Sailing in the Florida Keys with Island Dreamer

Sailing, why we do it, not how to do it

Harold Ochstein — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:37:21 +0000

I am paraphrasing from the cover of a recent Latt’s & Att’s I saw on a magazine rack. It’s a tough question, somehow, even though it seems like it should be obvious. Sailing along on a broad reach yesterday, temps about 75-80, sun shining, watching the bottom slide by in 10 feet of crystal clear water was a pretty good argument. If it was like that every day I guess I might take it for granted. Being in recovery from our 2 weeks of chilly weather, having had to fight (under sail) our way upwind with daytime temps in the mid 60s (hiding in our plastic cockpit enclosure), even having a full wind blown day of no sun, grey skies and rain makes the perfect days something to really appreciate.

Fortunately those ugly day’s do not happen very often and this is the part that I think Latt’s & Att’s is missing. Preparation and knowledge made those days that were not so sweet merely uncomfortable, not dangerous or out of control. Knowing how to plan a trip, read a chart, have your boat shipshape, knowing how to sail makes being out there even when things are not perfect fun in it’s own way. And it really makes you see the beauty when things are wonderful. So I will close with a line from Southern Cross by CSN&Y

“Sailing on a broad reach

before a following sea

80 feet on the waterline

nice to be making way”

Fair Winds and Following Seas!

Baby, It Was Cold Outside

Harold Ochstein — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:53:57 +0000

It sure was nice to look at the 5 day prediction for Miami and see our normal weather for this time of year return. High’s of 80 and lows of 65 are much better than the chilly (Coldest 6 day stretch in Key west since they started keeping records in 1876) past couple of weeks. Our boat has a full plastic enclosure in the cockpit making it comfortable to be out sailing but still… We even had to turn on our space heater several mornings. Our customers, who had recently lived in Montreal, even went snorkeling (the water temps on the reef are about 70) but this Florida boy will wait till the air temp is warmer than the water to get in!

Is going sailing better than going shopping?

Harold Ochstein — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:53:51 +0000

Ok, I think I know the answer but a recent study by Ryan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University suggests that, in the long run, experiences make people happier than possessions. This from a recent CNN article;

“While most people were generally happy with the purchase regardless of what it was, those who wrote about experiences tended to show a higher satisfaction at the time and after the experience had passed.

The most striking difference was in how participants said others around them reacted to either the purchased object or experience. Experiences led to more happiness in others than purchases did. A sense of relatedness to others — getting closer to friends and family — may be one of the reasons why experiences generate more happiness.”

One of the reasons Margie and I enjoy taking people sailing is the ability to help make those memories. Our last sail had a pod of dolphins playing in our bow wave for 5 minutes as we sailed along at 6 knots. We see this quite often, but the excitement on the 11 and 14 year old boys faces make’s me sure this will be an experience they won’t soon forget.

Dolphins in front of the sailboat

Dolphins surfacing while under sail

An ASA Class with some unusual weather

Harold Ochstein — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:47:28 +0000

Monica and Keith doing a ASA Bareboat Certification

We enjoyed hosting Monica and Keith for an ASA Bareboat Certification Class. They got to see a whole range of weather from gale warnings (watched from a calm anchorage) to no wind. We had 2 days of winds in the 30 knot range which is very unusual for our area. It gave us a chance to practice docking in difficult conditions and we spent the night tucked comfortably in a protected mangrove canal using a Bahamian moor to limit the swing room of our anchors. One of the advantages of sailing in the Florida Keys is the diversity of environments so that even in difficult weather conditions there are interesting places to go.

Monica and Keith are experienced adventure travelers who own a whitewater rafting company in Tennessee, named Quest Expeditions. After having done lots of wilderness travel, I think they enjoyed the comforts a cruising sailboat had to offer. The ability to be out in nature but still have a comfortable bed and a hot water shower is kind of nice.

A Protected Mangrove Canal Great for Anchoring your Sailboat in High Winds

We are passing through a canal in Key Largo in John Pennekamp State Park in the picture on the left. This is the type of canal where we go when the weather gets bad. Our sailboat has even rode out hurricanes in this type of area. Not fun but much better than cement docks or open anchorages. Part of learning to sail is knowing when not to go sailing!

