2014 Florida Get Together

[crazycarl]

I posted a poll for the place.

The poll will run for 30 days, that will allow everyone time to research the areas.

Once we have a destination, I'll post a poll for the week.

Carl

[reedtg3]

Cattail weighs in:  Google "Sailing in the Florida Keys March 2010" for an article written by Howard and Kathy Staley.  Their itinerary down the Keys in the ICW on the inside sounds like it might have possibilities for a fleet of Com-Pacs.  I'm open to other venues and plan to participate if the Purser and I are available (we will not be available during April 2014).
Tom, CP17SC377, Cattail  

[capt_nemo]

Point of Information, please!

In the Location Poll, do we vote for one (1) or our "top three" (3), to narrow the field for a final vote as was intelligently suggested in a previous post?

Kindly advise one and all.

capt_nemo

[crazycarl]

Good point Capt Nemo.

We'll vote for our top three and then narrow it down from there with another poll.

Carl

[Floridagent]

On my iPhone I could only select one destination... Not my top 3.
Update after the fix: Eureka! Worked real smooth.

[reedtg3]

On my laptop, I could make only one selection, also.
Cattail

[crazycarl]

it appears we can only vote once.  after all, this isn't chicago.

maybe what we can do is all vote, then on a given date, reset the poll so we can vote for our second choice and then again for our third.

unless the admins can change the way the poll operates?


carl

[Salty19]

I bumped the vote count to three.  

Click on "remove vote", then revote for three places.

[crazycarl]

Thanks!

Worked great,  Carl

[brackish]

I submitted my three, but my write in vote is the upper gulf panhandle, Pensacola Bay or St Joe Bay.  If the time turns out to be late April or early May, or anytime in October that area would be great with a 5/5 on no crowds.  However, if the time turns out to be more winter, won't work much better than Siberia.   But I'll go for any group favored location if I don't have a conflict with the time.

[breeze]

How many days are we looking at for this get together?
I think this is something that would influence the location we pick.
The availability of stores and other items that may be needed.
The variety of activities to do.
Also is the thought to have a base camp or roam around an area.
Just a few things I was thinking
David

[InertBert]

How many days are we looking at for this get together?
I think this is something that would influence the location we pick.
The availability of stores and other items that may be needed.
The variety of activities to do.
Also is the thought to have a base camp or roam around an area.
Just a few things I was thinking
David

Here is an idea(so crazy it just might work)... It would be a logistical challenge to shuttle all the trailers, but we could have a moving floatilla that started one place and ended in another, say Pennekamp to Cayo Costo.  That way the hardcore travelers could make the voyage over the week and the weekenders could pick one place or another to fit their schedule and/or fancy.  

Now that I read that last paragraph, it sounds like someone saying "Why don't you just invent a car that runs on water?  I'm the idea guy, find an engineer to make it work."  Why don't any of you warn me before I say stupid things?

As far as stores (food, marinas, etc.)  The only place that is even slightly inconvenient is Cedar Key, and all the basics are easy to get there.  Pennekamp and lower keys are probably the most expensive, but not by so much that it will make or break a trip.  DeSoto and Pennekamp are the places that have the most day-trip-away-from-basecamp locations to sail or drive to with lower keys being a very close third.  

In other words, there isn't much that separates these locations, I don't think there is a real loser among them.  I think it will be fun no matter where we choose, but I am kinda hoping for a place that allows bonfires and beach camping(does Yenisei Gulf allow beach camping?).

[crazycarl]

My original intention was to find an area with beach camping so those with smaller boats that don't care to sleep aboard would come.  We would have a base camp to come back to each night and brag about how well we handled the almost hurricane like conditions   At the end of the week, we could have a potluck dinner on the beach with the left over stores.

