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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Great Circle Raftup (SoFla)

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britinusa
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Initially Posted - 02/17/2009 : 05:20:02

We will be a part of the worlds largest Great Circle Raftup on February 28/March 1st 2009 at Lake Boca Florida

The Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Club will be managing the event, over 200 boats(?) are expected to participate. We'll be there Friday afternoon unless we find someone enroute that will let us tie up alongside

http://www.hisc.org/Events/2009/ChangeofCommandRaftUp2009.pdf

Here's my map of venues in Florida, includes [url="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=112674048799251145964.00046191208b6cfbbc218&t=h&ll=26.340268,-80.089002&spn=0.028229,0.047593&z=15"] Lake Boca

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

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

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KD4AO
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Response Posted - 02/17/2009 : 07:11:45

Paul, that is interesting news, we used to belong to HISC and participated in the raft-up in Lake Boca in the early 90's. What a great time it was, I am glad to hear it is thriving, used to be no more than 50 boats. Everyone walked from boat to boat around the circle, usually stopping for a bite of food and a drink at each boat. By the way there are or were some rather famous people in that club, we met Gary Jobson at one meeting when he brought his video's of the Whitbread Race. Enjoy Lake Boca, always a good place to spend the night. Bob

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Kendall
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Response Posted - 02/17/2009 : 20:46:23

Maybe if the other boys were interested. Lake Boca is only three hours by boat.

Webcam - http://lakebocacam.com/

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britinusa
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Response Posted - 02/17/2009 : 21:25:22

Hey Kendall, your boat is in the water! com'on down!

Don't forget to register for the raftup (see the link for email address)

Paul.

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britinusa
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Response Posted - 02/24/2009 : 06:31:31

Final prep is underway. We'll be heading to the ramps on Friday Morning for the Motor up to Lake Boca for the Great Circle Raftup.

Here's a pic I found showing a previous Great Circle Raftup at Lake Boca

There's a good chance that the Blimp will be overhead and you know that we'll be on the news.

Early reports are that well over 200 boats will participate, I know that at least one other Catalina 25' is going to be among them.

The pic is looking south, you can see the bridge over the Boca Raton Inlet in the south east corner of the lake.
Just to the south of the inlet is a state park. On days when the wind is from the east and the tide is going out, there can be a standing wave at least 4' heigh and tumbling viciously. We've seen tow boats turn back rather than face into that wave. So I doubt any sailboats will be venturing in that channel unless its a really nice few days. Most will head south to Hilsboro inlet, not without challange either!

The Bascule bridge in the south west corner of the lake is one of three that we have to navigate.

Our plan is to launch from 14th street and motor north through the intracoastal. This will be our first launch into the cut, so we're looking forward to it, an opportunity to extend our venues.

[url="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=112674048799251145964.00046191208b6cfbbc218&ll=26.304957,-80.107841&spn=0.112952,0.190372&t=h&z=13"]Google Map of the area[/url]

Paul

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KD4AO
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Response Posted - 02/24/2009 : 09:00:11

Paul, take plenty of fenders, When we participated in that raftup, the average size boat was over 35' and everyone will walk on your boat. Have a great time.

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Steve Blackburn
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Response Posted - 02/24/2009 : 15:57:33

My lake is still frozen solid!

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britinusa
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Response Posted - 03/02/2009 : 06:08:26

Back from the Raftup.

We had 73 Boats in the Great Circle Raftup. From 50' to 25' beauties (only a handfull of power boats)

Highlights of the weekend.

It was our first trip up the ICW in our neck of the woods. We were really worried about the launch at 14th street ramp, it's pretty steep and has a concrete bar at the bottom of the ramp then drops off deep! We launched within 2 hours of high tide and had no problems at all.

The journey up the ICW was uneventful (beside the anticipated powerboaters doing their thing ... 'how much can we rock that sailboat'.
Only 2 bridges up to lake boca and it does not seem as big when you are on the water (compared to the google maps).

Anchored overnight Friday and watched as the boats arrived mostly on Saturday morning. The raftmaster started corralling us into the circle with every 4th boat dropping anchor outside and few boats on the inside. We formed a big Sunflower, bows out.

The partying was sailboat style! No loud music, but plenty of laughter and jelly shots, captain Morgan and snacks. Met some fine people and we'll most likely meet them again as they share similar sailing venues. I borrowed a dink and rowed around the inside stopping off at a Catalina 34 (1994 DDG!), later Peggy & I risked clambering between boats to go visit the Catalina again, really nice hosts. Quite a few of our sail club were there.

Highlight of the evening (Saturday) was our neighboring boat Midnight Rider (1974 26' somesuch headed from south Carolina to the Bahamas.. young couple newlyweds musicians) Justin and Holly, Justin played his guitar till 11pm and he had a small crowd audience. Some great ballads of his own as well as music from the mountains.

Up early Sunday like many others, coffee between boats, stories of past adventures, advice on where to go in certain areas, great company.

Plan was to break up around noon all together, however Justin's boat blew a cleat and that caused us to open up around 10am. (not sure of the time we were all very busy trying to avoid any damage due to the strain being exerted on boats to our port side due to the high winds.)

Then it was Armada time. A whole bunch of sailboats broke out from the circle and advanced on the bridge just south of the lake. We were able to maintain steerage at a lower speed than most of the other boats so no problem holding up for the next bridge opening. Others had to start circling. When the bridge did open (on time) about a dozen sailboats passed, each one calling in and thanking the bridge tender.

Pull out was a breeze! Our worries were totally unfounded. Peggy had brought her car to the ramps lot in case we were delayed getting back (she had a 6:30 start today) the parking was 50c per half hour, I had put in $35 and we still got a ticket. The fine was $25! We should have just parked up and not paid the parking lot!

Great weekend, Great people, Great Boats and a Great intro to using the ICW.

We'll be back next year!

Oh! and 73 boats is a record (don't know which record!)

<center>

</center>

[url="http://picasaweb.google.com/blimpdriver/RaftUp2009?feat=email#"]Link to the Blimp Pics of the Raftup[/url]
Paul

Edited by - britinusa on 03/02/2009 18:39:19

Nautiduck
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Response Posted - 03/02/2009 : 15:14:10

Sounds like a real treat! Thanks for sharing this Paul.

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John Russell
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Response Posted - 03/02/2009 : 21:52:41

Paul, is that JD center front next to the cat?

Thanks for posting. Makes me hate winter more.

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britinusa
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Response Posted - 03/02/2009 : 22:10:33

Sorry John, no prizes there!

I gave a few clues as to our position.

Paul

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DaveR
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Response Posted - 03/03/2009 : 07:32:03

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I gave a few clues as to our position <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I sure didn't find any clue that would help discern where you were. Fess up dude.

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