Spring Break 2009

Spring Break specials to include Happy Hour Sunset Charters free beer and wine when you charter the boat with six

March 17 2009
Great St. Patrick’s Day sunset charter with three repeat customers celebrating a birthday. Because of a strong north east wind we decided to head north to the barge canal and see what we could find in the way of wild life and get out of the wind for a while. As we passed by the roockery we were treated to a large group of Rosette Spoonbills nesting and sharing their space with all the other local birds that fly up to this overnight retreat. As we headed south we set our sails on a port reach and watched a great sunset.
Thursday’s and Friday’s sunset charters were both full. Second mate Mary worked on Thursday and Friday. First mate Joe got home from his New York turn just in time to jump onboard the boat and help Mary out. The Condon’s, some of our favorite customers were back for more first class treatment provided by the crew of the Double Shaafted. Docking the boat was a bit tight after the dock master tied a large catamaran on an adjacent dock which required us to maneuver into our dock ever so slowly.
Saturday afternoon’s charter featured repeat customers from Whitley West condos (next to the marina) who chartered the boat as part of their mothers 90th birthday celebration. Having twelve people in the mix who all wanted to go out on the boat presented a unique challenge so we had to split them up and take six at a time. The birthday girl and her sisters got to go out on the first sail and were thrilled beyond belief. These great gals gave us a brief history lesson on the great depression and reminded us how much more they had to endure compared to our current economic situation. The grandkids and great grandkids were next and had just as much fun but for different reasons. Whereas the older crowd preferred to stay in the wheelhouse, the younger crowd braved the elements to hang out front.
Saturday evening’s sunset charter with repeat customers from the Beach Place Guest Houreach we got to see the sky clear up and witnessed a beautiful sunset. What a treat after a long week of sailing, LOL.ses started off a little late. After clouds moved in and dropped a little rain we had to quickly get the boat dried off and ready for these special guests. Two missed the boat after getting the dates messed up. The boat was catered with subs, wraps, cheese and crackers and wings from Ryan’s Pizza. We departed the dock at 6pm and headed north to the Merritt Island bird sanctuary and were again treated to the migratory birds positioning for the night. After setting the sails and heading south on a port down wind

LIFT OFF OF STS119 "GO DISCOVERY"

We have room for three on the sunset cruise on St Patricks day. Three for the price of two. And we are continuing our six for the price of five Mon-Thur on all charters except dinner.

March 16, 2009

After yet another delay, NASA finally managed to launch the shuttle. Yipee!

On Thursday of last week we took the DoubleShAAfted out to do some practice maneuvers with second mate Mary and a friend of hers. A great time was had by all and Mary is getting better by the cruise.

Friday’s Sunset Dinner Charter with six repeat customers turned out to be a very nice trip. After departing the dock at 5pm and motor sailing south along beautiful Rockledge Drive, we tacked three times in a 17 knot wind followed by one jibe for our long run north. Our passengers retreated to the salon where a catered dinner awaited them. First mate Joe played host, just having flown in from a two day trip to San Juan.

Saturday’s sunset charter hosted winter guests from the Beach Place Guest Houses. They were treated to a great sail south, albeit a bit windy. We tacked so many times I lost count. Wind or no wind, no one strayed from the forward deck area. The scenery was just too breathtaking. They were having a blast. We tacked one last time, fell off and headed for home while watching a great sunset.

Sunday’s on again off again Shuttle flight finally got going. Friends and family aboard this time. With a launch time of 7:42pm we left the dock at 5:30 pm and headed south under power into a strong 22 knot breeze. After about three miles we turned around and set the jib for a downwind sail to a point just north of the 528 causeway so the customers could get a unobstructed view of the shuttle launch. What a show! At lift off, just as the sun was setting, the sky turned a bright orange and the shuttle shot off leaving a trail of white smoke that turned orange from the reflecting sun. After the launch we made a beeline for the Marina, arriving just before the river turned into I-95.

Spring has (almost) sprung

Book our afternoon sail (1400-1600) and six sail for the price of five. Repeat customers enjoy complimentary beer and wine.

March 9, 2009

Spring is in the air in Cocoa and we are off to a good start. Saturdays’ sunset charter was a great ride with second mate Mary crewing; Joe was visiting friends in St Louis and couldn’t make the trip. The wind was blowing about 15 knots SSE which meant we got to motor sail along Rockledge Dr; viewing all of the historic homes for the first part of the trip and tacking three times to our half way point, then heading north after setting the spinnaker for the last leg home .
Sunday was a busy day with three charters; lunch afternoon and sunset, all three full. First mate Joe got to work all three of these charters. On the lunch trip we got to visit with an old friend from TWA and her family. With no wind we motor sailed along Historic Rockledge Dr for the first half of the trip but managed a great sail on the way home.
Our afternoon sail was a little more exciting in the wind department; SSE 15 knots after motor sailing south to our halfway point with a full set of sails and, after tacking three times, we jibed and began our run downwind back to the marina.
For the sunset sail we were treated to the same SSE wind and 3x repeat customers who charted the boat. On these private charters we allow our (repeat) guests to provide their own catering if they wish. They brought ten pounds of jumbo shrimp, the size of dinner plates, cheese and crackers, cookies and wine. They were treated to a great sail along Rockledge Dr. After tacking three times to the half way point we jibed and headed for home with the sails set wing in wing for this downwind leg; still too windy for the spinnaker. Our guests got to witness the sunset just as we were clearing the 520 causeway with Cocoa Village as the back drop. Like all good cruises, it took a pry bar to get the customers from the deck chairs to the dock.

Spring Time Sailing

February 22-28 2009

Spring your clocks ahead this Sunday morning and enjoy our added afternoon sail, 2pm-4pm untill the end of November. Book the boat with six and only pay for five.

The week started out cold and windy. On Monday evenings’ sunset sail, second mate Mary and I took three past customers out for a fast ride on the river north to the Barge canal to look at wild life and get out of the wind for a few minutes. This was a good opportunity to see some bird life including the elusive Roseate Spoonbill and three raccoons foraging along the river. After getting lots of pictures we continued south with a partially rolled out jib to control our speed. Our guests got to witness a beautiful sunset on this last leg back into the marina.
Thursday, second mate Mary crewed a lunch charter. Our passengers, two from the Beach Place Guest Houses and a couple from Patrick AFB got to experience a delightful lunch on the forward deck and a great sail south along Rockledge Drive with a full set of sails; the wind blowing ten knots from the SSE meant three tacks with a run north back to the Marina.
The weekend finally arrived, and, after dropping off a good friend at the airport at 7am we readied the boat for a lunch trip. First mate Joe, being back for the weekend from his job at JetBlue, got to work his magic with the guests. A family of 6 that had all come together for a visit was treated to a warm, windy day on the river just before the cold front moved in. Other than our Sunday weather cancellation, the week went very well.