Tom: There is a section on the Caloosahatchee River between Cape Coral and the Sanibel Island causeway where the no-wake zone is strictly enforced, and yes, it's about a mile long. I think it's an active manatee zone, so The Florida Marine Patrol is always out and they are constantly pulling boats over. As a sailor, you probably have never noticed it, but the powerboaters hate it with a passion because they'd rather be up on plane hammering along. I found out about it while passing through with a friend who is a sportfisherman (we were on a sailboat at the time). I saw three boats get pulled over in less than 15 minutes. Thanks for your tips re. boat ramps. Having seen that area from both land and water, I'd really like to spend some time poking around down there. My Hunter 23 draws a little over 2 feet, so thin water is not a big problem (I can always get out and push!). I have a friend with a canalside lot in Cape Coral, so leaving the boat there should not be a hassle. I just need somewhere to get it off the trailer into the water. Peter H23 "Raven"
The Miserable Mile (for Tom Payne)
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Rick
Mud-suckers
If you have to get out and push off, be sure to take your shoes off. I've been down that road on Pine Island sound; the mud is about a foot deep and will suck anything but high-top tennies off. Rick...Solace/O'22/Apollo Beach, FL
If you have to get out and push off, be sure to take your shoes off. I've been down that road on Pine Island sound; the mud is about a foot deep and will suck anything but high-top tennies off. Rick...Solace/O'22/Apollo Beach, FL
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Vic
Don't Forget the StingRays ...
... they give a nasty sting. starting to show up on the beach because they are eating the red tide shell fish.
... they give a nasty sting. starting to show up on the beach because they are eating the red tide shell fish.
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Ray Bowles
Crocks, Mud Suckers, Sting Rays. You guys
got a good thing going. Based on your colorful descriptions I'd bet that in no time at all you'll have all that water to sail in by yourselves. Ray S/V Speedy
got a good thing going. Based on your colorful descriptions I'd bet that in no time at all you'll have all that water to sail in by yourselves. Ray S/V Speedy
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Steve O.
FMY / Cape Coral
Peter, I've done some boating in the FMY/Cape area and I was under the impression that the "Miserable Mile" was so named because of the tides and currents in that stretch. The manatee regulations are a relatively recent thing, and really won't affect a sailboat much anyway. No worries, there are places to launch your boat. This is a great cruising area: Sanibel/Captiva is expensive dockage, Cabbage Key for lunch or dinner, terrific sailing on Charlotte Harbor. There is a Marina at Burnt Store that can splash you if needed. Have fun!
Peter, I've done some boating in the FMY/Cape area and I was under the impression that the "Miserable Mile" was so named because of the tides and currents in that stretch. The manatee regulations are a relatively recent thing, and really won't affect a sailboat much anyway. No worries, there are places to launch your boat. This is a great cruising area: Sanibel/Captiva is expensive dockage, Cabbage Key for lunch or dinner, terrific sailing on Charlotte Harbor. There is a Marina at Burnt Store that can splash you if needed. Have fun!
Miserable Mile and aquatic life in Florida
I agree that the tidal current on the Miserable Mile might be an issue, but the no-wake was the reason I was given. Maybe I'll find out more when I go back. I've found that the best footwear for going over the side is those zip-up bootees (?) that you wear inside your flippers when diving. They're tough, light weight, comfortable, easy to clean and relatively inexpensive. As for the aquatic life, that's part of the price of living in Florida. Once you remember to shuffle your feet to scare up the stingrays and keep an eye out for the Portuguese man-of-wars, water mocassions and gators, it's all good. The surfers take care of the sharks. Peter H23 "Raven"
I agree that the tidal current on the Miserable Mile might be an issue, but the no-wake was the reason I was given. Maybe I'll find out more when I go back. I've found that the best footwear for going over the side is those zip-up bootees (?) that you wear inside your flippers when diving. They're tough, light weight, comfortable, easy to clean and relatively inexpensive. As for the aquatic life, that's part of the price of living in Florida. Once you remember to shuffle your feet to scare up the stingrays and keep an eye out for the Portuguese man-of-wars, water mocassions and gators, it's all good. The surfers take care of the sharks. Peter H23 "Raven"
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Vic
And what about respiratory distress ...
