This is a 110-mile, two day race around Key Largo and Islamorada, with beautiful waters, and usually great winds. We will be sailing out of Gilberts Resort in Key Largo and the race is scheduled for Dec 11-12.
For full info, click on the hot link below:
www.catsailor.com/SteepleNOR_04.html

Thanks,
Rick

Rick,

When we came through for the start of the Tybee500 it looked as if the Key Largo campground was closed for business. Do you know if they're back up and running? Actually the name may have been the Florida Keys RV Resort...they were not on the water.

Florida Keys RV Resort is open. Phone, 305-451-6090. That is the one that is only about a mile and a half south of Gilbert's.

You can't see Key Largo Campground from the road -- it's down at the end of the first street north of the entrance to Tradewinds Shopping Center, ocean side. It's about 6 miles south of Gilbert's and less than 3 miles south of Rowell's Marina.

By the way, I was going to post this anyway, the prices at Gilbert's for the Steeplechase are $69 for a downstairs room and $59 for an upstairs room. That's for up to two people. Those rooms will sleep four, and it's $10 for each additional person. They also have three, more expensive suites that will sleep up to six people.

A benefit to staying at Gilbert's is that launching is free. If you aren't staying there, they charge $20 to launch your boat. So if you are not staying at Gilbert's, you probably want to launch your boat at Rowell's Marina, where I think it is $8.

Hey Mary and Rick,
we are just about to book for the January race. Are there also special rates at Gilbert´s? The last time we called them, they did not even know that is was planned.

Fritz
VA Beach

Yes, I will do a separate post about that tomorrow. I just finalized everything with Gilbert's today. They gave us reduced rates, but not as low as I would have liked. For Friday and Saturday, their regular rooms are $130 downstairs and $120 upstairs. That's for two people. They will sleep four people, $10 for each additional person.
They also have three larger, more expensive suites at $150, that will sleep six ($10 a person for each additional beyond two people). If you are coming earlier or staying later, the rates Sunday through Thursday are all $20 less.
They only have 33 rooms total, and some are already taken, so book early. The front desk now has the information about all the regattas including Tradewinds.

Gilbert's has a swimming pool and a big tiki bar and a very good restaurant.

Please PreRegister as soon as you can. Just go to www.catsailor.com/registration
Thanks,
Rick

Rick or Mary, there are alot of us"northern" sailors staying at Amy Slates, any word on how that place is? Great rates, 3 nights for the price of 3. And friday is 69$ and weekends are $90 for 1 queen bed room.

David
F18
S Carolina

Amy Slate's place is very nice. But are you talking about the Steeplechase or Tradewinds? Hard to tell since they got a little mixed together in this thread.

For the Steeplechase the rate at Gilbert's is $59 or $69, depending on whether upstairs or down. I would think all the Steeplechase sailors would want to stay at Gilbert's, since that is where the race finishes and there will be a barbecue after the races. But if you are staying at Amy Slate's, I assume you would be launching and pulling out at Rowell's Marina, so keep in mind that they close and lock their gate at 5:00 p.m. Could be a problem if the second day is light air.

If you are talking about the Tradewinds Regatta, I just talked to Amy Slate's place, and their lowest rate for that weekend is $100 for a double room. And, of course, you would have to pay to launch somewhere. Again, if you are staying at Slate's for the Tradewinds, I assume you would be sailing out of Rowell's Marina. (Gate closure time won't be a problem for the Tradewinds.)

By the way, I have been trying to get hold of the new guy who has the beach concession at the Caribbean Club to see whether they will allow rigging and launching there again. I'm not too hopeful, but won't hurt to ask. He won't be in until Tuesday.

Im talking Steeplechase, but will down for both. does the race finish at Gilberts? Any beach there? Will they be able to accomodate a bunch of boats?
Im coming in on thursday evening, diving friday morning, setting up the boat friday afternoon. Sounds like Gilberts might be the ticket if they have the space.

David

Gilbert's has a small beach in the back and a pretty big rigging area adjacent to the beach. Should be able to handle 30 boats with no problem. They also have a ramp in the front where their main parking lot is.

However, I do NOT recommend setting up your boat at Gilbert's unless you are staying there.

And if you are coming down for the Tradewinds Regatta, too, you might want to leave your boat down here for a month. Rowell's Marina or the Caribbean Club might be options for doing that.

Just give me a few more days to talk to Rowell's and Caribbean Club, and I will get back to you all with more information.

Can anyone share the Latitude and Longitude coordinates for Key Largo Sheraton?

Here you go Jake: 25.06877 N 80.46893 W (per Microsofts Streets and Trips.)

Regards,
Mike

Jske, thought you guys were staying at Amys?
Is bonnie or any of the ladies going?

David

David,

That's one of the waypoints on day 2..cut near the beach and pass by a marker next to the hotel.

Jake

Just to repeat some information:
The prices at Gilbert's for the Steeplechase are $69 for a downstairs room and $59 for an upstairs room. That's for up to two people. Those rooms will sleep four, and it's $10 for each additional person beyond two. They also have three, more expensive suites that will sleep up to six people. Those are weekend prices. Sunday-Thursday prices are $10 less.

Again, Gilbert's says launch fee is $20 if you are not staying there.

If you are not staying at Gilbert's, you probably want to launch your boat at Rowell's Marina, where I think it is $8.

I STILL have not been able to get a definite answer from the people at Caribbean Club and the watersports facility on the right side of the property as to whether you can launch there. The guy who owns the Watersports business seems to be okay with it, but he has been out of town for most of the past month and has not been able to talk to the owner of the Caribbean Club. Again he says he will get back to me either later today or tomorrow morning.

Important bulletin:
Registration and skippers meeting will be Friday night at Rick and Mary's house, same as last year. Registration 6-8 p.m. (check in even if you pre-registered). Skipper's meeting at 8 p.m.

DIRECTIONS TO OUR HOUSE:
We are at about mile marker 105, bay side, three miles south of Gilbert's Resort. Turn right on the second street past Winn Dixie (Paradise Dr.). We are the second house and are on the corner of Paradise and Coral Way. Go around the corner onto Coral Way (sharp right turn) and park along our chainlink fence on Coral Way. You can park all the way down our neighbor's property, too, on Coral Way, because they are never there. (Don't park too close to the corner of Paradise, because it is a sharp turn, and we don't want anybody's car to get wiped out.) There is a people gate entrance on Coral Way. Please latch the gate after coming in, so our dog can't get out.

Alternative route to our house is to turn on the first street south of Winn-Dixie, which is N. Blackwater Ln. Then take a left on the very first street, which is Coral Way. We are all the way at the far end of Coral Way. Either way, park on our fence side of the street.

Questions? Home phone is 305-451-3287. Rick's cell phone is 305-619-1922. Figure out someplace to put these numbers on your boat, your sail, your chart or your body so you will have them during the race, as well.