2013 Sailing In The Fl Keys

[high tide is up]

I will be going down the Keys next week for business and pleasure, Bahia Honda SP probably Tuesday the 19th, Wednesday or Thursday without my CP16, "Slow Dancing".  I just could not get the airline to take my boat in their cargo hold.  I thought I might get a flat rate for mailing the boat in a box as per the original shipping carton but no luck.  This trip will probly drive me over the edge without a boat to sail, even for a few minutes. . .  Next Saturdays low temperature forcast in Lynchburg, Va is 13 degrees!

Envy, Envy,

Citroen/Dave

Hey Dave....You sure you can't think of a way to get the "Slow Dancing" down here ha h aha ha   And I've never heard of anyonecoming to the Keys for "business" ha ha ha....usually it's more Pleasure.....Enjoy though

Dawn

[high tide is up]

Hey there! I sent you a PM but just wanted to say HI from the other end of the seven mile bridge! Rough weather lately, right? I almost had to turn the A/C back on the other day 

Yeah the winds been steady out of the N NE swithing to te S SE....not time for the A/C yet though....I like my electric bill where's it at ha h aha ha ha ha

[high tide is up]

Ok you guys...just to make you feel better...the temp. this morning here in the sunny Fl Keys is a chilly  52...winds are N NE 29 with gusts to 38...feel better ha ha ha ....

Dawn

[Bob23]

Ooooo...52 degrees. I'm sending you down one of my wool sweaters, Dawn. Wouldn't want one of our newer members to freeze to death!!!!!
Bob23 in NJ   29 now...down to 17 tonight.

[high tide is up]

Ooooo...52 degrees. I'm sending you down one of my wool sweaters, Dawn. Wouldn't want one of our newer members to freeze to death!!!!!
Bob23 in NJ   29 now...down to 17 tonight.

Thanks Bob!!  could you include a few pairs of gloves, mittens and long johns would be AWESOME!!!!

Ha Ha Ha!!!!

[Bob23]

You got it! How 'bout if I just send down a Snuggie? Want a pink one!
Hahahaha....!!!!
Bob23

[Citroen/Dave]

News Alert News Alert!   Administrators please posts where appropriate!

Red Tide hits Florida South West Coast drifting south.  Currently centered around Sarasota and Sanibel.  Tourist birdwatchers and shell collectors sickened by airborne Neurotoxins. Dead fish on beach. Locals avoid the beaches.

I flew into St Pete and noticed, I think, brown waters and beaches.  I remembered brighter colors from 40 years ago.  Met fellow tourist in restaurant, taking two days to recover from exposures.

Check google for latestet intensities and drifts.

Much disappointed but heading to Miami this evening and the Keys tomorrow.

Citroen/Dave

[Citroen/Dave]

Re: Red Tide

We crossed the Everglades on Route 41 to Miami.  At Everglades City we took a detour south on Route 29 to the Everglades Visitors Center and there took the $32 catamaran tour boat out to the gulf.  At least I got to see some of the 1,000 Islands that others have sailed. . .  Now I can fill in my dreams of sailing these waters with some real experience until I can drag "Slow Dancing" down another year.

We expect to return to St Pete at the end of the week.  We will take another look at the Red Tide's progress and hopefully dissipation so that we can do a little shelling on Lovers Key or Sanibel. 

Citroen/Dave

[high tide is up]

You got it! How 'bout if I just send down a Snuggie? Want a pink one!
Hahahaha....!!!!
Bob23

Yeah for the snugie and pink would be great ha ha ha!!!

[Citroen/Dave]

Back from the Keys.

I can not believe that water anywhere is as beautiful as in the lower Keys.  We saw the tourist's sunset from Key West: the water looked like mercury as the sun and sky changed colours. I have never seen anything like that, ever.  The water was not transparent, but bright metallic silver.

The goal for the drag down now is Bahia Honda State Park marina.  We met former sailors from Minnesota who visited B.H. SP in a Montgomery 15 and now were living in a C Dory 22 with iron wind.

We had many stops at various estuaries as well.  The catamaran tour to the Gulf from the Eveglades Park was a mind bender as well as a similar tour from "Ding" Darling at Sanibel. The return up the coast found the Red Tide abating so we got to shell collect at Lover's Key and Sanibel.  

I have not a clue as to why I am in Virginia . . .  My sweethart's employer even gave her retirement (lay off) just before we left for Florida.

