We are now in Florida. Unfortunately, Buddy will spend the winter in our driveway in Wisconsin. This is the first winter that Buddy will have to suffer through a cold northern winter. We will be doing a lot of boating however, as we have taken our trimaran with us. To follow our trimaran adventures this winter visit www.trimarankimosabi.blogspot.com
Our first race is this evening for the Moon Light Regatta sponsored by the Punta Gorda Sailing Club.
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| Cocktail hour on Horseshoe Island |
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| A walk along the banks of Cedar River |
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| All gathered to celebrate Cathie's upcoming birthday |
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| Headed to dinner in Menominee, MI |
It has been the coldest spring that I can remember. But it has finally warmed up. In June we took one overnight trip across the bay to Menominee. This past July 4th weekend was very nice however. On the 4th we headed 20 miles north and spent the evening on the hook in Fish Creek. Friends had told us there was a newer Rosborough on a mooring there. Unfortunately the owners were not around. With the winds forecasted to be out of south, the next day we spent the night anchored with friends in North Bay on Chambers Island. The next morning we headed south for an evening on the hook in Egg Harbor. The water temp in Egg Harbor was actually warm enough for me to take a swim. I am a wimp when it comes to cold water...
When we hauled Buddy out a month ago, in Punta Gorda it was 90 degrees. Today it's a balmy 55 degrees in Sturgeon Bay...
On Thursday we took a couple of days cruise to Cayo Costa State Park. Remnants of the last cold front were still hanging on, but day temps warmed up to 70 degrees. In preparation, our 13 year old dinghy decided to part company with its floor. So... we went without it. As usual, we met up with sailing friends on the island. Friday's cocktail hour was spent on the beach playing bocce ball. The nights were beautiful with calm winds and a near full moon. Sunrises weren't bad either...
The park is 17 nautical miles from our dock, an easy hour and a half run at 12 knots.
With winds reported to be 15 to 30 out of the WSW, the Admiral suggested we take a little sightseeing cruise up Alligator Creek this afternoon. Before doing so I poked Buddy's bow out into Charlotte Harbor at the entrance channel. The chop didn't appear to be much from the helm...
We turned around and headed back up the Creek. When we got to the entrance to our channel by Riviera Marina (another land of broken dreams), we stayed to the right and headed up the creek. About 20 minutes later we discovered two HSV 246s moored at Windmill Village marina. One appeared to be a fairly new, well-equipped model that was named "Wind Drift". I couldn't see a name on the other. It was tight getting into the harbor through narrow canals, but I managed to do so without hitting anything... We took a couple photos and headed back out.
Our plan was to meet up with friends for a few days of cruising, but another nasty cold front is passing through. Perhaps we will be able to rendezvous at Cayo Costa on Tuesday...
Only to go to another...
Well, this winter cruise certainly hasn't gone as planned... Our original intent was to use Fisherman's Village as a base, going out for short cruises, then returning. Buying waterfront property in Florida was certainly not on the agenda. Well, this week we closed on our "new" canal property in Punta Gorda. So... Our time has been consumed buying furniture, house goods, dinnerware, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, for our unfurnished winter abode. This stuff was stored in a mini 10x10 that we rented for a month... None of the above was in the budget either...
The dock at our place was blown away by Hurricane Charley in 2004. The house that was here also took a hike... A new neighbor has graciously offered us temporary use of his dock across the street from us at the vacant lot he also owns. This week we will be contracting for a new dock that will probably get built after we head back to Wisconsin.
The photos are of the "palace", Buddy's quarters for the next month, and our canal where the new dock will be built. It will be big enough to accommodate friends that come to visit by water...
37 degrees in southwest Florida! It's March for cry aye! We had a hard time rolling out of the sack this morning... I immediately started the coffee and all other sources of heat. We are hoping the more typical winter that has occurred back in Wisconsin will help raise the Great Lakes water levels...
