This page will contain the Cedar Key report.

Cadenza in front of the Island Place at Cedar Key

I come across a Windrider 17 while riding my bike to the Cedar Key airport. What a cool boat!

Real fisherman live and work on this slough

Sunset over the tidal flats

Today, after launching Cadenza (and what a breeze that was), I sailed out to snake key and back before the wind died. I had great visits with Hugh Horton, Ron and Jim, sorry, don’t know their last names. Hugh was working on his beautiful Bulfflehead sailing canoe getting the last details of the sailing rig in order. I had a nice dinner with my friend Dan McCluskey who is currently located at an RV park in Old Town, a 30 minute drive from here. 

I had forgotten how easy launching can be with a SeaPearl 21. I place the trailer tires at the water’s edge and lifted the bow of the boat with sent Cadenza careening easily into the water. She is truly a joy to operate in all respects. The motor is sewing machine quiet and starts on the first pull. She sails fast and effortlessly. I’m in SeaPearl heaven!

Hugh working on Bufflehead.

4/30/2008 Today I headed out for the Wacassassa River about 10 miles by my approach. It was ten o’clock when I finally got my lazy self going and tacked out the channel. I had a great sail for about about 2 hours but the tacking got old especially when the wind died. So I started up the trusty Yamaha. And let me say this, you can trust it to guzzle a lot of gas. Even at 1/2 throttle I used almost 2 gallons of gas today. That’s ridiculous.

 I wanted to pull tracks off the GPS but have not been successful. I must say, the entrance channel to the Wacassassa is terribly hard to see. Up to 1/2 mile off, I kept loosing the marker. Sadly, by the time I got completely up the long channel it was well past two o’clock. Having no other chose and worrying about both time and fuel, I turned back for Cedar key. This time I chose to cut strait across the bay dispite its shallow depths. And then as if by magic, the wind arouse and gave me one of the best sails of my life. Of course the wind was once again on the nose. But the long tacks back gave me some wonderful sailing and fun. I sailed up to the beach at Island Place around 8 pm. 

Wild and lonely shoreline of the Wacassassa. I happen to know that the scenery is jungle like and wildly beautiful farther up the river.

5/1/2008 Today was a short sail. I spent a lot of time in the sun yesterday which really roasted my skin, despite liberal applications of sun screen, spf 30. By the time I arouse and got out to the boat, it was nearly 11. The wind was already down to moderate so I ghosted out to Sea Horse Key to have a look at the Pelican nesting area. This is beautiful stuff, wild and completely appart from civilization. 

On the way I stopped off at Atsena Otie and the anchorage Vladimir, also know as “the crazy Russian,” in Water Tribe tribal parlance. Vlad is sailing this beautiful Freedom cat-ketch eventually back to New York. I hope to spend some time learning more about Vladimir’s travels.

And while at the beach, in sails Michael aboard his fine Prindle cat. 

‘Tosh hanging out in his custom Pearl. 

A pair of beautifully finished Chesapeake 17s

Dave Bolduc makes an apearance in Enigma, Matt Layden’s miniature creation. Great work with the Yuloh, Dave!

5/2/2008 Well folks, my camera took a bath in salt water so this is it for the pictures. I will try to write a nice narative and perhaps get some pictures from friends. Today was a great sail again out to Snake key. I’m really disappointed with the camera failure but am determined to have a good time anyway.

Cedar Key Friday

A factory finished Greenland II Folbot with sailing rig and outriggers on Atsena Otie

Apparently we forgot to set the parking break before we got out? Entertainment for the entire town.

Diana and Jeff Lackey at dinner Friday night.

Watch as I sail to windward at Cedar Key. Click the link for the You Tube.

Secret late night “planning session” for the WCTSS

Your’s truly sailing Cadenza with Shark Bait (Mark Stewart of Cobb county Georgia sailing in the background. 

Addison LePlate at the helm of Cadenza.

Mindy Bolduc showing off her birds.

Suspects on Atsena Otie.

For a really great photo documentry of this years Cedar Key event click here