experiences in preparing for storms,dealing with marinas and other aspects of boating andhurricanes.

May there be no hurricanes this year.Steve Morrell

Editor

Eight Needed Changes Learned From the 2007 SymposiumFirst to speak at this two-day event was the BoatU.S. CEOBill Oakerson, who gave an excellent talk based on eightchanges that marinas need to make that were learned fromlast year’s symposium. 1 Every marina, yacht club and every boat needs a written

preparation plan.2 All facilities exposed to an “open expanse of water” (and

not protected by breakwaters) must get boats out of thewater or to a hurricane hole somewhere else.

3 Some communities need to establish more mooringfields.

4 Some communities need to establish more or largerbreakwaters protecting exposed marinas.

5 There is a need for more businesses to help executepreparation plans for facilities and boat owners.

6 Boat owners need to be motivated to prepare their boatsand work with marinas and yacht clubs to do so.

7 Insurance companies need to pay for new hurricanepreparation companies when they are hired to prepare ormove boats to protected areas.

8 There needs to be government cooperation and legisla-tion to speed up permits for mooring fields, breakwatersand improved building codes to help withstandCategory 3 and stronger storms.

Following Oakerson was Bill Smith of BoatU.S, whoexpanded on Oakerson’s comments that every facilityneeds a plan and made the strong point that the plan mustalways stay ahead of the storm. There must be no conflictingorders to employees as to what their job is, and employeesmust know the plan and their job beforehand. He also sug-gested having backup employees as a lot of people’s livesbecome unpredictable when a storm is approaching.

One of the most interesting and informative talks wasgiven by Bob Adriance of BoatU.S. Bob is probably the moti-vating force behind these two BoatU.S. hurricane sympo-siums and is the technical director at BoatU.S. He has writ-ten over 600 articles for Seaworthy, the BoatU.S. MarineInsurance damage-avoidance publication (an excellent pub-lication for those interested).

Bob spoke about nylon lines and their limitations, espe-cially as they apply to dock lines during storm conditions.Much of what he talked about was based on a Practical Sailorarticle (December 2007) that was done on nylon lines andshowed that lines lose half their strength as they get older.This was a real eye-opener for many. (I wanted to go homeand buy new lines immediately.) An article on lines andtheir limitations is covered in the July 2005 issue ofSeaworthy magazine.

The last person to speak on the first day was JohnNaybor, who owns two marinas in Pensacola, FL. One of hismarinas, Palm Harbor Marina, was destroyed, and Johnhad to completely rebuild it. John is an engineer andresearched the costs and benefits of all the different aspects

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 35

BoatU.S Plans Marina Preparation Booklet for 2009After hosting the Marina Hurricane PreparationSymposium for the last two years, what will BoatU.S. bedoing for an encore in 2009? The answer is: publishing a24-page booklet that could be called “The Best of MarinaHurricane Prep.” Rather than speculate on what mightwork, the booklet will feature techniques that have beenproven to significantly reduce damage to boats andmarinas. Bob Adriance, the technical director atBoatU.S., said the booklet is to be a big part of the asso-ciation’s long-term goal of reducing insurance costs inhurricane-prone areas.

Sections include: Hauling and Securing BoatsAshore; Hiring Professionals to Move Boats toHurricane Holes; Dry Stack Storage; the Advantages of“Hurricane Clubs”; How to Write an Effective MarinaHurricane Plan; and Legal and Political Considerations.Many of the techniques that will be cited were used atFlorida marinas, including Sebastian River Marina, TheHinckley Company in Stuart, Diamond 99 Marina, PalmHarbor, Pensacola Shipyard and Marine Complex, andIndiantown Marina. The booklet will also include infor-mation on products that have been proven to reducehurricane damage to boats, docks and marina facilities.It will be distributed free to all marinas on the Atlanticand Gulf coasts.

Steve Letro, from the NationalWeather Service, speaking at the

2008 Marina HurricanePreparation Symposium.

of a new marina built towithstand up to a Category3 storm. He debatedwhether to go with fixeddocks or floating and chosefloating because of the dam-age that was done by thestorm surge that partlydestroyed the marina whenHurricane Ivan hit it in2004. Although his waterdepth is only around sixfeet, he had to go 44 feet intothe bottom with new pilingsto find solid ground. Hewanted to have the pilings stick out of the water 18 feet—anticipating a surge of almost that level—so all of his pilingsare 70 feet long! He is confident his rebuilt marina will with-stand the storms it was designed for with ease. The story ofhis new marina, construction and costs was printed inMarina Dock Age magazine, April 2006.

On Wednesday morning, the first speaker was meteor-ologist Steve Letro, who presented a great talk on hurri-canes and their prediction and limitations of predictions.His most memorable points for this writer were his com-ments that each storm is an individual, but more important;that each season is an individual, something I did not hearemphasized in last year’s talk. This brought home the fact

that it is very difficult, if notimpossible, to predict whateach season will be like.

One of last year’s bestspeakers was RockySimone, who last yearspoke of the hurricane planhe established at thePensacola Marine Complex.It was filled with goodpractical knowledge. Rockyis no longer manager of thatmarina but is now a con-sultant to other marinas. Hespoke about the contract

between the marina and the boat owner and how the 2006Florida law allowed marinas to protect themselves, theboats and the marina from damage by insuring that the boatwill be prepared for a storm whether the owner does so ornot—and the marina can legally charge the boat owner forits services.

A little later on day two, maritime attorney RichardMcAlpin spoke more about the marina/boat owner contractplus discussed a very important landmark case of a boaterwho lived out of state and had a licensed captain prepare hisboat when a storm was approaching. The boat was anchoredout in West Palm Beach and broke away, causing extensivedamage to other private property. The boat owner was foundto not be liable because “due diligence” was taken to securethe boat. The implications of this ruling are quite far-reachingand of supreme importance to boat owners.

Other speakers included lobbyists for state and federalissues, urging boaters that they must work together towardgetting legislation passed to protect the interests of marinas.One speaker suggested that boat owners and those in theboating business go to www.boatblue.org if they are inter-ested in promoting boating interests.

The most emotional presentation—and perhaps themost memorable—was by Dan Rutherford, a member of theBoatU.S. CAT (catastrophe) team. Rutherford began by sit-ting down while a slide show was shown of the effects ofHurricane Katrina on the lives of those who suffered mostin New Orleans. The audience was silent as we were allreminded of the total devastation in that city, images ofwhich we had probably not seen in over two years.Rutherford then got up and stated that Katrina changed hislife—as he spoke emotionally with a cracked voice. Theslide show brought back to all of us how many people real-ly suffered two years ago in New Orleans. It brought intoperspective how many people’s lives were not just disrupt-ed by loss of a boat or a marina, but by loss of life and home.

There were several other excellent speakers, but there isnot room here to cover them all. The symposium was wellworth the time I spent there. Sponsors served great food,too. Many thanks to them all.

There will not be another symposium next year, as Boat U.S. hasother plans (see sidebar). For more information on the ideas andplans discussed at the symposium and other hurricane prepara-tion information, go to www.boatus.com/hurricanes orwww.southwindsmagazine.com/hurricane.

36 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

A couple of the many exhibitors at the symposium.

HURRICANE SEASON 2008

As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention.This was precisely the case leading to the creation of the

Tampa Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System(PORTS), a monitoring and prediction system designed toaid mariners traveling the shipping channel between thePort of Tampa and the Gulf of Mexico.

The original steel-cantilevered Sunshine SkywayBridge opened in 1954, a 15-mile span of two lanes runningin opposite directions from St. Petersburg to Bradenton. Atthis time, the ship channel had a vertical clearance ofapproximately 150 feet above the water and a width ofapproximately 750 feet. By 1971, a second parallel span wascompleted to compensate for increased traffic.

Preceding the infamous collision that destroyed thebridge in 1980, at least five weather-related incidentsoccurred in the immediate area of the Sunshine SkywayBridge. Four of these were non-fatal, resulting only in minordamage to the bridge. The worst, however, was the collisionof the freighter Capricorn and the U.S. Coast Guard cutterUSS Blackthorn that resulted in the deaths of 23 crew mem-bers aboard the Blackthorn. The untimely fate of so manyprofessional sailors emphasizes how treacherous navigat-ing Tampa Bay waters can be.

Fatal BlowThe fatal blow to the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge cameon the morning of May 9, 1980, at 0738. An unpredicted vio-lent rain squall producing winds up to 40 knots left Capt.John Lerro, pilot of the phosphate freighter Summit Venture,with zero visibility. Finding himself more than 700 feet fromthe center of the channel, the vessel slammed into the #2south pier of the southbound span, knocking 1261 feet ofcenter span, cantilever, approach and roadway into TampaBay. Tragically, 35 people, most of them onboard a charterbus, plunged 150 feet to their deaths.

For seven years following the accident, traffic wasrerouted onto the two-lane northbound span. Then, in April1987, the new cable-stayed Sunshine Skyway Bridgeopened with its recognizable golden triangles on the mainspan. With a vertical clearance of 193 feet and a main spanof 1200 feet, it is equipped with 36 large concrete bumpers

called dolphins, built to withstand impact from errant shipsin the vicinity of the bridge’s piers. Today, the originalbridge serves as a fishing pier, with debris and rubble fromthe demolition providing reef structure.

One positive outcome of one of the worst bridge disas-ters in history was the installation of the Tampa BayPhysical Oceanographic Real-Time System, or PORTS, in1992. PORTS is a marine information acquisition and dis-

A weather-reportingstation in Tampa Bay,part of the PORTS system.PORTS,

Tampa Bay’s Real-Time WeatherReporting Stations:

Motivated by DisasterBy Ali Hudon and Chris Simoniello

Photos by Chris Simoniello

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 37

38 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

semination system developed by theNational Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration’s (NOAA’s) NationalOcean Service (NOS) in collaborationwith the maritime community and theUniversity of South Florida College ofMarine Science.

PORTS consists of a network of 11stations in and around Tampa Bay,including the Port of Tampa, PortManatee, the Sunshine Skyway, and theC-Cut marker in the shipping channel.Each station collects real-time data onmeteorological and/or water condi-tions, such as wind speed and direction,air and water temperature, currentspeed and direction, and water level.These data are collected every six min-utes and are available in a variety ofuser-friendly formats, including tele-phone voice response and Internet.

Accurate Data CriticalAccurate wind and water level data are crucial, especiallyconsidering that traditional NOAA tide prediction tablesaccount for astronomical tides and currents, but not theeffects of water flow, wind, or other meteorological factors.These non-tidal forces in Tampa Bay can result in deviationsfrom the predicted tides by as much as 100 minutes and upto 2.5 feet (0.762 meter)! Because the bay’s tides and currentsare strongly influenced by these non-tidal forces, PORTS pro-vides important real-time information to both recreationalboaters and professional mariners navigating the bay.

PORTS data are used routinely by environmental man-agers, industry, and maritime transportation companies inTampa Bay. Access to real-time data allows port authori-ties and shipping operations to maximize the cargo load(and resulting profit) by taking into account the availableclearance to the bottom, as well as the transit time. In fact,since becoming operational in 1992, PORTS has reduced

the total number of ship groundingsin Tampa Bay by 60 percent, improv-ing navigational safety and protectingthe environment.

Port authorities and the U.S.Coast Guard also make use of PORTSdata in the Cooperative Vessel TrafficService (CVTS), an internationalwaterway management agreement.PORTS data routinely aids the CoastGuard in search-and-rescue missions,as well as environmental spill contain-ment, and is currently being integrat-ed into the Automatic IdentificationSystem (AIS) used to identify andtrack vessels. Additionally, PORTSprovides data for numerical models togenerate operational nowcasts andforecasts for water level.

Just One Example Tampa Bay PORTS is just one example among many coastalocean observing systems, or COOSs, that have been imple-mented or are being designed around the nation to supporta variety of scientific, economic, management, and environ-mental needs. A COOS is a combination of instruments oncoastal stations, buoys, satellites, ships, underwater vehicles(such as gliders or ROVs), and radars that are used to makeobservations of the ocean and the atmosphere at the air-seainterface. As with PORTS, many COOSs combine data withcomputer models to better understand and forecast marineconditions. The real-time in situ data not only provide localinformation, but serve to ground-truth the numerical models,which ultimately improves the accuracy and area of coverageover which forecasts can be made. Such systems that collectand disseminate accurate real-time information are becomingincreasingly important, particularly for Florida and otherstates whose economies rely so heavily upon coastal-basedtourism and marine industry (including boating, fishing, andaquaculture). Dr. Harvey Seim, chief operating officer for theSoutheast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System,summed it up best when he said “…the tremendous benefitin marrying satellite remote sensing and ship-based opera-tions with offshore measures is that you can get all the infor-mation in one place in a consistent fashion.”

Mike Watson, manager and lead forecaster for the EastCoast office of Surfline.com, a comprehensive onlineprovider of surf reports and forecasts from locations aroundthe world, understands just how important wind and watermeasurements are to his customers. “Accurate wave meas-urements for the recreational beachgoer and surfer alike arevitally important. Not only are these important for the safe-ty of the general public, these observations are importantfor the surfing population, often dictating which particularbeach will or will not see breaking waves or surf.” Likewise,

PORTS, Tampa Bay’s

Real-Time WeatherReporting Stations

The PORTS map showing the weather stations. This is taken from the PORTS Webpage. You can click on a weather station to

see the current conditions at that point.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 39

commercial and recre-ational fishermen andcharter services rely onreal-time data, such as seasurface temperature, tomore effectively focus their limited time and resources.