After 2 months at Fisherman's Village, Buddy has moved. Except for a 4 day cruise to Fort Myers Beach and back and a few day cruises, Buddy has remained tied to the dock. We met many nice people at the marina and enjoyed the times we spent at cocktail hours with them. We have now moved to a friend's in Punta Gorda Isles. We will stay with them until we close on our "new" southern headquarters up Alligator Creek on March 12th.
It was a quick trip by land yacht this week to deliver Cathie's new yacht to its new owner. A Gentlemen from Key Largo decided he wanted it more... He paid us to deliver it and it was a great opportunity to see our good friends Candi and Larry at Marina del Mar. When we got there the African Queen was headed out for a little ride...
We're having a super low tide this morning with the passage of a big cold front yesterday. Buddy hasn't left the dock lately as we have been working on our dirt deal...
We have lived on the water for 17 years. Friends and family have heard me say that our current residence is our last waterfront property. The reason Buddy has been chained to the dock for the last 3 weeks has to do with today's cruise up Alligator Creek in Punta Gorda. We have a deal pending on a new winter home for Buddy and ourselves. The dock is missing thanks to Hurricane Charlie, but that can be remedied. It looks like we will be hanging around Punta Gorda for the rest of the winter... To my friend on Tonic, the gentleman fishing in the photo says it's really good!
If you were touring the Intercoastal in the Cape Haze area, be advised, you may have to give way to this guy... He is known to make erratic turns, with no signals of intent. He may have an aquatic in tow, but again, no proper day shapes will be displayed. Regardless of what may be in tow, all evidence of such actions will have been released by the time of his return to port. It is not known if proper permits are in his possession. Once this individual is back ashore he is known to advertise his supposed nautical prowess on the internet using devious technologies that may or may not have been fabricated. Be advised, stand clear...
...is important. The Admiral is a gourmet cook and I enjoy a cold beer now and then. As a result, the 2.5 cu. ft. Fridge in Buddy's cabin doesn't quite cut it. So we have always used our Waeco portable fridge in the cockpit of Buddy while cruising or living aboard. A big problem developed when we launched Buddy a month ago. The thermostat on the Waeco quit working... Except for one 5 day cruise since launching, Buddy hasn't left the marina. So... my solution? Another trip to Walmart for a light timer. It works on 110v anyway... More later on why Buddy has been chained to the dock...
We spent the past weekend sailing on Pam and Jim's F-39 "Screech", racing out of Burnt Store. Not many multihulls showed up, but still a good time.
After a painful evening watching the Packers, we decided to head back "home". On the way out of Fort Myers Beach we passed this Corps of Engineers dredge working on the entrance. To cut about 10 miles of our trip, I decided to head north on the east side of Pine Island. The Channel south of the bridge was quite shallow. We "touched" bottom once after being forced to the right by an approaching boat. Fortunately there was no prop damage other than removal of a bit of paint. Once we passed under the bridge we noticed larger boats. The Channel on the north side of the bridge was much deeper all the way to Charlotte Harbor. Been there done that. we don't need to do that route again...
When we reached Punta Gorda we passed a sister ship of ours drifting about in the bay.
Our second evening at Cayo Costa was spent on the beach having a cookout with the Cheesehead Navy. There ended up being 7 boats from Wisconsin on the hook that night. The bochi ball tournament got quite serious, just we experienced another beautiful sunset. Yesterday four of the fleet headed south to Fort Myers Beach. It's game day with Packer fans congregating at Parrot Key Caribbean Grill for the game tonight. The Grill is owned by a gentleman from Wisconsin. Go Packers!
Yesterday we headed south 20 miles to Pelican Bay at Cayo Costa State Park at Boca Grande Pass. There were quite a few boats on the hook for the evening. Included in the fleet were 3 boats from Green Bay, all sailing friends of ours - Jim and Pam on Screech, Les and Barb on Revision, and Guy in Debbie on Redeye. Go Packers!
Yesterday we joined friends in Venice for a day on the Intercoastal. We took a run north for lunch and then headed to the beach, stopping at Midnight Pass. The pass it isn't an opening to the Gulf anymore, after it was filled in by adjoining property owners in 1983. It's a nice public beach now...
