New Years Resolution - MORE ROAD TRIPS (also, Sail More, Worry Less)
I will be in the St Pete area Fri 12/29 - Tues 1/02. I think Danny J is going to be there also. Anyone else in the area can reach me at 404-735-4944.
I also plan a long weekend (camping) trip to Jacksonville in January and hope to do the Mid Winters (camping) in Cocoa Beach at the end of Feb/beginning of March.
The Shell Point trip in the Keys that Daivd Wade mentioned is a possiblility, I did it a couple of years ago and it was alot of fun.
Gene
—
Gene Mathis
what weekend in january are you going to jacksonville?
staying at hugenot? check the tide tables?
I think the the 12/13/14 (MLK) weekend and the 26/27/28 weekend have high tides in the middle of the day. If anyone can double check it, I'd appreciate it, I'm not sure if I'm reading the correct charts correctly. I am planning on camping at hugenot.
Gene
Gene Mathis
My reservations have already been made for the Shell Point Fiesta Key trip. My dates are Feb 19 to Feb 24.
I too, will be traveling more this year since I've been nominated for membership in the National Geographic Society.
I am doing a dirt bike road trip Jan 13 to 15 to a riding area in Tallahasse Fla. If it blowd just before the 13 or just after the 14 I plan on sailing Shell Point Fla.
The tides don't look good for the first days you mentioned. The second set of days looked good. I sailed there a couple months ago at extreme low tide with the wind straight out of the north. In the pond the beach has a deep trench the whole length of the park that is just wide enough to jibe in. I sailed up and down the beach for hours in 1 inch chop. It was one of the best sessions I have had in years. There wasn't anyone else there and it was a good thing. I don't think it was wide enough for us to pass safely.
Here is the tide chart I use. It has never failed me. I like the graphic option and usually print it to carry with me.
http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/sitesel.html
Alan,
Am I reading the chart wrong? It looks like high tide on 1/13/07 is 3:10,which should allow you to sail in the pond from around noon until dark, sunset at 5:44.
Gene
Gene Mathis
That would probably work Gene. When I was there the high tide was over the 7 mark. In fact the pond was connected to the beach at the road leading to the beach. It was extremely high. When it started dropping it was like someone pulled the plug on the pond. It went from high to low in just a couple hours. Your visit doesn't appear to have the highes and lows so the sailable window should be much longer. My guess is that you would be fine.
It is also a good idea to look at the place at low tide. The oyster beds on the west side are about fin deep. Some are marked by poles but some aren't. They would ruin your day.
Have fun!
This looks nice:
http://www.thearubahouse.com/
This looks nice too: Bonaire
http://www.vrbo.com/103606
Report from St Pete - Nice, sunny and warm but no wind. Sat, Sun and New Years, mainly 5 to 10, alittle better New Year's morning. Danny J (my kiting support crew) didnt make it down, but I did rig and practice flying my 12 meter kite on Mon & Tues at Fort Desoto's South Beach. Thanks to Ed & Christian (2 bored windsurfers waiting on wind) for their assistance. The wind was so lite, there was no real windsurfing and the ony real kiting was on large kites (17-19 meters.)
I'm still hoping to do a road trip to Jacksonville this month.
Gene
Gene Mathis