Much to my amazement, my Tornado is back together after a bit of surgery. I've now entered the Miami-Key Largo race and have NO idea where I can pull the boat out disassemble and put on the breakdown trailer. All recent calls to Gilberts are so static filled as to be useless. Any ideas?

Caribbean Club?

You might want to join us some time. We're about 2 hours north of you.

http://www.gulfportyachtclub.com/index.html

Another good place to pull out after the Miami-Key Largo race is the Jewfish Creek Marina. I had forgotten about it until I saw the owner today.

As soon as you go through the Jewfish Creek Bridge, Gilbert's will be on your right, and the Anchorage is on your left. Take a left and go down the canal to the end, where the Marina is. They have a ramp, and it will only be $5 to take your boat out there. It is $10 for an in-and-out, but $5 if you are only exiting there. Pay in the Marina office.

Mary thanks for the clue. I was getting a little worried about the distance I might have to travel w/o crew after the race. My family and about 5 others (23people) are going to be on spring break (kindergarden-4th grade). Which makes for alot of anxious fans in a van if you know what i mean. I'm limited to about 50 miles/day before everything goes wrong. This race just happened to be on the way and a good example for the opti-yunngins around our neck of the woods. Our very small woods, about preparation, anticipation and execution of even the smallest plan.

Your boat looks great, is that a Walker or Houlton (or Gougeon)? Where do you sail in Ft. Myers? My dad lives there and I've been debating dragging my boat down there but launching looks alittle limited.

Cheers

TB

Launching in Fort Myers isn't too bad. Right at the Sanibel causeway there is a launch mostly used by powerboats or you can pay the toll and go over to the nearly empty Sanibel side just to the left of the causeway.

Dan

Hmmm. I think it might be a long sail to get from Ft. Myers to Miami for the start of the Miami-Key Largo Race. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[quote]Your boat looks great, is that a Walker or Houlton (or Gougeon)? Where do you sail in Ft. Myers?


I was told Houlton but I don't know.
I'm on Ft Myers Beach(Estero Island) and have had a vacant lot in front of our access that the owner lets me push the cat on trax through. As to real available access to the water, I have considered using the power boat ramps at Lovers Key State Park. I think the ramps are part of Carl Johnson County park, but they are all in the same area. large There is a large open area to set up and enough water underneath to not worry about the boards too much. To get out of the pass you will need to signal the 24'tall drawbridge or sail 7.5 miles through Estero BAy to the 64' icw bridge at the north end of Ft Myers Beach. It's idle speed no wake and therefor was a riot this past w/e on a trapeze passing Donzis, and everything else on the glass smooth waters that had 10-15 knot warm winds whafting across

If the sail number 643 is the original number of the boat it would make it a Houlton built about 1980.

Thanks, I've wondered about the vintage of this thing there are no numbers or identifying marks easily visible. The only problem is that I might have to get a title for the boat and that involves hull or vessel identification numbers an inspection and detection by DNR or some such seemingly irrelevant organization. I think it boils down to being a homebuilt job. This is all fueled of course by b*&#$Y neighbors who live here 6weeks a year, hate my little boat problem (6 optis,sunfish canoes,tornado,visitors etc.) on our tiny lot, and feel free to abandon their property for the remaining 46 weeks of the year! Sorry for the rant. Tired and frustrated today in paradise.

It got so bad for me, I moved the boat to GYC. It still rankles!

Hope it all works out.

http://www.edisonsailingcenter.org/aboutus.htm

These folks have an active Opti program.

I feel for you on the Cape. Wasn't your fence high enough or was the boat too close to your rear setback but not close enough to the point of the left rear corner by the opening gate that in a minimum of 42" but no more that 108" in width unless you paintit...........ON and ON and ON? It's just silly. My oldest sails w/Edison. I know it well. It's just a bit of a hike to the temp. facility in NFM from the beach w/ the traffic. There are a few of us that try to carpool but it's still hard. A few of us are trying to put together an little 'annex' here on the Beach for convenience and a different venue. Nothing like a little time on the Gulf to keep you alertwhen you're 8yo

<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> All of the above.

A few years back, ESC must have had 300 Optis on the River. It was very cool to watch.

As far as an annex, surely there is room at Lover's Key.

That was probably the 'River Romp' ESCs annual fall regatta. The past few years while "THE VUE" has been a spectre on the horizon it has been held here on the Beach at the Holiday Inn. We had 290+ from all over the place. Optis 420s sunfish Laser. Very cool. My sons first big race,,,,couldn't watch I ran the trailer parking tractor for the club