2014 Florida Get Together

[capt_nemo]

Got "Frisky" the Sun Cat home safely from the 2014 Florida Get Together. Managed to get unprotected legs and bare feet sunburnt and have recovered from a very rough nite anchored off a lee shore at Three Rooker Is.

Since this was to be the longest road trip I've taken, decided to make sure all was secured as shown by this photo. Nothing came loose on trip up or back.



Here is what the "Fleet" looked like when all arrived. One 23, 2 19s, and 3 Sun Cats.



View from the other side of 23 and 2 19's.



View from other side of 3 Sun Cats.



Here is what the rest of the Caladesi Island State Park Marina looked like on a weekday.



Close up of Tom and Els Reed aboard Sun Cat "Cattail"



Close up of Jack Dirkes enjoying breakfast aboard Sun Cat "About Time".



And finally Crazy Carl and Joanie under sail in beautiful Florida waters.



Had fun meeting and sailing with all who attended. Sorry I didn't get photos of everyone.

capt_nemo

[Bob23]

  Great photo-coverage of an epic Compac event! Thanks. I note the CPYOA burgee being proudly flown on a number of boats. Isn't that 23 in fact a 25 or 27?
  Looks like everyone had a great time...wonderful weather, too. Thanks once again for making us Northerners a bit jealous. I've saved up some snow from our winter and am trucking it down to your house!
Bob23

[Vipersdad]

Burgees.......................Sweet !

[capt_nemo]

Bob23,

You are quite perceptive and absolutely right - it is a 27, my mistake. Belongs to Andre and Helen, "Awfeith"and is still nameless.

However, after listening to opra music coming from that boat at the dock for two days I would suggest "Andiamo" as a suitable Italian name.

capt_nemo

[Bob23]

Thanks, Capt.
   I didn't remember a 23 with an inboard rudder although I've toyed with the idea. I always wondered if it would help in the never ending quest to eliminate the weather helm which seems to be inherent in our 23's. But I'm not ready to install a rudder post into the aft deck. 
   I'll take Italian opera over rap anytime!
Ciao compagno!

[Tim Gardner]

Andiamo is the name of my 19II it was converted from the English "Let's Go" four years ago.

TG

[reedtg3]

Cattail here, weighing in with name suggestions for Andre and Helen's CP 27:  "Song of the Orca" translated into Italian, which I think would be "Canto/Canzone/Romanza (pick one) della Orca."  However, when it comes to naming things, I learned long ago (when our first grandchild was born) just how little influence I had.

Els and I had a great time on the cruise and would like to thank Carl for putting it together.  As it turned out, Els and I and Jack had the Caladesi Island SP Marina all to ourselves Wednesday night.  We tied up more in the center of the marina, away from the seawall, and had more wind and fewer no see 'ems than on Monday night.  The ride back to the Seminole Street ramp was into the wind so we motored.  LESSON LEARNED:  I ran out of gas in the remote tank on the way back (didn't anticipate how much motoring we would do and only started with 1.5 gallons in the remote tank), but, fortunately, had an extra 500 ml in a fuel bottle which I was able to add to the integral tank as we bounced around outside the channel.  To my relief, after I switched the fuel tank lever, the engine fired up on the 4th pull and we made it in with a little bit of fuel to spare.  Next time, I will listen to the voice of reason (Els) and start the cruise with the remote tank full, the integral tank full, and an extra 500 ml in the fuel bottle.

Tom & Els
Cattail   

[HideAway]

I m sorry we could not attend - I thought of you all every day last week - you sure had some great weather and the Gulf is only 80 degrees so the nights must have been wonderful.  Over the last months our lives would have made a good country song- but things are looking better and we hope to be back sailing soon.   Any plans for next year? Matt

[crazycarl]

we arrived home last night after over-nighting in carlyle to have have dinner with kickingbug and macgyver.

the boat is all unloaded and the wife is beginning to feel better.

i still have bite marks on my feet from the no-see-umms.

here are a few pics from the trip...

crazycarl and the mrs. after sneaking through florida customs.


motoring through the dunedin/honeymoon island causeway with cattail and about time in tow.


cattail relaxing while waiting for the wind to escort us to 3 rooker island.


capt. nemo standing while sailing frisky.  no fear of the boom, he's wearing a hat!


mermaid in a heated race to 3 rooker!
for the CLR attendees, looks like ted has been studying steve's fuel can storage ideas!


the fleet at 3 rooker.  from left to right, about time, frisky, cattail, miss adventure, and mermaid anchored with a whole 6" under the keel.


I'd like to thank those who participated and again apologize for our early and abrupt departure.
My wife's health issues flared up and the heat and lack of sleep made it impossible for her to continue.
I thought it best to abort our trip and plans to head to the Keys.

I'd like to see this continue and grow, perhaps earlier in the year when it isn't so hot?

CC

[Awfeith]

Sorry to hear you had to cut the trip short. Hope Joanie is feeling better. Earlier in the year, perhaps spring break, the weather is cooler, and so is the gulf. For sure more wind! The northerlies usually last 3 to 4 days. Let us know your plans for the Keys? Perhaps we can hook up for a couple of days. Stay in touch, your are always welcome here!

André & Helen

[Ted]

I will get some pics up later this week.  All I can say is thanks! Now that I have been over in that area I plan on returning.

Carl - you are a good sailor!

Captain Nemo - that was quite a night we spent closely anchored! I looked over at you often and it seemed like we were getting closer. I don't think we were, though.

Anywho - I will post some pics when I get a bit more time.

- Ted

[capt_nemo]

crazycarl,

Glad you made it home safely and hope Joanie is doing well.

It was a pleasure meeting and sailing with you and the other folks.

Thanks for getting the 2014 Florida Rendezvous organized.

capt_nemo

[MacGyver]

Ted, any chance you could take some pictures of your 19s mods for us to gander at? I think I am seeing what Carl was telling me about, a traveller in front of the cabin?

He told me of some other things as well.... anyway if in the 19 section if you could post some pics and such that would be greatly appreciated

Mac

[Ted]

Will do. My boat is in a storage place right now since the boat ramp on the lake I am in most of the time is being re-poured. So, I won't be getting back to her for a few days.

Funny request to me: my boat was the least impressive at the meetup! Now I am inspired, though.

[InertBert]

I was there in spirit, somewhat.  I got the family all loaded up into the boat and launched from the Dunedin ramp only to have the motor give out 100 yards later.  We sailed out of the harbor and spent the afternoon slicing back and forth across St. Joseph Sound, but we thought it was a bit irresponsible to head down the channel without a way to get back out.  Sailing back into the harbor was a bit scary but such a small (and slow) boat was able to do just fine.  I felt a bit bad for handing my pregnant wife a paddle, but hey, a guy's got to get to the dock somehow right?  I learned that testing a brand new motor at home, and again at the ramp, and again once you put it in the water, doesn't ensure you will have a motor all day.  I also learned that I'm terrible at applying aerosol sunblock.  Even if I didn't get to dock next to you all and have an official meeting with handshakes and beers all around, you at least inspired one extra trip out on the water and we all had a bit of fun.  I tried to talk my son into doing some dinghy races but he said it was boring and he'd stick with karate for now. 

Oh well.