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Visiting Fort Myers Beach

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NuNees
Navigator

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USA
125 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/31/2005 : 13:54:34

Hello,
We are planning a short trip to visit friends in Ft Myers Beach, Feb 18 to 20. Is anyone here familiar with the Yacht clubs thereabout?
Our yacht club on Carlyle apparently has reciprocity agreement though 'Yachting Clubs of America'. Anybody know how that might work out?
I won't be bringing the C25 so is there any place to rent a C25 size boat for an afternoon cruise? I don't have a 'Coastal Cruising' tag, just 'Keel Boat' and 2 summers on the lake.
Any other suggestions will be helpful.
Our friends have spent the last two Februarys in Ft Myers and I'm looking for something new to do.

Bill Jaworowski,
Moonbeams.
C25 SK/SR #4953
Sailing Lake Carlyle, IL.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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5902 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2005 : 15:48:59

The people who operate Southwest Florida Yacht Charters have been in the business for a long time and are nice folks. I've chartered from them, and they have nice equipment. They charter a Cal 24 for a little over $200. the first day and $175. each additional day. Their website is at swfyachts.com (I tried to make it a hyperlink, but for some reason it isn't working that way.)

They're located in Charlotte Harbor at the Burnt Store Marina. I can't think of a better place to spend a day or two sailing than in and around Charlotte Harbor.

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NuNees
Navigator

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USA
125 Posts

Response Posted - 02/01/2005 : 08:24:43

Steve,
Thanks for the tips ... I'll check them and see what happens.
I haer a lot of stories that the hurricane damage has been extensive ... and about the many boats 'Totaled' by the those same storms, so I don't know what to expect. I am anxious to see for myself ... I had read an article mentioning 'Burnt Store' in Charlotte Harbor. I am anxious to see for myself. Then, too, there is always 'Walking The Beach'.

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 02/07/2005 : 20:57:20

Just got home and saw message 2/7. Yacht clubs in Fla are organized into the Fla Council of yacht clubs with in-state reciprocity for 38 partcipating clubs. Two in the Ft Myers area are the Royal Palm Yacht club, an old traditional club which is located well up the Caloosahatchee river near the railroad bridge,near FlR "54" and a much newer, tonier (and very nice) club called the St Charles Yacht club, located down the river near the mouth opposite R"86" and R"90". It is quite likely that you should have your club steward contact these club managers ahead of time, or carry a letter asking for reciprocity from your manager. It is NOT automatic, to clubs outside the Fla council. There is a peach of a club on Captiva island (Captiva YC) which has very limited dockage but could surely take a C 25 , has good restaurant, VERY friendly people, no pool, but nice beach across the road on gulf. St.C is (239)466-2007, R.P. is (239)334-2176, both used to be area (941) but I think are changed now. If you need more info backchannel me, fair winds, ron

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ddlyle
Captain

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Response Posted - 02/08/2005 : 22:39:25

I too have used SW FLA yachts charters and they are good folks.
Charlotte harbor is real big, good sailing and fairly shallow (I was surprised).
Good sailing but I found the sandy bottom a few times, so watch the markers.

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ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2005 : 22:39:57

I too have used SW FLA yachts charters and they are good folks.
Charlotte harbor is real big, and fairly shallow (I was surprised).
Good sailing but I found the sandy bottom a few times, so watch the markers.

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ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2005 : 22:39:58

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NuNees
Navigator

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125 Posts

Response Posted - 02/14/2005 : 22:00:50

Steve Milby, ronrryan, and ddlyle,
Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. My new PC is being cranky!!!
Thank you for the advice and the tips about the local Yacht Clubs ... I have set up a charter with SWFYachts for their CAL24 ...
looking forward to a pleasant day on Charlotte Harbor... They indicated that we'd need to spend about an hour getting familiar with the boat and reviewing the chart ... Hopefully I can get my GPS past airport security to help with keeping clear of the 'shoals'... I give you a report when I return.

