Columbus Day Regatta?

Chesagansett

Chesagansett

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We're keeping the boat in South Florida this winter. We thought we might trailer it down in late October. However, I have a conference in Ft. Lauderdale the week before Columbus Day weekend. A few of you have said the Columbus Day Regatta "boat party" off Elliott Key is a fun event. So, we might bring the boat down early, and go to the Columbus Day Reagatta weekend.

I'll tow the boat down early, then go to the conference, which is Tuesday 10/6 through Friday 10/9. Then Columbus Day weekend starts on Saturday the 10th.

My question is this .... what day do the boats gather off Elliott Key for the "boat party"? Does it get going on Friday or Saturday? Which is the main day? I would assume Saturday, amd maybe Sunday, too? If we go just for one day, which is the best day?
Pascal, are you going again?

We'll be keeping the boat at Rickenbacker Marina dry-stack on Virginia Key / Key Biscayne.

Thanks.
 
Saturday and Sunday are the main days but for the diehearts it starts on Friday all the way through Monday. I usually get there Saturday morning and stay till Monday. The biggest problem I see for you will be finding a place to launch the boat on Saturday and having enough water(holding tank) for the whole weekend. If you go make sure you have a dingy/kayak/or other form of raft so you can get of your boat and explore.
Look for Pascal I am sure he will be there, it looks I will be there there too, do not know who els is going this year, may be we can have a roll call and make plans!

Cor

Ps you need to bring waterblasters for the water fights!!!!
 
we usually get there on friday evening although it really starts going on saturday. Many boats leave on sunday late afternoon, we usually stay till monday since it's a little less crazy on the way back compared to sunday night, with hundreds of boats racing back under various levels of impairment

a dinghy and waterguns are must have:

normal_PA111139.JPG


http://www.sandbarhopper.com/coppermine/thumbnails.php?album=27&page=1
 
Thanks all. Cor, as far as lauching, we will be launched by the forklift at the dry-stack facility at Rickenbacker Marina. That's how they launch the dry-stack boats there. We wlll probably not stay overnight at the boat party. We only have a 25 cuddy with no genererator / no A/C. It's only a cuddy that allows you to sit up in the cabin. You can't even stand up in the cabin. Very cramped cabin. We'll probably head there on Saturday morning and stsy for the day. We can easilty make the run back to sleep on land each evening. It takes us less than an hour to run from Rickenbacker to Elliott Key. I'm not sure if we would just go Saturday, or if we also run down again on Sunday, too.
We won't have a real dink with us. We have a little cheapo hand inflate thing with plastic oars. ...More like a pool toy. Is a motorized dink a must for getting around? We can't really bring a real dink and motor along on our small cuddy.

See you guys on Saturday, Oct 10th.
 
so you decided on Rickenbacker? good... nice central location.

if you want to sleep on your boat but raft up to us for showers, etc.. you more than welcome. it's usually a little cooler in october so AC isnt' critical, we can pass you an extention cord with a fan if needed...
 
Thanks for the offer Pascal. I'll talk to the Admiral about it. yes, Rickenbacker seemd good. Javier ("Jay") there said he knows who you are. (You are a famous captain down there!). We also considered Grove Harbor, but they didn't have on-site trailer storage, and that was the tie breaker. Grove Harbor would have had to take our trailer somewhere off-site, and then we would have to give them 2 or 3 days notice to get it back, if needed (like for a trip towing to the keys). Rickenbacker stores them right there by hanging them off the ends of the racks. Seemed more convenient at Rickenbacker.

Thanks, and see you in about 8 weeks.
 
I would strongly suggest you staying overnight so to get the FULL regatta experience!! Also after a full day of partying it up (and it goes on to deep in the night) (drinking and lots of play) it is going to be a real drag to run the boat back to Miami. I have seen plenty of boats that have no cabin what so ever with people pasted out/sleeping anywhere they can, on deck, the floor, on a air-mattress floating tied to the boat, you name it; very much fun to see!

