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Call for Boat Show Deal Call for Boat Show Deal Call for Boat Show Deal2006 Hunter 41 AC 2006 Hunter 41 DS – New Model 2006 Hunter 44 DSCall for Boat Show DealCall for Boat Show Deal2006 Hunter 44 AC 2006 Hunter 46LE2006 Hunter 45 CCMaster CabinCall for Boat Show Deal2006 Hunter 45 CCNew Center Cockpit Model – Must SeePerformance cruising, luxurious interiors, expansive Mariner Packages and select factory options are allfeatures of the 2006 Hunter Big Boat Fleet. Purchase your 2006 Hunter from Massey and save up to $25,000.Call today… Sail and save now!3 Massey Florida LocationsPre Strictly Sail Miami Open House January 13-15, 2006 at allMassey locations. Purchase and get the boat show deal, before the show!Ft. Myers, FL 239-334-3674 • TOLL-FREE 800-763-3157Ben Fowke Dan Howland Terry Clark Jim KlimczakSt. Pete, FL 727-824-7262 • TOLL-FREE 877-552-0525Call Sheryl Boddy forBest Rate Yacht FinanceQuotes and FREEPre-Qualification941-723-3991Palmetto, FL 941-723-1610 • TOLL-FREE 800-375-0130St. PetePalmettoFt. MyersSINCE 1977Bill Wiard David Cole Al Pollak Bill AstonBrad CrabtreeScott Pursell Frank HamiltonAl HalpernJohn Kelleywww.masseyyacht.comE-mail: yachtsales@masseyyacht.com


2006 Catalina 309 2006 Catalina 310 2006 Catalina 3202006 Catalina 34 2006 Catalina 350 2006 Catalina 362006 Catalina 387 2006 Hunter 312006 Hunter 332006 Hunter 36 2006 Hunter 38Catalina and Hunter have eleven yacht models between 30 and 39 feet, four with a base price of under$100,000. Most models are in stock and can be custom ordered to your specs.All are perfect companionsfor Florida West Coast sailing.The Thirty Something Hunter and Catalina yacht selection combined with Massey’s super competitivepricing and legendary service provide the best value anywhere, with immediate delivery on most models.Visit Massey and inspect the Catalina and Hunter Thirty-something fleet. Save thousands today andsail tomorrow with the best sailing companions that Florida has to offer!3 Massey Florida LocationsPre Strictly Sail Miami Open House January 13-15, 2006 at allMassey locations. Purchase and get the boat show deal, before the show!St. Pete, FL 727-824-7262 • TOLL-FREE 877-552-0525Bill Wiard David Cole Al Pollak Bill AstonPalmetto, FL 941-723-1610 • TOLL-FREE 800-375-0130Call Sheryl Boddy forBest Rate Yacht FinanceQuotes and FREEPre-Qualification941-723-3991Ft. Myers, FL 239-334-3674 • TOLL-FREE 800-763-3157St. PetePalmettoFt. MyersSINCE 1977Brad CrabtreeScott Pursell Frank HamiltonAl HalpernJohn KelleyBen Fowke Dan Howland Terry Clark Jim KlimczakFor Online Boat Showwww.masseyyacht.comE-mail: yachtsales@masseyyacht.com


News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 3


4 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


SOUTHWINDSNEWS & VIEWS FOR SOUTHERN SAILORS6 From the Helm:West Florida Struggles with Boaters’ ConcernsBy Steve Morrell, Editor10 Letters14 Boat Parade Judges Get the BirdBy Morgan Stinemetz18 Short Tacks: Sailing News and Events Around the South28 Our Waterways: News About Our Changing Waterways38 Fractional SailingBy Capt. J. Michael Shear, JD40 Spotlight on Business: SailormanBy Lisa Hoogerwerf Knapp42 Cruise RelationshipsBy Barbara Pierce45 Crossing the Gulfstream with Trifid and the SeagullBy Steve Morrell48 Miami Beach AnchoragesBy Barbara and Bruce PierceFractional Sailing. Photo by Capt. J. Michael Shea, JD.Page 3850 PHRF Racing TipsBy Dave Ellis52 Key West Race Week PreviewBy Rebecca Burg56 Racing: News, and Events.Southern Regional Racing Reports and Race Calendars78 Betty Timms — Blue Water Sailing AdventureBy Kim Kaminski68-69 Regional Sailing Services Directory76 Alphabetical Index of Advertisers77 Advertisers’ List by Category77 Subscription FormFor this month’s regional air and water temperatures,see regional racing sectionsCOVER:Catamaran Salty Paws anchored in the Bahamas.Photo by Jim Austin.Key West Race Week Preview. Photo by Capt. BillRobinson. Page 52.From the Carolinas to Cuba…from Atlanta to the Abacos…SOUTHWINDS Covers Southern SailingNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 5


FROM THE HELMWest Florida Continues to Struggle with Boaters’ ConcernsIn Pinellas County, home toClearwater, St. Petersburg and manyother waterfront communities, countycommissioners—aware of decreasingwater access and the number of slips—recently made moves to purchase amarina, which had dry storage for 336boats and 82 wet slips (see page 32).The marina was headed for condodevelopment. Unforeseen possibleexpenses surfaced and the deal fellthrough. Pinellas County has more registeredboats (more than 50,000) thanany other county in Florida. It appearswe will have condos there now.In Manatee County, on the southside of Tampa Bay, the Seafood Shack,another public marina and restaurant,is under consideration for purchase bythe county for a maritime museum—keeping the marina, but adding a boatramp. Local neighbors immediatelybanded together to protest the purchase,hinging their argument on additionaltraffic, mainly from the boatramp. But these neighbors just want tothrow the whole idea out, withoutSailing ExperiencesStories and photos about experiences inplaces you’ve cruised, anchorages, marinas,or passages made throughout theSouthern cruising waters, including theCaribbean and the Bahamas.Race reportingGenerally, we are always looking forsomeone to send us race coveragethroughout the southern states, theBahamas and the Caribbean.Cruising NotesSouthern sailors cruising on the high seasor cruising our waterways and coasts:Send us word on where you’re at andwhat you’re doing. How the cruising life istreating you.BahamasTrips, experiences, passages, anchorages,provisioning and other stories that are ofinterest.Hurricane StoriesHurricanes are a part of owning a boat inthe Southern waters, and we would like tohear how you and your boat might havebeen affected by a storm or how you prepareyour boat for one, experiencesyou’ve had. Send us letters or articles.Our WaterwaysInformation about the waters we sail in:disappearing marinas, boatyards and slips;Writers and Photographers Wantedmooring fields, anchoring rights, waterwayaccess, etc.Maintenance and Technical ArticlesHow you maintain your boat, or rebuilt aboat, technical articles on maintenance,repairs, etc.Individuals in the Sailing IndustryInteresting stories about the world ofsailors out there, young, old, and somethat are no longer with us but have contributedto the sport or were just truelovers of sailing.The CaribbeanStories about the warm tropical watersfarther south of us.Charter StoriesHave an interesting Charter story? In ourSouthern waters, or perhaps in theBahamas, the Caribbean, or pointsbeyond in some far-off and far-out exoticplace?CubaOf course, there is always Cuba, andregardless of how our country’s electedofficials try to keep Americans out of thelargest island in the Caribbean, it will oneday be open as a cruising ground. TodayAmerican sailors can legally go to Cubaand cruise if they follow the proper procedures.If you have a story about such aoffering a solution to working out thetraffic problem. Again, this propertycould well become another condo project.Oh, well.At least county officials inManatee and Pinellas are trying to helpsolve the problem. But let’s move on.In Gulfport, another Pinellaswaterfront community, the local governmentturned down plans for amooring field. Many believe there is ageneral anti-boater movement amongcity officials. City politicians complainedabout dilapidated boats andpeople using them as cheap housing. Iwonder how he feels about cheaphousing being used as cheap housing.One official was reported as sayingthat in order to control the few, theyhave to control the many. That commentbrought boos from the crowd atthe town meeting. Is he for real? Whatever happened to punish the few whoscrew up, not the many who don’t? Iam afraid this is what we boaters arefacing. Politicians using the actions ofa few as reason to make laws controllingthe many.In Tampa, city officials are consideringlimiting anchoring within the citylimits to 72 hours—an obvious moveaimed at eliminating those moored atDavis Island. Instead of creating amooring field with shoreside servicesthat would encourage boaters to visitthe area, help improve the disappearingslips problem, and promote theboating industry (which was recentlydetermined to have a greater economicimpact than Florida’s citrus industry—see page 36), the city is looking at theeasiest, cheapest and simplest solution.Just pass a law and make it illegal. Somuch for boaters’ rights. And let’s seeif getting rid of all those moored boatscleans up the waters. I bet it makes nodifference, as no one is looking at thereal pollution causes. They just blamethose moored there. Control the few bycontrolling the many.Where are we headed?trip, let us look at it.Steve MorrellEditorMiscellaneous PhotosPhotographs are always enjoyable,whether for their beauty, their humor, orfor many other reasons, and we take themalone. We would like photos with everystory, if possible.Cover PhotosSOUTHWINDS is always looking for nicecover shots, which are always paid for.They generally need to be a vertical shot,but we can sometimes crop horizontalphotos for a nice cover picture. They needto be of a high resolution. If digital, theyneed to be taken at a very high resolution(and many smaller digital cameras are notcapable of taking a large, high-resolutionphoto for the cover). If a photograph, thenwe need it scanned at high resolution, orif you send it to us, we can do so.Letters to the EditorFor those of you who are not as ambitiousto write stories, we always want to hearfrom you about your experiences andopinions.Contact editor@southwindsmagazine.comfor more information and questions.For more technical guidelines about layout,grammar, etc., please visit our Web site,www.southwindsmagazine.com and go to“Writer/photographer Guidelines.”6 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 7


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.come-mail: editor@southwindsmagazine.comVolume 14 Number 1 January 2006Copyright 2006, <strong>Southwinds</strong> Media, Inc.Founded in 1993 Doran Cushing, Publisher 1993-2002Publisher/EditorSteve Morrell editor@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 795-8704Associate EditorsStephanie Coxstephanie@southwindsmagazine.comLisa Hoogerwerf Knapp southwindsnews@aol.comBarbara Piercecruzcrossroads@yahoo.comAdvertisingSteve Morrell editor@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 795-8704David Curry davidcurry@southwindsmagazine.com (941) 761-0048Gary Hufford gary@southwindsmagazine.com (727) 585-2814Regional EditorsCAROLINAS AND GEORGIAWalt McFarlane waltmcfarlane@aol.com (912) 429-4197EAST FLORIDARoy Laughlin mhw1@earthlink.net (321) 690-0137SOUTHEAST FLORIDALisa Hoogerwerf Knapp southwindsnews@aol.comSOUTHEAST FLORIDA RACINGArt Perez miamiyachtracing@bellsouth.net (305) 380-0106Production Proofreading ArtworkHeather Nicoll Kathy Elliott Rebecca Burgangel@artoffshore.comContributing WritersRebecca Burg Gretchen Coyle Stephanie CoxDave Ellis Vern Hobbs Charles HusickKim Kaminski Mike Kirk Lisa Hoogerwerf KnappRoy Laughlin Walt McFarlane Art PerezBarbara Pierce Bruce Pierce DeeVon QuiroloGeorge Regenauer Morgan Stinemetz Rick WhiteKathryn WhiteheadContributing PhotographersJim Austin Rebecca Burg Dave EllisVern Hobbs Kim Kaminski Mike KirkLisa Hoogerwerf Knapp Roy LaughlinJean-Marie LiotBarbara Pierce Reef Relief George RegenauerCapt. Bill Robinson Capt. J. Michael Shea, JD Morgan StinemetzRick WhiteEDITORIAL 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.<strong>Read</strong> SOUTHWINDS on our Web site,www.southwindsmagazine.com.8 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


LETTERS“Freedom 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.MARATHON CONSIDERS PRIVATIZING BOOT KEYHARBOR: HOW ABOUT A GATED KEYS?Do you agree, to make an informed decision, people shouldbe educated about the decision they are to make? Do youknow how tight affordable housing is in Marathon? Do youfeel the harbor is a nice asset?Did you know the people living in the harbor are theones working on your homes, serving your meals, workingon your cars and boats?Do you know, as developers gobble up Keys properties,there’s less room for affordable housing? Even the sheriffstated he “has to hire below-standard deputies.” Now theschools are allowing people with only GEDs to teach ourchildren. Because of little affordable housing. Many arelooking for ways to have affordable housing in Marathon.If a family’s annual income is less than $34,000 a year,where can they live? Some say let them leave. What theyoverlook is these people are our laborers, auto mechanics,day care workers, teachers, roofers, plumbers, etc.The University of Florida’s Florida Sea Grant Study,(www.bootkeyharbor.com/FlSeaGrantLiveaboards.pdf),hailed as one of the best studies conducted regarding theFlorida Keys, stated, “Limited land and raising land pricesgave the push towards using the water as housing.”Recently, a city official told me, “I do not need a studyto tell me what the liveaboards spend, and that they are anintegral part of our workforce.”Maybe this official doesn’t need a study, but when peoplehaven’t received the facts, they don’t understand. Itappears the city is afraid to educate the citizens of Marathonon the reality.They talk about building company housing for employees,thereby, effectively creating indentured servants. If, forsome reason, the employee loses his job, his family is nowhomeless. Is that really the character of the citizens ofMarathon? Do we really want sub-standard teachers? Dowe want sub-standard deputies?The University of Florida’s Florida Sea Grant Studyprovides the information needed for the city of Marathon toperform its own study. But is it doing it?Again I ask for someone to make an informed decision.Shouldn’t they be educated about the decision theyare to make?Don’t the citizens of Marathon deserve the truth? Don’tthe citizens of Marathon deserve to see the facts, and notjust hear words from some developer or politician?Jim LowryMarathon, FLJim,Right on.This letter is in response to the anti-liveaboard feeling thathas been growing in the Florida Keys. Marathon is currently consideringprivatizing the Boot Key Harbor anchorage. Many see itas one more step in a series of anti-liveaboard policies. Many whocannot afford to live in the high-priced land-based community ofthe Keys are the workers of the area who supply services to thewealthier landowners. They are liveaboard cruisers, a group whohas been in the Keys long before the wealthy discovered it. TheseSee LETTERS continued on page 10News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 9


LETTERS Continued from page 9cruisers helped make the Keys the uniqueplace it is, “harboring” those who hear adifferent drummer. Now the new residentswant to get rid of them.I say we quit lying to ourselves andjust make a rule now and get it over with:You can’t live in the Keys unless you areworth at least a million dollars. Let’s put agate at the south end of Florida City, andif you can’t prove it at that entry point,you don’t get through. Same with waterentrances to the Keys. Workers can bebussed down each day to work and return,but they must have photo identity cardswith them at all times. It will be one huge,gated community. I think some areas of theKeys already have this.EditorFLORIDA IS NOT BOATER-FRIENDLY! DISAPPEARINGMARINAS AND ANCHORAGESThe title statement was not true threeyears or five years ago, but it is truetoday. What has changed? What hashappened to our boater’s paradise ofsun, breezes, beautiful anchoragesand picturesque sunsets?What is happening is that ourworld of fun in the sun on the sea isshrinking. The number of slips availablehas been and is rapidly dropping.The St. Petersburg area has lost 1500general use slips in the last year. Thisinformation is from an article in the St.Petersburg Times in April. Also, the costof the remaining slips has doubled inthe last seven years. This I know frompersonal experience.It was possible six to seven yearsago to haul a boat and store it on thehard (ashore) for hurricane season,then pick up a slip for winter andspring. No more. A slip let go is a sliplost. The waiting list for halfwayaffordablemunicipal slips is from fourto 14 years, depending on location andboat size.A second major deterioration inthe cruising life is that anchorages arebeing closed or filled with mooringballs (Naples closed, Fort Myers Beach– mooring balls).We often accuse wealthy homeownersof working to close anchoragesbecause they do not want ourboats in front of their multimilliondollar mansions. This may be true.Environmental concerns are oftenused to justify this closure. Time andtime again, good studies show thatvery little water pollution comesfrom boating. The big three are residences,farms, and factories withinadequate sewage treatment plantsthrown in the mix.Another reason exists for theincrease in the number of mooringfields. It goes back to the lack ofaffordable slips. Five years ago on thewest coast of Florida, I never saw aboat “Long Term Anchored” (LTA) inthe popular anchorages. Now thereare LTA boats in most if not all anchorages.“Long term anchored” refers to aboat anchored for days, weeks ormonths. Some of the boats have liveaboards.Some are unmaintained andhave become derelict.In several of the smaller anchor-See LETTERS continued on page 1210 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 11


LETTERS Continued from page 9ages, two or three ”LTA” boats make itrough for cruisers to find space toanchor for a night. The derelicts, floatingor partially sunken, are as unsightlyto me as they are to local homeowners.This is a real problem to be dealt with.If the shortage of affordable slipshas not caused this problem, it has significantlyadded to the problem. Itshould be noted, that given the situation,mooring fields are not all bad.Three years ago when we visited FortMyers Beach, the anchorage wascrowded. Most of the boats wereLTAs. Several were liveaboards. Therewere 15 to 20 derelicts out of 90 boats.The short-term cruisers numbered nomore than 12.We visited Fort Myers Beachagain in April and found a townmooring field. The cost was a nominal$10.60 per night including pump-outand showers. The derelicts were gone.The liveaboards and LTA boats werenot a problem in any way. It was animproved situation.The above is what is happening.Now the why.Several changes have graduallyoccurred over the years, yet thesechanges may have just two or threecommon causes. I can identify at leastthree causes. The “Save the ManateeClub” has to take their share of theblame. The several-year moratorium onthe building of slips and marinassparked the initial shortage of—and thespike in—the cost of slips. The presenthostile environment to slip-buildingcontinues to exacerbate the problem.However, I fear a greater forcethan the “Manatee Club” may havetaken over. This is the retiring babyboomers. The baby boomers are retiringen masse and seem to have moremoney than former retirees. The resulthas been an explosion in building—inparticular, condo-building. We wereanchored in Sarasota Bay recently. Wecounted at least seven tall cranesworking on high-rise condos. Thefavorite place for these condos? Onthe waterfront. A big plus: building onthe site of a bought-out marina. Thecondo owner can rent or buy a slip athis door for his boat.You can’t blame the marina owners.They sometimes struggle to makea decent living at marina operations.The temptation when offered multimillionsof dollars is too much toresist. I know of at least four marinason the west coast of Florida that succumbedto this in the last year; nodoubt there are more.As a reference to the demand forcondos: Recently, a condo under constructionin Fort Myers had a preconstructionsale. The sale was to last forfour hours. People were lined upbefore the sale started. All units up forsale were gone in two hours. The unitswere all over one million each.How does the boater of moderatemeans fight back? How can we moderateif not reverse the trend?It goes without saying that weneed to get organized. We as recreationalboaters want to go boating to relax.Organizing anything more than a dockparty goes against the very reason wego to sea. Yet without some organizing,we will see our beautiful life on thewater become only a memory.Starting a grass roots organizingeffort would take a great deal of timeand effort. Is there an existing organi-See LETTERS continued on page 1512 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


Call for Boat Show Deal Call for Boat Show Deal Call for Boat Show Deal2006 Hunter 41 AC 2006 Hunter 41 DS – New Model 2006 Hunter 44 DSCall for Boat Show DealCall for Boat Show Deal2006 Hunter 44 AC 2006 Hunter 46LE2006 Hunter 45 CCMaster CabinCall for Boat Show Deal2006 Hunter 45 CCNew Center Cockpit Model – Must SeePerformance cruising, luxurious interiors, expansive Mariner Packages and select factory options are allfeatures of the 2006 Hunter Big Boat Fleet. Purchase your 2006 Hunter from Massey and save up to $25,000.Call today… Sail and save now!3 Massey Florida LocationsPre Strictly Sail Miami Open House January 13-15, 2006 at allMassey locations. Purchase and get the boat show deal, before the show!Ft. Myers, FL 239-334-3674 • TOLL-FREE 800-763-3157Ben Fowke Dan Howland Terry Clark Jim KlimczakSt. Pete, FL 727-824-7262 • TOLL-FREE 877-552-0525Call Sheryl Boddy forBest Rate Yacht FinanceQuotes and FREEPre-Qualification941-723-3991Palmetto, FL 941-723-1610 • TOLL-FREE 800-375-0130St. PetePalmettoFt. MyersSINCE 1977Bill Wiard David Cole Al Pollak Bill AstonBrad CrabtreeScott Pursell Frank HamiltonAl HalpernJohn Kelleywww.masseyyacht.comE-mail: yachtsales@masseyyacht.com


14 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


LETTERSzation or coalition that could be focused on this crucialneed? You tell me.A second need is the need for information disseminationto boaters. I pick up a rumor here, a tidbit there. Thereis the need for a controlled monthly published board ofactions—or pending actions—affecting boating and wateraccess. Possibly SOUTHWINDS could run a monthly columnlisting these actions—one similar to the regional activitiesand racing calendar. Perhaps other regional publicationscould be found for fishermen and powerboaters. A Web sitewould be a must.This is a plea for somebody to answer the clarion calland say “Let’s meet at…on…date.” I’m retired and havetime and interest to help with the logistics.Only when we have a start can we use the e-mail, onlineforums and boat shows to rally fellow boaters.LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN! Let’s control our destinyrather than letting it happen to us.Richard CritchlowSt. Petersburg, FLRichard,Well put. We have started that monthly column. Even more so,several months back, we started a monthly section, “OurWaterways,” which is working to bring this news out, and we areasking our readers to send us information and news about upcomingchanges, thoughts, opinions on this subject.EditorOPPOSITION TO SEAFOOD SHACK (See “OurWaterways” Nov. 2005) PURCHASE BY COUNTY FORMARITIME MUSEUM AND BOAT RAMP IN CORTEZ, FLIt is evident that the editors of the Herald Tribune must drivearound wearing rose-tinted glasses if they can advocate thesale of the Seafood Shack to Manatee County. Clearly, theyhave not eaten at the Holmes Beach cafe if they believe thatManatee County displays any realistic ability to administerthe properties it already owns. Before the county considersspending huge sums of taxpayers’ money to buy theSeafood Shack in Cortez, it should arrange to put thoseproperties it already owns in decent order. Presently, theyare about as visually appealing as old housing projects incommunist East Berlin. Why not spend some of that, presumablysurplus, cash on proper landscaping of ManateeCounty roads, which generally looks like the Wild West(including “scenic” Route 41!)?Yes, I can be classed as a “NIMBY” (not in my back yard),although I do support public access to water and parks—solong as they are properly administered and the rules policed.Unfortunately, I see little evidence of this on its existing properties,so why consider entrusting Manatee County with thisrelatively small but valuable piece of real estate? By the way,the oldest part of this “Old Florida” property is about 40years old. The only worse option might be if any attemptwere made by the city of Bradenton to annex this part ofSee LETTERS continued on page 68Send your letters toeditor@southwindsmagazine.comWeb site: southwindsmagazine.comPO Box 1175, Holmes Beach FL 34218Fax: (941) 795-8705News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 15


