I maybe relocating to Largo Fla. Where can you keep a cat and tri in that area with mast up. I was in Sarasota and all I found were waiting lists. Any info appreciated.

thom

Thom

I live in Largo (US19/East Bay area) and I keep my boat mast up at the Gulfport Yacht Club. It's about a 20-30 minute drive. The facility is excellent and the people are great. Primarily beachcats. Locked storage and a clubhouse. Cost is around $32/mo all included (membership, yearly dues, facility fee and storage fee). We sail on Boca Ciega Bay and have two races a month (Mar- Nov) and several regattas each year. I highly reccomend it. We have several monohulls on trailers (largest is a 20). Should be a space or two available (and new ones generally open up if you are active). Here's the useless webpage: http://www.geocities.com/gycgulfport/

Next door to GYC is the Boca Ciega Yacht Club. Another friendly club that has locked mast up storage. Their stogare is more geared towards larger monohulls than beachcats. Reasonable rates. check them out at: http://www.sailbcyc.org/

Also available is the Clearwater Sailing Center. Another great facility (hosting the Alter Cup this year) but expensive. I think its around $1,000/year plus more if you leave your trailer. It's new and fancy and maybe a little closer if you live in west Largo. I don't believe you could keep a large tri their. Here's their address:
http://clearwatercommunitysailing.org

There is also the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa. About a 30 minute drive on weekends. They have mast up for big boats and beach cats alike. They sail every Thurs. night and host several regattas a year. They are at www.diyc.org.

I'm sure there are others that I've missed

Feel free to email me if you need more info or a GYC app.

Jeff Worman
SC17
Smokin'

Thanks Jeff- this will save alot time.

thom

Forgot to mention, you can check our local mail list at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TampaBayCatSailors/

There is mast-up storage on Anna Maria Island (a bit north of Sarasota) on the beach two blocks north of the Sandbar Restaurant. Just pull your boat up to the sand-dune, dig a hole and sink a cinder-block with a big nylon rope attached for a tie-down, and you're all set. There is about 150' of beach between the dune and the Gulf of Mexico. Currently 4-5 catamarans are stored there. You have to sail your boat to and from there though, as there is no trailer access.