Port Charlotte Florida is a sleepy paradise that I would say truly is one of the best cruising areas in the United States. There’s so much in the area – Punta Gorda, Ft. Meyers, Sanibel Island, Pine Island, Boca Grande and the Cayo Costa State Park – just to pick out a few. Cabbage Key is a favorite stop for old-stlye Florida food and drinks. The best way to enjoy everything Charlotte Harbor has to offer is on a Yachting Vacations immaculately maintained mono-hull or catamaran sailing yacht. I’ve personally chartered twice from them and could not have had a better time. Everything was first class. The boat, the marina and the people.

Chilling out in Pelican Bay Behind Cayo Costa

Based out of Burnt Store Marina, Yachting Vacations has a sailing school, ownership program and yacht sales along with their impressive charter fleet. They have two special events scheduled for early 2009.  One is hosting the ASA flotilla during the last week of February.   The other – they are holding two all women sailing classes (Bareboat Certification 101-103-104) in March.  All details are available on the web site.

If you are ready for a close to home getaway, this is it. Charlotte Harbor is what I envision Tampa Bay was like 40 years ago. Even on a weekend, the boat traffic is sparse and the natural beauty is breathtaking. Charter a quick trip – even a few days to start – you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

What’s happened to our beloved, classic, nautical portholes? Apparently sailboat designers have decided that it’s time for their creations to look like some sort of Porche on the water. Eyecatchers for the buyers with bucks I guess. They’ve been around for quite awhile, sailboat manufacturers Hunter, Catalina etc. have tried to jazz up the appearance of their models with large, non-opening plexi windows that look more like a campy Buck Rogers prop rather than a sea going vessel. To me it was the chacteristic of a boat that was dated, and of likely lesser construction, again – trying to appeal to the newbie sailor. My own 1980 Morgan 323 has two big ol’ ugly plexi windows that crack, sratch and look like an after thought with all the screws around the outside edge. I love my Morgan, just not those fugly windows. As soon as I can muster the $750+ for each new stainless porthole, I will. In other words, they’ll be there forever.

Recently a lot of these ugly plexi’s have been flush mounted with no signs of fasteners, became curvy, tear dropped or look like some bizarre cat’s eye - but they still say “I’m posing as a sportscar”.  Big, long and sleek with points on the end – you would think the boat needed to cut down on it’s wind drag because it moved so fast. A sailboat is one of the slowest forms of transportation built by man. It slogs along, light air or heavy seas. It rocks, rolls and sometimes smells down below. Need more light? I need more air from a simple opening porthole that can be battened down to withstand a pounding by hundreds of gallons of water. I’ll stick with the classic porthole, and dark, cozy saloon.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

How I used to feel:

I need to mention one of our favorite stops for sandwiches and beer. O Maddy’sin Gulfport. You can arrive by boat (dingy in), dock at the pier next to the Gulfport Casino, walk about a block and soon you’ve got a cold beer and a really good cobia sandwich. They have a famous roll called a “kummelweck” that’s optional sandwich bread. Try the Irish Fries with the gravy – these guys are basically well-done homemade potato chips, VERY GOOD. Outdoor dining, friendly people and good food. Everything you need to top off a great day on Boca Ciega Bay.

After Sunday, December 20th 2009:

Food is still good, owner is an inconsiderate neighbor – we all like parties – especially Christmas, but the community doesn’t want to hear yours at 11:30 p.m., on the eve of a workday that begins at 4:00 a.m. 

Remember: “Do Unto Others…” Seems like if you’re going to have a mega-party with loud music, a person talking on a P.A. system and a large screaming crowd, you could have it at a venue more suited for such an event – say at a bar/restaurant maybe? A residential neighborhood wouldn’t be my first choice. But, since you’re moving, it probably doesn’t matter, does it?

A little note – anyone that’s ever had a rude, noisy,  jerk of a neighbor, remember them if you ever think about spending money at O’ Maddy’s  Restaurant in Gulfport. Strike a blow against neighborhood dillholes everywhere! Visit one of the many other great restaurants in Gulfport Florida.

I’m mostly a positive person but I can be a bitcher and the 2008 Miami Boat Show gives me cause to bitch. The show was four different venues that were scattered across wonderfully accessible downtown Miami. Big, tour bus shuttles carried attendees from location to location. The pick up and drop off points to catch the shuttle were strategically located so that you had to hump it all the way across parts of the show carefully following the stickers on the floor. The Strictly Sail part of the show was tucked away by itself and actually kinda small. Downtown Miami driving was utterly horrible, hotels were overpriced and to me the entire event is counter productive because it’s just tiring. There’s lots of interesting things to see, but it’s just too much like hard work to see it. I suppose if you travel a long distance to spend three days looking at everything under the sun in one inconvenient location, then it’s a good show.