Coastal ocean observing systems are also beingemployed in the ongoing efforts to detect and track harmfulalgal blooms (or HABs) like red tide. Recently, the USFCollege of Marine Science and Mote Marine Laboratorysigned an agreement to create the Mote Marine ResearchInstitute at USF – a partnership aimed at addressing issuescritical to the health of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.Among these issues: expanding coastal ocean observingsystems and creating new sensor technologies that increaseour understanding of the causes of red tide blooms. The“Breve Buster,” a continuous, automated detector that takesin water samples and identifies red tide by its light-absorbance pattern, is one example of a biological sensorthat is being employed as part of a COOS. Developed by ateam representing Mote Marine Lab, the Florida MarineResearch Institute and the U.S. Department of Agriculture,it demonstrates the inter-organization collaboration neededfor COOS to succeed.

Challenging TaskIt is a challenging task to integrate so many different ele-ments and form a merged information system, but that isexactly what is required to truly become integrated acrossterritorial boundaries and across different academic andinstitutional cultures. In Florida, the Florida COOSConsortium was formed to knit together the diverse moni-toring programs like PORTS operating along our coast. Theconsortium, a cooperative effort among academic andresearch communities, government and regulatory officials,and private sector providers, actively engages these groupsin productive dialogues to identify funding and collabora-tion opportunities, and to provide a forum for the discus-sion of current and planned policy initiatives. To this end,the Florida COOS Consortium was actively involved in thedevelopment of the Florida Oceans and Coastal ResourcesCouncil’s statewide prioritized research plan, which rankedfunds for increases in the number and capabilities of coastalocean observing system assets high on their list.

We’ve come a long way from the days of the SunshineSkyway disaster, especially in terms of what information isavailable and who can access it. Today, sailors regularly callupon Tampa Bay PORTS to provide them with the most up-to-date wind speeds, and harbor pilots entering the bay oncargo ships view real-time PORTS data on shipboard com-puters. However, the story doesn’t end here; in fact, it’s justbeginning. There are national and global efforts under wayto develop an integrated network of offshore and coastalocean observing systems and an equally impressive arsenalof new and exciting technologies to support these. The sys-tems serve a variety of scientific and societal needs, among

these more and betterinformation to increaseefficiency of marine trans-portation, enabling moreinformed decisionmaking

that affects our lives, our property and our living and non-living marine resources.

For access to the PORTS weather buoy information, goto http://ompl.marine.usf.edu/PORTS/index.html. ForGulf weather stations, click on COMPS on that page.

Next time: Sharks, ships, and shores: how COOSs are being usedaround the nation and in our own backyard.• Ali Hudon is the education and outreach coordinator for theOcean Monitoring and Prediction Lab (OMPL) at the Universityof South Florida (USF) College of Marine Science. She is also theeducation and outreach coordinator for the Gulf Coast Partner ofthe Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT).• Dr. Christina Simoniello has a Ph.D. in biological oceanogra-phy. She has conducted research in the Gulf of Mexico, FloridaKeys, Exumas, and Southern Ocean and was on the faculty in theUniversity of Florida Sea Grant College Program. She presentlyserves as the education and outreach coordinator for the Gulf ofMexico Coastal Ocean Observing System.

A typical current weather report at the PORTS Web page broadcasting information from a weather station in Tampa Bay.

Single-handed vessels Defiant, Bill Robinson’s Morganketch, and Angel, my Bayfield cutter, fled from the grayclouds. Earlier, we’d left Mangrove Cay on the Little

Bahama Bank, and squally weather had quickly replacedthe day’s benign beginnings. The Bank’s shallow expansewas generating wave patterns that were steep and choppywith irregular spacing between their misshapen crests. Thewinds gusted between 25 to 30 knots and were on the nose.Heavily reefed—and miserable with upwind work—Angel

repeatedly griped (“gripe/griped” wasa description of boat behavior thatstarted in the old days of sail), peevish-ly jabbing her bowsprit at the offendingwaves. Like me, Angel is a connoisseurof fair weather and we didn’t see muchuse for the concepts of machismo orswashbuckling derring-do. Defiantlooked equally as uncomfortable as shebounced ahead in bursts of cold spray.“Five miles to go,” Bill radioed, weari-ness evident in his voice. It wasn’t soonenough when two fatigued cruisersslipped into the welcome shelter ofGreat Sale Cay. Despite having anabundance of room, Defiant and Angelanchored nearly on top of each other inthis uninhabited island rest stop.

Beyond Great Sale, boats canexplore the northernmost out islands ofthe Bahamas, from the remote WalkersCay to the Carters Cays. Within this 30-some-mile stretch, there are two tinyBahamian settlements and oceanic vis-tas of exotic, tropical poetry to mesmer-

ize one’s senses with. Here are some of the world’s remain-ing wild tropical isles that haven’t been completely spoiledby man. Lose yourself among the tree-coated islets of theDouble Breasted Cays and you might just feel like aRobinson Crusoe. Sugar-white sand beaches are ringedwith pure waters of a luminous, unearthly blue-green hue.Tropical fish and sea grasses swirl under the dinghy’sshadow and sand crabs scuttle along the beach. The north-ernmost out island is Walkers Cay. Its settlement is a portof entry with a marina, a runway for small planes and areputation for quality dive trips. Another settlement is nes-tled in the Grand Cays. Dockage, homey Bahamian cook-ing and basic goods are available. Strangers Cay and mostof the Carters Cays are wild with the occasional, secretiveget-away cottage and pier. There’s an abundance of pris-tine Atlantic side beaches. The white sandbanks are shifty,and traveling in calm seas, in daylight, is necessary forsuccessful navigation through serpentine passes and hid-den anchorages.

Defiant and Angel’s intimate anchoring practice starteda trend. Sailboats, concerned about their drafts, often cue inon others to determine whether an area appears satisfacto-ry or not. A small sloop wandered toward us, puzzled overour positions, then dropped anchor as close as she safelycould. Amused, I watched a fourth newcomer join oursmall cluster. By the next day, we were in the midst of a

TRAVELS WITH ANGEL

Cruising the NorthernmostBahamas with 5200By Rebecca Burg

40 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

concentrated flock of resting vessels. Since it wastoo inclement to cruise onwards, we bided ourtime by socializing and effecting minor repairs.One task was to patch a pinhole air leak in thestarboard bow of Squishy, Angel’s faithful RIB. Ihad rubber patch material, but the repair kit’s con-tact cement had dried up. Searching Angel’s stores,I found black 5200. After the viscous adhesive wassmeared on both patch and dinghy, the two were held inplace with duct tape. The tape would hold until the wet5200 dried. Duties completed, I rode Squishy over to Defiantfor the afternoon. After tying up to the ketch’s stern, Inoticed a drip of wet 5200 oozing from Squishy’s new patch,so I wiped the area with a paper towel. A gust of windswept the crumpled towel out of my dinghy and into Bill’s,which was tied nearby. I was unaware that as the soiledtowel skipped along the fiberglass floor of Bill’s dinghy, itleft black deposits at each bounce. The towel blew into thewater and I scurried off to pick it up.

Bill, loading his dinghy with gear, jumped aboard andstepped into a 5200 deposit. His big toe made black smearswherever he walked. Somehow, he got the goo on his fin-gers and was leaving a sticky trail of dark fingerprints.“What the ’ell?” I heard him grumbling as he studied hishands. “Hey — my white shirt!” Bill said, louder this time.

Realizing what had happened with the paper towel, I slunkout of sight along Defiant’s port side and tied up to hershiny, blue flank. I climbed aboard. “Boy, I made some kindof mess,” Bill said with a perplexed expression, vigorouslywiping his hands with a rag. I slowly nodded, struggling tomaintain an innocent façade. That evening, I bid Bill andDefiant good night and returned to Angel. It was too dark tosee the horrible mischief that Squishy’s oozing patch hadmetered out to Defiant.

“ANGEL!” Came an exasperated cry first thing in themorning. Coffee in hand, I bobbed out of the cabin. Thegrey weather had been replaced by bright sun and mildwinds. Nearby, Bill was in his dinghy, muttering in dis-pleasure and rubbing at a wavering, black smear onDefiant’s side. Squishy’s unconventional patch job hadstopped the leak. Now, I just had a little explaining—and alot of cleaning—to do.

Rebecca on Squishy the dinghy. Photo by Bill Robinson.

42 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

“America’s Cup, it’s not” as an old salt once famouslyadmitted. But fun, it is! Teens from all over Florida

and Georgia converged on Apollo Beach on April 25 for the20th Annual Tampa Bay Sea Scout Regatta. This annualevent, under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, ispacked with boating activities, instruction and competitionamong the Ships (as the clubs are known) of the southeast-ern region. The coed program, designed to promote citizen-ship and boating skills, is open to youth from age 14 to 20.

This year’s extravaganza revved up on Friday night, asthe crews sailed or rolled into the basin at the Tampa SailingSquadron in Apollo Beach for registration. Pup tents, poptents, domed tents of all types sprouted among the dry-slipped boats in the TSS “back 40.” Young people mixed andmingled renewing old acquaintances and making new onesas they prepared for what one adult admitted was a pretty

“sleepless” night. But the scouts were ready to go when the “Rise and

Shine” sounded at six on a sparkling, cloudless Saturdaymorning. After breakfast (have you even seen the dent ahundred teenagers can put in the groceries?), twelve “bigboats” were the first to leave the dock, heading into TampaBay for a series of traditional races. These boats, largely vol-unteered and skippered by TSS members, were crewed bythe scouts themselves, some of whom were racing on largerboats for the first time.

By 8:30, the “Sail to Know Where” fleet—also skipperedby local boat owner volunteers—had loaded their crewsand set off for a day of sailing to points unknown. The Sailto Know Where is a daylong cruise for those teens whochoose the non-competitive track. Nineteen-year-old BrianMorgan, with the West Palm Beach Ship, sailed on SeaDream II with Capt. Jim Lewis. “It was a blast,” reported thecollege student, “The captain was really nice and did what-ever the kids wanted. We anchored at the island and wentswimming.” Returning from the traditional big boat races,scouts rigged Sunfish from TSS and other local clubs andreturned to the waters of Bal Harbor as the sun dippedlower for the Sunfish regatta.

Two very special guests were among those cruisingSaturday with Ralph Salgado of Hudson on Wanda’s Wind.Ten-year-old Jerry Lauer and 14-year-old Erica Korstresponded to the scouts’ invitation to children from theTampa Shriners’ Hospital. The youngsters spent the dayon the water and then joined the crowd for a “Pirate’sFeast” of barbecued chicken and ribs when all hands hadreturned to port.

Sunday morning activities changed tack. After break-fast and a non-denominational service, the registrants tooka “Mariner’s Quiz” complete with charting a course and,naturally, tying the knots most used on a sailboat. That wasfollowed with a swimming relay race interspersed with“boxing the compass” and a heaving line toss. As the scoutstried to calculate their standing, Skipper Don St. Amour ofShip 185, the hosting club, noted that it was a tight race forthe top spot. “We’ve had great participation from all thekids,” said St. Amour, “and the adults, too…having a greatratio of almost one adult for every two scouts.”

The final event was the ever-favorite “Run What YouBrung” makeshift sailboat race. This year, there were noboats made of Saran wrap, but entries included a king-sizeair mattress. a homemade puddle duck named Goose, anda contraption of sewer pipe covered with a tarp with“Sandra” as the rudder. Although the mattress, with a bath-tub rubber ducky on the bowsprit was an early favorite,

SEA SCOUTSREGATTA,Tampa Sailing Squadron, April 25By Kathryn SheaPhotos by Bill Fishbourne

Sea Scouts practicing the line toss.

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Goose, expertly piloted by Amanda Gagnon with the StuartShip 801 sailed to an easy victory.

For a couple of Georgia clubs, this year’s regatta wassomething really special. Skipper Ann Lewis of Ship 2318,recently instituted in Decatur, GA, brought eight kidsd o w n — a r r i v i n garound 3 a.m. Saturdaymorning. “Its beenincredible,” Lewis re-ported. “To come up soclose to dolphins andsting rays as we sailedwas just amazing. Mykids will have a lot totalk about when theyget home.”

By noon, followinga quick lunch, the tentswere struck, the boatstrailered and the 14ships lined up at atten-tion for closing cere-monies. The overallwinner of events turned out to be “Knot-a-Clew” ofDunedin’s Ship 956—who sailed to victory in two of thethree traditional races on Jim Hoffman’s J/22, Delirium. Thegirls and their ship will be honored by having their nameengraved on the Sea Scout Regatta trophy, which resides atthe TSS clubhouse. Regatta Skipper Lee Mortimerannounced that as of next year, the trophy and the regattawill bear a new name. In honor of the late Bill Kramer, whostarted and consistently supported the Tampa Bay Sea Scout

Regatta, this annual event will now be known as “The BillKramer Tampa Bay Sea Scout Regatta.”

Dana and Janie Goodwin of Hudson, Florida, who withSkipper Lee Mortimer, kept the event on track this year,praised the involvement of event sponsors, noting particu-

larly the years of sup-port given by ApolloMeats and CottBeverages. Others con-tributing to makingthis regatta a realitywere Roger Glasser,Alpha Pizza, ApolloMonogram, ApolloRental Center, BeefO’Brady’s of ApolloBeach, Crews & GarciaProduce, DKL CarpetCleaning, D&D De-light Sandwiches,Granite Construction,Sterling Doors, TampaBay Press, Touchstone

Screen Printing and Winn-Dixie of Apollo Beach. Specialthanks were also offered to Ship 185 sponsored by the host-ing Tampa Sailing Squadron. Over 30 members this yeardonated boats, time and talent to the event.

