News & Views for Southern Sailors - Southwinds Magazine

SOUTHWINDSNews & Views for Southern SailorsCrossing the GulfstreamCruising with CourtesyBahamas’ Family Island RegattaOctober 2006For Sailors — Free…It’s Priceless

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See us at Strictly Sail St. Pete, Nov. 2-5News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 3

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SOUTHWINDSNEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS6 From the Helm: Half-BacksBy Steve Morrell8 Letters17 Southern Regional Monthly Weather and Water Temperatures14 Bubba Loses Lunch On NYYC CruiseBy Morgan Stinemetz16 Strictly Sail St. Pete Boat Show Preview18 Short Tacks: Sailing News and Events Around the South28 Our Waterways:Misc. News and issues about our waterways around the South.33 Hurricane Season 2006:Misc. News and hurricane tips and information.36 Books to Read37 Florida’s Other ICWBy Scott WeltyBahamas’ Family Island Regatta. Photo by BetsyMorris. See page 4540 Gulf Stream CrossingsBy Rebecca Burg42 Cruising With CourtesyBy Dave Cross45 Bahamas’ Family Island RegattaBy Betsy Morris48 Evolving Structure of Beach Catamaran Racing in Florida50 Racing Tips: AsymmetricalsBy Mike Kirk54 Southern Racing:Southern Regional Racing Reports and Race Calendars78 A Strange Tale From the PastBy Morgan Stinemetz64 Regional Sailing Services Directory - Local boat services in your area.76 Alphabetical Index of Advertisers77 Advertisers’ List by Category77 Subscription FormFlorida’s Other ICW. Photo by Scott Welty. See page 37COVER:Morgan Stinemetz’s Ericson 27, Reefer.Photo by Bubba Whartz.From the Carolinas to Cuba…from Atlanta to the Abacos…SOUTHWINDS Covers Southern SailingNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 5

FROM THE HELMHalf-BacksIthought a halfback was the guy inthe backfield who could run, catchor block and get lots of glory. Not so,in this case. I learned a new definitionrecently while reading the Septembereditorial, titled “the Opposite ofFlorida,” in Spinsheet, a well-puttogetherfree sailing rag out ofAnnapolis, MD.Turns out a “half-back,” a termnow being made famous by TheEconomist, is someone who spendsmuch of his life up North—particularlythe Northeast—dreaming ofescaping to warm and wateryFlorida. This “half-back” eventuallygets his wish and moves south to theSunshine State. Time moves on, andafter experiencing the high propertytaxes, hurricanes, hurricane homeinsurance, traffic and—shuffleboardcourts, this transplant from the Northmoves back. But he doesn’t move allthe way back; he moves “half back.”Hence, the name. He moves, not allthe way back to maybe New York orBoston, but just part way, that is,halfway—like to the Carolinas orVirginia, or, as the case may be for theSpinsheet editor—to the Annapolisand Cheasapeake area.So, it’s the “opposite of Florida,”although I would have guessed thatstate to be Colorado where it’s high,dry, cold and unpopulated, at least ineastern Colorado. (It’s also the mostfit state and has the least number ofsmokers—also the opposite ofFlorida.) What David Gendell (theSpinsheet editor) is commenting on isthat a lot of these people are movingto his area and becoming sailors orcontributing to the sailing community.If that’s the case, then I say theyowe us. Can we sum this all up bysaying that Florida is now supplyingAnnapolis with sailors?Well, we, too, are benefiting. WhenI first came to Florida in 1979 andbought a sailboat, sailors—includingliveaboards and cruisers—were treatedwith envy, kindness and respect. I firstlanded in Fort Lauderdale. It was thena major sailing mecca and jumping-offpoint for points south. Today, it’s ahaven for megayachts, and sailboatsare rare. The Keys were cheap, andhouses there and in Key West could bebought for under $100,000—waterfront.Today, after 30 years of Northernersmigrating south and raising the propertyprices, jamming the roads,crowding the marinas and filling thecondos, we have suffered from thisswelling. If they all went halfwayback, maybe the Ol’ Florida can comeback to life, and it could then be thesleepy, watery and unknown havenfor cruisers it once was.I would even settle for somequarterbacks, who maybe only go aquarter of the way—maybe to justGeorgia or South Carolina. Fullbackswould be acceptable, too.Are the people in Annapolis surethis population increase is a goodthing? If a lot of people are movingin, it’s not the opposite of Florida.Steve MorrellEditor6 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

SOUTHWINDSNews & Views For Southern SailorsSOUTHWINDS Media, Inc.P.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, Florida 34218-1175(941) 795-8704 (877) 372-7245 (941) 795-8705 Faxwww.southwindsmagazine.coe-mail: editor@southwindsmagazine.comVolume 14 Number 10 October 2006Copyright 2006, Southwinds Media, Inc.Founded in 1993 Doran Cushing, Publisher 1993-2002Publisher/EditorSteve Morrell editor@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 795-8704AdvertisingGo to www.southwindsmagazine.com for information aboutthe magazine, distribution and advertising rates.Steve Morrell editor@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 795-8704David Curry davidcurry@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 761-0048Jerry Baily jerry@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 586-8638Regional EditorsEAST FLORIDARoy Laughlin mhw1@earthlink.net (321) 690-0137\SOUTHEAST FLORIDA RACINGArt Perez miamiyachtracing@bellsouth.net (305) 380-0106Production Proofreading ArtworkHeather Nicoll Kathy Elliott Rebecca Burgangel@artoffshore.comContributing WritersLetters from our readers Rebecca Burg Julie ConnerleyDave Cross Kim Kaminski Mike KirkRoy Laughlin Walt McFarlane Betsy MorrisArt Perez Joleen Rasmussen Steve RomaineHone Scunook Morgan Stinemetz Scott WeltyrContributing Photographers/ArtRebecca Burg (& Artwork) Dave CrossGary HuffordGary Jensen Kim Kaminski Mike KirkRoy Laughlin Bob Maher Ron MitchelletteBetsy Morris Mary Naylor Valerie NiemanJohn Nora Bubba Whartz Scott WeltyEDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: ARTICLES & PHOTOGRAPHY:SOUTHWINDS encourages readers, writers, photographers, cartoonists, jokers,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 faroffand far-out place.SOUTHWINDS welcomes contributions in writing and photography, storiesabout sailing, racing, cruising, maintenance and other technical articlesand other sailing-related topics. Please submit all articles electronicallyby e-mail (mailed-in discs also accepted), and with photographs, if possible.We also accept photographs alone, for cover shots, racing, cruisingand just funny entertaining shots. Please take them at a high resolution ifdigital, or scan at 300 dpi if photos, or mail them to us for scanning.Contact the editor with questions.Subscriptions to SOUTHWINDS are available at $19.95/year, or $37/2years for third class, and $24/year for first class. Checks and credit card numbersmay be mailed with name and address to SOUTHWINDS Subscriptions,PO Box 1175, Holmes Beach FL, 34218-1175, or call (941) 795-8704.Subscriptions are also available with a credit card through a secure server onour Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com. SOUTHWINDS is distributed toover 500 locations throughout 10 Southern states. If you would like to distributeSOUTHWINDS at your location, please contact the editor.Read SOUTHWINDS on our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 7

LETTERSFreedom of the press is limited to those who own one.H.L. MenckenIn its continuing endeavor to share its press, SOUTHWINDSinvites readers to write in with experiences & opinions.BOAT COVER COMPANY BACKS UP ITS PRODUCTA couple of years ago, I purchased a boat cover from TaylorMade products for my 17-foot powerboat (I know it’s not asailboat, but I go out and cover sailboat races with it). It wasvery well made and had a five-year warranty. After twoyears, there were stitching problems. I contacted the companyand mailed them the cover. I expected to have to get anew one and perhaps pay a prorated price for it. I wouldeven have been happy if they just re-stitched the old one.Instead, they mailed me a brand-new one. Not only that, itwas better than the mid-quality one I had originally purchased.It was their highest-quality cover.There’s hope for mankind yet.Steve MorrellEditor, SOUTHWINDS MagazineWHY ARE WOMEN-ONLY RACESPROTESTED SO MUCH?As a veteran of Pensacola Beach Yacht Club’s only allfemaleRace for the Roses (Roses Regatta) for the past 19years, I have observed a continuing pattern of official andunofficial “protests,” which are both perplexing andaggravating.The regatta was envisioned as an opportunity toencourage women to spread their wings and challengethem to achieve new goals in a male-dominated sport. But,with protests filed year after year, one might think somethingis wrong with the concept.Racing itself is not flawed. Rules are updated frequentlyto ensure that competitors have a better understanding ofthose rules. However, most local races don’t involveprotests. Rather it is when the race is part of a coveted series,or a Gulf Yachting Association sanctioned event, that competitorsare more likely to sail aggressively and rulesenforcement comes into play.At the same time, skippers usually handpick theircrews for these “important races” (for lack of a better term).Women crewing these races are in the minority. Therefore,women, in general, may have less exposure to actual experiencewith rules on the racecourse.Few women own their own boats, so opportunities toactually skipper a boat for some Roses Regatta participantscomes once a year – with a couple of practice races thrownin. The female skipper finds herself multi-tasking boat andcrew responsibilities besides her normal onboard positionduties. This can be daunting, perhaps even overwhelming ifa storm stands a boat on its ear. Without much experience,focus and concentration can be compromised and conditionsbecome ripe for a protest.Other veterans of the Roses Regatta have shared theirdismay at the number of protests filed throughout the years,and each has her own opinion as to why it happens. One skipperremarked that it seems that the race committee somehowmanages to make the Roses course more difficult than anyordinary race. Another wondered why, since the event alwayshas protests, there aren’t more chase boats available to help8 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

with racecourse management. And thatis a good point. The Race for the Rosesattracts such a large spectator fleet thatfor the past few years, special rulesregarding the spectator fleet and “outsideassistance” have been written intothe Notice of Race.Since so many come out to supportthe regatta, it should be easy to recruitextra support boats. While some skipperswould welcome support boats ateach mark to ensure proper markroundings, the premise of sailboat racingis that it is a gentleman’s sport. Infact, it is one of the few sports in theworld that is self-policing.Taking a cue from Fort WaltonYacht Club, the idea of having a seminaronce or twice a year to discuss allthe protests and rules involved thatoccurred during the year would bebeneficial to both novice and seasonedracers.Of course, nothing in life is guaranteed,and that includes the aggressivesailor who intentionally breaks arule, hoping that the other competitorsdon’t know the rules. The upside isthat with knowledge comes power. USSAILING’s Racing Rules Committeestrives to provide a cure for rulesinfractions so that competitors mayexonerate themselves while still on therace course and may, in fact, go on towin the race after all!There are always going to be winnersand losers. It would just be nicerif there were fewer protesters.Julie ConnerleyGulf Breeze, FL(Julie is a regular contributor toSOUTHWINDS. Her article on the recentRoses Regatta is in the August issue.)Julie,Thanks for the letter. I know you have beenan active racer in your area. Not being anexpert on race rules, I cannot help inanswering your question, but perhaps othersout there will. We invite their letters.EditorTHE MAJORITY OF THE MINORITY(The minority being cruisersin today’s world)I just have to respond to Don’s letter tothe editor in the June issue ofSouthwinds (about the minority ofboaters who are bums spoiling it forthe rest who are not):I wouldn’t like to think of ourpride and joy as a “Gypsy bumboat,”but I suppose there may be some whodo. No, we didn’t pay as much as, say,Donald Trump did for his yacht, andshe’d look sort of out of place at somefancier marinas, but she’s ours and welive aboard, sometimes at anchor. Yes,she’s a 1960s model, but I was kindaproud of how well she’s been maintained.Oh, and we do carry Gerryjugs, red for gasoline, blue for potablewater, and yellow for diesel; heavenforgive us. We also occasionally hangdamp clothes on the lifelines, I have toadmit. Sorry, no dogs, birds, or childrenon our boat. I was too afraid theremay be some law against boaters havingthem (unlike land property owners).Unfortunately, we do have to workto add to the cruising kitty. I as a nursetaking care of sick people, some ofwhom, I think, live on land, and mySee LETTERS continued on page 10News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 9

LETTERSwife as a teacher nurturing the children of, yep, you gotit…land-livers. That pretty much puts the kabosh on all thelate night parties…I may have been tempted, but mostly allthe other boaters I know are in bed at an hour past sundown.Don, I’m glad you were able to afford your several hundredthousand dollar piece of nirvana. And when you andyour wife go cruising, I truly hope you’ll be able to anchorsomewhere before like-minded and possibly snobbier folkspull rank and exclude you.“Jungle Jim” Joe CoreyS/V CalcuttaSomewhere in a neighborhood near youJoe,Don made good points and was correct, but the story is incomplete,and I hope I addressed the “rest of the story” in my response.The rest of the story includes what you say here, that most boaterswho cruise around and love the life are really hard-working peoplewho don’t party every night.Again, I will repeat my mantra that I use in response to allthese criticisms from many of the prejudiced group of “land-livers”(can we create this as a new word?): Those who judge themajority by the actions of the few must share some of the guilt asthey are not exactly acting nobly in their prejudice. They might beignorant, but the old saying, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse,”must hold some origin back to the daily interactions among people.Let’s say, “Ignorance of the majority who really represent agroup is no excuse.”EditorMORE ON THE MAJORITY OF THE MINORITYFirst, good job with the ICW name discussion—it has beenkicked around long enough. You gave it the respect itdeserves in your open format.Next, the biggest reason for sending this e-mail, is theincredible editorial answer to Don Nolen’s letter to the editorin the June issue. Wow. You were born to be a magazineeditor and far outshine every single one of them for openness,honesty, integrity, and flag-waving/church-going/Hippocratic-swearing/all-American patriotism that is notpolitically or monetarily motivated. (Excepting maybe BobBitchin, which puts you in great company!) It made me feela little bad for Don, because he wrote a “nice” letter andalthough you weren’t specifically hard on him, yourJeffersonian response sort of buried his niceness. Makes mewanna carry a SOUTHWINDS wherever I go!Third, a little story (actually two): We left the marina forgood on May 29 and have been floating around Tampa Baysince. As you know, living at anchor in various locations isvery interesting in so many ways. Today, at 1414 hours, theGulfport Police boat stops by Windigo at anchor just off theGulfport Casino dock in Boca Ciega Bay. The officer asksKarin (who is sitting in the cockpit reading) how long weintend on staying. She (very non-committally) says, “A couplemore days.” He then “informs” her that it would beokay, because there is a three-day limit to anchoring.Now—we lived at anchor just off the Gulfport Casinodock in Boca Ciega Bay for several months a couple yearsago. There are SEVERAL boats anchored here right nowthat have been here continuously since then. So, she raisesSee LETTERS continued on page 1210 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

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LETTERSan eyebrow and inquires as to the basis of the quoted lawand the status of all the vessels here. He replies, “The threedaylimit applies only to ‘liveaboard boats.’ “What the heck is a “liveaboard boat”? Good thing I liveon an Islander.(Referring back to your Jeffersonian response: Is it“Constitutional” to have one set of rules for “liveaboards”and another for “absentee, careless owners of floatingpieces of shit”? Next thing you know, we’ll have rules thatwill make some races subservient to others. I digress.)Another conversation overheard earlier this very day:Tanned, short-wearing, t-shirted, unshaved, long-haireddude on end of long concrete Gulfport fishing pier (yellingout onto water): “Maaaaaarrrrrrk. Maaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrk.”Mark, a multi-year liveaboard in Boca Ciega Bayaboard a 25-foot sailboat with no engine, a broken outboardand absolutely no sails, responds, “Hey, Theo.”Theo: “Where’s my boat, man?”Mark: “Right there,” pointing at the water just in frontof his “home.” (This is the resting place of a 20-foot woodenpowerboat that sank in storms associated with Alberto,over a week earlier.)Theo: “Has anybody been on it?”Mark: “Sure.”Theo: “I suppose they got the solar panels then.”Mark: “Yup.”Theo: “Did it break free?”Mark: “Nope. Sunk right there.”Theo: “Oh, well. That’s life.” (Shrugs shoulders withpalms up. Turns and walks up pier. Vessel remains navigationalhazard.)After hearing this exchange, I have come to the conclusionthat “boats don’t cause anti-boating legislation; idiotswith boats do.’’Kevin HughesS/V Windigo III, Boca Ciega Bay (for two more days…)Kevin,Well put. It is the minority who rule sometimes, at least in theseanti-boater laws.Thanks for your comments on my struggling skills as an editorand defender of the Liberal (as the word was then used) idealsof Jefferson, among others.Don Nolen wrote a great letter, and his views really bring usall down to earth from our lofty ideals to tell us that we reallymust work to resolve these issues, not just orate about them. He isright as you are in your so aptly-put comment, “Boats don’t causeanti-boating legislation; idiots with boats do.”Unfortunately, the Gulfport pendulum of boaters’ rights hasbeen swinging wildly in response to the derelict boats off theirshores. City leaders responded recently with so much boaterhatred that I thought they were going to pick up the whole community,land and all, and move it inland away from the water.Rename it “Landport.” They have now recently, through theactions of some boater-friendly and energetic citizens, begun towork at solving the problem at hand—these derelict boats—withoutturning their backs on boaters in general. We are still waitingto hear the outcome of their story, but it appears the community isprogressing towards a more boater-friendly atmosphere.EditorE-mail your letters to the Editor:editor@southwindsmagazine.com12 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

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STRICTLY SAIL ST. PETERSBURGST. PETERSBURGALL SAILBOAT BOAT SHOWNOV. 2-5Thurs.-Sat. – 10am-6 pmSun. – 10 am-5 pmSpa Beach Park in the Vinoy Basin at the St. Pete PierDowntown St. Petersburg, FL on the waterTICKETS: (ages 15 & under are free)1-day adult – Thurs/Fri – $10; Sat/Sun – $122-day adult – $20DIRECTIONS:Spa Beach at the base of The St Pete Pier. The Pier is locatedat the end of Second Avenue N.E. From I-275, take Exit23-A (Old 10) going east to Beach Drive. Turn south to SecondAvenue N.E. for one block, at Bayshore Drive, directly infront of The Pier, turn right and follow south to discountedparking area, just opposite the Bayfront Center or follow the“BOAT SHOW PARKING” signs, take the FREE show shuttleto The Pier. Limited, paid parking is also available at thebase of The Pier in two separate public parking lots.BOATS AND GEAR. Hundreds of exhibitors of gear andboats. Dozens of in-water and on-land boats to tour.NEW BOATS THIS YEAR: TRAWLERS. New this yearwill be an in-water trawler section with a variety of trawlersavailable for viewing.STRICTLY SAIL ST. PETERSBURG SEMINAR SCHEDULESeminars on a variety of sailing topics are held continuouslyduring the show. For more information and updated schedulesand titles of these seminars go to www.strictlysail.com.OTHER EVENTSDiscover Sailing. Free Sailboat Rides. Discover Sailing, anational introduction-to-sailing program will be going oneach day at the show to help non-sailors take their first sail.Show-goers can go on free, 30-minute sailing trips and collectfree, learn-to-sail materials and names of sailing schoolswhere they can further their education.Author’s Corner Tent. Come meet some of your favorite sailingauthors. Pick up all of the most current sailing books!Kids Aboard. Free boatbuilding workshop for children ages4 and older, teaches them to design and build their vessels.Parents can relax and visit the show while their kids are safeand having a good time, enjoying a fun, educational activityat the Kids Aboard Academic Boat Building Workshop.Visit www.kidsaboard.com for more informationJack Klang’s Chart Tent. Stop by the 9-by-12 foot navigationchart and learn new techniques about sailing, boat handling,safety, and cruising under sail. This chart blanket is litteredwith small boats, buoys, lighthouses and interestingnautical markings to help demonstrate real boating situations.$1000 Shopping Spree. Enter to win as you enter the show.West Marine will give away a $1,000 shopping spree to onelucky show-goer. Sign up at the main entrance for yourchance at the prize.Latitudes & Attitudes Cruiser’s Bash. Sat. night 7 p.m.Everyone at the show Sat. evening is invited.MORE FREE SAILING OPPORTUNITIES:Watersports West will be offering the following free sailingopportunities at Spa Beach at the show. Lessons arefree with paid admission to the show and available weatherpermitting.Learn to Kiteboard in a Day. Nov. 4-5. Free introduction tokiteboarding classes during the show: How to launch, landand maneuver a kiteboard. Using trainer kites, participantswill learn to fly kites.Learn to Windsurf. Nov. 4-5. Windsurfing instructor andwindsurfing simulator. Sign up for your lesson at Spa Beachduring show hours.Learn to Sail the New O’pen Bic Sailboat for Youth.Instructions and sailing.16 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Southeastern U.S. Air & Water Temperaturesand Gulf Stream Currents – OctoberWeather Web Sites:Carolinas & Georgia www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Southeast.shtmlFlorida East Coast www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtmlFlorida West Coast & Keyshttp://comps.marine.usf.eduNorthern Gulf Coastwww.csc.noaa.gov/coos/CAROLINAS AND GEORGIACape Hatteras, NC 60º lo – 73º hiSavannah, GA 56º lo – 78º hiWater TemperatureCape Hatteras, NC – 70ºSavannah Beach, GA – 73ºNORTHERN GULF COASTPensacola, FL 60º lo – 79º hiGulfport, MS 60º lo – 79º hiWater Temperature – 74ºEAST FLORIDADaytona Beach - 65º lo – 83º hiJacksonville Beach - 65º lo – 79º hiWater TemperatureDaytona Beach – 78ºJacksonville Beach – 75ºGulfstream Current – 3.0 knotsWEST FLORIDASt. Petersburg 70º lo – 83º hiNaples 68º lo – 87º hiWater TemperatureSt. Petersburg – 78ºNaples – 81ºSOUTHEAST FLORIDAMiami Beach – 75º lo – 83º hiStuart – 70º lo – 85º hiWater TemperatureMiami Beach – 81ºStuart – 78ºGulfstream Current – 2.2 knotsFLORIDA KEYSKey West 76º lo – 85º hiWater TemperatureKey West – 82ºWIND ROSES: Each wind rose shows the strength and directionof the prevailing winds in the area and month. Thesehave been recorded over a long period of time. In general,the lengths of the arrows indicate how often the winds camefrom that direction. The longer the arrow, the more often thewinds came from that direction. When the arrow is too longto be printed in a practical manner, a number is indicated.The number in the center of the circle shows the percentageof the time that the winds were calm. The lengths of thearrows plus the calms number in the center add up to 100percent. The number of feathers on the arrow indicates thestrength of the wind on the Beaufort scale (one feather isForce 1, etc.). Wind Roses are taken from Pilot Charts.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 17

Events & News of Interest to Southern SailorsTo have your news or event in this section, contacteditor@southwindsmagazine.com. Send us informationby the 5th of the month, possibly later.Contact us if later.Racing Events: For racing schedules, news andevents see the racing section.UPCOMING SOUTHERNEVENTSEDUCATIONAL/TRAINING/SUMMER CAMPSOngoing – Boating Skills & Seamanship Programs. St.Petersburg, FL, Tuesday nights, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.Satisfies the Florida boater safety education requirements.Eleven lessons, every Tuesday. Lessons include: which boatfor you, equipment, trailering, lines and knots, boat handling,signs, weather, rules, introduction to navigation, inland boatingand radio. (727) 823-3753Boating Safety Courses, St. Petersburg, FL: St. PetersburgSail and Power Squadron. Six-week Public Boating Coursebegins every Monday. Includes safety information plusbasic piloting; charts, course plotting, latitude/longitudeand dead reckoning. Satisfies Florida’s under age 21 boaterrequirements. (727) 867-3088. Other courses continuoslyoffered. (727) 565-4453. www.boating-stpete.org.Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary (Flotilla 11-1) PublicBoating Programs: Americas Boating Course (2 lessons):Oct. 14-15, evenings. Clearwater Sailing Center, 1001 GulfBlvd., Sand Key (Clearwater). Open to adults and youths.Basic Coastal Navigation Program (includes chartingtools) – seven lessons, begins Sept. 28. EveningsFor more information on upcoming educationprograms or to request a free vessel safetycheck call (727) 469-8895 or visithttp://a0701101.uscgaux.info/.Ruskin, FL, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla75 Offers Home Study Safe BoatingCourse. The Ruskin flotilla each monthoffers a Boating Safety course in Ruskin, buthas found that many boaters do not have thetime to attend the courses, so they are now alsooffering a home study course at $30. Additionalfamily members will be charged $10 each for testingand certificates. Tests will be held bi-monthly. Entry into thecourse will also allow participants to attend the classes. Toapply, call (813) 677-2354.North Carolina Maritime Museum, Beaufort, NC,www.ncmm-friends.org, maritime@ncmail.net, (252) 728-7317. On-going adults sailing programs. Family Sailing. 2-6people; 2-6 hours. Traditional skiffs or 30’ keelboat. $50-$240. Reservations/information: call The Friends’ office(252) 728-1638Legal Seminar for Marine Industry Professionals,Insurance Agents and Attorneys. Oct. 25. Exclusions,Defenses and False Pretenses. Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Resortand Marina, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Fort Lauderdale MarinersClub. Susan Rose. (654) 791-9601Two-Day Basic Meteorology Course for the RecreationalBoater SSCA. Nov. 18-19. A two-day Marine Weather18 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

