PGISLANDERS BURGEE  PGISLANDERS NAME

CRUISE REPORTS

Cruise Reports are to be filed by the Captain after each Cruise.
Please send your report and pictures to the Webmaster

PGIslanders Cruise The Florida Keys/Dry Tortugas Report

Spring 2010

Once again, this spring many PGIslanders cruised to the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas. One comment made by a non U.S. sailor was, “All the boaters he met in the Keys were PGIslanders”. Maybe a bit overstated, but we were in many ports, anchorages and snorkeled on numerous reefs. This was a type of tag-a-long cruise. While there was no structured itinerary, boats kept in touch by e-mail, cell phone and VHF and met in many places.

Boaters that met at least two other PGIslanders in the keys included: the Alexanders on Sasha, the Burkhart's on Peacock, the Brandt's on Lickety Split, the Elliott's on Chantey, the Fullers on Yorkshire Rose, the Haswell's on Footloose, the Lennon's on Katie Rose and the Roes on Therapy. Other PGIslanders cruising to the Keys included the, The Clarks and Petersons on The Office, the Deutsche's on F Troop V, the Ising's on Diva Di, and the Taits on Reassurance IV.

Toby Haswell

Shelling Cruise Report

May 26-29, 2010

As a follow-up to our May meeting where Sue Linehan presented a program on Florida Shells, a number of PGIslanders set out on a 3 day cruise to use what they had learned to try to find the perfect shell. We spent 3 days at the coast with one night each at Peekins Ranch Cove on Boca Grande, Englewood Beach anchorage, and Pelican Bay. Shelling is always a matter of being in the right place at the right time. The right time is usually low tide which was occurring around dusk on this trip, so we made excursions to beaches near the anchorages evenings and again some mornings in spite of a higher tide then. Boca Grande turned out to be our best shelling at the “secret beach.” You had to be on the cruise for Sue Linehan and me to share one of our favorite spots and lead you there.

The last evening at Pelican Bay, we had a Happy Hour get-together on Catalyst and Anything Goes, which belongs to some friends from Australia, to share some of our best shells. No one had found any junonias or lions’ paws (SW Florida’s coveted finds), but we did find some wonderful shells. Bragging rights went to Almut for the biggest shell, an oyster shell. Sue Fuller and Mary Kay tied for the best shark’s tooth. Mary Kay won the most exciting find for her starfish. Sue Linehan’s banded chocolate tulip was the prettiest shell. Sue Fuller’s scallop was the most colorful, and her dove shell was the rarest find of all.

Upon returning home, I saw Amy McElhenie’s posting on Facebook of some of her recent shelling on Keywadin Island below Naples, and her finds outshined all of ours on this trip. As I said, you just have to be in the right place at the right time, and for those of us who “addicted” to shelling, we’ll keep searching for that perfect shell.

Karen Clark Cruise Captain

Cabbage Key Luncheon Cruise Report

April 19, 2010

The black clouds and heavy rain of Sunday cleared the way for our lunch cruise to Cabbage Key on Monday, April 19th. Sunshine and smiles were the order of the day thanks to all who attended.

Cruise Captains
Allen and Anne Marie Hagstrand

'Tween Waters Marina Cruise Report

April 13-15, 2010

On Tuesday, April 13th, thirteen boats from the PGIslander Cruising Club made their way to 'Tween Waters Marina at Captiva Island. The weather was not completely cooperative in that the Harbor was quite choppy on the way down, but all arrived pretty much as planned.

We had dockside hors d'oeuvres the first night and the wind remained stiff, as we found out it would be for our whole stay. Our group was particularly great because it was a nice mixture of old and new members. On Wednesday we all did our own thing from biking, walking into town or just "veging out" around the pool or boats. Most of the group headed to the Bubble Room restaurant that evening for a drink, dinner and DESSERT!!. Wow, I didn't know how much these folks like dessert, and the portions were huge.

