Come on down and sail Charlotte Harbor. Cruise on down Hwy 17 about 90 miles. There is good launching at Port Charlotte Beach. You'll find some nice isolated beaches to take a break. 25 miles to Boca Grande and the Gulf of Mexico.
There are very few cats around here. On most days your 17 will be the fastest on the bay.
Jack
Re: Tampa/Lakeland Sailors
[Re: Timbo]
#99666 03/02/0708:43 AM03/02/0708:43 AM
Do you know what it cost to join? Do they have mast up storage and easy launch to the bay? Do you have a link? I just need to try to find a short term place till I find permanent as apts may not let me keep them there. After 14 hour or more caravan drive I will need a hassle.
Doug
Re: Tampa/Lakeland Sailors
[Re: jkkartz1]
#99667 03/02/0708:53 AM03/02/0708:53 AM
I'd been meaning to do just that, although I didn't know how the water depth was in front of Charlotte Beach. Also, can you leave your trailer there all day?
That would make an idea regatta site if there were hotels close by.
Jay
Re: Tampa/Lakeland Sailors
[Re: ]
#99668 03/02/0708:59 AM03/02/0708:59 AM
Yes the water is skinny in front of the beach (not a problem on a H16). You can sail out the channel as the wind is seldom on the nose. Lots of parking for trailers.
In 2 weeks we are hosting the National Sunfish Masters Regatta there. See the NOR at the Punta Gorda Sailing Club. It lists the local hotels.
Looks like I will be driving to Dothan, Al for interview and if they like me, straight to work. Looking at Brandon also. Does anyone no about Davis Island Yacht Club. Can you beach launch from here or ramp?
Looks like from website that you can beach launch from Gulfport Yacht Club right? That would be nice with mast up storage. I had to ramp launch at home and tack 15-20 times to get back in!!!! PITA
Doug, Davis Island is not the Gulfport club. Gulfport has mast up storage, I'm not sure if Davis Island has much room for that, or it they allow it, etc. I've only been there for the start of the Macho Man race off the small beach near the club. There is a beach for launching at both locations but the Gulfport club has cats stored mast up. You will need to talk to a Davis Island member to find out about cat storage there.
Brandon is even cheaper. 35 minutes to Lakeland's south side, and 40 minutes to Gulfport
You can keep your boats at Gulfport Yacht Club.
Thanks for the good tip. I will find out on the 23rd if I get the job. Found a place in Brandon (Lakewood Shores Apts) for $541 a month for 800 sq ft and will keep the boats (Hobie 17,Mystere 4.3 and Sunfish) at Gulfport Yacht Club. They have a good race program with mostly Cats and will to Dundien Causeway now and then for races.
Doug, I don't know about appartments in Brandon other than passing through on my way to Tampa, there are quite a few. One thing to be aware of, there is a big mall on route 60, just east of where 60 crosses I75. That part of route 60 gets clogged with trafic every week day around 5pm and every Saturday, and between Thanksgiving and Christmas, forget it! I would try to avoid living in that trafic jam. There are plenty of roads that run paralelle to 60 without the trafic problems.
Doug, I keep my N20 at Davis Island yacht http://diyc.org, there is also another N20 there. We race on Thursday nights other than that there is no cat racing, hope that changes someday. It is mast up storage($30+ $80 member dues) theres a beach on the club grounds that all the youth sailing boats launch from, the beach outside the entrance is about 50 yards probably too far to use beach wheels. Davis Island is a nice place to live there are alot of older apt buildings there socially it's a good place to be and your also near Hyde park. lakeland is probably 40 minutes away. But Gulfport is all cats and they race alot, it's also cheaper and has mast up storage and a good place to launch from. Dunedin causeway also has alot of cat sailing, but no storage. You could always store your boat at the Clearwater sailing center and sail to Dunedin causeway it's a nice facility.