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Forecasting Workshop sponsored by the Seven SeasCruising Association together with the support of WestMarine. The goal of the Workshop is to enable self-reliantmariners to determine the safest routes for offshore voyages.The curriculum includes: cause and effect of marineweather; surface weather patterns; ocean wave formationpropagation and decay; OPC wind and weathercharts; tropical cyclone basics and avoidance; OPCsurface charts and 500-mb charts.The course instructor will be Lee Chesneau,of “Lee Chesneau’s Marine Weather,” who is aUSCG-certified STCW basic and advanced meteorologyinstructor. Lee is also a former senior meteorologistfor NOAA’s Ocean Prediction Center. He hastaught many marine weather seminars for Safety-at-Seaand for SSCA. He is currently teaching professionalmariners around the country, including MITAGS inAnnapolis, MD, and the STAR Center in Dania, FL.Nov. 18-19. Saturday and Sunday. 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.RTM STAR Center, 2 West Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, FL33004. $250 per person for SSCA members, $300 for nonmembers(it’s cheaper to join!). The fee includes a workbook,lunch and snacks both days. For individualizedattention, class size is limited, so register today!Go to www.ssca.org/eventind.htm to register on-lineor e-mail office@ssca.org or call (954) 771-5660.Fourth Annual Florida West Coast SSCA Rendezvous,Punta Gorda, Oct. 21. The Seven Seas Cruising Associationwill hold its fourth annual West Coast Rendezvous inPunta Gorda, FL, on Saturday October 21 at the CharlotteHarbor Yacht Club. Both power and sail cruisers are welcometo come by land or sea (no airplane landing facilitiesat the yacht club). There will be seminars on cruising theCaribbean, on-board emergency health care, Bahamascruising information for the first-time cruiser, and gatheringschool supplies and books for children. There willalso be an open forum hosted by a panel of cruisers.A nautical flea market and vendor displays will beheld during a two-hour lunch break. Pre-registrationis required by Oct. 10. For information and to registeronline, go to http://ssca.org/eventind.htm.You can also e-mail Bruce and Marilyn Conklin atGoldconk@yahoo.com.The annual SSCA Rendezvous will be held onNov. 10-12 in Melbourne, FL. More information onthat meeting can be found at www.ssca.org.(SOUTHWINDS will have information in the October issue.)Oct. 21-22. Placida Rotary Club Annual Nautical FleaMarket. Placida in SW Charlotte County. On the water onGasparilla Sound at the Fishery Restaurant on CR 771. Fleamarket brings 85 vendors and boats on display. Hot food, cooldrinks, German beer. Live reggae music. 9-6 Sat. , 9-5 Sun. $3,children under 12 free. (941) 475-7937 for vendor space andinfo. www.placidarotary.com/FleaMarket/2006/.9th Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market, Oct. 28, Cortez, FLThe 9th Annual Cortez Nautical Flea Market will be held atthe Seafood Shack Marina, 4110 127th Street West, Cortez,Oct. 20-29. Key West Fantasy Fest. Over a week of fun withcostumes, parades and parties. In its 28th year, FantasyFest is a major event that draws thousands of visitors. Viewlast year’s glittering celebrations at www.fantasyfest.net,or kwfanfest@aol.com. (305) 296-1817.20 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

FL 34215 on Saturday, October 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Freeto the public with lots of free parking. There is a $10.00 perspace (equal to a car parking space) charge for sellers only.Bring your own table.Lots of used boat stuff, some new boat stuff too, buy ortrade. You might even see some boat stuff you wouldn’t letyour dog chew on. Guaranteed you will meet a lot of boaters(or interesting people) and have a good time. So dig out anddust off all that old boat stuff, and bring it on down (or youcould just keep it until you can’t remember what it was evergoing to be used for). Take the whole family (or leave the kidshome to play some more video games) and join us.Come out and find a great deal or just look around andhave a good time. For more information, call (941) 792-9100.Seven Seas Cruising AssociationAnnual Meetingin Melbourne, FL. Nov 10 - 12.By Roy LaughlinThe Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) will again hostits annual convention and general meeting (formerly calleda “gam”), in the Eau Gallie section of Melbourne, FL,November 10-12. The association has held its meeting inEau Gallie for several years and has a winning formula forThe flea market at the annual SSCA convention.Photo by Gary Jensen.it. This includes an extensive seminar schedule on Fridaymorning, a mariner’s flea market on Saturday morning andan annual meeting on Sunday morning. There will also be avendor’s show and sale in the main hall of the conventioncenter where businesses offer everything from books toelectronics. A social/cocktail party is held at the meetingsite on Friday, and a barbecue on Saturday evening will bea few miles away at Wickham Park. Best of all, the meetingsite, the Eau Gallie Civic Center, is just across the road fromthe Indian River.A flotilla of cruisers moors off the meeting site for thislong weekend just for cruisers. It’s such a great vista to seeso many cruisers in one spot. Nancy Birmbaum of SSCA’shome office also notes, “I’m still putting together a fabulouslist of raffle items. This year will include some ‘Big Ticket’items like a Sailrite Sewing Machine and a $500 certificatetowards a course from Blue Water Sailing School.”Last year, SSCA initiated a series of seminars on weatherforecasting for mariners just after its annual meeting.This year, the weather course will be held in FortLauderdale the weekend after the annual meeting. Thiscourse is not part of the annual meeting and requires separateregistration (see more information in this sectionabove). Cruisers will find it a short cruise from Melbourneto Fort Lauderdale for the weather seminar.The SSCA web site includes a registration form for theNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 21

annual meeting, a list of seminartopics and list of hotelsand accommodations. Theregistration form can befound on the SSCA Web site at www.ssca.org on the homepage under “SCCA Events & Calendar.” You can download aPDF file to register. Please note that there are cut-off dates listedon the registration form for signing up for some functionsThe seminar list is extensive. About the only topic they do notcover is cruising with furry pets.Here’s some good news for cruisers already planning toattend: The Pineapple Pier, which Hurricane Wilma notablytrashed last year just a couple of weeks before the 2005 annualconvention, is being replaced. If the weather gods cooperatethis fall before the 2006 meeting, it is possible a new pierwill be available to cruisers anchored in the Indian River.Nov. 30-Dec. 3. Pirates in Paradise. Key West. Various locationsthroughout Key West, (305) 296-9694. More than 100improvisational actors and combative stuntmen in pirategarb conduct the annual “invasion” of the southernmostcity by a flotilla of pirate ships. Entertainment includesswashbuckling and sea chanteys, pirate costume competition,parties, exhibitions, daily sailing trips, nautical excursionsand seafaring adventures, films, a tall ships sea battle,arts and crafts, music, re-enactments and more. Admission:Most are free, various charges for excursions, theatrical andparty events. www.piratesinparadise.com.BOAT SHOWSTampa Boat Show. Oct 12-15. Tampa Convention Center,Tampa, FL. NMMA. (954) 441-3228. www.tampaboatshow.com.Oct 26-30. Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. BahiaMar Yachting Center. Ft. Lauderdale. Largest boat show inthe world, covering six sites. Over 1,600 vessels with 160Super yachts, marine supplies, accessories, electronics.Cost: Adults $16, children 6-12 $5, under 6 free. Fri-Sun. 10a.m. -7 p.m., Mon. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The show is open at $30for a show preview to all on Thursday, Oct. 26. (954) 764-7642. www.showmanagement.com.Nov. 1-3. IBEX (InternationalBoatbuilders Exhibitionand Conference), MiamiBeach Convention Center.National Marine Manufacturers Association. (312) 946-6262.www.ibexshow.com.Nov. 2-5. Strictly Sail St. Petersburg Boat Show and TrawlerShow. The largest all sailboat show on the Gulf Coast withmany boats presented on land (smaller boats) and in the water.Trawlers will be at the show for the first time this year.Hundreds of exhibitors. The best and most beautiful venue ofall the sailboat shows, being on Tampa Bay. Free sailboat rides.On the Vinoy basin on the causeway to the St. Petersburg Pier.www.strictlysail.com. Thurs.-Sat., 10-6, Sun. 10-5. $10, Thur.-Fri. $12, Sat.-Sun. 15 and under free with paid adult. Additionalevents this year. See more on page 16.Nov. 9-12. Fort Myers Boat Show. Harborside ConventionComplex and City Yacht Basin, Fort Myers, FL. Offering displayspace for every type of boat and marine product, theshow continues to grow in exhibit space, attendance andsales effectiveness. New and brokerage boats are displayedin-water at the Fort Myers City Yacht Basin. Both boats andaccessory exhibits fill the Harborside Event Center and hundredsof smaller boats are backed into the surroundingstreets and parking lots. The show sells out every year.Brokerage boats up to 30 feet will be at the City Yacht Basin.10 am to 6 pm. Thursday thru Sat. Sun. 10-5pm. $9. Kidsunder 12 free. (954) 570-7785. www.swfmia.com.SEAFOOD FESTIVALSSept. 30- Oct 6-8. 20th Annual North Carolina SeafoodFestival and Boat Show. Morehead City, NC.www.ncseafoodfestival.org.Oct. 6-8. 28th Annual Destin Seafood Festival. Morgan SportsCenter. $5 for the weekend. Children under 12 free. Destin, FL.http://www.destinseafoodfestival.org/admission.html.Oct. 7-8. Beaufort Shrimp Festival. Shrimp cooked everyway. Local restaurants offer their specialties. Beaufort, SC.www.sneadsferry.org/festival/scf_beaufort_shrimpfest.htmOct. 12-15. 35th Annual National Shrimp Festival.West Marine Free Seminars for October - Tampa BayThe following are of interest to sailors. West Marine hasmany other seminars on fishing. Contact stores for moreinformation.South St. Petersburg Store5001 34th St. South, St. Petersburg, FL(727) 867-5700, start time 6 p.m.10/12 GPS 101 with Les Elkins10/26 “Cruising Florida’s West Coast With LocalKnowledge” with Capt. Jimmy Myers22 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Gulfshores, Alabama, public beach. www.nationalshrimpfestival.com/Oct. 20-21 Key West Goombay Festival. Bahamianculture is celebrated in the historic Bahama Villagewith a street fair and nonstop entertainment. contact:305-747-4544 http://www.visitkeywestonline.com/Nov. 3-4. Florida Seafood Festival. Apalachicola, FL.The state’s oldest maritime exhibit. The three-dayevent annually draws thousands of visitors to this scenichistoric town at the mouth of the Apalachicola River.The festival features delicious seafood, arts and craftsexhibits, seafood related events and displays under the shadyoaks of Apalachicola’s Battery Park. Some of the notableevents include oyster eating, oyster shucking, a parade, a 5kRedfish Run and a Blessing of the Fleet. (888) 653-8011.www.floridaseafoodfestival.comOct. 21-22. 37th Annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival.Parade, arts and crafts, lots of seafood. 9-5 pm. This majorevent features well over 200 arts and crafts exhibits, andgreat food in City Park. There will be live musical entertainmentat several places around town during the days andnights, and a parade on Saturday morning. In addition onthis weekend, there is an open house at the lighthouse onSeahorse Key, the big island 3 miles to the west of CedarKey. Explore the light, look at the exhibits and wander thisbeautiful island. Shuttle boats are available at City Marina.Be sure to remember your camera and binoculars!www.cedarkey.org/specialevents.htmOct. 28-29. 25th Annual John’s Pass Seafood Festival.Children’s area, live entertainment and fishing expo. The artsand craft show is designed with a nautical theme. A bountyof fresh seafood featuring our favorite Madeira Beachgrouper. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sat. and Sun. Johns Pass Village,Madeira Beach. www.johnspass.com/specialevents.cfm.NEWSBoy Scouts Looking forCharter Boats and CaptainsFlorida Sea Base, a high adventure camp serving the BoyScouts of America, is looking for sailboats to run our nextsummer season beginning the end of May 2007 through theend of August 2007. The ideal boats will either be a Morgan41 Out Island or the CSY 44 or something similar (5.5-footdraft or less). Weekly trips include training, fuel (diesel andpropane), dockage at Sea Base (located in Islamorada) andKey West. All provisions are included, food, ice and necessarydry goods.With the Code of Federal Regulations for the Boy Scoutsof America, we are permitted to carry eight passengers witha six-pack license. All vessels must pass the Coast Guard’suninspected/ inspected vessel check, be documented for“coast-wise trade” and carry $1,000,000 in liability insurancewith Boy Scouts of America listed on the policy.You will be guaranteed 9 to 11 trips for the season(excluding acts of nature) at $2200 per trip. Chartersusually consist of six youths (Boy Scouts) ranging inage from 14-20 and two adult leaders. You are incharge of your vessel but must run our charterprogram and schedule as described. Boats run ingroups of four from Islamorada to Key West andback (80 miles each way). The captain will takethe scouts fishing, sailing and snorkeling with fournights at anchor and one day and night in Key West. Allgear/tackle and bait are provided at no additional charge.This is a fast-paced program so all boats and captainsmust be up for the demands. Being mechanically inclined isa major plus. If you have a boat and would like a contractcaptain to run her, we have several very qualified captainsto put you in contact with.Contact Capt. Rich Beliveau at (305) 394-0365.BoatU.S. Sets One-Million MemberGoal On 40th AnniversaryHalfway though its 40th anniversary as the nation’s largestorganization of recreational boat owners, Boat OwnersAssociation of the United States (BoatU.S.), announcedrecently that it has set a goal of reaching one-million membersby the end of its 45th anniversary. BoatU.S. membershipnow stands at 670,000.“Association growth over the past year has been nothingshort of extraordinary,” says BoatU.S. Founder RichardSchwartz. BoatU.S. membership has grown by 10 percentover the past year, the fastest rate of annual growth since theassociation was launched in 1966. Schwartz attributedmuch of the growth to a strategic partnership BoatU.S.formed in 2003 with West Marine when the association soldits retail and catalog division to the Watsonville, CA-basedmarine equipment retailer. Under the terms of the agreement,West Marine customers can join BoatU.S. in any ofWest Marine’s stores. “Our successful strategic partnershipwith West Marine has doubled our annual membershipgrowth rate, ultimately giving BoatU.S. a bigger voice andgreater clout when dealing with government,” he added.As the nation’s leading advocate and service providerfor recreational boaters. BoatU.S. remains an employeeownedorganization headquartered in Alexandria, VA. Itprovides boating-related services such as insurance and onthe-watertowing and remains the leader in public policyrepresentation, consumer protection, boating safety andenvironmental advocacy.“One of the keys to our long-term success has been thatwe have single-mindedly kept the interests of our membersand the nation’s recreational boat owners at the forefront,representing their interests before the federal government,fighting for their consumer rights, providing much-neededNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 23

services and taking center stage on national boating safetyissues,” said Schwartz.“As we move toward 50 years of service and our goldenanniversary 10 years from now, there is no shortage ofissues that BoatU.S. will have to tackle including increasinglimits on waterway access, post 9/11 security concerns,licensing of boaters and environmental threats to our waterways,”noted Schwartz.Go to www.BoatUS.com or call (800) 395-2628 for moreinformation and to join.Airlines CO2 Cylinder Policies VaryAlthough the Transportation Security Administration hasrevised its rules for carrying CO2 cartridges onboard airlines,it has left it up to the individual carriers to make thefinal decisions. US Sailing has checked with 10 of the majorairlines to see current policies and the airlines that allow thecartridges, commonly used in life jackets, are American,Southwest, United, Delta, Continental, and American Eagle.Northwest had banned them, and US Airways/ AmericaWest has not set clear policies.The TSA rules state that (final decision up to carrier)one life jacket that has two cylinders installed and twospares is allowable.It is still advised that all passengers check with the airlinesto confirm as policies and rules change.Customs Inspections on BoatsReturning from the BahamasAfter numerous complaints from boaters, the U.S. Customsand Border Patrol has expanded its hours and offices tohandle the greater time taken for reentering the UnitedStates because of security measures. For a complete list ofthe hours and locations that boaters can report to, go to theBoatU.S. Web site, www.boatus.com/gov.2005 Crew Overboard SymposiumReport OnlineLast year, on Aug. 9-12, 2005, a crew overboard symposiumwas held on San Francisco Bay. There were 400 tests conductedby 115 volunteers, using 40 different types of rescuegear, of different rescue techniques. Tests were practiced onboth sail and powerboats in both calm seas and in 35-knotconditions. Techniques were used in how best to contactand reach victims, how to bring them aboard and on bothconscious and unconscious victims. The rescue symposiumwas sponsored by West Marine, BoatU.S., and the ModernSailing Academy of Sausalito, CA with funds from variousother sources. The final report on the findings is now availableonline at www.boatus.com/foundation.BUSINESS BRIEFSWatersports West in Largo, FL,Becomes Dealer for the O’pen BicSailboatWatersports West in Largo, FL, recently became the exclusiveTampa Bay area dealer for the new O’pen Bic sailboat.The fast, planing hull of the O’pen Bic gives a dynamic sailingexperience of a true dinghy that heels. Being at the helmof this powerful machine gives you the same excitement24 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

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normally experienced on a boat for adults.With its 60-foot open design, including a totally openself-draining stern, even capsizing is fun! Young sailors arefully independent on the water and will be proud to sailsuch a modern-looking and elegant boat, one that both sailsand looks like the boat of today’s champions. WatersportsWest is putting the boats on the water. For a free demoschedule call Steve Levine at (727) 517-7000. The boat willalso be at the Watersports West booth at the St. PetersburgStrictly Sail boat show Nov. 2-5 where demo rides will beavailable right at the beaches at the show.Watersports West is a dealer for Windsurfing, surfing,and kite sailing and other water sports.Go on-line to www.Watersportswest.com to receivemore information.Sailors Wharf Opens BoatStorage Yard in St. Petersburg, FLThe new boat storage yard for boats 30 feet to 65 feet is nowopen at Sailors Wharf Boatyard in St. Petersburg, FL. Thestorage yard has been set up to accommodate customerswho want to store their yacht during hurricane season andalso the seasonal boater who cannot justify the ever increasingcost of annual slip rental. They will haul your boat, storeit in the new storage facility and launch the boat upon 48hours notice (except weekends). The minimum storage rentis three months at $7.50 per foot per month plus tax.For more information, call (727) 823-1155. www.sailorswharf.com.New Line-Holding ToolHelps Secure to PilingsOne of the most difficultaspects of dockingis getting a mooringline in place. Justwhen it seems as ifthe line is finallygoing to make itaround the piling, itfalls off the boat hookand drops to thewater. This all toofamiliar and frustratingscenario forboaters has madesecuring boats moreof a hassle and dangerousthan it needs to be. The easy-to-use Dock A Reniline-holding tool eliminates these troubles, making thedocking process smoother and safer.The innovative Dock A Reni securely holds a quickrelease loop on any boat pole. Boaters simply attach the tinydevice to their boat pole with the integrated elastic Velcro.To use, the line is placed over the end of the boat hookand slid back under the Dock A Reni, holding the loop open.By pulling back on the pole, the line is released, leaving theboat secured.The docking aid is made from durable UV-resistantplastic. With its small, sleek design, the Dock A Reni caneasily be left stored on the boat pole.Contact Shurhold at (800) 962-6241.info@shurhold.com. www.shurhold.com.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 27

OUR WATERWAYSSOUTHWINDS “Our Waterways” SectionSOUTHWINDS has created this section to inform our readersabout changes in our waterways. We believe thatSoutherners are in the midst of a great change occurringon our waterways—through the conversion of manyboating properties to condominiums, restrictions onanchorages once thought to be more open and now beingmore restricted and regulated, and other economic forcesat work. This section will also concern itself with the environmentalhealth of the waters we boat and swim in.Our coastal waters and our waterways belong to allof us, and all of us have a right to use them. These watersare not just for those who can afford to live on the water,and it is up to us boaters and lovers of these waters to protectthat right. We hope that by helping to inform you ofthese changes, we will contribute to doing just that.We are looking for news and information on changes,land sales, anchorages, boaters’ rights, new marinas,anchoring rights, disappearing marinas, boatyards andboat ramps, environmental concerns and other relatednews. Independent writers wanted on these subjects.Contact Steve Morrell, editor@southwindsmagazine.com,or call (877) 372-7245.We regularly receive many letters to the editor onthese issues. See the “Letters” section for more opinionsand information. Some letters will be published in thissection if appropriate.In the coming months, we will be developing ourWaterways pages on our Web site, www.southwindsmagazine.com.Visit those pages for links, information,articles and more.Cortez, FloridaViews Evolve About Mooring Fieldsand Anchorages in Gulfport, FLFrustrated by derelict boats anchored off the shores of thetraditionally boater-friendly city of Gulfport in the TampaBay area, town residents and officials began to turn theirbacks in the last few years on all boaters who wanted toanchor off their shores and visit this picturesque community.Gulfport is almost like an oasis of small town life surroundedby the sprawling urban areas of Pinellas County,the largest one being St. Petersburg.At one point, before anti-boater anger became moreintense, Gulfport was planning to establish a mooring fieldthat boaters could use, both for storage and transients; thenangry citizens and officials passed laws targeted at thederelict boaters and their tenants. Many of the derelictboats became navigation hazards, some of them half-sunkand difficult to see in the dark. Few were well kept up, andthese became an eyesore. The city passed laws making itdifficult to bring dinghies ashore and or to dock your boatat the pier. This was all done in hopes that these derelictboats would go away. But they didn’t.Although these laws and anger were targeted at thesederelicts, other, responsible boaters got hit. Boaters in theregion began to think of Gulfport as not wanting boaters asrumors spread of unfriendly boater policies enacted by thecommunity. Boaters stayed away as the word got out.But times have changed and opinions have evolved aspersistent local citizens, mainly boaters and town merchants,became involved and urged the town to use enforce-28 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

ment to rid the town’s waters of these unwanted boats andcreate a boater-friendly atmosphere that would urge visitingboaters to come to the city and spend money ashore.People on both sides of the issue began to talk to each other,listening to other views.Now plans for a mooring field, rejected in the previousangry debate about derelict boats, have come back and seriousconsideration is being given to them. In a recent publicmeeting where ideas and opinions were exchanged, citizensexpressed support for the field, support for some liveaboardsand support for moorings for both storage andtransient use of the field. The group discussed establishinga harbor management plan, which would include overseeingpossible taxi service in the field, shore facilities, pumpoutservices and a dinghy dock.Gulfport has a unique and beautiful location off theICW in Pinellas County. It carries a small-town waterfrontatmosphere, reminding many of “Old Florida.”Condominiums do not dominate the shoreline. If thisboater-friendly trend continues, it could now become one ofthe premier places to visit by boaters in the region.National Forum Slated In May 2007To Address Water-Access Issues:Market Forces Squeezing OutTraditional UsesFrom BoatU.S./Sent on Behalf of Virginia Sea GrantLocal government officials, coastal management planners,legal scholars and boating industry representatives willgather in Norfolk,VA, next May to explore solutions to theloss of water access that is hindering recreational boaters,commercial fishermen and water-dependent businessesaround the nation’s coasts.Working Waterways & Waterfronts - A NationalSymposium on Water Access, is set for May 9 - 11, 2007 atthe Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel under the auspices ofthe Virginia Sea Grant Program. The conference will bringtogether experts in many fields to delve into issues that surroundthe rapid conversion of working waterfronts—marinas,boat repair yards, fish piers and charter fishing docks—to other uses such as private residential developments andWhere Can You Dump Type IMarine Sanitation Devices(Like Lectra-San)?Only six states (Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire,New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin) have all,or nearly all, of their waters designated as No-Discharge Zones (NDZs). This means that not eventreated sewage (as from a Lectra/San, a Type I MSD)can be dumped into those waters, but NDZs exist inonly certain portions of other states.Outside of NDZs, Type I MSDs can dump theirtreated waste into the waters legally and safely.NDZs in the Southern states are:Alabama: None.Florida: State waters within the Florida Keys NationalMarine Sanctuary, Destin Harbor, City of KeyWest waters.Georgia: Hartwell Lake.Louisiana: NoneMississippi: None.North Carolina: Broad Creek, Lake Keowee, LakeMurray, Lake Thurmond, and Lake Wylie.South Carolina: Hartwell Lake.Texas: 24 Freshwater bodies (no saltwater areas).(Other restrictions exist for certain freshwater bodies withlow water access. See the laws on the below Web site toreview those.)For a complete list of NDZs and information aboutthem and marine sanitation devices, go to www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/vsdnozone.html.non-water-dependent businesses.Rising real estate taxes tied to “highest and best use”assessments and escalating property values fueled by thepublic’s desire to live by the water are driving the conversion.Water-dependent businesses, such as haul-out serviceyards, seafood handling facilities and boat builders, are losingaccess to the water as well. These losses compound theNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 29