The next day we continued our serious relaxing, riding bikes, shuffle board, walking and shelling on the beach, and playing cards. The last evening we all headed of to the Green Flash Restaurant for a great dinner overlooking the Roosevelt Channel. The roadway is a little wider than it was in the past, so walking to the restaurants was a little less challenging. Some of the night owls of the group went to the Crab Races that night to finish the evening.

Early the next morning the assemblage started to head back to our home ports in PGI, again with some wind but not too bad. It was a great group, good stories were told and we all enjoyed the comaraderie.

Cruise Captains
Patty and Ken Plotts / Bonnie and John Benande

Boca Grande Cruise Report

March 17-19, 2010

Mother Nature was on our side this year !!...Mild temperatures, calm winds til Sun noon, good food, ice cream, sun bathing and the best of all 13 Boats and their owners who share a common interest...cruising and eating..Docktails - Fri nite..Out and About on Sat...Italian dinner Sat nite

Cruise Captain
Penny Kapin

Cayo Costa Cruise Report

March 17-19, 2010

The Cruise to Cayo Costa was held on March 17 to the 19th. The following boats participated in this event:

Ann and Martin Shapiro - Guests on Catalyst
Barry and Pat Nielsen - C S Cape
Ken and Nancy Klaren - September Song
Richard and Joanne Collins - Eagles Wings
Steve and Ann Pert - Change Order
Gene and Sue Fuller - Yorkshire Rose
Toby and Almut Haswell - Foot Loose
Mary and Roger Rommel - Desert Fox 2
Noel and Sandy McDonald - Willow (Co-Captains)
Rob and Sue Linehan - Catalyst (Captains)
Tom and Carol Foster - Liberty Run

The first event of the cruise was a St. Patrick's Day party aboard the rafted boats of the Klaren's and the Linehan's. Celtic music met the cruisers as they boarded. Irish decorations and head dresses were also provided along with Guinness and a pulled pork dinner complete with salad and desert. An Irish trivia game challenged the group and though there were no prizes (non were warranted by the number of answers correct) people did enjoy learning something about the celebrations associated with this day.

The following morning, half of the crew toured the island with our park ranger guide, Mark. The tour was conducted on one of the narrower trolley's because of the tight turns and meant that the group had to be divided into two different times. The tour took the group on some of the paths along the north side of the island. Though you can hike the trails yourself, it was great to get the ride and have the information passed on by the guide. It was amazing to know how much activity and life there was on the island at one time, complete with families, a school, a ship repair facility, a quarantine location with a doctor, fishermen and even rumored to have a house supporting ladies of questionable character!

After a BYO picnic, the remainder of the group had their tour and beach combing was on the agenda for many.

That evening the group gathered again for a cocktail event with BYO everything, again on the rafted boats of September Song and Catalyst. We were joined in the morning group tour ride and at the cocktail hour by a young couple and their 7 month old son who were in the anchorage. They work for Circ De Sol and were off for a few weeks and came out on their boat that they keep in St. Pete. It was a high light of the event to have their company and of course a lot of Grandmas got to hold the adorable boy Joshua. The best part of cruising life is to meet new and interesting people out on the water. The young couple enjoyed our company and we enjoyed theirs. We will try to do a trip to see their show when it comes to the Tampa/St. Pete area next January and they promised a back stage tour for us.

Friday saw people head their own way. It was a little chilly and some scattered showers but all in all a wonderful cruise and the people that enjoyed it had good reason to enjoy each other and our wonderful treasure, Cayo Costa.

Be sure to look at the pictures. Special thanks goes to co-captains the McDonalds, Martin Shapiro for taking many of the pictures and the Klaren's for being such great sports with a two night raft up. Being a cruise captain is a wonderful opportunity to be with and count on members of the club. No need of Fair Winds and Following Seas when you have friends like these!

Submitted by
Sue Linehan - Cruise Captain

Burnt Store Marina Luncheon Cruise Report

March 1, 2010

The luncheon cruise to "Burnt Store Marina" on March 1st turned out just GREAT! A good time was had by all and for once the weather co-operated. We had lots of sun and smooth waters.

A big thanks to all that attended.

Bob and Dottie Olsen
Cruise Captains