Notes From the Gulf of Mexico

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas everyone...

It's a wonder-filled day here in Myrtle Beach, SC with the kids and family.  I can only wish that your day is filled with the Love and Joy of the season.

So from our family to yours... Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!

I'll see you on the dock...

Capt. Paul
 
FantaSea Sailing
"Sailing the Sun Coast of Florida to the Keys"
623-203-2698 Nationwide Direct
888-582-9046 Toll Free
CaptPaul@FantaSeaSailing.com

http://www.FantaSeaSailing.com

Member:

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
N.A.C.O. National Association of Charterboat Operators

  

We Hit the Road Today

Tis the season...  Pat, Maggie and I are on the road today heading north to visit the kids and grand kids in Myrtle Beach. Pat's sister and brother-in-law are going to show up and we'll spend Christmas and then head home to continue enjoying the season here in Fort Myers Beach.

We've got a couple of leads on couple of boats. We're looking forward to checking them out. Man there's a lot of boats out there that need good homes. Seems like owners are just letting them sit and rot on the docks. So a hunting we go.

After checking out Trillium in the Bahamas, I'm being a bit more careful about the questions I ask and listen real closely as the owners talk about what they have to offer. The good news is that people really do love their boats. To the point of not seeing what's wrong with them, so the mental picture I get is a little different than the actual lady sitting in the water.

Maybe we'll pick one up in Myrtle Beach and just sail home. Burrrrrr. I don't think so.

In any case we want to wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season and hope that all your dreams come true. It's a time to be truly thankful for all the wonderful people, friends and relationships in our lives and make peace in your hearts and mind. Bless and protect this planet and just bathe in the Blessings that we have and create.

Thanks for being a part of our journey.

Soon we'll be sailing in Fort Myers Beach again aboard some wonderful yacht and sharing our experiences here with you. Until then, I'll keep you posted here about the progress.

Also if you're in the mood for giving, my buddy and yours, Brother Dan, is getting closer to getting a new liver. His story is amazing and you can check him out on the Caring Bridge website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/danielpalmer. Also keep in mind, if you can, he is accepting donations at any Bank of America, nationwide. Just ask to make a donation to Brother Dan Palmer Medical Fund. I know it's a stretch for us all this year, but if you can help out a little, it all helps. He's a special guy and we can all help.

So that's it for today. I'll get some photos up here in the next few days and tell some of the recent stories of the boats that we're looking at. You'll get a kick out of that.

Until then take care of each other and enjoy EVERY precious moment.

I'll see you on the dock...

Capt. Paul
 
FantaSea Sailing
"Sailing the Sun Coast of Florida to the Keys"
623-203-2698 Nationwide Direct
888-582-9046 Toll Free
CaptPaul@FantaSeaSailing.com

http://www.FantaSeaSailing.com

Member:

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
N.A.C.O. National Association of Charterboat Operators

  

Well Here We Go... Again.

Well Here We Go...

As most of you know, Capt. Ron and I went to Green Turtle Cay in the Abacos to find Trillium. She’s a good boat for the price but she wasn’t for me. After coming home and working on “Plan B” I realized that I still wanted a boat to live on and take my friends sailing every once in a while. So the search was on.

Since I’m looking for a big boat, the list was short and I knew what I was looking for. Here’s a list of my thoughts as to what kind of boat I want. Sure it’s a wish list, but that’s where I start:

1. Large enough to live on. Be comfy. and have room to move.

2. In good shape. Not a lot of issues. I don’t want a project boat.

3. 2 state rooms and 2 heads w/showers.

4. Strong engine and transmission.

5. Good sails and rigging.

6. Deck space

7. Electronics enough to get me around and all working.

8. Generator to run the AC.

9. Clean and dry (as possible) bilge.

10. Minimal wood.

11. Good galley for Pat to play in.

12. No ol’ boat smell.

13. A good bed.

14. Safe place to put the dinghy.

15. Strong ground tackle.

16. ... and she just has to “feel” good. That’s the most important!

So the search is on.  I’m looking at a vessel right now that has 95% of what I’m looking for in a vessel. I’m not going to let the cat out of the bag at this time, because, as I’ve learned, things change.  BUT keep an eye on this blog and I’ll keep you posted as to what’s going on and how the process is working.