And as they headed back across Florida and Georgia,the scouts were thinking ahead. Will you be back next year?“Definitely!” replied Morgan, a sentiment echoed by 15-year-old Zhaneé Carter of Decatur. “Next year, we’re goingto get that trophy!”

Many of the scouts camped at the Squadron.

Sea Scouts enjoying a sailboat ride.

44 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Not every sailing community is as fortunate as myhometown of Charleston, SC. We have some of thebest-protected waterways in the country—specifical-

ly, Charleston Harbor—and we enjoy an abundance of dedi-cated individuals who rally anytime an event needs partici-pants or volunteers. That was definitely the case whenCharleston Race Week took place in mid-April, and 137 boatsand crews congregated on the Holy City’s murky brine.

Celebrating its 13th year, Charleston Race Week hasgrown rapidly in the past four years and now consistentlydraws competitors from all over the country. Among theteams entered this year were boats from California andMichigan, Texas and Connecticut, Kentucky, Maine, andeven Canada. These sailors come to race one-design, theycome to compete under PHRF, and they come because theevent perennially delivers on its promise of spirited compe-tition and Southern hospitality. And none of that would bepossible without the more than 150 volunteers (50 on landand about 100 on the water) who set marks, score races, res-cue wayward boats, sell T-shirts and plan for much of theyear to carry off this four-day extravaganza.

Meaghan Van Liew, deputy director of the SouthCarolina Maritime Foundation—the organization that co-manages the regatta—credits the diligent volunteers asmuch as the competitors with the success of this event.“We’ve been very fortunate that there is a lot of enthusiasmamong the sailing crowd here to support this regatta,”explained Van Liew. Most of those volunteers are organizedthrough the Charleston Ocean Racing Association, whichfounded the event and now partners with the foundation tomanage it.

Though it serves as the season opener and the unofficialapex of competitive sailing in South Carolina each year,Charleston Race Week is also an important fundraisingactivity that benefits the foundation’s tall ship, the Spirit ofSouth Carolina. This 140-foot vessel is used as a unique edu-cational platform for young students from around the state.According to Van Liew, since becoming a fundraising event

in 2005, CRW has raised between $20- and $50-grand eachyear to support educational programming.

Aside from the dollars raised for the tall ship, highlightsfrom this year’s regatta included a bumper crop of Melges24s (26 in all, with several pro sailors in the fleet) as well asa cadre of Viper 640s (nine boats) whose owners are work-ing hard to resurrect this speedy one-design. There werealso superb performances turned in by boats like BillSweetser’s modified J/109 Rush from Austin, TX (five firstsand three seconds), and Patrick LeGoff’s Prelude, a Beneteau10R from Florence, SC, which competed in the non-spin-naker division. (seven bullets). And cap those with the factthat several sponsors kicked in some sweet prizes—Raymarine once again gave away over $9,000 worth of elec-tronics packages, and Selden Mast awarded a carbon-fiberspinnaker pole, among other prizes.

Despite all that glitz, two essential factors ultimatelycharacterized CRW this year. First was a spate of superbweather that provided conditions ranging from vexing six-knot zephyrs to rousing 20-knot sea breezes. This gamut ofconditions coincided with a full moon late in the regatta,meaning strong tidal currents were the norm. And secondwas the uncommon efficiency demonstrated on the waterby the race managers. Past editions of CRW have experi-enced a few glitches, but this year every competitor wastreated to an abundance of races (seven contests for mostclasses). And on each of the three race venues, the actionwas so tightly orchestrated that competitors rarely hadmore than 10 minutes of downtime between the finish ofone race and the start of the next. Aboard numerous boats,it became a challenge just to wolf down a between-racesandwich and still get your bearings for the next contest.

The back-to-back race format seemed to suit plenty ofcompetitors. Perhaps the closest contest of all took place atthe head of the Melges 24 fleet where Travis Weisleder’s all-pro crew on board Carloan.com out of Richmond, VA, battledKristen Lane’s Tiburon, CA-based Out House. Both boatsentered the final race tied with 11 points. With America’s

CAROLINA SAILING

CharlestonRace WeekCements itsStatureBy Dan Dickison

The Melges 24, Temerity, owned by Michigan sailorCharlie Hess, rounding the mark. Photo by Tim Wilkes.www.timwilkes.com.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 45

Cup stalwart Morgan Larson call-ing tactics on board Out House,Lane and company looked formi-dable. But team Carloan.com hadsailmaker Scott Nixon on board,and Nixon is well acquaintedwith Charleston Harbor; he’dlived here a decade before whileserving as a sailing coach at theCollege of Charleston. AfterWeisleder nailed the start, Nixonmade the right calls and ultimate-ly Carloan.com got around thefour-leg course first to take a bul-let. Surprisingly, Lane’s team slipped to 15th in that race butstill wound up second overall in the class. Weisleder’s teamwent home with the Charleston Race Week Cup (awardedto the winner of the most competitive one-design class).

Later, Nixon found time to reflect on the event. “Withsun, sea breeze, sand and totally dynamic conditions thatchange every leg of every race, this is just an awesomeevent. I’d have to say it’s also an awesome venue.” That’sa sentiment Meaghan Van Liew and her co-organizers

were fortunate enough to hear again and again throughoutthe four-day event. “People were really appreciative,” shesaid later. “It’s been amazing the number of calls and e-mails we’ve gotten since. And a number of them are say-ing, ‘We don’t need to drive all the way to Key West forthat event when Charleston Race Week is so good and soclose.’” Now that’s high praise, and pretty good evidencethat Charleston Harbor truly is one of the top racing ven-ues on the East Coast.

Mongo, a J/29 from Charleston,heads downwind with George

Scarborough at the helm. Photo by Tim Wilkes.www.timwilkes.com.

n UPCOMING INSTRUCTION & CLINICS:

One-Design Crew Training, DavisIsland Yacht Club, Tampa Bay, June 7The eighth version of One-Design Crew Training (ODCT)will be held on Saturday, June 7, 14, and 28, from noon until5 p.m.. This is a course designed to transition sailors fromrail meat to contributing members of the crew. It is not alearn-to-sail course. Through both classroom and actualhands-on experience, you will learn to hank-on, hoist, andtrim the J/24 jib, genoa, main, and spinnaker on all points ofsail. You will become a help—not a hindrance—to yourskipper, no matter what kind of boat he sails.

The course will be held at the Davis Island Yacht Club,1315 Severn Ave., Tampa, and is open to the general publicwith preference going to sailors involved in the DIYCThursday night series. The prerequisites are: some experi-ence sailing , normal agility, and no aversion to gettingblack-and-blue marks. To join, contact King Purton at [email protected] or (813) 760-0177, or applications are avail-able at the DIYC Thursday night cashier. The cost is $125and slots are limited to 30 students.

n UPCOMING MAJOR REGATTAS

Key West (School’s Out) CorinthianRegatta from Bradenton, FL, June 5Started in 2003 by the Bradenton Yacht Club for those whocannot participate in the Key West Rendezvous because ofschool, this has been nicknamed the “School’s Out” KeyWest Regatta. The race leaves in the Gulf off Longboat Passon Thursday, June 5. There is a limited number of boatsallowed and they are hosted in Key West by the Key WestBight Marina. There are parties and an awards dinner onSunday, June 8.

For more information, go to www.bradenton-yacht-club.org, or call (941) 773-9353, or e-mail [email protected].

Billy Bowlegs Festival and Regatta, Fort Walton Beach,June 5-15By Kim Kaminski

The 53rd Annual Billy Bowlegs Festival is filled with familyevents for all ages. It is focused on the charismatic characterBilly Bowlegs, a local northwest Florida pirate. Week-longactivities began on June 5 and include a treasure hunt,torchlight parade, fireworks and the regatta.

The Fort Walton Beach Yacht Club will host the regattaon June 14-15. Three class divisions are expected to com-pete; Spinnaker A and B, Cruiser class and J/22 class. Allracing will be held in Choctawhatchee Bay. An after raceparty and dinner will be held on Saturday at the FortWalton Beach Yacht Club and awards ceremony after racingSunday. For more information and register online, go towww.fwyc.org.

Regata de Amigos, Galveston to Veracruz, Mexico, June 6The Regata de Amigos is the longest-running and one of themost well-established offshore races in the Gulf of Mexico.This year, the regatta is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The630-mile race is organized by the Lakewood Yacht Club andthe Galveston Bay Cruising Association.

There is a reception for races, crew and visitors on June12 at the governor’s palace in Veracruz. After the race, manyof the boats will sail overnight to Tuxpan and make a daystop at the Lobos Island reefs for snorkeling, scuba andbeach parties before returning home.

For more information, go to the regatta Web site atwww.veracruzregatta.com.

Race to the Coast, New Orleans,June 14Sponsored by the Southern Yacht Club, this race was firstheld on July 4, 1850. It is known as America’s oldest dis-tance race. The race sails through the Lake Pontchartrain,the Rigolets, Lake Borgne to the Mississippi Sound. Formore details, go to www.southernyachtclub.org.

2007 Offshore Challenge CupRegatta, Gulfport Yacht Club, June 20-22The 2007 Gulf Yachting Association (GYA) OffshoreChallenge Cup Regatta will be held June 20-22 at theGulfport Yacht Club. All yacht clubs which are members inthe GYA are invited. Each club may enter no less than threeand no more than four boats in four classes. The skipper, thehelmsman and at least half the crew (including the skipperand helmsman) must be current members of the one yachtclub they represent.

For more information, go towww.gulfportyachtclub.org.

SOUTHERN RACING

46 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Ft. Walton Yacht Club Round theIsland 100-Mile Multihull Race,June 20-22The Round the Island Multihull Race is a 100-mile circumnav-igation around Santa Rosa Island located in northwest Florida.The race begins off the point of the Ft. Walton Yacht Clubthrough East Pass and continues west through the Pensacolapass where boaters will turn north for the return trip.

At the start of the race, the wind is usually four to sixknots from the northeast. After the start, racers round aturning mark off the shoals of Crab Island then head forDestin Bridge and East Pass. A charter boat fleet runs infront of them at the pass with a colorful parade of sailorsand fishing boats. Spectators usually line the Destin Bridgeand can see the multihull fleet sail under spinnakers usingthe NNE breeze as they head out around the island.

For more information, go to the yacht club Web site atwww.fwyc.org.

45th Annual Ocracoke Regatta,Ocracoke, NC, June 21The Ocracoke Regatta is open to all who want to spend a funday out on the water, then get together to enjoy each other’scompany and share a little grub and grog in Ocracoke.

There is one start for all boats at 8:05 a.m. on Saturday,

June 21. Many participants raft up and party in the lee ofIndian Island on Friday evening, though it is possible toleave at O-dark-thirty and reach the start from Washington,Belhaven, or one of the anchorages on the ICW betweenOriental and the Pamlico.

The race is approximately 33 miles long, with two spin-naker and two non-spinnaker classes. There’s also a “partyclass,” which is open to power and sailboaters who want toobserve but not actually race. An awards party will be heldafterwards.

For more information, call Arden at (252) 975-2174 ortoll-free at (877) 272-6632.

Gulfport to Pensacola Race, June 27-29By Kim Kaminski

The annual 100-mile Gulfport to Pensacola race will be June27-29 (Father’s Day weekend). It is sponsored by both theGulfport Yacht Club, and the Pensacola Yacht Club. It is a100—mile race from the channel entrance at Gulfport, MS,along the Gulf Coast to the channel entrance of the PensacolaPass. For information, go to www.pensacolayachtclub.org

Pirates on the Pungo Regatta,Belhaven, NC, July 18-20This regatta is an annual fundraiser for the Pungo District

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 47

Continued on page 50

48 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Swift Solo and Musto SkiffMidwinters, Fort De Soto Park,April 14-19

A Swift Solo sailing at Fort De Soto Park. Photo by Dave Ellis.

Fort De Soto Park on lower Tampa Bay boasts palm trees lin-ing a pristine white beach and open water. Just around thecorner is 2005’s world’s #1-rated beach. What better place tohost a sailing event for a couple of uniqueclasses of sailboats.

The Swift Solo was designed by BramDally of Seattle. He loved to sail the highperformance 49er, an Olympic class knownfor speed and spills. But it was tough to findqualified crew. His solution was a 16-footboat that is a true skiff design but built withcedar, carbon and epoxy. The result is asclose to fine furniture as any craft afloat. Butthis furniture has teeth.

The mainsail and jib working togetheras a unit, as the lone sailor is out on thewings hanging from the trapeze wire, givethe boat plenty of power. But add an asym-metrical spinnaker that sets well above thehounds and you have a handful.

To increase the event numbers, the sim-ilar Musto Skiff was invited. This is a boatdesigned in England that is similar in hull shape, built offiberglass. There is only a mainsail, no jib. But it, too, has anasymmetrical chute, a little smaller than the Swift.

The boats are similar in speed, depending on the skill ofthe sailor, with the Musto being perhaps a bit faster in a blowand the Swift quicker in lighter air.

The first part of the week an interactive clinic was heldfor the sailors unfamiliar with the demands of a skiff, pass-ing on tips from the more experienced. Often it was thedownwind legs that separated the fleet. The speeds are sohigh that lay-lines to the leeward mark are often over stood,

especially when the current was running with the wind.By the start of racing Thursday, most were ready to fly.

The wind was strong enough to keep some of the 20 boats onthe beach, but exciting 30-minute windward-leewards wereenjoyed by the experts.

