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2006 Spring Cruise - Announcement

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britinusa
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Initially Posted - 09/30/2005 : 20:54:41

Latest Update
10/16/05: It's now 4+1 (one will meet us in Bimini!) If you would like to see Oscars new boat in the blue, then join us!

10/5/05
We now have 4 boats committed to participating. So far we have boats coming from SoFla, GA, and ...... drum roll ..... CA!

What: Spring cruise to Bimini
When: March 17th. thru 24th. 2006
Where: Homestead Bayfront Park (Biscayne Bay) Florida
Who: Open to 25' Catalinas & Capris
Why: Because we want to go sailing in spring and have a great time with a bunch of great people in great boats.

Overview of the event:
Short Version: Sail from Biscayne Bay Florida to Bimini Island, R&R then head back.

Long Version:
Friday: We'll meet/launch from Homestead Bay Front Park after appropriate skippers meetings, sail/motor to Pumpkin Key area near Angel Fish Creek, anchor till best tide.
Night-time Motor Transit Angel Fish Creek.
Continue Day Sail transit to Bimini as a Flotilla, may need to motor if winds are light.
Various Social/Sailing activities around Bimini.
Returning to arrive Biscayne Bay Friday night for pull out.

We'll be adding detail to the event over the next few weeks.

How to get involved:
Because we hope to get some recognition, sponsorship, we need to get commitments to participate. So we need to have people sign up.

If you intend to join us, please send me an email and I'll add you to the mailing list.
We do need a few people to step up to manage things like Social events, Safety requirements, Communications, etc. etc.

The principle organizers of the cruise are:
Paul & Peggy Alcock 'britinusa', C250WB - 2005 - "Joint Decision"
Tom Potter, 'tompotter', C250 TR/WK 1997, "Knotty Cat", Lake Lainer, GA
Tom & Adina Gepfrich, 'atgep',1988 wing "Cote d'Azure" , Jacksonville. +_3kids(4,6,8)

This is a participate at your own risk (but get insurance) event.

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - britinusa on 10/17/2005 08:02:28

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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1913 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2005 : 07:07:25

Here's a link with loads of information about Bimini. http://www.bahamas.com/bahamas/island/templrgstandard.aspx?sectionid=6255

Edited by - on

britinusa
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Response Posted - 10/01/2005 : 21:23:23

Tom, that was a good find, it provides some valuable info on Bimini.
Note, it's Customs is only $150 per boat up to 4 people which includes fishing permit, which should cheer many of our members that like to drop a hook that doesn't weigh over 15lbs. (And we can return again within 90 days

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
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Response Posted - 10/02/2005 : 21:48:26

Its time to start making plans, I just orderd my Bahamian courtesy flag and Quarantine flag.

So okay guys, who's coming with us?

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 10/09/2005 : 22:17:33

What's biting, and when?
Mar: wahoo, kingfish, dolphin, tuna, marlin

CRAWFISH-LOBSTER
Season lasts from August 1 - March 31. Annual closed season is April 1 to July 31. Six tails per person, at any time. Minimum size limits are 3-3/8 inch carapace length or six inches tail length. Egg-bearing female crawfish are protected. Six crawfish per person may be exported from The Islands Of The Bahamas.

CONCH
Any conch taken from Bahamian waters must be well formed with a prominent, flared lip. As a rule of thumb, to stay on the safe side of Bahamian law, conch should be a minimum of 7 to 8 inches lengthwise. The immature conch found in many tidal waters or shallow sea grass areas should be left for another day. Bag limit at any time is 10 per person. 10 conch per person may be exported from The Islands Of The Bahamas.

SCUBA
For recreational divers, it's illegal all year around to catch, net, spear or otherwise capture fish or invertebrate critters while using scuba gea or surface supplied compressed air equipment.

Stone Crabs:
Closed season is June 1 to October 15. Minimum harvestable claw is four inches. Harvesting of females is prohibited.

SPORTFISHING 
(non-Bahamian registered boats) - no more than 6 lines are allowed in the water at one time. The annual sportfishing permit is $150, or $20 per sportfishing trip.

Total allowable catch per person varies with the type of catch.

Wahoo/Dolphin/Kingfish: Six fish per person, any combination. No grouper weighing less than 3 (US) pounds may be taken.

Vessel Bag Limit: 20 pounds of scalefish, 10 conch and six crawfish per person may be exported from The Islands Of The Bahamas.

