| Highlights from 2008 Coastal Cruise in South West Florida |
I started in Punta Gorda at Laishley Park, where I
launched the boat and started my trek South. The ramp
is OK at high tide for small sailboats. Launching was
OK but pulling the boat back out even with an extension
on the hitch required backing into the water quite a
ways. The end of the ramp is clearly marked and I still
had a few feet to go even with the back wheels a foot or
two into the water.
The staff here is very friendly and helpful, the facilities
are new and very clean. US 41 bridge can be seen in
the background. Once clear of the two bridges
Charlotte Harbor is to the West then South. My first
destination was Bull Bay, where Tom, Sue and Chris
stopped by and fished for awhile.
launched the boat and started my trek South. The ramp
is OK at high tide for small sailboats. Launching was
OK but pulling the boat back out even with an extension
on the hitch required backing into the water quite a
ways. The end of the ramp is clearly marked and I still
had a few feet to go even with the back wheels a foot or
two into the water.
The staff here is very friendly and helpful, the facilities
are new and very clean. US 41 bridge can be seen in
the background. Once clear of the two bridges
Charlotte Harbor is to the West then South. My first
destination was Bull Bay, where Tom, Sue and Chris
stopped by and fished for awhile.
Chris caught a few small hardtails while
rafted up in Bull Bay.
This was a slow sailing day and had to
motor the last half of the trip down the
harbor.
The next day the winds really started to
pick up. I stayed put and moved closer to
shore and set out a second anchor in
preparation for the cold front.
The second night I had wind gust of 34
knots. The next day I saw very few
people fishing in the bay with winds in the
upper 20 knot range. The following day
was more reasonable and I was finally
able to move down to Regal Island.
rafted up in Bull Bay.
This was a slow sailing day and had to
motor the last half of the trip down the
harbor.
The next day the winds really started to
pick up. I stayed put and moved closer to
shore and set out a second anchor in
preparation for the cold front.
The second night I had wind gust of 34
knots. The next day I saw very few
people fishing in the bay with winds in the
upper 20 knot range. The following day
was more reasonable and I was finally
able to move down to Regal Island.
Sailed down the ICW in Pine Island
sound toward Regal Island. It was a
beautiful day after the cold front passed
through. It was very dry and no clouds.
After anchoring, I fished and caught and
released a few small sea trout.
sound toward Regal Island. It was a
beautiful day after the cold front passed
through. It was very dry and no clouds.
After anchoring, I fished and caught and
released a few small sea trout.
Sailed out Redfish Pass early one morning and
put sails up and headed South. I wanted to avoid
the miserable mile and all the headaches
associated with the ICW. Instead I was too far
offshore and once out of the lee of Sanibel Island
had to contend with some fairly rough seas. As I
got closer to Naples things calmed down and I
had no trouble going in to Gordon's pass.
Anchored in a residential area. This pIcture is
looking North East from the anchorage. The next
two photos were south of the anchorage.
put sails up and headed South. I wanted to avoid
the miserable mile and all the headaches
associated with the ICW. Instead I was too far
offshore and once out of the lee of Sanibel Island
had to contend with some fairly rough seas. As I
got closer to Naples things calmed down and I
had no trouble going in to Gordon's pass.
Anchored in a residential area. This pIcture is
looking North East from the anchorage. The next
two photos were south of the anchorage.
Above Okbayou tied up on the seawall in front of the historic Rod and Gun Resort. (formerly The Rod and
Gun Club)
Picture below is looking upstream on the Barron River from Rod and Gun Resort.
Gun Club)
Picture below is looking upstream on the Barron River from Rod and Gun Resort.