Friday had a lighter wind with a couple of boats missingthe time limit in the strong tide of Tampa Bay near the ship-ping channel.

Saturday completed the eight races in a fine sea breeze.Race Officer Dave Ellis ran the races from a small inflatablewith the help of a quick powerboat on the windward markand pin-set duties. Another small inflatable was available forrescue, although the racecourse was so near to shore that itwas only used once, when a capsized boat had its rudderdrift away.

Ironically, two of the top competitors did not race, onedue to cracked ribs from a spectacular pitch pole earlier inthe week and one, the race organizer, Bram Dally, fromsomething he ate.

All of the competitors were from outside of Florida, onlyone from within the SOUTHWINDS area. They were not anx-ious to get back to snow.

For more on the Swift Solo, go to http://swiftsolo.com/home.html.

US Multihull Championship for the Hobie Alter Cup, Gulfport Yacht Club, April 22-28

Catamarans start in the Alter Cup off Gulfport. Photo by Dave Ellis.

It may seem to be a daunting task for a small volunteer clublike Florida’s Gulfport Yacht Club to host a major champi-onship. But the venue was the choice of Robbie Daniel, theowner of Fun in the Sun, Inc., who supplied the 10 newCapricorn F/18 catamarans.

Mayor Mike Yakes and the city of Gulfport scheduled afestival around the event and made available the expansivewhite sand of the beach. After setting up the boats at GYC,they were sailed over to the Gulfport waterfront where they

TAMPA BAY SAILING BY DAVE ELLIS

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 49

were lined up to the delight of thelocal residents.

Fairley Brinkley of theClearwater YC race committeeteam served as the PRO with a staffcomprising of experienced GYCmembers, Clearwater CommunitySailing Center members and extraboats from neighboring Boca CiegaYC and CCSC. The result wasexemplary race management.

Monday was practice day onshort courses. It got the RC teamtuned up and the sailors morefamiliar with the boats.

These were not toy boats. TheCapricorn is built by AustralianHigh Performance Catamarans,and Greg Goodall was there fromDown Under to help keep the 10boats tuned exactly alike and work-ing smoothly.

Since there were 20 teams fromaround the country, there had to bean A and B fleet, the sailors taking turns waiting on thenearby beach. Very little work had to be done on the boatsbetween races, Turnaround time settled in at around a halfhour.

In the first race for each fleet a random drawing washeld for boats. In the second races the top five from eachfleet made up A fleet and the bottom five the B fleet. Thebest the B fleet could do was 11 points. Thereafter, the topthree from the A fleet were dropped to B, and the top threefrom B sailed in A fleet for the following race. This made itimportant to do well each heat and tended to keep the topsailors racing together.

Some of the sailors were from classes of multihull thatdid not use big asymmetrical spinnakers, so they had asteep learning curve. Last year’s winners, John Casey,Longwood, FL, and John Williams, Long Beach, CA, wereright at home and never dropped out of A fleet in their 11heats.

But, with two throwouts it was not enough, as NigelPitt of Hartwell, GA, and crew Alex Shafer of Clermont, FL,were able to discard a DSQ and subsequent B fleet 11th towin the Alter Cup.

They did not see that another boat had tacked to star-board several lengths beyond a leeward mark, and the star-board tack boat was not able to duck at the last moment,despite dumping the main and jib. A resounding crunchwas heard from the leeward mark set boat. These cats haveknife-like bows set “upside down,” producing a verticalgash two feet from the stern of the starboard hull.

Another boat sustained damage when a followingracer was not able to slow the beast down in a mark round-ing and hit the boat ahead. With only one extra boat avail-able, local sailor Jennifer Lindsay’s new Capricorn wasplaced into service to complete the series.

At the banquet the builder of the Alter trophy andlong-time multihull volunteer Gordon Isco was honoredwith life membership in GYC.

FloridaWomen’sSailingAssociationKeelboatChampionship,St. PetersburgYacht Club,May 2Sonars sailing in the FWSA KeelboatChampionship. Photo by Jeff Grossman.

The FWSA membersusually sail OptimistDinghies and Sunfish.They are the ladies who

enjoy racing and socializing and who are often the essentialvolunteers at the regattas of their home yacht clubs.

This year an invitation was extended for FWSA mem-bers to try keelboat racing. St. Petersburg Yacht Club sup-plied Sonars with spinnakers and Rhodes 19s for those whoopted to sail with working sails only.

Training was spread over two weeks before the event,starting with a half day at St. Petersburg Sailing Centerwith Dave Ellis, who does not pass the physical to sailwith FWSA, presenting a tour of a keel boat racecourse inthe classroom.

Three races were completed on May 2. The winningteam on the Sonar was SPYC Salty Sister Team 1 skipperedby Lori Leadbetter with crew Helen Larsen, RosemarySherman and Linda Meehan. Scoring was very close, asonly two points separated first from third.

On the Rhodes 19 the team of Brooke Taliaferro of SPYCwith crew Venice Bitter End, Dena Kohlbecker, and TITYCT.I.Tacker, Karen Errico, won the day.

For more on this event, go to www.fwsa.net.

BY DAVE ELLIS

50 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

SOUTHERN SAILING (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47)

Hospital Foundation. It is sponsored by the River Rat YachtClub and the Belhaven Yacht Club. Racing classes includesailing dinghies, PH RF Spinnaker and Non-Spinnakerboats, a Recreational Non-Spinnaker class, and one designclasses. There is a captain’s reception on Friday evening,breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, happy hour on Saturdayafternoon and a Buccaneer Bash dinner/dance after racingon Saturday. The Buccaneer Bash on Saturday is open tosailors and non-sailors, and a special dinner is prepared forthe evening. Dockage, accommodations and launch facili-ties are available at a reduced rate to regatta participants.

For more information, go to www.piratesonpongo.org,or call (252) 964-3442.

n RACE REPORTS

Sixty-Nine Boats Compete in the2008 Melbourne YC Spring Regatta,April 19-20

By John Fox

Sailing in the Big Boat Weekend at the Melbourne Yacht Club.Photo by Ross Herbert

Small Boat Weekend, April 19-20. It was particularlyencouraging to see an increase in multihull activity with sixboats sailing in the Hobie Wave class in the small boat rac-ing on the first weekend. Scott Hubel was the man to beatwith Marlene Sassaman showing some very smart sailing tofinish second. Paul Lindenburg, sailing his first race in theclass, was third.

Linda Tillman dominated the 18-boat Sunfish fleet withconsistently good finishes and the uncanny ability to be inthe right place at the right time, all the time. Dave Silvermanshowed moments of brilliance to finish second, and ChrisLowry was third.

In the Laser fleet, Dick Tillman followed Linda’s exam-ple and led in five of the seven races to win. Mike Taylor ofTitusville followed in second, and Henry DeWolf of PalmBeach was third.

In monohull Portsmouth, results were: 1) Mike Barile,Day Sailer; 2) Jack Clark, Moth; 3) Wayne Anderson,Megabyte. In the multihull Portsmouth, results were: 1)Frank Rodericks, Nacra 5.2; 2) Dave Andrews, Hobie 16.

Big Boat Weekend, April 25-26. On the second weekend,with the big boats racing, Fleet Captain Jim Henry decidedto try something new to encourage participation by thosewho normally don’t race. The Wine & Cheese Fleet was aresounding success with nine entries. The format called fora distance race down the Indian River and back with a start-ing system that took the anxiety away. There were only tworules: Have fun and don’t hit anyone. Contestants wereencouraged to improve their handicaps by such things ascooking on the grill, deploying their Biminis and havinghors d’oeuvres in the cockpit at all times.

Bob and Wendy Hughes won the day with theirCatalina 30, Second Chance, which was re-named Fridaynight to FAT Chance by some good-natured pranksters. Jackand Marty Bibb were second in their Cal 33, Majjak, andDoug and Pam Worth were third in their O’Day 34, Pisces II.Jack and Jackie Leahy, sailing their Gulfstar 52, RainbowChaser, managed to successfully bribe the race committeewith steak and shrimp on the barbi and were moved from

dead last to last place.The PHRF fleets sailed a combi-

nation of four short-course racesplus a distance race while theCatalina 22s sailed six short-courseraces. The distance race was scoreddouble points for the series.Results: PHRF Spinnaker: 1) GreggKowalski, Slot Machine; 2) DaveNesbitt, Epic; 3) John Harrison,Airborne. PHRF Non-Spinnaker: 1)John Drawe, J & R; 2) Tony Godden,Crow’s Nest; 3) Mike McClain, ClassAct. Catalina 22: 1) Jerry Butz, SoldOut; 2) Brad Ruffe, Mercury Rising;3) Albert Pivonka, Bang-a-Rang

See www.sail-race.com for fullresults.

Hallelujah, They Did It Again!Regata del Sol al Sol, April 25There was not enough time to get a full report on the Regata delSol al Sol for the June issue, but we did receive the below accountof the winner of the Spinnaker B class. More to come in July.

By Harmon Heed

In 2006, Bill Senske’s Nelson/Marek 45, Hallelujah, took thefast fleet, spinnaker division cup home in the Regata del Solal Sol from St. Petersburg to Isla Mujeres, Mexico. She did-n’t enter the 2007 race, but this year she was back and againtook the cup in her spinnaker class. Senske wasn’t there thisyear—he was on another Costa del Sol, in Spain. But withsenior crewmember John Christman’s organization, he andfive of the ’07 crew took the boat without Bill and won.(They did let him know they were going.)

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 51

event now includes double-handed, full crew, spinnaker,non-spinnaker and laser classes.

Twenty-five boats participated, and PBYC surpassedlast year’s goal with over $5,555 raised from entry fees, indi-vidual contributions and in-kind sponsorships. A perpetualtrophy is engraved with the name of the largest individualcontributor. This year, that award was presented to PBYCcommodore, Mike Blanda.

“Although the total figures haven’t been calculatedyet,” said Bambi Provost, director, Sacred Heart Found-ation, “we hope to exceed last year’s total of $28,000.”

50th Dauphin Island Race,Fairhope, AL, April 26By David Jefcoat

Fred Chadsey’s Kaotic, an S27.9, winner of the Buccaneer YachtClub Award and first in Non-Spinnaker. Crew was Fred Chadsey,David Jefcoat, Ben Batchelder, Bonney Irwin and Jerry Hall. Photoby Marie Bridley.

On Saturday, April 26, Fairhope Yacht Club hosted the 50thDauphin Island Race on Mobile Bay. With approximately225 boats registered to race, it was one of the largest

The start was Dickensian; “the worst of and best of… .”The spinnaker division’s start had to be postponed twicebecause the boats starting ahead of it, especially the multi-hulls, went into irons in the early light air and clogged theline for the following fleet. But when the final gun did gooff, there were three boats blasting gunnel to gunnel acrossthe line. Hall Palmer’s Beneteau 53, Relativity, was close onthe committee boat and Rob Parker’s McGregor 72, Enigma,was forcing him up. Then Hallelujah barged in between thecommittee boat and Relativity. Palmer had nowhere to go,but he held his course. There were only inches between thethree boats’ hulls as they blasted across the line. Good driv-ing between the three gentlemen skippers precluded a cost-ly catastrophe and protest!

Most of the race was leisurely, and, for once, Hallelujahdidn’t blow out a spinnaker. (Enigma, however, blew out orwashed out five of them.) Hallelujah did finish much fartherahead of the competition, Ray Sullivan’s Dufour 44, SecondWind, than she did Bill Terry’s J-120, Tampa Girl, two yearsago when the corrected time between the first three finisherswas less than two minutes. And she corrected out ahead ofthe scratch boat, Enigma, (-45) by almost four hours.

The finish was fun for the Nelson/Marek men.Hallelujah was headed southwest, about an hour from thefinish and picking up wind. They heard Second Wind call inher position to their windward. As the sun came up, theyfinally spotted the Dufour headed northwest along IslaAvalon. They knew the competition would have to gybe tocross the line. The two boats from the same class finishedjust minutes apart, after 456 miles, and in opposite direc-tions across the line!

This year’s race was special for another occasion: It wasJohn Christman’s 75th birthday celebration shared by histhree sons who flew in to drive. John Jr. came back from theSan Francisco Bay, Tom down from Boston and Paul C. fromD.C. Don “Air” Clement from Dallas was the fourth driver.The rest of the crew was “Gato” McGough from St. Pete,Harmon Heed from Sarasota and newbies Van Ivey, alsofrom St. Pete and Jon Holtzworth up from the Keys. Thecrew thanks Bill for letting them take the boat, the St. PeteYC, the Isla Mujeres YC, and especially Mike Boom andLarry Wissing for putting on another great race, and thewarm people of Isla Mujeres for being wonderful hosts ontheir idyllic isle.

Pensacola Beach Yacht Club RaisesMoney for Preemies, April 26By Julie B. Connerley

Some years ago, former club members Stan and Tina Strobelapproached Pensacola Beach Yacht Club’s board with theidea to combine a sailboat regatta with a silent auction toraise money for premature babies. The fundraising regatta,to be called the Preemie Cup, would benefit Sacred Heart’sNeonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Their mission really was a personal one, because whenthe Strobels’ third child, Gus, was born, she spent nearlythree months at the NICU. Although a tragic accident tookGus’ life at age three, the Strobels always held a special placein their hearts for the people who worked in the NICU.