16 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


Out on the water, I could see the boats start to sortthemselves out and form a line that would eventually passin front of the reviewing float. I positioned myself behindthe float so that I could get a good look at the lighted attractions.On they came. There were runabouts, trawlers, ketches,sloops, big motor yachts, one or two yawls. The biggerboats had elaborate displays, and some played Christmasmusic. The decorations ran the gamut from illuminatedcandy canes to a small sleigh, spotlighted and loaded withgifts on the bow of a 65-foot motor yacht.The contestants waved at the judges, and the judgeswaved back before recording a competitive score. As I saidearlier, there were about 50 boats, and they all paraded bywith efficiency and grace. The last boat had passed by—it wasa ketch with lovely twinkling white lights in the rigging—when out of the darkness from which the line of boats hadcome arose the sound of a pulsating beat. It was familiar andgetting closer. I searched my brain for a handle on the music,and then it came to me. What I was hearing at peak volumewas ZZ Top’s Sharp Dressed Man. I had seen the videos.As I stared in the direction of the music, I could see aboat coming my way. It was following the parade line, andI could see the running lights, red and green on the bow anda white light up off the deck. It was apparently a sailboatunder power. Behind the boat was what looked, from a distance,like a collection of moths fluttering in the illuminationfrom the stern light.On came the mystery vessel. Louder and louderbecame ZZ Top’s music, repeating over and over on the vessel’sstereo, which had to have had its speakers—big speakers—upon deck. ZZ Top was not providing much of aChristmas theme. They never have.As the boat got closer, I could see what looked likemoths at a distance was actually about 100 birds followingthe sailboat—it was Bubba Whartz’s Right Guard—whileducking into the boat’s wake to retrieve something that twopeople on the back of the boat were tossing in the water. Ifyou have ever seen gulls following a shrimper who’s shovelingunwanted catch over the side while coming back fromthe sea, you will have an idea of what it looked like. Thegulls were shrieking and diving and screaming and hoveringin orchestrated mass confusion.As the boat got closer still, I could see that the two peopleon the back of Bubba’s boat—Shorty and Bruno Velvetier,the interior decorator—were throwing handfuls of popcornto the waiting birds. The birds stayed right behind the boat,and their screams blended in with the ZZ Top music, until thecacophony mixed into indecipherable noise.The judges were transfixed by this latest apparition,Right Guard with Alfred Hitchcock’s demonic ornithologicalcongregation in tow, struck dumb by the noise and thebirds. They were struck dumb, that is, until Right Guard wasabeam and close aboard the judges’ float. At that exactmoment, one of Bubba’s buddies from The Blue Moon Bar,Tripwire, stepped up on deck and heaved a big paper bagfull of popcorn right onto the judges’ float.The squadron of birds, shrieking and diving and defecatingall at the same time, detached themselves from thestern of Right Guard and made a bee line for the greaterlargess that was now on the judges’ float. The resulting catastrophicconfusion unsettled the judges. Some fell overchairs before gaining better footing on dry land. Someended up in the water as they tried to avoid the beatingwings of more screeching birds than they had ever seen intheir lives.In the bewilderment that followed, Right Guard disappearedback into the night sans its birds that were otherwiseinvolved in trying to gobble up 10 pounds of popcorn in theSee BUBBA continued on page 69News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 17


Events and News of Interest to Southern SailorsTo have your news or event in this section, contacteditor@southwindsmagazine.com.UPCOMING SOUTHERN EVENTSBOAT SHOWSNew Orleans Boat Show Rescheduled. Originally scheduledfor Feb. 8-12, the show is now scheduled for March 8-12. www.neworleansboatshow.com.Austin Boat Show. Jan. 12-15. Austin Convention Center.Bring the whole family to the largest boating event of theyear featuring over 200 vendors and boat dealers.Thursday, Jan. 12. 12 pm-9 pm. Friday, Jan. 13. 12 pm -9 pm.Saturday, Jan. 14. 10 am-9 pm. Sunday, Jan. 15. 10 am-6 pm.$8 for adults; seniors over 65 and children 10 and under are$4. Children 6 and under are free. Visit www.austinboatshow.comfor more information.Houston International Boat, Sport and Travel Show. Jan.6-15. Reliant Center. (713) 552-1055Atlanta Boat Show. Jan. 11-15. Georgia World CongressCenter. NMMA. (954) 441-3228.www.atlantaboatshow.com.West Marine Trawler Fest. Jan. 26-28. Stuart, FL.Passagemaker <strong>Magazine</strong>. (888) 487-2953.www.trawlerfest.com.San Antonio Boat Show. January 26-29 at the Alamodome.Bring the whole family to the largest boating event of theyear featuring over 150 vendors and boat dealers. Thursday,Jan. 26. 12 pm-10pm. Friday, Jan. 27. 12 pm-10 pm. Saturday,Jan. 28. 10 am-10 pm. Sunday, Jan. 29. 10 am-6 pm. $8 foradults; seniors over 65 and children 10 and under are $4.Children 6 and under are free. Visit www.sanantonioboatshow.comfor more information.Charlotte County Boat Show, Charlotte CountyFairgrounds, Port Charlotte, FL. Jan. 26-29 (954) 570-7785.www.swfmia.com.Charleston Boat Show. Jan. 27-29. Charleston ConventionCenter, Charleston, SC. (843) 364-8491. www.charlestonboatshow.com.Strictly Sail Miami Boat Show. Feb. 16-20The Strictly Sail Miami boat show is part of the greaterMiami International Boat Show and is held at theMiamarina in downtown Miami. It runs from Thursday,32nd Annual Stuart Boat Show, January 13-15.New location, more docks and increased land-based displayspace. Still located on the north side of the St. Lucie River inStuart, FL, the show is moving west of the Roosevelt Bridgeto take advantage of dock space offered by three side-by-sidemarinas and to utilize additional land space.The Stuart Boat Show will include more than 200exhibitors, including all the major boat manufacturers, latestgadgets, accessories, electronics, equipment and financingand insurance, too. There’s also free parking and a complimentarywater taxi connecting the show and downtownStuart. (305) 868-9224. stuartboatshow@aol.com.18 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


Feb. 16, through Monday, Feb. 20. Showhours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, andadmission to the show gives admission toother locations of the Miami show. Amongthe many multihulls and monohulls present,the show also includes the largestselection of catamarans of any boat show.Programs include Kids Aboard BoatBuilding Workshop (free), free sailing tripsthrough Discover Sailing, and free dailyseminars.Tickets can be bought online atwww.miamiboatshow.com. Tickets onThursday (10 a.m.-6 p.m.), Feb. 16, PremierDay, are $25. Cost of tickets Feb. 13-17, Fridaythrough Monday (10 a.m.-6 p.m.), are $15, freefor children under 12. Adult, two-day(Feb 17-20) passes are available for $26.Thursday, Premier Day tickets availablefor $28. All tickets include entryto all locations of the Miami InternationalBoat Show..EDUCATIONAL BOATING EVENTSOngoing – Boating Skills and Seamanship Programs. St.Petersburg, FL, Each Tuesday night, 7:30-9:30 p.m., 1300Beach Dr. SE, St. Petersburg. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary,Flotilla 72. Completion satisfies the State of Florida boatersafety education requirements. The continuous rotatingprogram has 11 lessons. One lesson is presented eachTuesday night. Lessons include: which boat for 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: The StPetersburg Sail and Power Squadron begins the six-week(every Monday) Public Boating Course on Jan. 9. The courseincludes safety information plus basic piloting; charts,course plotting, latitude/longitude and dead reckoning. Call(727) 867-3088 or visit www.boating-stpete.org for details.The course satisfies Florida’s education requirement forboaters under age 21.Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary offers PublicBoating Programs:Expanded Boating Skills and Seamanship (11 lessons).Class Days: Jan. 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 31.Feb. 3, 7, 10, 14, 17All programs are held at the Clearwater SailingCenter, 1001 Gulf Blvd., Sand Key (Clearwater).They are open to adults and youths.For more information on upcoming educationprograms or to request a free vessel safetycheck, call (727) 469-8895 or visitwww.uscgaux.org/~0701101/PublicEducationPrograms.htm.North Carolina Maritime Museum,Beaufort, NC, www.ncmm-friends.org,maritime@ncmail.net, (252) 728-7317.On-going adults sailing programs.Family Sailing. 2-6 people; 2-6 hours.Traditional skiffs or 30’ keelboat. $50-$240.Reservations/information:Call The Friends’ office (252) 728-1638Seven Seas Cruising Association-Sponsored MarineWeather Forecasting Workshop. Miami, FL. Feb. 21 -22A two-day Marine Weather Forecasting Workshop will beheld at the Miami Yacht Club on Feb. 21-22. (These datesimmediately follow the Miami Boat Show, Feb 16-20.) Theworkshop is sponsored by Seven Seas Cruising Associationand supported by West Marine.The curriculum includes cause and effect of marineweather, charting symbols and terminology, the patterns ofweather systems and interpreting surface and 500-mb charts.Lee Chesneau, a senior marine meteorologist for NOAA’sOcean Prediction Center and a USCG-certified STCWinstructor, will conduct the courses. He has held marineweather seminars for Safety-at-Sea and at boat shows. Thecost of the workshop is $250 per person for SSCA members,News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 19


$300 for non-members. The fee includes a 250-pluspageinteractive workbook as well as lunch both days.Limited registration to ensure personal attention.Download the registration form at www.ssca.org.OTHER EVENTSNew Year’s Day Fun Sail at Ballard Park,Melbourne, FL. Jan 1. Space CoastCatamaran Club. Mark Herendeen,e-mail mherendeen@bellsouth.net.Key West Race WeekJanuary 16 -20 (see race section forrace week preview)Key West’s azure blue “race track” issure to feature the world’s top performingrace boats and crews inJanuary. Premiere Racing’s New Yearsailing kick-off begins on January 16,with nine races scheduled over the five days of racing.Event details, entries and past results are available atwww.Premiere-Racing.comYacht Brokers Assoc. of America Annual Conference. Jan18-20. Bahia Mar Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale. YBAA.(410) 263-1014. www.ybaa.com.National Marine Service Expo. Jan. 20-22. Assoc. of MarineTechnicians. Sheraton World Resort, Orlando, FL. (800) 467-0982. www.am-tech.org.Conference on Marine Industry Technical Training. Jan.23-24. Safety Harbor Resort & Spa. Safety Harbor, FL. (410)956-1050. www.abycinc.org.2006 Useppa Island 2nd Annual CatboatRendezvous, Useppa Island, Southwest Florida,Jan. 27-29It’s time to think about winter fun in the sun, sailing,and camaraderie on Useppa Island, FL, the weekendof January 27-29. You don’t need to own aCatboat, or even be from Florida to attend thisevent. We want you to be a Catboat afficionado.There will be Catboats of all types and sizes.Bring your boat or come and savor the tranquilityof a real island off the southwest Floridacoast. You will most likely be able to crew withsomeone sailing around Pine Island Sound, bepart of the race committee, crew in the races,or watch from a spectator boat.Friday night pot luck beach party,Saturday tour of Useppa Island and themuseum, racing and sailing. Saturdaynight buffet dinner. Sunday races,brunch and awards ceremony.Accommodations at neighboringCabbage Key, stay on your boat at Useppa,or anchor out. $80 per person. For information,contact Gretchen and John Coyle at (239) 283-5008. E-mail Gfcoyle@msn.com.Indian River Yacht Club Presents Sail A Small Boat Day.Jan. 28. 11a.m. – 5 p.m. Whitley Bay Marina, Cocoa, FL. Anexcellent opportunity to test-sail new sailboats from 10-25feet on the Indian River. Sailboats from Catalina, Hunter,ComPac, Vanguard, Walker Bay, and Precision will be featuredfrom a number of dealers throughout the state. Freeand open to everyone. No previous experience required.For more information, contact Jerry at Boaters Exchange at(321) 638-0090, or www.BoatersExchange.com.20 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 21


International Marina andBoatyard Conference.Jan. 29-Feb. 1. RenaissanceOrlando SeaWorld,Orlando, FL, (202) 737-9774.www.marinaassociation.org.NEWSCharlotte Harbor Sailing CenterWithout a HomeBy Barbara PierceIn a recent decision by the Punta Gorda (Florida) CityCouncil, land next to the Punta Gorda Boat Club cannot beused to create a community sailing center. The nonprofitCharlotte Harbor Sailing Center wanted to share a small stripof the club’s land to give the city’s disabled and underprivilegedyouth the opportunity to learn to sail. The center wouldalso serve as a site for local high schools to teach sailing.Council members voted unanimously not to force theclub to share the land.The feud leading to this decision has been long; BillDixon, leader of the effort to start a sailing center, attendedevery City Council meeting for the past four years to lobbyfor the sailing center’s cause. “A compromise - sharing theland - would be good for everyone,” Dixon believed.The City Council had hoped that the two groups couldagree to share the basin. Thanks to a lease with the city, theclub maintains control of the basin. The lease, which hasbeen in effect for 50 years, costs the club $1 per year.The club was unwilling to share the basin, giving liabilityand safety issues as the reason. It is alleged that otherissues lurk behind the tension. There is speculation thatboat club members, mostly retirees, did not want to sharetheir land with children and teenagers.The City Council made the decision to find a new sitefor the center.Dixon has resigned from thecause, discouraged that therewill ever be a communitysailing center in PuntaGorda.Just before going to press, <strong>Southwinds</strong> learned of recentdevelopments in this story. The Charlotte High School sailingteam was to train with the Charlotte Harbor SailingCenter, and when the Punta Gorda Boat Club denied thecenter the use of its grounds, Punta Gorda Isles Yacht ClubCommodore Larry Stewart heard about it and wondered ifthe Yacht Club’s Dinghy Sailing Club could partner up withthe high school sailors. The club offered the use of theirgrounds to the high school team, along with four boats theycould sail. (The Charlotte High School sailing team is notofficially associated with the high school.)Ericson Yachts Web Site SeeksFunding to ContinueThe Ericson Yachts Web site, www.EricsonYachts.com, is nolonger being run by Pacific Seacraft Corporation, owners ofthe Ericson name. The site is now being run by the originalowner of the Web site, and he is seeking funding for it.Donations can be made directly to him via check (SeanShannon Engle, PO Box 16482, Seattle, WA 98116-0482),or via PayPal (www.paypal.com: account is under ssengle@comcast.net).Any questions, concerns or for moreinformation, e-mail Sean Shannon Engle at ssengle@comcast.net,or ssengle@worldnet.att.net.Boat Pump-Out Service Opensin West FloridaMobile Marine Pump Out Service is now operating betweenClearwater, St. Pete/Tampa Bay and Sarasota. “The PumpOut Boat” comes to your boat at its slip or mooring, emptiesthe holding tank for you and sends it off to the city sewagetreatment. The Pump Out Boat is currently schedulingmonthly, biweekly or weekly customers for 2006. Regularservice packages will start at around $20.Owner Capt. Dave Bergen says the much-needed serviceworks just like the garbage man. “We take care of thetanks on a regular schedule. If your day is Wednesday, itwill always be that day unless we have a breakdown orsomething out of our control like weather.”On board his boat, The Potti Animal, Capt. Dave (andhis chocolate Labrador retriever) monitor VHF 16 and 68.If boaters see them in the area, they can hail them, “ThePump Out Boat,” for immediate service. State the name,type and location of your boat, and they will promptlyrespond with an ETA.22 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 23


The Pump Out Boat has a pink hull with a life-sizegreen dolphin painted on her bow so it is easy to spot onthe water.Mobile Marine Pump Out Service plans to launch newservice in the Fort Myers and Naples area with the additionof a second pump-out boat, in Spring 2006. Thecompany will also offer an environmentally safebilge cleaning service to help boaters avoid illegal,oily discharge in marinas and harbors.They can be reached at (727) 363-4000 and have a limited timeintroductory offer. Wash-downand detailing services are availableon request. You can alsofind out more information attheir Web site, www.thepumpoutboat.com.Everglades SeafoodFestival, Feb. 4-6, Everglades City, FL,Free AdmissionReview by Gretchen CoyleLong, windswept hair flows behind tattooed bikers as theyrace down Route 29 on shiny Harleys. Cowboys fromImmokalee adorned in fancy boots made of some unnamableskin saunter around town checking out the 30 andunder set. Families in RVs from all over Florida are parkedaround Everglades City, eager for the weekend’s festivities.Country and Western lovers are singing along, swaying tothe sound of the music. All are partaking in the EvergladesSeafood Festival.Started in the early 1970s as a small community event,and now held the first weekend of February each year, theEverglades Seafood Festival swamps the small town ofEverglades City with the curious and the hungry. From amile away, the smell of deep-fried mullet, conch fritters todie-for,and steamed stone crabs lures visitors as they getout of their cars. Food lines become as long as the fishstories themselves. Local fishermen and volunteerscook shrimp, seafood, salads, and sandwiches.Since this event is billed as a “Taste ofthe Everglades,” then surely no mealwould be complete without a bite ofFlorida’s extra-large lizard-shapedreptile. Yes, gator nuggets are on themenu. First-timers munching onthis prehistoric-looking creatureare surprised to find it amazinglyedible considering the source.Native American cuisine is alsoavailable, prepared by the localtribes. Maybe it is the merry atmosphere,but the food tastes better off paper containersand waxed paper than at the fanciest restaurants. You canget a hamburger, but who could possibly want one with thefreshest and best local seafood available?As much fun as eating is sitting at long picnic tableschatting with other festival-goers. A farmer and his wifefrom La Belle may be talking to a family from the upperpeninsula of Michigan. Seniors might have a first-ever conversationwith some of the biker group. Young folk fromsurrounding counties come to cruise, be seen and mix witheach other. Tasting and people-watching are without adoubt the highlights. It is an orderly crowd that swells thissmall Collier County town with its usual population ofabout 500 to over 50,000.24 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 25S


Best described as part hokey, part eclectic, and part eyeopening,over 150 booths of all types line the blocked-offstreets. Everything from plants to alligator skins and craftsto expensive paintings are sold. Miccosukee and SeminoleIndian tribal handiwork are perennial Seafood Festivalfavorites. Most vendors have items unique to the culture ofsouthwest Florida. On one side of the classic Greek CityHall is a carnival with rides and amusements to delight allages. Folks sitting in fold-up chairs are continually jumpingup to dance along with the bands. An oldies group is usuallyfeatured on Friday night, and country and Westernbands—some even real Nashville stars—all day Saturdayand Sunday.This three-day annual event was only tarnished oneyear in the late 1980s when a number of town officials andfishermen were caught with more than mullet in their nets.The raids and subsequent scandal resulted in jail sentencesand the festival’s being canceled that year.From all of the above you now are anxious to attend,right? Here’s a suggestion: Avoid the traffic and go by boat.Tie up at the historic Rod and Gun Club for the weekend.After a day of festivities, a cool swim (pool is not heated),drinks and dinner at the Rod and Gun Club are both relaxingand recommended. Nothing beats the ambiance of oldtime Everglades City than looking up from your boat at the1920s gas tank and pumps.Little Potato Creek, as it was once called, had its namechanged to the Barron River when Barron Collier dug hisTamiami Trail across southwest Florida and groomed littleEverglades City to be the county seat of—what else—Collier County. Collier’s little town never really developed,and the county seat became Naples, but the Barron River iswell marked and easily navigable. Boat traffic is sparseexcept for National Park Service boats and a few congenialcommercial fishermen.Festival admission is also free as are the stage shows.Pets and coolers are forbidden inside the festival grounds.Food, rides and souvenirs are all reasonably priced, makingthis one of the most inexpensive events in southwestFlorida. A brochure published by the Everglades Chamberof Commerce does not list the Seafood Festival under itslist of attractions. Assumedly this is because it takes placebut once a year. Or maybe they just want to keep it the sizeit is now.Full of local color and down home fun, the EvergladesSeafood Festival is not to be missed. Y’all come, hear?For more information, go to www.evergladesseafoodfestival.com.E-mail: info@evergladesseafoodfestival.com.26 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


U.S. Coast Guard Releases BoatingFatalities Statistics for 2004:Lowest Since 1960The U.S. Coast Guard recently announced that the totalfatalities resulting from recreational boating accidentsdeclined to 676, the lowest on record since 1960.However, 484 boaters drowned in 2004, and 90 percentof those who drowned were not wearing a life jacket.While fatalities from boating accidents are decreasing,wearing a life jacket is still key to surviving an accident.The new statistics indicate a steady drop when comparedwith 750 fatalities reported in 2002 and 703 fatalitiesin 2003. For the full story go to the US SAILINGWeb site, http://www.uscgboating.org/waypoints/nov05/art1_fatalities.htmseveral days or a few hours as if they owned the vesselthemselves. Pinnacle Yachts also offers comprehensivetraining programs for members new to yachting or forthose who wish to enhance their skills prior to taking thehelm on their own. Scheduling and maintenance tasks aremanaged by the company’s professional staff aided by thefirm’s advanced, proprietary technology.Founded in 1998, Pinnacle Yachts was the first companyto offer shared-yacht programs. To learn more, visit thecompany’s Web site at www.pinnacleyachts.com.Dry Tortugas and EvergladesParks Reopen After ExtensiveHurricane DamageDry Tortugas National Park reopened in November aftersuffering major damage from Hurricane Wilma. Parts of thebrick structure at Fort Jefferson will probably remain closedtemporarily because of visitor safety.Parts of Everglades National Park were severely damaged,particularly the visitor center in Flamingo, which sufferedan eight-foot storm surge. Some parts of the park atFlamingo will be closed for several more months. Fuel isnot now available in Flamingo, and park officials discourageuse of the waterways in the area until navigation markerscan be replaced and channels checked for shifting bottomsand underwater hazards.Conditions are changing daily as repairs proceed, andupdates are available for both parks at (305) 242-7700.Pinnacle Yachts Opens Base in TampaBay With Shared-Yacht ProgramPinnacle Yachts Inc., offering shared sail and power yachts,announced in December the opening of its newest base atthe Harborage Marina in St. Petersburg, FL. The Harborageis the company’s ninth base of operations in the UnitedStates. The company currently has bases in Miami,Manhattan, Stamford, Boston, Detroit, Annapolis, Seattleand Chicago.For an all-inclusive annual lease fee, members in itsshared-yacht program make private use of new 34- to 40-foot Jeanneau sailboats or Sea Ray power yachts, withoutthe high cost or obligations of ownership. With local day-todayaccess to their yachts, members may cruise for a week,News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 27