OUR WATERWAYSchallenges that decision-makers at all levels of governmentface in trying to balance population growth, public servicesand economic development with the demand for publicaccess to, and on, the water.“This conference is designed as a forum to educatedecision-makers, management agency staff and waterdependentbusiness owners to deal with these trends and tofoster constructive dialogue about the nation’s changingwaterfronts,” said Virginia Sea Grant economist, Thomas J.Murray, conference organizer and co-chairman.The conference is sponsored by the Sport Fishing &Boating Partnership Council, a federally chartered advisorybody, the Coastal States Organization, the Boat OwnersAssociation of The United States (BOATU.S.), the NationalMarine Manufacturers Association, the StatesOrganization for Boating Access, and other Sea Grantorganizations.Working Waterways & Waterfronts will examine local,state and national-level initiatives to address water-accesschallenges and support water-dependent industries.Academic research findings and viewpoints from industryspecialists will also be featured with the aim of developingnew approaches to providing and managing access to thewater.Find updated conference information at www.wateraccess2007.com.Pineapple Pier in Melbourne, FL,RebuildingThe hurricane-damaged Pineapple Pier in Melbourne isbeing demolished during August 2006. This is the first steptoward rebuilding this landmark. Rebuilding is slated tobegin in October. SOUTHWINDS published a story describinghow important this pier was for transient cruisers on theICW because it offers them convenient access to downtownEau Gallie. It was, for example, the landing for the annualGam held by Seven Seas Association in Eau Gallie each fall.Absence of hurricanes along the Space Coast this fall willmake the desired schedule a lot more likely.Abandoned Boat Removal to Beginin Brevard County, FLBrevard County, backed by the provisions of House Bill7175, reported in August’s issue, is beginning a biddingprocess that eventually will result in removal of abandonedboats from the Indian River Lagoon system. The BrevardNatural Resources Management Department will borrowmoney from the solid waste disposal impact fees for theremoval process to begin. The department is applying toFEMA and to the state for money to repay the loan. Therequest for bids is being written in August. It may take severalmonths before contractors are on the water removingboats, but the path to that goal is clearly marked at thispoint. Boat removal is just a matter of time.Palm Beach County WaterfrontBusiness Woes Exemplify the Heartof a Statewide ProblemWhile Palm Beach County government recently supporteda tax deferral plan for waterfront businesses that stay opento the public, these same businesses are joining together tofight recent tax increases.Waterfront businesses in the county formed the Savethe Working Waterfront in Palm Beach County Committeeto challenge the way waterfront taxes are assessed. Recenttax increases have increased so drastically that many are seeingpossible closures and sales of their properties. The groupreported that taxes for commercial slips open to the public inthe county were $1.38- million in 2004. Those taxes jumped$914,000 the following year and this year, they increased to$4.37-million. One business, Murrelle’s Marine in Lantana,reported a tax increase of $120,000, going from $60,000 lastyear to $180,000 this year. Other businesses reported similarincreases, prompting many to talk of closing, selling to developersand/or cutting back on employees.The main challenge is to what many consider the verycore of the problem of the disappearing waterfront businessesin the South, especially in Florida: How taxes areappraised. The business group wants their taxes appraisedbased on the value of their businesses and not by what theyare worth if potentially developed. The county tax appraisercounters this position by saying that state law demandsthat taxes be appraised on property values.The group’s immediate goal is to challenge their cur-30 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 31

OUR WATERWAYSrent tax appraisals.In August, the county commissioners expressed supportto look into allowing tax deferrals for waterfront businessesas long as they maintain the property in the same useand stay open to the public. This would only affect countytaxes, which is only about 20 percent of a property’s tax bill,the biggest chunk being state taxes, although city, schooland other miscellaneous taxes make up part of the remaining80 percent.2006 Atlantic Intracoastal WaterwaysAssociation (AIWA) Annual ConferenceThe annual waterway meeting for AIWA members and guestswill take place on November 15-16 in Wilmington, NC.Rooms have been blocked in the association’s name at theBlockade Runner Resort in Wilmington. Go to www.blockade-runner.comfor more information and reservations.For more information on the AIWA and the conference,go to www.atlintracoastal.org.ICW Funding Still Inadequate asCongress Continues to UnderfundMaintenanceAlthough states, local communities, the marine industry,businesses and public organizations continue to urge congressto provide more funding to maintain the IntracoastalWaterway, funding still is coming up short.While the industry estimates that $40-million is neededto bring the ICW up to its mandated standards, the currentadministration is calling for only $8.8-million. The waterwaywas originally authorized by Congress to have a maintaineddepth of 10-12 feet, but shoaling has reduced depthsin some areas to eight feet.One of the major complaints from states is that the federalgovernment continues to gauge the economic use of thewaterway based on commercial tonnage, ignoring today’seconomic impact from recreational use.The state where the ICW is suffering the worst isGeorgia, which has received no funding in several years.The Army Corps of Engineers has listed 27 problem areas,some of which have depths as low as 2.5 feet at low water,yet zero funds are earmarked for the ICW in that state.Florida spends its own funds to help maintain the waterway.The state estimates that $10-million is needed and willmake up the difference over the $2.3-million that they arehoping to get. Florida estimates that the ICW generates about$18-million a year and 203,000 annual jobs for the state.Congress is expected to pass funding for the comingyear in October.Links for Our Waterways IssuesAtlantic Intracoastal Waterway issues. www.atlintracoastal.org.BoatUS Foundation. Great source of information and links onmiscellaneous issues. www.boatus.org.Florida Inland Navigation District, a taxing district for managementand maintenance of the AICW in Florida.www.aicw.org.Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. www.gicaonline.com.Marine Industries Association of Florida with links to localassociations. www.boatflorida.org.Marine Industries Association of South Florida.www.miasf.org.National Waterways Conference promotes, educates and lobbieson behalf of all of the nation’s inland waterways.www.waterways.org.Ocean Conservancy dedicated to the protection of the oceans.www.oceanconservancy.org.Reef Relief. A non-profit group which is dedicated to preservingthe reefs, based in Key West. www.reefrelief.org.Gulfbase.org. A research database for Gulf of Mexico Research.www.gulfbase.org.Surfrider Foundation. www.surfrider.org. A grassroots, nonprofit,environmental organization that works to protect ouroceans, waves, and beaches.Clean Water Fund. www.cleanwaterfund.org. Organization thatmonitors and works at keeping our waters clean. Produced a2005 report on sewage overflows in the state of Florida.32 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

HURRICANE SEASON 2006The October Hurricane Season:Last of the Big ThreeSeptember is the height of the hurricane season, but statisticsshow that the big three months for the Atlantic seasonare August, September and October, and hopefully we willget through this month without any major storms. Manystorms that form in the eastern Atlantic in October seem totake a more southerly route and head into the westernCaribbean, where some come ashore in Central Americaand some move north into the Gulf.Many storms are also born in the western Caribbean inOctober and move north and sometimes northeast. Somestorms move into the Pacific from here, and others meanderover land and back north. The most intense storm everrecorded for an Atlantic hurricane was Wilma, which wasborn as a tropical storm off the Yucatan Peninsula onOctober 17, 2005. It moved northeast, impacting SouthFlorida and the Keys before disappearing into the Atlantic.On October 22, 1998, Hurricane Mitch also formed in thewestern Caribbean where it dropped record rainfall inHonduras and Nicaragua. The storm built up to a Category 5and meandered over the Central American mainland beforeit eventually re-formed in the Gulf and then moved on toFlorida on November 5, making landfall in Naples, but it wasonly a tropical storm by that time.It was Hurricane Mitch that caused the loss of theFantome, the four-masted sailing ship of Windjammer cruises.The crew, after dropping off passengers in Belize, tried tosave the ship—and themselves—by sailing south towardsRoatan, off the coast of Honduras. They were aiming for thelee side of Roatan as Mitch struck the region, but the stormseemed to anticipate their every move and constantly movedto where they headed. The story of the Fantome is sadly, butwell-told in Jim Carrier’s book, The Ship and the Storm – theLoss of the Fantome.Another destructive October storm was Hurricane Iristhat formed in the eastern Caribbean and headed westward,coming ashore at Belize on October 9, 2001, as a Category 4. Iriswas responsible for the destruction of the dive ship WaveDancer, which was seeking refuge from the storm in Belize.The boat flipped over with a full crew and passengers aboard.Many of them died, and that tragic story was told in the book,No Safe Harbor (see book reviews in this section).We continue to ask our readers to send us your stories andexperiences. Some might not get published until next season,but they will all eventually go on our Web site hurricane pages.“No Safe Harbor’’ by Joe BurnworthBook on Hurricane Tragedy ExemplifiesIgnorance About HurricanesBy Steve MorrellA book review about a liveaboarddive boat in Southwinds? It is aboutboating, and it is about a sport thatI—a former dive instructor—andmany other sailors love. The booktells the story of a liveaboard diveship that was hit by Hurricane Irisin October 2001 in Belize. Well-writtenand researched by the authorwho witnessed the tragedy, thisbook kept me on the edge of mychair till the end. The subtitle is“The Tragedy of the Dive Ship Wave Dancer” and knowingthat the story would end in tragedy gave the book an ominousfeeling as I progressed through it, and I have chosen tomention it here because of one simple bit of knowledge Ilearned from it: How ignorant people are about hurricanes.I can understand how someone living far away fromareas affected by hurricanes can know little about them—how strong they can be, how unpredictable, how destructive—butI was surprised to learn in this book that a groupof dive club members and a liveaboard dive boat companySend Us Your Hurricane StoriesWe are always looking for stories on your experiences, tolearn those techniques that succeeded and those thatdidn’t, as we can learn from both. Ideas, tips and Website links wanted: editor@southwindsmagazine.com.PARTSREFRIGERATION PARTS SOLUTIONS100% INTERNET We carry a completeline of refrigeration parts for maintenance,repair, and upgrades for all brands including Grunert,Glacier Bay, Marine Air, Sea Frost, Adler/Barbour and more.We are also pleased to offer R28+ vacuuminsulation panels (independent lab tests) all atRprices: guaranteed lowest!www.rparts.comNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 33

HURRICANE SEASON 2006Seven lines are secured to this one cleat.Hurricane TipsStorm Tip: Securing Several Linesto One Cleat and Your BoatIt seems all the cleats are too small when you startpreparing your boat for a storm, often trying to securethree, four or even more lines to one cleat. You can gainextra space by having the first line pass through the eyeof the cleat and around the horns. You can then moreeasily secure two more lines to most cleats on top ofthat. Learn the proper way to secure a line to a cleat, asmany people put too many unnecessary twists andlocks on the lines, making it more difficult to secureseveral lines to it.You can sometimes find room to add an extra lineby just tying an eye in the end of the line just bigenough to go around the two horns. Put this line onafter the one that passes through the eye and aroundthe horns. This might give you extra room to still locktwo more lines on top of the first two. Don’t forget thatthere is a limit to how many lines a cleat can hold, andyou might have to secure extra lines to winches or themast. But many lines also distribute the strengtharound to the boat, dock cleats and pilings, lesseningthe demands on any one point.Got a tip to help others? Send them on toeditor@southwindsmagazine.com.could know so little. A group of divers from Richmond, VA,knowing little about hurricanes is perhaps understandable,but the ignorance of the dive boat company is puzzling.One thing I have learned—after spending 14 years livingin Florida—is that most people don’t pay attention tohurricanes until they have been hit hard. Witness HurricaneAndrew. Many of the survivors said they would never againstick around if a major hurricane threatened. Some werementally scarred for life. Florida’s hurricane preparationswere nothing before Andrew. Now they are the best. But itwas over 10 years later that complacency struck again inPunta Gorda, FL, when Charley hit and few had evacuated—thinkingthe storm was going right by them. The statewas more prepared than the people. Of course, we all knowwhat happened with Katrina. I guarantee that most residentsin New Orleans who had lived through and experiencedCharley or Andrew left New Orleans before Katrinahit. Complacency and the idea that you will never get hit arethe real problems facing evacuation plans.In No Safe Harbor, I was shocked to think that peoplewould venture into the Caribbean during hurricane seasonwithout being aware that a storm could change their plans.And to go to the western Caribbean in October is evenworse. The dive boat company should have known betterand should have had definite plans for even a possible hit.There is enough knowledge today about storms to get out oftheir way in time. Anyone who plans a trip during hurricaneseason should make sure a charter company, dive boatcompany or resort has a plan.The book takes the reader from the early plans by thedive club for the trip through their successful dives inBelize, then on to the crew’s plans to evade the storm andthe final moments of the tragedy. Unfortunately, those whoperished on the Wave Dancer paid the price for the stormplans I am sure the dive boat company now has in place.BoatU.S. Hurricane Guide:“Preparing Boats & Marinas forHurricanes” by the BoatU.S. MarineInsurance Damage Avoidance ProgramThe BoatU.S. Marine Insur-ance Damage Avoidance Programhas regularly put out reports and studies on damage avoidance,many of which are published in their quarterly maga-34 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

zine Seaworthy (available at$10/year from www.boatus.com).The group recentlycame out with itspamphlet on hurricane protectioncreating a concisereport on hurricane preparations.At 12 pages, it islong enough to providevaluable information andshort enough to absorbwithout lengthy reading.The guide is for both sailand powerboats.The hurricane preparationguide first discusseshow to create a plan and what to expect from a storm in surge,wind, waves, rainfall and tornadoes—and when to take action.It then goes on to the various methods to secure your boat indifferent places: ashore, at a dock, at a mooring, at anchor, in ahurricane hole, on a trailer, on davits and lifts, and in storageracks. The guide also has a section discussing chafe, reducingwindage, cleats and chocks, lines, fenders and more.There is also a worksheet that one can copy or tear outto help guide one through the list of things to do in yourboat preparation.Also included is a discussion on preparing marinas andmarina plans before the storm and an article on what to doafter the storm if your boat is damaged.The guide is available at the BoatU.S. Web site for hurricanes,www.boatus.com/hurricanes.Letter From BoatU.S.:Hurricane Tie-DownsFirst, I would like to applaud your ongoing efforts to educateyour readers on the best ways to prepare a boat for ahurricane. It’s a complex topic, and all too often it’s ignoreduntil after hurricane season. I’d like to comment on theSOUTHWINDS article (“Storing Your Boat on Land”) in theAugust 2006 issue. The writer says his boat survivedHurricane Isabel in 2003 at Port Annapolis Marina inAnnapolis, MD, with no tie-downs. He notes that none ofthe boats at Port Annapolis had tie-downs and none fellover. The author concludes that, while he prefers them, “Thejury’s out on whether tie-downs work or not.”Hurricane Isabel was actually a tropical storm by thetime it reached Annapolis. Damage in the area was almostalways the result of surge and not the wind. In a bona-fidehurricane, tie-downs have proven to be very effective. Usingscrew anchors, as noted in the article, offer some help,depending on the type of soil and depth of the anchors. Thebest tie-downs, however, are secured to eyebolts set in concretepavement. All of the boats at Sebastian River Marina inFlorida survived Hurricane Jeanne’s 125 mph winds usingthis technique. Not a one was damaged. During the samehurricane, boats at the nearby Hinckley yard in Stuart, FL,were secured to concrete deadweight anchors, similar to thetype used for moorings. I think only three or four of themarina’s 178 boats were damaged.I recently talked to the manager at Marina Puerto delRey in Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Georges destroyedmany of their boats stored ashore in 1999, the marinainstalled two long strips of poured concrete. Boats are nowpositioned parallel to the strips and then secured with galvanizedwire to eyebolts set in the concrete. The technique isrelatively inexpensive and workable at almost any marinawith a storage area. I hope it doesn’t take too many morestorms for the benefits of tie-downs and concrete to becomeapparent to more marina and boat owners. It works.Bob AdrianceEditor, SeaworthyA BoatU.S. Marine Insurance publicationBob, I too have heard of those successes and believe that dry-landstorage with tie-downs for sailboats can be extremely effective insaving boats under very strong storms. Few studies have been doneon this, and it would be beneficial for someone to do one. PerhapsBoatU.S. would like to pursue such a study. We are asking any ofour readers who have experience with tie-downs to send us their storiesso we can share this information with BoatU.S. and others.Steve MorrellEditorSOUTHWINDS Web Site Hurricane PagesVisit the SOUTHWINDS hurricane pages at www.southwindsmagazine.comfor stories and articles on how tosave your boat during a storm, tips, links to other Websites, great weather links for hurricanes and more. ThisWeb site is becoming the best save-youNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 35

BOOKS TO READFix It and SailBy Brian GilbertMcGraw Hill. 2006This is a story by a guy who didit. After living on a Catalina 27for four years, he knew whatsmall boats were like. Trying toget back to owning a sailboat,he knew what he could affordwas a small trailerable sailboat.So he bought a Venture 22—pretty run down—and rebuilt it.Gilbert goes into prettygood detail in discussing all aspects of this rebuild, whichmakes it pretty useful for any small boat. This boat is hardlyjust about a Venture 22. This book covers all the bases.There is even a section on restoring a boat trailer. In fact, Iwould say this book could be used as an introduction toworking on boats in general because Gilbert gives the readera good, concise, but thorough discussion on structuralrepairs, installing ports, using sealants, repairs, galvaniccorrosion, rigging, outboard motors, electronics and electrical,paints, epoxy, fiberglassing…the list goes on. The realadvantage is he fits it into 200 pages, which means the boatbuilder/restorer won’t get bogged down in pages of specsand details, as he gives you just enough information. Thisbook is like a reference.Radar for MarinersBy David BurchMcGraw Hill. 2005If you know nothing aboutradar, this book is a great help.The book is basically in twoparts—and this is its savinggrace. The first part, coveringabout 90 pages, is an introductionand discussion of radar sothe user can get going withoutgetting lost in details. It coverswhat is called the “basics of function, operation and applicationneeded to get underway.” The second part goes intomore details and expands on what is covered in the secondpart with some independent information.In part one, there are chapters on how radar works, tuningand interpreting, radar piloting and navigation and collisionavoidance. All of this is in simple enough languagethat the beginner can understand and use radar withoutgetting bogged down in details.Part two gets into more detail, including installation.In the installation section, for example, the book discussesdifferent mounting options for boats, such as which is bestfor a sailboat, on a separate fixed mount off the stern or ona mast? Part two also discusses false echoes, interferenceand advanced piloting and navigation using radar, goinginto detail to better interpret what your radar is trying totell you.A companion CD comes with the book, so the readerdoesn’t have to be on his boat with the radar on and cruisingabout to see what the screen has to offer.Cruising Guide to the Florida KeysBy Morgan Stinemetz and Claiborne Young2nd edition. 2006. Pelican PublishingThis is the second edition ofthe guide that Stinemetz andYoung first came out with in2002. There are a lot of guidesto the Keys, but none that givesyou the extra information thisone does with a little historyhere and there and informationon out-of-the way places tovisit—plus some interestinganecdotal stories. Although agreat guide via the water, thisguide would even be useful forthose traveling by car.The authors have also attempted to give the cruiser ahistorical perspective on the Keys as he travels throughthem. For example, when one gets near Indian Key, thereader can learn about the unique history of this small key,learning that it was originally colonized in the 1830s by aKey West wrecker named Jacob Housman. Housman eventuallyset up a small town on the key with 55 residents.There was even a bowling alley—small, mind you, butthere. The key’s history goes on to tell of how it met itsfinal end as a community. This is typical of many of theinteresting stories and historical facts that one will find inthis guide.The authors also did extensive research of the oftenconfusingwaterways that dot the Keys, hoping to help theboater find his way through the myriad of changes that hecan run into as he tries to reach a well-hidden marina. Somechannels change from red-right returning to green on yourright as other channels intersect. The authors have tried tohelp the boater navigate through these difficult spots whereone can easily be confused.It is, in the end, a guide for boaters to marinas, but withall the other reviews of restaurants, food and lodging, itgoes beyond being just that.There is also a section on a survey of marina damagethe authors did after Hurricane Wilma hit in October 2005.36 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

The OtherICW:Florida’sWest CoastBy Scott WeltyScott Welty and Sue Budde sold their house and cars and left Chicago in June 2005aboard their 1978 Catalina 30, Enee Marie. Since then, they have negotiated the GreatLakes, Welland Canal, Erie Canal, Hudson River, Long Island Sound, Jersey Shore,Delaware Bay, Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic ICW, Florida’s Hawk Channel, Florida’s westernshore, and the Gulf Coast Intracoastal Waterway. Along the way (in Long Island),they bought their current boat, a center cockpit 1984 Endeavour 40, also named EneeMarie. They travel with their reluctant crew, Gracie the cat. You can track their adventuresat www.scottsuesailaway.blogspot.com.Due to a variety of circumstances, we find ourselvesshoving off from Clearwater Beach, FL, on July 1, 2005,for points south. We had originally made a run fromKey West to Clearwater in two largish jumps; Key West toMarco Island and then Marco Island to Clearwater. Nowthat we are heading south, we decide to take the insideroute for much of the trip to Fort Myers Beach.While summer is not the best weather window forFlorida’s west coast (little wind and thunderstorms mostafternoons) the weather makes an inside run desirable. Withan early start you can arrive at the next anchorage before theafternoon storms. With the light summer winds, you aregoing to be motor-sailing at best on the ocean side so youmay as well motor in flat water. Also, on the outside thereare a few navigable entryways from the Gulf. They areLongboat Pass, Venice, Port Charlotte, and San Carlos Bay.On the inside, you find the usual well-marked waterway ason the Atlantic ICW with some fine anchorages to explore.We did not go inside from Clearwater, however, butwent outside as far as Egmont Key. We should have keptgoing to Longboat Key. Egmont Key stands in the mouth ofhuge Tampa Bay. There is a lighthouse, and the island ismostly a bird sanctuary. While it would provide protectionfrom a west wind, it provides little protection from the morenormal easterlies. But it was nice and calm when wearrived, so we put the hook down and decided to stay thenight. When the wind picked up during the night, we werein for a long spell of hobbyhorsing and not much sleeping.LONGBOAT KEY ANCHORAGEThe next morning we made the short run outside toLongboat Key. This could have been done the previous dayas mentioned. Longboat Pass is well marked and leads to adrawbridge that opens on signal. When you first passthrough the bridge, you can actually see the anchorage offto starboard, but you can’t go there! There is a huge sandbarthat comes out and blocks travel to the south from thebridge. There is an island, Jewfish Key, directly east of thepass, and you have to follow the buoys around to the north,enter the ICW, and then turn south along the eastern shoreNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 37

THE OTHER ICWof that island. At R40you can turn to the westand enter the anchorage.And a fine anchorage itis, too! Good holding,lots of dolphins, and tworestaurants that areabout a 200-yard dinghyride away. Additionally,if you follow the LongBeach shoreline to thesoutheast you will cometo a gap that beginsBishop’s Bayou. Followthis back to the northwestthrough prettyThe restaurant on Cabbage Keyhouses and mangrovesuntil you come to a concrete wall with cleats in it. Tie uphere and you can walk to a very nice little grocery store andliquor store. If you take your dinghy the other way from theanchorage, toward the bridge you come to the large sandyshoal that prevented you from entering this way. On theweekend, you’ll find maybe a hundred shallow draft boatshere with barbecues going, dogs splashing in the ankledeepwater and kids searching for sand dollars.We stayed three nights at this anchorage and then goton the buoy trail that leads back to the ICW and straight toSarasota Bay. Once in the bay, there is plenty of water, andwe hoisted sails and sailed all the way to the RinglingCauseway Bridge, which is now 65 feet high. After thebridge, you can turn to the east after R10 and enter the largeanchorage area. This anchorage gives you a very prettynight view of downtown Sarasota. A short dinghy ride toO’Leary’s Sailing School and from there you can walk intodowntown Sarasota.SARASOTA TO VENICEFrom Sarasota you follow the ICW markers south into littleSarasota Bay all the way to Venice. There is a small anchoragearea in Venice, but more than one sailor had told us horrorstories of being hassled by the local sheriff, anotherexample of Florida’s schizophrenic attitude toward cruisingsailboats. They love our money but don’t really want ourboats there at all! So we took a slip at the Crow’s NestMarina, which is right on the Venice Inlet. Boats in marinasare less likely to be hassled than boats at anchor. The CrowsNest is a nice little marina with laundry, Internet, a restaurant,and free loaner bikes for the mile or so ride into downtownVenice.But we’re cheap! One night in a marina and we are offthe next day. The ICW from Venice takes you around theairport through a man-made canal, which then empties intoLemon Bay. Just after the drawbridge near Englewood there“might” be an anchorage just off to the southwest. Theanchorage is plenty deep at 8-10 feet, but there is a five-footshoal to find your way through to get to it. It is not marked,and without “localknowledge,” we decidedto press on for a littleanchorage off HazePoint about anotherfive miles down. Youcan turn to the leftaround Haze Pointand enter a circularanchorage area about300 yards across, surroundedby nice privatehomes. It is verywell protected from allsides, but the holdingis very soupy so wedropped two anchors.Good thing probably, because we got a lot of wind and rainthe night we were there.It is a short hop then to enter Gasparilla Sound, whichin turn opens up to huge Charlotte Harbor. Following thebuoys, Gasparilla Island will be on your right. As youapproach R2, you can turn toward the island. There arebuoys marking the entrance into the little town of BocaGrande. They say you can get in there and anchor, but westayed out and anchored just off this marked channel. Thewater inside is pretty thin, and we saw one sailboat go inand get stuck. The marina at Boca Grande is being rebuilt(should re-open in September 2006), but you can tie up yourdinghy there anyway. It is a short walk into the little townof Boca Grande. Some shops, a bar, and bicycle and golf cartrentals are there. We, of course, are here (and everywhere onthis trip) during the off-season so many things are closed upuntil late fall/winter.Continuing south across the mouth of CharlotteHarbor, you can once again pick up the buoys until you arebetween Useppa Island and Cabbage Key. Turn left at R60and anchor just off Useppa Island. Useppa Island is a privateclub sort of deal, and you can’t go ashore there.Cabbage Key, however, used to be an old fishing outpost.There is a restaurant, small marina, and rental cottages. Thestory goes that the old fishermen would want to guaranteethat they would get a beer when they returned from fishingso they would sign their name on a dollar bill and stick it tothe barroom wall. Since then, this has become a tradition,and they estimate that the walls now have over $50,000taped to them several layers deep. There is a short naturetrail on the island that you can follow and a water tank thatyou can walk to the top of and see a very nice panorama ofsome undeveloped Florida waterfront. Yes—there still issome left! This anchorage provided the best bird-watchingof the trip. As the tide went down and the mud flats wereexposed, we saw blue and green heron, osprey, ibis, yellowcrownednight heron (our favorite!) and the gaudy roseatespoonbill. You don’t see these back in Chicago!Another 25-mile-or-so run takes you into Fort Myers.You first have to negotiate the “miserable mile”—a straight38 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