Originally organized as a double-handed regatta, the

52 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

SOUTHERN RACING

turnouts in years. At 9:30 a.m., the wind had died to noth-ing, and it took almost an hour and a half for the sea breezeto fill back in. With the wind blowing out of the south-southeast at about 17 to18 knots, it turned out to be a won-derful race to the finish line, which was 18 miles away.

In the PHRF Spinnaker class, Johnny Roberts, onboardhis 39-foot Farr, Fine Line, was the first to finish. He and hiscrew won the Turner Trophy for being first and also wontwo other trophies. Fred Chadsey and his crew on Kaoticwon the Buccaneer Yacht Club Award for being the firstboat in the PHRF Non-Spinnaker fleet. Patty Johnsononboard Purple Haze, a J/24, won the trophy for being thefirst all-female crew to finish. William Autrey won thePerseverance Award onboard Joy. The Arch McKay Awardwas won by Kris Conlon on his boat, Sugar Bear, and themultihull award, the HJS Walker Trophy, was won byLambert Perez on None, his NACRA 18. The GeorgeBrothers Award was given to Mark Smith onboard hisNacra 20 multihull for being the first boat to cross the fin-ish line. He also won the Lundquist Award for the shortestuncorrected elapsed time.

Fairhope Yacht Club’s commodore, Erik Schmitz, said,“Our total number of boats was really up. We had a recordnumber finishing the course, the wind came through and allof the racing was good.” He also said that to have only 35boats not finish was a record.

44th Annual Messmer Cup, Naples, FL, April 26-27The Messmer Cup, hosted by the Naples Sailing and YachtClub, a Boat of the Year PHRF event, was held April 26-27.Three races were held on Saturday and two on Sunday with20 boats in five classes

Variable and shifting winds challenged skippers’ skills,making for an exciting regatta. “It was absolutely great sail-ing weather, and we managed to get in five very fair races,’’exclaimed Principal Race Officer Ed Brandt. “Wind shiftsand course changes in the middle made it a great race forpeople. There was good windward work. You could notsimply sail to the mark. You had to tack, and you had to usegood strategy.”

The annual Messmer Cup celebrates the legacy ofNSYC’S founder and avid sailor, Jack Messmer. While theboats, technology and the clubhouse may have changed, thespirit of sailing remains as strong as ever! Unable to salutethe sailors afloat, Jack’s wife and life partner, “Tiny,” whohas never missed a regatta, was at the helm of the awardsbanquet Sunday evening, handing out pennants to the win-ners and the Messmer Cup Trophy to Jim Doane, who sailedon Flame, a J/105.

Doane attributed his success to first having a great five-man crew. Second, he credited the wind conditions, sayingthat Flame sails well in winds under 10 knots. He said thethird factor was “popping the shifts.” Crew members DanKerckhoff, Jr. (an ex-Olympic-qualifying windsurfer) andChris Day (a licensed captain) stood facing backwards onthe downwind spinnaker legs to read the puffs (wind shifts)on the water and directed Jim on how to steer. Upwind, itwas much the same, “Hitting the shifts at the right time andtrying not to tack too much,” Doane added.

Steve Brownell Commodore’s CupRegatta, Tampa Sailing Squadron,Apollo Beach, May 3By Dan Kresge

“Pass the Torch” was the theme for this years annual SteveBrownell Commodore’s Cup Regatta. Hosted by the TampaSailing Squadron, the regatta raises funds for its youth sail-ing program, which taught sailing basics to over 110 kidslast year.

It was a beautiful, warm summer day, and racing start-ed with brisk winds fluctuating later from below five knotsto over 20 knots. The first race had a pursuit start on a 12.4nm course for the True Cruising and Mother Lode divisions.The race committee was challenged before the start of theSpinnaker and Non-Spinnaker divisions due to some signif-icant wind shifts, but in the end, the members prevailedwith an on-time start at 1100 and a near perfect line. Theircourse was the classic, 15.1 nm “TSS Star course,” which isa club favorite.

At the finish line in True Cruising, EJ Werner and fami-ly took first on Bandersnatch with Bob Shaw leading in theMother Lode division. In the spinnaker division, it was thefamiliar Shrew with skipper Gene DiNisio, who led the packin corrected time, and Sherry Callahand and Susan Bishoptaking honors in Non-Spinnaker.

By 5 p.m., all the boats were in, and the kegs weretapped. Every Commodore’s Cup includes a pig roast, andthis year’s pig was prepared in the Tampa SailingSquadron’s full-sized brick smoker. Susan Bishop and hercrew worked hard to have “Arnold” in the fire well beforesunrise and by 5:00 p.m. the meat was falling off the bone.

About 70 people attended the dinner and festivities,which was deemed another successful TSS event for a greatcause.

Eighth Annual Sarasota Bay Cup,Sarasota Sailing Squadron, May 11By David Curry

The safest way to ensure non-seasoned racers don’t bumpinto each other around the start is to race with staggeredstart times, so each boat is given an exact time to start,according to its PHRF handicap. In theory, all boats shouldthen reach the finish line at the same time. In practice, thesharpest sailor with the cleanest, best-sailed boat will beatthe others.

The Eighth Annual Sarasota Bay Cup was sailed underthese rules. By mid-morning, the club anemometers werereading zero—not good for a sailboat race—but as the starttime of 1 p.m. approached, a fitful westerly breeze began tofill in across Sarasota Bay. According to their PHRF num-bers, each of 33 boats, in four divisions, tiptoed up to thestart line and set off for essentially two laps round a trian-gular course of 11-and-a-half miles. The wind was not kind;it did blow—at times up to 14 knots—but it remained fitfulin both strength and direction, giving all sailors tough timesin predicting the many shifts. It made for exciting racing attimes as the wind swung through 90 degrees in as many

Regattas and Club Racing—Open to Everyone Wanting to Race For the races listed here, no individual club membership isrequired, although a regional PHRF rating, or membershipin US SAILING or other sailing association is oftenrequired. (If individual club membership is required, pleasecontact us and 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 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.

www.longbaysailing.com

JUNECharleston Ocean Racing Association. www.charlestonoceanrac-

ing.org7-8 Hobcaw Regatta.21-22 James Island Regatta.

Neuse Yacht Racing Associationwww.nyra.org2008 schedule not posted

Lake Lanier. www.llsc.comSee Web site for local races1-6 Junior Week. All week. LLSC4 AISC Summer 1, #8. AISC7 Fair Winds #4. BF11 AISC Summer 1, #9. AISC14 SSC Couples Race. Open. SSC14 Evening Breeze #1. BF18 AISC Summer 1, #10. AISC21 Reggae Regatta

South Atlantic Yacht Racing Assoc. www.sayra-sailing.com6-8 Special Olympics Regatta 420, Hobie 16 JIYC 7,8 Mayor’s Cup Regatta Open, One Design LTYC 7,8 Bare what you dare Catamarans KSC 7,8 Hobcaw Open Regatta Open HYC 7,8 US Sailing Junior Champs Quarterfinals

Flying Scots, 420, Laser LNYC 14-15 James Island Open Regatta Open JIYC 21-22 Low Country Regatta Open BYSC 21-22 Reggae Regatta Open LLSC 23-24 Jr Y-flyer Nationals Y-flyer AYC 24-27 Y-flyer Nationals Y-flyer AYC 28-29 Governors’ Cup Open CSC

www.longbaysailing.com14-15 NC/SC Governor’s Offshore Cup

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 53

John Steele’s Melges 24, Rita B, which won the Spinnaker division at the Sarasota Bay Cup. Photo by John MacKay.

seconds, so making a small error became a big one in a shorttime by those who failed to read the shifts.

John Steele’s Melges 24, Rita B, took line honors in theSpinnaker division, while among the Non-Spinnakers,Doug Dearden drove his Impulse 26, In Tune, to victory. In

True Cruising, Bob Johnson’s, C&C 38, Shearwater, was thewinner. Pocket Cruisers was won by John Hargreaves’Hunter 30 SD, Kitten. In a six-boat fleet of speedy catama-rans, Kathryn and Paul Garlick drove Evolution, theirCorsair 28, to first place in the Multihull division.

n REGIONAL RACING CALENDARS

54 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

SOUTHERN RACING

JULYCharleston Ocean Racing Association. www.charlestonoceanrac-

ing.org19-20 Charleston YC Regatta26-27 Carolina Regatta

Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org7 PSC Solo Race13-15 HYC Regatta21-22 PSC Pirates on the Pongo28 NYRA Parrothead28-29 MOBYC Harkers Island Regatta (Sunfish)

Lake Lanier. www.llsc.comSee Web site for local races9 AISC Summer 2, #1. AISC12 Evening Breeze #2. BF16 AISC Summer 2, #2. AISC19 BF/SSC Moonlight Scramble/Firefly #1. BF/SSC23 AISC Summer 2. #3. AISC30 AISC Summer 2, #4. AISC

South Atlantic Yacht Racing Assoc. www.sayra-sailing.com5-6 Independence Day Regatta. Open. LNYC12-13 Firecracker Regatta. Open. SYC12-13 Soveral 33 Nationals. Soveral 33. LNYC19-20 Charleston Yacht Club Regatta. Open. ChYC19-25 Highlander Nationals. Highlander. LNYC26-27 Jolly Jordan. Optimist. CSC-NC26-27 Carolina Open. Open. CYC-SC

JUNE1,15,29 Small Boat Races. Melbourne Yacht Club4,11,18,25 Wed Night Mosquito Series #9, #10, #11, #12. Indian

River Yacht Club7-8 Titusville Regatta. Titusville Sailing Center7,21 Summer Series #3, #4. Rudder Club8 Treasure Coast Laser Series. Ballard Park, Melbourne Yacht

Club8 Commodore Cup Race #3. Halifax River Yacht Club8 Big Boys’ Race. Halifax Sailing Association8 Spring Race series #8. Indian River Yacht Club12 Treasure Coast Laser Series. Ballard Park, Melbourne Yacht

Club13,27 Summer Rum Race #3, #4. Melbourne Yacht Club14 Jessee Ball Regatta. Epping Forest Yacht Club14-15 Marker 21 Cruise. Melbourne Yacht Club & East Coast

Sailing Association, Cruising.21 Spring Race Series #4. East Coast Sailing Association-

Racing21-22 Gaulden Reed Summer Sizzler. Hobie Fleet 80 (catamaran

race)

JULY2,9,16,23,30Wed Night Mosquito Series #13,14, 15, 16,17. Indian

River Yacht Club5-6 Firecracker Regatta. Port Canaveral Yacht Club6 Big Boy’s Race. Halifax Sailing Association11,25 Summer Rum Race #5,6. Melbourne Yacht Club

12 Treasure Coast Laser Series. Kelly Park, Merritt Island13,27 Commodore Cup Race #5,6. Halifax River Yacht Club13 Fall Series #1. Indian River Yacht Club13,27 Small Boat Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club19 Spring Series #5. East Coast Sailing Association–Sailing19 Moonlight Regatta. Rudder Club20 Women’s Fall Race #1. East Coast Sailing

Association–Women’s Sailing21-22 Summer Sizzler. Daytona Beach. Fleet 80.TBD Gilligan’s Run–Distance Catamaran Race. Fleet 80.

Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.net

JUNE3,10,17,24 BBYRA race series #2, #3, #4, #5

JULY1-12 Regatta Time in the Abacos 11-13 Finals Sears, Bemis, Smythe Regatta (Lasers, 420s,

Lightnings) 12 J/24 Biscayne Bay Series. Flat Earth Racing 19 Full Moon Regatta

BBYC Biscayne Bay Yacht ClubBBYRA Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association.

www.bbyra.netCGSCCoconut Grove Sailing Club. www.cgsc.orgCRYCCoral Reef Yacht Club. www.coralreefyachtclub.org. KBYCKey Biscayne Yacht Club. www.kbyc.org. MYC Miami Yacht Club. www.miamiyachtclub.net.

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

Upper Keys Sailing Club (UKSC).www.upperkeyssailingclub.com. Regular club racing open to all.

SOUTHWINDS Annual Online West Florida Race CalendarPosted Sept. 1

SOUTHWINDS magazine posts the annual race schedule/calendar(9/1/07 — 8/31/08) on its Web site for all racing in the centralwest Florida area from just north of Tampa Bay south to MarcoIsland. The calendar includes all scheduled races of the WestFlorida PHRF organization (www.westfloridaphrf.org), plus clubraces in the area and any others that boaters in the area wouldlike to post. The Boat of the Year races are listed for all the areasof the West Florida PHRF organization. Contact [email protected] to list your race, although we cannot listevery single weekly club race.

The race calendar can be accessed through the racing pageslink at www.southwindsmagazine.com. It is also the race calen-dar link at the West Florida PHRF organization (www.westflori-daphrf.org) and many other sailing associations and yacht clubsin the area.

Limited banner advertising is available on the race calendarpage at very low monthly rates. Contact [email protected] or call (941) 795-8704.

Club Racing Bradenton YC. Races April through October. Thursday evenings.

Races at 6:30 p.m. PHRF racing on Manatee River. For info,call Susan Tibbits at (941) 723-6560.

Clearwater Community Sailing Center. The center holds regularweekend club races. For dates and more information, go towww.clearwatercommunitysailing.org.

Dunedin Boat Club. Monthly club racing. For more information,contact [email protected].