OUR WATERWAYSThe SOUTHWINDS“Our Waterways” SectionSOUTHWINDS has created this section to inform ourreaders about changes in our waterways. We believethat Southerners are in the midst of a great changeoccurring on our waterways—through the conversionof many boating properties to condominiums, restrictionson anchorages once thought to be more open andnow being more restricted and regulated, and other economicforces at work.The waterways belong to all of us, and all of us havea right to use them. The waterways are not just for thosewho can afford to live on the water, and it is up to usboaters and lovers of these waters to protect that right.We hope that by helping to inform you of these changes,we will contribute to doing just that.We are looking for news and information onchanges, land sales, anchorages, boaters’ rights, newmarinas, anchoring rights, disappearing marinas, boatyardsand boat ramps, environmental concerns and otherrelated news. Contact Steve Morrell, editor@southwindsmagazine.com,or call (877) 372-7245.Boat Waste Discharge CallBrings in Strong ResponseBy Steve Morrell, editorLast month, we published an article on beach closings andwaste disposal questions about the Davis Island Seaplaneanchorage in Tampa Bay and also discussed the issue in oureditorial about the problem. We put out a call for readers’comments and opinions on boat waste disposal andreceived more letters on this topic than any other issue,including the right to sail to Cuba, which always sparksinterest.Below we have published comments from Dee VonQuirolo of Reef Relief in the Florida Keys. Reef Relief hasprobably done more to clean the water in the Florida Keysthan any other single effort, and is pretty much responsiblefor setting up a no-discharge zone in that area. The controversysurrounding no-discharge zones is considerable,especially when one considers that they do not even allowType I and Type II MSDs, like Raritan’s Lectra/San treatmentsystem. We have also included a letter from CharlesHusick, an engineer who has been working on this problem,about Type I MSDs.SOUTHWINDS is going to try to be a vehicle for informationexchange about these systems and alternatives to them.We invite readers to let us know what experience theyhave with this problem and these solutions. We are particularlyinterested in what other countries and communitiesaround the world do.Private Boat Pump-Out ServiceBegins in Tampa Bay AreaMobile Marine Pump Out Service began operating inTampa Bay in December. For more information, see the“Short Tacks” section in this issue.Pump it. Don’t Dump it —Save the Reef by Honoring theKeys’ No Discharge ZoneBy Dee Von Quirolo, Reef Relief www.reefrelief.orgThe no discharge zone for boater sewage in state waters ofthe Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary was declaredofficial by the U.S. EPA on June 19, 2002. This followed asimilar designation for Key West, FL, waters established onNovember 17, 1999, thanks to the efforts of Reef Relief andthe City of Key West, approval from the governor of Floridaand the U.S. EPA. The designation is being expanded to allfederal waters of the Keys sanctuary this coming year.The rules established that boaters are prohibited fromdumping sewage, even when treated, into the ocean. It doesnot apply to gray water from showers or sinks, onlysewage. Through-hull fittings for disposal of sewage shouldbe closed, and appropriate measures should be taken to use28 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


vessel pump-out facilities. State watersextend three miles from the land on theAtlantic side of the Keys and 9 milesinto the Gulf of Mexico.The Florida Keys are famous fordiving, fishing and boating. Tourismand commercial fishing industriesdepend upon clean, healthy water.North America’s only living coral barrierreef lies just offshore. Coral reefsneed clear, clean, nutrient-free watersto thrive.The reasons for establishing the nodischarge zones in the Keys were simple:recreational boats in congested harborsin the Keys and charter boats visitingthe offshore coral reefs were dumpingraw sewage into the ocean, and itwas contributing to a decline in waterquality. Everyone is familiar with theloss of coral reefs in the Keys, and it isno secret that our “gin-clear” waters areno longer clear in the Keys’ harbors andinlets, much less offshore. Althoughboater sewage is a small percentage ofthe total nutrient loading, it is the concentratednature of it in small harborsand the direct discharge onto the coralreefs that makes it so damaging to thenutrient-sensitive waters of the FloridaKeys. Even the Type I and II MSDs thatmacerate or incinerate the sewageresults in the discharge of concentratednutrients into the ocean, which is whythey, too, are banned as part of the nodischarge zone designation.Today, coral loss in the Florida Keysis such that there is only 2 percent coralcoverage left and efforts are underwayto designate the major branching corals,elkhorn, staghorn and the rare fusedstaghorn, onto the U.S. endangeredspecies list. Although there is no doubtthat there are multiple contributors toreef decline, the direct discharge of concentratedsewage is a contributing factorthat can easily be addressed, unlikelarger problems such as global warmingand agricultural runoff from theEverglades.Key West charter boat captain finds it easyto use the dockside vessel pump-outMany point to cruise ships ashookup provided by the City of Key West another contributor to reef decline.at the downtown docks of the Historic Negotiations have been underwaySeaport. Photo by Reef Relief.between the City of Key West, cruise shiprepresentatives, and Reef Relief for overa year in an effort to come to an agreement on how andwhen cruise ships that visit Key West will be required toupgrade their onboard sewage treatment. For the smallercommercial boats in Key West, the city has run individualsewage pump-out hook-ups to each of the charter boats inthe downtown Historic Seaport docks, where many largeschooners run charters on a tight schedule. They can easilypump-out between charters.Recreational Boaters Can Help With Reef ReliefFor boaters, pump-out facilities are available at many locationsthroughout the Florida Keys. In addition, mobilepump-out services are available. The Key West mooringfield has distinguished itself by providing regular mobilepump-out services not only for the well-populated field butalso for other vessels around the island of Key West in orderto reduce the intentional disposal of sewage into the ocean.The municipal marinas operated by the City of Key WestNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 29


OUR WATERWAYSprovide vessel pump-out facilities dockside, and it is a conditionof the dock lease that the lessees honor the no dischargezone. Key Largo recently purchased a mobile pumpoutbarge, and new pump-out facilities have been added upand down the Keys in recent years.The Florida Keys provide an example of how to implementa workable no discharge zone. Funds to establishadditional pump-out facilities in the Florida Keys have beenmade available from Monroe County through a specialgrant program. A no discharge zone coordinator has alsobeen hired in order to facilitate the application process forarea marinas.An informational brochure and map of pumpouts areavailable through Reef Relief or the Florida Keys NationalMarine Sanctuary and online at www.co.monroe.fl.us.ndz/info.htm, or www.reefrelief.org.Boat Waste Disposal SolutionPossible Through Type I MSDsBy Charles Husick, Tampa Bay, FLThe SOUTHWINDS’ December editorial addressed the needfor an environmentally acceptable means for disposing oftoilet waste from navigating vessels. As you so correctlypointed out, reliance on holding tanks is not a responsiblesolution. The tanks cause problems on the boats in whichthey are installed. Pump-out stations are not available inmany areas, especially for sailboats of more than minimumdraft. All too often, pump-out stations are either unmannedand locked or inoperative. Waste deposited in pump-outstations all too often winds up in the waters in which we arenavigating when heavy rain overcomes the shoreside treatmentplants or when a sewer line breaks or the plant malfunctions.Fortunately, a solution to this problem exists inuse of an on-board sewage treatment system such as theGroco Thermopure 2 or the Raritan Lectra/San, both ofwhich are Coast Guard-approved Type 1 marine sanitationdevices. What is even better, both of these devices sanitizewaste to such an extent that the treated effluent is cleanerthan the water in which the boat is floating.The treatment ability of the Groco and Raritan MSDs arevastly superior to the more than 30-year-old specificationSend Us Information and Opinionson Boat Waste DisposalMore and more communities are restricting our rights toanchor or moor in their local waters. One of the maincomplaints is residents’ allegations of sewage disposalfrom boats.Do boaters pollute the waters in which theyanchor? What alternatives to the traditional methods ofsewage disposal from a boat exist? Are composting toiletsa good answer? Do you have experience withthem? How about mandatory pump-outs? Enforced nodischargezones? How much pollution is caused by localcommunities compared to what a boat discharges?What about Type I and Type II MSDs? Should they beallowed in no-discharge zones? How are the pump-outservices in your area?We are also looking for information on what othercountries—in Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and elsewhere—doabout boat waste disposal.SOUTHWINDS will be researching innovative waysto dispose of sewage and answers to this age-old problem.We’d like your input and opinions.Contact Steve Morrell at (877) 372-7245, or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com.requirements of the Clean Vessel Act; less than 200 fecal coliformper 100 ml (about 3 ounces) of water. Both of thesedevices have been tested by independent laboratories, whichattest to the fact that the treated effluent contains less than 10coliform/100 ml, 20 times less than the federal specification.For reference, the state of Florida defines water qualityat bathing beaches as GOOD when it contains up to 199fecal coliform/100 ml of marine water. A MODERATE ratingis given when the coliform content is between 200 and399 per 100 ml. (An alternate indicator of water contamination,enterococcus is also used, with levels up to 35CFU/100 ml earning a GOOD rating and 36-104 as MOD-ERATE. The two MSDs cited reduce the enterococcus contentof waste in the same ratio as for fecal coliform).The bottom line of the specification talk above is simple:What comes out of either of these on-board treatmentsystems is far cleaner than the water the state considersacceptable for bathing. In fact, the use of either of thesedevices with toilets supplied with seawater would cleansepollution from the seawater.We have an available technology-based solution to themarine waste problem—one that would eliminate the needfor smelly and hazardous holding tanks, eliminate the spotpollution that often occurs when a tank is pumped outimproperly and one that would eliminate the insult to theenvironment that occurs when a multi-gallon holding tankof mature sewage is dumped into the open sea.What we need is a government sufficiently motivatedto not only allow but actively promote the use of certifiedon-board treatment of waste with equipment that will preventpollution of our waters. We need to eliminate the nodischargezones in open and coastal tidal waters andencourage the most environmentally aware community wehave, our fellow sailors, to use technology for the benefit ofour aquatic world.30 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 31


OUR WATERWAYSPinellas County Considers MarinaPurchase, then Backs OutPinellas County, home to St. Petersburg, Clearwaterand several other waterfront communities, consideredthe purchase of the Tierra Verde Hi & Dry Marina, thenrecently backed out of the deal. When the county commissionersheard last fall that the marina was beingsold to condo developers, they stepped in to purchasethe property, entering a contractual period to investigatethe acquisition. Early indications were that themarina could pay for itself. The purchase price was estimatedto be about $23-million. Bonds would be put upto pay for the purchase over 20 years. Further inquiriesindicated that the marina’s wet slip and dry storagebuilding could mean at least another $4-million inrepairs and upgrades, shooting the price tag up enoughto decide against acquiring the property.Pinellas County has more registered pleasure boatsthan any other Florida county, with more than 50,000boats. In recent years, several marinas have been sold tocondo developers, and both water access and the numberof slips have been diminishing. The county commissionerswere hoping to at least maintain the currentnumber of moorings in the county with the purchase.Intracoastal Waterway’sDismal Swamp Canal FundingBy Walt McFarlaneCongress recently passed a $21-million appropriations billthat included $850,000 for maintenance and operation of theDismal Swamp Canal for at least another year. However,funding for this very popular Intracoastal Waterway routehas and still remains questionable.The Dismal Swamp Canal was opened in 1805 as acommerce route between Virginia and North Carolina, andtoday it also serves thousands of boaters a year who travelthe ICW.During the Atlantic hurricane season, this route offers asafer alternative for many. However, there are very fewanchorages along the route. There are a number ofovernight havens, which offer good protection on thePasquotank River north of Elizabeth City, NC.The U.S. Corp of Engineers is responsible for the operationof the canal that includes two locks located at DeepCreek, VA, and South Mills, NC. These locks are operatedeight hours a day, year around, weather permitting. Duringwinter, the canal is sometimes closed for maintenance, so ifyou plan to use this route, you may want to contact the U.S.Corps of Engineers Waterway Office in Great Bridge, VA.This canal is not just for boaters. It is a living piece ofmaritime history dating back to the birth of this nation,commissioned and built by the founding fathers. The cost tothe federal government for keeping the Dismal SwampCanal operational is not even a financial drop in the bucket.We all need to keep an eye on this. With more and moreanchorages, and public marinas being gobbled up into theprivate sector, we do not need to lose this waterway to neglect,private development, or because of someone’s ownpolitical agenda.For more information on the ICW, go to www.atlintracoastal.org.Whitley Bay Marina to PrivatizeUnder a Precedent-Setting SettlementBy Roy LaughlinIn November, the Florida Cabinet, led by Governor JebBush, approved new lease terms for Whitley Bay Marina inCocoa. The new terms give Dream Harbors LLC a 25-yearlease on the submerged state lands under the marina. The25-year lease passed in May 2005 will allow Dream HarborsLLC to operate a private marina with equity slip ownership.Prices for slips in the privatized marina are expected to bewell over $80,000 depending on slip size. For most boat ownersin working class central Brevard County, this cost is muchmore than the purchase price of their boats. This decision is asignificant loss for public access to waterways, although thechange will be buffered over a three-year period.The Florida Cabinet’s decision on Whitley Bay is part ofa complex lawsuit settlement involving both the state and32 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


the city of Cocoa. The private marina’s name will bechanged to the Cocoa Village Marina. The marina will maintain20 “first come, first served” slips initially. In 2008, thenumber of “first come, first served” slips will decline to 10.Dream Harbors LLC will reimburse the city for $600,000 inconstruction costs for its boardwalk adjacent to the marina.Dream Harbors LLC will also give the city $50,000 for mooringfields. The mooring fields will be public.Costs of marina leases for private developers are a relativebargain. Florida does not charge more for long-termleases for developers such as Dream Harbors LLC; rather itoffers a 30 percent discount for a public marina–one offering90 percent of its slips on a “first come, first served” basis.Brevard County Commission RejectsRegistration of Unmotorized BoatsBy Roy LaughlinThe Brevard County Commission quickly rejected a resolutionrequesting the Florida State Legislature to authorizeregistration fees on unmotorized boats including kayaks,canoes, catamarans and other small sailboats. Members ofseveral groups, including Space Coast Paddlers, a kayakclub, and Space Coast Catamaran Club spoke effectivelyagainst the registration resolution.Commissioner Ron Pritchard was a vocal supporter onthe Board of County Commissioners for the registration resolution.He explained that the state could apply for federalfunding for boating programs based on the number of registeredboats. The funding he refers to is available under theWallop Breaux Amendment (1983) to the 1950 SportsFishery Act. Taxes on boat fuels and fishing equipment arethe source of trust fund disbursements authorized by theSports Fishing Act of 1950. Jim Durocher of the Space CoastPaddlers pointed out that only seven states include unmotorizedboat registrations. They use them to fluff up theirentitlement for a share of the fuel taxes available under thisfederal act.Motor boating groups strongly support increasing registrationnumbers to recapture gas taxes for waterwayaccess. While their goals are supported by many waterwayusers, an unmotorized boat registration program whoseonly justification is to expand Florida’s share of federal trustfunds arising from fuel taxes is inconsistent with the federallaw’s source of funding. Spending under its provisionswill minimally benefit small-boat users.The rejected resolution was part of a set of provisions toincrease boater access. These resolutions came about after aJuly meeting of representatives from a dozen coastal Floridacounties, who aimed to develop a unified set of proposalsfor increased boater access to present to Florida legislators(reported in SOUTHWINDS’ September 2005 issue). TheBrevard County Commission made the following resolutionsat their meeting:1. Resolved to request that the State Legislature remove thegas tax cap and earmark all fuel taxes paid by marinas forboat fuels for boater access improvements. At present,the amount DEP receives for boating programs and lawenforcement is capped at $12-million. Total receipts in2003 were approximately $40-million. The $28-milliondifference becomes unrestricted funds in theDepartment of Transportation and is probably used forroad construction.2. Resolved to request state legislators begin an evaluationof legislation and policies that impede boater access.Artificially low lease rates charged by the state for privatemarinas were one disincentive for public accessmentioned at last July’s meeting.3. Resolved to request a change in the Florida BoatingImprovement Act to allow funding to be used for landacquisition for boating facilities. Presently, land acquisitionusing funds from this Act is restricted.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 33


34 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


OUR WATERWAYSBrevard County to DevelopMarine Management PlanBy Roy LaughlinOn November 22, the Brevard County Commission directedstaff of its Department of Natural Resources Managementto develop an extensive marine management plan. A positionpaper prepared by department staff includes 16 pointsto include in the plan. The emerging plan will include considerationof holding tank dye programs, possible designationof zero discharge areas and identification of funding forthe sheriff’s department to remove permanent moorings.Nearly 40 minutes of discussion, however, focusedentirely on two specific mooring issues. The first issue wasprevention of mooring outside designated areas to bedefined in the plan, and the second issue was the designationof areas suitable for placing mooring fields for public use.The mooring issue was brought to the table by twoMerritt Island waterfront residents, who complained abouta person, described as a live-aboard, mooring in front oftheir houses. They complained of lack of privacy, the soundof music from the boat and adverse effects on water qualitydue to toilet use.County staff presented the dilemma for mooring regulations.Florida DEP does not allow unpermitted mooringsin state waters, but does not routinely enforce the regulation.A local sheriff’s office may enforce state laws, but theBrevard County Sheriff has little money, equipment or policiesfor cutting moorings and citing live-aboards. FederalRights of Navigation, however, allow mariners to anchorunrestricted by local laws. If a boater puts down an engineblock and ties it, the county may cite them under DEP regulations;if a boater anchors on the same spot, Mariners’Rights of Navigation protect them. County staff willattempt to draft rules that satisfy the desires of the countycommissioners while still staying within the boundaries offederal laws.The second issue the county commission asked its staffto include in the management plan was identifying sites forpermanent mooring fields and requirements for buildingand operating them. Operation rules included requirementsthat the boat owners be identified and have insurance.Unlike the live-aboard issue, largely motivated by a fewcomplainers, mooring field development has much broaderpublic support. The city of Titusville, in particular, is rapidlypursuing construction of a mooring field off the city’sdowntown. This area has Brevard County’s densest concentrationof anchored boats. During Hurricane Wilma inOctober, several boats broke loose from anchors and thencollided with and damaged the Max Brewer Bridge betweenKennedy Space Center and the mainland. The bridge wasclosed for about a week for repairs. Most of the causeways inthe county had numerous boats beached along them after thelast two season’s storms. Many private docks were also damagedby drifting boats during hurricanes these past two years.The next step in the marine management plan will be tosolicit advice from stakeholders in the public. No date wasset for delivering a draft plan, but it seems it will be monthsin the making.Proposed Improvements To MarineFacilities In Cedar Key, FLBy Vern HobbsAfter years of providing virtually no accommodations fortransiting vessels and neglecting the few meager facilitiesthat did exist, it seems the winds of change may be beginningto blow in Cedar Key.Improvements to navigational aids, funding to rebuildpublic dockage, construction beginning on a new commercialmarina, and a planned face-lift for the downtown historicdistrict all suggest that some day soon Cedar Key maybecome a favorite cruisers’ destination.The serpentine “Main Ship Channel,” identified on theinset of NOAA Chart 11408, has long received the welldeservedridicule of almost every cruising guide coveringNorth Florida. This five-mile-long channel leading in fromthe Gulf has suffered from neglect evidenced by damaged,missplaced and missing channel markers that made navigationconfusing at best and hazardous at worst. Recently,the Coast Guard spent several weeks in the waterwayrepairing and replacing old markers, as well as setting somenew can buoys to better define the channel.Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004, plus floodingfrom Dennis this past summer, severely damaged CedarKey’s Municipal Pier, resulting in its condemnation and closure.State and federal funding to rebuild the pier and otherpublic docks has been granted. The inner harbor area of themunicipal marina was recently dredged and new floatingdocks installed. While this facility is not accessible to sail-Send Us InformationOn Public Mooring FieldsSOUTHWINDS is trying to catalog all the public mooringfields and anchorages that are regulated by local municipalitiesin the South, whether fresh or saltwater. We askour readers to send us information on those that theyknow, with contacts, locations, regulations, news etc.Contact Steve Morrell at (877) 372-7245, or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.com.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 35


OUR WATERWAYSThe recently completed portion ofthe Gulfside Marina in Cedar Key.The condos were already there andare not affiliated with the marina.Photo by Vern Hobbs.boats due to a low, fixed bridge overits entrance, the newly renovatedmarina does allow safe and convenientdinghy access to downtown.While we still wait to see if thenew municipal pier will be more hospitableto cruisers than the old one,construction has begun on a new commercialmarina: Gulfside Marina (phone (352) 543-0007)already has nine slips completed in a freshly dredged, protectedbasin at the southeast corner of town.This new facility is handicapped by tides, an ever-presentnemesis of Big Bend sailors. The entrance channel reportedlyaffords five-foot depths at high water, and less than onefoot at low water. The new facility is affording easy dinghyaccess for the ever-increasing number of sailboats anchoringin deep water off the downtown waterfront.The builders of Gulfside have grand aspirations includinga 750-foot pier connecting up to 150 deep-water slips toshore facilities and a mooring field. When complete, Gulfsidewill be the only marina able to accommodate deep-draft vesselsbetween Crystal River and Apalachicola. Construction isongoing, but no completion date has been set.On shore, a multimillion dollar renovation along Second(main) Street has begun. The Cedar Key Historic RenovationProject will restore five historic buildings to their late nineteenthcentury splendor, and bring a theater, artists’ courtyard,more shopping, and a waterfront park to downtown.These long overdue improvements to Cedar Key’smaritime facilities may yet make this eclectic village ahaven for Gulf Coast cruisers. How quickly the transformationwill occur remains in question. There is someresistance among skeptical locals, and the town operatesvery much on “island time.” Already, though, the pleasingsight of masts along the old waterfront has madeCedar Key all the more inviting to this Southern sailor.Marine Industry Tops Citrus InFlorida’s Economy, But GrowthIs Stunted By Condo DevelopersBy Lisa H. KnappThe marine industry employed 220,000 people in theSunshine State in 2005, generating an economic impact of$18.4-billion. But the future viability of the industry isthreatened by a statewide trend of conversion of waterfrontproperty to condominiums and non-marine use, saidKristina Hebert at the Seventh Annual Marine IndustrySummit in Fort Lauderdale in December.The realization that our working waterfront is diminishingis a critical task of Florida’s marine master planimplementation, said Hebert, president of the MarineIndustries Association of South Florida (MIASF). Eight hundredmarine businesses make up MIASF, a not-for-profittrade association consisting of primarily recreational boatingcompanies based in Broward, Miami-Dade, and PalmBeach counties.The thought of the marine industry being shoved out ofthe state is downright un-Floridian. Other statewide revenuemachines pale in comparison to the wave of Florida’srecreational boaters and megayacht industry yielding nearly$20-billion this year. The citrus industry, long consideredthe economic engine of Florida, generated just $9.1-billionin economic impact in 2000. The cruise line industry generated$5.2-billion in 2005, with Super Bowl XXXIX inJacksonville generating a mere $329-million.Broward County, the yachting capital of the world,employed 134,000 workers in the marine industry, but thatcould change if more public/private partnerships are notsought to prevent further erosion of the marine industry’sstability. Thirty percent of Florida’s boatyards have disappearedover the last five years, Hebert said.“It’s a disturbing trend,” said Susan Engle, president ofEnviroCare Solutions International. Many businesses havebeen displaced or lost, she said, citing the rezoning ofThunder Alley in Aventura, a city resting on the ICW innortheast Miami-Dade, as a classic example.Thunder Alley was created in the 1970s. It was home toworld-famous Cigarette race boats, Fort Apache, BobbyMoore’s, TNT and other marine companies regarded by36 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


Condos or marinas?The marine industry in Floridahas more of an economic impactthan the citrus industry.Photo by Steve Morrellsome as dirty-industry. They were unceremoniouslykicked out of Aventura duringits rezoning in the 1990s for the constructionof wall-to-wall luxury condominiums,an elementary school and a cityrecreational center. Only one marine businessremains in Thunder Alley today:Passport Marine, better known as Hi-LiftMarina, is a leading Formula dealership headed byAndrew Sturner.While his valuable waterfront property is covetedby developers, Sturner has dug his heels in, determinedto provide the thousands of boaters in the areawith a local sales, service, and marina facility.South Florida was home to 19 major boatyards in2000, Engle said, adding that only 13 remain today.Some have been converted to private slips; the six thatwere lost were converted for residential development.Nine of the 13 remaining yards have received offersfrom developers, Engle said, noting concern of the rippleeffect.The marine summit has focused efforts on how toretain yards, fuel facilities, boat ramps and dry stacks.“Development should maintain the marine industry’scharacter,” Engle said, adding that government supportmust be enlisted to review legislation to providecenters for marine businesses.While almost an afterthought, Engle noted thatmarine businesses are the infrastructure and stimulantof Florida’s tourism and hospitality industries.“Fort Lauderdale is the Venice of the Americas,”Engle said, adding that the city’s canals, uniqueambiance and lifestyle charm and attract tourists.“We have reached our critical mass,” said Hebert.While registrations for smaller craft are up 32 percentstatewide, boat registrations for Broward County areup less than five percent. A shortage of docking facilitiesand restrictions for boats on residential properties,driveways, and backyards contribute to Broward’s flatstatistics. Non-trailerable boats and sailboats are alsoleft with limited mooring options, Engle said.The megayacht industry has enjoyed a 15 percentgrowth, with 30 percent of today’s mammoth yachts inexcess of 200 feet. Many yachts are here year round,not just during the season, and they need a place to go,Engle said. Deepening the Dania Cutoff Canal to allowbig-vessel access could spur development of new boatyardsthere.“Where will the yachts go?” Hebert asked,adding that if boats go, so will their owners—andtheir money. “We must enlist the county to come upwith solutions.”Summit participants recommended deed restrictionsin the tri-county area and eliminating gambling boatsnow that Florida’s legislature has passed paramutual bettingin Broward County. That would make room for a megayachtmarina by the Broward County Convention Center.Locating boatyards near Port Everglades and the FortLauderdale International Airport, and other areas that areless desirable for condo development, might be a solution,said Mayor Jim Naugle of Fort Lauderdale. “Politicianscan’t just say no to condos.”Contact marine journalist Lisa Hoogerwerf Knapp with sailingnews in southeast Florida at <strong>Southwinds</strong>News@aol.com.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 37


