DIRECTIONS TO TRADEWINDS VENUE
Venue is Founders Park, Islamorada, Florida. It is on Plantation Key (the next key south of Key Largo) in the Florida Keys. Founders Park is on the Florida Bay side of U.S. 1, which is also referred to as Overseas Highway. The park is at mile marker 87, which means it is 87 miles north of Key West (where U.S. 1 starts) and about 75 miles south of Miami.

If you are coming from any points north of the Keys, the most important thing is to get onto the Florida Turnpike at some point.

The Florida Turnpike comes down the center of the state, and most people try to avoid it for as long as possible because of the tolls. The other two major routes are I-95 on the east coast and I-75 on the west coast.

If you come down I-95, it is advisable to switch over to the turnpike well before you get to Miami, because I-95 ends in downtown Miami and dumps you onto U.S. 1, and you will not enjoy the many miles of traffic lights. When we are coming south, we always switch over to the turnpike at Ft. Pierce, because the two highways are only a half mile apart there, and it is also a really good stop for restaurants and gas stations (and Indian River grapefruit).

If you come down I-75, you can just stay on it all the way across the Everglades on Alligator Alley until you come to the turnpike. Exit onto the turnpike south.

Okay, so now, some way or other, you are on the Florida Turnpike. Depending on where you get onto it, there will be an exit ramp to the right that puts you on the “turnpike extension,” which will say something about Key West and/or Homestead. Take that ramp.

Just stay on the turnpike to where it ends at Florida City and merges into U.S. 1, and follow U.S. 1 across some more everglades stuff to the Keys. Occasionally, you will see the descending mile markers to give you some idea where you are in relation to your end goal of marker 87.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO/FROM AIRPORTS:
Keys Shuttle has a regular service to and from Fort Lauderdale Airport for $80 one way or $144 round trip. It leaves the airport at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.

The trip takes a little over two hours, because of the other stops along the way, including picking people up at Miami International Airport.

Return trips to the airports from Islamorada leave at 4:45 a.m., 7:45 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m., and 3:45 p.m.

Their phone number is 305-289-9997 or 888-765-9997.

For people flying into Miami International, there are more and cheaper options. The Airporter has three trips a day and is $45 each way (305-852-3413). Greyhound has two trips a day and is $25 each way (800-231-2222).

MOTELS CLOSEST TO TRADEWINDS SITE:
I think these are all the closest ones. There are lots more a mile farther down the road. Don't rely on the rates that I have on some of them, because they are from last April.

Islamorada Motel (Closest)
87760 Overseas Highway (Mile Marker 87.76, bay side)
Phone: 305-852-9376
They have a total of 13 rooms, 5 large and 6 small.
Rates: Small room, one queensize bed -- $79
Large room, two beds and kitchen -- $99
Web site: www.islamoradamotel.com

Lookout Lodge (Next Closest) (On the same water as the regatta)
87770 Overseas Highway (Mile Marker 87.77, bay side)
Phone: 305-852-9915
They have a total of 10 rooms
Rate range: $139-$350
Web site: www.lookoutlodge.com

Conch-on-Inn (third closest)
Corner of U.S. 1 and Caloosa St. (Mile Marker 89.5, bay side)
Phone: 305-852-9309
They have a total of 8 rooms
Rates: One queen bed -- $89
Two double beds -- $99
I think all the rooms have frig. and microwave.
Web site: www.conchoninn.com
.
Holiday Isle Resorts
Mile Marker 84 (just 3 miles south of Founders Park)
Phone: 305-664-2321
They have five hotels on the property, all with different names. You call that same number for all of them and pick the one you want. They all have different price ranges. If you want a peaceful one, get one of the motels farthest north on the property (closer to Founders Park). If you want to be where all the action is, you might want the Tower Building (also called the Horizon) or the next motel north of that. They are the closest to the Tiki Bar, which is far better than the one at Gilbert’s. Holiday Isle also has restaurants on the premises and I think food at the Tiki Bar, too.
Holiday Isle is the big “hot spot” between Miami and Key West.
Web site: www.holidayisle.com

For more motels, go to the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce: http://www.islamoradachamber.com/lodging.cfm

There is a lot of road construction going on at the Jewfish Creek bridge. Using Card Sound Road might be a good alternative to avoid the construction zone. It gets mighty narrow and congested through there.

Excellent suggestion.

I am making a map of Founders Park, and I hope I can get it posted somehow by Monday.

Also, when you arrive at the park, stop at the gatehouse, where you will be given the site map and general information as to the schedule and where to register and pay.