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ronrryan
Admiral

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561 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2005 : 09:23:36

Bill, if you are sailing Charlotte Harbor from Burnt Store Marina, you come out their riprap entry and basically turn left or turn right. If you turn right you are headed up toward Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, both communities that suffered heavily in the last hurricane season, including their respective yacht clubs: The Isles YC in Punta Gorda, and the Charlotte Harbor YC on the North side of eastern Charlotte Harbvor. I think the Isles is operating still out of a tent, and CHYC had a lot of dock damage.Isles (941)639-7551, CHYC (941)629-5131. If you turn left yopu are headed westerly toward the Sanibel/Captiva area. If you are just out for the day, this is a pretty long day to visit Captiva YC or Tweenwaters resort and return, only because there is a long entrance channel, and a little tricky if you draw four or more feet in spots. You can also go down to the entrance to Boca Grande pass, and on the North side, about opposite R"2" is a cut leading into Millers Marina, which I undrestand has reopened after renovations and you would be able to dock, get a burger, etc. Cannot report on their status by personal visit, however. On the South side of Boca Grande pass is a sort of lagoon called pelican bay on your chart, you can get in there to anchor, lunch, swim, etc but must be careful of shoaling at the dogleg entry, best to follow somebody in, sounding as you go slowly so you can get off if you go on. Fair winds, enjoy, ron in SW FL

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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5902 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2005 : 10:19:08

Cabbage Key, located south of Boca Grand Pass, is a nice place for a lunch stop, or even an overnight stay. Does anyone know how it fared in the hurricanes?

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2005 : 13:06:33

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I have set up a charter with SWFYachts for their CAL24<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I took my first ASA Sailing lessons with SWFYachts on that same Cal24. Enjoy your trip.

Steve

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NuNees
Navigator

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125 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2005 : 18:35:42

Ron, Steve, and Steve ...
Thanks again for the tips.
I am looking forward to our vist to Ft Myers and the sail ...
I feel like I am amoung friends!

BTW ... I wanted to name our boat 'Barbara J' but she would have none of it ... as they say. So we named in 'Moonbeams' short for Polka Dots and Moonbeams.
That is an old Sinatra tune from our courtship days ...

I'll let you know how this turns out. I hope it doesn't cause me to retire ... Perish the thought!

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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1016 Posts

Response Posted - 02/15/2005 : 20:27:09

Well, my first choice of names for our wing keel C25 was Wing Nut. She wanted Sailabration. We compromised and named the boat after her, so I still get to sleep in the house.

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NuNees
Navigator

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USA
125 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2005 : 17:46:52

That's cool!
What ever it takes!!!

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Ben - FL
Admiral

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880 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2005 : 21:47:33

Sailabration sounds really good. That is a new one for me and I like it. Did you christen the bow with champagne?

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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1016 Posts

Response Posted - 02/16/2005 : 22:25:10

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Did you christen the bow with champagne?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Not yet. Not until the name actually goes on the hull.

As an aside, our last power boat was Stephanie J, now this boat is Barbara J. I told my wife if we get another boat, it'll be "Smoke a J."

Steve

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NuNees
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125 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2005 : 10:54:47

Steve,
Thank you for the tip about Southwest Florida Yachts ...
The Burnt Store Marina and Charlotte harbor worke dout quite well...
They were very courteous, as you might expect.
The price for the CAL 24 was 238 (including tax)...

The weather in Ft Myers was brochure quality!
Friday did pose a temporary challenge as the chop was more than I am accustomed too. Which is what I wanted to experience. Winds settled after an hour or so and we had a fine sail. Stayed out from 10:00 to 4:00. Practiced a MOB drill after my hat was knocked off by the lower than my C25 boom. Absolutley fantastic day.

Ron,
I was not able to set up any visits to the local yacht clubs. there just was not enough time. All of us had a terrific vist to your fine town.

If anyones travel plans include St Louis I'll be delighted to show you how us 'Plains Lake Sailors' cope.

Thanks again for your help.

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