Fractional Boat Charter/OwnershipBy Capt. J. Michael Shea, JDThe other day a good friend asked me toreview a contract for a “time-slot” boatownership plan she saw at a local boatshow and was interested in procuring.SOUTHWINDS printed an article in October2004 on this new concept in boat ownership.Generally, I was impressed with thewhole idea. In this article, I am going tolook at this form of boat ownership from thelegal stand-point.To begin with, these are bareboat charters,as that term is used in the maritimelaw books.However, the trade calls it “fractionalsailing.” They are still bareboat charters sold for differenttime slots combined with different management contracts.Under this type of ownership, the person chartering the vesselis responsible for the boat for the duration of the charter,or, in this case, until it is returned. The charterer is responsiblefor any liability or damage the vessel causes or suffers,and the charterers are responsible for returning the vessel inthe same condition as they received it. What the two majorcompanies in the business have done is to take an old shippingprinciple and add a few things. It is similar to a “voyagecharter,” a type of bareboat charter where the charterercharters the vessel for one trip, usually to deliver a cargo.With one of the companies, Sailtime, the managers are morelike condominium managers: Someone else owns the vessel,and they manage it. In their program, the boats are owned byone of the members, who, like the other charterers, participatein the bareboat charter. The other major company in thebusiness, Pinnacle, is more like your standard time-slotcondo ownership, where they own the boats and lease themto the charterers. There is no member ownership in their boatgroups. For the member/charterer /owner, it does not makea lot of difference which one you pick.Pinnacle uses Jeanneau boats, and Sailtime uses Hunterboats. Here is how they work. Pinnacle buys and owns theboats they offer for charter. Sailtime has a member/ownerbuy a boat and then charters the boat from the owner to recharterto the members. In both cases, the companies handleall the insurance, slip rental and maintenance of the vessels.They also handle the scheduling of the owners for the use ofthe boats. One has 10 members/owners (charterers) per vessel,and the other has eight. Each member/charterer is givena stated number of days annually to use the boat and paysjust under $500 to just over $600 per month, depending onthe size of the boat, for the use of the vessel. Not bad, if youthink about it. That includes boat payment, slip fees, insuranceand maintenance.One of the Sailtime fleet Hunters. Photo by Mike Shea.The CostsThere are some up-front costs. It takes about $3,500 to$4,000 in up-front fees to get into the programs. This coverssurety deposits. Both companies require $1,500 and onetimeenrollment fees of $500 to $1,000. Then there is sailtraining and certifications. Each company has sailing certificationand familiarization-required programs of two tothree days to train the member on the sailing and use ofthe boats. Pinnacle has been in the business longer, butSailtime has more locations. They each have overseasoperations and some type of program to use a boat in oneof the overseas locations for a small fee and subject toavailability. After all is said and done, the member getsabout 30 to 42 days of sailing per year for between $ 8,000and $ 10,000, and that is not bad when you think about it,as most sailboat owners do not get to use their personallyowned boats that much.These companies have the scheduling down prettywell. You are given some major holidays, weekends andweekdays. The members/charterers are between eight and10 owners/charterers per boat and are allowed to tradebetween themselves as to times and dates. Both have programsthat allow the use of the vessel on short notice if noone signs up for the boat, and those short time usages arenot counted toward the owner/charterer’s allotted time. Ifyou live nearby the boat’s location, you could use it a lotmore than the allotted time.I have looked over both companies’ contracts and findthey are well written. However, if you have a dispute,Pinnacle requires the dispute be arbitrated in Chicago,while Sailtime allows suits in the state were the boat is located.I think it gets down to the little things each company hasto offer. There is some difference in the up-front fees, buthere again, not that much. It would not keep me from goingwith one over the other if I like their boat. The securitydeposits are the same for the two companies; $1,500. There38 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


A Jeanneau 40.3, one of the Pinnacle Fleet boats. Photo by Jean-Marie Liot.is a difference in how much you get back after the first year:One is a little more than the other, but neither is a 100 percent.Both have up-front fees to sign up, and both have boatshow specials that reduce those amounts. Those fees are forset-up and cover the sailing training. They both require thesail training as their insurance companies require it. This isa good idea. Both companies require this fee, but I think thisis where you can wheel and deal with them. One offers theapproved American Sailing Association’s course in-houseand the other is an in-house course.Monthly UseThe Pinnacle boats have 10 member/charterers and Sailtimehas eight. There is also some difference in the total time amember/charterer can use the boats. Pinnacle boats are 15days each six months, and Sailtime is 21 each six months.Both allow the additional usage if the boats are not signedup for by other member/charterers.There are also some restrictions on leaving the program.You would lose your up-front fees, a part of yoursecurity deposit and be required to pay out the balance ofeither the six months or a year of your contract.I interviewed two member/charterers, one fairly newand one almost two years in the program, and both werevery satisfied with the programs and would sign up again.Most of the contracts are written for either two six-monthperiods or one year, but it does not make good sense to signup for less than a year. Management is a little different.Pinnacle is a centrally owned and operated company out ofChicago, and Sailtime is owned by different people at eachof its different bases. The on-site maintenance and servicecould differ widely depending on your location. My suggestionis to check them both out as to the location you wantto charter from.While Sailtime has a few more boats and bases, you maylike one company’s boat over theother’s, as Pinnacle has Jeanneaus,and Sailtime has Hunters.Sailtime has approximately 33bases and 70 boats, and Pinnacle has10 bases and 23 boats. Both areadding bases and boats all the time.Check their Web sites for more oneach, www.pinnacleyachts.com andwww.sailtime.com. Scheduling is alittle different with each company, socheck that out also. Each programrequires the member/charterer toleave the boat clean for the next member,and there is an inventory of itemson each vessel. Each member is personally responsible for anydamage caused to or by the vessel, and it is deducted from thesecurity deposit and new money is required to replace theused portion. If the damage is more than the securitydeposit and not covered by warranties, the member is askedto pay the difference.There are some differences in the usage you can makeof the vessels. Pinnacle does not allow its boats to be sailedat night; Sailtime does. There are also restrictions on barbecueusage, fishing, diving, and club racing and so on. Ifyou are interested in one of these activities, I suggest youinquire further.Both of these companies are getting into similar programsfor powerboats, so if you are thinking of a powerboat,you might consider this type of ownership as well. Allin all, I like the concept, and would recommend either ofthese companies to a client. What with the price of boatownership today and the limited marina space, this seemslike a very good alternative. These guys will handle everything:the boat payment, slip fees, insurance, maintenanceand at a fraction of the cost of owning a boat yourself.If you have a legal (sailing/boating) question, please drop me anote care of SOUTHWINDS or e-mail me at mike@jmichaelshea.comCapt. J. Michael Shea is a maritime attorney in Tampa, and holdsa masters and harbor pilots license. He has co-authored law books inthe maritime field, and teaches law and writes articles on maritimelaw. He has served as a marine investigator for the United StatesCoast Guard. The opinions in this article are those of the author andnot those of the U.S. Coast Guard or any other entity.Capt. Shea is a member of the Florida Bar and admitted to practicein the United States District Court for the South District ofAlabama. He is not a member of the Alabama Bar.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 39


BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTThe Right Parts,Right Prices —Right Now AtSailormanBy Lisa Hoogerwerf KnappBarato, the macaw greets every customer at Sailorman,a store where you can buy, sell, trade or consign newand used marine gear and supplies. The nine-yearold,green-winged macaw’s name is the essence ofSailorman: The English translation of the Spanish wordbarato literally means “cheap.”“We wheel and deal with everyone,” said ChuckFitzgerald, president and owner of Sailorman. The atmosphereof this unique marine emporium is a cross between aTijuana flea market and a West Marine store, with a focus onfun and bargains.Sailorman has an unusual inventory. It sells many newand used anchors, most of which are sunken treasures procuredby curious scuba divers.Sailorman is known for locating items that are hard tofind, which contributes to the store’s large, loyal following.Shoppers can find an occasional automated donutmakingmachine or washer/dryer among standard items like windlasses,lines, electronics, clothing, books, charts—anything asailor would ever need for his vessel. And like Baratoimplies, it’s all at bargain-basement prices.“Regardless of what someone walks in the store for, tobuy something particular or to just kick the tires, we wanteveryone to walk out with a smile on their face,” Fitzgeraldsaid, adding that if they don’t have what the customer asksfor, they’ll call elsewhere to satisfy their needs.That’s the secret to keeping returning customers,Fitzgerald said. With annual revenues of $3-million,Sailorman is in business for the long haul, not just a quickbuck, he said.Customer Jeff Hamilton recently sold Sailorman a list ofitems including dock stairs, life vests, and ropes while hesearched for items he really needed for his 42-foot Mantacatamaran, Oasis. Hamilton has made the hike down to FortLauderdale from Palm Beach at least 10 times during thepast five years, but said it’s worth the drive.“I have stuff I own that I don’t want to own anymore,and they pretty much take it all,” he said.Englishman Cliff Hunt started Sailorman in 1975, sell-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.com40 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


ing second-hand marine parts from his hatchback. The companygrew from a small hole-in-the-wall to a 10,000 squarefootwarehouse. Sailorman moved to its current location onState Road 84, off Highway U.S. 1, in Fort Lauderdale in 1982.When Fitzgerald bought Sailorman in 1985, the majorityof customers were cruising sailors. “We probably have themost sailboat gear of any store south of St. Augustine,” hesaid, noting that Fort Lauderdale has almost priced itself outof the cruising-sailor market to accommodate megayachts.Sailorman’s customer base still caters to sailboat owners, butthe bulk of its business is now generated from powerboaters,professional yacht captains, interior decorators, restaurateursand bar owners looking for nautical theme items.For those who can’t make the drive to Fort Lauderdale,www.sailorman.com offers convenient shopping and anoffshore chandlery service. The chandlery service accommodatesfirst-time boaters, seasoned sailors, and charterboat captains who have found themselves in that precariousand possibly dangerous position of having an importantpart fail while away from homeport or a place to re-supply.“We ship around the world,” said Bill Lott, who managesSailorman’s chandlery and Web site services. “It’sadvantageous to do inventory before going to sea,” Lottsaid, adding that vessels with mechanical or electrical problemstypically don’t carry a large inventory of those items.With a simple e-mail or phone call to (800) 523-0772,Sailorman will ship the needed item within 24 hours. Thereis no surcharge for the chandlery service.Chuck Fitzgerald and Barato welcome boaters to Sailorman.Photo by Lisa Hoogerwerf Knapp.Chandlery customers are not always located offshore orin Florida, Lott said. “Many are coastal, weekend familyboaters on lakes in Colorado. They’re spread across thelower 48 states, Alaska, Europe, South and Central America,New Zealand and Canada.”Lott plans to cruise the South Pacific soon. As an experiencedsailor, his vessel will be well-stocked for the journey.But if he’s in a jam in the middle of nowhere, he candepend upon the reliable chandlery service that’s helpedhundreds of Sailorman customers around the world.He knows what the price will be, too.“Cheap, cheap,” chirps Barato.Contact marine journalist Lisa Hoogerwerf Knapp with sailingnews in southeast Florida at <strong>Southwinds</strong>News@aol.com.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 41


CRUISE RELATIONSHIPSHow to Make it as aCruising CoupleBy Barbara PierceBruce and Barbara Pierce.Hanging my head over the side, I threw up again andagain. What am I doing out here in the middle of thenight, what seems like thousands of miles away fromother human beings, throwing up non-stop, frozen to thecore and totally miserable?We were off the coast of Baja, Mexico, traveling southfrom Southern California in our 41-foot ketch Crossroads.Everything was going wrong – we broke the boom, theautopilot stopped working, and we wrapped a line aroundthe prop. It was a nightmare.This is what we’ve been looking forward to and planningfor all these years? Cruising is supposed to be sailingto exotic places in warm climates, meeting new people, havingnew adventures. Why is it so awful?We’d sold our house, our furniture, even our cars.Going back wasn’t an option. I gave up all these thingsbecause I loved Bruce and wanted to go cruising with him.But I didn’t expect this.Once we reached Mexico, and I was on land, wearingshorts, things got better. Soon we’ll be celebrating our 12thanniversary of being together and being on Crossroads.But even when we reached Mexico, and life shouldhave been everything we wanted, being together 24 hours aday was very stressful. It was a whole new way of living.Most couples don’t make it as a cruising couple. Theydon’t make it past the trip where things go wrong, wherethey get seasick, when they get scared. Or they don’t makeit living the cruising lifestyle, together all the time in newplaces. The relationship that worked on land doesn’t workon a boat when everything is changed. Either they moveback on land to save their relationship, or they split up.We spoke with other cruising couples, who have stayedtogether and continued cruising, for their opinions.“Make it Nice!”Don and Lenna Hossack have been cruising on theirIslander Windward Luv for 11 years. They’ve been marriedfor 40 years. “If I want to keep going, I have to make it nicefor her,” Don says.Lucky for me, Bruce also believes that. I have readinglights and fans, a large mirror, a refrigerator, a workspace.Not only do these things make me happy, he says, he benefitsfrom them, too.Years after she left her husband on their boat inMazatlan, one of our friends is still angry that he wouldn’t42 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


install a shower on board. Sunshowers worked fine for him; hedidn’t understand why they didn’twork for her.Of course, it works both ways.Eileen Anderson of Max Grody IIsays, “I found that the less I complained,the better my attitudeoverall.” Eileen and Peter hadbeen married 26 years when theyleft to fulfill his dream of cruisingon their 55-foot Tayana.The First Year is the Toughest“The first cruising season was themost stressful on our relationship,”comments Brad Mason.“The fact that we worked our waythrough some very difficult situationshas strengthened our relationship,and we’ve accumulateda lot of fond memories.” Brad andLouise were married 30 yearsbefore they left to go cruising ontheir Westsail, Altaira. They’vecruised for nine years in Mexico,the South Pacific, and theCaribbean.Eileen adds, “A thing thathelped me was that I had a Plan Bfor when things got bad. I couldfantasize about my bail-out planuntil the really bad stuff cleared.”We’ve heard that cruising is98 percent boredom and 2 percentsheer terror. Those momentsof terror when we work togetherto solve a problem, all those experienceswe’d rather avoid, dohelp us build our relationship asa cruising couple. Together welearn so much. We learn aboutwind in the new area. We learnhow to anchor, how to do a beachlanding in the dinghy, how tofind food in strange countries.Most important, we learn to trusteach other and to trust our boat.Advice for CaptainsCrossroads at anchor in Ingraham’s Bayou, AL. When a group of cruising womenmet in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, themajor complaints were, “Hethinks he’s always right,” and, “He never listens to me.”We buddy-boated down the coast of Baja with anothercouple. When they reached Cabo, they stayed only onenight, then left for an isolated anchorage. After nearly twoweeks of isolation on the grueling trip, she wanted to spendtime in Cabo with friends. He didn’t consider her desires.They didn’t last past the first year.Each couple works out the roles each will play. Whatworks well for one couple may not work for another.Generally, the male is the captain. “There’s a fine linebetween being a captain and being a dictator,” says Bruce.“The captain has to make the final decisions. But if he wantsto keep her happy, he has to consider her opinions.”“Lenna has some great ideas as to solving problems onthe boat,” Don says. “I’ve gradually started to listen, thoughit was a slow process on my part.”News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 43


CRUISE RELATIONSHIPSTips if Cruising as a Coupleis in Your Future:Expect the first year to be tough. Expect to flounder inyour relationship. Everything is new and different. Hang inthere; you’ll work it out, and you will get to the good part.Finding personal space within the 24-hour-a-day togethernessand the confines of a boat is essential. Each of usvaries in our need for personal space. Use your creativity tofind the emotional space you need.Keep comforts on board for a woman, such as a mirror,a shower, refrigeration; reasonable space to keep her stuffis important. Camping out is only fun for a few days.Appreciate each other’s strengths; accept each other’sweaknesses. Keep the positives flowing; let the negativesgo.It works best if both persons participate in decisionmakingas much as possible.Recognize that much of your frustrations with eachother result from misunderstandings. How one personinterprets another’s words depends mainly on the state ofmind of the person listening. Be aware of how you communicatewith each other.“But She’s Driving Me Crazy!”“Both people must appreciate the strengths and acceptthe weaknesses of the other,” Brad advises. Acceptancedoes not mean blindness to the other’s shortcomings; itjust means you stop fighting it. You work around it; youaccept it.“Try to state what you would like, rather than givinga criticism…focus on what you want to achieve ratherthan what your partner does wrong,” recommends psychiatristAaron Beck.A cruising boat is a compromise from the beginning.Few of us have the ideal boat. A cruising relationship is nodifferent. Have the same flexibility about your relationshipas you have about your boat. Do not expect it to be alwaysperfect.Is It Worth It?Cruising is an awesome way of life. Take it from one whoreally didn’t want to go and had a terrible first fewmonths. I get to live in warm climates; I get to sleep inevery day; I get to wear shorts every day. Cruising offersus freedom and an independent lifestyle. It offers usopportunities to be close to nature. It offers us opportunitiesto become close to others and to each other in a waywe rarely do on land. It’s best undertaken by a couple. It’swell-worth working at.Barbara Pierce is a licensed clinical social worker who, with herhusband Bruce, has cruised in Mexico and the Southern part ofthe United States for 12 years.44 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


Crossing the Gulf Stream withTrifid and the SeagullBy Steve MorrellTrifid’s plotted track crossing the Gulf Stream.It was 1979. I was living in Palm Beach, FL, on Trifid, a 26-foot Folkboat. Folkboats are traditional-looking racer/cruisers that have a reputation for seaworthiness, manyhaving circumnavigated. The most famous Folkboat wasJester, the boat Blondie Hasler owned and sailed when hestarted the first single-handed transatlantic solo race fromEngland to New York.Trifid drew four feet with her full keel and was quitefast. I sailed her in Lake Worth, the inland lake the ICW runsthrough between Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, andalong Florida’s southeastern coast for several months duringthat winter and spring.Trifid had few frills and definitely lacked the moderndayconveniences we take for granted today. In fact, exceptfor a few things, you would have thought we were living inan earlier era. She had an outboard, a bucket for a head andyou carried five-gallon jugs for your water supply. Apropane camp stove, portable cooler and sink made up thegalley. Her navigation gear was a compass and a knotmeter.Dead reckoning was the navigation system. This was longbefore GPS. She had no VHF either (honest!), and thedepthfinder was a knot-filled lead line with a weight on theend. I did carry an AM radio for news and weather. All thisseemed enough to me—and it was.This simplicity meant one great advantage: There werefew breakdowns. You can be sure thetoilet never clogged, and the waterpump never quit pumping. The electricalsystem consisted of two 12-voltbatteries for the navigation lights anda knotmeter. I carried the batteries onshore to charge them when anchored.That spring, I had one significantbreakdown: The outboard motor shaftsnapped. It happened the day before Iwas to leave on a three-week trip tothe Bahamas in early May. My girlfriendwas moving out from Californiain a month, and we were planningto cruise the Bahamas for the summer.I had planned a short trip as a shakedowncruise with Henry, a friend fromthe marina. I had never been to theBahamas, and Henry had justreturned from three months in theislands as crew on another boat. Wewere provisioned and ready to go.When the motor shaft snapped, Ilooked at Henry and said, “We’ll gowithout it. By the time we’re back, itwill be fixed.” We left the next day.Our plan was to sail out LakeWorth Inlet, hug the coast south to Miami, anchor at DinnerKey, rest for a day, check the weather, and then head out toFowey Rocks southeast of Miami. We expected winds fromthe southeast to the south. If south, we would head southeast.If there were southeast winds, we would first go southand then head east across the Gulf Stream, which, this timeof year, ran about 2.5-3 knots. It would carry us north toenter the Bahamas around Gun Cay, or farther north toBimini, if need be.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 45


