Roland's First Sail Of The New Year...Fran and I sailed a couple of times already.

Roland and I met on the Bay around twelve noon as planned, we sailed apart for an hour or so then we gradually melded together for a photo Op. We sailed from our home Port and gradually met, from two directions, in Swash Keys. From there we sailed through Baker Cut and back home. Starting out, our craft required a reef but on the way home the reef was shaken out and we enjoyed a leisurely beam reach on the homeward leg of our sail.

Great day on the Bay, temps were in the 60's and the wind out of  the NNE about 15 Kts to start diminishing to around 7 Kts for the sail home.

Ibis and Cap'n Roland

Sailing through Swash Keys

Layered clothing was the dress for the day

Ibis and Roland

Somehow we always manage to sail in close formation, I sort of dig it!

Just One Question

What is this? This is like the old Baydog, guess the ingredients posts.

Hmmmm.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

An Optimist is one who stays up to welcome the New Year.

A Pessimist is one who stays up to make sure that last year is really over.

Half full or half empty?

When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go!

In the Everglades National Park there is a rest stop for boater's, Kayakers and anyone who can make their way to this Key.

While sailing the other day I snapped this picture of a Kayaker taking a much needed break. Mind you, this guy is about seven miles from civilization at this point, with a 10 Kt headwind for the return trip.

Aahh! That's better!

Relief in sight.

Blowing Today!

Drove to Ft.Lauderdale Airport today to pick up Frannie, my girlfriend. She'll spend New Year's and a few day's after,  relaxing, sailing and hopefully fishing and a good Harley ride to KW or the West Coast.

Today, however, the wind has kicked up out of the South making any water sports nada.

After a stop by the Key Largo Fishery to pick up five pounds of 15-17 Pink Shrimp and some really fresh Sushi grade tuna, we had lunch at Dillon's, the local Irish Pub here in town. A crunchy Grouper sandwich for Fran and a Greek salad for me. Sashimi for us tonight along with a shrimp salad and some smoked fish dip appetizer.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS

FROM THE KEYS!

Santa arriving by Catboat
The large cockpit allows for his huge bag of toys
No cookies and milk for this Santa, I leave a dose of Dramamine out for him.





Barry, My New Friend...Well Sort Of

Yesterday I went reef fishing with a couple of friends, Wayne, from Canada and Paul from Michigan. Right off the bat we learned that there is no place for personal political views on fishing trips, so we quickly went about our work to catch fish.

The reefs proved to be very productive on this day, we caught a variety of fish that soon filled our cooler. Then as we were moving to another patch reef we spotted birds working, that means feeding on bait fish, we rushed to the area and proceeded to catch large Spanish Mackerel with lures thrown toward them. We were rewarded for our efforts as we hauled in five or six beauties. These Spanish Mackerel are a delicate fish,white, tender fillets when they are cooked and have a very mild flavor. There are some very good recipes to prepare them and the end result is usually very tasty.

Spanish Mackerel

The Mackerel fishing fell off just as quickly as it started, it seems an unwanted guest arrived and was after the same fish that we were. Barry as we called him rolled up on our fishing grounds, uninvited and unannounced. I said to myself, "I have to meet this fellow that has ruined our fishing success", so I quickly rigged up a live Ballyhoo on a small rod and tossed it into the water, bingo, if only my line doesn't break we would soon  have our introduction to Barry. As luck would have it, after fighting with Barry for about ten minutes, we had our introduction, face to face. I have included a few pictures so you can see why all the other fish beat it out of the area. Barry the Barracuda, ended up weighing about forty pounds of serious fish eating machine. We were very careful to keep away from the business end of this guy, as he could do some real damage if he ever latched on to an appendage. After pictures and a hearty goodbye, we released him unharmed to spoil fishing or provide sport for some other unsuspecting fisherman. Here, my friends is Barry!

Barry comes aboard

I'm 5'9" so you get an idea of his size.
He weighed in at 40Lbs

Checking the weight
The fish is controlled with a Boga Grip which effectively renders the fish safe to lift while not doing any harm

A winter in the Keys

Photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Catboat Rendezvous On Florida Bay...Feb. 17,18,19.

The Upper Keys Sailing Club is sponsoring a Catboat Rendezvous on the weekend of February 17, 18th and 19th. The club wants to make this an annual invitational event for any and all Catboaters and plans are in place for you and any other Catboaters you know to join us. We are to be advertised in the Catboat Association Bulletins along with all the other Rendezvous and whatever buzz we can create for this  event will add to the promotion for future years. More information will follow. Please spread the word to your friends.

Three Cats on Fl Bay
Lee Marie foreground, Green Eyes just in front of me and A-Lee in the background.

The Upper Keys Sailing Club is located in Key Largo, bay side, and is inviting all Catboats sailed or trailered . I will give further information as received. Although we have had a couple rendezvous previously, this will be the the first one advertised in the Catboat Bulletin and hosted by a sailing club. We have almost ten Catboats on the Fl. Bay now, it looks as if the fever is spreading.

It should be a great weekend of sailing activities, food and friendship, mark your calendar.

Where Do You Live?

An interesting map of NJ regions has hit the Internet.
Where do you fit in?
I'd Like to know what you think about the Map!