One Boat Training in Punta Gorda

Howdy

So back to Punta Gorda - AGAIN.  Feels good to be back at my home away from home. I need to put some pictures of my place up - it is a really nice 2 bedroom condo.

Although we knew it was going to be A LOT of work - we decided that it was a good idea to sail for a few days out of the new Venue. The organizing committee did a lot of work to get it usable for sailors to train in PG - but we ended up leaving to go to Miami (last week).  So we wanted to ensure we "tested" things out at the venue, getting in & out of the venue & all the other logistics you don't think of when you sail out of a familiar venue.  Basically we wanted to get a "feel" for the area (Charlotte Harbor). Again a lot of work - we knew that it would be at least 1/2 day to get in & 1/2 day to get out of the water.  So that would leave (at best) 2 half days & 1 full day of sailing.  

Brian attaching CAN 022 to Crane (okay this picture is a few weeks old)

So go give you a bit of the logistics involved with in sailing in this area (not going to go into the steps to put the boat into the water). There is only 1 crane in the whole area - it is at Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club (CHYC).  Our boat has to be lowered into the water by a crane.

CAN 022 being "splashed" (again - used this pic before)

- note the nice pink bulb.





Keel lifted based on the water or shall I say the lack of water.  Towed over across the bay & under 2 bridges (see pics) - probably about 20 minute tow. Please note that it is me doing most of this work BUT luckily I have been able to get  help of 2 others.  So that was the afternoon of the first day - no sailing but the boat is in the water & in its spot @ Laishley Marina. 

Me be towed out of CHYC - heading south

Me being towed out - looking North back to CHYC

Between the 2 bridges - looking north

Heading East - about to go under Bridge #2

Day 2 - Turns out we got one FABULOUS day on the water. Nice Southwesterly with about 8-10 knots of wind.  GORGEOUS.  (No pictures of us sailing cause we are out by ourselves). Weirdness part is sailing under two bridges to get out into the harbor. YEE HAA we made it.

Sailing NW towards the two bridges - apparently they are 45' tall

Right under bridge #2

Just sailed under the 1st bridge

Day 3 - Ken & I planned to sail for the morning & then tow/haul the boat at noon.  Now you have to know that this is Thursday Nov. 24. For those of you who have not clued in - this is American Thanksgiving.  Remember on Day 1 - I mentioned that I needed help from others to do this task.  I had two gentlemen lined up to help (Doug with the tow & Dave as shore help) but it had to be between noon & 2 PM as both of them had Thanksgiving Dinner with family lined up.  GREAT PLAN. Well that is where the "great" ends.  

• Ken & I arrived at the boat @ 8:15. I attempted to lower the keel - DENIED - low tide
• so we went to Starbucks - had a coffee
• back to the boat @ 10 - loaded Ken into the boat (Ken is a paraplegic - so we use a lift to get him in the boat)
• I continued to rig the boat - planning on leaving by 11 to sail over to the crane to meet our Noon helpers
• 11:15 still could not get out of the harbor due to low tide - called the sail off
• phoned Doug to come tow us - he can't get his boat off his lift due to low tide until 13:00
• 13:00 - Doug comes to get me & I get tow back to CHYC
• 13:07 - mullet fish (probably 12 inches long) jumps into Doug's boat & flops around - seriously - where is the camera when you need it. 

Welcome to the world of SKUD sailing.  Grasshopper (aka - me) has had to learn patience. For those of you who know me might laugh at this.  I know I laugh - patience is a virtue - but it has not generally been mine.

Next adventure will be training & our first regatta with more than 3 boats --> St Petersburg Florida.

Till then.... Thanks - Brenda