Bump

UPDATE:
It is absolutely definite that nobody can bring their boats onto the property at Founders Park until Friday. You can't even roll in there late Thursday night and drop off your trailer, because no boats are ever allowed to be stored on the property overnight.

If you are planning to arrive on Thursday (or even earlier), you will have to keep your boat at your motel or at a friend's house until Friday.

Rick suggests that for people who arrive early and want to go sailing, you could launch at the Caribbean Club (or at Key Largo Water Sports adjoining), and then you could sail down to Founders Park on Friday. I don't know what the water sports place would charge for launch fee and overnight boat and trailer storage. They are at mile marker 104, and Founders Park is at 87, so it is a 17-mile sail.

The regatta is over on Sunday, but if you are planning to leave on Monday and your motel does not have room for your boat/trailer, you can probably leave it at the Park Sunday night over at the south side of the property.

All this is because the Park absolutely does not allow overnight boat storage, even if you pay a launching ramp fee. When you are done sailing, you have to derig your boat and take it away. This applies to any kind of boat, power, sail or paddle.

This year for the regatta that rule is waived, of course, but only for the actual days of the organized event, which are Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Next year the regatta organizers will tell the Park that the regatta is Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, so that will cover early arrivals. But it is too late to do that this year.

Remember that this is the first time a regatta has been held there since it has been a city park, so we have to work with them and get concessions one little step at a time.

It was a lot easier back in the old days when it was a motel. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Watch this thread for future updates about Tradewinds.

I know this doesn't relate to this thread but I didn't want to start another post just for this.

I'm looking for a ride to Key West after races on Sunday. Anyone going down there? I'm traveling with a large duffel bag and a backpack and will contribute to gas.
Thanks,
Todd

Thanx Mary,

Good to know, and good future planning.
This is gonna be a great event! Thank you and Rick for the great effort.

eric

The people to thank are Chip and Barb Short for getting permission to hold the regatta at the park. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thank you Chip and Barb! I hope to meet you at the regatta.
you deserve lot's o' recognition for your effort. The new venue sounds fabulous.
Catsailors; let's make sure we treat this new venue wit the utmost respect and dignity. It should look better when we leave than when we arrive. They will welcome us back.

Perhaps a cleanup committee woulsd be appropiate? I'll be the first volunteer.

I am the second in line. Ill help with anything. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

sure, I'll help out with the post-racing cleanup (as long as beer is involved).

Sounds like a post race cleanup .. cleanup may need to be on deck <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'm in on the cleanup party. Let's get the place spotless then kick back and have a few beers.

No tape or line or water bottles left on the beach guys.

Mike Hill

Count me in Too!

I'm going to be down in the keys from Wenesday thru the weekend.

Anyone else going early?

I was planning on showing up early thursday, but we cannot store or even get on the property prior to friday. I think I may just setup at Caribbean Club whichi is 17 miles north of Founders Park. Will you have a boat with you? Maybe we can both sail down on friday.

Okay, I just talked to Joe Donahue at Key Largo Boating and Watersports, adjacent to the Caribbean Club, mile marker 104. It's where the boats launched and finished for the Steeplechase.

If you come early for Tradewinds and want to go sailing, he says you can use his beach and keep your trailer on his property for $20/day (including overnights). This seems fair, since he has very limited trailer storage area. I told him there would only be a few boats that would be coming early and maybe wanting to do that. AND that if you sail down to the regatta from his place on Friday, you would also be getting your trailer down there that same day.

Please help to keep Joe happy (and Mike, who is the manager there), because that is one of the few launching places left in the Upper Keys.

This seems to be one of those "not to be missed" kind of events. We're obviously not making it this year since we still lack a boat, but next year we'll have to plan for. According to Google maps, Islamorada, FL is just over 1300 miles practically due South of Cleveland. Lessee...1300 miles divided by 70 mph is 18 hours, or 2 VERY long days driving there and then repeated going home. Doable, but tiring, and would make this a 1 week trip all told.

Given that distance, leaving whatever boat we end up with at home and flying down next year is sounding pretty good right now. Does anyone rent/charter boats for Tradewinds? Rough costs?

Stuart,

The 204 Bus leaves Syracuce, NY (1491 mi) Wed pm about 4:30. They are doing the straight thru gig and then turning around and heading back after racing Sunday. Real Road warriors <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Robi,

I fly in to Ft Lau on Tues and gonna hang in Miami for the night then head South on Wed.

The boat I'm sailing will be behind the bus and will prolly go straight to the venue. I will bump around Key largo on Thursday and try to find you. By the Crib I'm sure. Maybe we could sail your boat down Fri AM.

Tom you have a private message.