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nchogberg · Post by **nchogberg** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 1:18 pm

Yes, fall is upon us here in S. Fl. Everyone is starting to wear shoes.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

RandyMoon · Post by **RandyMoon** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 4:00 pm

We will probably be taking the boat out this weekend. With the hot summer the lake is way down. I don't know if I can get the trailer in deep enough. Luckily our club has a 10,000 lb crane so we will probably lift it out and set it on the trailer. Saturday will be the last cruise of the season.

Raysea · Post by **Raysea** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 9:21 am

It's sailing year round here in Sarasota, FL...except for the occasional hurricane. But in five years they have always hit North, South, East, or West of us.

I keep our boat, mast up, on trailer about 100 yds from launch ramp into Sarasota Bay (less than a quarter mile from pass into the Gulf of Mexico). My prep for those "near miss" storms is to simply to tie down boat and trailer with heavy duty ground screws, fill ballast with fresh water, remove boom, sails, bimini, dodger, and other loose deck items and with a weather eye wait out the storm at home. Have withstood storm winds of up to 85 mph with no damage. Should storm tracking reports indicate a direct hit in the making I'll drop the mast and head inland with boat and family.

Love it down here...

Regards

Ray

Divecoz · Post by **Divecoz** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:01 pm

RandyMoon wrote:We will probably be taking the boat out this weekend. With the hot summer the lake is way down. I don't know if I can get the trailer in deep enough. Luckily our club has a 10,000 lb crane so we will probably lift it out and set it on the trailer. Saturday will be the last cruise of the season.

Here is one time I am sad to say I beat ya Randy.
WW&S came out today

Explorer pulled her just fine as long as I don't go much over 60mph (For Catigale that would be mpg

) Didn't stop to power wash as it was lightly raining . About 2 hours of scrubbing later and good as New or there about .
Now for the decommissioning/winterizing

Dimitri-2000X-Tampa · Post by **Dimitri-2000X-Tampa** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 7:09 pm

We seem to have this chat every year like clockwork...

All the northern sailors whine, all the southern sailors brag. Well, my poor kids have neve seen real snow (I did take them to a ski slope in WVA last winter but all they had was fake snow at the time) and they are bored to go to the beach anymore. They have all the seashells they could ever want, they get to swim for 9 months a year, and all they want to do is have a snowball fight!

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 8:42 pm

Dimitri, hear you. When my kids were little snow, skiiing etc soon became boring, they wanted beach,sand, swimming .
Pulled yesterday, and it SNOWED (lightly but did snow) today in Calgary,Alberta. Guess snowskiiing the Rockies is coming soon!

KayakDan · Post by **KayakDan** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:47 am

KayakDan wrote: Our sailing season is over,and it was a splendid finish!

One correction-we have one more opportunity to sail before next spring.
First a few days of thishttp://www.exuma-bahamas.com/starfish/p ... um_gif.htm

then a few days of this
http://www.exuma-bahamas.com/starfish/p ... g1_gif.htm

Exuma is just amazing. George Town,Exuma is the future winter home for our 26M. You gotta have a plan!

Divecoz · Post by **Divecoz** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:54 am

Great Pictures Dan ! I am so jealous , in Mexico if you were not BORN THERE! You cannot take crustaceans from the water . Get caught ? Go to jail pay everybody and his brother and not . . . .Return if that is their desire.

Catigale · Post by **Catigale** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:07 am

Ive actually been sailing first week of December, and then made it back in on March 31, convincing myself that my season is 10 months long

Before you dash off for warmer climes, you might find some of those places down South are too HOT to sail in summer time....

DOH!!

North Carolina sure seems like a nice middle groud - Avila Bay CA is supposedly perfect but everytime Ive been there it rained cats and dogs...

maybe the Galapagos will be better

Divecoz · Post by **Divecoz** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:58 am

Before you move out of country, you need to spend a lot of time there as a native. We spent a lot of time in Mexico and on Cozumel. In the end I could still make the move, but my wife says she could not and we will not. I get a lot of inquires about Cozumel , and I always tell them. Find a house to rent for a few months that is less than what you can honestly afford to own . If after the first trip down you still want to move down. Then I suggest they try it again at a different time of year. Vacation time and REAL time can be totally different. You may find the laws governing /restricting what you can and cannot do or have , to just be more than you can accept.
Your not in Kansas anymore

Shopping for even necessities can become a drag and the cost can be overwhelming. Infrastructure may well not be up to what you thought it was. Your a foreigner you should pay more. Island time is everywhere BTW on every island that I have heard of. This maybe a common thread or maybe not. But you have a friend or a neighbor who needs such and such done . You've done it before and you did it for yourself. You do it for him and another buddy or what ever, and a local finds out your taking work from him . You BTW don't possess a work visa and YOU are now in Big Trouble. There are not 40 million of you there and you are easy to find.
I do have numerous friends who have been successful so it does happen . I have had a little bit of success myself . One thing all of them seem to have in common is . They had done it all before, at home. This time it cost them a Whole LOT more to do it, out of country. So I ask , as have they have asked me , how much are you wiling or able to pay for the Adventure?

KayakDan · Post by **KayakDan** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:05 am

Our plan is for Exuma in winter only. Probably start with a few "training runs" in the Keys,a short run to Bimini. Until then,we are getting the boat ready,and doing our homework,including a kayak camping and sailing trip to Exuma every March(number 5 coming up),as well as picking the brains of experienced cruisers.
Still have to get the solar and refridgerator set up,and a 32lb Bruce is fairly mandatory. Wind generator might be a possibility too. Most everything I have done to the boat has had Exuma in mind as the destination.
As mentioned,foreign countries can have their idiosynchrasies. I know that going to the Bahamas,the phone service is marginal,and you want to carry all the beer,water and gas that you can manage. I have learned the supply boat schedule for George Town-when the market has food!
I still have a lot to figure out,but I have the time too!
Most importantly,for as tacky and run down as GT can appear to some,the Admiral loves going there too,so the plan is a go!

Divecoz · Post by **Divecoz** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 11:26 am

KayakDan wrote:Our plan is for Exuma in winter only. Probably start with a few "training runs" in the Keys,a short run to Bimini. Until then,we are getting the boat ready,and doing our homework,including a kayak camping and sailing trip to Exuma every March(number 5 coming up),as well as picking the brains of experienced cruisers.
Still have to get the solar and refridgerator set up,and a 32lb Bruce is fairly mandatory. Wind generator might be a possibility too. Most everything I have done to the boat has had Exuma in mind as the destination.
As mentioned,foreign countries can have their idiosynchrasies. I know that going to the Bahamas,the phone service is marginal,and you want to carry all the beer,water and gas that you can manage. I have learned the supply boat schedule for George Town-when the market has food!
I still have a lot to figure out,but I have the time too!
Most importantly,for as tacky and run down as GT can appear to some,the Admiral loves going there too,so the plan is a go!

That last sentance IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE!
Oh yea I can move to Coz . You could spot me easily enough . I would be the Old Gringo picking up cans off the side of the road hahahaha

for beer money. So go for it you got it in the bag

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

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Winyrt