Charlotte Harbor

Hobie 16s for sure.
Maybe Waves
Maybe F18s

It is not an

all class

regatta. It is a one-design regatta. There will not be a Portsmouth start. If you can get 5+ boats to commit to coming, Brian Gleeson is the person to talk to about arranging a start.

Thanks.

There is some mild interest in doing a distance race from Ft. Myers to Port Charlotte or vice versa and back again. That could include bigger boats.

I'm not suggesting this to replace the event already scheduled, but in addition to that event.

Would you care to comment?

Jake? Tad? Trey?

What? huh? Quoi?

I don't know anything about this regatta and I certainly don't want to crash anyone's party uninvited.

<img src="<>/laugh.gif" alt="laugh" title="laugh" height="15" width="15" /> IF you have five boats you're already invited. See above.

Charlotte Harbor connects to Pine Island Sound and the Gulf of Mexico which in turn connects to the Caloosahatchee River. This would make a very nice distance race of 50 miles or so, one way.

This would be an entirely different event. I see it as a toned-down Everglades Challenge, like the Watertribe folks do. In my scenario, everyone is invited: kayaks, sunfish, you, me, even Ding.

I don't know if any of the H-16 folks will be hanging around between Tradewinds and the Charlotte Harbor Regatta but if they are this would make a nice outing for them. Logistics are really simple.

I'm in. I have just been researching oar locks for my Wave in preparation for a future EC. I had hoped for this year but work scheduling will probably prevent it.

Otherwise I'm sure I can talk Barbie into another race on the 20. I have a new spinny that is over a year old and only used once. 50 miles is within our endurance range together.

Still, I would rather do it on the Wave.

Pete,

As we discussed last year, the Charlotte Harbor Regatta is intended to be for 1 Designs. Get Timbo and 3 other F16's and I'm sure you can get a start.

Last year the Hobie 16 fleet was all northern sailors. The only Florida crew was the Waves. Hopefully some of the Florida H16's will show up this year.

Dave,

I am glad that you are committed. Do you have a fleet lined up?

As there is no beach cat activity on Charlotte Harbor so anything is an improvement.

One of my lottery dreams is a race from Punta Gorda to the sea buoy off Boca Grande Pass and back. I probably would have to subsidize it to get attendance.

Maybe I should drive up to Port Charlotte. You and I could take the Blade, do a reconnaissance and report back.

This is beautiful sailing water, we need to make this happen.

Is there a beach at the Charlotte Harbor Regatta site?

Yes. I'll try to get the wife to drive up with me in the moring and get some pictures.

They have a great beach that we launched from last year, on the North side.

The only problem was that the race course was 5 miles away on the other side!

They have promised to move the course to nearer the beach this time. There were a lot of problems with the race committee but they have promised to make ammends.

I wouldn't go back unless this distance race comes together.

Well, two boats are a race so I guess WE are on!

You guys should really talk to Brian Gleason as Matt suggested. He's a real nice guy and easy to deal with. The F16 and F18 guys would have no trouble getting OD starts set up and the more multihulls there the better. There will be a bunch of other classes, but the MH fleets will undoubtably be the bigger group. Some of our 16 guys there last year had a really good time and said the location was good, access is supposed to be even better this year from what I read.

The cats launched at Port Charlotte Beach in Port Charlotte. (Take 41 north to Harbor Blvd, turn left and go to the end of the road) The launch was to the left of the pool on the swimming beach. it helps to have Brian Gleason (Editorial Page Editor of the Charlotte Sun Herald) from the local newspaper to grease skids of the local government to allow use of this area.

The City of Punta Gorda is in the planning stages of improving the boat launch and sea walls between the Bayfront Center and the PG Boat Club. Too much sea wall and no beach.

Here in Charlotte County, we are lucky to have Dennis Peck. He has singlehandedly pursued a sailing center in Punta Gorda.

The local paper had an editorial (See Brian Gleason) today urging the city council to expedite the improvements to the ramp and and sea wall before the other planned improvements are implemented.

Do you have a preferred date? Do you want to do the existing regatta as well or just a distance race?

The Everglades Challenge format is what caught my eye.

Okay, what date is good for you?

Don't base your event on the possibility that I might attend. Put something together that has broad appeal and I will work on my schedule.

An EC type event will need filters and such. What course do you have in mind? Lots of planning is needed do do something of that magnitude.

Filters? Not so much, I had something much simpler in mind.

...there is a short cut through Matlacha pass for those so inclined. But it has a draw bridge in Matlacha. With your oar locks you shouldn't have a problem.

I'd like to keep this very, very simple.

While there were some problems last year, I have been working closely with the manager of the event and our course PRO to make sure all those problems are taken care of.

I know some of the Wave sailors, including Jack, were not very happy with how the racing was managed, but I feel very certain they will do a great job this year. After all, Last year was their first time for the event.., and mistakes will be made. But, mistakes can always be corrected.

That looks like fun. If you do it I will try to attend and bring other folks.

Not sure if it needs to be part of the Charlotte Harbor deal. You should see what Brian Gleason thinks.

I asked last year if a distance

Tour of Charlotte Harbor

could be held on one of the race days. As this is a Hobie 16 national points race, it can only be around the buoys.

Two different events Jack. The distance race is something Cyberspeed and I are trying to put together.

My vision of the distance race is for all comers: canoes, kayaks and Sunfish on up. Run whatcha brung, finish where you finish.

Like I said

I'm in

<img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" /> I was referring to jkkartz1.

instead of a one-way deal, why not an around Sanibel run the day before the regatta? at least that way the off-water logistics would be easier....

I have run a few different models and my favorite so far is from N. Ft Meyers to Cayo Costa State Park; spend the night on the island and race back the next day:

Full Size Version >>>

The course is just under 50 miles each way, starts in a river at N. Ft. Meyers out into the Gulf, following Sanibel Island, past Pine Island and stop at Cayo Costa State Park, Camp there then race back the next day. The only way to get to the island is by ferry or by boat and there is no electricity on the island. In case of foul weather, an alternate course could be run in the interior.

Please give feedback...

Im okay with most anything but don't loose site of the fact that there is a regatta already planned and this distance thingey is not part of it. It could be I suppose at some other time. In any case, if I can't get five F16s I won't be sailing the Charlotte Harbor Regatta. There is no portsmouth class.

I think camping on Cayo Costa would be a good idea. A bunch of us just camped at Eustis and enjoyed it. And the idea gets bandied about every year at this time.

Just looked at Tad's video of Wildcat. He's not a Heathen so he won't sleep in a tent. But there are cabins, flush toilets and drinking water. So, technically we could invite him- if he promises to bring his camera and not talk politics.