You could win a cruising sailboat
The annual raffle at the Florida Maritime Museum is under way. This year, the prize is a 19-foot ComPac sloop built by the Hutchins Co. in Clearwater. It’s not a new one, of course, but you can bet it’s in fine shape after the museum boat builders looked after it.
Tickets are $5 each, or five for $20. You can buy them at the museum, before or after a visit. If you’re a sailor or have an interest in Florida maritime history, the museum is a must-see stop. Afterwards check out one of the local eateries for home-style cooking.
The raffle proceeds are used to support programs at the museum and the Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage (FISH) boat works. The drawing will take place on Sunday, Feb. 21, at the Cortez Seafood Festival. Mark your calendars.
RETIRE AND ROW
If that’s your dream, you’ve come to the right place. Rowers Almanac next month will publish its list of the nation’s best cities to "retire and row." Congratulations, Sarasota. We’re Number One. This is due in no small degree to the national-class rowing facility at Nathan Benderson Park, which is about to become international-class. Road building money will be released next year for improvements to Cattlemen Road, including excavation at the lake to lengthen the venue to Olympic size. That means the area will have the potential to be a training facility for the Pan-American Games as well as other international events.
The West Coast Inland Navigation District has put money in the kitty to improve the site, and the county commission have earmarked a fraction of the Tourist Development Tax to develop the old borrow pit into a sporting venue, and the effort is already gaining national attention.
Jason Reed – a 10-time member of the U.S. National rowing team and a 2004 Olympic champion – visited the area earlier this month. "Many area residents may not realize that the race course being installed at the Benderson Park is an ideal location to host an international event like the Junior World Championships," he said.
BACK ON THE WATER
The Siesta Key Sailing Club is back in action. After the usual summer hiatus, the club raced six times in late October and early November. The results ended in a tie between "Friendship" with skipper Bill Hoffman and "Second Wind" helmed by Dave Farr. In second place was Bob Miller in "Mz. Manatee."
The December series wrapped up Dec. 4, with more racing scheduled in February. Anybody interested in joining the SKSC may call Commodore Charlie Kilbourne at 346-2241. It’s not a social club; it’s a reason to go sailing.
SHORT ON GIFT IDEAS?
In these days of economic stress, everybody’s pinching his or her pennies. If they have pennies. If there is any doubt in your mind about the desires of the gift-ee, you might consider a gift card. It’s a cash infusion to the business, and gift-ee can get exactly what he wants or needs. All the bait shops offer gift cards, for example.
Or you can be a real hero and give a gift in someone’s name to an organization close to their heart. Whether it’s the local historical society, Mote Marine Laboratory, G.WIZ science museum, the South Florida Museum, Crowley Museum and Nature Center, the Opera-Symphony-Ballet-performing arts groups, the local food bank, the Salvation Army, Goodwill, each and every one of those organizations needs support, too.
Many of those organizations also have gift shops with nifty – and sometimes homemade – items. The Historical Society recently opened its shop in Pioneer Park behind the historic Wood house. Support us locals, eh. Don’t send all your Christmas money to China this year; they don’t celebrate Christmas in China (except to count our dollars).
LOCAL GUIDES RECOGNIZED
Two local fishing guides are featured in a new book called "Secrets from Florida’s Master Anglers," by Ron Priestly. Sarasota’s Cap’n Rick Grassett and Bradenton’s Merrily Dunn are two of 20 Florida guides selected for the book.
It contains a collection of tips and techniques to help folks fish local waters. But it also expresses the guides’ concerns about the fishing resource and how to protect it. If you’re looking for a perfect book for your fisher gift-ee, this might be the one.
SHAMELESS PLUG
Every January and February I offer a free class on how to go cruising in our local waters in a small boat. It’s held on the porch of the Sarasota Sailing Squadron (dress according to the weather), and is open to the public.
The course covers coastal piloting, weather, currents and tides, provisioning, cooking, waste disposal, anchoring, safe sail handling and a host of other "practical necessities" to cruise the coast in safety and comfort. It’s offered every Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. sharp, starting Jan. 6. Students are expected to bring paper, pencil and a hank of line to learn sailing knots.
I’m also be teaching "Florida Maritime History" at the Lifelong Learning Academy at USF Sarasota/Manatee starting Thursday, Jan. 7 at 9:30 a.m. This is not free, but the classroom is heated and equipped with the latest in educational technology. For information, call 359-4296.
THE BITE
"Fishing went from hell last week to heaven this week," said Dennis Hart at Hart’s Landing. "There’s incredible super grouper in the bay."
All the bait shops talked about the grouper. "They are plentiful about 10 miles out [in the Gulf,]" said Sut at the New Pass Bait Shop. "Lots of kingfish there too, up to 30 pounds. And there’s nice keeper grouper in the bay as well."
Doug Forde at CB’s on Siesta Key agreed. He also said Pompano are biting in the bay on Cottee jigs. People are trolling for grouper and kingfish at the Venice pier with good results, too.
Pompano and grouper are Sarasota’s "Christmas fish," showing up around this time of year just in time for holiday meals.
If you’re looking for grouper in the bay, Hart recommends fishing underneath the Ringling Bridge and around Big Pass. Forde says to fish in 30-50 feet of water in the Gulf, especially around the artificial reefs.
They all said fishing should be very strong this coming weekend. "It’s going to be whatever you want next weekend," said Hart. "Grouper is king right now," said Sut.