We departed Palm Beach on aMonday afternoon in early May, arrivingat Dinner Key the next day. Sincewe wanted to arrive in the Bahamas indaylight, our plan was to make the 45-mile crossing at night, arriving in themorning. I had never crossed the GulfStream, and Henry had done onecrossing each way.On Thursday morning, wedeparted and sailed to Fowey Rocks,arriving around 7 p.m., when headedtoward the Bahamas. Winds weresouth by southeast at 10-12 knots. Wecould make a heading of about 105degrees, doing about five knots.Conditions were almost ideal, as wedid not have to head south to gainheadway against the Gulf Stream. Wecould head across and the currentwould take us a bit south of Bimini, arriving in the earlymorning—assuming conditions remained unchanged.There was a two- to three-foot swell. We plotted our estimatedposition every hour. As the evening progressed, webelieved we were on schedule and on track, with a safetymargin of arriving several miles south of our destination inthe morning.It was one of those nights made in heaven for sailing:clear beautiful skies, perfect sailing winds, calm seas, warmair. I saw nothing but an easy, enjoyable trip—till the winddied. And I mean died. It happened little by little over aboutan hour around midnight, till there was dead calm. Nobreeze, nothing. Seas were gentle, so the boat barely rocked.Henry and I stared at each other in the darkness, wonderingwhen it would come back up. We knew it would—sometime, some day. The only noise was a slight lapping of wateragainst the hull. We tracked our course from the momentthe wind started to die, knowing we were now at the mercyof the northbound, famous Gulf Stream. We were prettymuch in the middle of its full strength—heading north, withno easterly headway, at 2.5-3 knots.We watched our plotted track north and joked aboutBermuda—what it was like this time of year, but began tothink about getting out of this situation, as perhaps theTrifid, with her motor, anchored in the Bahamas. Photo by Steve Morrell.wind wasn’t coming back for a long time. After about threehours of drifting, we knew we had passed north of our destinationof Bimini. The wind, though, had not picked up atall. We knew we had to do something.I had a dinghy and motor. It was an eight-foot, six-inchinflatable, and the motor was small but dependable; a twohorsepowerBritish Seagull. We joked about how fast wewould go but knew that it didn’t take much to go faster thanzero knots. And as slow as we expected to move, we knewthe sooner we started the better. We knew the wind wouldpick up sometime, but we didn’t want to be so far north thatwe would miss the opportunity of entering the Bahamas viathe Northwest Providence Channel, although we knewWest End was always a final option. And we figured itmight not take much to get out of the current’s full force, asit lessened dramatically as you moved east. Knowing wehad some power, we proceeded to inflate the dinghy. Thenwe lashed the dinghy to the starboard, aft quarter of theboat, mounted the Seagull on it and fired it up, headingsoutheast.We were able to make a little over a knot. But we weremoving—out of the Gulf Stream, hopefully. We calculatedthat in one hour we moved east less than three-quarters of amile and only went north one and three-quarters. Notmuch, but we were going east! Not knowing our true speed,out of sight of land, and with no other means of tracking ourcourse, we hoped that we would get into the Bahamasthrough Northwest Providence Channel.After five hours of slowly moving east—we hoped—the wind began to pick up around 8 a.m., coming from thesoutheast. It picked up fairly quickly to about 12 knots, andwe were soon doing five knots with an east heading. We figuredour true course was taking us to the northeast, andaround noon we made out what we were sure was a navigationmarker, but needed some verification, because itlooked like a small stick on the horizon. With only deadreckoning, and not having seen land in 17 hours after crossingone of the oceans’ strongest currents, we took an educatedguess that it was the Great Isaac marker at the north endof Great Bahama Bank. We decided to continue east and46 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


held this course for three more hours when we began to seeevidence of what we hoped was Freeport, and around 3p.m., we were convinced the buildings we were seeing tothe north were that town. Assuming this, we took a fix onour position, taking the relative bearings of the two points,Freeport and Great Isaac. We plotted where we figured wewere: within 2-3 miles of our estimated position! We continueduntil we were around the northern end of the GreatBahama Bank, and then worked our way to get onto thebank, seeking an anchorage for the night. Henry had sailedin the Bahamas before, and it was during this trip that Ilearned how to read the water depth by its color, learninghow to spot coral heads and shallows and sail around them.We found a spot to anchor to the east of what is known asthe Gingerbread Ground. So ended our crossing.The rest of our trip continued on for another 10 days,first to the Berrys, before heading west back out NorthwestProvidence Channel, then across the Gulf Stream—neveragain losing good winds—to return to Florida at Lake WorthInlet. (Yes—we never did check in legally to the Bahamas,deciding to take that chance because of time limitations.)We sailed in and out of every anchorage, and on ourreturn to Palm Beach, sailed into the slip, which entailedsailing down a channel about 150 feet between marinas tothe slip second in from the seawall. It went like clockwork.Three weeks later, my girlfriend Terry moved onboard,and we made a similar crossing to the Bahamas, enteringwithout incident at Gun Cay. From there we went across theGreat Bahama Bank to Chub Cay, and then cruised for threemonths in the Berrys and the Exumas, returning to Floridain September.Though we had a motor on this second trip, we sailedinto every anchorage and to every dock at every opportunity,choosing not to use the motor whenever possible. Terryknew nothing about sailing when we started the trip butbecame an excellent sailor after three months. We did checkinto the Bahamas correctly on this trip. Except for a week’sstopover in Nassau, waiting for a tropical storm to passthrough, the trip was enjoyable in every way (includingNassau, when we spent more money in one week than onemonth cruising the out islands).Since that year, I have made eight more crossings of theGulf Stream, every one of them without incident. All, exceptone, were in light seas, but none as calm as the first crossingon Trifid. And that one was certainly the most memorable.See page 68for windrose legendI sold Trifid to the people that made the movie, Caddyshack.In the movie, the boat was owned by Ted Knight’s character.During the boat’s christening, the bottle of champagne broke thefake, pre-broken balsa bowsprit (notice there is no bowsprit in thephoto). Shortly thereafter, the boat was almost rammed by RodneyDangerfield’s character’s huge powerboat, which stopped justshort of impact, only to have the powerboat’s anchor droppedthrough Trifid’s forward pre-broken hatch. At that point, water(actually a fire hose squirting upward from down below) gushedout of the hatch, apparently causing it to sink. It was Trifid’s 15minutes of fame.Trifid was small for two people to cruise in, but I always saidshe had the biggest yard in the world. She performed beautifully. Iwonder where she is today.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 47


MIAMI BEACHThe UltimateAnchorage -Miami BeachBy Barbara and Bruce PierceWe’ve found a favorite anchorage: Miami Beach,right off South Beach. In our 41-foot ketch,Crossroads, we’ve traveled up and down bothcoasts of Florida. Miami Beach keeps drawing us back.We like it because we can tie up the dinghy and walk tostores, restaurants, to Lincoln Mall for people-watching, orhop on the bus and get anywhere in Miami. The whole areais trendy, alive. There’s no place like it. The anchorage hasgood holding, and the high-rise condos block the wind.There are two different types of anchorages in Florida:One out in the wildness, just you and nature; the other, off acity or town with services available.In cruising to Miami for the first time, we experiencedboth. Coming up through the Keys, we anchored offRodriquez Key, where we dived off Crossroads into thewarm, turquoise water. An uninhabited island—just us, thefish and birds—all the reasons we like to anchor.The next night, 45 miles up the coast, we anchored inthe “Marine Stadium” cove, with the Miami skyline off ourbow. Like being on a movie set, the huge buildings glitteredbefore us. Awesome and spectacular!We landed the dinghy on the beach, just to the right ofthe stadium, and had dinner at the Bayside Hut. Great food.About 1:00 a.m., things heat up at the Bayside Hut, lots ofpeople and loud music. The Rusty Pelican is a long walk.There are no stores or other services here.To reach the Marine Stadium anchorage, come up theICW channel, to Key Biscayne. You’ll go through an area ofhouses in the water, on stilts. Go under the fixed, high-riseRickenbacker Causeway Bridge (76 feet). Turn right justafter the bridge. You’ll see a marina on the right. Just pastthe marina is a cove with a huge bank of stadium seats. Thisanchorage is a great transition to the second type of anchorage,which we went to the next day, and which became highon the list of our favorites.Come back out to the ICW; follow it north. Travel underthe MacArthur Causeway. If the tide is high, go east, andrun up the channel past the yacht club. Keep traveling untilyou reach the anchorage. It is surrounded by high rises, justbefore the span of the Venetian Causeway, which is fixed.Watch for shoals. This is the anchorage just off South Beach.(If the tide is low, you might have to go through theVenetian Causeway East Bridge, then west, to reach thisanchorage.)There are two other anchorages in the area, but wedon’t find them appealing. The anchorage off the yacht cluband Jungle Gardens has no services unless you get on thebus, which runs along the MacArthur Causeway. The other,north of the Venetian Causeway Bridge, has limited space.We like this anchorage because we can tie the dinghyup at a little strip of park, at the foot of Lincoln Road, justbefore the Venetian Causeway Bridge. (It’s probably a goodidea to lock the dinghy.) From here, all the interesting featuresof South Beach are within walking distance.A few blocks up, Lincoln Road becomes the pedestrianonlyLincoln Mall, with an interesting variety of shops, galleriesand outdoor restaurants. Here is the best peoplewatching,day or night: body builders walking tiny dogs,models strutting in the highest of heels and scarcest of clothing,Lycra-clad Rollerbladers, flamboyant gays, OrthodoxJews, traditional families, dowdy tourists. It’s beendescribed as “the best people-watching in the WesternHemisphere,” and we agree.South Beach is best known for its art deco buildings; itfeels like you’re in a time warp. The heart of the art deco districtis on Ocean Drive, at the other side of the peninsula, aneasy (and interesting) walk of about a mile. An art historiancalls it one of the largest communities of significant architecturein the world. It’s designated as a National HistoricDistrict.Created during the 1930s depression, these hotels weredesigned to uplift tourists during these gloomy years. Morethan 800 buildings of that era have been restoredThe buildings call attention to themselves, with theirlettering, symbols and images; thunderbolts, flamingos,waves. Visit in the daytime to get the full effect of the pastel48 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


The view of Miami from the Marine Stadium anchorage. Photo by Barbara Pierce.buildings in lollipop colors; sunny yellow, flamingo pink,sea green.Visit again at night to see the mesmerizing glow of neonand the nightlife. There are many clubs along Ocean Drive,with lots of action, music, dancers.On Ocean Drive is the famous beach, rated one of thetop 10 beaches in the world. Topless is an everyday thinghere.Our favorite stop in Miami Beach is the BaySupermarket and Cafeteria, a Cuban grocer and restaurant.The lunch counter in the rear is like an old Woolworth’s. Thebeautiful Cuban waitresses are bilingual. The food is wonderful,an entrée with rice and black beans, and plantains.Or try a really good Cuban sandwich made with genuineroast pork. The huge portions filled our stomachs and oursouls. With Cuban music and the sound of Spanish spokenby most customers, it feels like being in a foreign country.The cafeteria, at 1675 Alton, (just north of Lincoln) is openfrom 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Alton runs perpendicular toLincoln and is three blocks from the dinghy tie-up area.Another convenience: Across the street from the BaySupermarket is an Ace Hardware.For a special treat, we shop at the Epicurean Market,also just across the street, at Alton and Lincoln. Morning coffeeand bagels in the coffee shop were one of the few thingsin the store within our cruiser’s budget. Prices aren’t posted.If you have to ask, you can’t afford it. Sightseeing thegoodies (like shrimp for $49 per pound) was an adventure.To stock up on food, we dinghy under the VenetianCauseway Bridge and tie-up at the Police Dock. Publix is atwo-block walk. From the dock, head left, then right whenthe street dead-ends. We wheel the cart back to the dockwhere it is later claimed. The Police Dock limits dinghystays to 20 minutes.When Crossroads needed an essential part that was onlyavailable at West Marine, we discovered a whole newworld. The public bus comes by on Alton Road. The ‘S’ bustook us into downtown Miami. There we transferred to theMetro-Rail to Douglas, which is ablock from West Marine. Metro-Rail and the bus were an adventureand a great way to travel.Learning to take the bus led usto more ventures into Miami. Withtime to kill while we waited for theright weather, we took the bus tothe end of the line, to the AventuraMall. We ate at the food court andgot our fix of a big-city mall. A funtrip if you’re killing time.If you’re waiting to head offto the Bahamas, Miami Beach hasour vote as a place to wait. Somany services and so many interestingthings to do and see withinwalking distance of a dinghy tie-up area is the best kind ofanchorage.And, if you’re traveling up the east coast of Florida,Miami Beach is a great place to spend some time.Look for us there!News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 49


RACE TIPSAroundthe Buoys:TurningThe CornerBy Dave EllisRacing your PHRF keelboat around the buoys involvesmuch more than maintaining the best speed. Howmany times have you looked at the results and found avery few seconds separating boats after the handicaps areapplied?Just as in one-design racing, it is the corners wheremuch time is gained or lost on a racecourse. What aresome techniques to save time on the all-important markroundings?It is amazing how often nobody on a boat knows exactlywhich direction to go after a turn. There should be somebodyaboard who is familiar with the course so that thehelmsman knows how far to turn. Sometimes the “lemmingeffect” takes charge, where everybody follows the first boataround, no matter which way it heads.Is there a tidal effect that would modify the course tosteer? Make a good guesstimate of that course before theturn. The GPS, if allowed, will tell you after you have gonea ways. But that may be after you have lost a few secondsto another boat.When a turn involves hardening up into the wind,make sure the mainsail is trimmed a little faster than itshould be. The genny should NOT be trimmed very fast. Itinhibits the turn. Hot-shot one-designs often let the jib luff alittle as they pull it in slowly in the turn and only bring it toideal trim after the boat is on course.When falling away from the wind, the opposite is true.As a matter of fact, the main must be “dumped” aggressivelywhen falling away from the wind in a blow. Many a boathas broached back to windward when it heeled over too farwhen turning down. Let that main out and keep the jib fullfor a smooth turn off the wind.As for the turn itself, know your boat. A Hunter 465has a different optimum turning radius at various speedsthan does an SR Max or Martin 242. During a day sail, tryvarious rates of turn for various wind strengths and seaconditions. If a turn is simply a few degrees, there is notmuch to it.But when a turn of 90 degrees or more is involved, theangle of the rudder is a significant brake if there is morethan one full turn on the wheel or more than 45-degrees offcenter on the tiller.Strive to make the turn with few or no whirlpools in thewater behind the boat. Those whorls of water demonstratemassive energy loss, meaning that the boat has slowed. In50 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


other words, make a wider turn.It follows that when proceedingfrom an off-wind leg with a beat to follow,you want to make that wide turnto end up right next to the mark, nottwo boat lengths to leeward.At the St. Petersburg SailingCenter’s junior racing program weused to line all the little kids up on thegrass in the park and put a plasticbuoy in the grass about 50 feet away.They were to run as fast as they couldaround that mark, leaving it to port,and back. The rule was that they couldnot slow down when they roundedthe mark.After a few kids ran to the markand then circled far away from it to getback, we would stop the line and showhow many coaches could standbetween the mark and where their turnended up. That’s how many boats theylost in the race on that maneuver.After that, they would run to theright of the mark and cut close on the other side. For olderkids we called that a “motorcycle turn.”For PHRF racers, a good rule of thumb is to pretendthere is a phantom buoy two of your boat lengths outsideand one boat length on this side of the turning mark. Startyour turn there and end up perhaps six feet from the markwhen on course for the next destination.Obviously, this is easiest to do when you are the onlyboat there at the time. Otherwise, you can still make this“tactical rounding” if you have the right-of-way over otherboats you are overlapping. Otherwise, you just have tomake a “seamanlike” turn and can’t swing very wide tobegin with.Racing sailboats simply involves using our craft to itspotential and sailing a course in the most efficient manner.Negotiating the corners is an important aspect of our game.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 51


KEY WEST RACE WEEK 2006Where the Wild Things SailAcura Key West 2006, January 16-20By Rebecca BurgFarr 40s race in Key West in 2005. Photo by Capt. Bill Robinson.She sails like anangel, but on theracecourse is surelya devil in disguise.Using only the windand wave, she’s beenclocked at 32 knots.She’s 52 feet long, buttips the displacementscales at only 17,000pounds. Her massivemainsail alone is justunder a thousandsquare feet. With numberslike that, it’s nowonder that she’s sucha wild thing. TheTranspac 52 is just oneof the heavy hittersready to rock KeyWest’s world this January 16-20. Some 300 hot sailboats andabout 3000 sailors will gather in the Southernmost City forthe ultimate in competitive racing.Acura Key West 2006 brings the best from around theglobe. Hawaii, Ireland, Greece, North America, Japan, Italy,Germany and Great Britain are some of the hailing ports tobe seen this year. Well-known racing veterans, Olympicmedalists and fresh new faces will pit their sailing skills inone of four racecourses (divisions) south of Key West. Edgygrand prix contenders like the Farr 40, Mumm 30 and Swan45 classes are scheduled for Division 1. The Swan 45 GoldCup will be an exciting part of the event as well. Dramaticbig boat action is slated for Division 2. Here, the Transpac52s, IRC boats, 1D35s, J/120s, J/109s and the big PHRFclasses will show no mercy. The fast and furious boats, suchas the Melges 24, J/80 and J/105s, will duke it out inDivision 3. Division 4 will be an exciting montage of speedsters,such as the Corsair 28R trimarans, J/29s, C&C 99s, T-10s and small-boat PHRF classes.Nine races are planned for the week. After each day’sracing, a party, presentations, videos of the action and anawards ceremony take place around and under the maintent at Key West’s Historic Seaport. You don’t have to raceto join the party. Shoreside entertainment and event accesscards are available at www.premiere-racing.com. Bulletinboards near the tent allow sailors to post crew-wantednotices and other information. News and results for eachday’s racing action are published and distributed daily. Thisis something that you don’t want to miss.Southern CelebritiesLast year’s J/80 champion Rick Schaffer of Fort Worth, TX,and C’est Nasty are back to defend the title. A riveting sighton the course, the J/80 sloop has been known to hit 20 knotson windy days. Another Southern top gun, T-10 Liquor Boxwith Chuck Simon and Bill Buckles, Key West, FL, willreturn for more. Last year these guys literally blew by thecompetition and were untouchable for the entire week.Rival T-10 boats, like Maverick, Terminal Velocity and OneNight Stand, will be straining their sheets to turn the tables.PHRF-3 champion, Jeff Ecklund, of Fort Lauderdale, FL,and his Melges 32 Star, will be back in action with tacticianHarry Melges. On a roll, Star was also awarded the PHRFBoat of the Week last year.Usually the greatest in number, the Melges 24 fleetenjoys a turnout from locales as far away as France, Italyand Germany. Nearby, Bob Dockery and Melges 24Barracuda of Longboat Key, FL, will have one of the shortestrides to the racecourse. Right here in Key West is Mumm 30,USA 41, and ACED Partners. John Chick will be skippering52 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


Kokomo, a Farr 40, races in Key West in 2005. Photo by Capt. Bill Robinson.this slippery one-design vessel. The J/105, Flame, and JamesDoane are back. Out of Naples, FL, Flame earned arespectable second place after competing with a seriouscrowd of 40 J/105s last year. Another familiar face, WorthHarris of Beaufort, NC, and Rum At Six will be there to jointhe fray.Racing alongside the monohulls, the Corsair trimaranswill again be part of the scene. Texas multihull tamers JohnNovak and his Corsair 28R, Overdo, Michael Zotzky withPersevere and Bruce Jenevein with Ranger are back to scramblethe status quo. Warm weather and flying a hull must gotogether. Two other southerly Corsairs signed up includeSteven Marsh with Dealer’s Choice out of Stuart, FL, andRobert Onsgard with Fifty-Fifty out of Miami YC, FL.WeatherParticipants will be factoring local weather into the raceequation. Winter in Key West is a variety show of conditions,and selecting the right sails can sometimes be a riddle.The average wind speed in January is 14 knots with a typicalrange of 8-20 knots. Prevailing winds are easterly, butwind intensity and direction varies with the cold fronts thatblow through every three to five days. A cold front arriveswith chilly northwest to north winds of up to 20 knots ormore. The leading edge of the front usually brings brief rainshowers and possible thunderstorms. In a day or so, thestrong winds ease, warm up and clock around to blow fromthe east to southeast. Ocean current on the course is felt bymost sailboats when the wind is light. Average air temperaturesrange from 64.4ºF to 75.2ºF. Layered clothing is helpfulas the air will feel damp and cool at night, especially nearthe water. During the day, warm sunshine brings the shortsand T-shirts back out.Like to Sail, But UnsureAbout Racing?The racers, crews and their familiesare looking forward to thisprestigious, international event.When asked why they race, thesailors always seem to have asimilar response. They will tellyou that it’s fun. These guys andgals also admit that, in the end,it’s not really about a trophy.Many mention the thrill of facinga worthy set of challenges and thesatisfaction of besting one’s ownpersonal record. Speaking of facinga challenge, just imagine theperformance variables that arethrown into the ring this January.Sailors must contend with everchangingweather, tactics, boat handling, strategy, hardware,sail trim, crew, sea conditions and knowledge of therules for their particular boat class. What better way toenhance one’s sailing skills for not only the racecourse butfor cruising and recreational sailing as well. Anotherimpressive aspect of Race Week is the respect and camaraderiethat competitors have for each other. Rival teamsmay be tough on the course, but by the day’s end, they’recelebrating together. It’s no wonder that so many sailorsfind the sport so irresistible.So join the action in subtropical paradise this month. Bea part of the granddaddy of all parties under the main tent,talk sailing with like-minded people and check out thePremiere Racing Industry Partners who support this sensationalevent. This year’s official Sponsors Are: Acura, MountGay Rum, Nautica, Lewmar, Samson, and B&G RacingPerformance.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 53


KEY WEST RACE WEEK 2006Key West Bound From the Northern Gulf Coast StatesBy Kim KaminskiIt has been a challenging year for the sailors along theGulf Coast, especially the ones who had made plans toparticipate in the upcoming 2006 Key West Race Week.After dodging hurricanes and tropical storms, it has beena difficult feat to keep crews together, boats safe and findopportunities to keep racing skills sharp throughout theyear. Despite the destruction of local yacht clubs, the cancellationof racing competitions and the depletion of variousracing fleets due to hurricane damage, these areasailors have persevered in their quest to sail in Key WestRace Week. They will be joining the 256 registered participantsin this year’s competition.From Pensacola Beach, FL, John Mathis will skipperon a J/105 named Forerunner. Forerunner finished in 26thplace in the J/105 Class in 2005. Scott Mathis will helm,and Jeremy Tudor will be tactician.From Niceville, FL, Wm. Roy Harden will skipper theJ/33 Shameless. McMillan/Pfledderer will helm, and NeilMcMillan will be calling tactics.From Panama City, FL, Fred McConnell will skipperKokopelli, which finished in seventh place in the PHRFClass 5 in the 2005 Event. Hunter Riddle will helm andMorrow Guy will serve as tactician.From Gulfport, MS, Sam Vasquez will skipper andRoy Harden and his crew on Shameless could be found at everyracing event along the Gulf Coast this past year as they preparedto compete in the ultimate regatta of the year — the KeyWest Race Week. Photo by Kim Kaminski.helm, on a PHRF Wavelength 24 named Outta Shock. JeffLindheim will serve as tactician. Outta Shock finished inthird place in the PHRF Class 8 in 2005.BOATS SIGNED UP FROM THE SOUTHERN STATES (as of Dec. 8)Carolinas and GeorgiaJ /120, Emocean, Bill Hanckel, Charleston, SC;J/105, Chemically Adjusted, Mike Barber/Danny Bonner, Atlanta, GA;J/105, Rapid Transit, Rob Stein, Charleston, SC; J/105, Rum at Six, WorthHarris, Beaufort, NC; J/109, Hoodoo, Ric Campeau, Charleston, SC;C&C 99, Breakaway, Tom Sawchuk, Lake Lanier, GA; Corsair 28R, BadBoys, Bob Harkrider, Augusta, GA; Melges 24, Lamorak, Mike Krantz,Lake Lanier, GA; Melges 24, No Tourism, John Raymont, Columbia, SC;Melges 24, Riot Act, Guy Mossman, Charleston, SC; Farr IMS 40, PHRF,Sister Golden Hair, Genesis Racing LLC, Charleston, SC; Hadley 40, PHRF,Cash Flow, Lloyd Griffin, Elizabeth City, NC; Bene 1 st 36.7, PHRF,Thunderbolt, John Thornhill, Mt. Pleasant, SC; SR 33, IRC, Temptress,Robert Hibdon, Charleston, SC; Melges 32, PHRF, Grins, Rick Orchard,Flowery Branch, GA; Thompson 30, PHRF, Wairere, Pete Hunter Kill,Devil Hill, NC; Quest 30, PHRF, Vela, Philip Eastman III, Flowery Branch,GA; J/24, PHRF, Bone Machine, Michael Brawley, Charlotte, NC;Southeast Florida Transpac 52, Trader, Fred Detwiler, Fort Lauderdale,FL; Melges 32, PHRF, Star, Jeff Ecklund, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Corsair 28R,Dealer’s Choice, Steven Marsh, Stuart, FL; Corsair 28R, Fifty-Fifty, RobertOnsgard, Miami YC, FL; Aerodyne 38, PHRF, Thin Ice, Stuart Hebb, CoralGables, FL; C&C 115, PHRF, Primal Scream, Steven Stollman, KeyBiscayne, FL;Keys T-10, Liquor Box, Chuck Simon/Bill Buckles, Key West, FL; Mumm30, USA 41, ACED Partners, Key West, FL;Northern Gulf Coast J/105, Forerunner, John and Scott Mathis,Pensacola Beach, FL; J/109, Mojo, Steve Rhyne, Kemah, TX; J/109,Surprise, Jim Bradley, Houston, TX; J/109, Vitesse, Jon Halbert, Dallas,TX; Corsair 28R, Persevere, Michael Zotzky, Kemah, TX; Corsair 28R,Ranger, Bruce Jenevein, Dallas, TX; Corsair 28R, Overdo, John Novak,Colleyville, TX; J/80, C’est Nasty, Rick Schaffer, Fort Worth, TX; J/80,Hoss Racing, G. Darden/R. Hillard, Fort Worth, TX; Melges 24, BarkingFish, Mark Bryan, Lynn Creek YC, TX; Melges 24, Trick Monkey, MattMayo, Dallas, TX; Bene 1 st 42, PHRF, Diablesse, Greg Gladden, HoustonTX; J/33, PHRF, Shameless, Wm. Roy Harden, Niceville, FL; J/27, PHRF,Mystic, Keith Gray, Seabrook, TX; Wavelength 24, PHRF, OuttaShock,Sam Vasquez, Gulfport, MS;West FloridaJ /105, Flame, James Doane, Naples, FL; J/105, J’MakingWaves, Steve Olinger, Treasure Island, FL; J/105, Wasabi, Adam Rosen,Clearwater, FL; J/109, Mariah, Jose Suarez Hoyos, Tampa, FL; Melges24, Barracuda, Bob Dockery, Longboat Key, FL; Melges 24, New Wave,Michael Carroll, Tampa, FL; Melges 24, Obsession, Gary Schwarting,Naples, FL;54 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 55