Ice storm forcast for tonight.

Florida dreaming,

Citroen/Dave

 

[Salty19]

Well shoot. Heading to Tampa this Friday. Hope the beaches are kind to this weary northern traveler!

[Tim Gardner]

Well Dave, I'll tell you why VA especially SW VA is great to live in.

1.  You can get to FL in one driving day, stay all winter, & return to VA in the Spring.

2.  It's not nearly as hot in the Summer.  Trust me on this. I've lived on the Gulf Coast before (For the first 11 years of my engineering career I lived in Baton Rouge, Houston, NOLA    and Houston again.  90^f and 99% humidity stinks.

3.  Spring and Fall sailing on your home waters, Smith Mountain Lake, is great and Summer sailing can be fantastic during the week for retired or self employed  persons with flexible sailing schedules.  Ave daytime highs - High 70's to low 80s, with 60%RH - BEAUTIFUL!  ( during Summer the Stink-pot Tour-roids descend on SML on weekends.  Look MA! No nautical sense!

4.  The cost of living is lower in SW VA than FL, as you may already know.

5.  The traffic on the highways is zilch compared to FL - ANYWHERE!

Need I say more?  Oh - Yeah! I grew up in the Finger Lakes of NY.  Learned to drive in snow & ice.    Mini storms like the ice forecast for tonight makes for great spectating of the idiots that drive early the next day.  I say "Soon Come!" on days like that.

Regards, TG

PS.  Lets get together & compare notes over some Compac-O-Naught Coffee ; (CONC - Fab) with Tom Morgan - He lives in LunchBag too.

[Billy]

Well shoot. Heading to Tampa this Friday. Hope the beaches are kind to this weary northern traveler!

Mike!
I would like to meet up, maybe have a lunch or something this weekend! I live in Palm Harbor (about 15 minutes north of Clearwater).

If our schedules can work out, I would even like to take you out on my 19. Heck even if they don't, I bet you could convince me to let you take my boat out without me, bareboat style.

If you have the time, and are interested, shoot me an IM and lets see what we can come up with!

Billy

[Citroen/Dave]

Well Dave, I'll tell you why VA especially SW VA is great to live in.

1.  You can get to FL in one driving day, stay all winter, & return to VA in the Spring.

2.  It's not nearly as hot in the Summer.  Trust me on this. I've lived on the Gulf Coast before (For the first 11 years of my engineering career I lived in Baton Rouge, Houston, NOLA    and Houston again.  90^f and 99% humidity stinks.

3.  Spring and Fall sailing on your home waters, Smith Mountain Lake, is great and Summer sailing can be fantastic during the week for retired or self employed  persons with flexible sailing schedules.  Ave daytime highs - High 70's to low 80s, with 60%RH - BEAUTIFUL!  ( during Summer the Stink-pot Tour-roids descend on SML on weekends.  Look MA! No nautical sense!

4.  The cost of living is lower in SW VA than FL, as you may already know.

5.  The traffic on the highways is zilch compared to FL - ANYWHERE!

Need I say more?  Oh - Yeah! I grew up in the Finger Lakes of NY.  Learned to drive in snow & ice.    Mini storms like the ice forecast for tonight makes for great spectating of the idiots that drive early the next day.  I say "Soon Come!" on days like that.

Regards, TG

PS.  Lets get together & compare notes over some Compac-O-Naught Coffee ; (CONC - Fab) with Tom Morgan - He lives in LunchBag too.

Tim and Tom,

Noel and I would love to get together over some coffee or a meal.  We need to start making plans for an on the water event at SML, too.

Where and when?  We will be at the lake Sunday afternoon, but as you know, retired people forget what day it is; any time will probably work.  Have car, will travel.

434 237-5142
Best regards,
Dave

[Carl Roy]

Hello Sailors, just joined the group. Have sailed and powered for many years. Been out twice for a few hours on a 81' CP 16. Would like to replace the main, jib and considering a jenny with hardware. Excellent condition used is ideal since they will out live me.  Need lots of advise. I live in Key Largo. Boat in water at the end of my street. Very protected bay so I can usually sail on the lee. Passing thru, contact me. The boat basin has a good ramp if you're towing. Bob, give me a call. 305 852-3872 Your boat color blends with our pastel waters. Have Fun,  Carl