Feedback from a Recent Couples Sailing Class

Harold Ochstein — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:05:16 +0000

A comment about an ASA 101 Basic Keelboat learn to sail course we just taught in Miami;

Hello Captain Harold,

First of all I wanted to once more thank you VERY much for such a great experience and sailing course.

My wife and I are very happy and pleased with the course and the entire experience.

Thank you once more to you and your wife for a very professional as well as personal experience.

Sincerely yours,

Francisco

Dreaming of Sailing?

Harold Ochstein — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:24:12 +0000

Bruce Springsteen in todays Washington Post;

“The only thing I would say [about turning 60] is that a steaming train rolling down the track towards you clarifies the mind,” he says, laughing. “It does excite the senses and is thrillingly inspiring in ways that you might not have imagined.”

Been dreaming of Learning How to Sail? Margie and I moved aboard in 2002 and have not looked back. New friendships, new places, new experiences are all reasons to do it now!

Vew from our evening's anchorage in the Lower Florida Keys

Comments about a Recent Sailing Charter

Harold Ochstein — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:53:39 +0000

Just got this by email;

Greetings Captains Margie and Harold,

We had a fantastic week sailing with you on Island Dreamer in the Florida Key. The lessons, your excellent instructions and sailing knowledge are exceptional. After returning to sail our boat it was surprising how much our sailing skills had improved. The week of instruction, food, company, laughter and stops along the way truly exceeded our expectations.

Have a great Thanksgiving and Happy Sailing,

Monica and Keith

Green Sailing in the Florida Keys

Harold Ochstein — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:37:30 +0000

Sailing Magazine has a great article in it’s latest issue but I did have a comment that I sent them;

Thank you for the great article The 10 Top Green Places to Sail Now. Your segment on the Florida Keys was well researched but I have to take exception to the comment they should “furl the sails …and spend some time exploring [Everglades National Park]. Margie and I have been sailing the park and the entire gulf side of the lower Keys for the last 15 years in sailboats From a 24′ Venture with 18″draft (swing keel up) to an 80′ schooner, 5 1/2′ draft. The beauty of sailing while watching the bottom glide by in 7′ of clear calm water is an experience not to be missed. Snorkeling is not as dramatic but fascinating nonetheless, ranging from mangrove channels to turtle grass flats that are nurseries for many of the fish seen on the coral reefs. The thousands of uninhabited islands are far different than the few connected to the mainland by US 1 and will alter your impression of the Keys forever.
This Summer Margie and I will be taking Boy Scouts on our 2 Morgan Out Island 41′ sailboats on BSA’s Eco-Adventure program from their Seabase in Islamorada. We will take groups of 12 sailing, diving, and learning about the ecology of the Keys. I hope to see your readers as they also sail in one of the most unique and beautiful areas in the world!

Offshore Couples Crusing Classes

Harold Ochstein — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:14:03 +0000

Want to learn to sail around the world? Buying your dream boat for offshore passage making? Already bought it and want a little help learning its systems? Our friends Captain Jeff and Captain Jean take couples who have some sailing experience to the next level of sailing on their Skye 51′ sailboat. In addition to both being ASA instructors Jean is a marine surveyor and Jeff is an expert in marine electronics. They are also happy to join you on your new boat. Visit them at Twocansail.com.

If you are not quite ready for advanced sailing classes and want to learn what its like to live on a sailboat in calm and protected waters come Sailing with Captain Margie and I in the Florida Keys. In any case don’t wait to start cruising, it’s a lifestyle that can’t be beat!

Sailing Cruising Consultants

Catching (and Eating) Florida Lobster in the Keys

Harold Ochstein — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:08:42 +0000

The first time I went diving to catch Florida Lobster was the last weekend in July 1983. My brother and I spent the 2 days at the opening of season gasping for air and chasing those wily crustacean around the floor of the ocean. In 2 days we caught 3 Keepers and I was hooked. I am a little better at it now but sometimes they still get away. It’s still one of the things I enjoy most about diving in the Keys.

A good hours work diving for Lobster

Of course it makes for a very tasty dinner. We have a cookbook called Just Florida Lobster, unfortunately out of print, that has 55 different recipes in it. I am proud to say I have tried them all.

The best one- Amandine Lobster first you lightly bread the tail, saute it, then make a sauce from sliced almonds, butter and Armaretto Liqueur. Not very healthy but well worth it.

If you join us during Lobster season (8-6 through 3-31) there is no guarantee, but we might just have fresh seafood for dinner.