The dinghy dock in Fort Myers Beach.stretch that cuts across San Carlos Bay to the east with swiftcrosscurrents when the tide is running. You have to keep aneye on the buoys behind you to make sure you are still inthe channel as it is quite shallow on the outside. You nextmeet up with the Okeechobee Waterway, which goes up theCaloosahatchee River and ultimately into Lake Okeechobeeand on to Florida’s east coast. We turned right and south atthis point to follow the waterway under the Sanibel Bridge(a new 65-foot bridge is under construction). From there weheaded south to Fort Myers Beach, passing under theMantanzas Pass Bridge into a large mooring field betweenEstero Island and San Carlos Island.We initially thought we might pass all the way throughthe mooring field and join some other sailboats that were atanchor. There is obviously a way into this anchorage but notthe way we were going! When we got about half a foot ofwater under our keel, we backed up and called in for amooring ball! The mooring balls are operated by SaltySam’s Marina. They are just about brand-new, and the peopleat the marina are very friendly. The balls are $13 a nightor $260 for a month. For that you get free water and use ofshowers on shore and free dinghy dockage. There is a funrestaurant on site, Parrot Key Caribbean Grill. If you takeyour dinghy across to Estero Island and down a little canalthere is a “dinghy” dock at the end. Well, if you call a coupleof troughs cut out of the mangroves a dinghy dock. Butit’s worth it, because now you are right by the Topps grocerystore, a liquor store and one block from the publiclibrary with Internet access. The best deal on the island isthe trolley, which runs up and down Estero Island fromBonita Beach on the south all the way across the MantanzasBridge to the Sumerlin Mall to the north. Price? Twenty-fivecents! Runs on the hour.So here we are. We didn’t really plan to be on Florida’swest coast for hurricane season, but we think we could do alot worse than being in this mooring field. We plan to hauntthis area through the fall and then head out once againaround December 1 for the Bahamas and the windwardpassage to the islands. We’re glad we took the opportunityto check out west Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 39

Gulf StreamCrossingsBy Rebecca Burg“We hit something,” Terry said, smackingone hand into the other. “Bang!” Terrygoes on to describe a recent Gulf Streamcrossing with her husband, Captain Ron,and pet poodle, Ocean, on their 36-footGulfstream trawler, Silk Purse IV.Every year, thousands of boats cross the Gulf Streambetween Florida and the Bahamas. A well-worn trail, it’san easy hop when the weather is right. However, whenthe wind picks up and shifts against the current or squallsstart rearing their cloudy heads, a Gulf Stream crossing canbe dangerous.Boaters may also encounter fast-moving freighters,unlit vessels at night or unseen obstacles floating in thewater. Silk Purse had encountered the latter. It was earlysummer when the trawler had left the north end of KeyBiscayne, near Miami, FL, and headed toward Bimini,Bahamas. It was 4 a.m. Experienced cruisers, they’d waitedfor a good weather window and faced less than three-footseas. In the dim gray light of dawn, Silk Purse hit something.The trawler shuddered as she glanced off a submergedobstacle. Quick-thinking, Ron threw the engine into neutralwhile Terry scurried forward. Pushed into motion by SilkPurse, a large tree bobbed upright, then began tumbling endover end. The trawler fell away. Wide-eyed, Terry watchedas the tree’s massive, knarled root ball careened over SilkPurse’s bow. Just missing the boat’s rail, the sodden tree vanishedback into the inky water. Undamaged, the luckytrawler was able to continue her journey. With no furthersurpises, they arrived in Bimini by lunchtime after a 47-nautical-milecrossing.Waiting for good weather, the number of boats in FortLauderdale, FL, grew. By Easter weekend, the windowopened. Escape, a Hunter 290 sloop, bounced and rocked herway through a crazed crowd of weekend warriors, fishingvessels and fellow Bahamas-bound cruisers. It was only2:30 a.m. Cruising couple Tom and Babette brought Escapeinto calmer seas after skirting a long line of waiting cruiseships. The conditions were so calm that the sailboatmotored to West End, Bahamas. “I would’ve liked a littlewind,” Tom admits, but he was glad to finally resume theirtrip and appreciated its uneventful nature. “The roughestpart of the whole thing was getting through the crowds atFort Lauderdale!” Babette said. With a 70-nautical-mile hop,an early start and fair skies ahead, Escape traveled at a fuelconservativepace and reached West End near 3:30 p.m.Their travel time was 13 hours.Dennis, a long-time sailboat owner, had recentlybought Island Dream, a trawler. He says he was still thinkinglike a sailor on his most recent Gulf Stream crossing thisJune. With wife Sharon and crewmember Bob, Dennis tookIsland Dream out of Jupiter, FL, at 5:00 p.m. for an overnightcrossing to West End. With years of sailing experience, itwas a routine trip for Dennis. However, he was still gettingused to his new power vessel’s different handling characteristics.The weather forecast showed nothing alarming. Yet,midway in the trip, a rapidly developing low-pressure areaformed over Island Dream. In the dark of the night, squallswhipped the waves into a dangerous jumble. Easterlywinds gusted to 50 mph, and the growing seas were estimatedto be near 12 to 14 feet. About 30 nautical miles offshore,the trawler struggled to make headway. “At thattime, we were only traveling half a knot,” Bob says.Forward progress became extremely difficult, andDennis turned around to make a quick downwind slide tosafety. Back in Florida, Island Dream waited for better weatherto resume her travels, this time by day, and arrived atWest End after covering 60 nautical miles in an easy 10hours.Dick and Carol Simmons have been crossing the streamevery year since 1964 in both power and sailing vessels.Currently, they cruise in Gusto!!!, an Island Packet 44, andthey recall their most memorable experience. It was earlyfall in the mid-’90s, and they left Port Lucaya, Bahamas, for40 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

an 80-nautical-mile crossingto Boca Raton, FL. Itwas an overnight tripwith a favorable forecast.There was no wind; theseas were flat. After ashort time, the windslowly began to build,and the sailboat rushedalong on a broad reach.Dick and Carol becamealarmed when the windscontinued to increase to20 knots—then to 30 andbeyond. The seas becameso steep that a nearbyfreighter completely disappearedfrom viewwhenever it fell into awave’s trough. “That wasthe scariest,” Dick said,also noting that badweather at night always seems intensified. “It’s hard to seewhat’s coming at you,” he says. After a long, difficult sail,the couple made it to Boca Raton after daybreak. Despitethat one incident and the many years making crossings,Dick and Carol have had few negative experiences due tocareful weather watching and sensible planning.Boats coming from the Gulf of Mexico will usually betraveling up the Keys before making the jump to theBahamas. Two single-handed sailboats traveling from thisdirection, Defiant and Angel, were sailing together for safetyand company. On their most recent crossing in spring, theyleft a far southerly anchorage in Key Largo, near RockHarbor, at 6:45 a.m. with a favorable forecast of southeastwinds. The expected winds never materialized, and bothsailboats motored 77 nautical miles to Bimini, Bahamas.Both boats saw 1- to 2-foot seas. Lacking any resistance fromwind or wave, they used the stream’s current to increasetheir motoring speed. Reaching Bimini at 5:30 p.m., traveltime was almost 11 hours. Angel’s average motoring speedis normally 5 knots, yet her progress, speed over ground,increased to speeds of up to 8.9 knots in the middle of theGulf Stream where its current flows the strongest.Calm weather windows are perfect for the cruisingtrawler while sailboaters hope for breezes of up to 15 knots.As expected, sailors prefer to sail across the stream, butthose with reliable engines were not hesitant to take advantageof any good weather window, including calms.Seasoned cruisers say they will avoid leaving if the windsare over 15 knots. Of course, as Gusto!!! and Island Dreamhad experienced, unexpected weather can catch a vessel inthe open. Though merely coincidence, both of these vesselshad been traveling at night, when changing skies andoncoming weather is less visible.Also, boaters will avoid crossing the Gulf Stream whenthe winds have any component of north in them. Naturally,northerly winds go against the stream’s current as it flowsfrom the south, and this builds steep and dangerous seas.The most common jump-off points to the Bahamas, (usuallyto West End or Bimini), are between Key Largo and WestPalm Beach, FL. Anything farther north and a vessel isforced to travel against the current, an uncomfortable andDefiant motoring in the middle of the Gulf Stream on a calm day.uneconomical ride. Daytime or night crossings are a matterof personal choice and level of experience. Slower vesselswill usually plan crossings overnight so they can arrive inthe Bahamas with lots of daylight to spare, enabling them tosee shallow water and unlighted channels. It’s a matter ofcareful planning, plotting and weather watching.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 41

CRUISINGCourteous CruisingBy Dave CrossPhoto by Dave Cross“We’ve been cruising for three monthsnow, and we haven’t connected with anyother cruisers,” the skipper behind mewas saying. “We thought it would beeasy to make friends out here.”Judy and I had just returned to Grenada from Tobago, andwere at Roger’s barbecue on Hog Island. I introducedmyself to skipper, receiving an invitation to skipper’sboat for drinks and chatter. When we accepted, thehappy skipper jumped in his dinghy, roaring off to getthe boat ready.Judy and I were dismayed when he zig-zaggedthrough the anchored yachts, sending masts waving like42 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Kansas wheat. As we slowly followed, squeezing betweenthe anchor line of the boat behind and skipper’s stern, wecringed: On the swim platform was a roaring portablegenerator, accompanying the Rolling Stones blasting fromthe stereo.We knew why the skipper and his wife had trouble connectingwith anyone. His dinghy etiquette, anchoring practices,music and electricity generation created an impressionon his fellow cruisers...a very bad impression. While theywere enjoying the freedom of the cruising lifestyle, theywere annoying everyone around them.Cruising is about freedom. But, freedom isn’t anarchy.There are limits to personal freedom when people are closeenough that the actions of one affects others. And, whencruisers are anchored together, they are definitely closeenough to affect each other!Four activities generated the most complaintsamong cruisers we surveyed:ANCHORINGAnchoring, specifically anchoring too close, was numberone. And when boats anchor near each other, with differentscopes or type of rode, wind and tide changes can bring relativedistances between boats down to the “too close” rangevery quickly.The herd instinct can needlessly create situations whereboats are anchoring too close. Twice on our voyage, in theICW, and at Conception Island in the Bahamas, in anchoragesopen for several hundred yards in all directions, a boatpulled directly upwind of us, dropped the hook, and pulledback until they were right on top of us.GENERATING ELECTRICITYGeneration of electricity is next. Most cruisers are now bigfans of stuff; refrigeration, watermakers, laptops, etc. Allthese toys take electricity that must be generated. The generationof all those watts can be anything from unnoticeableto extremely rude, such as:• Diesel engines (generator or main engine): Mostinstalled engines create minimal external noise whenrunning. But they are not silent. When run on a quietevening, they are annoying.• Wind generators: Some wind generators areextremely noisy, howling in even moderate winds.And since one of the benefits of wind generation isthe ability to generate power 24/7, these rude littlemachines are rude 24/7.• Portable generators: These can be the most irritating,obnoxious, and rude devices out there. Listening toone or more of these little beasts drone on and on ishorrible, totally ruining the peace of any anchorage.Remember the Conception Island anchoring incident?Well, after anchoring right on top of us, our new neighbor puta generator on his rear swim platform, and started the damnthing. Then, incredibly, he yelled to his wife (so she couldhear him over the noise), “Let’s go for a walk on the beach sowe don’t have to listen to this racket!” And they hopped intheir dinghy, giving us cheery waves as they roared past!Wind generators can sometimes be noisy. Photo by Dave Cross.DINGHIESDinghy usage is next. Along with passing unnecessarilyclose to anchored boats, many cruisers don’t seem to recognizethe power of the wakes their little boats create. It iscommon to see a dinghy on plane back off to half throttle,then plow along, bow in the air, creating a wake that wouldmake a rude sport-fisher proud, rocking dinner off all itsneighbors’ tables.The other common dinghy issue cruisers face is shortpainters. More cruising boats mean more dinghies needingto tie up. And that requires long painters, including lockingsystems. It is not unusual to find a dinghy tied with a longpainter, hanging from its four-foot cable, securely locked tothe float’s cleat.EXCESSIVE EVENING NOISEFinally, everyone knows how easily sound travels overwater, and most cruisers maintain the quiet peace of theiranchorage. But when rude boaters forget, or ignore, thephysics of sound propagation, the result is anger and frustration,ruining the evening for a lot of folks. Too manyboaters think everyone in the anchorage deserves the honorof listening to their choice of music, or playing audience totheir loud laughter and shouts.What Do We Do About It?How can we all enjoy the freedoms we are searching for outthere as anchorages get more crowded? The answer isCruising Courtesy. We have to give each other the right toenjoy cruising in our own way—not behaving in such a waythat our actions diminish the cruising experience for others.Being courteous will allow more cruisers to enjoy moreplaces.Here are proven ways to avoid the discourteous behaviorslisted above:ANCHORINGThe amount of room each boat needs around it for the crewto feel comfortable, allowing worry- free sleeping, and minimizingnoise intrusion, is somewhat subjective. But, twoNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 43

CRUISINGsimple rules will work in almost all situations.• Anchor as far from all other anchored yachts as practical.In crowded anchorages, too close is really veryclose. In a gathering of experienced skippers, boatsmay be as little as two boat lengths apart. But they willstay evenly spaced, as far apart as possible. Squeezinginto a non-existent hole, just because you have a dogthat needs to hit the head, a putt-putt dinghy, or justbecause you want to, doesn’t cut it. If you can’t giveeach boat around you the same room everyone elsehas, you just need to go somewhere else.• Use the same scope and rode as those anchored beforeyou. In crowded anchorages, using too much scope, orusing rope and chain when everyone else is on allchain, creates serious issues. Experienced cruisers arevery comfortable on four- or five-to-one scopes, witheveryone on all chain, when it gets a little snug.But, just one rude boat can spoil everything. Off St.Augustine, FL,one night the skipper of a very large oldketch rolled in, rounded up over the deepest part ofthe harbor, and plopped down 250 feet of chain (10-toonescope). He then warned all of us to watch out forhis boat, because it sailed badly around the anchor,and he needed lots of scope to stay put. He was right,and three boats had to move because of his rudeness.Remember: you have no constitutional right toanchor in any particular spot. In fact, you are obligatedto anchor in such a manner as to not endanger orimpede any other anchored vessel. If you anchor nearanother already-anchored boat, and through swingingor dragging a collision occurs, you are at fault.Be considerate of others who will tie up at a crowded dinghydock. Photo by Steve MorrellGENERATING ELECTRICITYSurprisingly, at least to some people, you also do not have aconstitutional right to generate electricity. So, if you do needto generate some current to sustain the lifestyle you chose, itshould be done so that it does not impact any other cruiserin any way. There should be no way possible for any onearound to even know you are making watts.Of course, solar panels are the least obtrusive generationsystem, but many wind generators are virtually silent.And most main engines and installed generators are muffledenough to fit the requirements, at least during daylighthours.But what if you have a howling wind generator, ascreaming portable generator or your main engine roars likea D8 Cat?The only way to silence a wind generator that howls isto replace it. If you refuse to do that, the only option is toanchor downwind and away from everyone else. Soundslike a real sacrifice, but please remember, you are the onethat chose an obnoxious method of generating electricity.No one else should have to sacrifice their enjoyment foryour cold beer.Taming the noise from a portable generator is simple.Build an open-top, collapsible box, made from soundabsorptionpanels, to surround and support your generator.Set the unit on the floor of your cockpit. Almost all of thesound will be muffled or reflected upward, where no one isanchored. Only a reasonable hum should be audible insideyour boat. Remember, you are the only one getting benefitout of that hum...only you should have to listen to it.A screaming main engine may just be a matter of runningit too fast. With alternators, it is not necessary to runhigh rpms to generate electricity. Use your voltmeter to findwhen your unit starts putting out over 14 volts, and run theengine at that rpm. It will be as quiet as possible, and mayuse less fuel. If you are still making too much noise, you willneed to go anchor with the loud wind generator fleet.DINGHIESDinghy courtesy is quite simple and requires no specialskills or equipment. First, unless you are visiting a boat,always stay as far away from all anchored boats as possible.There is no excuse for cutting close. Next, dinghies makealmost no wake at putt-putt speeds and huge wakes at halfthrottle. The difference between putt-putting and half throttle,bow in the air, surf-creating speed is around one knot.That’s a small price to pay for smiles and waves.As for the painter, just make sure you always tie uplong (at least 1.5 times dinghy length), and make sure yourlocking system is as long as your painter.EXCESSIVE EVENING NOISEThis one is easiest to do, and hardest to get some people toaccept. Remember, the odds that any other cruiser wouldrather hear your choice of music (or loud laughter, rudejokes, drunken giggles, whatever) than their own music,laughter, etc., are zero. And keep an eye on the time. It is asure sign of being a newbie, or charterer, when you stay upevery night partying and wake up late and bleary-eyed eachmorning.Think about itCourtesy is not hard. And, when you really do need to cutloose, go find a deserted anchorage. Then spend the day actingany way you want, because you will be exercising yourown rights, not infringing on the rights of others.Be courteous as you motor around an anchorage on yourdinghy. Photo by Steve Morrell.44 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Sails reefed in the Family Island Regatta.Family Island Regatta – BahamasBy Betsy MorrisThe National Family Island Regatta is to the Bahamas asthe World Series is to the United States. It is held inGeorge Town, Exumas, in April each year, but theplanning, scheming, second-guessing, and boat tuningbegin much earlier.Some would say it begins in Mangrove Bush, LongIsland, at the innovative Knowles boatyard. Others wouldclaim that the boys at Man-O-War Cay in Abaco have thetouch, or that the folks at Barraterre, Great Exuma, bringtheir special attention to detail, or that the focus of StanielCay’s Brooks Miller, captain of Tidal Wave, is the spark. Theold timers, many of whom were the founding fathers of theregatta in 1954, look to the oldest boats for inspiration, LadyMuriel, Tidal Wave, Good News, Running Tide, and others.All these sloops are built in the Bahamas, framed andplanked in wood (faired with fiberglass and fillers). Thedinghy classes (no jibs) are up to 17 feet in length, the BClass is 21 feet, and the A Class is 28 feet. All are eitherremodeled fishing boats or descendents thereof, with theircuddies removed, designed with the traditional grace andbeauty of the hull and rig foremost in mind; raked bowsand sterns, strong sweep of sheer, “wineglass” curvature tothe transom, with tillers passing through an aperture, andno winches or “modern” instruments. Their booms arealways longer than the length of the boat itself, and many ofthe 28-footers have 60-foot masts, laminated of Sitkaspruce—no spreaders allowed. Depending on wind conditions,they often carry a ton or more of lead ballast, as wellas up to 14 sailors, whose weight, hiked out on pries,attempts to balance the gargantuan spread of canvas aloft.The regatta is three days long, preceded by one day ofspecial races for the Commodore Emeritus, GovernorGeneral, and Prime Minister cups. Before those races comethe National Junior Championships, sailed in the dinghyclasses. This year, seventeen-year old Nioshe Rolle fromStaniel Cay won—the first girl to take the championship.Prior to those events is a frantic week of readiness.George Town is spruced up; dozens of food and drinkshacks are built of plywood, painted, electrified, with fullbars and kitchens installed; and the racers begin to arrive.The Exuma and Long Island racers come on or are towedbehind the local fishing boats. Most other boats are wedgedonto the mailboat. The scheming and second-guessingbegin as these racers are off-loaded by a crane. Everyone onthe dock yells instructions, and gestures fly from thosewhose boats are already launched.In the midst of all this preparation and racing activity,fans arrive from Nassau, Eleuthera, Crooked Island,Acklins, Long Island, Rum Cay, Bimini, Cat Island, Abacos,all the Exuma Cays, and even the Turks and Caicos in supportof their favorite boats. Life in George Town is alteredfor a week: The library closes and AA meetings are suspended,although the reluctant kids still trudge to school;and cruisers from all over the world dot enormousElizabeth Harbour, loathe to leave until the last boat roundsthe last mark on the last day of the regatta.My husband and I planned our spring of 2006 to be inGeorge Town aboard our 39-foot Gulfstar, Salsa, for theNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 45

egatta. We sailed fromsouthern Florida inearly March and tooksome long tacksthrough the inky GulfStream and turquoiseBahamian banks tovisit favorite anchoragesat Frazer’s Hog,Little San Salvador, CatIsland, Long Islandand Little Exuma,depending on the reliableExplorers’ ChartBooks. George Town is adestination for manycruisers. At the heightof its “season,” the“cruisers’ regatta,” therecan be 400 visiting boats in theharbor. That’s a few too manyfor us, and we staged ourselvesin the wide sandy channelsof Long Island’s remoteDollar Harbor, diving forconch and exploring theempty little cays before headingnorthwest for a slightlyquieter George Town. It hadbeen 10 years since our lastvisit. Most things seemed thesame with the addition of anextra volleyball court or twoon Stocking Island and severalInternet cafes in town.Inflatables still criss-crossedthe harbor, their occupantsstanding in prevailing GeorgeTown style. The VHF crackledwith invitations, announcements,and inquiries. It’s a villagewithin a village—thecruisers and Bahamians interdependentand friendly.Bahamian sailboat racesare unusual in many ways,the most bizarre being thestart. All boats anchor alongthe line with sails down.Picture a Le Mans start at anautomobile racetrack. Thescene is serene with sloops orsailing dinghies gently bobbingin the clear water. At thestarting siren, the bowmantakes up the anchor (on a longrode) as fast as he can, giving the boat forward momentum.All boats must retrieve their anchors. As the enormousmainsail is raised, the helmsman drops the bow and—sometimes before the anchor is aweigh—she’s away. It’spandemonium! All boats, except the boat in the first position,must start on starboard tack, but that’s a committeerule, not a law of nature. Boats are on starboard tack, porttack, or in irons; skippers yell at their crew, crew yell atopponents; someone gets clean air, then another, thenanother, and they’re“checkin” to windward.If there’s a jibe atthe windward mark,one boat’s boom mightsweep someone offanother boat. Theheavy pry boards areshifted, the huge saillet out, and they’re“beddin’’ for the leewardmark. If a mangoes overboard, theskipper is required togo back for him. If aboat falls short of aHiked out on Eudeva.mark and misses it,two points are automaticallysubtracted from hisscore. The first boat to finish isawarded as many points asboats that finish. If 14 boatsstart, but only eight finish, thewinner gets eight points—unless the skipper missed amark!It’s a downwind finish,and those boats cross likefreight trains at full throttle.No one polices the huge spectatorfleet, bobbing and weavingin inflatable dinghies, cigaretteboats from Nassau(with men and womendressed and coifed in the latestflamboyant fashion),Whalers, and cruising boats.We followed some races inour dinghy and others aboardNew Moon, a friend’s trawler.We nearly got cut in half onone occasion when a celebratingwinning skipper let go thetiller in wild abandon, seeingour terrified expressions atthe last possible moment.Also on New Moon was ourBahamian friend, HarryHarding, past owner of theold champion from Salt Pond,Long Island, Running Tide.Like every Bahamian inGeorge Town, Harry knowsevery boat and every skipper’sstrength and weakness.Running Tide, one of the older boats in the regatta.When Running Tide missed a windward mark, Harrymoaned, “She might as well just check for home.”When the last race was over, the focus turned to thefood and drink shacks on land. We adjourned for a coldKalik beer and a hot sheep tongue souse. The RoyalBahamian Police marching band put on an elegant showfor the governor general of the Bahamas and all the restof us. The music, the dancing, the celebrating, and thesecond-guessing went on all night.46 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 47

