The pleasures of sailing in a warm climate

My wife and I recently returned from six months sailing on the west coast of Florida, and for anyone seeking a dinghy cruising area with sunshine, small tides, exotic wildlife, superb fishing and friendly natives then this area of Florida is for you. It is an area which would provide the enterprising sailor with many months of good cruising.

It is obviously not practical to transport your own boat across. However, with air fares to the States now so reasonable it is perfectly feasible to purchase a second-hand dinghy in Florida and leave it at a sailing club for you and your friends to have the use of for many years to come.

Sailing Clubs, not Yachting Club membership should cost about £30 per year and they are also the place to find a dinghy suitable for cruising. It should be possible to purchase and equip a dinghy for cruising at a price comparable with two to three weeks car hire.

The sailing area stretches from Tarpon Springs in the north to the Everglades in the south, a distance of approximately 240 miles. There is a choice of open sea sailing on the Gulf of Mexico and sailing behind the barrier islands with shallow water and sheltered anchorages ideal for dinghy cruising. Many of the barrier islands are now built up, but with the shallow draught of the dinghy seclusion is never very far away. Those islands with little or no development or those designated as state parks are perfect for those desert island dreams of white sands, mangrove palms and dolphins playing off the bows of your anchored dinghy.

There are drawbacks, the main one being insects. Mosquitoes and ‘no see ums’ come out at dusk in unsprayed areas and some form of netting is required if you are to get a decent night’s sleep, bridal tulle is highly recommended locally. Another recommended local remedy is Avon ‘Skin so Soft’ skin cream as an insect repellent.

The ideal times to go are between mid March to mid June and between mid October to the end of November. The weather at these times is more settled and the ‘snowbirds’ from the north have gone home and the prices are lower.

The time not to go is between mid June and mid October when the heat and humidity are very high coupled with almost daily thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes and hurricanes.

Between December and February the winds are stronger and the nights can be chilly when a cold front comes in from the north. Prices are higher at this time of the year also.

Many of the motels and hotels have their own docks so you could use your boat as a hire car and tour the waterways in luxury.

I have only touched on the potential of this area for dinghy cruising and hope to have whetted your appetite to sample the delights of hot weather sailing.

Logistics

We started our search for a boat in the Tampa Bay area and found it after visiting a local sailing club to view a 16 foot dinghy which we had seen advertised in the local paper. Anchored across the small bay opposite the club was a small gaff rigged sloop with a ‘for sale’ notice hanging from its mast. I rang the number listed on the notice and we viewed the boat the following day. It was love at first view; she was a Salt 19; very basic, what the Americans call a camping boat. It had just a small cabin with two berths, no electrics, no toilet facilities not even a bucket. It did have rowlocks and oars however which helped to keep us fit on our trip. We took her out for a test sail which was not totally successful as the owner managed to wrap the sheets around a marker buoy — pronounced booee in America. We bartered and settled on a price of £600.

The sloop was named Pelican by my wife, and became our home for the next six months. We sadly had to sell the boat when we came home, however as we sold it for roughly the same amount as we paid for it, this tempered our feelings a little.

Prices

This obviously varies on the type and condition of boat you are looking for. We have seen nice 16 footers for about $500; always barter hard as it’s a buyer’s market at the moment.

Where to Look

Local newspapers, classified section. Marine notice boards. Sailing clubs — listed in yellow pages. Gulf Mariner — a free newspaper available at chandlers and marinas. Boatyards. Do the rounds.

Paperwork

All boats over a certain length with an engine have to be registered and a registration number and tax paid decal displayed. The current charge for a 19 foot boat is $31. There is also a charge to change the title on the boat and this is based on a percentage of the sale price, about 7% to 8%.

All the up to date information on the above can be obtained from the local tax collector’s office, ask for the vessel section. I found them very user friendly.

Insurance

We dispensed with boat insurance, however third party cover may be prudent. Check with local broker it should not be too expensive. Health insurance is essential and make sure your policy covers boating — many do not.

Improving your boat

America has a throwaway culture, look out for materials awaiting garbage collection. We found good timber this way. Skips at marinas are a treasure trove of gin palace cast-offs. Half sheets of marine grade plywood and brand new top quality marine carpet are just two of our finds.

Garage sales and thrift shops are ideal for cooking pots and plates etc. A good source of paperbacks also…

Charts and Guides

N.O.A.A. charts are available at chandlers in full size and chart kit format. Most libraries have chart books and have Photostat machines. A Gunkholer’s Cruising Guide to Florida’s West Coast by Tom Lenfestey gives details of anchorages, marinas, restaurants and much more.