The idea of launching from one area and retrieving from another would put a strain on most of us as we would need someone to shuttle us or our rigs to the next place. (think texas 200)

However, we could launch from one area, sail to another, then return. (think florida 120)

I personally like the idea of a base camp.  This would allow us to sail, or spend a day just walking the beach, swimming or socializing.  It would also be better if nasty weather sets in.  We'll be familiar with the anchorage, and with a base camp, those arriving in the middle of the week will have no problem locating the group.

As for the length, I was looking at Monday through Friday.  This would allow those of us up north traveling time.

Opinions?

Carl

[HideAway]

Carl - Your comment about camp grounds near those who anchor out is important so we can keep everone close by.    Ft Desoto  would be good at this.
At the link below - a map of the park- the anchorage is close to the first tent  above the words Mullet Key Bayou.  There are water front campsites all along the area labeled St Christopher Key, however a 16 would have to anchor and dingy to shore.  If you get campsite by the Entrance Station any boat can tie off to the sea wall with good depths.   The bay above the Y in the word Key on Mullet Key Bayou is canoe water.  The boat ramp is very large and modern with lots of parking.  Depth would only be a problem during a full moon and a cold front at low tide.   as you can see the anchorage is protected but... can get lumpy in a cold front or severe storm.  See my video from last summer - mid July  Small Boat Big Storm - the opening scenes are of the campground mentioned above http://youtu.be/iMIGAcTXpkQ

This park is huge but mostly wild-you need to drive to the fort. The best beaches are from the Fort to North Beach although the map is outdated. This is a real fort with big guns and stunning views. There is another one out on Egmont Key a few miles south in the Gulf - could do a sail out to it too.

As with ALL Florida parks this time of year you must make reservations months ahead.  The earlist is 6 months and I would recommend that. It is unlikely we all would be next to one another in the camp but would have no issues rafting up.

Where ever the event ends up it has to be a place where all sizes of boats can be fairly close by.   I don't know much about the keys but John Pennenkamp sounds good 


Map of Ft Desoto park
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/maps/color/amenities/FORTDESOTO.pdf

Park website - note the fees
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm

Google satilite image of park and area-  the area across from the boat ramps is canoe water but remote.
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

Cayo Costa would be fine for those anchoring out but the campsites are very far away on the west side of the island.  You can camp on the beach but with no fires and it is primitive - ie no facilities at all.  The dock at Cayo Costa is small and for campers and boaters renting cabins - really shacks, both too far from the anchorage.  Don't get me wrong - we love Cayo Costa - we sailed HideAway down from Gulfport tied up to the dock as spent the week in a shack on the beach - It was wonderful 

In our area Ft Desoto offers the best accommodations and places to sail to for a group as diverse as ours.  If we were all anchoring out Three Rooker Bar would be my choice and if we were going to race, day sail, or tour Boca Ciega Bay- Gulfport would be good.

Can someone do an analysis of the other areas mentioned in the survey?    Matt   

[InertBert]

Anclote key is primitive too, save for one composting outhouse.  Shallow approaches and no docks.  No fresh water.  There is no reservations required.  

Anclote River park (on the mainland) has plenty of parking and an excellent ramp.  Tarpon springs is nearby (just up the river) and has groceries, restaurants (with docks), marinas and everything else.  

Even though Anclote is a personal favorite of mine (and almost visible from my front door), I would agree that DeSoto would be a better campground for people to stay for a week.  I don't know how many people are planning on staying in a campground vs anchoring though.

Pennekamp is smaller than DeSoto and has more daily traffic.  There is similar levels of accomodations, showers etc.  The ramp is a ways away from the campground, and there isn't good anchorage nearby because its narrow channels.  The nearest place to anchor is the bay to the north east.  This puts the campers and the anchorers at different places.  The mangrove channels are busy with huge diving boats careening around sharp corners.  You have a few miles to go to get out into the big blue water, and that isn't much fun dodging the traffic.  

Pennekamp is the best place around if diving is your thing.  Ft. DeSoto is probably the best place for sailing/camping/get-togethering

I'll leave Cedar key analysis to someone who's spent more time there.