BEACH CAT RACINGEvolving Structure ofBeach Catamaran Racing in FloridaBy Roy LaughlinHobie Alter did not develop his first Hobie Cats withracing in mind. But the drag-racer performance ofthese small planing-hulls enthused a racing contingentas soon as two beach cat sailors left the same beach. Bythe 1980s, Hobie Cat weekend regattas routinely hosted 300catamarans.The Hobie Cat brand became synonymous with all beachcats, but Prindle, Supercat and later Performance Catamaran’sNACRA line were also conspicuously present. Each manufacturerplayed a significant if not dominant role in establishingclass rules and sponsoring regattas for owners of its products.The Hobie Cat racing organization became so large thatthe Hobie Cat Company, while retaining significant sponsorship,established a separate membership organizationpresently known as the North American Hobie ClassAssociation (NAHCA). (The Hobie Class Association isinternational; only the North American subgroup is importantto this story.) This quasi-independent membershipgroup was built on the local “Hobie Fleets.” These in turnwere organized into divisions. Florida’s Hobie Division 8was one of the largest and most active divisions with at leasta dozen active local fleets. Prindle catamaran races had asimilar, although smaller membership racing group, butthey are now defunct. The divisions of these membershipgroups coordinated scheduling, established regatta rulesand procedures, often obtained financial sponsorship, andoffered annual awards for sailing skill and sportsmanship.Local fleets did a whole lot more during the years thansponsor races, but preparing for and conducting regattaswere, for these groups, the most complex and financiallydemanding efforts. Many young adults at the time broughtbusiness education and job-derived skills to this effort andleft with exceptionally valuable and unique career experience.During the 1970s, when beach cat racing was epidemicamong young adults, efforts of division and fleet officerswere instrumental in the success of beach cat racing.All things pass, and so did the fortunes of beach catmakers and sailors. By 1990, local fleets were anemic for lackof new members. As beach cat sales declined, the manufacturersfailed, merged with competitors or moved to newmarkets, entirely leaving regatta efforts to the local fleets.For the minor boat brands, even the local fleets vanished asmembership eroded.The NAHCA, independent of the company, survivesand remains a significant force in regatta sponsorshipnationwide. But in Florida its fortunes were badly batteredby some unique circumstances. The most avid racers movedaway from Hobie Cats to high tech brands, most of whichare presently built by Performance Catamaran. Local fleetsremained responsible during the early 1990s for regattas onFlorida’s Hobie Division 8 calendar. As former Hobie Catsailors moved to non-Hobie catamarans, local fleets facedthe loss of both their participation in organizing a regattaand the financial benefit of their registration fees.In response, nearly all local fleets, by 1995, sponsoredopen regattas, following Hobie-sanctioned rules in order tomaintain the broadest participation. NAHCA rules hadalways limited participation to sailors on Hobie brand products,but at least temporarily turned a blind eye to the openregatta model. When it became predominant in Florida inparticular, the national officials, after a long and painfuldebate, decided to enforce the rule. According to ClarkKeysor, a long-time Division 8 associate (as member anddivision officer), Hobie Division 8 is “still alive and functioning,just not very active.”During this turmoil, local fleets didn’t miss a beat. Theybecame “catamaran associations,” often incorporating elementsof the Hobie Fleet number designation to indicatecontinuity. For example, Brevard County’s Fleet 45 SpaceCoast Catamaran Association. Some fleets even retain theirNAHCA association, but their regattas are not sanctionedHobie Class Racing Association regattas. The open regatta,welcoming sailors on any beach catamaran, is the dominantmodel now for beach cat regatta organizers.Nature abhors a vacuum, and the demise of Division 8left a big one. Regatta organizers needed a way to quicklycoordinate scheduling, issue NORs and conduct other publicregatta business as division officers had done. TheInternet came to the rescue—in a most unexpected way. TheWeb site, www.1design.net, founded and operated by BrianKarr in Rockledge in 2000, was an existing forum for agroup of former Division 8 sailors interested in one-designcatamaran racing. These sailors, active in local fleets, beganusing 1design.net’s forum to disseminate news, solicit opinionsand request assistance for newly independent localregattas. Within two years, this modest Internet site becamethe de facto central node in a self-organizing beach cat regattanetwork. It is as effective as any top-down organization.Users pay no dues and have only the obligation to registerfor posting privileges on the forums. Spam and obnoxiousinappropriate postings necessitated registration requirementsfor posters. Anyone can read posts and other informationon the site. The North American Multihull Sailor48 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Association (NAMSA), which sponsorsthe Trade Winds Regatta, isanother organization with a Floridafocus, but the local fleets have foundindependence and use of 1design.netto be a good way to operate.(Information about NAMSA is availableon www.catsailor.com.)Florida remains one of the mostactive areas for beach cat regattas,with at least one scheduled eachmonth throughout the year. When Division 8 affiliationended for the local fleets conducting all these regattas, so dida statewide acknowledgment mechanism for exemplary sailingskills and sportsmanship. Brian Karr took 1design.net’ssuccess to Harken Yacht Hardware and requested the company’ssponsorship for two annual trophies. One is for performancein designated distance races and the other for triangleraces. The “designated” races are those conducted by localfleets, often the same ones that were Division 8 “point races.”This strategy is an attempt to build participation for the localcatamaran associations’ events and to spread qualifyingevents geographically across Florida to allow convenient participationby sailors. Brian Karr is primarily responsible forthe Harken Race Series’ rules as the benevolent cyber dictator.But proposals for rules or rule changes are posted on1design.net by Brian, or race participants and discussed thoroughlybefore a decision is made. So far, open discussionleading to individual decision has worked very effectively.Think of the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain and you have agood idea how Brian operates in principle. Information aboutthe races and rules for the 2006Harken Series is available onwww.1design.net.In its 35 years of existence, thebeach cat sailing scene has shiftedlike the beach sands themselves. InFlorida, the impending changeshave at times seemed catastrophic.In a uniquely American way, acyberspace-enabled egalitarianismhas kept the sport thriving by legitimizingnew leadership with new ideas. This has been veryhealthy for this sailing niche. Will this strategy work as wellfor other sailing efforts? Probably, if the right people areinvolved and the timing is right.Writer’s note: I want to be sure I leave the correct impression from commentsin this article. NAHCA Division 8 made uncounted essential contributionsto beach catamaran sailing in Florida when it was most active.Many of its officers and members are now active in the efforts that replacedit. External circumstances that required a new organizing effort were largerand more complex than the resources the division had at its disposal tomitigate. Nothing in my story is intended as criticism of NAHCA Division8 or its leadership. The same intention not to criticize the Hobie CatCompany exists. The company and especially its local dealers continue togenerously contribute door prizes and other essential assistance to localregattas. Hobie Cat sailors, especially Hobie Cat 16 sailors, are avid supportersof and participants in the new open regattas. Routinely, Hobie 16classes are the largest or second largest single class in Florida catamaranregattas. My intention here is to describe an evolutionary, not revolutionaryprocess, that continues to uniquely shape Florida’s catamaran events.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 49

RACING TIPSAsymmetrical Gymnastics, Part IBy Mike Kirk(Part 1 describes asymmetrical spinnaker hoist techniques and downwind strategy.Part 2 will cover gybing and 3 methods of dousing)The popularity of J/boats has donea lot to establish asymmetricalspinnaker rigs. Like all sail trimming,some serious training and practiceis necessary to “get it right.”Compared with the downwind poledchute of traditional boats, the asymmetricchute needs less muscle but moreattention to technique. The old need forthe “gorilla on the bow” is morphedinto more of a skill for knitting andknotting sheets and lines. If you thinkof the asymmetric chute as a BIG genoathen it is easier to visualize what isgoing on—sometimes!After a fortunate experience sailingand tuning a J/120 with an ex-America’s Cup tactician, the need fordocumentation of roles and duties foreducation of the next crew becameapparent. (Good America’s Cup crewsdocument all their actions playbookstyle for further training, thereby helpingcrew changes while preserving thelearning). Here is a distillation of severalseasons’ learning on an Antrim 27,a J/80 and a J/120, which will be applicableto many asymmetrical race boats.The asymmetric chute is typicallyflown from a bow sprit (pole), whichslides out of the bow downwind and isretrieved into the boat for upwind sailing.In addition to all the usual lines fortuning a sloop, there are five chute controllines, all led back to the cockpit: thehalyard, attached to the head of thechute; the tack line, run from the tackthrough the end of the pole, two sheetsboth of which are tied to the clew; andfinally, a pole outhaul. (The tack lineserves as the pole retrieval force). Thestresses on the mast may dictate multipleshrouds, diamonds and even runners,but the advent of carbon mastshas thankfully reduced much of these“chute grabbers.” Their presence, however,may dictate your choice of hoistmethod to allow a smooth hoist.Typical crew roles for a J/120 are:helmsman. You need only one (!); mainsheettrimmer, also tactician; cockpit50 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

winch men, two tirelesstypes; mast man, talland big; foredeck, can tiea bowline in 1.8 seconds;spinnaker trimmer, nevertakes his eyes off theball; sewer, optional.Total seven or eightcrew. On smaller boats,mast and deck can becombined and cockpitreduced to one for a totalof four or five crew.Rumb Squall, an Antrim 27, under small asymmetric spinnaker,launched from bag on the foredeck. Photo by Mike KirkPACKING THECHUTEIt’s a mess and far toobig for one person towrestle into some kindof order. Rig a hook ashigh as possible insidethe cabin to provide apoint of reference. Hookthe head of the chute tothe fixed point. Twocrew members simultaneously “run thetapes.” Taking the red- and green-colorededges of the spinnaker, feed theleaches though the hands until respectivelythe clew and tack corners arereached. Fix the tack and clew grommetson the hook with the head. Forinsurance run the foot of the chute fromclew to tack to test for anytwist in the chute. Thechaos of the bunched materialall around the crew’sfeet is not important aslong as all tapes are run.Starting with the foot,stuff the bulk of the materialinto the spinnaker bagleaving the three cornersattached to the hook. Lastlylay clew and tack out ofeach end of the bag andleave the head hanging outof the middle for attachinglater to control lines. Velcrofasteners are the only wayto go for the closing fixtureon the bag.RAISING THE CHUTEThe moment of truth isnearing, and the foredeckcrew are about to test theirknot-tying prowess.There are three positions for thehoist: from the bag on the side deck,from the companionway or from thefore-hatch. The bag-on-the-side-deckNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 51

BEACH CAT RACINGapproach is more suited to the traditional bigboatdownwind style. It requires the chute berepacked after every douse and then draggedup the side deck for attachment to the four controllines. It’s a lot of work and unnecessary. Theonly upside might be to avoid fouling theshrouds/diamonds in the hoist.Hoisting from the companionway worksfor the J/80 due to its smaller size and crew. Theincreased danger of fouling shrouds can behelped by judicial placement of bungee chordsacross critical catch points. The bag does notneed to be repacked. Running the tapes is goodinsurance but not absolutely necessary if therace course is very small and crew is requiredon the rail. It’s a racing risk trade-off.The forward hatch hoist seems to work bestfor the J/120 — plenty of foredeck for two orthree crew to douse the chute and easy for theforedeck man to do his control line knotting,leaning down the hatch as the boat approachesthe windward mark. The bag is not repacked.Since the sheets may stay tied after dousing, thesewer man inside the V-berth can reasonably“run the tapes” one at a time after the head hasbeen disconnected.During the upwind leg, the preferred side to hoist isworked out by the helm and tactician. This determines therun of the sheets around the forestay.Approaching the windward mark (on starboard if youRaising an asymmetrical spinnaker on a Melges 32. Photo by Gary Hufford.are smart) a lot of things happen in short, sequencedorder—you hope.• The foredeck man ties the sheets to the clew for the chosenhoist side. Assuming a starboard hoist, this will be bestdone early on a port tack to give the man good access to thehatch.• The head is clipped on and the headboard laid on the foredeck,trapped by the foredeck hatch. Check that the halyardis free up above and not wrapped around a shroud.• The pole is extended and cleated, but check class rules asthis cannot be done until the two-boat-length circle in someclasses to limit the danger of the pole skewering someunsuspecting port tacker!• The tack is hauled out by the starboard cockpit man (hecan see it ‘cos that’s the side the boat builder put the pole)to within about one foot of the pole end, the foredeck manhelping it past the push pit railing. In a high wind the samedeck man must control the now exposed spinnaker foot asit can fill prematurely, turning your foredeck into chaos justas you want to execute step 5.• Helmsman bears away onto starboard reach and calls forhoist. The mast man becomes a madman flailing great bitesof halyard at the mast. Simultaneously starboard cockpitman tails the halyard through a deck clutch, ensuring thatthe hauled halyard is secure. (On smaller boats a mast cleatworks but can slip in the heat of hauling the last few feet.)• So the tack is secure and the chute is up but so is the jib.Who has the sheet which is about to become loaded withhuge forces as the chute fills with a bang? During the hoistyour chute trimmer put two or three wraps of the (port)working sheet around a spinnaker winch and is ready onthe windward (starboard) side deck to trim the kite. Thestarboard cockpit man has grabbed a winch handle, readyto secure the loaded winch and assist in trimming the chutewhile…..• The port cockpit man rolls in the jib, and you are off on adownwind sleigh ride, the cockpit crew sharing the spin-52 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

naker winching.At this point your only thought will be: “And how dowe get the beast down?” But duty calls and it’s time to sailthe darn boat!DOWNWIND TECHNIQUES AND STRATEGY:An asymmetrical chute performs best on a broad reach.Remember: It’s a big genoa, so velocity made good (VMG)downwind is king! Speed at an oblique angle is no good ifyour gybe angle is not getting you to the mark. In upwindsailing there is a mythical groove to find, but downwindthere is more of a rhythm of waves, wind, course and speed.Bear off in the puffs/headers and come up in the lullsto maintain speed. Try to surf diagonally down the bigwaves, as speed increases sheet in mainsail and chute. Havea crew member look aft for puffs and big waves. In steadywinds, bear up for speed, then ease down as far as the spinnakercurl will allow, then bear up again. The trimmershould constantly be easing the sheet out to maintain ahealthy curl in the leach. As the sail stalls, trimmer andwinch man haul in the sheet to refill the chute. Remember:“If in doubt—let it out.”If the course becomes a tight reach, crank down the tackto the pole to help tighten the luff. In lighter winds on abroad reach, float the spinnaker out from the mast by releasingthe head about one foot and the tack to two feet.If the course demands a downwind line, try to wingon-wingthe chute and mainsail. Remember: It’s a biggenoa! To do this, carefully steer downwind and gybe themainsail over, leaving the spinnaker exposed to the maximumdownwind force, no longer giving any slot effect.Again VMG is king, and this slower mode of sailing maywell get you to the mark sooner. But watch the top of themainsail: A preventer is recommended to control the deathroll effect, where small rolls of the boat become magnifieduntil a Chinese gybe starts at the top of the main with dramaticeffects!Inevitably, one day you will experience every crew’sspinnaker nightmare—the hourglass wrap. The causes ofthis are probably twofold. First, a twist in the spinnakercaused by a messy douse and/or not running the tapes,where parts of the chute actually get inside out while in theboat. More depressing is when the helmsman is slow togybe, particularly in the last part of the turn, and the spinnakerblows through the wrong side of the forestay. Whilenot always recoverable, the object is to get the head of thesail to spin and unwind the twist. One fairly successful techniqueis to release about three feet of the halyard suddenlywhile every free crew member pulls down on the windwardleach. But control the release of the three feet, or the wholething will be in the water—also known as “shrimping.” Ifall else fails, drop the darn thing, kiss three or four placesgoodbye, but save the spinnaker!In Part II: The excitement of gybing and the Mexican douse.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 53

RACINGSOUTHERN RACINGMAJOR RACES, NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTSPaige Railey Wins Gold Medal at theGood Luck Beijing 2006 QingdaoInternational RegattaCompetition at the first of twoscheduled pre-Olympic regattas finishedin August in Qingdao, China,with the top ten athletes in each classsailing the final medal race, whichcounted for double points.Three athletes from ClearwaterYacht Club had been selected by USSailing to compete in this regatta.Paige Railey took the gold medal inLaser Radials, Brad Funk finished23rd in Lasers and Zach Railey sixthin the Finn class. All three of thesesailors are campaigning hard for theopportunity to represent the United States at the BeijingGames in 2008, and each finished as the top U.S.A. athletein their class.Paige’s gold medal was won with a very convincing 17-point lead over Jo Aleh of New Zealand. Penny Clark ofGreat Britain was just two points behind Jo for the bronzemedal.This regatta was a test event designed to be as close aspossible to the 2008 Beijing Games Olympic regatta. Eachqualified country was permitted two entries for each classof boat, whereas at the Olympics only one entry per countryis permitted. The Chinese government has done anamazing job of transforming a derelict dock area of Qingdaointo the site of the 2008 Olympic regatta, and this eventserved as its first test. There are many photographs of theathletes and facilities on the official regatta Web site atwww.2006qdregatta.com.Steep Competition Anticipated forSunfish World Championships,Charleston, NC, Oct. 1-6Charleston, NC, will become even more active in earlyOctober when the 2006 Charleston Harbor Resort andMarina Sunfish World Championships take place on Oct. 1-6.Eduardo Cordero, a top competitor and sailing coachfrom Venezuela leads the list of sailing luminaries who haveregistered to compete in Charleston. Cordero has won eightSunfish world championship titles, and with those credentialshe’ll be very tough to beat. Despite his weighty resume,Cordero should have his hands full contending with manyother stalwarts from the Sunfish class, including MalcolmSmith of Bermuda, a three-time world champion, andBahamian Donnie Martinborough, a perennial favorite. Inall, there will be 13 former world champions competing,including New Yorker Paul-Jon Patin, who won the event in1922 and has since finished no worse than third five times.Firmly encamped on the list of top-notch competitors isLasers racing in Qingdao, China. Courtesy Photo.Charleston’s own David Loring, who won the Sunfishworld championship regatta in 1995. Loring, who is alsoserving as chairman of the event’s organizing committee,says he is looking forward to the competition. “I’m veryexcited about this. From my perspective as an event organizer,it’s such a great thing for Charleston to have a trueworld championship here on our home waters. We’ve gotcompetitors from 14 different countriescoming, including NewZealand. As a sailboat racer, it’sexciting for me to know that thelevel of competition is going to betremendous; that’s what I’m mostkeen about.”According to Loring, there areabout 30 entrants who are goodenough to win this regatta. Thatshould be great news for three otherCharlestonian racers who will bejoining him on the water, includingRyan Hamm and Kenny Krawcheck.Both Hamm and Krawcheck qualifiedfor this championship event by way of their success inprevious Sunfish regattas. Another Charleston racer, PeterRupp, recently received an invitation to compete as a wildcard entrant.The event starts on October 1, and races will beginMonday, October 2. For additional information go towww.sunfishworlds-2006.com. (800) 443-9441 ext. 3284 or(843) 224-9482.52nd Annual West MarineColumbus Day Regatta, Oct. 7-8,Biscayne Bay, FLThe 52nd annual Columbus Day Regatta will take placeduring the weekend of Oct. 7-8 on Biscayne Bay.Attendance is expected to draw over 200 racing andcruising sailboats from around South Florida. As usual, thecourse layout consists of a combination of governmentmarks and buoys scattered throughout Biscayne Bay, testingthe navigation skills of the competitors.Contenders will compete for first through fifth placetrophies in all classes as well as eight Perpetual Trophyawards. The Coral Reef Yacht Club will once again host theaward ceremonies on Saturday, Oct. 14. Raffle prizes will begiven away at the awards ceremony. Organizers are lookingfor donations for raffle prizes.To sponsor, donate raffle prizes or for more information,go to www.columbusdayregatta.net, the event web site.30th Isotope Nationals, LakeWaccamaw, NC, Aug. 26-27By Joleen RasmussenSixteen skippers arrived for the 30th Isotope Nationals,Aug. 26-27, on Lake Waccamaw, NC. Of those 16, three hadparticipated in the first nationals in 1977. Three others werearriving for their very first time. The forecast was promising,6-8 knots, ideal Isotope sailing weather. Boats started to arrive54 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

and set up Friday afternoon.New to the Nationals this year:• Glenn Howell, Raleigh,NC. Glenn has owned hisIsotope for three years anduses it to practice fine-tuninghis racing techniques.Glenn also races an F-31but finds that Isotope reallygives him a chance to feelthe effect of every adjustmentand wind shift, andwith an active fleet in the Raleigh area, Glenn can counton having 8-10 boats on the line.• Matthew Harroll, Middlesex, NC. Matthew owns theboat with his father, Tommy. They race the boat alongwith other family members and neighbors on three othercatamarans on the Buckhorn Reservoir. Matthew is onthe NC State Sailing Team.• Patrick Duke, Holly Springs, NC. Patrick purchased hisboat last year in partnership with his boss as a chance to saila catamaran with his boys, Corbin (age 8) and JJ (age 5).Other interesting facts from the weekend:• Alan Wolf’s #007 sustained a major hole in the third raceon Saturday, but with the aid of duct tape, Alan won thefirst race on Sunday, to finish fifth overall in theNationals.The Isotope Nationals on Lake Waccamaw, NC. Photo byValerie Nieman.For a firsthand perspective,read excerpts from theaccount by regatta winnerGlenn Howell:It is just real hard to finishconsistently in this fleet madeup of veterans and pastnational champs. Make onemistake and they will buryyou. Six of the 14 competitorshave won the nationalsbefore, and two others havewon the coveted Governor’sCup in the last two years. You are on a roller coaster of upsand downs, and you are constantly digging out. FrankMeldau (#100) invented the boat in the early ’60s, and if youthink an old fart can’t sail the heck out of an Isotope, you aresorely mistaken. He wears a Lawrence of Arabia type whitehat so you can’t miss him breathing down your neck. Wecrossed tacks in the fifth race four times, twice by inches. Aslong as we are naming folks, Eric Rasmussen (#42), winner ofthe 2004 and 2005 nationals, had two firsts and a second for anintimidating total of 4 points going into the final two races onday two. The next closest competitor (#92) had 11 points, withAlastair McEwan a close 12 pointsRace #5: I squeeze out a few boats barging at the pin onport. Sly fox that he is, Frank Meldau, moving suddenlyinto my field of vision from the left, is trying to squeeze in,News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 55

RACINGtoo, and he doesn’t see me. LEEWARD BOAT….LEEWARDBOAT!! I give way slightly but there is no contact as Frankluffs up to windward. Rounding the windward mark,“head in the boat,” quickly easing main and jib, adjustingbarber-hauler, raising centerboard, easing outhaul….butdarn, if Frank hasn’t slipped inside sailing deeper andgoing just about as fast. Focus…focus…focus, need room tojibe onto port without fouling him. Okay, go. I pop theboom around as Frank hollers. STARBOARD BOAT!HOLD YOUR COURSE, FRANK! I’m afraid to look at mysails because I’m staring at the Isotope coming down on mefast. He missed my stern by a few inches. Gentleman that heis, he did hold his course and did not try to manufacture afoul by turning into me. That’s when I noticed my jib waspoorly trimmed…focus. We crossed again on the windwardleg with 92 just ahead on starboard headed for the finish line.Frank finished second in race 6, and Eric finished fourth. 92finally won a race! And in the end, with Eric finishing fourth,it was enough to clinch the 2006 nationals trophy.Sarasota Sailing Squadron Labor DayRegatta, Sept. 2-3By Morgan StinemetzWith more than 230 competitors on hand for racing, thetwo-day Labor Day Regatta at the Sarasota SailingSquadron had a little bit of everything for nearly everybody.Optimists at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron Labor Day Regatta.Photo by John Nora.Saturday’s winds were light and steady. Sunday’s windswere lighter still and with a splatter of rain showers in evidence.The 60th annual Labor Day Regatta was a success byany measure.In the Opti-combined red, blue and white fleet, 56boats, Michael Zonneberg, a Team FOR member—FORstands for Florida Oceanic Racing—pulled his irons out ofthe fire on Sunday when, in the only race run, he got a firstplacefinish. Zonnenberg, from Tampa, posted the bullet togo with the 1-6-8 he had notched on Saturday. With notenough races run to allow a throwout, Zonnenberg had 16points. Tied for second in the red, blue and white fleets were56 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

