Trip to Keys

[rancher44]

Hi
I am leaving Punta Gorda the last week of Jan to the second week of Feb
Any boaters wanting to buddy boat at that time or meet along the way ?
Just drop me a line .
Now is the time to sail your boat and leave the dock

[cabo_sailor]

Just curious Rancher why do want/ need a buddy boat for an overnight sail?

I've done the trip several times including once with a buddy boat. Quote the Raven "Nevermore"!

Boat speeds differ, it's hard to stay in contact. If I do lose contact, what should I do?

Far better IMO to sail separately with a preordained rendezvous.

In any event, it should be a nice trip, enjoy!

Rich


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[rancher44]

Hi
Actually I have sailed that trip several times also. I am trying to get more sailors to actually sail. I realize the speed difference and was hoping to get some cat sailors to join in float trip. Maybe buddy boating is the wrong term and I should say go on a trip to keys with their boat

To be quite blunt I find in my marina that 95%of the boats just sit in their slips 2%do day sails and the other 3 % do some longer sails.

Maybe I am in the wrong part of the Gulf or maybe my expectations are unrealistic but I was hoping for more boats that liked to sail.
I am semi retired and spend every other month on my boat.
I don't stay in my slip I sail. Many times it is solo but I came to sail.

[Davy J]

Maybe I am in the wrong part of the Gulf or maybe my expectations are unrealistic but I was hoping for more boats that liked to sail.

I think you will find this to be the case world-wide. Most boats don't go anywhere. We made a trip to the keys last November, but unfortunately, have been very busy this year. Will you be sailing straight down, or make hops along the way?

[cabo_sailor]

Well good on you! I applaud your efforts. My marina is small and only a handful of boats are being used. Some have jobs interfering, some have spouses that refuse to sail at night, my boat refuses to leave the slip until I get the engine running. (Hopefully in the next week or two).

To add to that, I personally prefer solitude. Good luck on your efforts.

Rich


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[rancher44]

Thanks Rich.

As far as sailing over night or hopping .
If it is not crab pot season I can hop but I have only done that this last trip as I had a real mutiny on my hands. The women had been sea sick and they were very hostile. Needless to say they won't sail with me again. The one guy that was with me was very little help.
So I would like to hop some time thru Key West just to become knowledgeable of that area.

[tbodine88]

wish I could go, but the boat is in the back yard and too slow to keep up with a cat.

When I was in the Caribbean, I saw that most of the boats even in Jolly Harbor Marina of Antigua, sat in their slips most of the time, some were there all the tie.

[rancher44]

Ok I have firmed up my plans and plan on leaving Burnt Store Marina Punta Gorda on the 30th of Jan and returning the 6th of Feb Any one interested in taking their boat drop me line.
Hope a couple of you boaters will join me