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

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

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

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

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

JUNE3 St. Petersburg YC. Master Calendar Meeting for 2008/20097 St. Petersburg YC. Tampa Sailing Squadron. Transbay,

PHRF7 Treasure Island Tennis and YC. Spring #5, PHRF14 Treasure Island Tennis and YC. Make-up date if needed,

PHRF21 Cortez YC. Summer Sailstice Regatta (TENTATIVE) (SBBO-

TY ‘08-’09)

JULY4 Tampa Bay Catamaran Sailors. Race for Liberty, Dunedin

Causeway

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

Wednesday Evening Fun RacesPYC. Every Wednesday of the Month, April thru OctoberFort Walton Yacht Club. April thru October

JUNE

7 Mobile Bay Marathon. Fairhope Yacht club.7 Cancer Society/PYC Championship # 1. Pensacola Yacht

Club7 School’s Out Regatta (one design). Pontchartrain Yacht

Club. Mandeville, LA8 PYC Championship #2. Pensacola Yacht Club13-15 Round the Island Race (multihull). Fort Walton Yacht Club14-15 Area D Quarter Finals. Mobile Yacht Club14-15 New Orleans to Gulfport Race. New Orleans and Gulfport

Yacht Clubs15 Race for the Case. Gulfport and Biloxi Yacht Club20 -22GYA Offshore Challenge Cup. Gulfport Yacht Club21 We Found the Bay. Point Yacht Club, Josephine, AL21 GYA 420 Championship. Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St.

Louis, MS27-29 Gulfport to Pensacola Race. Gulfport and Pensacola Yacht

Clubs28-29 Monk Smith Regatta(one design). Bay Waveland Yacht Club28-29 Jr. Rondinella. Bay Waveland Yacht Club

JULY4-6 Junior Olympic Festival. Pensacola YC 5 Patriot’s Day Regatta. Pensacola Beach YC, 5-6 U.S.Sailing Singlehanded Championship. Ft. Walton YC, 5-6 Meigs Regatta. (Capdeville). Fort Walton YC, 5-6 O’Day GYA Area D Semi-Finals. Fort Walton YC, 5-6 Horn Island Hop. Ocean Springs YC, MS12 Bastille Day Regatta. New Orleans YC, LA12-13 Summer Regatta. (Capdeville) Mobile YC19 Fast Women Regatta. Point YC, Josephine, AL19-20 Junior Lipton’s Regatta. Southern YC, New Orleans24-25 Garden Park Junior. Gulfport YC, MS26 Bikini Regatta. Navy YC, Pensacola26-27 Weatherly Regatta. (Capdeville) Gulfport YC, MS26-27 Summer in the Pass. (one design) Pass Christian YC, MS

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 55

56 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 57

58 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

NEW & USED BOATS IN STOCK

2008 Catalina 14.2 $5,881New Compac Legacy 16 $tba2007 Compac Legacy 16 $11,995New Catalina 16.5 $7,4922008 Compac Picnic Cat $10,4622008 Hunter 170 w/trailer Sold2008 Compac Suncat $19,5921998 Seaward Fox 19-trailer $7,9952006 Com-Pac Eclipse SoldNew Catalina 22 Sport/loaded SoldNew Catalina 22 MKII $21,7971986 Hunter 23 w/trailer $5,5952008 Catalina 250 WB $33,5171995 Catalina 250wb-trailer Sold2000 Catalina 250wk $19,9952006 Trailer - 24’ -26’ $4,500

*Financing Available*

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 59

60 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Ads Starting at 3 Months for $25Place your Photo in Color for $5 a month.

Place them on the Internet now for $10! Open to all Brokers, Businesses and Boat Owners

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

• $25 for three months, 30 words. $40 for 40words. $50 for 60 words.

• $50 for 30-word ad with horizontal photo.$65 with vertical photo.

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

• $15 for 3 months to have your photo in color.• Add $5 to place on the Internet on 1st of

month of publication. Add $10 to place adearly. No refunds.

• Ads prepaid by credit card, check, or Internet.• $10 to make changes (except for price, e-

mail, phone numbers, mistakes) in text. • The last month your ad runs will be in paren-

theses, e.g., (5/08) is June 2008.• Ad must be received by the 2nd Friday of

each month. Contact us if later to possiblyget in the “Too Late to Classify” section.

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

AD RENEWALS — $15 to $30Sign up for automatic renewal to get the $30(ads with photos) and $15 (text only ads) rateon renewals. Credit card on file required (orprepayment). Ad will be renewed automati-cally unless you cancel. No broker or dealerboats (see Broker Ad specials below).Otherwise, ad renewals after the first threemonths will be $50 (ads with photos) and$25 (text only ads) for another three months.Lower renewal rates do not apply if a monthis skipped. Contact us for questions. DISPLAY ADS: Starting At $38/month. (941) 795-8704.Contact [email protected].

BROKERS:Photo and text ads only apply to this offer. $5to change your ad first 3 months. After 3months: $20 a month for a new ad or $15 to

pick up old ad. Price changes and mistakechanges free. Credit card must be on file ifnot a monthly display advertiser.

TO PLACE AN AD1. On the Internet, go to www.southwinds-magazine.com/classifieds. Paypal: Put your adin the “Message to Seller” area that will comeat the end when you process the payment,or e-mail [email protected] must be e-mailed. 2. E-mail, Phone, Credit Card. E-mail [email protected] with text in e-mail (or Word document). Call with creditcard number (941) 795-8704.3. Mail your ad in. PO Box 1175, HolmesBeach, FL 34218. Check or credit card num-ber (with name, expiration, address). Enclosea SASE if photo wanted back.

TOO LATE TO CLASSIFY_________________________________________

See this section at the end of classifiedsfor ads that came in too late to place intheir appropriate section. Contact us ifyou have a last-minute ad to place—westill might have time in this section.

BOATS WANTED_________________________________________

Trailer Wanted for 28’ Keel Sailboat. For aCatalina 28 fin keel or can be altered for. Mustbe in West Florida (Tampa Bay To Marco) ordeliver to. (941) 795-8704. [email protected]. _________________________________________

Sunfish and Sunfish Rigs Wanted. TSS YouthSailing, Inc., Tampa Youth Sailing, an organiza-tion to which donations are tax deductible, is ingreat need of sailing rigs for Sunfish sailboats. Ifyou have a Sunfish rig (mast, sail and spars.)which you are not using, please consider a giftto us. Go to www.tssyouthsailing.org and clickon Contact Us.

BOATS & DINGHIES_________________________________________

Trinka 10ft Sailing/Rowing Dinghy with sail-ing package. Very good condition. $2500.Includes trailer. Located in Vero Beach, FL.(203) 763-9762 or (203) 763-9551. (8/08)_________________________________________

Mold to build traditional-shaped 18’canoe. Very sturdy split mold. Boats werebuilt under the name Clearwater Canoe.Ellie’s Sailing Shop. Clearwater. (727) 442-3281. (6/08)

Interlake 18, 1982. Divorce Sale! Refit byCustomflex 2005 w/new open centerboardwell, stainless centerboard, flotation tanks andmore. All Harken gear, (2) sets sails, 1 spinnaker.2005 Road King galvanized trailer, BearingBuddies, spare tire. Great sailer, excellent condi-tion. Asking $2,800. Located Sarasota. (941)720.4503, [email protected]. (8/08)

Hobie 21 Sport Cruiser. Excellent condition.Main, jib, screachor, all furling. New jib.Wings. 3.5 hp outboard. Hot stick. Fronttramp. Aluminum trailer. Beach dolley.Removable storage pod. Rebuilt center-boards. $5,500. (941) 743-6322. (6/08)

22’ 1968 Westerly Cirrus. Stout little cruiser.Yanmar 2005, Navik self-steering vane, stand-ing headroom (6’), enclosed head. Lying inNE Florida. Ready to go. Excellent condition.$10,500. (228) 324-6504. (6/08a)_________________________________________

1978 23’ Oday. Swing Keel, Roller Furling Jib,and an EZ Loader Tamon Axle. Comes withGalvanized Trailer - New Tires. Very good con-dition. Located outside Greenville, SC.$5,495. Call (864) 627-9000. Ask for Jack.(8/08)_________________________________________

Precision 23 sailboat. 1990, 2 foot draft. NewMain and Bimini. Excellent Tohatsu motor andtwo-axle trailer. $8,800. Sarasota. (941) 526-9504. (8/08)

Boats WantedBoats & Dinghies

PowerboatsBoat Gear & Supplies

Businesses for Sale/Rent

Crew Available/WantedDonate Your Boat

Engine PartsHelp Wanted

Lodging for Sailors

Regatta MusiciansReal Estate for Sale or Rent

Sails & CanvasSlips for Sale/RentToo Late to Classify

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

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 61

$50 – 3 mo. Ad & Photo941-795-8704

Subscribe toSOUTHWINDS

$24/year • 3rd Class$30/year • 1st Class

Subscribe on our secure Web sitewww.southwindsmagazine.comADS AS LOW AS $25/3 MO

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

1998 MacGregor 26X, 50 HP Honda 4-strokeOB. Unique water ballast system. Less than 1foot draft when board is up. 7’ 10” beam andcomes with a trailer. Enclosed head, aft sleep-ing cabin, galley, and dinette. CDI roller furlingjib. VHF radio. Stereo with cockpit speakers.Wheel steering, cockpit cushions and more.$15,500. Cortez Yacht Sales (941) 792-9100.

Morgan 28 1972. Kubota engine great con-dition. 3’6” draft, Includes GPS, VHF, New rig-ging, roller furling, sails, solar panels, more.Needs rudder repair. Call for info. $8,000OBO (305) 395-8194 or (904) 540-8372. StJohns River, FL. (7/08)

28’ Corsair F-28R Trimaran ‘97. ‘07 Carbonsails, ‘07 - 9.8 OB, overhauled trailer. Turn-keycondition. $71,000. Palmetto, FL. Write forparticulars to [email protected]. (941)538-8540. (8/08)

1977 Newport 28. Well conditioned boat withfull complement of sails for tuff luff system.Draft 4’6”, beam 9’, powered by Atomic 4w/folding prop. $6,900. (813) [email protected]. (8/08)

Pearson 28. 1977. Sarasota. Cruise big on abudget, perfect for couple/single. Beautiful,updated. Wheel, wind/solar generators, inte-grated canvas, chartplotter, Autohelm, muchmore. $14,000, can help with moorage. (941)266-4543 www.ohana.talkspot.com. . (8/08)

1967 Soverel 28. Very good sloop, sound con-dition. Upgrades including Diesel Yanmar2GM20F. Complete epoxy barrier system per-formed, hull & deck repainted. Draft 2’ 11”,mast ht 37’. Located Bradenton. $11,500. CallMark @ (941) 350.2977 or email: [email protected]. (8/08)

Lindenberg 28. 1983. Fivespeed. Provenwinner. Extensive racing inventory. Ready torace now. Major upgrades and new bottomMarch 2006. Yours for $16,550. ContactGary Smith (321) 674-0886. e-mail [email protected]. (7/08a)

30’ NONSUCH 1983. Showstopping awl-gripped dark green hull, red boot stripe. Newbatteries, solar panel, canvas. Autopilot, GPS,Sobstat sails, Barient winches, Electric mainwinch & much more. $44,900. (888)882-5516or cell (727)560-0001 www.gcyachts.com.

WHARRAM TIKI 30CATAMARAN

FOR SALE

Brand New — Professionally Built

Go to www.tiki30.blogspot.com to view anon-line journal documenting the step-by-step building of this boat. Built byBoatsmith, Inc., Jupiter, FL www.boatsmithFL.com. (561)744-0855

1984 Islander 30, with freshwater-cooledYanmar diesel. Very clean and well main-tained by owner. Harken roller furling withgenoa, jib and storm jib. Main sail withdutchman system. Edson wheel and cockpittable. Anderson ST winches. Navico autopi-lot. DataMarine depth. ICOM VHF, compass.Hiller stove and oven. Adler Barbour refriger-ation. Pressure water. Hella fans, great interi-or. Battery charger, 2 anchors with chain androde, 110/30 amp shore power. USCG safe-ty equipped. A must-see boat located onLongboat Key, or go to www.cortezyachts.com. Asking $23,900. Call (941) 792-9100.

Hunter 30. Two to Choose from. Bothextremely clean and well-maintained. TampaBay. Cruise-equipped. Good Sails and canvason both. Must see to appreciate. (727) 560-0901.

30’ Woods Windsong catamaran, 1989, Twinoutboards, Many recent upgrades, 32” draft.perfect for Bahamas hopping. $42,000, CallTom @ (904) 377-9446. Edwards Yacht Sales,Quality Listings, Professional Brokers,www.CatamaransInFlorida.com

62 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Motorsailer 30, Wirth Monroe Sea Sailer,teak, completely refitted, new diesel, cruise500 miles on 1 GPH, safe and comfortable inall weather, one step bow to stern, shoaldraft. For sale by owner, call Tom Broadfoot at(910) 686-4816. Wilmington, NC. Reducedto $37,000. Specifications and photos atwww.broadfootpublishing.com. (7/08)

31’ New Bombay Pilothouse, 1978, Thiscompact, efficient pilot house design providesexcellent utilization of space. Outside steeringstation, Bimini and pilot house canvas. Perkins30 H.P. inboard diesel. Spacious galley,Marine air conditioning, $28,900, Call TJ @941-741-5875 Edwards Yacht Sales, QualityListings, Professional Brokers, www.SailboatsInFlorida.com. (6/08)

31’ Catalina 310, 2004. Just taken in trade onnew Catalina. In-mast furling, air condition-ing, Autopilot, ST-60 wind/speeddepth, VHFw/Ram Mic, custom Bimini/windshield,microwave, nice condition $89,900 MasseyYacht Sales. (727) 824-7262 St Petersburg, or(941) 723-1610 Palmetto, FL.