Jasper Curry sailing his Optimist in the Sarasota SailingSquadron’s Labor Day Regatta. Photo by John NoraMichael Booker from St. Petersburg (4-10-1-4) and MichaelPopp (2-4-11-2). Booker and Popp were also Team FORmembers.In the Opti green fleet, 85 boats, the top spot went toJake Freedman of Naples Community Sailing Club, whoraced in six races, and five of his best counted toward hiswin. His line score was 2-1-1-4-(6)-1. Jake Waddell of PalmBeach had an identical score, 9 points, but finished secondin class because of a tiebreaker—Freeman had more firstplacewins than he did. Third went to Ian Pinsholster ofNaples Community Sailing Club with 24 points and a linescore of 4-5-4-6-5-(20).Boats racing under PHRF handicapping rules sailed a 7-mile course on Sarasota Bay on Sunday while strugglingwith light airs and winds that were as shifty as a pickpocketat an amusement park. The race committee served up areverse handicap race for the PHRF contestants.In the PHRF true cruising class, 4 boats, MorganStinemetz of Palmetto won his race on Sunday. Combinedwith a previous win on Saturday, Stinemetz had two bullets, buthe also had a serious mental failure in Saturday’s first race. Heand his crew sailed the wrong course. Stinemetz had five pointsdumped on him for the mistake. He finished with seven points,but that was good enough for a class win. Steve Schwark ofSarasota, sailing a Pearson 33, Maggiemae, had first place inhand, but then did not finish the last race, so he ended up witheight points. Marc Fortune, sailing a Watkins 27, was third inwhat amounted to a four-boat class.In the PHRF spinnaker class, Doug Fisher’s big, yellowkiller, XS, posted three bullets to win easily. In second wasComet, Randy St. James’ Melges 24 with three second-placefinishes. St. James is from Sarasota. Third in class went toBob Armstrong of Bradenton, whose J/29, Mischief hadthree third-place finishes.PHRF non-spinnaker went to Greg Knighton’s Misty, aRanger 33. Knighton had three first-place finishes. In Tune,Doug Deardon’s Impulse 26, was second, and RudyReinecke’s Ohh Zone, a Beneteau FC 12, was third.In the SR Max 21 class, 4 boats, it was Sarasota’s CharlieClifton in first with a line score of 2-3-1. In second came TimMiller’s Elixir with a line score of 3-1-3. Third was taken byBill Johnsen with 4-2-3.One Up, Bill Fisher’s Stiletto 27, was the sole multihull,so Fisher was a shoe-in for first. Or last. Take your pick.The full-rigged Laser class was won by Fred Strammerof Nokomis. David Hernandez of Fort Myers came in second,and Jeff Olson of Sarasota was third.The Laser Radial class, 44 boats, was won by EmilyBilling of the Clearwater Yacht Club. Sam Blouin of Tampawas second. Ian Holtzworth of St. Petersburg came in third.In the Laser 4.7 class, it was Cam Hall in first, JasonKuebel in second and Katrina Salk in third. Salk is also a2006 co-winner of the Sears Cup, US SAILING’s youthtriple-handed championship.The Flying Scot class, 8 boats, saw Michael Roberts ofTampa in first after six races and one throwout. In secondcame Fred Strammer, Jr. of Nokomis. Ron Pletsch ofSarasota latched onto third.The 420 non-spinnaker class, 3 boats, was taken byAndrew Bilan and Matt Cowles with five straight bullets.Second went to Amy Hodges. Matthew Buchanan wasthird.The 420 spinnaker class went to Tommy Fink of CrystalRiver; second was earned by Trey Lehan of Tampa andAndrew Jones of Sarasota was third.The Sunfish class, 20 boats, was all Paul Strauley.Mindy Strauley placed second and Tony Eliot came in third.Sailing in the Traditional SummersetRegatta, Fort Myers Beach, FL, Sept. 2-3By Steve RomaineSteve Romaine (holding the boat) and crew who won the TrueCruising A class award. Photo by Mary Naylor.Forty-three boats raced in the Caloosahatchee Marching andChowder Society’s (CMCS) 41st Annual Labor Day regattatitled Summerset. Sailors of southwest Florida have gatheredfor 41 consecutive years to celebrate the end of summerby participating in the area’s premiere sailing event. Thisyear’s skippers and their crews competed in seven classes,from eight sailing clubs hailing from Punta Gorda to MarcoIsland. Eight CMCS boats just cruised to Naples as well.The regatta consisted of two races. The first was the 22-nautical-mile West Marine Coastal Race Saturday, startingat Fort Myers Beach with a nice westerly breeze, followedby rainsqualls with winds reaching up in the 30-knot rangebefore the boats finished near Gordon’s Pass in Naples.Sunday, was originally scheduled for two races but wasreduced to one 5-nautical-mile race as severe weather hamperedthe race committee’s effort to proceed as planned.Activities coordinated by CMCS Vice Commodore andRegatta Chairman Forrest Banks and his committee wereNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 57

RACINGRick Lancaster, FMSC, Morgan 28; 3. Island Time, Joe Barrett, GCSC,Catalina 320; CMCS Class: 1. Gopher Baroque, Gerry Pim, CMCS,Pearson 35; 2. Ariel, Gordon Coffman, CMCS, Pearson 33; 3. SeaPuppy, Mel Rudd, CMCS, Santana 30.The Summerset Regatta. Photo by Mary Naylor.thoroughly enjoyed by all. That included the skipper meetingsand after race socials with beverages and plenty offood. West Marine’s contribution was significant withnumerous door prizes. Other sponsors included OlsenMarine (donating a haul-out), Offshore Sailing School(donating a sailing course for two people) and numerousnautical supply vendors contributing. A portion of the proceedsof Summerset ’06 will be contributed to youth sailingprograms in southwest Florida.Highlights of the racing included Tom Bragan onBahama Hunter, a Farrier 33, winning his first Summerset inthe Multihull class. Peter Sulick in Rocket Board, a HobieMagic 25, was victorious for the second year in a row inSportboat class, and Dan Kendricks on his Farr 395,Tippecanoe, from Marco Island won in the Spinnaker class.Essence, skippered by Paul Macdill and Lauri Li, sailed byArnie Pfalz, both of the Fort Myers Sailing Club won inNon-spinnaker and True Cruising B respectively. The CMCSclass winner was Gerry Pim in Gopher Baroque, a Pearson 35.Steve Romaine and his crew from the Southwest FloridaBoat of the Year crew on board Air Supply (not entered),sailed Rex Goods’ Sabre 402, Jabu, to victory in TrueCruising A class. Awards were presented at the NaplesSailing and Yacht Club dinner to the top three finishers inthe coastal race and overall winner by CMCS RearCommodore of Racing Tom Gore.Results (For complete results, go www.cmcs-sail.org):Multihull: 1. Bahama Hunter, Tom Bragan, PGSC, Farrier 33; 2. PassionIII, Net Christensen, CMCS, TRT200CR; 3. Rapture, John Kremski,CMCS, Corsair 28R; Sport Class: 1. Rocketboard, Peter Sullick, NYC,Hobie Magic 25; 2. Judy, Tom Gore CMCS, Henderson 30; 3. Silver,Sam Johnson/Bob McElwain, GCSC, Melges 24; Spinnaker Class: 1.Tippecanoe, Dan Kendrick, SAMI, Farr 395; 2. Midnite Rider, ForrestBanks, CMCS, Tartan 4100; 3. Maria, Joe Bonness GCSC Soverel 33;Non-Spinnaker Class: 1. Essence, Paul McDill, FMSC, Pearson 35; 2.Fair Trade, Joe Martinez, FMSC, Catalina 27; 3. Sand Dollar, DaveNaumann CMCS, C&C 27; True Cruising A Class: 1. Jabu, SteveRomaine CMCS, Sabre 402; 2. Chase the Clouds, Bob Duff, CMCS,Catalina MKII 42; 3. Margareta, Alan Mitchell CMCS, Hunter 42; TrueCruising B Class: 1. Lauri Li, Arnie Pfalz, FMSC, Pearson 35; 2. Valkalele,Bay-Waveland Defends Title ofSir Thomas Lipton ChallengeBy Julie B. ConnerleyAs they have for more than 85 years, sailors from the GulfYachting Association sent teams to compete in the annualLabor Day weekend interclub Sir Thomas LiptonChallenge. This year’s regatta was held at Bay-WavelandYacht Club in Bay St. Louis, MS.Named after self-made millionaire Sir Thomas Lipton,founder of the Lipton Tea Company, the trophy is one ofmany bequeathed to yacht clubs by him to be “of service inencouraging and stimulating a love for the glorious sport ofyacht racing…”In August 1919, Southern Yacht Club’s then secretarytreasurer,William H. Parham, petitioned this particular trophy.He had become friends with Lipton when Lipton hadWinners of the Lipton Cup. Photo by Bob Maher.resided in New Orleans (and worked driving a streetcar),before returning to his native Scotland where he amassed afortune.In 1898, Lipton indulged one of his sporting passions byissuing a challenge to the New York Yacht Club for theAmerica’s Cup. In all, he made five unsuccessful attempts towin the cup back for Britain, but his love of sailing has beenpassed down to new generations of sailors, thanks to hisgenerosity.The inaugural series, held in October 1920, was sailed inthe SYC’s new Fish Class sloops. Pensacola Yacht Club wonthe series. For the 50th anniversary of the Sir Thomas LiptonChallenge, the Fish Class was retired and replaced by the19-foot Flying Scot with spinnaker as the interclub competitionboat.Only once since 1920 has the Lipton Cup been cancelled—andthat was last year.Competition rules provide that the winning club shallhost the next year’s event. In 2004, Bay-Waveland won thecompetition against 23 other GYA clubs. B-WYC had rolledout the red carpet for 2005’s event when Hurricane Katrina58 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

slammed the Gulf Coast just a week before the regatta,destroying several yacht clubs along the Mississippi,Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida coasts.B-WYC was devastated, but not its spirit. By January2006, the membership had coordinated efforts for temporarybuildings. And plans were again made to host theannual Sir Thomas Lipton Challenge.Nineteen other GYA teams rallied under the tents setup beside the temporary yacht club September 2-4. FromHouston, Texas, to Birmingham, Alabama, Panama City,Florida, and points in between, clubs sent teams for thefour-race series.The weather was beautiful for the series although thelandscape still bore the scars of Katrina. “If you were lookingsouth at the water and saw all the boats, it was just likethe good ol’ days. Just don’t look north at the shoreline,”said Lipton Challenge regatta chair, Judy Reeves of B-WYC.Class rules include a minimum weight of 425 pounds,and individuals can skipper only one race, crew only two.So most clubs have extra people attending the regatta, andwith the long weekend, some clubs encourage making theevent a family affair.Pensacola Yacht Club brought four of their JuniorLipton Team members along this year. Dominic Johnson,Dodge Rees, and Drew Werner skippered races. JuniorLipton Team member Douglas Bray crewed one race.“Because weight limits are a minimum of 425 pounds, havingyoungsters with experience on the Flying Scot helps theteam overall,” explained John Matthews, PYC’s LiptonTeam Captain.PYC took an 11th, 14th, 21st, and 14th, giving them atotal of 61 points for 15th place overall.However, involving junior level sailors at the adult eventwas well-intentioned, providing both a confidence builder,and strengthening the foundation for the junior sailing programin general. After all, they are the future of sailing.Defending champions, Bay-Waveland, which first wona Lipton Cup in 1963, handily won the 2006 series with twofirsts, a fifth and a second place in their last race. Their totalof 9 points was one less than second-place overall winnerBuccaneer Yacht Club, which had two firsts, a fifth and athird. Since no yacht club can host the event two years in arow, Buccaneer will host 2007’s challenge.Southern Yacht Club, which hosted the first Sir ThomasLipton Challenge, has won it a record 18 times, including itslast victory in 1994. SYC came in third overall this year with14 points.For a complete listing of results, visit Bay-Waveland’sWeb site at www.bwyc.org.The St. Augustine Summer Sizzler:Same Fun in a New Venue, Sept. 2-3By Roy LaughlinCatamaran sailors used to the Summer Sizzler as an oceancatamaran regatta were in for a surprise this year. Fleet 111,working with Jacksonville’s Rudder Club and its Labor DayRegatta, combined the two and held both in the St. JohnsRiver near the club’s facility. Hot sands gave way to pineneedles carpeting the shaded ground. But the fun was theThe Summer Sizzler. Photo by Roy Laughlin.same and the races a bit more challenging to those unfamiliarwith effects of currents on a racecourse.The race committee organized three catamaran classes:open, Hobie 16s and Formula 18s. In addition, a fleet ofFlying Scots, primarily Rudder Club members, composed afourth start. The wind was light, less than 10 knots from theSW most of the day. It rained all around the race area duringthe afternoon, but not on the racecourse on Saturdayand Sunday. The effects of current in the St. Johns Riverwere apparently a novelty for many of the cat sailors. Itaffected the intended tracks for both starts and mark roundingsuntil the teams learned from experience. Because thetide is a significant component of the current, the current’sstrength waxed, then waned during Saturday’s races.Current, along with keen competition, seemed to havethe most influence on standings of the F/18 fleet. No teamdominated the scoring. Olli and Kelli Jason scored firstplace in this class with a string of first- and second-place finishes.John McDonald and Tina Pastoor duked it out withEvan and Steve Miller for second and third places overall.In the final tally, McDonald and Pastoor prevailed with 11points for second place, and the Millers were in third with13 points.The Hobie 16 class was the largest one, as is typical ofthese summer regattas. Mike Burley earned first with astring of bullets and a total score of four. Robert Murph, oneof the regatta organizers, came in second with a score ofseven. Steve Caron came in third with 11 points. TheRudder Club has a multihull contingent that uses the club’sHobie 16s. A group of younger sailors from the club racedwith this class and made a good showing.In the open class, Chris Cordes, racing an A-class cat,won handily with four points following first-place finishesin all races. Rick and Terri Loewen followed in second placewith seven points. Robert Uschold (aka Gilligan) and JoniBerman finished third with 14 points, racing his signatureyellow Prindle 18-2, the SS Minnow.In the Flying Scots, Dave Strickland finished first witha score of four, all first-place finishes. The second- and thirdplacefinishes were won in a competitive contest amongseveral crews. When it was all over and the spray settled,Donna Mohe was in second place with nine points and JohnHirsch was third with 10 points.The Summer Sizzler was a successful regatta again thisyear. Whether the change in venue will continue remains upin the air. Jacksonville’s sponsored catamaran fleet, HobieFleet 111, had little choice this year. Hurricane Ophelia erodedthe beaches so badly last year, access to the usual site onSt. Augustine Beach remains too limited to convenientlyNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 59

RACING/REGIONAL RACINGhold the regatta in the ocean. In addition, the fleet lost a coupleof key members when they moved to new jobs out ofstate. They were unable to find replacements in time for theregatta this year. The advantage for participants is that theRudder Club has established facilities and an unsurpassed reputationfor hospitality. If the Summer Sizzler remains at theRudder Club, both multi and monohull sailors can look forwardto a great time and a reasonable cost in future regattas.More photos are available at www.floridamultihullsailor.com.Special Olympics of Georgia Regatta,Lake Lanier, GA, Sept. 8-10By Ron MitchelletteThe 36th anniversary of the Special Olympics of Georgia(SOGA) was celebrated on beautiful Lake Lanier over theweekend of September 8-10. This event was, once again, asmashing success with outstanding performances by theparticipating skippers, sponsors and donors. The totalfunds raised reached a record $36,000 with contributionsfrom the skippers, who raised $25,000 ($250/boat to participate),sponsors who raised $11,000 and raffle tickets thatraised $2300.The host sailing club, Southern Sailing, won first prizefor the most money raised again this year following lastyear’s similar performance. Other clubs that participatedwere the Barefoot Sailing Club, Lake Lanier Sailing Club,Atlantic Inland Sailing Club and the University Yacht Club,all of which competed for the top prize in total funds raised.The sponsors this year were Optelian, Rooms To Go,Corrugated Gear, Bad House Tears and GB&T, in conjunctionwith the lake’s marina sponsors, including Holiday,Aqualand, Sunrise, Bald Ridge, Gainsville, Lan-Mar andLanier HarborAnother record was set with 46 boats racing in five differentfleets, including the ever-popular and growingCruising fleet. The weather was great with mild temperaturesin the 80s, but the wind was nearly non-existent at perhaps3 knots with some gusts of 5 to 7 knots and buildingtoward the end of the race.This event included the usual PHRF-rated fleets in Spinand Non-Spin classes but it also included a PerformanceCruiser racing fleet that raced on Saturday only, while themore traditional racers raced on both Saturday and Sunday.The aprés-race party on Saturday night was terrific and thefood superb.For complete results, go to www.specialolympicsga.organd/or www.southernsailing.com.The special Olympics of Georgia (SOGA) has 23,956athletes participating in 23 Olympic- type sports, includingover 500 games, meets and tournaments all held in communitiesthroughout Georgia. Five statewide events are heldannually and culminate in World Summer and WinterGames every two years.Stay tuned to this page in the next few months asSeptember and October on Lake Lanier promises to be anevent-filled regatta countdown to the end of the season.This reporter will be reporting on the BFSC Dorton Cup tobe held on the weekend of Sept. 16-17 and the bigBarefoot/Sea Dog Open to be held on Oct. 6-9. This particularregatta is a very competitive race and usually includesmore participating boats than any other event on the lake.REGIONAL RACINGReports, News And Race CalendarsRegattas and Club Racing—Open to Everyone Wanting toRace. The races listed here are open to those who want tosail. No individual club membership is required, although aregional PHRF rating, or membership in US SAILING ormembership in a regional 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 information,send us your race schedule by the 5th of the month toeditor@southwindsmagazine.com. Send in the name of theevent, date, location, contacts (Web site, e-mail and/orphone), and, if you want a short description. Do not justsend a link in to this information.Since race schedules and venues change, contact thesponsoring organization to confirm. For changes to be published,contact the editor. Changes can be put on our Website, if possible.RACE CALENDAROCTOBERCharleston Ocean Racing Associ., www.charlestonoceanracing.org1-7 Sunfish Worlds21-22 Alice Cup29 Witches BrewLake Lanier, GA. www.lakeniersailing.com6 - 8 BFSC Open Regatta, Barefoot Sailing Club28-29 Halloween Regatta, Lake Lanier Sailing ClubLong Bay Sailing Association www.longbaysailing.org7 & 21 Fall Series 1 & 2, Little River Inlet, SC.Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org7 Neuse Solo – PHRF, Ensign, J24, SJ21, Etchells – ODC,Oriental, NC.14-15 Pamlico Cup Hospice Regatta / ICRC – PSC, Bath, NC14-15 Jacklass Regatta – Laser – MCBC, Merriman, NC.21-22 Ensign Invitational Regatta – Ensign – ODC, Oriental, NC.28 Halloween/Winter Series – PHRF – NYRA, New Bern, NC.South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association, www.sayra-sailing.com6-8 Sea Dog Barefoot Open – Open – Blackbeard Sailing Club,New Bern, NC.7 Around Parris Island-Sunfish. Beaufort Yacht & SailingClub. Beaufort, SC7-8 High School Regatta – 420 – Lake Norman Yacht Club,Mooresville, NC.7-8 Pursuit of the Cure Regatta – PHRF – Outrigger YachtClub, Huntersville, NC.60 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

7-8 Octoberfest Regatta – Open – Geechee Sailing Club,Thunderbolt, GA.13-15 Halloween Regatta – Open – Augusta Sailing Club,Augusta, GA.14-15 Highlander Pipe Regatta – Highlander – Lake NormanYacht Club, Mooresville, NC.14-15 Lightning Atlanta Cup – Lightning – Lake Lanier SailingClub, Flowery Branch, GA.14-15 Old Salty Regatta – Thistles – Lake Norman Yacht Club,Mooresville, NC.14-15 Atlanta Classic Sailboard Championship – Open – LakeLanier Sailing Club, Flowery Branch, GA.21-22 Hospice of the Upstate – Open – Western Carolina SailingClub, Anderson, SC.21-22 D12 Laser SC Championship. Beaufort Yacht & SailingClub, Beaufort, SC25-29 MC Nationals – MCs – Lake Norman Yacht Club,Mooresville, NC.28 Spook Regatta – Pursuit – Lake Townsend Yacht Club,Greensboro, NC.28 Stede Bonnet – PHRF – Cape Fear Yacht Club, Southport, NC.28-29 Carolina Ocean Challenge – PHRF, J105, Harbor 20 –South Carolina Yacht Club, Hilton Head Island, SC.28-29 Holloween Regatta – Snipes – Atlanta Yacht Club,Acworth, GA.28-29 Turkey Shoot – Open – Keowee Sailing Club, NorthSeneca, SC.NOVEMBERCharleston Ocean Racing Association,www.charlestonoceanracing.org11 Big Boat Regatta, Charleston Yacht Club, Charleston SC.18 Double Handed Race, Charleston SC.Lake Lanier, GA. www.lakeniersailing.com18 University Yacht Club Lanier Cup - Invitational, Atlanta, GALong Bay Sailing Association www.longbaysailing.org4, & 18 Fall Series 3, 4, & 5 Little River Inlet, SC.Neuse Yacht Racing Association www.nyra.org3 – 5 Etchells Fall Blast – Etchells – ODC, Oriental, NC.11 Winter Series – PHRF, NYRA boty – NYRA, New Bern, NC.18 Turkey Trot – SJ21 – New Bern, NC.South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association, www.sayra-sailing.com4 – 5 SAYRA PHRF Championships – J22, J24 – Charleston, SC.4 – 5 Flying Scot Fall 48 – Flying Scott – Lake Norman YachtClub, Mooresville, NC4 – 5 Midlands Regatta – Open – Columbia Sailing Club,Columbia, SC.4 – 5 Bloody Mary Thistle Regatta – Thistles – Western CarolinaSailing Club, Anderson, SC.11 – 12 Carolina Keel Boat & One Design Regatta – 20’ & up OneDesign – LNYC, Mooresville, NC.RACE CALENDAROCTOBER– Central and NE Florida1 Small Boat Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club4,11 Wednesday Evening Fall Series. Indian River Yacht Club7 Fall Series Race #2. East Coast Sailing Association–Racing7,21 Fall Series #3. Rudder Club7 First Saturday at Sebastian Inlet. Indian River CatamaranAssociation7 Small Boat Race. Smyrna Yacht Club.14 Navy Day Regatta, Fall Series #2. Navy Jax Yacht Club14-15 One Design & J-24 District Regatta. Florida Yacht Club14-15 Club Races. Lake Eustis Sailing Club20 Fall Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht Club21 Fall River Race & Fall Series #3. North Florida CruisingClub22 Women On Water Regatta. Rudder Club21-22 Fall Regatta, Small Boat Races. Melbourne Yacht Club21-22 Florida Inland Lake Championship. Lake Eustis SailingClub (Opti, Laser, Laser Radial, Laser 4.7, Club 420 forsailors 8 - 18)27-29 Fall Regatta, Big Boat Races. Melbourne Yacht Club28-29 Hiram’s Haul. Performance Sail (Beach Cat Distance Race)28-29 Club Races. Lake Eustis Sailing ClubNOVEMBER – Central and NE Florida3 Howl at the Moon. Halifax Sailing Center. Daytona3-5 Melbourne Cruise. Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club.4 First Saturday Sailing at Sebastian Inlet. Indian RiverCatamaran Association.4 Halloween Regatta. Florida Yacht Club, Jacksonville9-12 ECSA GAM. Eau Gallie.11 Turkey Trot Regatta.11 Kings Day Regatta. Epping Forest Yacht Club, Jacksonville11-12 13th Annual SER MC Scow Championship Regatta. LakeEustis Sailing Club.11-12 East Lake Toho Regatta. Lake Monroe Sailing Association.Sanford11 Fall Women’s Race #5 ECSA-women’s18 Club Race. Lake Monroe Sailing Association. Sanford.18 New Moon Merriment (fun regatta). Halifax Sailing Center.Daytona18-19 Pinedavilla Cruise. ECSA-Cruising18-19 Club Race. Lake Eustis Sailing Club.26 Winter Rum Race. Melbourne Yacht ClubRACE CALENDAROCTOBER1 CGSC Annual Regatta. BBYRA PHRF #10. CGSC. PHRFregatta for registered classes.7-8 Columbus Day Regatta. Columbus Day Cruising RegattaCommittee. The 52nd Annual two-day, cruising boat bayrace held in Biscayne Bay. www.columbusdayregatta.net.14 Columbus Day Regatta Award Party. At the Coral ReefYacht Club14-15 CGSC Annual Regatta. BBYRA OD #9. CGSC. One Designregatta for registered classes.21-22 Fall Harvest Regatta. BBYRA MYC. MYC. Annual two-dayregatta open to all one-design and multi-hull class.22-26 Snipe Western Hemisphere28 MYC’s Conch Cup. MYC. Annual multi-hull regatta startingoff Hobie beach in Biscayne Bay, proceeding aroundKey Biscayne and finishing at MYC.29 J/24 2 Halloween Regatta. Flat Earth RacingNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 61

RACINGLegendBBYRA Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.netBBYC Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. www.bbyra.netCGSC Coconut Grove Sailing Club. www.cgsc.orgMYC Miami Yacht Club. www.miamiyachtclub.net.RACINGKey West Sailing Club. Every Saturday – Open House atthe Key West Sailing Club. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (305)292-5993. www.keywestsailingclub.org. Sailboat Lane offPalm Avenue in Key West. Come by the club to sail. Nonmembersand members welcome. Wednesday night racinghas begun for the summer season. Skippers meet at theclubhouse by 5:00 p.m. and boats start racing at 6:00 p.m. inthe seaplane basin near the mooring field. Dinner anddrinks afterward.Upper Keys Sailing Club.www.upperkeyssailingclub.com.RACING30th Annual Crow’s Nest Regatta,Venice, FL, Sept. 30, Oct. 4 and 7The 30th Annual Crow’s Nest Regatta is scheduled for Sept.30, Oct. 4 and Oct 7. The regatta is composed of three events.On Saturday, Sept. 30, the Venice Youth Boating Association(VYBA) will race IODs and Portsmouth Division onVenice’s Roberts Bay. On Wednesday Oct. 4, the VeniceWomen’s Sailing Squadron (VWSS), a.k.a. “The BitterEnds,” will race Pram and Sunfish on Roberts Bay. The regatta’smain events will be on Saturday, Oct. 7 and will be oncourses in the Gulf off the Venice Jetties. There will be threeraces for West Florida PHRF classes: spinnaker, non spinnaker,true cruising, and multihull. There will also be a racefor those “once-a-year racers” to enjoy the fun of the day.(This race will be handicapped by the race committee.) Theregatta is also a participating event in the Sarasota Bay Boatof the Year series.The Crow’s Nest Regatta is a charity event for theCommunity Foundation of Sarasota County, which benefitsVenice youth activities.Free overnight dockage is available for race entrants.For entry information, contact Brad LaRoche, Crow’s Nestdockmaster, at (941) 484-7661.West Florida Race CalendarThe 0nline West Florida Race Calendar which goes fromSept.1, 2006 thru August 31, 2007 is available on theSOUTHWINDS Web site with hyperlinks to sponsoringclubs. It covers racing in West Florida from Marco Island insouthwest Florida north, up to and including Clearwater.www.southwindsmagazine.com. Accessed on the racingpages from the home page.Club RacingBradenton YC. Evening Races Daylight Savings time ofyear. Races at 6:30 p.m. PHRF racing on Manatee River. Forinfo call Larry Lecuyer, (941) 729-5401.Edison Sailing Center, Fort Myers. Sunfish and dinghyracing once a month, year-round.john@johnkremski.comPort Charlotte. Third Saturday of month, year-round.pbgvtrax@aol.comSarasota Sailing Squadron. Friday Series PHRF / multihull.Every friday through to Sept. 15. 6:30 p.m. start.Motley Sunday Cruisers Pursuit Race. Free pursuit raceevery Sunday, 12 a.m. skippers briefing, BBQ after the race.www.sarasotasailingsquad.com.Venice Sailing Squadron. Saturdays. First Saturday ofeach month, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet.www.venice-sailing-squadron.orgOCTOBER1 Tampa Sailing Squadron. Women’s Fall Regatta, PHRF.4 Crows Nest Regatta. Venice Women’s Sailing Saquadron.Pram & Sunfish in Robert Bay7 Dunedin Boat Club, Dunedin Cup Race, PHRF, Tampa BayCatamaran Society. Dunedin Causeway. Dinghies, Cats,Ensigns, Sea Pearls, Sunfish, Prams, PHRF. Contact RodCollman (727) 734-37497 St. Petersburg Sailing Association, Race #2,3. PHRF7 Venice Sailing Squadron. Venice Yacht Club. Crows NestRegatta. Main event, PHRF.(SBBOTY) NOR7-8 Clearwater YC. Clearwater Championship. Optimist, Laser,Radial, 4.7, C420.7-9 Columbus Day Regatta, Miami. www.columbusdayregatta.net/2006.13-14 Naples YC. Boca Offshore Regatta, PHRF. (SWFBOTY)NOR on home page.13-15 St. Petersburg YC. Distance Classic PHRF toVenice.(SBOTY) NOR14-15 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. South Seas/Kayusa Cup, PHRF14-15 Edison Sailing Center. River Romp Regatta. Dinghies19-22 St. Petersburg YC. Rolex Osprey Cup Women’s match racinginvitational, Sonars. NOR20 Naples YC. Offshore Regatta, PHRF. (SWFBOTY) NOR onhome page.21-22 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Sunfish Women’s Regatta21-22 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. Florida Inland LakeChampionship Regatta. Laser, Optimist, Club 42021-22 Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. Cedar Key Cat Regatta,Beach Cats. Confirm this date62 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

