Notes From the Gulf of Mexico

Oil Spill Efforts Continue

It's been a while since I put up a link to the continuing efforts for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, so here's a link you may want to follow...

http://www.boatus.com/oilspill/default.asp

It's always good to keep an eye on what the general media is trying to divert the attention away from.

Many people have been and will continue to be impacted by this disaster. It's just not the boaters, it's the complete infrastructure and way of life of people on the Gulf Coast and the trickle effect that everyone will notice in the stores, restaurants and businesses across the United States and the world.

With that said, I have to say that, at this time, we do not have any oil on our coast in Southwest Florida. We've been very lucky. Even at the highest point of the disaster, there was less than a 1% chance that we were going to see oil on our beaches. 

In fact businesses have noticed a drop in tourist business, but a jump in business caused by people that had to leave the northern Gulf Coast and seek a new place to move there lives, boats and businesses.

It will be a long, long time before the numbers all make sense to many of us down here.

So plan your vacations to visit Southwest Florida. You will see that sailing on the Gulf of Mexico is still the place to be. Sailing in Fort Myers Beach is one of life's pleasures that you will want to do while you are here.

Call early for dates to sail on Panacea. I'm looking forward to a wonderful sailing season and meeting all of you when you come down.

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

Sailing in Fort Myers Beach • Sailing on the Gulf of Mexico • Sailing in Florida

  

It's Turtle Season, Be Aware

No lights at night on Fort Myers Beach? Yep. It's Turtle Season, May 1st through Oct. 31st. Learn more at TurtleTime.org.

Also here is an awareness video for your information. 

So have a wonderful day and book early for your sailing adventures this fall for sailing in Fort Myers Beach and sailing in the Gulf of Mexico.

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

Sailing in Fort Myers Beach • Sailing on the Gulf of Mexico • Sailing in Florida

  

Moving Through the Gulf

Just talked to Alex my 1st Mate in Florida and he says it's raining and windy today on the back side of tropical depression #5 as she shoots north, northwest across the Gulf of Mexico.

A good day to kick back and enjoy all the indoor sports and boat projects. inside projects. Alex and I discussed some projects that need to be done and he's going to get them started pretty soon.

The first ones will be some wax on the upper decks, then some wiring that needs to be cleaned up and then he's going to tackle re-bedding the port hatch. She's a bit leaky and needs to be taken care of since it's the rainy season. Of course I've never had a boat that was leak free. Yet.

Here's a shot of the track of storm #5 as she leaves southwest Florida and heads to Louisiana.

As always, you can click on the photo and in most cases it will open up in a new window with a larger picture so you can see a bit more detail.

She looks like she will be a depression for a while but has a good chance of becoming a tropical storm before landfall on Friday.

There are a couple of other areas of concern in the Atlantic, but they don't look to be anything that will come to Florida at the moment.

I have seen them make quick turns and even some loops, so I always watch for upper level steering currents that may make 'em do weird things.

So there you have it for now. I'll continue making changes to the website and put up some fall specials and keep you informed about what's going on about the sailing in Fort Myers Beach and sailing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Our beaches are clear and the oil is well offshore. I hate to think where it's all at right now, but it didn't go away. We, as a worldwide community, in general seem to think that if we drop it in the ocean, then it's gone. What the hell is that all about. I'm glad that thought pattern is changing.

The renaissance festival here in MN starts August 21st. I'll be here for the 7 weekends of the show performing 20 shows a weekend. It's going to be great to get back home this year a get back on the water. Until then I'll stay in touch here.

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

Sailing in Fort Myers Beach • Sailing on the Gulf of Mexico • Sailing in Florida

  

Tropical Depression #5

As was expected, looks like Tropical Depression #5 is going to be a named storm pretty soon. Danielle look to be her name when it happens.

She is projected to head northwest and take landfall somewhere in Louisiana. She will also stay a tropical storm if she gets that far.

Here's a link to what going on right now:

http://www.goes.noaa.gov/HURRLOOPS/gulfir.html

So tonight looks like some scattered rain and a little wind.

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

Sailing in Fort Myers Beach • Sailing the Gulf of Mexico • Sailing in Florida

  

Weather Does Happen

Here's a quick note to give you a link to watch the weather that's happening right now in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

It's a fascinating group of slides that show the motion of the systems that we're watching.

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/tatl/flash-vis.html

I'll keep you updated as things change.

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

Sailing in Fort Myers Beach • Sailing the Gulf of Mexico • Sailing in Florida