Buying a boat from an owner is always my preference, but dealing with brokers is always, to say the least interesting.  It’s good to have a someone that is on your side, but in my experience, I can’t figure out who the broker really works for. They say that they work for the seller, but I’ve been on both ends and I always have to watch closely to make sure that it all works.  Enough said about that for now.

So there you have it. I’m searching, I’m looking, and I may have a boat that fits the bill.

Be sure and keep up with us. We’ll be here for you and sailing in Fort Myers Beach is alive and well. When you get down to Fort Myers Beach, just call, I’ll be able to get you out on the water. Magic Wind Adventure Sailing is sailing daily.

 I'll see you on the dock...

Capt. Paul
 
FantaSea Sailing
"Sailing the Sun Coast of Florida to the Keys"
623-203-2698 Nationwide Direct
888-582-9046 Toll Free
CaptPaul@FantaSeaSailing.com

http://www.FantaSeaSailing.com

Member:

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
N.A.C.O. National Association of Charterboat Operators

  

Thanks Everyone for Your Support

It's been great to hear your support in my adventure of finding just the right boat to make you feel comfy when you sail with me.

Capt. Ron and I will be flying out tomorrow morning.  It took us an extra day to find a connection to the United States.  Once again Yellow Air Taxi helped us out and got us on the flight home Sunday morning. We really, and I mean REALLY wish we were provisioning Trillium and setting sail on Monday or Tuesday, but once again a very hard decision was made and so we go home on a plane.

I just walked the dock and looked at Trillium for the last time and said good-by.  I think she wanted to go with me too. She will make someone a great home and I wish her all the luck in the world. I hope to see her again.

In any case, I'm ok and the search is on.  Thanks again for checking in with me and I'll be sailing on the Gulf of Mexico again soon.  I still feel the Sailing in Fort Myers Beach is a great thing to be doing.

I'll see you on the dock...

 Capt. Paul
 
FantaSea Sailing
"Sailing the Sun Coast of Florida to the Keys"
 623-203-2698 Nationwide Direct
888-582-9046 Toll Free
CaptPaul@FantaSeaSailing.com

http://www.FantaSeaSailing.com

Member:

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
N.A.C.O. National Association of Charterboat Operators

  

Strike One...

Well here we are in Green Turtle Cay Abacos Bahamas...

Trillium is not the vessel we need to meet your needs.  Very very VERY sad to say.  I love her and I think she could be wonderful, but it's not meant to be.

Capt. Ron and I are pulling out of here tomorrow and heading home, if we can make connections.

The search is on, the site will change and we start again...

Thanks for following and we'll be back...

I'll see you on the dock...

Capt. Paul
 
FantaSea Sailing
"Sailing the Sun Coast of Florida to the Keys"
623-203-2698 Nationwide Direct
888-582-9046 Toll Free
CaptPaul@FantaSeaSailing.com

http://www.FantaSeaSailing.com

Member:

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
N.A.C.O. National Association of Charterboat Operators

  

Good Morning... It's Early!

Good Morning.  It's about 1:28 in the morning and I'm pulling it together to drive to Ft. Lauderdale with Capt. Ron and Alex.  Ron will be here soon and Alex is crashed on my couch. Alex will drive my car back home and Capt Ron and I will take a flight to Treasure Cay at 7:43 a.m.

When we arrive at Treasure Cay, we will catch the 10:30 ferry to Green Turtle Cay to the Green Turtle Club where we will meet up with Garry, his wife and engineer where we will meet Trillium for the first time. I'm looking forward to the meeting.

We will check her out today, get some sleep and then take her out for a sea trial tomorrow and see how she does on the water. I'm in hopes that she will pass all her tests and come home with me. That's the plan.

I'll be trying to update this as we go on this trip, so keep checking back. If nothing else, check the "SPOT" link below and you can follow our progress and position.

Thanks for keeping an eye on us.

I'll see you on the dock...

Capt. Paul
 
FantaSea Sailing
"Sailing the Sun Coast of Florida to the Keys"
623-203-2698 Nationwide Direct
888-582-9046 Toll Free
CaptPaul@FantaSeaSailing.com

http://www.FantaSeaSailing.com

Member:

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
N.A.C.O. National Association of Charterboat Operators

  

And the List Goes On

Well this is a very interesting time for me.  I have limited access to the internet here on the Carnival Spirit, or should I say I don't want to spend .50 to .75 a minuet for internet service.  Plus I'm on VACATION, so I don't want to be that connected.  The list does go on though.