Sailing in Naples harbor today ... dead fish ... buzzards ... and til we got out to the gulf ... three people started to cough at the same time for about the same distance ... Just a little cough but persistent .... and coming back ... it started about the same place. Good thing none of us were smokers. The gulf was fine though with the dolphins doing there thing. this is red tide stuff but never thought it would work airborne.
Sailing in Naples harbor today ... dead fish ... buzzards ... and til we got out to the gulf ... three people started to cough at the same time for about the same distance ... Just a little cough but persistent .... and coming back ... it started about the same place. Good thing none of us were smokers. The gulf was fine though with the dolphins doing there thing. this is red tide stuff but never thought it would work airborne.
Man-o-man, I can not wait to go!
You guys have made this the true trip of the century! Let's see if we can re-CRAP all of this stuff: Sting-rays Crocks Mud Suckers Dead Fish Bad air Man-o-war Snakes Respiratory Distress Buzzards (those are probably the boaters) I sure that there must be some other good things that you folks have forget to tell me about. And no one even mentioned the mosquitos and no-see-ums (I suppose they really are no big deal in this part of this journey). Did anyone suggest going around the long way?
You guys have made this the true trip of the century! Let's see if we can re-CRAP all of this stuff: Sting-rays Crocks Mud Suckers Dead Fish Bad air Man-o-war Snakes Respiratory Distress Buzzards (those are probably the boaters) I sure that there must be some other good things that you folks have forget to tell me about. And no one even mentioned the mosquitos and no-see-ums (I suppose they really are no big deal in this part of this journey). Did anyone suggest going around the long way?
Come on Steve!
I'm sure California sailors have war stories about the cold water, Pacific swells, fog and miles of kelp wrapped around the anchor rode. Skeeters and no-see-ums are the Florida state bird. Speaking of buzzards, the worst story I heard was published in Latitudes
I'm sure California sailors have war stories about the cold water, Pacific swells, fog and miles of kelp wrapped around the anchor rode. Skeeters and no-see-ums are the Florida state bird. Speaking of buzzards, the worst story I heard was published in Latitudes
I know, I know!
No matter when and where you sail, there are things to contend with. We just do not happen to be in such an area that is so rich in WILD wild life. We have fish (that don't eat us, but we don't eat them either). No-see-um's for about 2-3 weeks a year, skeeters (everyone has them, but we all cannot see ours), Owls that shit like race horses, an occasional snake (we like these types the eat the mice), river otter and beavers (the type that live in the water), musk rats, a seal or sea lion now and then and a few other benine critters. Once we get to the SF bay then we have the fish that eat us and we eat them. NO water mocasins or crocks in the delta (yet)!
No matter when and where you sail, there are things to contend with. We just do not happen to be in such an area that is so rich in WILD wild life. We have fish (that don't eat us, but we don't eat them either). No-see-um's for about 2-3 weeks a year, skeeters (everyone has them, but we all cannot see ours), Owls that shit like race horses, an occasional snake (we like these types the eat the mice), river otter and beavers (the type that live in the water), musk rats, a seal or sea lion now and then and a few other benine critters. Once we get to the SF bay then we have the fish that eat us and we eat them. NO water mocasins or crocks in the delta (yet)!
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Steve O.
What we got...
Up here in the mitten we got cold, fresh water that warms up enough for swimming for 2 weeks in August, zebra mussels that foul your bottom, alewives that die off en mass every few years and foul the beaches, and a sailing season that runs from May to September if your'e lucky. Ice boating is a popular sport when the water gets hard. Some of the most beautiful scenery you ever want to see, though, and your rigging and canvas lasts longer.
Up here in the mitten we got cold, fresh water that warms up enough for swimming for 2 weeks in August, zebra mussels that foul your bottom, alewives that die off en mass every few years and foul the beaches, and a sailing season that runs from May to September if your'e lucky. Ice boating is a popular sport when the water gets hard. Some of the most beautiful scenery you ever want to see, though, and your rigging and canvas lasts longer.
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