Beautiful Lake Okeechobee!
I've been waiting for this opportunity so here it goes. I've been living in Clewiston on Lake Okeehobee for the past 26 years. I bought my first sailboat in 1986 and have been sailing out of the Pahokee Marina, on the eastern shore, ever since. Through the years I have witnessed what I see as a major oversight. Most sailors using the waterway only see it as a means to reach the the other coast of Florida.( E.to W or W.to E Depending on where you start your trip)They enter the river and push like hell until they reach the other side, not spending one extra hour more than necessary to complete the crossing. Meanwhile I and my friends enjoy a peaceful and uncrowded sailing paradise! From November until April, the weather in our area is as beautiful as any other in south Fla, and the mosquitos are not a problem during this time. The big difference is the crowds. You could not pay me enough to traverse the waterways during this time of the year, fighting to stay in the channels as the condo commandos in there power yachts go screaming by with their huge wakes. Just for the record, the depths of the lake average 8 to 10 feet, and this holds true even now during this drought. From a point starting in Pahokee going north to Okeechobee and east to Port Mayaca, there is plenty of water to sail in without danger of running aground. I often night sail without ever seeing another boat. Sunsets can rival any seen in Key West. Pahokee Marina, though not equipped to haul out for repairs, has diesel and gasoline, 30 & 50 amp service and secure dockage for any sailboat that can pass under the railroad bridge at Port Mayaca. I'm the Commodore of the Pahokee Yacht Club and would like to extend an Invitation on behalf of our members to all sailors to stop in and see us a get to know south Florida as you have never experienced it before! Howard Sherman S/V EscapeContact Pahokee marina @(561)924-7832Contact me at (863)983-8905 E-mail- hun27@gate.net