32’ Downeaster 1976 cutter. Updated withall-new interior, Awlgrip, new head, new hold-ing tank, new stove, new upholstery, 2002Perkins 30 hp, autopilot, solar panels, customhardtop, the works! Now $28,500. 888-840-7937. (305) 481-1364. www.gcyachts.com.

32’ Beneteau, 1997, Yanmar 3GM diesel withnew 95 amp alternator, Large U-Shaped galleywith a lot of counter space and storage lockers,Autohelm ST 4000 auto pilot, Heart 800 wattinverter / battery charger w/ battery monitor-ing system, Full AC/DC breaker panel atNavigation station, New starter, $59,000, CallJeff @ (954) 224-8291, Edwards Yacht Sales,Quality Listings, Professional Brokers,www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

32’ Morgan Sloop, 1980, Yanmar Diesel, FullKeel, 6’2” headroom, Solid bluewater cruiser,$27,900, Call Rick @ (727) 422-8229 EdwardsYacht Sales, Quality Listings, ProfessionalBrokers, www.SailboatsInFlorida.com. (6/08)

32’ BRISTOL 1976 SLOOP. New to market,lots new including rigging, halyards, Interiorcushions, Sunbrella canvas & Interlux Epoxybottom. Autopilot, Depth, VHF, 1983 20HPDiesel, Main, Jib, Genoa, Spinner, Storm, STwinches. $25,000 – motivated seller. (888) 840-7937, (305) 481-1364.www.gcyachts.com.

32’ Watkins 1983 Ideal for cruising or live-aboard., well maintained. Hybrid refrigeration,27HP Yanmar, A/C, autopilots, GPS, High out-put alternator. Pictures and list of equipment:www.kollmann-marine.com/Loreli.htm or call(954) 583-7215. (8/08a)

Morgan O.I. 33. Full keel, only 3’ 11” draft.Yanmar 38hp diesel w/only 950 hrs. The OutIsland series by Charlie Morgan is well knownfor their exceptional interior volume. The shal-low draft make it an excellent choice for cruis-ing the Keys and Bahamas. Loaded with newequipment and upgrades including: Auto-pilot, color chartplotter GPS, electric windlass,wind generator, propane stove, refrigerator,marine air conditioning, dinghy with new OB,flat screen TV, stereo and more. Owner hasnew boat ordered. Here is a chance to get agreat boat for a great price. LocatedMarathon. Asking $27,500, but let’s hear youroffer. Cortez Yacht Sales (941) 792-9100.

34’ Tartan , 1985, Beautiful Awlgrip blue hull,Westerbeke Diesel, Autopilot, Refrigeration, 5sails and 2 spinnakers, $57,900, Call Joe @(941) 224-9661, Edwards Yacht Sales, Qualitylistings, Professional Brokers,www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

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News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 63

$50 – 3 mo. Ad & Photo941-795-8704

Subscribe to SOUTHWINDS$24/year • 3rd Class$30/year • 1st Class

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2004 Catalina 34 MK II, loaded and ready.This boat is equipped for the discriminatingsailor for pure pleasure or the competitor forpure enjoyment. Everything you need in aboat. Two complete sets of sails, one to cruise,another to race. Everything is like new.$127,500. www.Cortezyachts.com for listingor call (941) 792-9100.

Hunter 34. 1985. Fully equipped for weekendor Island cruising. A/C, dinghy w/OB, elec-tronics. Constant updates and maintenance.Asking $33,900. Clean and a pleasure toshow. Call Jacek at (727) 560-0901 for moreinformation. New cushions.

1985 BABA - full keel Blue Water cruiser. Lotsof gear with manuals and records. VHF, SSB,GPS, windlass, wind gen, life raft and more.Needs some exterior teak work and some blis-ters. On the hard for your inspection. A fan-tastic offer @ $69,000. Call Cortez Yacht Sales(941) 792-9100 or visitwww.cortezyachts.com

36’ Catalina MKII, 2001, Universal diesel, 2private staterooms, Radar, SSB, Autopilot,Liferaft, ready to cruise today! $109,000, CallJeff @ (954) 224-8291, Edwards Yacht Sales,Quality Listings, Professional Brokers,www.SailboatsInFlorida.com. (6/08)

2003 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37. (New 2007:Yanmar engine, 3 Optima batteries, Garmin440 at helm.) Interphase Chart Plotter atNavigation Station. 12 Volt RefrigerationSystem. Stereo w/4 speakers (2 cockpit), 25AMP Battery Charger. New cruising spinnaker.Custom hard dodger/bimini. Forward cabinw/optional sink and vanity. Master stateroomw/king-sized berth. Walk-through transomw/swim ladder. $136,900. (941) 365-9095.(6/08a)

37’ GulfstarSloop, 1977,everything on thevessel has beenupgraded:mechanical, elec-trical compo-nents, electronics,16000BTU A/C,autopilot, sailsand runninggear, Bimini andcanvas, new bot-tom paint andrunning gear andshe had no blisters and he has also added a NEW dodger,$67,900, Call Roy S.@ (305) 775-8907, EdwardsYacht Sales, Quality Listings, ProfessionalBrokers, www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

37’ Lagoon Catamaran, 1996, Owners ver-sion with Galley up, This quick and roomyLagoon 37 has new engines, a new mainsailand all the gear you want: air conditioning,ssb, watermaker, custom cockpit enclosure,even a washer/dryer, $198,000, Call Tom @(904) 377-9446, Edwards Yacht Sales, QualityListings, Professional Brokers,www.CatamaransInFlorida.com

Tayana 37 Pilothouse Cutter. 1985. MagicDragon Robert Perry’s best! Ready to cruise &makes a great liveaboard. New Yanmar 4JHEdiesel engine. New sails. Full galley, A/C;watermaker; generator; navigation equip-ment & much more….Meticulously main-tained and upgraded with quality. Hauled12/07. Composting toilet or will replace withregular toilet. Berthed in St. Pete. $89,900 orMake an Offer. (305) 923-6556. (8/08)

Privilege 39 1988 Cat. 4 cabin, 2 head.Yanmar 27hp. Major refit 2005. New UK sails,AC/heat, Onan genset 6.5kw, Autohelm7000, new interior, Corian counters, teak sole,Bimini/dodger $158,500. (321) [email protected]. (8/08)

1988 Beneteau Oceanis 390. 39 feet. Over$35K in upgrades since 2003, including newYanmar engine and related equipment.Asking $87,900, or call and make offer. Seespecifications and photos at: www.beneteau390.com. Phone: (772) 979-4326. (6/08a)

Bayfield 40 Hull # 34 full keel 5’ draft, cutterketch designed by H.T.Gozzard built in 1984.Exceptional condition with lots of new gear.Harken roller furling on all sails. Marine air,WS, WD, depth, VHF w/remote, SSB,cd/radio, autopilot, chartplotter, radar,dinghy, life raft. $119,000 Call Major Carter orvisit www.Cortezyachts.com.(941) 792-9100.

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64 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

40’ Beneteau Oceanis, 1993, This Oceanishas updated electronics and new sails in2007. Genset and A/C, Owners have cut shorttheir cruising plans after 4 months, so takeadvantage of all their investments and liveyour dreams. $109,900, Call Gene @ 321-474-2831 Edwards Yacht Sales, Quality list-ings, Professional Brokers,www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

40’ Kerr Center Cockpit ketch, 1975, refitted2003 (all systems new) 32,000 lbs., Perkins 72hp, 2 staterooms each with head and shower,hard dodger, shoal draft, full electronics, rollerfurling, windlass, dinghy with motor. For saleby owner, call Tom Broadfoot at ((910) 686-4816. Wilmington, NC. Was $77,000 NOW$47,000. Specifications and photos atwww.broadfootpublishing.com. (7/08)

Hans Christian 41, 1985, Blister-free bottom,Showroom Interior, World cruising equipmentlist. This a beautiful yacht, A real must SEE!,$189,000, Tom @ 904-377-9446, EdwardsYacht Sales, Quality Listings, ProfessionalBrokers, www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

1981 41’ Morgan Out Island Ketch, Perkins,62hp deisel, Gen 200 hrs, new reefer, autopi-lot, A/C, heads {1 electric), mast rewired andmany more upgrades including refurbishedinterior. $71,900. (239) 945-3552, (206) 396-1465. (6/08)

42’ Beneteau Center Cockpit, 2002, All lineslead to cockpit, Unique Fold-out Swim plat-form, Hard dodger, New to the market,$177,900, Call Jeff @ 954-224-8291,Edwards Yacht Sales, Quality listings,Professional Brokers,www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

Tayana 42 Cutter, 1988, Original owner hasbabied her! Total refit in ’03, A/C, Most of herlife was lightly used in the Great Lakes. Thisone is Bristol! $194,900 Call Roy S. @ 305-775-8907 Edwards Yacht Sales, QualityListings, Professional Brokers,www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

42’ Whitby Ketch, 1987, Original owner,Beautiful condition! New Awlgrip, NewElectronics, New sails, Walk thru model. This isa must see! $129,000, Call Leo @ (941) 504-6754, Edwards Yacht Sales, Quality Listings,Professional,www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

Gulfstar 45, 1985. Hirsch design, exc. cond.Raymarine Chartplotter, Radar, Autopilot.Perkins 50hp (300 Hours). Adler-Barbourfridge. New equipment incl. propanestove/oven & grill, hot water, water tanks, gen-erator, ground tackle, spares. Bimini/Dodgerw/ clear side curtains. 12’ Carolina Skiff w/ 9.9Merc. Transferable lease on rare affordable slipin Key West. $112,900. (305) 587-7444.(6/08a)

45’ Hunter Legend, 1987, TOTAL REFIT,Beginning with the hull, it was completelystripped, sanded/filled, primed and painted -first with Awl Grip and finally with Imron for atruly remarkable finish! New mast and rig-ging, Outstanding condition, NOT ASINKER!, $129,900, Call Rick @ 727-422-8229Edwards Yacht Sales, Quality listings,Professional Brokers, www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

47’ Vagabond Bluewater Cutter Ketch, 1982,An IMRON painted hull, Awlgripped cabinhouse, varnished teak accents, and newly fin-ished (natural) teak decks make Black Swan animpressive sight. Trimble Navigation NACTRAC XL GPS, Raytheon RL9 LCD radar,$224,900, Call Jeff @ (954) 224-8291, EdwardsYacht Sales, Quality Listings, ProfessionalBrokers, www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

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News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 65

ADVERTISE YOUR BOATSTARTING AT$25 FOR 3 MO

See Classified Information

Page 61

BROKERS:Advertise Your Boats for Sale.

Text & Photo AdsNew ads: $20/mo

Pickup ads: $15/mo

47’ Vagabond Ketch, 1986, Heavy displace-ment cruiser, Refit in ’03 with new spars andsails, Genset, A/C, 3KW inverter, Radar, GPS,Big ground tackle, windlass, $159,000, CallRoy S. @ 305-775-8907, Edwards Yacht Sales,Quality Listings, Professional Brokers,www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

48’ Cheoy LeeGolden WaveKetch, 1987Newer Perkins,Sleeps 8,repainted, Solidcruiser,$174,900, Call Roy S. @(305) 775-8907,Edwards YachtSales, Qualitylistings,ProfessionalBrokers,www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

50’ Gulfstar Center Cockpit Ketch, 1976,Perkins 85 HP, Rare 2 stateroom model, Walkin engine room, Nice bluewater cruiser,Holding plate refrigeration, $114,900, Call TJ@ (941) 741-5875 Edwards Yacht Sales,Quality Listings, Professional Brokers,www.SailboatsInFlorida.com

50’ Prout Catamaran, 1980, In 2006 twonew Yanmar Diesel Engines were installed w/new control panels at each station. Newengines have factory warranties until July2008. Owners are planning to move up to alarger vessel. Possible trades will be consid-ered $289,900, Call Bill @ (727) 421-4848Edwards Yacht Sales, Quality listings,Professional Brokers,www.CatamaransInFlorida.com

Jeantot Marine 51’ Privilege 1994, Big,beautiful cat loaded with electronics,genset, watermaker, dive compressor, duala/c, cherry interior. Sleeps 10 in 5 doublecabins, $530,000, Call Tom @ (904) 377-9446, Edwards Yacht Sales. Quality Listings,Professional Brokers,www.CatamaransInFlorida.com

60’ Custom Catamaran, 1999, 4 stateroomsplus crew, Unsinkable, World cruiser or daycharter, twin Yanmar diesels, 2600 sq ft of can-vas! 18 opening portholes, loaded! $595,000,Call Bill @ (727) 421-4848, Edwards YachtSales, Quality Listings, Professional Brokers,www.CatamaransInFlorida.com

POWERBOATS_________________________________________

2005 Albin 31 TE. Twin Yanmar 370 turbos -wolf in sheep’s clothing!!! 53k less thanreplacement!!! New warranties apply. Optionspackage worth 18k. Never titled. Most pow-erful 31 on market. Call today and let’s talkdream boats. $223,900 (561) 844-1100.

38’ HERITAGE (Fu Hwa) 1983 TRAWLER.Economical 2x120 HP diesels, Radar, GPS,Depth, Gen, Air, New fuel tanks, 2 stations,Windlass, Bimini, icemaker, new mechanicals,in St. Pete. $73,500 – offers! (888) 882-5516.(727) 560-0001. www.gcyachts.com.

40’ Eagle Pilothouse 2007, Single 230Cummins w/ 300 hrs., A/C, Gen, FullElectronics, Bow Thruster, Washer-Dryer,Economical Cruising. A Must See. $359,000. StAugustine Yacht Sales. (866) 610-1703www.sayachtsales.com.