21-22 Davis Island YC. Classic to Clearwater, PHRF. (SBOTY)28 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Great Pumpkin Regatta.28-29 Clearwater Yacht Club. Clearwater Challenge Regatta,PHRF. (SBOTY) NOR28-29 Davis Island YC. Sunfish Regional Championship.29 Daylight Savings Time ends, and Standard Time begins29 Cortez YC. Halloween Race PHRF in the Bay. Call 941-792-9100 to confirm.30 Clearwater Yacht Club. Single-hand/double handClearwater to Egmont, PHRF.NOVEMBER2-5 Strictly Sail Boat Show &Trawler Show, Vinoy Basin, St.Petersburg, 20064 Venice Sailing Squadron. Venice Yacht Club. Buoy Race,PHRF4 St. Petersburg Sailing Assoc. Commodore’s Cup, PHRF.4 Sarasota Yacht Club. Invitational Regatta. PHRF. (SBBOTY)4-5 Gulfport Yacht Club. Alter Cup Area D South Qualifier,Catamarans4-5 Venice Sailing & Yacht Club. Commodore’s Cup, PHRF5 St. Petersburg Sailing Assoc. Women’s Fall Race11-12 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. MC Scow Championship. NOR11-12 Davis Island YC. Egmont Key Race, PHRF.11-12 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Flying Scot Regatta.17-19 St. Petersburg YC. Snipe Florida States. NOR18 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Drumstick Regatta.18-19 Clearwater Community Sailing Center. Carlisle Classic inthe gulf and on the bay.18-19 Marco Island YC Fall Regatta Buoy Races PHRF,(SWFBOTY).18-19 St. Petersburg YC. Fall Bay Race PHRF. (SBOTY) NOR23 Thanksgiving.24 Davis Island YC. Old Shoe Race.25-26 Davis Island YC. Thanksgiving All Class Regatta.30-Dec 3 St. Petersburg YC. America’s Disabled Open RegattaWest Florida Ocean Racing Circuit(WFORC), Pensacola Yacht Club, Oct. 12By Kim KaminskiThis year marks the 32nd Anniversary of the West FloridaOcean Racing Circuit (WFORC) Regatta hosted by thePensacola Yacht Club. For the 2006 competition the racingfleet will be made up of monohull PHRF Spinnaker classboats as well as separate Melges 24 and 32 classes.Starting on Thursday, October 12, competitors will beable to check in during the skipper’s briefing, which will beheld at the Pensacola Yacht Club for the PHRF and Melges32 classes. (Skipper’s briefing for the Melges 24 class will beheld the following day.) Racing will begin on Friday,October 13, on Pensacola Bay, ending with an awards partysponsored by Mount Gay Rum and the GYA OffshoreCouncil.For the PHRF Fleet and the Melges 32 class, six races arescheduled with five races planned for the Melges 24 class.Each contestant will compete for the coveted Dr. LindsayRiddle Trophy, a special award given to the winning boat inthe most competitive class. Class awards will also be givento first, second, and third-place finishers in class and series.Entry forms are available along with additional informationat the Pensacola Yacht Club Web site, www.pensacolayachtclub.orgRACE CALENDARWednesday Evening Fun Races –Pensacola Yacht Club – 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of theMonth - April thru OctoberFort Walton Yacht Club – April thru OctoberOCTOBER 20067 Commodore’s Regatta. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola,FL7-8 GYA Multihull. Ocean Springs Yacht Club, Ocean Springs,MS7-8 Hospitality Regatta. Jackson Yacht Club, Jackson, MS13-15 WFORC. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL14 Gumbo Regatta. Lake Arthur Yacht Club, Lake Arthur, LA14-15 Fish Class Worlds. Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile, AL21 Schreck Regatta (Capdevielle). Pensacola Yacht Club,Pensacola, FL21 Fish Class Regatta. Buccaneer Yacht Club, Mobile, AL21 Charity Regatta. Pensacola Beach Yacht Club, PensacolaBeach, FL21 New Orleans Closing Regatta. New Orleans Yacht Club,New Orleans, LA22 Southern Yacht Club Closing Regatta. Southern YachtClub, New Orleans, LA28-29 LPRC (Lake Pontchartrain Racing Circuit). New OrleansYacht Club, Southern Yacht Club, Tammany Yacht Club,New Orleans, LA28 Anniversary Broken Triangle Regatta. Mobile Yacht Club,Mobile, ALNOVEMBER4 PYC Championship Race #4. Pensacola Yacht Club,Pensacola, FL4 Monk Smith Regatta. Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St.Louis, MS4 Mississippi State Optimist Championship. Bay WavelandYacht Club, Bay St. Louis, MS4-5 LPRC (Lake Pontchartrain Racing Circuit). New OrleansYacht Club, Southern Yacht Club, Tammany Yacht Club,New Orleans, LA11 Double-Handed Regatta. Fairhope Yacht Club, Fairhope,AL11 Rondinella Regatta. Bay Waveland Yacht Club, Bay St.Louis, MS11 Cruising Raft-Up. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL11-12 Jubilee Regatta GYA Individual Flying ScotChampionship. Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL12,19 Fall #1,#2. Corinthian Sailing Association. New Orleans,LA18 Cruising Couples Regatta. Pensacola Yacht Club,Pensacola, FL18 J-Fest. New Orleans Yacht Club, New Orleans, LA18 FSSA Cajun Country Championship. Lake Arthur YachtClub, Lake Arthur, LA19 Turkey Regatta. Jackson Yacht Club, Jackson, MS25-26 USODA MidWinters. Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans,LANews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 63

REGIONAL SAILINGSailing Services Directory starts as low as $10 a month.BOAT LETTERINGSail Mexican MAYAN RIVIERA46-foot Hunter • Cancun airport pick upSnorkel • Dive • Visit Ruinsjasosa@bellsouth.net . . . . .(818) 262-5853www.mexicanmayariviera.com/CAPTAIN SERVICESCAPT. KEVIN MURPHY . . . . .(340) 277-1026USCG Licensed Master, Deliveries,Instruction murfdesurf@hotmail.comCANVAS & CUSHION SERVICESSCUBA CLEANSee ad in Underwater ServicesMARINE CANVAS & BOAT REPAIRAll Canvas work, cushions & interiorsStainless Work/WeldingFiberglass & misc. repairs(727) 821-5482 . . . . . . . . .(727) 804-6173CHARTERSMAHINA LA SAILING . . . . . .(941) 713-8000MacGregor 65 * Two hours to two weeksSouth Tampa Bay Area in CortezDaily Sunset Cruises or Sail to the Keyswww.floridasailingtrips.comADVERTISE IN THIS SERVICESDIRECTORY STARTING AT $8/ MON.EDITOR@SOUTHWINDS-MAGAZINE.COMOR CALL (941) 795-8704TOPSAIL SERVICESDeliveries • ConsultingPower • SailUSCG Licensed Master • Unlimited TonnageDon Charland (910) 279-6315doncharland@aol.comCOMMUNICATIONSDOCKSIDE RADIO www.docksideradio.comPactor II/III Modem Sales & Support; FCCMarine Radio License filing; SailMail WinLinkInstallation & Training . . . . .(941) 661-4498CUSTOM BOAT SERVICES& REPAIRSELLIE’S SAILING SHOP . . . . . . . . . .ClearwaterLifelines, rigging, hardware, repairsServing small boat sailors Since 1958Sunfish ________________________________________Boats and Parts . . . . .(727) 442-3281GLASTECH YACHTS . . . . . . .(727) 544-5512Full Service Marine Yard & Mobile ServicePower & Sail • Serving West Floridawww.glastech34trawler.com________________________________________Industrial Marine Supply . . . . . . . .Tampa BayGas/Diesel Repair & MaintenanceCertified Electrical & PlumbingUnderwater work . . . . . .(775) 771-8515 cellFISHING GUIDESFL KEYS BACKCOUNTRY TRIPSWith Pro Guide Capt. “BR”Exploring, Sportfishing, Birding(305) 304-2258 www.keywestsportfish.comMARINE DIESEL SERVICEINLAND MARINE DIESEL . . . . . . . . . .AtlantaService/Parts for all makes of diesel auxiliaryNew Engine Sales–Universal, Beta, Yanmar,and Westerbeke . . . . . . . . ..(404) 513-4414MARINE SURVEYINGTAYLOR MARINE SURVEYING &CONSULTING, LLCSpecializing in Sailing Vessels(904) 466-0602www.taylormarinesurveying.comAdvertise your services here1" boxed-in adsfor $240 a yearRIGGING SERVICESArticles and Photos WantedContact: editor@southwindsmagazine.com■ SAILING EXPERIENCES: Stories and photosabout experiences in places you’ve cruised,anchorages, marinas, or passages madethroughout the Southern cruising waters,including the Caribbean and the Bahamas.■ RACE REPORTING: Generally, we are alwayslooking for someone to send us race coveragethroughout the southern states, the Bahamasand the Caribbean.■ CRUISING NOTES: Southern sailors cruisingon the high seas or cruising our waterways andcoasts: Send us word on where you’re at andwhat you’re doing. How the cruising life istreating you.■ BAHAMAS: Trips, experiences, passages,anchorages, provisioning and other stories thatare of interest.■ HURRICANE STORIES: Hurricanes are a partof owning a boat in the Southern waters, andwe would like to hear how you and your boatmight have been affected by a storm or howyou prepare your boat for one, experiencesyou’ve had. Send us letters or articles.■ OUR WATERWAYS: Information about thewaters we sail in: disappearing marinas, boatyardsand slips; mooring fields, anchoringrights, waterway access, etc.■ MAINTENANCE & TECHNICAL ARTICLES:How you maintain your boat, or rebuilt a boat,technical articles on maintenance, repairs, etc.■ INDIVIDUALS IN THE SAILING INDUSTRY:Interesting stories about the world of sailorsout there, young, old, and some that are nolonger with us but have contributed to thesport or were just true lovers of sailing.■ THE CARIBBEAN: Stories about the warmtropical waters farther south of us.64 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

SERVICES DIRECTORYCall (941) 795-8704 or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.comADVERTISEIN THESERVICE DIRECTORYStarting at $96 a yeareditor@southwindsmagazine.com(941) 795-8704SAILING INSTRUCTIONYACHTING VACATIONS Punta Gorda, FLSailboat Charters 22’-48’ ASA instructionLive-aboard/non-live-aboardwww.yachtingvacations.co . . .(800) 447-0080MASTHEAD USED SAIL . . . .(800) 783-6953www.mastheadsailinggear.comLargest Inventory in the South (727) 327-5361PORPOISE SAILING SERVICES –Sarasota*New/Used Sails * New Custom SailsRoller Furling Systems & Packages(800) 507-0119www.porpoisesailing.comRIGGING SERVICESBay RiggingTAMPA’S MOBILE RIGGING SERVICEYacht Rigging • Furlers • LifelinesCell (727) 215-0704www.bayrigging.comOCEAN RIGGINGFull Service Mobile Rigging30 yrs experience • Ft. Myers to Punta Gordaoceanrigging@earthlink.net .(239) 218-1127SSMR. INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .727-823-4800Complete Rigging ServicesOn-Site Crane, Splicing & SwagingCommissioning ServicesOn Salt Creek at Salt Creek Boat WorksFax 727-823-3270 . . . . . . . . . .St. PetersburgSEA TIME SAILING SCHOOL . . . . .Miami, FLOffshore trips/Sailing courseswww.seatimesailing.com . . . .(954) 636-9726SAILMAKING, REPAIRING& CLEANINGADVANCED SAILS . . . . . . . . .(727) 896-7245Quality Cruising Sails & ServiceClosest Sailmaker to St. Petersburg MarinasKeith Donaldson . . . . . . . . . .(727) 896-7245Scuba Clean Yacht ServiceSee ad in Underwater ServicesUNDERWATER SERVICESScuba Clean Yacht Service• Underwater Services • Canvas Shop• Sail Cleaning & Repair • DetailingServing Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota,Pasco & Manatee Counties.(727) 327-2628■ CHARTER STORIES: Have an interestingCharter story? In our Southern waters, or perhapsin the Bahamas, the Caribbean, or pointsbeyond in some far-off and far-out exotic place?■ FUN AND UNUSUAL STORIES: Got aninteresting story? Unusual, funny, tearjerkers,learning experiences and others wanted. Keepthem short for our last page, 700-1000 wordsroughly. Photos too, but not necessary.■ CUBA: Of course, there is always Cuba, andregardless of how our country’s elected officialstry to keep Americans out of the largestisland in the Caribbean, it will one day be openas a cruising ground. Today American sailorscan legally go to Cuba and cruise if they followthe proper procedures. If you have a storyabout such a trip, let us look at it.■ MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOS: Photographsare always enjoyable, whether for their beauty,their humor, or for many other reasons, andwe take them alone. We would like photoswith every story, if possible.■ COVER PHOTOS: SOUTHWINDS is alwayslooking for nice cover shots, which are alwayspaid for. They generally need to be a verticalshot, but we can sometimes crop horizontalphotos for a nice cover picture. They need tobe of a high resolution. If digital, they need tobe taken at a very high resolution (and manysmaller digital cameras are not capable of takinga large, high-resolution photo as is on acover). If a photograph, then we need itscanned at high resolution, or if you send it tous, we can do so.■ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: For those of youwho are not as ambitious to write stories, wealways want to hear from you about yourexperiences and opinions.CONTACTeditor@southwindsmagazine.comfor more information and questions.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 65

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News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 69

CLASSIFIED ADSCLASSIFIED ADS — 3 Months for $25Place your ad early on the Internet for $10• Classified ads with text only for boats are $25 fora three-month ad for up to 30 words. $50 for adwith horizontal photo ($65 if vertical photo). Checkor Credit cards accepted. Must be for sale by owner– no business ads. Boats wanted ads included.• Free ads for boats under $500 (sail and dinghiesonly), all gear under $500, and windsurfingequipment. For sale by owner ads only.• All other ads (including business ads) are $20 amonth for up to 20 words, add $5 a month foreach additional 10 words. $10 a month for a horizontalphoto. Frequency discounts available.Contact editor.• All ads go on the SOUTHWINDS Web site. For aone-time $10 fee, we will place your ad on theInternet before going to press on the next issue.• No Refunds• The last month your ad runs will be in parentheses,e.g., (10/06) is October 2006.• Ad must be received by the 10th of the month.TO PLACE AN AD:1. On the Internet www.southwindsmagazine.comThis applies only to the $25 and $50 ads above withand without photo. Pay with Paypal and put yourad in the subject line. If a photo, then e-mail toeditor@southwindsmagazine.com as a separate jpegattachment.2. Via E-mail and Credit Card. E-mail your ad toeditor@southwindsmagazine.com. Text can be put inthe e-mail. Send photos as a separate jpeg attachmentto the e-mail. Pay by mail (see below) or creditcard. You can call us with a credit card number. Giveus the credit card number, expiration, billing addressand name on card. Call (941) 795-8704.3. Mail your ad in. Mail to SOUTHWINDS, PO Box1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175. Send a checkor credit card number with information as listed in #2above. Mail the photo in (35mm best). If you wantthe photo back, enclose a SASE. Add $5 for a typingcharge.4. Telephone or fax your ad in. Call (941) 795-8704 and give us your ad over the phone. There isan additional $5 typing charge. If you have a photo,you can mail it in. We can take your credit card number,or you can mail a check. Fax: (941) 795-8705.DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDSAdvertise your business in a displayad in the classifieds section.1” $25/month . . . .12-month minimum2” $38/month . . . . . . . . . . . .12 months2” $44/month . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 months3” $57/month . . . . . . . . . . . .12 months3” $66/month . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 monthsBOATS & DINGHIES_________________________________________Bauer 10 Sailboat. Fiberglass with the centerboard.Fully equipped with trailer. Both New.Cost $4315. Sell both for $2850 or boat onlyfor $2500. (941) 966-3507. (12/06)Hard Dink for sale. $375. 8.5’ overall, Oars.Wood trim, black rub rail. 2.2 Honda fourstrokeavailable for xtra $. Bruce/SPB, FL.(404) 277-0358. (12/06)_________________________________________Dinghy Package Yankee Boatworks 9’3”fiberglass with cover $950, Kato heavy dutydavits $850, Solarex 42W solar panels onpivot base $500, all for $2000.00 OBO.photo available (321) 431-4380. (12/06)Caribe 10X RIB, 2001, 10’ Inflatable dinghy,Fiberglass V hard bottom, Yamaha 15hp,Anchor, New trailer, Great tender or smallrunabout, $2,985 Rick (813) 376-8040.(10/06)Tanzer 22CB. Main, Genoa, Jib, Spinnaker,9.9HP Electric Suzuki, Compass, Speed,Depth, Ice Box, Porta Potti, Boom Awning,Screens, VHF Antenna/cable. Sleeps four.Great Weekend Cruiser, Racer. More. $4000.(239) 542 3753. (10/06)Catalina 27, 1984, Tall rig, 4’ draft, 15 hpUniversal diesel just serviced, Harken roller furling,Edson wheel steering, depth, speed, pressurewater, stove, ice box, anchor, Lewmar STwinches, 110 shore power, air conditioner, batterycharger. $12,900. OBO for quick sale.www.cortezyachts.com or call (941) 792-91001971 O’Day Rhodes 19 Sailboat, 3’3”Keel, Johnson Sailmaster-6, Tohatsu-3.5hp Outboard(s), Includes 10 ft. Zodiac,Battery, Sails, New Bottom Paint, Electrical,many Accessories, Good Condition. $4800OBO. www.RedMcKenna.com. (813) 831-8585. (10/06)1986 Seaward 22, shoal draft, new rigging,upholstery, paint, 2003 Suzuki 4-stroke6HP motor, VHF, depth finder, AM-FMradio, solar panel, open ports, trailer. $6,500.rf2tilly1@earthlink.net. Call Ralph (352) 283-0836. (11/06)PaceShip 23, Roller Furling, Spinnaker & Pole,DC refrigeration, Marine Head, Depth meter,9.9 Yamaha 4-stroke electric, Battery Charger,2 batteries, Grill, Bimini, Dodger, Alcoholstove, Cockpit Cushions, 5 winches, $3500OBO (727) 534-3425.(11/06)Boat classifieds start at$25/3mo.70 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADS28-foot Morgan Out Island 1974. Cruiseready, Autohelm, two GPSs, depth finder,radio, compass, Yanmar diesel, sleeps six, 3-foot draft, docked at Shell Pt, FL. Selling forhealth reasons. $9000/best offer. (850) 539-9044._________________________________________(11/06)Viper 830 28 ft Sprint sailboat with trailer,carbon mast, motor, instruments, new sails,plus extras $39,500. Located in Ft. WaltonBeach, FL. call Mike at (850) 243-1804, e-mailMike at pam.guthrie@cox.net. (11/06)1985 Bayfield 32C Cutter full keel cruiser,with 18HP Yanmar diesel and only 3’ 9” draft.Edson wheel steering. Datamarine depth andspeed. 25# CQR anchor with chain and rode.Bow sprit. Dorade vents. Isomat spars. 8winches. Excellent sails. S/S stove and oven.Ice box. Sleeps five. Classic H.T. Gozzarddesign. Only $19,900. Major Carter.www.CortezYachts.com (941) 792-9100Fountaine Pajot Tobago 35 Catamaran.1996. Ready to cruise. Many extras. Solar panels,new fridge, windlass, twin Yanmar 18s,dinghy with Merc 6 (4-stroke). $135,000. Joanor Steve. (954) 321-1603. (10/06)Catalina 30 1991 MK II Ultimate Cruiser,Std rig, wing keel, full bimini/dodger, newspinnaker, 3.5kw Genset, A/C, Electric fridge,watermaker, icemaker, microwave, inverter, 2battery chargers, Link 2000, Raymarine SL 70Radar, 425 Chartplotter, Tri-data, 4000STAutopilot with remote, Garmin 128 GPS,Loran, JVC CD/Stereo, 8.6’ dink with Nissan2.5OB, $49,900. Niceville, Florida (850) 699-2717. (11/06)1981 Cape Dory Cutter 30. Well-equippedcruising boat. Surveyed 2002 at $35K. Toughboat, no damages in Katrina. Volvo Diesel.New head and sailcovers in 2005. $32,000.John (228) 343-9546. (11/06)33’ Glander Tavana 1985 center board masthead sloop. Newly painted bottom, hull, topsidesand non-skid. New rub rail, teak hatches.New jib sail. 30 HP Vetus diesel. GreatFlorida and Bahamas boat, draws 3’ board up.A no-nonsense boat offered below market at$10,000/best offer. Needs TLC. Call MajorCarter (941) 792-9100.30’ Pearson, Racer/Cruiser Sloop, 1976, red,Excellent cond., 2 mains, 3 jibs, 3 spinnakers,spinnaker pole. Tiller, marine radio, stove,new pot, sleeps 6, $12,900. Madeira Beach,FL terrycshan@aol.com. (727) 581-4708 or(727) 244-4708. (11/06)33’ Endeavour Sloop. 1984. draft 4’6”,Profurl headsail, auto pilot, refrig-AC/DC, H/Cpress water, VHF, GPS, solar, sailing dinghy,4hp OB, 22hp Yanmar diesel, new bottompaint. (772) 335-0180. $36,000.’jackstuff@bellsouth.net. (11/06)Irwin 33 (1974) Extremely well-maintainedcruiser ready to go! Improvements includeAC, autopilot, new rigging, new upholstery -much more. $13,600. Call (321) 662-4085 -details at: www.zedpm.com/~74irwin3331’ Sloop. New 20 hp Universal, New Sails,Autopilot, Depth/knotmeter/distance, windspeed,Loran, Bimini. Cold molded. Slip in St.Petersburg, FL, included. Well-maintained.www.angelfire.com/fl5/boatforsalefl. Mustsell! (813) 230-5751. (11/06)32’ Westsail (1977) Perkins 4-107 diesel,Aires vane, Harken roller furling, S-L windlass,35CQR, 33 Bruce, cold plate refrigeration, airconditioning, Garmin chartplotter. Dodger &Bimini. Exceptional condition, little used.$55,000/OBO. Call (954) 560-3919. (11/06)1993 Gemini 3400 catamaran. 14’ beam. 18”board up. 5’ board down. In Sarasota. Cruiseready, Air, solar, davits, contact Alan (970)690-3758 or alanm@frii.com for inventory list.Asking $65,000.DISPLAYCLASSIFIED ADSSTARTING AT$38/MONTHNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 71

