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Florida 120

Scott Widmier, sailor, boatbuilder, and event organizer, has put together an event for May 14, 15, 16, and 17 next year. That's a little over five months away from now, and a perfect test run for the BEER Cruise, or if you can't do both events, a great substitute. Best of all, it sails some of the same beautiful Gulf waters.

The 120 starts it the fabled and funky Pirates Cove, just outside Josephine, Alabama and goes 15 miles to Sand Island for an overnight stop. Day two is a 38 mile sail to an anchorage in Santa Rosa Sound for another overnighter, and Day three heads to Navarre. Day four is a 15 mile sail back to a little awards get together and so-long friends party.

I'm assuming that Scott steers the same sort of courses I do, since the total for the 120 is not 120. Not to worry, though, there are lots of alternatives to the plans.

Scott has all the skinny over on the Texas 200 site.

Check it out, and come on down.

Look! We Think This Is Cool!

Yes, we are biased. But after lots of work, and no small amount of thinking about it, Small Craft Advisor is happy as a bunch of clams to announce it's new website . There is a new design, more content, and it brings everything together. If you go to our main site, you'll be able to get directly to the blog from there.

We hope you'll enjoy it.

Gunkholers, Beachcruisers, Campcruisers, Listen Up!

Having some members of these groups in action, I know many of you are familiar with this material. On the off chance that someone out there has not seen this material, here it is, and it is important.

Leave No Trace and The River Management Society are commited to taking care of what's out there. Though focused on rivers, the ideas they embrace apply to all of us who enjoy being on or near the water.

These organizations encourage us to plan ahead and prepare for our adventures in such a way as to minimize our impact. On the hard, they ask that we stick to camping and walking on durable surfaces, and to leave things clean when we go back aboard our vessels.

There is much to think about when it comes to disposing of waste properly, and that includes waste in all forms. there is more, much more, to think about when it comes to taking care of that which gives us so much. It can be summed up by this: Take nothing but photos and memories, leave nothing but footprints.

Check these guys out.

A Sailor's Thoughts on Thanksgiving Day

Many of us will gather today to feast with friends and family. Like many holidays, Thanksgiving weaves many threads together. Food and football, history, commercialism, tradition, and religion sit at the same table and dig in. But at it's heart, this day is about reflection and gratitude.

But many are the sailors who gather with the lovable lubbers in their lives, people who make us smile in many ways. Still, they do not know what we know, what gives us peace and makes us smile. Fine people they may be, but they go fast, go in big boats, or stay ashore.

We, of course, are grateful for many of the things which they appreciate. But there is another dimension, another set of experiences which set us apart. We are grateful for other things as well.

The beauty of a bow, a sheer, or transom.

Brightwork and bronze.

The light before sunrise in a quiet anchorage, and the first sight of the sun itself. Those are moments to savor with that first coffee and solitude.

Surprises found at docks and boatyards that bring a smile- a different boat, a handsome Dorade, the perfect portlight. Neatly furled sails, and rigging squared away.

The pleasant surprise of seeing a distant sail.

Wind, sun, and water. Phosphoresence. Dolphins, rays, birds, and the other creatures who live where we are fortunate to visit.

And the sailors! The lovers of boats, the fixers, builders,thinkers, doers of deeds big and small, the tinkerers and competitors. The salts, young and old, in different shades of colorful, that make you laugh and smile, or hold your piece. They are the coin of our realm.

We've much to be thankful for.

More Dream Boats

Contributor Charlie Whipple sent this note:

My obscure favorite is Happy, an 18-ft cruiser by C. A. Nedwidek. The blurb for the plans says:

Many desirable features are compressed within the eighteen feet of this able little craft
With an over-all length of only eighteen feet, this little combination outboard auxiliary cruiser has ample accommodations for two to cruise. Two transom berths, water closet, and room for an ice chest and stove. Used with an outboard engine she will furnish a great deal of pleasure for week-end cruising. She is not fast but is comfortable. Of the straight V bottom type, she should be easy to construct even for one who has not had very much boat building experience, but who knows how to handle woodworking tools. No moulds should be required. The frames themselves can be gotten out and used in the place of moulds. This saves the necessity of laying down the lines full size on the floor. The shape of stern should be laid out full-size, this will help to get out the actual stern and also to line up the rabbet line on it. The interior woodwork is simple, two transom seats, to be used as berths, two lockers in forward, end, platform to take ice chest and stove. Also platform to take water closet.

Dream Boat

What is it about certain boats? I picked up a book published in 1960 called Sailing Small Cruisers at a thrift store, and every time I flip the pages I stop at this design. It's a 17' 3" Alan Buchanan design he calls a Ray Class design. Just about perfect to my eye. 

Feel free to mention or send photos of your obscure favorites.

—JC