100′ Spirit Super-Yacht

Looking at boats is always fun, even unattainable (for me at least), beautifully crafted beasts. Check this one out.

2009 New Year For Sailing

As the fog of fatty foods, late nights and rum fades away from my brain, I realize that the end of the holidays has arrived and it’s time to get back to sailing. With all the parties, shopping and visitors these past two weeks, I’ve barely found enough time to hose the bird duke off Mariola, let [...]

Beat To Quarters!

PyratSail’s New Contributing Authors!

PyratSail would like to welcome two contributing authors to our growing family of sailor-writers. RossinTampa, our Trailer Sailor - chronicling the adventures of his family aboard Lola as they sail the waters of Tampa Bay and beyond. And, skipper/chef Robbie Johnson, author of Gourmet Underway - our new Galley Guru. You can read more about them both in the contributing [...]

Rants 'N Roars

• RANT - Santa Barbara, California. BUMS, BUMS, BUMS. The "high end" downtown State St. of Santa Barbara is full of expensive shops, eateries and stink-ass, money-begging bums. The offending people are right on the main street with all the shops and restaurants. Imagine Duvall St. in Key West, but with Nordstroms, Abercrombie & Fitch, $12 martinis and $35/plate restaurants - then cross paths with a fellow that hasn't bathed since Clinton was president. Not for me, never again. If I have to pay that much for lunch, I want to be able to keep it down. Get behind one of these people while walking and you'll be lucky if you can control your gag reflex. This is why the characters in Sideways stuck to the hills. Go To Post
• ROAR Anderson Lumber Company in Gulfport has a good supply of hardwood, teak and other exotic hardwoods, but most importantly the owners are some of the nicest people I've met. They couldn't be more helpful and friendly - probably because the lumber yard has been in their family since it began almost 100 years ago. If you need something for your home or boat, give 'em a call 727-321-3111 Go To Post
•   ROAR I was recently given a unique bottle of Tequila as a birthday gift. Called Agavero it comes in a blue genie-shaped bottle with leaves molded in the outside, and the stuff inside is even better. It makes one of the best margaritas I've tasted, sweet but with a "classy upscale" flavor. There's quite a bit of sweetness from the infused Damiana flower (I'm guessing), so there's really no need for triple sec. From their site: www.agavero.com  Agavero is an ultra-premium spirit that is created from a blend of 100% blue agave añejo and reposado tequilas hand blended with the essence of Damiana flower for unparalleled smoothness and taste. Really unique, and great for margaritas, the downside is that it's a bit pricey for the amount of booze you get and it doesn't last long. Of course, that's just because we like our drinks with some kick. Go To Post
• RANT I mention this in my Anna Maria Island Post, but it requires a full - out rant. There are two drawbridges that a sailboat needs to pass through from Boca Ciega Bay to get to the north end of Tampa Bay/Tierra Verde side of the intracoastal waterway. I've only lived in Gulfport a year, but ever since I've been here both Structure C (north bridge) and Structure E (south bridge) would open every 20 minutes on request. Recently, some brilliant effing decision maker(s) have changed the opening time of only the south bridge to every half hour. What this means is, that if you are at the north bridge heading south, by the time they stop the cars, open the bridge at the 20 minute mark, you get through, and then the south bridge opens about 5 minutes later. Not near enough time unless you have 300 HP on your too-tall-to-go-under speed boat. So now you are half way to the south bridge and it doesn't open for like 20 damn minutes (It doesn't work well at the bottom of the hour if you are headed north either). With the old coordinated times our little 8 horse outboard could get our boat to the next bridge with a few minutes to spare. I thought it was brilliant.  When something works smoothly, always make sure to screw with it.  We're guessing a wealthy Tierra Verdian didn't like sitting in their beamer for a few minutes. I can't possibly believe it's a budget thing either. They found millions of dollars to pump sand up on Indian Rocks Beach and then watch a storm wash it all away in less than a year. Cutting out one optional opening every hour can't be that big of a cash saver. Go To Post
• The Morgan Invasion was a fun place to be Saturday night. My wife and I stopped by about the time they were giving out the race awards. We only stayed for 45 minutes, but in that short time we met some tremendously nice folks. Sailors are always friendly, but the Morgan crowd was a cut above and it was a pleasure to visit with them. The highlight of our short stay was when we spotted our old Morgan 24 tied up to the dock with the other boats. The guy that bought it from us 5 years ago abandoned it in a Port Charlotte boat storage yard. A fellow from Port Charlotte aquired her, fixed her up better than she's been in 20 years and won second place at the Invasion race. Cheers to him. Go To Post