The Punta Gorda Journey Begins 7/11

[Vectordirector]

Hi all you Punta Gorda Guys,

Well, I finally made the decision to retire and relocate.  My last day, after 30+ years of FAA/ATC will be September 19th.  I'm flying down on July 11th into PGD to take a look around for the weekend.  I think I will concentrate on finding an annual sailboat canal pool home rental to start around October 1.  After scouring the internet, it seems that Punta Gorda Isles, Burnt Store Isles, and Burnt Store Marina are where I need to be looking.  I understand the differences in ride times out to the harbour and really want to keep it as short as possible.  I see a couple of possibilities in PGI that might work and I am hoping to get in touch with the property managers this week to schedule a showing.  So far I have no set schedule other than arrival Friday afternoon and departure Monday morning.  Staying at the Sheraton.  I've rented a car and plan to just drive around for a few hours, getting the lay of the land and water, visiting the marinas, downtown Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Deep Creek, North Port, Pine Island, etc...  If anyone has some free time, I'd be willing to pay for your gas/beer for a tour of the harbour and canals (weather permitting, of course).   PM me for contact info.

Thanks in advance for any help,

Vectordirector

[archimedes]

As a fellow Floridian I wanted to welcome you to the state.  Unfortunately,  I'm in Fernandina Beach so I'm not nearby or very familiar with the Punta Gorda area.

It's kind of hot this time of year,  but you won't miss the winters one bit.   Good luck.

[Vectordirector]

Thanks for the welcome.  I grew up in St. Louis and I don't think the summers in Florida are any worse than there.  I like the heat.  25 years in northern Illinois winters is enough for me.  

[Sedona Don]

I grew up in St. Louis and I don't think the summers in Florida are any worse than there.

....... I am also from St.Louis and now live in Arizona.   110 degrees and 5% humidity is a "piece of cake" compared to summers in St.Louis!!

[BruceW]

haha, as a guy from Cape Girardeau, I can tell you NC is way better and milder in every season  than the old 80-80 of  swampeast Mo also!

[Awfeith]

I graduated from Kirkwood High, but grew up north of Milwaukee on Lake Michigan. Summer was two weeks of bad ice skating! Lived in Bahamas for 7 years, and 20 in Fl ( Clearwater area). Best has been Fl . Hope you'll enjoy it here as much as we do.

André

[Craig]

As a lifelong resident of the mid-Atlantic region (more recently the NY Finger Lakes)I can attest that the summers here in PG are really not that bad. We have been here nearly 4 years and love it! We are going to be tied up this weekend but pm me a phone number and we can talk. Kailani is in slip A-10 at Laishley Marina. Just across 41 from the Sheraton.

[Vectordirector]

Craig,

Wilco.

Vectordirector

[Dave]

Just catching up on the board and saw your note.  Punta Gorda is a great area and sailing Charlotte Harbor is wonderful.  We're in Sarasota and I'd like to put a plug in for there.  A bit more expensive but with a lot of cultural stuff - theater, music etc.  Sarasota Bay sailing is great.  The Sarasota sailing Squadron holds PHRF races most Sundays.  We have several waterside restaurants.

Welcome to the west coast of FL.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

[skyshadd]

Hi Vectordirector,

Sorry I missed your post earlier, I'm located in Cape Coral. I'm the proud owner of a CP23 I, BobbyG.
If you settle in PG, let's keep in touch, perhaps we can rendezvous at Ding Darling anchorage or better yet Cabbage Key, a day sail for both of us.
Blue Skies!
Fair Winds,

Skyshadd

[Vectordirector]

Hi Skyshadd,

Good to hear from you.  I was down there for a couple of days and definitely like what I saw. I'm working on getting an annual rental starting in October.  I'll let everyone know when the dates firm up.  Dragging the Eclipse down there will surely be an ordeal, but worth it.  Where do you keep your boat?


vectordirector

[skyshadd]

Vector,

Your going to love living in the area, the natural beauty, great year a round cruising weather, and awesome cruising options, are just some of the thing you'll find enjoyable about living here.
As for where I keep my boat, it's in my back yard. My wife, two sons, and I live on the Honolulu Canal in Cape Coral. Please consider our home for one of your cruising destinations. I have room on my dock, and we would love to have you as our guest.
If you were to depart Brunt Store, it would be a beautiful sail out of Charlotte Harbor, down Pine Island sound, perhaps overnight in Ding Darling nature preserve (great anchorage)then up the Calosahatchee to our place. I have done this trip in one day, but some night sailing was needed. If your up for a little longer cruise, we could meet in Ft Myers Beach, overnight, then day sail to Marco Island. The possibilities are endless....if you want to cruise...you picked the right place!

Regards,

Skyshadd

[Vectordirector]

Thanks for the invite.  I'll probably start out day sailing in order to learn the waters.  Cruising will come later.   I need to wrap my head around the distances involved and how many hours required to sail them.  I'll likely be singlehanding and haven't done an overnight on the boat.  Gotta figure out all of that too.  Nothing is set in stone, may decide I want a bigger boat. 

The first order of business is finding a place to stay.  I'm leaning toward Punta Gorda Isles.  Hoping to find a sailboat canal pool home annual rental.  They apparently don't stay on the market very long after becoming available.  They also have very short notice of coming available.  So I really won't know until late in August or early in September if something comes available.  If that doesn't pan out then I'll look further south, Burnt Store Marina and NW Cape Coral.  Sailboat water isn't a deal breaker but I definitely want a pool.  Annual rental until I sell my house up here then decide if I want to buy something down there is what I'm shooting for.  I'll be down there before the snow files, that's for sure.

Vectordirector 

[skyshadd]

Vector,

Sounds like a good plan.
If I can help out in any, don't hesitate to get in touch.
I know the waters fairly well, your boat, or mine, I'm always up for a sail.

Skyshadd

[Mike K]

VectorDirector, good luck in your search. I am rather jealous that you are actually going to retire! 

I myself bought a vacation house (future retirement home) this June in North Port Florida just north of Port Charlotte.   However I am not close to retiring quite yet. Houses are a lot cheaper away from the water, and with a trailer sailboat I didn't think it was a big deal to launch it from the many state ramps on the Harbor.  I know you are renting but in the future, If you look to buy a house on the water be careful of the flood insurance rate hike that may happen once Congress gets its act together. Oh and make sure you buy a house that was built after hurricane Charley to get the best hurricane protection and cheapest insurance rates.

I have yet to really explore all of the cruising grounds but I did sail from Burnt Store Marina to Cayo Costa State Park and pelican bay. What a beautiful area.   

This December I hope to drag my Legacy from Delaware to Florida for a weeks vacation.   I hope to make it to Cabbage Key, Sanibel Island and maybe all the way to Fort Myers. It would be great to have a core group of Compaq sailors in the area to cruise or just hang out with!