I've been trying to research EPIRBs to find the right one to put on Trillium for her trip across the Bahamas, Gulf Stream and the Keys, the Gulf of Mexico and home.  I found one on eBay and I think it will work for our needs.  It is GPS enabled and that's a good thing.  Anything I can do to make a rescue faster just seems to make sense...  But that's not the only thing on my list to pull together.

The rest of it looks like this:

Suture Kit (2)

Pressure Bandages - different sizes

Bayer Asprin, Advil, Benadril

Medium pain killer and mussel relaxers

Sea sick patches, pills and ginger

Meds or vitamins for 15 days

Ditch Bag:

Meds for 48 hours

Flash light

EPIRB

2 qts of water

Flares

Hand held VHF

Tarp

Signal Mirror

Dinghy w/Registration

Outboard motor

Passports

Fishing Gear

Handhelf VHF = SSB w/chargers & batteries

2 search lights

4 flashlights w/batteries

Binoculars

Cameras 2/charger and film

Umbrellas (2)

Spare GPS w/charger

Charts for Bahamas - Keys - Gulf of Mexico & west coast of Florida

Life jackets w/harness & line

Strobes and whistles

Hats & sunglasses

Dive gear

Puck lights

Guitar w/extra strings, iPod w/speakers, CD/s, movies

Tarp & bungee cords

Then personal stuff...

The plan is to fly over light and have the rest shipped in a day or two after we survey Trillium.  That will save some bucks.

So that gives you an idea of this project and some of the logistics.  I'll be back in the US on Friday, fly to Florida and go to work pulling personal gear off of Star of Orion because Capt. Dan is coming in on the 29th to sail and learn the systems of Star of Orion.  He'll be up and running in no time at all.  He's a smart captain and knows his boats.

I'll keep you posted of the progress as it happens.  I'll do what I can to get photos up when I can. I'm also planning an audio log (podcast) of the trip which will put you there with the voice and sounds of the trip.

I'll see you on the dock...

Capt. Paul

623-203-2698 Nationwide Direct
888-582-9046 Toll Free
CaptPaul@FantaSeaSailing.com
 
FantaSea Sailing
"Sailing the Sun Coast of Florida to the Keys"

http://www.FantaSeaSailing.com

Member:

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
N.A.C.O. National Association of Charterboat Operators

 

The Adventure Continues...

Ahhhh... It 's been a great couple of days. We left San Diego on the 19th and today was our first stop...  Acapulco. Weather was great. People were wonderful.

It's a big city, so we grabbed a van and the 6 of us plowed around the city and checked it out. It was an interesting ride. Trying to pack history and every detail of life in this Mexican paradise. The bay is a nice haven from just about any angle of weather. I'd grab a ball here anytime.

It's been interesting picking up emails here and there and piecing the puzzle together for the up and coming adventure of meeting Trillium for the first time. Although I'm 99% sure that the deal is going to happen, I'm reserving the fact that I may have to walk away. BUT if she's half the vessel that the owner says she is, I know that Capt. Ron and I will be bringing her home to Fort Myers Beach.

She will be sailing in Fort Myers Beach in no time. So here's the plan as I have it now...

On the 4th of December, Capt. Ron and I will grab a flight out of Ft. Lauderdale, FL with Yellow Air Taxi. It's an early flight, so we may go over the night of the 3rd, or maybe just jump in a rented van and head over there in the middle of the night. we can rest there.

Yep. A rented van. I have a new outboard motor and a new dinghy that needs to go over with us. The cool thing is since this is a survey/delivery, Yellow Air Taxi will hold the freight at the hanger, we'll fly over, check her out and give them a call and they will put it on the next flight to Treasure Cay. That saves us the trouble of having to ship it back if the deal doesn't happen. Good guys at Yellow Air.

Once we check Trillium out, do a sea trial and make sure she's ready to sail, we will be at the dock and load her up with diesel, water and provisions, get the dinghy, motor and extra freight and pull out on the 7th or 8th of December and bring her home.

I'm hoping for great weather and no major fronts moving in on us. I'd like to be across the Gulf Stream in two or three days. So let's hope for a good window.