RACINGPaige Railey Wins LaserRadial World ChampionshipFrom Clearwater Yacht ClubOn Friday, Dec. 9, Paige Railey sealed her gold medal victoryin Fortaleza, Brazil, in race 11 of the Laser Radial WorldChampionship. She was mathematically unbeatable anddidn’t need to sail the last race. In second place was Sophiede Turckheim of France, followed by Anna Tunnicliffe ofthe United States. Paige and Anna were the two U.S.women athletes competing in the championship.Paige becomes the first Laser Radial World Championsince the Radial became the Olympic equipment for theWomen’s Single-handed Dinghy event. Earlier this year,Paige also won the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF WorldChampionship, but this world championship victory firmlyestablishes her mark on the senior circuit.Brad Funk, who normally competes in a Laser full rig,also raced in the Radial World Championship in the men’sfleet, where he finished in second place. The male worldchampion is Eduardo C. de Magalhães Couto of Brazil,with Blair Mclay of New Zealand third.Brad and Paige are both members of the U.S. SailingTeam and compete for the Clearwater Yacht Club wherethey began sailing as children in its youth sailing program.Recently installed Clearwater Yacht Club Commodore Dr.Paige Railey on her victory sail in after winning the Laser RadialWorlds. Courtesy photo.Bob Gunther, was thrilled to hear the results from Braziland commented how proud he was to hear such outstandingnews during his first week in office.For more information, please contact David Billingdavid@bauassoc.comNAMSA North AmericanChampionships/TradewindsMidwinter Open CatNational Championships, andFormula 18 Midwinter Nationals,Key Largo, Jan. 15-16Hundreds of catamaran sailors from all over North Americaand Europe will converge on Blackwater Sound in Key Largofor the NAMSA (North American Multihull Sailing Assn.)North Americans/Tradewinds Midwinter Open CatamaranNational Championships and Formula 18 MidwinterNationals on January 15-16. The event headquarters are atGilbert’s Resort in Key Largo and is sponsored by CatamaranSailor magazine, Calvert Sails of Islamorada, West Marineand www.OnLineMarineStore.com.This event has the largest attendance of any regatta inthe Upper Keys with a record of 110 boats two years ago. Itbrings top sailors from all over North America as well assome of the top guns from Europe, Australia and Africa.Many Olympic hopefuls have attended in the past and areexpected again this year.For information, contact Mary Wells at (305) 451-3287or mary@catsailor.com.56 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


Southern Sailors Brown and YoungSeek Position on U.S. Sailing TeamBy Kathryn WhiteheadTampa, FL, natives Evan Brown and Caroline Young finisheda busy fall sailing season at Stanford University withthree solid performances.In early November, the women competed in the PacificCoast Fall Championships at the University of CaliforniaSan Diego, where the team took top honors. This is animportant first step toward the national championship to beheld at the College of Charleston in June 2006.The following week, Stanford faced the University ofCalifornia in the annual Big Sail Regatta, where they vied forthe “Axe” trophy in a match-racing format. Brown was thetactician and mainsheet trimmer for the otherwise all-maleStanford team, which took the series in three straight races.In efforts to sail in the Olympics, Brown and Youngwere to take part in a weeklong practice session with theU.S. Sailing Team in Miami before Christmas. In January,they are competing in the 2006 470 North Americans andthe Olympic Classes Regatta in Miami in an effort to earn aberth on the U.S. Sailing Team.Regata del Sol al Sol XXXVIII –200638th Regata del Sol al Sol to Isla Mujeres, Mexicostarts Friday, April 28, 2006. Boats should arrive onthe island between May 1-2. For accommodationinformation, contact Dolly Rote at (727) 898-6158), orJudy Malone at (727) 866-2839, or e-mail jmalone@humresources.com.Hurricane Wilma Isla Mujeres Relief Update.The relief efforts are in FULL SWING and we are collectingfor watermakers and generators for the island.Having spoken with the people there this past week,they are resilient, yet still have these needs. Our regattawill deliver them when we are there in May. ANY-THING will be accepted with monetary contributionssent directly to FREEDOM BANK OF AMERICA, P.O.Box 1441, St. Petersburg, Fl, 33731. Contact NicoleHawthorne: (727) 820-8603, (727) 820-0161 (fax).www.freedombank.com. E-Mail nhawthorne@freedombank.com.Make checks payable to: Regata DelSol Al Sol Relief FundNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 57


RACINGCARIBBEAN RACE REPORTInaugural IC24 Nanny CayNation’s CupBy Mike KirIC24s rock ‘n roll downwind Laser style. Photo by Mike Kirk.“Racing in Paradise” is every armchair sailor’s dream, butit’s also the name of the company behind the First NannyCay Nations Cup held off Tortola, British Virgin Islands, onNov 11-12. Sponsored by the Royal British Virgin IslandsYacht Club and Highland Spring Water, this was a leap-offaithevent for the IC24 organizing group headed byRichard Wooldridge and Chris Haycraft.“IC24s are here to stay,” says Haycraft, evidenced byfleets in St. Thomas, BVI, and now Puerto Rico. The IC24(for Inter Club 24) was conceived by Chris Rosenberg andMorgan Avery in St. Thomas as a way to coalesce onedesignsailing energy in the Leeward Islands around anaging inventory of ill-used J/24 boats and the aftermath ofHurricane Marilyn.Take a chain saw to the cockpit, scrap the traveler andbond in a new Melges-style cockpit Voila! A family onedesignsport boat is born. Seriously: The conversion uses anew deck mold, creating a new, roomy cockpit but stillretaining all the excitement of the proven Bruce Kirby hull.This allows fast crew work, reaching its zenith in excitingroll tacks and downwind surfing!Seventy sailors in 14 teams were set up to compete inseven equally matched and tuned boats. Crews raced in twoflights, changing boats in 15-minute turnarounds. (A spareboat kept the delays to a minimum from the inevitableminor gear failures.) A 20-race matrix of races was scheduledusing windward/leeward courses well within spectatorviewing off the Nanny Cay beach – and bar!This race matrix format is only possible as a consequenceof the business model used by Racing in Paradise(www.racinginparadise.com). RIP sells the J/24 to IC24 conversionsto private owners and then charters the convertedboats under a manage/maintain contract to visiting groupsof racers. Visiting racers can enjoy the BVI from a chartered“mother ship” with friends and family or compete in invitationalregattas such as this one. Either way the four or fiveperson crew enjoys well-run one-design racing on exciting,proven matched race boats.Powerful 15- to 20- knot winds provided a greatSaturday start to two days of competition from the sevencountries (BVI, Canada, Holland, Ireland,Puerto Rico, UK, United States). The onlyentry restriction was that each crewmemberwould hold a valid passport for the teamcountry represented by his boat. Facing a secondday forecast of high winds and waves, therace committee set a demanding pace of racingand completed 12 races for day one. At theend of the day, both BVI teams were tied infirst place with 13 points!Day two dawned with the predicted 25-knot-plus NE winds driven by a northAtlantic high. Wave heights were building tofive feet even in the sheltered DrakesChannel. Wooldridge was concerned for hisfleet and commented that it might be the firstand last Nations Cup. But the crews hit thedocks, and the fleet came out to meet the challenge.After another six grueling races, theonly gear failure was one halyard—a credit to the boatbuildingintegrity of the Racing in Paradise fleet—and oneprotest, a credit to the sailing skills of the helmsmen! TheIC24s showed their pedigree on every leg, particularly“showing their skirts” in the downwind planing conditions.(Since the spinnaker is not used, the downwind strategyis dominated by the preferred windward heel given tothe boats “Laser style”—Bruce Kirby eat your heart out!)At the prize-giving, visitors commented on the incrediblyhigh standard of racing and sportsmanship, while bothlocal winning teams expressed humble surprise that theyhad swept the board.Results: 1st : Team Hirst, BVI 16 points, Mike and Robby Hirst; 2nd :Team Rathburn, BVI 21 points, Colin Rathbun; 3rd : Team USA fromAnnapolis, 24 Points, Scott Nixon; 4th : Team Orion from Fraito Lugo,Puerto Rico, 25 points.REGIONAL RACINGReports, News And Race CalendarsRegattas & Club Racing—Open to Everyone Wanting to RaceThe races listed here are open to those who want to sail. Noindividual club membership is required, although a regionalPHRF rating, or membership in US SAILING or membershipin a regional sailing association is often required. (Ifindividual club membership is required, please contact usand we will not list their races in the future.)For publishing of your event, questions and information,send us your race schedule by the 5th of the month toeditor@southwindsmagazine.com.Since race schedules and venues change, contact thesponsoring organization to confirm. For changes to be published,contact the editor.58 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


SOUTHEAST COAST:CAROLINAS AND GEORGIAWater TemperatureCape Hatteras, NC –49ºSavannah Beach, GA – 51ºSee page 76Average January Temperatures for windrose legendCape Hatteras, NC 40º lo – 53º hiSavannah, GA 38º lo – 60º hiFor Real Time Southeast Coast Weather go to:www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Southeast.shtmlSOUTHEAST COAST RACE CALENDARJANUARY1 Hangover Regatta, Little River Inlet, Long BaySailing Association, www.longbaysailing.org7 Race Management Seminar, Sunspree Resort,Wrightsville Beach, NC, Carolina Yacht Club, NC.www.sayra-sailing.org/pages/racing.htmEAST FLORIDAWater TemperatureDaytona Beach – 61ºJacksonville Beach – 57ºGulfstream Current – 2.3 knotsAverage TemperaturesDaytona Beach - 47º lo – 70º hiJacksonville Beach - 46º lo – 63º hiFor Real Time East Florida Weather go to:www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtmlEAST FLORIDA RACE REPORTHiram’s Haul 2005, Oct 29-30,Sebastian, Indian River, FL.Two New Time Records SetBy Roy LaughlinBrian Karr and Jon Cruden, TeamBrevard Challenge, preserving atenuous lead over Rick and TerryLoewen, Team Loewen, at thefinish of Saturday’s leg of Hiram’sHaul. Photo by Roy Laughlin.Beach cat sailors are the drag racersof the sailing set. They expectto, and lust for, the “over-15-knot” racing experience. Everyonce in a while, they get it.Hiram’s Haul, Oct. 29-30 was oneof those rare distance races thatSee page 76for windroselegendprovided perfect conditions for two days of drag-race sailing.Scott and Dior Hubel of Performance Sail and Sportestablished and manage this race, with sponsorship ofCaptain Hiram’s Restaurant in Sebastian. It is a 30-plusmiledistance race that starts on Saturday at PerformanceSail’s Pineda location and ends at Captain Hiram’s waterfrontrestaurant in Sebastian. On Sunday, the second day ofthe race returns sailors to Performance Sail in Pineda and abarbecue sponsored by the Texas Roadhouse Grill.John Casey and Kenny Pierce, Team Tybee, dominatedthe race this year on an Inter 20. They set two new courserecords for each day: 1 hr 28 min on Saturday and 1 hr 38min on Sunday’s return. This time equates to an averagespeed of over 17 knots. On Sunday, Brian Karr and JonCruden, Team Brevard Challenge, led Team Tybee for abouthalf the way back, but they pitch-poled, giving Team Tybeean unrelinquished lead. While Team Tybee led the speedsters,three teams, which also included Mark Herendeenand Mark Murray, Team Space Coast Challenge, were on I20sand all surpassed the previous course records both days.In addition to the I20s, two teams raced Blades, a formula16 high-tech beach cat. Vector Works Marine inTitusville has a license to build these Australian-designed16-foot beach cats for the U.S. market. Matt McDonald, theboat’s U.S. builder, has been racing his prototype for abouta year, and has sold several more. Chuck and MaevisHarnden raced the second Blade in Hiram’s Haul. Eventhough Hurricane Wilma caused other registered Bladeteams to withdraw, the Blade fleet is reaching a critical massand can now be recognized as one of the primary Formula16 racing cats of choice in Florida’s beach cat regattas.Hiram’s Haul is held each fall approximately the firstweekend of November. The entire race course is in theIndian River, making this event doable by almost any beachcatamaran. This year, Jerry Wolfe and son Connor racedand finished the course in 20-plus knot winds on a Prindle18. Scott Hubel says that if enough high Portsmouth catamaranteams enter, he’ll have two starts, with the earlierone for the smaller catamarans. The goal is to have all crewsarrive at Captain Hiram’s about the same time so as toequally enjoy Saturday’s social at the restaurant. And perhapsto give early starters the pleasure of seeing I20s fromthe bow end, even if only temporarily.After eight years, Hiram’s Haul has become an establisheditem on the distance race circuit in Florida. Few if any otherraces provide a similar combinationof an excellent racing venue, greatsocial activities after racing, and aredoable for almost any beach cat andcrew. This year, spectacular elapsedtimes are another addition to “theHaul’s” legend.Results: 1, John Casey and Kenny Pierce,Team Tybee;2, Mark Herendeen and MarkMurray, Team Space Coast Challenge;3,Brian Karr and John Cruden, Team BrevardChallenge;4, Matt and Gina MacDonald;5, Chuck and Maevis Harnden; 6, CraigVan Eaton and crew; 7, Jerry and ConnorWolfe; 8, Kent Cooper and ShambieHammet; For photos, go to www.floridamultihullsailor.comNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 59


REGIONAL RACINGFlorida Yacht Club King’s Day Regatta,Jacksonville, FL, Nov. 18-20.By Stephanie CoxJames Spithill and his Luna Rossa crew of Jonathan andCharlie McKee, Manuel Modena and Mac Agnese won the2005 Carloan.com Melges 24 King’s Day Regatta andAtlantic Coast Championship. Fifty-four teams competed ina deep fleet sailing at Jacksonville, FL, November 18-20.Seven teams registered as amateurs, and the winner of theregatta was not decided until the last race. The King’s DayAtlantic Coast Championships served as a must-do for anyteam wanting to train for the Melges 24 WorldChampionships hosted in Key Largo in December.Competitors sailed in light winds of 3-8 knots. Goinginto the third and fourth races of the series, Brian Porter wasleading with James Spithill and Dave Ullman close behind.The races were tight in the fickle breezes and overcast skies.In races three and four, Spithill and Ullman struggled tostay in the top 10 overall when the left side of the coursedidn’t pan out upwind. Other boats that made the mistakeof calling the left side included boats with Harry Melges IIIand Jeff Ecklund on board. The last race of the regattaproved tough for the Porter team as they finished 38th,overall causing them to lose the regatta and knocking themout of the top five. The Ullman team finished 12th in the lastrace, enabling the Spithill team to clench victory.Southern sailors who didn’t charter their boats out forthousands of dollars for this event represented our regionwell. The top Southern boat was from Georgia and skipperedby Sean Burke. Burke’s boat Grins finished ninth overall.Jeff Ecklund’s Florida team aboard Star finished tenth.Marty Kullman of St. Petersburg Yacht Club was the firstamateur skipper on the score sheet, finishing an impressive11th overall. Other Southern boats finishing in the top 20included Justin Damore’s Panic Attack, Peter Baron’sRunning with Scissors, and Robin Baker’s The Artful Dodger.Results: 1. James Spithill 2.Dave Ullman 3.Gabrio Zandona/GiovanniMaspero 4.Vince Brun/Scott Holmgren 5.Jamie Lea/Stuart Simpson6.Brian Porter 7.Mark Mansfield/Simon Strauss 8.Argyle Campbell9.Sean Burke 10.Jeff EcklundEAST FLORIDA RACE CALENDARJANUARY — Central East Florida1 New Year’s Day Fun Race. Titusville Sailing Center.1 New Year’s Day Dinghy Race. Melbourne Yacht Club.7 First Saturday Sailing at Sebastian Inlet. Indian RiverCatamaran Association.8 Winter Rum Race #4. Melbourne Yacht Club.15 Small Boat Racing Sunday. Melbourne Yacht Club.15,29 Winter Series #1,#2. Indian River Yacht Club.14-15 Cruise. East Coast Sailing Association-Cruising22 Winter Rum Race #5. Melbourne Yacht Club.28 Sail a Small Boat Day. Indian River Yacht Club.29 Small Boat Sunday Racing. Melbourne Yacht Club.29 Women’s Spring Series #1. East Coast Sailing Association-Women’s.28-29 Ballard Park Frostbite Cruise. East Coast SailingAssociation-Cruising.East Florida Race Calendar continued on page 75SOUTHEAST FLORIDAWater TemperatureMiami Beach – 71ºStuart – 67ºGulfstream Current – 2.4 knotsAverage TemperaturesMiami Beach – 63º lo – 73º hiStuart – 55º lo – 74º hiFor Real Time East Florida Weather go to:www.ndbc.noaa.gov/Maps/Florida.shtmlSee page 76for windrose legendSOUTHEAST FLORIDA RACE CALENDARJANUARY6 Fri. BBYRA Annual Registration MYC.7-8 Sat.-Sun. Stars Bob Levin Memorial. Host: CRYC – The16th annual two-day regatta for Star class.7-8 Sat.-Sun. Etchells Sid Doren Memorial. Host: BBYC – The6th annual two day regatta. One of four events of theJaguar Cup Series.8 Sun. BBYRA PHRF #1. Host: CGSC – Start of the series forPHRF class boats.11-13 Wed.-Fri. Fort Lauderdale to Key West.Host: LYC – Feederrace for the Key West Race Week.14 Sat. BBYRA OD#1. Host: MYC – Start of the series for onedesign fleet.16-20 Mon.-Fri. Key West Race Week – Premiere Racing. The19th edition of KWRW of day races held off Key West.21-22 Sat.-Sun. Star’s Biscayne Trophy. Host: CRYC – Annualtwo day race for Star class.28-29 Sat.-Sun. Etchells FSA Championship.Host: BBYC – The13th annual two day regatta for Etchells. Third of fourevents in the Jaguar Cup series.FEBRUARY1-4 Wed.-Sat. Etchells Jaguar Mid Winter Regatta. Host: BBYC– 17th annual event . This is the last of a four regatta seriespart of the Jaguar Cup2-5 Thurs.-Sun. Women NA Keelboat Championship. Host: USSailing Center2-5 Thurs.-Sun. 49er NA Championship. Host: US SailingCenter5 Sun. BBYRA PHRF #2. Host: MYC – Second race of Series1 for PHRF boats.4-5 Sat.-Sun. Comodoro Rasco Snipe Regatta. Host: CGSC –The 37th annual two day Snipe regatta.12 Sun. BBYRA One Design #2. Host: BBYC - Second race ofSeries 1 for One Design boats.11-12 Sat.-Sun. Star Masters Regatta. Host: CRYC – The 22ndannual two day regatta for Stars.11-15 Sat.-Wed. 73rd Annual Miami to Nassau Race Week.Host: MYC18 Sun. J24 Spring 2 Regatta. Host: Flat Earth Racing.25 Sat. Miami Yacht Club Annual Regatta/BBYRA One-Design #3. Host: MYC - Third race of Series 1 for One-Design boats.26 Sun. Miami Yacht Racing Annual Regatta/BBYRA PHRF#3. Host: MYC - Third race of Series 1 for One-Designboats.Legend for Yacht Clubs and OrganizationsBBYRA Biscayne Bay Yacht Racing Association. www.bbyra.netBBYC Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. www.bbyra.netCGSC Coconut Grove Sailing Club. www.cgsc.orgCRYC Coral Reef Yacht Club. www.coralreefyachtclub.orgKBYC Key Biscayne Yacht Club. www.kbyc.org.MYC Miami Yacht Club. www.miamiyachtclub.net.60 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


FLORIDA KEYS RACINGKeys Water TemperatureKey West – 69ºAverage TemperaturesKey West 65º lo –79º hiFor real-time eastern Gulfweather, winds andmarine forecasts, go tohttp://comps.marine.usf.eduUpper Keys Sailing Club,www.upperkeyssailingclub.com.Key West Sailing Club. Every Saturday – Open Houseat the 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. Casual racing/sailing on theweekends during winter months after October till Spring.Come by the club to sail. Non-members and members welcome.FLORIDA KEYS RACE REPORT21st Annual Key Largo Steeplechase,Dec. 10-11, Key Largo, FLBy Rick WhiteThe 21st Annual Key Largo Steeplechase took place Dec. 10-11, beginning and finishing at Gilbert’s Resort in Key Largo.Twenty-one teams of the best catamaran sailors in Americacompeted in this 110-mile trek around Key Largo andIslamorada.The winds did not cooperateas much as usual: The first day wasgruelingly slow due to lack ofwind. For some of the racers, it took15 hours to complete the 60-milecourse on the first day. The organizerof the event said, “In the 21 yearswe have been doing this race, thiswas the second worst wind.” Hewent on to describe how one yearthe first boat did not arrive atAnne’s Beach until 5 a.m. All therest of the sailors had alreadydropped out earlier. That race wasabandoned.However, the wind picked upon Sunday, and the fleet flew acrossthe finish line in good time.Local sailors did not reach thewinner’s circle. The closest competitorwas Steve Lohmayer ofTavernier sailing on a Marstrom 20catamaran with Mike Phillips ofMiami. They were just outside theSee page 76for windrose legendtrophies, finishing in fourth place overall.History of the RaceThe first race was simply a bunch of catamaran folks whogot together and sailed the course to see if it could be done.Local sailor and Hall of Famer Rick White won that particularrace. There were no entry fees, no trophies, nothing!But one of the ground crew had found an old, beat-up lawnchairat Anne’s Beach and presented it to White as a joke.White immediately pronounced this lawnchair as thePerpetual Trophy for the Key Largo Steeplechase. It is nowconsidered one of the most esteemed accomplishments insailing to win this trophy.Every year the winner’s name, boat make, and elapsedtime is hand-scribbled on the material and now contains acomplete record of the event.Next year’s event is scheduled for the second weekendin December.FLORIDA KEYS RACE CALENDARJANUARY7-13 2005 Coconut Grove Invitational/A-Class Mid WintersEast, The Islander Resort, Islamorada, FL,Bobwebbon@aol.com13-15 NAMSA North Americans. See pages 56-57 formore information.16-20 Acura Key West 2006 Regatta. See pages 52-54.29 Schooner Wharf Wreckers Cup Regatta. KeyWest. Captain’s meeting 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at SchoonerWharf. Great sailing, prizes, video of the racingaction and parties. www.schoonerwharf.com.FEBRUARY26 Schooner Wharf Wreckers Cup Regatta. Key West.Captain’s meeting 7 p.m., Feb. 25, at SchoonerWharf. Great sailing, prizes, video of the racing actionand parties. www.schoonerwharf.com.Team Tybee Island took third place overall. John Casey and Kenny Pierce of Miami werethe sailors. Photo by Rick White.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 61


