Camp Sailing Near Ft Desoto
Did sail north up St. Pete Beach and did the hotel tour. Got some video of para-sailors and other boats trying to get in my way. I think the trimaran appearance attracts a lot of lookers because they may not see on very often. I don't worry much if they get up close, dumb if them to leave me a wake to deal with. The only cause for concern if too close is that the tri will get a speed boost when the wind picks up, and frankly not all boaters have good assessment for other boats speed changes, especially sailboats with out a motor changing wake signatures.
Before camping out in the bayou near the camp ground, J.C. and spent some time fishing from the tri, sailing light wind under jib only, in 2 ft water, at 2 kts, keel mostly up, rudder out at 90 degrees, like drifting under control, having cold ones and good conversations with our lures out. Couple of nibbles but no bites. The tri sailed very nicely in very shallow water. I really like that rudder. The Florida Gulf Coast has a lot of shallow water. I especially like to sail from Ft Desoto. The launch ramp is huge with over 20 ramps. That ramp area can be quite busy with power boaters on the summer weekends. Going out mid-week is very manageable.
Time to rig after arrival is just over an hour, longer if explaining the step along the way to a new crew. No matter, you just can't be in a hurry if your sailing, with the exception of trying to get to a way-point before the unfavorable tide change.
Rafting up for a lunch break.
On this trip, was out with Ricky from Ft. Myers and J.C. from Miami. Those guys were sailing Windrider 16s. We camped two nights on the south end of Shell Key, where primitive camping is permitted at no charge. The third night, Ricky and J.C. tent camped in the Ft. Desoto camp ground area, while I camped on board in the water just off the camp ground beach.
The wind was ok for late spring, mostly out of the east so we sailed out to the Gulf and around the St. Pete beach area. Did some fishing, and talking boats and guy stuff.