At 7:00 am on March 2, 2013, conch horns and bagpipes sounded and race organizers gave the signal for participants in the Everglades Challenge and Ultra Marathon to launch their boats and start down the course. Getting under way is … [Read more...]
Kayaking
I have a small fleet of kayaks. One of my favorite places to kayak is in Bimini, but I kayak much more frequently in my home waters around Punta Gorda.
Speck Tater’s View of the Watertribe 2013 Everglades Challenge
March 14, 2013 By 4 Comments
This is my third year going to the start of the Watertribe Everglades Challenge, and I decided this time around to see more than just the start of the race. The past two years, I have witnessed the start from the beach at Fort Desoto Park in Tampa … [Read more...]
Better Use of Punta Gorda Bayfront Center is Possible
December 27, 2012 By 1 Comment
The city-owned Punta Gorda Bayfront Center, located on Charlotte Harbor adjacent to Gilchrist Park, is currently leased to the YMCA, but a competing lease proposal by the Charlotte Harbor Community Sailing Center would provide better utilization of … [Read more...]
West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadron Pelican Bay Gathering March 2012
March 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadron is a group of Florida sailors who like to gather in different locations to camp out on small boats. I have been aware of the group for several years, but have never made it to one of their cruises. At the … [Read more...]
Sailing the Edge of Hurricane Irene in Hobie Adventure Island
August 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Sailing Shell Creek to Punta Gorda On the Winds of Irene Launching In Shell Creek A nearby tropical weather system that is not a threat always causes great sailing weather, and today was no exception. After a morning look at Hurricane … [Read more...]
Watertribe Everglades Challenge 2011 Start
April 18, 2011 By 1 Comment
Kayak and sailing fleets depart from Fort Desoto Park beach Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Dawn The Everglades Challenge is an annual event in which kayaks, canoes and small sailboats race from Fort Desoto Park at the mouth of Tampa Bay down to Key … [Read more...]
Buy the Right Kayak Paddle
March 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Having the right kayak paddle is nearly as important as having the right kayak. If you kayak a lot, and paddle long distances, the benefits of a really great paddle become obvious. Buying A Kayak Paddle The first time I bought a kayak … [Read more...]
Adventure Island Mast Furler Drum Epoxy Repair
July 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Click any picture to enlarge Repairing Hobie Adventure Island Mast Furler Drum In the course of routine maintenance, I noticed that the furling drum on my Hobie Adventure Island had slipped a short distance up the carbon fiber mast, exposing the … [Read more...]
Adding A Jib to the Hobie Adventure Island Kayak
May 21, 2010 By 4 Comments
My old storm sail from a previous sailboat was the right size to use as a jib for my Adventure Island. There's a reason I save everything.Sailors throughout history have always wanted to find ways to fly more sails and make our boats go faster, and I … [Read more...]
An Adventure Island Kayak Sail in Shell Creek During the Fringes of Ike
May 21, 2010 By 1 Comment
We decided to take our Hobie Adventure Islands out while Hurricane Ike was thrashing Cuba. As Hurricane Ike made its way along Cuba, we got some strong east winds in this part of Florida. All the rain was quite a ways south of us, so we were … [Read more...]
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