43’ Californian Cockpit Motoryacht 1985, T/3208N Cats 210 hp, A/C, Gen. Great Boat.$79,000. Will Trade for Sailboat. St AugustineYacht Sales. (866) 610-1703. www.sayacht-sales.com.

SCHUCKER 440. Bruce Van Sant’s trawlerizedTIDAK APA. Get complete information andphotos at www.LuperonCruising.com (7/08)

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66 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

2” DISPLAY ADS STARTING $38/MO

C L A S S I F I E D A D SBOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES

_________________________________________

Outboard Motors for Sale. Mercury 8 hpshort shaft two stroke—not at all worn (lookinside). Price $500, excellent value. Also,Johnson 4 hp long shaft and Evinrude 4 hplong shaft—both very good. $275 each. SeeJimmy at the Miami Yacht Club (behind ParrotJungle) on the causeway between Miami andMiami Beach, after 4 p.m. every day by thedinghy dock, or call 305-858-5975 and leaveyour number (or call the Miami Yacht Club at(305) 371-0703 after 4 p.m.). Try them out onthe water if you like. (7/08)_________________________________________

HARKEN Roller Furling Unit 1.5 complete.Includes 1/4 inch 1x19 head stay wire for 1/2inch pin. Will fit head sails with 32’ or less and#6 luff tape. Double grooved foil with feeder.Current pin top pin length is 35’5” Note: youwill have to purchase a Sta-lock or Norsmanterminal which may reduce the pin to pinmeasurement a little. $250 Call 941-792-9100._________________________________________

Hobie 18 Mast for Sale. (We think it is aHobie 18). Measures 26 feet. Top 7 feet is car-bon. Serial # 38272 Coleman Co. $60. NearSarasota, FL. (941) 966-4737.

Used Boat Gear for Sale. CQR 25 & 45#,Bruce 16 & 66#, Hookah by Airline, 55#Folding Fisherman anchor, Para-tech 15w/Rode, Edson rack & pinion steering w/wheel, new awning w/side curtains. NauticalTrader, 110 E. Colonia Lane, Nokomis, FL.Shop online at www.nauticaltrader.net. (941)488-0766.

BUSINESS FOR SALE/RENT_________________________________________

Charter Boat and Business for Sale,Sarasota/Bradenton Area. Includes 30-footdiesel six-pack deep Vee hull boat with tower.Includes dive platform and fishing gear. Boat invery good condition. Established charter busi-ness with advertising and slip in Cortez, FL.Asking $29,000—taking offers. Drasticallyreduced, owner leaving country. Cortez YachtSales. www.cortezyachts.com. (941) 722-9022.

CREW AVAILABLE/WANTED_________________________________________

Crew Available. From Keys or South Florida toanywhere. Start late May/early June, 1-4weeks, unpaid. Guy, 50ish, fit, non smoker,easygoing, quick learner, 2 sailing/boating cer-tificates, some sailing experience, know someSpanish. (734) 272-9042. (6/08)_________________________________________

Sailing Partners Wanted for 25-foot Morgan.Cruising Tampa Bay and beyond. Non-smokersand no booze. Please call after 7 p.m.. (813)754-5180. (8/08)_________________________________________

Wanted: Experienced racing crew to campaignCorsair 28R trimaran in local races/regattas inthe Bradenton/Sarasota area. Mellow boatowner. E-mail [email protected]. (5/08)

DONATE YOUR BOAT_________________________________________

Donate your boat to the Safe Harbor BoysHome, Jacksonville, Fl. Setting young lives on atrue path. Please consider donating your work-ing vessel. http://boyshome.com/ or call (904)757-7918, e-mail [email protected]

ENGINE PARTS_________________________________________

Wanted. Used parts for Westerbeke EngineModel 20B two. Need 1 camshaft #036972.Need 1 injector camshaft #037076 or com-plete engine that doesn’t run. (504) 913-2381 or (504) 341-2343. (6/08)

HELP WANTED_________________________________________

Yacht Broker Wanted. Lots of Work. Growingcompany, with years of experience, in TampaBay looking for a team player. Great companysupport. Call (727) 823-7400, or Jacek at (727)560-0901._________________________________________

Massey Yacht Sales Mobile Broker Do youprefer to sell yachts from your home office?If you do and you are a proven, successfulyacht sales professional, we have positionsopen for Florida west and east coast. Takeadvantage of the Massey sales and marketingsupport, sales management and administra-tion while working from your home sellingbrokerage sail and powerboats. Call FrankHamilton (941) 723-1610 for interviewappointment and position details.

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

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE OR RENT_________________________________________

Belize Waterfront Property. Gated Waterfrontcommunity on the Cerros Peninsula in Corozal,Belize. Canal lots with allowance for dock.Business opportunities. Parcels for condomini-ums, resort and a marina. Lots starting at$39,000. Call John Elkin (941) 704-2226. (7/08)

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 67

OUR WATERWAYScontinued from page 33

REGATTA MUSICIANS_________________________________________

The Bilge Boys acoustic duo is available foryour regatta, sailing events and yacht clubparties. We play beach/island/classic rock andlots of Jimmy. Book now for the upcomingsailing/holiday season. West Florida’s bestband. www.freewebs.com/thebilgeboys or727-504-2328. (6/08)

SAILS & CANVAS________________________________________

SLIPS FOR SAIL OR RENT________________________________________

BIMINI BAY RESORT 40 ft BOAT SLIP FORSALE: A full-service marina with immigrationoffice allowing guests to clear customs imme-diately. A harbor channel accommodatingyachts of all sizes. A fisherman’s yacht villagewith an infinity pool, exquisite dining facili-ties, a fitness center, and salon. All reasonableoffers considered. Interested buyers may e-mail questions to [email protected].(6/08)

40’ Deep-water Slip situated in prestigiousHarbortown Marina on the IntracoastalWaterway, Jacksonville, FL. Access to oceannearby. Water, insurance, dock carts, etc.,included in $145/month fee. $79,000. CallJohn Timm (502) 767-9372. (6/08)

TOO LATE TO CLASSIFY_________________________________________

32 Catalina 1997. Wing keel, 4’10” draft.Yanmar 27hp 800 hours, windlass, davits,barrier coated, H/C pressure water, propanestove/oven, portable A/C, 4D batteries,charger, autopilot, all electronics,Assymetrical spinnaker, full batten main, rollerfurling, bottom 2007, much more. Beautifulcondition. Meticulously maintained. $67,500.(239) 574-4704.

Volvo Diesel MD11C. 2-cylinder. 23hp. Runsgood when taken out of boat and runs goodnow. Transmission, wire harness, gauges,prop, manuals, everything. LocatedSouthwest Florida. (239) 283-0382.

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

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68 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

MSD is in the CFR, but also in theinterpretation by the University ofFlorida paper, that a Type III MSD canbe many things and the words “hold-ing tank” are not used as a limitingfactor in that description. In fact, Inever found the words “holdingtank” in any federal law concerning aType III MSD. Clearly any devicewhich is “designed to prevent theoverboard discharge of treated oruntreated sewage”—to quote the fed-eral law—qualifies as a Type III MSD.

Wag Bags not only easily andsimply qualify as Type III MSDs, theycould easily be called “holding tanks”themselves, because that is what theyare actually doing; holding humanwaste to be disposed of later in a legalmanner.

Just don’t forget to secure theoverboard discharge seacock correctlyor remove the handle if you want topass inspection.

Note: PETT, the manufacturer of WagBags, has received permission fromevery state in the United States tolegally discard the product in land-fills, which means they can be legallydumped in a municipal trash recepta-cle. If law enforcement says it must bepumped out at a pump-out station,tell them to pump it out of the WagBag. Wag Bags are also designed tobreak down in the elements aftermany months in a landfill, leavingthem biodegradable and harmless tohuman life.

For those who would like to researchthe CFR on MSDs, go towww.mxak.org/regulations/33CFR/33cfr159.htm.

For Florida law, go to www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm.Then go to Title XXIV, then Chapter327, then 327.53, which is marine san-itation.

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS June 2008 69

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

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

MARINE MARKETPLACE . . . . . . . . . .24-27SAILBOATS – NEW AND BROKERAGEAakron Inflatables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Beneteau Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BCBoaters Exchange/Catalina Sailboats . . . .41Catalina Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29, 41Cortez Yacht Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63Dunbar Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Eastern Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29,58,BCEdwards Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56-57Flying Scot Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65Gulf Coast Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59Hanse Sailboats, Sailboats Florida . . . . . . .58Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Island Yachting Centre/Gregg Knighton . .59Massey Yacht Sales/Catalina//

Hunter/Albin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC,29,42Masthead Yacht Sales/Catalina .31,41,59,68Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . . . . . .60,BCSailboats Florida, Hanse Sailboats . . . . . . .58St. Barts/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BCSuncoast Inflatables/ West Florida . . . . . .16Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg10Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program .19Turner Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES,CLOTHINGAnnapolis Performance Sailing . . . . . . . . .45Bo’sun Supplies/Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . .43Coral Reef Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47Defender Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12, 40E-Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Fourwinds Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Garhauer Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Hotwire/Fans & other products . . . . . . . .25Leather Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Magellan GPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Masthead Enterprises . . . . . . . .34,41,59,68

Mastmate Mast Climber . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign . . . . . . .31Rparts Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43Seaworthy Goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Shadetree Awning Systems . . . . . . . . . . .14Solar Lite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, Precision . . .10Tideminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Wag Bags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Winchmate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS,RIGGING SERVICESAtlantic Sail Traders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49Bacon Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Dwyer Mast/spars, hardware, rigging . . .67Innovative Marine Services . . . . . . . . .24, 26Kevane Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Knighton Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Mack Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Masthead/Used Sails & Service .34,41,59,68National Sail Supply, new&used online . .20North Sails Direct/sails online by North . . .9North Sails, new and used . . . . . . . . .13,68Porpoise Used Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Rohland Rigging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Schurr Sails, Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . . . . .46SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Sunrise Sailing Services . . . . . . . . . . .24, 26UK Halsey Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Ullman Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27CANVASKnighton Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Shadetree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14USED SAILING/BOATING SUPPLIESNautical Trader/buy/sell/consign,

West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Scurvy Dog Marine/Used, Consign,

Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

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A46-foot, charteredsailboat was steadi-

ly being pushed up onthe small patch reefabout three miles fromshore. Mike asked whatkeel configuration theboat had—it makes adifference in how theboat can be pulled offthe reef. The captain hadno idea what kind ofkeel he had. This wasgoing to be a long night.

Captain Mike liveson my dock on a good-sized houseboat with hiswife and his two petiteand beautiful children.They have been marriedfor almost 19 years. Malais the first to tell you herhusband is anal, and—asa character description—not a lot of people wouldlike that handle. Mikeaccepts it, and his work-boat, his personal boats,his life and surroundingdock buddies, are the bet-ter for it. Yes, he does nagus, i.e., are you really going to leavethat line in the water? Did you noticethe last three letters in your boat nameare on a bit of a slant, etc, etc. You getthe picture. In his defense, you couldhold up some obscure boat part andhe could tell you what make, model,and—more important—what couldreplace it, should it get sacrificed tothe benevolent and always hungrydeep, dark water.

Captain Mike has been in thetowboat business going on 20 years,and as he puts it, there isn’t much hehasn’t seen. He deals with a lot ofgroundings due to the shallow

waters surrounding the Florida Keys.Often I have taken my Morgan 41, SheBreeze, out the South Creek channelto see a small rental fishing boataground. The inhabitants of the boatare trying real hard to look likethey’re fishing; I know there’s a lotof praying going on, hoping the tidecomes in before the authorities getnotified. You’ll see snowy egretswading in the inches-deep waterfeasting on the newly uncovered tid-bits. Nice for the egrets, not so nicefor the unfortunate folks on the boat,especially when the water cops aredone evaluating the fines for the

damages done to thefragile sea grass or coralreef. Ouch! What a wayto spoil a vacation.

Mike and Mala arealways taking a plate offood over to someoneon the dock who isunder the weather.Mike jumps right in ifthere is a boat projectyou just don’t have thephysical strength tocomplete. Yeah—I’vehad a few of thosemoments. That kind ofneighborliness justdoesn’t happen muchanymore, does it?

We who choose tolive on boats have todepend on each other alittle more than yourtraditional neighbor-hoods. We live a bitcloser to the weatherand in a more hostileelement. We alwayswatch our neighbor’sback, uh, I mean, sternand bow.

Meanwhile, the six-hour boat-on-the-reef drama was coming to anend on the radio. Mala was relieved,and the kids felt they could go to bednow—Mom was feeling better, andDad was on his way home. The lasttransmission I heard was from thesailboat, “Thanks so much, guys. Wecan see the head pin of Largo harbor.We can make it now.” If I knowMike, I bet he followed them in, justso he could make sure they tied uptheir lines correctly.

You just gotta love the guy! Agreat liveaboard to have as a neigh-bor.

70 June 2008 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Know Your Liveaboard NeighborsBy Ginny Jones

It’s New Year’s Day. Mike, my neighbor who is known as “Captain Sea Tow Mike,” is working today. It’s his normal day off, and—as often occurs—something awful is happening to a local sailboat out on the reef, and Mike won’t ignore his radio—

especially when he knows his boss with Sea Tow could really use the help. It just so happens, the typical Keys’ weather has just taken a turn for the worst; a large and windy cold front hit us late this afternoon and has steadily picked up the pace. Mala, his wife, has her VHF radio on, and we are hearing what’s happening as the drama plays out.