Once in the Keys, we will head to Marathon or Key West then shoot north. You can track the adventure by clicking the "SPOT" link at the bottom of these logs. You'll see our position and can use the satellite view to check out and zoom in on the view of where we're at.

So that's the plan. I'll update this blog as I can to fill you in on the details of what's going on, the survey and the trip.

Be sure and check back often. FantaSeaSailing.com is a site you are going to want to watch grow. I'll be walking you through the process of surveying, buying, sailing and setting up FantaSea Sailing. Fort Myers Beaches newest attraction.

As former owner and operator of Magic Wind Adventure Sailing you can be confident of the best customer service, trip planning and complete execution of your plans into a reality. I am proud to say it took a lot of hard work to make Magic Wind Adventure Sailing the #1 attraction out of 34 on TripAdviser.com. That tradition of excellence will continue with Capt. Dan Mendat the new owner of Star of Orion.

Thanks for keeping track of me and I look forward to sailing with you soon.  Call me about our Boat & Breakfast Experience and other 2, 3, 5 and 7 day charter packages.

I'll wait for you on the dock...

Capt. Paul West

FantaSea Sailing

Sailing the Sun Coast of Florida to the Keys

623-203-2698 Nationwide Direct

888-582-9046 Toll Free

CaptPaul@FantaSeaSailing.com

http://www.FantaSeaSailing.com

  

Well the Cats Out of the Bag... So to Speak

Hi ya'll...  I'm sittin' here in San Diego, CA over looking the Star of India.  It's a beautiful day and the sailboats are all over the bay. A good day for sailing. Capt. Ron is taking out a sunset sail and should be back in port come to think of it.  There is a 3 hour difference between CA and FL.  But my thoughts are on Star of Orion to tell you the truth.

Pat and I head out tomorrow for a cruise on the Carnival Spirit. We'll be heading down the coast of CA and Mexico to Acapulco then hit a couple of small ports and back to San Diego.  It's going to be a nice 8 day trip. A good time for a break in the action. Click on the "Spot" link below to see where we are at at that time.

I've been holding off writing this down, but it's time to let you know of some changes in Magic Wind Adventure Sailing...  I've sold the business and am moving on to other adventures. Oh don't worry, I'll be around and you'll still be able to contact me and go sailing, but there will be a new captain at the helm.

So I introduce to you, Captain Dan Mendat. He's a guy from Ohio and has been sailing quite a while. His dream was to own and operate a sailing charter business in Florida and share the magic of the sea.  So we connected and I'm giving him that chance.

Him and his wife Dianne have moved to Florida and are now the proud owners of Star of Orion and the business Magic Wind Adventure Sailing. The website is still http://www.SailMagicWind.com and the phone number is still 800-975-5824. You'll still be sailing aboard Star of Orion out of the same slip, C-18, at the same marina, Salty Sam's Marina in Fort Myers Beach. So as far as all that goes everything is the same. Sure, new owners will make changes, but old owners hope and pray that they are all for the good of the business and client, because that's what it's all about.

Your sailing experience will be wonderful and you will enjoy every precious moment and be in the hands of an exceptional captain. So there, I've said it. It's pretty hard for me to move on from a business that I've put thousands of hours honing and nurturing to become #1 out of 34 attractions in Fort Myers, Florida according to Trip Adviser.com. We have cliental from all over the world and have had thousands of people sail with us. I am confident that tradition will continue and grow.

So what's up with Pat and I and Capt. Ron? Well I'll tell you. I'm not going away. I'll still be at Salty Sam's Marina in slip C-23. At least that's the planned spot to park our new boat. It looks like, if all goes well on the 4th of December that Capt. Ron and I will be sailing a 1975 47 foot Vagabond back to the USA from Green Turtle Cay Abaco. We are flying over to take a look and if she surveys well, we will pay the price and sail her home. She needs a few coats of varnish and some TLC, but what boat doesn't.

As for you, the client, it gives you another sailing choice in Fort Myers Beach.  If you want a half day sail, sunset, or a full day as well a custom charters, call Magic Wind Adventure Sailing at the regular 800 number. BUT if you are looking for something new and different here's what we are doing...

Pat and I have started a new business called FantaSea Sailing. You will be sailing on a wonderful sailing vessel named "Trillium". She's a 47 foot ketch rigged sailing yacht with 2/3 staterooms and great deck space with a table that seats 8 on the "Poop" deck. 

