Cayo Costa - Oct 20-22nd

2006

October was a really busy month for the Squadron! We started off at the SeaPearl Nationals and the Dunedin Cup Regatta on Oct 7th, which featured almost NO wind, but a great before and after regatta party, and we finished up the month with a great turn out at the Cayo Costa Cruise weekend on Oct 20-22.

Eighteen boats from the Squadron descended on Pelican Bay on the north end of Cayo Costa State Park from four launching points. Most launched at the new County Park Ramp on Bokeelia, some launched at Placida, a few launched at Pineland Marina, and a few sailed all the way from Punta Gorda, the length of Charlotte Harbor!

A great beach party on Friday night was the kick off to a fantastic sail on Saturday down the intracoastal to the south end of the island right around the corner from Captiva Pass. A few hardy souls braved the Gulf and the trecherous Johnson Shoals, which turned out to be no problem at all with an incoming tide and the advantage of extremely shoal draft boats!

Saturday evening featured another beach cookout and a wind shift to the east which caused some boats in the anchorage to have to adjust their anchors and keep an anchor watch between the sleepy hours of midnight and 3AM! After that the tide dropped enough to keep the swells from coming into the anchorage.

Sunday morning raised anchors and headed home early to make the most of a sweet 10 knot easterly breeze. You can read more about the adventure on our web site. Two members submitted their accounts as well, and they are posted on the Squadron's web site.

 

Here's a list of the participants -

Ron Hoddinott - Whisper - SeaPearl 21

Alan and Christine Russell - Joy - Potter 19

Ed and Becky Combs - Minnow - Potter 19

Ted Jean - Milk 'N Honey - Hunter 19

Billy and Joyce Van Deusen - JoySea - SeaPearl 28

Paul and Dodie Waggoner - O'Day 19

Terry and Dawn Poling - Breakin' Wind - Telestar 28

Frank Florin - Zun Zun - Potter 15

Mike and Gilda Stewart - Solas - ComPac 23

Bill Fite - MoonShadow - SeaPearl 21

Art Gregory and Brenda Bell - Panacea -Nimble 20

Chuck Wicks - After You - Sanibel 17

Howard Feldman - SIM*Plicity - SeaPearl 21

Terri and Uni Currie - Silver Lady - Mac 26

Dave and Teresa Barnicoat - RedTag - Potter 19

John and Colette Johns - WindDance - Hunter 21.5

Terry and Ruth Nagel- Whisper - Siren 17