CLASSIFIED ADS1995 Hunter 35.5 Only 615 hrs on Yanmar27. New canvas, Navico autopilot, ST 60depth, ST 60 speed, Furuno GPS, SGC SSBradio, Apelco VHF, dinghy w/OB engine, rollerfurling, full batten main w/dutchman, solarpanel, S&L windlass, holding plate refrigeration,SS propane stove, 12000 BTU marine air,TV, stereo. Ready to sail with performance andpleasure. $63,900. www.cortezyachts.com.(941) 792-9100.Rodgers 33, 1981, 2’ 8” draft, GreatFlorida/Bahamas boat, bimini, tillerw/auto-pilot, 2GM Yanmar, new interior,propane stove, pressure water, 16K A/C,microwave, stereo, VHF, $27,000, (941)722-3126. (11/06)Manta 42 Catamaran, 2000. Immaculate,ocean outfitted. SSB/modem, watermaker,solar panels, wind generator, genset, AC, RIBdinghy and 9hpOB, sea anchor, liferaft, EPIRB,much more. Ask $318K. (941) 505-5053.amchateau@comcast.net. (12/06)1978 Jeanneau 38’ Gin Fizz with Perkins 4-108 diesel - less than 100 hours SMOH Thispopular center cockpit with aft cabin is a cruiser’schoice. 2 blade Maxi prop and new shaft.Bimini and dodger. Main sail, jib, genoa andspinnaker. Horizon depth, wind speed anddirection. Roller furling needs work or replace.Manual windlass. Bruce anchor w/20’ chainand 300’ rode. Pressure hot and cold water.Microwave built in. Adlar Barbor refrigeration.Head w/shower. VHF radio, Aplelco GPS.Stereo. Best buy on the market. Owner anxious,taking offers, try $26,900. Must sell!www.CortezYachts.com 941-792-910038’ Lagoon Catamaran. 2002. Excellent condition.One of the best on the market for themoney. Very well-equipped. Lots of new andupdated equipment. Reduced to $279,000.Call Bob, owner, at (507) 951-1625. BurntStore Marina, Punta Gorda, FL. (10/06)_________________________________________Morgan Out-Island 41’ 1981 Ketch. NEWPerkins 65HP engine/transmission. Fullyequipped for cruising – just back after fiveyear cruise. Heavier cruising boat, 27,000 lb,large interior, 13’10” beam, shallow draft4’5”. $84,900, John (772) 453-4069, johnausen@yahoo.com,Fort Pierce FL. (11/06)BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES_________________________________________RADAR SCANNER WANTED. Raytheon 2D18” Radome 2KW. Or one compatible withthe HSB Series Pathfinder Radar. Must beoperational. I have an intact plastic housingand mounting bracket for mast. Would alsolike new wiring, but not necessary. (941) 795-8704._________________________________________editor@southwindsmagazine.com.Sails Wanted for Catalina 28. MK II, butMKI might work. Tall rig. (941) 795-8704.editor@southwindsmagazine.com._________________________________________WANTED – Whisker Pole, Telescoping, linecontrol, or adjustable, 8-14 ft. or 10-18 ft.West Florida, Tampa Bay area. (941) 795-_________________________________________8704. editor@southwindsmagazine.com.Hard Dink for sale. $375. 8.5’ overall, Oars.Wood trim, black rub rail. 2.2 Honda fourstrokeavailable for xtra $. Bruce/SPB, FL.(404)_________________________________________277-0358. (12/06)Dinghy Package Yankee Boatworks 9’3”fiberglass with cover $950, Kato heavy dutydavits $850, Solarex 42W solar panels onpivot base $500, all for $2000 OBO. photoavailable (321) 431-4380. (12/06)CLASSIFIEDS ONwww.southwindsmagazine.com45’ 6” LOA Bayfield 40, Hull # 34 full keel 5’draft, cutter ketch designed by H.T.Gozzardbuilt in 1984. Exceptional condition with lotsof new gear. Harken roller furling on all sails.Marine air, WS, WD, depth, VHF w/remote,SSB, cd/radio, autopilot, chartplotter, Radar,dinghy, life raft $99,000 Call Major Carter orvisit www.Cortezyachts.com72 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADSMartec folding prop 18x14x1-1/4 shaft$125. 22 lb. danforth $35. Yaesu all bandreciever $25. Sealab SSB 7 crystals $25.Plastic holding tank “V” 24 gal. $20. Plasticwater tank 36 gal.$20. Located Melbourne,FL. Take it all for $175! (321) 431-4380.(12/06)_________________________________________Two Montague folding, full-size bicycles;perfect for cruising. Like new, with manyextras, including soft carrying cases. “A bicyclethat folds, not a folding bicycle.” $350 each.(941)743-7156_________________________________________or (941)504-3302. (10/06)Used Boat Gear for Sale. Paratech 15 & 18—both with line and chain, Stainless Propanestoves, 10’ Dyer Sailing Dinghy, 8’ Walker BaySailing Dinghy with Inflatable Tube, Offshorelife vests, 6-man coastal life raft, 36’, 26’, 30’masts & booms, some with rigging. NauticalTrader, 110 E. Colonia Lane, Nokomis, FL,(941) 488-0766. Shop online at www.nauticaltrader.net.WIND GENERATOR, FOUR-WINDS (NEW)with 9’ pole mount, air-brake, swivel base.$1,200 OBO (includes shipping). (813) 545-9218._________________________________________(10/06)Complete standing rig for a 20’ Irwin Mini-Ton, includes 28’ mast with boom, step,stays, preventer, traveller, main, jib, spinnaker,fiberglass centerboard, rudder, SS bowpulpit, stanchions, hatch cover, & 2 Lewmarwinches. $900 for all, or call for prices. (727)896-1939. (11/06)2- 8000# boat lift straps, 14’ long, D ringends, used once. $100 for both. (281) 324-1416._________________________________________(10/06)Rigging cable. 7 x 19. Stainless Steel. Nonmagnetic.7/16” diameter. 600 ft for $1200.(904)_________________________________________794-0937. (10/06)3-Bladed Feathering Prop,$1,000. Like new.Used on 36 Catalina, less than 200 hours.Sarasota, FL. (941) 766-0008. ask for Bob H.(11/06)News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 73

CLASSIFIED ADSBOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES_________________________________________CHARTS & BOOKS_________________________________________Discount NOAA, NGA, Maptech nauticalcharts and software. NOAA chart sale $15.50each! Visit authorized chart agent_________________________________________www.DiscountNautical.com. (11/06)Ocean Routing – Jenifer Clark’s Gulf StreamBoat Routing/Ocean Charts by the “best inthe business.” (301) 952-0930, fax (301) 574-0289 or www.erols.com/gulfstrmCREW AVAILABLE/WANTED_________________________________________Visit SOUTHWINDS “NEW” boat and crewlisting service at southwindsmagazine.comDELIVERY SERVICES_________________________________________DELIVERIES. ICW, Coastal, Caribbean & Gulf,Sail or Power, by USCG Licensed Captain with30 years professional experience Includingtwo transAtlantic deliveries. (443) 243-4925or www.marylandsailing.com (8/06)marinas and boatyards sold for condos,anchoring rights, sailing human interest stories,boat reviews, charter stories, waste disposal—and more. Photos are wanted on all these subjects,plus we want cover photos (pay $65 forcover photos) of both race and non-race subjects,but about sailing. Cover photos must bevery_________________________________________high resolution and vertical format.Writers and Ideas Wanted on WaterwaysIssues. SOUTHWINDS is looking for writers, actingas independent subcontractors to research andwrite articles on subjects discussed in the OurWaterways section. Must be familiar with boating,good at research, have computer skills,high-speed Internet access and work for littlepay. Most important, you must have an interestand passion for the subject and want to bringabout change and improvement of boatersrights, waterways access, and disappearing marinasand boatyards—with lots of ideas and energyto help bring about improvements throughvarious means (that are, of course, legal andprincipled). You may choose your subject withinthese parameters. We would also like to get anorganization going to promote these interests ifyou can help. Writers, photographers, cartoonists,jokers, magicians, philosophers and othersof questionable professions may apply. Send infoto:_________________________________________editor@southwindsmagazine.com.Massey Yacht Sales Positions-Sail and/orpower yacht sales positions available in theMassey St. Petersburg and Palmetto dealershipoffices. Best marina dealership locations,excellent sales, marketing and service dept.support. We are new yacht dealers forCatalina, Hunter, Albin, True North, NordicTugs, plus offer a large inventory of brokerageHELP WANTEDsail and powerboats. Applicants must be computerliterate, have successful yacht sales his-_________________________________________tory, good knowledge of yachts and builders,be a team player, motivated and hard working.Best yacht sales income potential onSailing Deputy Director Wanted. TheDowntown Sailing Center of Baltimore, MD,Florida west coast. Call Massey general salesseeking Deputy Director: twelve month,manager Frank Hamilton at (941) 723-1610salaried position responsible for adult/juniororeducation, outreach programs, supervises _________________________________________fax resume to (941) 729-7520.waterfront operations. Reports to ExecutiveBUSINESSES FOR SALE/ Director while supervising the facility managerand staff of 20+ seasonal instructors. SailingMurray Yacht Sales is adding professionalyacht brokers and customer service personnelINVESTMENTSinstruction experience required, collegeto its successful team. Immediate needs_________________________________________ degree desirable, and experience at similarinclude: yacht broker in St. Petersburg office,(40-boat) facility. Resumes to jerry@downtownsailing.org.yacht sales experience required; Rigger/ServiceFOR SALE: Florida East Coast Sail Loft. _________________________________________No phone calls. (10/06.Tech in New Orleans office. E-mail résumé toEstablished 10 years. Well-equipped, extensive_________________________________________info@MurrayYachtSales.com.inventory and client list. Walking distance to SAILMAKER St. Petersburg. Industrial Service Dept. Rigger. Massey Yacht Sales isseveral marinas. New sail design, construction Sewing Machine and Hand sewing experience accepting applications and resumes for sailand repairs. Custom canvas work, exterior/interior,and cushions. Strong used sail inventory. lifting 40 lbs. Benefits available for full-time employee benefits including paid holidays, paidfor new sails and repairs. Must be capable of and/or powerboat riggers/outfitters. Many_________________________________________Respond to LOFT220@hotmail.com. (9/06) work. Must have valid FL Drivers license. EOE. vacations, health insurance, workmen’s compContact: Peter O. (727) 471-2040, Doyle insurance, performance bonuses, and goodLicensed contractor in Florida with experiencein high-end residential work and lightPloch Sailmakers._________________________________________hourly salary. Must be hardworking, honest, haveown tools and be a team player. Excellent servicecommercial, both new and remodeling, seeksto qualify a builder/company. I am a veryArticles and race reports in the Carolinas anddepartment support and organization. Call Aliceresponsible, honest, experienced builder withGeorgia. editor@southwindsmagazine.com.Winter, ext. 10, service dept. mgr. at (941) 723-1949, or fax resume to (941) 729-7520.excellent qualifications seeking a company _________________________________________needing my advice and experience in the contractingbusiness. Only very quality-oriented Venice Youth Boating Association, in Venice,Sailing Instructor/Administrator wanted.and responsible people need contact me who FL, is looking for Administrator/Headare in the Tampa Bay area.Instructor to oversee our junior sailing program.Must be US SAILING level 1 certified.$50 for 3Craig100@tampabay.rr.com.Call (941) 966-4851 or e-mail veniceyouthboating@verizon.net._________________________________________(10/06)months forWriters, Reporters, Articles, Photos Wanted. Ad & PhotoSEE CLASSIFIED SOUTHWINDS is looking for articles on boating,racing, sailing in the Southern waters in allINFOregions, the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Weare also looking for other articles on the followingsubjects: marinas, anchorages, mooring941-795-8704ON PG 62fields, disappearing marinas and boatyards,74 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

CLASSIFIED ADSREAL ESTATE FOR SALE OR RENT_________________________________________Waterfront Lot for Sale with deeded, deepwaterdock on Little Gasparilla Island, CharlotteHarbor, FL. Power and water included. Walk onthe beach and watch the sunset on a privateisland. By owner (305) 613-8425. (12/06)LODGING FOR SAILORS_________________________________________Ponce de Leon HotelHistoric downtownhotel at the bay, acrossfrom St. PetersburgYC. 95 Central Ave.,St. Petersburg, FL33701(727) 550-9300FAX (727) 896-2287www.poncedeleonhotel.comSAILS & CANVAS_________________________________________South Brevard, Florida Townhouse.Intracoastal Waterway. Deep water. Dockageavailable. No bridges. 2/2.5. New roof andAC. Pool. Tennis. Built 1974. Association fees$236 including water. $249,900.macwriter@gmail.com. (9/06)SAILING VIDEOS__________________________________________Sarasota, FL Waterfront Townhouse w/Deepwater boat slip for rent. 3br/3ba, 3 floors, 2 fireplaces,gated, pool, tennis. Protected boat slipaccommodates up to 70-foot boat. Directaccess to Gulf. Walk to restaurants and shopping.For info call (561) 213-2390. (12/06)Perfect 2 bedroom Waterfront TownhouseFor Sale. Ultra-furnished—even has HDTV. Veryclose to Fort Myers Beach. 16-foot boat dock atfront door—seconds to the Gulf. $489,000.(239) 565-2277 or (239) 454-1817. (10/06)SAILING INSTRUCTION_________________________________________INSURANCE_________________________________________CLASSIFIEDBOAT ADS START AT$25 FOR 3 MO(941) 795-8704All Classifieds displayedon our secure web sitewww.southwindsmagazine.comNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 75

CLASSIFIEDADSSAILS & CANVAS_________________________________________TROPHIES/AWARDS HALF HULLS_________________________________________INDEX OF ADVERTISERSTELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN SOUTHWINDS!SOUTHWINDS provides this list as a courtesy and asks our readers to support our advertisers.This list includes all display advertising.Air Duck 73American Marine & Supply 11,42Annapolis Performance Sailing 50Aqua Graphics 64Atlantic Sail Traders 34Banks Sails 65Beachmaster Photography 73Beneteau SailboatsBCBeta Marine 16Bluewater Bay Yachts 18Bluewater Sailing Supply 19Boaters Exchange 41,42Bob and Annie’s Boatyard 32Bo’sun Supplies 28Catalina Yachts 11,42Clearwater Yacht Club Regattas 55Colligo Engineering 34Cortez Flea Market 27Cortez Yacht Brokerage 71Crow’s Nest Restaurant 20Cruising Direct Sails 21Defender Industries 7,73Dockside Radio 29Dunbar Sales 11Dwyer mast 73Eastern Yachts/Beneteau11,66,BCEdwards Yacht Sales 69E-marine 73First Patriot Health Insurance 75Flying Scot Sailboats 71Garhauer Hardware 39Glacier Bay Refrigeration 37Gulf Coast Yacht Sales 67Gulf Island Sails 11,42Higgins, Smythe & Hood 67Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack 49Hotwire/Fans & other products 74Hurricane Hoops 33J/Boats - Murray Yacht Sales 21JR Overseas/Moisture Meter 21JSI - New JSI 6Kevane Sails 76Lake Fairview Marina, Precision 19Latts & Atts TV 75Laurie Kimball Realtor 10Leather Wheel 64Lex-Sea Charters 72Life Captions Video 45Lippincott Marine Canvas 7Massey Yacht Sales 11,30, 39, IFC, IBCMasthead Enterprises 4,10,42,75Mastmate 22Melbourne Yacht Club 53Mike Chan Boat Repair 8Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau 68,BCNational Sail Supply 28Nautical Trader 29New JSI 6Noble Awards 76North Sails 4,75Patricia Knoll Realtor 15Pinnacle Fractional Sailing 25Porpoise Used Sails 75Precision Yachts 19Quantum Sarasota 3RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke 12Regatta Pointe Marina 26Rparts Refrigeration 33Sailing Services 4Sailors Wharf boatyard 15Sailrite 24Sarasota YC Regatta 56Sarasota Youth Program donated boats 66Schurr Sails 27Scurvy Dog Marine 35Sea School 35Sea Tech 36,73Snug Harbor Boats, Precision 19SSMR 8St. Augustine Sailing School 75St. Barts/BeneteauBCSt. Petersburg Strictly Sail 13St. Petersburg YC Regattas 51Strictly Sailing.com 72Suncoast Inflatables 17Sunrise Sailing Services 65,74Sunstate Realty 15Tackle Shack 49Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program 20Turner Marine 11UK Halsey Sails 9Ullman sails 52Watersports West 73Weathermark 42Windpath Fractional Sailing 14Zarcor 72STRANGE TALE Continued from page 78WINDSURFING GEAR__________________________________________Wanted: Used Prodigy (standard or race),other boards, miscellaneous windsurfingequipment. Steve (941) 795-8704,editor@southwindsmagazine.comwon the boat because he didn’t own it.Hite did. Burgess would not identifythe people on board the boat to me.Burgess would not confirm that hegave the telephone number of BobHite’s insurance company to the salvor,but Randall said he had.Eventually, Bob Hite’s insurancepaid off. Not to Burgess, of course, butto Hite, the boat’s owner.Burgess was never prosecuted fortaking another man’s boat without hispermission and irresponsibly wreckingit. Hite’s insurance company may havelooked into suing Burgess for the loss,but as far as Hite knows it neverbrought a civil action.In Hite’s home today are severaloil paintings of the boat. The flagpole inhis back yard was once Kinship’smizzenmast. The sidelights are part ofhis living room decor.Maybe, as busy as he is, Bob Hitestops to reflect on what Kinship meantto him when the sailing was all beamreaches, the drinks frosty cold and thefood as good as it ever gets. Kinshipmay be gone forever, ruined by anotherman’s gross negligence, but goodmemories last a lifetime.76 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

ADVERTISER INDEX BY CATEGORYTELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN SOUTHWINDS!SOUTHWINDS provides this list as a courtesy and asks our readers to support our advertisers. This list includes all display advertising.SAILBOATS – NEW AND BROKERAGEAmerican Marine & Supply 11,42Beneteau SailboatsBCBluewater Bay Yachts 18,19Boaters Exchange/Catalina Sailboats 41,42Catalina Yachts 11,42Cortez Yacht Brokerage 71Dunbar Sales 11Eastern Yachts11,66,BCEdwards Yacht Sales 69Flying Scot Sailboats 71Gulf Coast Yacht Sales 67Gulf Island Sails 11,42Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack 49Higgins, Smythe & Hood 67Lake Fairview Marina, Precision 19Massey Yacht Sales/Catalina//Hunter/Albin 11,30, 39, IFC, IBCMasthead Yacht Sales/Catalina 4,10,42,75Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau68,BCRegatta Pointe Marina 26Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats 66Snug Harbor Boats, Precision 19St. Barts/BeneteauBCStrictlySailing.com 72Suncoast Inflatables/ West Florida 17Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg 49Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program 20Turner Marine 11Weathermark 42Watersports West/Windsurfing 73GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHINGAir Duck Hatch Windscoop 73Annapolis Performance Sailing 50Bluewater Bay Yachts 18,19Boaters Exchange, boats, gear, etc. Rockledge FL 41,42Bo’sun Supplies/Hardware 28Colligo Engineering 34Defender Industries 7,73E-Marine 73Garhauer Hardware 39Hotwire/Fans & other products 74Hurricane Hoops 33JR Overseas/Moisture Meter 21JSI - New JSI 6Leather Wheel 64Masthead Enterprises 4,10,42,75Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign 29NEW JSI 6Rparts Refrigeration 33SSMR 8Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, Precision 49Watersports West/wet suits, etc 73SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS, RIGGING SERVICESAtlantic Sail Traders 34Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida 65Cruising Direct/sails online by North 21,75Dwyer Mast/spars, hardware, rigging 73JSI - New JSI 6Masthead/Used Sails and Service 4,10,42,75National Sail Supply, new&used online 28NEW JSI 6North Sails, new and used 4,75Porpoise Used Sails 75Quantum Sails and Services 3Sailing Services 4Schurr Sails, Pensacola FL 27SSMR 8Sunrise Sailing Services 65,74UK Halsey Sails 9Ullman Sails 52CANVASBanks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida 65JSI - New JSI 6Lippincott Canvas 7Quantum Sails and Services 3USED SAILING/BOATING SUPPLIESNautical Trader/buy/sell/consign, West Florida 29Scurvy Dog Marine/Used, Consign, Pensacola FL 35SAILING SCHOOLSSea School/Captain’s License 35St. Augustine Sailing School 75MARINE ENGINES AND ACCESSORIESBeta Marine 16RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke 12REAL ESTATEPat Knoll, Sunstate Realty 15RESORTS, MARINAS, RESTAURANTS, BOAT YARDSBob and Annie’s Boatyard 32Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Marina 20FRACTIONAL SAILING/CHARTER COMPANIESLex-Sea Charters 72Pinnacle 25Windpath 14MARINE SERVICES, SURVEYORS, INSURANCE, TOWING, BOATLETTERING, ETC.Aqua Graphics/Boat Names/Tampa Bay or buy online 64Beachmaster Photography 73First Patriot Insurance Health Insurance 75Mike Chan Boat Repair 8MARINE ELECTRONICSDockside Radio 29JR Overseas/Moisture Meter 21Sea Tech/Navigation/Communication 36,73BOOKS/CHARTS/VIDEOS/AWARDSNoble Awards 76Lats and Atts TV videos 75Life Captions Video 45REGATTA ADVERTISEMENTS, BOAT SHOWSAlphabetical Advertisers’ List 76Clearwater Yacht Club Regattas 55Melbourne Yacht Club 53Regional Sailing Services Directory 64Sarasota YC Regatta 56St. Petersburg Strictly Sail 13St. Petersburg YC Regattas 51Subscription Information 77Subscribe toSOUTHWINDS$19.95/year $37/2 Years 3rd Class$24/year $45/2 Years 1st Class(941) 795-8704 • www.southwindsmagazine.comP.O. Box 1175, Holmes Beach, FL 34218-1175Subscribe on line on our secure Web site with credit cardwww.southwindsmagazine.comName ______________________________________________Address ____________________________________________City/St./ZIP _________________________________________ENCLOSED $ ________ Check ___ Money Order ___Visa/MC #_________________________________________Name on Card ______________________________________Ex. Date _________ Signature _________________________News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS October 2006 77

A Strange Tale from the PastBy Morgan StinemetzBob Hite, the news anchor atNews Channel Eight inTampa, came to Florida in1977 from Philadelphia. One ofthe reasons had to do with weather.Hite had just finished doing a“live shot” by an expressway assleet and snow made traffic nightmarish.He was back at the studiothawing out when a call came infrom Joe Manion, the news directorat Channel Eight. Would Hitelike to come to Tampa and anchorthe news there?He would. He did. And hebrought with him his cedar-overoakCrocker 44-foot ketch,Kinship, his pride, his passion. Hesettled in Apollo Beach, his boatat a dock behind his house. Thefact that he was able to sail whenit pleased him was not lost on afamily friend, who wrote Hite aletter that said, “I envy you yourfuture as well as your presentwith the Kinship in your (back)yard and 12 months of sailingevery year. Where did I go wrong?”The letter was signed: WalterCronkite.By 1991 Hite’s life had becomeso full of professional responsibilitiesthat he decided to close the windowKinship had occupied. He put theboat up for sale and, after trying tosell it himself with no success, listedit with Sarasota yacht broker MikeBurgess. Kinship was brought toSarasota where Burgess fell in lovewith the boat himself. He wanted tobuy it, but he didn’t have the moneyto do it outright.On the night of January 19, 1992,a Sunday, Mike Burgess took Kinshipand five other people out BigSarasota Pass on a trip to the DryTortugas. It was an awful night tobegin a voyage. The winds wereblowing 20-25 knots from the northwest.Waves in Big Pass were fourfeet. Burgess, who died in 1995, wasnot an experienced mariner. Anexperienced mariner would not haveattempted to leave on a 180-mile tripin the dark and in bad weather.It is possible that leaving afterdark held a particular cachet forBurgess for other reasons. The boathe was taking to the Dry Tortugasdidn’t belong to him. He knew that.It belonged to Hite, and Hite had noknowledge of Burgess’ trip.Burgess had not gone far whenhe grounded Kinship well inshore ofthe Big Pass sea buoy. The boat drewsix feet. Once it was stuck, the windand the waves pushed it higher onthe sand bar. By the time commercialhelp voluntarily went to Kinship’said, easily 90 minutes after the boathad grounded because Burgess hadtried to get help from other sources,Kinship was going nowhere.Danny McMakin, who wasworking for Offshore MarineTowing back then, said, “When Igot there, it was five minutes past10. The boat was heavily on thebar, leaning to starboard, withwaves breaking over the boat. Itried to pull the boat off with my22-foot Aquasport. I couldn’t evenbudge it.”The Coast Guard had beencalled by McMakin with a“Mayday” and had dispatched aboat. However, when anotherboat from Offshore MarineTowing arrived to take the sixpeople off the boat, the CoastGuard cancelled its response. TheCoast Guard is not required torespond to save property fromdestruction. With McMakinwatching, Kinship sank.It took two weeks forOffshore Marine Towing to cut theboat apart and put it, piece bybeautifully crafted piece, into aDumpster. The salvors startedwith the fuel tanks to prevent anyfuel spills. Kinship, Hite’s dream, wasgone. He had seen her for the lasttime from the beach at Siesta Key.The boat, he said, “…was hundredsof feet out of the channel.”I interviewed Burgess about theincident in March of 1992. He wasless than forthcoming. “We are obviouslyinvolved in insurance proceduresand all that,” he said. “I reallydon’t need any speculation.” That’sall he would say.But Burgess identified himself tothe salvors as the owner of the boat,Ken Randall of Offshore MarineTowing said. He assured Randall, atthe wreck site, that his insurancecompany would take care of anyexpenses. The trouble was thatBurgess didn’t have any insuranceSee STRANGE TALE continued on page 76Have an interesting story?That’s funny, sad, a tear-jerker, a learning experience, heartwarming—or just a good story?Send to editor@southwindsmagazine.com.78 October 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com