REGIONAL RACINGWEST FLORIDAGulf Water TemperatureSt. Petersburg – 62ºNaples – 66ºAverage TemperaturesSt. Petersburg 54º lo – 69º hiNaples 53º lo – 75º hiSee page 76For real time eastern Gulf weather, for windrose legendwinds & marine forecasts, go to http://comps.marine.usf.eduWEST FLORIDA RACE REPORTResults: Spinnaker: 1. Hubbert’s Peak, SR-21, Charlie Clifton, Sarasota;2. Mother Ocean, O’Day 40, Rich Gress, Sarasota; 3. Constellation,Swan 48, Greg Petrat, Sarasota. Non-spinnaker: 1. Flash, Morgan 22,Bob and Cathy Willard, Palmetto; 2. Misty, Ranger 33, Greg Knighton,Bradenton; 3. OHH ZONE, Benneteau 40, Rudy Reineke, Sarasota. TrueCruising: 1. Seahawk, Catalina 35, Sue and Chan Sweetser, Sarasota;2. Morgana, Custom, Chuck Margetta, Sarasota; 3. Ananda, Brewer 44,Peter Van Roekens, Sarasota.Clearwater Community Sailing CenterHosts the 22nd Annual CarlisleClassic, Nov. 12-13By George RegenauerSarasota Yacht Club Invitational,Sarasota, Nov. 12By Morgan StinemetzThis year’s Sarasota Yacht Club Invitational Regatta had theright ingredients from the start, and more than 100 sailors participatedin the fourth annual autumnal race. The boats racedon a 12-mile triangular course in the Gulf of Mexico. Each legwas four miles long, and the triangle was equilateral.The reverse handicap event attracted 39 racing yachts,twice what the regatta attempted last year. Improved organization,better incentives, a greater value ratio and enhancedpublicity turned a so-so 2004 race into a winner in 2005.A reverse-handicap race allows disparate yachts to racelevel by giving the slower yachts an earlier start predicatedon their time allowances.The start was downwind. The first turn put the racerson a port tack fetch for the second mark start. And afterrounding that mark, the fleet had a starboard tack fetch tothe finish. Though the racers were strung out around thecourse, many finished the race in less than 2-1/2 hours.The top boat at the meet was also one of the smallest.Bob Willard’s Morgan 22, Flash, started second and, on thefinal leg, passed Chuck Margetta’s Morgana that had startedprecisely 15 minutes earlier. With wife Cathy as crew,Willard sailed a faultless race. No other boat passed Flash,and that made the green, venerable sloop the first boat tofinish. Willard was racing in the non-spinnaker class. Flashwon the fleet award and, of course, the non-spinnaker class.The wind blew offshore at an average of 10 knots,which was enough to make the bigger boats real contenders.Seas were choppy.Charlie Clifton, a Sarasota Bay veteran who sails an SR21, which this competitive year is being called Hubbert’sPeak, topped the spinnaker class, finishing three minutesahead of Rich Gress in Mother Ocean, an O’Day 40.The large true cruising class, 22 boats, was topped bySue and Chan Sweetser in their Catalina 35, Seahawk.Shortly after the boats turned the first mark, the Sweetsershad picked off a boat that had started ahead of them byabout 10 minutes, and on the final leg they also gotMargetta’s Morgana, the high handicap boat. So well did theSweetsers sail that they were less than a minute behindWillard, the overall winner, and finished second overall.Multihulls race in the Carlisle Classic. Photo by GeorgeRegenauer.Clearwater Community Sailing Center and perfect weatherwere host to the 22nd Annual Carlisle Classic held onNovember 12-13 at its facility on Sand Key. The two- dayevent provided fun and excitement for all classes of racerson Clearwater Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.Each class was scheduled and executed the plannedseven-race program. The large cats navigated their windward-leewardcourse on the Gulf while the Day Sailers,Sunfish, Portsmouth class, Optis and Sailability’s AccessDinghies staged in the bay. The bay course was set up utilizinga smaller triangle within a larger triangle to allowthe smaller boats to compete with the larger ones.Saturday’s winds remained steady ESE at 10-14 knots,requiring minimal course changes, while Sunday’s windswere variable and much lighter, requiring marks to bemoved before each start.Racers came from all parts of Florida to vie for theawards that were presented at the social event followingSunday’s races.The Carlisle Classic was an event in itself, but there werenumerous races within a race between rival groups that carrieda lot of prestige among the participants. The Day Sailersused the Carlisle Classic to encompass their yearly DS championship,and the women’s sailing group (Dinghy Dames)from Davis Island were challenged by the female salts(Bowchasers ) from the Clearwater Yacht Club. The DinghyDames took the final honors at the awards ceremony.First place in the H16 class of cats went to Brad Stephens andJamie Lindsey. Second place went to Tim Wallace and JohnSpear. Third place went to Karl Reneit and Bridget Precise.The N20 cats finished with Alex Safer and Nigel Pitt takingfirst. Second place went to Mark Smith and BubbaBarberi. Frank Murray and Mark Herendren took third.First place finishers for the Open B Portsmouth, OpenHigh Portsmouth and Open Low Portsmouth were Craig62 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


Valentine. Bob and Cheryl Johnson took Open High.Woody Cope won Open Low.Day Sailer top three finishing skippers were Chris Kelly.Second place went to Dede Plessner. Third place was StuartSmith. The Kellys also won the DS Yearly Championshipwith their performance during the Classic.Portsmouth first place winner was David Morrow andJerry Smith from Crystal Beach. First place in the Sunfishclass went to Joe Blouin.Access Dinghy winner was Sandra Holden. Opti firstplace belonged to Hayden Grant from Largo. Every youngskipper who raced in the Opti and Access class took homea trophy. They were all winners.Davis Island Thanksgiving RegattaOffers Sailors Fun On and Off theWater, Davis Island Yacht Club,Tampa, FL, Nov. 25-27By Stephanie CoxFree beer, easy beach launching, and excellent race managementcan make a regatta quite popular. The Davis IslandThanksgiving Day Regatta possessed all of these characteristicsand lured hundreds of sailors off their couches to burnholiday pounds November 25-27. The regatta is a classic onFlorida’s west coast sailing schedule. This year, most of theboats were dinghies, but there was also a Portsmouth divisionand a rather large Flying Scot fleet. The regatta washeld in the choppy waters of Tampa Bay in winds that variedfrom 5-18 knots throughout the weekend.This regatta is reknowned throughout the state forencouraging sailor camaraderie without debauchery. It is afamily regatta where mom and dad can have a beer after racingtheir boat and relax, knowing their kids can run aroundthe grassy club without getting into too much trouble.Sailors belly up to the bar and swap war stories, andpitch tents in the yacht club’s backyard. This year, the clubhosted a huge raffle that lasted over an hour, and just abouteveryone won something. A bottomless tray of chocolatechip cookies and a Mexican feast helped fill empty stomachs.Sailors also enjoyed the new Davis Island Yacht Clubfacility. Racers could sip a beverage in a rocking chair on theclub’s wrap-around porch overlooking the bay.On the water, the conditions on Saturday were prettylight with the breeze blowing 5-10 from the east. The Lasercourse dealt with shifty winds blowing off the land onwindward/leeward courses. On Sunday, the wind pickedup to 18 knots, forcing hungover sailors to hike a little harderthan they wanted.Some Lasers capsized, but everyone survived. DaltonTebo of Sarasota sailed consistently in the top three toclench first place. Buzzy Heausler of Davis Island finishedsecond, and Zack Marks of St. Petersburg Yacht Club finishedthird.The Laser Radial fleet was 22 boats deep, but there wasa pretty big gap between the top ten sailors, and some newLaser racers, who had just joined the fleet. The racing wasclose but with a throw-out race, Kim Witkowski was able towin the Radial division. Justin Doane finished second. Inthe Sunfish division, Joe Blouin won the regatta with fivefirst place finishes. Paul Strauley finished in second, andJames Liebl finished third.In the Lightning fleet, Steve Horwitz’s team was able tohold onto his lead despite a Sunday challenge from Colinand Karen Park. The Delisser team finished second, followedclosely by the Park team. In the Flying Scot fleet, teamHayward won every race but one. The Roberts team still finishedsecond after eating a 10th-place score in the last race.Only five boats sailed in the Portsmouth division.There was tie for first place in Portsmouth between theWilus team and the Crump team. The Wilus boat had a biggerdrop race, and that helped them move into first place.The Davis Island Thanksgiving Regatta is a must-doevent if you are interested in having fun on and off thewater. The hospitality that the volunteers at Davis Islandshowed toward their guests was first class and made everyonefeel welcome.WEST FLORIDA RACE CALENDAROn-line West Florida Race CalendarGo to editor@southwindsmagazine.com to view the annualon-line race calendar on the SOUTHWINDS Web site withlinks to clubs and information and changes to schedules.To have your race listed, or changes in your race schedule,e-mail the information to the editor, Steve Morrell, at editor@southwindsmagazine.com.The West Florida list of yacht clubs and sailing organizationsis also on-line.Club RacingBradenton YC. Sunday Afternoon Races at 12:30 p.m.October till beginning of Daylight Savings. PHRF racing onManatee River. For info call Larry Lecuyer, (941) 729-5401.Venice Sailing Squadron. Saturdays. First Saturday ofeach month, PHRF racing. Start at mouth of Venice Inlet.www.venice-sailing-squadron.orgEdison Sailing Center, Fort Myers. Sunfish and dinghyracing once a month, year-round john@johnkremski.comPort Charlotte. Third Saturday of month, year-round.pbgvtrax@aol.comBoat of the Year Races (BOTY): Southwest Boat of the Year(SWBOTY), Charlotte Harbor Boat of the Year (CHBOTY),Sarasota (SBOTY), Suncoast Boat of the Year (SBOTY)JANUARY1 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Hangover Race.1 Tampa Bay Catamaran Society. Hangover Race, DunedinCauseway, Catamarans.3-4 Edison Sailing Center. Sunfish Challenge.7-8 Davis Island YC. Commodore’s Cup, PHRF. (SBOTY)7-8 Punta Gorda SC. Golden Conch Regatta, PHRF. (CHBO-TY)8 Bradenton YC. Round the Bay, PHRF Bradenton, Egmontand Skyway course.12-15 St. Petersburg YC. Optimist Dinghy National TeamPractice.14 Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Snowbird Regatta. (SBBOTY)14 Bradenton YC. Round the Bay Race, PHRF.15 Caloosahatchee Marching & Chowder Society. WinterRaces, PHRFWest Florida Race Calendar continued on page 75News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 63


REGIONAL RACINGNORTHERN GULF COAST :FLORIDA PANHANDLE, ALABAMA,MISSISSIPPI,LOUISIANA, TEXASWater Temperature – 58ºAverage TemperaturesPensacola, FL 43º lo – 61º hiGulfport, MS 43º lo – 61º hiFor Northern Gulf Weathergo to: www.csc.noaa.gov/coos/LOCAL RACE REPORTSee page 76for windrose legendPensacola Yacht Club Championship,Nov. 5- Dec. 9By Kim KaminskiSanta and his reindeer enjoyed the sailing games during thisyear’s Santa Claus Regatta held in Pensacola, FL. Photo by KimKaminskiThe Pensacola Yacht Club traditionally holds its annual clubchampionship regatta during the month of November. TheClub Championship Trophy may only be won by aPensacola Yacht Club member. However, the regatta event isopen to anyone who wishes to participate, plus trophies aregiven to the top three finishers in the overall series.The 2005 Championship was scheduled to be held overtwo weekends, Nov. 5-6 and Nov. 19-20. This was extendedinto December (Dec. 9) when there were not enough windsin November to hold races.Typically, four races are completed during the eventwith one of them being long distance (which cannot be usedas a drop-out race).The first weekend of the regatta saw moderate windconditions and cool temperatures, ideal conditions for abrisk wintertime race. This first race of the series ended upbeing a steeplechase around Pensacola Bay for a total of13.02 miles. The second race of the weekend had similarweather conditions with a double windward /leeward racecourse of eight miles.The trouble began on the second weekend. Race #3 wasSee NORTHERN GULF COAST SAILING continued on page 7564 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 65


66 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 67


REGIONAL SAILINGSailing Services Directory starts as low as $10 a month.BOAT LETTERINGYOGA SAILING CHARTERS (305) 989-7181Enjoy a Magical week of Yoga & AdventureSailing in the Bahamas or Belize Oct. 05 orJan & May 06 www.dutchlove.comCAPTAIN SERVICESCAPT. KEVIN MURPHY . . .(340) 277-1026USCG Licensed Master, Deliveries,Instruction murfdesurf@hotmail.comCANVAS & CUSHION SERVICESSCUBA CLEANSee ad in Underwater ServicesCHARTERSMAHINA LA SAILING . . . . .(941) 713-8000MacGregor 65 * Two hours to two weeksSouth Tampa Bay Area in CortezDaily Sunset Cruises or Sail to the Keyswww.floridasailingtrips.comADVERTISEHEREFOR$38TOPSAIL SERVICESDelvieries • 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________________________________________3-line ads for $10 a month.4-line ads for $12 a month.editor@southwindsmagazine.com(941) ________________________________________795-8704FISHING 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(813) 625-0448www.taylormarinesurveying.comAdvertise your services herestarting at $20 a montheditor@RIGGING southwindsmagazine.comSERVICES(941) 795-8704LETTERS continued from page 15Cortez and then allow another Arvidadevelopment as seen in Perico Bay—all10 stories of it.The notion of public acquisition ofthe Seafood Shack is about as sensibleas suggesting the same treatment forthe Chart House on Longboat Key.David J CurryCortez, FLDavid,I agree with everything you have writtenhere, except I would like to see them buy it,make a ramp only for trailered sailboatsand have storage and a hoist for them. Thiswould be a small number, and the boatscould be stored there, masts up, minimizingtraffic. It would fill a great need.Concerns for local traffic problems need beaddressed, and the county should notmove forward if they do not solve them.What I really don’t want to see is thisturn into condos, and if the county doesn’tbuy it, that is what will happen, andanother public marina will have gonedown the drain.By the way, Café on the Beach, theHolmes Beach café you mention, is myfavorite breakfast place.Editor68 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


SERVICES DIRECTORYCall (941) 795-8704 or e-mail editor@southwindsmagazine.comYACHTING VACATIONS Punta Gorda, FLSailboat Charters 22’-48’ ASA instructionLive-aboard/non-live-aboardwww.yachtingvacations.com (800) 447-0080PORPOISE SAILING SERVICES –Sarasota*New/Used Sails * New Custom SailsRoller Furling Systems & Packages(800) 507-0119www.porpoisesailing.comScuba Clean Yacht ServiceSee ad in Underwater ServicesRIGGING SERVICESBay RiggingTAMPA’S MOBILE RIGGING SERVICEYacht Rigging • Furlers • LifelinesCell (727) 215-0704www.bayrigging.comSEA TIME SAILING SCHOOL . . . .Miami, FLOffshore trips/Sailing courseswww.seatimesailing.com . . . .(786) 201-3487SAILMAKING, REPAIRING& CLEANINGADVANCED SAILS . . . . . . . .(727) 896-7245Quality Cruising Sails & ServiceClosest Sailmaker to St. Petersburg MarinasKeith Donaldson . . . . . . . . . .(727) 896-7245SSMR. INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .727-823-4800Complete Rigging ServicesOn-Site Swaging & SplicingCommissioning ServicesOn Salt Creek at Salt Creek Boat WorksFax 727-823-3270 . . . . . . . . . .St. PetersburgSAILING INSTRUCTIONADVENTURE CRUISING & SAILING SCHOOLA sailing school for Women and Couples• ASA • West Florida and Chesapeakewww.acss.bz . . . . . . . . . . . . .(727) 204-8850MASTHEAD USED SAIL . . .(800) 783-6953www.mastheadsailinggear.comLargest Inventory in the South (727) 327-5361UNDERWATER SERVICESScuba Clean Yacht Service• Underwater Services • Canvas Shop• Sail Cleaning & Repair • DetailingServing Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota,Pasco & Manatee Counties.(727) 327-2628Rent a 2" ad spacefor $38 a monthNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 69


C L A S S I F I E D A D SCLASSIFIED 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) 795-8705.5. Do a combination of the above. E-mail, call inor send the ad text in via Paypal on our Web site. E-mail the photo directly to the editor. If you don’thave a scanner, mail the photo to us separately. Callthe editor at (941) 795-8704 with any questions.6. We will pick up your ad. Send the editor acheck for air flight, car rental, hotel, travel, eatingand entertainment expenses, and he will come toyour location and pick up the ad. Any ads to bepicked up on tropical islands or other resort destinationswill be free.BOATS/BOAT TRAILERSWANTED___________________________Sailboat Trailer Wanted for 1996 Hunter 26sailboat with centerboard and water ballast.(770) 519-3384. (12/05)BOATS & DINGHIES___________________________Bauer 10. Everything new. Sprit-rigged. TanBark Sail. Sunbrella fitted cover. Galv. Trailer.Spruce mast and oars. Liner with flotation.Bauer yacht finish. $2900. Sarasota. (941)349-3102___________________________1984 Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20. Yanmar 1GM(9/05), enclosed head (rare). Cushionsreupholstered 9/05. New Origo range 5/05.ST winches. Shore power. New Jabsco head12/04. 5 Sails, $28,500 obo. LaBelle, FL (863)612-9233.1976 Tanzer 22 with 3’ 6” draft, main, jib,tiller, winches, outboard bracket, all in goodshape. Must sell $2,000 (941) 792-9100DISPLAY CLASSIFIEDSAdvertise your business in a display adin the classifieds section. Sold by thecolumn inch. 2 inch minimum.(3 column inches is 1/8 page)MONTHLY COST MINIMUM TOTALADS PER INCH INCHES COST12 $19 2" $386 $22 2" $443 $25 2" $501 $29 2" $581983 Hunter 30. Tall Rig, 4’ draft, Yanmar850hrs, roller furling, sails and rigging 2002,Mech Vang, Inverter w/Microwave, Autopilot,GPS. Race, Daysail or Cruise. Xlnt condition.$17,400. (727) 856-6999.1990 30’ Catalina 30, std rig, fin keel 5’3”,roller furling, bimini, cushions, instruments,Excellent condition. Reasonably and practicallypriced at $32,900. (727) 207-0717 ore-mail: galileo430@comcast.net (1/06)___________________________CATALINA 30. 1989. Wing Keel. New Canvas,Full enclosure. AC, custom teak doors. Garmin182 Chart plotter, Loran, VHF, Auto-pilot, AM-FM Stereo CD, refrigerator, extra freshwatertank. New bottom paint September 2004. Avery clean boat, carefully maintained.$37,500.00. Call (727) 421-3014. (1/06)ALL CLASSIFIED ADSDISPLAYED ON WEB SITEwww.southwindsmagazine.com70 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


C L A S S I F I E D A D S1967 Morgan 34 sloop, bronze centerboard,4-foot draft, wheel steering, cruise-equipped(liveaboard), gps, auto-pilot, 3 solar panels,Atomic 4 gas engine, 60 gallons water, muchmore. $14,500/best offer. (239) 462-5004(3/06)___________________________FREE-New Hunter 33 or 36. SailTime will paymortgage and all expenses for 5 years – youput 20% down–own 100%.1-866-Sailtime.1965 Columbia 40 by Charlie Morgan. 30hpdiesel w/750 hrs. S/S center board draws 4’ 6”up. Auto pilot, Furlex RF, 5 sails, 8 winches,Bimini, boom shade, S/S stove w/oven, pressurewater, brass fixtures, dorades, Type IIIMSD, ICOM VHF, Garmin, GPS, depth, speed,tacking compass, binnacle compass. Own thisclassic beauty for only $35,000. Located inEdgewater Maryland. Visit www.cortezyachts.comor call (941) 792-910036’ Islander Freeport B-Plan raised salooncruiser, Cruise-ready with all the extras. A takeyou anywhere boat. Newly rebuilt diesel, fullelectronics and all the extras. $69,900 Seewww.islanderfreeport.com, e-mail islanderfreeport@pobox.com,(727) 864-9048 (3/06)32 Gulf Pilothouse, complete refit all new2005- standing running rigging, performancesails, wiring, circuit breakers panel, waterheater, holding/macerator, fuel tanks,12v/110 standing fridge freezer, propanecooktop infared broiling, 3 batteriersautocharger, 17000btu heat/air, bimini$49,600 sailsetc@ilnk.com (904) 810-1966.(1/06)33’ Glander Tavana 1985 center board masthead sloop. Newly painted bottom, hull, topsidsand non-skid. New rub rail, teak hatches.New jib sail. 30 HP Vetus diesel. Great Floridaand Bahamas boat, draws 3’ board up. A nononsenseboat offered below market at$15,900/best offer. Needs TLC. Call MajorCarter (941) 792-9100.Pearson 365 ketch. 1976, new diesel (03) &fuel tank. Max prop, new upholstery, newdinghy w/OB. Deck just painted, hull donew/Imron. 4kw, 36-mile radar, 2 a-pilots, heavychain ground tackle w/ windlass, gps plotter.ds/ws/log ,406 EPIRB, Force 10 galley & cabinheater. Dodger and bimini. Much new equipmentand many upgrades. One of the bestequipped and maintained 365s around. Bysecond owner, in Punta Gorda, FL. $51,000.delivery available. (941) 920-0132. (1/06)___________________________IRWIN 37, Key West slip. New mainsail andcockpit cover, 14 ports, dinghy, outboard,refrigeration, fresh water pump, A/C, hotwater heater, 6 batteries with cabling, bottompaint, solar panel, etc. Call Capt. Dave (305)240-0303, e-mail eastwood@pocketmail.com.No hurricane damage. $105K.___________________________Beneteau First 405, French-built 1987.Perkins 4-108, rig & keelbolts rebuilt &upgraded 1998. Rudder bearings & interiorrefit 2001, Awlgrip renewed 2005. Prop shaft,coupling and bearing new 2004. Phazor 6 kwgen, hro 9, watermaker, Autohelm nav.System, Inmarsat, 5000 btu AC. etc., etc.Santana is a proven vessel for offshore and livingaboard, a joy to sail and takes good careof her crew. $115,000 (904) 460-0501 oryachtsantana@aol.com.1982 MORGAN OUT ISLAND 416Engine: 65HP Perkins, ONAN Generators, 2 ACunits, auto pilot, integrated GPS chart plotter,integrated LCD radar, VHF, 2 refrigerators, 2freezers, ice maker, electric stove, microwave, TV& TV Booster, radio & CD player, 6 speakers, 2baths, electric aft head, inverter 1750, enclosedbimini, 2 anchors, windlass, many spare parts,watermaker installation, 5 sails, roller furler &storm jib, major upgrades on engine, all newhydraulics, new hull paint Mar. ’05, new cushions’04, life raft. Surveyed at $95,000, asking$92,500. Total Value $150,000. (504) 491-4132.alan@tirebargaincenter.com (1/06)1993 Gemini 3400 catamaran 14‚ beam18‰ board up 5‚ board down. In Sarasota.Cruise ready, air, solar, davits, contact Alan(970) 690-3758 or alanm@frii.com for inventorylist. Asking $79,000. (1/06)DISPLAY CLASSIFIED ADSSTARTING AT $38/MONTHNews & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 71


