NEWS AND BUSINESS BRIEFS
Okeechobee Water Level Decreases Five Inches Since November As of press date in early December, Lake Okeechobee is at 15.03 feet above sea level, decreasing a few inches since October. This makes the navigational depth for Route 1, which crosses the lake, 8.97 feet, and the navigational depth for Route 2, which goes around the southern coast of the lake, 7.17 feet. Bridge clearance at Myakka was at 49.33 feet. For those interested in seeing the daily height of the lake, navigation route depths and bridge clearance, go to http://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml (copy this address exactly as it is here with upper and lower cases). This link is also available on our website, www.southwindsmagazine.com.
US SAILING Regional Sailing Symposium, Clearwater, FL, Nov. 2 By Jabbo Gordon US SAILING has discovered over the years that its annual
National Sailing Programs Symposium is so popular that it decided recently to add regional symposiums. Five were held throughout the nation during the fall, and the first Southeastern event was in Clearwater on Nov. 2. Most of the regional meetings have been serving as previews of the 2013 National Sailing Symposium, which will be in Clearwater on Jan. 23-26. The national session returns to Clearwater, site of the 2011 event, after holding the meeting in Long Beach, CA, last January. The regional event was set in a roundtable format designed for productive exchanges among participants. Stephanie Webb of the Edison Sailing Center in Fort Myers was the facilitator, and Caitlin Niemic came down from Portsmouth, RI, to represent the national governing body of the sport. Rich White, program director of the Clearwater Community Sailing Center, served as host. Topics included the training and development of instructors, generating repeat customers, multitasking your equipment and creating charter fleets. Another area of concern was using other training platforms besides the ever-popular International Optimist Dinghy (IOD). Picos and Bugs were mentioned as possible replacements mainly because they are less expensive and virtually indestructible. On the other hand, IODs remain as the class of choice, especially for programs that participate in racing. Along those lines, there was a discussion about putting less emphasis on racing and more on recreational sailing. Some suggested expanding summer camp programs to include kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding and even boatbuilding. As far as programs expanding their horizons, some recommendations included an outreach effort toward the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts and the Sea Scouts. Another thought was for youth programs to open their doors to adults, especially women.
Yacht Clubs and Veterans Catch the W.A.V.E. in Pensacola By Julie B. Connerley
FORT MYERS BEACH Nearby Access to Facilities, Beaches & Restaurants • 70 Mooring Balls • Boats up to 50’ • Dinghy Dock • Pump-out Included with fee
Located inside Matanzas Pass, just south of the 65-foot bridge UPON ARRIVAL CONTACT:
(239) 463-9258
www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/ 22
January 2013
SOUTHWINDS
Following 2011’s nationwide celebration of a Century of Naval Aviation (CONA), Navy Yacht Club Pensacola’s past commodore, Kathy Champagne, felt veterans of all services could be celebrated and honored with a little R&R on the water. Champagne recruited representatives of five other area yacht clubs to join NYCP in the effort for the October 28 “day on the bay.” Fort Walton YC graciously hosted the event. Pensacola YC made arrangements with Santa Rosa Mall to donate food; Eglin YC secured donated non-alcoholic beverages from the Eglin Army Air Force Exchange Service; Pensacola Beach YC was instrumental in locating disabled vets and sailed a volunteer boat over a day early. The Point YC also was bringing a sailboat over a day early but was forced to turn back due to weather. The Point’s Commodore Robert Clark was master chef, along with assistance from his wife www.southwindsmagazine.com