Rick:

When I was down to watch Mid-Winters you chided me, jokingly I hope, for not racing.

I didn't enter as a competitor because I would have finished so far behind, it would have gummed up the works.

But, how about a NAMSA cruising fleet? Mid-Winters gave me an excuse to get out on the water and watching the fast boats was great fun! Maybe there are other old Hobie sailors who don't want to race seriously, but are still interested in the social aspect.

I think I have mentioned this same idea in Catamaran Sailor. I found a website about a cruising group of small monohulls like Marsh Hens and Pearls that get together for short cruises in backcountry locations and on lakes. They sail to an island or some remote place and camp out on shore or sleep on their boats anchored just off, and bring the families and have a great time. Sounds like fun.

I, too, saw your Tiki sailing around at Tradewinds, and I immediately recognized it because Tami had a picture of theirs on the forum. I think it is beautiful! I want one. Tami is supposed to write an article for me about their renovation of their Tiki 21. You might want to contribute to that with something about your experience with yours, as well. E-mail me about it.

And maybe some "not so old" sailors as well!

Jack (probably old by some standards)

The most fun thing Rick and I ever did with our Hobie 18 was our 40-mile sail from Key Largo to Flamingo (Everglades National Park headquarters) across the backcountry of Florida Bay and back the next day. It would have been a lot more fun if we could have convinced some of our fleet members to go with us.

Jack, you would have LOVED that trip.

It seems whenever two or more boats do something together, it ends up a race! Still, the idea of catering to a crusing division has some merit.

Would a cruising fleet need more logistical support than, say, the Steeplechase or Hogsbreath?

I don't think cruisers would require more logistical support, probably less.

In my vision it would work a lot like the guys that are getting up a group to cross the Stream. One says let's do it, others say me too!

I plan on sailing back down for 2 weeks in April. My wife can't get the time off so she's facing a weekend drive alone. Something neither of us is happy about. If there are other guys in my position, maybe the girls could share resources?

By the way, I don't mind if it turns into a race, I just don't want racing to be my only reason for sailing. Besides, I've always been a middle of th fleet racer so my finish is pretty well a foregone conclusion.

Sounds like a great idea!...I think it might be a little while before NAMSA get some more basics rolling before we can incorporate something like that but it wouldn't be difficult to arrange. I like it!

That's a great idea. Why don't you schedule something?

Who,me? I was thinking about sailing to Dry Tortuga between the "Steeple Chase" and "Keys Cat Challenge". Wanna go along?

Man!! I would love to do that crossing!! I would love to do the crossing to the Bahamas the other guys are talking about but after some of the comments I saw I know my skill level is nowhere close to where it needs to be. How difficult a crossing would it be to Dry Tortugas?? Can a 6 month sailor do this?? If so sign me up!!

I've never been to Dry Tortuga, which is why I want to go. I'm told my many knowledgable sailors that getting there isn't much of a problem, it's getting back! One account I read says her boat was caught in a tropical depression that squatted over them for days! In one 24 hour period 22 inches of rain was supposed to have fallen. There are many such credible accounts and they all have a common line; in bad weather the anchorage is over crowded and boats inevitably drag at anchor! Equally important, there are no facilities or provisions there. You must bring everything you need, especially drinking water! There is a beach where you can camp and an outhouse, but you need a permit.

If I make this trip, in April, it will be with the advice of a friend with 30 years experience. From my home, Dry Tortuga is about 110 miles of open water. That's 24 hours give or take 10 hours depending on the weather. My friend recommends day trips down to the Keys, a lay over of a day or 2 in Key West and then to Dry Tortuga, a distance of less than 70 miles with the Marquesas along the way. This makes the approach to Garden Key in daylight. Every knowledgable sailor I know has urged a daylight approach to Garden Key! I intend to follow that advice.

I would not, did not, make this attempt when I had 6 months experience.

Pete, you should talk to Maugan about the Tortugas trip. He and his college sailing club chartered a cruising cat and went there on spring break. They had to motor most of the time because there was so little wind. I would be interested to hear whether he recommends it for beach cats. That's a big chunk of open water to cross.

