2014 Florida Get Together

[reedtg3]

Ahoy, Mates.  We need to keep this thread active so it will get noticed.  The polls will close in less than two months.  Get out the vote!
Cattail Tom

[Ted]

I voted - but agree - time to VOTE.

Really, any of these sites is fine with me. The timing will be the issue as I schedule work travel months ahead.

- Ted

[Billy]

Any chance of closing the poles a month or so early? Nov. 20th Is really a long way away. By the time we finalize dates it may be too late for some.

Would be nice to have the time and place finalized by the end of the year.

[crazycarl]

I agree with Billy.

At work, we start picking vacations in December.

Shall we end the poll October 15th?

Then pick for the week of the event by October 31st?


Carl

[Salty19]

I can set the poll to expire whenever you need it to.   Mid Oct seems reasonable. Let me know for sure when.

[reedtg3]

Cattail is on board with closing the polls October 15. 

[Salty19]

Poll has been set to end Oct. 15. That's 22 days from now.  Get your three top votes in.

[Banana Cakes]

I am looking forward to the 'Flight of the Com Pacs'  Most definitely count me in! IF, for whatever reason, you guys go to Siberia, I'll brush up on my Russian.  should startle the ruskies up a lil bit.

[crazycarl]

It's down to the wire Compac-o-nauts!

You have about a day and a half to get your votes in before the poll closes!

Do your research, make your choice, and then we'll have one week to vote from the top three.

Also, start thinking about when this will take place,  late April, or early May?


Carl

[crazycarl]

The inaugural Florida Get Together will be May 5-9, 2014 at Anclote/Caledesi.

The closest ramp (google earth) looks to be at Anclote River Park.  1119 Baillies Bluff Rd, Holiday, FL 34691

I don't know if they allow overnight parking, I'll look into it.

I'm thinking we could all meet up at the south end of Anclote Key.

With VHF radios tuned to channel 69, we can locate one another.

I'll fly a large flag with the Compac logo on it.  It will be a, yet to be determined, bright color.

Once together, we can sail to a "permanent" camp.

Local knowledge of where we can set up a base camp would be most appreciated as I would like to announce it here before the event, so late arrivals can find us.

Carl

[Ted]

I just booked the time off. 

[Billy]

Yes, you can park overnight there.

As to the S. End of Anclote....this is one of my favorite places to go.
On the S.E. Corner on the ICW side the bank is fairly steep and you can anchor right off the beach.

On the south side there are some shoals a few 100 yards that are not on the charts out so be careful. The charts are out dated.

Then on the west side is pretty good beach w/good depth and a steep bank (like the east side) but it is unprotected. If the wind is out of the east than this isn't a bad option.

Also love 3 Rooker just a bit further south. (maybe 30 minutes). I like this place as well. Right in the middle of the island is a cut where a small creek runs b/w splitting the island into two parts (north and south). Excellent swimming here, anchoring, fishing and beach. You can easily walk from one side to the other. Just a few hundred feet.

Both places are primative, no water, docks, nothing. But they do allow camp fires. So we would need to anchor out and swim/wade to shore....or dingy.

Are we talking camping, or sleeping on our boats?

If we are going to have a base camp for four days I might suggest Caladesi island. There is water, docks, power, all that stuff. And we could all have a day sail up to the islands listed above. There is a closer boat ramp to Caladese on Seminole St. in Clearwater.you can park over night here too. Not sure if Caladesi allows camping (and camp fires) but they do have docks and you can sleep on your boat.

Maybe we could spend a few nights at the Caladesi marina and then one night on the hook at 3 Rooker or Anclote. And then back for the last few nights at Caladesi. I would hesitate to call out a place to spend on the hook so far in advance. Some places can be very protected some days and exposed on others depending on the weather.

And there is one more public ramp at Sutherland Bayou on Alt. 19 in Palm Harbor. This ramp is the closest to these islands but it is shallow and tricky getting out. I would be willing to lead a convoy out of here and back in if we can agree on a time.

Personally, i like Anclote and 3 Rooker better than Caladesi. No tourist, and unspoiled......the REAL Florida. But I think with a large group, Caladesi would be a better base for what we are trying to do. And of coarse there are many spoil islands we can anchor at too. They are small and we can always duck around onto the lee side and raft up several boats together.

This is my backyard so if there is anything I can do let me know.

I am really looking forward to this!

[HideAway]

Caladesi Island sp does not allow camping on land.  You can stay on your boat. The marina is well kept - with electrical hookups and floating docks. As we found out there are no showers.  Bring your hiking shoes - you will want to walk the trail. No see ums can be a problem so a back up anchorage is necessary. The only effective defence against the no see ums  is a good fan.   Anclote Key does allow camping but it's on the northwest side of the large island.     

Here's the Caladesi web page  http://www.floridastateparks.org/caladesiisland/

Anclote Key web page http://www.floridastateparks.org/anclotekey/default.cfm

There is a series of 5 videos about this area from our cruise last May-  http://www.youtube.com/user/SVHideAway

The base anchorage will have to be determined by the weather, with importance given to wind strength and direction.  Ideally it would be Three Rooker Bar as described above.   A back up anchorage not shown on my videos would be directly across the ICW from the Dunedin Marina between the two spoil islands.

Also keep in mind we will not be all that far, by trailer, to Ft Desoto park at the mouth of Tampa Bay.  It would be a hard days sail by boat.  Tarpon Springs is roughly a half hour drive from the Com-pac plant.

Our plan now is to get the trailer road worthy and launch at Tarpon Springs. 

[Billy]

Caladesi Island
http://www.floridastateparks.org/caladesiisland/

Anclote Key Preserve
http://www.floridastateparks.org/anclotekey/default.cfm

Seminole Boat Ramp
http://www.myclearwater.com/gov/depts/marine_aviation/ma_facilities/Boat.asp

Southerland Bayou Boat Ramp
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/sutherland_bayou_boat_ramp.htm

Anclote River Park Boat Ramp
http://www.pascocountyfl.net/index.aspx?NID=674

It is a bit of a haul from Anclote River Boat ramp to Caladesi. Probably take around four hours. And you have to go under the Honeymoon Island drawbridge or around the outside and in through hurricane pass which is VERY tricky. Shallow and strong currents. Plus the A.N.To.Ns are not accurate. I have seen green Chanel markers up to 100' on the beach at low tide. I would not recommend going in or out of here at night or low tide. It is best to follow someone with a larger draft.

And don't forget Clearwater Beach is right there too if you want to stay in a hotel.

[Billy]

Matt, you beat me to posting the links!

There are roughly 20 spoil islands between Seminole ramp and Anclote ramp.

In two weeks is the St. Pete boat show. I'll ask Gerry or Rich about setting up a tour of the factory on one of those dates.
Maybe even one of them will join us with a pilot house!!! Wouldn't that be cool!