The fine for unlicensed (illegal) fishing in The Bahamas is a MINIMUM of $50,000 or ONE year in prison or both. You may not fish in the Bahamian waters until a fishing permit has been obtained. For this reason, it is best not to fish during the crossing because any catch would be deemed illegal without a permit in your possession.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2005 : 17:16:29

A tidal wave seemed to have hit this thread. It got blown back to 1990!

The Cruise is coming together. Now we have 4 boats committed to getting there. (Bimini)

I'm hoping that we can get a few sponsors to support the trips entertainment. We can think of the obvious sponsors ... West marine, Boat US, or many of the links that are now on the links page. But does anyone have a good link to a wine distributor. :)

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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2030 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2005 : 01:28:17

Lady Kay will be leaving Fort Lauderdale for Bimini 19 or 20.....for a week or so. First time, so I would love to stay in the loop here, and learn, possibly contribute. Maybe join in on one of the raftups....

Captain Oscar, USCG/OUPV ATP/737-757-767
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay" (Ex. C-30 #681, Ex. C250 WB #618 )
Georgetown MD/Fort Lauderdale FL

Edited by - Oscar on 10/16/2005 01:30:28

sailorman
1st Mate

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Response Posted - 10/18/2005 : 23:24:11

I have a question. What do you people do for a living to get this kind of time off? For me to pull my boat from Georgia to Fla., sail for a week, and then pull my boat back to Georgia, I would use up two weeks of vacation, not counting any bad weather delays. Are all you guys retired? Work for the government? Just curious.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
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1913 Posts

Response Posted - 10/19/2005 : 18:17:49

Hey Ed,
I'm a working stiff too, I've been wanting to make a Bimini trip now for years. How much better can it get than to go with a group of guys we have been conversing with on the forum. Not to mention we all will be pretty much equal in speed in our 25/250s.

By the way I did retire from the Navy 10 years ago, and now working as a Safety Manager with a construction company. I've been with them for 10 years now and have 5 weeks of vacation. I can't think of a better way of spending a couple weeks of vacation.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 10/19/2005 18:18:46

sailorman
1st Mate

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Response Posted - 10/19/2005 : 22:19:58

Don't get me wrong,I want to go to, but I can't. I guess I lead the wrong life,(nothing new there).

Edited by - on

britinusa
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Response Posted - 10/20/2005 : 07:47:10

hmmm, time off to go sailing?
I stop work to board up the house everytime there is a blow heading our way (Wilma in on her way nearby soon)
I mow the lawn, maintain the house, and work long hours toooo often.

Yep, a week off is fine by me (but I am my own boss :)

We both work (Peggy is a Nurse) and need those breaks, so we plan on taking a 4 day weekend at least every month. (We launch every trip so 3 days is a practical minimum.)

And the last rationality... That's why we bought the boat

Paul.

Edited by - on

wmeinert@kconline.com
Past Commodore

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353 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2005 : 11:24:06

Put me on the list, and please keep me informed via email at wmeinert@kconline.com. Sounds like a whole lot of fun. Hopefully job interference won't be an issue. Could we even do a race?

Bill Meinert

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
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5902 Posts

Response Posted - 10/20/2005 : 12:13:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I have a question. What do you people do for a living to get this kind of time off? For me to pull my boat from Georgia to Fla., sail for a week, and then pull my boat back to Georgia, I would use up two weeks of vacation, not counting any bad weather delays. Are all you guys retired? Work for the government? Just curious.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">An adventure like this, with a group of enthusiastic, friendly people, is a rare opportunity that will be long remembered by those who participate. It can be done in a couple of weeks, and it's well worth the indignity of having to beg your boss for the time off. If they all schedule their arrival, they can help each other launch boats and raise masts on arrival and on return. I can't think of a better way to spend two weeks of vacation time!

Edited by - on

pwhallon
Admiral

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Response Posted - 10/22/2005 : 13:59:11

Is this trip limited to catalina 25s and 250s only?

PW

Edited by - on

Oscar
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Response Posted - 10/22/2005 : 18:32:00

Nope, I'm a 42.......

