News & Views for Southern Sailors - Southwinds Magazine

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