Cor
 
the best party is on sat night, friday and sunday are not that bad either.
 
many center console with people sleeping outside in the cockpit. always to sneak around at 3am and shoot the waterguns up into open boats :-)
 
I imagine it's pretty darn dark off Elliott Key with no towns nearby. It will be about a half-moon night for light. I have crappy night vision, so will I even be able to see much, or do lots of boats run gennys and off their batts? If we went back to the dock each day, we would leave well before dark.
I mentioned it to the admiral about staying overnight. I didn't get a yes or a no.....just a maybe. I think it's more of a wait and see, dependng on weather, her mood ;) , etc. We both appreciate the offer to raft to you Pascal, , and will seriously consider it.

Thanks!
 
Looking forward to this year's Regatta ,we will try to get down early to secure a nice spot,hope to meet up with Y'all...
This year we will test and bring with us another of our own "secret water weapon" that we will attempt to repel all those that come into range on their assault craft..No more throwing chicken bones at them...Soak em good, that will be our just deserts!
 
Oh Boy..Just got a call from a boating Pal from Stavanger, to make sure that the usual Holiday decadence will be in place, as he will be sailing over with his new "Crew" to expose them to "the new world" experience..
Bad enough they drink that stuff Aquavit, which is only really good to remove automobile paint off your car.Hey they still have fun...
 
I am getting all stressed out getting ready for the big event, I need to find away to let of some steam.
 
I really want to go this year. Would be first time for me. Couple of questions for those who have been there.
1- Best way to go, out side or ICW?
2- Where and what to look for if arrive late Fri.? Probably leave Sunday afternoon.
3- Best area to anchor,34' boat + myself and couple of lady friends?.
1 or 2 Anchors?.
Sure would like to meet up with SFBC boaters.
I am a rookie at this, so would appreciate some tips.
 
Pascal -

We are taking along a friend or possibly 2 friends, so we will not be spending the night. Would it still be advantageous to raft up to you? If you need troop reinforcements for your super-soaker raids in your dink, we'd be glad to help out. Which reminds me...I need to buy some super-soaker water guns. What is the best kind to get?

Other than water guns, what other special itmes should we bring to this event that we wouldn't normally take along for a day of boating? On a typical boat outing for the day, we usually bring a cooler with cold drinks, and some light food.

We'll probably arrive sometime in the late morning on Saturday, and we'll leave by late afternoon. Hopefully Rickenbacker rack storage stays open a little later for that weekend. We might return again on Sunday, depending on what the crew wants to do. We are only about 45 minutes from Rickenbacker to Elliott Key.

Do you have a particular area that you anchor for this event? Lat/Lon?

Thanks.

Glenn
 
Joe,

weather permitting, go outside to cape florida and come it thru the well marked Stiltsville channel, then head south in the bay. there are no other way in between Cape Fl. and eliott.

watch out for teh featherbanks, it's well marked but dont' take ANY shortcut... on the ICW you have 2 pairs of markers. further east, you have one pair of marker, then you turn towards boca chita and will see a set of 3 markers that you must got thru, about a mile away... jsut check the chart it's easy.

we dont' anchor too close to shore at eliott, too many bugs in the evening... We try to anchor off the side of the pack, away from the dense crowd, usually south of the University dock. it's easy to dinghy in where the action is, yet not me in teh madness.

be careful coming back on sunday afternoon, lots of drunken idiots heading home! we will probably come back sunday, but late, well after dark, after the rush is over.

water guns are really the only thing you need, some floating noodles too...

1 anchor is fine, but use a lot of scope, holding is never that great, thin layer of silt over coral.
 
<<..."it's easy to dinghy in where the action is, yet not me in teh madness."....>>

Pascal -

How easy is it to dinghy in (rowing dinghy)? We have a small rowing dinghy. Or, is it motoring distance?
 
depends how close you anchor. if you anchor in the middle of things you can row, although rowing you will be at a serious disadvangtage when "attacked" :)

as to water gun types, you can see what we use in the picture i posted at the beg. of the thread. don't wait till the last minutes, Worst Marine sells them at prices that would make a super bowl ticket scalper feel more guilty than a catholic... :)
 
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