Captain Oscar, USCG/OUPV ATP/737-757-767
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay" (Ex. C-30 #681, Ex. C250 WB #618 )
Georgetown MD/Fort Lauderdale FL

Edited by - on

existentialsailor
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1180 Posts

Response Posted - 10/23/2005 : 17:00:23

Seriously, if anyone wants or needs crew... No way can I get my boat there, but would love to participate if anyone is short handed.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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Response Posted - 10/23/2005 : 23:51:02

Our Original intent was to keep the cruise to Forum Members and a minimum boat size of 25' So that would encourage C25's, C250's and Capri 25's. Oscar is going to join us as he will be in the area in his 42fter.

Once Wilma is out of the way (assuming there are no more blustery visitors before end of the season) we'll be posting more info. Links of interest and news of any sponsors. So stay tuned, and if you know a forum member that is a sofla boat nudge them to this post.

Paul.

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
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Response Posted - 10/24/2005 : 11:16:05

Paul, I've watched the chatter for a few weeks and resisted the temptation to react because several planned sailing cruises have been thwarted now for three years because of health constraints of my wife's mother. One of them was a Bimini cruise.

I've all the charts, the flags and did all the chart planning for a crossing to Bimini and run over to a couple of the near islands.

Our constraints haven't changed appreciable however and I continue to be hesitant to spend family vacation funds that my wife can't share but I'm suffering sailing withdrawels and the wife might turn me loose before insanity sets completely in. I might be a maybe...

Edited by - on

Oscar
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Response Posted - 11/01/2005 : 12:11:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I might be a maybe... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

C'mon...tell us your a DEFINITE maybe....

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
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Response Posted - 11/02/2005 : 10:08:42

Hey Oscar, You know the prep that goes into a cruise. After several of these efforts and cancelations, I'm left hesitant to get too excited until the conditions causing the cancelations alter.

In the meantime, I've renewed radio control flying enjoyed many years ago. Many of the old flying buddies are doing it again as well and it is all a few short miles down the road.

Is it sailing, no... does it get me outdoors into the elements, yes... does it keep me active with an enjoyable sport, yes. Am I ready to sell my boat...no, even though the single public recreation corp of engineers sailing lake in our area... once a beautiful sailing lake, is now the water supply for the nearby city leaving the lake's ramps high and dry. Is it better to sail... or bathe?

Even if my boat goes mostly unused for the several years until retirment... holding onto it in hopes of many more cruising adventures is the plan. Life conditions change and we adapt.

Having said all that... doing Bimini in the spring seems a great idea, will see if the ducks can be lined in a row.

Edited by - on

Doug C.
Navigator

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Response Posted - 11/08/2005 : 11:03:36

Add us to the list of interested parties. We made a night crossing last time, would like to see the stream in daylight if possible.

Edited by - on

Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2005 : 17:50:18

I would certainly like to go again also. But I need to see what my work load will be like. I have a solar panel hooked up now!

Edited by - on

britinusa
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Response Posted - 11/09/2005 : 19:07:44

Hi all,
sorry for the absence, been busy dealing with Wilma's fury.
Update on the cruise..
Seems we may have 6 possibly 7 boats so far.. We're growing!

I'm putting together a goody bag of information and bit's & bob's from local businesses that support the sailing types (that's us.)

More later.

Paul

Edited by - on

Oscar
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Response Posted - 11/09/2005 : 20:53:43

HA! Just found Bimini charts on Navionics Gold chip I have for South Florida....

Captain Oscar, USCG/OUPV ATP/737-757-767
C42 # 76 "Lady Kay" (Ex. C-30 #681, Ex. C250 WB #618 )
Georgetown MD/Fort Lauderdale FL

Edited by - on

pwhallon
Admiral

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Response Posted - 11/12/2005 : 14:18:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Our Original intent was to keep the cruise to Forum Members and a minimum boat size of 25' So that would encourage C25's, C250's and Capri 25's. Oscar is going to join us as he will be in the area in his 42fter.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That'll work. I am a member.

There is a C-25 that I would like to buy, but she does not have a trailer.

There are "other" boats out there with trailers.

Anyway, I'll keep my nose to the grindstone on this one.

Thanks,

Paul

Edited by - on

car1260
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2006 : 20:24:29

Is the March Bimini Cruise still on? We'd like to come along too! Does anyone know how long does it take to go thru the ditch from Fort Meyers? We live in Sarasota, and won't be trailering our boat over to Homestead(no trailer), but thought the ditch is probably the quickest way.
Carolyn Thomas
"Ciao" 2003 250WB #667

Edited by - on

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