We are specializing in Boat & Breakfast, 2, 3, 5, and 7+ day charters. Since I signed a non compete with the new owner of Star of Orion, I'm limited to charters no less than 18 hours. How sweet is that! That's what we all want anyway. Imagine, jump on Trillium, move into your state room and sail into the sunset and come back sometime later... Ahhhh now that's sailing.

So here's your new information... If you are interested in a Boat & Breakfast Experience, Overnight Journeys, or a Custom Sailing Adventure just call 888-582-9046 or log on to: www.FantaSeaSailing.com.

It's a very exciting time for Pat and I. We are looking forward to taking you and Trillium to places that the pirates have sailed, waters that are not available to the eyes that aren't on the sea.  We invite you to share sunsets, anchorages, marinas and the wonders of the sea aboard Fort Myers Beaches newest attraction, FantaSea Sailing.  Sailing in Fort Myers Beach is a wonderful thing to do. Sailing on the Gulf of Mexico is amazing. Sailing charters in Fort Myers Beach are still the best vacation adventure you can do.

Ron and I are heading there on December 4th to look her over and survey her. If she passes inspection, we will provision her and sail her the 537 nautical miles to Fort Myers Beach. Don't miss this trip. It will be here on the blog.

Once again, I have to thank all of you that have sailed with me in the past and I look forward to sailing with you in the future. I have a new deck of cards and my guitar has new strings and I'm working on new pirate jokes. It's all good.

Also remember to contact Capt. Dan with Magic Wind Adventure Sailing for your half day and sunset sails. He's there for you and you need to get to know this guy. He will the master of Star of Orion as of December 1st.

I'll see you on the dock...

Capt. Paul
 
FantaSea Sailing
"Sailing the Sun Coast of Florida to the Keys"
623-203-2698 Nationwide Direct
888-582-9046 Toll Free
CaptPaul@FantaSeaSailing.com

http://www.FantaSeaSailing.com

Member:

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
N.A.C.O. National Association of Charterboat Operators

 

Hot, Hot, Hot... Indian Summer in Southern Florida

Well as the rest of the country is fighting with cold, snow and wet rainy conditions, I'm glad to say we are warm and dry, except for the occasional thunderstorm here and there. I'm enjoying it and so are the customers on Star of Orion.  I've been pretty busy this last couple of weeks.

I mull it around in my head that this is way too early to be letting the rest of the world in the northern hemisphere know that we are hanging out in shorts and tanks. I try to wait until December to do that, but what the heck it's good down here. I'm having a ball and want you to come down and enjoy it yourself.

Capt. Ron and I have been busy doing the fall maintenance on Star. She's looking and sailing good. This week a new steaming light, got the anchor light working, not sure why, I like to put my light on the boom where people can see me when they come into an anchorage. But the law is the law. Put an new lens on the stern light and changed a bunch of clamps.

Capt. Glen dove on her bottom a couple of days ago and now she is slipping through the water again at a nice smooth pace. She'll be waxed in a couple of weeks and the decks are being cleaned and polished. It's been fun rubbin' and scrubbin' and making a mess of her and then jammin' to get it all cleaned up before the clients come on board. But when the do they just don't know that it looked like an old garage just moments before. Dan, don't tell mama that it works that way.

We'll be doing a couple of weddings so far this coming month and a long day sail with lunch for some smart folks that just couldn't relax in a 4 hour block.  I look forward to them all.

Sailing in Fort Myers Beach is easy... Just give me a call at: 800-975-5824 and I can get you in the books. It's just that easy. Sunset Sails, Half Day Charters, Full Day Charters are all available, but please think a head and book early. Things fill up fast.

My Dad, he's 88 will be visiting November 3rd through the 17th. It will be good to have him here. He's wanted to get here for a long time and is just laying his second wife to rest on the 31st in Manhattan Kansas. Then he will fly out here to sail with me and enjoy the water. It will be great to have him here. Also my sister will come down during that time to visit. So it's family time. I'm blessed to have them and we are going to enjoy our time together. I hope you have the chance to meet. I want to grow up to be just like him.

So snow or no snow, don't forget that I've got your boat sitting at the dock and she's ready for you and your family or guests. Clean, pretty and safe. Welcome home and aboard.

I'll wait for you on the dock...

Capt. Paul