Jan 14-16, 2005
(ML King Weekend)

Here is a Flyer and NOR:
OVERVIEW OF THE NAMSA NA's & MIDWINTER NATIONALS:

On Jan 14, Friday afternoon from 1800 to 2000 will be Registration. Final Registration will be on Jan 15, Saturday Morning from 0800 to 1000
Skipper's Meeting at 1100. There will be a White Flag at 1200 with back-to-back races.
There will be a Beer Party at 1700 after the races.
On Jan 16, Sunday the White Flag will be at 1030 with back-to-back races.
Trophies will follow the races ASAP.

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

THE REGATTA HEADQUARTERS:
Gilberts Motel and Resort is the regatta headquarters.

LAUNCHING
Gilberts Motel and Resort is free for guests
Rowells Marina, small launching fee
Azul Del Mar, free for guests
Caribbean Club, small launching fee
Neptunes Hideaway, Beach, but no launching

HOW TO FIND US:
Gilberts is located at 107.9 mile marker (all of the Keys are measured in distance from the end of US Rt 1 in Key West), which is on the right side of the highway (Bay Side) just before the Jewfish Bascule Lift Bridge.
It is an hour south of the Miami airport and on the Florida Bay side, which is the right-hand side as you come south from Miami.
(I'm very serious about taking the Florida Turnpike. If you are driving down I-95, you want to get over to the turnpike preferably before or when you get to Fort Lauderdale. We always switch over to the turnpike at Fort Pierce or Jupiter, where they are only a half mile apart. This will keep you out of most of the traffic in Dade and Broward Counties. And I-95 is bad news -- not only is the traffic really awful, it ends in Miami and dumps you onto U.S. 1 in downtown, meaning you have to drive for many miles in city traffic with endless traffic lights.)

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

WHERE THE BOATS WILL BE LAUNCHED AND KEPT DURING THE REGATTA:
The boats can be launched from two places:

• If you go to the back of the resort there is a lot of parking/rigging space and a small beach from which to launch
• Or some boats may want to rig in the driveway and launch on the ramp in front of the motel

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

ACCOMMODATIONS:
MOTELS:

• Gilberts Resort, Mile Marker 107.9, bayside
• 800-274-6701, 305-451-1133
  Website: www.gilbertsresort.com, Email: gibertspiz@aol.com
  They are directly on the sound and have lots of units and a very nice little sandy beach and parking area that could accomodate lots of boats.
• Neptunes Hideaway, Mile Marker 104.1, bayside
  Phone: 888-251-4813, 305-451-0357
  They are directly on the bay and have a small beach that will accoomodate several boats
• Kellys on the Bay, about Mile Marker 104.2, bayside
  Phone: 800-226-0415, 305-852-3017
  Website: www.aqua-nuts.com
  They are directly on the bay and have 18 units, ranging from $99 to $129.
• Azul Del Mar, Mile Marker 104.3, bayside
  Phone: 305-852-4131
  Once was Rick's Place with lots of boat parking and good launching beach

Camping Locations:

• America Outdoors, Mile Marker 97.5, bayside (allow tents)
  Phone: 305-852-8054
  Website: www.aokl.com
  They are directly on the bay.
• Florida Keys RV Resort, MM 106 (closest)
  305-451-6090
• Kings Kampground (allow tents) on Blackwater Sound MM 103.5
  305-451-0010
• Key Largo Campground (MM 102)
• 305-451-1431

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO GET HERE IF YOU ARE FLYING AND DON'T WANT TO RENT A CAR:
If you are flying into Miami International Airport (which is about an hour from us) and are not renting a car, there are three possible transports:
*Airporter: They pick up three times a day at the airport. Phone number is 305-852-3413 for reservations and pick-up information.
*Upper Keys Transportation: They pick up any time, by reservation, and will also pick up at Fort Lauderdale Airport. Phone is 305-453-0100.
*Greyhound -- they leave the Miami Airport to the Keys four times a day. For schedule and reservations, call 1-800-231-2222.

THE SAILING AREA:
We will be sailing on beautiful Blackwater Sound, which is a subsection of the Gulf of Mexico. It is a beautiful body of sailing water. We have a vast amount of unobstructed water about 6-8 feet in depth throughout and usually have good wind and flat seas.

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

WEATHER CONDITIONS:
Air temperature usually is in the 80's in the daytime and around 60 at night. Water temperature should be in the low to mid 70's. Wind is normally 10-15 out of the eastern quadrant. If we get a cold front, the air temperature could be as much as 10-15 degrees colder, and the wind would blow out of the west as much as 10 mph stronger than the norm.

WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING (AND DO) FOR YOUR BODY:
Wetsuit and/or drysuit and/or spray suit. We don't really expect any serious cold fronts that early in the season, but you never know -- this regatta has had some serious winds in the past. The weather has been weird ever since they invented the bow and arrow. And even in warm weather you are going to get cold when you are wet -- and these cats can be very wet if it is windy and choppy.
Bring a water bottle and a piece of shock cord or something to attach it to the tramp. You are going to be out there for a lot of races, so personally I would take a gallon jug of water like I get at the local supermarket.
A little toolkit is always nice to have on the boat -- small vice grip (or pliers), a Swiss Army knife that has both types of screwdrivers on it, extra ring pins and shackles, small pieces of line for jury-rigging.

WHAT YOU WILL GET FOR YOUR ENTRY FEE:
* T-shirt for all competitors, both skipper and crew
* Beer & Soft drinks after sailing each day
* LOTS of racing. In two days
*Launching fees at Gilberts free to guests.
*Entry Fee is: $45 for two-handed boats, $40 for single-handed boats

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine

TROPHIES:
3 places deep for each class.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Mary Wells or Rick White
PO Box 2060
Key Largo, FL 33037
tel 305-451-3287
fax 305-453-0255
email rick@catsailor.com

NOTICE: We need you to pre-register online. You can pay the fee upon arrival. Click Here to Register OnLine