How early do you want to arrive for Tradewinds and set your boat up?

I think I can get the park to allow boats in early this year for $20/day storage.

Do you want to have some pick-up/practice races? If so, when? Which day(s)?

What is it you need to know to finish making your plans?

I'll post answers to your questions so everybody will be informed.

barb@the-helm.com or 305-434-8984 if you don't want to post on the forum.

We were there 3 days early last year and set up at the Carribean Club Wednesday nite with 4 other boats for $10 a day $10 to launch.

This year I would like to go 3-5 days early. My friend from NJ is also coming early with his Tiger but how early depends on how much we will have to spend to store/sail the boat. I know we are probably going to be the first ones there but I feel as if there are plenty of other people that would show up a day or 2 before?

Last year Mary mentioned telling the park that the regatta was Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Could we tell them that and that our set up day is Thursday? That would give us 2 free days and we could pay a fee for any days prior to that?

I feel it would increase participation from the Northern States if we could sail a few days prior. Last year Thursday before ended up being too windy so it's nice to get there early to get nice sailing in a few days.

If others are interested practice races Friday might be fun and appreciated. 2 years ago we had around 8 F-18s out there running our own practice races.

TO FINISH making my plans i'm trying to figure out where the cheapest while still convienent RV park would be. Paying $60-80 a nite to park and RV almost doesn't justify the cost. I'm familiar with the hotels from last year and they weren't too much more than that.

THANKS! Last year was amazing and i'm looking forward to another great year. People who didn't come last year (11 F-18s compared to 18-20 the prior year) really missed out!

I don't think there are ANY reasonable RV parks in the upper keys anymore.

I looked quickly for ballpark prices... Kings Kampground was 360 for the week plus $5 per person per day

I think 20 bux a day is high. But then again it is the keys and everything is ridiculous down there.

Wildtsail - Tod right? Anyway, I want to show up a day or two early as well. But this entire milking the cat sailors is annoying. Keep me posted on your plans I would not mind getting together and have some practice runs or just ponder around the keys. I know Team Velocity Sailing is showing up early as well.

$20 is the same price as the fee to use the boat ramp at the same park. Powerboaters aren't allowed to leave their boats or trailers on property overnight.

Powerboaters also have to pay the park entry fee. There is no park entry fee for the cat sailors attending the regatta.

So it's not really a case of milking the catsailors. The everyday guys going out fishing or whatever pay more and have less convenience.

milking catsailors....now there's a vision I don't need.

eeewww!!!!

Barb, dont get me wrong I trully appreciate your effort to make Tradewinds happen at a much better spot than Gilberts, kudos for you on that! But its just frustrating that everywhere in the Keys if you have a boat you will have to pay to access the ocean. To me that is just crazy! But on the flip side if its private property I guess its the price we pay to play.

I dont like the fee, ide rather pay NOTHING except the race registration, but that wont happen. I will gripe and moan about it, but I will pay it because I have no other choice if I want to sail down there.

I was just clarifying for folks not accustomed to the Keys that it's normal to have to pay to play.

Founders Park is such a beautiful place to sail that it's worth the extra ding in the wallet.

Now carry on. You can be Chief Griper, but Chief Moaner just doesn't fit.

bump.

Any snow up North, yet?

Which weekend is it? Jan 19 or 12? Thanks.

Jan. 19-20. Always MLK weekend, so kids are out of school.

Sweet, I might be able to make it.

About 9 inches here in the last week.

Hey Barb, Alex here... Wanted to get some hotel options that are near the park and decent/cheap.

We will probably arrive Thursday evening and do a practice day on Friday. Would be great to get some organized pracice races in on Friday.

I'm not up on the quality/value of all the nearby motels, there are a number of places to select from. Best bet are the chamber of commerce member places.

Here's a link to the chamber web page with motels/hotels:
http://www.islamoradachamber.com/lodging.cfm

The park is located at MM 87 so that you have some idea where places are located relative to the park.

Consensus seems to be for practice races on Friday. We'll run some in the afternoon. Stand by for an "official" time when we'll put the buoys out, start a watch and hoist the flags.

Motels for Tradewinds (I don't know if the prices are still the same) Founders Park is at mile marker 87.

Islamorada Motel (Closest)
87760 Overseas Highway (Mile Marker 87.76, bay side)
Phone: 305-852-9376
They have a total of 13 rooms, 5 large and 6 small.
Rates: Small room, one queensize bed -- $79
Large room, two beds and kitchen -- $99
Web site: www.islamoradamotel.com

Lookout Lodge (Next Closest) (On the same water as the regatta)
87770 Overseas Highway (Mile Marker 87.77, bay side)
Phone: 305-852-9915
They have a total of 10 rooms
Rate range: $139-$350
Web site: www.lookoutlodge.com

Conch-on-Inn
Corner of U.S. 1 and Caloosa St. (Mile Marker 89.5, bay side)
Phone: 305-852-9309
They have a total of 8 rooms
Rates: One queen bed -- $89
Two double beds -- $99
I think all the rooms have frig. and microwave.
Web site: www.conchoninn.com

Coconut Cove Resort & Marina
305-664-0123
84801 Overseas Hwy
2 acres of natural tropical landscaping and only 10 units with kitchens.
www.coconutcove.net

Keys Motel / Cay Clubs
305-852-2351 · Fax: 3005-852-7301
90611 Old Highway · Key Largo, FL 33070
Located on US1 at Tavernier Creek, the Keys Motel offers 20 rooms, dockage, pool and restaurant
www.cayclubs.com
.
Holiday Isle Resorts
Mile Marker 84 (just 3 miles south of Founders Park)
Phone: 305-664-2321
They have five hotels on the property, all with different names. You call that same number for all of them and pick the one you want. They all have different price ranges. If you want a peaceful one, get one of the motels farthest north on the property (closer to Founders Park). If you want to be where all the action is, you might want the Tower Building (also called the Horizon) or the next motel north of that. They are the closest to the Tiki Bar, which is far better than the one at Gilbert’s. Holiday Isle also has restaurants on the premises and I think food at the Tiki Bar, too.
Holiday Isle is the big “hot spot” between Miami and Key West.

For more motels, go to the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce: http://www.islamoradachamber.com/lodging.cfm

Captain LeFur, U Got Crew?

Yes, I do have crew. Ha ha, going with John Schlossberg but I have a crew spot open for Miami to Key Largo if you wanted to go. Only issue is that i need to find a way to get my boat from Key Largo (where it is now stored) to Miami (an hr away). Any thoughts on how we might do that? The place I store it at does local deliveries but will not pull it to Miami.

Alex,
When is the Miami to Key Largo? I left Grey Ghost and "Blue Balls" and the burban at Jamie Livingstons house and i'm going to be getting back to FL on December 26th to race my Vanguard 15 for a week then i'll be hanging out til Tradewinds.
I still don't have a crew for tradewinds... I have a few options but none that can drive back to the cold north with me and I don't feel like doing a 24+ hour drive alone.
-Todd