C L A S S I F I E D A D S1984 LANCER 45 CC Sloop with 85 HPPerkins, 3 staterooms, 2 heads, walkthru toaft cabin w/ centerline bed. Marine air. Rollerfurling main and jib. Depth and wind instrumentsat the helm. CPT autopilot, Furuno CRTradar, GPS, VHF, stereo CD, TV , full galley,electric windlass, dodger, 11’ Alliance RIBw/OB. www.cortezyachts.com. A great liveaboardor cruiser. $84,000 (941) 792-9100.45’ 6” LOA Bayfield 40, Hull # 34 Full keel 5’draft, cutter ketch designed by H.T.Gozzardbuilt in 1984 Exceptional condition with lotsof new gear. Harken Roller furling on all sails.Marine Air, WS, WD, Depth,VHF w/remote,SSB, CD/Radio, Autopilot, Chartplotter, Radar,Dinghy, Life Raft $114,000 Call Major Carteror visit www.Cortezyachts.com (3/06)BOOKS & CHARTS___________________________Ocean Routing – Jenifer Clark’s Gulf StreamBoat Routing/Ocean Charts by the “best inthe business.” (301) 952-0930, fax (301) 574-0289 or www.erols.com/gulfstrmBUSINESS/INVESTMENT___________________________Sailtime.com is looking for base operators onthe Florida coast. This may suit existingmarine business owners who wish to add anadditional income stream. Sailtime is a uniquebusiness model that requires minimal capitaland no staff. Tel. (813) 817-0104 orjtwomey@sailtime.com___________________________Licensed contractor with experience in highendresidential work, both new and remodeling,seeks to qualify a builder as an active,advising, part-time, non-working partner. Iam a very responsible, honest experiencedbuilder with excellent qualifications seekingthe same to work on projects in residentialwork. Only very quality-oriented and responsiblebuilders/carpenters need contact mewho are in the Manatee/Sarasota countiesarea. I also am only interested in enjoyable,interesting work — not the rat race.Craig100@tampabay.rr.com.FREE – New Hunter 33 or 36. SailTime willpay mortgage and all expenses for 5 years –you put 20% down and own 100%.Call 1-866-Sailtime.CREW 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 (1/06)HELP WANTED___________________________Sailor Wanted. Turn your hobby into extracash. Travel the Florida coast making salescalls on retail customers for major marine ropemanufacturer. Detail-oriented merchandisingexperience. E-mail resume and questions toamoffice@amconet.com.___________________________Sailing Club Manager opportunity with privateclub featuring tennis, pool, summercamp and active dinghy racing. A mature personwith mechanical skills a plus. Housingprovided. Send financial compensationrequirements to: GM Search, 30 Yacht ClubDrive, Beaufort, SC 29907.ALL CLASSIFIEDS ON WEB SITE:___________________________ www.southwindsmagazine.com72 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


C L A S S I F I E D A DEdwards Yacht Sales is expanding! Yacht brokersneeded to sell sailboats on either coast.Will train! Excellent commissions, grouphealth insurance, bonus plan. Contact RoyEdwards at (727) 725-1600,www.EdwardsYachtSales.com___________________________Service Dept. Rigger. Massey Yacht Sales isaccepting applications and resumes for sailand/or powerboat riggers/outfitters. Manyemployee benefits including paid holidays, paidvacations, health insurance, workmen’s compinsurance, performance bonuses, and goodhourly salary. Must be hardworking, honest, haveown tools and be a team player. Excellent servicedepartment support and organization. Call AliceWinter, ext. 10, service dept. mgr. at (941) 723-1949, or fax resume to (941) 729-7520.___________________________Writers, Reporters, Articles Photos Wanted.<strong>Southwinds</strong> is looking for articles on boating,racing, sailing in the southern waters in allregions, the Caribbean and the Bahamas. Weare also looking for other articles on the followingsubjects: marinas, anchorages, mooringfields disappearing marinas and boatyards,marinas and boatyards sold for condos,anchoring rights, sailing human interest stories,boat reviews, charter stories, waste disposal—andmore. Photos are wanted on allthese subjects, plus we want cover photos(pay $65 for cover photos) of both race andnon-race subjects, but about sailing. Coverphotos must be very high resolution and verticalformat.___________________________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 and Albin plus offer a largeinventory of brokerage sail and powerboats.Applicants must be computer literate, havesuccessful yacht sales history, good knowledgeof yachts and builders, be a team player,motivated and hard working. Best yacht salesincome potential on Florida west coast. CallMassey General Sales Manager FrankHamilton at (941) 723-1610 or fax resume to(941) 729-7520.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.comMISCELLANEOUS BOAT GEARNEW & USED___________________________Wanted Mast for Hughes Northstar 500 (25-foot sailboat). (251) 476-4061. (2/06)Tiralo floating deck chair - a beach chair thatfloats in water and rolls easily on the sand.Looks great. Folds and fits on your boat orinside your car. More info: www.tiralousa.com.Anchors – 40 lb 3-piece storm - $250. 20 lbCQR - $150. 15 lb CQR - $100. (941) 953-6240.___________________________INSURANCE___________________________News & Views for Southern Sailors2” DISPLAY ADSSTARTING AT$38 A MONTHeditor@southwindsmagazine.comor941-795-8704SOUTHWINDS January 2006 73


C L A S S I F I E D A D SOutboard Motor. 2002 Yamaha 15HP, 4-cycle, manual start, great condition, less than40 hrs use. $1,200 (727) 544-1833. (1/06)___________________________Bimini top, canvas and frame complete. FromBOSTON WHALER. Originally $700. Usableon any craft with 87” beam. Navy. Like new.$400. Pick up only. Lake Lanier, Gainesville,GA. Chris @ 770 536 4628, orcwnlanier1@aol.com.___________________________AC/DC Reefer, 22# Bruce Anchor, AnchorBall, Sospenders, Magma Grills, Mariner 9.9Mercury Long Shaft 7.5 HP, folding bikes,windsurfers, Metzeler sailing rig, windscoop,Drogues, lifesling, Type I life jackets w/strobe.Nautical Trader. (941) 488-0766.SAILING INSTRUCTION__________________________SAILS & CANVAS__________________________See Classified Info pg 6074 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com


WINDSURFING GEAR__________________________Wanted: Used Prodigy (standard or race),other boards, miscellaneous windsurfingequipment. Steve (941) 795-8704,editor@southwindsmagazine.coEAST FLORIDA RACECALENDAR continued from page 60JANUARY —Northeast Florida.www.sailjax.com1 Hangover Regatta & New Year’sMeal. Rudder Club.14,28 Frostbite Series #1,#2 . Rudder ClubFEBRUARY — Central East Florida3-5 7th Annual National WayfarerRegatta. Lake Eustis Sailing Club.4-5 2nd Annual Flying Scot Regatta.Lake Eustis Sailing Club.4-5 Hagar’s Run (distance race on 4th)and Hagar the Horrible Regatta(fun race on 5th) Space CoastCatamaran Association.4 First Saturday Sailing at SebastianInlet. Indian River Catamaran Assoc.6,20 Spring Series #1,#2. TitusvilleSailing Center.6 Small Boat Sunday Racing.Melbourne Yacht Club.12 Winter/Spring River Race #1. EastCoast Sailing Association-Racing.13,26 Winter/Spring Series #2,#3. IndianRiver Yacht Club.13,27 Spring Rum Race #1,#2. MelbourneYacht Club.18-19 36th Annual George WashingBirthday Regatta. Lake EustisSailing Club.20 Small Boat Sunday Racing.Melbourne Yacht Club.24-27 Catalina 22 Mid-Winters. Sanford(Lake Monroe).27 Women’s Spring Series #2. EastCoast Sailing Association #2.FEBRUARY4,18 Frostbite Series #3, #4. Rudder ClubNORTHERN GULF RACING continued from page 64planned to be the long distance race, taking the contestants out of Pensacola Bayinto the Pensacola Pass out to #1 sea buoy and back again to the finish. MotherNature, however, had other plans as she placed strong tidal currents and lightnon-existent winds for the race. This long distance course was shortened afterapproximately two hours when some of the race competitors still had not made itto the southern end of the bay. The following day’s race conditions were worse:The racers waited for three hours for the winds to come into the area and onto theracecourse for race #4 to begin! No such luck! The race committee then decided tohold the final race during the next race weekend scheduled on the calendar…theweekend of the Santa Claus Regatta.Both races would be held concurrently and scored separately. Luckily, they hadmoderate winds once again, and sailors were also able to have a little fun for theSanta Claus Regatta. Competitors could be seen on the water dressed in holidaystyle; Santa hats, Santa outfits and even some of Santa’s reindeer sailed around therace committee boat as they prepared for a day filled with racing competition.After two windward/leeward races, sailors headed back to the PensacolaYacht Club to determine the overall winners. Neil McMillan and Carlos Melvilleon Joe Cool triumphed over the fleet and earned the Pensacola Yacht ClubChampionship for 2005. As for the rest of the fleet, Santa had a little present forthose who entered the race and placed in their class; a 2005 Christmas tree ornamenttrophy.PYC Championship 2005 Results Overall 2005 Club Champions - Neil McMillan and CarlosMelville on Joe Cool 1 Joe Cool, Neil McMillan/Carlos Melville;2 Forerunne,r John Mathis; 3 RokaDobi, Ron Bray;4 Shameless, Roy Harden; 5 Mud Flap Girl, Hunter Riddle; 6 Atlantic Union, PaulGillette; 7 Polish Navy, Dan Owczarczak; 8 Phaedra, Bob Patroni; 9 Avalon, Bernie Knight;10Sirrocco, Bruce Lee; 11 Road Trip,p David Kellen; 12 Tenacious, Eric Prochaska;Santa Claus Regatta 2005 Spinnaker Class A; 1 - Atlantic Union - Paul Gillette; 2 - Phaedra -Bob Patroni; 3 - Joe Cool - McMillan/Melville; 4 - Forerunner - John Mathis; Spinnaker Class B;1 -Mud Flap Girl - Hunter Riddle; 2 - Polish Navy - Dan Owczarczak;3 - Roka Dobi - Ron Bray.NORTHERN GULF RACE CALENDARJANUARY1 New Year’s Raft-up. PYC7-8 Gulf Yachting Association 2006Winter Meeting. Pascagoula, MS.16-20 Key West Race Week, Key West, FL21 Superbowl Regatta. PYC28 Frostbite Regatta. PBYCFEBRUARY4 Cruising Raft-up. PYC16-20 Key West Race Week.www.premiere-racing.com.21-22 St. Petersburg YC. SE Optimist TeamRace Regatta.28-29 St. Petersburg YC. Multi-classInvitational. Windmill, Snipe, Moth,Jet 14, Flying Dutchman, Martin 16,2.4 Meter, Ultimate 20, SR Max, with6 boats registered in advance.28-29 Punta Gorda SC. Naples-MarcoIsland Hospice Regatta, PHRFFEBRUARY4 St. Petersburg YC and Davis IslandYC. J-24 Meet in the Middle Regatta.3-5 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. NationalWayfarer Regatta.4-5 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. Flying ScotRegatta.4-8 St. Petersburg YC. InternationalOptimist Dinghy Clinic.10-12 St. Petersburg YC. Valentine’s DayRegatta, Opti, 420.10-12 Isla Del Sol YC. 505 MidwinterChampionship.11 Valentine Regatta. PBYC18 Miami Boat Show.www.strictlysail.com25 Mardi Gras Regatta. PYCNorthern Gulf Coast Yacht Club LegendPBYC Pensacola Beach Yacht Club,Pensacola, FL. www.pensacolabeachyc.orgPYC Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola, FL.www.pensacolayachtclub.org.WEST FLORIDA RACE CALENDAR continued from page 5311 Sarasota Bay Yachting Association/Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Cherry PieRace. (SBBOTY)11-12 Tampa Sailing Squad. Gasparilla, PHRF.11-12 Caloosahatchee Marching & ChowderSociety. Edison Gulf, PHRF. (SWFBOTY)14-16 St. Petersburg YC. Olsen 30 & SonarMidwinter Championship.17-19 St. Petersburg YC., SAILING WORLDNOOD (National Offshore One Design).17-21 Strictly Sail Miami Boat Show,Miamarina. www.sailamerica.com.17-19 Clearwater Yacht Club. Laser MasterMidwinters.18-19 Lake Eustis Sailing Club. GeorgeWashington Birthday Regatta. Allclass,dinghies, cats, Windsurfers.21-25 Davis Island YC. J-24 Midwinters.23-26 Clearwater Yacht Club. LaserMidwinters East.25-26 Sarasota Sailing Squadron.Windsurfing regatta.26-3/3 St. Petersburg YC. ThistleMidwinters.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2006 75


INDEX OF ADVERTISERSTELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN SOUTHWINDS!: <strong>Southwinds</strong> providesthis list as a courtesy and asks our readers to support our advertisers.This list includes all display advertising.WANTEDExperienced Sailing Coach in Sarasota— US Sailing Level 1—Acura Miami Race Week . . . . . . .11Air Duck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74American Marine & Sail Supply . .21Aqua Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Atlantic Sail Traders . . . . . . . . . . .42Banks Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69Beachmaster Photography . . . . . .72Beneteau Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . .BCBeta Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Bluewater Bay Yachts . . . . . . .20,21Bluewater Sailing Supply . . . . . . . .9Boaters Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . .42Bob and Annie’s Boatyard . . . . . .33Bo’sun Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Bubba Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Carson/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . .BCCharleston Race Week . . . . . . . . . .7Cortez Yacht Brokerage . . . . . . . .72Crow’s Nest Restaurant . . . . . . . .15Cruising Direct Sails . . . . . . . . . .28Defender Industries . . . . . . . . . . .29Dockside Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45Drive Insurance From Progressive 26Dwyer mast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74Eastern Yachts/Beneteau . . . .BC, 67Edwards Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . .65El Cid Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14E-marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73,74First Patriot Health Insurance . . . .73Flying Scot Sailboats . . . . . . . . . .72FX Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56Garhauer Hardware . . . . . . . . . . .34Glacier Bay Refrigeration . . . . . . .22Gold Bars Captain’s Book . . . . . .74Gulf Coast Yacht Sales . . . . . .66,70Gulf Island Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Hanse Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack . . . . . . .57Hotwire/Fans & other products .74Hunter Marine . . . . . . . . . .24,25,47Island Marine Products . . . . . . . .19Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31JR Overseas/Moisture Meter . . . .46Kevane Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74Lake Fairview Marina . . . . . . . . . .21Laurie Kimball Realtor . . . . . . . . . .9Leading Edge Yacht Brokers . . . .67Leather Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Lex-Sea Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Life Captions Video . . . . . . . . . . .41Manton Marine Surveyors . . . . . .69Massey Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .13,41,43,47,71, IBCMasthead Enterprises . . . . . . .16,74Noble Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51Mt. Dora Annual Regatta . . . . . . .50Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . .BCNational Sail Supply . . . . . . . . . .35Nautical Trader . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30North Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8,74Pinnacle Fractional Sailing . . . . . .10Porpoise Used Sails . . . . . . . . . . .75Precision Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Premiere Racing . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Pumpout Boat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Quantum Sarasota . . . . . . . . . . . .3RB Grove/Universal andWesterbeke . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Regata del Sol al Sol . . . . . . . . . .55Rparts Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . .40Sailboats Florida, Inc. . . . . . . . . .71Sailing Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage64 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sailrite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Sailtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Sarasota Youth Sailing Program . .66Schurr Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54Scurvy Dog Marine . . . . . . . . . . .51Sea School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36Sea Tech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43,73Snug Harbor Boats . . . . . . . . . . .21SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8St. Augustine Sailing School . . . .74St. Barts/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . .BCStrictly Sail Miami . . . . . . . . . . . .23Suncoast Inflatables . . . . . . . . . . .17Sunrise Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . .69,74Tackle Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Tampa Sailing Squadron YouthProgram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Turner Marine/Island Packet . . . .31Ullman sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15US Spars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37Walker Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Watersports West . . . . . . . . . . . .73West Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFCWindcraft Catamarans . . . . . . . . .49Zarcor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41,73INSTRUCTOR COURSE & RACING EXPERIENCEREQUIREDOptimist coaching experience preferred.Part-time — Saturdays, one evening/week& regatta attendanceCALL SARASOTA YOUTH SAILING PROGRAM(941) 504-4236Subscribe to SOUTHWINDS$19.95/year • $37/2 Years • 3rd Class$24/year • $45/2 Years • 1st ClassSubscribe on line on our secureWeb site with credit cardwww.southwindsmagazine.com76 January 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 & Sail Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Beneteau Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BCBoaters Exchange/Catalina Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Carson Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BCCortez Yacht Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72Eastern Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC,67Flying Scot Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72Gulf Coast Yacht Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66,70Gulf Island Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Hanse Sailboats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71Hobie Cats/Tackle Shack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Island Yachting Centre/Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Lake Fairview Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Leading Edge Yacht Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67Massey Yacht Sales/Catalina//Hunter/Shannon/Albin . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13,41,43,47,71, IBCMasthead Yacht Sales/Catalina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,74Murray Yacht Sales/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BCPinnacle Fractional Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Sailboats Florida, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64Sailtime, Fractional Sailing & Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Sarasota Youth Sailing Program donated boats . . . . . . . . . . .66Snug Harbor Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21St. Barts/Beneteau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BCSuncoast Inflatables/ West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Tampa Sailing Squadron Youth Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53Turner Marine/Island Packet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31Windcraft, Trimarans and Catamarans, Sail or Power . . . . . . .49Watersports West/Windsurfing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73GEAR, HARDWARE, ACCESSORIES, CLOTHINGAir Duck Hatch Windscoop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74Bluewater Bay Yachts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20,21Bluewater Sailing Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Boaters Exchange, boats, gear, etc. Rockledge FL . . . . . . . . .42Bo’sun Supplies/Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Defender Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29E-Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73,74Garhauer Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Hotwire/Fans & other products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74Island Marine Products/Davits,motorlocks,etc. . . . . . . . . . . . .19JR Overseas/Moisture Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Leather Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68Masthead Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,74Nautical Trader/buy/sell/consign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Rparts Refrigeration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40Sailrite Sewing Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Tackle Shack/Hobie/Sunfish, St. Petersburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57Walker Bay Boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Watersports West/wet suits, etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73West Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFCZarcor, boat shades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41,73SAILS (NEW & USED), RIGGING, SPARS, RIGGING SERVICESAtlantic Sail Traders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Banks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida . . . . . . .69Cruising Direct/sails online by North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Dwyer Mast/spars, hardware, rigging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74Masthead/Used Sails and Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16,74National Sail Supply, new&used online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35North Sails, new and used . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8,74Porpoise Used Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75Quantum Sails and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Sailing Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Schurr Sails, Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54SSMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Sunrise Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69,74Ullman Sails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15West Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFCUS Spars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37CANVASBanks Sails/new, used, repair & canvas/ West Florida . . . . . . .69Quantum Sails and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3USED SAILING/BOATING SUPPLIESNautical Trader/buy/sell/consign, West Florida . . . . . . . . . . . .30Scurvy Dog Marine/Used, Consign, Pensacola FL . . . . . . . . . .51SAILING SCHOOLSSea School/Captain’s License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36St. Augustine Sailing School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74MARINE ENGINES AND ACCESSORIESBeta Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18RB Grove/Universal and Westerbeke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32RESORTS, MARINAS, RESTAURANTS, BOAT YARDSBob and Annie’s Boatyard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33Crow’s Nest Restaurant & Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Sailor’s Wharf Boatyard and Brokerage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64FRACTIONAL SAILING/CHARTER COMPANIESLex-Sea Charters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52,72Pinnacle Fractional Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Sailtime, Fractional Sailing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4MARINE SERVICES, SURVEYORS, INSURANCE, TOWING, BOATLETTERING, ETC.Aqua Graphics/Boat Names/Tampa Bay or buy online . . . . . .68Beachmaster Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72Drive Insurance From Progressive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26First Patriot Insurance Health Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73Manton Marine Surveyors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69Pumpout Boat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29MARINE ELECTRONICSDockside Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45JR Overseas/Moisture Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46Sea Tech/Navigation/Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43,73BOOKS/CHARTS/VIDEOS/AWARDSBubba Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Gold Bars Captain’s Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74Life Captions Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41Noble Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51REGATTA ADVERTISEMENTS, BOAT SHOWSAcura Miami Race Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Charleston Race Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Mt. Dora Annual Regatta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50Regata del Sol al Sol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55Strictly Sail Miami . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23Regional Sailing Services Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68-69Subscription Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77Alphabetical Advertisers’ List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76Subscribe 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 January 2006 77


Betty Timms —BluewaterSailing AdventureBy Kim KaminskiBetty’s Favorite Place to be during herlong distance, bluewater adventure wason the bow taking in the beauty of hersurroundings. Courtesy photo.Betty Timms is a small-framed special education elementaryschool teacher who could always be foundsailing on the coastal waters surrounding Pensacola,FL, at almost every sailboat racing event throughout theyear. Following the destruction left by Hurricane Ivan,many of the racing fleet boats were damaged or destroyed,leaving few opportunities for sailboat racing events. Bettyand her husband Jim also felt the sting from Ivan’s wrath asthey lost their home on Pensacola Beach.In the midst of debris and loss, a friend of Betty’s, MikeLuciani (who also lost his home to Ivan), invited her on asailing adventure to forget about Ivan’s destruction. It wasto be a bluewater sailing passage on a 47-foot Kaufman,skippered and owned by world-class sailor and author,John Kretschmer.Betty said she was originally clueless about the adventureshe was about to embark upon. She wondered whatshe had gotten herself into since she was to sail 1600 milesfrom Trinidad to Fort Lauderdale with her friend Mike andfour other men she had never met before. (Betty’s husbandJim had to stay in Pensacola and handle the insurance andFEMA paperwork, R.V. rental, and anything else that cameup following the havoc after the storm.) Betty was alsoexpected to use a sextant during the trip to plot the crew’slocation in the middle of the Caribbean.How was she going to accomplish a sight reduction ona pitching boat, let alone master celestial navigation! Betty,the ever-ready teacher, now became the student and begantaking celestial navigation classes.While she prepared for the cruise, Betty was reading upon any article she could and found a quote that gave hersome inspiration: “You cannot discover new oceans unlessyou have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” On April10, Betty and her fellow shipmates lost sight of the shore forseven glorious days.During the journey, she experienced wonderful sights:night watches under the blanket of a multitude of stars andthe awesome wonder of flying fish. She experienced theroller coaster motion on the bow (her favorite spot on theboat) during the mountainous swells that were frequentthroughout the trip and equally enjoyed the delicatemaneuvering through the coral reefs of Rum Cay.The challenge of celestial navigation was also an excitingadventure for her. She took morning, noon and eveningsightings, and after her first plotting efforts, she found shewas only off by four miles on the latitude and one mile onthe longitude when compared to the GPS reading. She washooked and in love with bluewater cruising.When asked about her adventure and what was a highlightfor her, she said, “The bow was the best! I could stareout over the deep blue water all day! I will never forget thistrip. I strongly encourage anyone to conquer your fears andgo bluewater sailing. And as for the green flash? Does itreally exist? Go see for yourself.”78 January 2006 SOUTHWINDS www.southwindsmagazine.com

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