I've had two different stories in the magazine about trips to the Tortugas, the one Maugan wrote and also one from Robert Onsgard when a group of Corsair trimarans made the trip together.

that trip was fantastic, but as Mary said, the wind was not in our favor.

It wasn't that there wasn't any wind, it was just that the wind was always on our nose, and we had to maintain a schedule. (College kids have to show up for class at the end of Spring Break, unfortunately)

There was a large chunk of open water to cross. Primarily on the second day when we were between Fort Jefferson and the Marquesas (sp?) Keys. However we did make a detour that day, because one of the girls on the boat said that she had never swam in 100 foot deep water, so we left the quicksands (quickest route, but shallower) and headed out for the ocean and took a dip. That probably added 2 hours to that leg. We averaged 6.5 knots both days getting to fort jefferson. We reached the anchorage in FJ at about 3pm IIRC. It was truely an experience that everyone should enjoy. Its really beautiful.

Now, as for a beachcat. You'd have to pick your weather really I think. Staying over the quicksands would be the best bet (plus you'd keep awake by dodging crab pots) since if you got in trouble, there would always be a fisherman boat nearby to help out in the most dire of circumstances. Thats one thing that I found unique.... while we were on the open water for long periods of time, I think I was always able to see another vessel. Perhaps it was the time of year we went, who knows.

This is a trip that I told myself that I wanted to do with my new tornado. I'd definitely get a chase boat to carry provisions and so forth. The total trip is about 90 miles, not sure you could do it in a day, maybe in a blow you could.

Sorry that this was off-the-cuff... I was forced to come into work on a saturday and I'm still not with it

Mary:


Thanks for your concern, it’s nice to know someone cares!

Tiki 21 is not exactly a beach cat. It can be trailered and set up on the beach, but I’m not gonna do it! Each hull weighs 175 lbs, 600 lbs total, plus several hundred pounds of consumables. I keep mine in a wet slip. I’ve read claims of people setting up in as little as an hour, but I’m very skeptical.

This is an award winning design intended for coastal cruising by the home builder. It also has open water capabilities. The extreme example is the love-sick Englishman, Rory McDougal, who sailed one from England to New Zealand and back, just to see his girlfriend!

Some of the boats characteristics, which make it suitable for a trip to the Dry Tortugas are:
· 1,000lb carrying capacity
· low heeling moment ( 130 sq.’ main on a 21’ mast and 12 ‘ beam)
· stable design characteristics- the designer has sacrificed speed for strength and stability. This boat will only attain 13 knots top speed, but will maintain stability (with 1,000 lbs. laden) up to 25 knots before reefing. The main reefs easily, I’ve done it myself in 20-25 knots, in heavy chop, single handed.
· sealed flotation in all 4 ends
· dry berths for 2, one in each hull
· designed for auxillary power. Returning from Mid-Winters we motored about 70 miles on 2.5 gals.

Additionally, I carry flares, VHF, GPS, anchor plus chain and rode, full navigation lights, charts and compass, and lots of PFDs. Before the Tortuga trip I will add: Bimini, sunshower, cook stove, portapotti, and a hammock to be swung on deck while at anchor!

Why don’t you and Rick drop what you’re doing and come with me! We can leave after the "Steeple Chase" and be back before the "Challenge".

Oh, I wasn't worried about the Tiki making it -- Wharrams can handle anything. I was just worried about any beach cats that might decide to accompany you.

Your point is well taken. I certainly wouldn't do it in a beach cat, or encourage anyone else.

Oops! I seem to have confused names and dates. I'm coming down in April to coincide with the Miami/Key Largo race and then hang around for the Key Largo/Key West race. Weather permitting I'll do Dry Tortuga in between.

OOps! We will be conducting our Rick White's Sailing Seminar for cats during the week between the Miami-Key Largo and the Hogsbreath-Keys 100.
Count us out.
Rick

Someone circumnavigated in a Tiki 21 a couple years back. While not the prettiest boats, Warrams are seakindly